#leorio being the straight man to the others when also hiding his own trauma that literally led to him becoming a hunter is also great

[volixia669]

So bearing in mine crack ships and rare ships seem to be my bread and butter, especially if a fic can make a reasonable argument for them...

I both love and hate how as a quartet, Kurapika, Leorio, Hisoka, and Illumi somehow work? At the VERY least as some weird ass friendship that Killua & Gon just stare at going “???????” And like, when it comes to Hisoka, we know Kurapika has gotten into contact with him and I feel like still gets random texts. Even when Kurapika changes his number. Kurapika never responds, but while some of the texts are disturbing, others do get a snort out of him. (And sometimes it’s the disturbing texts that do that but he’s totally doing fine.)

Leorio has sadly been put on a bus for awhile, but we know that fucking serial murdering clown Hisoka decided that “Nah, this one I’m gonna keep alive” in the Hunter Exam. One could argue plot armor, but mysterious reasons that Hisoka refuses to give up no matter how many times Leorio presses him are even better. Also I feel like they’d relate to each other on the most random shit and every time Leorio has to do a double take.

HisoIllu is such a fave ship, I don’t really need to go into those two, nor do I really need to go into LeoPika.

Illumi is where things get interesting. Mainly because personally I think in order for him to get closer to Leorio and Kurapika, he needs a few reality checks. Now, I don’t believe he just mindlessly follows what his parents say. His actions are mostly in line with his parent’s views, though his desire for more power as well as his desire to protect Killua means he will sometimes take a few extra steps more in line with his own goals.

Basically an outside character, most likely keeping an eye out for Killua, needs to call Illumi out on, “You’re causing more harm than good.” and “Is this really the life you want?” and “No seriously, what you’re doing is just plain stupid you’re making Killua hate you, even if he does do what your parents want and become head of household he’d have every right to kill you for how you’ve hurt him don’t be fucking stupid.”

Anyways. Outside character. Leorio can work for this, or even Hisoka (though his concept of normal is...warped). But given how the Zoldycks seem to use similar uh, upbringing tactics as Evangelicals, I’d argue that an older character would be more effective in getting Illumi to wise up. (It’s the whole obedience thing) I don’t think the Zoldycks have the whole “men are superior to women” thing, so can be an older female character.

So, have someone like Bisky, Morel, even an OC start Illumi on some character development, and now we’re cooking.

For starters, Hisoka gets to be slightly less done with this dipshit.

Then, Illumi tries reaching out to Killua in ways that are awkward as fuck as far as everyone else is concerned.

Which means Leorio gets to stare at Illumi wondering why this is his fucking life and getting Illumi to try in...slightly more normal ways. Which can lead to some chats, especially as some here on tumblr have helped established that when not on the job, and talking to someone he trusts? Illumi can go on.

Kurapika is initially wary, but I think between being incredibly obvservant, and a very dark sense of humor that would have developed while neck deep in mafia bs (he’s totally doing fine btw) there’d be some uh. Gore-y convos? Also nen discussions. Leorio eventually drags Kurapika away so the dude can have a breakdown, but even if he gets therapy, I feel like Illumi and Kurapika would also connect on arguably random things.

Also I’d note, that not only are these characters more mature/older, but they are all intensely loyal in ways both obvious and subtle. Which as HxH loves to point out narratively, can be both a character trait and a character flaw.