"Why the hell are we watching this?" Colonnello asks.

"You're the one who said you've never seen one of my shows," Skull says, sprawled on the floor between them, munching on his pizza.

"Okay, but on movie night? More like, aren't you embarrassed making us watch you while you're here with us?" He playfully kicks him in the side. "You pretentious little shit."

"What should I even be embarrassed about?" he shots back cheekily, grinning, looking at him above his shoulder. "Just listen to those cheers and look at how fucking cool I am on-screen."

"It's fine, isn't it?" Luce says on his other side, sitting against the couch like Colonnello, surrounded by a blanket and a thousand pillows to support her, courtesy of Skull and her men. "It's still fun to watch."

"Are you sure you should be eating all this junk food?" Colonnello asks her.

"I've been very careful with my diet so far, so yes, I deserve this little treat."

"You're surprisingly eating a lot though."

"She needs to eat for two!" Skull immediately cuts in.

"I need to eat for two!" Luce says at the same time, sounding embarrassed.

Colonnello raises his eyebrow at him, and he feels warm on the face. "What? I'm going to be that baby's favorite uncle if it's the last thing I do, alright? Anyway," he hurries to change subject, turning back to the TV, "just focus on the TV, will you? We're watching this for you, you know."

"Actually, I've never got around to watch one of your shows either," Luce says.

Skull gaps, letting his pizza falls from his hand back on the pizza box, because he's nothing but dramatic. "You haven't?" he asks in a small, betrayed voice.

Luce hurries to swallow the food in her mouth, guilt flickering across her face. "Ah, no, that's not—"

"Ha!" Colonnello gloats. "Fuck him, Luce."

"I'm not trying to!" she hurries to say, a smile pulling at her lips all the same. "Skull, I'm sorry, I swear I meant to get to it eventually like I said I would, but you have no idea how little free time a Donna has."

"Don't listen to her," Colonnello says. "Isn't she here right now watching with us now you left her no other choice?"

"Colonnello!" she chides him, but there's laughter bubbling in her voice.

"Are you mad?" Colonnello asks him, nudging him in the side. "Are you going to cry?"

Skull wants to burst out laughing, but he knows his face gives nothing of it because he's better than that. He scowls, pursing his lips, then stiffly gathers his pizza box and sits cross-legged on the couch. "Yeah, I'm going to weep. Neither of you talk to me anymore."

Colonnello snickers. "Does that mean we can put an actual movie on now?"

Luce laughs. "Stop it," she says, throwing a pillow at him.

Colonnello easily catches it, then throws it at him, and Skull splutters, dodging it, Luce laughing harder.

Skull can't help but laugh too then, but then huffs, sinking against the couch. He shoves Colonnello's shoulder with his foot. "And here I was about to invite you on a boat ride. You do like the sea, right, sailor boy?"

Colonnello looks miffed, and unbidden, Skull bursts out laughing, Luce almost choking on her drink.

"Why the face?" she asks Colonnello once she stopped coughing and laughing. "This is what Italian navy soldiers are called, right?"

Colonnello clicks his tongue. "I didn't like it in his mouth. Don't ever call me that again," he says, and Skull laughs harder. Colonnello huffs, rolling his eyes before turning back to the TV. "And what, you have boats now too? How filthy rich are you?"

"A boat," Skull corrects once he put himself back together somehow. "And not filthy rich at all, just decently rich. And it's all hard-earned money, so you bet I indulge myself with it whenever I want."

"Bathroom break," Luce says, making to stand up.

Colonnello moves, but Skull's faster, standing up. "I've got it." He gives her a helping hand, supporting her as she stands.

She doesn't let go of him once on her feet. "Will you accompany me too?"

He blinks. "Sure, but I'm waiting outside."

"Skull!" she splutters, blushing red, while Colonnello's choking-laughing in his back.

He grins. "Alright, let's go. Don't be too lonely waiting for us, sailor boy."

He laughs when a pillow hits his back.

Luce leads the way, hand in hand with him, her men following them while keeping a respectful distance, but he pays them no mind.

"Oh yeah, you're of course also invited to the boat ride, but…"

"Yeah," she says, nodding. "I'd rather pass. Maybe after giving birth, but thank you for the offer."

"I thought you'd say that, yeah. So, what's up?"

"I heard the others are trying to make amends with you?"

"Just Fon. And Reborn, I guess," he adds after a beat. "Why?"

"I'd like to do that too." He raises his eyebrows, and she smiles fondly, but still shakes her head. "No, I definitely wronged you too. I purposefully chose not to step up for you many more times than I did step up for you. And…" she stops walking, turning to him "… I'd do it again all over again."

"Harsh," he says quietly.

An apologetic smile pulls at her lips. "Yeah, it is. But that's how our world is, the world you've become part of. I'm just sorry we couldn't help hurt you and avoid creating this divide between you and us as we made sure our world wouldn't harm you any more than necessary."

"I get it."

A surprise look flickers across her face. "Oh?"

He huffs a laugh, then starts walking again, leading the way this time. "Sure. I mean, how stupid do you guys think I am? Or it's all civilians you look down upon?"

"No, that's not…"

"I know there's no nice way to teach someone how to survive in the mafia, but I know you still tried to be as nice as you could about it, and I'm grateful for it. It's unfortunate it still hurt me, but I know that was never your intentions either. It's just that…" he shrugs, and his voice grows quiet again "… I still got hurt by it, you know?"

She squeezes his hand. "I do. I'm sorry you were."

"Yeah, thank you. I forgive you."

She huffs a surprised laugh. "Yeah? That easily?"

"Sure!" he says cheerfully, turning to her. "I mean, you guys are… you know. I'm just... looking for some proper acknowledgment doing this, I guess."

"You're really very kind, aren't you?" she says after taking his face in, looking soft. "Thank you."

He looks away, scratching his cheek. "Ah, stop it. Not really."

"You're being kind to me too right now, but I hope you'll show that same kindness to the others too." She squeezes his hand again, prompting him to look her in the eye once more. She's smiling. "They don't love you any less than I do, but you already know that, don't you?"

He huffs. "Yeah, I do."

Colonnello rests his head on his folded arms, resting on the gunwale, looking content even if he can't be comfortable bent down as he is, especially when he's as tall as he is. He's watching the sea, his eyes trailing along the waves, sometimes flicking up to watch the horizon or the sky.

He keeps an eye out for Falco and Oodako too, lazily swimming along the boat with Falco on top of Oodako, enjoying a ride of his own. Colonnello waves his fingers at them whenever they catch each other's eye, a smile peaking up from behind his arms, and Oodako splashes the water harder in acknowledgment, Falco letting a soft cry out of his mouth.

The wind smells like the sea, Skull tasting the salt water on his lips and tongue, gently ruffles Colonnello's hair, making the light dance across them, turning his hair even more sunshine-like. And when it catches his eyes just right, they're just as crystal clear blue and mesmerizing as the sea.

"You're going to make me jealous if you keep looking at the sea like that."

"Maybe you should try watching it too for a bit then."

"I'm admiring a beautiful sight of my own though." Colonnello glances at him, and Skull wiggles his eyebrows, grinning. Colonnello huffs a laugh, crinkles at the corner of his eyes. "Want to swim for a bit? It's sunny enough today, the water shouldn't be too cold."

"What, that far in the sea? Are you trying to get rid of me? Is that the true reason of this boat ride?"

Skull snorts. "What are you even talking about? Are you saying you're fearing for Oodako's and Falco's safety right now?"

"Not really. You said she could turn into a giant octopus, so I'm assuming she's actually the apex predator here."

"She can!" he says proudly. "Should I ask her to turn so she can give us a ride too?"

"You know, it's very hard to tell when you're full of bullshit or not."

Skull bursts out laughing. "I sure do, because everyone always tells me that. And yet I'm full of bullshit less often than people tend to think I am. And I'm totally not lying about this one, but I guess you'll eventually see it for yourself."

"Can't wait."

Skull huffs, slumping over the gunwale, resting his head on his folded arm too. "Aren't you hot?" Colonnello turns amused eyes on him, and he blinks, frowning. He blinks again, then widens his eyes, realization sinking in. "Oh. Oh, no—" he giggles. "Not flirting. I meant your jacket," he says, brushing it with his fingertips.

Colonnello snorts. "You're the one in a leather jumpsuit, Skull."

"That's just because it's my second skin."

"Maybe this jacket is mine too."

"Yeah? What did you even become a soldier for?"

"Why not?"

"Sucks ass, or so I can only assume." Colonnello laughs. "I mean, what did it even do for you?"

"It let me find Lal," he says right away, easily, his voice the softest and warmest he's ever heard it.

Skull smiles. "Love, huh? You're not just gonna stand aside and let her beat my ass once she gets her hands on me, are you?"

"Aren't I?" he asks, mirth in his eyes.

Skull shoves his shoulder. "Come on, are you for real?"

Colonnello laughs. "Are you? It's Lal we're talking about, why in my right mind would I ever get in her way? Besides, I'm going to feel loved while she's beating your ass, so you're on your own here."

"Dude!" Colonnello just grins, unrepentant, and he huffs, straightening himself. "So you are an asshole too."

"What was that?"

Skull moves his hand in a dismissive gesture. "I said what I said. I mean, you're Reborn's friend so I already knew that, but now I really do know it for sure."

Colonnello bursts out laughing. "Dude!" He punches his arm.

"Ouch," Skull says in a flat voice, and cradles his arm just for show. "What, am I wrong? You were childhood friends, right? Are you telling him he wasn't the biggest bully in your school?"

"He wasn't," Colonnello says, stretching his body, then turns to lean against the gunwale.

"Right."

Colonnello laughs. "No, for real. It's like… well, you should already know it by now, right? Reborn doesn't care to acknowledge other people's existence he couldn't care less about one way or another."

Skull hums, leaning his head against his hand, his elbow propped up on the gunwale. "Yeah, I guess I do."

"Right? But while we're talking about him, about them… I think it's unfair of you to compare them to me."

"What was that?"

"I said what I said." Skull pouts, and Colonnello playfully shoves his face. "You know. We met in entirely different circumstances than you and the others. And I don't have to have all the facts to know it's a lot easier for me to be nice with you than it must have been for them."

"Doesn't mean they had to be assholes about it."

"But maybe they did."

Skull opens his mouth, but then closes it again without saying anything, pursing his lips. "Doesn't mean I have to be okay with it."

Colonnello hums, taking his face in, then ruffles his hair. "Yeah, I guess not. Come on, sit with me." Skull does, sitting down next to him on the deck. "No, stretch your legs."

Skull raises his eyebrows, but uncrosses his legs and stretches them in front of him.

Colonnello lies down, resting his head on his lap.

Skull huffs a laugh. "Jeez, do make yourself at home, why don't you?" he says, not minding it at all.

"Already did."

"I hope you'll get the sun in your eyes."

Colonnello snickers.

Skull leans comfortably against the hull, or as comfortably as he can get, but he doesn't mind. He removes his gloves and puts them in his pockets, trying not to move too much, then threads his fingers in Colonnello's hair, letting a comfortable silence surround them, filled with the wind and waves, with Oodako's splashes and the soft noise of the boat's engine.

He's not sure how much time has passed when Colonnello speaks up, "The army."

"Yeah?"

"It gave me belonging too, purpose. People I can trust with my life both in life and on battlefields."

"You can find all that elsewhere though?"

"I guess, but that's where I've found them for the first time in my life."

A matching grin pulls at their lips as they look at each other. "And Lal," they say at the same time, then laugh.

"Hey, will you let me try it?" Skull asks, lightly pulling at his jacket.

Colonnello pulls his hand away. "No way, you have to earn the uniform. Just buy a knock-off somewhere if you just want to feel hot wearing it."

"I do just want to feel hot wearing it."

Colonnello rolls his eyes. "The knock-off it is then. Besides, this jacket has seen some pretty awful things. Nothing you should feel hot wearing it."

Skull slows the movement of his hand in his hair, thoughtful. Colonnello said it casually enough, but it's probably safer and more considerate to change the subject anyway. "Is that what you always wanted to do? Becoming a soldier?"

"What about you, actually?" Colonnello asks, brighter once more. "I've been curious about it."

"What about me?"

"Did you always want to become a stuntman?"

"Oh, yeah, totally!" He starts to fidget excitedly, grinning, but then remembers to keep at least his legs still. "I've discovered stunts young, and I instantly knew it was my calling so I've never looked back. Though…"

"Yeah?"

"If we're talking about what else I'd like to do should I ever stop doing stunts, professionally at least, then I'd love to be a mechanic."

"Makes sense."

He chuckles. "I guess? I just can spend hours working on my bikes and cars and whatnot, not even necessarily doing anything much too, so I know I wouldn't mind doing that for a living too. That, or getting behind the camera for once, though I totally already do that often enough too."

Colonnello frowns. "Getting behind the camera to do what?"

"To become the guy who comes up and choreographs and looks over the stunts! It's called a stunt coordinator."

"And you do that for your own shows?"

"Yep, most often than not. And if not that, then I guess I'd like to work in the fashion industry too."

"Aren't you a guy of many talents?" Colonnello asks, teasing, grinning, but meaning it too, Skull can tell.

He laughs, beaming. "I so am, glad you noticed. What about you?"

Colonnello hums, absentmindedly swaying his leg back and forth. "Not really, it kind of just happened. But if not the army, then…" he takes a moment, but Skull waits him out. "I guess I've always been particularly good at sports. I was really into basketball for a couple of years, and I had the right height and everything. I still play it here and now too."

"No way, basketball?"

"Why the surprise?"

"It's not, actually. The real surprise is how I can actually totally see it."

Colonnello narrows his eyes, jabbing him in the chest. "And why is that surprising? I just said I was perfect for it."

He grins. "It just is."

Colonnello rolls his eyes. "Whatever. If not that, then…" he trails off again, but this time doesn't say anything else.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"What? No, come on, tell me! If not basket, then what?"

Colonnello huffs. "Didn't I just say it's nothing? I just—used to draw too, no big deal."

"You did?" Skull perks up, impressed. "That's so cool! You totally have to draw me something now."

Colonnello rolls his eyes again, but hard this time. "Why is that what everyone always says? And I said I used to, didn't I?"

"You stopped? Entirely?"

"Yeah." He shrugs. "I'm not sure why that of all things, but it just doesn't feel right anymore. Not with these hands."

Oh.

Skull flicks his eyes to his hands, resting on his stomach, then back up to him again, his heart clenching. His smile slips from his lips, but there's no way he's going to leave it at that.

"What's wrong with your hands?" he asks softly. He doesn't expect an answer so he takes one of his hand in his without waiting for one, feeling Colonnello's eyes on him. His hand is warm, always is, and is always soft in the way it holds his own, even if it's scarred and calloused. "Can you still hold pencils with them?"

"Yeah," Colonnello breathes out, his voice heavy with something Skull can't make out.

He smiles. "Then there's nothing stopping you from drawing again, is there?" He brings his hand to his lips, and gently brushes his lips along his knuckles, feeling Colonnello shiver. "I like your hands. There's nothing wrong with them."

A little smile pulls at the corner of Colonnello's lips. "What, just because you like them?"

"And because I say so, so you just have to agree with me now."

This time a wide grin slowly pulls at Colonnello's lips, and then he bursts out into a bright laugh tumbling from his lips, his eyes shining, and it steals Skull's breath away.

Colonnello bites his lip all too soon, then shifts on his side, hiding his face against his stomach. Skull lets go of his hand a bit reluctantly so he can make himself more comfortable. "Okay," Colonnello says, and his voice is light, none of that heaviness from before Skull can hear. "Maybe I'll get around to draw you the ugliest thing I can come up with."

"Ha! Joke's on you, because I am the number one fan of ugly things."

Colonnello chuckles, the sound of it rumbling against him, and Skull lets himself grin down at him now he can't see it, truly, absolutely smitten already, fuck him.

"I'm going to take a nap now, is that okay?"

"Will you be able to?"

"I can try."

"Wouldn't you rather go back inside?"

"It's fine."

"Okay, then sure, go ahead." Skull's terrible at staying still for long amount of times, but Colonnello doesn't have to learn that just yet. He slumps against the hull, relaxing, moving his hand in Colonnello's hair in a steady pattern. "Have a good nap, I'll watch over you. I'll be the best nap watcher you've ever seen." Colonnello hums, sounding amused. "Oh yeah, I'll watch over Falco too, so don't worry about him. Oodako'll watch over him too, and she'll be the best Falco watcher you've ever seen too." Colonnello hums again. "Oh, should I stop touching your hair?" he asks, stilling his hand. "Is it bothering you?"

"Skull, shut up."

"Right." He purses his lips, a silent laughter shaking him. "Right, sorry, my bad. I'll shut up now." Colonnello shifts again, curling a bit on himself, looking smaller like that, and he has not right to look hot and handsome and cute all at the same time. Skull leans down, hesitates halfway, but then brushes his lips against his temple in a feather-light touch. "Have a good nap," he breathes out against his skin. "I'll watch over you."

Colonnello smiles, then snuggles closer to him.

A/N: I really love this chapter. They're so soft with each other here, and I just, ugh, love them so fucking much, you guys have no idea.

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

Thank you for reading!

- Hope