Target № 0.1: Mafia Grandfather
There was a lull in the air, permitting through the whole room that was drenched in the shadows. Calm before the storm that was brewing behind the heavily-curtained windows and over the Italian landscape. The smell of rain and ozone hang thickly in the air, but the occupant of the office didn't feel it behind the tightly closed windows and doors as he sighed heavily and gazed with his weary brown eyes at the paper in his withered hands. The warm, yellow light of the lamp created shadows, making the wrinkles on his face seem much deeper than they were, as his white brow furrowed in displeasure and slight weariness.
Timoteo was tired; he had been for quite a long time already. For years, his relentless work that he inherited from his mother kept him awake most nights either from worry or determination, or both, depending on the situation. His Family, over time brought him so much joy and so much pain, but he knew and accepted it as the burden of the Boss. Though it didn't stop the deep-bone sadness that overtook him every time he thought of lives mangled and lost: of men, women and children (his children). He lived through so much and he had done many things. He helped to build and rebuild, he saw blood and pain, saw happiness and prosperity, he saw wars and destruction. He saw so much and yet he wanted to see even more. He wanted to see the new Golden Age of his Famiglia. He wanted to see his successor, leading Vongola there. He wanted to be the witness to the return of the original Vongola; to see that all the dark history of the Famiglia that he and his mother had tried to repay for, was destroyed by his successor, as he had promised. He knew it was selfish of him to want it so much, to allow such a burden to be taken by such young shoulders, but at the same time he knew it was inevitable now. With him growing old, and his dear children lost and buried, the choice was made for him, because the call of blood is much stronger than his own desires. However he knew that while his time was coming near, his heir was not ready to fulfill his promise. Yet.
A gentle smile touched his lips at the thought of the young boy- no, young man already, he is growing up after all – who touched his heart in some unexplainable way and whom he was proud to call his grandson (Despite their rather confusing blood relationship. Timoteo was sure that they actually were grand cousins, or something). Tsunayoshi, despite all his trials and acquired strength, was still a child, and his continuous refusal to accept the title of Decimo (Or as Reborn had suggested: Neo Vongola Primo. It made Timoteo laugh, but he agreed, because it was fitting, even though it didn't really change the essence of the position.) only cemented Timoteo's belief that his heir needed a little more time. Because Timoteo knew that deep, deep down Tsunayoshi already accepted his title. He saw it in his eyes in the day of the 'fake' Inheritance Ceremony. He saw it in the dreams of future that Arcobaleno and young Uni sent him. He saw it in Tsunayoshi's bright and pure flames, and he knew that they needed time to allow Tsunayoshi adjust and fit into his accepted title (with which Reborn will help, very gladly). He was willing to wait. After all, if he so selfishly decided that the young man will inherit his title, the little he could do is to give him time. Tsunayoshi's influence was already seeping into the Mafia, unnoticed and undetected through those who are close to him, and slowly but surely the whole idea of Vongola Famiglia changes into something that was long forgotten for the new generation. It was even a little terrifying, how such a young lad could have such an impact on the underworld (or world in general), and not even realize it.
However, Timoteo frowned, maybe not as undetected as he thought at first.
A firm knock on the door distracted him from his musings and he raised his head with a murmured, "Yes? Come in."
"Boss, I brought the reports you asked for." Ganauche's smiling face appeared in the doorway, Coyote standing beside him.
"Ah, thank you Ganauche. Leave them here please."
His Lightning and Storm Guardians silently padded into the room, Coyote settling in one of the sofas, his old joints (both artificial and not) creaking ever so slightly, while Ganauche set a folder with documents near Timoteo's right and stood near.
"What are you going to do Nono?" Coyote asked gruffly, his eyes alert as he skimmed over the amount of reports on the Vongola Boss' desk.
Not even slightly put out by his Guardian's attentiveness to his Boss' table's contents, Timoteo hummed, "Well, I concur Reborn will have it all under control, if I leave it at his hands, as he requested."
"But Decimo is not ready to deal with such matters."
"I am sure Tsunayoshi will prove you otherwise." Timoteo couldn't help a humorous and teasing note in his voice as he exchanged look with Ganauche, who snorted at his fellow Guardian's grumpiness.
"Decimo seem to be quite adaptive to whatever you and Signore Reborn dish out for him." Ganauche snickered, his eyes full of amusement. Timoteo knew that while Ganauche seem to like his young successor very much, Coyote on the other hand…
"Decimo was taught to fight and protect, and while I agree that he has charisma and it had worked wonders for him before, the current situation, if handled without a certain diplomacy can have a disastrous effect on all of the underground world-"
…seemed to hold some kind of grudge (to put it lightly) against Tsunayoshi. Timoteo sighed, knowing well enough that his right-hand man didn't mean it personally. He, as well as many of his subordinates and Timoteo himself, were reluctant to let a former civilian and someone so young to become Boss of the biggest and most influential Mafia Famiglia in the world. And maybe Coyote was still bitter over the Rings Incident. Wait, scratch that, Coyote was definitely bitter over the Rings Incident. The fact that the Guardians allowed their Boss to be captured and replaced with a fake (thus creating internal conflict within the Famiglia courtesy of Varia), then used as a… 'battery' (for lack of a better description) and nearly unintentionally killed by his successor, was probably the heaviest blow to the closest people of the Boss.
Though, Timoteo always sighs, his Guardians seem to forget that almost none of them were even in the country (neither Italy nor Japan) during the Rings Conflict. Coyote and Schnitten were both in Russia, dealing with a few important questions with their allies, a mission, he could only trust to do to his Storm and Rain Guardians. Brow Nie, was making use of his medical education and sun flames in the support mission in Columbia. Visconti, on the other hand, was recovering from his injuries in one of their safe houses in Sweden, from the Cloud Guardian's latest mission. Bouche was on one of the most unpleasant assignment, dealing with the interrogation of their latest batch of their imprisoned in the Vindice (at least as his Mist Guardian claimed it to be, Timoteo was sure that he found interrogation a somewhat… entertaining aspect of the job). Only Ganauche was in Italy during the (at least the last part of) situation, supporting the members of CEDEF during the confusion. His youngest Guardian was on his way back from England, when he was swept into the internal conflict, not really understanding what was going on (like most of their Famiglia at that moment, with the exception of some Varia subordinates), but doing his best to reign in the other members of the Famiglia, as his status of the Guardian allowed him such authority (and this fact probably made his Lightning Guardian feel the most guiltier than others).
In the end, when Timoteo was carted off from the secure hospital in Namimori back into Italy, his Guardians all arrived, frenzied and worried about their Boss and with guilt practically eating at their souls.* No matter how many times Timoteo tried to calm and explain everything to his Guardians, they seem to be dead set onto making sure that nothing like that would ever happen again. The fact that Timoteo didn't undertake any (serious) measures against Xanxus and Varia after the whole ordeal didn't make it better at all.
Hence the surges of overprotectiveness, tripled security in any gathering, glaring at any member of Varia, and almost crippling tension whenever Xanxus or his officers even stepped near the Vongola's HQ, which wasn't often but still.
But the problem with his and Xanxus' relationship aside (and Timoteo was working on it, very slowly and carefully), his Guardians always regarded Tsunayoshi's actions with weariness, especially after the Rings Conflict. So it was no surprise that some of them displayed their… uneasiness.
"…and can you imagine the consequences if this will go south, Nono?"
Timoteo blinked, wondering if his Storm Guardian was talking all the time while he was musing in his head. Judging by Ganauche's bored look and acquired from somewhere candies (Timoteo was sure they were nougat chocolate** too…), his right-hand man was indeed talking the whole time.
"Coyote, I am sure that the situation won't warrant such drastic consequences, as you fear it will. And, I am quite confident in both Reborn and Tsunayoshi." Timoteo smiled at his Guardian, who looked like he didn't share the same belief as his Boss.
"Yeah, Coyote, after the Shimon Incident you ought to believe in Decimo more." Ganauche hummed, obviously enjoying Coyote's failing attempts in changing Nono's mind.
"Shimon… was a delicate incident-"
"As well as this one."
Coyote shot a glare at the Lightning Guardian who grinned back.
"-but it could be as well considered an internal conflict in the Famiglia, considering the First Generation Mist Guardian's role in everything." The mood sobered at the mention of Daemon. "Right now, however, the whole underground world will be looking and judging!-"
"Like it always does, Coyote." Timoteo sighed pointedly, effectively silencing his Storm Guardian. "Vongola is always under close observation from both allies and not, and I understand your fears of the reactions the situation may cause." Nono smiled with a calculative glint behind his warm eyes and an edge of steel in the lines of his lips. "But, at the same time it the perfect opportunity to ease Tsunayoshi into the world and allow him to 'make an impression'. Despite how hard we tried to keep everything that happens in Japan under wraps, information tends to leak into the world, creating the ripples of rumors, that are, quite frankly, amusing. The whispers about Vongola's possible heir started even before Reborn arrived to Japan, and after Mukuro Rokudo Incident and the Rings Conflict, the ripples became even bigger. And while Byakuran and Daemon*** are known only to the Famiglia's most trusted, the Shimon Famiglia made quite a stir after the Inheritance Ceremony, not adding to the fact that some dubious rumors about Arcobaleno and Vongola Decimo's involvement spread like wildfire across the network, and it wasn't even a month since the Representatives Battles."****
Ganauche, who during Timoteo's talk was chewing at his candies, licked his fingers, "Honestly, I am surprised that the backfire is less dramatic. I thought it would be somewhat bigger. Like 'challenging-the-heir-for-the-position' or 'considering-unworthy-and-lets-overthrow-Vongola' bigger."
"Well, in a sense it is the same, just on a lesser scale." Timoteo chuckled, amused at his Guardian.
"This doesn't make the situation seem less worrisome, Boss." Coyote was still frowning, though there was less fire in his voice.
"If it helps, you can consider it as… an on-hand lesson for Tsunayoshi."
"It definitely doesn't help." Coyote grumbled, while Ganauche chuckled at his Boss' mischievous look.
Timoteo set aside the papers he already signed and picked up the reports Ganauche just brought to him, another frown appearing on his face, much deeper and serious than the previous one.
"On the other hand the situation with this Famiglia, is something to worry about." He couldn't help but murmur in thoughtfulness as he scanned the reports.
Unnoticed by his Boss, Coyote and Ganauche exchanged grim looks in agreement with Nono.
Timoteo's thoughts wandered briefly back towards Tsunayoshi, wondering how the boy will take the news that Reborn will deliver (probably with a lot of flailing and denial, in accordance to Reborn's reports about his grandson's reaction to any Reborn-suggested activity), before concentrating back on his work. After all, Timoteo, however tired and old he felt himself some time, could and would work as long as he was able to do it for the sake of his Famiglia (and Tsunayoshi).
But he couldn't help the last chuckle at the thoughts of Tsunayoshi and what Reborn had planned for him.
0. E'solo l'inizio - It's only the beginning. One of the many phrases in the last issue of KHR manga, made by my favourite husbando Dino.
1.* We never knew why the heck the Guardians didn't protect Timoteo when he was kidnapped by Xanxus. (Jk, we do know, 'cause there was NO GUARDIANS in the earlier ideas of Amano.) So I created them a reason, I felt really bad for those guys, being without a backstory and stuff.
2.** All Timoteo's Guardians are named after candies/sweets. I made a joke about it.
Coyote Nougat refers to nougat. Schnitten Brabanters refers to Belgian chocolates and cake. Brow Nie Jr. refers to brownies. Visconti refers to biscotti. Ganauche III refers to ganache. Croquant Bouche refers to a dessert consisting of Choux pastry balls piled into a cone. (from KHR wikia)
3.*** As was shown, only those who were in the future and those who received memories about future know about it being altered. That includes: Timoteo (and obviously people he trusted: his Guardians, Iemitsu and his subordinates), the Future Travel Gang, Arcobalenos, ex-Millifiore gang and some. So Byakuran is definitely not a big figure presently and still remains unknown to mafia/world populace. With Daemon it is the same situation, but only Vongola X and IX generation, along with Shimon and CEDEF know about him (and of course frigging Reborn). And I have a feeling the info about him was similarily shared to those only trusted.
4.**** Like as if no one will notice that Arcobalenos were fighting in some town in Japan. Srsly. Of course noone knows any details, but the rumours and theories are thrown (and Skull probably blurted out something somewhere). Though the whole Tri-ni-sette ting is obviously unknown to mafia/people.
Author's note: Well hello there KHR fandom, I bet you didn't miss me, like I missed you. I am already regreting that I am posting, but I decided to ignore it. This beginning for a fic was loitering in (both) my laptop(s) for years. I have a ready Prologue, separated on two parts, and a start for a first chapter and absolutely no intentions of continuing it. This fic is drawn out, with a lot of talk, explanation and shittily described actions. Some characters are finally given lines, some finally interact, and there was a huge plan for a whole fucking OC community to 'help' the main heroes with their daily problems.
Haha, so I naturally decided to post it.
Screw everything, I am an adult, I do what I want.
P.S. I am not a native english speaker. Sorry for mistakes.