knight's Royal Duty || Gonkillu ||

《Locked in》

The days that followed were quieter, but the tension never truly left. Killua's mother didn't say much after her confrontation in the garden, but her presence lingered like a dark cloud. The supervision continued-always there, always watching-but it became more subtle, more insidious. The guards and spies didn't need to make their presence known anymore; Killua and Gon both knew they were there.

Killua spent most of his days wandering the palace grounds, avoiding his mother as much as possible. Gon remained by his side, silent but steady. Despite everything, there was a growing sense of trust between them-a bond forged not just by circumstance, but by understanding.

One evening, after the palace had quieted and the shadows grew long, Killua found himself in the stables, his favorite escape. The scent of hay and the soft sounds of the horses calmed him, offering a brief reprieve from the weight of the crown. Gon stood at the entrance, giving Killua the space he needed while keeping a careful eye on their surroundings.

As Killua ran a hand over the sleek mane of one of the horses, he finally spoke, breaking the comfortable silence. "Do you ever regret it?"

Gon looked up, surprised by the sudden question. "Regret what?"

"Being assigned to me," Killua clarified, his voice softer now. "Being stuck in all this... royal mess."

Gon shook his head without hesitation. "No. I don't regret it."

Killua frowned, still not fully convinced. "Why? You could've had a normal life. You didn't have to get involved in all of this."

Gon smiled, a small, genuine smile that reached his eyes. "I chose this, Killua. And I'd choose it again."

Killua stared at him for a moment, searching for any hint of doubt in Gon's expression. But there was none. Gon meant every word.

For the first time in days, Killua felt a small flicker of hope-small, fragile, but there. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as trapped as he thought. Maybe with Gon by his side, there was a way out, a way to break free from the chains that bound him.

But the shadows of the palace still loomed large, and Killua knew that escape wouldn't come easily. His mother's grip was strong, and the walls of the palace were thick.

Still, for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to believe that there was a sliver of light waiting beyond the shadows.

---
The days dragged on, each one blending into the next, marked only by the shifting light through the palace windows. Killua's heart felt heavier with each passing moment. The pressure from his mother, the constant supervision, and the weight of his own guilt began to suffocate him in ways he hadn't anticipated.

He tried, at first, to hold on to the small flicker of hope that Gon had given him. But every time he reached for it, his mother's words echoed in his mind-control. It wasn't just a word. It was a fact, an immovable reality that defined his entire existence.

And he couldn't escape it.

So he started pulling away. Slowly at first-missing their usual walks in the garden, spending more time alone in his quarters. Gon didn't push. He never did. He gave Killua his space, a quiet, reassuring presence in the background. But that only made the guilt worse. Gon was there for him, offering him a lifeline, and what did Killua do? He let it slip through his fingers.

The breaking point came one morning when Killua woke up and felt an overwhelming urge to be anywhere but in his own skin. The feeling was suffocating, like his chest was caving in, and no matter how many deep breaths he took, the air wouldn't fill his lungs. He couldn't face anyone. Not his mother. Not the guards. Not even Gon.