The resemblance Hibari Kyoya had with Viper's naggy acquaintance was too impossible to ignore. She'd seen it once before during the Representatives Battle when he fought for Fon. Back then, he still looked too young and immature—qualities that were the total opposites of what Fon had. But now, even just after a few years, the violent disciplinarian seemed to have lightened up and matured for the best. He's not just a battle-hungry brat anymore. He's Hibari Kyoya, Vongola's Cloud Guardian.

"You must be incredibly bored, Hibari Kyoya. You don't need my help at all." Only partially true. While the past few hours were proof enough that he was already equipped with knowledge on how to counter illusions and see through the mist, he still had years worth of practice if he wants to be on par with the greatest magician of all.

"Catch."

Viper threw a baseball at him, the ball gradually changing into tiny worms, and then to snakes. They slithered across the air as if there was solid ground somewhere Hibari couldn't see. They were moving faster than bullets, but not so much for Hibari to fall prey.

He had Cloud Flames all around him—a move he informed Viper that he was trying to polish. Make it too thick, and his defenses would be too thin. Make it too thin, and he could barely feel the effect. When the snakes simultaneously reached for his head, Hibari dodged with grace, his movements all too similar with his older relative's.

"Maybe." He replied as he moved to his left, escaping the Mist Snake. "Yet you're still playing along."

Viper detected a smirk, even as he twisted, his face away from her point of view. That was the one thing that was clearly different between he and Fon. His grin was more sinister. Fon's? Gentle. Always gentle.

"I'm simply doing my job." Plus it's the perfect distraction, she adds quietly to herself as she glides around, searching for a blind spot. She still was at a lost on how to approach Belphegor. His injury wasn't a reason for her to waltz in and care for him like she used to... It would just break her heart when he greets her with the same cold attitude he's been giving her for the past few years. Just as his face was about to materialize in her mind, Viper saw the one place she's never attacked from yet— down below.

The earth below the seemingly dancing cloud shook, a mixture of dirt and grass capturing Hibari's leg. His other leg moved away from the trap, but the other was already immobilized. Viper observed him as his expression changed when he couldn't free himself. Moments after, he looked up at the illusionist, silently demanding an explanation.

"Some illusions are real, don't you know?" Viper was the one with the smirk now. She allowed the earth to absorb herself, her image now appearing on the ground, smirk still present. "If there's one thing I can make clear to you, it's this—some illusions are better than reality."

Cue, Belphegor passing through her thoughts, ruining the focus that had kept her illusions going for a brief moment. That moment was enough for Hibari to shake off the earth that trapped him, curious as to why it crumbled all of a sudden. "You're distracted." He said matter-of-factly, his tonfas down, defensive stance gone. "Let's take a break."

The forest disappeared; the interior design of a traditional Japanese room now taking over. There were a few items that decorated Hibari Kyoya's walls—all framed old sayings in kanji. There was an empty space in the room—the spot where his futon would be if here were to be sleeping. On the side, a very clean and organized desk with an out of place plushie of a yellow bird that dangled on the left of his laptop. Aside from his bookshelf, a small table and two chairs, there was nothing else in the room. No one would have believed them if they said they were in the middle of combat just moments ago. Unless, of course, they had something else in mind.

"How did you practice so far?" Viper asked, now occupying one of the two chairs. "Your familiarization with illusions, I mean." It couldn't have been with Mukuro Rukudo. The two would fight to the death the moment they spared each other a glance. But then again, in a span of a few years, the aloof cloud had already taken steps in fully becoming part of the Vongola. They might have made amme—

"She accompanies me occasionally." Came his brief reply, sitting down as well. He never mentioned a name, but who else could it have been? There was a spark of something in his eyes; a something Viper could more or less guess. A hint of playfulness tugged his lips, removing the flat line from his handsome face. He remembered something.

Viper wasn't nosy nor was she interested in personal affairs. And she was thankful he wasn't either. There was tranquility between the two of them- one that almost matched the one she had before with Chrome Dokuro. And just as similarly, it was broken by the selfish prince.

He never bothered to knock or even ask permission. He came waltzing through the sliding doors of Hibari Kyoya's private quarters and greeted the two of them with a loud laugh. "The Prince has arrived." He announced with a little bow.

"It was hilarious, Mammon. Admit it." Belphegor leaned back on the wall, supporting himself as he fell back into fits of laugher. Viper, however, was completely flushed red. Not only was she confused and embarrassed, she was... she still is...

"Bel!" Viper turned away, unable to face the Prince at her current state. "That wasn't funny!"

Belphegor looked up, his laughter gone but his grin totally present. He then stood up, his tall figure towering over Viper's petite frame. He took a step forward, making her take a step back in response. A second step. A third. A fourth... The fifth step was impossible for Viper, she was already backed up against the wall.

"Belphegor." Viper warned him, a hand placed on his chest to keep him from advancing. He, however, had her trapped; his hands on her waist that kept her in place.

"Yes?" He teased her, pushing himself forward as she applied more pressure to keep him from further advancing. "Why so stiff, Mammon? Cat got your tongue?"

And just as he said it, his face fell into a small 'o' before the same playful smile he saw on Hibari graced the Prince's lips.

Viper was in the middle of a retort when he caught her mouth with his, whatever strength she had in her arms already gone, leaving Belphegor to take that last step to remove the space between them.

In the novels she read before, they always described a kiss as something grand. Something worth more than a sentence. It was like fireworks, some would describe. To others, magic; Viper scoffed at those. Other times, they would just describe the flavor—food they last ate, booze they last drank, anything! To Viper, there was no time to watch fireworks, be at awe with magic or to discern taste. To Viper, a kiss was just that: a kiss. There was no time to think or revel in the feeling, there was just do.

She shuddered under him when his tongue toyed with hers, the heat on her face overwhelming her. Her hands were about to hold on to her shirt when she found herself grasping thin air instead. When the Prince pulled back, she was left hanging, a whimper almost escaping her.

"You were right. I am a Cheshire Cat." He purred the words right out of his mouth, ending it with a lick on her cheek. She had always compared him to the mischievous cat in Wonderland. They were just as devious and crooked with their ways, their signature grins all too similar. He'd say in return that she was Alice— only she could dream a world like that too, he said. The books never talked about Cheshire and Alice making out in the bathroom.

He was in the middle of nuzzling her neck when Viper finally admitted the strangeness she felt.

She was confused, embarrassed, was and still is, happy.

"You're quiet, Mammon." He lifted her chin up, making her look directly at him. Red still adorned her cheeks, eyes curiously looking up at him. "Still don't think it was funny?"

Why would I think this is funny?

She looked up at him looking hurt from his words. She was in an unusual state of bliss and there he was, thinking of it all as a joke. "This isn't my kind of joke, Bel." Again, hurt. There was an obvious hint of sadness in her voice.

Surprisingly enough, Belphegor caught on. Not enough to spare her a chuckle, but enough to take away the uncertainty that held her back. "Romancing you wasn't funny, you silly infant. That part I happen to love." His thumb stroked her cheek, releasing hundreds of butterflies in her stomachs. "I meant his face. The defeated look on his face when I took you away!"

There was an odd look of victory on his face when he said so. The question was, what was the battle?

When he made his entrance earlier at Hibari Kyoya's quarters, he took it upon himself to occupy Viper's seat, taking her hand and pulling her off from her chair so he could sit down. Just as she was about to scold him, he pulled her right back, forcibly making her sit on his lap.

It was then when he started talking to Hibari. How are you? He asked. Still a thief? He asked again. His hands were busying themself with Viper's legs as he was talking nonsense to Hibari. Cue the start of the Storm's hue on Viper's face as his hands crept under her clothes.

"Get out." Hibari had said with little to no expression. If anything, he was just dismissing the both of them. Belphegor dragged the both of them out, pulling her along with him, laughter never faltering.

And now here they were, locked up in a bathroom in Vongola's Japan base, doing what Viper could only explain as a sudden burst of overwhelming emotion.

The fire might have snapped some senses into Belphegor. It might have made him realize life was too short to go for years without even seeing someone who once meant... something to him. Even if the reunion wasn't anything Viper had ever thought of (maybe...), she was just glad the streak of silence was over. Whatever got over the Prince, Viper was just glad that it did.

"Mmmhmm..." She finally answered with a little nod, confirming his 'victory' to whatever it was. She swept away his bangs, giving herself another look at his beautiful eyes. He was looking at her without hate or malice—for once, she knew how he felt. There wasn't even a need to mind read. "Absolutely hilarious."

Between them, there was no time for questions, no thought spared on bliss they have could all be taken away just as soon at it started. There was no but, how or why. There was just do.

Word Count: 1,896

Note:

First update for the year—and it's a short one! Hello, everyone! Hope you all had a good holiday break. Greeting you all with this short update and may the butterflies I had released while writing this reach you!

Apologies if you don't like these kind of chapters. Tyl!Bel is staying for a while. Thanks Lambo!

Age recap, Hibari and Bel would be both 19 here, Chrome 17? Naturally, TYL Bel would be 29. I initially planned this to connect with an old fic from two years ago (Unofficial) but... the ages don't match. Damn. Anyways, they're just little details and easter eggs that keep me entertained~

There's no time to think, just do ;P

Thoughts so far?

Because I appreciate the reviews and you're on guest accounts i'll allot space to replies because i'm itching to talk to you guys!

Hesper:

There's no trick, Hesper. Just time. Haha! No seriously. The only reason I update so fast these days is because I carry my laptop EVERYWHERE. Can't leave home without it unless it's raining like mad. That and a whole lotta feels ;) And Mammon is such a badass, ain't she ahaha my favorite part of writing her will always be what she does with her illusions. And I don't remember that part much, but it was always a lingering thought that if she could make her illusions real, what's stopping her from making flames? (Dun dun dun... ) And i'll that as an achievement! To be honest, the sudden surprises just randomly come to mind while I write the chapters. (Fon, Fran, Hibari, the bazooka...) I'm just freakin glad they work xD And thanks for the correction!

Grey-Rain-Cloud:

Does this count as a good thing? I hope so! XD And finally, a non-guest account haha!

Mabel-chan:

I have this terrible headcanon that Mammon is actually one hell of an instructor. And that she usually gets along with the more quiet characters ~ And hell yes for GokuHaru! They're my 2nd otp too!

Hanabi-Chan:

All for our dear Belphegor and his birth month. The Prince is very demanding, you know? He deserves the spotlight! (and the flames HAHAHAHA) And yeah, TYL!Bel is definitely mature...

Guest:

Thanks, love! I look forward to you reading the next chapter xD

Loving Mukuro:

I hope so too. But then again, he's a stubborn little Prince, isn't he? Haha! Let's cross our fingers :)

Follow the story if you're curious to know what happens to these two, and a few words as a review would be rad. They urge me to write more and update faster ouo

Oh, and since I normally write stuff from Midnight to around 6am, typos and stupidity is inevitable. Feel free to point them out!

Thanks for reading!