Colonnello finishes climbing the stairs just as Skull walks out of his room down the hall, past the stairs circular platform between them. He catches sight of him, falters and hesitates for a split-second, but seems back to his usual self as he walks towards him.

"Yo, Lackey, what's up?" Colonnello greets him, his hands in his pockets.

"The Great Skull-sama isn't anyone's lackey!" he screams, unnecessary loud and high-pitched and shrill, and wow, Colonnello did not miss that voice. "What is Colonnello-sempai doing here?"

"None of your business."

Skull's dragging his feet walking around the platform, Colonnello standing firmly in front of the stairs he's making for, maybe hoping he'll disappear in Lal's room at his left before he has to come too close. Colonnello doesn't move, and Skull stops more than an arm's reach away from him, seemingly despite himself, and despite the cocky, unbothered attitude he's trying too hard to embody.

Colonnello can't help but laugh, then. So much for him being back to his usual self.

"Come on, Skull, just get over it already. It was one kiss, nothing worth making a big deal out of."

"I'm not making it any kind of deal!" Skull hurries to say. "If nothing else, you—!" Colonnello raises his eyebrow. Skull dramatically lowers his voice. "You're the one… teasing me…"

He rolls his eyes. "When don't I ever tease you, Lackey?" He walks to Lal's room, Skull relaxing at the corner of his eye, but then swiftly turns on his feet to face him again, grinning. "Wait, you have been kissed before, right? This isn't what this is about, is it?"

Skull gaps, speechless, before he finds his voice again. "Yes, I have been." And then he snaps. "I've been kissed plenty of times before, okay? People line up for the opportunity to kiss me! I know you and Reborn would rather eat glass or set yourselves on fire or both before ever admitting it, but I'm fucking drop-dead gorgeous! You're not—"

Colonnello hums his agreement without really thinking about it, maybe even his appreciation, casually trailing his eyes up and down Skull's figure. He isn't ever going to let him hear it, but of course he's known that from the first time they met, he isn't blind.

Whatever the rest of that speech was, Skull seems to forget all about it, opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water. He dumbly lowers up-to-now flailing arms at his sides, looking at him like he's not sure what to make of him, like he doesn't know if he can trust him.

Colonnello takes a step towards him just to see him step back, snapping himself out of his surprise, just to see the blush rise on his cheeks.

"Okay," Skull croaks out, holding his gaze. "As long as you know." A long beat of silence passes between them. "Bye," he says, and then flees down the stairs.

Colonnello snorts, watching him go. Cute.

He blinks, then huffs, raising a hand to his hair.

Huh. He's been thinking that about him an awful lot lately.

A/N: Next chapter's coming, so stay tuned guys!

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

Thank you for reading!

- Hope