People speak sometimes about the "bestial" cruelty of man, but that is terribly unjust and offensive to beasts, no animal could ever be so cruel as a man, so artfully, so artistically cruel.
-Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Yato hummed a tune as he walked down Namimori's street, nostalgia flooded his mind as his eyes drunk in the view hungrily.
The view where Namimori wasn't drenched with the color of red, bodies strewn everywhere as the place was vacant off using illusions.
The place where they retreated after being chased all the way from Italy.
Where he heard welcome home! after so many years.
Until Namimori had become the battlefield itself and he lost everyone close to his heart, where welcome home! would never be uttered from the people he loved.
(And there's a throbbing pain in his heart where the space around him felt so empty, so wrong and his family should be there, right there beside him laughing freely.)
He clenched his jaw tightly.
Deep breath.
In.
Out.
Yato opened his honey colored orbs before scrunching it close to stop the burning in his eyes. His shoulder slouched slightly before standing straight again at the thought of Reborn's words (Dame-Tsuna, don't slouch! A mafia boss never slouch!)
His mouth twisted in pain as he mouths the practice line, his steps faltering.
But I don't want to be a mafia boss. I don't.
I don't, Reborn.
I d-d-don't, Reborn.
Reborn...
Reborn...
He chocked out a half-sob, half-laugh as those words tumbled quietly out under his breath, his eyes still shut tightly as he stopped. He open his eyes, his vision suspiciously blurred.
I'm sorry.
Reborn...
Everyone...
Don't cry!
You can't! Stop thinking!
What matters most now is-
His intution blared, his gaze sharpening while a tear trickled down from his eyes, leaving a streak on his face.
Everything came into focus.
Tsuna…
In a flash, the redhead ran towards the source of sound and arrived just on time, standing at the entrance of the narrow alley when a sharp crack of skin on skin reached his ears.
"Pathetic, I don't even know how you can even bear with your own existence."
"Yeah, oi, Dame-Tsuna, quickly give us the money and we'll let you go."
"You don't need it after all, right? Hahaha! What can a trash need!"
Yato stalked quietly towards them, his crimson locks caught in the light, burning brightly with anger.
"Trash, huh…" Yato had a smile on, though it was currently strained. In a heartbeat, the redhead stood protectively in front of Tsuna, a crazed, frightening light in his eyes.
He moved suddenly, tightening his hold hard enough on the boy's arm that he had seen him using his hand to slap Tsuna. Within moments, the redhead snapped his other arm upward, hitting straight into the elbow. A loud crack echoed and then a scream followed soon after. Yato released his grasp, watching as the fool tumbled back, landing onto the ground with his now broken arm. The limb bobbed around with no direction and the rest gasped in horror. The bully tried to get it to move properly, not even able to get his fingers to twitch, and continued to scream.
"My arm! My arm!"
He clutched his arm and scrambled to stand with the other two that had come with him. "You bast-!"
The words died in their throat as an icy gaze pinned them with fear, the man's eyes darken to a dull brown with burning anger tightly wound around his body.
"Get. Out."
His voice was not raised, the order simply given in a calm tone, but it had the bullies scrambling away from the redhead whose eyes had darken dangerously.
"If any of you come back and hurt Tsuna, your entrails will be decorations for your school."
The predatory smile that spread across the man's guileless expression sent chills running down their spine while he holds their gaze, letting the promise sink into their mind. And in a second later, they flee, screaming and shaking in fear.
Tsuna continues to slump against the wall, an ugly bruise forming on his cheeks, his eyes wide with surprise.
He never thought anyone would come to his aid. He thought everything would just go on and on and on, just like any other day.
And now the redhead had appeared in front of him, sparking hope within his heart that was long dead.
(But hoping is such a bad habit)
The brunet sneered at himself as his breath catches in his throat, more painful than anything he had felt.
What was he thinking anyway?
The redhead would most probably abandon him, just like everyone else.
Just like his mother.
(Because no matter how long he had waitwaitwait, they never came.)
Because he is dame-Tsuna.
(Trash don't deserve to live)
(Is wanting to live… a sin?)
x.X.x
"Tsuna are you okay?" Yato hovered anxiously around Tsuna in his living room.
The redhead had quickly brought Tsuna back to his house where he could treat his injuries. He was expecting the brunet to break down, to cry or even anything.
Anything that involves an emotion.
But what he did not expect was a dull look from the brunet. Eyes devoid of hope.
Of anything.
"Why."
Yato looked up, his gaze locking with the brunet.
"What?" Confusion twisted his expression, tilting his head to one side.
"Why. Why did you help me?" Tsuna muttered under his breath, his gaze never straying.
He wanted to believe there was a person out there, out there who cares for him.
But, he could feel the tears brimming, his fear of interaction surfaced and frothing at the front of his mind.
He was so scared... so scared... of being hurt again.
He doesn't want to be bullied again.
He doesn't want to be forced into doing things.
No more.
No more.
So what was he supposed to think after so long? Waiting?
Waiting for someone to hold a hand out?
Where he, himself, held his hand out to others and yet keeps having his hand slapped away.
Having his trust, his willingness to believe in the good of others, thrown back into his face mercilessly as he was beaten up again and again and again and again.
(Until he could trust no further, his heart tattered with wounds that slapped over each other.)
"Why not?"
"We just met."
A faint frown tugged at the end of his lips and a faint crease on his brow expressed the redhead confusion.
"So?"
"We just met!" The brunet hissed, his eyes wide with anger and full blown panic. "We just met and you're helping me?! Why do you care?! It makes me feel like you're going to stab me in the back!"
The redhead took several steps back, his hands raised up slightly in a universal sign of surrender. He arched an eyebrow and heaved a sigh.
'So he isn't used to affection or help. He wasn't expecting any help,'Yato seethed. ' Wasn't expecting any goddamn help.'
Tsuna broke their eye contact, his gaze dropped to the floor. Wordlessly, he stood up and staggered towards the door before feeling his surrounding turns as he lose control of his legs.
He closed his eyes, expecting his body to meet the cold, hard floor, but when two firm, but gentle hands catch him by the shoulders, he doesn't have any idea what to think, what to do. People don't touch him, people don't care if he falls on his face in the dirt. People certainly don't pull him upright, careful and delicate, or wrap an arm around his shoulder and pull him close.
But the man is warm. He's warm and soft and firm, and his hair falls over his face like the silk. The scent of rain clings to him, rain and sunshine and a touch of fire, a storm to change everything in his life.
"-na? Tsuna?"
The brunet squints his eyes as his vision wavered, his body still felt light and weak before dots start dancing in his vision and he knows nothing longer.