Work Text:
Killua felt nauseous when his eyes creaked open.
It was dark out, the scenery outside being completely black with only speckles of stars illuminating the waves of the water beyond their front yard. He was in bed, bed beside Alluka and Gon, who were so deeply in sleep that they hadn't noticed the heaviness as Killua gasped for air, like concrete was on his chest stopping him from getting full gulps. His skin felt clammy, sweat and perspiration forming all over his body making his clothing stick uncomfortably, as well as his bangs being glued to his forehead. For a moment, once he regained his bearings and registered where he was, he tried to stay calm, but his anxiety, the loud pounding that echoed in his skull like a bellowing train made it hard to differentiate what was real or not. Killua turned his head and gazed at Gon, sprawled across the bed and halfway to the floor. And then he turned and looked at Alluka, snuggled in her pink sheets and a small doll that Kurapika handmade curled to her chest. She rustled for a moment but never stirred awake entirely, and for that, Killua felt himself thankful.
His hands, or well, his entire body, shook uncontrollably as he shakily stood from the way too clingy sheets and stumbled to the hall, shutting the door behind him. His nightmares had been growing worse and worse, and recently, he's begun a ritual of waking up scared and confused, which he never dared admit or confide to anyone about.
The floorboards below his feet began to creak uncomfortably, and the stairs shrieked even worse. He cursed himself slightly; he didn't want Kurapika to wake up because then he'd have to explain why he's up so late. From then on, Killua traversed the house more quietly, and an electric clock on a shelf read the time as 3:21 AM.
He'd pee, then get a drink and try to lay down and fall back into a restless sleep-
And then another creak came, but this one was not from Killua. It spawned from the kitchen, and Killua now noticed that the light was on. Somebody else in the house was awake, either Leorio or Kurapika.
Killua really prayed it was Leorio, he'd be more understanding, maybe he'd even give Killua something. Was this an onset case of insomnia? Is that why he couldn't sleep like a rock?
Killua tried to take a peek behind the door frame to see who it was, but he accidently slipped, having still not recovered from his dream.
Kurapika, in a grey sweatshirt he'd taken from Leorio, with a pair of mismatched fluffy socks and too short red shorts made only for sleeping turned around, a glass of tea in his hands. His golden, straw colored hair was haphazardly tucked away into a claw clip in the shape of a sardine can, but one piece hung down his entire face, shaping his moon complexion and adding a strange, but pretty look around glowing scarlet eyes.
"Why are you awake?" He turned around completely, an accusing glare staring directly at Killua.
Killua fiddled with his hands for a moment and then shrugged.
"Not sure." Is all he could muster out.
Kurapika frowned, and one hand met his hip, looking tired and annoyed.
"You were playing your DS weren't you? I told you that you aren't allowed to be on it past midnight. It's 3AM right now, you realize?"
Killua lulled his head back and rolled his eyes.
"You aren't my mom! And I bought it myself! I can use it how I want-" Killua decided to hush up before he said that last part...
"I don't care if you bought it, if I did, if Gon did or even Leorio! What I say go's, and I have no problem putting parental controls on it." Kurapika lectured.
Killua felt this itchiness in his skin, this hot, gross and angry feeling, like he had pent up aggression that he had no idea what to do with. His fists clenched and his eyes felt like they were unaware of what they were supposed to look at. He wasn't angry at Kurapika, but Kurapika yelling at him instead of giving him comfort didn't exactly make him feel all fresh. If he had scarlet eyes like the Kurta, he was sure they would be a vibrant color.
"Its not the stupid DS I wasn't even on it!" Killua grit his teeth together and looked to the ground.
"Why are you awake then?" It was accusing, and Killua didn't like that scratchy and rude tone that came with accusations.
"Can you just leave me alone! Maybe I wanted water! A snack! Maybe I went to sleep hungry because I didn't eat enough at dinner! Yes, my fault, I know, but I just thought I would be full enough! Maybe I had to pee or something!" Killua tried to move past Kurapika so he could grab a cup, but his upper arm was grabbed, stopping him and nearly pulling him back.
"Hey-!" He yelped, now feeling anger directed at Kurapika.
But as he made eye to eye contact with those scarlet eyes, he felt the words in his mouth dissipate, and suddenly he lacked the catty confidence he had moments prior.
Killua didn't like how overly comfortable Kurapika was, how he felt he had the right to just touch anyone in the house.
A cold hand sneaked up and held Killua's cheek, and Kurapika continued to study Killua's face.
Killua loved to be touched, to have his face held or swooped into a hug, or his hair getting ruffled up. So he tried to hide his real emotions from Kurapika, but the sheer gentleness, the comfort of being examined by and with someone who cared made Killua well up at the eyes.
Kurapika let go of his face and stood to height, before moving in and holding Killua.
"I had a nightmare, alright?" Killua muttered.
Kurapika sighed and let go of Killua.
"Its okay....I as well." Kurapika shushed him, before letting go and turning to grab another cup which was filled with hot water and a tea-bag.
"I was going to sit and think, but you can come with me if you want..." Kurapika held the mugs and began to walk around the kitchen island into the living room. He gave no time for Killua to respond, so Killua only hurried after, sitting on the couch that was across from a vintage reclining chair that Kurapika had perched himself in.
The tea was gross, Killua found himself not liking the flavor of it, but it smelled nice...so he gulped it up (or really down with minimal gagging) and basked in the quietness between the two. His body shivered for just a moment, from his nerves settling he assumed.
"Want to sit under the blanket with me?" Kurapika inquired.
Killua thought for a moment, before making his way over and sitting cramped between the space of Kurapika and the arm chair.
The blanket was a quilt, hand sewn by Kurapika like many of the blankets within the house. It had hand embroidered squares depicting birds and lilies and other wild life things, and all the blankets shared the same smell. It was a sorta old smell, the fabrics Kurapika used were all vintage to some degree.
The tea and the warmth of the blanket, as well as the steady breathing of Kurapika began to make Killua drowsy. His head fell against Kurapika's back, and he curled up like a kitten.
"I'm sorry for bothering you so much earlier." Kurapika whispered, and Killua only grunted, too tired to respond.
"I guess I'm just so used to people having an ulterior motive that I automatically assumed you were lying..." a slender and nimble hand came and brushed Killua's hair from his face.
"'S'okay, not upset..." Killua grumbled tiredly as he scooted closer and closed his eyes.
"My dream...it had me on edge. That's why I acted thar way...I never though about you being scared as well..." Kurapika dropped his head and gazed at Killua, but Killua jad already drifted asleep.
It tugged at Kurapika in an uncomfortable way...it reminded him of the nights he and Pairo would lay together, giggling all night until we were tired.
God, how he missed Pairo.
Kurapika felt himself letting go and falling asleep, but he thought of himself and Pairo, how Gon and Killua mirrored them.
That next morning, or well, later that morning, Leorio came awake and jolted with panic when he sifted around the big queen sized bed and couldn't find a sliver of Kurapika anywhere. The only piece of him was his gentle smell stuck in the covers. Leorio hurriedly got dressed, and as he buttoned his work shirt up, looking around for his love, a domestic scene of sorts caught his eye.
Kurapika and Killua nestled up on the couch, warm and mushed Leorio assumed.
They were out cold, sleeping with heavy puffs that weren't exactly snores. A hit of relief overcame Leorio and he smiled, now fixing his tie.
He walked over to Kurapika and moved his blonde bangs from out of his face, planting a kiss right in the middle of his forehead.
Kurapika shifted a bit in his sleep but he didn't wake up.
Leorio swore he heard voices in the kitchen last night. He shook his head and chuckled, planning to get ready and leave in time while hoping not to wake the pair.
What a family they were!