answer your god damn phone

[dialtones]

[How many calls had he missed from Leorio alone?

Honestly, he preferred not to look at the number. It was wrong, but this wasn't something he could pull any of them into. He'd been wrapped up in his own little world, paying attention to the news enough when it related to his work and his end goal, and while he could have gone to the elections or even to visit Gon (his comrades had, after all), he decided against it. Visiting would have just opened up a whole can of other problems.

Maybe it went against what he'd been thinking before, but he had matured a bit since then. With the Spider desperately working to repair itself, and plenty of its members still on the move, Kurapika had to consider how to handle them-- but he was also sitting right on top of the location of the eyes of his brethren. He had to work up to it, and well... That's what he'd done.

There were a large amount of them recovered (he had to deal with a lot of people to get this collection) and given funerals, but it wasn't enough until he had every last set. There were still leads to follow, and so he continued to climb and gain Nostrade's trust.

Trust, though, is what leads him to pulling his cell phone out now. A strange illness was breaking out in the Nostrade organization, and it was worrying Nostrade himself. A few of his workers had already died, and panic was growing. He demanded that Kurapika find him someone to find out what was going on, but to be sure it was someone they could 'trust', because this could very well be an attack on them.

A doctor that he could trust? His first thought was that there was none. But after just a moment's more hesitation, he gives in and speaks his understanding clearly to Nostrade, hitting the call button on his phone and stepping away. His opposite hand curls at his elbow as he waits. This is pulling him in, but if it's just Leorio... It'll be easier to keep him in the dark about a lot of what he's been doing.

He'll use that to justify this selfish decision.]

Leorio?

Comments

[speeddial]

[He's super sweet. And charming. And smart. Here's a list of things Leorio will fight to get Kurapika to say about him, in due time.

He opens his mouth like he'll say something, and he plans on it being something about how if Kurapika had picked up the phone... except that he suddenly isn't sure if they'd be here now if Kurapika had picked up all his calls. Would they still be going in circles? Leorio can't deny he'd have been satisfied by an answer every now and then.

That's kind of lame, he thinks, and changes what he means to say to,] Hmph.

I'm full of surprises. [Dryly, but not negatively... he knows he's predictable... With his other hand he reaches for Kurapika's shoulder and tugs, wrapping his arm around to pull him into a hug. A hug where no one is still half-panicking about near-death experiences, that's novel.]

[dialtones]

Surprises.

[He repeats it simply, and that alone should convey his teasing. Leorio... surprising. Well, sometimes. But he won't admit it. Not when he's usually so predictable. Like the hug. The hug is a little surprising, even if he's learning to grow used to it. He's pulled closer and his free arm settles loosely at Leorio's side in return.

He can't deny it's comfortable like this.]

My schedule is cleared out for today, just so you know.

[speeddial]

[That's a surprise. Is it a coincidence? Did Kurapika actually block out time to yell at him and/or kiss him on a crappy office chair? Leorio isn't going to complain (about that) but huh...]

What, seriously? Ahh, now I have to keep you busy, is that it?

[A constant struggle. What ever shall he do, save for turn his head to seek out Kurapika's mouth and kiss him again.]

[dialtones]

[Wow Leorio!! A smile tugs at the corners of Kurapika's lips even through that kiss, and he pauses to take it in. It's embarrassing that he'd be fine doing this all day. All night, even. But Leorio seems to be on a similar page, so he can easily feign confidence. And from that, he feels comfortable.

There's a contemplative hum as he kisses back and cuts it short to speak.]

Did you want me to change that?

[speeddial]

[To be fair, what else would they do... They may not have left this building in days, but Leorio doesn't seem opposed to spending even more time locked in this little room.

Pros, cons. He does however sputter, no, don't sass him so abruptly.]

I didn't say that.

too many smiles I feel ooc already leorio needs to tone it down

[dialtones]

[No, he'll sass him all he wants. He looks so proud of it too, in this moment, leaning closer to take another kiss.]

Stop trying to act cool.

rejected

[speeddial]

[Kurapika can't use kisses to get away with everything, he's putting his foot down on this right now. Look at this, this is still sassy.]

You don't think I'm cool? Your loss!

wow!!!

[dialtones]

I didn't say that.

[What. Is he implying he thinks Leorio is cool after all?? His tone doesn't make it very clear, but he frowns a little stubbornly and grips the hand under his own, hovering a few inches away like this.]

I only said you're trying too hard right now. Are you trying to make me angry?

[It's half working sTOP TRYING TO FIGHT WITH HIM even if he goes for it every time and starts it himself...]

[speeddial]

[HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!! He's not trying to start anything, it's?? in his blood maybe?]

What the hell, Kurapika? [you are always angry] I'm just talking to you! Normally!!

[So yes, being annoying is just default, no big deal.]

[dialtones]

[Leorio...........

He could tell him to stop talking, but where's that going to go? Instead, he leans so their hug topples over sideways on the bed, rolling rather aggressively on top of him with a kiss.

Maybe that will shut him up??]

[speeddial]

[Okay but NEXT TIME, Kurapika can't solve all his problems with kissing, really. Next time, he means that. Leorio definitely makes a noise of not-really-protest to that effect against his mouth, but of course doesn't push him away...

Still, he's kind of annoyed Kurapika is so eager to get mad at him. So when he tugs his hand free of Kurapika's tender vice grip to thread fingers into his hair again, it's in an equally aggressive motion as he kisses back.

He's still going to win!!]

I swear if leorio is a goober again..... i swear

[dialtones]

[Look, it's just embarrassment, it'll pass. It's passing right now!! Because as startling as it is to have that aggression shoved right back at him, it's focused in a way that is Not Bad at all.

His hands are free now and that's fine. They clutch into Leorio's shirt as he adjusts himself on top of him, and yet again, he's straddling him. There's no hesitation or going halfway like there had been in the chair before. Months. It had been months since he felt this relaxed and this at peace, even longer since the stress of work and goals was a presence only at the back of his mind. And now, how long did he have?

They needed to work things out still, he realizes, and that leaves too many opportunities open. But he's not going to verbally try to seal Leorio here, either. That wouldn't be right.

He has so many questions, too. How long had he felt this way? How long had either of them felt this way? And what did this mean? Was he prepared to deal with the line of work that was bound to come? The endless recklessness that Kurapika knew he couldn't avoid in this? And what if an enemy learned anything about this? It was a weakness, wasn't it?

They're just kissing, but Kurapika is working himself up emotionally in a lot of ways. He's grateful. Grateful, and sad, and worried, and hopeful, and suddenly his kissing seems a lot more emotional, too. One hand slides up to touch Leorio's cheek and the other grips a little too tightly at the sheets beside his head.

The stop for a breath, this time, is extremely short. Just long enough to say his name.]

Leorio... [Like he has more to say. But words won't do this time, and so his eyes flick back down to those lips and he kisses them again.]

you're playing a dangerous game

[speeddial]

[It's somewhere after Leorio's aggression shifts from coming from his annoyance to coming from responding to Kurapika that he wonders if Kurapika is still half-mad at him. No? Probably not? It might be good to know, as much as he's way more concerned with Kurapika's mouth on his and the way his hair feels and just- Kurapika in general. He might be the more emotional one between them, but overthinking things has never been his bad habit.

Later, he thinks, later later later. That must be part of why he endured having his calls ignored for so long— it's so much easier to think later and deal with the resolution in a time that never comes. Right now he has Kurapika to himself, and everything else can wait.

The hand not in Kurapika's hair slides down to the bed, pauses, then slides halfway up his thigh to rest there. He squeezes affectionately, as affectionate as squeezing a thigh can be, and it's in response to Kurapika's shift in mood. Leorio can tell something is up- he usually can, but more now when they're all but attached to each other- and of course, of course he has that little moment of concern.

This time, he doesn't try to get Kurapika to stop and explain himself. He has his own priorities, y'know, like memorizing how Kurapika tastes in case he doesn't get to do this again for days or weeks or ever (which should be a sign that he's in way deeper than he planned, but he barreled past that hours ago). That, and this is too good a moment to actually, actively piss Kurapika off. Thinking about it after the rest of his stupid fumbles today makes him grin stupidly anyway, against his lips. For some reason it's all very funny, suddenly, that he can yell and get stuck in a chair and Kurapika still wants to kiss him.

Ah, yeah. He's so in over his head.]

ah and then kurapika goes and gets too excited ("too excited" pls)

[dialtones]

[Kurapika can feel him smiling, and that's enough to make his chest feel light, despite all the burdens. For this moment, everything felt like it was falling back into place. Revenge wasn't the only thing he was trying for. There were his friends, and a whole world to explore and journey, like he'd always wanted. Like he's doing now, in a way.

The squeeze to his thigh earns a small noise, and his hand slides back behind Leorio's ear so that it's more natural to deepen the kiss. His breathing is heavy, of course, barely getting any breaths in between all of this emotion-filled kissing, but somehow his heart seems to be beating at an even more rapid rate than expected. It doesn't click right away what that means. He's not really trying to think.

It was relaxing at first, this kiss, but now, each bit seemed to encourage more. The warmth was inviting. The body beneath him, the hands on him, the lips he was chasing after without a break, and the growing sensation in the pit of his stomach. He closes his eyes, and that lets him appreciate it more. Each brush of clothing or skin, the way Leorio was breathing between everything, the rustling made from his inability to sit still on top of him, here.

It peaks to a point where he's not sure what's next. The position isn't close enough, he's not making Leorio hum as much as he would have liked, the kissing isn't doing it, the warmth could be so much more--

There, he has to break from the kiss. It's with a heavy exhale that he turns his head away, body falling completely on top of Leorio's for his own type of hug. Catching his breath and ignoring the way his whole body feels flushed, he presses his face into Leorio's neck.]

Sorry. [He adds it after he's had a few seconds to at least manage the breath to speak.] I may have gotten... carried away.

[Only he would be formal and apologetic about a makeout session, really.]

kurapika gone wild

[speeddial]

[The impression Leorio is getting is that Kurapika has actually done this before, or at least thought about doing this before. Both seem equally impossible, but that's how it seems from his, ah- vantage point. Kurapika's touch and the pressure of his mouth and body are encouraging, like a force pulling at him and that's definitely what leads to him sliding his hand further up Kurapika's thigh before switching over to his hip.

He squeezes there, too. All at once he notices the change in Kurapika - how could he not - and that thing tugging at him makes his heart pound and breath come less easily in the brief moments they break apart. His grip in Kurapika's hair tightens and then releases as Leorio moves his hand a few inches down to curl fingers into the back of Kurapika's shirt. He can feel the heat radiating off Kurapika and seeks it out, relishing each point of contact between them and tugging on his shirt to pull him impossibly closer—

And then Kurapika stops because he has no sense of timing and Leorio is left blinking up at the ceiling for a moment, halfway stunned. He's still clutching at Kurapika and lets go of his shirt, but this time when he squeezes his hip it's in less of a heady rush.

Seriously... He gives the ceiling a look, since he can't turn his head much in this position.]

Don't say sorry— That's embarrassing. [grumble mumble] Getting carried away is the point.

[This he says still to the ceiling, red to the ears, because he also is really embarrassing.]

he's secretly always wild in one way or another

[dialtones]

The point...

[By this point, Kurapika is terribly embarrassed. His heart is beating hard and fast, he's had to force his eyes down out of the red a few minutes ago, and his mind is racing with his options for what comes next. Despite all of that, he appears nearly perfectly calm.

Maybe that was why he appeared experienced at the very least in thought, but honestly, this isn't something that had crossed his mind at all. A kiss, maybe. Once or twice, in passing that caused him to shiver in surprise and brush off quickly, never really a serious consideration until it was in his face so loudly that he couldn't ignore it. This felt spontaneous for him. Like it had been there all along but he'd only just noticed.

His staring at Leorio in his consideration probably doesn't help the poor guy's embarrassment (or mumbling).]

In that case.

[He leads in after just a second or two, not long enough for his heart to die down, and kisses Leorio again. This is... crazy! He's being crazy right now! What is he doing here, now, with one of his friends, letting these emotions take over like they're all that matters... There's plenty of worries like this, but self control has always been difficult.

He has no idea what he's doing, but if getting carried away is the point, then why not leave it to that? It's warm, inviting, enticing, and he doesn't want it to be over or even to give way to petty arguments over nothing again. He doesn't want to deal with that right now. He just thinks he wants to be pulled closer and closer like that again, and to feel Leorio's heart beating fast against his own.

What a cheesy thought...

It's then that Kurapika realizes between heated touches and kisses that he's in deep, too. And as much as that worries him, it's freeing to think, in a way. There's been a lot of tension he hasn't understood, and now, he thinks, he can let a hand slide down and fidget with a button of Leorio's shirt until it comes undone. Slowly and pointedly,he continues down like this. No matter how many times he's lost control, he's only been supportive. Why would that change now? He didn't have to worry.

He wouldn't apologize, then.]

some of those ways are dangerous

[speeddial]

[Staring doesn't help, no. Leorio can't look him in the eye for more than a couple seconds at a time; he keeps glancing there and then away, to the ceiling or the tipped over chair or their various discarded clothes - that doesn't help either, his face is so red - and how did he go from zero to mess in seconds flat? He clears his throat pointedly, about to tell Kurapika to at least quit staring at him, but oh - timing.

Well then. His comment switches gears last minute and comes out as a hum of approval against Kurapika's lips. Something about it is still insufferably smug... Leorio can't quite resist those little things, despite knowing they pick fights. He'd rather Kurapika yell at him than shut off and disappear again, all things considered— and, well. He's also just a goofball, unconsciously...

But he'll contain his annoying habits after that, sliding back into the pattern-but-not of lips and hands and heat. He slides both hands down Kurapika's sides to rest on his hips this time and presses up into the kiss with another hum, less smug and more satisfied than a moment ago. Idly he thinks he doesn't have enough arms for this, if he had some more arms he could touch Kurapika and hold himself up and drag Kurapika closer to him, and if that isn't the weirdest thought he's had yet today he isn't sure what is.

He's working out the logistics of flipping them both over without whacking one of their heads into something or discovering he's too tall for this yet again when he feels a shirt button come undone. Then another and another, and then he pauses. It's true he just said something to this effect, basically, but—

Is Kurapika going to regret all of this? Is he? He knows the latter answer immediately, which surprises him only because of how quickly he decided he won't; but, well. Here they are, and it's not like he hasn't considered... after all, Kurapika's very...

Well, here they are. Things he couldn't possibly find the words for seem very obvious anyway, and the brush of fingers against his skin might burn holes there if he waits too long.

He swallows his reserves and his nagging doubts all at once and- fidgets, shifting his shoulders back and forth. Ah, damn it. One short kiss for the road, and,]

—Let me sit up. [If the shirt's coming undone it's coming off, all or nothing!!]

I'd venture that most of them are

[dialtones]

Ah... alright.

[That was a short kiss, he realizes, blinking a few times to stare down at Leorio for that request. Rather than question or overthink it, he uses this time to catch his breath, sitting up slowly and then sort of crawling over Leorio to sit at his side, instead. If he needs to sit up, he can't quite stay straddling him... Well, maybe he could, but he's not about to risk them bashing their heads from Leorio slipping up.

For once, he's not sitting formally, at least. His legs are bent at different angles and sprawled wherever they'd land, his weight resting back on both palms for the time being. It's because right now, he's more interested in what Leorio is doing. And maybe how he's unbuttoned his shirt, too. Maybe if his heart were beating a little less or his mind wasn't racing by with so many unusually forward thoughts, he'd find it embarrassing that he scans him up and down in his waiting.

Just this small moment apart is too much. After all that time apart, he thinks this now? He's arguing with himself, but that's fading quickly to thoughts like these. He wants to touch and be touched again. To kiss him again. To forget about everything else, if only for a moment.]

i wanted to be generous....

[speeddial]

[This is different, Leorio realizes as Kurapika slides off of him. It's a pause and they're not even touching save for Leorio's hip bumping one of Kurapika's legs as he sits up and moves back a little - but it's not as jarring as a few minutes ago, or earlier on the floor. Picking out what's different takes him a second as he hastily pulls apart the last button or two on his shirt. That's when he catches Kurapika's eyes on him and takes in the full picture of him, not so tense it looks like he'll snap in half...

Ah. Leorio's kind of proud of himself.

At least he doesn't break to flex his arms, or anything. This moment is hanging by a thread that likely won't end in more of the contact he's craving if he blows it like a total moron. For this, he'll exercise self control.

The lopsided grin that spreads across his face then can't be hidden fast enough by ducking his head as he shrugs his shirt the rest of the way off. He leans past Kurapika to drop it over the side of the bed, carelessly. Wow, what a mess...

As he moves back to where he started from he reaches for Kurapika's shirt in turn, hooking his fingers under the hem and tugging. Whether he means for it to join his on the floor or for Kurapika to just come back to kissing him again is up in the air - it could be either. It could be both. Both is good.]

[dialtones]

[The mess is strange, especially, for Kurapika. He's the type to fold his clothes neatly at the foot of the bed while he sleeps even on trying journeys, after all, so it speaks volumes with him leaving this unattended for the moment. He catches that grin, but this time, he's not annoyed by it. In a way he'll never admit aloud, it's sort of nice to see right now.

Following the tug forward, he sits up straighter and raises his arms so that the shirt can slide off, either with Leorio's help or on his own. It doesn't matter. Off the side of the bed it goes without a second glance, and then he's leaning in for another kiss.

Surprisingly, perhaps, with how he's thinking of this, Kurapika is already positive that this isn't going to be something he regrets. It's not something he has to think on for very long, and he'd rather not delve into the reasons as to why he's so okay with this. That would throw him off right now. He'll probably end up thinking about it later, while he's alone, and feel the shame of embarrassment then.

It's just the matter of having no experience at all that's throwing him off, inside, but he's working hard to hide it. Don't think too much, just enjoy it. It's easy to say that on repeat, but when his chest feels too cramped for his heart's thumping, it's a little harder.

But for every bit he's psyching himself out, Leorio is helping to calm him down. That dumb, goofy grin from earlier, the occasional mumbles and interruptions to adjust things, the small habits Kurapika is noticing or re-noticing. Ah, is he so deep that he's over-inflating these things like this?

He's still sitting up. And that's fine, he thinks, but they're too far apart right now. With that thought, he places a hand on Leorio's chest while he leans up and in to deepen the kiss. A bracer, it seems, even if he really just wants an excuse to touch. It stays awkwardly still there for nearly a minute before he gives in (and feels satisfied with it as an excuse), trailing his hand downwards. Featherlight touches skim over skin before hesitating at the lip of Leorio's pants. He swipes them there, left to right, and then slides his palm back upwards again.

No, even if he might explode from the tension here, he can't be too fast.]

[speeddial]

[Shirt off, good choice. Leorio's pretty proud of himself for that one too, and he's still grinning when their lips meet. As they connect again, Kurapika's skin against his still makes him feel like he's catching fire in lots of little places at once— but now it's a much more inviting feeling.

While Kurapika is busy with his chest, Leorio runs touches up and down his back. They might be father apart than is strictly ideal at the moment, but he's tall enough to get his arms around Kurapika from here anyway. His touches aren't even in the same ballpark as featherlight; he presses his palm against Kurapika's shoulder blade and then slides down, trailing over the bumps of his spine with the other hand and then going back up to do it again.

They seem to be getting warmer the less clothed they become, and thankfully Leorio isn't in grade school and doesn't need to stop to wonder what that means. Please. He has better things to think about. Skin, for example, and wandering hands.

He tilts his head, pulling away from the kiss to place smaller ones along Kurapika's jaw and - with a meaningful nudge to get him to come forward a little, come here already - what he can reach of his neck. The barely-there touch against his skin is going to drive him mad, most likely, as each dip lower makes his stomach lurch with a sudden burst of heat.

Like falling, but without the bad ending. His metaphors could use work but now he's distracted from what he's doing, needing to stop and breathe with his mouth hovering over Kurapika's shoulder. Okay, that's- okay.

When his lungs catch up with him for a moment he scoffs, nudging purposefully again to at least get Kurapika back in his lap, god-] Damn it, come here...

[dialtones]

[When Leorio's lips separate from his own to move along his jaw, he lets out a small hum of a noise. To sacrifice that taste for the feel now trailing down his neck-- it was worth it, probably. There were touches along his back, too, so firm that his back arches by reflex, trying to stretch out the shivers they cause.

It doesn't work, of course. All of his senses feel like they're going into overload at this point and he doesn't mind it one bit. Leorio grumbles again, and he can only see it in a good light right now. Leorio is Leorio, after all, and Kurapika is sold, even if he hasn't quite figured out why.

His lips twitch at a smile, but it doesn't make it past that since he's so focused. He runs his hand back up Leorio's chest to curl at his shoulder, the other joining on the opposite side. Using those shoulders as a support, he moves forward and settles into his lap, his arms wrapping around him lightly once he's finished.

Just this small amount of contact gives him a little relief, but it works to build the twisting in his stomach, too. Kurapika trails one of his fingers down the back of Leorio's neck, light as always. Either teasing and with purpose, or hesitant and without confidence-- it was hard to say. Regardless, the rest of his fingers on that hand join in and move down between his shoulder blades.

If this is the last time they manage to do something like, he wants to memorize every muscle, every dip and rise and bit of skin. It's a thought that passes quietly through the back of his mind, but he follows it without question, anyway.

He'd only just thought to himself that he can't be too quick with this, but already, he was impatient for more. His free hand finds its way into Leorio's hair again, curling fingers as he turns towards him and kisses by his opposite ear.

He lingers there for a moment.]

Better?

[speeddial]

[Dimly, Leorio is aware of each little sound Kurapika makes, every shiver he causes and the movement he gets in return. He doesn't try to split his attention between how Kurapika is making him feel and what he's getting out of him in return - he thinks he might actually miss something that way. If he thinks too much, he'll slip up again and this thing between them might shatter.

If he doesn't think, if he simply lets emotion and the lingering and persistent need to put skin against skin make his decisions for him, things go much smoother. It's working now.

Once Kurapika is in his lap Leorio bends one leg up at the knee, a makeshift propping up motion to keep Kurapika there, close, closer. For a moment he stays still with his mouth pressed against the crook of Kurapika's neck and simply breathes deep, taking it all in. He could be content to sit here and do this indefinitely, forget the world and live in this quiet moment with Kurapika making that same heat course through him and up to his skin, where he's touched. He could do that.

This is definitely what being incredibly deep is like.

The kiss gets his attention again and the question makes him laugh, low, and dip a hand into the small of Kurapika's back to really pull them all the way together. He's changed his mind - Kurapika has no idea what he's doing.

That's okay; he got stuck to a chair before, so they're even. He kisses his shoulder; it's all he can reach now.] Much better.

[dialtones]

[The laugh isn't what he was expecting, but the nudge that knocks him even closer is what earns the surprised noise. Mostly because it's closeness that he's been craving, and just the smallest brushes of skin or what clothing did remain was enough to set his whole body on fire. His face is a little too reflective of this in the surprise, but he tries to ignore that, letting his hands wander, instead.

This is definitely getting more heated, and he half hopes Leorio doesn't notice his reaction to it all before he's able to react properly himself. How embarrassing would that be...

Ah, but he wants more. Leorio is back to such a small kiss, and there was that long period of almost nothing, for as warm as it was. He needed activity when he was feeling this fidgety, this involved, but he wasn't about to ask for it.

And so for now, he'll focus on his back. Tracing patterns, running a finger up and down his spine to test for reactions, and slowly, he ducks his head down enough to kiss his neck.]

[speeddial]

[A point to Leorio for the noise. He's more than glad to have Kurapika almost flush against him, wandering his free hand up into his hair again. With his mouth less occupied than it could be there's nothing to stifle the way his breath hitches intermittently or, super embarrassingly, the way the first drag of a finger down his spine draws out a surprised Whoa.

Bury him here with his red-faced shame. He grumbles some nonsense into Kurapika's shoulder after that, and his back curves almost involuntarily with the path of Kurapika's touch, but he doesn't- doesn't say anything again.

Which is better, surely. He wonders if he'll live that down and decides definitely not, and shuts his eyes to at least enjoy the feeling before his embarrassment smothers him.

It's all while doing this that he moves the hand previously low on Kurapika's back a little lower, a little more to the side- dragging fingertips just a fraction above the waist of his pants. He goes from one hip to the other, but doesn't pull his hand up or away. If he dies of shame, he's going down groping as many hips as possible.]