A Battlefield Bond

Chapter 20: Love?

After walking out of the hotel, Killua waited for Gon who lead the way.

Bodies littered the ground from both sides, but it had seemed that the battle was over, for there were no Chimera soldiers in sight.

As the three of them headed further into the city, Val tugged on Killua's shirt, causing him to stare down at the younger boy. "Something wrong Val?"

"I had a question I wanted to ask you!" Val chirped, smiling brilliantly. "Go for it, ask me anything." Killua responded, focusing his attention on the young boy. "A while ago when I still lived with my real mom and dad, they let me do whatever I wanted! I usually went to the library, where the nice librarian read me stories."

Killua listened to Val speak with much interest, wanting to know more about this boys past.

"I remember her reading me a book about a prince and a princess falling in love and getting married; having a baby of their own! At first I didn't know what love was, but the librarian said it was when you care about someone very deeply and want to be with them all the time! So now it has me wondering, are you and Gon in love, since moms and dads love each other right?" Val finished, staring up at Killua with curiosity.

Killua was silent for a moment, thinking about the concept of love. Had he been so blind to it? Was this that feeling him and Gon shared with each other? Was it really love?

Turning his attention back to Val, Killua responded to his question. "You know....I think it might just be love, thanks for telling me the story." Lifting his head, Killua stared at Gon walking in front of them, smiling at the sight of his newfound significant other.

Val giggled and nodded his head, happy that Killua was smiling.

"Hey look it's Leorio!" Gon suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the medic who was currently injecting morphine into a fellow solider.

The three of them headed in his direction, stopping when they were close enough.

Leorio eventually looked up, smiling at his young friends and also noticing the new addition. "Yo guys! Who's that little one you got there?"

Val, suddenly becoming very shy, buried himself into Killua's shirt.

Gon giggled at Val's actions and turned to Leorio. "That's our son! His name is Val and he can be a little shy around strangers."

Leorio stared at the two boys, then at Val. He was trying to piece together what laws of science allowed two men to reproduce. This was certainly a puzzling phenomenon.

Killua burst into laughter at Leorios sudden silence, who's face was scrunched in concentration. "He's only a homeless kid that we decided to take in, relax Oreo."

The sudden concentration that Leorio once had was now gone, filling with rage instead. "MY NAME IS NOT OREO ITS LEORIO! YOU LITTLE-"

"Ah ah ah No swearing in front of the child!" Gon said as he pressed a finger to Leorios lips to shut him up.

Grumbling to himself, Leorio settled down and picked up his backpack; Killua and Val giggled in the background.

"Killuaaaa you're going to influence him! Be a good parent!" Gon whined as he took Val from the paler male.

Val did not mind this, for he loved his new guardians equally, often unable to choose which of their distinct personalities he liked better.

Killua only crossed his arms and stared away, acting as a child would if they were scolded by a parent. Though, he decided to change the subject. "Yo Gon, maybe we should give Val to Leorio and check around for any other threats, sound like a good plan?"

Gon nodded and handed the small boy to Leorio, who was actually happy that Killua called him by his correct name this time.

Val though, did not want to leave his new parents. Being cared for by strangers wasn't to his likings. Although Gon and Killua gave him a reassuring smile, to show he'd be okay. This lightened his mood a little and he smiled at the pair.

Then off they ran, further into the city to scout out anymore danger.