LeoPika short stories and one shots!

Abuela

Leorio closed the front door, sliding his shoes off and setting his briefcase on the bench. He sat down for exactly one second before a thundering of footsteps began to approach. He took a deep breath and smiled, putting up a happy facade just as his children came tumbling into the hallway.

"Papá!" Killua and Alluka said in unison, throwing their arms around him to embrace their father.

"Hey, cuties. How are you today?"

"Good!"

Leorio kissed their heads and squeezed them close. "I love you guys tons and tons." He let go. "Is daddy in the kitchen?"

Alluka nodded. "We are helping make cookies!"

"Cookies?" Leorio gasped. "What for? Is it a special occasion?"

"For the neighbors." Killua informed. "They're allergic to nuts so we are being very careful."

"Come come! We are singing Bruno." Alluka pulled him up and led the way to the kitchen.

Kurapika was putting a tray in the oven while a small wireless speaker on the counter was loudly playing "we don't talk about Bruno" probably for the eighth time. he looked cute tonight, his hair up in a ponytail on top of his head like a pineapple, his favorite comfy pink shirt, white pants (WHITE PANTS?! No, think of the stains-), and an apron that said "tasty time."

He smiled when his husband walked in, closed the oven, then nearly ran to him to throw his arms over his shoulders. Leorio picked him up and twirled him once, hugging him close and squeezing him tight. Leorio wanted to burst into tears right then. It would be so easy, and Kurapika's embrace was so inviting. He set his husband down.

"Seven foot frame!" Killua shouted in a spooky voice, doing the dance for a giggling Alluka. "Rats along his back when he calls your name it all fades to black-" he fibbed the next few lines, making Alluka laugh even more.

Leorio kissed Kurapika's head. "I need to take a quick nap. Can you turn down the music a little?"

"Yeah. You feeling ok?"

Leorio nodded. "Just tired."

"Don't forget your water bottle." Kurapika reminded him, then let go so he could turn down the music. He shuffled the kids to the kitchen table where they could enjoy a quiet activity while waiting for the cookies.

Water bottle in hand, Leorio went to his room. He shut the door, sat on the bed, then let his tears finally fall.

His mother had yelled at him once again for being married to a man and having "someone else's kids." He loved his kids. He loved his husband. They belonged to him.

But his mother only cared about having blood related grandchildren. She had disowned Killua and Alluka, refusing to even say their names. She had called Killua haunted. She had weaponized Alluka's learning disability. She had called Kurapika a devil and raved about his sinful ways.

Leorio had finally had enough. He was breaking the cycle of mistreatment of family members, and leaving the Paladiknight legacy and generational trauma behind. He was written out of The Will. He was not allowed to visit. He was not allowed to attend either of his parent's funerals. Harsh.

It broke his heart. But he had to do it. Leorio had chosen this life. Sure, some things were unexpected, but everything was so good. He didn't need anyone telling him otherwise.

But it was his mother. How could she do this to him? How could she treat him this way?

Kurapika knocked on the door. "Sweetheart?"

"Come in." Leorio wiped his face.

The door opened and Kurapika peeked in. Below him, the two children peeked in as well.

"Papá, we're you crying?" Killua asked.

Alluka pushed the door open and ran to her papa, giving him a big hug as tears started rolling down her cheeks. She's always been a sympathetic cryer. The two boys in the doorway joined soon after.

"I got in a fight with Abuela today." Leorio said, setting Alluka on his lap and holding Killua's hand. "And we aren't going to see her any more."

"Abuela is gone?" Alluka asked.

"Not gone... she just... doesn't have a big enough house for all of us, so we can't visit." Leorio lied. He'd rather die than let one of his children blame themselves for this.

"She can come over to our house!" Killua insisted.

Leorio shook his head. He didn't know what to say, so he didn't say anything at all.

"How about this," Kurapika picked up Alluka and wiped her tears away. "Since we can't go to Abuela's house anymore, let's try getting to know our neighbors. Like Zushi's family three doors down."

Alluka nodded and laid her head on her daddy's shoulder. "I miss Abuela."

Leorio sighed. "Me too."

Killua hugged papa, and all four of them left the bedroom to stand in the kitchen once again. While the children sat at the bar stools, Kurapika set out which cookies were for the neighbors, and which were for the kids to eat.

Once the gift was wrapped and ready, the four of them walked across the apartment hall to give the peanut-free cookies to the neighbors.

The woman at the door was short and had mid length auburn hair. She had a kind smile and tired eyes, and called her son to the door to meet the neighbors.

"This is Gon, he'll be joining the second grade in the fall."

"Just like Killua!" Kurapika put a hand on his back. He was currently hiding to the side of Kurapika. "Can you say hello to Gon?"

"Hullo." Killua murmured.

"Hi." Gon said, equally as timid.

"Do Killua and Alluka want to come play while we have a chat?" Mito asked.

"Oh I'm sorry, we have an early meeting tonight. These kids have doctor's appointments in the morning." Kurapika declined politely.

"Oh, that's alright. Have a nice night, and good luck with those appointments tomorrow." Mito nodded and closed the door.

Once they were inside their house again, the children began getting ready for bed. It didn't take nearly as long as usual nights, Killua was acting a bit... shy and subdued. He must have a lot on his mind.

With the kids asleep and safely tucked away, Leorio finally had time to tell Kurapika exactly what happened. He cried while trying to tell him. He wept when he had to repeat the things the old hag said about their children. But Kurapika was there to hold and calm him. He listened patiently, got Leorio a handful of tissues for his runny nose, and smoothed back his hair to help ease his nerves.

Puffy and stuffy but with no more tears left to cry, Leorio sat on the bed and stared at his handful of tissues. His husband rubbed his back, unsure of how to help him.

-
I don't know how to end this one because my angst is always the same; cry then feel better. It's getting a bit bland idk so I just ended it eheh