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He stared at the white ceiling with a flat expression. This was not the first time (and surely would not be the last time) He had woken up without knowing where the heck he was. Ging could not move, but he could hear the sound of a television in the background and the smell of medicine and disease in the area.
So he was in a hospital, not the first time.
What truly was the first time was the sleepy head besides his bed, it's user uncomfortably sit on the chair next to him. Pariston's hair was of an ashy blonde that was less soft than it looked like and that Ging loved to play with after sex. He stares at the strange thing that Pariston was, still so young and yet so athirst for blood, so fun.
No one knew where he had come from, not even Netero. He had just showed up one day for a Hunter Exam at the age of fifteen and passed effortless, a nen genius with a fucked up mind and no care for any other human's attachment. A riddle, in his condescendant diction, keen eyes and practiced smile.
–Enjoying the view?– Pariston's voice is melodic and velvet to his ears.
–Not quite.– Ging says without flinching, he tries to sit straight but his back fails, he touches the bandages and wonders how much did he fucked his body this time. He sets eyes on the blonde once again, who seems to be enjoying his suffering. Pariston is way far from his untouchable persona tonight, bags cover his eyes and there are wrinkled clothes on him, his sleeves are up and bandages are covering his arms and behind his button shirt, Ging notices his neck is also wrapped around. –You look like shit.–
Pariston opens his eyes and moves his head towards the other Hunter. –Bold words coming from the man who almost killed himself in our last mission.–
In all the years Ging had known Pariston, the blonde had always shown a especial type of excitement when it came to ground missions, back when they were young he would bite his lip and literally shine, it was a peculiar part of his personality that he found amussing. Hill had become better hiding this with time, sometimes even staying in the quarters sending orders, a bee queen complex in Kanzai's words. Although those were only the missions were Ging didn't participate.
Pariston leans towards the table next to the bed and Ging sees the time in the clock of his room, 4:30 in the morning, but of which day? he could bet his Hunter license he had been out more than one. The blonde gives him a glass of water and he tries to sit again, failing miserably.
–May I?– Hill laughs and grabs the glass towards the other's lips, Ging raises an eyebrow but still accepts the gesture.
As he drinks he realizes how thirty he was, his throat softening at the liquid. He makes a sound to let know Pariston he is done, but the blonde keeps the glass in place, linning it more. He makes more sounds till the water is coming out from the sides of his mouth till there is no water left in the glass.
He coughs and looks at Pariston recented, the man replies with a grin and a "oopsie" –do you want me to drown?–
–Perhaps.– a shadow crosses his eyes and he places the water in the encounter
Ging frowns and Hill starts laughing, amussed.
–How bad did i ended up?–
–How bad do you feel?–
Ging looks around his body, no skin in sigh, only white bandages and the feeling of tiredness. He tries to move and takes note of which parts hurt less or more. –My legs feel like shit but i could probably still walk, my left arm feels sickly cold, probably from a burn medicine. For my stomach i feel fine but my back... wait was i stabbed?–
–Perceptive as always, clearly.– he says. –Your legs were hurt during the fight and your right ankle was cut, same for your arms but one of them was burned till Saiyu thought we were having a barbacue.– he laughs a bit at the anecdote, like if his arm burning was something funny, it probably was for the rest of the Zodiacs. –for your back... you were stabbed twelve times with a nen like weapon.– Pariston's eyes examinate the room, avoiding Ging's gaze.
–Twelve... that's a new record.– he passes a hand on his hair and let's go a long sigh.
–i bet it is.– he giggles and the smaller man frowns again, an habit everytime Pariston was around.
–For how long have i been out?–
–about three days, i believe.–
–And you have been here for how long?–
–About three days.–
Ging raises an eyebrow, a cooky grin on his mouth. –So what? You've been waiting for me to wake up? For three days?–
–You could say i have, yes.–
what. He blinks.
–Why?–
Pariston proceeds to put a hand on his chin and lean his head as if he were thinking, he closes his eyes leading Ging to stare at him, waiting for an answer.
–You see, i don't know if you recall how did you made yourself those injuries.– he says and stares at Ging back. –but the circumstances under you made the injuries on your back...–
–Yeah?–
–you made them while you were protecting me.–
Ging blinks once, he opens his mouth and then closes it again, speechless. –Protecting you.–
–Yes. Surprising, isn't it.–
–Right, and did i also gave Cheadle a hug before the battle?–
–I'm not kidding, Ging. Besides, you and i know that Cheadle would surely stab you if you ever tried to hug her.– a laugh came from the blonde as he sat straight and put his hands on his lap. –But really, don't you remember it?–
–Umm...– Ging searched on his mind to find it blank, he remembered the goal of the mission in Saherta, he remembered the boring meeting and how excited he was when finding out they would have a mission on the field for the first time in a year. But the mission itself was blurry, he recalls hearing Pyon throught the communications on his ear and Mizai's instructions but that was it. –Not really, the farest i remember was when we got to that island.–
–Well, if you are curious the mission din't go exactly as planned but we manage to eliminate our target so it was succesful. Few got hurt, you were the only one that we were worry about.–
–Come on, like if any of them would miss me if i died.–
–I would.– Pariston replies almost immediately, no smile this time. A glance of an emotion is shown on his eyes, for it to disappear the next second. –It would only be an inconvenience to lose a Zodiac member right now.–
–Right, and it would also be an inconvenience to lose your favorite booty call.– he said.
Pariston crosses his arms and looks at the seiling, as he was explaining something to a baby for the fifth time in a row. —You keep surprising me, Ging. Thinking so lower of our relationship.–
It had started in their teens, when they were introduced to each other by Netero. They were the same age, specialists and were bored. Naturally, they feelt the right to own the other; that day they had shared the most sexually intense handshake in history. Ging does not remember exactly when was the first time Pariston pinned him to the ground, Pariston probably does, but at some point going to Hill's apartment when he was in town became so common as the sky being blue.
–Whatever, Paris. Are you gonna elaborate how i got my back like this?–
–Oh, Right! It's a long story but---–
–summarize it then.–
Pariston frowns and Ging does it back. –You are no fun sometimes.–
–I've been told.–
–As i was saying, back in the heat of the battle, when all Zodiacs were fighting with all their might and our hearts--–
–Pariston.–
The blonde rolls his eyes, disgusted. –Fine. One of our opponents got behind me, i would absoluty have dodged that anyday. But then, you appeared, Ging.– Black eyes reflect themselves on golden eyes as Hill points at him with his hands crossed. –You took me by the shoulders and protected me against the enemy's nen daggers with you own body.–
in the absence of an appropriate answer, Ging asks –And why would i do that?–
–Who knows, dearest. But maybe you would be interested on hearing my theory.– the sun raises behind Pariston, making his usual shine even worse as the hospital comes alive, some nurses and doctors could be heard around the hallway.
Pariston's theories were never good for Ging, but he is also too tired to deny something to the blonde. –Shoot, then.–
The rat zodiac was apparently expecting that answer, he smiles suspiciously. –As you may remember, for the latest decade, our relationship has been stated by you as... strange bedfellows. But in that moment there was something different in your eyes, Ging.–
–Pure hatred? Regret?–
–Caring, tenderness, i believe.– he replies. –Not something you would show to many other Zodiacs.–
Ging does not reply. –Catching feelings are we, dear?–
The bronze skinned Hunter is quick to reply now, although he looks the other way, flustered. –What do you want me to say? Yeah i'm in love with you, let's get marry and annoy Cheadle even more.–
Pariston stops his gaze and laughs, softly, cold. –Oh dearest, don't be silly. Even if it wasn't a joke i'm not ready for marriage with you yet.–
It takes less than a second for Ging's cheeks to turn red, suddendly becoming self aware of how close Pariston was.–You can't say stuff like that, man!–
–Mmh? Why not? I was just telling the truth.– he leans his head, smiling wildly. –Or is it that you want to hurry up things between us.– The teasing tone in his voice contradicts the kind smile in his face and Ging hates him so much for a moment.
–Stop being embarrassing!–
Their chatter must have been way too loud, moments later the door of Ging’s room opens, a nurse from the early shift appearing from it. –Mr. Freecss, Mr. Hill, Good Morning.– she says gently.
Both hunters stop talking but Ging can feel Pariston's eyes digging a hole in his head as the lady leaves his breakfast in the nearest table. Then, she turns again to face them, hand on her lap. –Mr. Hill, i'm afraid that now that Mr. Freecss has woken up we will have to make some tests on him before discharge. I suggest you to go home, we'll take care of everything from here.–
–I see. I shall leave you know, dearest.– he gets up from his chair, cleaning the dust from his button white shirt and taking his golden jacket with him. He gets closer to the bed and leans agains the brunette, placing a soft kiss on his hair, Ging doesn't run away, accepting the gesture but frowning a bit. –I'll be back as soon as i can.–
–Just get out of here and take a bath, you stink.– Pariston only laughs softly on response.
The nurse takes a step back, allowing Pariston to go through the door, dissapearing in the hospital's morning bustle.