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“Leorio, did you pay the rent?”
Kurapika asked absentmindedly, not noticing Leorio was miles away from there, with his earphones on and his MP3 player in hand, swaying happily to the beat of Eight Days a Week, completely unaware of his surroundings. When the blond noticed the lack of response, he turned his gaze towards the taller man with a frown.
“Leorio?”
Leorio was not there anymore; he only had ears for four men right now, and Kurapika was none of them.
“Leorioooooo!!!” He yelled exasperatedly, not because he had to repeat himself twice, but for the almost disrespectful way Leorio was ignoring his presence—and any other—in the full minute he had been standing there. He was deaf alright, but was he blind too? Had he no peripheral vision at all?
It wasn’t until Kurapika rudely pushed his arm that Leorio came to his senses. Startled, and almost throwing down the little blue portable device, he took off his earphones and turned his undone expression towards his roommate without saying a word.
Kurapika stared at him, eyebrows raised, waiting for an answer. Leorio was clueless.
“So?” Kurapika said. He was beginning to lose his temper.
“What?”
“The rent!”
“Ah!!! No, not yet.”
Kurapika put his head back as he released his frustration in a jarring howl, making Leorio’s eyes roll almost automatically.
“If we get evicted, you’re gonna have to find us a new place, just so you know,” he stated, plumping down onto the couch, next to Leorio.
“The deadline is in two days; we have time…” The taller man answered, carelessly putting back on his earphones.
Kurapika observed every movement of his with unamused eyes and shook his head slightly when his roommate got lost again in Paul McCartney’s vocals.
The carefreeness in which Leorio submerged himself, ignoring any responsibilities or survival instincts, was slightly annoying to Kurapika, but also intriguing. He looked at his roommate with squinted eyes, analyzing him from head to toe. What could possibly be that special to have him so enthralled?
Now that he thought about it, he didn’t know what kind of music Leorio enjoyed. The hell! He didn’t even consider him a music person at all. Of course he should listen to something—even if it was just garbage or the preposterous hits of the moment—but he never thought of him as a person who listened to music consciously and immersively.
Now he was even more curious about it.
Kurapika patted Leorio’s shoulder to draw his attention. “What are you listening to?” He asked, extending his neck, trying to catch a glimpse of what was playing on the little device.
The taller man took off one earphone with diverting curiosity. Was Kurapika eager to know his interests? Not that he didn’t want to share them, but they weren’t like that regularly. Internally, Leorio was dying to know Kurapika’s music taste, preferred film genre, and favorite color, as well as other trivial likes that friends usually know about each other. He had abstained from asking, though, fearing the blond might consider him nosy and annoying. Leorio tried to control the imminent joy that began to show in his eyes to keep the moment cool and not make Kurapika regret his question.
“Help! By The Beatles,” Leorio replied with a smile.
Kurapika’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise. He didn’t know what kind of music Leorio enjoyed, but he certainly didn’t expect it to be something familiar and akin to his own personal taste. He tried to restrain a giggle.
“What?” Lerio frowned. “Are you making fun of me?!”
Kurapika’s laugh filled Leorio’s ears, so rare and contagious it was a privilege to hear it.
“No!” Kurapika rushed to clarify. “It’s just… I had no idea you liked The Beatles…”
“Do you like The Beatles?” Leorio arched his eyebrows. “Do you even know them?”
The blond chuckled, tucking a strand of golden hair behind his ear. It was a fair question, considering the secluded condition of the Kurta clan.
“Yes, Leorio. I do know The Beatles. In fact, I like their music very much indeed.”
Leorio’s lips curved in a slight smile; Kurapika never ceased to amaze him.
Yet again, they proved to be more compatible and similar than they initially thought to be. Their music taste was divided merely by a thin line, with The Beatles being the point where they converged. Rock was their ultimate music genre. Nevertheless, while Leorio enjoyed more cheerful lyrics with romantic and nostalgic beats, Kurapika preferred more dark and heavy themes. But the Fab Four had a special place in his heart. Their songs sparked a warmth in his chest that extended throughout his body, showing in a delightful involuntary smile every time he heard them, bringing him nostalgic feelings of better times when he was just beginning to explore the outside world, when everything was new and exciting, when every landscape, song, and place was a perfect memory to share with Pairo.
“I’m glad to see you’re a man of culture,” Leorio added proudly, straightening his posture on the couch. “Which one is your favorite?”
“Let It Be.”
Kurapika’s reply was almost instant, a faint smile drawing on his lips. He looked away as he took a deep breath, probably trying not to turn the room gloomy.
“I also like John’s Imagine,” he added. “He was really something, wasn’t he?”
Leorio smiled. Typical of Kurapika, something soft and heartening, just like him, even if he tried to deny it more often than not.
“And yours?”
“Yesterday.”
Kurapika frowned as he let out a chuckle. He was expecting something more upbeat from Leorio. But then again, it kind of made sense. His roommate was a sucker for old films—musicals, to be precise—and there were times in which Kurapika could sense a certain nostalgia irradiating from him. He made himself an idea of what yesterday Leorio was longing for. Probably the good times with Pietro, where nothing mattered and everything was happy, even though they were poor.
“Good choice.”
They both laughed. The thing seemed to die there, but Leorio refused to leave it. He was having a good time.
“I never imagined you were a rock guy.” Leorio paused the music entirely and took off the earphone that remained in his ear, shifting to a more comfortable position on the couch, facing Kurapika.
“Well… I’m more into hard rock to be honest…”
Leorio raised his eyebrows. “I… thought you were more like… I don’t know… classical?”
Kurapika giggled. The Beatles, a fair share of classical musicians, and a bunch of funny pop songs were the few exceptions to Kurapika's heavy music taste.
Kurapika giggled. “Oh, I like that too. I have many interests, Leorio.” His smile broadened at the sound of his roommate chuckling. “And what about you? I would’ve sworn you were a cheesy plastic pop guy.”
Leorio denied with his head. “No, no, no. I’m a rock dude to the core. Not too heavy, but yeah.” Leorio sighed. “The Beatles, Weezer, Asian Kung Fu Generation… Oh! And Spitz! My favorite.”
Kurapika nodded absentmindedly; Leorio had just named a bunch of bands he knew very little of or nothing at all. The tall man gave a glance at the blond’s clueless expression, arching an eyebrow.
“Do you know any of the names I’ve just mentioned? Or…?”
Kurapika tightened his lips before he started chuckling. “Not really…”
“Unforgivable!” Leorio shifted position abruptly, getting closer to the blond and immediately putting the right earphone on his ear without warning.
Kurapika froze, a subtle burning sensation on his face threatening to give away his heart's secret yearning. He barely moved an inch as Leorio put on the left earphone and desperately looked for a song on his MP3. They were too close. So close, Kurapika could feel the warmth of Leorio’s body caressing his face and arms, and the penetrating cologne filling his nostrils with a rather pleasant fragrance. He startled at the sudden sound of the drums, followed by lively music.
A nice cozy beat that touched each one of his nerves all the way to the center of his soul. A melody so tender and lovely he wanted to cry at the sensation of his chest exploding with overwhelming sentimentality. The song wrapped him like a soft blanket; it was impossible not to smile and sway lightly in absolute comfort. Lyrics that longed for better and happier times, but never melancholic or resentful. Sloppy, just like Leorio.
“This is one of my favorites.” Leorio’s low whisper mixed with the music in a delicious way. “Whatcha think?”
Kurapika nodded with a silly smile. “It’s good,” he said, then turned his head to look at his roommate. “Sounds like you.”
Leorio stopped breathing as his brain ceased to function. Was that a compliment? He could die then and there for all he cared. He cleared his throat, trying to deviate the attention from his colored cheeks.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“What’s it called?”
“Xie Xie.”
Kurapika nodded again and continued to enjoy the rest of the song.
When it ended, none of them moved. Leorio was still trying to keep it together, and Kurapika was enjoying himself a little too much.
The next track began, with some high-pitched chords of an electric guitar accompanied by an excited loud yell from Leorio and the sudden increase of the volume.
“Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!! THIS. Pika, this song is a BANGER. You NEEEEED to hear this one!!!”
“It’s too high!” Kurapika complained.
“Who cares! It's worth it!”
“You’re gonna end up deaf if you continue listening to music at this volume.” Kurapika took the earphone briefly; he could still hear the song even if it wasn’t on. “What kind of doctor promotes hearing damage?” He concluded, putting it back on.
“I’m not a doctor yet!”
Fresh notes that rolled their bodies like a summer breeze invaded them. Light lyrics but not less meaningful. Easy-going and carefree, catchy and helplessly romantic.
“What’s this one?” Kurapika asked; he might add it later to his own MP3 tracklist.
“Island In The Sun," Leorio answered, still beguiled by the tune. After a few seconds he chuckled. He wasn’t sure if he should share the following thought with his roommate; he didn’t want to spoil the moment, but he was so undeniably happy at the time to allow any caution and common sense to make him doubt. “This one," he added distractedly, “kinda reminds me of you and me… on Zevil Island…”
Kurapika’s eyes opened wide, the fluster in his face unable to be denied; he felt his cheeks burning red, he only prayed his eyes weren’t too.
The musical bridge began to play, the perfect compliment to Leorio’s statement.
The string of the earphones made it impossible for their faces to separate; their eyes were fixed on the others, trying to read what was going through their partner’s head. Kurapika was searching for a trace of mockery, the slightest doubt or regret in Leorio’s gaze. The latter, still debating if the blond’s expression was annoyance or desire. One had to be brave enough to take the next step, whether it be forward or back.
It was Leorio, encouraged by the captivating strings of the electric guitar, who decided their faces weren’t close enough. Kurapika's breathing clashed against his face, warm and wet, an intoxicating sensation, his lips practically begging to be touched by his own. The blond didn’t move forward but didn’t back away either, and that was all Leorio needed to make up his mind. He began to eliminate the distance between them, inch by inch, breath by breath.
Accelerating heartbeats and flustered cheekbones, burning with the ecstasy of a kiss they could already feel in their minds even though they hadn’t touched yet. But that was only a temporary bliss, for the kiss was not meant to be yet.
The song came to an end, taking with it the perfect scenery and the endless possibilities.
As if waking up from a spell, Kurapika came to his senses, seeing Leorio’s face way closer than usual. He withdrew slightly, but the barely half inch he moved felt like a whole mile to the taller man.
Disappointment settled between them, even if the situation had popped out of nowhere and none had actually planned anything of the sort. Kurapika cursed himself for not being brave enough to remain, and Leorio hesitated on whether he should insist on the matter or let it go for way too long until the decision was made for him.
“It’s a nice song, Leorio,” Kurapika said with a tiny voice, taking off the earphone and giving it back to his roommate. “You have good taste.”
Leorio forced his lips in a weak smile, unable to say or do anything else.
“Maybe another day I should lend you some of my CDs so you have a chance to hear what I like.” Kurapika added, standing from the couch after a brief uncomfortable silence. A speck of hope emerging inside Leorio.
“I would like that very much.”
The thought of going after Kurapika to finish what had started crossed Leorio’s mind. It would only take a second to reach for his hand and pull his slender yet strong body back to him, to a distance where he could feel his heartbeats and watch his bright scarlet eyes from up close, to surround him with his arms as if to never let him go and feel those velvety lips on top of his, with the sweet and soft flavor they surely had.
He heard Gon and Killua’s giggles from the corridor outside their apartment. The opportunity was gone for good.
“Don’t forget to pay the rent,” Kurapika muttered before leaving for his own bedroom, a devastating hint in his voice.
Leorio crumbled on the couch, letting his frustration and regrets fade into Gon and Killua’s noisy chattering.
“Yo, Loradio! We’re back!”
“Leorio, look!! The ChocoRobo-kuns were on sale!!! We got one for you and Kurapika!” Gon yelled, sitting joyfully on the couch next to Leorio and showing him the chocolates. “There would be more if someone hadn’t eaten them on the way here!” The boy added, giving Killua a flat look.
Leorio smiled, trying to shrug off the current thoughts that filled his head to meet Gon’s happy mood.
Not everything was lost, not yet. It’s true it could’ve gone better, but nothing had changed for the worst; on the contrary, they had taken the first step towards an exciting possibility. Until that moment, he wasn’t sure if Kurapika felt the same as him; now he had an idea. He was almost certain.
Maybe when Kurapika showed him his CDs, they could try again.
They would have the opportunity to taste their lips and feel their rushed breaths, to stare at each other with sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks… someday.
He’ll make sure of that.