LeoPika short stories and one shots!

New family

{Part 3 of "hat" middle school/ Trans!Leorio AU. Continuation of last chapter}

Leorio was living with his aunt, Rosaria. They shared a small apartment in the city, which meant he had to transfer to a new school. Nobody knew what happened to him, it seemed like he just disappeared one day.

Of course he told his best friend Zepile, plus Kurapika knew as well. They tried to keep in touch, but it was hard going to separate schools and only having the weekends to take the bus across two cities to hang out with them.

Leorio was happy with his aunt. She was kind and accepting. Whenever she yelled it was because she was talking about something crazy or beautiful or exciting. Her voice was never raised to punish or reprimand. The loudest Leorio had ever heard her yell was when they got the order confirmation email for his very first actual binder. They had danced and sung and cried.

And now, only a few months later, Leorio was bursting with the good news: he'd gotten permission to start hormone therapy. The first person he wanted to tell was Kurapika, so Aunt Rosaria drove him over to his home town, rather than letting him take the bus.

Leorio was shaking with excitement when he rang the doorbell. He could hardly stand still as he waited.

It was a while before Irene answered the door. "Oh, Leorio! You're earlier than usual."

Leorio nodded as he was admitted inside. "Aunt Rosaria drove me so I didn't have to take the bus."

"Very cool! I actually want to have a word with her, so you run along and find Kurapika. He's in his room."

"Thanks!" Leorio practically ran up the stairs. By the time he reached the top he was out of breath and a little dizzy. He knocked on Kurapika's bedroom door.

"Come in!"

Leorio swung the door wide and made a grand entrance. "Kurapika, you're never gonna... believe what... what are you doing?"

The walls were bare, the closet was empty, and even the Christmas lights had been taken down. Kurapika was zipping up a suitcase. When he turned to look at his friend, his eyes were bloodshot and puffy from crying.

"Kurapika." Leorio whispered his name as he rushed forward to wrap he blond in a hug.

Kurapika cried against his chest. "Leorio, I'm..."

"Leaving." Leorio realized. He didn't want it to be true.

"My new foster family is coming tomorrow to pick me up." Kurapika wept.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't know! Irene and Erik never told me. I found out yesterday, and I've spent the whole time either crying or packing." Kurapika sobbed. His voice was quieter now. "They don't want me, Leorio. I had no idea what was going on because they were pretending everything was fine. They were pretending to love me."

Leorio hugged him closer, pressing their bodies together and squeezing his eyes shut.

"I'm scared, Leorio. I'm scared of starting over. The place over there has ninth grade in high school. I'm still so small and easy to pick on. People are going to bully me and I'm scared. I've never felt this way before." Kurapika sniffed. "And not only do I have to gain the favor of students and peers, I'm going to have a brother and a sister. They are going to see me as an imposter trying to steal their parents' affections. I'll already be so behind on the course work that my grades are going to slip, I'm going to get harassed in the boys locker room, my siblings are going to hate me, and- and I don't want to leave you."

Leorio was crying too. "I don't want you to go." He took a deep breath. I have to be brave for Kurapika. "But I know you'll be alright. Look at me."