Tsuna was more than just confused, not that anyone else was better off. He knew that the Arcobalenos were coming and that they still had to stay together. So it simply didn't make sense at all that the group was missing Skull. Furthermore a petite woman was standing next to Reborn. She hadn't left the hitman's side since they arrived and still no Skull was in sight.
Colonnello, who had accompanied Fon when he went to talk with I-Pin, grinned at Tsuna.
"Colonnello? Where is Skull?"
"What do you mean? Skulls right there next to Reborn."
"Very funny."
"I mean sure Skull took her makeup off but well. Don't tell me you aren't able to recognize her? She would be disappointed."
To make it even worse his intuition whispered to him that Colonnello was speaking the truth. Naturally all he could do was scream, point at Skull and loudly yell; "That's Skull?"
While it wasn't unusual to witness the skys panic, it still did attract the attention from everyone around them.
Reborn nudged the cloud and they started to make their way over, Skull just smiling while she flared her flames up. There had never been anyone with even a close amount to the flames the cloud possessed and immediately the doubt fell. Only focusing everyone's attention even more on the small woman.
Reborn smirked maliciously at his student "Dame-Tsuna don't tell me you never realised? I think your training needs to be stepped up. Who was in charge again for the time?"
Tsuna just screeched again in sheer panic.
"But why?" Dino asked, staring more than just bewildered at the now vastly different looking cloud.
"Protection. After all, who wouldn't have vied for the attention of such a darling strong cloud like our skull is?"
Squalo had just plainly pulled his phone out and sent Mammon money over "That's bullshit, correct?"
Viper, not seeing any issues in embarrassing Reborn in that way immediately answered after checking the incoming amount "He had no clue. Skull's disguises are on another level."
Reborn carefully focused on his usual poker face.
Theoretically there was a big chance that the situation would escalate now but Shamal had stepped closer, grabbing Skulls hand and placing a kiss on it "Oh how could I have never noticed such a beauty? At least I know now that I can fantasise about you."
Skull herself was actually staring slightly horrified at the doctor. She definitely hadn't thought about that. Not that she had to react, because Reborn had immediately pulled her behind him. Fon and Colonnello stepped closer as well. A dangerous glint in the martial artist's eyes as he stared down the doctor and Colonnello as well as Reborns hand were visible hovering over their respective weapons.
"Don't touch our cloud, kora." the former soldier growled out darkly.
Reborn had meanwhile pulled out a handkerchief and gave it to the slightly overwhelmed witch for her to clean her hand with. Not that this distracted him from staring down the doctor.
"Shamal, the only reason you're still alive is our long friendship. Don't test my patience." he said firmly and his blank eyes were telltales enough of the untold threats.
Shamal meanwhile had slowly backed up, arms raised in a placating manner. He knew there was no other choice than to retreat right now. No chance in hell would he willingly pester territorial elements. That alone would have been suicidal even if he wasn't standing across the worlds most feared men.
"I would never do anything to Skull. I will just step back, alright? We can forget this."
Fons smile was sharp, something in it leaving everyone watching unsettled. His eyes flashed slightly with a hint of storm flames and Shamal just fled across the meadow, towards the corner with the biggest distance between them.
While it had not been the original purpose but seeing the - at least to the public - three strongest arcobaleno immediately jumping to Skulls aide and making their stance clear did result in most of them keeping their distance to the cloud.
A powerplay like this would be plainly moronic to ignore. While it was an odd kind of strange that not the cloud had been territorial but her bondmates, it didn't surprise most of those present. After all the Arcobalenos were mostly inverted flame users and did break every kind of standart for normality.
The warning had been more than just clear; Skull was theirs and no matter what they had seen before they really shouldn't cross the protective bondmates. even checking out the situation and gettin real answers wasn't worth the ire of any of the Arcobalenos and especially not of several.
Skull herself just waved sweetly at Tsuna before Reborn guided her to the blanket that had been prepared for the Arcobalenos.
While no one was idiotic enough to try to approach them, it didn't change the fact that the attention was still focused on the petite cloud. Not even her bondmates could derile it when they placed themself strategically around her to shield her from prying eyes.
The picnic went as expected besides the fact that Skull was the most obvious topic.
Not that the cloud noticed it much, getting distracted by Reborn and her fellow bondmates. Especially Verde who, true to his introverted nature, had no interest in conversing with any of the other guests. He stayed by her side constantly keeping her mind occupied and making her tune out her surroundings.
While Reborn had more than a few acquaintances between the guests here, he still took their date seriously and stayed with her. Distracting her as well, while he observed the whole clearing and listened to all the chatter and gossiping going on.
Actually none of the arcobalenos had stayed away for long. They constantly circled back to the blanket, often bringing back snacks or drinks for her. While they wanted to socialise they couldn't ignore their instincts and leaving one of theirs in a situation of high scrutiny, even while she was protected, left a bitter taste in their mouths. They knew no one could harm her as long as Reborn was with her and they were truly aware how she could defend herself but it still left them restless.
Violet had actually been completely occupied with the attention of her bondmates when her eyes finally fell on Enma. She hadn't seen him in quite a while and she did count him as one of her friends, especially since he had stood by her side at the representative battles.
She quickly raised her arm, flailing them around to attract his attention. "Enma!" She yelled while hurriedly standing up.
Not that that endeavour bore any fruits when she felt Reborns hand on her wrist, tugging her around and pulling her back to him. The rapid movement did make her stumble, not that Reborn had problems combating that. His choice for her to land on him was definitely questionable though.
She could only stare at him. Directly sitting on his lap, his strong, unbending arm still around her waist and her hands on his shoulder in an effort to stabilise herself. She was only a few mere centimetres away from his face.
"Cara, it's considered rude to leave your date alone."
He slowly lifted his hand and caressed her cheek "You really going to leave me here alone?"
She could only helplessly open her mouth while no words were coming out. Everything else was forgotten, to hypnotise by Reborn deep dark eyes.
"You really have pretty Lips, tesoro. I do wonder how we can make use of them."
His hand slowly trailed reverently towards her neck "I should really tutor you in this, splendore. How about I myself show you a new world?"
She could only stare, her brain was mush, completely taken over by the sun.
If she would be coherent enough to think she would probably thank all the gods that she wore her chain, so that she didn't turn into a flaming red ball.
His thumb was playing around with the loose strands of her hair, lightly touching her skin on occasion and sending shivers through her whole body.
While Violet wasn't in love with the hitman she couldn't deny what kind of impact he had on her. How he had always impacted her and now even more after he started to actively pursue her.
It didn't matter that he only wanted something casual, it still was so intense she couldn't bring her defences up. The temptation was too big.
She didn't resist when he lightly tugged her closer.
Almost in a trance as she had only eyes for him, she didn't hear anything else besides his calm breathing and regular heartbeat, lulling her in.
His scent reminiscent of gunpowder. smoke and oddly enough sunshine, filled her nose and it calmed her down more than she had ever been before, completely entranced.
"I promise I'm going to take good care of you Violet" he whispered huskily and her breath hitched.
Would it really be that bad to give in to him? She couldn't form any thoughts that argumented against it and for once she was completely in the moment.
Both of them were so close they could feel the heat of each other's breath.
Them kissing was only a matter of seconds away when a loud enraged scream ripped the air.
In less than a fraction of a second, Reborn had thrown her around again. Her back connected with the ground and he over her, shielding her with his whole body from the unknown object.
