𝖍𝖝𝖍 𝖔𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖍𝖔𝖙𝖘

Springtime Rising

Top! Illumi & Hisoka

Bottom! Illumi & Hisoka

Author: ohofcourse (on ao3)

 (One of my fav fanfics )

______________________________

Like most difficult things in the world, it all started with Hisoka.

Illumi was self-aware enough to know it wasn't normal to loiter behind the white columns of the admissions building and watch his little brother and his little brother's best friend stomp on fallen leaves.

But he also knew it wasn't normal for a senior in high school to be doing it with them. Hisoka had taken a very odd liking to Gon, and by extension, Killua. If it had been anyone else, Illumi would have brushed it off as harmless, but Hisoka was anything but harmless.

For students on a full scholarship, there was always an expectation as to how they would behave. Hisoka did not tend to align himself with expectations.

He was smart and athletically talented--Illumi had been stuck on the same varsity lacrosse team as him for three and a half years now. He was popular, too--not well-liked, but popular. Hisoka always seemed to be flitting from one group to the next. He and Machi became begrudging friends, then he and Chrollo, and now, disturbingly, Gon.

Hisoka was everywhere.

Illumi wanted him nowhere.

It was why he was spending his precious afternoons stalking his brother instead of schoolwork, or training, or doing anything remotely productive. He was suspicious of Hisoka, especially in regards to his little brother.

"Illumi!" That was Killua's voice. He sounded cross. Fluffy platinum hair started moving towards him at an incredible speed, like the head of a dandelion seed blowing in the wind.

"You're following me!" He whined. Gon appeared like a bodyguard at Killua's side. Hisoka meandered towards Illumi as well. His school uniform was unbuttoned at the chest and parts of the hem had come untucked from his pants. Illumi could tell it was all purposeful. He wanted to sneer.

"I just came to tell you that Mother's sending the car an hour earlier today. Don't be late." He heard Killua groan, but he didn't see it. Hisoka was filling up his frame of view, grinning knowingly, hair an alarming shade of fire-engine red, with the ends turning a pinkish color. It left Illumi utterly confused about Hisoka's natural hair color, not that it really mattered.

"You've been watching us," he purred. Hisoka and Illumi had known each other for over three years now. They played together. They were both on the starting line for lacrosse, both considered exceptionally talented players. Still, they rarely spoke, if ever.

Illumi shoved his hands in his pockets and tilted his chin upwards. He and Hisoka were the same height, but the way Hisoka was standing--leaning slightly forward, looming like an ancient, cursed tree--made Illumi feel inadequately small.

"We're going to find Zushi, peace!" Killua said. Gon waved goodbye, glancing once, warily, at Illumi.

They didn't get along.

"I haven't been watching you," Illumi said, finally responding to Hisoka.

"Wanna practice today?" For emphasis, he lifted the lacrosse stick that was slung over his shoulder

"Like I said, we're getting picked up soon," Illumi replied stiffly. Hisoka was obsessed with testing his skills against people. It was almost impressive the lengths he went to in order to adequately challenge himself. It half-answered the question as to exactly why and how he had gotten a full-ride scholarship to one of the most prestigious prep schools in the country.