The Ninth || Chrollo x Reader

XIV. The Capture

    Chrollo's arms are wrapped around me, under my knees and around my shoulders. My eyes are wide in shock, as I'm unable to mask my surprise. His eyes meet mine in vague shock, but he lets out a small laugh.

    The white sleeves of his button up shirt are mildly stained by the concrete dust that coats my clothing. He gently sets me down, with care that I would not have expected from a murderer. I quickly look back up to the window from which I fell, but I don't see Kurapika's figure.

    "Thank you," I say to Chrollo, who turns to me. His eyes are mildly humored, and he replies,

    "You're welcome, (y/n)." Faint rain begins to fall from the clouds that have gathered above us. The already dim vision of the night has become darker, and I hear the distant sound of footsteps splash in puddles.

    I glance over Chrollo's shoulder, and see Machi running towards us. Her pink hair is slightly wet on the top, making her bangs sit flat on her head, covering more of her eyes than before.

    "(y/n), are you alright?" She asks, before she turns to point at the window. "Didn't you just fall from that height?" Though I don't answer right away, I see her scan me for any signs of injuries, and the faint feeling of her care surprises me. Throughout my mission, I hadn't expected the Phantom Troupe to be so close, and to have so much trust in each other, even in new members.

    I smile, "No, I'm fine." She nods in reassurance, and we both walk with Chrollo into the large opening at the front entrance of the Headquarters. The grenades that had been given to me and Shalnark made much more damage than I realized, so much so that perhaps the entirety of the Troupe could walk in side by side.

    As we walk in, Kortopi and Bonolenov, a rather tall man wrapped in bandages of stained white, rush from the stairs that lead underground. Chrollo stops walking, and turns to them, as Bonolenov says,

    "The vaults are empty. There's absolutely nothing in any of the vaults, even though they were locked." Machi's eyes flash, and she mutters,

    "Just like Yorknew." The infamous Yorknew City incident. The Zodiacs were informed of it rather late, due to the geographical distances that hindered their abilities to help. I hadn't been part of the Zodiacs at the time, but was well informed of the troubles the Troupe had caused. They'd gone on a rampage, seeking revenge for a deceased member and also to steal the treasures meant to be auctioned away.

    Apparently, the mafia had attempted to slow their efforts by ensuring the arrival of the Shadow Beasts, who had been unable to procure any usefulness in the battle. However, one of them, which had been entrusted with the items and artifacts from the auction, was captured and the goods were stolen.

    I arrived at the city about two days after, during a mission in which I'd pretended to be a mafia member, and seen the aftermath of the town. It felt as though the smell of blood and death would never leave.

    "Gather up the rest, and we'll find it soon enough," Chrollo says, and his words bring me back to the present. I'd warned the Zodiacs ahead of time about the upcoming heist, and therefore they'd changed the location of the vaults. It was a rather impressive feat, as the Hunter Association was one known for it's immeasurable wealth.

    Kortopi and Bonolenov nod, and dash up the stairs leading to the upper head floors. The flooring in the building is rather thin, and I can hear the screams of those dying and suffering upstairs, the work of none other than the Spiders.

Machi and I also go to follow them, and we quickly move up the staircases, carpeted in blue cotton. My breathing is rather rushed, and my breath hitches slightly as I run, due to an injury that I'd sustained around my rib. Machi notices my struggle and glances at me from the side, but doesn't say anything.