They get around to open the windows in the mansion at day, if only to let some fresh air in. Skull got himself access back to the roof too, and the garden in the back of the house, but it doesn't give him much relief. The mansion still reeks of — (ragelosspain) — it's as if he could never get far enough from it.

They're vulnerable, he understands it. They can't even do everyday chores without the need to take a nap right after. Skull makeup is still there and as flawless as ever by sheer force of his will only, because like hell he was going to let some godly curse — or whatever it is they agreed the man in the iron mask is — denied him of being the fashion icon in the room.

He understands but he is a Cloud. The Strongest of them all. And at the end of the day he is still stuck there, and he won't be able to take it for much longer.

Fortunately Skull always knew how to distract himself. And this time he sees no greater distraction than getting to watch Colonnello interacts with the others Arcobaleno.

Colonnello and Reborn are apparently childhoods friends who lost sights of each other at some point in their life. That sounds like a lie because, what were the odds really ?

Skull can't see it.

Skull can see it a bit more once he sees them headbutt each other, hard, when they were just reaching for the remote control at the same time and don't mention it at all. He sees it even more clearly when Reborn pushes Colonnello over the stairs' railing because he was in the way, and Reborn suits disappear later that day to never been seen again. All of them.

Fine, so they are childhood friends. Half of the time anyway.

The other half Reborn is too busy keeping Colonnello from getting too touchy. Which, weird, right ? Skull can't imagine Colonnello not having been like that since birth. It's most likely that even back in their childhood, Reborn thought himself above any other human physical connection which don't involve a woman and a bed and both of them being naked.

How typical of him.

It makes it all the more hilarious when Colonnello cuts through his defenses like butter.

The couch is comfy, even more so when he's snuggled against Colonnello like that, but he knows the restless energy around them will force them to move soon. This passive life they all are reduced to makes all of them insane, and the soap opera they both started following can only distract them so much.

He glances behind him seconds before Reborn appears in the doorway.

Skull's not sure how he feels about the new-found closeness of their Bond, due to the Curse and, ironically enough, their Dissonance. He hopes it's only temporary and his flames will go back to mingle with the others' only from afar. (Or maybe he hopes it isn't, but he doesn't want to confront himself to the question.)

Skull swears Reborn's steps faltered upon noticing Colonnello no matter how quick he forges on, a newspaper open in front of him. Colonnello catches him by his wrist when he's nearby, and he doesn't startle but his flames sure do. Skull watches delighted how he obediently sits on the couch's armrest.

"What're you reading ?"

"The news."

Colonnello's arm snakes around Reborn's waist to push him closer against him. The hitman ends up in an awkward position, one leg still on the armrest, not fully seated on the couch and a bit sideways. He stays like that instead of making himself fit besides the blond like a normal person would, but Skull is so here for it.

"Anything interesting ?"

Colonnello rests his chin on Reborn's shoulder, eyes sweeping over the newspaper. Skull gets on his knees, leans on Colonnello to take a peak too, which just so happen to means Colonnello gets even more all over the hitman.

"No."

Skull has to bite the inside of his cheek. He doesn't know how natural Reborn thinks he looks like right now, but he is wrong. Sun flames flares when he makes himself heavier but he ignores it. Colonnello doesn't.

"Are you okay ?" He asks right in Reborn's ear, which flames do something Skull never felt them do before.

The hitman bolts upright, a half newspaper in each hand. "Of course," he says not sounding okay at all, and Skull is dying. "I just forgot i had something to do."

He's laughing way before Reborn leaves, bends over the couch, and he knows he's gonna regrets it. Except he couldn't stop himself to save his life even if he wanted to.

"What the hell are you laughing about ?"

Skull just laughs even harder.

Reborn surrenders the day after, at breakfast. Well, it's almost noon already but none of them get around to start their day before ten a.m yet.

He comes in the kitchen in one of his ridiculous pajama onesie Skull doesn't envy at all, his hair a mess even when it's clear he did try to make them presentable. (God knows this man priorities.)

He flops down in the first chair he comes across, glances at his cereal bowl, Lal's cappuccino and croissant, Colonnello's fruit jam filled tart, and lets his head falls down on the table.

"Make me an espresso Lackey."

"You hate my espresso."

"He does ?" Colonnello asks. "How come ?"

Reborn snorts, because of course he'll always have the strength for that.

Lal digs the knife deeper in his back. "They're bad. You're better never drinking it."

Skull has his mouth open ready to defend his perfectly fine espresso, thank you very much, but gets kicked in the shin.

"Espresso."

Reborn keeps kicking him under the table even when Colonnello is up and on to the task. Which, fair, he is looking at him a bit too much but he can't help it.

The hitman looks like shit and Skull feels… something about it. He was on a job last night, an over-qualified one as usual. It's the whole point, to not let anybody get cocky enough and try something stupid, thinking the Arcobaleno were weakened somehow. (And how right they would be.)

It's working so far, but Reborn's flames are painful to feel right now so Skull supposes he can let himself be grateful at least.

Lal is long gone upstairs when Colonnello puts the scalding hot espresso on the table. Reborn straightens up to reach for it, only for Colonnello to move it away from him at the last moment. He looks up then, black eyes in blue ones, while Skull stares at the both of them in turn.

"Your hair is a mess. Here, let me."

Reborn slaps Colonnello's hand away. He goes for his drink again, Colonnello moves it out of his reach again. He clicks his tongue.

"You better not be holding my espresso on hostage Colonnello."

Colonnello only pulls the chair behind him closer to sit on its armrest, without once breaking eye contact with Reborn. "I think I should help both you and Viper keeping us safe. It would be easier on you, and besides, the mafia have to know sooner or later that I'm one of you now. What do you think ?"

"That i'm going to shoot you."

Skull tries to chew his cereals as quietly as possible lest they remember him. He's being highly entertained at the moment after all.

"You look like shit Reborn. Skull, tell him he looks like shit."

"You do look like shit," Skull says, highly entertained.

There's a beat of silence, then a surge of sudden Rain flames against which Reborn hasn't the time to do much else but melts. He glares daggers at the Rain who just rolls his eyes.

"You're so stubborn. And you definitely didn't have enough sleep to go through the day." He brings back the coffee within range and lets it there, either as an apology or a reward. "You're going straight back to sleep once you're done alright ?" He stands back up, and this time Reborn doesn't move away from the hand who finds its way to his hair.

Skull can't believe the sight in front of him. But here he is, sole witness of the World's Greatest Hitman reduced to a puddle of goo by deft fingers carding his hair and a good espresso alone. (And Rain flames, but they're gone now and the hitman still looks like he's just fine right where he is.)

"We have a deal then ?" It's not clear what Reborn mumbles, which may be because of the hand who moved all the way down to the base of his neck, but Skull would have taken it as a yes too. Colonnello chuckles. "Good."

He bends forward then to bump their heads together before nuzzling in his hair. And Reborn —

Reborn blushes.

Reborn blushes.

It's faint but his skin is paler than usual and Skull is sure it's there. The flash of his phone ruins the mood faster than he can blink. Colonnello sends him a curious look, out of place compared to the murderous one Reborn gives him. Skull is going to die but the big grin on his face doesn't go anywhere.

The gunshot takes off but he took off faster, out of the kitchen and to wherever Viper is.

"Viper !" He screams at the top of his lungs.

Skull is going to die for that, but if he manages to get to Viper first the picture will survive forever.

It's a cause he's willing to die for.

- Skull made it to Viper, who misted them away so they could set history in stone (lol).

- Reborn is pissed, but they both get the others to protect them from him in exchange of a sneak peak of the picture. (Reborn is even more pissed.)

- Colonnello asks to taste Skull's espresso. Skull dares him to chug it down in one go. It doesn't go well.

I feel like i excessively used their names sjfkfêzfsj, sorry about it but i did my best. While writing this chapter i also realized that managing a large cast ensemble will prove a challenge for me, so you probably won't get all the arcobaleno at the same time often. And let's not forget the commas. And italics. Commas and italics everywhere and you better get used to it sjdsfhzefkg.

Also just in case anyone has doubts, the arcobaleno ARE adults in this (they're like in their twenties). The curse here doesn't need for them to be turn into infants.

I hope you liked it. Any and all review is appreciated. Thank you for reading !

- w.h