Back Then

-August, 2007, Italy

Reborn didn't know what was happening. He had been in a meeting with the Ninth when an urgent call came in and he was dismissed for the afternoon. The only urgent calls he knew about for the Vongola were distress signals or a job that he would be a part of. He shrugged it off and made his way through the mansion.

Later, when he came in contact with Xanxus, he couldn't hold back his curiosity. "Do you know where the Ninth is?"

"How the fuck should I know?" Xanxus, 14 at the time, glared up at the hitman. "I don't keep tabs on the old man…Why don't you ask the damn guards? Isn't that their job?"

Reborn muttered under his breath before he turned away. What a real pain in the ass he is… He did look for a guard, however. "Where is the Ninth?" he inquired, scrutinizing the man heavily. He liked to strike fear in the hearts of the subordinates.

"He received an emergency call from one of the outside advisors…Someone was brought in with a major injury. They're being taken care of in the med wing as we speak. The Ninth went to meet with them." The guard said all he knew in a somewhat monotone voice, trying to keep his fear hidden.

"Ah...I see…" Reborn started on his way, and heard the relieved sigh of the subordinate behind him. It made him smirk, but he made no comment on it. The med wing, huh? He couldn't mistake the smell of antiseptic and bleach when he entered the hallway, but pressed on until he got to the man's Guardians. "Is the Ninth in here?" He gestured to the door with his chin. "We were in the middle of a meeting."

"This is a sensitive matter," Nougat responded, stepping in front of the door. "The Boss will return when the matter has been attended to."

"Come on, I-" Reborn was cut off when the door opened and the Ninth was staring up at him curiously. "Ninth!"

"Reborn, good...I was just going to call for you. I've got someone for you to meet...Or well, re-meet." The Ninth beckoned him forward, around the overprotective form of his Storm Guardian.

Re-meet? Someone I met before becoming an Arcobaleno…? "Are they really that important to me?"

"They might be...Just come in and see." The Ninth stepped back into the room and allowed Reborn to enter. "I'm sure you'll recognize him."

Reborn wasn't so sure until he caught a glimpse of blonde hair. "What is he doing here?"

"I'm not sure of all the details, but he was injured out in the field." The older man was already on the move to leave the room. "Will you keep watch over him for me? I need to do some work." He left without getting Reborn's answer, knowing all too well that he'd do what he wanted him to do.

Reborn grumbled and went to sit down in the corner, crossing his arms and legs to close himself off from the world. He didn't really like the idea of having to sit and watch an unconscious person for hours, but he couldn't argue with the Ninth's wishes. He shifted his thoughts to the person on the bed. I haven't seen him since we became Arcobaleno…What was his name? What did he change it to? He shook his head. He figured he would find out sooner or later. For the time being, he was stuck wondering.

Colonello woke up in a place he did not recognize and was instantly in a panic. He shot up in bed, even with the refusal from his aching body, and glanced around. A few things put him at ease, the first being the lack of sound from around him. He was accustomed to the sound of bombs falling at all times of the day, so he knew he wasn't out in the desert anymore. The second was the lack of dust and dirt everywhere. The last was the quiet and stoic man watching him from the corner of the room. The dark suit and eyes were instantly familiar and kept him from stupidly trying to escape. He stared down the Hitman for a few minutes before he was entirely calmed down. "How long have you been here?"

"A while," Reborn responded, not glancing away. What happened? Why did he look so panicked before? He blinked. "The Ninth put me here to watch you."

"Ah…" Colonello reached up and scratched the back of his head. "I'll have to thank him when I see him…" He observed the other man for a moment more and grinned. "You haven't changed a bit."

Reborn huffed quietly and sat back. "What's supposed to change in 10 years? It's not like our appearance will change all that much…" He glanced at the blonde with narrowed eyes. He does look different, though. Tougher. More like a man. "You still have a ridiculous hair style."

"You really haven't changed at all!" he laughed, a look of amusement on his face. "You've never learned to lighten up, eh?"

"Oh, shut up...You're awake now, I don't have to be here anymore." The dark haired man stood from his seat and stretched his limbs out. He didn't give leaving a second thought. The younger man always knew how to get under his skin.

They didn't see each other again for another few days. Reborn had left the mansion to do some work not long after he had left Colonello's company. Their second encounter was almost a run-in-literally. They were both rounding the same corner at the same time, and Reborn almost cursed at himself for letting his guard down. "What are you doing out of bed? Aren't you recovering? You're still an idiot, as always…"

"I wasn't injured in my legs…" Colonello patted his thighs. "Stabbed in the chest," he said, showing off the bandage there. "During my sleep...Bastards have no shame."

Reborn nodded solemnly, but being a Hitman, he had killed many in their sleep. It didn't make any difference when on a hit job. So that's what happened… "I don't believe a chest injury is any less severe than an injury to the leg. You should be resting, regardless." It's what the Ninth would say, after all.

Colonello just shrugged. "I can't sit around forever. I've been in Iraq for the last two years, that's enough to keep me restless...I'm sure you'd be the same way, if you were injured."

"That's the difference between you and I...I won't allow myself to be injured…" The moment he said it, he actually kind of regretted it. "You're right. I wouldn't allow myself to sit around...Whatever, do what you wish." He turned to walk away. He couldn't stand to be in conversation long with such an intoxicating smile.

"Wait!" The blonde reached for him, grabbing ahold of his sleeve. "What do you call yourself, these days? I never asked the Ninth."

Reborn sighed and looked at him, pulling his arm away quickly. "Reborn."

Colonello nodded, lowering his hand. "Reborn…I go by Colonello now." He stepped back, giving the other man some space. "We should drink some time."

"Maybe…" It was all Reborn offered before he walked away.

Colonello watched him go, satisfied with his answer. It was better than no.

Reborn did end up taking the offer to go drink, eventually. It was only around the time Colonello's time in the mansion was coming to an end that he agreed. He'd become somewhat fond of the man over the course of time he'd been around, and to hear that he was going halfway across the world to train special operatives and protect the newest edition to Vongola property "Mafia Land" in Japan, he decided to give it a chance. If he got drunk enough to not remember anything he said he wouldn't be able to regret it.

"I was kinda upset that I wasn't going to fight with the military anymore, but I'm excited for this opportunity." Colonello said while they waited for the bartender to make their first round of drinks. "I will admit it's going to be weird to be in Japan, though."

"The Ninth wouldn't send you somewhere he didn't think you'd do well," Reborn stated, his head leaned against his hand, propped up by the counter. "You better not screw up."

"Why? You don't want me to get in trouble?" The blonde grinned at him and glanced up when their glasses were set in front of them. "Drink up, eh? Let's make this night count."

A few hours later, and alcohol was fueling all decisions. They somehow managed to get to Colonello's temporary room in the mansion before they were tangled up in each other, unspoken desire captured between their locked lips.

Clothing fell in heaps on the floor, Reborn for once not caring about the condition of his suit in favor of something better. He blamed the alcohol for the situation, but the blonde looked damn good naked.

Eventually they collapsed onto the bed, moaning and groaning as they had drunken sex.

Their extreme confession would be pushed aside in the days after, but not forgotten.