Hunting for a way home - Shalnark x Reader

Chapter 5 - Well, This is tricky.

"I'm not going anywhere near that ledge." Killua looked over at you shaking his head in disbelief.

"Out of all the things to bother you, it's heights that do you in?" He looked at Gon and the others dumbfoundedly. They got up this morning and found themselves at the top of trick tower. You already knew to get in they'd have to fall through the floor to reach the lower levels. Before you could tell them your "theory" though they had wanted to explore the top of the tower for clues and were currently peering over the edge to see the rock climber take his chances on the outside of the wall. You tapped your foot impatiently.

The wind on top of the tower was unsettling and even though your balance was good the thought of getting blown off the edge had your knees wobbly, the man was probably minutes away from dying anyway and you had no interest in watching. 'I wonder if I could replace Tonpa as the person who goes down the tower with them.'

Unsure of how that would affect the storyline but a part of you didn't really care. You turned away from where you had been standing taking a step towards the center of the tower and immediately knew you'd fucked up as you felt the floor disappear from under you. You very ungracefully crashed to the ground below.

"Finally someone else managed to drop in here." Looking towards the voice you saw a peach haired man with a light purple colored cap looking at you. Picking yourself up off the ground you began to walk over brushing your clothes off. "Well this is unexpected."

"Tell me about it." Before things could get to tense between them you blurted,

"So what exactly are we supposed to be doing? You made it sound like you had to wait for someone? Are we going to have to wait for someone else?"

He picked up two bracelets and tossed one over to you. "No, this room appears to only need two people. We are gonna have to work together to make it to the bottom." A sigh of relief puffed out. 'At least I won't have to go down this tower alone.' It was hard to admit but you truly hadn't wanted to find a way to the bottom alone.

Even if you couldn't be with your friends, at least you were with someone. From what you could remember he wasn't the worst person you could have gotten stuck with. At least it wasn't the cocky bald ninja. "Well if we are going to be working together to get down this thing. Names should be in order, I'm Y/N." You slipped the bracelet on as he did the same. "I'm Pokkle."

Approaching the wall he was examining you read what the wall said 'Together two must work together to make it to the bottom. Without the other both will never be able to make it.'

"Well isn't that ominous.. Well, let's get out of here." They both made their way to the door beside the wall. Instinctively they knew that to pass through they'd have to hit the button on the bracelet, when the door opened you peaked through to see a long hallway towards the end it looked like there could either be stairs or a ledge to drop down from. Hopefully it was stairs.

They both made their way down the hall. The silence between them slightly awkward. You hadn't realized your hand had come up to rub your neck. You were thankful it didn't hurt so much to speak today and the swelling seemed to have drastically gone down. Leorio upon waking this morning had sat before you with his briefcase open demanding you take more pills and allow him to rub the cream back into your neck.

"How'd that happen to you?" His question surprised you, your fingers immediately leaving your neck. "The clown." That's all that really had to be said. He clicked his tongue with annoyance.

"He's a psychopath, I'm surprised he didn't kill you." You crossed your arms at that.

"Well I'm thankful he didn't." He seemed to realize his statement had made you defensive.