CW: Implied/Referenced Sexual Content

Reborn wakes up first with the sun already filtering in through the binds of the window, and Colonnello still fast asleep. He's still sleeping soundly when the sun has risen high enough in the sky the darkness in the room's all but gone, a sunray warming Reborn's back, and almost stretching far enough across the bed to touch Colonnello too.

Colonnello's arm's still resting across his waist, half his face cutely mushed in the pillow, the last of a yellowish brown bruise under his eye and along his cheekbone. Reborn lazily plays with his hair, propped up on his elbow, his head resting against his hand.

He snorts. So much for him leaving at dawn.

He's going to blush about it too when he wakes up and realizes, and Reborn can't wait for it.

Reborn stills his hand when Colonnello shifts, and takes it away from his hair when he settles down again. He brushes his knuckles down his jaw, lightly takes a hold of his chin, and brushes his thumb across his parted lips, Colonnello's soft and warm breathing against his skin.

His lips are a pretty reddish pink color, cold and rough to the touch, but pliant, yielding, even under a light touch like this.

Reborn gets to kiss those lips as many times as he wants now, right?

Reborn stops the movement of his thumb, looking up to Colonnello's eyes, then huffs a small laugh.

It's too bad, but he wouldn't bet on that quite yet.

He gets out of bed, and hesitates in front of his wardrobe before showering and get himself ready for the day. Is he going to leave sooner than later or linger a bit around, even if it means he'll only leave later in the day? Will Colonnello let him linger around? Will he leave, or ask Reborn to leave?

In the end Reborn chooses a more casual wear than his usual suits, pleated pants with a simple shirt, snorting at himself.

He'd love to see Colonnello try to kick him out of his safe house.

He starts on breakfast as his coffee's brewing, not that he ever eats much in the morning, but he did forget to feed Colonnello last night, and after the beating he took—what a loser—, Reborn figures he can be nice a little and feeds him at least breakfast. And if he happens to sweeten him up to him a bit in the process, then all the better.

He decides on baked eggs and sausage, drinking a hot cup of espresso in between cooking, and puts Colonnello's plate across from him on the table, as well as a glass, a milk box and a juice box. He takes a moment to listen in for any signs of Colonnello having woken up, rolls his eyes when he doesn't hear any, and wraps his meal in foil paper.

He then sits in front of his trustworthy cornetto with another cup of espresso, and only as he's halfway through his cornetto, Colonnello finally rises and shines. He makes his way to the kitchen with lazy, dragging steps, and barely spares him a glance before looking hungrily at his meal.

"Here you are," Reborn says, and instead of making for the table, Colonnello suspiciously looks back at him. "Thankfully the sun didn't feel like waiting for you, just imagine the panic otherwise."

Colonnello blushes like Reborn knew he would, and he openly takes delight in it, in the red dusting his cheeks and his pursed lips and glaring eyes.

"Fine," Colonnello grits through his teeth, turning away. "Consider me already gone."

Reborn laughs. "Alright, I take it back. Come back, I cooked this just for you." He doesn't think for a second Colonnello's really about to leave, but he doesn't mind humoring him.

Colonnello doesn't answer him, doesn't come back, but doesn't leave either. When he does come back in the kitchen he's freshly out of a shower, wearing jeans and a simple shirt, all traces of sleepiness gone from his face.

"Why do you have so many clothes that can't possibly fit you?" he asks, amused, sitting at the table.

"Comfort," Reborn says simply. "Disguises. Fashion. Do I get to give you a good morning kiss?"

Colonnello pauses, catching his eye, then huffs, but a small smile's pulling at his lips anyway. "No, you don't."

"Your loss," Reborn dismisses easily. He has every intention to get himself there eventually anyway, sooner than later. "Where's your bandanna?"

Colonnello seems about to reflexively runs his hand through his hair, but his first priority seems to be getting rid of the foil paper to get to his meal. "In the pocket of my jacket, didn't want to lose it."

"How having your hair in your eyes helped?"

Colonnello rolls his eyes. "I used something else in the meantime, but it didn't make it. Just—"

"I have cute hairpins somewhere if you want."

"Shut up, Reborn. Just remind me to wash my clothes after this, alright?"

Reborn scoffs. "What clothes? They're ruined, you sooner better give me some cash or write me a check for my couch you also ruined."

"The jacket's still salvageable, maybe even the pants. Thanks for the food."

"I meant it about the couch, just to be clear." Colonnello pauses yet again, about to get the first bite of his meal, lowering his spoon. He gives him an exasperated look, then rolls his eyes and digs in his meal. Reborn wrinkles his nose a little. "It must be cold by now. Aren't you going to reheat it?"

Colonnello evidently couldn't care less about it, not holding back, choosing the orange juice instead of the milk. Reborn stands to put it back in the fridge, pouring himself another cup of coffee while he's at it.

"How many does this one make?" Colonnello asks.

"Mind your business."

Colonnello just snorts, and they focus on their food in a comfortable silence then, Reborn making quick work of his cornetto, but taking his time with his espresso. After the first few bites Colonnello slowed down too, now taking it easy as he makes his way through his meal, glancing at him and letting his eyes linger on him now and then.

Reborn's watching him too, but it's because there's not much else for him to do.

"What?"

Colonnello marks a thoughtful pause before going for it. "When was the last time we had breakfast together? Or, well," he amends, glancing at his empty plate, a small smile pulling at his lips, "sat together for breakfast more like, I guess."

"I wonder. When was it?" Of course Reborn remembers exactly when. The morning after the last ever sleepover they had, was it?

Colonnello's lips twitch, briefly pursing before he smooths his face again. "I actually remember when," he says, and Reborn hides a small smile behind his cup. Of course he would just admit it. "But you can just fuck off if you don't, you bastard."

Reborn chuckles, and doesn't stop even if Colonnello doesn't seem to find it so funny, a now decidedly displeased curve to his lips.

Reborn finishes drinking his coffee before Colonnello finishes eating, but he doesn't leave the table or the kitchen. It doesn't take long before Colonnello contentedly leans back again his chair, his plate empty, then pulls his knee up against his chest, resting his foot at the edge of the chair.

They stare at each other for a long moment of silence before he sighs. "I can't just stay here and laze around."

"Why not?" Reborn asks, his cheek leaning against his fist, his elbow propped on the armrest and his legs crossed at the knees. "Could they have trailed you to here?"

"Oh, please. Who do you take me for?"

"Then you're fine, they have no idea where you are right now." He raises a teasing eyebrow. "Or are you saying you don't trust in my abilities to secure my safe houses?"

"Should I?" Colonnello asks, a teasing smirk playing at his lips. "I found this one. Even broke in it."

Reborn rolls his eyes. "Of course you did. What, you want me to praise you for it?"

"Yeah, sure," Colonnello says, then smirks wider, daring him, like it's in any way, shape or form an actual challenge for him. "Go on, praise me for it."

Reborn marks a dramatic pause. "I still cannot believe you found out where one of my safe houses was, let alone knew how to break in it," he starts then, leaning his arms on the table, his eyes wider in awe as he looks at Colonnello, his voice a little breathless in amazement. "I'd take it personally, but I could never help be anything but admiring in front of talented people. You're clearly so skillful, so smart, you—" he deliberately cuts himself off, like he's catching himself, biting his lip. He looks Colonnello up and down like he can't help it. "Fuck me, oh you handsome, clever man," he breathes out.

Colonnello bursts out laughing, then promptly groans in pain, cradling his ribs and lowering his foot back on the floor. He keeps laughing though, albeit in a more controlled manner, baby blue eyes shining and a grin up to his ears.

Reborn watches his laughter shakes him until it comes to a stop, watches his grin turns into a smile that slips from his face, watches the laughter in his eyes dim as his face takes on a more thoughtful and serious expression.

And there's that ever tension between them back in the air.

"Why did you leave?" Colonnello asks quietly.

Reborn leans back against his chair, holding back on a sigh. "Is it too cliché if I say it was to protect you?"

Colonnello's face hardens. "If you're going to just be joking about this..."

"What?" Reborn says, smirking. "Don't give me that look, it's something people do, right? I know it happens a lot in movies, but that doesn't mean it can't happen in real life too. I figured I'd leave you to your normal, happy life while I had yet to ruin it entirely," he finishes in a low voice, serious.

Colonnello scoffs, harsh. "Really? Is that the best you came up with? When did I ever look to you like I cared about normal?"

"Happy, then," Reborn says, because that's true enough, he would know. Colonnello clenches his jaw, something bitter flickering across his face. "Okay, then. What about if I say it was to keep the people you cared about safe? Your friends, your family. You wouldn't have liked it if they ended up caught in my things, would you?"

"Like you ever cared about it."

"I cared about you not liking it should it have happened. I couldn't be bothered to deal with that."

Colonnello huffs a sarcastic laugh, entirely humorless. "So that's what happened, huh? You couldn't be bothered to deal with me any longer?"

"That's not what I said."

"Why didn't you say anything first?"

Reborn expected anger along with that question, accusation, resentment, but there's not much of anything in Colonnello's voice as he asks it. Reborn lets himself sigh this time. "What, like you'd have let it be simple goodbyes?"

"Well, maybe I got to make it more than that, ever thought about it?" he shots back, and there's the anger twisting the features of his face. "Maybe I got to try and make you stay, to ask you to." Reborn smiles despite himself, angering Colonnello even more it seems, but then he smiles too, something full of sharp, jagged edges. "Right. You wouldn't have stayed even if I could have asked you to, would you?"

"I wouldn't."

"Of course not," Colonnello spits out, averting his eyes, full of bitterness. He marks a long pause, to the point Reborn figures out it's the end of it, but then he speaks up again, not looking up, "Were you ever going to come back?"

"Yes," Reborn says after a small beat, didn't have to think about it too much, and it isn't even really a lie.

He didn't mean for them to ever meet again, but who knows how much longer he'd have stayed true to that resolve? And now that Colonnello found his way back in his life one way or another, he can admit to himself he'd eventually have made it so to see him one last time, just to know how he was doing, what his life turned like.

See him, and not come back, because he probably wouldn't have let Colonnello know he was near again, but it's close enough.

Colonnello doesn't seem to think so, seems to find his answer enough of a lie as he looks in his eyes, he smiles that twisted smile of his again, or tries to, but he looks too hurt to bother with it.

He stands, and takes his leave without looking back. "Sure you were."

"Come on, Colonnello," Reborn calls out, not expecting anything he could say to make him come back. "This is a four rooms, small safe house. Where do you even think you're going?"

"I call dibs on the bedroom then. Don't come in."

And despite how this could have gone smoother—then again, probably not—, Reborn can't help but roll his eyes, amused at his audacity.

It's hours later when Reborn dares to open the door of his bedroom in his safe house. He stays at the doorway, leaning against it with his arms crossed on his chest, taking in the sight of Colonnello lying on his back on the bed, his arm thrown across his face.

He waits to see if he's going to say anything first, but he doesn't.

"Aren't you going to eat lunch?" Colonnello doesn't answer him, predictably. Not that Reborn actually cooked lunch whatsoever. "You said you wanted to wash your clothes after eating," he reminds him, but he still doesn't say anything, doesn't move. A smile pulls at Reborn's lips. "Are you actually still sulking?"

"I'm mad," Colonnello says, because of course he'd answer that. "Fuck off."

"My bedroom," Reborn says, walking in. "My bed," he says again as he sits on it, just to be a little shit. "My safe house, so you feel free to fuck off." Colonnello briefly purses his lips, trying to hold back a smile, Reborn's sure of it. "Come on, what do you want me to stay? Lies? Because I can do that too."

"Right, because that's all it can be, is that it?"

"I'm just laying out your options for you. If you don't actually want to hear the truth, then don't ask me for it."

Colonnello lowers his arm from his face, catching his eye, and seems about to tell him to fuck off again when something in his expression shifts. "Yeah? You're going to be honest with me? Give me nothing but the truth?"

"We'll see," Reborn says, because this is typically the type of things you never want to commit to.

Colonnello turns on his side, his eyes searching as they bore into him. "Are you sorry for leaving?"

For leaving me, goes unsaid, but of course Reborn still hears it.

"I'm not."

Colonnello's not surprised to hear it, but he can't quite hide the hurt in his eyes at hearing it anyway. "Well, are you sorry it made me fucking miserable then?"

Reborn smiles. "Did it?"

"Are you?"

"I am."

Colonnello lets the words sink in, maybe trying to gauge the truth in them. "Would you do it again?"

"More likely, yeah."

Colonnello huffs, but says nothing, and then he turns more lighthearted, more playful. "Did you miss me?" Reborn rolls his eyes, and he laughs. "Don't fucking roll your eyes at me," he says, shoving his knee. "Did you or not?"

Reborn grabs his hand before he can pull it away, and Colonnello lets him, not pulling away either when Reborn brushes his thumb across his knuckles. "I did."

A soft smile plays on Colonnello's lips, but the small moment of levity is gone. "Will you ever pull that fucking stunt on me again?"

"I won't," Reborn says right away, easily, looking right back into Colonnello's eyes. "I'm the strongest now, why would I ever need to again?" Colonnello doesn't give him much of a reaction, though he softens a tad at his words. Reborn smirks. "But of course you're not just going to believe me, are you?"

"Glad you know," Colonnello says, pulling his hand away and turning on his other side.

Reborn huffs, even if it's nothing but fair enough. "Come on."

"No."

"Don't be a child," he says, rolling his eyes. He sits up on his knees, looming over him, and tugs at his shoulder to make him turn back. Colonnello shrugs him off, or pretends to, but it's halfhearted at best. It seems he's mostly only playing hard to get, and Reborn grins. "Now you're sulking."

"Shut up," Colonnello says, but there's a hint of a smile in his voice he didn't manage to cover up fully.

Reborn wraps his arms around and under him, lifting him on his lap and holding him against his chest. Colonnello puts up a token, weak struggle, complaining again like a petulant child, but lets Reborn hold him easily enough. He even makes himself comfortable, leaning against him and in his hold.

"What do you want me to say?" Reborn asks again. He runs his fingers through his fringe, pulling it back away from his eyes, lets it slip between his fingers and then does it again.

"Did you ever forget me? At any point at all?"

"I didn't."

Colonnello frowns, narrowing his eyes. "Why are you answering me so easily? It makes it hard to believe you, you know."

Reborn clicks his tongue, and pulls at his hair a little for his nerve. "Who's the one making us have this tedious, useless conversation to begin with? It's been years, Colonnello. So maybe I thought about it once or twice since then, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is a foreign concept to you."

"Alright, alright," Colonnello says, rolling his eyes, then pulls his hand away from his hair. "Don't get your panties in a twist." He doesn't let go of his hand, holding it against his chest too tightly, uncertainly taking in his face, and Reborn swears he'll kill someone if he doesn't actually get out whatever it is after all this.

Reborn's just about to prompt him to spit out already when he does out of his own volition.

"Did I ever actually mean something to you? Did you ever really cared?"

There it is.

Except Reborn blinks, genuinely taken aback, because this is what he's been agonizing over? Maybe even what he's been agonizing over since the moment he left?

What?

Reborn can't help but huff an incredulous laugh. "Are you serious right now?" Colonnello says nothing, pursing his lips, an embarrassed blush starting to spread across his cheek. Reborn holds his jaw, making sure to have his full attention. "You already know the answer to that, don't you? You're just trying to get back at me right now, right?"

"Just answer me or don't, alright?"

"Of course I cared. Of course I care." Colonnello stops breathing, and Reborn frowns, still as incredulous to his core as before. "But you already knew that, didn't you? I'm going to be real mad if you didn't, Colonnello."

A small laugh escapes Colonnello's lips, sounding pleased, looking pleased too like Reborn said anything noteworthy, and he hurries to hide his face against his chest, snuggling against him. "Was just making sure."

Reborn clicks his tongue, because sure he was.

He huffs too, but lets it pass, lightly playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.

"Do I get to kiss you now?"

Colonnello laughs again, but a little breathless this time. "Is this really the important thing here?"

"Yes, of course," Reborn says easily, shameless. He's been waiting for this so long, and he's never letting it unsaid again. "Very."

Colonnello pulls away to look into his eyes, assessing him. Reborn doesn't shy away from his gaze, and Colonnello huffs the smallest, softest laugh, smiling. "Yeah, okay. You get to now."

Reborn doesn't wait to be told twice, leaning down to press their lips together. He takes it slow this time, taking the time to appreciate Colonnello's lips and familiarize himself with them unlike last night. He traces their shape with his tongue, then lightly sucks on his bottom lip, tasting it.

Colonnello makes an aborted movement to chase after him when he pulls back, but Reborn stays close, their lips brushing together.

"Did you miss me?" he asks teasingly, smirking, though he really wants to know too.

"I looked for you," Colonnello says in lieu of an answer, and Reborn can't help but melt just a little.

Of course he did.

"You found me."

Something falters in Colonnello's expression, looking like longing, yearning, even, if Reborn felt like getting ahead of himself, but then Colonnello's grinning brighter than the sun. "Yeah, and you better be grateful for it for the rest of your life."

He pulls him in a kiss again by the collar of his shirt, firmer than the one Reborn gave him, harder.

Reborn presses against his lips just as fiercely, just as desperately, like a man who was stranded in a desert and finally just found water.

They never pull away for long as they change position, Reborn lying Colonnello back on the bed, then straddling him for a more comfortable position, for a better angle for the kiss. They don't let up, relentless, Colonnello's arms around his neck, his fingers tangled in his hair. Reborn cups his neck, his thumb against his jaw, and he uses it to nudge Colonnello to angle his head the way he wants it, Colonnello shivering and tightening his fingers in his hair every time he does.

Colonnello slips his tongue in his mouth, Reborn groaning when he sucks on it, using just the right amount of teeth. He retaliates with a thorough sweep of Colonnello's mouth with his tongue, then twirls their tongue together, making him moan.

And it's playful the way they're fighting for control, giving in and taking the lead in turn, strokes the fire in Reborn's guts stronger, harder.

They pant when they pull away, Colonnello's lips already a bit redder and swollen, his eyes no doubt just as dark with lust as Reborn's. Reborn's already a bit hard too, and when he shifts to sit on Colonnello's lap, mindful of his weight and Colonnello's broken ribs, he finds him already a bit hard too.

They jolt when their erection press against each other, their cock throbbing, fire licking up Reborn's spine.

Colonnello instinctively lifts his hips for more contact, Reborn pressing down on him harder at the same time, a restrained moan escaping both their lips.

"Fuck," they breathe out at the same time, and laugh.

Reborn keeps grinding his cock against his with slow, purposeful movement of his hips, leaning both his arms at either side of Colonnello's head for better purchase. He pecks his lips again, but then moves downwards, trailing kissing along his jaw to his neck.

Colonnello tilts his head to give him room, his breath hitching on a whine when Reborn licks up the line of his neck. Reborn presses his lips against his pulse, and lingers there for a bit, feeling the fast beat of his heart against his lips before licking his skin and sucking on it.

"Wait, wait, wait," Colonnello says breathily, though he doesn't stop meeting the movement of his hips with his own, one hand gripping Reborn's hip to keep him close. "Where is this going?"

"All the way?" Reborn asks innocently against his skin.

Colonnello laughs. "Says who? No way, my ribs—"

"I'll be careful." Colonnello snorts, but Reborn speaks again before he can, facing him again, "I'll be gentle for you, so just let me touch you already."

Colonnello stills, staring at him, and for a moment only their hard breathing can be heard. Reborn can't quite make himself still too though, shallowly grinding against him still, his cock straining against his pants.

"You sly bastard," Colonnello accuses when he finds his voice again, but he's looking at him all soft and whatnot.

Reborn smirks, and brushes their lips together. "Was that a yes?"

"Do you even have a condom? Lube?" Reborn hums. "Wait, you do?" Colonnello asks, propping himself on his elbows, an incredulous grin on his lips. "You bring people in your safe houses? To fuck them?"

"Why, jealous?"

"Do you?"

Oh, definitely jealous.

"I just like to be prepared to any eventuality, you know me." He nudges him to lie down again with a hand on his chest. "Don't change your mind while I go look for them, or I'll be really upset, got it?"

Colonnello gaps, then laughs. "This is so not an okay thing to say, ever." He shoves him with a hand on his face. "Just hurry up before I do change my mind."

Reborn stays put a moment longer to assert dominance, Colonnello rolling his eyes, but then gets off of him. He easily finds the lube and his box of condom in the bathroom, taking one out of it, and almost forgets, but takes his box of wet wipes with him too.

Colonnello's exactly where he left him when he comes back, the tent in his pants drawing his eye.

He smirks. "What were you thinking about to keep you all fired up?"

"You were gone for literally less than a minute. This is just biology, don't flatter yourself. Condom?"

Reborn takes both the condom and lube out of his pocket, putting the wet wipes on the bedside table for later. He puts the condom and lube aside too for now as he climbs on the bed, then straddles Colonnello, but lower down his legs this time.

"Sit up." He does, and Reborn helps him take his shirt off, sliding it over his head. He then runs his hands down his bare chest appreciatively, then along his sides, grazing him with his nails, feeling him shiver. He brushes his fingers against the bandages around his ribs, and decides to remove them now while they're still clean, though it might make the sex just a little more painful for him. "Do you want to use a pillow?"

"It's fine."

"What about this?" he asks, holding his dog tags. "Should we take it off too?"

"No, I feel naked without it."

"Does that even mean anything in this context?"

Colonnello huffs a laugh, and if he was about to say something Reborn doesn't give him the time to, pulling him by his dog tags in a kiss. Colonnello chases after him this time when he pulls away, pulling him closer by his hips and claiming another kiss for himself.

"And," he says, when they break apart, "that was such a fucking hot thing to do, glad we're on the same page."

Reborn smirks, and playfully pulls at his bottom lip with his teeth. "Lie down."

Reborn stays put as he does, only straddling his lap properly once more, pleased to feel Colonnello just as hard as before, if not more. He splays his hands on his lower stomach, racking his eyes up his body, drinking him in. He takes in every blemish and every scar on the enticing expense of his skin, takes in every movement of muscles under them, committing them to memory.

And it's a pity he doesn't want to make himself patient enough to take care of each and every one of them, but there'll always be next time.

"Like the view?" Colonnello asks cheekily, like he's not struggling to keep still under his gaze, like Reborn can't feel his cock throb against his.

"I'm going to..." he trails off, teasing.

Colonnello bites his lip, his eyes heavy with anticipation. "Yeah?"

Reborn kisses him, Colonnello immediately surrendering to it, cupping his face, moaning encouragingly whether Reborn's more tongue or teeth than lips or not.

Reborn's going to do plenty to him, but actions are always better than words.

Reborn leans his arms at either side of Colonnello's head, barely supporting his weight, his head leaning against Colonnello's shoulder. He's sticky with sweat, with the sperm on his hand, but it's nothing compared to Colonnello, sperm all over his stomach, and he smirks proudly as he looks at it.

There's nothing but their heavy breathing for a quiet moment, almost in sync with each other's.

"That was..." Colonnello starts, his arms around his neck, playing with his hair "... amazing."

And whether he's talking about him cumming or the sex as a whole, Reborn has to agree with both.

He laughs, sitting up on his knees. "An absolute must-do again, for sure."

He pulls out of him, takes off the condom and ties it up, careful not to spill anything, then throws it in the bin as he gets out of bed. He grabs the wet wipes, and cleans his hand first before cleaning Colonnello of all the sperm on him.

They say nothing as he does, contentedly basking in their respective afterglow together.

"This isn't when you just immediately get out of bed and leave me here like I'm one of your hook-ups, right?" Colonnello asks when he's done.

"Do I look like I clean up my hook-ups for them? Be serious." He nods at his bandages. "Do you want to put them back right now?"

Colonnello scoffs. "I'm going to use new ones entirely, thank you very much."

"How's your ribs?"

"Come on, you know I could be at death's door right now and I still wouldn't let you know. I'll live."

"Pity."

"Just shut up and lie down with me," he says, rolling his eyes.

"You like cuddling?" Reborn asks, like he hasn't known that since day one, but it's just for the callback.

"Hopefully it's not too much of a shock for you." Reborn chuckles, moving to lie down next to him, pulling the blanket over them. Colonnello turns on his side, and cozily entangles their legs together. "Why are you so nice with me? Soft, even."

"Why have you been nothing but an ungrateful bitch about it ever since you came here?" Colonnello just grins cheekily, and he clicks his tongue, but doesn't mean it. "This is just—shall we call it the honeymoon phase? Don't get used to it."

"Is there anything I should get used to?" he asks, rolling his eyes again.

"This," Reborn says, catching his attention.

Colonnello raises his eyebrow. "What, the sex?"

Reborn smirks. "Among other things, yes. Should I make it clear though, just in case?"

"I'm listening."

"You don't get to fuck anyone else from now on, Colonnello," he says in a quiet voice, deadly serious. "Or you and I are going to have a problem and a dead body to take care of."

Colonnello blinks, gaping. "Wha—?" He huffs an incredulous laugh, and has to try multiple times to find his words. "First of all, it's going to be your dead body to take care of, don't make it my problem too. And are you asking me out right now, Reborn? And to be in an exclusive, closed relationship with you at that?"

"Why, you're going to say no if I am?"

Colonnello takes in his face, biting his lip, then bursts out laughing of all things. He laughs for quite a bit too, loud and unrestrained before he mushes his face against the pillow, his wide grin still visible. "We're doing this in all the wrong ways, just so you know."

Reborn nuzzles his hair with his nose, smiling. "Like you care when you sound so happy."

"I missed you."

Reborn smiles wider, pulling back. "Now look at me and say it again."

Colonnello snorts, keeping his face mushed against the pillow, but then his smile wavers. "Don't ever throw me away again," he says after a beat, quiet.

"I already said I won't."

"Promise me."

Reborn hesitates, because this is typically the type of things you never want to commit to, but if this is what it'll take— "I promise."

Colonnello marks another pause before showing his face again, and Reborn finds his promise didn't do much. "I still don't believe you, but it's nice to hear it, I guess."

"It's fine," Reborn says easily, threading his fingers in his hair. "We have plenty of time to relearn to know each other. Then you'll know you can believe me."

It takes a moment, but then a slow, genuine smile pulls at his lips again. "Yeah, I'd like that."

"Good."

"Hey, I'm thirsty?" he says suddenly, his smile taking on a mischievous look.

Reborn raises his eyebrow. "And? Get your ass up and to the kitchen then."

"You just said you're still in your honeymoon phase."

"I left your plate from breakfast on the table too by the way, now you remind me."

Colonnello gaps, speechless, then bursts out laughing again.

This time Reborn steals it right out of his mouth with a kiss.

A/N: If you want to read the actual, proper smut scene, it's over on my ao3 as ffnet doesn't allow explicit sexual content. And if you don't, the only thing relevant you missed is Colonnello saying he figured out Reborn was bi too back when they were kids, but didn't want to assume as Reborn never properly came out to him, and it's why he never tried to hit on him lol.

Also I didn't cut the scene too late, did I? And I am allowed to just say cock and sperm and whatnot, right? ? Well, let's sure hope I am lmao.

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

Thank you for reading!

- Hope