alluka's bedroom (sfw)

[devil_or_angle]

*killua returns to his sister's room after speaking with kalluto, finding her still fast asleep in bed. after checking her temperature against his own, he swaps out her drained drip like leorio taught him, hooking her up to a fresh bag of saline to keep her hydrated while her feverish body rests between bouts of purging. he then seats himself on the edge of the bed, deep in thought about what he'll say to her and her alter-ego when she wakes.*

Comments

[awuka]

[Alluka sleeps heavily, stolen off to a dreamless dark. Her body gently rises and falls with each light breath she takes. In her sleep, she occasionally pivots and flips around, tugging on the IV tube.

Eventually, the feeling of having something pulling at her arm and wrapped around her is burdensome enough to stir her awake. The first thing she feels upon waking up is her scratchy, foul-tasting throat.]

Egh..

[She cracks open her dewy eyes slightly and compels herself to sit up, albeit slowly. Alluka stares at her lap for a while before parting her lips for a big, deep yawn as she stretches out her arms above her head.

After that, her first instinct is to check if Killua's there. She looks up and feels comforted when she sees him there, sitting at the edge of her bed and staring at her in deep contemplation. Seeking his warmth, she leans forward and puts her hand on his, squeezing it gently.]

Morning, Oniichan. I'm so tired still... I can't believe all that happened. That was so scary...

[She tosses her blanket off and gets closer to him, loosely wrapping her arms around him so as not to disturb the IV.]

I didn't have any weird dreams, so that's good..

[Her mind slowly clears up as she sits there with Killua in her arms. He'd done so much just to please her. He even gave Nanika an organ, of all things. Guilt begins to burn her stomach. The incident was so surreal and grisly, and she feels like the guilty party.]

Mmm...Hey, Oniichan? Has your opinion of me, um, changed..? I'm scared you don't like me as much anymore..

[devil_or_angle]

*relieved to see his sister awake and coherent, killua wraps his arms around her in return.*

good...

*he rubs her head, smoothing down the misshapen locks that tangled in her fitful sleep. once she's feeling up to it, he'll give her a long bath and get it clean and brushed. her sudden question abruptly shatters the soothing thought, letting his worries creep back in.*

o-of course not, alluka... why would you think that?

*his brow is furrowed, face cast in a troubled look. had he accidentally let on his misgivings?*

[awuka]

Nanika's never asked for anything like that from you before.. Everyone starts hating me when she asks for things like that. I'm just scared that, um..the same thing will happen to you... and then I'll be all alone again on this ship..

[She buries her face in his chest, seeking more of his warmth.]

But, um, you've never given me any reason to think that..Maybe I'm just being silly again.

[devil_or_angle]

*killua's heart sinks as she nuzzles into it, seeking her brother's unconditional love in a moment of uncertainty. he wishes he could just reassure her that nothing is wrong, but he knows he should tell her the truth. isn't that why he came here?*

no, it's not silly... i mean, i could never hate you, or nanika, but... we do need to talk about what happened.

*he gulps, stroking alluka's hair again to soothe them both as he breaches the subject.*

we need to talk about nanika.

[awuka]

...?

[Alluka's head shifts under Killua's stroking hand, and she gazes up at him with big, wide blue eyes. She wishes she could just avoid talking about this, but everything Killua says is important to her. His tone isn't comforting at all, however.]

..What about her?

[Her uncertainty and apprehension is audible in her voice. Killua said he doesn't hate Nanika, but she feels a distinct dread that always arises when she's sat down to talk about something Nanika did.]

[devil_or_angle]

*feeling her start to pull away from his chest, killua hugs her tighter, murmuring his next words into her hair.*

kalluto told me about the rules... and all the things her powers can do.

*his jaw clenches in regret as he pulls them apart to look down at her again, his gaze solemn and fearful.*

she's... really dangerous, alluka. i never realized how much...

[awuka]

[Alluka is brought deeper into Killua's embrace, her eyelids sliding lower as she assimilates into the wholeness of it.]

Oh, right.. You didn't know, because they made you forget me..

[When Killua parts them to look at her, she's scared of the reservations in his eyes. She feels the urge to defend Nanika, her eyes widening slightly with urgency.]

She might be..but she's not doing it just to be mean. She doesn't understand that it scares people..

[devil_or_angle]

*the panicked look on alluka's face pains killua, and guilt claws at him from the inside as he responds,*

i know...

*the whole time nanika was asking for such violent gifts, there was never an ounce of malice in her expression or tone. he couldn't believe she would ever intend to hurt him. but that only makes it harder to then ask,*

...do you think there's any way to stop her?

[awuka]

I don't know..

[Her gaze falls. Nanika is a very different being from her even though they both occupy the same body.]

The way Nanika shows love and communicates--It's different than how we do.. Well, you could ask her, maybe.

[devil_or_angle]

*killua searches his sister's expression, disappointed she doesn't have a more decisive response. she seems just as lost as he is.*

yeah... maybe it'd be best if i talked to her directly.

[awuka]

[Alluka looks nervous for the few moments she spends wondering about what Nanika might say.]

I'll let her out.

[She holds Killua's hand and lets her eyes flutter shut, falling into her own internal world as she focuses on making the switch. Slowly, her downturned eyes and pouting lips morph into empty slits that grow into a full smile when Nanika awakens.]

Killua! I get to see Killua again!

[Nanika immediately hugs him, not understanding what's going on yet.]

I love you! ♡♡♡ Nobody's as tasty as Killua!

[devil_or_angle]

*killua holds his breath as alluka's eyes drift shut, knowing when she opens them again they'll be dark and vacant, hollowed out by the dangerous entity within her.*

nanika...

*he flinches as she rushes to hug him, arms belatedly encircling her. he's conflicted, heart aching with affection while his stomach twists with guilt at the thought of betraying hers. his hands grasp her shoulders, peeling her apart from him enough to meet her empty gaze.*

...there's something i need to talk to you about.

[awuka]

[Nanika doesn't think anything of the way Killua separates their bodies. She's merely looking to have more fun with the boy she adores with a one-track mind.

Everything about Killua brings a smile to her face. He's the one human boy who always plays with her, always enables her and always lavishes unconditional love and affection on her no matter what the others do. She's almost jealous that Alluka gets him most of the time and gets to be his sister by blood, although she's still triumphant from the last time they played, the toughness and bitter taste of his precious body still fresh on her tongue. A young assassin's kidney was a unique human delicacy, enjoyable at its rawest. She wishes she could eat more, but she has no interest in asking for that again any time soon. To go so far as to request a body part, she must be in a specific mood.]

His tone has her wondering, hoping he'll ask for something fun.]

Hm? Want me to grant a wish? Still so happy after last time..

[devil_or_angle]

not... exactly. more like... a request.

*he gulps, struggling over how to phrase said request in a way that won't sound unfair to her, but finally deciding his best course is just to ask.*

nanika, do you think you could... stop asking for things?

[awuka]

[Nanika tilts her head at him, confused. This request was different from the other wishes she'd received. As her hollowed face falls in shame, her mind starts leaping between all the times she's had fun asking for favors, and she feels a little sad that Killua doesn't seem to want to play with her like that again. Ultimately, though, he's the only one she'll ever listen to besides Alluka.]

...'kay..

[She wants to ask for a hug to make her feel better, but Killua doesn't want her to ask for things anymore. So instead she sits there and stares at him needily with a slight frown.]

[devil_or_angle]

*killua blinks, stunned. he hadn't expected it to be so easy -- and paradoxically, so hard, as he now sits here drowning in nanika's disappointed black gaze.*

i-i mean... you could still ask for things normally...

*with a guilty frown and pleading eyes, he reaches out to put his hands on nanika's shoulders to console her, and himself even moreso.*

you know i'll give you anything you want, right? so... why should you have to keep making requests and granting wishes?