caught in the middle [hisoka x reader x illumi]

chapter two

recap

"there's no need to apologize." he offered his hand to me, so i took it in my own and stood up. i looked at him, careful to keep my focus on his face. below his eyes were two neatly painted symbols. one, a yellow star and the second, a purple teardrop. his lips were still stretched into a grin. he opened his mouth to continue.

"you only have to promise that i'll see you around again."

i was confused by his request, but i nodded in response.

"of course." i took a slow step backwards and into the hallway before turning on my heels and proceeded towards the elevator. i heard the cryptic man's voice one more time. he spoke quietly, as though he said it for only himself to hear.

"good girl."

~

it wasn't until sometime just before the clock reached seven in the evening that i received an update about my meeting with illumi.

i sat at the foot of the bed, leaning back on my arms while i watched the match on the flatscreen television that hung on the wall. i've been finding ways to occupy myself through the late morning and afternoon. pretending i was busy didn't keep me from waiting by my phone, eager for it to buzz. eventually it did, sending a short lived hum through the nightstand where it laid. i reached for my phone and unlocked it to reveal a new text message.

from anais: be at casimir's at 8. you'll have a ride waiting for you outside at 7:40

i typed out a quick response.

to anais: i'll be there, thanks again

casimir's was a high-end, intimate french restaurant near the heart of the city. i've been there to meet with clients a few times, no more than i could count on one hand. although, i didn't recall being nervous on those nights.

i knew very little about illumi zoldyck. i had heard a lot, but i assumed most of it to be rumors and hearsay. i only knew his name and that he was quite private. beyond that, i was clueless. too much about him was unknown and that fact made me uneasy.

after deciding i should start preparing for the night, i stripped myself of my clothes, leaving only my bra and underwear. my clothes laid in a pile on the floor, but something caught my eye.

a white corner peeked out from the back pocket of my jeans that laid on the bathroom floor. i bent down and pulled it out of the pocket. it was a playing card. i stared curiously at the small pink and red checkerboard pattern of the back of the card.

it was seldom that i played cards and i hadn't been around anyone that did. i turned it over in my hand.

the joker.

i paused before i set the card on the edge of the windowsill. i figured i could ponder its origin at a later time.

i picked my clothes up from the floor and tossed them into my laundry bin. i walked over to my closet, pulling open the bi-fold doors that gave access to a decently spacious closet. immediately, my eyes were drawn to one end of the clothing rack where my limited selection of formal dresses were hung.

i pulled out a hanger. a simple, slinky black dress dangled from the hanger by its straps. of all the dresses, it was the newest addition to my wardrobe. i laid the dress on my bed and put the hanger back on the rack.

i pulled the dress over my head and adjusted the garment, tugging and bringing it further down my body. the hem of dress stopped at the middle of my thigh and the black material stretched over my body and fit to each little curve.