Chapter Text
Kurapika is finally ready for a new start as he pulls into a parking spot at his new school. Things haven’t been easy the last few years for him, but he hopes to have a completely fresh start by moving away from his hometown. And he picked the perfect (and most expensive) place. Yorknew City. But hey, if you’re looking for something “new”, why not Yorknew? But Kurapika isn’t worried too much about the cost as he already found a roommate in a relatively cheap apartment, and he always finds a way to get by. Melody, his new roommate, already got him a job as a math tutor at the school. Kurapika finds math really easy so it should be an easy check for him. Right?
Kurapika attends all of his necessary nursing classes for the day and heads to the school's cafe to meet up with Melody for lunch.
“So, Kurapika, are you ready for your tutoring session today? It should be pretty easy with the materials I lent to you earlier that the students are learning right now. But, some students might be challenging, as they are still struggling to catch up on last year's materials.” Melody says in a soothing voice.
“Yes, I think I’ll be fine. I’ve been a tutor in high school too, so I’ve definitely worked with students that are very behind. And I already know the material you gave me and reviewed it just in case.”
“That's good to hear. So, how are you liking Yorknew so far? I know it can take some adjusting to.”
“Yeah, it's great, and thanks for agreeing to let me move in with you on such short notice. I had a change in plans pretty last minute and I appreciate you being so open.”
“Sure no problem, I’m not going to say no to some extra help, especially here.”
Kurapika smiles thankfully at Melody and takes a sip of his coffee. It’s dark and bitter but that’s the way he likes it. He likes to keep things simple. But things don’t seem too simple to Melody as Kurapika has a distant look in his eyes, staring into his coffee for a few moments before looking for something in his shoulder bag. Melody timidly speaks up.
“Hey Kurapika I know this probably isn’t my business but I sense you’re feeling kind of…off today. You can talk to me anytime you know. It’s easy to cave into pressure during your first semester of school.”
Kurapika looks a little caught off guard but then closes his eyes and smiles at her.
“I’m fine Melody, really, I can handle anything. Thanks for being concerned about me though, I can already tell you’re a very kind and caring person.”
Melody detects that more may lie beneath the surface but decides to leave it alone for now. She smiles back at him and checks her watch.
“We have ten minutes before we should head out, Kurapika. What are you looking for anyway?”
“Just making sure all of my teaching materials are there. Need anything before we head out?”
“I might get another chamomile tea to calm my nerves. You might want one too. Some of the students can be a lot. Especially one of them. Anyways, I don’t know if you’ll get paired with him, especially since you’re new. I’ve been paired with him quite a few times since I’m a year above him.”
“I’m sure it will be no problem even if I get paired with him but I’ll keep that in mind, thanks. Get your tea, I’ll start the car and wait for you.”
“Ok, thanks. And just in case, you can trade with me later if you get stuck with him. His name’s Leorio, he’s a sophomore and super tall. You can’t miss him once you see him.”
“Alright thanks, I’ll remember that.” Kurapika said and walked out of the cafe to his car.
-
Kurapika and Melody enter the classroom together and take a seat in the nearly empty chairs. Their boss, Professor Light Nostrade, comes over to them.
“Hello there, Melody. And you must be Kurapika. Thanks for agreeing to take this position, we’re really short-staffed right now. Really appreciate it.”
“No problem, thanks for giving me this opportunity.”
“It's my pleasure. Anyways, here are your assignments today. I put the student’s name you’ll be seeing today on this paper, and notes on previous sessions the student has had with us.”
Kurapika and Melody get handed their papers. Before Kurapika is a folder labeled ‘Leorio’. Melody gets a strained look on her face and looks up at Mr. Nostrade.
“Um, sir, I’m sorry but- don’t you think Leorio’s a little too challenging for Kurapika to handle on his first day? I could trade with him, I would be happy to do it.”
“No Melody, I’m sorry but, next to you, Kurapika is the most qualified tutor we have here. You know Squala can’t handle him anymore. Besides, Neon specifically requested you today. She's having trouble with her studies already and you know she won’t have it any other way. So I’m afraid that's the way it has to be. You may assist Kurapika if you finish early with Neon though.”
Melody looks defeated and sighs but responds, “Alright sir. As you wish.”
Light Nostrade nods at both of them and looks unimpressed overall. He turns to Kurapika and says, ‘good luck today’, before walking away to give the rest of the tutors their folders. Melody sighs.
“Sorry Kurapika, he can be….difficult sometimes. And Neon is his daughter and he can’t have her be anything less than perfect, so... She also can be very difficult so I guess it would’ve been hard either way.”
Kurapika smiles at Melody to assure her. “It's alright Melody, you really worry too much about everyone else. I hope you do alright with Neon today.”
Kurapika opens the folder and pulls out the paper. At the very top, it says ‘Leorio Paladiknight’ in bold letters. In the notes section, it says things like ‘has a very hard time learning new concepts’ and ‘can be argumentative when challenged’ and ‘you cannot get through to this guy, good luck trying to’. That one was signed ‘Squala’. Looks like I’ll have my work cut out for me, Kurapika thinks. Good thing I like a challenge.
The bell rings and it's another five minutes until the students start trickling into the room. A girl with blue hair comes skipping into the room humming a song looking very chipper. Melody waves her down to come to sit at her table. That must be Neon. A few more people come in that Kurapika doesn’t take note of. Until a very tall man walks in, carrying a briefcase over his shoulder. He has black spikey hair and dark brown eyes. He almost has to duck down to avoid hitting his head on the door frame. He looks pretty annoyed already, like some just stepped on his foot. Kurapika takes a deep breath in preparation. Kurapika stands up to greet him as he walks by the table, looking confused as to where he’s supposed to go.
“Hello, you’re Leorio, right? I’m Kurapika, I’ll be your tutor today.”
Kurapika gestures for him to take a seat across from him but Leorio just scoffs and starts mumbling.
“Really? Are you fucking kidding me? They know I can only work with Melody! I’m already so behind and she’s the only one I seem to be making progress with…ugh… I don’t have time for this, I have so much shit to do, Jesus christ…”
“Um- sorry to interrupt whatever inner monologue you’re having, but Melody unfortunately can’t see you today, she has to meet with Neon.”
Leorio rolls his eyes. “Oh, of course. Fine, let’s get this over with.”
-
Things seem to be getting off to a rocky start, but Kurapika doesn’t mind much. Might as well make the best of the situation and not get bothered about it. Leorio takes his seat, ever so reluctantly.
“So, what did you say your name was again? Krupicka?”
“It’s Kurapika. So, Leorio, what exactly were you having trouble with today?”
“Well, I wouldn’t be having ‘trouble’ if I wasn’t required to take advanced calculus for pre-med, which I don’t even think I would be using in practice! But, yeah...” Leorio starts to reach into his briefcase and pulls out about a ten-page stack of papers.
“Okay, I see. Seems like a bit of work, when is it due?”
“Well, I started a week early and I had a week to do it but I’ve been swamped, so it’s due tomorrow.”
Kurapika almost loses his cool for a second. How can a guy doing pre-med be this careless? He sighs and collects himself before saying, “Tomorrow…? Okay, can I see your work?”
Leorio reluctantly hands him his papers which have work on both sides. Perfect. Just perfect. He’s gotten started already at least, there’s some frustrated scribbles and question marks around a lot of the questions though.
“Okay, we may be able to get this done tonight, if you’re willing to stay later.”
“Later? I only have an hour to spend here! Melody could have gotten it done with me in an hour!”
“Well I can try my best but it’s a lot of work so I don’t see it taking less than two hours, even for Melody.”
“This is goddamn ridiculous, you don’t understand what I have to deal with, you’re wasting my time and more importantly, money, if we can’t get this done in an hour!”
Kurapika feels himself starting to lose his cool. “Well it wouldn’t take so long if you finished more than half the questions, and it’s not my fault you started a week late. Besides, we’re never going to get it done at this point if you keep being argumentative with me. So, do you want my help or not?”
“Oh, so it’s my fault I’m swamped with work and I have barely a second to do all my mountains of work that are required of me! You must have a lot of privilege to talk to me that way and assume I can afford to waste my time on this shit.”
Kurapika feels a flash of anger, especially at the word ‘privilege’. This Leorio guy has no idea what he's talking about. Good thing he’s at work, or he probably would’ve punched this ignorant asshole already. He gets an angry look in his eye he rarely gets.
Leorio can see that he's pissed Kurapika off a bit and he feels bad for a second. But he doesn’t have time to feel bad or mad. “Alright… let's just…get started already.” He says in an annoyed voice, as if defeated.
The work only takes them an hour and a half despite the interruptions and both parties are exhausted afterward. But, Kurapika feels relieved and surprised with himself that he actually managed to do that. Leorio gathers his work into his briefcase and gets up to go.
Kurapika attempts to be polite even though Leorio has been nothing but a pain to him thus far.
“Hey, good work today. If you keep listening like that in the future and keep an open mind, I bet you could get it done even faster.”
Leorio rolls his eyes, “Thanks for the backhanded compliment. Hopefully next time we can just cut to the chase.”
Leorio leaves before Kurapika can reply. Kurapika decides it's not worth his time to get mad over a guy like that who will find a reason to be mad at anything. Melody comes over to him.
“Hey, sorry, I got wrapped up with Neon. Seems like Leorio left already; he didn’t give you too much trouble did he?”
“Well, he was a bit of a dick and got me frustrated at some points but it was fine. I don’t really let people like that bother me.” Kurapika said while crossing his arms.
“Hmm… seems to me he might’ve annoyed you a bit. But don’t worry, that's what drinking is for!” Melody said while winking.
“Ha, I guess you’re right. I could use a drink.”
Melody smiles. “I know a bar close by, shouldn’t be too busy, it being the first day and all. We need to celebrate your moving here and a ‘successful’ first day of work!” Melody giggles to herself.
And with that, they clock out and head off to their next adventure to occur that day.
-
Melody and Kurapika enter the bar ready for a night of fun. They sit at the bar and get their drinks. After they’ve been there for a few minutes, Kurapika looks over and who else should be there but Leorio Paradinight. Kurapika is annoyed for a quick second but chooses to ignore him. He also drinks his beverage a little quicker though. Melody soon looks over and notices Leorio as well. She turns to Kurapika and whispers, “Uh-oh! Looks like your boYyyfrIeend is here!”
Kurapika wonders how she's already drunk. He seems unbothered by her comment.
“I guess he's obsessed with me or something.” Kurapika replies.
Melody unfortunately keeps staring. “Oh wow, looks like he’s here with a girl. Good for him I guess, I thought he was too busy to have a love life.”
Kurapika looks over to see him flirting with a girl with pink hair. “Yeah, for how much he was complaining about not having time to be tutored another hour, I’m surprised. Oh, wait. I’m not, he’s a man.” He raises his voice a bit. “Bartender, can we get a round of shots over here!”
Kurapika notices he talked too loudly because Leorio recognized his voice and looks over at him. He quickly looks back at the girl he’s with. Kurapika downs the shot he was handed and so does Melody. Melody giggles mischievously.
“Hey Kurapika, want to have a little fun?”
“Huh-?”
Before Kurapika notices it, Melody grabs Kurapika’s wrist and drags him in the direction of Leorio and his date.
Kurapika gets slightly mad and flustered all of the sudden. He feels the alcohol taking its effect. He whispers angrily, “Melody what are you doing? You’re going to embarrass me-!”
Suddenly he and Melody are standing in front of Leorio and Kurapika avoids eye contact.
Melody starts to talk excitedly, “Hey! If it isn’t Leorio Paradinight! I missed tutoring you today, you know! And, you’re so grown up now Leorio, I remember you as a freshman last year, always talking about how you were going to be a big business man someday! Making all the money, getting all the women..” she winks at Leorio’s date who is giggling as Leorio looks mortified, “but you were always so much talk and no show so I thought no woman would ever date you! Now look at your cute little girlfriend here! AaaAAw Leorio, you’re so cute I could eat you up little rascal~!”
Kurapika starts hysterically laughing very loudly along with Melody. But for some reason, Leorio decides to pin his frustrations on Kurapika and not Melody.
“Yeah, and what are you laughing at Kuraapikaa?! Fucking stuck-up, rich, pompous asshole! Go back to mommy and daddy to buy you another round of drinks so you can laugh at people who are so beneath you! You’re just like every other rich asshole who moves to Yorknew to waste their money and drop out after a year… I don’t care that you’re smart, it doesn’t make you better than me, prick!”
Leorio suddenly stands up to tower above Kurapika. His face is very red and he’s clearly drunk as hell and everyone in the bar is staring at him now. Kurapikas joy quickly turns to anger as soon as Leorio mentioned his parents. He lowers his head and mumbles to himself.
“You don’t know anything about me, Leorio, take that back.”
Leorio just looks at him in angry drunken silence.
Melody speaks up timidly, knowing she started this mess, “Now boys…we don’t need to have a ‘masculinity’ contest, I was only kidd-”
She stops in her tracks as she sees an angry look in Kurapika's eyes. If looks could kill.
“I said take that back, Leorio!” Kurapika yells at him. Kurapika fully does not care that this man is almost a foot taller than him.
Leorio scoffs and takes off his coat. He turns to his date who looks very embarrassed. “I’ll be right back.” He turns back to Kurapika.
“Let’s go outside.”
-
Kurapika and Leorio head outside, fully ready to fight each other. Melody grabs Kurapika's arm.
“Kurapika, don’t! Leorio is like, twice your size, he’ll send you to the hospital, I mean…look at how drunk he is-”
“Melody. Seriously. Stay out of it. Stay here, I’ll be back in a second, and then we can go home.”
Melody doesn’t want Kurapika to go out there alone but she knows by the look in his eye she can’t really stop him either. She reluctantly lets go of him, feeling defeated.
The two stand outside, drunkenly swaying (Leorio more than Kurapika).
“Leorio, if you apologize now I’ll forgive you. Just take back what you said.”
“PsSshhh. I’m not going to back down until you show me some respect! You should be apologizing for trying to make a fool out of me.”
“Well, then I guess I have no choice,” Kurapika says as he takes a fighting stance.
Leorio takes a fighting stance as well, but before either of them can throw a punch, a kid runs in between them and jumps into the street while a car is coming. Both of them instinctively reach out and grab the kid by the arms to pull him back, and they both fall back, hitting their heads onto the concrete.
Leorio grabs his head in pain and yelps, but immediately gets up to see if the kid is okay. Kurapikas vision goes blurry for a few seconds and then he looks over to see the kid and another man lying next to him. He’s relieved, but then things around him are spinning and then all he sees is darkness. In the faint distance, he thinks he hears Leorio calling his name.
Kurapika wakes up and he sees bright lights. He knows he’s in the hospital room, as he is in one pretty frequently due to his poor health. As he comes to, he sees Melody sitting next to him.
“Kurapika! Are you alright?” Melody says in a soft voice as not to startle him.
“I- I think so…did I really let that asshole beat the shit out of me?”
Melody giggles to herself. “You’re sure having a great time in Yorknew already, huh? And no actually, Leorio’s the one who called an ambulance for you when you wouldn’t come to and he came and got me to go with you.”
“Huh? What happened? I think I’m starting to remember…a kid running in the road?”
“That kid was actually running to save a drunk guy who was wandering into the road, guess you guys only noticed him when he ran directly past you, and wow, do you guys have great instincts.”
“What?! Are- are they okay?”
“Yeah, they were fine and didn’t land flat on your back like you guys. Actually, I’m surprised Leorio didn’t pass out and you miraculously didn’t get a concussion but…”
“I see…sorry I lost my cool there I…I get mad when people bring up my parents.”
“It’s okay… I provoked it. I knew he was a hot head but he usually just gets embarrassed and yells at me. But hey, gotta prove your masculinity in front of your ‘woman’ you know. Speaking of which, he abandoned her to wait to see if you were okay so I guess that was all for naught.”
“Wait, huh? He’s…here?”
“Yeah, he felt bad, guess he came to his senses.”
“Well, it’s not his fault I’m accident prone.” Kurapika lets out a chuckle.
Suddenly, Leorio peeks his head into the room but doesn’t come in as if waiting for a sign of permission. Melody looks at Leorio.
“Sleeping beauty is awake now, you can say hi if you’re not too shy.”
Leorio blushes a bit and comes in and stands near the door, coffee in hand.
“Hey Kurapika, how are you feeling?” He says while avoiding eye contact.
“Fine, thanks. Sorry to keep you from your studies Leorio, I can help you get a note for your professors to get more time to make up your work.”
Leorio looks down at his feet. “No it’s alright, but I appreciate it. It’s my fault for getting myself into trouble. Anyways…” He looks up at Kurapika and finally meets his eyes, “ I wanted to say… I’m sorry, I was acting like an idiot.”
Kurapika blushes slightly and smiles. “Yeah well, we can all make wrong assumptions. I’m sorry if you felt like I was looking down on you.”
Leorio blushes and avoids eye contact again. “Please, no need to apologize. Anyways, let me know if you need help with the bill. It’s already hard enough in Yorknew, I don’t want this to be a burden on you.”
Kurapika is surprised by this offer. Guess this guy isn’t so bad.
“That's alright. I’ve got it covered. That’s very generous though.”
Leorio becomes even redder than before and cannot look at Kurapika.
“Don’t mention it. Anyways, Melody, Kurapika…” he glances quickly at him, “see you tomorrow…if you can handle me.” He says as he laughs. And then he heads out the door.
Kurapika feels stunned by the encounter and is feeling emotional whiplash. First, this guy is an asshole and then a genuinely nice guy? Kurapika sits in the hospital bed and stares out of the beautiful night’s view of city lights below them. He can see the sun coming up a bit. Leorio waited all night for him?
“Guess he likes you, huh?” Melody laughs and smiles to herself. She grabs her bag and walks over to the bed “Come on, let’s get you home.”