Lila stared at the alcohol in her glass, swirling it around before glancing up at the dancing women and men. It had been hours since the celebration had technically started, and with how loud the music was, she was surprised they weren't caught yet.

"And how come you aren't with them?" Hisoka sat down next to her with a drink of his own. He had noticed Lila's leg tapping as she remained seated, watching everyone else enjoy themselves as they danced.

Lila sighed while placing her glass down before cracking her head in a hand. "This is typically for couples. All the ones out there are dancing with their first love," she explained.

"And those two?" Hisoka pointed to Yasu and Saki.

Lila couldn't help but smile at them. Sure she'd gotten close to them, but the bond between those two was stronger. Yasu and Saki would get compare to Lila and Mira, but the bond wasn't the same. Lila was told that Saki and Yasu have been with each other since day one. Lila had first met Mira when they both mentored with Bancho.

"They're special," Lila stated while nodding in the direction of Mira and her husband. "Anyone near my age, it's Mira to be jealous of. She married her first love."

"Have they gotten their first loves? Saki and Yasu?"

"Yasu, well, I think she wishes to make her's pay for what he did." Lila explained, watching her two girls as they smile and dance. "Saki, I'm pretty sure she would've married him had war not taken him away."

Hisoka glanced over to Lila before moving closer to her. "And what about you? If I remember correctly, you almost get married."

Lila felt herself stiffen up as the sudden closeness between the two. "You already saw everything. No need for me to explain it."

"Seeing things is different compared to hearing someone tell their story." Hisoka finished off the rest of his drink before resting his head against his hand. "So, tell me everything."

Lila traced the top of the glass with her finger. She couldn't help herself as the memories came flooding in. "I was engaged and everything. Mira was with me, and we were fantasizing about wedding dresses when I saw him with another girl. I confronted him about it, and he went on about this girl being his soulmate or something. I threw the ring at him, but I wish I threw it out or something. Not horrible like others, so it's nothing to cry about."

"Darling," Hisoka mumbled, forcing the girl to look at him. Just when he started to lean in, something was dumped down on him, drops splattering onto Lila in the process. Music was cut short, there were gasps from those that saw what happened, and people had stopped their dancing.

"Nana, what the hell?" Someone questioned as the woman pulled Lila away from Hisoka. Lila couldn't help but stare at Nana. She wondered if the fuming woman before her was the same one who raised her so many years ago. 

"Look, I know your history and what you do. Get away from us and leave Lila alone. We don't need someone like you among us, especially you drawing unwanted attention to us." Nana hissed, glaring down at a wet Hisoka. 

So many questions were going through Lila's head, all from the few things that Nana had announced to their whole section. "Nana what-"

"Not now Lila!" Nana snapped her head around and glared at her before returning her attention back to Hisoka. Lila couldn't help but stiffen at the yelling, backing into the crowd for comfort. Somehow, Saki and Yasu found their way to Lila, each of them holding one hand. 

"I think you are-"

Nana snapped her fingers. For a moment there was nothing, but soon, watchers could see Hisoka cowering. Face contouring as he tried to get away from whatever. The only time Lila ever really saw this was when Yasu was practicing the skill herself, and that was on the mice and rats that scurried into the housing building. 

"Nana, stop it!" Lila snapped at her mentor, breaking away from the crowd and shoving her mentor. The sudden action had broken Nana's concentration and whatever the man was seeing was gone. He was returning to reality without any illusions.

Nana glared at her student, unable to believe that her beloved student just shoved her. "We'll be talking about what you did later."

Lila shook her head, before moving to help Hisoka up and leading him away from the scene. "You reek of alcohol," she muttered as they got further from the scene, hearing a chuckle from Hisoka.

"Well, I believe some was dumped on me." Lila looked at him before quickly looking away. For some reason, he looked different with his hair down. More welcoming or something. She figured it would be best to keep the thought to herself, instead of giving the man something to gloat about. 

"Don't assume anything, but do you have a place nearby?" Lila stopped just outside the work building. She trained her eyes on the ground suddenly feeling embarrassed by the question. Lila wanted to make sure he actually had a place of his own, and she herself didn't want to return back to the housing any time soon. 

"I do," Hisoka hummed, taking a step closer to Lila. "Is there a reason for you asking?" He smiled when Lila took a step back from him. He found it amusing as she shifted her weight between feet, hugging and rubbing her arms the longer the two of them stood without speaking. 

"To get you cleaned up," The girl did her best to remain calm, taking another step backward. "And maybe I'll hide out there for a little bit. It's obvious that Nana's not happy with what I just did." Lila glanced back to where the celebration was happening. She couldn't believe that she really just shoved her own mentor. 

Lila never imagined the day where she would actually go against her mentor. Sure, she was all talk and thoughts, but never did she ever imagine actually taking action. She had just shoved her mentor, which might as well be a sign of her planning her next course of action. 

Hisoka eyed her before dropping his head. "Follow me, darling," He started walking down the familiar road that he had walked this morning. 

Lila barely nodded her head, jogging a bit to catch up to him. "Don't call me that." She added, glancing around her as she continued down the road. Lila made sure to avoid walking in the lights, keeping herself in the darkness of the night. 

"No promises, darling," Hisoka carefully watched Lila before glancing back to the work building they were leaving. 

***

Lila sat beside the tub while Hisoka cleaned himself off of the alcohol. He glanced down to her, tempted to caress her face at the moment. To him, there was something about Lila just staring. She could be staring at nothing, and Hisoka would just want to pull her in to kiss her.

Sighing, he adjusted himself, resting his chin on the rim of the tub. "Lila,"

Lila jumped a bit, adjusting herself as she looked over to him. "You all clean?" She asked, grabbing the towel that was next to her.

"I have one more question," he stood up in the tub, accepting the towel from Lila. He noted how she wasn't flustered or anything relating to him being naked. He wondered what she has done with men, but that was something for another night.

"You ask too many," Lila muttered, moving for the door. She froze up when feeling the tight grip on her wrist. She glanced to the mirror, nervous about meeting his gaze. For some reason, this was making her queasy. She was regretting hiding out in his apartment.

"Your job, do you like it?"

Lila's eyes widen when hearing the question. In the time she has been working, she wasn't sure she ever heard that question. Not even from her ex-fiancé. "Get dress first." She told him before stepping out of the bathroom. Lila sat on the bed, pulling her knees to her chest as she waited for him.

Silence filled the room when Hisoka stepped out of the bathroom, sitting on the foot of the bed. He stared at Lila, waiting for her to speak.

"There's this one elderly lady, one of my usual clients that I would make a house call to," Lila started speaking, rubbing the fabric of her skirt. "She said this thing, and it's been sticking with me ever since. She said that this past lover of her, he made her feel alive and free." Lila sighed before dropping her legs.

"I just want to be free. I don't want to worry about being caught by someone while out working, or worrying about being sold in the black markets, and I especially don't want to be working in that place when I'm wrinkly and old. I want to be able to be outside, feel the sun on me, and not have to worry about anything."

Lila gasped when she felt him touch her face, feeling him wipe away something wet.

"Sorry," she muttered, pushing his hand to wipe away her own tears. Instead, he grabbed her hand and continued to wipe away more tears. Lila didn't fight against him, just allowed him to do so.

Hisoka finished before taking the initiative and pulled Lila into his chest. He laid down on his bed, pulling Lila down with him while rubbing her back.

"The Hunter exam," Hisoka broke the silence in the room. "If you pass it, you get a Hunter's license. You become a Hunter and get some benefits as well." Hisoka stared at the ceiling, the sight of her in tears imprinted in his mind. "Protection from some laws included. I'm sure if you pass the exam, you'll be able to be free."

More silence filled the room. He craned his head to look at Lila. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing deeply, still resting on him. Hisoka relaxed in the bed, staring back at the ceiling with his hand fixed on her back.

"I'll make sure you get that license, my darling."