Like Real People do [Leopika]

Warm bodies, cold hands

   For Leorio, rain was often relaxing. Therapeutic even as the rhythmic drops of water against his balcony door satiated his most anxious thoughts. The scent of wet grass and concrete sweetly permeated his neighborhood the following morning. Standing in the middle of a storm without an umbrella sorely rubbed in what he often took for granted. Every layer of clothing he wore was soaked, sticking to his skin so uncomfortably it took a lot in him not to shudder. His hands were balled into fists at his side, the pockets of his pants too wet to idly hide them in as he waited, his thumbs running over his knuckles soothingly.

   Kurapika fared no better. Shivering quietly as he stared blankly in front of him, his eyes only refocusing once the red light illuminating the crosswalk they stood at finally turned green. Before Leorio could take a step forward Kurapika's fingers delicately pinched the cuff of his suit jacket, the slight tremble in his hands unnoticeable as they crossed together. Leorio's soft glance in his direction wasn't met, instead he continued to stare straight ahead as they walked in tandem to each other.

   "It should only be another block." Leorio said quietly, his voice drowned out by the ongoing downpour. He thought, as he paced his steps with Kurapika's, what it would be like to test the waters. To intertwine their fingers together. Would he flinch, would he pull away, and would the rejection leave his hand feeling even colder than it was now. It was a stupid idea, the thought being buried away as quickly as it came.

   He was lucky enough to have run into him at all in the last few days, let alone convince him to be treated to dinner while he was still in town. Now they trekked, cold and wet through the bleak looking city, to the nearest motel in hopes of waiting out the rain. Maybe it wasn't under the best circumstances, but Leorio learned not to look a gift Kurapika in the mouth. He was there, in the flesh, after months of reaching out and being met with nothing but radio silence.

   The flickering light of the motel sign soon reflected off of rippling puddles decorating the street, and Leorio unknowingly walked faster. The temptation of a warm room and dry bed was motivation enough. The sudden lurch forward almost tripped Kurapika, his fingers losing grip on Leorio's sleeve. It didn't take him more than a second to regain his composure, his hand gently grasping Leorio's pinky and ring fingers as he struggled to catch up. It startled Leorio, his eyes widening almost unnoticeably as his breath caught in his throat. Still his pace didn't stutter.

   They hurried through the big glass doors, the silence of the motel lobby somehow more deafening than the storm outside. Every drop of water that fell from their clothes onto the tile floor echoed, and yet the receptionist didn't spare them a glance. Immersed in their novel, It wasn't until Leorio dropped his wallet on the counter that they were both acknowledged by their cold disinterested eyes.

   "Is there a room for two available?" He asked almost breathlessly, his free hand tapping the countertop a few times impatiently. They sighed, snapping their book shut loud enough to startle the two, before picking up a pen and using it to type. The computer screen lit up and the clacking of the keyboard began to drown out the humming of fluorescent lights. A moment would pass, Kurapika's trembling grip on Leorio's fingers beginning to slip, before the receptionist finally spoke.

   "A full sized bed and a pull out. Seventy-five jenny, take it or leave it."

   Leorio hurried to retrieve the jenny from his wallet, pulling away from Kurapika's cold hand finally despite everything in him screaming not to. He hastily slid the money over in their direction, just as they dropped their room key onto the counter. He nodded, a silent 'thank you,' as he read their room number from the back of the key. Without arguing with himself he reached back and took Kurapika's hand in his, thumb tracing the texture of his fingers as he led him down the hallway.