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The day had started regularly enough. Pro-hunters Gon Freecss and his best friend Killua Zoldyck decided to take up a local job in a quiet seaside town. The picturesque laid between the sea in the east and mountains in the west, their crescent formation a natural barrier against the outside world. The locals needed the hunters to get rid of a nen user that had been pestering their people for weeks, a crooked witch who had the power to stun you with a kiss. She was hardly a threat as much as she was a nuisance, but her whip and her ability made it impossible for the average fighter to stop her.
The pair made their way towards the adjacent forest right at the base of the mountains where she was last spotted and sure enough they spotted their target. The fight was looking to be done and over with until said user knocked Gon a few feet back with her whip, until she caught Killua in her whip and kissed him.
On the mouth.
By time Gon had come to it was already too late. Hurt was the first thing to hit his face as he saw realized what had happened to Killua, followed by anger.
The fight ended shortly after.
"Killua! Are you okay?!" Gon hovered above his groaning friend on the ground. He had been laying face up for most of the fight, unable to move his head and neck. Luckily the paralysis didn’t seem to last long
"Yeah my muscles still feel a little stiff though. Ugh, can't believe that crazy lady kissed me. I'm gonna be downing mouth wash for weeks" Killua said as stood up and dusted his signature blue shorts off, stretching the numbness from his limbs. Gon smiled in relief and stood up with him. They’d grown a bit taller since they separated at the world tree.
Killua turned to him. "So what happened while I was out? Did you take care of her?"
What did happen after that? Gon thought back to the battle; specifically the kiss. He wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about it.
Now it feels like something important was taken from his best friend and he’s not going to stand for it.
"Yup she won't be bothering anyone for a while." Gon’s smile not as bright as it usually was. He clenched his fists. "But, I shouldn't have let her get to you. I could've stopped it."
Killua shuffled awkwardly but otherwise feigned nonchalance.
"It's ok Gon. Considering what we usually go against, this was practically a cake walk."
"Yeah but she kissed you!" Gon whined. "Aren't you mad that a stranger did that?"
A kiss was something very special. It was a way to show someone you care about them. Not something to be used for harm.
"Idiot, it didn't mean anything. It was just embarrassing. So what if my first kiss was taken like-"
"IT WAS YOUR FIRST KISS?!" Gon leaned in until his face was mere inches from Killua's.
This changed everything. Not only did that nen user use a kiss in a malicious manner but she stole his first kiss too!
Killua turned away blushing "Geez I already told you I never went on any dates and stuff of course I never kissed anyone either."
Killua never really thought about things like that, he didn't really have the luxury to. Years trapped in the Zoldyck Mansion under his oppressive family didn’t exactly make it easy to find a date. Even now that he’s freed from their hold, he doubts he’ll ever have a chance to date the one he wants most.
The young Zoldyck started making his way back to town. He looked back at his friend, his eyes missing their usual glimmer.
"Look it's fine, We're hunters. We’re gonna have to make sacrifices, and besides..." He tore his gaze from Gon and continued his pace
".... It's not like I had someone to give my first kiss to anyway."
With that he left his best friend to stew in his thoughts as he went ahead to their hotel.
Gon just couldn't understand how Killua could be so nonchalant about the whole affair.
He hadn’t thought about kissing in a long time and he didn’t need to. He had Killua and being a hunter to keep him busy and away from deeper more complicated feelings.
It was an hour later when Gon rejoined Killua in their hotel room.
From Gon's view at the front door he could see Killua's soft white hair peak from behind the couch. His hand ;loosely holding a TV remote, switching between channels intermittently. He lazed along the couch in his white tank top and some loose shorts.
Gon followed suit; discarding his green jacket and boots to join Killua on the other side of the couch. His friend finally settling on the Heaven's Arena network.
"Oh hey, What took you so long?" Killua said, eyes focused on the match.
"Sorry I was just doing some thinking" Gon replied in a bored tone. He still didn't know what to make of his feelings, but he knew Killua was struggling too. The way his blue eyes dulled with a hint of sorrow as he turned away and left was proof enough. He wasn't going to let Killua close himself off anymore, not when he can help.
"Hey Killua it's ok if you're upset about the kiss. Nobody would’ve wanted to get kissed like that"
Killua scrunched his face but otherwise kept his attention to the TV screen. "I told you I'm not upset. It just caught me off guard. I don’t have anyone I wanna kiss."
"But you wish you did. I saw it in your eyes." Gon pressed on, leaning forward to examine the other boy's bored expression for hints of emotion. All he saw was eyebrows knit in annoyance.
Killua's voice took on a more irritated tone. "Well I don't. Who the hell would I kiss stupid? Bisky? Blegh!"
Of course that someone he wanted to kiss most was Gon but he knew such a confession had the chance to ruin their friendship, and it's not he’d ever have the chance.
"Why not kiss me?"
Killua nearly snapped his neck as he stared at his friend in disbelief, a red blush dusting his neck and cheeks. Gon returned the gaze un-fazed. A small smile hinting showing his satisfaction that Killua was finally looking at him and not the TV.
"I-idiot! Do you hear yourself?"
"Yeah but you said you don't have anyone and you're my best friend so you'd be able to kiss some special to you!" Gon beamed, as if it was the smartest idea he ever came up with. It probably was.
Killua blushed furiously. Just where did he get these stupid ideas from anyway?
"I'm not gonna kiss you just because you feel sad for me. If someone is gonna kiss me it should be because they really want to."
Gon blinked. "But I do want to. I think kissing Killua would be nice."
The words echoed in Killua’s head. Gon Freecss, his best friend since they were twelve, wants to kiss him. He said it as if it was a new trick he wanted to try out. His blush from before came back with a vengeance, stretching from his cheeks to the tips of his ears. But he wasn’t ready to get his hopes up yet.
Killua narrowed his eyes. "Gon, You know best friends don't really kiss each other. Usually if you wanna kiss someone it's because you like them; and I mean like like me."
Killua watched him ponder the statement, making a mental note to get a wet rag ready for if Gon overheats.
A few minutes passed and just when Killua was about to complain, Gon responded. "I think I do like you Killua. It was hard understanding why I hated seeing you get kissed but I think that's why; I was kind of jealous. You're so cool and kind and pretty and you deserve the very best!"
Gon wasn't sure what to make of his feelings until it was too late. He had always cared for Killua but never dwell on the extent of that idea. Deep down, he knew that Killua was more than a friend to him. He got complacent, he was comfortable with their current dynamic. They still shared the same bed, they ate together, and went everywhere together. Functionally they were a couple and Gon was content to leave it at that.
But then he saw Killua get kissed. He saw his chance slip away. He saw something he never knew he wanted get taken away by someone who didn’t know how wonderful Killua was. And if anybody was gonna kiss Killua it had to be someone who could respect and cherish him for the amazing person that he is.
Gon grabbed Killua's hands, rubbing the pale silky fingers with his tan calloused ones.
"Killua I like you"
Killua froze, his eyes staring at their hands. They were holding hands, their bodies facing each other as their legs hung of the edge. This was real, this was happening. His only anchor to the present being the warmth radiating from beneath his palm. He looked back up, searching Gon's eyes for any contradictions but the amber eyes only reflected unwavering determination and love.
He looked away, still unable to cope with the weight of his situation. Any minute now he expected to wake up and find himself in bed or worse in the Zoldyck dungeon, because he can't begin to fathom why he of all people deserved to be this happy.
Killua hung his head low, his eyes closed to suppress tears that threatened to form. He gave a weak smile. "This feels like a dream. How do I know that you won’t disappear?"
Gon's hands slipped from Killua's and went to grab his friend's face, his thumbs wiping away the beginnings of tears. He held Killua's gaze and said "Kiss me and we'll find out."
And he did; he did trust Gon. He would follow the boy to the ends of the earth if allowed. With no more words left to be said, Killua let himself be swept by Gon's presence, closing his eyes and leaning into Gon's touch in acceptance.
Not long after, he felt soft lips against his own. Gon's head was tilted at a slight angle, while Killua had rested his hands on his friends shoulders. Their lips were slightly chapped but the feeling more than made up for it, his senses going into overload.
He felt his heart pounding in his ears, the thundering beat deafening in his ears. It felt like he had ran a marathon. But there was an underlying sweetness to it, like he could feel every word of praise, every look of adoration, every ounce of love that the island boy had for his best friend. Like he really did treasure Killua.
The kiss was a simple touching of lips and barely lasted a minute but it had left the two boys breathless and dazed, both of them not quite believing what had just happened.
"Wow Killua that was just... wow"
Killua looked at the faint blush painting Gon's cheeks. "Yeah... you were right that was way different"
Gon eyes shifted to Killua's lips "Wanna do it again?"
The boys were currently in their shared bed. Moonlight peaking through the curtains and casting it’s light upon their blankets.
Killua turned to the other boy who was staring at the ceiling.
"Hey Gon I never asked but was your first kiss special?"
Gon crossed his hands above his chest and hummed.
"Oh yeah she was a friend I made on Whale island. She was really nice."
Killua couldn't help the pout that appeared on his face at the statement. Why ask a question he already knew the answer to?
"... But I wish my first kiss was with Killua. Although I'm glad I get to kiss you anytime I want now" he grinned.
Killua rolled over facing away from Gon, pulling his blanket above his head to hide his red face.
"Tch. Idiot."