Jaded||Gonkillu

[5] Calm Before the Storm

[Last chapter was rewritten. If you don't feel like rereading, in summary, Killua beefed w Louis—both of them are injured. Killua got out into police custody, Louis is next, but was hospitalized beforehand.]

Gon's POV~

The five of us were silent in the foyer of the Zoldyck home. I was filled in on the situation and seriously pissed off. Killua isn't to blame at all.

It was getting closer to midnight and I'd been ignoring the phone calls and texts from my dad. I don't have time to deal with his shit; No one does. Except this time, I have a good reason for ignoring him.

"I just got off the phone with the hospital," Kikyo sniffled, taking a seat on the chair by the small table by the door. "Louis is awake."

"Unfortunate." I scoffed. "He should've died."

"So Kil could face manslaughter charges? Not very smart." Illumi snapped.

"Look, we don't have to get along, but I'm not putting up with you right now. And unless you wanna seem like the petty one in front of your family, you'll shut up too."

The room was silent once more, no one so much as breathing heavy.

Breaking the silence was yet another phone call from my dad. Pissed at him, I finally stepped outside to answer.

"What?" I snapped.

"Gon, where the fuck are you?" He spoke sternly.

"At Killua's. I told you." I gritted my teeth, trying to be as respectful as humanly possible.

"Don't fuck around with me, boy." My father warned. "If you exercise your newfound freedom too often, you'll lose it altogether."

I sucked in a breath and held it. I couldn't afford to dish out the words I truly wanted to.

"Okay, Dad. I'm sorry. I'll be home by midnight."

"Fine."

He hung up and I let out a shaky sigh. I ran hands through my hair with furrowed brows.

I trudged solemnly to the blue, velvet chair by the foyer and sat down. I scratched ignorantly at the top of my left wrist and I bounced my legs up and down. I worried for Killua, I always do. He doesn't fare well on his own; he needs me. He's always needed someone, at least, to take care of him. I've been that person since we were kids, and I sure won't change that.

I feel a sense of responsibility for the way things went tonight. I wonder how much Killua resents me for not picking up the phone. I'm sorry. I wish I could have had a bit more strength in the matter; I wish I could stand up to my father. If not for my sake, then for Killua's. Killua means the world to me. I wouldn't want anything to happen to him.

Killua's POV~

Sometimes it's easy for me to forgive; oftentimes actually. I tend to be a people pleaser. I often give into peer pressure, and excuse otherwise unforgivable behaviors. It's kind of a different story when it comes to my mother and siblings. They're kind of all I have so, in a way, I feel responsible for them. Since our father passed, I've been the glue of the family. I'm the only thing keeping this foundation stable. But then things get complicated.

I'm the only thing keeping this family stable, but my medication is the only thing keeping me stable. My meds keep me stable, but my local pharmacy keeps the medication in stock. The local pharmacy keeps the meds in stock, and my pediatrician prescribes it. My pediatrician prescribes the meds, and his doctor prescribes him his meds for high blood pressure. I wonder if his doctor is on meds too? Maybe the only thing keeping his doctor stable is his wife. If his wife leaves him, he'll stop going to work. Without him at work, my pediatrician will eventually die without his meds—maybe. With a dead pediatrician, I don't have anyone to prescribe me meds, so it doesn't matter if the pharmacy is open or closed or stocked up. And without my meds, I'm not stable. Without me stable, I can't keep the family going.