The Young Butler [KilluGon, Slow-burn]

Chapter 1: The Arrival

I dedicate this beginning to a few (of the many) authors who have led me into this beautiful and lively fandom with their stories, inspiring me to write my own, and I truly hope to encounter more: to Ash_1875, Nebulasaurus, WhisperingMolly, leahistyping, and GonKilluLuciel. And a special one to Lady_Hiako for supporting the Spanish fandom so strongly. Thank you very much to all, and also to those who read. The fandom wouldn't be anything without all of us.

I hope you like it :)

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"You are forbidden from speaking to him, do you understand?".

Killua had never liked being told what to do. He, the heir of the Zoldyck family, a young, skilled, and independent individual, boasting a record of 200 wins in the Heavenly Tower and just recently turning eight years old, considered himself perfectly capable of deciding for himself what he could and could not do. And speaking to the new kid that Tsubone had brought to the Butler's House was, in his opinion, one of those things.

He was walking near the Butler's House when he witnessed his arrival. It was unusual for them to bring in acquisitions so young, he thought, although this wasn't the first time either. What particularly caught his attention about the boy was not only the fact that he was probably the same age as him, but also that despite the situation he was in he didn't seem worried at all. Any other child who had been dragged to the Zoldyck mansion would be crying and begging for their life, but not him. He radiated a vibrant and bright aura, and his eyes-two large brown eyes-shone with curiosity, absorbing everything they saw with the throbbing excitement of discovering a new place.

How did he even get here? Was he bought? Or maybe an abandoned orphan? Did they really think he was good enough to recruit him to join their family's Butlers?

Out of nowhere, those eyes were on him. Gold versus blue, both filled with deep curiosity about the other. He lifted his hand to wave, and the other guy's lips curved into a quick, fleeting smile before Tsubone pulled him inside the building.

"He's just a Butler in training. He's none of your concern," Mother said firmly, pulling him away. "He's beneath you".

Well, that was for him to decide.

When he saw him for the second time, only a couple of weeks had passed. Despite his attempts to hasten their next meeting by returning to the same place, Mother's constant presence behind him like an unyielding shadow made it impossible. So, when he stumbled upon him by chance, wandering in the forest just a couple of hundred yards from the Zoldyck Mansion, he couldn't help but feel a surge of daring excitement.

That day, something in the forest caught his attention. He didn't know why, but he felt something there was waiting for him. Following his purest instinct, he ventured deeper. Shaking off his caretaker wasn't particularly hard, considering she had to look after Alluka and Kalluto before him.

At that moment, the forest was in its full glory, not the glory of a radiant spring, but a dark, gloomy splendor, fitting the place and matching his mood. The sun's rays barely reached the ground due to the dense tree canopies, creating a sinister play of light and shadow over the root-filled floor. The scent was far from fresh; it was heavy and thick, filling the air with an earthy, musty smell.

He found him upon reaching the small clearing.

The new Butler was sitting on one of the massive roots sinking into the ground, leaning back against the trunk. His eyes were closed, and for a moment, he thought he was sleeping.

After watching him for a few moments, Killua slowly approached, silent, circling him cautiously as his brother had trained him, making no sound, feeling out the ground before drawing his attention. His eyes carefully studied the boy. He sat stiffly against the trunk, dressed elegantly like the rest of the Butlers there, in a white shirt now dirtied from his escapades through the forest. And his age? From down here, it was hard to gauge, but he didn't seem much taller than him. Maybe...