Okay, so this was meant to be a not-so-secret Secret Santa fic for MockingJayRose, but I also combined it with Sorugao-BandGeek's 'what do their names mean?' challenge from the KHR writing challenges forum. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed it.
VERY IMPORTANT! The full credits for 'C' goes to pinkiedoll, an author who I beta-read for and who writes the most amazing stories! Check her out when you have time. This is actually our collaboration :)
M is for Modern
In which Tsuna finally fulfils his dream
When Tsuna had first heard of the mafia, he thought of the fedora-wearing gun-wielding men that always wore suits, had connections to Italy and were involved in all the usual prostitution rings, drug trafficking, assassinations etc.
It hurt when he realised how right he was.
Before he had been told about the 'Sin' and the 'Burden' of the Vongola, but never had he imagined that the famiglia that was originally created to protect people would become this… dirty. When all of the 1209 'businesses' that Nono had ran were revealed to him, it was only Reborn's training that kept him from fainting, throwing up or worse – crying.
Yet he knew that all the tears in the world could not cure the sickness that had festered deep into the mafia's roots, so he rose to the challenge instead. With his friends and Guardians by his side, he slowly began those first agonising steps forward to change the entire mafia.
It didn't matter that his own tutor and idol, Reborn, shook his head at his antics and tried to beat the idea out of his head with gruelling training. He took it all and moved on. He ignored the Arcobaleno who tried to dissuade him from wandering that perilous path that few had returned from alive. He knew he could do it, as long as his close family stayed with him. When Nono and the other older executives tried to get in his way, his guardians held them in check, reminding them that he was the one chosen by Primo – it was time for progress.
Iemetsu watched his every move with disapproval written across his face. The Varia cursed him in every known language, yet never attempted to stop him. Dino would visit sometimes with a sardonic condescending smile, as if saying 'I've been there and it won't work, little brother.' Yet still he toiled, with the only encouragement he needed coming from his Elements that would smile and push him even further along.
It would never be completely done, this journey they had arduously began. Xanxus called it 'the pussyfication of the Vongola'. His guardians referred to it as 'modernisation'. Tsuna named it 'Humanisation'.
O is for Old
In which Reborn has an off-day and annoys Bermuda.
Reborn had always considered himself sprightly; a never-ending source of energy that could push others to and beyond their limits, as his Element would suggest. Some days, though, he couldn't help but to realise that he was a fifty-something-year-old living in a twenty-three-year-old body. Like today, for example.
"Today I will bite you to death, Arcobaleno!"
"Reborn, Reborn, Tsuna-nii said that you would be teaching me how to fight properly! He says you owe him!"
"Reborn, Reborn, how do I use Dying Will Flames like Ahodera does?"
"Reborn, you're such a meanie! You're the worst teacher ever!"
"Master Pao-Pao, I extremely challenge you to a boxing match to the extreme! You cannot refuse me this time!"
"Oh, Reborn, you've finally eaten some of my food! I promise that this time it isn't poisoned!"
"Master Pao-Pao, you're turning extremely green! Now purple! Quick, get him to the emergency room to the extreme!"
"Reborn, I've heard the Poison Scorpion finally tricked you into eating her grub, kora! Now I can finally defeat you, kora!"
"The Great Skull-sama will now make you, the lowly Reborn, grovel at his feet!"
"Uncle Reborn, would you like to have some cookies?... Oh, I'm so glad you like them! I took special lessons from Bianchi for this and – wait, Uncle, your eyes are looking a bit glassy. Your pulse is dropping! Someone, call the doctor!"
"Wow, Reborn, you call me stupid and clumsy, but you ate to lots of Poison cooking in one day! Are you finally losing your touch?"
"Yes, Reborn, I understand that Dino's comments annoyed you but was it really necessary to destroy the entire west hospital wing? I hope you have the money to pay for the repairs, because I'm not coughing it up for you!"
"The great Reborn, being told of by his Dame-student. How the mighty have fallen. Now that you are immobilised, maybe I should use you for my latest experiment?"
…time skip...
"You look like you've had a pretty rough day."
Reborn glanced up wearily from his cup of espresso to see a bandaged visage. "Bermuda, to what do I owe this displeasure?"
"This is my favourite café," the Vendice-leader informed him, "and you happened to be sitting in my spot. So, why don't you empty out your heart to me, who no longer gives a damn about you, so that you can vacate the premises as fast as possible."
Reborn spent the next ten minutes in a heated verbal onslaught of insults and insinuations before the best hitman in the world realised that he had had enough. It had been a long day, filled with irritations and at least he could kill Bermuda later if he ever tried to reveal the ex-tutor's insecurities.
"…and then I had enough and left that asylum."
"I still don't see the problem – isn't this the usual for you?"
"I've never had such a bad day before! Normally I'd never be bothered by such trivial things, much less fall for a poisonous trap!"
"Maybe you were just having an off-day?"
"…I think I'm just too old to keep doing this."
Reborn sighed dejectedly as silence engulfed the table. After taking a long slip of his third cup, he noticed his partner was shaking. "Bermuda? Are you -?"
"Too old!" grumbled the other, slamming some bills on the table as he stood up. "How dare you Reborn! Do you realise I'm a hundred years older than you are? Too old? Bullshit! You're just too arrogant to admit that you can't be perfect all the time!"
The angry ex-Arcobaleno stormed out of the shop, still mumbling incoherently. Reborn blinked in surprise at the turn of events. He hadn't expected that; who knew Bermuda was so touchy about his age?
Oh well… he felt slightly better now, knowing he wasn't alone.
C is for Charming
Takeshi's conniving ability to get the best for his boss, no matter the situation
Yamamoto glanced around the street, his eyes shifting back and forth nervously as he gazed once more down to his watch. He had promised to set out and do this errand, as the object was something for his loveable Boss. Despite his own misgivings, he would stand his ground.
A screech of tires came to stop before him and the money and the object exchanged hands before the people in the car sped off. The raven-haired swordsman grinned ear to ear after checking the package before glancing around and walking away.
He missed the pair of obsidian eyes watching at him from a distance. The adult Arcobaleno smirked mischievously at the young man's odd actions, matching them up with the earlier exchange at an alley not far from here.
*time skip*
Yamamoto was being very sneaky; too sneaky even for a mafia member. The careful attention he paid to his words made even Fon suspicious during his visit. Everyone wanted to know what he was hiding. Alas, his charming smile would throw them off-guard and no one would chance a confrontation, not so long as the male was able to maintain that smile.
They soon found out what he was hiding, however, when the anniversary of Tsuna's Inheritance came around. The swordsman had walked up to the petite male and withdrew an object. He opened the envelope and gave the contents to Tsuna.
The amber eyes glowed happily as he cracked open the hard-to-find box and popped a stick into his mouth, munching on it with a look of utter bliss. The Storm looked upon his fellow guardian with a look of confusion (and no small amount of annoyance), to which the swordsman replied with a smile and a sheepish shrug.
"It was an exchange of sorts... one rare thing for another."
He would never tell them that it had been personal photos of him shirtless; his charm was one of the things he prided himself in. But at times he also would have to improvise. But with another disarming smile and a tilt of his head, the argument dropped.
He smirked inwardly. Yep, he still had it.
K is for Kinky
Haru on D18
Everyone in the Vongola had their turn with cleaning duty, including their civilian members. One day it just so happened that Haru was in charge when Dino and Hibari got into one of their usual brawls. Romario sat reading his newspaper in a corner, while blood was spilt and snarls released from the two men who still fought as eagerly as if it had been there first time.
Watching them, Haru couldn't help but smile as she noticed the gentle-seeming smirks gracing the faces of the fighters, and the almost-affectionate way they insulted each other between blows. Hibari was never like this with any another of his sparring partners and the same could be said of Dino.
'They're so perfect for each other,' sighed Haru as she waited for them to finish destroying the training room.
When they finally took a break, the brunette decided to take a gamble and ask the question that had been bothering her for a while.
"Hey, Dino?"
"Yes, my dear?" the playboy flashed her his Prince Charming smile.
"Between you and Hibari-san, who tops?"
The blonde blinked at the question while the skylark merely ignored her. "Who tops? Do you mean who has the upper hand in our spars? I'd say we're pretty even there, aren't we, Kyoya?"
"Hn."
The excitable girl shook her head. "Not like that – I meant in your relationship. Who tops when you're alone together?"
"…I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean, Haru."
"Well, you're homosexuals, aren't you?"
As one, the three men in the room stared at her with gaping mouths. Even the ex-prefect had momentarily forgotten to discipline himself as her statement sunk in.
"What do you mean by that, herbivore?" he snapped waspishly.
"Aren't you and Dino dating?" she clapped her hands together excitedly.
"You think the Bronco and I-?"
"Oh, you don't need to hide it, Hibari-san! Everyone suspects it already. And I think it's sweet! Plus," her inner yaoi fangirl squealed as she poked Dino in his side, "you guys must be really kinky in bed!"
"What-?" the Chaviarone boss was still at a loss for words, while his subordinate struggled to contain his mirth.
"I mean, come on, you two use whips and handcuffs on each other on a daily basis! Which brings me back to my original question – who tops? Most people believe Hibari-san's the uke, what with his more effeminate build and his smaller frame but he has the handcuffs so I think it's safe to assume that he ties you down, right, Dino? Does that mean he's the seme or is it like what Gokudera says, and Hibari-san is just a dominative uke?"
Romario wasn't even trying to conceal his laughter now, while Hibari shook with fury and Dino stood absolutely flabbergasted.
"Is this what everyone thinks, Haru?"
"Pretty much, yeah! You have our full support! In fact, I think Viper is running a pool about how long it will take you guys to come out of the closest- HAHI!" she shrieked as a tonfa buried itself in the ground by her feet.
"Herbivore, ever speak of this again and I WILL BITE YOU TO DEATH!" the carnivore hissed, already making for the door so that he could teach his family that under no circumstances will he ever be gay for the Bucking Horse. This was probably all the bronco's fault anyway, what with his over-suggestive mafia nickname.
Haru pouted. "I guess Hibari-san's in denial. Poor Dino! But seriously, do you take it or do you give it?"
It would be a long time before the Chiavarone returned to the Vongola estate.
That's the first part done! This is my first time doing a general family fic. I'll post the next part tomorrow. Happy holidays, MJR, and thanks for being the awesome moderator of the KHR Roleplay forum!
P.S. This fic will have four chapters.