Killua walked down the streets, a tight, firm grip holding his sister's hand. A slight tremor flowed through the blue-eyed girl when she saw someone with long, black and sleek-looking hair. The albino glanced down, following the girl's gaze with a chuckle.

The young adolescent glanced at her sibling with a gentle yet worried grin. The younger's shoulders relaxed once receiving a meager squeeze. "Don't worry, Alluka," said Killua, "It's not him." His voice was soft and cushioned, reserved only for his beloved sibling. She quietly nodded, stopping shortly and using the hand that dangled by her other side to sign something quickly.

"Thank you," Alluka said, jumping up to engulf her brother in a cordial hug.

"No problem, Alluka." They continued their walk, stopping every now and then to comment on something the either of them saw; after all, this was their first time outside of the Zoldyck estate by their own accord. As Alluka looked at the people, trees, birds, buildings, and everything surrounding them, Killua tried to be vigilant of his surroundings for any noxious threat. Anyone could be a threat to Alluka. He couldn't let anything happen to her, not to anyone else important to him.

Suddenly, he felt a minuscule tugging at his shirt, snapping him out of his daze to glance down at the confused Alluka. "Are you ok? You keep spacing out, Killua." It took him a second to process what she had just said, laughing once he deciphered the flurry of her fingers.

"Nah, I'm good. Just keeping a lookout…" he drifted off, and Alluka understood exactly what he was watching for.

They had just escaped their 'home' around two days ago, leaving behind all their childhood memories, not like they appreciated them much anyway. The trip was long, but Killua had brought just enough cash to get an Uber from the middle of nowhere to the bustling city of Manhattan. He didn't think he'd come here, of all places; Manhattan was a busy, packed place with enough news reporters to haunt them almost as much as their older brother did. Then why Manhattan?

Killua had pondered why. He didn't really have a specific reason, except for the fact that his parents always pestered him about jobs from this specific area. There was something here that frightened them enough to keep even Illumi from approaching Manhattan if possible. It was the only 'safe spot' he could think of, other than Antarctica.

Knowing his family, they would probably follow him there too.

He didn't know where they would stay. He hadn't thought this through; there was a sudden chance to leave and he took it. He didn't know when another free chance would pass by. His brother had left on a request, his parents attended something that would "determine your fate," as his mother screeched. Piggy was being a piggy, so he didn't have to worry about him, and Kalluto was stuck feeding Mike at the time. Gotoh and Canary, bless them, knew that the chance finally came. So they created a commotion that had the butlers, who would normally check up on him at that time, follow all the others instead of what they were instructed to do- it was the situation he had been waiting for!

Alluka stared at him, easily deciphering the inner turmoil dancing in Killua's eyes. "Killua? Look, whatever you choose to do, I know you're doing your best. Know that I'm here to help you, ok? I don't want to be a deadweight." He looked at her gratefully, nodding his head signaling that he understood. She beamed, her smile making him feel bubbly inside. He couldn't help but smile back –how couldn't he, when his sister was so happy by his side?

"For now, we just need a safe place. The problem is…" He frowned. How was he going to find a place? He didn't think anyone would listen to them. They looked wealthy enough, wearing the clothes that they did. And he couldn't go around with a fake sob story, and even if he told the truth, there were way too many risks. "Maybe we could sleep in the park? If there is one near? Alluka… get on my back. I'm going to run." He crouched down to her level, shifting their backpack to his front to make it a comfortable ride. Or at least, the comfiest it could get. Once he felt the pat on his shoulder signaling that she was ready, he stood up and bolted.

Everything was a blur. Being an ex-assassin helped him in one thing: fleeing. He was fast and agile, so moving between the citizens was a piece of cake. He planned on circling around for a bit, looking for anything that remotely resembled a park in his blurred vision. It took a while, but once he found an opening with grass, benches, and trees, he knew he found a place. "Is this ok, Alluka?" He felt her head bob up and down a couple of times against his back, so he walked up to a bench under a tall, branched-out oak tree. He sat her down on it and said, "Lie down on it, but if it gets too uncomfortable just tell me." He took his scarf and made something to act as a cushion, handing it to Alluka who understood to use it as a pillow.

"Thank you, Killua," she said, giving Killua a quick peck on the cheek before settling on the comfiest position the bench would allow, then drifted into a deep slumber. Killua hadn't planned on sleeping, he had too much on his mind to even think of that. However, as soon as he leaned against the tree trunk (of course, facing Alluka), his eyelids failed him.

...

"Mmm…" as his eyes fluttered open, Killua squinted them again when greeted by the sun that managed to slip through all the leaves above. For a second he didn't recognize where he was, and why his spine ached so much, but the second he saw Alluka sprawled all over the bench he remembered. Oh yea, we ran away.

Seeing Alluka so peaceful brought a smile to his face. He sighed, and for the first time in his life, he felt calm. He didn't feel the little tinge of fear he always had when he came home from a mission; even if he did those perfectly, he would still have to endure some torture sessions with Milluki. He didn't exactly have the chance to look around at night, so he took his new-found energy as a chance to finally take in his surroundings.

"It looks so… beautiful." The mountain he lived in had a pretty high altitude, so he couldn't see the animals that you would normally see in a park like this one. He rubbed his back, stretched, and ventured around a bit- not far enough that he couldn't see Alluka, of course. He saw people walking their dogs (and in one instance, a cat), a highschooler painting, a woman on her phone, families with their children, and things that left him speechless.

Even with all the missions, he never really took his time to look around. He only focused on his prey and their location. You could say he was just as new to the world as Alluka was. "Wow…"

"First time in the city?" someone from behind him asked. Killua jumped, questioning why his senses didn't notice the source of the voice from before.

"U-um, yea." He turned around to see a teenager around his age with blonde, braided hair, wearing black sweatpants and a bulky jacket that hid his figure. "Are you a resident here?"

"Yep, I'm used to all of this. You don't have parks where you live?"

"Nah, guess the architects got lazy. There weren't many kids anyway."

"How long do you plan on staying?"

Killua shrugs and says, "Until I plan on leaving."

The blond laughs at this, and with a wide smile, gives Killua his hand and says, "I like you. Kurapika, yours?"

Killua smiles shyly, but takes his hand while thinking that this just might be his first step to making a new home. "Killua."

...

"Hey, I think your sister's waking up." Kurapika pointed to the girl behind Killua who indeed began stirring in her makeshift bed.

"Alluka! Over here," Killua yelled when he noticed his sister looking around in panic. Her eyes darted to the familiar sound, quickly getting up to greet the new person beside her beloved brother. "As I told you, this is my sister, Alluka. Now that she's awake I should probably let her introduce herself," he gestured to his sister and continued, "She's, um, she's mute, so I will translate for her."

"She knows ASL? If that's the case, I can communicate perfectly fine with her."

And that was the start of a friendship Killua never wanted to happen.

"My brother is so soft and nice, even if he acts cocky towards others. He's really clumsy too but is good at making last-second moves that make it look natural! My Brother is amazing!" Killua watched as the two talked about him, Alluka eagerly feeding Kurapika with facts about him. He groaned, walking away so he was both out of sight and earshot. He didn't want to catch anything embarrassing.

He turned to Kurapika calling his name, his sister twiddling her fingers and glancing at him. Oh no, what did she do now.

"Coming!" He fast walked towards them, obviously anticipating something bad or embarrassing to be said. "What? Why does Alluka look like she's going to tell me she's pregnant?" She gave him a look of indignation, but he just waved her off in favor of listening to Kurapika.

"You can stay over at my apartment. Alluka didn't give me specifics about your situation, but she did say you guys didn't have a place to stay."

"Of course she did."

"Hey hey, don't blame her. I'm the one who asked… so, how about it? You up to hanging around in my apartment?" Killua looked at him skeptically, not understanding why he would offer his place to two nearly-complete strangers.

"...Why would you offer your own apartment..?" He asked tentatively, eying Kurapika as if staring at him would reveal what he really was, what his true intentions were.

"I'm an empathetic person with extra space, besides, why not?" He pondered the thought. People here seemed much more friendly than what his brother pounded into his head- a living example right in front of him. Besides, how could he know my family? I know practically everyone associated with them…

"Really? You have enough space, money?" He was a little hopeful, his sister wouldn't have to cope with the cold benches as a bed for as long as he thought she might have. "We wouldn't be a drag?"

"Well, I can't guarantee the drag part, but sure, I have too much money on my hands than I would like to admit," the other joked, earning a smile from Killua, who eagerly nodded his head.

"Thank you! …I will make it up to you, Kurapika."

...

Kurapika's apartment was on the 5th floor, room 53. It wasn't as small as he imagined it to be; it had a capacious kitchen which was separated by a wall that didn't end at the other side- there was a hallway that tunneled through. He guessed it led to the bathroom and Kurapika's bedroom. The living room was cozy, a kotatsu sitting by the window on the right, and next to it on its left side was a small, dim lamp. Probably for work, judging by how all those papers are splayed over it…

On the wall separating Kurapika's other half of the apartment was a desk with a laptop and many small boxes and cups, the cups holding different varieties of writing utensils. He walked through the hallway, entering the first room to his left. It was Kurapika's bedroom, as he first guessed. The bed didn't have a frame- it was just two mattresses piled on top of each other with a bedsheet, pollow, and orange fluffy blanket.

"I can remove one of the mattresses to clean it. I hope you two don't mind sleeping next to each other?"

"No, we're used to it." Killua looked at his sister just to make sure she was fine with it, and when she nodded a yes he looked back at Kurapika with a smile. "Thanks, I will try not to be too dependent on you. I can go job hunting tomorrow…"

"That's probably a good idea. Are you going to go online searching or just venture around the city?"

"Probably online, unless you already know of a place," Killua asked. Kurapika looked up seemingly in thought, humming along with the process.

"There was a Starbucks somewhere near the park you slept at. They were looking for people around eighteen years old. How old are you?"

"Seventeen. Would they still accept me? I'm technically a minor."

"I would be surprised if they didn't. I bet most of their workers are sixteen to your age, and maybe a little older." Killua hummed, turning to exit Kurapika's room and enter the one facing it on the other wall. "That's your room," Kurapika told him as he entered and gave him a questioning look.

The room was a little bigger than Kurapika's. Or maybe it was because it was painted a lighter color, whereas Kurapika's room had navy-blue walls. The room was practically empty except for the built-in closet and desk right by the door. It was also carpeted with a light beige that felt soft under Killua's bare feet. "Well, let's get the mattress in here, shall we?", said Kurapika.

The mattress-moving was not easy. One would have to lift the mattress on top (Kurapika) and drag or push the one residing below (Killua). When they finally separated them, the two flipped it so it was lying on its side and pushed it through the door. It barely fit, but they were relieved that they wouldn't end up with a broken door frame. The only thing that pissed Killua off was how Alluka was determined not to help with the laborious work, instead making weird moves of encouragement and mouthing "you can do it," because her hands were too occupied with pumping themselves into the air.

A/N

Hii! This is the author speaking :D

This is my first time using this website, so its still a little confusing with all the uploading docs to submit your story and whatnot (just realized I had to go in and indent the words all over again), so please bear with me im trying xD

Btw, I originally had underscores lined up to signal a time break, but I only just realized after (trying) to post the second chapter a week later (rn smh) that they didn't show up :( the 3 periods in bold will signal a time break!

a little side note- the characters are probably out of character, I mean, im really not proud of how this story came out *sobs silently* but I TRIED MY BEST so yea-
this is my Hunter x Hunter BigBang 2020! Its all done, although I do plan on making a sequel. I will post one chapter a week (probably every Monday) :D

COMMENTS MOTIVATE MEEE

My story was Beta-ed by two wonderful people! First, the beta who chose my story through the BB, Kami, whos intsa and tumblr will be put at the end, and GonKilluLuciel On (mostly) Wattpad and A03! I'm pretty sure she has an insta too-

Kami's tumblr: autisticfotia
Kami's instagram:

thank you for reading!