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amoebaforce · 1 year

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Cat/Mouse

Part 1 of 4 (Part 2) (Part 3)

After a string of bold thefts rocks the Edenite art scene, veteran hunter Nadine picks up the bounty of a lifetime. Fifty thousand credits, just to capture the elusive thief and bring her in alive. It should be an easy job... but one look at her mark tells Nadine she might have bitten off more than she can chew. On a space station full of secret dealings, dirty money, and luxurious lies, it seems even the simplest contracts are prone to complication. tags: alcohol use, suggestive themes, short depiction of harassment A/N: In this setting, "Earth" has long been renamed "Terra", and therefore humans are called Terrans. Additionally, I use the terms "female" and "male" instead of "woman" and "man", because they apply cross-species. Enjoy!

Less than an hour in, and this job was already turning out to be a pain in the ass. Literally. Nadine was perched on the edge of a metal barstool that was decidedly too small for her six-foot-one frame. Its rounded edge dug into her tailbone, sending a steady, dull ache down the backs of her legs. Even worse, every time she shifted her weight, the damn thing creaked like an ungreased hinge. Nadine sighed to herself and took a sip of her beer. She should have listened to the lobby receptionist that morning, when he tried to dissuade her from taking this bounty.

“That’s been posted for three weeks,” he’d said. “Two other hunters already gave up. She’s a runner.”

Nadine had snorted at him then, snatching the page off the corkboard and exchanging it for a thick case file. The target was a semi-notorious art thief — a Diralith female known only by her first name: Ulu’zah. A new player on the Eden black markets, but skilled enough that she’d already caught the notice of the upper echelons of Edenite society. Pilfered paintings, stolen sculptures, even an ancient Terran crown… All of them lifted and replaced with forgeries in the narrow window between appraisal and auction.

It was impressive stuff, really. Definitely the kind of work that required a team… Hence the stipulation that Ulu’zah had to be brought in alive. Apparently, the cops wanted to take down the whole ring at once, and they needed her to ID her collaborators. It was all the same to Nadine, really, so long as she got hers in the end.

“Hmph,” she’d replied. “Third time’s the charm, ain’t it?”

Now, here she was, crammed in the corner of a dim space station club, ass going numb on a shitty uncushioned stool, wishing she could just finish her cheap bear and go back to her hotel.

Damn, she thought. I must be getting old.

Nadine glanced around the room for what felt like the thousandth time. In the fifty minutes she’d been sitting in the Starshard Bar, no one had come or gone. At the bar, a pair of Mruunxi travelers sat in the corner seats, while three boisterous Uroki males occupied the middle — mercenaries, judging by the amount of concealed weapons they wore. Neither group had acknowledged her, and that was perfectly fine by Nadine. She was merely one of two dozen Terrans in the room, including the bartender. The rest gathered in booths and around tables, some content to talk and laugh over their drinks, while others danced and fed credits into the song selection machine in the corner.

By their hand, some new-sounding, synth-heavy song started thumping through the overhead speakers. Nadine’s lips twitched downward. This kind of music always gave her a headache. But what could she do? She wasn’t gonna get up and switch it herself, that’s for damn sure. Places like this always charged an arm and a leg per song. And besides, Nadine was here to work. She had to be on the top of her game. Any minute, that little thief was going to–

The door swung open. Nadine’s eyes sliced toward the sound.

Purple.

That was the first word that came to Nadine's mind. The female in the entry was entirely purple. And she could only be Ulu’zah — of that, Nadine had no doubt. She’d studied the photo in the dossier all day, memorizing the curve of the Diralith’s cheekbones. She’d poured over the stacked placement of the female’s four eyes and the low bridge of her nose. But that image was grayscale, taken from a malfunctioning security camera. It had utterly failed to capture the breathtaking lilac blush of Ulu’zah’s skin, or the icy blue of her irises, or the rich violet of her hair.

Not hair, Nadine corrected silently. Sensory organs.

Dozens of thick tendrils adorned Ulu’zah’s head, arranged just like a pixie haircut, complete with little strands to frame her heart-shaped face. The thief was shorter than Nadine expected — no more than five feet tall — but she held herself with a slick confidence that enlarged her presence. She threw a disinterested gaze around the room as she stepped inside. Nadine avoided eye contact by taking another long sip of her beer. Maybe it was a bad idea to drink on the job, but the jittery unease in her gut told her she’d probably need it.

The thief’s stride was easy and unrushed as she approached the bar, choosing a seat near the Uroki mercs. She left two empty seats between them — a respectful distance, but not nearly far enough to keep them from noticing her. Like clockwork, the males’ heads lifted one by one. She settled into her seat, undeterred, placing her back toward Nadine.

The bounty hunter cursed under her breath. Now she couldn’t read the thief’s lips. Was that intentional, or just a coincidence? Had Ulu’zah already clocked her? Nadine leaned forward a little, trying to hear Ulu’zah’s order as she tilted her head at the bartender.

“–and a blue Viro, please,” was all she caught over the bass.

The thief’s voice was just as pretty as her face… and just as silky as that tight red dress she wore. Its back was cut into a deep V shape, leaving her spine bare. Nadine’s eyes traced the trail of little white spots that decorated her back, following it all all the way to–

Focus, Nadine.

A “blue Viro”. That’s what she said, right? Those didn’t exist — Viro wine only came in red, green, and pink. Nadine knew that well enough from university. It was a code phrase, obviously. The Terran bartender smiled and nodded, then disappeared through a curtained doorway.

Nadine felt the ghost of a smile pull at her lips. A hunch of hers had just proven true: Ulu’zah did business at the Starshard. She knew there was a pattern to those visits! Now the question was: What about the bartender? Was he just a messenger? A middle-man? Or was he a full-fledged member of whatever group Ulu’zah had aligned herself with?

Nadine would have to wait to find the answers. For now, she watched Ulu’zah with hawkish eyes, trying to soak in every detail. The thief rested her chin on her hand, legs crossed at the knee, looking quite comfortable as she ignored the giggling males to her left. She traveled light tonight. No partner, no earpiece… not even a clutch to slow her down. She was confident. Capable. Nadine could respect that.

The bartender returned with two drinks in tow. One was a sweet-looking blue concoction in a martini glass, and the other looked like ice water. He placed two napkins under each drink. Strange. Just strange enough. A gut feeling made Nadine’s eyes flicker to Ulu’zah’s hands. The thief curled her delicate fingers around the cocktail’s stem — but sure enough, as she lifted its thin rim to her lips, Ulu’zah’s other hand flashed across the serviettes, then dashed backward again. Nadine couldn’t tell for sure, but she would wager fifty thousand credits that she’d just witnessed a data-drop.

The bounty hunter dipped her chin and exhaled slowly. She’d watch for ten more minutes, she decided, and then it was showtime. But the show began early. No more than four minutes passed before one of the Uroki mercenaries grew bolder. Nadine’s frown turned to a scowl as she watched him toss back the last third of his drink and slide into Ulu’zah’s personal bubble. He was drunk and carefree enough that his voice carried as he said:

“What’s a pretty girl like you doin’ here all alone?”

Really, man? Nadine thought. That’s the best line you got?

The bounty hunter sighed to herself and pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers. Ulu’zah blinked both sets of eyes at the male. Damn, even her profile was stunning. Her features were naturally elegant. Refined, yet soft. She could have been a model — one of those girls you see in perfume advertisements. She could have had a penthouse apartment and a luxury brand ambassadorship. A personal assistant and a little pet in a purse. Instead, she was sitting in a seedy nightclub, doing illicit business and getting hit on by some dumbass merc.

Nadine could have laughed at the cruelty of it all. Ulu’zah’s plush lips parted around an unheard sentence. A rejection, no doubt, because the male’s face twitched.

“Me and my friends just wanna show you a good time,” he told Ulu’zah, still trying to maintain his idea of a suave demeanor.

Yikes.

Nadine’s attention sharpened on the male. He was leaning closer, playing oblivious to Ulu’zah’s discomfort. This was going nowhere good. Nadine couldn’t have some puffed-up male scaring away her thief.

“Not interested,” Ulu’zah said firmly, raising her voice to match his volume. “Not in you, and not in any of your meathead friends, either.”

The male’s smile faltered.

“Does the guy you’re waitin’ for know how much of a bitch you are?” he snapped.

And that was Nadine’s cue. Her stool creaked as she rose to her feet. In five long steps, the hunter closed the distance to her prey. She slid into the space behind Ulu’zah, beer still in hand as she rested one casual elbow on the bar and cast an easy smile at the Uroki. He was only a few inches taller than her, and Nadine savored the way his eyes widened as he gawked.

“Actually, big fella,” Nadine drawled, “she ain’t waitin’ for a guy.”

Ulu’zah cast a soft glance over her shoulder, and for the first time, Nadine made eye contact with her mark. The thief’s gaze was deliberate and even as it roamed across Nadine’s face, taking in her cropped black hair and rich, hazel eyes. Ulu’zah’s straight-mouthed expression opened into a knowing grin.

“What took you so long, baby?” she asked.

She laid a lilac hand on Nadine’s sleeve. Her nails were cherry-red, and they glittered like jewels against the hunter’s black leather jacket.

“Baby?” the male sputtered.

“You must be havin’ a hard time hearin’,” Nadine said. She took a sip of her beer. “So let me say this loud and clear for ya. Get lost.”

Anger clouded the merc’s yellow irises. “Look here, you d–”

Suddenly, a slate-gray hand appeared on his shoulder and yanked him backward. One of the male’s more sober friends appeared over his shoulder, an apologetic grimace on his face.

“Sorry ‘bout that, ladies,” the other Uroki said. “Rico here was just leaving.”

He dug his fingers pointedly into the one named Rico’s flesh, ignoring the arguments already forming on his friend’s tongue. Nadine nodded curtly as Rico was steered away, silently grateful she wasn’t the one who had to remove him. It would have been messy, and it was still too early for that kind of trouble. Ulu’zah sighed, then swiveled back to Nadine. A strange spark glinted through the Diralith’s eyes. Curiosity, or maybe mischief.

“Well, that was awfully nice of you, stranger,” she purred, swirling her blue cocktail in its glass. “Do you make a habit of rescuing damsels in distress?”

Nadine smirked. “No. I’m just an expert at repelling males, and you looked like you could use the help.”

Ulu’zah giggled and rolled her eyes, exhaling some tension from her shoulders. Perfect. Every inch that her guard dropped was an inch Nadine gained against her.

“I haven’t seen you here before,” Ulu’zah observed. “You new in town?”

“Just passing through,” Nadine said.

“On holiday?”

“Business trip.”

A brief, tense pause. A moment of mutual measurement. If Ulu’zah knew the truth, her face did not betray it.

“How interesting,” Ulu’zah hummed. “I was certain you were here for pleasure.”

Nadine allowed herself a low chuckle. Overhead, another pounding bassline began to pour through the speakers. A few Terrans in the corner exclaimed and jumped to their feet, hurrying to the dance floor. Ulu’zah’s fingers tightened around Nadine’s arm.

“You should come dance with me,” Ulu’zah said suddenly.

Nadine arched a brow, swallowing the knee-jerk refusal that threatened to spill out. Nadine didn’t dance. Not for lack of ability, but a lack of desire. She was stared at enough as it was, thanks to her large frame — and flailing herself around would only make it worse. But Nadine was in the thick of the chase, now, and she couldn’t risk letting the thief slip off into the crowd and disappear. She had to play along.

“Sure, baby,” Nadine replied, letting her voice dip flirtatiously. “But go easy on me. I’m a little rusty.”

Ulu’zah laughed, a twinkling sound that reminded Nadine of a silver bell. The hunter set down her beer as the thief led her away from the bar and into the crowd of dancing bodies. The illuminated dance floor flashed blue and pink under Nadine’s boots. Ulu’zah’s glossy lips sparkled under the strobes as she glanced backward. Her body was already moving to the beat. Her hips wagged hypnotically, hands tracing wavy patterns through the air, and she beckoned Nadine closer with a smile.

Something took hold of her. Maybe it was the beer, or maybe it was just the look in the little thief’s eyes. Nadine wasn’t sure. The bass seeped up through the floor and into the soles of her feet, and then she was bobbing and swaying in sync with Ulu’zah. Nadine’s blood rushed, her lungs pumped, and a reckless grin crept onto her face. Her mind hazed. Ulu’zah reached forward and found Nadine’s hands. They twined their fingers together, feet drifting toward one another until Nadine could see her own distorted reflection in Ulu’zahs eyes.

The song machine transitioned into a new number, one with an even-heavier beat and a rhythm that pulsed across Nadine’s skin like water. Ulu’zah pivoted on her heels and eased Nadine’s hands down to her waist. The hunter’s heart skipped a beat as the thief’s bare back arched against her. Their bodies melded together, moving as one. Ulu’zah’s hips ground backward onto Nadine’s thighs, sending a ripple of heat through her body. Nadine’s hands wandered mindlessly. Needily. One traced her spine, connecting each of Ulu’zah’s white patches before grasping the curve of her hip. The other skimmed up her torso to the small swell of her breast, fingers brushing experimentally before taking a handful.

Ulu’zah tilted back her head and flashed Nadine a look that sent her pulse through the roof. Nadine’s hands flexed involuntarily, squeezing a breathy little gasp out of the thief’s mouth.

Fuck, this is getting out of hand.

Nadine hurried to loosen her grasp, but as she slipped her palm down the tantalizingly-smooth underside of Ulu’zah’s breast, her fingertips found something hard and out of place. Something small and square, just about the size of a–

A data chip, Nadine thought suddenly.

The realization snapped her from her trance. Her mind plummeted back to reality. This wasn’t a meet-cute; this was work. Nadine was here to take a criminal into custody. Ulu’zah was here to pick up a link. That was all — everything else was ancillary. Frivolous.

So why did it feel so good? So right? Why was her body pleading for more, even while her mind reeled and refused? Nadine’s emotions tangled, clanging dissonantly inside her. Her face must have twisted, because Ulu’zah’s brow creased up at her. The thief straightened and turned around.

“You okay?” she called over the music.

The hunter nodded.

“Loud in here,” she said with a wince. “Wanna step outside, baby?”

Ulu’zah gave Nadine a sympathetic pout and agreed, leading her to the door. Humid station air kissed Nadine’s face as she followed Ulu’zah through the partition. When the latch clicked behind her, silence fell like a woolen veil. The night was quiet and dim, and the simulated sky was full of clouds. Nadine felt her heart thud against her ribs as the calm of the evening permeated her form. All at once, her ears began to ring. She took a long, steadying breath, rubbing her temple with one hand.

“I know how you feel,” Ulu’zah murmured. “I can’t stay very long in these clubs, either.”

Nadine glanced down at the Diralith. She was leaning against the smooth metal wall with her arms folded, but her face was soft.

“Why’s that?” Nadine asked.

Ulu’zah gestured to the violet tendrils curling around her head. “They’re too sensitive. It’s the vibrations.”

"Oh.”

“Yeah, it sucks. I can’t stand more than a couple songs.”

“Then why go to the club in the first place?” Nadine pressed.

It was a valid question. Sure, a nightclub was as good a choice as anywhere. There were lots of distractions, and most of the bystanders would be too hammered to remember faces. But if the ambiance bothered Ulu’zah so much, why not simply arrange a different location and avoid the problem altogether?

The thief smiled. “I could ask you the same question, stranger.”

Fair enough. Nadine’s mouth tugged up at the corner.

“We could stop being strangers, ya know, if we knew each other’s names. You can call me Nadine.”

A brief pause while Ulu’zah tilted her head back and studied the taller female’s face. She had a hell of a poker face, this thief. Nadine knew she was being sized up, but Ulu’zah’s calm, sultry expression never erred. It was as alluring as it was frustrating — and Nadine still couldn’t tell if her cover was blown. Finally, the Diralith snickered.

“I am Ulu,” she said.

“Oo-loo,” Nadine repeated, as if it was the first time she’d ever considered the syllables. “That’s a pretty name. Means ‘flower’, don’t it?”

Ulu’zah’s quick blink betrayed a bit of surprise. “You know Diralith?”

“Just a few words.”

That wasn’t technically a lie, but most of the words Nadine knew were swears she’d picked up at university. As for the thief’s name… Nadine had simply done her research.

“I see,” Ulu’zah said, still eyeing her with a tinge of suspicion. “More than the average Terran, still.”

“I ain’t the average Terran, Ulu.”

Nadine took a step forward, eyes blazing. It was a challenge — an ultimatum. They both knew it. Show me what you are, and I’ll do the same. Show me, show me, show me. Ulu’zah cocked her head.

“I can tell.”

She loosened her arms in a silent surrender, urging Nadine nearer. The hunter obliged, bracing one arm on the wall over Ulu’zah’s head. The other hand found the thief’s small, pointed chin and tilted it back. Her breath hitched in her throat.

“Oh?” Nadine teased. “Is that so?”

“Yes,” Ulu’zah breathed.

“What am I, then?”

She brushed her thumb along the small female’s lip, relishing the way her eyelids fluttered. Nadine’s heart panged. This was cruel, wasn’t it? Letting herself do these things, feel these things, knowing it was all pretend. A game that would end too soon. Only one of them could win, and it had to be Nadine. Had to. Right?

Ulu’zah smiled. “You’re worse.”

She took a handful of Nadine’s shirt and tugged her downward. Their necks craned; their mouths met. The kiss they shared was languid, yet searing. The heat that coursed through Nadine’s veins was a slow, loathsome torture, whittling away her self-control bit by bit, until her eyelids slipped closed. Ulu’zah hummed and parted her lips, inviting Nadine’s tongue to sweep between them. Her acceptance coaxed a low moan from Ulu’zah’s throat. The way the thief shivered made Nadine’s mind race.

She had to stop this. Had to come clean.

Nadine released Ulu’zah’s chin and slid her palm to the nape of her neck. In one swift tug, she ripped her mouth away and spun Ulu’zah on her feet. She pressed her flat to the outside of the bar, cheek flush to the metal, and wedged one boot between her heels. She was thoroughly pinned. Ulu’zah gasped and wriggled helplessly, fear creeping into her eyes.

“Hey!” she shouted. “What is this?”

“Sorry, baby,” Nadine murmured, mouth hovering above Ulu’zah’s temple, “but we gotta talk business for a second.”

She stiffened. “Who are you? Who sent you here? If you’re a cop, I swear I’ll scream so loud–”

“Not a cop. Bounty hunter. And you’ve got quite the prize on that sweet little head of yours, don’t ya?”

Ulu’zah’s knees wobbled. “Listen! Whatever those pricks are offering, I can double it. Just let me go.”

Nadine snorted.

“Fat chance, sweetheart. I do that, and you’re gone before I can say ‘Geronimo’ — along with that data chip in your dress. And besides, where’s a two-bit thief like you gonna find a hundred thousand credits?” She tutted, letting her words sink in. “No, I have a better idea.”

Ulu’zah squirmed again, testing Nadine’s grip on the back of her neck. It didn’t budge so much as a millimeter. The hunter’s other hand left the wall and snaked around Ulu’zah’s heaving chest. Her calloused fingers dragged between silk and skin, producing an offended gasp as well as a small square of multi-colored metal.

“How about this?” Nadine proposed. “I’m gonna put this chip into my drive, right here, right now, and I’m gonna copy the packet. Then, I’ll give it back. I’ll let you go. We’ll each do what we have to do.”

“You’re just gonna let me get away with it?” Ulu’zah blurted, too stunned to watch her tongue. Nadine shook her head.

“No. I’m gonna let you try. I’m gonna let you go back to your team and make all your preparations. I’m gonna let you craft your forgery, case the auction house, draft your exit strategies… All of it. And then, when the stage is set, I’ll be waiting in the wings, watching for the perfect moment to send it all crashing to the ground.”

“What’s the point?” Ulu’zah demanded. “Just finish the job now! Cash in and be done with me, asshole!”

She made a point of stomping on Nadine’s foot, but her stiletto proved wholly ineffectual against the tip of a steel-toed boot. Ulu’zah snarled angrily. Her pulse pounded under Nadine’s thumb.

“Tempting,” the hunter said. “But this little chip isn’t gonna give the cops what they need — and neither will you. So I gotta let you work, so I can collect more info.”

Nadine used her teeth to pull up her sleeve, revealing a thick chrome cuff on her wrist. A few small buttons lined the edges, each with a two-letter abbreviation etched below. She inserted the chip into a tiny slot on the cuff’s underside. A screen blinked to life, and a few inputs later, the processor within zipped to work.

“You’re out of your mind,” Ulu’zah said, almost to herself. “You have no idea who you’re messing with.”

“I’ll find out,” Nadine replied.

“You’re making a mistake.”

“We’ll see.” Her cuff-drive beeped and spat the chip back out. With two careful fingers, she slipped it back into its hiding place within Ulu’zah’s bodice. “And I reckon I’ll see you soon… Ulu.”

Nadine lifted her hands and took a step back. Ulu’zah whirled around and slunk to the side, chest heaving shallowly as she retreated. All four eyes were glued to Nadine’s face. The hunter expected her to bolt, but instead, she paused.

“Why?” Ulu’zah muttered.

She didn’t elaborate, but she didn’t have to. Nadine exhaled a sigh, letting her shoulder lean into the wall.

“Because, just for tonight… I think we both deserve to win.”

Ulu’zah’s eyes widened, then darted to the ground. Her hands balled at her sides, and then she was running. The thief stepped wordlessly into the shadows, body melting out of sight. Nadine listened to the click of her heels until it, too, faded away to nothing. She swiped her thumb along her lip and pulled away a smudge of glittering purple lip gloss. Somehow, she knew it was going to stain.

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sheetbeat · 1 year

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Alone Together, Under an Umbrella

Summary: Squala and Eliza have a bad habit of facing their problems on their own.

It’s a useless endeavour, since they end up finding each other anyway.

WC: 2,852. Canon-Compliant, Fluff and Angst, Umbrella Sharing, Misunderstandings, Racism (only a mention but it's there)

For 2023’s HxH Rare Pair Big Bang! Thank you, Greed Island buddies - especially my artist. I'm so excited to see the finished piece! Might cross-post on my AO3 (24HoursRemain) come the big reveal.

Edit: I have indeed reposted on AO3! Polished up a bit, linked to extrat's finished piece.

This is a little Squala and Eliza piece, fluff + angst. Their relationship is soft and sweet, but HxH's world sure as heck isn't :'(

Never work with children or animals, the saying goes.

If they ended up doing something else, perhaps they would have more breaks. Instead, they kept at it, remaining far too attached to the little people they cared for.

Rebellious and bratty and (in the case of his dogs) prone to biting as they were, they deserved protecting. Squala knew it was a shared weakness, the need to cuddle and care for things no matter their character. No wonder they hit it off, having found comfort in a city alive with monsters.

He recalled their first encounter in a rented apartment. Was it still up, standing strong? Probably not. All the more reason to invest in something more long-term. The dogs could move in with them - that is, if the shedding was no problem.

"I know, Eliza. If this job works out... Yeah, don't worry. I can take care of you along with all of the dogs. Just bear with me a little longer..."

Their conversation ended up short, as most of their talks during work hours did. Today, Squala is the one who is late calling.

He had a dog emergency. One particular Maltese had left him a gift. A long-digested, unrecognisable gift that he only discovered ten minutes before the meeting. Conveniently, it lay in sight of the manor's front door, owned by his employer, for any other hired help to report. He chose his dumping spot well.

Piper was a troublemaker, named so by Eliza for 'stealing her love away'. She wasn't in the slightest bit serious, both of them giggling at the cliché, but the comment rang true. The little guy was a pain, clingy as hell and overly attached to Squala in particular , though one that they both had a soft spot for. He didn't have the heart to manipulate this dog to hold intruders in place for a devouring.

All that being said, he couldn't keep Squala here forever with a well-plotted 'accident'. Eliza was patient with his pups' antics. Dalzollene was not.

It would have to wait until later. He could deal with another dog complaint, but the ramifications for being late were dire.

Squala mused about what life would be like, trapped in a painting.

As long as it's here, where I can check up on her, things could be worse. Eliza better get a raise if that happens.

Being trapped in a painting was a possibility in his world.

Being trapped in the garden wasn't, or at least not by Nen. Nor was waking up in one, the last memory rattling in his brain an unwanted kiss.

Today was one of those rare days he was called to do something besides odd jobs around the building and setting the dogs in position. He didn't expect to join his friends outside for so long, frightening them in a way so unlike their human, a puppet attached via Nen to some opportunistic rookie.

She didn't remove his memories. Whether that was a blessing or a curse, Squala couldn't decide. He just wanted Piper to nibble on his arm again, without any fear.

What was particularly difficult wasn't the order to remove his Nen on the dogs. It made sense to remove a barrier to their escape, a barrier to being hired. They were determined.

This lot wasn't about building upon wealth or reliant on a paycheck. None complained about sourcing items only obtainable by bribery, legitimate purchase or a very lucky kill. Whatever their separate goals were, they were just as desperate as those living in poverty. Squala did not hold grudges with the desperate, especially when he knew what it was like.

However, what was difficult and a little hard to forget was the woman’s wording and, of course, the foot to the face. Maybe she didn't know the implication of her taking another person as a 'pet'.

Eliza wouldn't be so charitable if she knew - that hand she was raising would go right into the Manipulator's face, alongside the other to-be bodyguards who stood by and watched. Squala wouldn't be adverse to joining in with Eliza by his side, if the newbies were not also likely future employees. Under their shared employer.

The sun nearly rendered him blind. Reflecting off the glass, it overwhelmed the bitter taste of greenery and the hulking view of the mansion. It was clear as it was in day. Smudged, lower than it should be. Was it nearly evening? Still, it was brighter than ever.

All of a sudden, Squala noticed it for real. That was actually her hand raised, touching the window, parallel to his spot of carefully-cut grass . He didn't imagine it, in a hopeless daydream. She was real. She was here. As far as he was aware, she was constrained to the Nostrade girl's bedroom at all times. That was why he took the risk of taking the job. Still, he was glad to see her.

And he was in trouble.

The face she made at seeing him outside was startled, eyes vacant and eyebrows furrowed. Calm, gentle, compassionate Eliza - seeing her hurt stung the guard's heart.

"Squala!"

He was forcibly ripped from his thoughts by the usual culprit.

"Gather up your dogs," Dalzollene said. "Meet me inside. We'll talk about the newest recruits."

"Got it, leader. Anything else?"

The man's eyes narrowed, a purposeful tap on his sword. "You'll find out soon enough."

Squala hadn't been in this business for too long, but long enough to see a dangerous man's cues. Yes, he would be needed for longer. Most likely, for a reprimanding.

There was never enough time. Not really. Even so, as a couple they'd sworn to make time whenever something came up. Eliza always kept her word : he would not betray her now.

He'd just be running late, as he was this morning.

In hindsight, it wasn't that hard to put together what he should have done - told her where he was planning to pick up work. Especially since it was a place she knew, one bound to cause concern and worries for his well being.

He wasn't looking forward to this conversation. Honestly, he was terrified. But it had to be done. Squala was no fool, having applied to the post knowing full well where she worked. His confidant, his best friend, the person he wanted to spend his life with? She deserved to know.

A trip to the bakery couldn't solve this, but a talk would. Her favourite pastry would just help it along.

It wasn’t hard to find a standard bakery in each crevice of the city. This one, just off Continental, traded in more than just morning croissants, pies and dinner party cookies.

Something that Eliza had admitted a craving for, especially after stressful situations. Given the nature of her job, it was something he’d seen her indulge in rather often. Not that he would point it out. She’d stop munching on them in his company and the sight was too adorable to give up.

He saw the pastry in question : a cream puff. Bizarrely, there were postcards and water bottles and little plastic trinkets to be found by the till, as if waiting for an unsuspecting tourist to waste their Jenny. Not that it mattered : he found what he was looking for!

It wasn’t long after he paid at the counter, purchase in hand, that he saw a very familiar face hard at work devouring a familiar pastry. Across from the counter, sitting at a table made for one, was Eliza. She had her hair tied back in a bun, her kimono slightly crumpled, and a look of concentration on her face as she focused on the task at hand.

Approaching her quietly, he placed the cream puff in front of her. She looked up at him, with an exasperated smile, before quickly covering her face (as if it could hide the traces of pastry). Squala wondered if she was more surprised by him remembering her favourite bakery, accidentally running into her again, or by herself eating a crumbly, expensive desert unguarded in his presence. He would bet on the latter.

“What’s this for?” she asked, unserious, taking the last bite of the pastry she had ordered.

“Just a little something to sweeten your day,” he said, trying to keep his voice light. “Though it looks like you beat me to it.”

She raised an eyebrow at him, eyes scanning his nervous face and rain-splattered clothing. “Is everything okay?”

“I’m fine. I need to tell you about what happened before.”

“You’re not fine,” Eliza sighed, tugging on his arm as she stood up. “Yeah, we do need to talk. But it’s getting late, we’re going to be kicked out, and I want to eat my second cream puff when we’re all tucked in at home.”

“Talk on the way back?”

“Mhm. Could you wait for me outside? I need to go… To the restroom.”

“Thanks for the surprise. On days like this, a second one is nicer.”

Squala sighed in relief. It was ridiculous and unrealistic, but some little part of him thought she would never return. She had pushed him further into the storefront, shielding him from the rain, promising a quick return. Rain buffeted the concrete, acid pungent in the air, and with each passing moment he worried that something had happened. In the streets, in the bakery, at home, in the bathroom, he was worried for Eliza’s safety.

“I was worried.”

She knew. “You’re such an idiot.”

Eliza had said it with such undisguised warmth, Squala couldn’t bear it.

“I lied to you. I invaded your privacy. You’ve got to be upset.”

There was a pregnant pause. As usual, Eliza was the first to break it. “You didn’t lie, but I’m sad you didn’t tell me where you work.”

“I’m so, so sorry. I know it’s dangerous, I know, no, I knew back then that I’d worry you,” Squala said, unaware his partner was shaking, desperate to reply. “But I was worried. I want a better life for us, and I’d feel selfish for letting you handle it on your own. I know you’re angry, I can-”

“Will you stop that? I’m not angry!” she said, before recomposing herself at the sight of Squala with a recoiled posture, somewhere between terrified and confused. She took a deep breath. “I’m not angry at you.”

“What? But you were so angry when you saw me in the garden, doing god-knows-what. You didn’t want me there.”

Now, it was Eliza’s turn to be confused. “Of course I didn’t! I was mad about them cooping you up in there. I wasn’t mad at you for being in the Nostrade’s manor - even though it was really silly to think you had to put yourself in this job for me, and selfish not to let me know.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Honestly, I should have seen it coming. I knew a bodyguard position was coming up, I just didn’t tell you. Not after…”

“The painting?”

“Yeah.” She furrowed her brow, growing frustrated. “I didn’t see the guy much, only on shopping trips where we needed security detail . Maybe he wasn’t great at his job, maybe he offended ‘big boss’ Dalzollene. Whatever he did, he didn’t deserve that.”

“No, he didn’t. Nobody does. But I do good work, and I know you personally care about the kid. And I’m careful, aren’t I?

Eliza huffed, blushing in the cold. “You worry more than I do. That’s an achievement. You’re too kind… And I love that about you.”

“Aww, shucks.”

“But it doesn’t matter how careful you are. I know you’re cautious, and patient to a T. Still, they kept you cooped up in that garden for ages! It’s freezing! And you couldn’t have done anything terrible! Who knows what they’ll do next?”

Well, Squala thought. They didn’t coop me up there. But I don’t want you confronting her.

“Little buddy Piper had an accident. I had to clean it up and cut the grass as punishment.”

She was still seething. “Bodyguards are meant to protect people. You can’t protect anyone out in the cold. Why don’t they have you on the doors more often, or guarding the items? They could’ve shaved down on recruiting if they had you doing more security work.”

Squala thought similarly. It wasn’t like he didn’t know why : he had been told before. Too ‘unpresentable’. Whether they meant his hairstyle or his skin colour, he got the message by the tone. At the application stage, he was told his role was just as much as a footman as a bodyguard - an armed butler in all but salary. That was until he showed up for the interview. Still hired, doing all that was expected of him, but never assigned visitor-facing duty. Not, at least, without Dalzollene there.

They’d found someone for visits, of course. An older, paler gent, probably plucked from elsewhere in Saherta, with cloudy eyes and a moving moustache.

He was pelted unconscious with bullets this afternoon, by Nostrade’s other hired hand. It didn’t give Squala any joy to ‘put him away’ right before making the trip to the bakery. The orders were clear in that it couldn’t be out in the open or surrounded by greenery. What he did give him was a spot of sun, far away from the dog's mess.

Only after pondering on just how expendable he himself might be, Squala set eyes on the person who had always valued him. Still ranting, like before. But now, she had a peculiar object in her hand. It was weaponised, cutting away the buffeting rain as Eliza wielded it with a vengeance.

“They - kept you - out there - for hours!”

Squala recognised it, as well as a hanging price tag. “Eliza, what the heck are you using as a makeshift sword?”

“It’s a katana, if you must know!” Eliza paused as she heard an undisguised giggle. “Fine, it’s an umbrella. This is yours.”

So that was what she had acquired at the bakery. It must have been beside the till. All that time had been spent waiting in line, not crying in the bathroom! As Squala’s heart grew lighter, Eliza became all the redder.

“Why didn’t you get one for yourself?” Squala asked, in his infinite wisdom. His smile was devious.

Eliza puffed her cheeks. “You know why.”

Walking home in the rain, the tension had dissipated near completely. The umbrella didn’t keep out every droplet. Still, it kept them close together.

“What do you think about working for Miss Neon?”

Squala shook his head. “You know as well as I do that her father’s behind everything.”

“Yes, but on paper she’s our employer. What do you think of her?”

"She's harmless enough. Can't blame her for Nostrade's actions. She doesn’t know what he gets up to and he keeps her dependent. Might as well be a child,” Squala said. "She's selfish, spending her riches on body parts. Hoards them like little decorations - skulls on her shelves, decorated with hats and played with like toys."

Eliza made a neutral sound, considering. “I think some of them are human.”

“I can tell. I’m not all that fond of her, being honest.”

“Thought you’d say that,” she said, an uneasy chuckle leaving her lips. “You have every right to feel that way. I just think she’s kind, or at least kind to me, and I can’t bring myself to dislike her.”

“Sorry. I’m glad she’s decent for you, I really am. I guess I just can’t see her as anything but a selfish kid with too much money, spending it on the wrong things.”

“Two things can be true at once, you know. I’m not a fan of the dogs being so violent to strangers until you call them off. But they’re all so playful, and they keep me company when you’re away. Piper even lets me cuddle him.”

Squala smiled, somewhat forlorn, as he thought on her nugget of wisdom. "Yeah, they're little kids. Especially him. I wish they’d been taught somewhere else. Not in Yorknew, a city full of gangs and rich farts wanting a piece of the pie."

“See, this is why we get each other.” Eliza paused, her voice lowering conspiratorially. “Maybe it's fate we're under the same employer. Should I ask Neon for a fortune?”

Squala let out a groan. “No. I don't have to like her, or her weird fortune telling.”

“True! I did say that before.”

“That stuff’s whack,” he continued. “Don’t mess with the dead, that’s what I say.”

There was a change in the atmosphere, a glum sort of silence. Squala felt Eliza gently push into his chest, with an urgent clinginess.

“I’ve never dared to ask her for one. Not in our line of work.”

She pressed her wet face into him further, and Squala's spare arm held her secure and warm.

The oppressive weight of their shared burden vanished under the weight of their embrace, the couple somewhat cushioned by the rain under a store-bought umbrella.

I have no idea why my recent fics incorporate bakeries. No, actually I do. It's Eurovision and I have an excuse to check out a lot of Liverpool cafés ^^

Took a few liberties with the characterisation here, seeing as they have so little screen time. I hope it paid off!

I love the Yorknew arc. Squala and Eliza may be minor characters, but they're close to my heart. This Rare Pair Big Bang gave me the perfect opportunity to write about them, with a very pretty piece of artwork.

A scene that has always stuck with me is Senritsu telling Kurapika of Squala's death, how Eliza was inconsolable, and Kurapika being shocked at Neon's sympathy. HxH's characters are so human and flawed, however likeable or unlikeable they are.

#squala #hunter x hunter #hxh #myfic #salty there's no squala x eliza tag or even an eliza tag #sheet(beat)posts

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