Dragons preferred to do whatever they wanted when they wanted. No one can control them like the dragon tamers in fairy tales or other fable stories. This was an observation Asas has come to notice as he watched a certain dark-colored reptile walk on the ceiling. Dragon claws were useful, the hardness allowing grips on various surfaces and areas without issue. To see Gon's companion perform these acts without regard for gravity was an amazing thing and Asas wasn't going to miss this for the world.

"Ivory get down from there!" Mito yelled, rushing to get a stool. Her feet slammed against the floor as she returned with a fire in her eyes. "You'll hurt yourself!"

And Mito's frantic worrying was sweet to watch. She had adjusted with the new members of the family within months and grew fond of them as the years flew by. The Spider noted Ivory's eyes lit up with clouds of mirth. Asas himself took on the expression of innocence as the woman passed. "Do you need help?" He asks, and his lips curl upwards in familial warmth. Asas is old enough now. Able to move swiftly and bend his waist without extra baby fat-causing him to pause.

"No. You stay put, Asas. Honestly…" Mito murmurs something as she climbs on the stool and reaches with curled fingers. Her hands were gentle, posed in a position to carry an object, creature or life with care. The woman gently took Ivory off the ceiling without resistance, brought on by the dragon who merely huffed. The woman grew a smile as she climbed down the wooden structure. Ivory averted a glance to make eye-contact with the nearby thief.

The Spider knew the dragon was a sucker for Mito. Asas could relate to the very concept. Mito was a very kind woman with a fiery charm to keep hostiles away. She was a safe person. A warm flame. A very light attracting even the darkest of monsters and repelling negative emotions. Asas will forever feel fond of her and Great Grandmother for all they've done for him and to extension, Gon. "Okay." He agrees, long after the woman gently gave Ivory tiny affectionate taps with a finger upon reaching the floor. The palm-sized dragon didn't lean into the touch but Asas once again notes the smidge of happiness in its dark eyes.

"Why aren't you with your brother?" Mito questions, not taking her gaze off the mythical reptile in her hands. "He's trying his hardest to win the right to take the exam," Her voice bites into a bitter lemon. "Why aren't you?" She attempts to keep her neutral-mother-tone but Asas knows better.

Mito was indirectly hurt. Deeply scratched by the fact Gon wanted to find Ging despite everything. Her son is willing to endanger himself for someone who dropped him off and never appeared again. Asas can understand her misery. She had tried her hardest over the years to fill the parental gap and honestly? She did, but curiosity never leaves. The Spider knew this, Mito knew this, and Gon was on the way to become a Hunter. Asas had already punched him over it but his actions, unfortunately, resulted in Mito grounding the both of them for fighting.

As punishment, Gon had to prove his determination without the help of his own dragon companion. The Spider as well, but he didn't move from the house at all. Why would Asas leave his comfort zone? There was also the matter regarding thunderstorms and Whale Island. Asas didn't want to take the Hunter exam. He had no business being a hunter, the was a thief, long lost in the ways of one.

This whole world is strange. Asas was certain Gon would grow and become something else. Asas never had any interest in becoming a Hunter. Then again, Gon never lost Mito and his Great Grandmother as fast as the Spider did. He never spiraled down into the devastated state Asas can remember clear as day with the rumbles of incoming thunder and bleeding feet laced in pain. His mirror twin was a strange one, diverting a normal life for one of the most dangerous jobs out there. Asas can understand the yearning for new adventures but...A Hunter? Yes, there were benefits in traveling to countries most were forbidden from entering with a license but…

It's more fun to break in yourself.

"I don't really care about being a Hunter," Asas tells her, observing the poorly hidden fumble Mito performed. He shifts, pondering the sincere puzzlement on her face. Why was she looking at him like that? Does she not know he has no intention of leaving the island? Mito-san was very silly, it seems. Asas loves her and Great Grandma to leave them alone again.

"Y-You don't? What about that...Man. Don't you want to find him?" Mito finally manages to inquire, mouth plastering into a straight line. This was dangerous territory. There should be careful consideration before answering. She was already in a bad mood from Gon's constant pressure of 'I'm gonna be a Hunter!' around the house. "You know I lied about him. How could you not want to," Her teeth grit, the internal conflict likely eating within and beginning to sink teeth in the bone.

Ivory observes their conversation with enticed eyes.

"I'd rather kill him." Asas shoots, and owlishly lifts his eyes when Mito gasps. He fights back a flinch and averts his seeing-mirrors. "I just," He recovers. "I don't like him. I don't care about him either." His fingers flex. "Instead of finding him, I'd rather destroy him for what he did. Does that make sense?" He remedies and blinks very slowly when the woman came closer with teeth biting her lip.

"Asas…" Mito begins in a voice akin to laying silk over a broken ice rink. If she were a spider, her webs would stick multiple cracks together. "While you may be angry now, revenge won't solve your problems." A hand lifts, fingers gently curling into his hair. "I didn't know you hated Ging so much. You...I was the reason why he never came back, you know?" She embraced him, and the Spider relaxed into her hold. "He's not a good father. Or much of an older cousin." Mito hums, stroking his dark hair as she likely thinks of the past. "But he's awfully strong. Annoyingly so. Fortunately, there are just some things not even that man could beat. Like the courts."

Asas tries not to picture a panicking Ging because of an overwhelming lawyer and Mito holding the twins' documents at the end of the day.

"I know," Asas tells the woman because he owes Mito-san everything and will continue to say the truth under her watchful eyes. "I just love you more, I don't like Ging at all. He caused you stress." Asas closes his eyelids with an exhale. Her parental hands egged him on to speak more. "I don't like it when others bother you and Great Grandma," Asas admits. "I love you, Mito. No matter what, you're my Mom and I love you more than any treasure in the world." He quietly says and decides not to let go when Mito herself sniffles.

"Don't you dare abandon your life for a quest to kill that man, you hear? He's not worth it." Mito managed to sternly scold, unshed tears pooling at her eyes. "You boys are far too important in this family to waste your life on someone you hardly knew..." She ruffles his hair and gives his forehead a kiss. "We don't want a repeat of your adventures in thunderstorms, do we?" Her tone trails off into a familiar tease.

Asas muses about running through the island with projectiles and weapons during each and every bad storm despite the quivers in his feet. When decided on something, the Spider would (usually) get it. Even if that meant facing your worst fears and throwing fists at the Gon for getting in his way. Mito likely knew this little fact about him as she observed the twins through the years. The entire family of four knew several facts about one another and the Spider wouldn't have it any other way.

Asas shook his head, ears flushing scarlet. "Okay. I'll do my best," He tells Mito-san but makes no promises.

"I know you will." Mito's eyes crinkled with motherly love, and Asas sinks in his seat with an aversion of his eyes. "Be good, alright? And take care. That's all I ask." She murmurs, worries traced by her very being, flickering on the woman's face.

Asas vows to keep her words secure on one condition. "Only if you do the same. And...Don't forget about me." He asks of her with a carefully blank facet, amber eyes still and watching. One could call the stare creepy, a sight to be cautious of. This very face was seen by the villagers on occasion, scaring off any strangers who wished to have a chat with the boy's grandparent or mother. Asas' eyes were not normal, a contrast to Gon and the twin's bright hues echoing wonder or content for the future.

Mito smiles at the strange boy without remorse. "Of course."

However, unlike the villagers, this person was just Mito and her adopted son. She had shown him nothing but love and wisdom. Just like before, heartbreaking like now.

And that's the way it should be.

Asas's toes twitched.

"A-Ah, don't cry, Asas! You're a big boy now, come on…" Mito attempted to reassure him, but Asas only blinked hard in silence and latched onto his parent's side. "Oh my, I wonder what's going on with you lately," She murmurs, but the boy from another world is not affected. "Don't worry, I'm here, I'm here. You'll be alright, Asas, see?" He merely buries his vision into her dress and stays there for the next ten minutes.

The small mythical creature roughly climbs onto Asas's head with a fast leap and yawns.

Mito laughs and gives the dragon a gentle pat. "I didn't forget about you two either," The woman warmly comments. "Make sure Ivory and Ebony eat equal portions of food. Keep them out of sight." She warns, wisdom bleeding into her words.

Asas nods numbly.

"Love you," Mito murmurs, dazed.

"I love you too," Asas replies, quieter.

"Now let's go find your brother," Mito announces, and Ivory watches with slowly blinking eyes.

They find Gon with a huge fish and Ebony standing on his shoulder with pride.

Asas continues to be numb, right along Mito who forces a smile and allows his entry into the Hunter's exam as long as his brother comes along with.

Asas hopes Gon says no.

"Let's go together, Asa!" Gon grins with such happiness, such joy, the Spider nearly drowns.

Asas loathes this boy. And if this boy is himself, so be it.

Asas hates himself too.

A/N:

Hello! Been a while but I wanted to post this since it was done since...A while, actually!

A little short than the others but I hope it's a fine transition into what's to come next. Thank you for reading.