LeoPika short stories and one shots!

Missing

Leorio held the small child on his hip, doing his best to keep his head upright so he wouldn't fall asleep.

"Papá." Eloise, the five year old, said softly. "Are you sleepy?"

"Papá is sleepy." Leorio didn't even lie. "My job is scary sometimes. Making people better isn't always easy. But it's ok. Aunt Mito is coming over to watch you so I can get some sleep."

Leorio thought about everything he had to do. The dishes were piling up again. He hadn't swept in a while. The apartment needed to be aired out and the plants watered. Sheets needed changing. Bathroom needed cleaning.

"Papá?" Eloise hugged his neck. "Don't cry."

Leorio sniffed. He hadn't realize he was crying. "Sorry, baby. I just..." he exhaled heavily to calm himself. "I've got a lot of work to do."

The front door opened, and Leorio set Eloise on the ground so she could run to the door and greet Mito. Imagine his surprise when she yelled Gon's name. Leorio entered the living room to see Gon and Eloise embracing tightly.

"Ooh I missed you so much!" The 14 year old enthused, holding her tight.

Mito watched them with a fond smile. Then she met Leorio's gaze. "I hope it's okay that I brought a playmate."

Leorio nodded. "You guys are always welcome here."

Mito motioned for the kitchen, and they left the children to play in the living room. Mito sat at a barstool and looked at Leorio.

"How've you been?" She asked. By the look on her face, she already knew things were bad.

"Um... I've certainly been better." Leorio sighed. "Eloise is growing up so fast and she has so many questions and she's so smart and so wonderful but I can't do this alone. I wish-" he took a deep breath. "I wish Kurapika were still here."

Mito nodded. "I do too. How long has it been?"

"9 months, two weeks and three days." Leorio said automatically. "That's when he went missing."

It had been 291 days since he'd seen his husband. Their daughter might not remember him if he ever came back.

"You should sleep." Mito said gently.

Leorio took a deep breath to wake himself up again, and waved it off. "I have cleaning to do and dinner to make. I'll sleep afterwards."

"Let me do it." Mito offered. "I can clean up and make a meal-"

"Please, I can't ask you to do that for me." Leorio insisted.

"You don't have to ask, Leorio. I'm gonna do it anyway." She gave him a smile, and he finally let his shoulders drop.

"Thank you, Mito." Leorio rubbed his eyes. "You two are welcome to stay the night, though I don't have a spare bed."

"Don't worry about us." She insisted. "Get some rest. Everything will be alright."

Leorio thanked her again, then left to his room. Mito joined the children in the living room, and told them to play quietly so Papá could sleep.

Leorio closed his door, not even bothering to turn on the lights. He collapsed in his bed and cried. He cried and he cried.

Kurapika, where are you?

He checked through their messages again. Scrolling all the way back to December. That was a bad idea. Kurapika's words had been so empty and short, just as they'd always been. There was no secret message, no warning that he might run away. One day he just disappeared.