Chapter Text
Kurapika’s eyes were wide when they met yours, his cheeks flushed ever so slightly. You could see hesitation in that lovely gray, feel it in the space between you, crackling with an exciting energy.
Out there, he was dangerous and cold, an unbreakable force wielding chains and fueled by vengeance. In here, however, he was just a boy. Your friend.
Not that you felt particularly friendly, now. Your lips quirked into a shy smile, stomach flipping as you got up the confidence to say it, hoping and praying that you were right, that he wanted this, too.
“Aren’t you going to kiss me?” you asked, breaking the charged quiet.
Kurapika blinked, his breath audibly catching. For a second, a spike of fear hit you, worry that you’d miss-read all the signs and made a mistake in asking him. As much as you wanted to ruin your friendship, it wasn’t in the way of driving him from you in fear.
Then that moment of uncertainty ended, and he closed the space between you.
Kurapika’s lips were warm, slightly chapped, pressed gently to yours without any aggression or haste. It wasn’t the passion fueled frenzy of romance novels or even of lovers, but the sweet and hesitant expression of a true and tender affection. It was beautiful. Perfect.
As quickly as it’d happened, it was over. Kurapika pulled away, leaving your lips tingling and cheeks warm. Your eyes opened, although you weren’t sure when you’d closed them, to meet his.
Wide, bright, filled with a million different emotions that he normally kept hidden. You smiled with rapture at the sight, heart swelling with adoration.
“Again,” you breathed, wishing right then to never again be without the touch of his lips to yours.
“I already know the way the world works, I don’t need some pompous old man to tell me that,” Leorio scoffed, his rant about his medical professor having gotten him all worked up, drawing stares from those around you as you wanted towards your favorite cafe. Leorio didn’t notice, or perhaps just didn’t care, continuing on,
“It always comes back to money, but he acts like the poor chose to be poor! As if parents allow their kids to die when they can’t afford the proper treatment. It takes everything in me not to pull him close and-”
“Leorio,” you interrupted loudly, finding it hard to stifle a smile. Not at his complaints, but at his beautiful and kind heart, hidden behind that irritable tone. Unfortunately, his rant was making his face go red, which was always a bad sign.
“Eh?” Leorio asked, pulled from his growing anger. You put on a serious act, motioning for him to lean down so you could whisper something in his ear. Suddenly worried, he did so, the two of you stopping.
You went all out, cupping your hand and even brushing your lips close to his ear. He didn’t expect you to plant a kiss on his cheek, instead, making a little ‘mwah’ sound. It felt a lip gloss stain, turning his cheeks red for a different reason as he straightened out.
Leorio looked down at you, slightly disgruntled at your big, self-satisfied smile.
“What was that for?” he asked, far more indignant than upset as he wiped away the glossy mark.
“Because I love you,” you said simply. Leorio’s eyes widened before softening, then they narrowed.
“Sweet words won’t save you from my revenge,” he warned you, over-dramatic as always. You laughed, taking his hand as you continued walking.
“I’d be disappointed if they did.”
It was late, past dusk, and the woods were dark and still. Gon had drawn you out here with the promise of something beautiful. He hadn’t said the word date, but you couldn’t push away the hopeful idea that it was. That he’d confirm your desperate hope that he was as infatuated with you as you were with him.
“It’s right here,” he told you, although you didn’t see anything. Not even his face, the darkness kept you from seeing whatever expression he wore. Your stomach buzzed hopefully with nervous anticipation.
“What is it?” you asked, wondering if he felt as warm as you did.
“Come see,” Gon said enthusiastically, pushing aside some foliage for you to pass through.
What you saw as you entered the clearing made you pause.
Flowers, hundreds of them, grew among the grass. It was dark, but they didn’t need the light of the sun or moon to be seen. They glowed, lighting up the whole clearing as bright as any lantern could. You were frozen at the sight, almost unable to believe it was real.
“Be careful not to touch them,” Gon warned, “They’re poisonous.”
“They’re beautiful,” you breathed. Gon hummed in agreement.
You turned to ask him, wanting to ask what they were, but you’d misjudged how close behind you Gon was, bumping into him.
The touch of your lips to the corner of his wasn’t a kiss, not even an accidental one, but it could have been. Gon was warm for the moment you were pressed against him. But that moment was short, ended when you realized what had happened, you flinched away, trying to stumble back and give him space.
If it weren’t for his hands steadying you, you would have fallen over in your awkward retreat, eyes wide and lips tingling. Gon’s eyes were round, their surprise illuminated beautifully by the poisonous flowers.
“Was that on purpose?” he asked, a simple and curious question.
“No,” you responded quickly, afraid of giving him the wrong idea. To your surprise, Gon’s face fell, his disappointment obvious.
Seeing that made your heart thump, thoughts connecting before rationality could set in. You leaned in, closing the small distance between you. This time, your lips actually found his, your mouths pressed together for a prolonged second. He was even warmer now.
Gon’s hands still held you in place, keeping you close even after you pulled away from the demure kiss.
“That was on purpose,” you told him. Radiant in a way that had nothing to do with the flowers, Gon grinned.
“I’m glad.”
“You wanted something?” Killua asked, picking up his water battle and taking a few gulps. You forced yourself not to be distracted by the way his throat worked as he swallowed, fidgeting with your hands nervously. Although the two of you were drawing no attention, standing by the lockers in the back of the gym, you still felt as if the world was looking.
“Yeah, I just…” you took a deep breath, unable to meet his piercing blue eyes, “I really like spending time with you, and it’s cool when we work out together and you’re a great spotter but… Maybe we could hang out? Somewhere besides here, I mean, because I l-like you a lot and so I was wondering if you.. If you liked me too?”
How much time passed after your awkward confession was unclear to you, but it may as well have been years before he finally spoke.
“Idiot,” Killua said. Your stomach dropped. “Can you really not tell that I like you?”
Your eyes rose to look at him, heart racing hopefully. Killua looked slightly flustered, mussing up his unruly white hair. There was even a dash of color on his otherwise pale cheeks.
“Really?” you asked, hushed with awe. Killua met your eyes, a smile forming on his lips.
“I thought I was being obvious. You really are an idiot,” he teased.
“Well you’re the idiot if you thought you were being obvious, idiot,” you retorted, your eyes narrowed at him despite your soaring heart, “I had no idea, and I got myself all worked up thinking that you wouldn’t like me back and that I’d ruin everything. You could have at-”
Killua stopped your torrent of nervously excited words with a kiss, stepping close and leaning down before you could even finish the phrase. His hands held the back of your head, adding to the sweetness of the way he was pressed to you. It was short, nothing more than a few seconds of his lips against yours, but you had never experienced anything more romantic.
When he pulled away, you couldn’t help but try to follow him, seeking more. Killua’s laugh broke you from that bubble, your eyes snapping open.
“Was that obvious enough, idiot, or do you need more of an explanation?”