As the Fruit Ripens (Hisoka X Reader)

In Too Deep

Menchi's knife glides through your pork dish like butter. The charred flesh contrasting greatly around the silver utensils. "Hmm, that's a good sign," she says, stabbing the chunk with her fork.

Watching her methodical motions bring you back to a time in highschool, when you worked as a waitress for a small diner. The owners had offered to take you on as a cook, but having no interest in pursuing a career in the culinary field you declined.

It is only now that you regret that decision.

Menchi's fork glimmers in the sunlight as she raises a piece of your entreé to her mouth. You swallow, in an attempt to wet your dry throat. Time slows to a grinding halt as she swirls the pork around her mouth.

She smiles. Slowly sets down her fork and pats her mouth clean with a napkin. You release a shaky breath, feeling the ground solidify around your feet. She likes it, she really likes it-

"You all fail."

The weight of the words fall on deaf ears. The leaves rustle softly as a deafening silence falls upon the crowd. Her mouth forms a sentence that you can't interpret through the thousands of thoughts now flooding your mind.

You turn towards the crowd, numb, mouth agape. Angry examaniees, shout silently as you stumble from the judges table. I failed, I failed again. You're yanked, quite literally, from your thoughts by your new friend Gon.

"It'll be okay, she can't fail us all," he says in his customary cheerful tone.

You smile, shaking your head, wishing you could be that naïve. You pat his head, "That's where you're wrong-"

Menchi's phone rings and once again the crowd grows silent. You rip the headphones from your head to focus on her conversation. In any other context you would consider this rude, but considering the circumstances...

"Yes sir," she says.

Gon tries to speak but you place a single finger to his lips, "Shh."

"Well what do you want me to do about it? They failed, that's final. No you shut up!"

Menchi snaps her phone shut. She pauses a moment before annoucing, never glancing up to address the crowd, "Netero-sama is coming to visit us, please relax while we wait for his arrival."

Menchi flops back onto her chair, sighing like a troubled teenager. She massages her temples and groans, "All I wanted was some good food."

--

You choose a spot far away from the crowd to collect your thoughts. Such a stressful day and this is the first chance to relax. Although you didn't expect this as the reason for a break, you will enjoy it none the less.

You lean back, enjoying the cool breeze against your face. The foliage above shades you from the harsh mid day sun. You watch the clouds as they form abstract shapes in the sky, that one in particular looks like...

"Get out of the way clown," you say, glancing up at his scowl.

He crouches to your level, "Is that how you treat your savior?" He asks.

You snicker, "Savior? What savio-"

Hisoka slams you against the tree, arm crushing your windpipe. You find yourself clawing at him once again in such a short amount of time. Not even in the fun way either.

He leans closer to whisper in your ear, "Those in debt would do well to keep their mouth shut and please their creditors."

He releases your throat, but doesn't leave you an exit. He traps you against the tree, both arms locked next to your head. You gaze into his eyes, flakes of silver pepper his golden irises, their radiance catching you like a maelstrom.