Beyond the Grave [ILLUMI X CHROLLO]

[21] Potentially Nefarious Content (Feat. Killugon x2)

a/n: Sauce isn't too explicit but I've contained it within the asterisks

The first thing Illumi noticed was that the apartment smelled amazing. Between the delicate splash of wine pouring from a bottle came Wrath's low yet cheery voice humming a tune that brought Illumi from the foyer to the dining room.

The lights were off, the windows drawn, and in the dim grey stood Wrath with his back to the door tending to the bar where a fresh bottle of wine was emptied out into a decanter and—

Their eyes met in the mirror behind the bar.

"Holy shit," Wrath swore, the bottle clattering from his hands. He steadied it on the marble and turned, hands gripping the bar.

"Long time no see," Illumi said.

Wrath's exhale sounded more like a gasp. "No kidding." He brushed a hand through his hair and then over his shirt. He was just as vibrant as Sukuna and Chrollo and bleeding hues of green—an emerald dress shirt under crisp leather straps.

Right, Illumi thought, we're interrupting a date.

And, judging by all of the Princes' accommodations for Wrath in the trail, Sukuna's warnings about rage, and now the state of Wrath's unamused stare, Illumi started to sweat. Fuck.

"Is something wrong?" Wrath asked, eyes dropping down. "Were you just with Chrollo?"

Illumi's eyes jumped to the state of his shirt. Where his chest was normally bare, it was now spotted with bruises. He yanked the front of his shirt closed and clasped the buttons back into place, hastily, hands shaking. "Never mind that," he said.

Wrath's shoulders tightened. "You were with Pride?"

"I said never mind." With a huff, Illumi tossed his hair back and said, "You haven't heard?"

"A-About you fucking Pride?"

"We aren't—!" It was no use. Wrath was staring at him like he was a wild animal set loose from the zoo. He sighed. "Something else happened."

Wrath pushed away from the bar at once and, before Illumi could step back, grabbed Illumi by the arms. "Did something happen to Killua?"

"No, he's on his way here," Illumi said, and Wrath immediately released him, head hanging in relief. "With our brother and Gon."

Wrath's eyes jumped back up to his, squinting. "Come again."

"Something happened this week and I need your help," Illumi said.

Wrath turned away with a groan, head back and arms over his hair. "Can't it wait?" He brandished both hands out to the spread of food on the table and the place setting for two. "I even called and ordered ahead!"

Illumi winced. "I'm sorry. Hopefully it won't take too long, but I really need to talk to you before my siblings get here and you have to promise no one else will ever know about it."

The request captured Wrath's attention. He studied Illumi for a moment, eyes flitting between Illumi's, as he leaned his arms over the back of a chair. "Okay, fine. But I get dinner tonight with Killua."

"I think that's up to Killua," Illumi said.

Wrath's hands hung, curled and crossed into fists. Though his expression didn't change, the tension in his shoulders certainly did.

Illumi rolled his head on his neck and sighed. "I'll... see what I can do. But Killua can't even see me and—"

"I don't care. Make it happen," Wrath said.