dumbshow | answer your god damn phone

That... You got a reaction?

[He speaks that between catching his breath, staring briefly at the spots of blood in his right hand now. More violent than earlier in the day. It was progressing, after all, but could it be that each ill reaction encouraged more spreading, or a spike of sorts? It would make sense...

So even with Leorio's stumbling over words, he understands.]

Recently, I've started coughing up blood. [He admits this casually and out of the blue just now because it might be useful for everyone else and this whole deal in general, for the record.]

Leorio... If my symptoms worsen, don't stop to worry about me. Keep looking and see what you can do about it. I won't try to hold it back next time.

[It's funny, the way Kurapika says "don't worry about me" and expects Leorio to listen. Or rather it isn't funny at all, and his expression drops abruptly into dull shock before ramping back up to rather worried, with a hint of anger for good measure.]

Kurapika— [Ah, don't yell, inside voice at this hour.] When I told you to tell me if anything new happens, I didn't mean whenever you feel like it!! What were you thinking?!

[Never mind, don't tell him - he can guess. This new information has sent him reeling with concern that aches like a hole in his chest and anger that Kurapika is right here—and still hiding things from him. He lifts a hand to press over his face, nudging his glasses out of the way, and just - sits there for a minute.

He'd like to yell. It's written on every agitated edge of his body, he'd like to really let Kurapika have it, but at this, the first real sign of progress, to ruin Kurapika's stupid game- even now, Leorio's letting him get away with too much. When he speaks his voice is strained with more than just frustration about those symptoms.]

You're too late, Kurapika. [He drops his hand and pushes his glasses back into place before going right back to tapping.] I'm already worried about you! So shut up and let me do this, and I'll hit you like you deserve later!

[An outburst like that, again. He's not surprised, but he's not expecting the way Leorio has to stop to calm himself down, either. There's nothing he can say that would change anything or help anything, and he's pretty sure that even if he were able to repeat all of this, he'd handle things the same way... But there's a first foreign tug of regret and sorrow at that tone, and he's not sure how to settle it. Would he change something after all?

His expression dampens in his understanding, and right as Leorio starts again, he grips his hand in a soft squeeze. He cares... He knows he cares. Is he choosing the right person to be thinking about in this way?

His grip slackens just as quickly and he looks away, breathing out slowly. The tense air between them now does little to comfort his illness, so this waiting game doesn't last much longer. Another fit comes and it's accompanied with a wave of the nausea that's usually underlying and minor. It's like a punch to the gut, and he takes it as such, hunching over and gripping Leorio's shoulder with his free hand to support himself. He's left coughing off to the side, violent with labored breaths between.]

[That grip says more than an actual apology could right now, somehow, and Leorio isn't sure how to sort that emotion. Just after he's made himself calm down Kurapika goes and does that, and his shoulders go taut with emotion again in time for Kurapika to all but collapse on him.

With that happening, Leorio promptly does exactly what he was just told not to do and stops immediately again, raising his hands to steady Kurapika but not sure where to actually put them, as he's not actually falling over... One hand winds up mirroring Kurapika's grip on his shoulder and the other hovers between them, tense.]

Kurapika- hey, hey, breathe... [It's not a command but a comfort, a stream of meaningless reassurances following it. Kurapika might want to keep his distance, but even someone like that needs some kind of comfort when they start coughing up blood, right? Right, so let him keep at this.

It's not much longer- a pause between coughs- that Leorio figures out what to do with his other hand, and while he keeps doling out the occasional word of comfort he places his hand lightly against Kurapika's chest. Then- just below his collarbone- taps.]

[I'm trying, he wants to say. Don't stop! I'm fine!

But he can barely catch his breath to allow for it, and that alone is frustrating enough. His fingers tighten over Leorio's shoulder, the other hand falling between them to rest where it happens to land on Leorio's leg. All of a sudden, is this getting a lot worse...? Or is it that Leorio is onto something? There's no way he can tell, himself, but he refuses to bring that potential realization to light. If Leorio thinks he's making it worse, he could stop.

On the other hand, this must be a sign of improvement. Resistance would mean progress. Of course, he has already stopped, and Kurapika opens his mouth to protest that when he feels a light tap at his chest.

For a brief moment, he looks surprised. That touch brought a quick flash of freedom from whatever the hell this was, eaten the moment it ended. Not strong enough? He's not able to comment on it fast enough, choking on his words and turning his head to the side for that cough.

Leorio, too, must have noticed how much more of a 'reading' he got from that spot. Whatever it is is most certainly more focused in Kurapika's chest.]

Again. [When he does speak, it's short to make up for his coughing. But the point should get across from just that word.]

[Thanks for not coughing in his face.

Leorio is briefly surprised as well, although seconds later it seems obvious that if Kurapika's worst symptoms have revolved around coughing, it's something in his chest... As much as he'd like to he doesn't say anything, only nods and does it again.

There's definitely something there, but other than that it exists, he isn't sure of much else. Leorio's brow creases; the possibility that he's making it worse by interfering has crossed his mind as well, but— maybe if Kurapika were to try and "find" it for sure, as he's more skilled with nen-]

This time- [He pauses for a beat and squeezes Kurapika's shoulder, bracing him or himself or both-] Can you try to find it? Right when I— [Tappity tap.]

[He can't much feel Leorio's aura itself, but the effect that it has as it goes through him at certain points. He understands he's looking for guidance here with his lack of knowledge. His fingers curl, both at Leorio's leg and shoulder, and he forces himself to relax more naturally as he continues the tapping.

His eyes close in his focus. It's a little tricky, but he uses a bit of nen himself, or specifically en. Comparing the state before and after in his own life energy. He has to relay what he does notice to Leorio.]

Your nen is forcing whatever it is out of the way. It's definitely something foreign meant solely to attack my nen. Which means-- [His long speeches don't work out as well when he's coughing, so there are pauses laced between them here.] ...it must run on the specific rule to go after the nen it targets alone. An individualized attack without the entire effort.

[And meant to react to resistance. It's a complicated one. The taps are drawing out more symptoms now, and Kurapika wobbles forward a bit but catches himself with the grip on his shoulder.]

There! [He gasps it out as Leorio does his last tap, reaching up to cover Leorio's hand over his chest with his own.] That's the most difference. It must be centralized there.

[To be honest, Leorio doesn't need much detail beyond the part about his nen forcing this thing out of the way. So it's helping? From here it looks like Kurapika is faring worse each time, but- if he insists- Leorio will trust him.

Despite being jerked around and lied to about the rest of this illness, he will. The things he does.]

The— okay. [Okay, shit, is this it? Is this the opportune moment that he can either handle well or royally screw up? No pressure, right??

He thinks quickly; he doesn't know where it's going to go, but if his nen is forcing it out of the way, then it should be better to knock it out of the park in one hit. Prodding at it like he is now only seems to be agitating it, so if he thinks of it like ripping a bandaid... It should work.

Or it could go horribly wrong, but he's trying not to panic.]

Okay, I'm gonna- here. [He nudges Kurapika's hand off his own without losing his place so he can put more force behind this tap. Here goes nothing??]

[He's not sure what Leorio is doing, but he'll trust his judgment for now. Moving his hand back to the bed now, he focuses on breathing, relaxing his own defenses.

In the end, it does help. That tap isn't just a 'search', is it? He feels it this time, even without the way it ripples through his own nen and shoots at the foreign bits. Somehow, was he destroying it from the inside? Or working it apart little by little? In a last ditch defense, it seems to try to fight back.

Somehow, it abandons exclusivity that it was exhibiting before. Kurapika doesn't generally yell from pain except in extreme cases, but this does make him double over in pain. His grip slackens for a moment before he jolts himself awake and holds on tight, falling into Leorio's support more as he winces.]

Whatever it is is most certainly run by nen. It's following rules and conditions, so your attempts to push it out are a threat it's trying to fight against. Probably. [He's out of breath as he says this, eyes closing for a moment.]

You have to focus on pushing that same type of aura through my whole body at once. I think that should be enough to knock it out for good without it dispersing out of the way. But if you're not careful, it could do a lot of damage...

[Ah, how does he say this properly.]

Use that same amount of care and control, and up just the force and direction. Do you think you can do that?

[Shit— did that fail? When Kurapika falls into him Leorio can only assume the worst, but - well, he's okay enough for long-winded explanations.

So there's that.

He hums in acknowledgement as he listens as their relative positions make it pointless to nod silently now. With his free hand he reaches for Kurapika's opposite shoulder, curling his arm around him to keep him steady and upright. Thankfully he doesn't need to see to use this technique. He's anxious, but somehow manages to keep both his hands steady as he readies this, the tap to end all taps.

Hopefully.]

I got it the first time... [A low-voiced objection, rude- but he does appreciate the simpler terms if only because they distract him from the surge of worry that hit him at the suggestion he could really screw something up. He takes a deep breath.] Trust me.

[Force and direction, force and direction... Like punching Ging, but without the punching, right— Thinking of it that way helps. After taking a moment to swallow his nerves, he focuses - and with the extra force behind it, this tap is more like a press, but here goes.]

Of course I trust you.

[His voice is low, but they're awfully close so it's loud enough to be heard. By now, Kurapika's hands have shifted to grip at the front of Leorio's pajamas for bracing, the most natural he can manage now.

He trusts him a lot. A move like this could damage his use of nen completely. It could hurt organs and mess with things that shouldn't be messed with, but Leorio is familiar with the anatomy of a human body by now. He's the best person to ask to perform something like this.

Then, he taps. An even stronger sensation than before, he still feels pain but it's more controlled somehow. Heavy at first, he lowers his head into Leorio's chest without thinking, fingers curling tight and tugging at his shirt. But just that quickly, the pain dissipates. The best part may be that there's a visual cue. Kurapika's nen spikes automatically, and from it, a different, darker colored nen is forced out before being struck completely and fading out of existence.

It doesn't hurt anymore, but Kurapika stays where he's leaning, catching his breath without any of the coughing this time.]

[The arm around Kurapika holds him tighter instinctively the moment Leorio can tell something is happening. After that push of aura he leaves his hand where it is but doesn't try again, waiting to see what happens. It feels like a much longer wait than it has any right to be, but if the worst happened and Kurapika is hurt even more than before...

In seconds, though, after days of waiting and worrying, it works. Leorio still feels frozen in place, and if he were a... quieter man, he could be content to sit here and listen to Kurapika breathe without it being ragged, but-

Well, he makes it a minute or two. Then he's restless, tapping his fingers on Kurapika's shoulder in a plain old impatient way.]

Better? Give me something.

[He did it.

That's all he can think at once, but he waits. Rests there, listening to his own breathing, using en, feeling for any coming coughing fit. There was only leftover damage from what had already been done that could soon heal in time. No remaining issues he could detect. It was the same as before he'd come down with the cough.

He wasn't going to die. The rest of them could be saved. Relief floods through him, and he rests there in it longer, enjoying the comfort without even realizing what it is.

Leorio's words actually get him to jump slightly, a very small twitch in his motions. He hadn't realized-- how long was he just laying there?]

Ah, sorry. [Pulling back in his embarrassment, he looks somewhere else even as he reaches up to take Leorio's wrists, guiding them gently down.] You did it. Unless you can sense something yourself, everything seems to be fine. I never expected that in just one night...

[He's smiling, actually, reacting without thought to the warm feeling in his chest now.] Thank you.

[Kurapika is alright. The tension in Leorio breaks all at once and raw emotion rushes up to the surface, held back since he started using his nen. He shakes his head mutely and somewhat shocked; it worked, it works, they have proof now and he can do the same thing with Melody and the others-

Tomorrow, when he isn't so tired all of a sudden. Tomorrow for sure, he'll save them all, but for now Kurapika is smiling at him and not dying on him and his throat burns as he definitely looks like he's about to burst into messy tears-]

Goddamn it!! [okay] I was so worried— [That's as far as he gets before he reaches up again to pull Kurapika bodily against him now in what is unmistakably a hug. He's only crying a little, don't look, it's embarrassing.]

[This time, he doesn't react poorly to the hug. It's overwhelming and embarrassing, but this has been so much pressure on Leorio... His hands raise and wrap around Leorio in turn, loosely reciprocating the hug.]

I'm sorry, Leorio. [Hearing him being open has always made it easier to be open, himself. Even their first meeting had gone that way. He's nowhere near crying himself, that small smile still on his face, but there's definitely emotion laced through his tone.] For placing this burden on you, and for convincing myself that I had to be alone. I shouldn't have ignored you.

[In fact, this is very reminiscent to their first meeting. He's less idealistic and naive, and he has his own dark thoughts about his goal with the spiders, but... Maybe he missed this a little. Leorio being Leorio.]

You don't have to cry.

[Well, now that it's obvious he's a blubbering mess— he'll continue. It takes him a couple seconds to catch up with what Kurapika is saying - apologizing to him. He wanted to yell about this very topic just earlier, yet somehow Kurapika being alright makes all of his annoyance and urges to shake him seem far away and unimportant. For now. As long as he doesn't do it again, then they'll have to have Words.

Of course, he'll want to dissolve into the floor from embarrassment tomorrow morning, but for now he's murmuring something incoherent and relieved into Kurapika's shoulder while he belatedly remembers how to form a sentence.]

You owe Gon an apology too!! And Killua! [just for the record... He makes a noise like he's about to follow with another statement, probably something about already forgiving him, but ahh... maybe he shouldn't be that emotionally available. Just wibbling everywhere. At the same time, he is significantly happier now.

So, what to say—] Shut up for a minute.

[romance]

I know. [At that, he does look extremely guilty. THE SONS...] But at least in the meantime, they have each other.

[He doesn't realize how close to an earlier thought from Leorio that is, and he doesn't realize the implications that come out with that. It doesn't matter. His hands slide down Leorio's back slightly (he can only hug effort for so long), but he doesn't pull back, at least.

He does, however, shoot whatever part of Leorio he can view right now a mildly offended look.]

How many times are you going to tell me to shut up tonight? [After all those calls, he thought he'd want to talk.]

[Ah- that gives him pause, but he won't get into it right now. Save that for a time he's not tearing up fresh every 30 seconds...]

Well, it isn't working yet, so I'll have to keep at it! [So THERE. He'll want to talk later, but since he clearly directs all the conversations Kurapika artfully pirouettes away from like a child avoiding doing his chores, it's not going to happen right now... He's tired. Heavy nen usage tiring a person out is something he vaguely recalls hearing about, and after what he just did, it would make sense. As the adrenaline wears off, too, tiredness whacks him in the face.]

I don't think you know how to shut up. [He considers and then moves, scooting closer to the wall to lean his tired head there and thoughtlessly dragging Kurapika with him - this hug isn't over.] I think if you stop talking, your brain shuts down.

[but how obvious is it that he's tired, in all honesty...]

You should get that looked at.

Edited (i am also tired) 2014-12-28 09:05 (UTC)

[The scoot is certainly noticeable, but just as Leorio is tired, Kurapika is wiped out. He hasn't slept much the past few days (or weeks?) and he'd just had some sort of poison nen removal procedure performed.

He finds that he doesn't have the strength to complain about it, using gravity as an excuse to lean in the hug (which his arms are still barely holding onto, by the way, this is a really long hug...), eyes closing as he registers those comments.

He lifts a hand and slaps it against Leorio's chest in retort.]

You're the one speaking nonsense now. [So why don't YOU shut up, is what he's saying. He'll keep that hand there and his eyes closed, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly. Even like this... it's comfortable. He'll end up embarrassed about this in the morning, but right now, he can't even keep his eyes open, let alone speak about moving.

Fine, he'll shut up, he thinks, and stays like that. It's a reason to give in to tiredness, and he does just that, almost instantly drifting away to sleep, regardless of if Leorio keeps trying to talk.]

[This is Leorio's victory... Kurapika is shutting up. He scoffs at the half-hearted slap, equally half-hearted as he is also half asleep. He definitely says something like "no, you are" before he gives up and appreciates the quiet. No death coughing, no Kurapika speeches—this is a miracle.

He doesn't manage to stay awake much longer than Kurapika, nodding off with his head against the wall. At some point in the rest of the night he definitely tips ungracefully over sideways and his glasses are going to leave an imprint of frames on his head for the next day, but for the first time in days it's an undisturbed sleep for them both.

Ruined, naturally, by Kurapika's way-too-early phone alarm going off, which both startles Leorio into consciousness and gets him to whack his head against the wall. Good morning already. It takes him a moment to wake up properly and another to remember he may have neglected to fall asleep in his own bed.

Ah.

Perhaps if he stays still (now, after beaning himself like a scrub), Kurapika won't smother him with a pillow.]

[Undisturbed and enjoyable, at least in Kurapika's case. Sleep was so hard to get in this business, and even when he managed to, he's usually too stressed from it to actually sleep deeply. There's those occasional nightmares about the Spider, too.

This one, though, was warm, relaxing, and didn't feel too short at all. So when the alarm goes off at its usual time, there's no jolt from him. He doesn't even register the slam of someone's head against a wall or the movement next to him. There's a small noise as he contemplates neglecting to get up, but he's never so irresponsible, so it only takes a couple more moments to sit up and reach sloppily for the table nearby and shut it off.

His eyes only just opening, he recognizes something off and turns slowly to face behind him on the bed.

It's still the morning, and even if he's an early riser, it takes a few moments to register who he's blinking sleepily at. Slowly, it hits in, and a shocked and embarrassed expression settles onto his face.]

L-leorio?! [He's going to grip the pillow next to him and throw it at Leorio's face, now, thanks.] What are you still doing here?! [And come to think of it, when did he fall asleep, actually... Oh my god, he's so embarrassed.]

[Right in the face, good morning to you too, sunshine. Leorio sputters indignantly and throws the pillow right back, hurriedly pushing himself up to a sitting position before he's whacked again.]

Hey, quit it— I don't know!! [Leorio has chosen yelling to quell his embarrassment.] You fell asleep on me!

[This isn't his fault, see??]

You--!!

[Fell asleep under him? No, wait--] You--! [Hugged him! That was it! Hugged him for like ever and wouldn't let go! And it's not even that Kurapika minded that, or minded this. There's a strange fondness in his chest that he's trying to beat down because all it's doing is adding to the embarrassment.

Clutching the pillow in his frustration for all that time, he finally tosses it aside and stands up in a huff. He stops at the mirror, checking that his earring is still on (it is), and then going through some of his things to find his contact solution. Ah, he left them in too long again, where was it...]

Nevermind. Just let me get dressed and go do that yourself. [Please, this PJ thing, it's embarrassing. Everything is embarrassing and he's actually 14. He does pause, though, when his contacts are out and in some solution, to look back over to Leorio.

Honestly... When the fiery embarrassment does start fading, it's a little funny. And he recalls the more important events last night. The illness, the words, the cure, and the tears. For a brief moment, anger wipes from his face completely, and he actually looks pleased.

But he's quick to turn his attention back to his mirror set-up.]

Nevermind. Just go get dressed so I can as well. [A pause.] You have to save everyone else, after all.

[Um, only Leorio gets to yell here, sit down Kurapika.]

Kurapika, you-!! [Are seriously harshing his morning yell, here. Leorio's fumbled his way off the bed and onto his feet while Kurapika acts like a little wimp in the corner, and he's ready to get into it when Kurapika gives him that look and, oh... never mind. It's like someone popped a balloon and his agitation just wheezed out and left him standing there, not angry, kind of- okay?

He scratches his cheek, only a moment later remembering to awkwardly stick his glasses back into place, oops.]

Uh- sure. I'll meet you... [here?? the elevator?? downstairs?? which one is the least lame, why does he care] I'll meet you.

[And he's stealthily going back to his own room now, finally...]

[It's like he's acknowledging all of these things and what they lead to, but he refuses to register what it means. It's right there, but he's stubborn, staring into the mirror for a good minute before he moves to get changed. Today, he doesn't need to wear a suit, so he puts on his old outfit just because.

From there, it's his contacts, making the chains appear on his right hand, and stepping out that door. He hasn't heard Leorio come out yet, so he knocks on his door first, light and patient. If he doesn't do this, who knows where Leorio would try to 'meet him'.]

Are you ready?

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