Chapter Text
"Gon won't die."
The words sat bitter on his tongue. He didn't know anything about his son's condition. Nor had he any desire to change that, because the weight of knowing his words might be untrue, knowing how bad his son really was, would surely break the facade he'd kept for 14 long years.
Ging wasn't a good father. He knew that much. It's not like anyone ever let him forget it either. Between Mito's unceasing letters that always seemed to find him and Gon's shining excellence that the media couldn't seem to ignore, he could never rid his brain of the thought.
"He didnt need you. They raised him better than you could have ever tried to."
Bile rose up his throat as he stared himself down in the mirror. The face of a deadbeat that can't even bring himself to check on his son. It was pathetic.
"You are pathetic"
His grip on the sink tightened as he fought back the acidic sting in his throat. He wouldn't break down. Ging freecss doesn't break down. A double-star archaeology hunter wouldnt cry. He didn't cry when he lost custody over Gon. He didn't cry when he heard of Netero's passing, so he sure as hell wasn't going to cry now.
He glanced at the mirror, greeted by the reflection of what he realised Gon might look like if he made it out of the hospital alive. His insides churned as he swiftly ran to the toilet to empty out the contents of his gut.
Deep down Ging had the inkling that Gon wouldn't make it. He'd never get to be a double star hunter or even better, because it was just like Gon to always push to achieve greatness (greater than Ging felt he could ever be). He'd never get to explore the world like Mito's letters always said he wanted to do. He'd never see those friends he talked about so much ever again. And he'd never meet the man he so wrongfully idolised for all these years.
Ging let out a visceral wail as he slumped into the corner of his hotel bathroom. The tears seemed unending as he thought of all of the possible memories he could have made with Gon if he just stayed. If it wasn't for him leaving Gon would never have revered Ging or the hunter lifestyle. He could have grown up a normal boy. He wouldn't be on that hospital bed right now.
"He's dying and it's all your fault."
A knock from the door pulls him out of his head. Ging staggers to his feet, gripping the sink to steady himself before shocking himself back to normalcy with a splash of cold water. He couldn't let anyone see him like this.
"Room service?" He questioned whilst walking towards the door. He had ordered dinner only 15 minutes ago and it didn't usually arrive this fast.
With his hand on the door knob he peered through the peephole, more than surprised to see the last person he wanted to see right now standing outside his door. As a rule of thumb he never gave anyone his address whenever he was in town. It just didn't suit his kind of lifestyle to have people know his whereabouts. "Too risky", he believed.
With a heavy sigh he opened the door.
"You have some nerve coming over after the stunt you pulled today"
"It was surprisingly easy to find you this time," Pariston commented "of course, as per usual, I had to enlist the help of people I'd rather not disclose, but the fact remains that you're slacking. Finding you isn't as fun when you don't put in the effort."
"Maybe I didn't want you to try either this time Paris. Now excuse me."
Ging attempted to slam the door on the glittery piece of shit standing in front of him, but Pariston stuck his foot between the door before the smaller man could get the chance.
"How rude! Do you know how expensive these are?"
"Pariston I'm serious. I know you like your play things but I'm not doing it this time."
"Doing what?" Pariston smirked, egging him on.
"THIS! Whatever the fuck this is. I have too much shit going on right now to waste time entertaining you of all people."
Pariston exhaled, a small smile remaining on his lips while the man on the other side of the door frame wore a scowl unlike one he'd ever seen before. It was odd. A part of him wanted to keep teasing Ging, to see how deep set his expression could go...to see if he'd finally break for once. But another side of him knew that pushing Ging further would only cause a loss for himself. Ging was the only one that could ever really put up with his antics besides Netero, and one of them was already gone.
"Well this won't do," Pariston said, squeezing through the crack in the door and proceeding to take his coat off despite the Ging's protests.
"Pariston I really can't do this today, just give me a break for once."
"I thought we could just have dinner together. I won't even disturb you."
"The day you don't disturb anyone is the day the world ends. And I already ordered dinner."
"Oh well...I could just sit with you I suppose?" Pariston smiled once again.
A groan started from Ging's mouth before he made his way to the landline to order something for Pariston. He didn't care to ask what the lanky intruder preferred to eat, instead opting for a second chicken alfredo and two bottles of wine. At least with his mouth full he would be less of a bother. The alcohol was admittedly counter intuitive, but it was more for Ging to be able to stand Pariston if anything.
Ging slammed the phone receiver down and slumped onto the sofa. It seemed like this was going to be a long night.
tic. tac. tic.
Each monotonous sound from the wall clock only seemed to grow the distance between the two men, yet Pariston's decision to stay remained unwavering.