i'm always right but what's your perception?

[shooteverything]

[ detention in the bio classroom isn't as bad as it could be. at least there's stuff to look at. heine's gaze trails over the dusty blackboard, the sun coming in through the window, and the old raccoon specimen in a glass case on a high shelf. the sun isn't actually that appealing; he burns too easy to enjoy it.

so: staying inside and cleaning the classroom as punishment is an all right option, all things considered. heine picks up a rag with two fingers from the countertop to hold it under the tap, ready to get started and do a just-barely adequate job so that the teacher won't get on his ass.

there's supposed to be someone else coming in. he glances toward the doorway, checking to see if they've arrived yet. if they're unwelcome company, he can either intimidate them into cleaning by themselves or, worst case scenario, kick them out and just do it alone. ]

Comments

[killectric]

... [Killua doesn't know what to say to that, but as he looks down at his feet, hands stilling at his head, he's grateful. His usual brashness is gone for the moment, replaced with quiet contemplation.]

Is that really okay...? I mean, you barely know me. I could be serious trouble.

[shooteverything]

I can deal with trouble.

[ and he has in the past. and more importantly, to heine, killua looked for help. so he understands that, at least. but conversation is hard for him, and he doesn't feel the need to discuss fiddly things like emotions. ]

Now get out of here so I can shower.

[killectric]

[Killua tosses the towel into the hamper and shrugs his shoulders.]

Okay. If you're sure. [And with that he leaves, quietly closing the door behind him and still pretty shocked that Heine said he could stay here.]

[shooteverything]

[ heine sighs as soon as he turns on the water. not just because of the leftover bubble bath collected in corners of the shower, but also because he's realizing that he's doing a lot more than letting someone stay the night. killua can't go home now. the kid's young enough that he definitely wouldn't make it alone on the street, even with that confidence that he has.

it's been a long time since he's lived with anyone. after leaving home, he's only spent the occasional night with nill or badou or other friends. this is different. killua's too young, and heine doesn't think he can take any responsibility.

he takes a hot shower quickly, leaving the bathroom with a towel over his still-wet hair and loose sweats on. he goes to check on killua in his bedroom with fairly low expectations for his behavior. ]

[killectric]

[Heine will probably be surprised then, to see Killua already hogging the entire blanket and asleep, quiet breathing only interrupted by the frequent sniffle. He'd spend a good portion of his day running, hopping trains, and wandering the streets--plenty of which was in the rain. The thing was, he didn't remember where Heine (or rather, Nil) lived right; he had to look for it.

Killua may have acted like it was nothing, but he was exhausted, physically and mentally, on top of being sick.]

[shooteverything]

[ well, killua being asleep is better than the alternative. heine quietly takes out a spare blanket from a drawer—the one he usually gives someone else to use when they come over—and a jacket he uses as a makeshift pillow on the couch.

come morning, it's a bright and clear sunday after the rain the day before. heine wakes up when the sun hits his face and slopes off to the bathroom, only half-awake and not remembering that there's a guest in his apartment. ]

[killectric]

[Killua is already in the bathroom, standing in front of the toilet with his pants down and doing his business.

When Heine enters he looks over.] Oh, hey.

[shooteverything]

[ heine stares for a second, mind trying to process—oh, right. he grunts in what could be taken as acknowledgment before going to the sink and turning on the faucet, splashing water on his face with a low groan. once he's done, he walks back out, going to his bedroom for street clothes to wear. they have things to do today!!! ]

[killectric]

[Killua wanders back out a minute later; he wanted to change back into his clothes, but they were still wet. Which meant he was stuck in Heine's.

Curiously, he pokes his head into the bedroom, not bothering to knock.]

[shooteverything]

[ heine's at least got clothes on this time!! a long-sleeved striped tee and dark jeans as he stands by the window looking at his phone. he looks over as killua enters the room. ]

We're going to the mall. [ no greeting, oops. ] You don't have anything with you, right?

[killectric]

The mall? [He tilts his head and frowns, dubious.]

Uh, no. Just some yo-yos.

[shooteverything]

For clothes and things.

[ yo-yos... why... oh well. heine just finds some socks and puts them on, fumbling around for some clothes that killua can wear out. there's a smaller t-shirt and some shorts with a drawstring, but that's all he can manage. the underwear he has is definitely too big, at least waist-wise. ]

Get dressed and we're going.

[ who cares about breakfast! ]

[killectric]

[It's fine.

Killua's had to go commando since last night, since his own underwear were still damp from the rain.]

You do know I don't have any money, right? [He adds, continuing to give Heine a curious look, even as he gets changed into a fresh set of clothes.]

[shooteverything]

It's fine.

[ heine scrubs a hand through his hair fruitlessly and picks up a jacket and his wallet from the desk. ] It's close enough to walk. Let's go.

[ out of the apartment they go! heine doesn't seem inclined toward talking, though that might just be because he's still tired. ]

[killectric]

...Okay. [He wasn't going to buy him clothes, was he? No way...

Heine probably just didn't want to leave him in his apartment alone, so he was making him tag along. Not that Killua minded, since he barely ever got to go to the mall.]

[shooteverything]

[ though heine doesn't really care about fashion, he's not going to have killua stay in those clothes. it'd be too much trouble, and lead to awkward questions if anybody saw him.

heine's silent on the walk over to the mall. it's still early, and not too busy. coming to a stop at the directory of stores, heine jerks a thumb at the listing. ]

I don't know what you want, so pick a store.

[killectric]

Eh?! [Killua looks over, shocked and jaw dropping.] What do you mean what I want?!

[shooteverything]

Huh? [ heine squints at him for a moment. ] I don't need anything. You don't have any clothes, right? So...

[ waves a hand at the store directory again. ]

[killectric]

Ah... [Killua turns away in a huff, blushing and with his lips pursed tight. Heine must think he's a real charity case! Buying him clothes too...

Begrudgingly, he points at a store that sounds cool.]

[shooteverything]

[ heine finds it on the map after a moment. ]

That way. [ mall exploration with company is always weird for heine, because he tries to avoid shopping. but it's a necessity, and he sets killua loose into the store with only one warning: ] Don't get lost.

[ oh yeah, and: ] I've got fifty bucks on me.

[ but mostly, don't get lost. ]

[killectric]

There's only one exit, how could I get lost? [Heine he's not a child. He's 14 whole years old. Muttering as he wanders off, Killua gets to work.] Stupid...

[Twenty minutes later he's back with an armful of 90s fashion. A few t-shirts, a plaid button-down, a pair of denim shorts...and of course, a skateboard.

Because he budgeted for it.] Okay, I'm done.

[shooteverything]

[ heine has been hanging by the entrance, staring at a rack of t-shirts and playing on his phone. he looks over quickly when killua returns, and... wow. really. a skateboard and yo-yos don't really make him seem that mature, but whatever.

he reaches out to take the clothes and go to the checkout. it's past breakfast-time by now, but heine doesn't eat much anyway. and he's no fun to go to a mall with. ]

[killectric]

[Killua follows Heine to check out, grinning a little as the items are rung up. There's a small mirror for trying sunglasses on by the counter that he plays around with, making faces and trying on a few shades. Until he freezes, spotting a familiar figure walking by in the reflection.

In an instant Killua is gone and hidden himself inside a circular clothing rack.]

[shooteverything]

[ heine doesn't look around while the cashier rings things up, so when he's given a bag and turns around, he's surprised to see that killua isn't there. ]

Hey...

[ looking around, he doesn't see the kid immediately. ]

Killua?

[killectric]

[From within a clothing rack, some familiar pale legs and purple shoes poke out at the bottom...] Shhh!