Speak of the Devil // COMPLETED ✔

Exploring New Things: A Case Study By Hisoka, Chrollo, And Gon (In That Order)

Hisoka's "study date" took place in public and as the perpetual third wheel of Kurapika's relationship, which is to say, Leorio joined them. Hisoka quite liked libraries because he believed in sultry whispers above all else, and what better place for those than a library? It was brilliant. He wished he'd thought of it himself, but the location was decided upon by Kurapika.

"I'm only doing this because you actually sounded somewhat competent in class on Thursday," Kurapika said.

Hisoka knew the philosophy professors in the department loved an outspoken opinion, of which Hisoka had plenty. And, so it seemed, Kurapika did as well—which ended in no less than two debates between the lectures that they shared Thursday and Friday.

And clearly, Kurapika wanted someone with a brain and by God, Hisoka was determined to prove he had one of those.

"Is that such a surprise?" Hisoka said as he joined their table, his voice low. He crossed his legs, propped his chin on his hand, and smiled at the two of them.

Leorio was reclined back in his seat, pen between his teeth, studying chemistry when Hisoka had approached. Now, however, he was twirling the pen about, delighted by Hisoka's presence.

"It is, honestly," Kurapika said.

"I don't know. He has the sort of confidence people get when they know what they're talking about," Leorio argued, glancing to the side at where Kurapika glared at him.

"Who's side are you on, anyway?"

"Yours, of course. But your partner seems fun," Leorio said, gesturing vaguely to Hisoka.

"That's because I am fun," Hisoka said.

"Pity. I hate fun."

Hisoka rose an eyebrow as Leorio gave a solemn nod. "It's true," Leorio said.

"That's okay. I'm quite the fan of masochism myself."

Kurapika snapped open their textbook and slapped it on the table, punctuating the end of that particular conversation. They shoved a finger onto the neon pink notecard with Hisoka's name on it and said, "You take these sections. Read them."

"Here? Now?"

" Yes . Why else would we be here?"

"To have fun."

Kurapika eyes looked like they were one more word away from rolling down the hill outside. "No talking. Just read ."

And so Hisoka read, happily, in their company. He wondered, absently, if this was how Chrollo felt surrounded by the rest of them in the library, though there was chaos always flying about at Zeno's place. The library was a quaint little vacuum of noise—not a sound to be had outside of pages flipping and Leorio's pen tapping idly at his front teeth and against the rim of his glasses.

Hisoka set the book down some time after. "Done," he said.

Kurapika looked up from their book like Hisoka had just woken them up from a nap. They stared at Hisoka's textbook, and then up at Hisoka. "Really?" they said.

"Wow," Leorio grinned, turning in his chair to face Kurapika. "He reads faster than you do."

"Does not," Kurapika insisted, turning the book over and tipping it out of view of Hisoka. He flipped a few pages back. "Summarize The Liberty of Subjects for me."

So Hisoka did, quoting little, embellishing some, and overall, pissing Kurapika off with his accuracy.

Kurapika slapped the book shut, nursing a headache. "Fuck. You did read it."