Title: hidden spots

Character(s): Yamamoto Takeshi, Dokuro Chrome, Bianchi, Adriano Montague, others in passing

Word count: 966

Rating: T

Spoilers: Bonus chapter to my lost scenes complex, set chronologically prior to the last chapter (CH 27, stories), but is more fun to read AFTER that chapter. I don't know why, I just think that the other way 'round would make the other thing less fun.

Prompt: 7—opposite

A/N: I actually was a little bit afraid that Adriano wouldn't survive this chapter. Also? Yamamoto, I fear you. I seriously do.


opposite

This situation, Adriano Montague decided, couldn't get any more uncomfortable.

Here he was, sitting between the boyfriend of the girl he thought he probably had a crush on and a close friend of the girl who blatantly disliked him, while trying to swallow sulphury pasta as the cook—a comely young woman with gorgeous jade green eyes and long glossy hair—kept her eyes glued on him. Which would usually make him quite happy. (If only that woman weren't infamous "Poison Scorpion Bianchi" and didn't emit quite as much killing intent …)

"Ahh …" Takeshi Yamamoto stretched his lanky arms over his head and smiled contently. "Thanks for the great food, Bianchi!"

The empty plate smoked where remnants of the sauce lay.

"No problem," Poison Scorpion Bianchi said friendly but didn't take her eyes from him.

"It was delicious," that Chrome girl added with her meek voice. "What did you use for seasoning, Bianchi-san?"

"Oh, just this and that. A little bit of fresh thyme and lemon zest."

Adriano felt himself starting to sweat under the close scrutiny of three pairs of eyes as he moved the deadly pasta from one side of the plate to the other.

Yamamoto straightened a little bit in his chair, then said: "Hey, Dokuro, Bianchi—Sasagawa and Tsuna wanted to talk with you about Haru's birthday party. I think I saw them in the library half an hour ago. Haru's still shopping with the kid and that blonde friend of hers, so that'd be the perfect chance to plan, right?"

Poison Bianchi seemed to contemplate for a second, then looked between Yamamoto and him, and started to grin: "Yes, I think you're right, Takeshi. Come, Chrome-chan, let's go."

That Chrome girl nodded, stood up, and followed the Poison Scorpion Bianchi out of the room. At the door, she turned around one more time and addressed Yamamoto: "Maybe it would be better to go to the gardens?"

Yamamoto grinned winsomely (well, he had to stay realistic and that guy's damn smile was stupidly charming) and shook his head. "I don't think that's necessary, but thanks for the suggestion."

They closed the door after them with a resounding squeak.

Adriano was a lot, but a coward he was not. How did the saying go? Offence is the best defence?

So he did exactly that:

"Opposites attract." Yamamoto looked at him expectantly, so he continued: "That's the oldest rule in the Book of Love. And I mean, I know that the best, because, come on, I'm Italian, it's in my blood. Anyways, opposites attract and if Haru and I aren't total opposites then I don't know what opposites are. So, you know who the winner is gonna be. You won't be able to do anything—god, I won't have to do anything, just stay at her side and be her opposite until she realises how right I am for her."

Yamamoto scratched his head idiotically and continued smiling.

Did he think smiling would help him out of this situation?

"You and her … I swear, you two are only together because everyone around her wants her to. They're all like, big fat YamaHaru fangirls—I don't even know why. But ever since I met Haru, seven people have threatened to kill me in various ways if I even think about touching Haru: that Chrome girl, Poison Scorpion Bianchi, Decimo, her father, your tonfa guy—and some Hana-girl from Japan and Squalo from the Varia left angry voice mail on my mobile! What is this, why do they all think that you and her should be together? I mean, I really don't see it! Is this—is she like some prize for you because you're such a great Guardian to the Famiglia that you get the girl you want even though she maybe doesn't want you as much as you do, though she may not have noticed it with all the peer pressure?"

The young man opposite him stared at him in what Adriano guessed was remorse or maybe an epiphany.

Then, he started laughing.

"Oh my god, you are crazy," Adriano stated. "Has the whole damn Japanese Vongola branch gone mad?"

Yamamoto wiped a tear away. "God, Haru didn't tell me you're such a conceited, arrogant guy." He chuckled. "Man, that surprised me."

"You don't take me serious, huh? Fine, you don't have to. We'll see who's right in this."

"Okay, you little shit." Suddenly he sounded completely serious, almost business-like. "You can be happy that you didn't tell this nonsense to anyone else—because I can assure you, you would've been more times dead than you can count if anyone else would've heard.
Haru likes you for whatever reason and I trust her judgement, so maybe there is something underneath all that rubbish that I can't see."

Adriano gulped.

"I wouldn't be angry because you like Haru—that's only natural. But tell you what: I won't accept you insulting my girlfriend. You know that she isn't stupid, so don't ridicule her by saying all these things.
And if you seriously like her—then go ahead, tell her." He smiled and there was just a hint of steel in his gaze. "Just don't expect me to let her go without a fight."

Adriano opened his mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came out, and after a few silent moments, Yamamoto stood up from his chair and walked towards the door. With one hand on the door handle and his back to him, he said: "Don't think that I'm not the protective type just because I'm not as open about it as others.
Don't touch her. Don't hurt her. Clear?"

And with that, he left the room.

(And was it really possible that he had now officially reached the eight-people-mark of people who had threatened to kill him?

Yeah, it was.)


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