Colonnello's focus snaps to the high amount of Cloud flames getting closer at an incredible speed. He's in one of the surrounding building of the one used for the meeting, keeping an eye on it and on Lal with his sniper rifle.

Lal wasn't keen to bring him with her, and won't need the backup even if things turn for the worst, but for his own peace of mind he needed to be there.

Colonnello points his rifle at the streets, surprisingly having a hard time locating where the Cloud will come from, or not so surprisingly because their flames are too loose and expend over a too big area. It might be an enemy announcing their arrival and showing off their power because they're that much confident in their strength, but it doesn't feel like there's any purpose behind their flames, any kind of intent at all.

And still it's hard to believe they're Dormant or went Active only recently, because if this is the amount of flames they constantly release subconsciously, the mafia would already have made them think twice about not learning how to control them.

A black bike rounds the corner at breakneck speed, so fast Colonnello can't help but tense, waiting for some horrifying chasers to show up in its wake. They don't, because apparently the guy just likes to drive like that, though Colonnello can't deny it looks like a lot of fun.

The guy smoothly parks on the roadside right in front the meeting building, then climbs off their bike. They wear a purple and black leather jumpsuit, not hiding any weapon underneath as far as Colonnello can tell. They remove their helmet, their purple hair a beacon of light in the night, purple makeup around their eyes and purple lipstick on their lips, as well as a purple teardrop tattoo on their cheek.

Colonnello would have raised an eyebrow if he wasn't in business mode. The hell is with this guy and purple?

The guy wears an earring on one ear too, a piercing on the other one, linked by a chain to the one on his lip, with a last piercing on his chin. Colonnello's almost disappointed by their small numbers, would have expected more of them considering the purple punk biker style he has going on.

The guy walks towards the meeting building, his helmet tucked against his hip. Colonnello shoots at his feet.

He expects him to startle, to panic, but he only looks down, taking a step back. He looks up, turning to his general vicinity, though if he was anything like the rest of the people in that meeting, he should have guessed exactly where he was by this one shot.

That guy couldn't possibly really be a civilian, could he? But what are the odds he'd show up there right now if he was?

The guy chooses one building to keep his eyes on, the right one to his credit, then waves, grinning. He points at the meeting building, gives him a thumb up in an asking manner, then walks towards the building again.

A smile pulls at Colonnello's lips. The hell?

Colonnello shoots at his feet again. The guy raises his free hand in surrender, turning to him again, then bows in submission, only looking amused at the situation. He walks back to his bike, puts his helmet on the seat, then leans against his bike, facing the meeting building. He crosses his arms on his chest, his legs at his ankles, and raises an eyebrow at him.

Colonnello bites his lip on his growing smile.

Who the fuck is this guy?

Colonnello checks the meeting to make sure everything's still going fine, then makes his way to purple punk biker, taking his rifle with him.

To his credit again the guy snaps his eyes to him as soon as he's within sight, and casually watches him come closer. He none too subtly looks him up and down, an appreciative look on his face, a grin growing bigger on his lips the closer he gets.

"Handsome," he says as soon as Colonnello stops in front of him. "If I knew you looked like that, I'd have happily let you shoot me. You can shoot me right now if you want." He wiggles his eyebrows, and Colonnello snorts, a grin pulling at his lips, a playful comeback at the tip of his tongue.

He sobers up in the next second, horrified.

Oh no.

Oh fuck, oh no—what?

Purple punk biker picks up on his mood shift, his lightheartedness seeping away from his face, though his smile doesn't go anywhere. Colonnello finds he actually feels bad about it, has the urge to put a smile back on his face to ease him up again, and he has to do a double take.

What the hell?

"Who are you?" he asks, one hand in the pocket of his jacket, the other keeping his rifle steady on his shoulder, playing it casual.

The guy opens his mouth, but then thinks better of it. He leans away from his bike, mirth in his eyes. "Who are you? The guard of this place or something?"

"Something. So you do know what this place is? What it is being used for right now?"

"Obviously, I'm supposed to be in there too. But if there's some secret signal I need to do first, the guy with the checkered mask told me nothing about it." Well, fuck Colonnello, but that guy really is one of the I Prescelti Sette. He gives him a once over, trying to make it makes sense. The guy giggles. "Handsome, I saw that."

"So?" Colonnello shots back easily. He looks him up and down again, slower this time, pointedly, then raises his eyebrow.

Oh, he did not just do that.

Did he just do that?

Fuck.

The guy grins from ear to ear, looking delighted. "I'm Skull, a pleasure to meet you."

Colonnello laughs, rolling his eyes. He crosses his arms on his chest. "Well, Skull. Aren't you a civilian? You should hurry back home while you can."

Skull scoffs, raising his eyebrows. "So what if I am?" He steps closer, lifting his chin defiantly, but in a lighthearted manner still. "Don't think you're impressing me with your big gun, and soldier uniform, and soldier everything. I'm pretty damn amazing myself. Amazingly amazing actually. Famously amazing."

"I mean it."

Oh, he means it now, does he? What about he gets his fucking shit together already?

This can't be happening—isn't happening, did he even look at the guy? A purple punk biker, really?

Colonnello looks him up and down again, intent to get his thoughts straight, then very purposefully keeps his eyes on his face and his face only.

Yeah, let's not look at him, Colonnello.

Skull narrows his eyes, assessing. Then he smiles, his face softening. "You're sweet. But I can take care of myself, so you have nothing to worry about, handsome. I appreciate the concern though." He winks. "I should go now."

He grabs his helmet, then walks past him.

"Wait." Colonnello grabs him by his arm, making him turn around. "Wait for me to get back to my position first." Skull raises his eyebrows curiously, and Skull and him both, really.

Wait for him to get back to his position first? For what? So Colonnello can keep his eyes on him the whole time he'll be in there with the others?

Great, this is happening.

What a fucking low he sure as hell didn't expect to hit tonight.

"Just do it, will you? I'll give you a signal once you can go in."

Skull chuckles. "I sure can. You are really sweet. Who's the lucky girl?"

"I like boys too, actually," Colonnello hears himself say, and wants to die on the spot. "I like both, I'm bi. I'm multitasking too—partners," he corrects, mortified as he still hears himself talking. "I'm multi-partners. You know, poly? Polyamory. It's this thing—" Colonnello closes his eyes, breathing in deeply. "Just kill me now and shut me up forever."

Skull is that close to burst out laughing, but he's clearly a much better man than Colonnello so he doesn't, only biting his lip and grinning so hard it's a wonder his face doesn't get stuck like that. "Handsome, it's okay. Same." He skips past him back to his bike, giggling, puts his helmet on the seat, and leans against his bike again. "Just hit me up again once we're both done with this, okay? Even with bullets if you want." He winks again, and Colonnello blinks, dumbfounded.

Oh fuck, did he just say same?

Oh fuck—

A/N: Colonnello's internal monologue is similar to Reborn's because they're best friends for a reason lol.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Any and all review are appreciated.

Thank you for reading!

- Hope