I'm gonna call this xAU part 1. Not how I imagined it going but eh.

Tsuna for all his academic failings was not, in fact, an idiot. While he never would get a perfect score of any math test, he was well versed in the many intricacies of both society and social hierarchy. How could he live with daily reminders of his own social standing and still survive if he wasn't accurately able to predict who would decide to do what to him, or why, or what he did to induce that, or even what he could do to prevent anything untoward from happening to him? Tsuna's life was on a close edge that could go from being bullied to outright being tortured by his peers, and it was primarily by his own efforts that nothing ever became worse than what they already were.

So when Reborn arrived, bringing alongside with him an entire new society to deal with, Tsuna fell into panic. He was ill-equipped to suddenly deal with the Mafia and all the rapid changes it was making in his life. How was he supposed to know a fight could lead to subservience? (And he spent an entire in complete an utter fear of being beaten while he was obviously weaker than his Mafia peers. Though Gokudera was likely grateful for Tsuna's efforts in preserving his life, he was too respectful for it to be normal. Every now and then a flash of caution was grace the bomber's features when he was invited to be in any sort of informal setting, and that behaviour told Tsuna a lot more about what he could potentially do – without repercussions – to his storm, simply over one altercation.) Though surely Reborn would never let the heir of Vongola be led by anyone not of his choosing – which is to say, nobody but himself – Tsuna would not and could not let himself rely entirely upon the dubious good graces of another.

By the time that his panic faded, Tsuna realised with a sickening lurch that Reborn had effectively trapped him in the same way he'd been trapped in the role of 'Useless Tsuna' for years.

Any and all information about the Mafia – of which he was given little of regardless – was carefully spoon fed to him by reborn. All the members of the Mafia that he was in contact with were either useless –like Lambo, who couldn't even help himself – loyal to Reborn – as was Bianchi – Vongola, which was Dino, or too afraid to speak to him on normal terms, which had Gokudera covered. Shamal equally was of little to no help, being of tenuous loyalty to both Reborn and Vongola and with little incentive to help him anyway. It meant that the only things Tsuna could safely do were things that Reborn, and by extension, Vongola, wanted him to do – and only things that would further trap him into the role of Decimo. Tsuna's everyday life was so filled up with inane tasks of homework and training and being jerked around by Reborn that even if Tsuna wanted to find some escape from his role, he was would no time to research or plan such an attempt. Not to mention, the lack of privacy. Reborn watched over him twenty-four-seven. Whenever he wasn't at school, he was being dictated by Reborn, and even when he was at school the infant had ways of spying upon him. It would be impossible to escape both the arcobaleno's distant watch and the scrutiny of every other person in Namimori Middle, or the direct attention of the home tutor otherwise. Reborn even slept in the same room, giving Tsuna absolutely no time to himself and any potential means of escaping the long reach of the Vongola.

Useless Tsuna wasn't supposed to be forever. Middle school would eventually, and there were a number of High schools, both near and far he could choose a for a new start, even if it meant getting up ridiculously early to commute by train. Even then, University proceeded that, or getting a job. Namimori was barely a blip on the map in Japan, and while he was tied to it, and by extension, his reputation, for now, Tsuna had always known it wouldn't have been forever.

But the Mafia? Vongola Decimo? That was a disturbingly permanent. It was easy to see that you didn't just enter the Mafia to leave as you please – and Tsuna despaired over the fact that he was, at least, that far in that leaving would be impossible. It was even easier to see that the Vongola leadership was a job that you only retired from at your funeral.

And Tsuna, Tsuna cast his gaze into the future and imagined being forced into the role of Decimo, and live his life constantly dictated by Reborn, the Vongola and the expectations of the Mafia public in general, and promptly choked of his immediate denial of no, no, no. To be stifled in such a way, pigeonholed into a role that required him to do everything he hated, constantly controlled by other people, with no escape other than death. It sounded like the perfect version of hell to the young brunet.

He needed an out.

He needed a plan.

"Hey Reborn, the Mafia has rules, doesn't it?"

The Hitman paused in wiping down his gun to give his student a flat stare. "Of course it does."

"S-so what happens if I do anything wrong? How do I know what I can and can't do?"

A frown marred the young arcobaleno's face. It was easy for Tsuna to affect a look of worry and panic about the possible punishments he could face, and Reborn seems to relax a smidgen.

"What brought this on, anyway?"

A mixture of fright and sheepishness seemingly was failed at being covered up by a nervous smile. "I-it's just that Gokudera-kun–"

Tsuna cut himself off and Reborn nodded, presumably pleased – or at least content- with the answer. He relaxed more, and a wicked smirk crossed his childish face.

"People who break Mafia law are thrown into Vendicare, the Mafia prison."

Tsuna squeaked. "Mafia prison?"

"Hm. It's run by the Vendice, ruthless upholders of the law, both powerful and completely neutral." The Hitman's eyes gleamed. "Not even being Decimo would save you from them, so you better do what I say, Useless Tsuna."

The brunet let out an appropriately pathetic wail of fear, yet underneath it, hope blossomed. Reborn had inadvertently given Tsuna the best possible answer he could ask for. A neutral, untouchable force, which even the Vongola couldn't fight against? Tsuna could almost cry for happiness.

Now, he only needed a little more information of these 'Vendice'.