LeoPika short stories and one shots!

Guitar

{college au again, pre-relationship. I love the idea of Leorio playing the guitar}

"Kurapika, could you go get the big blanket off my bed?" Leorio asked, putting the popcorn in the microwave.

Kurapika set off to do just that. He entered Leorio's room, and went straight to the bed. He observed the layout, noting the general tidiness yet random piles of clothes. Just as he grabbed the blanket, something caught his eye.

It was a guitar. And old six string in nice condition. Kurapika brought it with him to the living room.

"Leorio, I hope you don't mind me bringing this in... do you play?"

Leorio looked over from where he was preparing another candy bowl. "Oh, uh, yeah. I play a bit." He smiled and walked over, taking the guitar from Kurapika. "I used to be a street performer back home to raise a bit of extra cash."

"Really?" Kurapika smiled, wrapping the blanket around himself and leaving to sit on the couch. "Will you play for me?"

Leorio gripping the guitar, a little nervous. "Um. Yeah, I mean... I'm not that good."

Kurapika tilted his head. "I know you're just being modest. It's okay, you can show off. I want to hear the best you've got."

Leorio took a deep breath, then sat next to Kurapika on the couch. He quickly tuned the guitar, then waited with his fingers on the strings. It had been a while since he'd played, but his callouses still fit perfectly.

He started by playing a riff. Something easy, yet flashy. Then he turned up the difficulty as he spun the sound into a song.

Using the music as a translator, he told the story of his imagination: a grand escape. Running through a crowded street, stumbling and dodging past people. There were obstacles and chaos, then finally breaking out of three crowd and past the city gates.

The outside world, a beautiful and carefree place. The endless horizon, the promise of adventure, the risk of no return. The meadow and it's lazy flowers and fat bumblebees. The river gliding gracefully through the green, and the clouds rolling lazily across the sky.

The song ended with the adventurer finally finding peace. When everything was right, and his life had settled into a happy calm.

Leorio opened his eyes, unaware that he had closed them. He cleared his throat. "Sorry, I'm a little out of practice-"

"Leorio that was amazing!" Kurapika was awestruck. He was speechless. "Please, can you play another?"

"Only if you sing for me." Leorio challenged. "Don't act like you can't, I've heard you in the shower before."

Kurapika's face went red. "Sorry about that."

"Don't be." Leorio put a hand on top of his blond head. "I love the way you sing." He put his hands back on the guitar, and got ready to play. "Gimme a song, sunshine. I play and you sing."

And so they performed together. It wasn't perfect, it wasn't practiced, but it was special. They connected through their love of music. It was a form of intimacy that involved their hearts, rather than their bodies.

They played for hours, laughing at their mistakes and joking about songs. Soon, Leorio's fingers hurt and Kurapika's voice was cracking. So they retired the guitar and settled into a comfy blanket to watch a movie together.

Leorio fell asleep with Kurapika's head on his shoulder.

Kurapika liked these casual nights. They would spend their Sunday evenings together in the living room, either watching movies or playing games. Cheap, easy, and entertaining. It was a good way to start the new week.

As good as these nights were, however, Kurapika couldn't help but hope for something more. He kind of... wanted a relationship with Leorio? He wanted to go on real dates and be boyfriends. He wanted-

Kurapika looked up at Leorio's sleeping face. He wanted to kiss him. To feel that tan warm skin under his lips, to bond over something more than their love for music- their love for each other.

But he had to be patient. If he rushed in, Leorio might get scared off and leave him for good. If Leorio didn't feel the same, it could ruin everything they had built together. Good things take time, and great things take hard work.

So Kurapika set his head on Leorio's shoulder, and smiled. He could be patient