Disclaimer: Do not own.
Author's Notes: First time writing my favorite pairing in the series; please do give feedback. Repeated phrases are intentional.
dreams only last for a night.
you're safe from the weight of the world.
stay awake © all time low
Your vision in blurring, your breath is staggering. Bile is rising up your throat, and blood is dribbling from your mouth, against your own will. Your illusionary organs are breaking down on you, once again. The opponent is down, dead. But this hardly feels like a victory at all, as you feel your body crumbling down into an unattractive heap. You try to force yourself upward with sheer determination, but your physical limitations are preventing you from doing so. You are slowly slipping into the subconscious, gradually blurring reality with dreams, but you fight it because there may be others coming for you, coming for the information that you hold.
And then, you hear his voice. A faint murmur, low and drawled out. Slightly lazy, as though he doesn't care about anything else in the world.
"Sleep now, Chrome."
You stop, and nothing else matters anymore. You rest, because his word is final. Because you will do anything that he wishes for you to accomplish.
Join the Vongola.
You stay loyal to Sawada Tsunayoshi – you have fought for Boss and his family, for ten years.
Take care of the other two.
You try your best to protect Ken and Chikusa, and together the three of you have formed a strange bond – somewhat, somewhat like a dysfunctional family.
Do not look for me.
Dreams and illusions are enough, for you.
Believe in me.
I always have, Mukuro-sama, you whisper.
You are older, but he looks exactly the same. There is no touching, because the both of you know that nothing in this world is real except for the words, the unspoken emotions. He smiles at you from under the tree that he always conjures up in this world of his, and beckons you with a small wave of his hand.
Of course, you move towards him, feet shuffling across grass. He tells you to lie on his lap, and for a while you look hesitant. He does not press on, because he knows that you will follow his instructions in the end. You do not disappoint.
His skin is paler than yours by now. Fingers run through your long strands of hair, splaying them across his legs. He does this several times, rhythmically. It is therapeutic, but you do not close your eyes because you have to look at him. You have to keep him within sight, before he disappears again. Before he leaves you, once again.
"You've done well, my little Chrome," he says, and suddenly you are fourteen again. You cannot help but take in his praise hungrily, greedily. His chest rumbles with calm laughter, amusement at the way you haven't really changed at all, over the past few years.
But you have. It is just not enough, sometimes. Every year, the yearning eats into you.
"Mukuro-sama, I mis—"
He silences you with a finger on your lips, not quite touching. A smile – you see no hint of sadness or weariness, as always.
"It's time for you to return."
Because his word is final, because he is your world.
You take a deep breath, and open your eyes.