Archive of Our Own ^beta

Killua walked through the store, pushing the shopping cart in his hands. His and Gon's last mission for the hunter association was quite a heavy one: powerful adversaries and a fight that almost cost both of their lives, intimidating danger which both thought of as a great memory, an exciting adventure for sure. The inconvenient being, they were not allowed to go on a mission for the two following weeks at least. Which meant, a lot of boredom - and not enough money for Killua to ruin himself on Chocorobo-kun chocolate balls and still have enough to pay their hotel room. 

The floor of the store was made out of blue and black rubber, and Killua's feet rubbed against the floor as he walked aimlessly through the shampoo aisle, creating a friction between his own body and the ground. Gon was a few aisles away, looking for his favorite mango juice. Killua could feel his presence moving back and forth in the isle. The orange-ish yellow and green bottle had probably been removed from it's original spot and replaced somewhere else, causing Gon to loose some of his recently found landmarks. 

Killua sighed deeply, turning his head to the front. There, he saw a -what he assumed to be- family, two little boys, two parents and a girl spinning around. As you'd expect, Killua wasn't particularly fond of kids' hussle, principally not when in public or when their parents were nearby to ask them to stop. That said he was definitely not going to intervene, not only because there wasn't much to do about it but also because he knew Gon would be mad at him if he got them in trouble yet again. 

He walked to the side, leaning his shopping cart against the left side of the isle as the two boys ran by, followed by their mother. The father was all behind, examinating the content of the shelf behind Killua, before their gazes met, and he just decided the look away. In front of him stood the little girl, spinning and swirling her body around the isle, and Killua could only hope she would accidentally throw something to the floor so maybe her parents would tell her to stop. 

Killua watched silently, aware of every and each movement of his surroundings, as the girl passed him by. He frowned in confusion when her hand accidentally brushed the side of the cart and she jumped away from him in a quick motion. She let out a shocked cry, settling both Killua and her father, who walked a bit faster towards her. She started frenetically shaking her hand, whining. She then proceeded to tell her father that the shopping cart bit her hand. He chuckled, taking her smaller hand in his and putting her in his own shopping cart, smiling awkwardly at Killua before walking away. And Killua just stood there, motionless, for a whole minute, trying to understand what just happened.

It made no sense for him that the girl could've gotten hurt: she could've hit her hand, but as previously stated, she didn't even actually touch the cart, she just brushed by. At first, he thought she could just be lying, but it's hard to understand why she would. She was just an average child with an average aura and absolutely no profit in faking a pinch in her hand. Then, he realized. His charged in electricity body and unused nen, the metal shopping cart, the rubber floor and the friction it caused: she had been shocked by a wave of electricity that left his body through his hands to run through the cart and ended up getting stuck there because the floor was made out of rubber. It wasn't long until the cart itself started liberating small amounts of static electricity to the air, crackling. Killua sighed. This was just great. The quantity of electricity would not stop augmenting from then and on until they left the shop, obviously. 

A few minutes later, Gon's figure appeared at the end of the isle. He ran towards his boyfriend, holding his juice box, victorious. He threw the box in the almost empty shopping cart, making his way to Killua trying to grab his right arm with both of his, but before he succeeded to, Killua moved a hand away from the cart to put it on his chest and push him away carefully. Gon frowned. 

" - Don't you want me to hug you? He asked, confused. 

- I haven't used my nen in too long. Killua answered truthfully, taking his hand off the shorter boy and onto the shopping cart in an attempt to contain the outcome of his nen. 

- And? Gon asked uncaringly, trying to get back to Killua. 

- And it means I'm having trouble containing the electricity inside myself. He said. Principally around conducting elements, such as the cart, or you. The boy concluded. Gon crossed his arms. 

- So, does that mean that if I touch you, I might get electrocuted? He asked sincerely, curious. Killua shrugged. 

- I wouldn't say that, but you might feel the static electricity. It's not very enjoyable for someone who isn't used to it. He admitted. Killua himself was so used to it that he couldn't feel it anymore. 

- Static electricity? Gon asked, confused. 

- It's a small stationary electric charge caused by the friction of two conducting materials, such as me and the cart, and held in by a not conducting material, such as the rubber floor. He explained simply. It's not a horrible thing. It can sparkle or crackle depending on the intensity, but it won't do much more. He demonstrated, brushing his hand against the cart and creating a small spark of electricity. Gon watched, amazed. 

- Is that because of your nen? He asked. 

- It can happen to anyone, but by the intensity of the thing, I'd assume yes. Killua smiled, somewhat proud. And you, have you never felt that before? Gon shook his head. 

- No, I didn't even know that was a thing. He admitted. But now I do remember aunt Mito telling me it often happened to her. Isn't it due to the quantity of salt in your body? He asked. 

- Something like that. Killua thought for a second. Well it would make sense at least. The more salt you have, the more your body should be conductive. 

- You've lost me. Gon said, and Killua chuckled. 

- It's okay. He smiled, running a hand through his hair. Just stay away from me and the cart until we're out of the store. Gon frowned. 

- I don't want to. He said. 

- We can't really do otherwise. Killua answered. 

- Does it hurt, the static electricity? Gon asked. 

- It's like a pinch on your finger. The other responded. I can't feel it anymore, but from what I remember, it doesn't really hurt. It's just not pleasant either. "

Gon bit his bottom lip, his gaze swiftly switching between the cart and his boyfriend. Killua frowned and smiled simultaneously, amused and confused by the older boy's behavior.

" - I've never felt that before. Gon said. 

- I don't think you want to feel it. Killua retorted. 

- If I regret it you'll comfort me. The other giggled, and before Killua had the time to realize, his hand was brushing the cart. "

Killua watched as Gon yelped in surprise when the cart crakled and electrified Gon's hand. They stared at each other for a few seconds, before Killua frowned. 

" - Wow. He commented with a smirk. You're so smart doing exactly what I told you not to. "

Before Killua could add anything, Gon was giggling madly. Killua smiled.

" - What did you think? He asked with a chuckle. That the cart was going to spare you for your pretty eyes? "

Gon looked at Killua, pouting his bottom lip before crackling again, laughing breathlessly. His body hit against the wall -and fortunately not a shelf- in the corner of the isle. Killua watched with a warm smile as Gon let himself fall to the ground, calming down his laughter. He smiled, looking back at the cat like blue eyes. 

" - I thought- He started, interrupted by a giggle. I thought it would be something softer. He admitted, trying to contain his voice. 

- I warned you. Killua retorted with a playful tone. Gon smiled. 

- Does that mean that this will happen every time I touch you now? He asked, deliberately ignoring Killua's remark. 

- Until we're out of the store at least. Came out as Killua's answer. "

Gon smiled, getting up and walking towards his taller boyfriend. He held out his hand. Killua raised an eyebrow. 

" - You sure? He asked. 

- It's not hurtful. Gon said. It's just weird. I won't die if it happens again. He smiled. Plus I should get used to this. I feel like it might happen often. "

Killua smiled, grabbing Gon's hand in his. The second their fingers met, Gon's hand brushed away unconsciously. Killua grabbed it, forcing it to stay by his side as Gon laughed again. 

" - It kind of tickles. He admitted. 

- It does? Killua asked even tthough he already knew the answer. Gon nodded, giggling. "

They started walking again, making their way to the chocolate isle, when Gon jumped again, this time in the middle of the corridor where stood about ten people. Some of them turned his way, most kept their noses in their own business. 

" - What is it? Killua asked as Gon started to laugh again. 

- It happened again. He said, pointing at their intertwined fingers and then jumping again and laughing harder. Killua smiled. 

- My body must be evacuating on you like it did on the cart. He said. You better let go off me or it'll keep happening. 

- Are you crazy? Gon asked, his face red from laughing for too long. This is incredibly funny. He admitted, then startled by yet another shock, thrown into a fresh new laughing fit. Killua chuckled again, feeling himself want to laugh with Gon. "

At this point, it felt as if everyone had gotten over them, until Killua felt heavy eyes on his back. He turned to see a man staring right at him, the father from earlier, holding in his hand the little girl who herself looked at Gon with a smile. As soon as the man noticed Killua's glare, he picked up his daughter and left. 

Killua turned to Gon once more, letting go of his hand only to hold onto the opposite side of his waist, colliding their bodies. Gon yelped again, laughing more than he had been laughing before, this time followed by Killua. He didn't need to feel the tingling sensation of the static electricity to laugh, Gon's voice already tingled his insides in a way that made him want to laugh forever. 

After spending ten minutes trying to use the auto pay machine for their three articles, vision obstructed by the tears at the corner of his eyes, Gon was finally able to follow Killua out, only to jump on his back, notably too tired to walk. He breathed deeply, the electric sting like sensation leaving his body but making him laugh nonetheless as Killua carried him and their articles to a wood bench nearby, with one of the biggest smile Gon had ever seen on his face. 

Gon sat, waiting as Killua put the cart back where it was meant to be and came back to sit next to him. The other clutched his stomach, finally succeeding to breathe calmly. Killua stared at Gon's right hand, red from the time it held his. The white haired boy assumed the left side of Gon's body must be shaded by a tiny of red as well. Gon smiled truthfully, looking at his hand when he noticed how Killua stared.

Gon sat, waiting as Killua put the cart back where it was meant to be and came back to sit next to him. The other clutched his stomach, finally succeeding to breathe calmly. Killua stared at Gon's right hand, red from the time it held his. The white haired boy assumed the left side of Gon's body must be shaded by a bit of red as well. Although Killua's body no longer crackled, there was still some sort of electric connection tying them to one another.

Gon smiled truthfully, looking at his hand when he notices how Killua stared. 

" - It burns, but it was definitely worth it. He admitted, slowly lifting his hand. Killua smiled. 

- If you say so. He responded. 

- Can I hold your hand now? Gon asked, looking up at Killua. 

- Sure, but it won't tingle anymore. Killua said, turning to the other side in an attempt to hide his blush. Gon grabbed his hand an smiled contentedly. 

- It's cold. He said. It feels great. "

For a second they both stayed still, just looking at each other. Gon smiled. 

" - I wanted to kiss you when we were inside. Gon said, giggling, causing Killua to choke on his saliva. He tackled Gon's arms with his own playfully. 

- Why? He asked after a second of silence. 

- Because maybe it would've tickled. Gon responded, smiling. 

- No, I mean, why didn't you do it? Killua asked, his face turning a light shade of red, Gon's following. 

- Because it's illegal here. Gon said. 

- And? Killua frowned. It wouldn't be the first time they did something illegal. 

- And I don't want you to have to kill someone to avoid us getting executed. "

Gon giggled watching Killua sigh. There was a minute of silence until Gon spoke again. 

" - I can kiss you now if you want. He said. There was nobody nearby. Killua smiled shyly. 

- If that's what you want. Killua knows he'd do anything to please Gon. "

With that said, Gon looked over at Killua, stretching his back as much as he could in order to give Killua a small kiss. It was short, just a quick peck as they'd usually share every once in a while. It never lasted very long, not in public at least. Gon smiled, getting up from his seat. 

" - I'm ready! He said, grabbing the juice and the chocolate, leaving the eggs to Killua just in case.

- Lets get going, then. Killua responded. "

And they walked hand in hand as they often would, Gon tripping over his own feet more than once and Killua making sure he was the one walking on the side of the road to avoid the other dying. It was a recurrent event for them, to laugh the air out for their lungs for stupid things they'd discover on a daily basis. Gon, from his island and Killua, from his repetitive lifestyle had both been missing out on a lot of things for a long time: things that they would now experiment together. Adventures they'd share everyday.