You wouldn't believe the amount of PM's I got requesting that I turn my one-shot into a story. So I decided that instead, I would make this a collection of unrelated one-shots.
If you want to request something, just send me a PM. Except for slash, I think I can make anything happen.
Enjoy!
P.S. I know this has been done before but I wanted to make this cliche my own. This was the one scenario that was requested most.
Prompt: To Be a Criminal
Detective Alexander DeAngelo, age 30, wasn't sure what to make of the tall-ish teenager sitting in front of him clad in a very expensive three-piece suit, an Audemars watch, and the shiniest Italian shoes he had ever seen. Whoever this kid was, he was loaded.
A couple uniforms had picked him up near the alleys on seventh street when they found three unconscious members of the Stravonne Famiglia lying at the kids feet. The kid, the officers had reported, took one look at them with his wide, doe like eyes, and held out his hands as if expecting to be arrested.
Instead, the officers' hearts had apparently melted because they carted the Mafia into one car, and drove the kid back to the precinct with no handcuffs and had even bought him a cup of coffee.
And now, here he was, sitting in front of a member of the Organized Crime Unit for this precinct.
Alex sighed and leaned back in his chair. This kid looked far too innocent to be involved in any of this. Maybe he was just in the wrong place in the wrong time.
"I'm Detective DeAngelo. You're in New York's First Precinct. Do you know why?"
The kid observed him for a second before a soft smile lit up his face. Alex could have swore that his insides fluttered.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Detective. My name is Tsunayoshi. And yes, I am well aware as to the reason why I am here."
His voice was rich and pure, like honey, Alex decided. Which was odd because the kid was at most eighteen, and no kids his age had that type of timbre to their voice.
And then there was his name itself... Japanese, but the kid's brown hair and unusual eyes didn't look Japanese to him. Mixed blood perhaps? His voice was devoid of an accent, so perhaps he had been raised in the States...but something about this kid told the Detective that he wasn't from here. Was his name Tsuna Yoshi, or was Tsunayoshi his first name. If so, why hadn't he given out his last name?
"Am I under arrest, Detective?" Tsunayoshi's voice was filled with amusement, like he knew he wasn't, but was toying with the man.
Alex's eyes narrowed. "No, not yet at least. But would you mind telling me why a kid like you was standing above three knocked out Mafioso?"
"Mafiosi."
"I'm sorry?"
The kid smiled benevolently again, and Alex felt the need to bash his head against the wall.
"Mafiosi is the plural of Mafioso." The kid explained.
"You Italian or something?" Alex inquired. The kid could mix between Italian and Japanese. It would explain the weird features.
"Or something." Tsunayoshi dipped his head in a regal manor.
"So what were you doing?" Alex pressed. It wasn't every day someone from the Mafia ended up in their precinct, let alone three.
"I was enjoying the sights that New York had to offer." Tsunayoshi leaned back in his seat, making the old, uncomfortable chair seem like the most luxurious thing in the world. "When I came across three brutes who were trying to steal money from a young girl." Something flashed in the teen's eyes that sent Alex's alarm bells ringing. "Where I come from, such behavior is unacceptable. Therefore I politely them to stop what they were doing."
"I take it they didn't listen?" Alex said sarcastically.
The teen only grimaced slightly. "I'm afraid they needed more...direct measures to understand what I was saying."
"And how does a kid like you, barely 5'9, at most 150 pounds, take out three men who each have 100 pounds and half a foot over you?" The Detective asked, not bothering to beat around the bush anymore.
"I've had training in various fields." Tsunayoshi winced almost imperceptibly.
"Such as?" Alex prodded. He was met with a blank stare.
"I was woken up with bullets, told to climb mountains with my bare hands, wrestled bears, out swam sharks, tamed lions, chased around by food that could kill me, and nearly bitten to death every day by a skylark." Tsuna deadpanned.
Alex blinked.
Tsunayoshi blinked.
Alex burst into laughter.
Tsunayoshi scowled.
"That was good kid! Really good! You should be a comedian." Alex wiped the tears out of eyes before pinning the teen with a glare.
"I'll let you go today because no one really wants to press charges against you. The Stravonne's are the worst type of Mafia there are. You bringing in three of their grunt workers might not be much, but it's something." The Detective stood up at the same time the teen did.
"I wasn't aware there were good types of Mafia?" Tsunayoshi questioned lightly, amusement once again coloring his tone.
"There aren't." DeAngelo affirmed. "But there are some Famiglias who don't think killing innocent civilians is fun."
The older man watched the kid's fist clench. For a moment, he was sure that his eyes flashed orange.
"Thank you, Detective DeAngelo." Tsunayoshi bowed deeply, startling the man. He had never been bowed to before.
Flustered, he opened the door out of the interrogation room and found that his partner, Dave Jameson as well as the two uniforms who had picked it up had been watching them.
Tsunayoshi paused for a moment before deciding that a handshake with the three men present was necessary. While they were taller than him and much older, something about the kid made the Cops to feel as though they were in the presence of someone powerful.
It was then that the Detective noticed the ring on the kid's right ring finger. It wasn't a wedding band, and he couldn't see the design on it, but Alexander DeAngelo knew in that moment that the ring was archaic. Old implied history, and history implied the kid must come from a family of importance.
Wait...Family...or...Famiglia.
No...this kid was Japanese, not Italian. Well, even if he was half-Italian, he didn't know many Italian Famiglias that allowed outsiders into the main branch of the Famiglia. It was possible that he was Yakuza, but it was only that...a possibility.
"Shouldn't we warn him that the Stravonne Famiglia is particularly nasty to people that get in their way?" One of the officers asked confusedly, pointing to the door which the kid had just left from.
DeAngelo groaned before racing out that very same door intent on stopping the teen only to find that he had completely vanished.
"Damn it!" The Detective slammed his fist against the concrete of the building. If a corpse that looked like the kid showed up, that child's blood would be on his hands.
"What is his full name, address, age, and anything else on him?" DeAngelo growled to the officers that had picked him.
They looked at each other nervously before backing away from the man.
"Well...it's just that...his eyes...he looked so...like my son you know?" One of the men stammered pathetically.
"We forgot." The other officer stated bluntly, waiting for the storm that was about to erupt.
The vein in DeAngelo's forehead burst.
And if a passerby of the First Precinct commented on the unusual amount of noise and occasional gunshots ringing, they chalked it up to Police Stuff and let it go.
Tsuna loosened the tie around his neck that he had been forced to wear by Reborn and flopped onto his bed, exhausted. He thought he had done pretty well in handling his first encounter with the police. Still, it had been hard to pretend to be so calm.
From across his room, his mentor stared at the view of the Freedom Tower.
"The Stravonne Famiglia is deadly." Reborn's low timbre reverberated through the room. "Not as deadly as us, but they rule New York's Underworld." The ex-Arcobaleno turned around, his eyes shadowed by the Fedora he was wearing.
It was just the two of them in New York City for now, the rest would be joining next week. The Decimo, Tsuna, had just wanted to take a relaxing vacation outside of Italy and Japan. Unfortunately, trouble seemed to follow him like a magnet. When he had found three men trying to harm a young child I-pin's age, he had snapped. It wasn't until later had he learned that they were Stravonne's men.
Tsuna knew that he had accidentally started a war with the man. The only way to win was to establish dominance. And that meant that the Vongola would soon control New York.
By accident of course.
"How much man power will we need to take them out?" Tsuna started the espresso machine the room and let it's quiet hum wash over him.
"Just the Decimo his Guardians will suffice." Reborn replied with a smug smirk.
Tsuna stared at his mentor for a second before smirking a nearly identical smirk. If anyone saw them now, they would swear that the two were father and son.
"So they are that weak?" Tsuna grinned, handing a cup of espresso to Reborn who accepted.
"I just said that they were deadly."
"But if only myself and my best friends are needed to take them out, then they must be weak." Tsuna retorted, breathing in the exquisite aroma of the expensive coffee.
Reborn shook his head slightly with amusement. "You seem to forget Decimo, that yourself and your Guardians are more powerful than anyone in the Mafia can imagine. And they know that you are young and still growing. They think, if at 17 you are already known as Il Diavolo, then what will you become at 27?"
Tsuna grimaced at the nickname he had been gifted. The Devil. He didn't understand why? He always was kind and courteous to people, even when they pissed him off. Was his pleasantness somehow misconstrued for dominance?
"They will be looking for you." Reborn told him.
"I'm looking forward it it."
And the look in Tsuna's eyes filled Reborn with pride because that was his sadism shining through. The kid many not have Reborn's blood running through him, but it was proof that he had been raised by him.
Somewhere in Manhattan, Don Stravonne let out a pathetic warble.
It was pure coincidence that Alexander DeAngelo ran into young Tsunayoshi is Washington Square Park two days later.
The police had gotten word that the Stravonne Famiglia had sent a hit out on the teenager who had taken three of their men down. After two days of frantic searching, seeing the teen sitting in the park, looking so carefree sent a pang straight into the hardened Detective's heart.
This kid probably did not know how far reaching his actions were. How simply by helping one little girl, he had a price on his head. The world just wasn't fair at times.
"Tsunayoshi!" He yelled, praying he had pronounced the name quickly.
No sooner did the name leave his mouth, did the boy turn around. And with the boy, so did an older man with curly black hair, a Fedora, an impeccable suit, and a gaze that could make a demon quiver.
DeAngelo froze. All of a sudden, a shiver ran down his spine. That guy...was a killer.
Who was that guy? Why was he with that kid? Was a Stravonne thug? Did he intend to harm the child who seemed far too bright to be sitting next to such a dark man.
Gulping down fear, he strode over to the teen who looked positively serene.
The two, who had been sitting on a bench and sipping coffee stood in unison.
Tsuna recognized the older man and smiled immediately. He held out his hand for a handshake.
Alex glanced at the man next to the kid, plastered a smile on his face, and shook the kid's outstretched hand.
"You have no idea for how long I've been searching for you!" The Detective let out a breath in relief. For two days he had frantically checked the morgue logs in every NYC Precinct for a dead body fitting Tsunayoshi's description.
Actually, Tsuna did know. And he admired the man's conviction. It was also quite amusing.
"And who's this?" Alex turned to the Fedora wearing man.
Tsuna looked between his mentor and the Detective, a smirk curling onto his lips.
"This is my dad."
Both men turned to him in an instant. One in shock and disbelief, the other in carefully guarded surprise.
"D...Dad?" DeAngelo stammered before realizing that he couldn't show weakness in front of the man. "How do you do Mr...?" He didn't hold out his hand for the dangerous man.
Reborn blinked once and tipped his hat in the Detective's direction before taking it off an dusting it.
Alex could see handsome, but cold features on the man's face. He compared it to Tsunayoshi's own warm ones and found that there wasn't much, if any family resemblance.
"Renatus Arcus." The man said curtly.
At his side, Tsuna stifled a snort.
"So you are Tsunayoshi Arcus?" DeAngelo turned to the kid. The name didn't really...fit.
"Yes." His father replied for the teenager rather shortly.
"May I ask what you do for a living Mr. Arcus?" The Detective tried to keep an even tone, but failed miserably.
"May I ask why you are delaying the fact that you would like to tell my son that he is under a death threat?" Came the cold reply.
For a minute, DeAngelo thought that the sky had darkened and the sun had lost warmth.
"How do you know that?" Alex demanded.
"I like to keep my kid safe." Came the other man's reply. "And since the police could not be bothered to follow protocol and inform my son of the danger he was in from the start, I don't think I trust you."
DeAngelo was sure a part of the fountain had frozen over.
"Alright dad, enough of your mind games." Tsuna laughed, enjoyed this far more than he should have. Judging by the glare that Reborn gave him, he was in for a harsher morning workout tomorrow.
"Sorry about him." Tsuna leaned in towards the Detective. "He didn't exactly like the coffee that the park vendor had to offer so he's a bit cranky."
Alex looked between the Father and Son duo and smiled hesitantly.
"That's not coffee." Reborn growled, crushing his cup in his hands. "It's garbage."
"Whatever you say." Tsuna rolled his eyes before looking back over to the other man. "He means no offense - " His "dad" snorted. "But when you've been around the finest beans your entire life, anything else doesn't compare."
Ah. Alex knew from his first meeting with the teen, but this confirmed that they were rich. Those beans were not cheap.
"And please, call me Tsuna." He heard the boy saying. "No one calls me Tsunayoshi."
"Okay...Tsuna." The shorter name was much easier to say than at least. "Right, so you already know the Stravonne's are after you."
Tsuna nodded.
"And that's...okay with you?" The Detective couldn't keep the awe out of his voice at the fact that the kid was okay that he was under a death threat.
Tsuna smiled. "It's quite alright!" He chuckled. "I can protect myself." Tsuna jerked his thumb over at the dark figure of Reborn. "Plus, I've got dad and his influence. So I should be fine."
DeAngelo glanced between the two foreigners and resisted scratching his head. He couldn't figure it out. Just who were those two, and why did they seem so relaxed that the Stravonne Famiglia, the one that controlled all of New York, was after Tsuna?
"I don't think you understand." The Detective started to speak with frustration, but was cut off with a cold stare from Renatus Arcus.
"No, I don't think you understand. My son means it when he says he can protect himself." The dark haired man's tone was even, but DeAngelo could sense the cold power that emanated from him.
"Look," Tsuna smiled in a placating manner. "I understand that you think that you have an obligation to help me, but you and I both know that there the police can only go so far. If you attempt to help, you, your family, anyone you care about, they will be in danger. I know how thugs like Stravonne think."
DeAngelo pursed his lips. "I get what you're saying but-"
"If you get it, then you will leave him alone." Reborn interrupted him coolly. "You are only putting him, and yourself in more danger by meeting us out here in the open."
DeAngelo would have argued, but he realized that Renatus Arcus was right. He was a well known man who in his short life, had ruffled more than a few feathers. In hindsight, calling out the kid's name in public was not smart at all.
Reborn smirked, seeing he had won the argument.
Tsuna pinched the bridge of his nose. "Look Detective, I really appreciate everything, but it's fine. I'm fine. I'll be leaving the country in less than two weeks as well. The Stravonne's may own New York, but that's where their influence ends. Once I set foot into my Country, they wouldn't dare touch me." He chuckled darkly, making the cop in front of his shiver.
There was something sinister in the kid's tone, DeAngelo decided. He wasn't sure what it was, but that kid was definitely not all sunshine and roses. Personally, he blamed the man standing next to the teen. After living with that man, the kid must have picked up on some of his habits.
Knowing a lost cause when he saw one, the Detective just nodded. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his card and handed it to the kid.
"Call me if you need anything." DeAngelo looked at the impassive face of Arcus. "Alright?"
Tsuna just grinned. Arcus glared at him.
"Right, stay safe I guess." He turned around quickly, shivering even under the sun's pleasant warmth.
For a moment, Reborn and Tsuna watched the man leave.
"So, Renatus Arcus huh?" Tsuna glanced sideways at his mentor who appeared to have gone stock still. The hitman's emotions were unreadable. "Reborn Rainbow. How fitting."
Very slowly, the ex-Arcobaleno turned to Tsuna, an odd look in his obsidian eyes. "Dad?" The older man shot back.
There was a hint of a particular emotion that Tsuna could detect within his tutor's voice. He didn't comment upon it though.
"You didn't deny it." The teen pointed out teasingly.
But Reborn didn't smile back. "You have a father."
"Hm, do I?" Tsuna's tone was light, but Reborn could see that his features had hardened.
"Iemetsu-"
"A father and a dad are different things." Tsuna looked up at the older man, eyes blazing with emotion. "A father is the one who sires you, but a dad, a dad is the one who is there for you whenever you need him to be. A father grows into the role of dad, but Iemetsu didn't, he doesn't get the honor of being called dad. A dad is someone who you can rely on, someone who believes in you when no one else does, someone with whom you trust your life with, someone who makes you stronger. That's a dad. So you're right, I do have a father." He placed his hand on Reborn's tense shoulder. "But my dad is someone else entirely."
Slowly, Tsuna let his hand down. He scrutinized Reborn's statuesque figure with assessing eyes, trying to glean the barest hint of a clue as to what the man was thinking.
Reborn slowly un-clenched the fists he didn't know he had clenched. Before he could stop himself, the slightest of smiles appeared on his face.
Tsuna let out a whoop in glee.
Lightning fast, a hand struck out and landed on Tsuna's head.
The boy tensed, expecting to be hit. Instead, he felt Reborn ruffling his hair ever so slightly before stepping away and walking back towards their bench.
Tsuna just smiled and followed the older man.
He couldn't wait to see Iemetsu's face when he called Reborn dad in their next Annual Meeting.
"Can I see you for a moment?"
Alex DeAngelo looked up from his paperwork to see that his Captain was beckoning him over into the office. From the look on his face, the man wasn't happy.
"Good luck buddy." His partner patted his back in a reassuring way. "I'm sure it's nothing too bad."
Throwing the man a look, Alex sucked in a breath and walked into his superior officer's office.
"Sit down DeAngelo." The Captain sighed.
Alex did as he was told.
The Captain, Richard Wayne, pushed a folder towards his young Detective.
"Sir?" Alex asked quizzically.
"Just read the file." The Captain sighed.
Nodding, Alex flipped through the papers, eyes widening as he read each one. After a few minutes, he leaned back in his chair and stared at the Captain. "What does this mean?"
"It means," Wayne grimaced. "The Stravonne's are mad."
Alex winced. That was the understatement of the century.
"All this began when you picked up that kid last week."
"You can't mean that Tsuna was behind this!" Alex exclaimed before realizing that he had yelled at his superior and quieted down.
He earned a small chuckle. "Clearly, this kid made quite an impression on you." Wayne interlaced his fingers. "I was told that you got nothing from the DNA and fingerprints he left behind?"
Alex shook his head. "We didn't get any hits."
"And this...Renatus Arcus man? What of him?"
The Detective grimaced. "I thought that they were lying about their identities, but had our guys look Arcus up. Turns out, he's who he says he is. He's an Italian Multi-Millionaire widower of 17 years with one heir. He made his fortune in some computer thing that I don't understand."
"They certainly have money, it wouldn't be implausible for Arcus to do this to the Stravonne Famiglia for trying to hurt his son." The Captain pondered out loud. "Not that I'm complaining."
"But over the past week, 30 Mafioso...Mafiosi... from the Stravonne have been found gagged and unconscious in front of various precincts across Manhattan!" Alex grit his teeth together. "That's supposed to be our job. This is vigilantism! It will only lead to more violence!"
He found himself going red under the scrutiny of his Captain.
"I admire your dedication to this job Alex." The Captain commented quietly. "You're very much like your father in that way. Matthew was my partner, and a hell of a cop. I know why you joined Organized Crime, and I can understand your motivation."
DeAngelo froze at the name of his father. Matthew DeAngelo had been one of New York's finest until he was caught between a turf war between the Alberghi and Donati Famiglias. A bullet to the chest later, and the Sergeant had died, leaving behind a grieving wife and angry young son.
"However, I don't think this is mere vigilantism. This is meant to send a message to the Stravonne's." The Captain let out a breath. "It means that there is someone strong enough in town to reduce the numbers of their Famiglia not through death, but through justice. And that is terrifying them."
"Someone stronger than the Stravonne?" Alex paled in horror. "And you think that the kid has something to do with it?"
"It makes sense." The Captain nodded. "This all started when he came."
Alex wanted to disagree, but his gut told him that protesting was futile. That kid had seemed disarming, but there was a darker side to him, one that scared Alexander DeAngelo. If he he was honest, Tsunayoshi Arcus put him on edge.
"Do they know the game that they're playing?" Alex growled, banging his fist down on the table. "Arcus...that man is toying with his son's life, putting him in even more danger by doing this!"
"I've never heard of the Arcus Famiglia." The Captain sighed. "Either they are merely a new Famiglia trying to take over a turf that is not theirs, or they are not affiliated with the Mafia at all and simply want to get back at the people who are trying to hurt the Heir."
"Could it be that Arcus is not even their real name?" Alex inquired. "I mean I know that when we looked them up, they seemed perfectly legit, but I don't know..." He trailed off.
"Something seems off?" Wayne finished for him. "I understand how you feel. And that is certainly very plausible."
"So, what do we do?"
"At this point, we can only take a backseat. Getting involved in this means people are going to get hurt, our people." Wayne looked at Alex meaningfully. "And I can't let that happen."
The Detective bit his tongue to keep from saying in subordination. He opted to nod curtly and leave his Captain's office.
Sitting down at his desk, he opened a random file on his desk. Inevitably, his thoughts strayed to the brunet enigma and his father.
Thinking of that kid dead made his insides clench.
Don't do any stupid, Tsuna. For your own sake.
"JUUDAIME!"
Tsuna grinned at the familiar voice and threw open the door to the Vongola Penthouse.
"Hayato!" Tsuna dragged his right hand man into an embrace.
"Yo, Tsuna!" Yamamoto Takeshi smiled widely, as he too was pulled into a hug.
"Tsuna-nii!" Tsuna was tackled to the ground by two small eight-year olds.
"Lambo, I-Pin." Placing kisses on both of their brows, he helped them stand up.
Having his family here with him brought a beautiful smile to Tsuna's face, and filled his heart with love.
"Where are the others?" He asked.
"Tch." Gokudera looked away. "Turf-top-"
"IS RIGHT HERE TO THE EXTREME!" Came the voice of Sasagawa Ryohei who came bounding into the room carrying what looked like everyone's luggage.
"Onii-san." Tsuna shook his head fondly and helped to alleviate some of Ryohei's burden only to be stopped by Gokudera who did it for him.
"Nice place Tsuna!" Yamamoto looked around before plopping down on the sofa. "I never knew Chinatown could be so posh."
"We own the building." Reborn commented from the corner. "Each floor is as big as a Penthouse. Choose whichever one you want."
"Maa, maa." Tsuna looked at his family. "I was thinking that all of us could just stay here. It'll be like old times, right?"
"Of course Juudaime!" Gokudera had tears in his eyes. "I completely agree."
"SLEEPOVER TO THE EXTREME!" Ryohei shouted.
"I want to sleep next to Tsuna-nii!" Lambo pouted adorably, allowing himself to be picked up by Tsuna.
The Decimo looked at his ward and smiled. "Both you and I-Pin - " He placed his arm around the Chinese girl. "Are more than welcome to do so."
He was rewarded by two blinding smiles.
"Will Chrome and the others be joining us?" Tsuna asked Reborn.
"Hibari is already situated on one of the floors with Dokuro." Reborn replied.
Tsuna smirked. So the lone skylark had become serious in his pursuit of the Mist Guardian. Good. He could think of no one better than Chrome for Hibari. They complimented each other quite well.
"So what's this we hear of the Stravonne's?" Yamamoto's eyes narrowed, his hands on the hilt of his shinai.
Tsuna sneered at the name. "Bullies, all of them. And weak. How they managed to gain control of this city is beyond me. They control people with fear." He looked at his Guardians. "I've laid the groundwork for them to come after me by tossing some of their men into prison. The only thing left to do is wait until they strike. And when they do that." Tsuna smiled sadistically. "We strike back."
Yamamoto smirked, feeling a battle in the near future. Gokudera's fingers itched to show those fleas who was the real boss in town. Ryohei practiced his punches. This would be a great workout.
From his corner, Reborn felt pride spreading throughout his being.
"When?" Yamamoto inquired.
"I was thinking the day after tomorrow, but if you guys need some time to recover from jet-lag, I understand."
"NO REST NEEDED! I AM READY TO FIGHT TO THE EXTREME!" Ryohei stood up, fire practically erupting from his eyes.
Gokudera scowled at the loudness, but he too declared himself to be fine. "As if a little think like jet lag could keep me from a good fight, Juudaime."
"Lambo-sama wants to beat some people up too!" The child declared.
"Only a few, okay?" Tsuna bent down to his brother's level, his expression serious. "We can't let you get hurt."
The boy beamed in response. "Hai, Nii-san!"
"Very well then." Tsuna straightened and turned back to his family, grinning at the sight of Chrome and Hibari lingering by the doorway.
"In two days, we will destroy the Stravonne Famiglia."
Alexander DeAngelo couldn't help but feel uneasy. And he wasn't the only one. Everyone was tense. What cop wouldn't be after seeing all those Mafia members sitting in their Precinct, filling out release forms like normal, law-abiding citizens.
"There!" One of the Stravonne Famiglia goons slammed a paper on his desk. "I'm done. Now get Danny out of there." With a scar running down his face, two golden front teeth, a bald head, and bulging muscles, Alex knew he should be scared. And he was. Unfortunately, he had a job to do.
"I'm sorry, but because Daniel Luca has a criminal record, you need to fill out these as well." Alex put a small stack of papers in front of the Mafioso who growled.
Looking around, Alex saw that his colleagues were going through the same thing he was.
This morning, someone had the kind courtesy of dumping fifteen more thugs on their front door with a smiley face note stuck to one of the goons.
Naturally, the First Precinct was swamped with the Mafia after that. Rumors were swirling around that the Boss may be stopping by as well.
"BIG BROTHER!" A child's voice screamed from the entrance of the Precinct causing everyone to turn their heads to look at the source of the noise.
A kid no older than eight with a large afro and cow-print clothing stood there, bawling his eyes out.
Sniffing pathetically, he slowly walked into the silent area and turned puppy-dog eyes on the nearest officer he could find.
"Have you seen my big brother?" The child asked in slightly accented English.
The officer, a battle hardened man who had seen more death than was acceptable, melted almost instantaneously.
Wide green watery eyes stared at the man. "Big brother?" The child asked again through tears. "Have you seen him?"
"LAMBO!" This time, it was a small girl who came pelting into the Precinct. The girl, who looked to be Asian, attached herself to "Lambo's" arm. She too was crying hysterically.
"Have they found our brother?" She asked the kid frantically.
"You're related?" The officer asked with slight suspicion.
They nodded. "Find our brother please!"
"Alright, calm down kids. I need your names first." The officer led them to a somewhat quiet corner that happened to be near Alex.
"I'm Lambo Bovino." The little boy sniffled.
Alex saw the Mafioso next to him perk up and look at the kid with interest.
"And I'm I-pin." The girl snuggled closer to the boy.
"O...Okay?" The officer wrote down their names. "Now, when was the last time you saw your brother?"
"We...we were eating ice-cream because Tsuna-nii promised he would treat us, but then Bakadera accidentally knocked ours down so Tsuna-nii went to go get more with him and Takeshi-nii and we were supposed to stay with Chrome-nee but then she and Kyoya-nii started to stare at each other really intensely so we didn't want to bother them so we left them alone and then we went for a walk but we didn't know where we were going and we got lost but then we remembered that Tsuna-nii always told us to find a police person if we were in trouble and now we're HERE!"
That entire tale was expelled in one breath and said so fast that Alex, the Mafioso, and the officer all looked Lambo with confusion.
Alex mentally ran the story in his head again before hiding a gasp. The kid...he had said Tsuna, as in the same Tsuna who was probably responsible for this entire mess?
So the kids...they were related to Tsuna?
Damn it! If the Stravonne's found out that their most hated enemy's family was here, they would kill them!
"LET ME GO!"
Alex was almost scared to see what was going on.
Turns out, a couple uniforms had caught some teens loitering in front of the Precinct. When they refused to leave, they were brought in until a guardian could pick them up.
One of the teens had silver hair and a scowl on his face. His body language screamed DELINQUENT. He looked slightly exotic as well. The other one was distinctly Asian like the little girl. He had a sunny smile on his face. On his back, there was some sort of bamboo sword. Alex recognized it as a shinai, which was used in Kendo.
Both teens were wearing expensive suits that made them appear older and more mature than they were.
The Asian teen spotted the two kids and made a beeline for them. He ignored the officer after him and knelt in front of the little ones.
"We've been looking for you!" The teen exclaimed, ruffling the boy's hair slightly. He let the girl grab on to his shirt and blow noisily.
"You know them?" One of the officer's asked the teen.
"We're family." The Asian teen replied swiftly. "And we were going crazy with worry when they ran off." He looked at the two children sternly. Both of them blushed, but they had stopped crying.
"Oi baseball-freak!" The silver haired teen sneered at the gathered Mafiosi. "Tell the nice officer that we were not causing any trouble and let's leave with the brats!"
The way the teen had said those words was a clear threat, but the smiling young man just laughed it off as if he heard this every day.
"We weren't causing any trouble, Mr. Police Man. We were looking for the kids, that's all."
"I'm sorry." The officer sighed. "But I can't let you go until an adult comes and picks you up."
"We're legally emancipated." The silver one growled. "We are adults in the eyes of the law." He ruffled his hair and his scowl deepened. "Let's take the kids and -"
"WHERE ARE YOU TO THE EXTREME!"
Alex thought that his day couldn't have gotten any worse.
Alex was wrong.
The doors to the Precinct were punched off of their hinges by a young man with short white hair and a bandage across his nose. He too was wearing a suit. As soon as he saw the silver haired teen, he bounded over to him.
"I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU TO THE EXTREME!"
Nearly everyone in the room winced at the sheer volume of the teen's voice.
"I'm standing right next to you!" Gokudera hissed. "SHUT UP!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY OCTOPUS HEAD?"
"SHUT UP!"
"YOU SHUT UP!"
"NO YOU SHUT UP!"
"Ah, would both of you stop it please?" The Asian teen asked, scratching his face in an embarrassed manner. "We are in a Police station after all."
"Tch."
"So can we take the kids and go?"
"Um..."
"My, my, what a gathering we have here."
Everyone, even the newcomers froze at the face of the man who had just entered the room.
Flanked by two of some of the largest and most intimidating men in the world, Don Stravonne strutted the room and stared impassively at the gathered crowd of Mafiosi, Police, and (supposed) civilians.
"I expected my men to have been released already." The man leered at some of the female officers. The Don was not a handsome man. He was tall and well built, but the scars covering his face gave him a grotesque look.
Every single member of the Stravonne Famiglia bowed deeply to the Don, who regarded them with cold eyes.
"Pathetic, every single one of you." He sneered. "You can't even get the Police to release you? Haven't you ever heard of bribes?"
The cops bristled at the very thought of taking bribes from this monster.
"Unfortunately Don Stravonne," The Captain walked up to him and looked the man straight in the eye. "You'll find that my Precinct is filled with exceptional men and women who do not compromise their morals for the sake of a few extra bucks."
Alex held his breath as his Captain was glared down upon by the Don.
Suddenly, the Don smirked and made his way over to an empty chair. With a mocking grin that revealed yellow, crooked teeth, he sat down.
"I'll just wait here until my men are once again classified as upstanding, law-abiding citizens of this wonderful City."
The way the Don said those words in such a tone made Alex grip the pen he was holding harder.
"Calm yourself, Detective." The Asian teen murmured to him in an almost inaudible tone.
Looking to the kid, he was taken aback by the sheer hatred that the boy he was emitting. And the teen wasn't alone. From the silver-haired teen, to the bandaged one, to the two children, all of them were looking at the Don like they wanted to rip him to shreds.
Alex found his eyes connecting with the Don's, and he found himself rooted to his seat as the Don sauntered over to him. The Mafioso next to him leaped up and quickly offered his seat to his Boss.
"I hear you've been communicating with someone who we really want to meet."
Alex refused to turn his head away as the Don's rancid breath washed over him.
"Do you know where we might find him?"
The Detective forced himself right into the beady eyes of the most hated criminal in New York. "No clue." He said as blithely as possible.
"Oh?" The Don leaned away from Alex to observe him. Eyes flitted to the two children, who were still close by. He snapped his fingers.
One of the thugs lunged for the boy, only to be blocked by a bamboo sword.
"I don't think so." The teen smiled, but there was nothing nice about that smile. "You are not allowed to touch them."
The Mafioso snarled and attempted to bypass the sword wielding teen.
Eyes sharpening, the teen quickly darted to the side and landed a blow right on the other man's spinal cord.
The man immediately crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Don Stravonne eyed his downed goon with amusement.
"I like you kid. What's your name?"
The teen didn't answer.
"I said, what's your name?" The Don growled.
"I'm sorry." The teen suddenly smiled. "But I don't answer questions from idiots."
The entire Precinct waited with bated breath for the teen to be taken down by someone. But to everyone's surprise, the Don laughed.
"I'm going to have fun making you learn respect, kid." Don Stravonne stood up suddenly. "And then you'll learn that taking orders from your Boss won't get you killed."
"Tch." The silver haired teen snorted.
"The only person who I take orders from is my Boss." The teen said in a pleasant tone. "Who is not you."
Alex's eyes narrowed. Was this kid part of a Famiglia?
"Oho?" The Don raised an eyebrow. "So you are already one of us. No matter, once you see who weak your Boss is against us, you won't feel any qualms in joining us."
"I don't think so." The kid smirked. "My Boss is probably the strongest man in the world. He also has a heart of gold, unparalleled compassion, and a strong moral compass. He never leaves a comrade behind in battle. No one is a better Boss than him."
Alex could see the pride in the teen's voice as he talked about his Boss. Still, how the heck could kids be part of the Mafia? It wasn't...legal!
"If your Boss is so great, then why he isn't he here right now?" Don Stravonne's mouth twisted into a perverse smile.
"Who says he isn't?"
"Who say's he isn't?"
All eyes turned to the new voice that had just entered the verbal battle.
Alex had to stop himself from screaming out when he saw the tall, confident, and positively livid figure of Tsuna striding into the room.
"Sorry I'm late." The brunet smiled at the children and his friends. "I had to go buy some ice cream."
"Juudaime!"
"Tsuna!"
"Nii-san!"
"YOU!" Don Stravonne snarled, spittle flying from his mouth. "You are the one who's been - "
"Cleaning up the trash?" Tsuna grinned without amusement. He glanced around the room to smirk at his handiwork. "I suppose you could say that I've been doing that."
"He's the one who's been helping us?" The Captain muttered to himself.
"You've been hanging around Xanxus too much, Tsuna!" Yamamoto shook his head with amusement.
"That man is my Uncle after all." Tsuna laughed. "I suppose it runs in the Family."
Family. Not Famiglia.
"You're just a child." Don Stravonne hissed. "What do you think you could do against the Stravonne Famiglia?"
"I have single-handedly put close to fifty of your men behind bars." Tsuna deadpanned, absentmindedly straightening his tie before staring at the furious Don with impassive eyes. "I think that proves that I can at least do something against you."
"Are they having a turf war in front of the Police?" An officer wondered out loud.
"A brat like you can't possibly be a Boss, and even if you are, it must be of some Famiglia that no one has ever heard of." The older Boss spat. "That's why you are stupid enough to challenge me in my City."
"This City belongs to her people." Tsuna said evenly. "It is not ours for the taking."
Alex wanted to believe Tsuna's words, but it sure seemed like he wanted to wrest control from Stravonne and take the reigns instead.
"I had been taking a walk around when I saw three men attempting to do unsavory things to a child my sister's age." Tsuna's voice hardened. "How a Boss like yourself can allow your men to harass children is beyond me. It's disgusting and unfitting of a Famiglia."
"Those are big words for someone who is a child himself." The Don shot back, temper rising and control slipping with each word he spoke.
"I have lived more than someone who is thrice my age." The Decimo closed his eyes. It was true after all. "You know nothing, Don Stravonne."
"THAT'S IT!" Stravonne's anger took control of him. "KILL THEM!"
The Police could not even draw their weapons before nearly fifty Mafiosi attacked Tsuna and his gang.
The fight, if it truly could be called that, was over within three minutes.
Tsuna had not even moved from his spot as the Mafiosi tried to reach him. Instead, they were blocked by a pair of tonfas which belonged to another teenager who had appeared out of seemingly no where.
"You are crowding." The teen said in heavily accented English. "I'll bite you to death."
Alex remembered something that Tsuna had told him on their first meeting. And nearly bitten to death every day by a skylark. A hysterical giggle escaped the Detective. Had the kid been telling the truth?
"Thank you, Kyoya." Tsuna smiled brightly at the taller teen who glared and turned away, eager to resume fighting.
The Boss simply smiled as his Family wreaked havoc upon those who dared to harm him.
The Police watched as their Precinct was systematically destroyed by two warring Famiglias.
As the dust cleared, it was apparent who had won.
Tsuna's Family, joined by an extra girl and boy, even the kids, stood in front of him protectively as they glared at the still standing Don Stravonne who had gone an odd shade of puce.
"Do you understand now?" Tsuna questioned, kicking a groaning Mafioso in the solar plexus. "It is not us who are weak, Don Stravonne." The teen walked forward, a frown on his face. "It is you."
The room seemed to get colder.
"I have my Family. Not my Famiglia, but by Family by my side. My brothers." He gestured to the males. "My sisters." A hand pointed to the two girls. "And many, many others. I protect them, and they do the same for me. That is Family." Tsuna smiled a smile that could light up a thousand suns. Everyone could tell that the boy's words were what he honestly thought.
"But you, you use your Famiglia. You do not treat them with care, you allow them to do whatever they want, and it disgusts me." The frigidness in the brunet's tone made the Don step back.
The teen's eyes seemed to glow with unearthly power as he moved closer to the Don. "Do you wish to know what happens to people who disgust me, Don Stravonne?"
While Tsuna's voice was as polite as could be, Don Stravonne whimpered as his back hit a table.
"Demon." The Don managed to choke out, looking around for a weapon of some sort. The first thing that came into his hand was a stapler. Unfortunately for him, the second it was attempted to be used against Tsuna, the teen had, with one lazy slap of his hand, embedded the stapler deep within the concrete wall of the Precinct.
"Demon huh?" Tsuna sighed. "Actually, my nickname back home is Il Diavolo, but Demon is pretty much the same thing." A frowned marred his features as he turned to Alex with genuine concern on his face. "Am I that bad?"
The Detective let out a strangled laugh, but said nothing.
"Il Diavolo?" Captain Wayne ran the name in his mind a couple of times, thinking of where he had heard that. Hang on...hang on...
"What Famiglia are you from?" He asked the brunet.
The boy blinked at him and then smiled a smile that sent shivers down the spines of cops and conscious Mafiosi alike.
"Vongola."
The silence in the room was deafening.
"V...V...V...V...V...Vongola?" Don Stravonne stammered pathetically, staring at the still smiling teenager with watery and awe-struck eyes. His attitude suddenly did a 180. "You are - "
"Vongola Decimo." Tsuna bowed theatrically.
"Who are the Vongola?" Someone asked.
"The strongest Mafia Famiglia in history. It is said they were created as a Vigilante organization that took control of Italy 400 years ago in order to protect the Country. As time went on, their power grew under Vongola Primo, and they established themselves as the ultimate power. It is rumored that the Tenth Generation of the current Famiglia under the Decimo is known as the Second Coming of the First Generation because their ideals and looks are nearly identical." Captain Wayne glanced at the teenager in front of him.
"And he's the Boss!" Alex pointed at Tsuna. The Detective shook with fear. Never...never had he expected this.
"It's not like I took the position willingly." Tsuna sighed in exasperation. "But my Grandfather, Vongola Nono's children all were killed. The one child who was alive is unfortunately not of Nono's blood. I however, am the great-great-great-great grandson of Vongola Primo and therefore a candidate for the boss. Long story short, after a lot of denial, I became Vongola Decimo two years ago on my fifteenth birthday."
"A Boss at fifteen?" Alex said softly, sinking into his chair. His knees shook from being in the presence of this..this...
"I want you out." Tsuna turned his attention back to the sniveling Boss in front of him. "Leave New York, leave America. Never set foot in this place again." Tsuna reached out and grabbed the man's lapel. "And if you ever bother anyone again, I will know. And I will personally deal with you." Tsuna released the man and stepped back, a sneer on his face. "Do you understand?"
"Yes!" Don Stravonne hurried to stand and executed a deep bow to the teenager. "Of course Vongola Decimo! Your magnificent benevolence will not be forgotten! I will renounce my title as Boss of the Stravonne Famiglia. Had I known that it was yourself who had put my men behind bars, I would never have attempted retaliation!"
The cops in the room wondered why the most feared Boss in New York was cowering in front of a teenager.
Tsuna scoffed slightly, but he nodded. "Leave."
The man didn't need to be told twice before he high-tailed it out of the Precinct.
A breath left Tsuna's nostrils as he took in the damage that they had caused. "I will pay for everything of course." Tsuna told the Captain. "Anything that needs fixing will be covered by the Vongola. It is only fair after all." The Decimo smiled slightly. "And before you think that we are doing this because we wish to control New York, you are very much wrong. I am doing this because I accidentally started this mess in the first place. I must rectify that."
The Captain could only nod dumbly.
"Excellent." Tsuna clapped his hands together. His Family was by his side at once, grins on nearly everyone's faces. "Thanks guys! You were a big help!"
"Any time Tsuna!" Yamamoto flung an arm around the other teen and ruffled his hair fondly.
"Anything for you, Juudaime!" Hayato preened.
"You're the best big brother ever!" Lambo and I-pin clung onto both of Tsuna's arms and buried themselves closer to him.
"Hn." Kyoya drifted off to the side, but remained close by. Chrome followed him with a soft smile.
"THAT WAS AN EXTREMELY EXTREME FIGHT!" Ryohei pumped his fist. "I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL KYOKO AND HANA ABOUT IT!"
Tsuna gulped slightly. "Actually onii-san, do you mind if I tell Kyoko. She's going to get mad again."
Ryohei and Tsuna exchanged looks and the older teen nodded. He knew how his sister could get when she learned of Tsuna's fights.
From the side, Alex had to admit that they looked more like a Family than a Famiglia, but they were still Mafia, which meant that they were criminals. No matter how good the Decimo seemed, he was the leader of the most powerful criminal organization in history.
"Now then, I believe that I owe someone some ice cream!" Tsuna ruffled Lambo's hair and pulled I-pin closer to him. "What I bought must have melted by now. Who wants to eat?"
"I DO!" The kids shouted together and ran out of the partially destroyed Precinct.
Chuckling softly, Tsuna followed after them, throwing out a wave as a goodbye.
The cops watched with muted disbelief as the teens simply walked out of the room.
"That's it?" An officer asked, stepping over the downed body of a Stravonne thug. "Don Stravonne renounces control, and we just let the most powerful Boss in existence walk out of here without so much as a goodbye!"
"We can't do anything." The Captain's voice was weary, but strong. "They're the Vongola. They are everywhere. We're not talking about a Famiglia like the Stravonne that only has influence in New York. The Vongola isn't just a Family, it's an Empire. From electronics, to planes, to food, to energy, if there is a profit to be made from it, the Vongola is in it."
"So they're untouchable?" Alex asked incredulously.
"Pretty much." His Captain sighed. "They're royalty. Those stupid enough to go against them are all taken down without anyone being killed. There's a reason why the Decimo is called Il Diavolo. He can take down an enemy just by looking at them, and yet he's the most beloved Boss since his ancestor."
"But he's just a kid!" Alex protested.
"A damn powerful one." His partner muttered, eyeing the stapler in the wall.
"He better be powerful." Alex swung around to see Renatus Arcus pushing himself off of a wall and coming to stand in front of him. "Chaos." He said as a greeting
"And you are?" The Captain could feel the power rolling off of this person.
"Renatus Arcus." Alex ground out. "The kid's dad."
"Not quite true." The man chuckled darkly. "Name's Reborn. I'm the kid's mentor who trained him to become what he is today."
"Reborn?" The Captain resisted the urge to let his voice shake. "As in the Hitman Reborn? The most powerful hitman in existence?"
The man now identified as Reborn tipped his hat to the Captain. "That's what they call me."
"And someone like you trained that child!" Alex shouted.
Though they couldn't see it, Reborn had frowned deeply at those words. Someone like him? "Of course I did."
"What can we do for you?" The Captain asked as civilly as possible.
The Hitman passed a check over to the Captain. "My student wrote that out this morning. He knew what was going to happen and planned in advance." Reborn didn't mention the fact that everything had been staged by the Vongola to egg on the Stravonne. "Later today, a building crew from the Vongola will arrive and begin to clean things up. We will meet with the Chief of Police, explain the situation, and go back home."
The Captain stared at the check in his hand, his mouth open.
Reborn saw this and smirked. "That money is for this Precinct and this Precinct only. We expect it to be put to good use. Give him - " Reborn pointed at Alex, "A raise. Get new cars, better equipment, whatever you want as long as it is not used for unsavory things or for your own personal benefit. The Vongola will be watching."
With that, Reborn nodded, and swept out of the damaged building.
"How much is the check for?" Alex dared asked.
"Five million dollars." His Captain replied faintly.
"Well I'll be damned."
Alex rubbed his temples. "I have a feeling that life is about to get a lot more complicated thanks to the Vongola."
The man didn't know how right he was.
Over the next few weeks, things went back to normal...except that they didn't.
With the Stravonne's gone, many people had attempted to assert their own power.
Key word: attempted.
Someone had been leading a relatively non-violent effort to clean up the City's criminals.
When word got out that it had been the Vongola who had beaten the Stravonne's within an inch of their life, the crime rate in New York City had dropped dramatically.
It had dropped so low, that the Mayor, Governor, and President of the United States had given the City and the Commissioner awards.
By now, every cop in the City had been aware of what had happened in the First Precinct. Everyone was also aware that the Police had absolutely no hand in the drop in crime rate.
But, it was easier to think that the Police were actually doing a fantastic job as opposed to the truth which was that the largest and most powerful Criminal Enterprise in the world was suppressing crime just because of their name.
The threat that the Vongola would get them if they stepped even one toe out of line was enough to keep even the most hardened criminals at bay.
After that incident, no one from the First Precinct had heard Tsuna. He had sent a five-page apology letter along with some snacks from Italy, but there was no other correspondence.
That's the way it should be after all. They were the Police, and he was a Mafia Don. They couldn't be friends. They were on opposite sides of the law.
But to know that there was a Mafioso out there who was just so good, it was comforting.
And four years later, when everyone in the First Precinct received invitations to the wedding of the Vongola Decimo to one Kyoko Sasagawa, Alex thought he might just pay that kid a visit.
Because he was a cop, and cop's kept an eye out on criminals.
It was not because Alex actually liked the kid or that he wanted to see him.
A Cop, liking a Criminal?
Impossible.
That was fun to write!
If you want to see a specific scenario, PM me!
Ciao
