This Won't End Well

20: How To Call a Cease Fire

It was about six or seven pm now, and the summer sun was starting to retire, painting the sky a beautiful mixture of yellows, oranges, pinks, and purples.

Gon sat on the couch, absentmindedly attempting to tune into some random show, but his constant flurry of thoughts pulled him away. It made keeping his attention fixed on the screen a herculean task.

Gon's mind swirled with thoughts of today and last night as well. The planetarium and driving lesson, Gon and Kurapika's fight that Leorio stopped from getting physical, and of course, at the very forefront of his mind, whatever the hell happened in the bathroom a few hours ago. Oh, God, I'm so embarrassed. I told him I thought he was attractive- and we were so close. Like, really, really, close. What would have happened if Leorio didn't show up? And we just went about our day like usual, as if we didn't almost... I mean, we didn't even talk about it after or anything. Is that a good thing or a bad thing, that things were normal between us after? Or both? Or neither?

Gon exasperatedly groaned, letting his head fall back onto the couch. All this overthinking gave him a headache.

Suddenly the door opened, and Leorio and Kurapika walked in. Kurapika and Gon made uncomfortable eye contact, to which Kurapika disengaged first.

Oh great. Another walking headache.

Gon stood up to go to his room, not in the mood to fight with Kurapika. He was just tired from everything always happening at once. All he needed was just a second to breathe without something occurring that made him rethink all his life choices leading up to that moment. Was that too much to ask for?

"Gon, wait," Kurapika called, walking over to Gon. "Let's talk."

Gon stopped in place before he reached his door but didn't turn around to meet Kurapika. "I said all I had to say last night, and so did you. We have nothing to talk about anymore," He replied, his voice heavy.

"Gon, that's not true. I do have more to say," Kurapika tried again.

"I can't fight with you tonight, Kurapika. I just don't have it in me," Gon mumbled, his voice devoid of all emotion except exhaustion. He continued to retreat to his room.

"Oh no, you don't," Leorio called after Gon, running up behind him and grabbing him by the collar to stop him in his tracks. He started pulling Gon over to the living room against his will.

"Leorio! The hell? Let me go!" Gon whined, trying to wriggle out of his grasp.

"I'm staying out of this," Kurapika said, throwing his hands up and attempting to walk to him and Leorio's room.

Leorio threw Gon on the couch, shooting him a menacing look to keep him in place. Gon crossed his arms and caved into himself, slumping on the sofa with a loud 'hmph'.

"I don't think so," Leorio scolded, grabbing Kurapika by the arm.

"What are you d- AH LEORIO!" Kurapika shrieked. Leorio picked up Kurapika and slung him over his shoulder. Kurapika kicked him in the stomach and hit him in the back, but Leorio paid it no mind. It wasn't nearly as painful as the incessant fighting and bickering these two had put him through recently. He walked Kurapika over to the couch and sat him next to Gon. Kurapika and Gon instinctively moved to opposite sides of the couch, as far as they could be without falling off.

"Leorio, what-"

"Nope. I've heard enough from both of you recently to last me a lifetime. So it's my turn to talk now, and you're both gonna listen," He snapped, standing in front of them with his hands on his hips. It was rare when Leorio was genuinely agitated or upset, not just putting up a dramatic forefront. Now was one of those times, which made the impossible happen: Gon and Kurapika both decided to shut up and listen.