KHR not mine, just putting that out there. I mention a character named Claudia, she is mine.
Yikes, it's been a while, hasn't it? I probably should have warned whoever's reading this that updates will likely be sporadic. Here, have a longer thing.
Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey – 2
They've all gotten used to Tsuna in their own ways. They've gotten used to his strange comings and goings, and the boy himself. All of the members of the Vongola vigilante group (Where did that name even come from?) have learned to roll with the punches. Giotto Celeste Ventura is not so much a person as an event that happens to the people he meets, and Sawada Tsunayoshi seems to be cut from the same cloth.
He's pulled Lampo into games of hide and seek, being as humiliatingly good as Giotto, and though Lampo grumbles about his losses, he pulls Tsuna to sit next to him when they take a break. The Lightning is the youngest of five, so he's never gotten to be an older brother before. It's not the worst thing in the world.
G sighs more now. Tsuna looks up at him worriedly, because G-san looks like he has a stomach ache, so he should probably sit down. The huge caramel-colored eyes bore into his face, radiating goodwill and concern. G just sighs again, "Just like your not-father," and teaches Tsuna how to throw a proper punch, because kids are mean little fuckers, and they're not going to let him be himself. Fuck that.
Tsuna spends a great deal of time in the garden. When he's not playing with Lampo, he sits under the trees with Ugetsu. Leaning into the tall man's side, he listens to him play his flute. It's not a shakuhachi, but it's still a flute, so Ugetsu can play it. Utterly charmed by Tsuna's attention, he tries to teach him to play, but sadly, the boy's talent is outstripped by his enthusiasm. Ah well, at least he enjoys music.
Cozart likes Tsuna. He's not at the base as often as the others anymore, so he sees him less; he's becoming more and more independent from Vongola (Seriously, where did this name come from?), and there has been talk about the Shimon. But back to Tsuna, Cozart likes him, kind of wants his own miniature version of himself. He lifts Tsuna into the air with his Earth Flame, to the boy's delight, laughing at the happy shouts about flying. He walks up the walls to the sound of more laughter. It's worth it when Elena yells at him about the dirt on the walls. A little dirt never hurt anybody.
Elena, when she lays eyes on Tsuna after a long absence, goes still. The air around her bursts into illusions of sparkles of light and flowers as she launches herself at the boy. Daemon pokes at a rose, and heaves a sigh, reminding his wife that the boy needs air, cara, calm down. The illusions they craft to entertain Tsuna are nothing like the nightmares they use in battle. Daemon makes them colorful and playful, to match the boy's energy, and Elena's are soft and soothing when Tsuna is being stubborn and refusing to sleep. Elena makes Tsuna sweets, slapping Giotto's hand away from them, scolding, "They're not for you, brother!" She teaches him words in Italian, encouraging and gently correcting, and it makes Daemon think of what she'll be like with their own children. The air ripples around him with his own happy illusions.
Robert adores children, both as a priest, for they are God's gifts, and as himself, for they remind him of the good things in the world. Tsuna is especially precious, not only for being his friend's child, in spirit if not in body, but in his own right. He is a miracle to the limit, especially after he makes the stoic Jean-Philippe crack a smile. Carrying Tsuna on his shoulders is the closest he will get to fatherhood. He catches Claudia's eye and his gaze flicks away.
Jean-Philippe doesn't mind Tsuna. Indeed, the child's attempts to pronounce his given name are hilarious, and shit, it's adorable when Tsuna huffs and grumbles out, "Alaude-san," in defeat. It's completely involuntary when he chuckles. Across the chessboard, Giotto drops his rook in shock, but he automatically compensates for Tsuna shifting in his lap, the boy's favorite seat, and that's adorable, too. Tsuna often sits in on their games, even though he has no idea what's happening on the board. Giotto is bending his head down near Tsuna's face, pointing out the various pieces, explaining the rules, and it's like looking at two sides of a mirror. "He really does look like yours, you know."
"I know," Giotto says, "but he's not. There's…there's never been anyone like that. There isn't anyone like that." He looks like he almost wants to take words back, but he won't.
Jean-Philippe doesn't know why that is so important to hear, but it is, it really is, and part of him thinks he's on the verge of figuring it out. They play on, and it's going to be his win this time, but Tsuna nods off against Giotto's chest. "Tsuna, time for bed," Jean-Philippe says.
"No," Tsuna protests sleepily, and his face scrunches up in an unconscious attempt to cute his way out of it.
"Tsunayoshi." It's rare for Giotto to call him by his proper name, so Tsuna pouts and turns into Giotto's chest, wrapping his small arms about his neck, and Giotto nuzzles the brown hair as he stands.
"Alaude-san has to come," Tsuna yawns out. "The monsters won't be there because they know he'll arrest them."
Giotto's eyes meet his, and he's getting up, and they're putting Tsuna down in Giotto's bed, where he always sleeps if he's around at night. Giotto tucks him in, and Jean-Philippe checks under the bed, confirming the lack of monsters. He knows this room as well as his own, but he glances over all the corners and sight lines because he's not an idiot.
Giotto is kicking off his shoes and climbing into bed because Tsuna's grip on his shirt is adamantine. Tsuna turns to Jean-Philippe and orders, "Alaude-san, come on. The monsters might come if you go. Giotto-san and I can't fight them alone."
He can't say no to that face and those eyes. He kicks off his own shoes and slides in on Tsuna's other side. Tsuna is already asleep. His eyes meet Giotto's over the unruly brown hair. This is…nice. Why is it so nice?
One day, Tsuna goes, but he doesn't come back. One day, Elena dies. Another day, Daemon becomes a traitor, and drags Ricardo along with him. Yet another day, Giotto is in exile, and Cozart disappears onto the sea. They are all broken and scattered, and can only think, "At least Tsuna isn't here to see this."