Work Text
Yorkshin, August 1999 - After Broken Glass
“Illuuumi~ dear,” Hisoka crooned to the other man sitting in the chair across from him. Illumi looked up from his phone, dark eyes not giving away any of the thoughts that could be swirling underneath. He was always like that, not giving anything away.“ What is it?” He asked, not actually caring what the magician wanted. His lover’s tone told him he was up to no good, per usual. It shouldn’t be surprising. The man did things like that when he was bored, and he had felt very bored of late.“ Oh don’t be like that.” Hisoka got up from his chair and plopped down across Illumi, making it so the other couldn’t go back to what he was doing. He frowned, wanting to simply read what he was reading and not be bothered by his lovely, antagonistic partner. “ I’ve decided something” The assassin only hummed in response, pulling his arms just a little to test how much strength he would or wouldn’t have to put into throwing Hisoka off of him. It was already thought of however, as the jester had used his nen to attach himself to the others lap. Illumi sighed lightly, letting his head roll back onto the couch and closing his eyes. He didn’t particularly want to deal with Hisoka’s brand of humour.“ I’m going to wreck your sweet little student.” He stretched out more across the other man, enjoying the mild annoyance Illumi displayed at his actions more than his words. The rise and fall of his breathing was steady, but that he had put his phone down told the jester what he needed to know. He was getting on Illumi’s nerves.“ I did tell you not to be easy with them. It won’t be useful for their training. Don’t kill them.” The last was an order, not a request or statement. Hisoka laughed at the whole thing. How naive Illumi could be for such a worldly assassin. “ No no, Illu~ dearest you misunderstand me. Although I will thoroughly enjoy treating them to a good fight they won’t be able to win. No, I am going to wreck them. I’ll teach them things that they’ve never even thought of. Things I taught you” Illumi’s head popped back up, realization passing through his posture as he took in the meaning behind Hisoka’s words. He stared blankly at the other, then frowned.“ Oh. I see. No, you won’t. In that vein of thinking, do not touch them. Elsewise, I will have to kill you.” Simple as that. The two of them weren’t mutually exclusive, with Hisoka going off to do whatever he pleased more than Illumi. However, his student was off limits. A definite no.“ But Illu, it would be so much fun.” He whined. Illumi stood, Hisoka hanging off of him for a moment before he let go of his nen and flopped onto the floor gracelessly. Illumi stepped over him, ignoring the man in favour of going to do something else, anything else. He was in no mood to fight about it.“ Leave them alone. Or I will kill you.” He was making his opinion on the matter very clear. His aura crept out, a visible purple haze around him. Unseen wind pulled at his straight hair, making it flare slightly.“ You’re going to do that anyway, someday. I guess I’ll not make it premature.” He picked himself up off of the floor and sighed in apparent exasperation. He went after his lover who had gone to the other room. He was moving things around idly, mind already somewhere else as if the conversation was a foregone conclusion. Hisoka would listen, or else. “ I’ll be leaving for a job tomorrow and be gone until the next day. I’ve told them this, and they’re going to stay here. They seem to be behaving much better recently.” He hummed, grabbing a few papers and stacking them with the rest of the things on his desk. He’d had a serious talk with his student about keeping to themself. It might have helped he’d told them the other option was being around Hisoka by himself. It was plenty enough of a deterrent.“ Oh? Leaving them by themself? Is that really a good idea? I could take them out to dinner.” He’d been planning on going anyway, there was a show in town he had been wanting to see.“ Mhmm?” It threw holes in his idea. Would they still behave if Hisoka showed up? Maybe. Probably.“ I guess. Don’t try to pull anything Hisoka. I mean it.” The jester could tell his lover was serious, but all he heard in those statements was a challenge. The stretch of silence between the two of them was deafening. There was so much not being said, but it didn’t need to be said. The little hunter hated Hisoka, and he enjoyed their hatred and discomfort like fine wine. Illumi had said they could stay by themself, but of course he took it upon himself to treat them to an evening. It was an endeavor to make them as uncomfortable as he could possibly manage, and so far he felt as if he’d been doing a splendid job of it.He’d picked out clothes for them to wear a particularly nice outfit that complemented the clean straight lines of their body. With the regimen of training the assassin had them in they had gone from rake thin and in need of a few good meals to wiry muscles and cool indifferent grace. The clean off white jacket and flared pants were so simple, but held a look of understated power. Illumi had been right when he said the little hunter was similar to his lover. Hisoka could see predatory violence in their every movement, from their casual walk to the hidden gleam in their otherwise dead eyes. He wanted to see more of it, push them into releasing that coiled energy. They did such a magnificent job of keeping a leash on themself. Hisoka wanted to break that control.They’d fidgeted with the new jacket and pants until he had made fun of them for it. After that, they solidly ignored their own clothes like it was nothing different than the plain loose things they wore the rest of the time. The only thing they seemed to really balk at was the shoes. They were smart and stylish with leavy low heels and they matched. The little hunter hated them, but Hisoka wasn’t going to let them get away with mismatched shoes in his presence.They had been unfailingly polite and cold through dinner, which had been at one of Hisoka's favourite restaurants. The entertainment after had captured them, high wire acrobatics and a magic show. He’d enjoyed it as well, even knowing he could do better had done better many times in the past. The jester paid close attention to what his little companion seemed to enjoy the most, planning for the future. They really were such a simple creature.However, their good mood evaporated when they realized they weren’t going back to the apartment that they had grown used to, but to Hisoka's suite at the arena. They were wary and agitated, and he was enjoying finding anything that set them off balance. It was a little game, a long game, but worthwhile when there was nothing else to do. He had noticed it took them a while to adjust whenever they moved, even if it was somewhere they had been previously. Hisoka could make himself comfortable wherever he was, but that might have been simply because he felt comfortable wherever he went. The world bent to his whims.The tall man grinned as his smaller companion balked at the elevator. The idea of being trapped in such a small space was highly unappealing. They stood a few feet away staring at the gleaming gold door and Hisoka."Aw, darling, are you nervous? It will only take a few minutes to get to where we're going. " They hummed, a sound that was somewhat indifferent as far as an answer went. They were much more vocally expressive in small sounds like that. He was good at telling what Illumi meant with each change in his little hums, but it seemed to change day to day for the little one.Anger. After a moment more of listening to them, internally debating, he concluded they were angry. He only smiled wider and stared at them until eventually they capitulated, not being able to stand his scrutiny any longer. They just wanted to get the elevator ride done with and find a corner to sit in where they could watch the magician to keep an eye on him. They slunk into the metal and glass square, hunched in on themself in an attempt to be smaller than they already were. One side of the elevator was completely clear, reinforced glass. It gave a breathtaking view of the city as they ascended. Any other time the little hunter would have had their face pressed to the glass every second, watching the sparkling world below them. Instead, they had their back pressed to the cold surface as they watched Hisoka. He was so at ease, leaning casually against the other wall with his head tipped back and a soft grin tugging at the edges of his lips. Nothing could please him more than in that moment than their discomfort, discomfort he was the cause of. One golden eye opened to stare down at them, making them feel like they'd been pinned to the glass like an insect on display. Hisoka reached out lazily with one long arm to press a button on the panel. The elevator drifted to a stop, bouncing lightly and leaving no movement except for the two occupants breathing. Their heartbeat raced, mild panic setting in. They didn't want to be here, didn't want to be there.He moved so gently, predatory, covering the few feet between. The scared rabbit look on their face and quickened breaths were perfection. They tried to back further into the glass, scoot away, but there was no give in the surface to provide them comfort. They tipped their head sideways, eyes flicking to the city spread out around them. That at least was something they could focus on, let themself drift away from the now.Hisoka put one hand on the glass beside their head, the other grasped their hip, pushing them into the glass forcefully. His too bright eyes danced with mirth, and they closed their own to avoid having to look at him. The bright cityscape was no help when he was so terribly close. Why had they never really noticed just how big of a person he was? They had sparred and fought with him many times at this point, but now he seemed larger than life."Little one, has no one ever told you how pretty you are? Even before dearest Illumi got his hands on you. Your power is so subtle and sweet, and so very strong. I've seen it for real now." He whispered softly in their ear, moving his whole body closer to trap them there as if they weren't already. They could smell his subtle perfume; roses and spiced sweetness that was so unlike the cloying candied smell he maintained everyday. It matched the expensive dark red suit he wore. This elegant and sophisticated version of him was scarier than the brightly murderous everyday self he always chose to be. Hisoka wore his power and confidence like designer clothes, and they suited him incredibly well. His long earrings dangled close, glinting on his ears to add a touch of sparkle to him. They matched the colour of his eyes. The little hunter only wanted to be a million miles away, wherever was furthest, out of his reach.The hand on their hip gripped uncomfortably, perfectly manicured nails digging into them. Hisoka's other hand grabbed their chin, forcing them to look at him with a scant few inches between their faces. Those same nails brushed their skin so carefully, pressing just enough to sting. "Hyskoa" their voice wavered, cold sinking into them. It hurt to breath. All words of protest that had been circling around in their mind had fled, replaced with neon threads of soft fear winding through their very veins, tying them in knots of emotion. It bound them and weighed them down, attached to the moment and unable to flee."Mhmmmm, I've killed people before for saying my name wrong. I’ve maimed for less. From you though, I'll accept it." The little hunter tried to curl away from his touch, but his vice grip wouldn't let them move. Panic clawed its way into their throat, adding to the clamorous emotions already flooding them.Hisoka's lips pressed against theirs, gentle for only a moment before becoming hungry, insistent. He tasted sweet, skin warm and soft. He’s so powerful . It radiated around him. His nails dug deeper, cutting through the cloth of their expensive shirt to make them bleed. He swallowed the sounds they made from that pain, giving them no room to speak. They stopped breathing, stopped moving and fighting against him. The mix of sensations, the pain and the softness combined dredged up memories they had buried in the darkest deepest recesses of their mind. They were gone. There was no warm elevator, no cold glass behind them. No Hisoka, and no scent of roses.
They hiccupped, cold and agonized. Too pale skin was criss crossed with the purposeful lines of a knife. The red was bright and vivid, recent, a painting of pain done with their skin. Some lines were shallow and some deep enough they'd need stitches to heal properly. Stitches they would never get. Purple and red bruises bloomed over every inch of uncut skin, flowers speaking to the level of trauma they could withstand. There was not a scrap of cloth to hide the abuse, only a single heavy chain at their ankle weighing them down. Somewhere in the distance a deep voice boomed out laughter. Above, the sounds of a party, some social gathering, could barely be heard. Clinking of dinnerware; soft music drifting through darkened halls. They let out a dry sob. There was nothing to do but huddle in the dark, body protected by nothing but shadows. The people upstairs enjoying themselves so brightly would be back soon enough. They huddled in on themself, closing their eyes to submit to inevitable exhausted sleep.
The man held them so gently, sweetly, as if they were the little doll he had dressed them as. The frilly clothing was cut and ragged, stained in the colours of rose petals. He loved to destroy his little treasure so much more than he liked seeing them dressed pretty. Watching the light and hope leave them, knowing this time would be no different than the last, or any before that. A large hand held them in place with heavy pressure on their chest, crushing weight negating any possible movement. They could barely breathe, fighting to suck in air. The knife he held was so sharp as it trailed across their skin in lines of raw fire. Thin silvery scars were a testament to how many times this had been done before.
Lips pressed gently kisses over ruined skin, a sharp contrast of gentleness and cruelty. It painted his lips a garish red. They could taste the coppery blood, their own blood, on their lips. Tittering laughter came from behind them, a soft feminine hand digging sharpened nails into their body wherever she could reach before caressing those very same marks. It was too much for them, oscillating between what could have been kindness and the terrible savagery of their captors. Their clothes were ripped away, leaving nothing left but skin exposed to hungry, hateful eyes.
It had been like this, always been like this. The little doll let their body go, abandoning it to be nothing but a soft shell with nothing inside. Their mind retreated from the horrors, floating somewhere soft, far away, alone.
They had gone limp beneath his grasp, dropping to the floor of the elevator when he stepped away in surprise. Their small voice was begging, pleading, switching languages fast enough he could barely follow. They devolved into soft wails, little form curled up and rocking, hyperventilating. Hisoka stood back, eyes wide and mouth open. This was certainly unexpected. He was trying to figure out what exactly was happening before him. He pressed the button on the elevator panel again, and it went up. They had only been a few floors away anyway, he had planned on this going in an entirely different direction. The jester went to pick them up, and they hiccupped out more words he didn't understand. His arms circled under them gently as the elevator door dinged. Their small first beat against him without much strength, no heart left for resistance. Their breathing was faster, ragged. Hisoka opened the door to his suite, flicking the lights on. The little hunter was set on the couch and he turned to go to his kitchen. Behind him they thumped to the ground wailing uncontrollably and shaking. Puzzled, he opened his phone and scrolled through his contacts until he found the one he wanted."Hisoka, I'm busy. What do you want" A tinge of annoyance coloured Illumi's normally controlled voice."Hi. I uh...I...." Hisoka, who always spoke so assured, was nervous. " Oh. What did you do." It wasn't even a question, just a statement. Only Illumi could make something clearly a question sound like a statement of fact. Hisoka just held the phone out in the direction of his lover's student, letting the wails speak for themself.“ Is that them?” His voice had gone cold and sharp. Not a good sign."Ah yes, well, about that..." Hisoka was being sheepish, like a schoolboy caught sneaking sweets."Well you see, I had the perfect moment, and they were so tempting with that little display the other day..." the jester trailed off. Not getting to the point quick enough for the assassin."Hisoka," Illumi's seething voice dripped with wholly unconcealed anger, "What. Did. You. Do?" "I kissed them" The apartment door was thrown open. Hisoka, tired Hisoka, wasn't ready for the uncontrollable force that was his lover. Pins pierced the hand he had raised to start explaining things, tacking him to the wall. Illumi threw the rest of him into the wall, slamming more pins into his body. The assassin grasped his throat, crushing it so he couldn't breathe, or talk. More pins were uncaringly thrust into points of his flesh, ensuring he wasn't going anywhere, anytime soon. At least one must have been poisoned, because Hisoka was feeling heavy floating somewhere at the edges of paralysis. His lovers hair was wreathed around him in an inky halo, aura devastatingly strong and clouding his thoughts. He was deadly serious."I told you to leave them be Hisoka." He hissed, dark eyes boring into the man he'd pinned to the wall. " I should kill you now." Illumi pressed a slim knife to his throat, enough to break skin. Hisoka was too hazy to enjoy the feeling of being trapped by his lover, by the very real threat of death. He should have been so much more excited, but doubt ebbed in his mind. The jester could see stars twinkling at the edge of his vision from lack of oxygen. He was so close to the dark of unconsciousness he didn't realize Illumi had gone until his body was gulping in air and vision cleared somewhat.The suite was decidedly empty save for him. Illumi had taken his poor, traumatized student and left Hisoka pinned to the wall to figure his own way down. He sighed, excitement coursing through him after the moment. Illumi could have simply killed him in that moment, but instead chose to keep playing the game of cat and mouse they were engaged in. In this game however, there were only cats and no mice. He wasn't going anywhere, and the pins made him feel oddly satisfied. Hisoka just closed his eyes, falling asleep unable to move, a specimen on his own wall.