Killing a Heart

7: Gon's 16th Birthday

"Gon, I know a really good bar around here." "Dad, I'm not aloud to drink-" "Well ya are now. In this country you can legally drink at the age of 16. Now let's drink ourselves silly." "Ha, I don't think I should do that. It might be a bad idea, and Aunt Mito wouldn't like it-" "Aunt Mito, Aunt Shmito. Who cares!? Plus I called your friends to come too, and they're already there."  Ging smiled at his son. "Kurapika and Leorio!?" "Yup." Ging smiled. "And...Killua?"

"Who-llua?" Gon sighed sadly before looking at the ground. "Nobody."

When the two finally arrived to said bar, Kurapika and Leorio were already waiting. The bar wasn't that fancy but it wasn't terribly ugly. It also had a pool table, a few questionable guys were playing at.

As soon as they walked in Ging ran up to the bar tender. "Walker, my man, it's been a while-" "Ging Freecss, I thought I banned you from stepping foot in this bar ever again?-" That was so long ago, I'm a changed man. It's also my son's sixteenth birthday today, and he had been begging to come here for the longest time." Ging stares into the bartender's stern gaze. "You wouldn't wanna ruin my little guy's birthday would you?" He kept staring into the bartender's eyes. "Fine you can stay." He gave in. "Okay good, I'd like some of that iced tea stuff." "You know it's not actually iced tea right?" "Of course I knew that!"

He didn't know that.

"And can I get my son some of that clear stuff." "This!?" The bartender grabbed the large bottle off the shelf. "Yeah it looks like water, he'll drink it." "It has a 95% alcohol content." "That's cool, I'll take a shot of it for him."

"You are a terrible father you know that?" He poured a shot glass and handed it to Ging.
——————————

"Happy birthday Gon!" Leorio said all choked up. "Happy birthday." Kurapika said. "They grow up too fast." Leorio patted Gon's head. "I'm only sixteen Leorio, it's not like I'm old like you." "Am I really that old?" Leorio frowned. "I know you were probably expecting someone else's face to be here, but I'm sure Killua is wishing you a happy birthday right now." "But he didn't even send me a text." Gon said sadly, what if he thinks I'm not his friend anymore?" Ging handed Gon a shot glass of what looked like water. "Thanks Dad, but I just don't know." "I'm sure you've got it all wrong. You guys have a strong friendship-"

"GOOOOONN!!!"

Lightning zapped all around the bar, and sweaty Killua suddenly appeared.

"Happy..." he gasped for air. He had really run the fastest he ever had. He took a few seconds to catch his breath. "Happy Birthday!" Gon ran over to him, and gave him a big hug. "Killua!? I can't believe! This is the best birthday present ever!"

"Oh hi guys!" Killua waved at Kurapika and Leorio who's jaws had dropped. "Speak of the devil." "Killua, it's been a while." Leorio said with a smile.

Before he could exchange anymore words Gon already dragged him away and started talking about his adventures on his own and with his dad.

"Dad this is Killua my very best friend." Gon introduced. "Killua this is my dad Ging." They two shook hands. "That's one hell of a power you got there kid." Ging said. "Oh this?" His long hair spiked up with electricity. "It's nothing." He stopped. "I could use that later." Ging smirked mischievously.

"So when these little giant birds got old enough, we got to ride them. It was amazing! So much faster than an airship." Gon went on about his stories.

"What's that?" Killua pointed to the shot glass. "Water-" Gon grabbed it. "Wait, Gon that's not-" but Gon was already pouring it into his mouth. He swallowed with a look of pain and disgust.

There was a second of silence then the scream. "IT BURNS!!" Gon screamed grabbing at his tongue. In the panic he looked around for something to cool the burn.

"So then I knew it wasn't a problem with the Parietal Lobe-" Gon snatched Leorio's beer from his hands and chugged it down with a gag. "Gon what are you doing?" Kurapika asked taking the empty bottle away from him. "Yeah! Spit that out!" Leorio screamed grabbing Gon by the face and forcing his mouth open.

Gon just stood in silence, and looked around before loosing balance and falling. But before he hit the ground Killua caught him. "Idiot, Idiot! He took a shot of something then he drank your whole beer." Killua dragged Gon over to a bench, while Leorio and Kurapika followed.

"Poor little guy is going to have the worst hangover of all time." "He's never going to drink again." Kurapika added.

Gon just sat quietly against Killua before rapping his arms around him and hugging him close.

"Don't go," He nuzzled his head against Killua's shoulder, and squeezed tighter.
"Don't go-" And then he threw up all over Killua's lap.

All the while, drunk Ging got into a fight with the bartender, who then pulled out a gun, and shot at him multiple times.

"Gon's friend! Taze his ass!" Ging shouted to Killua.

Immediately, Killua shocked everyone ,except his friends, in the bar. And then they were out of there.