Work Text:
Buzz!
Sleepily, Illumi snatched his phone from inbetween the pile of blankets. He had fallen asleep while reading a book in bed, thoroughly exhausted from a busy week full of jobs. As he unlocked his phone, Illumi squinted his eyes against the bright screen in the dark bedroom. This was something Hisoka hated; he'd always complain about Illumi not using a blue light filter ("It's better for your eyes, Illu."). Two texts from Hisoka. An older message appeared first.
01:15 Hisoka: You're probably sleeping but I'm going in now. Sweet dreams♡
Illumi had indeed fallen asleep. In fact, he could barely read the text with his heavy eyes. When he heard Hisoka wouldn't be home tonight, the assassin had decided on a quiet evening in, as it was the perfect situation to catch up on some rest. After an already long rough week, a mission set in a forest, fueled by short nights sleeping in holes and trees had been the last straw for him.
Hisoka's interest in cage fighting had increased recently. For as long Illumi had known him he'd participated occasionally, but in the last few months Hisoka'd been going there more regularly. Tonight was no different. Illumi didn't mind at all – he knew Hisoka loved fighting, but he loathed places like that. Even when Hisoka invited him, he'd never join, or tag along to watch. It was Hisoka's thing, his alone time, a hobby just for himself. And that was fine, but fairly, Illumi would've liked coming home to him tonight. He scrolled down to the newest message, still slightly sleep-drunk.
02:24 Hisoka: I love you
The message jolted through Illumi, the majority of his fatigue crashing away at the spot. Why was Hisoka texting him this? He did more often, of course, but this felt weird. Too random, out of the blue, during a fight? A strange, instinctive feeling filled Illumi's gut, similar to the way he felt when his siblings were in danger during a mission. He decided to shoot a text back, just to be certain.
02:26 Illumi: Is something wrong?
After enabling the notification sounds on his phone, Illumi got back on his side. He pulled the blanket up to his eyes, covering himself fully. Their kingsize bed was like a sea of warmth, soft like a cloud, seemingly isolated from the rest of fhe world. Hisoka's addictive, cinnamon-like scent still lingered in the sheets, but the assassin still couldn't get himself to relax.
Despite the comfort of the bed, Illumi wasn't feeling drowsy or soft anymore. Hisoka's text occupied his mind, accompanied by discomfort pooling in his stomach. Maybe I'm wrong. It might be my sleep deprivation, he tried to tell himself. Illumi shifted to Hisoka's side, grabbed his pillow and pressed it to his chest. As he hugged the pillow, trying to calm down his mind, Illumi attempted to go back to sleep. Without success. Despite his fatigue, Illumi was disquiet. He felt something was off, and frankly, his gut feeling was never wrong. Illumi seemed loveless, but his urge to protect the people he loved was stronger than anything. Like Killua. His family. Hisoka.
I need to go see him. He couldn't ignore this weird feeling anymore. In the best case nothing was wrong – Illumi could pretend he just came to watch Hisoka fight (not that he'd believe that) and the magician would be happy to see him, so going there wouldn't cause any harm either way. He didn't think of what could happen if he didn't.
Illumi rushed out of the bed and into some clothes – casual, straight legged pants and a soft, lilac, oversized hoodie that he stole from Hisoka last year ("you can wear it, but please don't get it dirty"), unbothered to put on a shirt underneath. The cold metal of the zipper was uncomfortable, harsh against his bare skin, but he wanted to get going. He fetched the first pair of socks he could find – baby pink, also owned by Hisoka – and disappeared into the hallway, checking his phone for new messages every few seconds, in vain. Illumi wasn't even sure where this specific tournament was held, but he had some suggestions. Milluki might be able to help him out on the details.
He moved to the parking lot and jumped into his shiny, sophisticated, black car. As he held his phone in his hand, texting his brother for information, Illumi started the engine and took off. Milluki had found out all of the information about the venue and called him within minutes, so he knew where to go.
02:50 Illumi: ETA?
02:50 Milluki: In 20 minutes.
Illumi almost hit a sidewalk as he peaked at the message. Usually he found no trouble multitasking, but with the current uneasiness increasing in his stomach he couldn't help but to slip a little. Twenty minutes, Milluki had said. That would be ten at most, at the current time and speed. Illumi kept driving faster and faster, cutting down the highway like a skyrocket. When he almost reached his destination, another text arrived.
02:58 Milluki: Good luck.
--
The nauseating scent of blood and sweat mixed with alcohol took over Illumi's senses the second he got out of the car. An alleyway with a wooden door was supposed to be the semi-hidden entrance, Milluki had told him. Illumi handed his hair down, draping it in front of his shoulders, casually covering parts of his face as possible. He had no time to be recognized tonight – not yet. A weak looking guard was standing in front of the entrance, holding a drink in an attempt not to draw attention. Cage fighting was illegal, after all.
"Excuse me," Illumi started. "Can you please let me in?"
"Let you in where?"
He sighed. He hadn't thought of any passwords or code language. But starting a fight would be a waste of valuable energy.
"Please, stop wasting time and let me in."
The guard glared at Illumi, and Illumi glared back.
"Hey, wait – aren't you —" the man started, unaware of the fact Illumi had already poisoned his drink now he was distracted. He took another sip and dropped down, clearing the way. Illumi slid inside, closing the door behind him after stepping into a dark, concrete hallway leading to a pair of stairs. The location was gray, eerie and dirty – exactly what Illumi expected a cage fighting venue to look like. Bloody, sweaty smells increased the further down he went, and the only source or lighting were flickering fluorescent tubes. Illumi tried to navigate using his aura, hoping to pick up any sign of Hisoka. When he approached the end of the seemingly eternal stairs and he still hadn't sensed him, his hands grew sweaty. Maybe he's hurt. Or maybe my Nen isn't working because of the concrete walls. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew the second option didn't make sense, but he couldn't worry. Not now. Besides, Hisoka was incredibly strong, he could look after himself.
The staircase ended in a hallway with another pair of iron, rusty stairs. Illumi stepped onto the grid surface and almost floated down, skipping steps. Chills ran down his back as he got deeper and deeper underground, causing his breath to form tiny clouds in the air. Several types of Nen finally were sensible, but still no sign of the sweet, bubblegum aura of the magician. Eventually Illumi reached the end of the narrow path, leading to a lead, heavy door. Without a second thought he forced it open, finally entering the place he had been looking for. He stepped forward, and suddenly the assassin was standing in the middle of a large, dark basement. People were circled, all gathering around an enormous cage in the center of the space. Loud, unidentifiable music was playing, and the disgusting smell of blood and sweat now mixed with the penetrating scent of alcohol. Illumi would've noticed how terrible this place was, if he hadn't been worried.
He scanned through the crowd, trying to find a hint of Hisoka, but without any success. His heart started beating faster and he checked his phone again – no connection. Hastily, Illumi pushed people away, swimming through a sea of bruises, blood, fractured bones and body odors, to catch a glimpse of the fighting cage. As soon as he got an eye on the pit his breath hitched. A tall, broad looking man was standing in the middle of the cage, a marine green, wavy ponytail dancing with every movement. He was glaring at Hisoka from behind a mask, swinging a tall, axe-like blade – directed straight towards his opponent. Hisoka.
Hisoka was pushed against the iron bars, barely conscious. His eyes were thrown back and his lips were parted, and not a single ray of aura oozed from his body. His eyebrow was split by a deep cut and a trail of blood seeped from his nose. He was obviously badly injured – he almost looked drugged or under some type of influence. What happened to him?
Illumi's hands grew sweaty as Hisoka's opponent stepped forward. Right as he swung his axe – Illumi's had a pin prepared, ready to strike – Hisoka dropped on the floor, lifelessly. Was he poisoned? Illumi's stomach sank at the sight, the cheering of the crowd muted by the sound of his own pounding heart. A mixture of worry and rage whirled up in his body, the urge to get Hisoka to safety collided with the instinct to kill, and he wasn't snapped out of it when the referee yelled: "We have a knockout. Now, the next challenger? Anyone wants to fight him?"
For a second Illumi hesitated; he wasn't like this, the man wasn't a target, he wasn't at work – but the sound of revenge was like music in his ears. "I do," his voice spoke before his brain did.
The entire crowd seemed to turn their heads his way, followed by the referee and the aggressor. Illumi looked very out of place with his lilac hoodie, his neat, straight-legged black trousers and perfectly silky hair. The chuckles coming from the public didn't escape his ears, but he ignored all of them. Sharp, focused eyes darkened into a purple void of rage when Illumi grabbed two bars of the cage with both hands. Effortlessly, he ripped them away from eachother, creating an opening he could snake through. Mocking snickers melted into confusion, and Illumi stepped into the cage. Illumi pulled the hoodie over his head – he promised Hisoka not to get it dirty – and tossed it behind him, mirroring how Hisoka often got ready at the start of a playful fight between the two of them. His hair floated around him like he was underwater, and he said: "Hi."
The opponent at the other side of the cage was almost twice his size. The man just huffed in response, and the sound alone made Illumi want to claw his eyes out.
"And... fight!"
As the match started, the man swung his axe at Illumi right away – but he was no match, speed-wise. The scent of poison met the assassin's nose as the axe neared him, confirming his assumptions. Now that he had the information he needed, Illumi was behind the man before he knew, two hands on his throat and SNAP – his neck was broken. The crowd gasped collectively, and Illumi turned the opponent around to force eye contact.
"Who – ugh, who are you?" The raspy, low voice was interrupted as he wavered, coughed up blood, likely coming from the fracture. Just the sight of it was satisfying like a secret sin, a moment of weakness falling for temptation.
"My name is Illumi Zoldyck." Another collective gasp from the crowd. Claws burst from his hand in a blind chaos of anger, stabbing through the man's chest as his eyes widened in recognition. Illumi removed his heart smoothly, holding it in his hand as the beating died down. The crowd seemed to have turned to stone. The place that was once so noisy has gone completely silent, the only sound being the thud of the man falling forward. Illumi dropped the heart carelessly and kicked it out of his way, splattering the concrete floor. He rushed towards Hisoka’s passed out body and grabbed him, throwing his limp, heavy partner over his back. Illumi snatched the hoodie and jumped onto the bars, effortlessly escaping the cage like a black panther.
"Wait! Sir – your prize money!" Illumi vaguely heard, but money was his least concern right now. In a single leap he was back at the door, ready to drag Hisoka up the staircase.
"We're going home, Hisoka," Illumi mumbled. "You're safe." He was unsure if his lover could register anything he said – probably not. He climbed the stairs as fast as possible with Hisoka on his back. Even though Illumi was strong, he wasn't as broad and bulky as his fiancé, making his size and weight a heavy burden. When it came to brute force his physical strength had always been behind Hisoka, but Illumi made up for that with incredible speed and agility. He dragged Hisoka's lifeless body up, further and further, until he finally got to the exit.
Once outside, Illumi carefully laid Hisoka onto the backseat of his car. The urge to check on him was strong, and Illumi had to stop himself from ripping off his clothes to see the rest of his body – for different reasons than usual. Hisoka's eyes were still rolled back and his mouth was still foaming. He was breathing heavily and his body felt frozen. Illumi jumped into the drivers seat and started the car, looking in the mirror and over his shoulder every minute to find Hisoka still numb and cold. He rushed home, undoubtedly collecting several speed tickets, anxious to waste any time. Still, Illumi's driving manners were more careful than before; Hisoka was hurt, and Illumi wanted to do anything in his power to limit the damage as much as possible.
--
"Hisoka, can you hear me?"
A pair of rolled back eyes seemed to twitch, barely noticeable. Illumi had laid Hisoka on the heated bathroom tiles, ready to examine the source of his numb state. The assassin placed his hands on both of Hisoka's sides and gently peeled his shirt off, and then his pants, careful to undress him without any hurt. His usually smooth, flawless body was covered in speckles of blood, blending in with the freckles and scars on the usually blank canvas. It wasn't until then Illumi realized his Texture Surprise had been entirely turned off – to Illumi this only made him more beautiful, but it was not a good sign.
"I'm gonna fix you. I'm gonna fix you but please don't be reckless," Illumi mumbled.
He reached out a slender hand to trace the wounds on his lovers body. His fingers dragged to his side, until he found a big, open wound. Probably slashed by that axe, Illumi realized. Fresh, crimson red blood seeped from the cut onto his hand, and Illumi collected it on his index finger. He brought it to his face and licked it, tasting Hisoka's blood in an attempt to find what he was looking for. Hisoka's blood was heavy and deep and sweet, carrying the memory of Illumi's teeth sinking down his neck in a rough, yet playful fight they had months ago. Their actions had resulted in broken ribs, open wounds, bruises and mind-blowing sex for the rest of the night – followed by an entire day off cuddling in bed. Illumi's heart jumped at the memory and the butterflies in his stomach almost distracted him from the task. He shook his head, trying to clear it and put his focus back on the flavor. Bingo! A sharp, spicy flavor came after the blood taste, and Illumi recognized it from his youth at the Zoldyck Estate – a poison named Night Shade. Illumi was obviously immune to its effects, but during his childhood training poison has been a recurring subject. "I know this stuff. I know how to help you," Illumi rambled. "Just give me a moment."
Yorbian dragonfish venom was supposed to be the major component; an ingredient that could kill a smaller human with just a few droplets. Because of its high success rate, Illumi knew this type of poison was frequently used for silent kills. There was a downside, however. The substance contained mainly proteins that denaturated in warm water – a hot bath would probably do wonders. Still, Illumi rushed towards his office to fetch some antidote. Just to be sure. "Stay right where you are." It's not like Hisoka could go anywhere, but still. "I'll take care of you."
--
Despite the worry and concern Hisoka brought him tonight, Illumi hadn't feared for his life. Even though he wanted to ease the discomfort as much as possible, he'd been certain Hisoka was eventually going to be fine.
Still, the sight of him slowly blooming back to life was a relief. After Illumi had given Hisoka the antidote, he ran a nice, steamy hot bath. He had moved Hisoka inside, careful not to scald him. So now he was sitting on the bathroom floor, waiting for Hisoka to heal. As Illumi scrolled through his phone, the sound of a movement in the tub caught his attention. His gaze shot to Hisoka, and as if on cue, two yellow eyes blinked open to meet his stare.
"Hisoka?" Illumi tried.
For a split second Hisoka looked at him in confusion, but soon his face melted into a grin. "Well, hello there." A yellow stare trailed from Illumi down to his own body bathing in the hot water, and back. "I think you have something to explain to me, Illu..."
Illumi swallowed. He had snapped, gone out of his way to kill Hisoka's opponent. Not a target. Was Hisoka disappointed? "...why am I in the bathtub, which is spacious enough for the two of us, and you're sitting there all dressed?"
Oh.
"Come in."
Illumi complied and started shedding his clothes. Once fully naked, he stepped into the bath and sat down in the space Hisoka created inbetween his legs, his back facing his lover. The heat of the water was immediately welcoming, reminding him of how tired he actually was. Illumi exhaled, relaxing his body. Almost immediately, Hisoka caged his arms around him in an affectionate hold. Pointy nails brushed his abs as a gentle breath and Illumi could feel Hisoka's chin rest on his shoulder. His nose dragged down the side of Illumi's cheekbone, stopping to press a kiss to his jaw. After a moment of comfortable silence, Hisoka said: "I'm sorry for tonight."
"It's okay." The warm water had dragged Illumi further into a drowsy mood, accompanied by the soft touches. Frankly, he just wanted to know if Hisoka was okay, and then go back to bed. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm good. You should have stayed home." His voice was still weak and raspy, lower than what Illumi was used to. He chuckled. "You need to rest. I would've been fine."
Illumi turned around, struggling out of his grip. "You were passed out and your opponent was swinging poison-slathered axes at you."
"He wasn't even that strong. It was kind of boring."
Illumi sighed, slightly annoyed, and stood up. He knew Hisoka struggled with admitting his mistakes sometimes, but he was too tired for that right now. He stepped out of the tub, wetting the floor with his dripping wet body. Not caring to dry himself, he opened the door, walking into the bedroom like a zombie. He crashed onto the bed, naked and wet and absolutely careless.
He had almost passed out, giving in to his fatigue when Hisoka appeared half a minute later, dressed in sweats and fully dried and moisturized. "Not so fast, darling."
Hisoka climbed onto the bed and scrambled towards Illumi, who was splayed out on his stomach, quickly growing cold because of the cooling water covering his body. Illumi felt conflicted; he wanted to sleep, but Hisoka's thick voice in his ears combined with his scent blooming around him felt oddly addictive. "I know you went through hell to find me. I know you hate places like that."
A soft kiss was pressed to the back of his neck. What started as startling quickly changed into sweet comfort as Hisoka pecked his shoulder blade.
"I know you've been busy. I know you're exhausted. I know, baby."
As Hisoka trailed his mouth down his fiancé's back, two large hands slid onto his shoulders. Illumi felt like he was going to melt into the mattress. Hisoka's words were soothing, covering him in a blanket like he was tucked into the bed. "Illu, will you tell me what happened?"
"Tell me first." Illumi's eyes had fallen shut, and he was relishing in the softness of the kingsize bed and Hisoka's tenderness.
"Okay, okay. I was doing the cage fight. Nothing special – just some fun matches, you know." A warm, oily substance was drizzled onto Illumi's back. He shivered at the sudden feeling, and his eyes cracked open. "Hisoka –"
"Shh. I told you lube and massage oil in one would come in handy." As he spread the fluid up Illumi's spine, Hisoka continued. "But this guy, I don't even remember his name, he pissed me off." His strong hands began to move, gently massaging Illumi, starting from his shoulders. "He pissed me off because he knew you. Well, he knew who you are – he knew we're engaged. And that's where I snap, Illumi. I don't want your name in anyone's mouth."
Butterflies fluttered in Illumi's stomach. He could feel his cheeks go pink, hoping Hisoka couldn't tell. The thought of him going wild, attacking and murdering just for him was heartwarming. It probably would've turned him on, if he wasn't ready to fall asleep right now. "Tell me."
"I got angry, and let go of my Texture Surprise for a moment. Because I wanted to attack using full power. This happened right before I messaged you the second time." His hands were kneading into Illumi's skin, slowly freeing him of a month full of work pent up in his body. "That's when his axe struck me. I kept going, took some more hits. I didn't notice the poison before that, but suddenly my entire body was burning and I passed out. So I texted you to remind you of my undying love."
Hisoka's grin was noticeable in his voice. His hands slid down Illumi's sides and back up, working his fingers on the tense muscles. His grip wasn't as firm as usual, and Illumi wondered how he was really feeling. "Your turn."
"I had a feeling something was wrong by that second text. I tried to go back to sleep after that, but I sensed danger. Milluki managed to locate you, that's how I found the venue."
"What did you do?" Hisoka asked, enjoying the story as he massaged Illumi. His fingers pressed the muscles in his neck just the right way, unleashing more pressure, relaxing Illumi's body with every second.
"I found you passed out in the fighting cage. It was obvious that you were poisoned, or drugged. My plan was not to use violence, but frankly, seeing him fight you so cowardly made me angry."
"So?"
Illumi sighed. "I made a mistake. I should have brought you to safety right away, but instead I jumped into the ring." He paused and exhaled involuntary at Hisoka's touches. Admitting his sin felt wrong, and he didn't want to let his lover down. "I challenged him and killed him."
"You did what?" Illumi didn't have to turn around to realize Hisoka's was smirking from ear to ear.
"I know I am in the wrong here. He was never my target, but I jumped in to fight. I was angered so I broke his neck, and took his heart out."
Hisoka's laugh was unexpectedly loud. He tried to speak, but the laughter barely let him. "What? Haha-ah, Illumi... You did what?"
"I snapped his neck from behind, and I removed his heart with my claws before bringing you to safety. I know that wasn’t a smart thing to do, so I do apologize."
Illumi rolled over onto his back to find Hisoka still laughing. He wiped upcoming tears away from his eyes, using the back of his hand.
"Illu, my love, you... you don't need to apologize." His laughter faded into a chuckle as he tried to form a proper sentence. "What are you even saying sorry for?"
"For not prioritizing your wellbeing. I should have brought you to safety right away, but instead I picked a fight first." Illumi sat up, looking at Hisoka intensely. The magician tried to make a serious face, but his smile quickly blossomed again.
"Hmmm. I'm upset about one thing."
"What?"
"You probably didn't record it."
Illumi scrunched his face. He grabbed a pillow and threw it, gently hitting Hisoka's ever-grinning head. He got onto his knees, leaning in for a kiss, when Hisoka hissed and shot a hand to the wound near his ribs.
"You're in pain." Illumi stated.
Hisoka smiled and kissed lllumi regardless. "Go sleep. It's almost five and you still barely slept."
"You did not answer my question."
"You didn't ask a question." Hisoka stretched like a cat, eyes twinkeling with excitement as he teased.
Illumi blinked. "Are you hurt?"
Hisoka smiled. He sat down and said: "It'll be fine."
That's a yes. "Then why did you just massage me? I am supposed to care for you."
"Because you're sore and tired."
"So are you."
"My tiredness isn't that bad."
Illumi knew he wasn't going to win this. He poorly covered a yawn with his hand, only confirming Hisoka's point.
--
"You know what's funny?"
"Hmm?" Illumi was barely awake at this point. They were still in bed, finally ready to sleep after another unexpectedly long night. He was lying on his stomach, face turned to Hisoka. His fiancé was on his back next to him. Their fingers were loosely entwined, hands gently touching.
"With fighting, I used to be invincible because I thought I had nothing to lose. I had no weakness. I could get hurt, but nobody could hurt me.
Illumi hummed.
"But that changed. Things are different now. There's some I'm afraid of losing. Something worth living for." Hisoka's words were somewhat painful. Underneath his careless facade, there seemed to be a core of loneliness. A small, traumatized child, hidden so deeply that Illumi couldn't fully reach it. And he doubted if Hisoka himself even realized it was there.
"I got angry because my opponent bad mouthed you. I want to fight for you. Live for you – die for you. You are my weakness."
At this point, Illumi just wanted to sleep. He didn't see how any of this was funny, but the affirming words did flatter him. In a way, however, it was also kind of sad. Illumi's eye blinked open. The first rays of morning sun had started to appear, illuminating the room just enough for him to look at Hisoka. He was lying in an odd position, turned stiffly on his back like a corpse.
"I don't want to be a weakness. I just want you to stop getting in danger. You're being cheesy." But he did pull the duvet a little higher, covering the blush appearing on his cheeks.
"We both could've killed everyone in that room. I wasnt in danger..." Hisoka rolled onto his side, now facing Illumi. "...but I will stop being reckless for you."
"Please."
"And maybe I'll skip the upcoming tournaments and stay home next week."
"Really?" It came out more enthusiastic than Illumi anticipated, but he didn't care. Hisoka shifted closer to him, the cinnamon smell that always surrounded him brushing his senses.
"Really."