ECHOES BEYOND THE DOOR || Hisoka X OC

016 || Closer Than Comfort

Quasar stared at Hisoka, her eyes dull and unfocused as she processed his words. She let out a long sigh, not having the energy to truly engage. "Yeah... whatever," she muttered, her voice monotone.

As she rubbed her temples, trying to soothe her overworking brain, her gaze drifted around the room until it settled back on Hisoka. He was crouched in front of her now, but she recalled vividly how, before she fell asleep, he had been sitting much closer, right next to her and when she awoke he was across the room. Her brows furrowed slightly, curiosity seeping into her expression.

"Why did you move away?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

Hisoka's smile widened, a glimmer of mischief dancing in his eyes. He leaned forward just a touch, his tone low and teasing. "If I hadn't, I would have done something I'd regret later."

Quasar blinked, her mind sluggishly trying to piece together what he meant. The ambiguous nature of his response left her puzzled, the words both alarming and cryptic. She decided not to dwell on it, chalking it up to another one of his mind games.

Pushing past the discomfort, she shifted gears, trying to steer the conversation to something more productive. "So... this aura thing. You said it's my life force, that I'd die if I didn't control it, but why? What's happening to me?"

Hisoka's eyes sparkled, pleased with her questions. He shifted his weight slightly, still crouched but now studying her more intently.

"Aura," he began, his voice smooth and deliberate, "is the life force that flows through all living beings. Most people never even notice it, but for those of us who know how to harness it, it's extremely powerful. When you don't control it, it leaks, weakening you over time until there's nothing left to sustain you."

She felt a shiver creep down her spine at his words, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as she processed this new information. "But why now? I didn't even know this existed until today."

Hisoka's smile twisted, the corners of his mouth curving upward. "Sometimes, talent lies dormant until something awakens it. You seem to have opened the rest of your aura nodes in your sleep."

Quasars brows scrunched, "The rest? What do you mean, 'the rest,'" she questioned.

"Yes. You had some open before," Hisoka continued, eyes bright with exhilaration. His grin stretched wide, and he covered his mouth with one hand, a shudder running through him as if trying to suppress a groan. "Ah, the bloodlust you showed... it was simply wonderful." His eyes crinkled with delight, and he dropped his hand, the smile remaining, more predatory than before. "When you directed that raw, murderous intent at Menchi, I could feel it. And in phase one, you used Zetsu to strike me—a delightful surprise."

Quasar's pulse quickened at his words. The way he spoke, savoring each syllable, sent a chill down her spine. But as she remembered what he spoke of—the burning rage she'd felt toward Menchi, the strange feeling she had before her strike against him in the first phase—It was beginning to piece together in a way that left her stunned.

Quasar tilted her head slightly, her brows knitting together as she connected the dots. "So, you have aura too, right?" she asked, trying to read his expression.

One of Hisoka's brows raised, "Very good. Yes, I do," he confirmed, his voice smooth.

"What can you do with it?" she pressed, her curiosity now mingled with a hint of apprehension.

Hisoka cocked his head, eyes trailing up on the wall behind her, "Many things. It all depends on the user and their... creativity," he said, the last word dripping with a playful edge.