Repulsive Beauty || Hisoka

15. On Keeping Good Company

I consoled the poor, near trembling, kid trying equally hard not to laugh or cry.

"If you really want to talk about it we can go somewhere private, but we can't be yelling about personal stuff right here okay" I said trying to sooth him, mostly to minimize the eyes on us.
"I..." he huffed, "wait. Those aren't burns are they, on your neck" He said, finally putting two and two together.
I shook my head.
"Oh EWW" he whined, his face twisting.
"Gon please I'll answer all your questions but not in the lobby okay?"
Gon, now in a whisper, "did they hurt?" in a classic curious little boy voice.
"Yes? Kinda. but it's okay I'm not mad at him or anything. Come on let's go sit" I tried dragging him by his arm.
"You LET him hurt you?! You could kick his ass Tess why didn't you?!"
He's not budging. I could feel eyes on us.
"Fine. Let me spell it out for you Gon." I said, squatting in front of him to be closer to eye level, my voice in a stern whisper. "Hisoka and I have consensual sex, as two fully grown adults. Because that's something adults do. He didn't hurt me, and I didn't hurt him, because sex is about making eachother feel good. If you have strong feelings about me being involved with him that way you can come talk to me okay?"
"Ohhh gross..." he said, not looking at me, his face almost angry looking.
"Gon? Are we good?" my voice is soft.
I wonder if he's hurt, given their relationship.
"Fine. Yeah. I was coming to give you this before I saw you smushing faces with that stupid clown." he said as he shoved a bag of M&Ms into my chest.
I couldn't help but smile. What a sweet kid getting me my favorite candy just because.
"Thank you Gon. Can we hug it out?" I asked, opening my arms.
"No." he chuffed with his cheeks all puffed up before turning and stomping away back to the arena.
I sat back on my heels. He'll come around. I bet by tomorrow he'll act like nothing happened.
The small crowd dissipated as I looked up.

The sun was just starting to set, and I figured there was nothing interesting in my room so why not watch it.
Outside of the back door of the arena was a big stone patio, with a bunch of benches and small tables. It was nearly empty, but you could see the sunset perfectly between some tall buildings from the vantage.
I sat cross legged on one of the benches, and closed my eyes to empty my mind for a moment in the peace.
"Mind if I join you" suddenly asked a man's voice from behind me.
Where the hell did he come from? Why use Zetsu if you're going to introduce yourself?
I turned and saw his face was smiling politely. It was a very handsome man with a really sweet smile and kind eyes. I almost didn't recognize him in casual clothes.
"Kastro?"
"Yes. And you're Tess, right?" he replied as he walked around the bench and sat next to me.
"Yeah. You have the fight with Hisoka tomorrow, right?" I asked.
He seemed harmless enough. I doubt Hisoka will have a problem winning, not that I hope he kills him. He seems nice.
"Yes I do. I actually came to talk to you about that."
"Oh?"
"Well you're the only person with a win against him, I thought I'd come to you and ask for your advice!" he elated, "Though I know you two have been enjoying each others company, so I don't mean to put you on the spot."
That was a very polite way of saying it.
"Do you have a question or just wanted to know if I had anything specific to share?"
"I don't have any questions, no. I figured if anyone knew the trick to defeating him it'd be you, even more so given the nature of your relationship."
Oh defeating him huh? Was he seriously going to try to kill Hisoka? The idea seemed so ridiculous I almost laughed in his face.
"Right. Well I'm sure you understand my reservations, then. Though I'm not sure I could tell you anything useful even if I wanted to, our relationship doesn't particularly lend itself to exposing information on how best to defeat one another."
"Of course. I must have underestimated his charm, seeing as it's enough to warrant such loyalties and affections from a strong and attractive woman like yourself."
His flattery will get him nowhere. Maybe in another lifetime I would have found myself interested in him that way.
"Here's my advice for you Kastro. If there's anything else that you're underestimating about him, I'd reevaluate." I warned.
"That's good advice, I appreciate it." he said, resting his hand on my knee a little too long before standing, "I'm sorry for what I have to do tomorrow. You're a nice girl, Tess, I hate to say that I almost feel like I'm doing you a favor."
Excuse me?! Killing Hisoka would be a favor to me. I didn't catch my bloodlust in time and it engulfed Kastro for a second.
"I really am sorry, Tess, I understand you're angry, I wasn't expecting anything less. If the time comes and you'd like some better company to keep, I'd love to take you to dinner." He offered, ignoring my enraged expression.
"If your plan comes to fruition, I'll be your next opponent. Inside the arena or not." I threatened, unable to contain the blood lust now.
"And I would be honored to fight you. I'll leave you be for now, please keep my offer in mind."
"Eat shit." I spat through clenched teeth.
His face only softened to one of pity before turning and walking back into the building.
I calmed myself enough to turn back around.
The sun had already set.

Back in my room, I distracted myself by continuing to imagine what I would want my room to look like if I decorated. I found myself sitting cross legged on my sofa looking out to my whole flat, and doodling little images of specific areas and how I'd decorate. To anyone else it probably looks like a bunch of scribbles, but it all fleshed out in my mind. God I wanted a cat so bad.
You know what makes everyone feel better? Cookies. I didn't have anything special, or a super well equipped kitchen, but I had enough to make some shortbread.
I cut out little rounds and plopped them on a sheet pan, and threw them in the oven. I decided not to linger on Kastro.
I watched some TV and lounged around in bed for a few hours, munching on cookies.
God I can't believe I really had Gon believing we were talking about hair curlers. Poor kid. Oh that reminds me though, I wanted to straighten my hair. It always felt so soft after I did.
I stepped into the bathroom and turned the straightener on, and just sat and watched my face waiting for it to heat up.
My skin was starting to clear up, the marks were much more faint now than they were originally.
After I was done fiddling with my hair I changed into a tank top and my mangled sweatpants, and flopped on my bed.
Not even a moment later my phone rang, and I shot up to answer it, and it was Hisoka.
"Hey."
*Hello sweet girl. Meeting got out early, I'll be back at the Arena in about twenty minutes. Do you need some space or can I come pester you* he teased
"You don't pester me at all. Oh! I made some cookies, I'll try to fend myself off so they'll still be here for you."
He chuckled over the line. Before he spoke I heard another voice in the background that sounded really familiar but I couldn't place it. It made my skin crawl.
*I'll see you in twenty.*
"Sounds good."
*click*
I tidied up my room, somehow nervous about having company, despite that he'd been here before.
Interrupting my puttering was a knock at my door. That didn't really feel like twenty minutes though.
I opened the door and looked up expecting Hisoka, but instead dropped my eyes down to Gon.
"Hi I wanted to talk to you." he blurted, looking nervous.
"Uh, sure? What's up?" I asked.
"I've been thinking about this whole Hisoka thing and I just wanted to tell you that if it makes you happy then I'm happy for you okay?" He said in rapid fire.
"How does it make you feel though? Are you okay?" he seemed upset still.
"Yeah I'm fine I just hate talking about it because it's awkward and gross and I don't like thinking about it!" he whined.
"Alright. If you're sure." I asked again.
"I am. I'm sorry for not hugging you earlier, I feel really bad about it." His eyes were down.
"Are you only saying that to butter me up so I'll share my cookies?" I teased, tousling his hair.
"NO... But they do smell really good." He looked at me with puppy eyes.
"Okay, come in for a sec." I said and led him to the kitchen.
"Wow! Your room is so big!" he said wide eyed.
"I forgot you haven't been up here. Yeah it's pretty cool huh." I said, handing him a small stack of cookies in an even number.
"Yeah." he said, still ogling.
"Alright. Share those with Killua okay?"
"Yeah okay!" he said, gleaming again, and we turned for the door.
"Alright Gon, I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrowwww!" he said and threw his arms around me, before turning and pressing the button to go down.
The elevator came up and the doors opened.
You guessed it.