Balance.
Giotto and Nene sat in front of each other, like how they're usually seated on their dinner dates, only with a puffy-eyed Nene and an exhausted Giotto. He had asked G to come and pick up Iemitsu's son (still crying and all) and let him back to his house. Right now, there was nothing more important to Giotto than comforting the overly headstrong Nene, who refused to sob all her stories out.
So now, here they were, in Giotto's dining table sitting across each other.
When the last of Nene's hiccups were gone, she took the water in front of her and exhaled deeply. Her honey-brown eyes met with blazing amber with a hard determination. "I'm sorry, Giotto." She said, her voice completely level. "I'm sorry for being an immature moron. I shouldn't have had embarrassed you back there. I apologize." Giotto was rather taken aback, but he smiled. As expected of his beautiful Nene. Always so lovely, hardheaded, and collectedly calm.
"Apology accepted, Nene." He smiled, making Nene shamefully avert her gaze. He loved her so much. "I love you too much to be embarrassed over your display of emotion." Nene's ears lit up, but she didn't say anything.
"So? What is it that you want to tell me, Nene?"
The Asian woman looked up to his eyes with a rare smile plastered on her face. Nene was not a person who'd smile easily. Typical people who spent much of their life inside a cooped up military base slash secret laboratory in Baskerville. But it made her smile all the more beautiful.
"Our son is alive, Giotto."
Giotto couldn't feel the liquids pouring over his eyes. He knew that. He even knew who it might be. But... but hearing it from Nene, the one who had gone through all these years without that little glimmer of hope that Tsunayoshi Sawada might be their son like Giotto had, made him tear all over again.
Nene walked over to him and hugged him closer. And for the first time since Giotto proposed to her sixteen years ago, she said yes.
~A Certain Wimpy Stuntman's Maelstrom~
"So, can somebody explain to me why Aria found your boxer in the backseat of our car?"
No words could ever describe the amount of awkwardness Tsuna felt when Luce-san asked him the question. Skull-san almost choked on his food, luckily he had a glass of water next to him to help.
Tsuna's ears went red as Skull-san tried to splutter an explanation. They were having dinner with Luce's family because Luce-san had insisted that they do after they came to drop their car. Aria had dozed off a few minutes ago and Bermuda had gone to tuck her in to bed.
And that left only him, Skull-san, and Luce-san at the table.
"U-um, Luce, w-we were just... um..."
Skull-san was panicking, and he was panicking as well. But neither of them would say that they regretted it. No, they haven't had sex, but it was something so close to that. Both Tsuna and Skull had made a simple statement that they were both content with this, but both were still uncomfortable with the actual act, so they would stay like this just until they were ready.
After all, Skull-san only found out about his own sexuality two months ago and Tsuna only realized his love for the wimpy stuntman at the same time. They didn't want to rush anything.
But the feeling of Skull-san's flaming tongue and his gloved touches and short whimpers whenever Tsuna decided that he wanted to take charge was... enthralling.
"Now I know that you guys are responsible adults..." Tsuna fidgeted slightly. So... was this the rumored 'the talk'? He never had this kind of talk with his own mother before. He glanced to the stuntman beside him, who was trembling harder than he was. It was logical, after all. Skull-san, in a sense, was Luce-san's son.
Skull-san was like him. Unwanted, unloved, and a stranger to kindness. All in all, it was thanks to Luce-san that Tsuna could feel this much love from the wimpy man beside him. This person who was so unlike him. Irresponsible, and yet concerned over every single thing he was trusted with.
"I... I won't say anything about your relationship, both of you. But I do trust you to be responsible." Skull nodded frantically as Tsuna looked down, suddenly finding his thighs to be the most interesting thing in the world. "And please be discreet, okay? I don't really want my Aria to imitate what you guys are doing. Both of you are one of her role models, the closest ones. So..."
"We apologize, Luce-san..." Tsuna began as he fiddled with his thumbs. "We, um, we'll be more careful. But... I, um, we, ah I mean I-"
"We," Skull-san held his hand under the table. "We don't regret it, Luce. It was a step we're willing to take and I... l-love Tsuna s-so much." Tsuna looked at the wimpy stuntman who still didn't dare to look Luce-san on her face. He smiled. He didn't regret it. He won't ever regret it. Skull-san made him happy, and he never felt violated whenever the awkward stuntman tried to touch him. This must be love.
Suddenly, the wooden door creaked, signing that someone had entered the room. Bermuda von Vichtenstein glided in to his place next to his one true love. "Bermuda dear..." Luce-san breathed affectionately, earning what seemed to be a smile from the bandaged man. "As Luce stated, Skull, both of you are adults. And therefore we expect you to be responsible, is this clear?"
Tsuna nodded, followed by Skull-san's much more frantic ones. "In fact, we're going to deepen our relationship more and go to the aquarium together, right Tsuna?" The chemist looked up to the stuntman, clearly surprised. But with a very sincere smile that looked so utterly adorable with his stuntman, Tsuna nodded.
"Yeah, we will! Please don't worry, Luce-san, Bermuda, we'll be fine." He shared a smile with Skull-san before they bid a goodbye to the couple and returned home with Oodako.
When they entered the condo, they shared another smile, a much more naughty one.
"I love you, Skull-san." Tsuna breathed out as he leaned to kiss his stuntman.
~A Certain Wimpy Stuntman's Maelstrom~
One of the very few things that Reborn seemed to enjoy the most was to give people trouble. And revealing major secrets of their lives could count as that, no? And that was precisely what he was doing.
He had rolled his eyes when he entered the boss of Vongola's living room and busted him and the Asian chemist making out on the carpet. "Get a room," he had said with an annoyed tone.
Blazing amber met with obsidian black with so much revolt that Reborn had wanted to laugh at its sheer emotion. He didn't normally see Giotto with a full blown emotion on his eyes, and he seemed to wear his heart on his sleeves whenever he was with the Asian chemist.
Oh, he should stop referring Giotto's girl with that, because his nephew was technically an Asian chemist as well. But whatever.
"It was a room before you come in, Reborn. What are you doing here?" Giotto seethed as he tried to cover the half-naked body of the Asian chem- Giotto's girl. Damn, he should start remembering her name already. Especially when their fates were going to intermingle more and more now.
"What? So you don't want to know who your son is, oh well." Reborn had to hand it all to his sister, Sepira Romano, to supply all of his needs as the know-it-all informant of the underworld. He might serve under the Vongola, but he was his own man. He didn't follow anybody's order sans for Giotto's grandfather, Timoteo Vongola, because that old man had helped him when he and Sepira when they were just brats.
Reborn could only remember vague details about his own childhood and adolescent years. It was the three of them, always. Sepira, him, and Nana. They were siblings in nothing except for blood because all those years ago, they were dumped in an orphanage in Japan.
Eventually, Nana got adopted while Sepira and Reborn grew up to be who they were now. Reborn still kept in contact with his older sister, who was one of the most prominent figure in the Millefiore although she'd been lying in the hospital for years now.
But back on the subject of his nephew (who wasn't really his nephew), he caught a glimmer of shock lacing on Giotto's amber gaze. But the half-naked woman got up and faced Reborn. "You know who my son is?" She asked, sounding absolutely hopeful. Reborn laughed.
"Yeah, I do. Now why don't you two get dressed while open one of your finest wines?" Whoa. He was feeling rather generous today, wasn't he? The plan was to talk to them while they're naked and irritated... but well, that's all right. Things are still under his control.
Reborn took out one of the oldest wines from Giotto's cupboard and sat down on the sofa where the couple had sat a few moments ago before they scampered away to get their clothing.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated to reveal a rather lengthy (rather? Who was he kidding? This was Luce! There was no such thing as 'rather lengthy' for her) text from Luce.
Dear Reborn,
Have I told you the story about how my dear Aria stumbled upon Tsuna's boxers in the backseat of the car I lent to Skull? If I haven't well, you know now. Of course, Bermuda and I gave them strict warnings about being responsible, but I can't help but worry about them. They told me that tomorrow, they will go to the aquarium to 'deepen their relationship'. I am worried, Reborn, I am afraid that things might be going too fast between them. I wish I can be there to chaperone them, but I feel bad about it. What do you reckon I should do?
Love,
Luce
Reborn smirked before his mouth formed a snicker. That lackey. He never thought that he'd be that forward. Of course, them falling in love was something that Reborn had overseen, but he didn't know that Skull would take that kind of step in their relationship this fast. Reborn thought that his nephew would have been at least 30 before Skull even had the guts to invite him to bed.
But nonetheless...
Reborn lowered his fedora as he smirked, clearly amused from the wary glance Giotto sent him. "Excuse me, but..." The Asian woman- ah, that's a good way to describe her- said as she plopped down next to Giotto, her expressions hardened as she straightened her glasses. "You were saying about my son...?" So she was straightforward... that made things a little easier.
"Your son is someone you already know, Nene Minagawa." Strangely, it was Giotto who paled. Reborn was also surprised when Sepira told him the truth. His nephew, Nana's son, was actually not his nephew. But why would Giotto pale?
"He dives in chemistry, as you are. And he also has interest in the motocross world, although for a very different reason than yours..." Nene still looked confused, but Giotto already set his gaze on his lap. Could it be that he knew already? That was no fun...
"Your son... is Tsunayoshi Sawada."
~A Certain Wimpy Stuntman's Maelstrom~
"Aah! I've seen you in the Discovery Channel. The first female, not to mention Japanese, person who actually held a leading position within Millefiore R&D." Nene smiled. It was flattering to hear someone as famous as Tsunayoshi Sawada know about her, after all.
Both scientists then proceed into a long conversation about their works, and Nene couldn't help but feel a weird familiar sensation with the boy in front of her. Like he was someone she knew from a long long time ago. But she couldn't place his mind on it… who was he really?
But when Nene was about to ask, the younger chemist had beat her to it.
"Say, Nene-san-"
The world was shaking.
It was true that she felt very familiar with that boy she met in the Mort Games. It was true that whenever Nene accessed his website, she would always feel that the little one had looked so impeccably Giotto-like, only with oriental touches and brown coloring- her own genes.
But then reality hit her like a lightning bolt. How... How was she so blind? How else could one explain the reason behind how their eye colors eerily match one another, or how the little chemist had the same shade of brown as his hair color. It was technically impossible unless...
Tears of prickled down on her face. As silent as the dewdrops falling to the ground. Tranquil, calm, serene. She was happy.
She then looked at Giotto, who already buried his face on his sleeves in a desperate attempt to not cry in front of her. That childish heroism was always such a welcomed grace for her future husband. Knowing that their son was alive had brought them extreme happiness and now, to know that their son had grown into such a splendid person had bring joy to the point of tears for both Nene and Giotto.
"Oh... oh..." Her voice was shaking as hard as her hands now. She couldn't form a coherent respond to tell them how much happiness she was feeling. Her... her son had shared the same interest as her. Her son had shared the same coloring as her. Her son had shared the same face as the only man she ever loved...
There was no doubt that Nene was the happiest woman on earth right now.
"Now, now," The fedora-wearing man said as he tapped his fingers on the table. "You guys might know about it, but Tsuna doesn't. I suggest you guys meet him soon." Come to think of it... Nene didn't even know where he lived. Sure she knew what he did and where he went to school, but she didn't know anything about him specifically.
As she was starting to feel insecure, Giotto held her hand with his own gloved one. "Nene..." He breathed. "I promise that we will know him better, help raise him to the best of our capabilities, and be good parents for him. We will tell him the truth, convince him, and then take our steps in having a family. There's no need to feel insecure about it, okay?" How Giotto seemed to know exactly what she needed to hear was a mystery. But she smiled gratefully at him.
"Oh that's touching. I'll tell you where he would be tomorrow because you guys are such a sweet couple." The fedora-wearer smirked as he idly played with his curly sideburn. "Which is?" Giotto asked. Why was he so apprehensive with this man...?
"He'll be going to the aquarium tomorrow... with his lover." Giotto and Nene's eyes widened simultaneously. He had a lover? Their son. Their sixteen year old son... had a lover?!
Giotto looked like he just swallowed a large codfish while Nene blanched. But the fedora-wearer only stood up as he took off his fedora and twirled it on his finger. "W-who is she?" Giotto asked nervously. Nene perked up from her seat, also curious of the man's answer.
"Who is he, you mean? Well, you guys should see them in the aquarium tomorrow."
As the man left, Giotto and Nene looked at one another frantically. Their son... their baby... had finally return to them after sixteen years...
And he had a lover? This called for an investigation! For their son's sake...
And for Giotto's sanity too, she guessed.
~A Certain Wimpy Stuntman's Maelstrom~
Things're taken care of. Don't worry your head off.
-R
~A Certain Wimpy Stuntman's Maelstrom~
The aquarium was huge.
Tsuna never liked biology as much he liked chemistry though, so the only reason why he actually felt excited to go was because he wanted to see how adorable Skull-san was when he-
"Oooi! Tsuna! Look at this mermaid! It's huuuge!"
The chemist smiled like he was a parent looking after his child. At these times, Tsuna thought that he was actually the adult in their relationship, even when he was five or six years younger than Skull-san. He really felt like Skull-san was a part of everything in his life. The stuntman was his lover, his younger brother, and at times, his puppy. He was one of very few organic life forms that Tsuna found absolutely intriguing in any kind of aspects.
"It is, isn't it?" Tsuna asked in a rhetorical fashion. Skull-san was dressed like a tourist today. He wore a black baggy shorts that reached his knees, a purple sandal, and a purple t-shirt with a flaming black skull imprinted on it. He also wore a black hat, which Tsuna thought that it oddly fitted with Skull-san's purple hair.
He himself was dressed like Skull-san; baggy khaki shorts, a white slim fit t-shirt with a picture of Beaker glass and explosion, and his lab coat. Tsuna also put a non-prescription glasses on because as Skull-san said, both of them weren't exactly free of paparazzi's prying eyes, after all.
"Tsuna, look! They had an otter track here, we can use this tunnel to see what's underwater!" Skull-san waved him into a very short and cramped tunnel. Not even Tsuna with his height could stand straight here. But then as they both got to their knees and cramped themselves in with enthusiastic children and parents, they hugged each other and shared a kiss.
Tsuna blushed, but then he pecked the stuntman on his nose before moving.
Suddenly, there was a sound of female shrieking from behind them. They were being watched. Tsuna could feel it...
"Um, Skull-san-"
"Look at that! The otters are swimming!"
Tsuna exhaled with a smile. Skull-san had never been to the aquarium before, and Takeshi and his father had once taken Tsuna when they were in the elementary school. Tsuna's eyes narrowed as he examined the tunnel. Nothing seems suspicious... it's packed with people as usual. But someone was clearly watching them...
"Tsuna! What are you doing?!" Skull-san shouted, already outside the tunnel. Tsuna threw a cold look to his back. Nobody, was going to mess his date with Skull-san, nobody.
The chemist then went out of the otter tunnel with a smile on his face. "Coming, Skull-san!" His hands were already inside his pocket, fingering his little vials.
Next:
Ninth Stunt: A Bizarre Date.
Yes, yeah, yep! The date is here, and yet not here!
And daaarn it's already 20 chapters and we still haven't reached the Tenth Stunt?! Daaamn...
And anyways, this is one of the most awaited chapters! I mean, it's the time Nene finally knows about her connection with Tsuna. And even I'm curious as to how Giotto and Nene would tell him about his true heritage. How about Iemitsu and Nana? That's for the next chapter concerning our chemist! But next chapter would be about how Vanitas and Freya surprised Ventus for his birthday. How, you ask? By taking the doctor to the aquarium, of course! Chaos ensues as Freya, Ventus, and Vanitas bumped into Nene and Giotto as they tried to spy our stuntman and chemist's date!
Review Replies:
Randomchick95 - Hehehe, I do intend to keep it that way until the middle of Nuclear Flowers, but by the final arc, there would be smexy lemon, rest assured! And thank you for your concern, I'm doing the best I can now :D
Soul Vrazy - Naah, I'm not sick! (You know my facebook page, I wasn't sick at all!) But I did break up with my boyfriend so :(
FloppyWandedDementorBoggerer - Thank you! I hope you turn to love it even more!
GlimmerCreator - Ahahaha, here's the continuation! And I hope this isn't too suspenseful for you XD
SelfcreatedCharacter - Yeah, I kinda wanted it to be... contrast. I mean, Tsuna left the Sawadas, and hasn't had any serious confrontation since Nana came on his birthday. His real family is perfect with Giotto and Nene, when he reunites with them, Giotto and Nene will make sure that their son is well-raised. While in Skull's case, his dad has been trying to get in contact with him (in the Second Stunt, fourth chapter, it's been mentioned that his dad has been calling Luce), but Skull ignored them and then it leads into a massive wreck during Medea's death anniversary. Skull's real family is broken. Although Freya (and Ventus) loves him, her mom isn't exactly sane and Ven was already desperate. So there you have it, Tsuna and Skull's situation is so alike, yet so different.
Silent Orange Summers - Oh thank god you understand the sciences now. In this arc, the science and weaponry stuff won't matter so much, but in the Nuclear Flowers and Noble Liquid, it will. So be prepared! And yes! I really hate Demeter as well. But she is necessary. If you realize it, she is the main reason why Skull is such a nervous wreck, after all. And if Skull didn't buy Viper lunch all those years ago, he might have committed suicide the moment he couldn't take it anymore. That, or maybe letting himself get killed in a clumsy manner and nobody would have cared.
Okay, so that's a wrap! Please review :D
P.S: OMG GUYS PLEASE COME ON ONLY 4 MORE REVIEWS TO 200! KYAAAA!