LeoPika short stories and one shots!

Friends Reunited

{CW: ABUSE/ MATURE THEMES AND DISCUSSIONS} post-college au

Kurapika straightened his tie in the mirror, then fixed his hair one last time. Today was the day. He was going to meet with Leorio for the first time in three years.

He checked his watch, then smiled to himself in the mirror one last time. He was ready.

He got into a taxi and told the driver the address. He had to drive half an hour to get to the designated cafe, but it seemed like an eternity. He spoke excitedly with the driver, which was uncharacteristic for the serious man.

He was giddy when they pulled up to the cafe. He was practically shaking on his way in.

Kurapika sat down at a table and checked his watch again. He was early. Usually five minutes early is acceptable, but twenty three was pushing it. He explained to the waitress that came to his table, and she politely nodded her understanding.

"It's a slow day anyway, so we've got plenty of extra tables. Stay as long as you'd like!"

"Thank you." Kurapika said, then went back to furiously thinking.

Is Leorio going to be taller? Will he be tanner and more muscular? It would make sense because of his Spanish heritage. Will he still make perverted jokes and laugh with his whole chest? Will he still smile as he always had?

Thinking about Leorio's physical appearance made Kurapika blush. I wonder if I'll still feel attracted to him, or if it really was just a summer fling.

Would they be able to start their friendship where they left off? Or would they have to rebuild the trust that had stayed dormant for so many years?

What would they talk about? Had anything remarkable even happened in Kurapika's life during those three years? Leorio would be bored of hearing about his revenge, and he had to keep a lot of secrets about his position in the mafia.

Just as Kurapika was having doubts, his phone buzzed. It was on silent, of course. But it was a special vibration pattern set only for Leorio's number.

It was a text message: I have to rain check. Sorry.

Kurapika clicked his phone shut. That was strange. No explanation? No plan for rescheduling? Leorio had planned this date, surely he would have a good reason for chickening out fifteen minutes before.

Kurapika opened his phone and dialed Leorio's number. The phone rang three times then went to voicemail. I've been muted? He called again. Still nothing.

Uneasiness filled Kurapika's gut. He knew what he had to do.

Soon he was in another taxi, headed down the narrow side streets of York new. He didn't talk to the driver this time. He just watched out the window with a worried expression.

If the first ride had felt like an eternity, this one felt infinitely longer. Kurapika's excitement had turned into dread long ago, and was coiling around his stomach, making him feel sick.

The driver pulled over on the street. "Apartment 28, the building across the street."

"Thank you." Kurapika nodded as he exited. Without even checking both ways, he marched towards the grey building.

It wasn't much. It was nice for an apartment, but still had some noticeably rundown areas. A couple of the hallway lights were out, a window in the stairwell was shattered, and cobwebs littered part of the ceiling corners.

26, 27. 28, found it. Kurapika stopped outside of Leorio's door. He wasn't angry that he'd missed the lunch date, he was worried.

He knocked three times. There was silence. He waited. Then there was shuffling inside.