Eat food, drink water, and get 5+ hours of sleep tonight or you're gonna get a bug bite (in ur ass) (◕‿◕✿)

"So.. you just gonna stay here..?" The store employee—whom you now know as Dave—asked.

"You gonna call the cops if I do?" You asked, glancing over at him. One of your hands moving to massage the back of your neck.

"You came in here and immediately flashed a Hunters License, I doubt the cops will stop you." He laughed, flicking off the rest of the lights. Leaving only one dim one in the back on.

What? Illumi would check rented hotels, house break ins, and recent flight's booked first.

There was no way he'd check an ice cream shop in the middle of the city.

"I haven't even been here that long," You slumped your head against the table. Using your arms as a pillow.

"It's been almost thirty six hours."

"You only know that because you sleep here, you freak." You tossed an empty plastic bowl, that had once been filled with ice cream, at him.

"You slept here too," Dave argued, unimpressed as the dirty trash flew right past him.

"At least I'm not named Dave."

"Nor am I," He poured himself some alcohol, only god knows why he'd gave that stocked up at a fucking ice cream shop, "that's just what I chose on my name badge.

Looking up from the table, you stared "Wait so what's your real name?"

"Not telling."

"Oh, c'monnn,"

—

Chrollo stared at the phone. The bright light burning his eyes as he reread all the messages for maybe the eight time.

He knew.

That was the worst part. He knew Y/n was smarter than they let on. He knew that they were aware of their situation.

By the time he actually kidnapped them, he was well aware that they had even begun searching into the Troupe. Hence why Feitan tortured them in the first place.

He knew all of that. And not only did he fall right into their trap over and over, he couldn't even keep them for more than a week.

So, he had texted Shal. Had him start trying to find as much information on Y/n L/n—not Zoldyck. Never Zoldyck.—as possible.

In the meantime, he read every single text since the very start. The first day they got added to the chat. Reading all of it over and over and over. All he had to do was find one slip up. Just one.

And he had to do it before Illumi did.

—

Hisoka purred, laughing to himself as he read the recent messages again.

It seems Chrollo was right. They were more intelligent than they let on.

And, clearly, they had grown far more feisty too.

But, more than anything, he wanted to know how they had escaped Kukuroo mountain. They only escaped the Troupe with the help of Illumi, and his strange cat-beast from the dark continent.

To escape the Zoldyck manor in a matter of days? They either were a genius, very well prepared, or the luckiest human on earth.

And Hisoka couldn't wait to dissect every little detail.

Maybe after his scheduled Heavens Arena fight, which he found rather boring in comparison, he'd go searching for information.

—

Illumi had never once wished harm upon his mother. The butlers, yes. Not often, but it had happened. But never his mother. Not even when he was young.

Upon Killua and his arrival home, he was informed the moment he stepped in the door about Y/n's disappearance.

Kikyo tried to explain that they hadn't told him earlier because they were afraid it'd affect the mission.

He had never wanted to shut someone up more in his life.

If his father weren't in the same room, he might've.

He's glad he didn't, of course. Zoldycks were not allowed to kill each other for any reason.

"Well obviously they're still on the property," Killua had tried to rationalize, seeming just as shocked at the news as Illumi was, "I mean, they couldn't get far, right? They're-"

"Killua, the butlers, Mike(that's the Zoldyck's dog guys), and ourselves have been doing nothing but searching for the past ten hours-"

"They've been gone ten hours?" Illumi's eyes snapped to his father. This was the first time in a very, very long time that he had dared to interrupt the man, "And I'm being told now?"

Before the situation could be dragged on further, Zeno spoke up, "Illumi, go somewhere. Calm down. We'll talk after."

He resisted the urge to demand answers.

"..Understood."

For the next five days, he hadn't stopped searching. Milluki was assigned to finding any information possible on Y/n. The butlers continued their search off the main property and into the surrounding mountains.

Illumi never specialized in finding things. Stalking, he could do. But that was different. That's when he already knew where something or someone was. All he had to do was follow.

Finding was harder. Especially with no information.

Every hotel booking in the nearby cities were looked into. Every flight ticket. Every news headline.

But it seemed Y/n Zoldyck had disappeared off the face of the earth, in the ten minutes they were left unsupervised.

Until they randomly texted again.

Talking about his mistakes and weaknesses. Of all things. How cruel he was. As if he weren't a perfect husband.

While it just proved they were worthy of the Zoldyck name ability wise, there was definitely a needed change in personality.

In the end, Y/n will be entirely devoted to him. Those annoying morals of theirs wouldn't get in the way of their love. No matter how long it takes for them to appreciate him.

—

"So, what's a Hunter even doing camping out in a fucking ice cream shop, moping about all day?" The employee asked, grabbing himself more alcohol.

"I am not moping," You hissed, swiping the bottle right out of his hands. Downing half of it the second it hit your lips.

"Uh huh." He stared at you, clearly unconvinced, "Is that why you're chugging my alcohol?"

Swallowing another gulp of it, you shoved it back into his hands, wiping the remaining drops of the liquid from your lips as you pushed yourself off the counter.

"Yeah, whatever, I'm going now, thanks for the drink."

"Wait, so soon?" Dave/not technically named Dave called out, "Hey, c'mon, at least tell me why you were here in the first place."

You were going to leave without a word. It was safer for everyone if you did.

Still, you couldn't help but stop. With your hand on the door you just sighed. Looking back at him, "I'm a Zoldyck on the run from the other Zoldycks and the Phantom Troupe."

"Wait, Zoldyck like the people who live up in those mountains? I thought they were just rumors-"

Without any more explanation you slipped out the door. The chilly evening air hitting your skin.

The more you told anyone, the more you endangered them. It was selfish to have even camped out there in the first place. Even more so to drag him into the situation.

You'd feel bad if he got captured. It was certain that whoever got their hands on the man would torture him, despite him not having any real information.

It might've been nicer just to kill Dave, or whatever his actual name was.

Even if the conversation was nice. A good distraction from the past months you had spent only worrying about your survival.

Not that the thought of being caught wasn't still infesting your mind. As random of a hideout as an ice cream shop was, the thought of staying anywhere for too long caused your heart to pound.

Even if you knew getting farther away wouldn't change anything, that they'd still find you just as easily, you couldn't help but try to gain as much distance from the mountain as possible. For the sake of your sanity.

Word Count: 1526

Fun Facts:

• 'Dave' (Real name unknown) is a recurring character from my first fanfic. Where he was also an ice cream employee. I did try to make it seem like he was a normal side character, though. Idk if it felt forced to ppl who never read the other fics😭😭

• Realized that Illumi and Chrollo are acting quite similar so I want to make the important distinction. Basically it all comes down to what type of property they see you as.
Chrollo sees you as like a porcelain doll to be taken care of and admired until you become boring and he discards you
Illumi sees you as a puppet. An object to control and mold until you do as he pleases. If you become boring he'll "fix" you rather than toss you out

• I know probably no one noticed. But being able to quickly consider something trash that you once treasured is a Transmuter trait. And I was kinda concerned that it wouldn't suit Chrollo(a specialist) BUT it's stated that Chrollo sells the items he steals after he's done admiring them so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯