Angry Sky, Bright Earth


Echoes

"He loves me...he loves me not...he loves me..."

"Mami? What are you doing?"

"I'm playing a game! Do you want to play, big brother?"

"We have to go inside. Mama said to wash up for dinner."

"It'll be really quick! I promise."

"...Okay, really quick. Give me a flower."

Enma came to consciousness slowly. He could feel the tears on his cheeks and his heart beating fast in his chest.

"A dream," he murmured. He took a deep breath. "Just a dream."

Effervescent

Enma stared at Xanxus.

After several moments had passed, he said, "Wow, you actually came."

Annoyance flashed across Xanxus' features. "I told you I was coming. Why the fuck are you so surprised?"

"I suppose I wasn't expecting you to actually go through with it. You've never bothered picking me up before."

"The fucking trash was too busy to send someone out to get you."

Enma hummed. They were quiet for a minute before he ventured, "Or maybe, you were just so excited to see me you couldn't wait until I got there?"

There was a pause. Enma's grin spread wider. He was about to open his mouth, teasing Xanxus about the situation, when a hand slapped against his forehead.

"Ow," he groaned, reaching up. He rubbed at the wound. "What was that for?"

"Being a fucking idiot. Hurry up or you can find another ride."

Elegance

"Dance with me." Xanxus didn't bother dignifying the request with an answer, instead just shooting Enma a sharp glance. "Aw, come on. There's no harm in it."

"The loss of my dignity is pretty big."

"I don't think dancing is going to have a huge effect on that."

"Dancing with you will. You can barely fucking walk most days."

"That's hardly true anymore."

Xanxus smirked, "You're not denying that it's true."

"Well, it was for a while." Enma stared at him for a while before saying, "So you never dance with me because you think I'll fall?"

There was a moment before Xanxus answered, "I never dance with you, because I have no interest in dancing."

"I see..." Enma let out a small laugh. He scratched his cheek with one finger, "I guess it was silly of me to think there was any deeper reason."

"Go get me another drink."

"Eh? Why? I only just got over here."

"Because this fucking party is boring and I'm only still here because your trash guardian won't let you leave."

Elemental

"Be careful with him, okay?"

Xanxus didn't look up as he said, "Are you telling me what to do, trash?"

"No, asshole, I'm giving you advice. That kid isn't like me and you."

"You don't even know him."

"That bastard Yamamoto said he's just like Tsuna." Squalo was quiet for a moment before sighing, "And even if he's not, I know you. So be careful. Fire has a tendency to ruin the earth."

Xanxus glanced up. "That was strangely poetic of you."

"Don't be a prick, jackass."

Xanxus leaned on one hand, watching Squalo. "Why are you so worried about him?"

"I'm not worried about him. I'm worried about you." An eyebrow raised. Another sigh from Squalo. "I know you well enough to know that if you hurt that kid you'd never forgive yourself. So just be careful."

After another moment, Xanxus said, "I think that horse idiot would be jealous that your worrying about me so much."

"Yeah well, that idiot has a whole different set of problems.'

Ennui

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Xanxus groaned. Despite his complainants, he snagged his phone off the side table. Holding it to his ear, he flopped back against his pillows. "This had better be fucking good, trash."

A familiar laugh came through the other end. There was a slightly maniac edge to it that Xanxus found unsettling this late at night. "Sorry, sorry. I woke you up again, didn't I?"

Xanxus didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "Another nightmare?"

There was a moment before Enma let out a soft sigh. He could particularly see the other boy nodding, probably wrapped up in his sheets and holding his knees to his chest. "Yes."

"Did you want to...?"

"No." Enma let out another one of those laughs that had Xanxus' skin crawling. There was something so wrong about that sort of sound coming from a boy who was usually so happy and content, so much more put together then Xanxus was himself. "It was a bit more personal then the others."

"Aright."

There was a moment before Enma said, "This is really lame, but my mother read to me a lot when I was a kid. Especially when I was a kid and I think I just need that right now."

Xanxus pushed himself up and flipped the lamp on. He glanced around before saying, "The only thing I have is a mission report from the sun trash."

"Read it to me."

Even as he reached over, he questioned, "We're an assassination organization. Are you sure this is what you want right now?"

"Just read it, please."


E/n: For some reason, Xanxus ended up being the more gentle one in this set while Enma was a bit more assertive.

In general, my headcanon for the relationship is that they balance each other out in that way. Enma calms Xanxus and Xanxus builds Enma up, but I wonder if it ended up over doing it in this set? If it was a little too out of character?