Okayyy! New part. It's a side part of honouring Hisoka's birthday. But I have said for over a year I wanted to do a "WHAT IF?" So, two for one. 

What if Violet had given her location away in chapter 3 of part 2? See below! There are new parts to it near the end as well, and if you haven't read it since I edited it, this is the edited version. 

Enjoy!

[There are warnings]: a sex scene at the end of the chapter. It starts from Violet's Point of View and Switches to Hisoka at the end. 

The next chapter will be the new one! This is the last side story before new updates. 

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August 8th:

Rain and wind riddled the streets with furiosity and long caused everyone to run for cover. The first days of August had been corrupted by back-to-back heavy storms. Those who didn't have permanent shelter had taken it wherever they could: abandoned buildings, covered alleyways, and more. The homeless or stranded made happy, or tense, peace with each other while they waited out nature's current bombardment.

Violet possessed none of these luxuries.

One look at the shelters and their packed halls, and that option was thrown from her table. She couldn't risk being close to anyone for the chance of being seen by the wrong set of eyes. The relative peace of Heaven's Arena was a distant memory. Stopping was not an option either. No matter how relentless, she wasn't about to let a few days of thunderstorms drive her into a group shelter and the eyes of searching bounty hunters.

Extra caution was the only behaviour pattern available. Bounty hunters of all shapes and varieties searched for her whereabouts. She wondered if Zanko put out the call and hefty price for her head, but she wasn't foolish enough to test it. Appearances were not something she would judge another against, given how she had fooled many a foe in her past life as a hunter with exactly those means. Zanko always dressed in low- to mid-level clothing of both quality and style. It didn't rule out that he had ample financial means, though.

Several close calls with those who coveted her bounty reinforced the need for the protection of seclusion.

Forced to live within the shadows, Violet took shelter on one of the higher rooftops in a more run-down section of Yorknew City. The city was not unlike its namesake in her world and housed a towering jungle of skyscrapers, public transit, noise, stench, and boundless numbers of people from all walks of life. Her meeting with the official hunter was on August 10th, and she planned to stay as hidden as possible until that day.

The huge, bustling, noisy city was far beyond what Violet could handle long term, but she made do. Her shelter was far from adequate, further evidenced by her half-soaked black hoodie and dark jeans that caused near non-stop shivering movements. Hugging her legs tighter into her chest, she feebly attempted to conserve heat by pulling the ties of her hood tight to constrict the fabric over her face. She hadn't slept more than a few hours in the last few days, and that wasn't aiding her current predicament.

The phone she always kept close to her person read 12:01 am, officially August 8th. Soon, the meeting with the hunter who knew about portals would happen. The location was a local coffee shop in the shopping district. She had scoped it out ahead of their meeting and was certain of several escape paths if tragedy arose. Tucking the device away, she leaned her head against the cold brick wall of the crumbling roof-top maintenance house.

In a wilder area, finding edible food and clean water would have been less of an issue, as she excelled at hunting. As it stood, her lips were chapping and in constant discomfort from thirst, and her stomach groaned and pained her to the point of nausea in its desperation for food. Her mental state began to deteriorate some time ago, and the current malnutrition chipped away at it further. She regretted coming to the city so soon, but hiding within the metal and concrete maze had seemed the best choice.

A choice now seeping with regret.

Sleep wouldn't be ignored, but also couldn't be maintained due to stress. But it forced its hand, for as long as it could maintain the position. She needed sleep more than anything else and allowed herself to drift into a light resting state.

Just as she was about to release the last of her consciousness, her phone vibrated from the pocket it remained tucked within. Not thinking through the haze of exhaustion, she startled and swiftly retrieved the device to see a text notification. Violet knew before spying the name on the screen that it was him.

She missed the magician, so much so she was aware of it.

In better times, lies ran like thick syrup from her tongue. But they couldn't any longer; she wanted to return to him. But a massive war and never-relenting battle plagued her mind. Cold tendrils sparked, and whispers invaded her thoughts of returning. The soft distrust of Zanko's lies bounced around her head, hitting sharp and painful with each explosive lightning strike.

Something was wrong with her ever since escaping Heaven's Arena. Hisoka had done her no wrong and taken disadvantage after toll to keep her protected and safe. Far more than he'd ever been described to do for others or what she witnessed when he interacted with the others he stalked.

But every time she gained any traction to return to his side, reach out for help, or otherwise, a cold ice snaked across her mind. She was certain she beat back all the Nen Marcy had laid. It had to be her own doubts. There must have been some instinct that kept her from Hisoka's safety, and her instincts had never lied.

Until she could decide the reality of either man's word, it seemed best to rely only on a sure thing: herself.

However, she lacked the resolve to stop the communication. Violet knew it wasn't helping either of them, but she would always respond to his summons. The magician's messages were often humorous, and she enjoyed the minor relief and temporary distraction from her dire situation. He would discuss things he did that day, usually terrible things that Violet found amusing just the same. Or he would ask about her, and the answers were vague if provided at all. Occasionally, he would even send her a picture; sometimes, a selfie made its way to her inbox. It helped keep the connection with him close, and she enjoyed the banter.

The messages attempted to lure her, and she was well aware of that continued reality. He wanted to draw her into false security, but the enormous amount of darkness that lurked underneath his façade kept Violet vigilant. At this point, she didn't much care, though. Courting death was a normal pastime for any supernatural hunter; interreacting with Hisoka was no different.

He hunted her whereabouts, and that's why he continued to pester. This fact kept her diligent about how much information was offered, but if she was honest, there was pure selfishness in the continued contact. If all her efforts were successful, over the next few days, she would return home and be lost to the magician forever.

But... to what end? I don't have anything good to return to. Running from Jason again? Her lips quivered, and a small sob sounded, drowned by the thunder.

She opened the text while wiping tears away. She needed the distraction more than ever.

"Happy birthday, kitten~♥"

How did he know? She hadn't even remembered it was her birthday and certainly never recalled mentioning it to him. Hovering a hand over the call button on his text screen, she paused and shook. Should I? No, it's a bad idea.

The call could be tracked, and the tricks Violet had employed so far wouldn't be able to stop someone from hacking and finding her location. Trust was at an all-time low for the magician, but it was in even worse supply for herself. Aware of how badly she longed to hear Hisoka's voice, aloud and real, not just in her head, she would certainly slip on resolve if she spoke with him.

The phone sang and buzzed to life at once as Hisoka called for her in more ways than one. It was not out of character as he attempted to ring every so often. Violet moved to decline the call but shivered from wet exhaustion seeping into her bones and body. The phone slipped, and a cold thumb hit the wrong button, landing on the green circle on the screen. She'd saved the device from certain watery death while answering the call. Swearing under her breath was inevitable, but the call was received.

As long as I keep it under five minutes, the risk is the same as for a two-second call. A solemn and scratchy voice answered the call, "Hello."

"Kitten... You answered ~♥"

The relief was thick in his voice. Why was that? Why did it make her feel like an asshole? He was the transmuter, not her. "Yes."

"You sound tired, kitten~♠"

"It's almost one in the morning, Hisoka."

Violet heard the characteristic chuckle on the other end of the line. It made her heart flutter to hear it again, and a strong longing gripped her entire chest. It was impossible to ignore how she wanted the conversation to continue just for the chance to hear his hypnotising laugh once more.

"You always loved being awake late, darling."

She sighed. "Yes...I did."

Violet's body relaxed at the sound of his voice, and her exhaustion set deeper into her mind. Why does he always have this calming effect on me? Mentally, she knew Hisoka and the situation weren't safe but hearing his voice caused her body to war with itself on that point. The need for more than just spoken words grew.

"Kitten?"

"Yes, Hisoka." Her eyes shut as her relaxing body took in his deep tones. Please... keep talking to me. Just a bit longer.

"Where are you? ♠"

Violet paused in her cold, miserable exhaustion. She'd already let her guard slip, and some of the stress leaked out. Of all the times she received a call from him, this was one of the worst; her mental fortitude was weak.

"I don't know." Her voice shook; Violet couldn't stop it from trembling or what she said next, "I want to go home..."

The continued refusal of the luxury of breaking was maintained, but it was getting harder to keep her walls intact every day. Cold, wet, hungry, thirsty, and undeniably wearied, her mental fortitude was frail at best. Her frayed nerves provided little, apart from fully preventing her from feeling secure enough to sleep.

"Tell me where you are, Violet~ ♠"

Violet paused for a long time as the rain continued to pelt over the shelter and through every one of its holes and cracks. She yearned to give him the information.

There was no clear sound of anger or a hunter's need to track his prey in Hisoka's voice. Something else was there, something guilt-inducing and sad that called to her. It couldn't be concern, could it? She couldn't take much more and wanted help and protection, and Hisoka offered both, possibly. But, was longing for an end to the struggle causing her to grasp for things that weren't truly there?

Would he rush in like a knight to save her? Take her back to his warm, safe bed? Or was she the dragon he would come to slay? She didn't know and was too exhausted to work any of it out at that moment.

Violet opened her mouth on the edge of breaking and giving up what he wanted as he spoke again.

"Violet—"

A sob she couldn't control broke whatever he planned to utter through the line. She gasped and couldn't stop the breaking as the walls shattered. No amount of cold warning striking her mind could stop the response. Marcy's Nen couldn't overcome Violet's shattering resolve.

"Violet..." Hisoka's voice was soft, and this time, concern reeked through it, but so did the comfort. "I'll come for you. Please, kitten, just let me help you. I want to help you."

The prolonged and strained pause between them filled with her sobbing and gasping. She knew it hurt Hisoka; she could hear it in his voice. But control continued to elude her.

"You don't have to give your location... Just let me help you in any way that works for yo—"

"Y-york—" Gasping interrupted her admission. "Yorknew, I'm in—" Another gasp came, frustrating her. "I'm in Yorknew." She finished with further sobs.

Lightning struck far too close to her unsafe shelter, causing her to shriek as sparks exploded from the tower of the building beside her.

"What is your location within the city? It's huge. Can you give me more?"

"I-I don't know. I'm hiding. There are bounty hunters everywhere, Hisoka." Her voice had steadied, but the occasional gasp still plagued her. "I'm in a more run-down part of town. I'm hiding in a half-broken maintenance building. It's only held together by brick, rotten wood, and shattered hopes and dreams."

Hisoka laughed softly, but there was strain and sadness in the tone. "Do you know if it's East? West of the city?"

Sniffling, she wiped her tears. "It's a twenty-minute walk past downtown. SouthWest, I think." She peered beyond the semi-dry confines of the shelter. "There's a broken yellow sign. It looks like a green bean with eyes and a funny suit. There is a street sign... one hundred and eight. The buildings started to get coloured with blue and purple exteriors, but they're faded by wear..."

Silence met her on the other line beyond soft tapping. When that went quiet as well, another sob erupted.

"Hisoka..."

"I'm here, kitten, I'm here." She sighed with relief as the tapping started again, and he responded, "I think I have your location. Can you make it to the street safely?"

"Y-you're here? You're coming for me?"

There was a silence before he answered, "I'm getting on an airship right away. But I won't be there for a few hours."

Her lips quivered, and tears fell heavy from her eyes. "O-okay..."

"I'm not leaving you on top of a building in a storm either. I'm sending a car. It's on its way now. I want you to get to the street. I'll text you the car number and driver's ID so you know it's the right one," he responded. "Can you get to the street safely?"

"Y-yes. Will you stay on the line with me?"

"Of course. When it's safe, move."

After a few more lightning strikes, she raced into the sheet-like rain, not bothering to dodge it in favour of the black metal and rusted escape stairwell. She slowed her pace on the shaky structure to be sure her footing would be solid. Near the bottom, a stair broke and slipped into the next one. She shrieked and fell several steps into the metal barricade where the stairs turned. Luck stuck with her, and the railing held, but Hisoka's nerves broke.

"Violet? What happened?"

"I'm okay," she whimpered from her dishevelled sitting position. "The step broke, and I fell on the slippery metal. There's just one flight left."

"Take is slow. The car should be there now or within a minute."

Once inside the alleyway, she peeked out at the headlights of a black sedan. The rain continued to pelt her body in sheets, and she struggled to check the number but found it on a sticker on the back bumper. Nervous, she tapped on the driver's window.

An older man with salt and pepper hair and wrinkled skin looked at her with kind brown eyes from the rolled-down window. He wore a black driver's cap, black suit, and crisp blue dress shirt beneath. His face looked like the picture Hisoka had texted for the driver, Ronald.

"You must be Dr. James?" he asked with a smile but seemed quite assured already.

"Y-yes..."

"The back is open; please get inside. It's miserable out," Ronald responded.

Nodding, she opened the door and slipped into the black leather seat. Both the seats and the cabin of the car were sufficiently warmed. It made her shiver far worse since the difference was so stark between her skin and the ambient temperature.

"Strapped in?" asked Ronald.

"Yes," she responded shyly. "Thank you."

"Not at all," he answered as the car pulled away. "Let me know if you want the heat up any higher. You must be cold being in that downpour."

"D-do you know where to go?" she asked.

"I gave the location with the job, Violet," Hisoka said over the phone, still clinging to her ear between the side of her face and her hoodie. "I'll be boarding the airship soon."

"How did you get one so fast?" she responded to Hisoka.

"I hired it privately. They'll be taking me directly to the hotel the driver is taking you to. I've booked a room for you. When you get there, go right inside with the driver. He has the information, but provide the password to the women at the front desk, if they ask."

"Dare I ask the password?"

She could almost see the smile in his tone. "Bungee Gum."

A small but sad laugh escaped her throat. She still couldn't help the small sniffle afterwards.

"That's more like my girl. How are you feeling?" Hisoka asked.

A small whimper sounded as she responded, "I'm cold, Hisoka. I'm so cold, and I'm thirsty..." Her eyes went wide as the air vent blew a warmer breeze into the back seat. Ronald smiled at her through the rear-view mirror.

Ronald signalled to the armrest between her and the other passenger seat with his thumb. "There is some bottled water in the armrest. Please help yourself."

"Hisoka...?"

She couldn't help her anxiety about it all. She wanted Hisoka in the car with her so much. Ronald seemed generous and sincere, but her exhaustion wore her frayed nerves, and not all who were nice were kind.

"It's alright. It's part of the service, and I'll pay for anything you need. Get everything you want, kitten," Hisoka encouraged. "When you get to the hotel, there is a five-star restaurant. Have the front desk staff give you a menu and order something to eat and drink. Anything you like. As much as you want. They'll put it on my tab and deliver it to the room."

Her lips quivered, and her voice shook as she answered, "Okay... Thank you. Please come quickly."

"I'm already on the airship; we'll be in the air in moments."

---

"We're here, Hisoka."

"Go—" A buzzing interrupted, causing his voice to chop. "—od."

When they arrived at the hotel, Ronald jetted around at a speed she hadn't expected for his mid-fifties age range. But he opened the door and held an umbrella over her head like the poster of a gentleman. He helped guide her into the hotel. The rain continued with a severe and angry pace, obscuring the outside of the hotel from her view.

Inside was another matter altogether. The grand entrance was bathed in soft evening light with warm walls and a large sitting area with a throw rug, several leather couches and beautiful end tables. Beyond it, far across the lobby, was the door that showed a dark room. She could just make out tables and saw a sign for the dining room, but the barrier was up, indicating it was closed.

"This way, Violet," Ronald said with softness, leading her to the left where a marble check-in desk large enough to seat ten sat again on the far wall. Two ladies sat in perfect, clean uniforms of brown and black with white dress shirts. Ronald walked ahead of Violet on the last several steps and whispered to the women. They both sat straighter, then stood and bowed as she approached. Heat invaded her cheeks despite the continued chill to her bones.

"Pass the phone to the help de—" Further static interrupted Hisoka. "—so I can speak to them. I'm sorry we're hitting turbulence, darling."

She knew her exhaustion and nervousness showed. The two women in black and brunette hair, both pinned into tight buns, softened their chocolate and deep brown eyes almost in unison. Ronald offered a reassuring smile. Violet's lips quivered. She was terrified of being locked away if someone caught her inside.

But with the phone in the hands of the black-haired and chocolate-brown-eyed woman, Violet couldn't ask for Hisoka's reassurance any longer. She hated how weak she acted, but her magician, although far away, would aid her now.

"Here you are, Violet," said the lady with red-painted lips and natural make-up as she passed the phone back. "I'll show you to your room. You can get dried off, and hopefully, that will help you feel a bit more comfortable."

She nodded while placing the phone back to her ear. "Thank you."

"The turbulen—" Hisoka chopped, and each time he did, her heart sank, and tears stung her eyes again. "—will stay with you until you're in the room. But don't be alarmed if you lose me. I'm coming."

Despite the horrible reception, Hisoka kept her speaking. The topics were mostly irrelevant and focused on nothing in particular. She still enjoyed hearing about the different meals available at the hotel and how the airship rental process had worked. She knew he was trying to keep her mind off her anxiety and was grateful for every second he did. She focused on him while the receptionist, Madison, by her name tag, accompanied Violet to a single set of gold elevators. The machine had only one button, but she didn't care. Her vision struggled to stay clear, and she put more effort into conversing with Hisoka.

Once at the only door on the floor, Madison opened it before turning to bow respectfully once more. "Please enjoy your stay. There is a phone just inside the door. Lift it, and it will call without any prompting. We'll be happy to help you with anything."

Once inside, Violet closed the door, and the tension snared her chest. She struggled to find the lights, and even the smallest frustration led to tears forming. Turning, she double-bolted the door.

"It's alright, kitten," Hisoka said as if he could sense her exhaustion. "The lights are to the right of the entrance. There is a short hallway with the kitchen on the right and the living room on the left. If you head down the hallway to your right past the kitchen, there will be a washroom to your right and a linen closet across from it. Grab a housecoat from the closet and have a warm shower."

"Hisoka," Violet whispered. "I'm nervous... what if a bounty hunter—" Tears fled from her eyes once more, and she hated herself for the weakness.

"The room is under my name, as was the car. Every record says the driver was picking me up, and I'm the one in the hotel, not you," Hisoka reassured. "We may lose reception soon."

"Will you stay on the line with me until you do?"

"Yes, if you want, darling."

"I really do." Sauntering into the hotel apartment, she found her way through the dark and clicked a few floor lamps on by a brown couch, which sat across from the wall-mounted TV with a black TV stand below. She sank into the couch and curled her cold, wet limbs under her body. "Please, stay on the line with me until you can't anymore."

"I will. I'm not far away. You'll be with me again by morning at the latest, darling."

"O-okay."

They spoke for several minutes despite how slurred Violet's speech became; Hisoka kept his word. She fell deep into the couch, resting her eyes with her ear against the phone, and Hisoka continued to speak.

"You're falling asleep, aren't you?" he asked.

A soft moan answered. "N-no..."

"It's okay to sleep, kitten." The line went static, and she lost all sound shortly afterwards.

"No, bounty hunters. I cannot sleep, Hisoka. Keep talking to me. I love hearing your stories...And your voice... Please..."

Darkness overtook her despite the fear. She shivered still, but the warmth of the large hotel room that was more like a home than a temporary room invaded her body. And sleep finally took her. Soon, Hisoka would arrive, and she would truly be safe. Enough to sleep. Enough to eat. And enough to be happy once more.

--------------

Laughter boomed through Hisoka's ears. He smiled at the vision of true beauty, inside and out, beneath him.

"That's seriously what you think would have happened had I agreed to give up my location that night?" Violet's large smile was infectious and stunning. She spied him at him from their interlocked position on the bed. He ran the back of his finger along her cheek, taking in the beauty with rogue cheeks beneath him.

"Yes, absolutely."

"And then what? I fell asleep soaking on your couch."

Hisoka thrust, causing her to whimper with need. He interlocked their fingers on both hands and sank her deeper into the bed sheets. The red deepened along her face as her eyes began to glaze and submit fully to his desires. He smiled at the effect he had on her.

Whispering, he used the sultry tone he knew caused such arousal in her, "I'd have found you sleeping and woken you when I carried you into bed. I'd have held you all the night stroking—" He stroked her side, running his hand down her leg and lifting it higher on his hip so he could hit the perfect angle as he thrust. She screamed in longing. "—and reassuring that you're safe with me. No one will touch you with me there."

She erupted under him, unable to hold back the passion, and he couldn't help but reward her with a release of his own. She came twice under him from the teasing, followed by the seed he allowed to enter deep inside her.

As she panted, recovering from the continued lovemaking, he revealed the rest of what he imagined would occur if she opened up to him that fateful night so many months earlier.

"That morning would have seen a shower and intimacy much like we're having tonight."

She couldn't speak, only whimper and moan as he touched, stroked, and pinned her as he pleased. She'd already rewarded him with her mouth a few times that evening. But he'd been given the ever-pleasant surprise of his favourite meal, home-cooked, waiting for him, and a special cake for his birthday.

But in truth, all he wanted and needed was her. Nothing more.

Panting, she said, "It's a beautiful fantasy. If only I'd been stronger that night."

He rested his forehead against hers. "I wasn't emotionally ready enough either. It's just what I wished happened. It would have avoided your struggle with Zanko and the wound to your leg." He kissed her forehead, and she swooned. "I love you, Violet. Our story is perfect as it is. We found each other in our own time and at the right time."

He kissed each of her eyes, cheeks and nose, making her sweet giggle sound.

"I love you too, Hisoka. Happy birthday, my love. My Magic Man."

"Thank you, my Queen of Hearts."