Hunting for a way home - Shalnark x Reader

Chapter 52 - I am, In need of a new shirt.

Today marks the 6 month anniversary since I started writing this fic. I love and appreciate all of you! Thank you so much for sticking around.

Shalnark was anything but happy. He hadn't found a moment of true happiness or peace in weeks. From the moment he'd been prodded awake from a rather annoyed Phinks, and he realized she had been gone worry coursed through him.

The only hint as to where she'd gone had been an obvious one. Between her saying Illumis name and the dead butler in the house it was clear to him that she'd made some sort of deal and went back to Kukuroo mountain.

That didn't stop him from trying to follow though. Feitan had practically restrained him as Phinks got on the phone with the boss and Chrollo had firmly vetoed that course of action firmly stating, 'We will not interfere with the Zoldycks.'

So the last few weeks had been waiting. Multiple emotions coming and going as the weeks passed. Worry, anger, worry, anger, worry, and finally numbness.

The only thing he had left of her for company was her dog. That was now large beyond reason. Shalnark assumed she'd have come back by now for Aster at least right?

When it was finally time to head over to the other continent for the deadline, he'd had one hell of a time getting her on a ship.

Phinks constantly told him there was nothing to worry about that everything was probably fine but instinctively they both knew it was empty words.

Right now the two and Aster walked across a desert towards the location the boss had given them. There wasn't much talking between the two as the two waited for the day to turn to night.

When a sending ringing came from him pocket his brows shot up in surprise especially as he saw an unfamiliar caller ID. Strange no one aside from the troupe should have this number. One tap of the button and the call connected.

"Hello?" He listened but no one answered on the other line.

"Hello? Is somebody there?" Still nothing.

"Who is it, The boss?" Phinks was looking over at him but he shrugged.

"I don't know? They haven't said anything yet."

A moment later and the call dropped. How strange?

They'd been walking a while longer when it finally hit him who else exactly had this number. Phinks looked at him like he was crazy while he pulled his phone back out and hit the redial.

He was waiting and waiting and just when he thought the phone would go to voicemail the phone picked up. There was no answer this time only a slight plunking sound.

"Not going to answer that?" A man? And why did he sound familiar.

"Not that easy." His heart dropped. It was her.. it was Y/N.

"It's as easy as pressing a button." Another familiar voice this time feminine sounded. That's when it hit him it was Shizuku. There was a shuffling sound. Was she moving her phone?

"Not everything is as easy as pressing a button." Shalnark was momentarily shocked at her response now slightly muffled.

"Who is it?" Phinks was looking at him puzzled to which Shalnark shhhed him quickly.

"Oh?" He heard Shizuku say.

"Is the person on the other line really worth running from?" The male voice asked again. Now that he recognized the other as Shizuku this must be Franklin he was hearing.

"I'm not running from them." The slight bit to her statement left him growing increasingly more surprised.

"Are you sure about that?" By that tone he just knew Franklin what the man's face must have reflected.