Chapter Text
"Kalluto."
Silva Zoldyck looked at his youngest son and glanced back at his report. Kalluto had met each of his goals by a huge leap. He'd advanced far enough that if he were the first child, it would have been impressive. However, both Illumi and Killua had reached the goals years earlier than Kalluto.
Kalluto kept his gaze on the floor. Delicate strands of black hair hung lazily in front of his face as he clasped his hands in front of him, the way his mother taught him to, and waited for his father's permission to lift his head.
Silva wasn't one to reminisce, but at that moment, he remembered when Kalluto was nothing more than a small and fragile baby. He still is, at least to Silva. Without looking at his son, Silva puts down Kalluto's report and grabs another file—one that will change Kalluto from a boy to a man.
"Starting today, you will no longer be required to complete missions with your other family members. From now on, you will be on your own and must complete your mission with the quality that lets you carry the Zoldyck name." Silva said while holding out the file. "I expect only the best out of you and your brothers. Do not tarnish our name."
"Understood." Kalluto lifted his head, his eyelashes fluttering open as two pink eyes stared back into cold, icy blue eyes. Kalluto straightened his spine, knowing how much his father hates it when he lowers his gaze—calling it weakness and infuriating—keeping his father's gaze. Kalluto reaches out and gently plucks the file from his father's hands. "I will not misuse this chance, Father."
Silva hums in appreciation and goes back to sorting out his paperwork, dismissing Kalluto.
Kalluto slowly blinks and quietly leaves his father's study room.
His father kept his eyes on his desk, but after Kalluto left his study room, Silva looked up with a frown.
Back in the mansion hallway, Kalluto's wooden geta softly clicked on the floor below. He moved silently and with elegance that was beaten into him before he could talk. Casually, Kalluto read the context of the file and memorized it in seconds, knowing that time was of the essence in this line of work. Once done, he shut the file and, with a quick burst of Nen, burned the file into ashes. nothing more than a mundane mission.
Now that he's in front of his bedroom, Kalluto's looks to his right where the furthest room is his parent's bedroom. The room nearest to his father and mother should have been Illumi, but Killua's room had been moved there instead. The room next to Kalluto's is empty since it once belonged to Alluka.
Kalluto shut the door behind him and let out a quiet sigh. Within seconds, his calm, blank face slowly morphed into one full of life.
It started with his lips quivering upwards, and then a light flush painted his cheeks. Kalluto cried out, not able to handle his excitement anymore.
"Finally!" Kalluto cheered. He raised his hands in the air, kicked off his geta, and twirled around his room in joy. "It's finally here! Woohoo!" He twirled around until he reached his bed, dramatically flipping onto it with a childish giggle. "After ten long years, I can finally do things my way!" He twisted around and pulled out a notebook from underneath his bed. The notebook looks worn, and some pieces of the cover page are missing. Kalluto hums cheerfully as he flips through his journal and stops at one page. There's a list of things Kalluto had written down for when he had free time from his family. Now he is finally able to use it! How exciting!
Kalluto stood up from his bed, notebook open, as he giggled and joyously pranced around his room. What should he do first? Hit up a diner? Go to the movies? Oh! How about a desert cafe? How wonderful!
Kalluto stops in front of the mirror and looks at his reflection.
'No matter how often I see myself, I still can't believe that that's me.'
Before he was Kalluto, he was someone else—someone completely different who lived a life full of love and care.
Unlike his current family, which is full of coldness and oppression.
'Isekai, my foot, I want a refund!' Kalluto angrily thought. The only silver lining to his current predicament is that being a Zoldyck was far safer than being reborn as some NPC. Seriously, this world is cruel and vicious. Also, Kalluto wasn't even that important to the plot, so as long as he stood on the sidelines, everything would go as planned! He's just going to be Killua's little brother who does nothing to hinder the main character.
Kalluto hums an upbeat tune while packing for his mission. While packing his clothes, he thinks back on all he has endured during his new life.
The beating- sorry, the training was brutal. The Zoldyck family broke Kalluto down so no one else could. It was their version of kindness. He trained for years until he could naturally kill a man in less than three steps. Then, there was training to build up Kalluto's poison resistance, one of the first times Kalluto's parents were proud of him. Unlike his other brothers, he was naturally resistant to poison. Be that as it may, being immune to poison was the only time Kalluto got any praise, after all his brothers had already done whatever great feat Kalluto did, but much younger. They made sure to tell him that repeatedly, as if he were deaf. How cruel, but in their own sick and twisted way, Kalluto's parents were protecting him. Kalluto knew that he wasn't anything special. However, it hurt to hear his parent praise him and then tell him that one of his older brothers did it better.
However, that all changes today. Starting now, Kalluto will spoil himself with the world and finally breathe without any family member breathing down his neck!
Finally packing, Kalluto heads out of his bedroom.
"Ah, Kalluto."
Kalluto halts mid-step. His shoulders are straight, and his posture is relaxed, as any Zoldyck should be. Kalluto is like a doll, perfect and without a soul. He repeatedly tells himself this as Kalluto turns around towards his family member.
"Grandfather," Kalluto demurred. He dips into a bow, his movements fluid and practiced. "How are you today?" Kalluto lifted his head with a blank look in his eyes.
'Fuck, fuck, fuck! Why is my grandfather speaking to me?! Does he need help finding Killua? Killua should be in his bedroom by now!'
While Kalluto is internally freaking out, Zeno is watching his youngest grandson calmly staring at him.
Zeno smiles. "I'm doing well, Kalluto. Thanks for your concern." He walks next to Kalluto, gesturing with his arm toward the staircase. "I was coming up here to ask if you wanted to take a stroll in the garden. Your mother should have switched out last season's flowers already."
Kalluto slowly blinks and takes a step back. "How kind of you to ask me, Grandfather, but unfortunately, Father has assigned me a mission I must complete posthaste."
'Leave me the fuck alone you old man!' Kalluto internally screams. 'All you ever do on those strolls is go on and on about how deadly every flower is and how you once killed a man with your left pinky!'
Zeno chuckles and looks at his grandson's poised expression. His pink eyes never looked up as though he were beneath Zeno. Kalluto truly has terrible traits. With much restraint, Zeno gently pats his grandson's head. He fears that any more strength would harm his grandson.
Kalluto blinks, feeling his grandfather run his hand over his silky black hair and let out a pleased hum.
"What a shame. Let's save that for when you come back," Zeno said, pulling back his hand.
Kalluto didn't respond; he stood still in the same position. Then, gracefully, he lifted his head and looked at his grandfather in the eye.
"That would be most welcome," Kalluto said, his eyes resembling jewels when the sun hit his face at just the right angle. "I bid you a good day."
With those parting words, Kalluto descended the stairs and headed towards the entrance.
As his grandson walked away, Zeno couldn't help but sigh in disappointment. "That boy. I wonder if he truly thinks himself to be nothing more than a doll. That or he resembles Illumi more than I first thought." Turning back around, Zeno heads towards his only son's office for a little chat.
Kalluto walks towards the curve of the hallway and stops. He sighs, looking down and letting his emotions surface for a moment. Looking back up, he straightens his back and quietly brushes away the fleeting, fluttering warmth that came from his interaction with his grandfather.
He was nearly at the front door when, out of nowhere, someone ran across and nearly smashed into Kalluto. Instead, he took a step back, watched the person stop running, and glanced back.
"Kalluto?" Killua asked over a mouthful of chocolate. In his hands was a bag full of chocolate that he quickly tucked behind him. "Where's Mom?"
Kalluto watches his older brother wearily glance from side to side, knowing that his mother hates it when he spoils his appetite. "Mother is in the garden switching out this season's flowers."
Killua relaxes his shoulders, aware there won't be a scolding soon. "Oh, that's good." He turns to leave but stops as he focuses on Kalluto's baggage. "Where are you going?"
Kalluto looks away knowingly. That brat always asks for more sweets whenever he or Illumi head off on missions. "I'm going on my first solo mission."
Killua hums in acknowledgement.
Taking that as a clear dismissal, Kalluto heads off to the front door. However, without his knowledge, his hand sharply jolts back and instinctively snatches an item from the air. Blinking calmly, Kalluto brings his hand down and sees a chocolate bar. Glancing back, he sees Killua facing away from him, walking away.
"Well, good luck and all that, I guess," Killua mumbles as he refuses to look back at his younger brother.
Looking back at the chocolate bar, Kalluto can't help the little smile that blooms on his face. How kind of Killua to give him a congratulatory gift.
He bows towards Killua‘s retreating figure. "Thank you for the encouragement, brother," Kalluto murmurs. He looks up and sees an empty hallway. He guesses Killua couldn't handle all those mushy feelings.
Turning around, Kalluto returns to heading out of the house. As he reaches for the door, it opens by itself and shows the last person Kalluto wants to see.
"Oh? Kalluto, where are you going?" Illumi asks as he glances around the room. Not seeing anyone else, he passes his littlest brother and waits for a response. His brother, on the other hand, has gone quiet and seems to unintentionally turn his Nen to use zetsu. How adorable.
"I'm heading off to my first solo mission, eldest brother," Kalluto answered in a calm and flat voice. He waited for his brother's response, knowing how disrespectful it would be to leave without him saying anything else.
Kalluto isn't unaware of the small downturn on Illumi's face.
"Ah, is that so?" Illumi said while heading up the stairs. “ Good luck then. Remember to conduct yourself as any Zoldyck should and come home as soon as your mission is over."
"Yes, eldest brother," Kalluto said, not once looking up from the floor. It's only when he feels his brother Nen fade away that Kalluto lifts his head and heads out the open door.
Now, outside Kalluto, let's out a shuddering breath and turn to look at the sky.
'Starting now, I'll go on my little adventure!'
——
Silva put away his report just as his eldest son entered his study room. "Illumi, you came back sooner than expected."
"Of course, Father," Illumi said while taking a seat. "The target was nothing more than a bore."
Silva chuckles at his eldest's condescending words. "That's good to hear. Is there anything else to report?"
Illumi shook his head, ink-like hair spilling onto his front chest. "No, father, that is all to report."
They both sat there in quiet silence. The elder waited patiently for his son to speak his mind; he knew how Illumi could be at times. Finally, after a few minutes of peaceful silence, Illumi spoke.
"Father," Illumi started, hesitating, "Are you sure Kalluto is ready to go on solo missions?"
Silva sighs; his eldest habits are cropping up again. "Yes, Kalluto passed his lesson. He's qualified to take up solo missions just as you and your other brothers were."
Illumi still frowns. If Silva were not his family, no one would notice his frown and think he was an emotionless doll.
"But Kalluto is fragile. He isn't ready to be on his own." Illumi said, trying to persuade his father against his decision.
Illumi is aware that Kalluto is different. Unlike Killua, whose bold and loud personality seems to grow by the day, Killua still has habits that all of them can recognize as something Zoldyck.
Kalluto, on the other hand, doesn’t.
He's a black sheep hiding within a pack of wolves. His skills are swift, neat, and precise. He doesn't prolong death and goes for the quickest and most merciful deaths for his targets. He's kind in a way unlike themselves. Where one would leave a sibling bleeding to both learn to heal themselves and toughen their skin, Kalluto would instead stand nearby with a cloth in hand and gentle hands. He's polite to all his family. Kalluto had always used formal language with his family, while Illumi appreciating Kalluto’s manners, it left a sour taste in his mouth whenever he tried to talk to his brother. Illumi had never seen his youngest brother drop his guard. Even Killua would relax and chat between missions. Not Kalluto, who quietly observed his surroundings as though something was coming.
It was like the whole world was Kalluto's enemy, and not even his own family was safe for him. Even when they dropped their guard around Kalluto, he would still tense up as though they were still in the training room.
His poor dear brother, Illumi's fragile little doll.
Silva ignored his son and looked down at his paper, knowing how much Illumi liked to coddle Kalluto. His sons are strong, and as members of the Zoldyck, Kalluto must learn how to fight without them, or he'll never improve.
"It is done. You must wait and see how Kalluto does on his own," Silva said while sorting through his paper. He snapped his gaze at his eldest son, who opened his mouth to speak. "End of discussion. Go, Illumi."
Illumi frowned. For a tense few moments, he didn't move, but then he got up and politely excused himself. "Have a good evening, father."
Silva is left alone in his study room once more. He tiredly rubs his head and looks out the window. He can see his youngest son reach the outer gate with a slight skip to his steps.
What a handful his children are.