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Chapter 4
The weekend came faster than Nathanael would have liked and the flustered nervous teen could now be spotted standing outside a coffee shop Rue de Steinkerque waiting for Tsuna to arrive. With a map in hand in case they got lost and a plan in mind to convince the brunette he could be more in his eyes than just a friend the red-head couldn't help the nervous feeling building in his chest.
"Nathan!" Turning with a shy smile on his face Nathanael couldn't help but blush seeing Tsuna running up to him waving. With his dark green and white hoodie tied around his waist along with the pair of headphones around his neck bouncing slightly as he ran the artist wanted nothing more than to draw Tsuna in that moment. Nathanael wanted to capture the image in his sketchbook so that he could always remember his friend's flushed panting face as he ran and the gentle, caring smile he got to see more times than anyone else at school.
"Sorry to keep you waiting but I have a few errand to run before we can start looking around." Before Nathanael could even utter a single protest Tsuna grabbed his hand dragging him along for the ride as they weaved through the crowded streets unaware of the people following them. "It's Saturday so if we're lucky enough we could get to the Sympa stores before the trucks arrive." Hearing what the brunette wanted to do before everything else had the red-head going a deathly pale color because his grandfather used to tell him horror stories about what his wife did to get a good deal on clothes. There were only a few things he truly feared in the world and his grandmother on a hunt for a bargain was one of them.
'And he wants to go to the Sympa stores when it's about to happen.' Gulping as he stared at the back of the shorter brunette's head Nathanael didn't know what to think about someone wanting to throw themselves into the coming chaos.
Nearing the two big red signs that looked like the gates of hell to the young artist and at the sight of all the elderly ladies lined up on the opposite sidewalk like Olympic sprinters he was almost tempted to struggle when the trucks pulled up. Hurrying the men driving them dumped enormous cardboard boxes onto the sidewalk and got back into them while the workers ran out with box-cutters, split the tape seals, and literally dumped piles of jeans or sweaters made by Naff Naff, Bennetton and Esprit onto huge wooden sidewalk bins.
And like a gun going off they were swarming the piles of clothes with Tsuna joining the crowd letting go of his hand to make his way through chaos. The sight alone had Nathanael praying for his friend's safety when the fluffy hair vanished amongst all the others trying to get cheap clothes for a good deal. Elbows flying, curses and death threats filling the air and hands spinning through sweaters were just a few of the things going on in front of him but the red-head keeps looking standing on his toes hoping to spot Tsuna. Banknotes appear and disappear, clothes sail over shoulders, arms grow heavy under mountains of cloth...it was like watching sharks descend upon bloody chum filled waters and amongst the crowd of crazed shoppers the fluffy hair of a certain young thief moved unnoticed.
It lasted only minutes but felt like hours to Nathanael before he spotted the fluffy head of hair belonging to Tsuna emerging from the crowd carrying four bags filled to bursting with clothes. "Sorry about that but I needed to pick up a few extra things for Fuuta and I even managed to get us a pair of shirts if you want yours."
Holding the bags in his arms to the side Nathanael blinked in shock before a blush spread across his cheeks seeing Tsuna did change into a new shirt during everything that just happened. The fact that nothing was out-of-place and that his new shirt was now black instead of the white one he had on few seconds ago with 'Free Hugs' on the front only made it worse when Nathanael looked at the shirt Tsuna picked out for him. His own black shirt had 'Join the dark side we have better sweets' on the front with a cartoon plate of cookies under it.
"Come on hurry up and change so we can get going." Tsuna urged the flustered red head while stuffing the contents he snatched up during the chaos of the day into his own messenger bag.
The little thief only stole what he couldn't afford so Tsuna had some honor when it came to stealing and bargain days. The only problem with that though was his little code of honor pretty much overlooked everything besides the weekly grocery bill and a few extra things he didn't feel like asking the court to cover having grown a little independent over the years. So if a few of the things he picked up happened to be missing or not paid for, well there really wasn't much anyone could do to prove Tsuna stole anything unless they had another Mist on the payroll.
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While the pair went along with their plans for the day at the same time inside of the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur another teen was having the worst month of his life. 'Damn and this was my last chance to find a Sky.'
Running a hand through his silver hair the green-eyed teen had doubts about whatever the CEDEF and Reborn were doing in Paris or why they needed someone like him around. 'They can't even find the damn brat after looking for almost a month now and the court is staying out of it on the surface.' Even if he wasn't as great as Reborn or anyone else since none of the other Famiglia wanted him among their ranks Hayato Gokudera could tell when someone was watching him. 'And it's always the same person even if they wore a different disguise each time they followed me around.'
It started long before the mass arrest of a good number of the CEDEF's agents after they started poking into something the court considered their business. The tail following him didn't make himself known until after he passed a teen on the street who looked like he could have passed for an older version of the kid in the picture the CEDEF had on hand. Though that wasn't saying much since the Mist let himself be seen but Hayato was starting to build a pattern of each disguise the teen tailing him used and would have handed it over already if the CEDEF weren't scrambling to keep their assets in the area safe.
"I finally get a chance to find a Sky around my age that needs Guardians and they screw it up." Gritting his teeth Hayato couldn't help the frustrating hatred building up at the court, the CEDEF, Reborn and even the so called run away Sky they were looking for.
{Hawkmoth's lair}
"Ah. Another angry teenager wanting power to change his bad luck around." The villain that has been plaguing Paris for the past few weeks spoke to no one while creating another Akuma. "And what an explosive temper to add into the mix."
"Now fly away my little Akuma and darken his rage filled heart."
{Back on track}
Hayato still angry about his crappy life started fishing around for his pack of cigarettes didn't notice the Akuma landing on the lighter lying on the bench next to him corrupting it. The angry teenager never picked up the feeling of negativity it gave off when he picked it up to light one of his cigarettes until a dark menacing voice spoke up ripping through his thoughts with little more than a whisper.
'Demolition, I am Hawkmoth. They all look down on you thinking you aren't worthy of finding a place among them in the underworld. I can give you the power to level this city so everyone will want you for themselves.' It was little more than a dark whisper but Hayato latched onto it like a drowning man thrown a life-preserver if it meant he could finally find a Sky who wanted him. He'd give up or do whatever the voice needed in order to become someone a Sky would want. 'And all you have to do is bring me Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculous.'
"Of course Hawkmoth." Hayato replied standing up as a black sludge like water covered his body transforming the teen into another one of Hawkmoth's Akumatized victims. Now wearing a dark green military uniform with a broken mask covering his face that hide all but a pair of blazing red eyes the now named Demolition raised his hand where the lighter turned detonator could be seem. Clicking it once the sound echoed through the empty church seconds before the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur erupted in flames.
"I'll just have to force a Sky to accept even if I have to destroy the whole city to do it." An enraged Storm was coming to Paris and Demolition planned on seeing it burn until a Sky finally wanted him.
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Adrien wasn't jealous or anything like Alya thought. The teen model just felt weird whenever he saw Tsuna talking with Marinette, Nathanael, Max or anyone else that wasn't him. Really, really weird and he didn't know why. Though Plagg seemed to know why if his laughter was anything to go by while he watched the pair eating an early lunch while sitting on one of the benches along the Rue de Ronsard opposite St. Pierre that they just got through visiting a few minutes ago.
"Fuuta is the only other person to try my cooking outside of the church but it was all I could think of to repay you for letting me run a few errands before we went to the museum." Tsuna explained to the flushed red-head before munching on his own piece of fried fish cake he cooked earlier.
Only a small handful of people even knew he could cook. Tsuna could cook really, really good dishes and Mother Mariah wanted him to be more than just a simple thief one day in the future. Her along with a few girls from the court were behind the extra class he took every Friday afternoon but since his cooking was more homestyle compared to the others students nobody bothered him to much. Tsuna couldn't pull off complex dishes like the other more advanced students but could make an amazing pot roast that reminded the teacher of a home cooked meal and a pasta any Italian would kill for.
And for some reason whenever he did spend hours in the kitchen cooking a meal he somehow already knew how to make from memory alone Tsuna would sometimes remember warm arms embracing him gently. It always made him think of his mother but no matter what he could never recall her face only a loving smile. Just her heart warming smile and the smell of freshly made pastries that he always secretly hoped belonged to his mother.
It sounded confusing to most people who happened to read his file but Tsuna planned to gain a minor in culinary arts after hearing how much people liked his cooking along with a major in art and photography when he went to college in a few years. The brunette might want to be more than just a thief one day but it still didn't mean he'd give it up all together after living his current life for so long. There was just that deep seeded thrill gained from running across the rooftops that nothing else could replace and Tsuna wanted to hold onto that freedom for as long as he could no matter what Vongola might want with him.
"So do you like it Nathan?" He asked wanting to know since Nathanael unlike all the others who tried his food in the past wouldn't lie to him. Or he couldn't lie since they were slowly Harmonizing even if Tsuna didn't realize it yet. The red-head's dormant Flames were being coaxed to the surface with each passing day by the thief's Harmony slipping easily into synchrony with every other person in school that could potentially use a Dying Will Flame one day.
"I-Its always taste good w-whenever you cook." The flushed red-head answered enjoying the day so far even if they were only running errands up until the museum a few minutes ago. "I-Is t-this another one of those bento things you like c-cooking?"
"Yep it's nori bento this time." The thief informed him while pointing his fork at the stainless steel lunch jar he 'picked up' the day after Nathanael asked him to hang out. "I figured you'd like something different after eating the smoked pork I cooked last time."
"I-It's great." Nathanael stuttered out turning even redder when he saw Tsuna pause mid bite giving him a strange look. 'Did I say something wrong? Am I being that obvious or does he think I'm lying to him about the food he cooked?'
"There's a little something right there." Seeing him lean forward slightly the red-head felt faint when Tsuna's fingers brushed something sticky off the side of his lips before watching the brunette lick the sauce off of his finger. "You had a bit of sauce on the side of your face." It was such a simple explanation but Nathanael looked seconds away from passing out and Adrien in his hiding spot looked seconds away from knocking the red-head's teeth out.
'Thanks for always being there for me?' Nathanael wanted to say while on the outside he smiled slightly as they ate together saying the first thing he could think of. "T-thanks for all the f-free food."
"It's not a problem. You're the only one who knows I can cook so I need somebody to try out my food." Tsuna admitted with a carefree smile that caused the red-head and the blond watching them to blush. "I have to admit I'm having a good time with you." 'It's a different experience with all the people walking around instead of the empty streets I normally see from the rooftops at night. I kind of like the change.'
"R-really!?" Nathanael couldn't help but question feeling his heart beating faster when his best friend flashed him a grin while they ate.
With a nod he missed the way the red-head looked at him. He'd always sneak a quick look when he felt Tsuna wouldn't catch him. 'It would be so easy.' The young artist thought. It would be so easy to forget they were only friends. So simple to convince himself they were dating, a couple enjoying their time together when he knew for a fact Tsuna only saw him as a friend. Sitting with the shorter teen like this simply eating in his quiet company had Nathanael imagining how it could be if he finally found the courage and confessed his confusing feelings towards Tsunayoshi.
'Coward!' His heart ached at the very thought. It ached because he sometimes thought about how good they could be together. Like an artist and his muse they would have been perfect if he wasn't such a coward unable to say anything. The way the brunette smiled at him reminded the shy teen of the day they first met on the steps of the school.
{Flashback}
It was a Monday afternoon as Nathanael shivered feeling the cold winds brushing against his tear-stained cheeks. Bundling deeper into his jacket trying to get warm he made his way towards the lockers ignoring some of the names being hurled at him from the popular kids. "Can you believe him? Thinking any girl would want a loser like him as a boyfriend."
"You didn't hear, Chloe said the little freak wanted to use Marinette as a cover." They laughed knowing it still stung even now hours later when his simple confession got blown into something bigger by Chloe.
Nearing his locker Nathanael saw it was busted open with hurtful words spray painted all over it along with most of his things saying cruel things. With tears running down his cheeks he quickly grabbed the few things that weren't destroyed and rushed out the door hurrying towards the school's gates.
"Looks like the faggot got the message guys." Hearing their laughter and trying his best to wipe the tears from his face the red-head kept walking trying not to break down at school. In his rush to get away he never noticed when one of the jocks from the soccer club tripped him sending his things flying all over the sidewalk while he landed in the dirt.
With his sketchbook sent flying he looked up to see them already moving away not wanting a teacher to spot them while all around him the other students kept walking ignoring him. None of them wanted to be seen anywhere near Chloe's latest target to afraid she'd turn her attention on them should anyone try helping Nathanael out.
Only Kim glanced back at him for a second with a concerned look in his eyes before running to catch up with the rest of the club living the young artist to pick up everything by himself. Crawling around picking his things up off the ground Nathanael wanted to curl up and die hearing the sound of crunching grass coming up behind him. When it came to school he automatically started assuming the worst after the first time the red-head tried going to a teacher only to be ignored since they were afraid of losing their jobs if Chloe said anything to her father.
'Can't they just leave me alone already?' The red-head questioned praying a teacher would show up soon only to jump back startled when someone handed him his sketchbook.
"You dropped this when that guy tripped you." Looking up he stared into the warm brown eyes of the new student Chloe tried getting kicked out at the start of the semester. "Those idiots really need to get a life."
"T-thanks." Taking the few things Tsuna picked up for him their fingers brushed for a split second. 'Acceptance. Hidden away behind a thousand different mask but willing to take a chance.' Like a reassuring warm hug from his grandparents it felt comforting and warm but guarded at the same time. This feeling made him happy for whatever reason and Nathanael couldn't help the faint pink that dusted his cheeks when the new kid helped him up.
"Do you want to get something to eat? I know this really good ice cream parlor a few blocks down the road." Tsuna offered with a warm smile that had his heart beating fast for some strange reason.
"S-sure." A smile spread across his face as Nathanael followed after the other teen. It was a smile that showed how thankful he was that somebody still cared about him.
"Do you think we could be friends?" The shorter teen asked with a gentle heartwarming smile that had his heart beating faster even if he didn't know why. It was an innocent enough question but it helped in so many ways that Tsuna would never know. Even if his Sky Flames unconsciously brushed against the young artist own drawing him towards the front of the school where Nathanael was he'd never know how much he helped with that one small act.
{Flashback End}
The red head was jolted out of his thoughts when Tsuna rested his head against him leaning into Nathanael's side slightly. "I've lived here for years now yet never really explored all of Paris." 'At least not from the ground level.' "I really should start doing things like this more often."
Hearing what Tsuna mumbled the shy artist blurted out the first thing he could think off. "T-then maybe w-we could do this n-next week."
"I don't mind but now that I'm looking after Fuuta you might have to come over to my place for a movie or something instead of walking around the city." When Tsuna suggested coming over to where he lived the red-head couldn't agree fast enough while Adrien bent the metal bench he was sitting on his eyes glowing a dark purple.
Watching them sitting together like that he spotted Nathanael shyly trying to take Tsuna's hand. Getting to his feet he started walking towards the pair still chatting about random things seconds away from doing something stupid when a loud series of explosions went off somewhere nearby. 'Great timing Hawkmoth. I needed something to hit really hard.'
Turning around he ran before they could see him ducking into the closest alley before calling out to his Kwami. "Come on Plagg, claws out!" In a flash of light Chat Noir could be seen running towards the growing noise though if anyone were to look closer they could see his eyes flickering between their normal green and a dark territorial purple.
Back with the pair of friends though Tsuna just sighed hearing the explosions off in the distance while Nathanael looked ready to run. He would have by now not wanting to get mixed up with one of those super villains that were starting to appear all over Paris but didn't want to leave the shorter brunette alone.
"W-we need to-." Turning he wanted to get Tsuna as far away from the fighting as possible when his eyes went wide feeling soft and tender lips brush against his own. Panicking he tried pulling away but Tsuna's hands wrapping around his neck stopped the red head who couldn't help but close his eyes enjoying the kiss after a moment of hesitation.
Finally after what felt like hours to the artist the smaller teen pulled away a sad smile on his face. "And I was really enjoying today." Before he could even question what Tsuna meant Nathanael slumped forward into the brunette's arms out cold. "Maybe next time we could spend the entire day together without an attack happening."
While popping a strange piece of green candy in his mouth to counteract the drug he slipped his friend Gitanno wiggled himself free from his pocket in Tsuna's messenger bag before flying up to land on the teen's shoulder. "Is he okay?" The Kwami asked concerned as he watched Tsuna laying Nathanael down on the bench.
"He's fine. All I did was put him to sleep with one of the fast acting pills one of the sisters taught me to make." Tsuna explained trying to ease his own guilt more than anything at stealing his best friend's first kiss since he had a crush on Marinette. 'But I really can't explain running towards the supervillain without exposing myself to more than just the public.' The young thief really hated altering someone's memories using his Mist flames but to many questions would have been asked if he just ran off towards the fighting instead of away like normal people do. 'At least you'll get to remember everything up until we heard the explosions.' Leaning down his eyes glowed a bright indigo as he quickly altered the last few minutes they had together and before they vanished Tsuna's lips brushed against the red head's own for a second time today. It was his own little added protection to keep Nathanael safe and an apology for leaving him like this.
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"Sky! Sky! Why won't you accept me!" The Akumatized victim calling himself Demolition yelled to the heavens as the burning image of the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur lit up the area behind him. "Come to me Sky or I'll keep destroying things until you show yourself!"
Raising the detonator up he was seconds away from clicking it again when the end of a long staff slammed into his side knocking him into some nearby rubble. Looking around it was is to see all rubble everywhere thanks to all the explosions Demolition kept setting off but Chat Noir didn't care about that right now.
"Sorry. I know you can't help yourself because of the Akuma and Hawkmoth." Chat Noir said while walking forward his eyes still flickering as the memory of Tsuna so content and happy, leaning against somebody other than him pissed the hero off for reasons he couldn't explain. He didn't even know why the sight got him so angry since they've barely talked no more than a handful of times but it still hurt. "But what's about to happen is just me working out my anger on somebody who can take a punch."
Demolition got to his feet his eyes shining with rage at the hero holding one of the Miraculous Hawkmoth wanted in exchange for this power. "Shitty Cloud getting in my way. I don't want a Cloud, I want a S-!" He never got to finish his rant because of the staff slamming him into the dirt again.
"You really can't help yourself can you my little stray?" An amused voice spoke up from behind Chat who saw the wires everywhere around them seconds before he felt a pair of hands wrapping around his waist. "What would your dear Ladybug think if she saw you taking out your anger on one of Hawkmoth's poor victims?"
Feeling a shiver run down his back from the body pressed against him Chat quickly turned his clawed hand swiping nothing but mist only to get a cheerful laugh for the attempt. "Now, now that wasn't very nice my dear little Chatton." Cheshire taunted from his left relaxing on the nearby bench ignoring the newest victim turned villain suspended in the air by his wires. "I went out of my way to help you and this is the thanks I get." His grin was almost predatory when he stood up slowly walking towards the taller hero. "Now why don't you thank me for saving him from your anger."
Walking a few more steps he wasn't surprised when Chat grabbed his hand the second he raised it to touch his cheek. "I had everything under control." The hero lied not willing to admit he was still angry though the look in Cheshire's eyes spoke volumes when the thief stepped closer pressing their bodies together.
"Sure you did Chatton." Wrapping his hands around Chat's neck with practiced ease he noticed the way the hero tensed looking ready to either attack him or bolt any second. "We could make a great pair you know." Smiling the shorter thief was having fun just letting go since no one knew who he really was behind the mask. "They'd call our crimes a work of art if you ever wanted to walk on the other side of the law with me." With a smirk he twisted out-of-the-way when Chat made another grab for him.
"I'm no thief." Chat Noir growled out angry at Cheshire for even suggesting such a thing. "And I'll find proof you were behind all those robberies."
The thief's smile dropped after hearing the heat behind those words. 'Don't look at me with those hate filled eyes. I'm only playing around and the few people I do rob had connections with the underworld already.' Hearing Ladybug getting closer his smirk quickly came back larger than before as he bounded backwards dodging out-of-the-way when her Lucky Charm tried tripping him up. 'Don't think you know me when I'm like this.'
Leaning back with his fake smirk in place Cheshire took in the way the pair looked at him. 'Your Kwamis might have told you who once held the choker before me but I'm not them.' The look they shared was all he needed to know that they were already thinking up a way to get his Miraculous but the pair had bigger problems to deal with.
"Just think about it Chatton. If you were a thief then you could get into all kinds of restricted areas no one else would ever get to see." The taller hero's cheeks lit up at the hidden meaning when he started walking away letting them see all the wires hanging in the air around them in case either hero thought about attacking him. 'I'm not Jack.'
"Well I can see where I'm not wanted so we'll play again later my little stray." Spotting the look Ladybug was shooting him the thief snapped his fingers causing the wires holding Demolition up to vanish setting the villain free. 'I'm not Semiramis.' "Have fun you two and think about what I said." Turning slightly he gave the pair a wink before vanishing into the mist not wanting to deal with them and Demolition who was yelling for him to stay. 'I'm nobody but Tsuna under all of this and no matter what they might think all I really want is my freedom. I'm not interested in anything else like the others before me were.'
'Maybe it's not worth the trouble of trying to be a part-time hero if nobody wants you around.' Appearing on the nearby fire escape a few blocks away Cheshire ignored the sounds of fighting slowly fading into the distance. 'Besides those two are the only ones really needed to fight the Akumas.' Just standing their letting the transformation fade away the only real thought on his mind was when he needed to pick Fuuta up from the church.
'It seems I was wrong again.' The mask slowly fell apart along with his fake smirk. 'Even with this new mask of mine to hide behind I can still be hurt.' As he descended the ladder towards the streets below only Gitanno saw the few tears Tsuna quickly wiped away before the thief hide himself behind another mask refusing to let anyone see him cry.
'I only wanted to help.'
Author's Notes -
I really have no clue whether the thing I put in about the Sympa stores is true or not. It was just one of the things I found when looking up places to add into the story for their future attempts at winning Tsuna's heart and places for the thief to hit. So like I said I have no clue on how true it really is but it sounded to fun not to put in when I stumbled across the stores as a place to visit while in Paris if you're looking for a good deal on clothes and other things. I even had a few different ideas on how that place could be used in the future with all those people gathering for the sales.
Adrien being a Cloud just fits to me. In a few of the dub comics on YouTube it shows his jealous side and like any other Cloud he hates being confined in one spot or being told what he can or can't do. Like I said it fits to me but you might think otherwise. As for Marinette she really didn't have a clue about the bullying or she would have did something.
Nether Chat or Ladybug will trust him in the beginning because Gitanno has a track record of bad past partners and they know it. Because like I said in chapter two they don't trust him after what his last partner Jack did and the small handful of people who kept Gitanno around before him where those that abused the power being overlooked gave a person back then.
Hayato getting turned into Demolition is a small thing that will last a chapter or two since flame active villain are going to be a bigger pain to deal with. He'll escape this time since all he really wants is a Sky and after spotting Cheshire for those few seconds Hayato will be coming after Tsuna like a rabid fangirl in the next chapter.
I have a few places for Tsuna to rob since I looked a lot of things up but I'd love to hear any ideas any of my readers might have for when his Guardians start gathering around him. One of the big ones I have planned for later involves the Musee de I'Orangerie and Ladybug.
Please leave a review if you liked the story because I don't really give it my all when I think nobody likes what we're doing.
Response - (Thanks for your reviews.)
