Chapter Text
When you’re in love with your best friend, there’s really only two choices you can make: confess and move on or hide your crush until it goes away. However, for Killua, it wasn’t that easy.
He’d realized his feelings for Gon a few years ago – they hadn’t gone away, no matter what he did or who he dated in the meantime. That was back when they were 15.
Now, they were college roommates, and Killua had been cursed with having to witness every single one of Gon’s (female!) conquests happen. Some of them were a one-time thing, others, he saw a couple of times, but they never stayed long.
Granted, he’d brought a few guys with him as well, but he’d at least tried to commit to something meaningful. Not that it had worked, since he was undeniably in love with Gon.
Gon, however, only saw him as a best friend, which was fine, really, it was. Until he got a girlfriend, that is.
Her name was Retz and she was everything Killua wasn’t: adorable, fragile, compliant and, well, a girl. And the worst thing was that Killua was responsible, because he was the one who introduced them to each other.
Oh, well. Killua sighed, burying his head in his hands. He contemplated calling Kurapika to have a heart-to-heart, but they’d known about his predicament for almost as long as he had, and only ever suggested to come clean to Gon.
That wasn’t an option, though – especially now, with Retz in the picture. What Killua did instead was make himself hot chocolate and get comfortable on the living room couch, watching “Ten things I hate about you” for the umpteenth time.
Barely five minutes into the movie, however, the door to the living room opened, revealing Gon and Retz. They instantly stopped talking when they spotted Killua, sheepishly avoiding his gaze.
He scoffed internally. Great, another afternoon would be wasted on watching Gon and Retz be all lovey-dovey while he was left to his own devices.
“Hey, uh, Killu. Didn’t think you’d be here”, Gon greeted him, closing the door behind him. “Hi, Killua!” Retz sounded cheerful as always, the tip of her nose glowing red from the cold outside.
He merely nodded to them, gathering his stuff to retreat to his own room, lest he interrupt their precious couple time. “Hey, where are you going?”, Gon asked him like he didn’t already know.
Suppressing another eyeroll, Killua explained: “I don’t want to intrude, I’ll just be in my room.” Gon furrowed his brows, his lips forming a response, but Killua was already gone by then, launching himself on his bed, prepared for another day of never-ending self-pity.
However, his plans were foiled by an incoming call from Knuckle. He picked up the phone and immediately held it away from his ear to avoid going deaf. “Hey, hey, Killua! Are you busy right now?”
Killua bit his lip. He knew for sure that if he said “no”, he’d be in for an afternoon full of nerve-wracking shenanigans involving the football team and at least three bottles of tequila. However, if he said “yes”, he’d be stuck in his dorm, with Gon and Retz probably going at it right next door.
“Nope, I’m free. What are we doing?”
Hanging out – or rather, partying – with Knuckle turned out to be exactly what he expected. At first, they stayed at the Alpha Signa frat house, where the entire football team minus Gon were living, and played Minecraft until about 4 p.m.
Then, they were headed to Zushi’s place for a party. 4 p.m. was a little early to start day-drinking, but Killua didn’t care, and neither did Knuckle. “So, how’s the medicine thing going?”, Knuckle asked him, downing another shot of the most disgusting rum Killua had ever tasted.
He arched an eyebrow. “You mean, my studies? Pretty good.” “So you’re not thinking about switching majors anymore?” Killua shrugged; he wasn’t that interested in medicine, but it wasn’t too bad, and more importantly, it kept his father off his back.
“Nah, I don’t think so. It’s pretty chill right now, so I’m sticking with it.” Knuckle laughed, elbowing him in the side. “Only you would say medicine is chill! Must be easy to literally never have to study.”
Just as he said that, Dynamite by Taio Cruz started blaring through the loudspeakers, effectively cutting off their conversation. “Wanna dance?”, Knuckle yelled, offering him a hand. The living room was crowded, and empty beer bottles stood everywhere, but Killua accepted it anyway, wanting to let loose a little.
They jumped up and down, flailing their arms around wildly, not caring about the amused looks onlookers gave them. When the song finally came to a close, they sat down on a worn-down but cozy couch, wiping the sweat off their brows, still laughing.
Knuckle offered to get drinks; Killua was about to decline, reflexively thinking about all the times Gon had told him to “watch his health” and “not overdo it with the alcohol”, but then he thought, actually, why the hell not?
After all, Gon wasn’t the boss of him – he kind of enjoyed Gon’s bossy side, but he was with his lovely girlfriend right now, so he could do what he wanted.
“Yeah, let’s do jell-o shots! And tequila!” Knuckle winked at him and turned to make his way through the crowd. However, before he could get their beverages and come back, some girl approached him, leaning into him and placing an arm on his bicep in a totally non-flirty way.
Killua sighed. Well, if Knuckle was busy – and he would be, because that guy has never said no to a hot girl in his life – he could as well dance off a couple extra pounds he gained by frustratedly eating ice cream for the last few weeks.
Blending in with the college crowd and the ever-changing boom box rhythm, Killua lost track of time, dancing with random people here and there, forgetting all his study-and-Gon-related worries for a few hours.
It was only when he saw a suspiciously well-muscled back with a deep tan and spikey, black hair, that his fun little escapade took a turn.