"Yo."
Fon blinked placidly, "Hello. They're calling you Colonnello now, is it?"
"Yeah, kora." He sat beside him, their tiny infantile legs dangling over the edge of the rooftop, eyes on the horizon.
These days, no one seemed to be able to meet anyone's gaze anymore.
The contrast of such cold eyes paired with the faces of infants reminded them starkly of the curse.
The people they left. The people who left them. The world that went on and on and on while they- they were left in that moment on the peak of that thrice blasted mountain.
The ones who walk out of time.
"Kind of surprising you're still here. You seem to always have a job ready in China."
Their whole lives had been upended, but in their line of job, such matters like their current forms actually mattered very little. As long as they stayed in this world, they'd be able to resume working no problems.
"...The Arcobaleno. The previous ones..."
"...Hm? What about it?"
"I've heard of them."
"Who hasn't?"
"Faceless enigma credited for feats impossible for anyone else... No wonder." Fon huffed in weary amusement.
"...Yeah, no wonder." Colonnello agreed wryly.
Fon looked down on his lap. Comically small. Like everything else about him was.
It wasn't funny.
It burned.
Many things ran through their heads -things left unsaid.
From inside the House, they heard glass shattering. Fon turned to look, brows furrowed.
It could only have been Viper.
Ever since the Fated Day, they had been lashing out at everyone around them, Reborn in particular who had actively banned them from going out.
Unsaid was that he actually meant that they weren't allowed to leave.
Just as their temper had become remarkably shorter, Reborn had turned more compulsive with his controlling tendencies. In particular with the two youngest, Viper and Skull. It only got worse after Luce's death.
Fon himself was aware of his recently despondent attitude.
"... I'm going back inside. See if Lal needs some help calming them down."
Fon nodded, hesitating before deciding to just stay put.
Colonnello side eyed him. "Aren't you going to come with?"
"I fear I might just worsen the situation. Viper, is not overly fond of me."
Even while admitting such a thing, the Storm still smiled. The smile Colonnello noticed seemed to only be reserved for their resident Mist.
"...If you say so."
Fon watched the sky gradually darken and the sun set, keeping an ear to the others. Slowly, the Household settled down.
With his back to them and pretending that it was just another day in a parallel universe where the Fated Day never happened, Fon felt just a bit better. It was unhealthy, indulging in such delusion.
Just this once though, he'll allow himself to spoil.