LeoPika short stories and one shots!

Nightmare

{in the 1999 version of HxH, part of the Hunter exam is held on an island with an abandoned ship-turned-hotel, and Kurapika and Leorio share a room.} Leorio POV

The wind was howling. Thunder cracked and I jerked awake. My heart was pounding, and I tried to shake off my sleepy grogginess.

Kurapika was nowhere in sight. I stumbled to the bathroom and still couldn't find him. I ran out of the room. I sprinted down the hall to an eastern window, and saw his small figure on the deck outside.

I found a door and swung it open with all my might. It clanged loudly against the wall, announcing my arrival.

Kurapika turned, blonde hair pulled dramatically in the wind as his sad gaze landed on me. I blinked, then cleared my throat. I nonchalantly approached, standing next to him at the railing.

"It's uh, a warm night, isn't it? Perfect for star gazing?" I was awkward. My hands were sweaty and my face was still red from running.

"Leorio, it's storming."

I squinted at the sky as if looking hard. "Oh, I guess it is."

Kurapika smiled. "You're so weird.

"A good weird, I hope?"

"I haven't decided." Kurapika teased with a shrug.

I leaned on the rails. "So what are you doing out here on a night like this?"

"I could ask you the same thing." His smile had disappeared and he stared stoically at the horizon.

"I uh..." I wanted him to be honest with me, so I had to be honest with him. "I came looking for you."

He glanced at me. "Oh. Sorry for worrying you."

"Oh no, I wasn't worried. I know how strong and independent you are. I was mostly... just, uh. Well I was wondering where you went. That's all." I cleared my throat. "But seriously, why are you out here?"

He was silent for a moment, then his voice was barely a whisper. "I had another nightmare."

I nodded sadly. "You don't have to tell me about it. I'm sorry that happened." I put a hand on his shoulder and his lip trembled.

He gritted his teeth to stop his tears, but I pulled him toward me and embraced him. "It's okay, sunshine. You can cry. I won't judge."

And so he cried. His entire body shook and he gripped my shirt with shaking hands. I could barely hear him over the wind, and it began to rain on us. I shielded him from the rain, and rested my face against his hair.

Being with him, supporting him at this moment... it felt really good. I feel... happy- no, grateful. Grateful to be the one that's here for him. I'm not sure if I would trust anyone else to protect him at a time like this.

He took deep breaths, finally coming down from his fit. He released my shirt and I backed off a little to look him in the eye.

"Better?" I asked.

He nodded, slowly flexing his fingers. "Thank you, Leorio."

"Of course." I smiled. Then I dusted off his shoulders. "Now let's get inside before we catch a cold from this weather."

I led the way, making sure Kurapika was following. I opened the door, then stood aside for him to enter. Once the door was closed and the storm was behind us, I realized how cold I was.

"Oh geez, we're lucky we were only out there for a couple of minutes!"

"What were you two doing out there?" Killua's voice made me snap to attention. "And why are you all wet?"