Archive of Our Own

Killua finished tucking in his shirt before turning around at the sound of Gon's voice. "Mmm?" 

His breath caught in his throat when his eyes landed on Gon. He'd thought that his assassin training had prepared him for anything, but apparently that didn't include seeing his best friend in a suit. 

Gon scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin, holding out his untied bowtie for Killua to take.

"Do you know how to tie this?"

Killua's tongue was so dry that it stuck to the roof of his mouth. He swallowed thickly and forced himself to stop gawking at Gon. Killua was just shocked at how well Gon cleaned up. That's definitely all it was. He had never seen his friend wear anything other than the same stupid green shorts and a tank top. He had to admit Gon looked way too good in tailored pants and a dress shirt, even though his shirt was buttoned crookedly.

"Of course I do, dumbass. Give it here." He snatched the tie out of Gon's hands to give himself something else to focus on instead of his sweaty palms. Why were his palms so fucking sweaty? He must've been nervous about the auction. That was definitely it.

"Thanks, Killua. I knew you would know how. You're always wearing fancy clothes and know a lot about fashion."

"Shut up," Killua scoffed, ducking his head to hide his rapidly heating face. He didn't realize Gon had noticed anything about his outfits. "I would say I can't believe that you don't know how, but you're an idiot, so I actually can believe it. It's like this, see?"

Killua went through the steps of tying the bowtie, Gon enraptured the entire time. He showed off the finished product like one would a caught fish.

"There," Killua said, handing it back to Gon. "Now, you do it."

"Uh," Gon said, untying the tie and putting it back around his neck. He fumbled with it for a few seconds before looking back up at Killua with a smile and sticking his tongue out.

"Do you think you could just do it for me? We're not gonna make the auction if I have to do it myself."

If humans could spontaneously combust, Killua would be engulfed in flames right now. Gon was too fucking cute for his own good.

And suddenly, it felt like a bucket of freezing water was dumped onto him. Cold sweat prickled his palms and the back of his neck. Well, that was new. And definitely not something Killua should be thinking. No, thank you. Gon was not cute. Gon was just some short, dumb idiot who used too much hair gel.

A dumb idiot who Killua had been entirely willing to sacrifice his life for just hours earlier. 

He pushed that unhelpful thought to the side and rolled his eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake. Come here." 

He tugged at the necktie perhaps a little too roughly, but Gon didn't complain. Killua could feel Gon's warm breath on his face, could smell his grassy meadow-like smell, and it was driving him crazy. He felt like an ant underneath the magnifying glass of Gon's unrelenting stare. Couldn't a guy catch a break?

"Done." Killua tugged at his own neckline as he took a step back to admire his handiwork. Christ, it was hot in here. "Also, your shirt is totally crooked. Didn't you notice?"

"Ah! Really?" Gon spread his arms out and looked down at his shirt. "So that's why it felt weird."

He gave Gon's forehead a light flick. "Idiot. You're lucky you have me around." 

For some godforsaken reason, Killua's feet stepped towards Gon again, and his fingers started unbuttoning and rebuttoning his friend's shirt of their own accord. By the time his brain caught up with him and asked him what the fuck he was doing, it would've been more awkward to stop, he told himself.

"I know I am."

Killua's fingers fumbled with a button at the warmth in Gon's voice. He could feel his ears grow pink and prayed Gon would pick this moment to grow a brain and learn to shut the fuck up. He valiantly did not stare at the tan flesh of Gon's chest peeking out from underneath his shirt. This was fine. Everything was fine. In fact, plastic shirt buttons were extremely interesting and worthy of intense examination.

Once his fingers finally decided to cooperate enough to refasten the final button, Killua cleared his throat and straightened Gon's bowtie. 

"Now you look like you weren't raised in a barn, at least," he mumbled. He met Gon's eyes for half a second before realizing that that was a very bad idea. He picked up his suit jacket and hastily shrugged it on to hide the sweat stains he was sure were forming under his arms. He'd have to ask Leorio to check him later. He must be getting a fever or something.

"Thanks, Killua. Now I can be handsome like you for once!"

"Shut up, idiot! Don't be so embarrassing." Killua stuck his hands in his pockets and hunched his shoulders, kicking at the floor with the toe of his shoe.

"It's the truth, though! Killua's handsome!"

Gon yelped at the suit jacket Killua threw at his face to stop him from saying anything else idiotic. "Put this on, and let's go. We've already wasted enough time."

Killua started walking away ahead of Gon, trying and failing to keep a stupid smile off his face. 

"Hey, wait for me! I still need to pin on my flower!"