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

[dialtones]

[It helps a little to hear that. If he ended up in any rough situation, he'd have to remember that and use it as motivation to end up alright. He certainly didn't want to die, after all. He had too much to finish.]

It's not until tomorrow. [He reminds gently, leaning ever so slightly against Leorio as he squeezes that hand back. So, he can be a little touchy if he feels like it, too. He's just not sure how else to handle it, and it feels comforting...]

You can think about what you'd like to do as far as everything goes, as well. ...I have a proposition from Nostrade, but I don't think you'll care for it very much, so in the meantime, try to think without any pressure.

[speeddial]

[Tomorrow is too foreboding for him right now. He barged in here to- well honestly he barged in here to cuddle, not that he's going to admit that out loud... 'Tomorrow' is ruining his plans.

The news that Nostrade has anything to offer him at all (besides, like, money) is both a surprise and a concern. Here Leorio had been not-so-quietly disliking the man and avoiding even acknowledging him holed up on the upper floor, and he has a proposition?

A refusal has formed in the back of his mind even before he asks,] What? What the hell does he want?

[Ah, he's so cooperative... but really, don't just drop that on him and then tell him 'no pressure.']

[dialtones]

...

[Leorio is so against this, he can see it from a mile away. But, well, what's he to do now? Not say anything?]

He wants to hire you on as a bodyguard, focusing on medical emergencies for the family. [It's pretty self-explanatory.] He's willing to contact your school himself to speak about the experience you'd be getting.

[Please don't yell in his ear in reaction.]

[speeddial]

[No. No, no way, a thousand times no. Dropping everything is one thing, but joining the mafia is another entirely.

For about five seconds, he's not yelling.]

Is that old man out of his mind?! [ah, sorry] That's impossible!

[dialtones]

Leorio!

[When was the last time he'd yelled his name so scoldingly? Well, he does it now, at least, pulling his hand back to himself so that he can sit up a bit and hold his temples. Ow??]

Keep your voice down! Think about it carefully. What are you trying to say you'll do by agreeing to stay here? Are you going to follow us around without any inclusion? [He doubts that will go over well.]

If it's a problem, you may just have to go back.

[speeddial]

[He's too stunned by the audacity of Nostrade's request to feel bad about yelling. Where should he start? Nostrade has some nerve, trying to get Leorio on board as one of his underlings after keeping his distance from the rest of the people here the way he did. Mafia aside, Leorio can't agree with that on principle; they might be criminals, but these suits are willing to lay down their lives for Nostrade while he hides out somewhere else?

Can't he run his amoral crime family a little more like a family?? No morals among criminals these days—]

I'm not going anywhere!! [Immediate and emphatic, but - shit. Kurapika is right, he can't really trail after them without a solid reason to. Maybe he was hoping for something a little less like joining the mafia and more like, uh, consulting.

He's torn; objectively, he doesn't want to throw his lot in with Nostrade. But the thought of leaving Kurapika makes his chest ache. He's definitely at an impasse.]

Kurapika, you- [could have brought this up before kissing him and pulling out all these feelings?? Though that's not fair, that's looking for someone to blame, and he's the one who said he'd come.

Damn it.]

Well, you were right- I don't like it at all. [but he's lowered his voice again! yeah!] Is that all he wants?

[dialtones]

Honestly, I don't like it, either. You shouldn't be involved in all of this.

[He says this outright, watching Leorio for a minute. It's too dangerous. Too dark. Leorio is honestly too pure of a person to be in this line of work. He wouldn't agree with it one bit, and it would wreck him to have to see it every day.

It hurts him to realize this, of course, but.]

That's all that he said, yes.

[speeddial]

[The mere suggestion that he join makes him angry, which Leorio takes to mean that's right, he shouldn't be involved, but neither should Kurapika all things considered-

He sighs, frustrated, and reaches for Kurapika's hand again. Or is he still being scolded for his yelling...]

You're crazy if you think I'll change my mind about staying with you. [Not that anyone said that directly, but just to reiterate. There's a pause. For a really temporary fix, how about,]

I'm gonna pretend you didn't tell me about that until you get back.

[dialtones]

I'm crazy? [He's not the one who's fallen for someone who just ignored him for months straight and happens to be in the mafia on a path for revenge.]

I'm starting to think you're even more crazy.

[Like, he can admit he's crazy. He just did, in fact, but Leorio?? Please calm down?? Despite those words, though, he lets Leorio have his hand, glancing down to them as his fingers slip between other fingers to find the most comfortable spot. It's secure-feeling, his hand.]

That should work for now. [He agrees with the delay only because it means that Leorio shouldn't be a target for these people going after the Nostrade family, right now.] He'll likely allow you some time to stay and check on the health of everyone remaining.

[So.]

I'll call you. [He adds suddenly, looking up to his face.] If things get too much.

[He doesn't expect Leorio to come in and knife his way to victory for him, but if worse comes to worse, he's sure he can think quickly and find a way to try and help. It's trust, and hopefully some comfort.]

[speeddial]

[Okay, but who fell for the guy who got stuck to a chair earlier today? Huh??

But really, Leorio is actually quite aware of how insane everything he's professed intentions to do lately is. At the same time, he is the same person who nearly took over the Hunters Association to force everyone to help Gon, so—

Well, he can't do anything in moderation, that's all. Nobody's perfect.]

Huh? [Call him-? He would have kept an eye on his phone anyway, admittedly, but that's a surprise.

However, the implication...] Now I don't want you to call.

[dialtones]

[He's hoping it will help to keep the extended silence a little less worrying, but it might not either. Leorio seems to worry no matter what. Leaning in, he surprises him with a chaste kiss. He's still not sure if this is... okay, but it seems like it should be. He wants it to be. And so he does, and leaves it at that, blocking himself from thinking any further.]

Relax.

[Scooting on the bed a bit more, he keeps holding onto Leorio's hand but lays down on his side, the other hand moving under the pillow he rests his head on. He moves to squeeze at one of Leorio's fingers, a sort of fidgeting more than anything.]

I'll be returning, so calling shouldn't be necessary.

[speeddial]

[The kiss is more than okay, and honestly calms him down a little... he's simple, deep down. "Relax" is pushing it, but some of the tension goes out of him. That just leaves his usual undercurrent of too many emotions, so good job!]

I'll hold you to that. [He jabs a finger at Kurapika for emphasis before moving to lay on his side as well and bump their foreheads together. Then he closes his eyes like he's thinking seriously, which isn't going to happen now that he's just feeling - sulky.]

This sucks.

[dialtones]

[All in all, Kurapika was learning to really like the physical closeness along with the rest of it. When their foreheads bump, he leaves it like that for a few seconds before realizing that this is so forward, so casual--

His cheeks flush a bit. Reaching over with his free hand, he grabs the pillow from behind Leorio and shoves it over his face. And with that out of the way, he resumes as if everything were normal in conversation.]

...It could be worse. [That's helpful, right?]

[speeddial]

[why?? did that happen???

This is 'worse'-!! Leorio sputters something indignant much to that effect, knocking the pillow out of his face and not really paying attention to where it ends up after that. Goodbye, pillow...]

Kurapika!!

[dialtones]

You surprised me!

[That's not a loud argument so much as a statement to defend himself while he stares flatly at Rageorio, and then a little over his shoulder at the pillow. Bye pillow...]

If you just move closely suddenly like that... [It's embarrassing??? Be glad he didn't kick you.]

[speeddial]

[That's no reason to hit him with a pillow. There are probably way better reasons to hit him with a pillow, like, yelling.]

Where else am I supposed to go? It's a small bed!

[dialtones]

It wasn't an issue of space; it was that you didn't warn me first.

[Shut up.... shut up. With his free hand, he reaches over again, but this time he places a hand to Leorio's cheek softly. No light slap or squishing involved.]

I don't... mind it. If you're close. [And then it becomes clear that that hand isn't for Leorio's sake, but his own. Some sort of bracer for saying embarrassing words like those? Kurapika is a strange guy.]

[speeddial]

[Warn him...?? Leorio stares at him for that one, brow knit in confused frustration. Something about warning a guy about being near him after already sticking a hand in his pants is - very backwards.

Kurapika, what the hell.]

Uh, good. How do you- I mean, warn you, really?

[dialtones]

[HE DOESN'T KNOW... HE REALLY DOESN'T KNOW. This is an unrealistic expectation, and he knows it. It's all because he's so jumpy now. One minute he's filled with all these soft feelings, and the next, he's trying to block it all off and step back. Now he's being called out on it. What's he supposed to do?]

Nevermind, don't worry about it. [This seems the 'easiest' way out, and god, it's so see-through. He's just going to focus on stretching out Leorio's hand and matching his own up with it.] But you're going to end up on the floor like that.

[speeddial]

[Okay... sure. Leorio looks at him with the same expression for a moment more, then shrugs. This isn't the strangest thing Kurapika has done, to be honest. He'll forget about it soon, but not before he throws in a facetious warning:]

Well, incoming. [and scooting closer so he can stay on the tiny bed. He'd throw his arm around Kurapika if his hand weren't occupied; there's no point to this he can pick out either, but he watches anyway.

Yet another proof that there's too much of him, ah...]

[dialtones]

[The whole reason was that Leorio's hands are huge and his own are small and it's weird to think that they could fit together so well. He looks exasperated at that warning (god damn it, why did he say anything), but he keeps quiet and scoots to his own edge of the bed without falling off.

It does leave them pressed very close, but he doesn't end up minding that. It's comfortable, warm, and he doesn't have to make up an excuse to rest his hand between them on Leorio's chest, over his pajamas.

He is pretty exhausted, after everything today. A rollercoaster all around. Sighing lightly, his eyes flutter closed for a minute.]

If only time could stretch this moment for a little while longer...

[speeddial]

[That's beyond sappy. Leorio slides his arm around Kurapika now that they're positioned better for it, and just considers that sap for a moment.

He doesn't disagree, quite the opposite, but he probably wouldn't have said it like that.]

When you get back, [pointedly ignoring the pang of fresh worry that creeps up on him as he says that, no, he'll worry later,] we'll do this again.

Deal?

[dialtones]

[Kurapika's a really sappy guy when you pay enough attention. Even in his revenge, he sure does wax poetic. His head seems like it can fit right under Leorio's chin here, nestled in against his chest, and so he takes advantage of that, taking in a slow breath.

Do this again?

His heart skips a beat, as cheesy as that is. Maybe they had something they could work out here. Maybe he had someone who could stop him from closing in on himself in the worst moments. Maybe they'd finally reached a point where he couldn't get away.

His thought process now is so different from his thought processes when he's in that sort of revenge-filled state.]

Deal. [He smiles against him there, fingers curling slightly. One of his legs curls a bit too and brings itself the slightest bit over Leorio's, and that motion kicks his cell phone off the bed.

That doesn't matter so much now, though. Tiredly, he laughs a little out of nowhere, as heavy as it comes out. He hit Leorio with a pillow in his embarrassment, and he's already ready to embrace him again. And promise more. And put school on hold... Why?

Why does he get all this?]

[speeddial]

[Leorio hums, pretty openly pleased with Kurapika closer to him and mercifully not embarrassed by it. This is what he came back for, after all, so it's good. It's great. It might even work out without too many complications!

If they're lucky, anyway. He tightens his hold around Kurapika briefly when he laughs like that, a definite squeeze of comfort. This time he won't ask what's wrong - he assumes it's more of what they were just talking about.

So, instead,] You should get some sleep.

[dialtones]

Mm, you too, Leorio.

[The squeeze is hardly registered, but it's still nice. Here he'd been trying to close his eyes for just a moment, and they hadn't opened again since. It was fine like this, probably. He needed to wake early, and he needed to let Leorio sleep, as well. Especially when his early alarm clock would be waking them together.

It's hard not to think about tomorrow, but at least there's the comfort of Leorio here. It wasn't going to keep him awake, this time.]

You must be exhausted...

[By the time he says that, there's been an unnatural gap created, and he sounds half asleep himself. So it's probably no surprise when just a few seconds afterwards, his breathing slips into smooth repetition, his chest rising and falling so peacefully that it can only be he's fallen asleep.]