Chapter Text
“You mean we’re allowed to…” Killua began, a smile growing on his face.
“We’re allowed to leave? Yahoo!” Gon finished for him, jumping up and grabbing Killua’s hands before spinning both of them. A shout of pain escaped Gon, who grinned sheepishly before tenderly holding his sides.
“Can we go anywhere we want?!” Both boys asked, twin smiles adorning their faces.
Chrollo laughed as he nodded his head.
“Feitan told me what a good job you did Gon. He also informed me that you were the one who took out our target, and judging by your wounds…That is believable. You’ve earned our trust, but you must come when we call for you, regardless of what you are doing at the time. Remember: The Spider comes first and foremost.” Chrollo said, getting serious again.
Both boys nodded solemnly, knowing that their ties to the troupe would never be gone completely. They might have been allowed this fleeting moment of freedom, but it was their duty to report back when needed, no matter what.
"Wait, what? I took out the target?" Gon asked, looking confused.
"According to Feitan and Franklin's report, yes. You must have passed out before you realized that you had won the fight." Chrollo confirmed.
Both boys looked at Feitan, whose gaze was currently turned away from them. A slow smile crept on Gon's face.
"I take it back, Killua." He whispered to the boy next to him.
"Hm? Take what back?"
"What I said a year ago. You have the best mentor." Gon said.
Killua smiled as Chrollo, Phinks, Nobunaga, Franklin, and finally Feitan left the building.
"Yeah, I guess I do."
*
It wasn't long before the boys found themselves on a ship headed to Whale Island. When they arrived, the entire town had a warm welcome for Gon, and Aunt Mito had an even warmer welcome for both of them.
"Gon, can you come here for a second?" Aunt Mito called from the doorway.
Gon and Killua had arrived on Whale Island about a month ago, and it was now nearing Christmas time. Gon came bounding down the stairs with Killua hot on his heels, both boys giggling like mad.
Gon saw Mito standing in the doorway, talking to someone. He couldn't see anyone past her, but he recognized the person's name when he heard it.
“Oh, Feitan! Gon’s mentioned you before, but he never told me…How did you boys meet?” Mito said with a smile, more than happy to welcome another one of Gon’s estranged friends who had arrived at the door.
“We work together sometimes.” Feitan answered, clearly not comfortable with the amount of affection being bestowed upon him by Mito who had already began trying to get him to take off his coat and come inside.
“Work? Well good for you guys! I’m glad that Gon is hanging around other boys his age, I worry he’ll fall in with the wrong sorts sometimes. You seem like a nice boy though, so I’m not worried!” Mito said as she ushered Feitan inside of the warm house.
“Other boys…” Gon started, glancing at Killua.
“…His age?” Killua finished for him, clearly on the verge of laughter.
Feitan, however, did not look amused.
“What, did I say something funny?” Mito asked, watching the two boys shaking with mirth in front of her.
“Aunt Mito, Feitan is older than we are.” Gon said, trying to compose himself lest he irritate Feitan further than he already was.
“Oh? Is he as old as your friend Leorio? I know you said Leorio was around 18 to 19 the last time we talked about him.” Mito asked, trying to figure out what was so funny about Feitan’s age.
“Twenty-six…” Feitan murmured from behind her, refusing to remove his soaked jacket.
“Hm? What did you say dear?” Mito prompted.
“I’m twenty-six, Ms. Freecs.” Feitan repeated. If Killua didn’t know any better, he would have thought he caught an embarrassed flush on Feitan’s cheeks.
“…Oh. Oh! I’m so sorry! I just figured because you were around the same height-I-I need to go check on the food…” Mito said, clearly wishing to escape the conversation by any means necessary.
“He’s so short he needs a ladder to reach manhood!” Killua whispered to Gon who laughed loudly, earning a dirty look from Feitan.
“Go sit by the fire and dry off if you won’t take off your jacket.” Gon said after recovering from his laughing fit, pointing to a room that was cascaded by flickering lights.
*
Mito was the type to go all out for Christmas, and had no issues taking Gon and his friends in on such short notice. A tree was up in the corner of the living room, some presents underneath it already. Lights twinkled, twined around the tree, and an angel was glowing softly at the top in place of a star.
“So Feitan…” Killua began, taking a seat in the middle of the couch while Gon perched on the armrest closest to him. “What brings you here?”
“Danchou sent me to make sure you two knew what the call was like. For Gon, it should be easy enough to notice the call…But for Killua, who got his tattoo in an obscure place where even he can’t see it, it will be harder.” Feitan said, sitting in between Gon and Killua.
“What’s the call like?” Gon asked, swinging his feet and lightly hitting the side of the couch every now and then.
“The call is both noticeable visually and physically. For one thing,” Feitan reached up and grabbed Gon’s wrist, removing the wristband from it to show the Spider. "your number will glow. It will start to shine a dull red.” Feitan said, lightly tracing the solid 3. It began to emit a soft glow, almost pulsating red eerily. Gon suddenly winced, retracting his wrist from Feitan’s loose grip.
“The second sign of the call is a stinging pain that will only get worse until you answer it. Answering the call could be many things: going to where you are drawn, seeking out another member…As long as you are, in some way, heeding Danchou’s order, the pain will go away.” Feitan answered.
Gon watched, nearly transfixed as the number on his wrist stopped glowing. He gently touched his number waiting for any lingering pains, but felt none.
“I didn’t feel anything at all, and I thought Chrollo was the only one who could issue a call?” Killua asked, his hand clasping the back of his neck lightly tracing the raised skin of his tattoo.
“Danchou is the only one who can issue a call to all members. Every member can issue a call to one other member if they have business together. It isn’t something that can be used and treated lightly, so don’t use it often if at all possible.” Feitan began rising from the couch with Killua while Gon slid off the armrest, but all were stopped when Mito shouted from the kitchen.
“Dinner time!”
“I’d best be going…”Feitan murmured, getting quieter as he walked towards the door.
Mito popped her head out to see what was talking everyone so long, noticing Feitan near the door.
“Feitan? Aren’t you going to stay for supper?” She asked, looking concerned.
‘Only Aunt Mito would be concerned about a criminal not eating…’ Gon thought with a quiet laugh.
Feitan looking vaguely uncomfortable as Mito ushered him back towards the kitchen while saying “You’re no trouble at all, dear! Stay and eat with us!”
*
“Well,” Killua began, trying not to laugh. “supper was good, but this is…” Finally Killua couldn’t hold back and started laughing at Feitan. “…This is even better!”
Feitan was clearly not in the mood for Killua’s jeers, but even the anger radiating off of him was diluted due to the fact he was wearing an old pair of Gon’s pajamas.
“If it makes you feel any better, I’ve never worn those because they were too big for me.” Gon said while shaking with laughter.
“Thanks. I feel so much better.” Feitan bit out, his tone dry.
Killua looked as though he were going to die from laughter, but after getting nudged by Gon (who was also giggling), he composed himself.
“Feitan, you can sleep in my room tonight, me and Killua are gonna stay in the living room with the lights.” Gon said, already dragging Killua and a blanket out of the room. Feitan nodded his thanks, but remained awkwardly rooted to the same spot until Gon and Killua came back for pillows.
“Feitan, go ahead and take the bed! If you get cold we have spare blankets and even pillows in the closet over there.” Gon said while pointing to a door on the opposite side of the room.
“…Alright. Thank you. I will take my leave in the morning.” Feitan said, stiffly walking over to Gon’s bed.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Aunt Mito gets fiercely protective during the holiday season, so if she thinks you have no place to go or no one to spends the holidays with, she’ll insist that you stay.” Gon said seriously while nodding his head.
Killua nodded his head with Gon while saying “She might have you stay forever.”
Feitan shook his head with a soft noise that could have been mistaken for laughter, but he turned and climbed on to the soft bed anyways.
“I’ll think about staying. Wăn’ān boys.” Feitan said, pulling the blankets up around him.
“G’night Fei.”
“Night Feitan!” Both boys said at the same time.
As they were heading down the hallway towards the living room, Gon turned to Killua and asked “What language is he speaking?”
“He speaks Chinese. He is Chinese.” Killua clarified for Gon before they both entered the living room. The only lights in the room other than the Christmas lights was the light coming from the kitchen while Mito sat at the table and read.
“Good night Aunt Mito and Grandma Abe!” Gon called from the living room, spreading the biggest blanket on the floor near the tree under the window.
“Night, boys!” Both women called back, a smile clearly on their face told by the tone of their voice.
*
It was another hour before the light in the kitchen went off and both of the women went to bed, but the entire time was spent with the boys whispering stories and jokes to each other. Soft laughter could be heard from the mound of blankets every now and then, followed by more hushed words.
Gon couldn’t help but to get distracted every now and then when Killua shifted, the lights from the tree catching in his hair. The glow sent spots of dappled light over Killua’s frame, making his fair skin look near porcelain in contrast.
“Gon?”
Gon smiled cheerily at Killua who had stopped talking when he noticed Gon wasn’t listening anymore.
“Sorry Killua! It’s just-you look really nice in the lights. I got distracted. What were you saying again? Gon asked.
“I just asked you what that” Killua pointed to the top of the window frame. “was.”
Gon followed Killua’s finger, his eyes landing on a small sprig of green being held up by a tack.
“Oh! It’s mistletoe.” Gon said with a smile.
“Mistletoe?” Killua repeated while looking at the plant. “Is it important? Or is it just a holiday decoration?”
“It’s a holiday tradition. Aunt Mito always puts up some mistletoe, even if no one has use for it. Every time I would pass under the mistletoe with her or grandma Abe, they would have me give them a kiss before I could go on.” Gon said, fondly recalling those memories.
“A kiss? What for? Is it just a Whale Island thing, like how you seal a promise?” Killua asked, wondering where a tradition like that could have came from.
“I don’t really know, to be honest!” Gon admitted with a laugh. “I just know that it’s tradition!”
“Alright…I’ll probably ask her where it came from tomorrow, I just thought it was kinda weird that a plant was hanging above a window was all.”
“Ne, Killua! It’s tradition, you need to kiss me!” Gon whispered to Killua with a cheeky grin.
“What?? Idiot, it’s probably only a family thing.” Killua said with a flush.
“It’s not just a family thing, it happens in the main town with all sorts of people. I’ve even seen some sailors kissing each other under the mistletoe!” Gon said with a laugh, moving closer to Killua.
“I-Isn’t this, I dunno, a little sudden??” Killua asked, having no where to go with his back pressed against the wall.
“No, not really. At least we know each other! I’ve seen some strangers kissing under the mistletoe before.” Gon said, taking Killua’s face in his hands.
Killua’s cheeks were warm, and all Gon could think before he leaned in was ‘He has the prettiest eyes.’
Gon gently pressed his lips against Killua’s, not missing the way Killua’s breath hitched slightly as their noses bumped awkwardly together. Gon giggled against Killua’s lips, drawing forth laughter from Killua. They parted after mere seconds while laughing quietly together.
“Tch…Gon Freeccs, it’s official. You suck at kissing.” Killua said teasingly, paying no heed to the heavy blush on his own cheeks.
Gon pouted slightly and retorted “Well, I’d like to see you do any better, Mr. I’ve-never-been-on-a-date!”
“For someone who has been on dates before, that was pathetic.” Killua quipped, a nervous smile taking over his face.
Before Gon could say anything back, Killua awkwardly cupped Gon’s cheeks in his hands, bringing their lips together once more, avoiding (for the most part) banging his nose against Gon’s again. It took Killua a second, but he managed to relax into the soft kiss.
Both boys couldn’t help but notice how different the other was in that moment. Gon had slightly chapped lips, rough from his habitual lip-biting when he began thinking too hard on something, and Killua had smooth lips that Gon could (and probably would) compare to velvet.
Killua couldn’t keep his eyes open for the kiss, opting instead to close them as Gon was maintaining steady eye contact with him the entire time. Gon laughed when Killua closed his eyes, and both boys parted briefly before reconnecting once again.
In that brief moment, Gon couldn’t help but be fascinated with just how pale Killua was. Gon’s hand stood out starkly in contrast against the others porcelain face, his own skin darker naturally but also sun-kissed from many days spent outside.
While Gon was focused on what the moment looked like, Killua was focusing on what it felt like. Gon’s hands were bigger than his own and warmer too; his thumb stroking the side of Killua’s face gently as a constant comforting pressure. Killua noted how Gon had calluses-probably from when he would spend hours upon hours fishing or fighting-but they weren’t bothering him in the slightest.
This was Gon, his best friend, who was equally strong and gentle at the same time; Gon, who had one arm wrapped around Killua’s shoulders pulling him closer while kissing him deeper. Killua unthinkingly let out a soft noise from the back of his throat, causing Gon to kiss him harder before letting him go.
“Alright, you win.” Gon sighed after a moment.
“Ha? What are you talking about, idiot?” Killua said, fighting against the urge to scrub at his lips.
“You are a better kisser.”
“…Ah.” Killua finally managed to get out after a bit, his cheeks growing pinker.
Both boys were breathing heavily, dark flushes covering both of their cheeks. Silence took over them both, but unlike the usual comfortable silences this one was nearly stifling in nature.
Gon grinned wickedly before he reached behind him and slammed his pillow directly into the side of Killua’s head, eliciting a yelp from him.
“You brat!” Killua growled, a large smile growing on his face as he pawed behind him for his own pillow while fending off Gon’s attacks with one hand.
*
The fight continued for a while, until it was once again interrupted by Feitan. They didn’t notice him until Killua launched his pillow at Gon’s face and missed as Gon ducked. Killua’s pillow hit Feitan dead on as he stood slightly past the hallway leading to the living room.
He didn’t look impressed as the pillow slid almost comically slowly down his face and landed with a soft plop on the floor.
“What…Did I say…About pillow fights?” Feitan asked slowly, his death threats going unsaid but not unheard.
“Sorry Feitan!” They both said before bowing low, hoping he would just leave without doing anything.
A loud sigh was their only response as Feitan turned and left the living room on quiet feet. Both boys glanced at each other and laughed sheepishly before agreeing that it was time to go to bed.
*
The next morning proved to be a slow one, with each person waking up at different times. By the time Killua and Gon got up, Feitan and Mito were already in the kitchen talking quietly (at least Mito was talking; Feitan was just listening while sipping on the drink she gave him). Gon and Killua stood in the doorway to the kitchen, until Killua let out a jaw cracking yawn that alerted Mito to their presence.
“Ah, boys! Glad to see you’ve joined the realm of the living.” She joked with a smile, turning with two mugs in her hand.
“Do you want some hot chocolate?” She offered, holding out the mugs to them.
“OhGodChocolate!” Killua slurred in a rush, grabbing the cup from her hand with a quick thanks and a bright smile. He took a large sip of the drink, noting that it wasn’t hot enough to scorch but still pretty warm.
“Aunt Mito, I could kiss you!” Gon joked as he grabbed the warm cup from her hands.
“You could kiss me, but I think you need to kiss Killua first~!” She cooed playfully, pointing upwards before turning around with a grin.
Gon and Killua felt their hearts stop, both thinking ‘Did she see us last night?’. Only Killua saw it fit to glance up at the top of the doorway, seeing a sprig of the green leafed, white berried offending plant.
Killua felt his face flush darkly as he immediately and unthinkingly reached up…
And promptly ripped the mistletoe off of the doorway before stuffing it in his mouth.
Gon looked up seconds later, a frown adorning his face.
“Aunt Mito, what do you mean?” He asked, confusion laced in his tone.
“I hung some mistletoe up earlier! I got Feitan with it this morning and Grandma just a little while ago.” Mito said with a grin.
Killua (while still hurriedly crunching on the plant in his mouth) noticed Feitan duck his head slightly before rubbing his cheek. Killua couldn’t help but smile at how awkward his mentor really was. Not that he was any better, if the bitter taste of mistletoe was any reminder.
“Oh? That’s strange…It was there just a little while ago.” Mito said, eyes flickering around the floor to see if it had fallen. She gave a shrug and smiled at them.
“I guess you boys get away with it for now, but don’t forget: It’s tradition!” She said with a cheery smile.
Gon slowly turned to Killua, finally noticing he was chewing on something.
“Killua, is that…”
“Yes.” Killua responded, using his fingers to shove the rest of the mistletoe in his mouth.
“You do know that it’s poisonous, right?” Gon asked, amusement creeping into his voice. Killua felt his face flush darkly as he nodded, swallowing thickly and coughing a little as the plant went down.
“Take a drink to wash it down?” Gon offered, snickering a little.
Killua did just that, quickly slurping down the rest of his hot chocolate to rid himself of the taste. He saw Feitan shaking his head at him from his seat at the table before he stood up and thanked Mito for the drink.
As he passed by Killua he placed his hand on his shoulder while saying “If I had to take it from Ms. Freeccs, you can take it from Gon. It’s just a peck on the cheek, so next time deal with it.” He grumbled, stalking out of the kitchen and up the stairs to Gon’s room to change.
Killua pouted and muttered “A peck on the cheek, my ass…” before he chuckled to himself and sat at the table with Gon and Abe.
Things might not have made too much sense from the Troupe to their own feelings, but Gon and Killua just knew things were going to be fine.