My Bodyguard (Kurapika X Reader) Short Story

Fractures

(Y/N)'s P.O.V.

Nobody spoke.

The silence after the fight felt worse somehow.

Smoke still lingered in the air while shattered glass crunched beneath my shoes.

Kurapika stood completely still in the middle of the destroyed library.

Head lowered.

Chains slowly disappearing from his hand.

Angela looked like she wanted to approach him.

But hesitated.

Asael quietly clicked his tongue while inspecting the blood on the floor.

"...They escaped too easily."

No response.

Kurapika didn't even react.

For the first time since meeting him...

He looked exhausted.

Not physically.

Mentally.

Like the weight he'd been carrying finally showed on the outside.

I glanced at the broken bookshelf beside him.

"...You almost killed him."

The moment the words left my mouth—

Angela immediately looked nervous.

Asael looked over quietly.

Kurapika's shoulders stiffened slightly.

"...I know."

His voice sounded hollow.

I frowned a little.

"You would've regretted it."

Silence.

Then—

"You don't understand."

His response came out colder this time.

Sharp.

But weak underneath it.

I crossed my arms.

"Then explain it."

Angela looked stressed immediately.

"(Y/N)..."

"No." I looked directly at Kurapika.

"Because every single time someone talks about revenge around you, you act like you're already dead."

The room went quiet.

Asael slowly looked at me like:
Are you trying to die today?

But I couldn't stop now.

Kurapika finally lifted his head.

His eyes weren't scarlet anymore.

Just tired.

"...My clan was slaughtered."

"I know."

"My family is gone."

"I know."

"They took their eyes like trophies."

His voice cracked slightly.

And suddenly—

The anger in the room disappeared.

Leaving behind something worse.

Pain.

Raw pain.

My chest tightened a little.

Kurapika looked away again.

"...So no. You don't understand."

That shut me up.

Because he was right.

I didn't understand that kind of loss.

Nobody spoke for a while.

Then quietly—

"...You're right."

Kurapika looked slightly surprised.

I shoved my hands into my sides awkwardly.

"I don't understand your pain."

Silence.

"But..." I looked at him carefully.

"I know what it's like to lose yourself."

His eyes widened slightly.

Asael glanced toward me silently.

Angela lowered her gaze.

And for some reason...

Kurapika looked at me differently after that.

Not softer exactly.

But less guarded.

Like something in his expression cracked for half a second.

Then—

CRACK.

The floor beneath Asael suddenly collapsed slightly.

"...Seriously?" Asael deadpanned.

The tension instantly broke.

I snorted.

Angela covered her mouth trying not to laugh.

Even Kurapika blinked in surprise.

Asael stared down at the broken floor with betrayal.

"This library is horrible."

"You literally sliced a man through a bookshelf."

"And?"

"..."

"...Fair point."

A small sound escaped beside me.

Quiet.

Short.

I turned slightly.

Kurapika had looked away again.

But this time—

He was trying very hard not to smile.