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Bang, bang, bang.
Kurapika ignores the loud knocking on his front door in favor of glaring at the prisoner in front of him. Nobunaga rolls his eyes from where he sits, chained to a cherry hardwood chair in Kurapika’s kitchen, and drawls, “You gonna get that, chain user?”
Bang, bang, BANG. “Kurapika?”
Kurapika pinches the bridge of his nose, curses softly and then wraps yet another set of conditioned chains around Nobunaga’s torso and hands, ensuring the other man can’t easily escape. Then he pins Nobunaga with one last warning look before leaving the kitchen to answer his front door.
When he gets there, he takes a deep breath and tries curb some of the frustration that’s bubbling up inside him from the interruption but then the person on the other side starts up their banging again and it’s all Kurapika can do to not yell at them as he swings open the door, eyes nearly red, asking, “What?” in a hiss.
Gon blinks up at him in surprise. “Wow, Kurapika. I didn’t realize you got up so late during the week.”
Kurapika nearly groans in exasperation when he realizes Gon’s the one interrupting his interrogation but then confusion wins out. “What?” he asks again, this time much calmer and quieter. “What does that have to do with anything?”
Gon shrugs good-naturedly. “Nothing, I guess? Just…I wasn’t expecting you to be in your pajamas still? Not that they’re not cool or anything, but it is almost one in the afternoon. Anyways, can I come in? It’s freezing out here!”
Kurapika automatically shifts to block Gon’s entrance, not wanting him to see past him into the kitchen where he’s keeping Nobunaga. Gon pouts in disappointment when Kurapika doesn’t let him inside, shifting from foot to foot to try to keep warm, huddling down into his forest green puffy parka, but Kurapika can’t risk it. There’s no good way to explain why he has a Spider tied up in his kitchen of all places, without also explaining the long week, long month really, that Kurapika’s had, nor does Kurapika have the energy or time to go into the full story. He’s simply too exhausted. Besides, Gon might be wearing a parka, but he’s still in shorts, so really, he should learn to dress more appropriately for the weather. Kurapika refuses to feel guilty about not letting him warm up in the house when there’s still ice and snow on the ground if he’s going to go around dressed like that. Then the other half of Gon’s statement registers and Kurapika looks down at his own outfit only to realize he’s still wearing the pair of hand-me-down extras from the day before which Leorio had loaned him. It’s a testament to how tired he is that the next words out of his mouth are, “They aren’t mine,” without taking a second to pause and consider how Gon might interpret the statement.
Immediately, Gon’s eyes light up and he beams. “Oh! Oh, okay, cool! Congratulations, Kurapika. I’m sorry, I hadn’t realized. I would have swung by later if I had!“
Kurapika stares at Gon, uncomprehending, until it finally clicks. With a groan, Kurapika lets his head fall into his hands for a solid minute then balefully glares up at Gon. “Why did you come, again?”
Gon laughs and hands Kurapika a cookie order sheet. “It’s that time of year again! The Junior Hunter Scout League is selling cookies and I know how much you like your Choco-Mints and Lemon Zingers! Leorio reminded me earlier today that I needed to swing by and ask you. I just don’t understand why he’d didn’t mention he’d be here? We’re supposed to be meeting up later this afternoon and I was going to get his order then, but if he’s here, I could just pop in real quick and add it to the list?” Gon asks innocently enough, his eyes giving him away, being as full of mirth as they are and Kurapika knows he hasn’t heard the last of this, not by a long shot.
Mortified, and slightly worried Gon will try to force his way past him into the house to continue his teasing, Kurapika shuts the door behind him, firmly blocking Gon’s access this time and tries to divert Gon by asking about the pricing per box instead. It serves as a distraction for only a little while longer, Kurapika bickering with Gon over prices hikes and quality control until Kurapika hands the order form back to Gon.
“Thanks again for your order, Kurapika!” chirps Gon.
Kurapika smiles softly at Gon, glad to see his young friend so lively and happy to help out with his fundraiser, and says warmly, “You’re welcome, Gon. Anytime you need anything, just let me know.”
“I will! Have a great rest of your day, Kurapika!” says Gon brightly, with a big smile. Then, before Kurapika can wish him the same, Gon’s smile takes on a sly edge and as he turns to leave he adds, “And tell Leorio I said hi! Are you sure I can’t grab his order now? It won’t take but two minutes!”
Kurapika blushes a deep crimson and, without meaning to, blurts out, “He’s still sleeping, Gon.” Inwardly he groans and decides, fuck it, in for a penny, in for a pound, and continues, “I’ll ask him later when he wakes up. Besides, didn’t you say you two were meeting later on?”
Gon laughs, a little huff of amusement, and nods. “Yeah, yeah we are! I guess it can wait anyways. But! Make sure you ask him about family dinners! Now that you two are officially together, you should come over some time! We’re having our next one on Tuesday; you should come then! I’ll give Aunt Mito a heads up!” Before Kurapika can respond, Gon dashes off, turning only once to wave furiously over his shoulder before bounding off again, leaving Kurapika red as a beet. Cheeky brat.
Utterly mortified and also slightly aghast at himself for digging himself into such a large hole, Kurapika stares wide-eyed at Gon’s retreating back before shaking himself out of his stupor. Upon returning to his prisoner, his face reddens even further in humiliation, Nobunaga cackling as soon as he catches sight of him.
It readily becomes apparent that Nobunaga has heard Kurapika’s whole conversation when he asks, eyes full of mischief, “So, what cookies did you order, lover boy? Did you get your boyfriend’s favorites? Me, I could really go for some Caramel Swirls.“
“Shut up,” Kurapika hisses, eyes bleeding red.
Nobunaga grins, unrepentant. “Nah,” he drawls, “don’t think I will. This’s the best entertainment I’ve had in a while, seeing you get all flustered by the mere idea of you and that doctor getting caught out. The fact that that kid thought you had your lover back here when really it was just me! Betcha the look on his face’d be priceless if he only knew. And hey! If you’d just let him in, there’d be no misunderstanding! And I could have placed an order for the Troupe. I’m not the only one who likes the Scouts’ cookies, you know.”
Kurapika groans in frustration, checks Nobunaga’s bindings again, and, upon ascertaining their security, decides to postpone his interrogation until later. It’s been two days since he’s had any real sleep, he’s running on fumes, and there’s no way he’s prying any worthwhile information out of Nobunaga right now. Best if he gets a few hours of solid sleep first and then he can re-attempt his interrogation.
Mind made up, he heads back to his bedroom, ignoring Nobunaga’s taunts along the way. Once there, he bolts the door and then flops onto the bed, falling asleep almost immediately.
When he wakes again, his phone shows he’s missed seventeen calls and about thirty text messages from Leorio. Groaning in anticipation of a lecture, Kurapika brings up his number and presses call. He doesn’t have to wait long before Leorio answers.
“Sorry, I was—“ Kurapika starts to say but stops when he realizes Leorio’s words are overlapping with his own.
“So…is there anything you want to share with me?” Leorio asks, voice dry. “An explanation perhaps? A reason for why Gon thinks we’re sleeping together? What gives? I’m sure there has to be a perfectly good explanation for why he then went on to berate me for not telling him sooner after he visited you this morning, when I distinctly remember you rejecting me last night for a hot date with your Spider instead. Pika darling, if you wanted attention, all you had to do was ask,” Leorio huffs, voice vaguely amused by the end of his little speech.
Kurapika feels his face flame and mumbles out an apology; he can’t believe he forgot to tell Leorio that Gon swung by earlier and of the assumptions he had had, that Kurapika had not disavowed, had encouraged even. But to be fair, he had been exhausted and it wasn’t like he’d actually expected Gon to bring the story up to Leorio so soon. Still, it was his fault for forgetting, Kurapika knows, so he apologizes and promises to make it up to Leorio sometime later this week.
Leorio laughs his apology away and asks, “Did you at least get the information you need from Nobunaga?”
Glad to be back on firmer ground, Kurapika says, “Yes,” and proceeds to tell Leorio everything he had learned before taking his nap.
When he finishes, Leorio hums and tells him he’ll look into the leads. Then, as the conversation shifts, he adds, silver quick, “Y’know. If you really wanted to make it up to me…we could get that coffee we missed last night?”
Kurapika smiles and is about to agree when he hears from the kitchen, “Oi, chain dude! Lover boy! You gonna release me anytime soon? If not, can I get an order of those peanut butter ones? I’ve been craving them all night!”
Kurapika rolls his eyes at Leorio’s laughter on the other side of the line and mutters, “Maybe later. First, I have to take out the trash.”
Leorio snorts, then says, “You go ahead. Talk to you later, love.”
Kurapika smiles softly and then hangs up. Time to wrap up this miserable interrogation. He doesn’t want to make Leorio wait any longer than he has already.