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The notification on Killua’s phone pings at 4:00 AM precisely, and immediately rouses Killua out of a sound slumber. Somehow, this one faint chime manages to wake him up, whereas Gon’s buzzsaw snoring is just standard background noise. He’s so used to it by now that it’s practically the same as the hum of a fridge or the ticking of a clock. Groping for his phone, Killua stifles a curse. They’d had a long day yesterday, and conking out for twelve hours had seemed like the perfect solution.
He and Gon are in Swardani City, visiting Alluka at college. Even though it’s summer break, she’s decided to stay on campus and work as a tour guide. She’d managed to convince her supervisor to give the two of them the last tour of the day—so they could immediately leave for dinner once she’d clocked out—but the tour ended up taking easily twice as long as he guessed it should. Alluka had a personal anecdote for just about every stop on the tour, and they had been constantly interrupted by faculty and staff eager to say hello. It was clear that Alluka was well liked by everyone on campus, and the thought made Killua’s heart warm. It was what he’d desperately wanted for her, after all…for her to have a normal, happy life. And after all of their hard work, it had finally come true.
About a year after they split at the World Tree, Gon and Killua had reunited. They’d needed time and space to process everything from their experiences in the NGL, but in the end, they couldn’t stay away from each other. Like shadow follows light , Alluka had teased. The three of them spent the next five years together: helping Gon relearn Nen, acclimating Alluka to the outside world, and learning more about who they were as people. And with that came the realization that maybe Gon and Killua weren’t just friends. Maybe there was something more, something that Killua had never expected to be able to have, to be worthy of…
“Mrgh…Killua?” Gon mumbles, prying his eyes open. He rubs his mouth, wiping away the drool that’s accumulated. “What’s going on?”
Killua squints at the message on his phone, sighing as the words finally percolate through to his exhausted brain. He looks over at Gon, a wobbly smile tugging at his lips. ”You wanna go to a party?”
It’s been almost ten years since the last time the “Main Four” (as Alluka likes to put it) had all been together in one place, and Killua’s not sure why his hand is trembling faintly as he knocks on Leorio’s door. He can’t possibly be nervous; no way, no how. What was there to even be nervous about? It’s a party to celebrate Leorio’s completion of his doctoral residency program; it’s not anything more serious than that. Maybe it’s just excitement or anticipation. (Although if he’s being honest, maybe he’s a little worried to see how much time has changed things.)
“Killua, what’s wrong?” Gon asks softly as he juggles the gift bags they’ve brought along. Alluka had insisted that they bring a couple packs of toilet paper at a minimum— “It’s not glamorous, but neither is running out of TP halfway through your party,” she’d sagely pointed out—along with some cups and paper plates.
Sucking in a breath, Killua turns around to flash Gon a bright grin. “Just worried that this might be a lame party, that’s all. I mean, it’s gonna be full of boring old—”
The door swings open and he’s cut off by someone swooping him into a bone-crushing hug. “You little snot! What’s this about my party being lame and boring?” The familiar booming voice in his ear sets free all of those little anxiety butterflies fluttering around his stomach…and also maybe bursts an eardrum, since Leorio still has trouble with volume control, apparently.
“Leorio!” Gon flings himself onto the two of them and the bags drop to the floor, unheeded. Leorio scoops him up along with Killua, and the two youths dangle well above the ground; even after puberty hit, neither of them managed to hit six feet (well, yet, anyway). So much for Killua’s dream of being able to look Leorio in the eye.
The hug seems to go on forever—Killua’s not exactly complaining other than his bruised ribs—before two more people pop out of the doorway. “Ah, so that’s it,” another familiar voice says with a faint laugh, “I thought it might be the two of you. It’s been a long time.” Kurapika walks over and wraps his arms around the group, giving them a quick hug. Far briefer than Leorio’s gesture of affection, but no less fond.
The other person claps Leorio on the shoulder. “Hey, c’mon, you’re going to crush them. I know you can patch them up afterwards, but that’s not the point, right?”
“Hi, Zepile!” Gon chirps, albeit somewhat muffled since his face is smooshed into Killua’s shoulder.
Zepile pats them on the back, taking care to be gentler than Leorio. “Hey, Gon, Killua. Good to see you two!” He scoops up the bags scattered on the floor with Kurapika’s help as Leorio reluctantly drops the hug.
Things then become a bit confusing as everyone starts talking over each other, and Zepile begins herding them back into the apartment, begging them to think of the neighbors. Once inside, Leorio makes a beeline to a side table, asking Gon what he wants to drink.
“Anything for you, buddy? Bar’s open!” Leorio asks Killua over his shoulder, to which Killua just shakes his head.
“Booze isn’t my scene,” he drawls, shutting the apartment door behind him. Trailing behind the others, he takes in the scene at a glance. There’s not that many people; or rather, not as many as Killua had thought would be there. At least 15, maybe 20?
The party is also a bit more low-key than Killua would have thought, though maybe that’s only to be expected. After all, resident doctors work insane hours for shitty pay, so Leorio probably hasn’t had the energy or cash to spare. It’s not a bad party, though, by any means. There are hand-crafted decorations littering the apartment he shares with Zepile, and a banner with “Congrats, Leorio!” tacked onto one of the walls. The food’s on the simpler side—chips, salsa, and some homemade cupcakes with lopsided smiley faces iced on top—but that’s because it’s clear that Zepile and Leorio spent most of their budget on booze. The kitchen table has buckets full of ice and a surprisingly comprehensive array of canned cocktails and beer, bottles of wine, and even champagne. There’s a couple cans of soda off to one side, almost as an afterthought.
"You sure you don't want a drink?" Leorio asks again, waggling a White Claw in each hand. "You did just turn 21, so it's okay."
Killua sighs and rolls his eyes in exasperation. "I told you, Leorio, I'm straight-edge."
Gon makes a whimper of terror, and all eyes turn to him. "Are you okay?" Kurapika asks anxiously.
"Does...does that mean we have to break up?" Gon says quietly, his eyes locked on Killua. He sniffles, and tears begin to well up. His hands clench his whiskey sour tightly, the can crinkling ominously in his grip. "I mean, I want you to be happy, so if you...you..." Three sips, and Gon is already halfway drunk thanks to his legendary alcohol (in)tolerance.
"Straight-EDGE , Gon! Not straight!" Killua groans. "It means I don't drink or do recreational drugs. It doesn't mean that I'm heterosexual, and it certainly doesn't mean I'm breaking up with you, dummy."
"He's the straightest edgiest gay boy that ever lived," Leorio intones sagely, raising a White Claw in a toast.
Killua rolls his eyes and picks up a can of orange soda. If things get too weird, he promises himself that he can duck out for a bit. Maybe make a long, convoluted trip to the corner store for…ice or something. Whatever people used as their booze accessories or whatever. As he cracks the pull tab and takes a long swig, Killua glances around the room.
There’s more people that he doesn’t know than he does, although it doesn’t particularly surprise him. After all, Leorio’s been here in Yorknew for…how long has it been? He’s obviously made a bunch of connections here: friends, co-workers, former classmates. A whole new life, lived away from Killua and the others. It’s a little sad, in some ways, but Killua’s just mostly glad that Leorio seems to be doing so well and surrounded by people who, at the very least, like him enough to come to a party of his.
In one corner are the few people that Killua does happen to know, and he meanders his way over. Kurapika and Zepile are talking about work, because that’s just what you do once you’re an adult-adult, Killua supposes. Although it’s weird to think of them as adults, even though Leorio and Kurapika are now in their late 20s, and Zepile’s not too much older. It’s even weirder to think of Gon and himself as adults, but time marches on, as Grandpa used to say. Bisky’s there, too, as frilly as ever, and Killua suppresses the instinct to duck behind a plant and hyperventilate. She’s talking to Melody, showing her something on her phone; it sounds like vacation pictures, but he isn’t exactly willing to insert himself into the conversation to see.
Gon wanders around the party talking to people, and Killua just hovers on the edge of the Hunter group, listening to Kurapika and Zepile without sharing much. He’s never been much for small talk, and for some reason, the long years without being in physical proximity of his friends makes Killua shy. So much has happened—to all of them—and while there’s a lot that’s never changed…so much has.
Zepile’s super nice, though, and he tries to engage Killua in a way that doesn’t feel like he’s being put on the spot. He asks about Alluka, the one subject Killua could talk about endlessly in any situation, and Killua feels a bit more at ease as he tells them all about her college adventures. Zepile’s grown his hair out, Killua idly notices as he talks about his last visit with her. It looks good on him. Kurapika’s a little taller, faint crow’s feet forming around his eyes. Killua can almost look him in the eyes now; time marching on, indeed. But his smile is the same, if a little bit more tired, and it’s reassuring in a way Killua can’t describe.
The party goes on, and Killua starts feeling more comfortable. He talks to Bisky and Melody about the upcoming trip he and Gon are planning to this volcanic hot spring resort; it turns out that Bisky’s been there at least a dozen times and has recommendations for just about everything. In contrast to everyone else, Bisky looks the same as ever. She’s even feistier than before, enough spunk and spark for five people in those eyes and that grin. Melody hasn’t changed much physically, but her outfit is a little brighter and more fashionable than Killua recalls her ever wearing. There’s an air of confidence about her, something that’s attractive and uplifting. He wonders what they see when they look at him. Taller, sure, but do they see anything of the old Killua? Or has the boyishness left him entirely?
A couple hours later, Killua’s on his fourth soda when Leorio announces that he has something that he wants to say. Gon wobbles over to where Killua’s perched on the edge of the sofa arm and leans on him like a sack of potatoes. Melody had switched Gon’s drink to something nonalcoholic pretty early on in the evening, but he’s still drunk on half a cocktail. Killua bites the inside of his cheek to keep himself looking some semblance of normal as Gon nuzzles his neck and tells him what a great party this is.
Meanwhile, Leorio’s pulling Zepile into the center of the room with him, grinning like the idiot he is while Zepile blushes and stammers. Leorio’s gained some weight, Killua notices, and he looks good. Zepile’s probably making sure that he eats something more than vending machine snacks during his hospital shifts.
“Heeyyy, everyone! I’ve got something pretty awesome to share with all of you.” Leorio gestures for everyone to come closer, pausing for dramatic effect. “I would like to share the news that…” he drawls, looking around the room with giddy anticipation. “This incredible, talented, brilliant, drop-dead gorgeous hunk of a man has agreed to stick with me for the rest of our lives, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer. Which, let’s be honest, we’ve been for a while and probably will be until I get all of these damn loans paid off.”
“I told you,” Zepile says, laughing softly, “I’d marry you with a paper ring. Or with clay ones, to be honest.” And he fishes out a necklace chain from under his shirt, strung through with an ochre-hued clay ring. Unsurprising, given Zepile’s pottery skills. “As long as I have you, I don’t need anything else.” Killua realizes that there’s a matching necklace around Leorio’s neck; how had he missed that?
Meanwhile, the silence gives way to an excited hubbub as everyone rushes to congratulate the newly engaged couple. Kurapika and Melody are the first to make their way over, and Leorio practically bends in half to scoop them both into a hug that won’t leave them dangling in mid-air. When he stands back up, Kurapika clasps Leorio’s shoulder and talks to him in a low tone while Melody tugs on Zepile’s sleeve and whispers something into his ear. Her eyes are sparkling wickedly and he immediately starts blushing again, and Killua promptly decides he doesn’t want to know a single damn thing after that.
Killua hangs back with Gon, watching everyone take their turn to gush over Leorio and Zepile. He’ll congratulate them later in private, once Gon has sobered up. The two of them have been invited to stay over if they want, and it’s not like they’ve got anywhere to be for the next couple of days.
Leorio snatches up a can of beer from the table, holding it aloft. “Let’s toast to the best party ever, a celebration of the two greatest things I’ve ever done!” (Killua can’t help but gag as Zepile turns tomato red again.)
“But wait, I thought we were here to celebrate your graduation!” Bisky protests. “You know, finishing your residency, becoming a full-fledged doctor?” She squints at him over her glass of wine, suspicion plain in her gaze.
“Well, it’s a multi-faceted party,” Leorio says sheepishly, scratching at the back of his neck. He fiddles nervously with the pull tab, snapping the drink open with one quick motion.
“So the ‘Congratulations, Leorio’ banner…” Bisky trails off, her shiny Mary Janes tapping ominously against the floor.
Kurapika levels a hard stare at Leorio. “Did you do this just so you wouldn’t have to pay for two parties?”
Leorio laughs nervously and takes a long swig from his can of beer. Kurapika snorts in disgust, and Melody pats his arm. Nobody quite knows what to make of Leorio’s little revelation, but people start raising their own drinks to share in the toast, laughing and teasing their host.
This little revelation is so very Leorio , and Killua sighs as he raises his soda can to join in the toast and takes a long sip. Gon fumbles around for something to drink to join in, and Killua quickly presses his can into Gon’s waiting hands. “Oh, this is nice,” Gon mumbles as he drinks. “Thanks for sharing, Killua.”
“Just keep it,” Killua rushes. It’s not that he’s afraid of germs or anything, but even after all these years of dating, the thought of sharing an indirect kiss with Gon via a drink is a little too much. He glances over to where Leorio and Zepile are sharing glasses of champagne, arms entwined. Zepile takes too big of a sip and sputters for a moment, and Leorio presses a kiss to the corner of his mouth to catch the dribbles.
Killua shudders, grimacing in disgust at the sight of the slobbering, drunk buffoons. “Thank god I can’t make a fool of myself like the rest of you idiots.”
Leorio sneaks up behind him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Kiddo, you do that all on your own AND sober.”
It takes every bit of self-restraint to keep from zapping Leorio, but Killua’s an adult now…and Gon, still draped over his side and giggling, probably wouldn’t appreciate it. So he sulks and takes another can of soda while Leorio ruffles his hair and leaps back into the fray.
The rest of the party is spent congratulating the couple and ribbing on Leorio, who’s now been dubbed ‘the double entendre king’ by one of his coworkers. Gon doesn’t get it, but Killua promises that he’ll explain everything in the morning. But eventually all things—both good and awkward—must come to an end, and so too does Leorio’s combination graduation and engagement party.
The sheer quantity of alcohol that Leorio’s imbibed this evening finally catches up to him, and he’s passed out on the kitchen table, snoring like a buzzsaw. Zepile, the comparatively sober one of the two, assumes the host duties of thanking the guests and bidding them farewell…and also begging them not to draw on Leorio’s face (unfortunately, Bisky has other plans here). With a sigh, Killua settles Gon onto the couch to begin helping to clean up—because Zepile looks exhausted, and the last thing Killua wants is for him to tackle the huge mess left behind. Leaving it until morning will just make things worse, so…
Once he’s sure that Gon, who looks incredibly drowsy and dangerously adorable with that wobbly little grin of his, is comfortable, Killua moves towards the kitchen to get a trash bag. Or he would, but Gon is clasping his hand and tugging softly on it to catch his attention.
“This was such a nice engagement party,” Gon beams. “Killua, we’ve got to have one of our own!” He then promptly passes out on the couch, snoring almost as loudly as Leorio.
Killua claps his hands to his face reflexively, willing himself not to scream. He can't, however, help the deep red flush that sweeps over him from head to toe. It’s probably a good thing that everyone’s heading out the door (or in Leorio’s case, sound asleep). Because, damnit, there’s nothing Killua would hate more than to prove Leorio right.