Work Text:
"Have you seen the worm trend?"
Illumi glanced up from the pile of new books he was currently stamping for his library collection. He blinked. "What is a 'worm trend'?"
Hisoka chuckled. "Lovers are asking each other if they would still be in love if they were a worm. Would you love me if I was a worm, Illumi?"
Illumi fell silent as he pondered it, spinning his book stamp in one hand, idly. He was quiet long enough that Hisoka turned to look at him over the couch. Finally, Illumi said, "I think, sometimes, every version of me will seek out every version of you. Every universe, every lifetime. If we are dolls in a child's room. If we are cooks."
"Cooks?"
"The version of me that owns a restaurant, and the version of you that likes to cook food--he will find you, and he will love you. Would I love you if you were a worm? I already do, somewhere, in the infinite versions of reality. You are a worm. I am one too. And I love you. Whatever it is I am made of, you are made of it too, and that stuff is whole only when we are together."
Hisoka turned entirely around, hugging the back of the couch as he faced Illumi. "I would love worm Illumi too."
"Of course you would," he said, patiently. "Every universe."
"Because we're made of the same stuff."
Illumi went back to stamping his books. "Yes."