Edited 12/10/016
Chapter 3
The second Tsuna dashed into the safe confines of his room, he dove under the covers and stayed there, his eyes firmly planted on his alarm clock. It was 3.19 p.m.
The brunet promptly began cursing out his grandpa under his breath.
A pervert. The old man sent a pervert to stay with him. Now while Tsuna could admit the man was devilishly handsome, Tsuna was straight, as far as he was concerned.
It didn't stop the guys at his university from confessing to him though, Tsuna thought dejectedly.
What exactly was he going to do anyways? This Reborn person looked like someone who always got his way, and that was a bad thing for the brunet. Usually a guy who's taller and more menacing would try to intimidate their shorter and more vulnerable victims by either looming over them, or constantly getting up in their personal space.
Tsuna's already pale countenance went white.
If that guy so much as got close to him and not remove himself immediately after, Tsuna was going to snap. He hadn't fed for close to two months. Instead of hurting someone he'd end up outright killing them. Which was ironic, since he couldn't let any of his victims go without them meeting their maker. Tsuna vaguely wondered if could actually die from not feeding.
That person's words could not be trusted. But then again, what did he know?
He collapsed onto his side a moment later and curled into a foetal position. His eyes still staring unblinkingly at the bright green numbers. It was now 4.03 p.m.
Sighing Tsuna decided he'd sulked enough and ventured back out of his room and snuck into the kitchen on his tippy-toes. Taking an inventory check of what was in the refrigerator he sighed.
It was still stocked full of food that Tsuna no longer felt the need to consume.
Oh, he tried eating.
He tried and tried until he got himself sick and frothing.
Tsuna was surprised he hadn't immediately went into a frenzy and killed the nearest person to halt his suffering.
Tsuna gave himself a mental pat on the back, at least he had some semblance of self-control, and it was better than how the others were. They just unabashedly take and take until the poor victim dies and then make the corpse as unrecognisable as possible as a joke and to cover their tracks.
These murders tend to end up cold and unsolved.
Bringing his thoughts back to the present, Tsuna peered back into the fridge before sighing.
Right, his guest needed to eat.
At least the food wouldn't go bad now that someone was actually here to eat it… Tsuna thought wryly.
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.
.
So absorbed was Tsuna in making dinner preparations, he hadn't noticed Reborn coming out his room and taking a seat to watch to brunet work. The raven narrowed his eyes as he noticed Tsuna was cooking enough for one person. From the way the brunet's body language indicated, he was making it for Reborn and not for himself.
The assumption that the brunet wasn't eating seem to be true then.
But even without eating the brunet, although appearing pale and sickly, was not scrawny and underweight. And even though he looked ready to keel over at any minute, he moved and acted as if he were the healthiest person on the planet. It was an unusual contradiction.
Reborn continues to observe the brunet.
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It took Tsuna approximately twenty minutes into cooking to notice that Reborn was even there, and watching him like a creeper. Tsuna stopped breathing and dropped an empty bowl when they made eye contact.
Tsuna stared, Reborn stared back.
Tsuna decided to ignore him. He made to pick up the bowl. He was doing it perfectly fine before.
Too bad Reborn didn't want to keep quiet any longer.
"What are you making?" he questioned from his position on the couch.
Tsuna would bet his bottom dollar that Reborn already knew but just wanted to harass him with a conversation. He responded despite not quite wanting to, "Shrimp Fettuccini Alfredo." Pausing he turned back, "What would you like to drink with it?"
Reborn blinked, "Tea, or lemonade if you have any."
Tsuna nodded and turned back, he held back a smile. The other seemed taken aback by his demeanour, despite how well the other tried to hide it.
Turning off the stove he grabbed a plate and glass just as Reborn got up and headed to the table.
"Nothing for yourself?" Reborn probed.
His tone made Tsuna snap to observe the other from the corner of his eye. This person was testing him for something, or fishing for information. He couldn't be too sure.
Taking a slow breath Tsuna brought the plate and drink and placed it in front of the man.
He simply said, "I can't eat."
It was a half-truth.
Tsuna really cannot eat. At least not normally.
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'Where were you injured?' Reborn's eyes seemed to ask but verbally he asked, "Isn't there something that will make you want to eat?" Tsuna had paused from pulling a chair back, to slowly gaze at Reborn. The look he gave the man was unreadable with a touch of ill-hidden wanton desire.
"Nothing will." He said determinedly. Taking a seat a few paces away, he gave Reborn a dry look, "I don't advise you forcing me to eat either." As if he figured that was what the other male would have done. Which he would.
Reborn rose a thin brow, "You don't want to eat." He stated a matter of factly, then continued his up front observations, "You don't want people touching you. You're even hurting yourself." He eyes were on the finger indents around the brunet's pale throat when said that last part. "Were you that traumatised by your attack?" he questioned aiming for a sore spot.
Tsuna's eyes flashed demanding, "What do you know?!"
"Enough." Reborn intoned, "And according to Nono's watchers, who have been keeping an eye on you, have reason to believe that you are being targeted."
Tsuna sneered, "Too late." Folding his arms the brunet rocked back, "You were ordered to protect me for nothing."
"You should tell the old man that that was the first and last attack on me. That there's no reason for you to stay here." Tsuna hoped the man would leave otherwise he'd…
Reborn straightened, "Did you kill your attacker?"
The brunet laughed bitterly, "I wish."
Stiffening he eyed the raven distrustfully.
Reborn remained quiet and watched as the brunet sunk his nails into his pale skin, instantly drawing blood.
It seemed that the blunt approach wasn't going to work. The other's instability was becoming visible. He'll need to wheedle information out the kid at intervals it seemed.
Exhaling slowly, the tension in his broad shoulders slackened, Reborn took up his fork and began to eat.
He saw Tsuna glance at him with relief then kept his gaze stubbornly down, his arms unfolded and resting on his lap.
!
Reborn froze and stared at the Alfredo in mild bemusement, it tasted like the meals back home. The kid was an okay cook, not up to his specific standards but good nonetheless, and he said as much to the brunet.
Tsuna looked disgruntled at the sudden kind remark but he had a hot flush on his cheeks that said something entirely different.
The Italian Mafioso actually resorted to squinting his eyes at the other. Reborn couldn't tell if the kid had the hots for him or not. One minute the kid was looking at him with want and desire, but then he's acting like Reborn is just another face in a sea of others.
And judging by the way the kid was acting, he isn't even aware of his own actions.
Reborn is only a little bothered by it.
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As Reborn took the last bite of his meal, Tsuna stood up to clear away the dishes while the raven reached for his lemonade and began sipping leisurely.
It took Tsuna less than five minutes to clear the sink of the dishes and pot and pan. Sensing the other approach he turned around only to be boxed in by the Reborn's larger body, an arm extending forward. Tsuna felt his mouth water and mind go blank from how close the other was to him, completely disregarding the fact that his ass was being pressed tantalisingly against the other man's groin.
Then Reborn pulled away.
Tsuna reacted without thinking. His arm shooting out to grab the man's forearm harshly, his eyes flashing angrily.
As quick as he acted out, he let go. His face twisted in horror as he scrambled back into the counter with a slam, his knees knocking.
His throat felt as if it was being torn to shreds from the inside. Tsuna gnashed his teeth and yelled at the man, "I told you not to fucking get near me!" he screamed. "Value your safety you fool!"
Reborn's startled expression phased into a somewhat placating but wary quirk, his arms up in the universal sign of surrender, "Sorry, I won't get too close again, I swear. I was just putting the cup into the sink." He made a point to gesture at the sink.
Tsuna snapped his head to look. The cup was indeed there.
Swallowing his burning saliva he forced himself to calm. That was the second time. Tsuna chewed his lower lip viciously until he could taste his own blood.
He calmed just a tad.
The raven observed him with interest now.
Turning back Tsuna nodded jerkily, "Sorry."
Reborn had to hold back from teasing, he wasn't too sure how his ward would react, so he stopped before he even began. "Is there anything you would like to tell me before you run off?"
Tsuna glared at him but didn't retort, it was true after all. He wanted to bolt out of the room and far, far away from the delicious man.
"I don't go out anymore so I'll be here when I don't have classes. No one will visit me, they don't know where I live now. I won't go out unless necessary, so don't get your hopes up. If you've got complaints voice it to my parents or your boss." His trembled the entire time that he spoke.
Reborn stayed quiet.
Seeing as he got no other response, Tsuna once again, made a mad dash for his room.
Slamming the door behind him, he panted desperately and started coughing now that he could. Stumbling, he hurried into the bathroom.
Hovering over the toilet bowl he threw up nothing but blood.
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Reborn stood stalk still for a while as he listened to the faint sounds loud coughing and retching. He winced vaguely.
Turning, he walked back to the sink. He froze as he recalled how the brunet had pressed into him when he'd leant over him. Reborn was just a little stiff from the stimulation down under. He was almost grateful the brunet had not noticed.
He'd only done it out of curiosity but he hadn't expected that sort of reaction exactly. The brunet had looked ready to tear him into pieces and enjoy it. Lifting his right arm up, he inspected the hand-shaped bruise on his forearm. Reborn got the feeling his ward would have reacted like that to anyone who got near him.
He gave the bruise a long lick and smirked.
Ignoring his growing issue he went to wash the glass himself, since he doubted the other would chance leaving his room a second time with Reborn here, and put it on the dish rack to dry.
TBC…
A/N: Btw, if you think Reborn is acting a lil' too perverted then that's Tsu-kun's fault. He's unconsciously using hypnotism on him…but not enough of it to control him, just to mess with Reborn's sex drive… …incubus characteristic alert~!
