The hum of the plane was steady, almost hypnotic, as it cut through the night sky toward the Republic of Padokea. Most of the passengers had surrendered to sleep, their bodies slumped in seats, breathing slow and even. Leorio snored softly two rows behind you. Gon had curled up like a child, his head resting against the window. Kurapika sat beside you, seemingly asleep, arms folded, face serene.

But you—

You couldn’t sleep.

You’d tried. Four times now. But each time your eyes fluttered open, drawn back to the stars outside and the weight pressing on your chest.

Killua.

The Zoldyck mansion.

The unknown waiting for you at the end of this flight. You sighed quietly, forehead leaning against the cool glass, watching the constellations blur past.

“Can’t you sleep?”

The voice was soft, almost a whisper.

You turned slightly, surprised to see Kurapika’s eyes open, calm and focused on you. He hadn’t been sleeping at all. Of course he hadn’t. He was always alert, always watching, always carrying more than he let on.

You nodded faintly, not trusting your voice.

Kurapika didn’t press. He simply shifted, just enough to face you more fully, his gaze steady.

“You’re worried about Killua,” he said, not as a question, but as a truth.

You nodded again. He looked down for a moment, thoughtful, then back at you.

“We’ll face whatever’s waiting together,” he said quietly. “You’re not alone.”

And somehow, in the hush of the cabin, with the stars above and the future ahead, those words settled something inside you.

You weren’t alone.

Not with him beside you.