Title: When Lightning Strikes Twice
Author: PowerHouseoftheCell
Summary: When Lambo Bovino threw that grenade, this was definitely not what he expected. Time Travel. No Pairings.
Disclaimer: I do not own in any way, shape, or form, KHR.
Author's Note: Okay. Since there was no update last week, early update this week! Yay! I'm well aware that some of the stuff in my chapters is kind of awkward, but I'm working on it, trust me. Hopefully it'll get better as I go on. Anyways, enjoy!
OoO
Asari lost focus on everything but the fight, his eyes chilling and narrowing into a calculating gaze. He struck quickly and precisely, gracefully darting around the stranger. It was a fast-paced battle, but Asari had the advantage of his flames. He had concentrated them at his fingertips so that if he touched any of the man's skin, it would instantly knock him out. It was certainly a peculiar battle though.
Asari knew that he had left many openings when striking, but the brunette hadn't taken any of them. He had instead focused on dodging every one of the enhanced blows. The man was barely faster than him, but that was a notable accomplishment. But it was still a bare margin, so it was easy to back him into a corner. It was a good thing too. Asari was quickly running out of energy to fight.
He could tell when the man realized there was no way out of this. Asari mentally calculated how long it would take to pull out his blade. He would need a cheap distraction for at least two seconds. Asari threw a jab to the stranger's midriff, and after he dodged, aimed a chop at his head. Catching just a flash of the green stone-like eye, which seemed strangely resigned. Asari was mildly shocked when the tips of his fingers brushed the head of the other man.
The leather-clad man crumpled as Asari caught him, thanks to his reflexes. His brow furrowed as he stared at his hands, the last of the blue flames whispering into the air. Why had the man allowed him to hit him? Asari knew that the stranger wasn't tired. He hadn't slowed down at all until the last second. Maybe he was like Giotto, who never attacked someone unless he had to. Was there nothing else the man could do?
Shrugging, Asari knelt down and scooped the mysterious stranger up. He tossed him over his shoulder and a crease appeared on Asari's face. This man was far too light for someone his height. How strange. Well made clothes, poor weight.
Giotto would want to hear about this.
OoO
"-long has he been unconscious?" a deep voice murmured in an obvious attempt to keep Lambo asleep. Lambo stiffened, then forced himself to relax on the medical bed. This was the past. This was not him. This could not be him.This could only be-
Oh shit.
A hand landed on his shoulder and Lambo finally cracked his eye open. Blurry blonde hair filled his vision before the image sharpened. He sat up and caught the amber gaze of a man lounging on a chair on his left. "I see you finally decided to join us. I apologize for the way we brought you here, but it could not be helped. My name is Giotto. I believe you have yet to introduce yourself."
Lambo debated on what to tell them. He couldn't outright lie, of course, but he could tell technical truths. "My name…is Lambo." He rasped, his voice once again rough from his period in the black. Giotto's eyes widened ever so slightly, and then narrowed again.
"I see. And you wouldn't happen to know a Lampo, would you? Or Signore Bovino (1)?" he questioned carefully, watching Lambo with searing eyes.
Lambo weighed his words carefully, knowing this subtle interrogation would most likely determine his fate. "Yes. I know of both of them." He meticulously intoned it so that it would seem curious and oblivious to the impromptu quizzing. If possible, Giotto's eyes narrowed even more.
"You know of them? I wonder how one conveniently rescues someone they know of." Giotto stood and walked to the foot of the bed, his shoes clicking ominously in the lavish bedroom. His sight never left Lambo, whose eye were shadowed by his hair. He could make out a small tattoo underneath his left eye in the shape of a hash mark (2).
The hair on the back of Lambo's neck rose with the thick tension in the air. His jaw clenched from the sheer aura of power resonating from the mafia don. "I was exploring Italy. I heard yelling and I investigated. Simple as that." he gritted out, trying not to tense up from the pressure.
"You are new to Italy? I must say this can't be the best welcome, but the way you rescued my, ah, friend, is quite suspicious. Why did you come to Italy?" Giotto mused with a dangerous air.
"To escape."
"Escape what?"
"My hunters."
"Why were they hunting you?"
"I was the last of their prey."
"Their prey?"
"My family."
As they got further into the interrogation, Lambo's face had darkened and contorted, as if escaping from his 'hunters' was the very last thing he wanted to do, but had no choice. Giotto didn't know how to feel about this. On one hand, he was a suspicious character with unknown motives. On the other, he was a person at the end of their rope, pursued until he took the least tasteful option-other than death. If what Lambo was saying was true-and Giotto's Hyper Intuition said he was, but leaving something out- then these people had tracked down and wiped out his family, or famiglia; of which was correct he wasn't sure.
Giotto gave Lambo a hard stare before sighing. The tension lowered almost immediately, but it was still there. "I will believe you. However, you are still haven't proved you are not a threat. I will be back later for more questioning. Stay in this room. Or else." The last part was added as an afterthought. Giotto gave him a meaningful look and strode out of the room. Asari, who he had not noticed was there, followed him. The door shut with a resounding click.
OoO
"So, Giotto, what is your opinion of Lambo?" Asari asked, walking slightly behind him. "Was is wise to leave him by himself?" Asari caught up to him, his hands hidden in their sleeves. Giotto's Boss Mode, as they called it, had dropped. In its place was a tired, stressed man, trying to do what he thought was best.
Giotto paused in the hallway, considering his answer. "He...will not hurt us." He resumed walking across the plush carpets. "He has been telling us the truth so far. Perhaps not all of it, but I didn't really expect him to. So far, we have been the bad guys. For no real reason, we have kidnapped and questioned him."
They turned the corner, and a chandelier flickered, throwing shadows across the corner. "But we do have a reason. He has garnered our attention through his rescue of Lampo, who is part of a powerful famiglia. He couldn't have expected no repercussions for his actions." They stopped in front of a white door. The guard in front of them nodded and stepped aside as Giotto pulled a key from the inside of his cloak.
"But still." Giotto frowned slightly and turned the key in the lock. Asari didn't comment as the door swung open silently and revealed a white room filled with medical supplies.
As soon as Giotto had discovered Lampo was at the hospital through Alaude, he had hastily transferred him back to the mansion and into the medical ward. He had been conscious and complaining, feeling that a fractured rib and several bruises and lacerations was not reason for him to be moved (read: forced) into the medical ward. But they bandaged his wounds and kept him under watch all the same.
"The awesome me is fine, Gio-nii! There's no need for you to sick those nurses on me! If you wanted to have time to eat more sweets, you should've just snuck away to y- mph!" Giotto laughed nervously, and switched his glances between the pouting Lampo, who was trying to remove his hand from his mouth, and the angry nurses, who were now eyeing him like they would very much like to find where he could've gone.
"Ah, Nurse Isabella and Sofia, you can go now. I need to talk to Lampo in private." Not really, but those nurses were scary. Mafia bosses? Pft. Fighting to take down corrupt families? No problem. Strict medical professionals? No way.
The nurses reluctantly left, casting suspicious glances at Giotto. Asari simply smiled in the background and gently closed the door. The instant they were gone, Lampo gave Giotto a serious look.
"The man who rescued me, who is he?" Lampo asked. "Does he have an ulterior motive?" Giotto shook his head and sighed. While Lampo was undoubtedly spoiled and childish, he could drop it sometimes and act his age. He didn't like to see it, because it meant that things threatened the family so bad he couldn't afford to be weak.
"His name is Lambo. As far as I can tell, he doesn't. However, he knows 'of' both you and your father. Do you know him?" Giotto inquired.
Lampo stared down at his sheets for a long time. "No, I don't. But it is possible he's related to me. My father-he...had a sweetheart...before he met my mother. He doesn't talk about her very much, but as far as I can tell, they were very close. It is possible..." he trailed off thoughtfully, clenching the blankets tightly.
The room settled into a tense, thoughtful silence as each member thought of what this could mean.
OoO
1) Signore in Italy refers to lordships. My theory is that the Bovinos were originally a part of the Vongola, but drifted away when Giotto retired.
2) Where I'm from, we call the # hash or pound marks. I really didn't want to say hashtags.