Nahida & Wanderer In HXH

°•°Storm°•°

Nahida watched the captain of this ship call out for them, Gon, and the other two men standing. He beckoned them over and started walking to the control room. Nahida quickly went behind the older man in a suit with Wanderer close by.

Wanderer kept his eyes on the sick candidates. All of them had been so cocky and wary before, now they were tired messes with sweat and the smell of old puke on them.

Still, he didn't risk a possible grab or injury and stayed wary. He needed Nahida to go back. Not to mention the traveler would bury him alive if Wanderer managed to return without her.

That's all. He's just saving himself some future trouble by protecting her.

Wanderer nodded to himself in satisfaction and continued behind her.

When everyone entered the control room, they silently stood beside each other and before the captain. Wanderer moved to stand between the adults and two children. Which meant that the boy, Gon, and Nahida were on his left, while the old man in a suit and the blond were each on his right.

Gon smiled at Nahida, and she returned the soft greeting. Wanderer crossed his arms while waiting.

The captain observed them while biting the pipe inside his mouth. His voice was rather rough from the years of smoking.

"Now, what are your names?"

That boy wearing green immediately raised his hand with a smile.

"I'm Gon!"

The blond near the wall in a blue tabard with red details nodded slightly.

"Kurapika."

The old man in a blue suit and low, round sunglasses beside Wanderer spoke next with a small frown.

"Leorio."

The captain nodded and turned to the next candidate, a short, young man with a large hat. The boy glared at him, like he sensed his thoughts about his height.

He stayed quiet, so the young girl introduced herself first with a gentle smile.

"I am Nahida."

The captain turned to the only candidate who hadn't introduced themselves yet. The boy crossed his arms and turned his head away before answering.

"Wanderer."

Leorio turned to him with a raised brow.

"That's your name? Wanderer?"

Leorio was taller. From his point of view, he only saw a hat. A very pretty one, but man, was this 'Wanderer' guy short.

Maybe Wanderer could sense, or read minds. Right when Leorio finished that thought, Wanderer slammed his foot onto Leorio's shoe. The old man immediately straightened up with a yelp.

"Ow! What the-!"

Wanderer took his foot back with a scowl and crossed his arms again.

"Shut it. Just call me whatever you'd like."

Nahida cleared her throat, making Wanderer look at her. Her arms were crossed like his were, and she looked at him with narrowed eyes. Wanderer looked away with a scowl.

"You can also call him Hat Guy."

Gon looked at Wanderer's hat, then nodded with a smile.

"Yeah! I like Hat Guy more!"

Kurapika covered his smile, but couldn't stop a 'pfft' from escaping at the nickname. Wanderer's eye twitched, but he had long gotten used to being called that. The captain also chuckled, but then his face changed, the usual smile they were seeing since arriving was gone.