LeoPika short stories and one shots!

Moving in

{This is the same AU as my story "Everything's gonna be alright" available on my profile, and also on AO3! This is a snippet I wrote when I was feeling extra sentimental, but I don't know if or when I can fit it into the actual storyline, so I decided to post it here :)}

When unpacking one of the boxes labeled "bookshelf," Kurapika paused on a thick book with plush binding. He ran his fingers over it, remembering the day Leorio had given it to him.

"It's a scrapbook," Leorio had explained. "I've been printing out all the pictures we've taken since adopting the kids. Even some from our wedding."

Kurapika opened the first page. It was a picture of both of them wearing traditional Kurtan wedding clothes. The garments were a matching white with red trim and patterning. IT was Leorio who had suggested that they wear it, which earned him a very grateful kiss and a very happy husband-to-be. 

The next picture was the two of them kissing before a priest, sealing the pact to always stay by each other's side. The gentleness of Leorio's hold made Kurapika's heart flutter.

There were a couple more pictures of the wedding, then one that showed two happy husbands standing in front of their brand new townhouse residence. It was small, but it was their first place together as newlyweds.

The next photo featured Leorio with Killua on his shoulders, and they were both laughing. Kurapika stood next to them, holding a shy Alluka. They were on a picnic in a sunny meadow, their blanket and food set out on an old blanket. The next two photos were various shots of the picnic.

The next page was about a hospital trip.  Alluka had gotten very sick, and was sleeping on a large hospital bed. Her exhausted papa was sleeping next to her, still wearing his scrubs and lab coat. Kurapika had taken the picture, and the next one featured Killua in one of the room's waiting chairs.

Killua was allowed in the room because they had once upon a time discovered that he had an incredible- one might say invincible- immune system. Unfortunately, it was connected to his past abuse, so they never really talked about it.

The next photo was of homeschooling with Mrs. Jean and Mrs. Lisa. It had taken a while for the children to adapt to seeing them all the time, but eventually, they became best friends. The kids needed some socializing and school lessons before they were ready for public school.

Jean was the sister of one of Leorio's coworkers, Barbara. The three of them were also at the wedding, and Lisa had caught the bouquet, despite already being married to Jean. They had two adopted children as well, but they were much older than Killua and Alluka.

The next picture was Kurapika's birthday. They were sitting around the dinner table, all wearing paper cone hats. It was dark, the only light coming from the candles on the cake. Kurapika was watching the children sing, sporting a fond smile.

'For how serious your job is,' a sticky note read. 'You sure do smile a lot.'

Kurapika sighed and closed the book, afraid that he might spend the entire afternoon looking at the old pictures and having his heart turn to mush and fluff. He set the book on the shelf, tucking it between other important texts. On the left were the Kurtan history books that were recovered from his village and turned over to historians, then printed in mass to be put into universities and museums. On the right were records and memoirs of Leorio's family members that they always pulled out and read together on Halloween night after trick or treating.

The other boxes didn't take long to unload. Kurapika was tempted to take the scrapbook out again, but he resisted. He was determined to go through it with Leorio and the kids, maybe for Christmas, to celebrate what it means to be a family.

"I really am such a sap." Kurapika sighed and got to work unpacking the next set of boxes.

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AYO DOES THIS MEAN I HAVE TO GIVE YOU A FULL GUIDE OF THE PHOTO ALBUM FOR CHRISTMAS?