I'd give it all; I'd give for us.

[kill_joo_ded]

Characters: Horst Cabal (ahandsomedevil), Yuca Collabell (neverquitedies), Negi Springfield (notamageiswear), Inugami Kotarou (breakingurface), Killua Zoldyck (kill_joo_ded). Also Asuna (exorcizans) and Al (bloodseal_soul), if they're up for it.
When: Friday, February 25
Where: The Cabal/Collabell nest
Rating: PG-13 at the most, probably
Summary: Boys will be boys, and parents will be parents. Or at least boys will be failed ninja rule

Comments

[breakingurface]

It was when he was almost to the door that Kotarou's hand slid from the shadows as if he'd materialized out of nowhere. It gripped Killua's forearm on the doorknob.

Pops had told him he needed to keep an eye on his brother, and this was exactly what he was doing -- of course, he probably didn't mean for him to take quite this path, but Kotarou never took commands well.

Kotarou's face, head, and shoulder slid eerily from the shadows, one eyebrow raised, eyes glinting wolflike in the moonlight.

"Where the hell're you goin'?" he asked, almost casually.

[notamageiswear]

And of course, Negi wasn't adverse to a bit of spying, himself. He was related to Killua and Kotarou, after all. One of his ermines sat, hiding behind a vase on a table, just watching. Negi was using them for remote viewing - everyone likely would think he was sleeping in his room, but if they'd gone in to check on him, he would have been laying on the bed, eyes half-open and distant.

The moment Killua passed by, though, it caught his attention. The ermine stayed in place, but Negi was on the move, padding as silently as he could through the house. If there was going to be anyone sneaking out, he was going, too. Because sneaking out meant only one thing.

"I'd ask the same of you, too, Kotarou," he spoke under his breath, trying to keep the conversation quiet enough not to attract undue attention.

[kill_joo_ded]

Killua grimaced at the familiar face that glided out from the shadows and quickly tried to wrench his arm out of Kotarou's grip. It was bad enough that he got caught, but to have it happen twice - one after the other - was rather off-putting.

"I'm going to bash your head in if you don't shut up," he whispered in frustration, letting his gaze flit to Negi. Avoiding the question wasn't going to help anything though, and with both of them here, there wasn't anything left to hide anyway. It took no more than a second to sober up his expression, that annoyance making way for determination. "Where else would I be going?"

[ahandsomedevil]

"Don't make me tie you up," Horst said, appearing out of the shadows--literally--and setting his foot rather pointedly against the door. How long had he been there? Possibly all night; it was impossible to say.

He looked each of them over, his expression unusually blank. Horst was more or less an open book, or he tried to be. He was impressed, and touched, that all of them had had the same idea, and that they were all in their own way looking out for one another.

But he was also very, very scared for them. He'd meant it when he'd said none of them knew Kurotsuchi. He and Yuca had made sure of it.

He exhaled slowly and folded his arms. "One at a time. Tell me your plan."

[breakingurface]

Kotarou snorted softly. He was still talking quietly, better that they alert anyone else. Of course, he'd managed to somehow not hear his father sneaking up on him. He was too good for that. But he'd let go of Killua at the first tug.

"What, d'you think I was gonna stop him?" Kotarou nodded at Killua. "I was gonna come along."

[notamageiswear]

Horst's sudden appearance had startled Negi, to be honest about it. He only minutely let it show, though. He should be used to people popping out of nowhere in this house by now.

"... I was using an ermine to keep an eye out for anyone that might make a move." His eyes flicked about, everywhere but on Horst. "... I was going to go, too."

[kill_joo_ded]

Backup! Oh, dear sweet brothers, how could he have ever talked back to you in such a rude fashion?

...Oh. Right. Because that was how he talked to everyone.

Killua stood his ground, making sure to meet his father eye to eye. "I'm bringing mom home." Present tense, not past.

[ahandsomedevil]

Whatever stern, forbidding expression Horst had started out with was gone by the time they'd all confessed. Of course Killua had been the first one down; and of course Killua was the one looking up at him, defiantly.

"Wie gefällt dir das." He said that softly, mostly to himself, and moved his foot away from the door, then gestured the boys to gather around him further inside the hall.

"I'm going to go get him. That's what I'd say if I had kids who would stay home if I told them to. Since I don't...." He didn't sound like he minded not having obedient sons, and he grinned slightly. "I can get in and out faster than you three can. So here's the plan: I go in, I get Yuca. You three stand guard and keep an eye on Mayuri; he'll probably be asleep. If he's not, two of you distract him while I get Yuca out. The third will take Yuca from me, I'll relieve the two of you from distracting your grandfather, and all three of you get home as quickly as possible."

[breakingurface]

Kotarou scowled, ready to argue, but going along as backup was better than not going. His father had to know that he wasn't going to stay back if he got into trouble, either.

But when the grin came, Kotarou bared his teeth in what wasn't quite a smile.

"I can work with that."

[notamageiswear]

Negi gave a quick nod, pressing his lips together. Much like Kotarou, he was happy just to be told he could go along. Staying at home would not have sat well with him at all. He was tired of being treated like a child and being told to stay out of harm's way.

"In the event that grandfather is awake, who will stay and distract him?"

[kill_joo_ded]

Killua didn't like it, but he couldn't argue against it. Dad really would be better suited for going in and out, especially since the three of them hadn't ever seen the inside of gramps' place for themselves. He'd also be more likely to convince Mom to follow them.

"I'm staying to distract him," he affirmed resolutely. There was no room for argument. "I might be able to psych him out." He couldn't mention the conversation they'd had over the PCD, but that much at least was true. He'd told the man that if Mayuri killed him, he won the game. Mayuri would never get to see his precious son again. There was a chance he could use that to his advantage without actually having to put himself at too much risk.

[ahandsomedevil]

Horst knew Killua well enough to know the kid was good at mind games. He'd often joked that Killua ought to go into psychiatry, except that Killua was so blunt he doubted many patients would stay around for the second session.

He nodded. "Negi, you'll be Killua's support. Kotarou, you'll take Yuca when I get out there." He held his son's gaze and went on, softly, "I don't know what Mayuri's been doing to him. He may not be able to walk without assistance. All right?"

There had been more than one occasion where Horst had been forced to carry Yuca home; he didn't want Kotarou to be in the same position, but it didn't look like there was any other option.

[breakingurface]

Kotarou started to argue, but then he realized that that could possibly be the most dangerous position. He was strong enough to both carry Yuca and still be able to fight well if he had to. Hell, he could even put up shields if he had to.

"Gotcha." Kotarou's voice was dark, thinking of what might even be happening to him right now. He'd seen the bruises, smelled the blood before.

"I'll take care of 'im."

brb ruinin' boytiem.

[exorcizans]

Asuna had heard the noise from upstairs -- mainly thanks to Kotarou and Killua being loud dumbasses -- and had wandered down the stairs as quietly as possible. When she arrived, Asuna only heard parts of the conversation -- but more than enough to know that they were trying to do something dumb without her.

So she poked her head around the doorframe, narrowing her eyes.

"Take care of who?"

SLEEPOVER'S OVER GUYS

[notamageiswear]

Killua's support. That meant he'd be going up head-to-head against Mayuri, if need be. But he was fine with that. If anything, that's the job he most wanted to do. Mayuri had threatened him, had been tearing apart his family, hurting his mother... that's who he wanted to deal with.

Instead of replying, Negi just nodded, folding his arms across his stomach. He was ready for this, really. He could do this. His nerves were steady.

Until Asuna poked around the doorway, which just so happened to be by his shoulder.

"A-Asuna--!"

Boobs ruin everything.

[kill_joo_ded]

...Well. There was no reason to stay quiet now. Asuna was skilled and strong and would no doubt be a decent addition to the team. She'd want to help as much as any of them.

Killua looked from his sister to his brothers, his father, and back to Asuna again before muttering out of the corner of his mouth.

"...If we all run for it as fast as we can, I bet she won't be able to catch up."