With one hour passing. Maleeka had fallen comfortably asleep against Hisoka's chest.
Hearing extremely quiet and light footsteps which could only belong to an assassin. Hisoka peered open his eyes half way. Looking to his side from the corner of his eye.
It was Killua.
Trying his best to play off the intimidation and fear of Hisoka, Killua sat against the wall a few good inches away from him, gently pushing a bag to him.
Clearing his throat in hopes it'll wash away his nerves, "I brought Maleeka's iPod because I k-know music helps her relax. In case she's feeling stressed about Y/n's surgery . And her favourite foods. Just in case she's here for hours and is hungry." He stiffly spoke. A gesture that clearly showcased that Killua knew Maleeka well.
Killua knows Hisoka, and has been around him a few times. But knowing the mafia title he has, and being Maleeka's father made it a lot more nerve wrecking to be in his presence. From experience, he knew how defensive a person gets over their own blood.
Glaring at this young man without blinking, "I see." He curtly acknowledged before closing his eyes stilly again. Remembering the potential romantic interest these two might have in the future, his fatherly protectiveness and possessiveness kicked in. But he recalled the conversation he had with you earlier about this. He had too control himself a bit.
If he had his way, he would pull out his gun and tell him to stay away from his daughter. But of course that would anger both you and Maleeka.
"Where's Illumi?" Hisoka asked in attempt to break the silence and get to know this boy Maleeka has a crush on.
Not wanting to stare at Hisoka to make it weird, Killua looked down at his lap. "Before he left Maleeka and I, he said he had unfinished business to take care of. Afterwards, he will drop by." He replied.
As much as Hisoka wanted too wonder about what unfinished business Illumi had to take care of, he couldn't help but be irked by his daughter's name roll off another male's tongue. Hisoka was really struggling to keep his possessiveness over what's his under check.
"Did you make sure no one was looking suspiciously at Maleeka or following her when you were alone?" Hisoka began the interrogation.
"Y-yes. I know she's at high risk being your daughter. And she told me what happened in Paris. I didn't take any chances. But it's not that she needed me. She's very independent and strong willed." He nervously answered.
Being somewhat satisfied with that answer since it indicated that Killua knew she was strong, intuitive and no push over for anyone, Hisoka purposely cherry picked issues to correct in that sentence.
"She is. But even so, you never let your guard down. Independent woman or not, it's your duty to look out for her when it's just the two of you. You deal with the issue first before she does. She's a child and younger than you after all." He smoothly uttered. Low enough to ensure Maleeka doesn't get up. Emphasising on the word child subtly to remind Killua that she was far too young for any nonsense boys like to indulge in.
Trying to not break a nervous sweat, Killua curtly nodded his head. "Of c-course."
"Has Maleeka ever said anything to you about Y/n and I? I know a lot bothers her, but she doesn't say anything to me." Hisoka curiously asked. Thinking about that ugly fight he got into with you that left Maleeka in distraught tears.
Gulping dryly, "She did..But I don't think she would like it if I shared her feelings and thoughts with anyone. I'm s-sorry." Killua bravely replied. Knowing he could get beat up in a second by refusing to reveal information to Hisoka
Keeping his eyes closed and demeanour calm, Hisoka surprisingly didn't lash out. Instead he was low-key impressed that Killua didn't want to tell him.
It showed that he respected Maleeka's privacy and decisions. And he wasn't willing to talk about her without her knowledge. Even to Hisoka himself.
"Understood." Hisoka deadpanned.
"As long as she has someone to talk too then. Rather that than keeping it in." Hisoka added, depicting he wasn't going into a frenzy for Killua retaining information.
Slouching down in relief, Killua lightly sighed in appreciation. "But from what I saw earlier with you and Y/n. I can tell you that made Maleeka very happy. Her wish was for her parents to be together again." He traded cautiously with this topic.
Slyly looking down at his daughter's sleeping figure with traces of thoughtfulness lingering in those amber orbs, "Together huh?.." Hisoka murmured to himself. Deep in thought about such things.
Remembering the dynamic between you and him, Killua nervously shifted his body. "W-Well I mean, physically together and living without the f-fights and all..I don't mean officially and romantically together! I know you and Y/n.." Killua failed to coherent a complete sentence. Nervous that he ticked off the mafia king. Killua knew from Illumi that Hisoka was someone that didn't like people openly assuming things.
Swallowing dryly and painful as if he was gulping down a bowl of needles, Killua bit his bottom lip and averted his gaze away from Hisoka.
Sensing and hearing Killua's nerves, Hisoka couldn't help but lightly huff in amusement not only at what Killua said, but because he was glad the young man was intimidated by him. As he should be. As long as he was, Hisoka wouldn't have to exert so much energy into putting Killua in check every time he overstepped the boundary with Maleeka.
But genuinely now pondering about his words, Hisoka distantly stared at the theatre doors You were behind. "She told me she loves me a few hours ago." Hisoka surprisingly shared with the younger male.
It was clear as day that your confession played on his mind like a broken record. Even more than one would realise if Hisoka was sharing this with a mere boy he barely speaks too.
Maybe it was better though. Sometimes talking to an outsider that wasn't close to Hisoka would give better insights and opinions on matters.
"Why do you seem doubtful about that?" Killua skilful analysed. Surprising the Joker once again.
Staring silently at the metal doors, the world within him grew still. Definitely unnerved by the answer.
"Being on the verge of death makes people say a lot of things. Makes you unnecessarily emotional." Hisoka burdened Killua with his doubts.
With the nerves faded into nothingness, Killua looked back at Hisoka. Almost feeling pity for his doubts. But if he was doubting this, it subtly showed that he cared and actually wouldn't mind if you meant you truly loved him.
"But is it not at deathbeds do people reflect on their life and regrets? Wishing and wanting to do things differently." Killua philosophically stated.
Seeing Hisoka's quiet self not budging nor reacting negatively, he continued. "When people are about to die, they always think about the one thing that means the most to them in life. Why would you doubt that Y/n loves you?" Killua asked.
Hearing your name in the same sentence as love made his chest tight. Like a foreign protein entering his body - getting his white blood cells to react defensively. He wasn't immune to such sincerity of emotions. And he probably will never be.
Feeling oddly comfortable with Killua, Hisoka's hard walls that are built with nothing but defensiveness and coldness, slowly began to chip away.
"Because I have never had anyone tell me they love me and potentially mean it. Especially prove it." Hisoka answered with a distant yet pained undertone.
There was definitely more too Hisoka than no one knew about. Not even you.
Maybe because everything got so real made Hisoka talk like a canary. Or that it was merely better to talk to an outsider. But deep down, the truth was - it's easier to talk to a young person that hasn't been tarnished by the immortality of the world. Killua would give nothing but the rawest of truths at face value Hisoka and his friends probably could never come to realise.
Hearing Hisoka admit to that, instantly made Killua's eyes soften. It wasn't everyday anyone gets to witness a mafia king that's known only for the worst of things to express vulnerability. Especially over a woman. Although he was young, Killua wasn't dumb and oblivious to Hisoka's past reputation with girls. Everyone knew how promiscuous Hisoka was.
And that day at the mall with those two girls that were all over Hisoka, you assumed Killua never saw, but he definitely saw it all. He knew what those kisses were leading too and he knew why Hisoka was no where to be found. And most importantly, Killua could tell you were hurt by his actions. Feeling like you weren't special or good enough to have Hisoka only focus on you.
How the tables have turned. It was low-key refreshing to see Hisoka be concerned about whether you truly felt for him.
Being mature about it and deciding not to tease and mock Hisoka about his vulnerability, Killua averted his icy blue eyes away from him and looked indifferently to the wall in front of him. "..Y/n has gone through a lot with and for you since high school. She bared your first child. She was willing to sacrifice her life and fight for you in Paris without having any memories of you. In her last moments, Y/n wanted you to be by her side. She genuinely loves you Hisoka. But I don't think it's that you doubt her love for you. It think it's a matter of you struggling to accept the fact that she does love you. You are in denial and feel undeserving of her love. You don't think it's possibly for someone to love you. I'm not sure if it's because you don't believe that true love exists because of what you grew up with and without." Killua wisely explained far beyond his years of knowledge and experience.
Eavesdropping from the corner, Sebastian was surprised at Killua's response and bravery for being so blunt. It's not everyday you get an 11 year old telling Hisoka that the issue lies with him living in denial and struggling to accept hard facts.
Looking back at Killua, the Joker eyed him down seriously. He wasn't ticked off by his words, instead, he rather appreciated Killua's bluntness because he was right.
The reason why Hisoka refused to be believe you loved him was because Hisoka knew what a treacherous man he was. Hisoka had an inflated ego, but he knew he treated you like dirt. It's hard to imagine someone love you unconditionally until you experience it first hand. The lengths and depth a person would undergo just because they love you.
It was a difficult concept to grasp..
He truly was undeserving of your heart.
"You know I never wanted children or be with a woman seriously." Hisoka stated. Holding Killua's gaze sternly.
Not wavering under his golden intensity, "I know. I remember when I was four years old, you told Y/n if you ever got a girl pregnant you would kill her and the baby. That day at the mall she did grocery shopping." Killua perfectly recalled.
Blinking slowly, Hisoka vaguely smiled. Not expressively, just out of habit to mask his thoughts.
"It was never because I preferred the promiscuous lifestyle and detested having serious strings attached with someone." Hisoka added, feeling rather odd to mention personal information about himself he never spoke about before. Not even to you.
Not making it too obvious, Killua only glanced down for a split second at Maleeka that had woken up. Resting quietly against Hisoka's chest. Not moving an inch.
Killua prayed to God that Hisoka wasn't going to stay anything offensive about not having kids that might hurt Maleeka's feelings even more than it has been.
"What was the reason then?" Killua encouraged.
Swallowing, Hisoka gingerly embedded his fingers in Maleeka's soft red hair before closing his eyes and resting his head tiredly against the wall. Sighing deeply.
"Because I fear that my own flesh would go through the same trauma I went through watching my parents get murdered. I know how cruel this world is. There's no need to bring a child into it. And Growing attached to someone creates targets for people if they want to hurt you." Hisoka confessed his life long secret. Surprisingly the young 11 year old.
"...But wouldn't your life be very lonely then?"
Remaining quiet and eye shut, Hisoka continued to gently stroke his daughter's hair. Imprinting her onto him as if she was going to get stripped away from him this second.
"Yes." He answered. "It would be very lonely indeed."
"The seven years without them already felt like a lifetime of loneliness." Hisoka said, breaking down his walls even more uncharacteristically.
Understanding Hisoka's reasoning behind his actions and words, Killua grew less terrified and intimidated by the Joker. Just like all bad guys, something in their past made them who they are today. No one is purposely evil without trauma.
Killua found it quite touching that Hisoka feared his own child to be parentless as he was. It showed he actually did have a heart and cared.
"But now that you have a child, you shouldn't worry about her being parentless and feeling that pain. Especially if you and Y/n are her parents. No one can kill you two. Ya'll are like, the 'it' power couple." Killua said with an admiration undertone. Smirking proudly upon noticing Maleeka ghostly smile at his response.
Huffing amusingly, Hisoka eyed out Killua with humour dancing across his eyes. "The power couple?" He enquired.
"Yeah! It's where both the man and woman are super strong and fight side by side. Taking over the world! Nothing can defeat the two of you." Killua childishly beamed.
Lightly chuckling, clearly evident that he was warming up to Killua, "I picked right huh?" Hisoka dustily teased, referring to you.
With a toothy grin, Killua nodded his head and rised his eyebrows impressively. "You sure did." He agreed like a typical male conversing over a woman. Even making sly Sebastian in the corner smirk in humour. It was cute that Hisoka was bonding over with Killua - knowing through observation, that Hisoka wasn't very fond of him because of his associations with Maleeka. The normal Hisoka-possessiveness.
He truly was softening up big time again ever since you returned back into his life.
Feeling it was the right time to 'wake up', Maleeka stirred a bit against Hisoka's chest and tiredly groaned before elevating her upper body off Hisoka's chiselled chest that was still covered in your dried blood. Still straddled comfortably around his waist.
"Daddy? Is mum okay?" She asked, golden eyes staring into his.
Sliding his hand out of her hair and loosely resting it on the small of Maleeka's back, Hisoka parentially smiled. Vaguely though. "She's okay. She'll only be out of theatre in another 10 more hours."
Widening her eyes with a exasperated sigh, "Yo that's a long time! O-Oh Killua you still here?"
Gasping in glee, Maleeka excitedly slipped off Hisoka and opened the bag Killua brought.
"Kil! You bought me food and my iPod! Thank you! I'm so hungry."
"Hm, don't expect anything in return though." She deadpanned.
Lightly chuckling, "I don't ever expect anything from you stupid. Just accept the kind gesture." Killua muttered indifferently.
Analysing his body language and undertone. Hisoka could see the drastic change in Killua since he spoke to him. Typical adolescent behaviour towards females. Acting indifferently. Brash, and aloof yet just enough kindness to make a girl feel important. Hisoka knew this behaviour and personality too well. He was none the better back in school.
But of course, just as he promised you, he'd stay out of his daughter's business when it came to Killua.
Frowning instantly at him, "Well thank you, stupid." She bantered back.
"Daddy, is it okay if I walk for a bit? I'll come back just now." She asked, seeking permission and obviously concerned whether it's okay to leave her father alone for a bit.
Although it annoyed him to say it, "Take Killua with you. I don't want you walking around alone." He instructed since he couldn't and didn't want to leave the theatres doors.
Pouting, "Fine." She mumbled while getting up and picking up the packet.
"Here. I'll leave one chowmein take out for you incase you get hungry. Lucky this idiot knows to order more than one box of takeouts for me." Maleeka sweetly spoke, placing the polystyrene box next to Hisoka before walking away.
"You the idiot." He heard Killua mutter under his breath while playfully tugging at Maleeka's hair.