Their first meal together was nothing short of a tragedy.
Tsuna being himself had either refused to eat in the same room or neglected to eat altogether in favor of avoiding contact with his new tutor, Reborn, as much as possible. Though his eyes would always wander to Leon there wasn't much interaction besides shrugs and nods.
Occasionally a clipped reply when Nana urged him to speak properly.
Tonight she had finally done it. Convincing her son it would be nothing more than a quiet meal filled with his favorite foods, more importantly looking sad at the first inevitable 'no'. They all settled on a quick meal, nothing else.
Or that had been the initial plan.
See even after a few years the instinct to snatch, as he'd often do to Xanxus' expensive meal with disastrous consequences rarely, hadn't quite settled itself into a dormant state.
There had been a plate with roasted lamb within distance if he could have perhaps asked for it- but Reborn's plate was so much closer.
Thus ensued the rattling of a kitchen chair, Tsuna's arm in a half twisted position across the wood tabletop. However what horrified Nana most was not the initial swiftness of the action, indeed she was nonetheless terrified at such an exchange, but how quickly her son went for the throat.
And the grip Reborn had to place on his wrist just to keep a still struggling hand from advancing.
Then,
Tsuna bit his hand. Not as an irked action. A savage one, tearing at skin.
Reborn only sat there as if this sort of this thing were to happen every day. Only a dull flash of surprise, or was that satisfaction? When Tsuna managed to wriggle his pinned arm free.
It shot out. Shoving Reborn hard enough to nearly topple backwards if he hadn't such an infuriatingly keen sense of balance. Was enough to release him however.
Tsuna promptly sat back in his seat, taking a bite of lamb he'd still managed to snatch from the intended plate. Unperturbed.
The room had reduced to silence. The only noise being chewing.
Nana left the table abruptly.
There was only a small pause in his chewing as she left before it resumed.
"Go back to Italy."
Thus their second meal. Though hardly a meal considering Nana was out and they'd only scraped together leftovers. Meaning Tsuna had been doing so when Reborn suddenly turned up at the end of the counter.
"No." Their exchange was casual even with such unusual context.
"Why not? You're probably some big, important hitman. If Nono sent you anyway." He takes a sip of soda water. Something you wouldn't expect a nine year old child to enjoy.
A fork scrapes across his plate following Reborn's reply, "how would you know if it was he who sent me?"
"Iemitsu wouldn't send me a tutor. He wouldn't think of that, though you're probably not even a tutor. Tutors don't hover like you do."
Reborn's smile is satisfaction itself. It seemed though it was only supposed to be a feeler conversation, a way of knowing where Tsuna was at and how much he really knew- there was more knowledge than initially thought. Only making things easier.
"Oh? Then I suppose you'd like to take a guess at why I'm here?" Leon peers around the collar- a usual staring contest commences.
"Do I have to?" His eyes never leave the chameleon per usual.
"Play my little guessing game. Otherwise you'll never find out." This elicits a sigh.
He drags his fork across the plate once more, hoping it would possibly annoy the man next to him enough to leave. No such luck. "Nono sent you as a babysitter. 'Cause he's busy preparing Xanus for boss… or something like that."
"Intuitive. However you neglect the fact that Xanxus is no longer under Vongola's care."
"...what is that even supposed to mean? I'm nine, not a fucking mind reader,"
Reborn snorts into his glass, flicks his fedora slightly upwards with his thumb- looking almost smug. Anyone would find it petty to be toying with a kid of all things.
"It means you've been selected as Tenth in his stead."
Tsuna begins laughing. "I'm not even Nono's legitimate son!" The idea of him, a child taking the spot of his older brother, stronger and wiser than he, was impossible. And seen as an early sign of pessimism which would no doubt be beat out of him in the coming years.
Reborn shoves him from his chair. Satisfied at the indignant yell.
Blocks a hurtling plate.
"You should be more careful with Mama's things."
"Strong words for someone who doesn't even value human lives." Tsuna tosses his silverware into the sink uncaringly. Adults only knew how to tell 'little fibs' anyhow, to resist being swept along with them was the most important thing to remember.
He knows it's a cocked gun, regardless, terrifying.
He knows Reborn would kill him inside his own home.
He knows there isn't a choice.
He wishes Xanxus would hurry his ass up and return from wherever he was hiding.
"How about we make a deal then?" Do I even have a choice?
"If Xanxus returns and is able to successfully redeem the title within the time between now and your inheritance, the catch being you must put up an honest resistance, then he will become Tenth without my interference against it."
"...and if he doesn't I still have to take the dumbass position? Doesn't seem fair to me." The barrel is pressed against his head at this point, a cold sweat settles along with an unshakable feeling of dread.
"I could kill you instead." Reborn is dead serious, barrel pressed closer. Child or not.
"Fine. I'll do it, but he'll come marching back up here." Tsuna extends a hand, beckoning for Reborn's as well. Hands extend. Gun lowered. "Since I plan on keeping my word, we'll break each others ring finger over it. It's a swear of honor and if you don't do it then you might as well kill me here."
His brow quirks at the odd ways of Sawada Tsunayoshi.
And on the fridge is a highlighted number for the ER.
1 like = 1 vote for reborn to choke on his espresso
