Damian and Killua
One moment Damian was practicing gymnastics with his pseudo-siblings, in another moment, he was gripping at thin air. He fell a distance before he instinctually tucked, rolled, and landed on his feet in an unnecessary athlete’s salute.
Damn you, Grayson.
He shivers as cold breeze swept through the endless green, cooling his sweat, prompting him to wrap an arm around himself. Damian takes account of his predicament. He’s without his gear, costume, or any communication device with him. The only item currently in his possession is a smart watch he kept in his pocket. Other than that, he only has his tee and workout shorts.
He is on a hill overlooking a modern city bustling in the distance. The layout of this city is unfamiliar. If he had to guess, a hidden American city seemed most fitting. He spun around, seeking a familiar point of reference on the horizon but finding nothing.
Damian is no stranger to being teleported, displaced, portaled, and/or kidnapped to other places. It doesn’t make it less inconvenient, but at least he knows what step to take.
Step one, assess the whereabouts. He exhaled a resigned sigh.
Why me? Again?
He slaps his smart watch on and marched to where he’ll likely find more information. To the skyscraper cluster.
His own little sister, whom he loved very much, has gotten tired of him and banished him to sulk on his own. Killua knows he’s being dramatic but he doesn’t care. He is going to be be as dramatic as he’d like. He’s free to do whatever and he says a pity party is in order.
Parting from Gon, knowing their friendship is permanently altered (or damaged beyond repair, because he’s feeling extra) feels strange. It makes him feel like his life is ending (and maybe it is, who knows?). Gon feels worlds away when Killua knows a simple phone call or a text or an old-fashioned ink-on-paper letter would solve the distance (the literal one at least).
Montage of the beautiful adventure they shared flashed in his mind’s eye. The Hunter exam. Picking up Killua from Kukuroo mountain. The Heaven’s arena. Greed Island. The overwhelming trust, love, friendship, admiration in Gon’s gleaming tawny eyes. The warm and bright declaration of unwavering faith in someone as unworthy as Killua.
Then, the cold and distant look. Intense rage and murderous glares. Piercing accusations. Disregarding precious life. The hopeless aggrieved look in his formerly bright eyes. Dread. Cold, cold, dread as he held Gon’s stick-thin limbs. His best friend’s body collapsed into a near corpse.
Two completely different personality merged into one mysterious, bright, and bone-chilling, Gon Freecs.
And by all that’s good, Killua misses Gon. He is worried beyond belief at the state of his friend’s well-being. Parting with him is the last thing he wants.
But he can’t help but feel that they need this time apart.
If the journey changed Killua for the better. If Gon had pulled him from the darkness. For Gon, the exact opposite happened. His persistence and loyalty warped into a dangerous obsession.
Does Gon blame Killua for playing a part in transforming him into a monster? Will Gon ever forgive him?
The former assassin knows that hurt and violence don’t dissipate. It sediments and solidifies. It changes you fundamentally. Gon would know that now. Gon would be alone in battling the night terrors, and the overwhelming confusion and guilt.
Killua bit his lip. Maybe parting ways with Gon was the wrong decision. He could have waited for Gon. The three of them could have traveled together.
His breath is starting to come in short intervals. Chest tightening and vision becoming a kaleidoscope of colors.
He knows his best friend is reckless. Controlled by his emotions. Without his nen, Gon is in even more danger. What if he never sees Gon again? What if Gon decides to pick a fight with someone he has no hope against?
Killua hurriedly turned to a quiet alleyway. The bag of chocolates and sweets he just bought is hugged tight. He stood in the middle of the alleyway, breath coming in fast like he ran miles. He leaned a hand on the brick wall.
There is one thought that terrifies him even more. What if he’s back to being alone? Alone. Gon is his only friend. The one who understood him the most.
Killua slid down the brick wall and put aside the sweets, afraid of crushing it.
What if Gon wants nothing to do with Killua anymore?
His chest hurts. He tried to ease the pain by pressing his palms to his chest. To no avail, the pain stayed and the thoughts come in rapid fire. Everything became too much and he hides. With his head between his knees, the first sob rips from his lips.
He swore there was a time when he never shed a tear. When did he become such a crybaby?
Damian watched as people mile about the busy street. From the distance, the city looks like any other city. With the high rise narrowing the foul-smelling streets, he is reminded of another city in his home universe. He would have even thought that he’s there right now if it wasn’t for the lack of iconic buildings.
He walked around aimlessly. It’s almost comical how the city looks so much like New York with everything in the wrong place. People are driving on the left side. The street names are written vertically rather than horizontally, in alphabets he doesn’t recognise. A poor imitation of an original painting.
The city does possess technologies he’s familiar with. Whoever made them took the tech development in a completely different direction. Phones are over-stylized instead of sleek. They have billboards, cars, game consoles, lights, and computers, but they’re all unfamiliar brands with odd shapes.
Then there’s the matter of communication. Damian is fluent in more than a dozen languages, but unfortunately, whatever these people are talking in is incomprehensible to him. Probably to anyone on his Earth.
To his ears, the language sound like English. But none of the words makes sense. There’s a mix of English pronunciation in there and odd intonations. It’s as if they are speaking English but backward.
He tries to communicate with a shopkeeper in English, and he stares at him like he’s grown three heads. He tried to speak to a random East Asian-looking lady in Mandarin and she looks at him like he was a nutjob.
Finally, he spoke to the hotdog guy in Spanish, out of all languages, relieved to find the person understanding him. Ignoring the comment on how ancient his Spanish is, he managed to glean information from the stand owner and discovered that they’re in Yorknew City.
As far as his knowledge, not a place on his Earth.
Yorknew. New York.
Is this a joke?
He asked the hotdog guy, what planet they were on. He looks at him weirdly and told Damian they’re on Earth.
All evidence is pointing to the fact that Damian has somehow been transported to another Earth. One where New York City is Yorknew City.
Was this what Five felt when he was unceremoniously dropped into a strange version of his Earth?
Step two: food, water, shelter, clothes.
Damian rummaged through a box of clothing in front of a budget retail store. Triumphantly pulling out a misshapen jacket and patchy pants in his favored colors. He moved on to find food and water. In his years of travel and and his gracefully short-tenure as an assassin, 'shopping' with underhanded methods is not beneath him. Off he went to a chain supermarket.
Next, to an electronics shops to acquire a phone. With underhanded methods again to his displeasure. Being a hero had straightened his morals in ways he dislike. He missed not having a conscience.
As he walks aimlessly into the city he contemplates. Who transported him here? Why? Most importantly, how is he going to find his way back?
The event reminds him of the incident a few weeks ago with Five Hargreeves. Sure, he remembers Five's theories. It was proven right once. Damian is positive that it likely can occur again. The question is, what are the likeliness of it happening again at such a short time interval to a same individual.
If he is to assume that the occurrence of this event is at a higher frequency than originally thought, his goal now is to look for that person.
First, this is most definitely not Five's home. A new person then. He chugged the water bottle he just snagged.
Like a needle in a haystack.
Not to worry, Damian ensured himself, you've survived lower odds.
He made a turn to a quiet alley and his train of thoughts immediately cut off when he heard sobs.
He peered into the dark alleyway. Brows raised at the white tuft of hair. The child’s thin appearance didn’t fool Damian into thinking he’s weak. Damian used that trick more than once to be that lenient.
The boy seems about his age. He seems to be in great distress, judging by the tear tracks and the grip he had on himself. There are holes visible where his nails dig into his clothes. Almost ripping into his paper-white skin. There'a always a chance that he's putting on a show. But something tells him that he is in genuine turmoil.
Without realising it, Damian’s feet has brought him in front of the boy.
He looked down and met watery blue eyes. It felt right to be here. This is why he’s here. This boy is the key to his return.
“Gon?”
Killua was startled when he noticed a presence. Unlike most people who sneak up on him, whoever is before him did not feel hostile. Through his tear-blurred vision. The green jacket, and spiked hair, instantly made him think of one person.
“Gon?”
As his vision cleared, he noticed the lack of wide-eyed wonder and bright exposition in the boy’s appearance. His face is more angular. Eyebrows are defined in a permanent glare.
“Sorry to disappoint,” the boy remarks dryly in Kukuroon.
Killua comes to his senses and stood abruptly. He wiped traces of tears. There’s only one place one could learn to speak that language.
“Who are you?”
“… a concerned passerby.” Killua narrowed his eyes, this is how he’s playing the game. If he started speaking to Killua in Kukuroon, obviously he knows he’s a Zoldyck. Quite literally the only people who speak it, apart from the other staff.
“Who sent you?”
“Nobody.” He had the gall to look confused.
Killua’s thoughts jump to Alluka. His heart thumped. Worry and fear clouded his instincts. If the Zoldycks sent this boy after him then there can only be one reason why.
They want Alluka back.
“What do you want?” Killua asks, subtly sharpening his nails.
The other boy is a picture of nonchalance. Hands in his pockets. Not a single trace of nen. There are two possibilities. One, he doesn’t possess nen. Two, he’s that good at controlling his nen, keeping it completely hidden.
He’s not going to regret not entertaining option number two.
“Honestly,” he sighed and slouched, “I don’t know.”
He raised both his hands. Nothing to hide. Not looking for a fight. But Killua won’t let down.
Killua released a bit of his aura. The boy didn’t even flinch.
A nen user then.
“How do you know where to find me.”
“Kid, I fell from the sky. I don't even know who you are.”
“Don’t patronize me. From the looks of it you’re a kid yourself,” he retorts. It took a second to process what the stranger said. Fell from the sky?
In a bold move, the boy crouched and sat down, much like Killua earlier. Making himself smaller and more vulnerable to attacks. He leaned back and sat comfortably on the dirty alley floor.
Killua rationalized that if this person is truly a threat, he would have striked by now. Unless he’s a psycho like Hisoka who likes to play around. Barring that, Killua is also the fastest person he knows. If anything happens, he’s certain he can run faster.
Killua made a decision and sat down too. Face to face with the boy.
“I’m Damian.”
“I'm … Leo”
“Ok, Leo. I'm not entirely sure why but I feel like I’m supposed to be here talking to you.” He inhaled, looking like he’s physically preparing himself to eat a worm. Damian looked away and mumbled, “So, what is … bothering you?”
Killua’s gobsmacked face and silence must have been obvious because Damian’s ears grew ruddier. Killua can’t suppress the snicker and giggles. He can’t believe he fooled himself to think that this boy is here to kill him. Was he here just because he felt bad seeing him sobbing like a baby earlier? He really needs to be less paranoid.
Damian bit his lip and made to stand, “Forget it.”
“Hey! No!” Killua gasped, trying to get his breath under control. “Sorry, sorry. You caught me off guard.”
Damian sat back down with crossed arms. Pointedly avoiding any eye contact.
Killua inhaled a big breath, an easy smile on his face. Paranoia and being cautious is two different things. The stranger might be just a concerned stranger, but thee is no harm in clarifying matters.
“First, tell me this. How do you know how to speak Kukuroon?”
Damian shrugged, “Took a guess, seems right.”
“So you didn’t learn it in Kukuroon? A Zoldyck didn’t teach you?”
“Where I’m from, this language is called Russian. Anyone can learn it if they're competent enough. I don’t have a clue what Kukuroon or Zoldyck mean.” Honesty leaks from Damian’s answer. Killua’s guard lowers.
“Where did you say you are from?”
“Not from this world.” Not entirely new. Killua can believe that. With the things that he’s seen “Then, why are you so calm? Aren't you lost?”
Damian leaned his head on the garbage bin, “A similar thing happened to me a few weeks ago. A boy named Five appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He came to my universe when he attempted to use his powers. His universe and mine are starkly different. Much like yours and mine. We talked, and he teleported back to his universe. Except, I don’t have that ability and am therefore stuck here until further notice.”
“But?”
"We spoke in length about the similarities we have between ourselves, discovering that there are a lot of eerily similar experience in our lives. That and in addition to the fact that we were both in states of great distress at the time of the displacement may have accidentally transported him into my universe. I am hoping that with this understanding I will be able to somehow go back to my universe," Damian shrugs, "its that and wait for a rescue attempt." He gestures to his watch.
“Somehow get back?” Killua truly feels bad for Damian, but he can't help but wonder. "What if that doesn't work out?"
“I suppose…,” he looks down sullenly, “I am in dire need of an alternative method.”
Killua doesn't know if he should be impressed or concerned at Damian's nonchalance. “So you said, you had ‘high similarities’ with Five, that's why he transported into your universe." Killua gestured to Damian, "Then how did you end up here?”
“I’m not sure,” Damian scoffs, “Is there any chance you’re a reformed child assassin with an incredibly dysfunctional family in a state of great distress?”
Killua felt his heart stop. He tensed, ready to run.
“You’re kidding,” Damian levels incredulously.
“How did you know that if you don’t know who I am?” he asks, a little hysteric.
The dark-haired boy deadpans, “Don’t be an idiot.”
Killua took a moment to calm himself. Let logic do the work. They were talking about similarities. Damian brought that eerily accurate depiction of his life. Conclusion.
“Are you saying that you were also an assassin? With dysfunctional family?”
He shrugs, “The universe apparently lacks creativity.”
“Heh.”
Killua considers all the information he got. If this person is truly who he says he is. He might be the only person on this entire Earth to know exactly what he’s feeling. To understand his problems. A friend.
“Okay," he stood up, "So. How do we do this? Do we just … talk, then? Get to know each other as we figure out a way to get you home?” He extends a hand to help Damian stand.
Damian looks at him with bright eyes, but didn’t respond. He took the hand and stood but turned contemplative. For an uncomfortable minute, Killua wracks his brain for something to say. Damian beats him into it.
“My … siblings. They’re infuriating.”
Killua waits for him to continue. Damian didn’t.
“Right,” the white-haired boy tried, “Mine too.”
“How?”
“How what?”
Through gritted teeth Damian clarifies, “How are they infuriating?”
Ah. Killua realises that the boy is trying to initiate a small talk. This conversation is much to painful to continue its visibly showing on the grimace on Killua's face.
“Sorry, I just - this is weird. We just met. We’re in a dumpster alleyway. You’re from another universe and the sun is setting,” his hand gesturing to follow his words.
Damian agreed quickly, “Let’s move.”
“Oh, I’m Killua by the way. Not Leo.”
“… Noted.”
They ended up walking back to Killua’s place.
The walk is awkward at best. Kudos to Killua for trying and failing to start a conversation. Damian found he Is lacking the life skill of small talk. Talking with Five was not as difficult. Was it the head injury? Damian immediately tossed the idea of giving his head a good bang.
He glanced to his side where the white-haired boy is desperately trying to look casual while thinking of another question that won’t be shot down with one-syllabic answers. He decides to save Killua the pain of churning another pointless question. Damian finds it in himself to ask a question that’s been bothering him since their first encounter.
“Why were you crying?”
“Hm?”
“Earlier, you were sobbing like a child.”
“Ok, first, we are still technically a child and second,” Killua falters, “I think I just lost my only best friend.”
Seems like he hit the mark. “Coincidentally, I too have recently … lost … a best friend.”
“I’m sorry.”
He nods. “I’m sorry too.”
Killua hesitates to ask but did so anyways, “How did you lose your friend?”
“He went away. Far away. And returned different. Distant." He remembers the short moments of reprieve at the familiar routine him and Jon fell into for a blessed few moments. Before they realised they were too different now to ever be the same as they were before. "I never really … talked about it before.”
“Oh.” After a while, he adds, “Mine too.”
He looks at Killua with inquisitive eyes.
“We went on a great adventure together. Everywhere he went, I went with him. We fought people ten times our size. Trained together. Ate together. Traveled together. We were inseparable. I’m the tactician and the logical one. He is the strong one. Loyal to a fault,” Killua looks down at the bag of snacks, “Sometimes even too loyal.”
Killua realizes in horror that his eyes are starting to water as he remembers the battle at NGL. He took a deep breath. “We had to part ways. He had achieved what he set out for, and I found a new purpose. There was no reason for us to stay together.”
“But you miss him,” Damian stated like he knows for a fact that Killua does.
“You miss him too,” Killua returns.
“More than I realized I would. We used to go on all kinds of missions together too.”
“Yeah…”
“What’s his name?” the dark-haired boy asked.
“Gon.”
Damian’s lips quirk, “Mine’s Jon.”
Killua snorts, “Seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously. Does yours attract trouble wherever he goes too?”
“Not sure if it’s just him or its both of us combined.”
Damian seemed to symphatize with that. “Tell me more.”
Killua did and he had no idea how nice it is to just reminiscent the good times he spent with Gon to someone else. In return, Damian’s stories fill him with wonder and laughter. Something he hasn’t felt in a while.
A whole entire universe out there unexplored gives him a newfound purpose and hope.
After exchanging stories upon stories, about moronic brothers, annoying opponents, and their less-than-ideal childhood, they finally arrive at where Killua was currently renting with Alluka.
As he opens the door, he heard thunderous steps and barely caught his sister as she threw himself on him.
“Where have you been! When I said to go take a walk I didn’t mean to disappear for hours!” she squashed her face on the crook of his neck, “I was so worried.”
Then she squished his face and glared, her killing intent slipping and Nanika superimposing her voice, “Don’t do that again, big brother.”
Killua smiled nervously, “Aye, aye.”
He saw the moment Alluka saw Damian. Her apprehensiveness was only soothed by her brother’s ease.
“Damian, this is Alluka, my sister. Alluka, this is Damian, my new friend.”
Damian extends a hand and Alluka gingerly shakes it, “Nice to meet you, Alluka.”
Alluka shoots Killua a questioning look.
“Long story short. We met by accident. He and I have a lot in common.”
“Wow! You both really do have a lot of things in common!” Alluka exclaims.
After hearing all the details, Alluka is convinced that Damian is no threat and likes him very much. Nanika liked him from the start. Maybe Alluka should listen to Nanika more, she seems to have a good judgement of character.
Or maybe Nanika just likes everyone… She’d have to ask Nanika about that.
She leans forward on her seat on the sofa, “So, how are you supposed to go back home, Dami?”
Killua’s new friend looks like he’s about to protest but stops himself.
“I’m not overly positive about that. I had thought that a random portal would open right about now,” he scratched his head, “I guess I have to start thinking of an alternative.”
Alluka doesn’t like the sullen look on Dami’s face. Not being with the people you love and care about is devastating enough when you are on the same continent. Alluka can’t imagine how it feels to be in an entirely different universe.
How she wishes to help him.
…
“AHA!” she shouted.
The two boys jumped on their seats. Killua nearly spills the hot chocolate he is sipping.
“Big brother! We can ask Nanika!” Alluka exclaims.
“Who’s Nanika?” Dami asks.
Killua coughs and wipes his mouth, “My other little sister.”
Her big brother looks at her with concern, “I didn’t want it to come to that… but if it’s really the only way.”
Alluka looks at Killua with confusion, “What? Why?”
Killua winced, “You know I don’t like to do that.”
Dami looks lost, “Can someone explain to me what is this 'way'?”
“Nanika has the power to grant wishes. If you ask her to send you back, I’m sure she’d be happy to! And to do what, big brother?”
“Order Nanika? You ask Nanika and Nanika grants your wish because she loves you, big brother. Not because you ordered her to. I thought we went over this.”
“This is different, Alluka,” Killua replied.
“Ok, I see where this is going,” Dami interjects before Alluka can answer, “The big sibling feels a responsibility to shield the little sibling from the world. The little sibling feels caged and not trusted.”
The two siblings fell silent.
“Trust me on this. I’ve seen this dance before and it never ends pretty,” Dami points at Killua, “You need to learn to fess up, say what you feel and calm down, ” and then at Alluka, “you need to learn to understand his point of view.”
“Start over,” he ordered.
Killua heaved a sigh and looks to the ceiling. He closed his eyes and looks like he’s formulating an answer. “I feel,” he paused, looking for the words, “uncomfortable asking Nanika to do something for my benefit because…”
Killua looks straight at Alluka. “Because I feel like I am making use of her and taking her for granted. I don’t want to be like mom, dad, or Illumi.”
Alluka thought about how to answer that. She never considers that’s how her big brother feels.
“And I’m scared,” her big brother adds.
Alluka looks questioningly, “Of what?”
“I don’t want to one day ask Nanika something that will cost her or you something.”
Alluka took a deep breath and stood, hugging her brother tight. “Big brother, I appreciate your concern. Alluka understands your point of view. But you have to trust that we both understand our limits and we could have asked you for something in return for the wishes.”
She gazed into her brother’s eyes, “Firstly, we can do this. Secondly, we don’t need or want anything from you other than that you stay safe and happy.” Alluka buried her head
Killua tentatively accepts the hug and whispered, “Ok. I’ll try.”
“That’s all Alluka asks for.”
Dami claps slowly, “Very sweet and touching. Now I demand an explanation.”
When Damian is properly caught up, he has to continually remind himself that this is not odd or terrifying in any way at all.
Jason Blood. Dr. Fate. Two Face. Far too many individuals he knows have unnatural duality.
“Nanika, come out.”
'̶K̷a̵y̵
Nothing prepared him for the sheer power that is Nanika. If a black hole or a supernova was concentrated into a person, Nanika is the perfect personification of it. It’s the kind of power that you feel just by being in its vicinity. Like when Damian first encountered Superman. Times a hundred, maybe a thousand.
This is why Damian can’t help but laugh at the stark contrast with her childlike personality.
Ẅ̷́̈͜ḣ̵̦̩̂ỷ̸̩̅?̴̺͛͋, Nanika asks. Her empty eyes emote confusion startlingly clear.
“Nothing. I find that you have a very likeable disposition. It is nice meeting you Nanika.”
He sees Killua smile at that from the corner of his vision.
“How does this work?” Damian asks the siblings.
Killua only smiled in response. Damian is not privy to that then. That’s alright, they’ve only just met after all. “Before I send you back home, Nanika give Damian a way to come back and visit us.”
'̶K̷a̵y̵
In an instant, a small pink pocket mirror fell from the ceiling. There are heart patterns all over and a cartoonish drawing of Killua, Alluka, and Nanika on it. “What is this?”
“I guess that’s your way back if you ever want to visit us. When things get too bad with your siblings or if the fighting is too much?” Killua asks hopefully.
Damian doesn’t even need to think about the answer. “Absolutely.”
He stares at the pink pocket mirror and feels overwhelmed. It hit him just then that he found another friend. In a span of a week, he discovered two individuals who are perhaps the ones who understood him most in the whole multiverse and beyond. Fighting back an embarrassing emotional display, he muttered a word of gratitude.
“Thank you,” he said. The sincerest one yet.
“Not a problem, Damian. See you soon!” Killua cheerfully adds, his nose red and eyes a little too glassy.
Damian nods.
“Nanika, send Damian back to his home In his own universe.”
In a flash, Damian is standing back at the gym, except no one is there.
He spots some items that stayed where it was when he left. A quick glance at the time suggested that 4 hours have passed from when he disappeared. Exactly the time passed in the other dimension.
“Are you sure you detected it here?” Grayson.
“For fucks sake, Dick, yes I am sure!” Drake.
“The twerp will probably show up tomorrow or something, what are you all so worried about?” Todd
“…”
A slap can be heard.
“OW!” Todd yelled. Must be Cain. As expected of his most capable sibling.
“He literally disappeared right in front of our eyes, Jace. Poof! GONE,” Grayson added in obvious distress. Damian won’t lie to himself and say he’s not touched by Grayson’s concern.
As they come around the entrance to the gym, Damian saw their disheveled looks. It seems like straight after he disappeared, they had abandoned their workout and went on a search party.
“While I’m pleased that you are not as incompetent as I thought, was it really
“Damian!” Thomas exclaimed brightly.
“WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?” Grayson and Drake shouted, both for different reasons.
“Out,” he answered simply.
Cain made the ugliest ‘stank’ face he’s ever seen on her features, her hand in a questioning gesture. Grayson opened and closed his mouth like a fish. Drake pockets his phone, visibly counting to ten to calm himself. Todd is the only one smirking with satisfaction. ‘I told you’, written all over his expression.
Damian saw the moment Brown registered his clothes. She made a face. “What are you wearing? You look like you dumpster-dived a grade school’s lost and found.”
The Damian before Killua and Five would have played it cool. But this Damian smiled genuinely and let out a small affectionate huff. Undoubtedly startling his siblings. Seeing their slack jawed faces is entertaining. He should do this more often.
He shrugs the ratty jacket off, "Come on, losers. First to 100 pull ups gets to sit shot gun in the Batmobile."
“Alluka?” he said, eyes stuck to the beautiful night sky.
“Yes, big brother?”
“There are whole universes out there. Isn't that crazy?"
"Yeah it is."
A star shoots across the sky.
"Alluka?"
"Hm?"
"I want to see everything this universe has to offer. I want to see it all,” he states, and a little more softly he adds, “Will you come with me?”
Alluka smiles, “Isn’t that what we were already going to do?”
Killua grins.