LeoPika short stories and one shots!

Hairdresser

CW: starvation and mentions of eating disorder. Also Trans!Leorio. Because I love him and I love to hurt him.
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Leorio threw his car into park and hurried into the salon. He'd booked an appointment late last night on a whim, and he was dead set on changing his look. He stuffed the half eaten protein bar in his pocket. God, he hated protein bars.

As he approached the desk, the girl at the desk smiled. "Do you have an appointment?"

"Uh, yeah, for Leorio? At-"

"Leorio?" A voice called behind him. It was a short girl with short-ish blonde hair and bangs.

Leorio smiled to the girl at the desk. "That's me." He quickly filled out the check in sheet while the -desk/clerk person I dunno- waved over the student.

Leorio finished the check in and turned to the blonde. She motioned him to follow.

"My name is Kurapika." Her voice was deeper than he thought it would be. "What are you thinking of getting done today?"

"I uh... I want to bleach the top." Leorio said, suddenly nervous. Did he really want this?

"Okay. How light do you think? Do you want blondish yellow or platinum?" She gestured for him to sit down.

"As close as you can get to white." Leorio took a seat as she draped the black cape around his shoulders.

She clipped the cape with a chuckle. "Oh, I can get close. Trust me."

Leorio felt butterflies. Why in the world did he feel butterflies? He was attracted to men, not esthetician girls.

He and Kurapika got to talking, and he told her about college. They weren't going to the same university, but they actually lived in the same city.

As Kurapika started to section off his hair, he started talking about his siblings. Kurapika asked questions and engaged in the conversation, putting Leorio at ease.

Suddenly there was a cold drip. "Shit! Sorry gimme one second."

Kurapika frantically got a wet towel and wiped a glob of bleach off of Leorio's neck. While she was wiping, Leorio felt the tug of fabric on fabric. His face paled.

"I'm so sorry, it was just a little bit..." she lowered her voice. "It got a little on your binder but I got it off quick enough that I don't think it will stain."

Leorio stared at her in the mirror. "How did you..."

"Oh, I'm gay, so I'm familiar with the LGBT community." Kurapika said. "And I know how stressful it can be, so don't worry; your secret is safe with me."

"You- you what?" Leorio's brain didn't compute for a second. Then he stupidly said: "you're a guy?"

Kurapika laughed. "I know I don't look like it but yes, I'm cis."

"Oh. Sorry I assumed." Leorio felt so stupid. He of all people should know better than to assume one's gender and orientation. And he of all people should know that someone can be feminine and still be a man.

"It's okay, I don't take offense because there's no way you would've known unless I told you." He continued with Leorio's hair. "And I hope it doesn't make you uncomfortable to be serviced by a male esthetician."

"No! Not at all. This is actually really nice."

"I'm glad." Kurapika said gently. "So I've been thinking, the hair might not lift to white in one go, so we might have to schedule another appointment for a couple days from now. I'll do my best, but keep that in mind."