Seven Devils

Trigger warnings: Swearing, more smut (fight me), some sad stuff, mentions of parental abuse.

Chapter o10. Sweet Pompeii

So I put my faith in something unknown
I'm living on such sweet nothing
But I'm trying to hope with nothing to hold
I'm living on such sweet nothing
And it's hard to learn
And it's hard to love
If you giving me such sweet nothing

~Bastille

Matera, Italy

According to some believes, the Ratto Famiglia carries certain traits of insanity in its bloodline, often referred to as the taint. This theory is mostly based on speculation after one too many (bad) bosses could have been seen as incompetent, pampered or feeble-minded— as most bosses are. Yet Ezra had to argue with the theory. His grandfather had not been incompetent but skilled. His father had not been pampered but willful.

Ezra paused, staring up at the Mansion built into the calcareous rock.

The bastard girl was not feeble-minded but outspoken. And she had been, when it came time to decide what his faith would be, she made it clear what she wanted.

Tell my…Padre, that I do not wish my brother harmed.

The young Ratto shook his head before continuing on his way. Other would argue with him, because after all, his grandfather was paranoid, his father had some strange affliction when it came to touching, and the bastard girl…the bastard girl had been merciful. Yes, the Ratto are all tainted. Including the-could-be bosses like him, who had sparked the flame going against his father's words as to who the successor would be. If he had kept his mouth shut, if he had decided to give up his own claim…if he hadn't ordered all those murder attempts from day one.

His walking came to a halt at the sound of a tuneful whistle, a lullaby his mother used to sing, "Oh, brother, Che bello rivederti!" The voice came from behind, and only earned an eye roll from the older man.

Dark brown hair was pulled into a braided chignon, dressed in a half-sleeve blush sweater, black skirt that stopped past her knees, and black shinny pumps. Looking calm and collected, even at times like these. Seeing her made the scar, where his left eye should had been, hurt.

"Zira."

"As handsome as ever, Ezra." She cooed standing on her toes to place a kiss on his cheeks. The Last time she saw him she had cried for hours at the sight of his scars. "Inner conflict seems to agree with you."

"Where have you been?" The older Ratto asked following behind as they descended deeper into the earth.

"Oh I've been in Japan mostly, taking care of our sister-"

The pain from his scars was too much to bear, "She is not our sister!" and sometimes the taint and the pain would befoul him, "The Souris woman is not our mother, so the girl is a Bastard!"

Her pale hand landed on his cheek with a bitter sting, "Hush now," she spoke placing her free hand on his tie to pull him closer, "Did you have anything to do with this?"

Ezra was momentarily stunted, "I've done nothing."

"Quite right, you did nothing." She pushed him back before looking around to make sure the halls were empty, "Out of all the men you named you forgot the most dangerous one-"

"He was of no danger when this all first started."

It was now Zira's turn to roll her eyes. "Thankfully, the only one that matters still believes you." Ezra was taken aback by her comment. There was no way in hell their father would forgive him for this.

The siblings came to a final stop outside the private meeting room where their father's subordinates waited. His sister looked different somehow, happier while making him miserable, at least she was looking at him again. Zira hadn't been able to look at him without feeling guilty since the Ring Conflict. Still, it was hard for him not to duck down as all eyes landed on his eye-patch.

They used to smile at him. Now everyone looked at him with shame and disdain. They all thought he had something to do with this.

"She dismantled our man," One of his father's subordinates spoke as the meeting was called to order.

Ezra scoffed, "Seems like the girl's more Skylark than he had hoped,"

"I heard his men held him down while she sawed his legs and arms off," another added.

"Is it true about Giles Gluttire coming after his father?" Zira asked turning to her brother. The later didn't get a chance to answer before: "Now we have both the Vongola and Gluttire to worry about-"

"Not only that, but the Souris woman is enraged-"

"It's a catastrophe…perhaps if we made amends with the Vongola-"

All voices were repressed by a fist slamming onto the table. Ezra had only seen his father this infuriated once before. Suddenly his missing eye began to throb, "If you want to make amends to anyone it should be to my daughter," the young Ratto turned his gaze from his father's face to his younger (legitimate) sister from across the table, "We'll have an easier time doing that than trying to rectify ourselves to the Vongola. You went after his son's wife! You made it seem like I gave the order," because by the Varia arrived half of these men were trying to hide Orso. Said Ratto had returned to Matera knowing that his family wouldn't hand him over without a fight. "I should have all of your heads- no better yet; I should let the girl do to you what she did to Orso." There was a pause before his father's maroon eyes turned to him, "You should count yourself lucky to have been adorned by her hand."

Ezra ran a hand through his short hair, unsure if he meant by the bastard's hand or by Laupine Vongola's hand.

I would have never shown you such mercy.

I know…that's why you will never be boss.

"Get out, all of you." The Ratto boss ordered slumping back on his seat. Ezra turned to his sister, sharing a brief look, before the two made up to leave after the other men, "Not you two."

The Ratto's son grimaced feeling his sister's eyes on him before she gave his arm a squeeze, a silent appel for him to remain. The two, after brief reluctance, turned back to move closer to his father seat at the long table. Much to his dismay, Ezra sat on his left while his sister sat next to him, further away from their father than he.

"You were right about Orso," his father's voice was back to its calm and soothing tone, not what a Ratto boss should sound like, "I should have had him removed when you left us." The three of them remain silent for a moment. I should have warned you more, Ezra remembered how hard and awkward it was for this man to speak to them as children, and he doesn't blame him. Growing up, Zira and he had been quiet restless handful and their kind natured father was always at a loss with them.

Don't fool yourself, Ezra thought keeping his gaze away, this man would have had you killed not too long ago.

Zira scoffed resting her chin on her hand, "That's something I thought I would never hear," Their father gave her a soft smile, "I always thought you were a deficient fool-"

"Perhaps you were wrong-" His father started.

"Half wrong. I still tried to kill the bas- I mean…the girl," It was hard to call her by her name, "and I still tried to interfere with the Gluttire and his daughter, which caused even more of strife with between him and his children."

Erri Ratto smiled, he never thought he would hear his older child admit his wrongs. He lifted a hand to go to touch his son's shoulder, but stopped half way, sudden anguish replaced the smile. For as long as the Ratto children could remember, their father had never been able to lay hands on anyone.

Their mother had tried to explain it to them growing up; how he was afraid to touch people, she said that to him it was like being burned by fire when he touched others or others touched him. How he even managed to reproduce was a mystery to them, and they didn't care to know about the specifics. Even though…sometimes Ezra wished he hadn't been born at all.

The Ratto boss lowered his hand, into a fist, back to his lap before giving them a nervous smile. At least he tries, "So unless we want the main house of Vongola, the Varia, and the Souris at our front steps, again, we're gonna have to appease them."

Ezra saw movement out of the corner of his eye and before he knew it a black cat was crawling on the table towards him. It's just a cat, he told himself as his hand reached for his cutlass only to find his side empty from his blade.

Betraying your family had it consequences.

"Ezra," his father started, "I'm sending Zira to Florence to send our official apologies, and you're going to Verona." The young Ratto swallowed hard turning to his father as another cat popped over his sister's lap.

"And do what?"

"Let the Varia boss know that you and your family are in his debt, and that you are at their service at any time," his father let out a nervous chuckle, "but mostly the Alaude's, she did save your life after all." Suddenly his father brought his hand back up on the table placing it as close to Ezra's fist as possible without touching, "and I am very grateful to her."

"Salut!" a placid shrilly voiced called from the end of the table. Three sets of Ratto dark eyes turned to stare at the small infant. Rosamond L'Estrange didn't look tired or happy, she looked like she always looked: Strange. Blonde hair pulled up in a messy bun almost as big as her head, sleepy ice-blue eyes, and sun kissed skin. To top it all off were the piercings on her eyebrow, nose, and cartilage on both ears (the left with two hoops, and the right with one stud.) As always dressed in black and white.

"Ma, che sei grullo!?" Ezra shouted raising his hands over his head.

Erri sat back smiling at the Arcobaleno, "and after," he continued ignoring the outburst, "you and Zira will meet back in Namimori, to become your sister's official guardian-"

"Her guardian? Her Boreas Guardian?" There haven't been Anemoi guardian's since the first Ratto…this brat can't be the real thing.

The blonde Arcobaleno before him smiled, pulling out a box from her pocket while a third cat brushed up against the young rat's leg, "I'm afraid that right has been granted to another," she opened the first box to reveal a golden chain with a raw ruby pendant, "Zira will be her Notus Guardian," his sister smiled accepting the necklace with ease, "and you, well-"

Ezra didn't wait for her to answer before snatching the other box from her hand. His one eye grew large at what he found inside.

"I think she gets her humor from my father," Erri mumbled into his knuckles, before standing to dismiss his daughter, "Have safe travels, dolcezza." He stood tall with his hands behind his back.

Zira smiled, wrapping her arms around her stunned brother's shoulders, "I'm gonna hug him and pretend that it's you, papa." Then she planted a mocking kiss on Ezra's cheek before pushing the older boy away, "Ciao, ciao!" she called as she left the room with one of the Arcobaleno's cat following.

"Neechee, stay!" The Moon Arcobaleno called, before turning her attention back to Ezra, "Well? Do you accept?"

A pendent of silver and raw emerald.

What a cruel joke.

"Eurus, the unlucky East Wind," The young man grumbled slamming his forehead on the table, "Will she ever get tired of taunting me? Why couldn't she just-"

"Watch it," His father warned taking his seat.

"Why me?"

Rosamond smiled at the Ratto boss, her sleepy aqua hues melting into his as the older man came closer to his son. "Because you're her brother," The younger man stood taking the pendant with him, "The faith of our family goes with you," Ezra couldn't help but to raise his chin proudly, "Go swiftly, be my eyes and ears, but most of all," his eye went wide with shock, "Take care."

"I will, Father." He did not shed a tear. Ezra Ratto was of Matera, and those of the stone city did not waste water lightly. It was a near thing, though. It was not his father's hoarse words that made his eye glisten, but the effort that brought him to place a hand on his shoulder, his arm trembling before him, his lips locked in a tight smile, eyes screaming. Touching was an act of love. Touching was an act of faith.

He believes in me. I will not fail him.

"The Rat has been sent to back to Matera, like you asked. A set of arm and leg has been sent to the Souris, and the other to the Vongola in Florence to sell in the black market as they please," Mammon informed, "after all the trouble we went through, we should of kept all of the profits."

It took a glare, from the boss, for the Arcobaleno to shut up.

"Second thing on the list, completions are almost finished,"

"How long?"

"Two days."

"All the flowers and plants have been purchased and the groundskeeper has started to work on the gardens, but do to the recent weather the peasant might have to postpone the work a day or so," Belphegor was still a bit upset that he, the Prince, had been ordered to take care of such mundane task.

"And I!" Lussuria pushed forward, "will be going to Milan tonight to purchase what you have asked for, muah!"

Xanxus nodded, he enjoyed getting his wife gifts, and not that he would ever admit it. As far as the guardians knew this were her requests, not a surprise from him. Her expression, her joy, when she received them was worth it all. Sometimes he'd get her favorite sweets, straight from Paris, other times he'd buy her expensive gifts even if she reassure him that it wasn't necessary or just little something's to have something to give to her. But he had been feeling she needed something more, after everything that had happened.

Something that would take her breath away.

Something that was worthy of her.

Something that told her what he felt without him actually having to say it.

No, this wouldn't be enough. He was beginning to lose hope. There was nothing that did her justice. No matter what he gave her, she deserved better. Jewels? She had plenty of those but none that she could wear because he pretty much forced her to wear the riviere. Books? He was never quite certain about them anymore; all she wanted to do was scribble all over Asterie's diary. No, it needed to be something unique.

Something unexpected.

Not that she had demanded anything of the sort, or even hinted that she would like a present. Xanxus had simply decided, by himself, that it was time for another present, and a great one too.

"I need an additional weapon to be created," the only thing he could think of, "something to accommodate her needs…" after all she was as much of a Varia Officer as they were, she would need a proper weapon. "And I need it done by the time the rest arrive."

Laupine would like that (Squalo on the other hand looked ready to have a heart attack), she had her Varia Cloud Ring, now she would have a suitable weapon to go with it. He quickly dotted down the details before handing them over to his Rain Guardian to take care of.

Yeah, Xanxus would spoil the fuck out of her.

Xanxus gave his guardians a look over before nodding to dismiss them, until- "VOOII! There's a different matter to take care off," the shark shouted, pulling a folder from the inside of his coat, "Job requests have been piling up since we disposed of the Rat, all requiring a surgeon's skill."

The Varia boss glared, so get on with it.

"The only way the allodola will be completing any of these is if she drops all of her school work," The swordsman continued, "I think it's time we bribed the school board into letting her graduate early-"

"That is not my decision to make," The Dark haired man began to push himself up, now if that's all the news; I'll go back to my game.

The Varia Boss found his little Rabbit hiding behind their kitchen table. She had been sitting, but at the sound of his heavy footsteps quickly jumped to hide behind her chair. There was a coy smile on her lips, like she knew she's in trouble but was trying to act innocent. "All taken care of, then?" She asked backing away as he tried to come around for her, "No more distractions?"

"Why are you out of bed?" He asked reaching for her by the collar of his shirt, "and why the fuck're you dressed?"

Laupine shrugged away from his fingertips, "I thought we agreed I needed rest-!"

Soft laughter rang through their quarters as he chased her from the kitchen to their bed room. Laupine had managed to dodge his every move only to be taken down as she jumped over the bed, around the bedpost, when he followed and managed to pull her back into his arms.

The soft squeal left her lips as rough hands began to push his shirt of her shoulders. "Will you ever let me rest?" She argued as he laid her on the bed.

"I let you rest for two fucking hours," he trailed his hand up her leg bringing her foot to rest on his shoulder, "What's the point of being the damn boss if I can't keep you naked in my bed, Coniglietta?" She laughed as he dragged his lips over her ankle.

"Wait," she shot up from the bed pulling her leg back, "let me do it this time."

He's only let her try once, and he would be lying if he said he hadn't enjoyed the sight of her down on her knees, face flushed with her pretty little mouth around him, eyes filled to the brim with tears. Now she was slow on kissing the scars on his chest as she stood before him, gradually dropping to her knees.

Gentle hands rested on his member as vigilant lips begun their work and the waves close in, liquid and sweet and so fast, like nothing he's felt with anyone else, like nothing he's felt ever. Xanxus put hands into her silver-gold hair and held her in place. Pushed into her inch by inch, so thick it filled her until she could barely breathe, eyes watering. And then doesn't move, keeping her there.

Laupine moaned as best she could around the obstruction, eyes fluttering shut, tasting the Sky Guardian on her tongue. His movements were relentless but not unkind, hard but in the way that's splendid, exactly how she needed to feel.

"That's it—" The Varia boss panted, pausing, fingers sliding to her face. The Cloud Guardian's lightheaded, not so much from lack of air as from the dizzying onslaught of possession. Xanxus trailed fingers over her cheekbone, her eyebrow; and after a moment says: "That's enough," she pulled back with a deep breath. He knew that if she continues he wouldn't last long.

Not at the sight of her so willingly on her knees.

Xanxus lifted her up, by the hands pulling her tightly against him, leaving no room in between them. Harsh lips rest kisses on her neck before he laid her back on the bed again, not too long after he crawled over her so that they were whisper tight against each other.

It had been like this since the previous night.

He couldn't stop touching her, having missed the feel of her skin for the past month, his self-control seemed to be slipping around her. And he hated himself for it, so much that he didn't care if he was becoming too rough until after the act.

His body drove too hard against her, almost as if he was trying to force his feelings out that way. The only way he knew how to show them. Maybe the harder he went the more it would show? But it couldn't possibly work that way.

He hated himself more, for not being able to be more careful, even though he knew what it did to her.

Still the smaller girl smiled allowing her hands to reach up for him to pull him down onto her as his hips drove them forward. Xanxus growled bringing their lips into a hungry kiss before pushing her legs further around his waist. His movements were slow at first, just like she liked, slow, and gentle but not enough to push her to her limits.

"Xanxus!" She shrieked, more of surprised than unease, when she found herself flipped on her stomach. A sigh followed while calloused fingers worked themselves between her tights. One hand snaked underneath her needing into her breast causing her back to arch against his chest.

"I want you just like this," The Gunman bit into her shoulder earning yet another cry. The skylark made no protest as he cased inside of her.

Laupine always looked forward to the moments of peace and calm that came after her husband drove them to completion. The moments where he would sometimes hold her, or rest his head against her, until he decided that they had had enough rest. This time she found herself lying on her back, both hands by her head while Xanxus left purple bites against her ribs. He rested the back of her knee against his shoulder so that her lower leg rested on his back, granting his hands access to her core. There was no hurry in his activity, only touching for the sake of staying connected to her in all possible ways.

"Any news?" she asked running a hand in his hair.

Soft laughter left her lips as he bit into her thigh, "Does it matter?"

"Well it's been almost three days-" her hands quickly reached to rest on his cheek to pull him back, "Rest, please, I wish to rest." The Varia boss grunted before turning on his back pulling her along. "I'm feeling much better," she said after a pause, "Perhaps a walk will do me good."

"Fine," but only because we have to talk, "after you get cleaned up."

The smaller blonde pushed herself of the bed, "I'm surprised you still expect me to be able to walk after all that," she teased earning a slap on the rear.

"Trust me, if I didn't want you walking you wouldn't be."

Laupine laughed, softly dragging the sheets away with her.

Xanxus laid back, listening to the sounds of her moving around in the bathroom. His head was filled with too many thoughts. Should she leave school? Should he just pull her out of school? Bribe the school? Kill her father, don't kill her father? Burn down Matera? Don't burn it down? Destroy the Bastard girl instead?

Did she call out my name while they held her captive? Had I gotten there later would they have…? I shouldn't of had let her out of my sight.

Should he control his urges? Had it been his urges that had caused…

The scarred man threw the remaining covers of his legs before coming into the bathroom after her. The sight of her caused him to halt right at the door way.

He was truly the scum of the earth.

Her entire body hurt; well, actually her entire body was sore, which was quite different, especially when it was such a pleasing kind of pain and she still remembered the feeling of scars pressed against her. A small smile appeared on her lips when she noticed him standing there.

"I'm glad we're no longer fighting," Laupine mumbled before sticking her hand in the stream of water to make sure it was warm enough for her liking.

Xanxus huffed; he knew that she was trying to get him to talk again. He couldn't really think of anything to say, other than I'm sorry, for leaving her so bruised. But he would never apologize for something he couldn't control. It's her fault for being so fucking enticing. He decided before coming up behind her. Laupine's smile increased once her back was pressed to his chest, his hands resting over her hips, matching perfectly the marks his fingers had left behind.

Not an hour later they found themselves on the pathway that lead from the Castle to the bottom of the hill. Xanxus had been ready to go back five minutes into the walk as the rain continued to come down in light drizzle. The only thing keeping him there were the thoughts he couldn't fathom into words every time he glanced down at her. The Varia boss liked that she wore her hair up giving everyone a good look of his marks. But he didn't like that she had decided to cover the rest of his work under a dark grey oversized sweater and black leggings. Then he remembered why she was all bruised up in the first place. He had told himself he wouldn't be so rough-

Focus.

He sighed, trying hard not to flinch as she wrapped her hand around his elbow. He had several options: He could start increasing her assignments, making it impossible for her to keep up with her school work. If he chose this option it would seem like she couldn't handle both task, and she would probably go back to her depression. He could just pull her out without her consent, but this option would also leave her completely distraught and she would lose all trust for him.

The last option, he could just…tell her.

"Who lives there?" Her voice broke his thoughts turning his attention to the small cottage hidden amongst the trees.

"The groundkeeper's great grandmother."

The rabbit smiled pausing to take a better look at the structure. It seemed as old as the castle but in better shape. The garden outside was thriving with wild flowers, and other greenery. It wasn't ridiculously small, but not immensely large, just the right size. A charming two story cottage in the middle of nowhere.

"I've always wanted to live in a place like that."

Xanxus reached to pluck a loose curl behind her ear.

"What's bothering you?" Amethyst eyes met disputing crimson hues, "I think I know you well enough by now to know these things."

He didn't give himself time to think before telling her, not even pausing as her lips purse and her eyebrows furrowed in turmoil. They returned to the tower in silence, she walking two steps ahead of him, and he could have sworn she was fighting back resentful tears. Xanxus could understand how she felt, having worked so hard for something only to be told that it was time to take the easy way out.

"You won't be the first person in the world to do it, believe me." He grumbled walking past her.

Laupine only sniffed looking down at all of the documents left on his desk. Sure enough, all of them were out of the country, all of them taking up days at a time.

Meanwhile, inside their chambers, Xanxus paused at the sight of their kitchen table. He hadn't noticed it before, mind too set on the hunt; she had been doing school work. The Varia boss had been wondering when she found the time to do it all. Now the guilt settled in as he turned back to find her sitting on his chair making up her mind.

"A gift, of one arm and leg, has been sent to both the Gluttire and Vongola Nono to sell for whatever price they find suitable," Giles read, "from Laupine Vongola." The young Goat looked up at his father, "Seems like she's feeling much better now." A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"What are you thinking about?" The Gluttire asked from his seat behind the desk.

His son shrugged setting the letter down, "Just of a girl who liked to suture poultry for practice."

The older man seemed to crack a smile before taking a sip from his drink. Vodka, Giles thought of how his sister had taken up that particular drink. Funny, how she would still try to have something in common with the man that wanted nothing to do with them.

"Poor Orso Ratto, awful Mafioso with a terrible judgment." The young man added walking towards the window.

He could feel his father's steely eyes following his every movement, yet remained calm. It was only natural that his father would not trust him after he had tried to kill him. The blond knew that if he was going to be forced to remain in Nice he would at least let some of his stress out by pestering his father.

"Attacking your sister was stupid."

The statement shocked Giles, was his father confessing to making a foolish mistake or was he just stating the obvious. A lesser member of a great Famiglia attacking a member of the Capo di tutti capi Famiglia was a death sentence. Laupine keeping him alive after all that torture had been added punishment for the Rattos. They would have to choose between keeping him alive or ending his misery.

"Attacking me for thinking I had part in it was senseless," the younger Gluttire lowered his eyes in shame. Now would be the time his father choose to have a moment of clarity, "Gluttires, and Alaudes, don't act like fools."

Giles fought his grin back wanting to call him out on how foolish he had been acting the past years.

"Are you going to say something clever, mon biquet?" The pet name made the younger man's heart ache.

Serge had called him that after the beating he gave him after he found out Giles had taken documents from the chateau.

Documents needed by the CEDEF.

Ceci est pour votre propre bien, mon biquet.

"Go on, Giles, say something clever."

The younger man pushed himself from the window to stand directly across from his father. The man used to be a God to him growing up, now he realized that he probably had been…with his mother at his side. "They used to shout your name…now they only whisper Fou Gluttire, doesn't it bother you?"

To his surprise the Gluttire said, "Well of course it bothers me. But the shepherd does not concern himself with the bleating of its sheep."

Oh, there you are Serge. A gentle voice called from the open window.

"I'm sending you back to Siena, but first I want you to go to Lyon, put our Famille at the service of the Souris, should the Ratto try anything again we will remind them of just who they're dealing with."

The young Gluttire bawled his good hand into a fist, "I didn't realize you placed such a high value on my sister's life."

"She's more Alaude than Gluttire, she proved herself of that after what she did to the Ratto." The older man stood from his chair to retrieve the bottle of Vodka for himself, "In her actions she made sure no one would doubt her strength."

Giles laughed taking a seat on the edge of desk, "So the shepherded does concern himself with opinions-"

"That is not an opinion; it's a fact, for every procedure your sister did on him the other families know what she is capable of. What we're capable of." Serge's steel eyes bore onto his son's as he walked back to stand before him, "Your mother is dead, before long I'll be dead, and you, and your sister, her husband and whatever children they bear. All of us dead, rotting, in the ground, and what remains will be the names we leave behind. Do you understand?"

The young goat nodded.

"You and your sister are blessed with abilities that few men possess. You were blessed to have been born into one of the greatest families in all of France, and Europe, and you're young still." Indigo hues turned away at the door hoping someone would come and break them up before one of them threw the first punch, "and what have you done with these blessings? You have been at my side, hiding behind your mother's shadow, for too long. I will restore your titles, Giles, but I need you to become the Boss I know you can be. Not next year, not tomorrow, now."

Giles couldn't help but to smile, he couldn't remember the last time his father had spoken to him this way. With so much hope and pride.

"Now go," Serge kept his back to his son as he walked to the window, "Your mother will be here soon and I don't want her to see you like this."

He could have sworn he heard his neck snap when he turned back to look at his father. So just like that the clarity in his steel eyes was gone, and the Fou Gluttire had returned.

Lithe fingers traced disfigured skin, "You didn't take very good care of them." Laupine mumbled lifting up his chin to take a better look at the scar on his neck. A shiver ran up his spine, although he was careful to hide the effects of her touch from the man sitting before them, stopping short at the collar of his shirt. The smaller girl was tempted to reach for the green emerald that hung around his neck. It had been a long time since she had seen a small jewel like it. Having been adorn with such large gems since her arrival to the Castle.

"I didn't think it deserved being taken care of." Ezra replied closing his good eye as she placed the eyepatch back in place, "Grazie."

Xanxus growled under his breath. She had refused to speak to him since the previous day, now here she was, showering another with affection.

"If you're still alive in the morning, come by the medical wing. I'll see if I can do anything to fix that." The blonde offered, ignoring her husband's protest.

"Ma donna is too kind to a rat like me."

Laupine only smiled giving the older man a gentle squeeze on the shoulder before walking back behind her husband's desk. The Varia boss glared up at her before turning his attention back to the man kneeling before his throne.

"Don't go too hard on him," she whispered leaning down to kiss his right cheek. A hand reached up to pull at the end of a blonde strand before she pushed herself away. Squalo tried not to blush, noticing how his boss automatically leaned in for the kiss.

"Where the fuck is she?" Xanxus had let out a harsh swallowing breath that threatened to seize his entire body when he took another look at the empty hotel room. "Shark-Shit!" He had called causing both Belphegor and said swordsman to almost break into a panic. "If anything happens to her I'll burry your corps in hell!"

The Shark quickly turned his attention back to the Boss' wife, watching her move from his side to the liquor cabinet. She took a bottle of white zinfandel before hurrying back behind the door of their private quarters. It had only been five months and yet…the subtle changes hadn't been subtle at all for his guardians. Xanxus had never let any of his other women touch him, with affection or otherwise, in front of anyone. He never let them stay in the same room with him unless it was the bedroom, and he definitely would never in a thousand years allow them to freely take liquor out of his special reserve.

"I heard you crawled in here like the damn rat you are," Xanxus started once his compassionate rabbit was out of the room.

The young Ratto shrugged, finally coming to terms to being called rat (and after all Leviathan did force him down on his knees the second he set foot in the Varia grounds), "That is what I am-"

"Did I say you could speak, cazzone?" The charging of an x-gun was enough to put the fear of God in any man, and yet having come so close to death in the recent days, Ezra felt no fear.

Leviathan gave him a hard slap on the back of the head, almost knocking him forward, causing his vision to blur.

Xanxus was very close to snapping.

Today, like yesterday, had not been a good day. She had all, but, refused to look or speak to him. Anytime she did, her eyes would become teary and she would have to leave his side. At the moment he couldn't think of any reason to not hate himself. Should have kept my fucking mouth shut.

If you ever make me cry again-

"You came here to beg for forgiveness?" Xanxus asked, taking the last zip of his drink, "go on then beg," and make it quick. He needed to go back into his chambers and steal whatever was left of his wife's wine bottle. He knew how fucking crazy she could get when she was drunk, and he definitely didn't was a repeat of that fight again.

The one eyed Mafioso could tell that the Varia boss would be lenient this time, and he had to add another reason to be thankful for the Alaude. Turning back to look at the silver shark for reassurance, he shrugged, Ezra cleared his throat then began to deadpan, "With all my heart and soul, with every ounce of my being-" A small blast of Xanxus' Will shot out of his gun, missing Ezra's knee by a mere inch.

The Ratto paused, slowly raising his gaze to meet crimson orbs, "Go on," The gunman instructed, getting ready to aim again.

A soft scoff left Ezra's lips, "My dreaded boss: I beg you to forgive your most miserable servant; your humble, worthless, thoughtless servant…"

He would be allowed to return but would have to carry out the most dangerous of task. Since Xanxus didn't quite trust him, still, he would be allowed to return to Japan and serve his sister until he was needed back in Verona.

"Which will be," Xanxus stopped short from saying never, "when the Cloud Guardian wishes to call on you…seeing as how you owe her your worthless life. You can do her bidding and work under her."

Maybe that would make her happy. Just like the small gift he had for her would.

The scarred man wasn't expecting to find his little rabbit in the copper bathtub, hair pulled up in a messy bun, up to her collarbone in bubbles. She sipped her wine straight out of the bottle, pulling out the cork with ease, before acknowledging his presence.

"I hope you didn't get any blood on the carpet," She mumbled wiping a trail of pink from her chin, tipsy, "Mammon was complaining the other day," he made his way to sit at the edge of the tub, "about how much you all spend on cleaning up blood from the carpets."

He could begin to hear traces of her accent when she spoke, slowing her speech (in Italian) more than usual. The older man was rather pleased that she willingly offered the bottle over, "The little runt makes it sound like its coming out of his pocket," he mumbled taking a swing before setting the half empty bottle on the floor. Amethyst eyes looked up at him as he placed his hand on the back of her neck. The Tiger lowered his forehead to hers, she smelled like lavender and honey, before leaning down to place a brief kiss on her lips.

"Listen, if you still want to go to school its fine by me-" Her lips came crashing up on his stopping him. A playful smile grew against the kiss, as long arms wrapped around his neck, and he tried to pull her out of the warm bath.

"Oh mon amore," she mumbled against his lips, "please say no more about the matter," she begged allowing him to press her bare chest to his, "It does nothing but upset you-"

Xanxus pulled back to glare at her, "You're the one always saying we should fucking talk!" She was giddy with joy that he had actually listened to her for once.

She placed a hand on his chest, halting any further abuse her lips were to receive, "I know what I said, and I'm glad you got that off your chest-"

"Then why the fuck have you been crying— Ow!" The Cloud Guardian had used her free hand to tug at the red feathers in his hair. Xanxus leaned down and gave her wrist a harsh nip in return, which would be sure to leave a mark.

"I was overwhelmed!" She cried out trying to pull her arm back, only to be pulled back by his hadn't around her abused wrist.

"What the hell does that mean?"

Lupine's hand moved from his chest to the scar on his cheek, "Mammon and I talked about it, we've already bribed the school. It's all taken care off, apparently the administration owned the Vongola several favors."

"Behind my back,"

"I was going to tell you, but you always seemed busy," she explained, "and when you said those things yesterday...it made me realize," she wasn't aware of how she had turned her eyes downward until he lifted her chin up, "That you care for me."

The Varia Boss scoffed, "Why would I?"

"Parce que tu m'aimes." Her voice trembled and her eyes down casted the moment he gave a brief shake of the head. Of course he didn't, they barely knew each other, and she was very foolish to think that a man like him was capable of such a feeling.

"Don't cry." Xanxus ordered pushing himself off the floor. His skin burned already aching for her touch.

The skylark turned her face to the wall, pulling her knees to her chest with her arms around them, resting her cheek to her knees. He probably had only worried about how much time they were wasting by letting her stop mid training to complete school. It was better this way, now she could be his breeder, have his Vongola babies when he finally decided that he wanted them, and remain locked in her shinny tower-

"Come on," he had returned with a towel for her, "get out before you get sick," you stupid fuck, you miserable piece of shit, get down on your knees and beg her to forgive you. Her small form shook against the sudden chill of both the room and his eyes. Of course he couldn't admit it. He could never say it out loud, but through his actions he tried to show her just how he felt, couldn't she see that?

The blonde had expected him to take her like he had before, but instead he worked on drying her before wrapping her in her fluffy robe. No, tonight he would tuck her into bed and then he would spend the night out drinking at the shooting range.

"Close your eyes, and hold out your hands." Xanxus instructed, reaching back for something in his pocket.

Her lower lip trembled, she was afraid that he had decided that it would be best to just kill her for going behind his back, and with a deep breath did as she was told.

Author's Note:

Thank you so much for your patience, I am back and should be updating on a bi-weekly to monthly base. As you can see I am slowly giving hints to an upcoming story, won't be published until I feel like I'm at a good stopping point with this story. Also I am going to start writing the first chapter of the Ricardo and Asterie story. Thank you guys again for all of your support this past month.

Italian:

Padre- Father

Che Bello riverdeti- How nice to see you again.

Ma, che sei grullo?- Are you joking?

Dolcezza- Sweetheart

Allodola- Skylark

Capo di tutti capi- Boss of all of Bosses

Regina- Queen

Grazie- Thank you

Ma donna- My lady

Cazzone- Prick

French:

Salut- Hello

Mon biquet- my lamb

Ceci est pour votre bien- this is for your own good

Fou- Mad

Mon Cher- My dear

Mon Amore- My love

Parce que tu m'aimes- because you love me.