Title: 'And to Hell with Common Sense'
Word count: 1466
Disclaimer: Everyone knows the name of the creator is Amano-sensei. Fanfiction is never to be used for profit, purely enjoyment.
Written for the Non-kink section of the reborn-anon on LJ, prompt "Squalo/Chrome AU with Fran as Mukuro's host and Nagi as Varia illusionist".
Summary: His pride will kill him one day, but not while she has something to say.
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'Your data is all wrong, Master.'
'Hmm… Well, can't be helped now, can it? I can't lend you my power – just break through and return to the base, Nagi. I'll deal with that informant later…"
'No time, Master. I won't make it, I'm afraid.'
'Nonsense. A group is heading your way; judging from the signal type—ah, it's really Varia. Just like I thought.'
'…Master?'
'Don't you worry about a thing, Nagi.'
'Master?'
"There are a couple of simple rules, kid. First, get your share done, whatever it takes. Second, don't piss the damn boss off. And last, never mention Sawada Tsunayoshi in his presence. Got it, brat?"
"A question, if I may. What am I doing here?"
Nagi can't stay mad at Master for long. Never could really. Whatever purpose he had for putting her in Varia ranks, she'll see it achieved. She's his only apprentice, after all, that child Fran not counting.
As for the independent assassination squad of Vongola, they're officially insane. Insanity permeates the very air here. Nagi is almost sure it's contagious. It must be. She did throw a fork at Belphegor during dinner today, after all.
She thinks she's settling in. Inquiries from Master are getting rarer, but she's not really concerned. She has work to do and commander Squalo is constantly at her back, biting remarks and growling orders harsher than to any of the newcomers. Looks like he isn't going to go easy on her just because she is a girl or a newbie or was recruited almost forcefully.
In general it's almost like he has high expectations.
Well, Nagi muses, this must be… flattering. Maybe she could challenge him someday. The only thing required of an illusionist is a strong mind – in that she won't be outdone by anyone. Even among Varia.
Xanxus is everything she thought listening to Master's quick briefing of her elder officers and at the same time not. He seems more relaxed in his territory, or maybe it's just laziness. Either way she feels glimpses of emotions not reaching surface.
Her hands are itching to touch the feathers now. She'll try it – if she ever needs an instant death, that is.
A seemingly regular mission gone wrong again, inputs incorrect again, but this time if worst comes, it's two lives she's forfeiting. She can't allow that, not him.
Nagi has her bleeding commander leaning on her shoulder and their backup is 90 minutes from being anywhere in the neighborhood. Thank kami Rome is not Japan and has such narrow and crooked streets in the downtown.
He is too tall and heavy for her, feet dragging on the asphalt. Somewhere along the way he regains consciousness and starts walking, a huge relief for her. An old church closed for restoration is as good a shelter as any, so they collapse there, catching breath.
Varia are not and will never be prey to anyone – Nagi sits up on the dusty floor and begins scanning the vicinity for hostile intentions and ring flames. The horizon is clear – for now – but she doubts they have more than half an hour of rest. In their situation a curtain of illusion certainly won't be undue.
800 meters, still nothing. She increases the range and turns to her commander and partner for the day. He needs checking even more, it would seem. Pulse is weak and body temperature is sufficiently lower than normal. He has lost much blood, and even though she has hidden their track, she is no Sun and can't close the wound. Nagi reaches for her belt pouch with instruments to remove the bullet when commander's hand clutches hers, eyes wild and angry.
"Don't", he bites and lies back on the bench. "It'll only bleed more."
Nagi complies and moves to sit at his side. Her voice is quiet with discontent and a sliver of worry.
"You shouldn't have, commander. This was my bullet, and I can't quite carry you to a safehouse."
He snorts. "And I can't cover the retreat with you as a weight. We would've lost both our asses there without your shelter. So shut up."
She looks now and sees him for the first time today. Breathing shallow and controlled-even, hair tangled, scattered over the backrest and hanging down to the floor – he's beautiful, he's a disaster, and to hell with common sense. He shivers and Nagi is suddenly almost, almost thankful to that too keen gunman. She covers Squalo with her coat – this time, just today she can look after him. Take care of him and guard his rest like a loyal hound. Just once.
But illusionist should know better than anyone the difference between phantoms, his daring grin reminds her. Varia commander Squalo will never let anyone pamper him. Not his own subordinate. And especially not a woman.
"Get me the bandages", he croaks, dragging her coat off and trying to unbutton his own. Fingers clearly don't comply – he's really lost much blood – and artificial hand isn't suited for this; he winces. For a minute he just lies there and looks at the chapped ceiling, not asking for help.
At last Nagi surrenders and reaches out. That pride will be his undoing one day - but not while she's around.
Her fingers are quick and firm, uniform is removed; but shirt is bloody and half-dried-on to the wound. She tries to peel it off carefully, but after an angry bark tears it away in one jerky motion. Now she can inspect the wound better.
His skin is light and warm, warmer than hers even now. Squalo doesn't wince, doesn't make a sound when she probes around – it's pointless like this, Nagi thinks. "I can't make an assessment if you don't react any", she says, irritated. And, almost an afterthought. "Commander Squalo."
"To hell with that", he responds, not specifying what. Maybe her way of addressing. Or maybe it was just wishful thinking. "Just bind it up and let's go. What's the distance?"
"186 meters, decreasing. Reinforcements still out of range. Should I try the intercom?" soldier mode kicks in immediately. They're all business now – so why doesn't he shake her hands off?
"Bandages, dammit, Nagi! We engage the bastards, so get it done before they show up here." He sits up abruptly, nearly tumbles down the bench and grips her shoulder to steady himself. The illusionist has no choice but to dress the wound and pick his clothes from the floor. Squalo grins again and looks straight at her.
"Now we're talking", Nagi can't look away from his eyes – gray like quicksilver, like gleam of his blade, like madness. He kisses her quickly, roughly, slightly biting her lip and storms out, flinging shirt on the way. She snaps back to reality only seconds after – their prey is less than two minutes away, she can't let him go alone.
And, of course, he won't get all the opponents for himself. She has her own pride.
She's Varia officer too, after all.
"They say I'm fucking you," Squalo informs her, eyes glued to some trashy video they picked randomly. "Oh shit, why spine? If it's broken, that dude shouldn't move. If not, the fuck he's doing?"
"Hmm. It's a horror film, it's not supposed to be realistic", Nagi answers, trying to settle down comfortably. "That, and I'm 'sleeping' with Boss and Bel. Both and at the same time, probably. Isn't he asexual?"
"Whatever. Are you jealous?" he snorts. Whether Belphegor has sex life or not, Squalo doesn't give a rat's ass. His object of interest is lying with her head on his lap, and damn if he lets her go anywhere this evening.
"No. But I know Boss has women. I know you do too. Levi worships Boss, Lussuria is gay, but Bel doesn't look at anyone. Not women, not men, not children, not even corpses. No one. I'm curious."
Squalo snorts. "Maybe he's waiting for some fairytale love of his life. He's full of shit like this. 'Sides, what do you fucking know about me? Not like you've seen or anything."
She stretches to pull his collar, pointing out a hickey. "And you smell of some other's shampoo. Flowery. Nobody here has anything close."
"What are you, Sherlock wannabe?" he grunts, lies down on the carpet, dragging her along. "It'll be your shampoo now. Satisfied?"
"No", Nagi laughs. "Do you want to fuel that gossip?"
"Why the hell not? Since when do you care about rumors?" Squalo snickers. He could make them reality here and now, and he knew she wouldn't really object – but what for? He is fine with the way it goes and way too proud, so he'll make her take steps further.
"My reputation's ruined", sighs Nagi and makes herself more comfortable.
When she wants, the way she wants.
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Well, that was weird. I actually had two requests with Varia!Chrome AU and I think the other one turned out better (since it's complete gen), but it still has to be translated into English properly. Yeah, the load of work...