When I awoke it looked like late afternoon. Illumi was asleep and one of his hands was cupping my ass, our legs were intertwined and my arms were wrapped around his narrow waist. I snuggled into him and I appreciated his sinewy, lithe body. I looked at his face pale face and I noticed his small mouth was smiling cutely. His face right now seemed to have more emotional depth to it, rather than his usual composed yet apathetic look. I decided I liked his expression better when he was like this. I bit my lip stared at his peaceful expression. My body tingled happily and I gave into my temptation a little bit. I pressed my body into him and kissed his mouth lightly, so he didn't wake up. I whispered to him, "Why can't you always look like this, Illumi?" I closed my eyes again and figured I'd sleep again until he woke up. I didn't want to move and wake him. I felt his hand tighten his hold on my ass and I moaned quietly. I found myself wishing I wasn't wearing underwear at all, I found myself wanting to press myself into him,wanting him to slide into me and him to thrust exactly like he did when he took my virginity, that same gentle, yet delicious thrust that had made me climax, orgasm, and cum for my very first time. I drifted off into my dirty thoughts until I came to and scolded myself, "no, stop it y/n just friends! Just friends! Dont start with-" I saw his face twitch and I froze, hoping I hadn't woken him up. I felt his aura spike then envelop me again and it returned to normal once he sensed I was the only one in the room with him. His breathing was still steady, his eyes were still closed and I felt his his heart rate against my chest and it was agonizingly slow. It was a close call, but I figured this meant he was still asleep. I cursed myself, and my sexual and emotional attraction to Illumi. So, I clutched Illumi as I fell back asleep against him.

When I awoke again, I heard him whispering my name. I blearily opened my eyes and through the window I saw it was late afternoon, early evening. His hand was no longer on my ass, but instead under my shirt and resting between my shoulder blades. His other hand was holding mine and I smiled blissfully as I looked up at his black eyes. He observed me and said, "flower you're awake. I wanted to thank you for braiding my hair, painting my nails, watching movies with me, giving me happiness, and giving me a real sleepover. I love you so much, my doll." I pat his back and I whispered, "hey, yeah no problem what are friends for!" I laughed nervously knowing we were more than that but I refused to admit it out loud, which was actually kind of ridiculous. I  finished, "I love you too, Lumi. Just don't call me your doll, please. I'm a person, not a toy, I don't want-." He cut me off and said crisply, "understood, y/n. I apologize. You are my friend and my love, not my toy and you do not deserve to be treated like one." I sighed and said softly more to myself than anything, "I'm not Hisoka's toy, I'm-I'm his wife and he-he loves me. Hisoka knows I'm not his toy, right?" Illumi stroked my hair and said absolutely nothing. I knew he was listening but I hated how I was coming to him, a man who loves me, for comfort about my husband. I sighed and apologized, "I'm sorry Illumi it's not fair for me to come to you for comfort about him, I know how you feel about me, I don't want to upset you by mentioning Hisoka." Illumi twirled one of my strands of hair around his finger and said evenly as he looked at my hair, "you can say absolutely whatever you want to me y/n, and I will listen to you no matter what; because I love you." I whimpered and I said inside my head, "when you were asleep Illumi I wanted to fuck you, I love you so much and I want to so bad right now. I feel like an awful person for wanting two men at once! Ugh, why me?!" I grimaced snd I shut my eyes to prevent tears from gathering and I whispered aloud into his chest, "what's wrong with me Illumi?" Illumi kissed my nose and he whispered, "nothing, absolutely nothing."  I opened my eyes and I whispered while smiling, " you don't even know what I'm talking about." Illumi shrugged and said, "you seemed distressed, and no one is perfect, but you're the closest thing to it that's know of. so whatever you're talking about, I assure you- nothing is wrong with you my goddess, and if there is, you can always tell me, flower." My heart melted and I whispered, " thank you Illumi. I love you too." I bit my lip back in an effort to not say more. He held me close and, "Im very glad you do. You're my love. Oh, Would you like to meet my parents, y/n?" I had no desire to ever come close to any Zoldyck besides him and Killua so I scoffed and tried shove him but he caught my wrist before I could snd he turned me around so he was spooning me. He wrapped his arms around my midsection and I held his hands. He said lightly into my ear, in a composed tone, "why not?" I shrugged and said, "why would they care about me? Plus, why should I care about them? They're dangerous and given our predicament it's probably best I don't meet them. I mean, aren't you expected to marry and like have kids that grow up into little assassins or something?Won't they blame me for that not happening?" we sat in silence for a while then he replied, " that would be somewhat ideal, I suppose. However, they won't force me to, and they most likely won't care either way, because Killua will be the Zoldyck heir, not me. He's really the only one expected to produce children and head the family. So I am left to do as I please, aside from watching over Killua. nonetheless, I want to you to see my home, I want you to know me, like you know your-your- husband." I grimaced and I knew he meant Hisoka, but didn't want to say his name. I turned toward Illumi. I told him the truth and I said, "the way you described your life and childhood, I don't know if I really want to see your home. I mean I could if you truly wanted me to..." he turned my body around so we were face to face and he clutched my hand, almost crushing it. He said, "and that is why i want to experience my home with you, to be in my room with you, to smell you in my home. So next time I return home, I'll remember showing it to you my flower, and I can be happy there because you were once there with me. I want you to know me." I pursed my lips uncomfortably and I held his hand and said tentatively, "let's just wait and see, ok? We'll see Lumi." He nodded and said matter of factly, "by the way, they already know about you and our arrangement." My eyes widened. "What?" He said, " I needed to tell them." I sighed and I didn't ask why. I didn't want to know.

I closed my eyes and after a few minutes he whispered, "did you like it when I made you sleep?" I thought for a bit and I nodded. He pushed himself into me more and whispered, "I'll be there any time you need me, for whatever you need or want, y/n. I'll protect you. I'll make you sleep, I'll make you happy, I'll be your pet snake, I'll be your friend, your lover, your protector anything, as long as you love me." I sighed and I almost told him I was a strong independent woman so didn't need protecting. But I closed my mouth again. Maybe it would be nice for my sensitive side of me to be coddled, I supposed. If he was going to insist on acting like (and kind of being) my savior and protector, i guess I could let him. I laughed as I processed his last few words. I held his hands then I shifted my position and laid on my side so I could look at him. "Ok, you can be my pet snake." I whispered, as I smiled. He nodded and I said quickly "but don't go overboard like you did last time, please?" He nodded sharply and said resolutely, "yes, I don't plan on losing you because of my foolishness and recklessness because I value you." I sighed and my mind drifted to Hisoka. Did he value me, they way he was treating me? I shook my head and I realized that's Illumi was choosing his words very carefully to try to get me compare him to Hisoka. I frowned. "Stop that, Lumi." He said innocently, "stop what, y/n?" I narrowed my eyes and I said, "stop manipulating me, trying to get me to compare your behavior to Hisoka's, you're choosing your words very carefully, you shrewd manipulator." Hisoka was many things but he wasn't manipulative. He was blatantly honest about being a whimsical liar, fickle schemer, and a sadomasochist whose main goal in life was to seek out strong opponents to fight and take me along with him wherever he went. Illumi stayed silent and his face betrayed no emotion. He whispered, "I always choose my words carefully, my flower. Rarely do I speak before I think. If this is considered manipulation, then I could be accused of manipulating you any time I speak. Is that what you believe about me, that I would do that?" I narrowed my eyes at him trying to figure him out. His expression gave absolutely nothing away so I pinched his arm lightly as I smirked, "you're dangerous, Illumi Zoldyck. What a dangerous man you are. It seems I have a tendency to surround myself with dangerous men. This can't be healthy!" I laughed and at my own comment and illumi smiled slightly  and said "it would seem so my flower". I winked at him and I rolled off the bed and I figured I'd head back to the penthouse. After all, I had to finish teaching Tsukishima and finish the mission. I decided taking a shower with him around was a recipe for a hot and sweaty  disaster so I used the bathroom and washed up quickly. When I re-emerged he was fully clothed and I said to Illumi as I threw him my underwear and put my pants back on, "I'm doing a mission for Kaito so I'm gonna leave now. I'm sure you've got business to attend to as well. I had a really great time with you last night, Illu-"I glanced back at him and his face fell. He tucked my underwear into the front of his underwear and frowned at me. I stopped talking and he got off the bed and hugged me tightly. I breathed in his scent and wrapped my arms around his neck. he rested his chin on my shoulder and he massaged the small of my back with his fingers. I giggled as I squirmed under his touch. He tightened his hold on me and said, " you're quite ticklish, my y/n, I love it." I laughed and he threw me into the bed. I looked over st him and he stalked toward me like was ready to pounce on me. I quickly rolled off it before he could try anything and I grabbed my phone.
Hisoka had text me late last night, "am out. Will see you soon Luv~". At least he had said something this time. I looked around and realized I didn't have much else to take, save for the bag I had bought. We ate and drank just about everything so I grabbed the bottles of nail polish and pads, and threw them in my bag. I used my phone to do a map quest thingy on how to get back to the penthouse. Illumi said quickly, "let me walk you out, where are we going?" I wondered whether or not I should let him come. It was about a 45 minute walk on the way there... I decided against it. The last thing I needed to do was explain to Hisoka why Illuni was with me. Plus, I could only handle so much Illumi in one day. I didn't like not being able to see what he was thinking, like I usually could with Hisoka, and Illumi's perfect hair made me a little jealous too. "No, Illu- it's ok I'll be fine." He bristled and said, "I'm coming with you, and I would prefer if you didn't call me that." I went over to him and silently and motioned for him to sit down do I could redo it before we left. As I massaged his scalp with my fingers I said, "I guess you can come. But why can't I call you Illu? You didn't care when I nicknamed you Lumi." He sat quietly and ignored me. I sighed and I decided I wouldn't push it. He was trying to respect my boundaries so I'd respect his too. So, started to rebraid his hair and I whispered, "that's ok. I won't call you that." He nodded and said politely , "thank you my flower." I smiled and finished doing his hair. When I was done I pat his head to signal I was finished. I jumped out from behind him and I looked at him from the front and his hair and I said proudly, "ta-da! Behold, my masterpiece. Illumi you look so good! Ugh you're frustratingly handsome!" I gawked at his elegant and slender, yet muscular build and coupled with his hair braided behind his back, with a few loose strands brushing his forehead. He watched me as I took in his features snd I realized his eyes were following my every move. I felt like he was analyzing me and I smiled at him and put my hand on my hip, "Like what you see, Illumi?" I joked. He stared at me with no emotion showing right now, and whispered, "yes my flower your taste i-". I blushed and interjected, "stop talking about my taste, ok? let's not make this any harder for me to restrain myself ok?" He breathed, "restrain yourself? Around me?" I grimaced and wished I hadn't said that. I scratched my head awkwardly and I said, "I've already done enough to Hisoka, Illumi, I'm trying to keep the affair activity to a maximum of zero from now on." Illumi crossed his arms and said seriously, "you've done enough to him? Y/n don't think I didn't notice all those bite marks all over you.Was that sometime you liked, did you ask for that? You've done enough to him..." I blushed and looked up at the ceiling questioning what to do or say. I just opted with the truth, "I let him do it because he wanted to, he said he wanted to taste my blood and I could've been worse, I'm happy that he's happy. He was gentle too." Illumi mumbled something inaudible and came towards me, and wrapped his arms around me. He whispered, "you could still marry me, and divorce him, if you wanted. I learned my lesson and I will never make the same mistake of hurting you twice, my flower. I would never hurt you." I grimaced. If he was willing to put his pin in his brother and thought that was wasn't hurting him, then wasn't really sure what he'd do to me and not consider it 'hurting'. I hugged Illumi back but I said, "Illumi,you're forgetting that I'm in love with Hisoka, that he was my best friend for years after my parents were killed. I've loved him for years and this is just how he is. I still love him no matter what snd I made a promise to him that I want to, and fully intend to keep. He just gets hard to deal with sometimes." Illumi nodded and said, " the offer still stands. We could have children of our own." I pulled out of the hug and sat on the edge of the bed. I looked at him seriously and I said, "it wouldn't  be the best thing for you to become a father. I don't want to overstep my bounds but..." I trailed off. I wanted to mention Killua and how he treated him during the Hunter Exam. Illumi was overprotective to a point that he was hurting Killua, stifling his growth, and holding him back because he loved him too much. I could only imagine what he'd do with kids of his own. I laughed and I looked up at him, "neither you or Hisoka are fit to be fathers and I don't know why that's all either of you can talk about, is this like a man thing, or like a normal topic for relationships? Well, it most likely is. But still, Illumi we're not really in a relationship, so I don't want to hear talk about you wanting to impregnate me, or taste me or marry me, or... any of that stuff, if you can help it, ok?" He frowned and cocked his head at me curiously. His braid fell over his shoulder and he nodded while observing me. He closed his eyes and held his hand out and said, "very well my flower. I will respect your boundaries." I winced, reminded of how Hisoka wasn't #1 in the boundary- respecting department. Just because I loved him to a fault didn't mean I should let him treat me like this.

I said aloud, "I have to teach him a fucking lesson." Illumi opened his eyes and said curiously, "oh? And how will we go about doing this?" I noticed he said 'we' and I wondered if he should get involved. I looked down and anxiously picked at my nails. I looked back up to Illumi and I said hesitantly, "I don't know if I should involve you Illumi." I reached out to take his hand and he stared at me and held my hand gently in return. "I don't think it's fair to use you as leverage. I don't really want our friendship to get ruined because of him. Plus, I have to learn how to reign him in myself, right? After I all I'm stuck with him for the rest of my life, ha!" Illumi stood up and frowned. I debated whether or not to stay any longer but I'd decided I needed to get back to the mission, check on Kei, and see Elaine. Plus, I needed some time to decide how to put Hisoka in his place. I remember the few times he made me mad in the past, and all I had to do was cry and yell and he'd start crying and going on about how he loves me and I'm his sister and I'm his best friend and he doesn't want to loose me and please don't be mad etc. I wondered if I'd have to switch tactics now that we were in a relationship. Probably. I shrugged and then before we left I used my en to check of Hisoka was within the I felt Hisoka's presence tickling the periphery of my en. Which meant he was at most about 10-15 blocks away. I hummed in anticipation and I said, "Illumi I feel him he's close." Illumi said nothing and my phone rang. It was Hisoka. I contemplated ignoring it but I didn't want to and I wanted to hear his voice so I picked up the call. His deep velvety voice came through the phone and he said "Hello my sweet I missed you, my lovely pound cake." I ignored how happy I was to hear his voice and I scoffed. "Well if you miss me so much, then why'd you leave me without so much as an explanation. You know I was in pain and you just love to torture me. Are you happy now you bastard?" Hisoka clucked his tongue and Illumi wrenched the phone out of my hand and put it on speaker. I glared at him and he glared back. Hisoka's voice crackled though the phone and he said, "Love I simply hate it when you say such things. come, my Love forgive your Daddy. I love you." I bit my lip and willed myself not to give in, to not let him get away with it his time. I put my hands on my hips and yelled into the phone, "NO! I'm mad at you Hisoka, I'm really mad! You can't just tattoo me in my sleep because you're the one who didn't come when I needed your help. You're the one who felt insecure about our relationship after I called Illumi, and I'm the one being punished for it! You made me feel like it was my duty to endure the pain of you fucking me till I cried and tattooing me in my sleep! Maybe I should punish you for a change!" Illumi stood silently and watched me as I looked at the phone waiting for Hisoka's response. Hisoka laughed in an amused tone and then he said seriously and deeply, "Love it seems you're misinterpreting the situation. I tattooed us both as a representation of our bond, and our love, and when we lay together; just my touch aroused you. You begged me to put it in you and I believe your exact words were, "yes Hisoka I love this, I love you, I like being dominated by you Hisoka, dominate me, baby, show me whose in charge, show me what happens to bad girls." I paused and realized I had indeed said that. I sat dumbfounded and he continued,  "so I did my Love. You wanted it rough so I gave it to you rough. You cried quite a bit but you never asked for me to stop. If you would've told me to stop, I would've. You're also forgetting that I slowed down and softened my thrusts to make you cum because I wanted you to be as happy as I was in that moment. Then, you called me selfish and I left because you don't appreciate all that I do for you, all the time. I work so I can take care of you and so you want for nothing my dearest." I blushed intensely and I wondered if I was being unreasonable. Yes, he hurt my feelings, yes he shouldn't have tattooed my while I was unconscious but he also made some fair points and I wondered if I had the right to be as upset with him as I was. Illumi silently observed me as I thought. I exhaled snd I said apologetically, "Hisoka, i love you too, I'm so sorry maybe you're ri-" then Illumi hung up the phone. I looked up angrily at him and I shoved him. "Hey! What was that for? You don't get to do that. That's not fair!" He crossed his arms and tilted his head to the side as he looked at my blushing scarlet face and my hands angrily placed on my hips. He said looking me up and down" well it seems as though you were ready to forgive him at a moments notice, y/n. I had to make sure you truly forgave him before you admitted he was right." I raised my voice and I said, "didn't you hear him? I have no right to be upset! I was probably being over dramatic I asked for it, literally! I mean it hurt and I know he did some bad things but maybe I shouldn't be so mad..." He blew out an exhausted breath and turned off the ringer on my phone and pocketed it. I watched him incredulously and he said, "no right to be upset, hm?" He stroked one of his long braids and said, "well, hypothetically if I were having intercourse my wife and she began to sob, she wouldn't need ask me to stop for me to sense something was wrong. And, I wouldn't try to invalidate her feelings about me abandoning her when it was I who didn't give the reason." He let go of his braid and said seriously, "Hypothetically, of course." I smirked a hr continued, "though it seems to me you need to tell him what you told me, about feeling obligated to 'be strong' for him, when really, it's only hurting you. Don't let him ignore you, I've noticed he has a tendency to focus on himself quite a bit, as you said y/n." I let my hands slide off my hips and I nodded slowly at him. "Maybe you're right, Lumi." He nodded and I held my hands out for a hug. He walked toward me and pulled me into his sleek body. I clutched the fabric of his clothes and I whispered into his chest, " but Hisoka has this thing for power and strength and I feel like if I admit that to him- he'll think I'm weak, he'll love me less and he'll prioritize his toys over me. Would he do that if I told him how I felt about all this, Illumi?" I looked up at Illumi and he tightened his arms around my waist and I felt his arm brushing my exposed back. He tilted his head to the side and he said, "from what I can tell, that most likely will not happen. but even if it does my flower, you always have me-you can always come to me, you can always be with me, your pet snake, and your protector." I smiled at his remark and I whispered, "thank you, Illumi. And you can put pizza on my thighs whenever you want to. I'll be your plate, heh." He squeezed me tightly whispered, " I love you so much my flower thank you for making me happy, and giving me my first sleepover. It was... fun. I've never truly had fun like this before, so I thank you." I pat his back and whispered, " I love you too. And yeah, it was fun. Thanks for being there for me, Lumi, you're great." He sighed and let me go he handed my phone back to me. I smiled at him and he said, " I will take my leave now, my flower. I would rather not engage with Hisoka until we have our contract finalized." I gasped in remembering I still needed to look it over, but I trusted Elaine, Hisoka, and Hisoka's lawyer's edits; and now Illumi has garnered my trust so I said, "right! Set a time and place I'll make sure we're there to sign it soon. I trust you guys made it fair so I'll skim it over and we'll be in business Lumi!" He pat my head, nodded and as he slipped out of the room and said, "goodbye for now my flower, thank you."