DISCOVERY ➴ Chrollo x Reader

XIII. Not ideal

Fragile watery eyes focused solely on the road as I considered my demise. Why was it a relief? Knowing that I would die by the Spider's hands... Having no pressure to deal with my life... Why was it that I found peace as I thought that I was rid of plans for the future, due rents, people's expectations...

"Thank you." It came out of me as a sob, barely audible. Chrollo didn't answer. It was to be expected, I hadn't looked at him when I said it. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered.

The road was smoother, vegetation small, allowing for the peaks of a city to fight the horizon. Harebells fought for the dry land, peeking between pale greens and yellows, as if tiny shards of the blue purple sky had been scattered through the plains.

I swallowed, trying to make do with my dry throat. How could I be sweating if I hadn't been drinking decent amounts of water? Could I ask for water? The chips had only made it worse... At least they had reduced my hunger somewhat.

"Thirsty?" He sounded amused. Watching someone go mad must be an insightful display of the human nature. What could be more entertaining than seeing someone lose their sense of self?

"Yeah. Quite." I gulped once more, slowing the car down as we approached a crossroad. Tilting my head, I snuck a look at him. He was sitting nonchalantly, as he had before. No move was made. Ah- so I was to die of thirst. My carefree moment could only last so long...

"Right turn... And you can steal some soon, we'll be stopping by Yares." That was an eccentric and dumb proposal presented in such a happy-go-lucky way, I couldn't help but scoff.

"Water isn't that expensive, I can probably buy a bottle or two." I switched the blinkers off, eyes searching for Yare in the signs.

"Not if you don't have your wallet with you." Was that supposed to be a taunt? Why had he said it in such a serious way? I- This man- I snapped my head to glare at him, surely he wouldn't take my wallet! What for? WHY? "Can't have you on a leash, can I? You'll come back for your wallet."

"What do you mean? I wouldn't run, I know better. I wouldn't get far, I'm not fit at all-" I bit my dry lip, pulling the dead skin as I finally spotted the exit for Yare.

"That is true, but it assumes I'll have you following me around. I have some things to do so you'll be on your own to do whatever you feel like, so long as you return within some hours. That's why I'm keeping your wallet." He rolled the window down, the dry air itched on my nose. If my poor eyes could pop out of their sockets they would, this fucking priest-

"You... You're going to leave me alone, without any money, in a random city for some hours?" He couldn't be serious. He could not. The right wheels sunk as they left the road. Holding a curse in, I straightened the steering wheel, heads bobbed with the sharp direction change.

"Yeah, that's it. You'll do well. Didn't you survive in your little trip to save your friend? Surely you can be sneaky enough if the Phantom Troupe didn't spot you." This man was insane, but I already knew that. My heart couldn't take any more of this shit... My mouth hung open, eyes stuck in the grey of his, noticing the movement of his dark hair under the draft. A billion thoughts fighting to be expressed at the same time often resulted in a complete slaughter and silence.

"The dude fighting guns with his weird katana sword thing was- a Phantom Troupe member?"

"Still is."

"Fuck me."

"Odd request, Y/N. Usually people seduce me before they ask. Maybe you should try that too, if you do want it." He shuffled around, folding his map neatly and sliding it in the little flap on the sun visor. He had a bit of a struggle to flap it close. Old cars... What a pain.

The normal city buzz was a good distraction from my current predicament. I had to pay more attention as the cars now flooded the streets. It was probably the start of lunch hours.

"Where should I-?" Maybe he needed to be dropped off somewhere specific? Would it be better to park next to something easy to find? Like that tall shiny building? There are probably no spots left though...

"Anywhere, so long as you're able to find it. I'm also taking the keys." Oh... How dumb! Running away by car hadn't even crossed my mind. It was already shut down though... Oh well.

I tried to get as close to the tall building as possible and thankfully there was a large park a few blocks away. I stopped at the red light and cursed the gear shift. The first gear was always the hardest to slide in. A car honked behind me, my eyes jumped to meet green lights and I floored it. Not that the car would go up to any speed, it just slowly picked up its snail pace as I turned to enter the parking lot next to the green park.

It was rather full for a weekday... Was it a weekday even? Oh lord- I struggled to straighten the car within its designated white rectangle. When it was good enough, I gripped the handbrake with both hands, pulling it up as far as I could. I had had nightmares for the last few years, imagining my old run-down taxi slowly moving down a hill after I had parked it. I wouldn't take any chances, even if this parking lot wasn't sloped.

I sighed, patted my hair and got out of the car to face the Spider- Chrollo. He moved his outstretched hand to me. I tossed them to him and he locked the car.

"Two hours, do what you will with them." And with a nod, he was walking away.

Well... Things could be better. Alone and with no money or identification in a strange city was not ideal. It was certainly not how I had dreamt of travelling the world.

> Author's Note: May the good winds of May bring you joy. (I'm sorry for the long wait, I haven't had as much free time as I had hoped for.)