A/N:

Thank you for the favorites, follows and reviews. Hahaha. I wasn't really planning on posting this story this early, but it nagged at me, so yeah. Anyway, It's a novella, so I'll be gone again and come back by July, I think? By then, I'll post stories again.

Oh yeah. For your info, this is strictly family relationship between Tsuna and Reborn. Hahaha. I hope no one think the two will fall for each other or something...

Anyway, go on.

Chapter Three

Age: Seven

Reborn glared at Tsuna, who was doing his assignment. It's not because he did the homework wrong. It's because his muscles are very sore from all the stretching it did three days ago. The brunet though isn't affected. He was rather calm and okay about the hitman's intense glare.

After minutes of silence with pen scratching the paper as the only noise, Tsuna handed his paper to Reborn, who was seating crossed legs on the table, and waited for a small verdict. He smiled when he saw a small satisfaction on the hitman's eyes. But his brows furrowed in worry when he saw the small trembling and twitching on his tutor. Indeed, Reborn had a growth sprout three days ago, and it scares him that maybe the baby- now a seven year old child, is experiencing so much pain. Well, he admits that he does too, after a long hours of exercise with Reborn's eccentric motivation.

Tsuna's eyes started to wonder around his room until he saw the recording of Reborn's height. He mentally smiled when he remembered how Nana reacted after noticing it. It drived Lambo to take the measurement too with Fuuta and Ipin in tow.

"Hmm..." Tsuna hummed in thought.

Reborn raised his head and questioned. "What."

"We didn't record your height."

The hitman rolled his eyes. "Fine."

Tsuna smiled and took a marker from the pen holders before getting up. His smile vanished when he saw a minuscule wince that crossed his tutor's lips after the latter jumped down. Even how he walked is disturbing. The grace is there, but it was forced and tired.

Tsuna followed Reborn to the post. The latter removed his hat and let the former measure his height. The brunet watched as a proud smirk worked its way to Reborn's lips. Obviously pleased with his heights progress. Even though Tsuna is clueless how the arcobaleno curse affected the hitman, he knew how devastated he was. To be robbed off of something you gained is really frustrating. He knew how it feels.

"Tsu-kun! Reborn-kun! Dinner's ready!" His mother called out.

"Coming!" Tsuna answered back before taking Reborn in his arms and stood up.

"Dame-Tsuna-"

"You're not okay." Tsuna said as he propped the child-hitman in his arm. "If your muscles are hurting, lay on the bed. I won't slack on my job, okay? I'm scared of you shooting me."

Reborn remained silent.

"And I'm here, Reborn. I promise you that."

Maybe it was just Tsuna's imagination when Reborn sagged on him. The hitman even demanded to be fed while sitting on his lap. He complied. He doesn't have much choice, does he?

As days flew by, Tsuna encountered a lot of assassination attempt on him. With his guardians with him most of the time, he can defend himself. It was mandatory to have at least one guardian on his side. Because before the men can even reach him, they have to go through the guardians first. It was obliged. After all, it was Reborn who said that.

Tsuna hoisted Reborn up and in his arms. The latter clung to him like a lifeline as they ascended the stairs. Like a child, the hitman's resistance to sleep lowered. The brunet took it upon himself to make him sleep by ten in the evening. They'll brush their teeth together, change into something comfy then go to the bed. Tsuna will turn to his right, and Reborn to his left. After some time, the former will feel the latter shifting towards him, snuggled up on his back. Waiting for at least five minutes, the student will face his tutor and hug him like a mother to a child. And when morning comes, Tsuna will give space so the hitman won't make a fuss. Though he knew Reborn knows what's happening at night, he didn't bother to pry. The tutor is embodied with his own thought after all.

One relaxing afternoon, Tsuna put Reborn between his laps, placed the book he's reading in front of them and started to read. Occasionally, the brunet will take a peak at his tutor to see if he had irk him or something. It's their relaxing time after all before they go for another training tomorrow. Tsuna hummed as he curled himself around Reborn and hugged the hitman instead. Then latter stiffened before a dark aura emitted from him.

"Neh Reborn."

"What?!" The addressed snapped.

"What do you want on your birthday?"

"Nothing."

Tsuna hummed in question.

"I want you to keep your hands to yourself."

Tsuna froze before nodding as he retracted his arms, a little rejected. "O-Okay."

Age: Nineteen

Reborn looked at his eighteen years old student. He was kind of fidgety. Something he will raise an eyebrow at. Just what did his student do to become like this? He followed the teen's eyes to the door and got the idea.

"If you want to go out, go ahead." He said.

Tsuna bolted. Then later, he heard Nana's shout of panic but nothing on Tsuna. Curious, he followed. When he entered the kitchen, he saw Nana tending Tsuna's burned hand. The brunet was wincing but smiling reassuringly on his mother, saying it was his fault for not watching what he was doing. But Reborn knew it was a lie. Tsuna was a good liar. Always lying for the sake of others.

Reborn thought about things that happened last two years. When he told Tsuna to keep his hands to himself and not feel so familiar with him for his birthday, the brunet complied without a complain. Tsuna won't bother him of taking note of his heights, insist on carrying him on his back so he won't feel uncomfortable with his sore muscles after an extensive stretch, or even sit with him. The bed feels cold since Tsuna started to place his extra futon every night to give him the bed since he can't sleep on his hammock. He hadn't whine about training, or the paper works he had to study, even when the hitman took out his temper on him. It's like Tsuna really distanced himself to Reborn.

And it irritated him.

The student closed himself off to him. Their interactions were always brief, he stutters a lot in front of him but doesn't on his friends. He was always smiling and okay with them, but when it's with him, he fidgets, as if afraid that Reborn will blow like a bomb in front of him. Well... He does sometimes. When he's in a foul mood because of being unsatisfied about things. But it wasn't Tsuna's fault. He has been a good kid for two years already.

"Mama." Reborn called at the panicked woman as he approached. He noticed how Tsuna sat still on his spot. "I'll take care of Tsuna."

"But Tsu-kun got burned." Nana said with unshed tears.

"Kaasan. It's okay. It'll heal quickly." Tsuna assured as he took his mother's hand and rubbed gentle circles on the back of her palm with his thumb. "Reborn has a magic for it. Before you know it, it's gone and healed. No blotches or anything."

Nana looked at Reborn with hopeful eyes. "Really?"

"Yes, Mama." The hitman said with a nod.

"Okay."

"Kaasan. What are you making anyway?"

"I was going to make curry."

Tsuna widened his eyes. "That will be nice! The kids will love that."

Reborn watched as Nana brightened up and got inspired to cook again by his son. He watched as Tsuna smiled cheerfully and instantly hid his hands on his back so Nana won't feel guilty again. Lambo came barging in, with Ipin hot on his tail and Fuuta chasing them. Tsuna bowed his head and went out unnoticed. He followed him.

Tsuna hurriedly opened his room and went for his personal bathroom. Reborn caught up with him dipping his hand delicately on water. The hitman sighed internally before stalking towards the brunet and taking his hand in a careful manner.

"Second degree burn." Reborn murmured while caressing the irritated skin with gentleness. "What happened?"

"K-Kaasan almost burned herself cause she wasn't in mitts when she took the pot out of heat. I was only able to wear one in my left so I burned my right when I caught it to save her." Tsuna took a shaky breath. "I know. It's stupid. If only I wore the mitts quickly, there shouldn't be any casualties."

"Tsuna."

"I'm sorry. I was careless. And the burn is nothing. It doesn't hurt. I got worse with my sky flames." Tsuna added quickly, not even looking at his way.

Silence.

"Cry." Reborn said.

Tsuna's head snapped to his direction.

"I know you want to cry. You were never burned by your flames, Tsuna. I gave you your mittens for safety. It's your first time having a burn." Reborn whispered.

Tsuna stared at him before his eyes watered. Before long, silent tears streamed down his cheeks. "I'm sorry."

Reborn's hand glowed yellow and the burn went away. "Do you want to go to bed?"

Tsuna nodded.

The hitman made the initiative to lead the brunet out of the bathroom and into the bed. Tsuna laid in the comfy bed and continued to cry while Reborn just watched over him.

"Scoot over." Reborn demanded that was obediently followed. He laid there too. "Come here."

Tsuna hugged him.

"This is only one time, Dame-Tsuna." Tsuna nodded. "When you stop crying, you're going to record my height." Tsuna nodded. "Then eat dinner with me." Another nod. "Any complains?" A shake of head. "Tsuna, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." He said with a sniff.

"Are you scared of me?" A shake of head. "Then what?"

"N-Nothing. Really."

Reborn hugged him with a squeeze. "Tell me, stupid student."

"I'm..." The hitman waited. "I'm just respecting your space... Like you want me to. You're growing up... So... It's only normal for you to distance yourself from... People. And you're a hitman. It means you have a reputation to uphold..."

"Did I offend you two years ago? Be honest with me."

"N-No. I was just a little bit..." Reborn noticed the increase of tears. "I thought I could repay you for everything you've done to me by taking care of you since you're experiencing a lot of pain those times. But maybe I crossed the line when I hugged you? I thought it will comfort you in a way like with the kids back then. I'm sorry."

"Comfort... Huh."

Tsuna nodded. "And I like cuddling you. You're so..."

"Hm?"

The brunet hugged him tighter. "You were so cute. And it worries me that you might be in pain every stretch so I wanted to at least ease the pain by cuddling or carrying you. But I didn't want to offer since you'll snap at me for tinting your... Pride."

"Hm..."

Reborn stared ahead when Tsuna snuggled closer. He thought of the fact of how his student was able to read him easily. Maybe because they live in the same house and share a room? Or because he was giving it away? Maybe it's just Tsuna's ability to read people since he was that good at it.

Reborn sighed. He does not want to admit, but he missed the child cuddling with him.