Word Count: 7480


Daiki grumbled as Kaede shoved a bag into his arms, a hot thermos and boxed leftovers hanging off his other arm as he shrugged on the backpack, chubby with blankets and meds. He sighed as he watched his mother flutter about the kitchen, twittering to herself about what she could spare for the struggling mother and her son.

The young Sun pursed his lips but didn't complain as he waited, not quite understanding Kaede's desire to care for Xanxus' mother despite how the woman hesitated to even come to their doorstep, let alone hold a conversation with the baker woman.

"I don't think I can carry anymore without it becoming dangerous, kaa-san," Daiki murmured finally, his mother's dialect slipping from his tongue with ease.

"Do you think you'll stay with Xanxus-kun tonight, Daiki-kun?" Kaede asked, glancing over her shoulder and she dawdled at the fridge.

"...Probably."

"Okay. Well, you two will probably cuddle up together in the same bed anyway, huh?" she giggled and her son pulled a face. "I've seen you two in the mornings, don't try to hide it!"

"I'm going now," Daiki grumbled and turned on his heel, but not before his mother skipped forward and kissed him on the top of his head.

"Don't stay up too late, sweetheart," she cooed, "Tell his mother that I say hi."

"M'kay," he agreed before shoving his feet into his shoes and walking into the midday streets, a blast of cold wind riding up the streets of the town.

The Sun shivered and pulled his jacket tighter before walking the winding roads of the town, finally ducking into an alley which branched off the main parade and splintered into the Italian slums. He kept his eyes forward as he walked, ignoring the people who sat on the ground or leant up against the wall beside their doors.

Windows were open and people leant out of them with exposed shoulders and chests, cigarette smoke billowing from their lips as they watched the little boy walk through. They thinned their lips at him and his load but didn't pester him, keeping to themselves.

Daiki sighed as he came to a familiar decayed building, two shaky storeys tall and in possession of a broken and boarded-up window. He paused and strained his ears before grimacing, hearing the slapping of human flesh and copulation.

The young Sun rolled his eyes and entered the house, the dead-bolt not in place while a customer is inside. He kept his shoes on as he stepped walked through the entryway, though he knew that they kept the house relatively clean by the woman between patrons.

Daiki paused in an open doorway, his face impassive and unaffected as he observed the mother at work for a moment. Never in her own bedroom, from what he understood, but what was mocking called 'the work shed'. It might have been a living room at some point, or even perhaps a dining room, but how it was an in-house whore's room and directly beneath Xanxus' bed.

"Hello," Daiki called out to the woman, "I'm going up to Xanxus' room."

"O-oh! Daiki, hi," she spluttered, faced concealed with their lower ends presented and their point of connection clear.

Her bed partner wasn't even courteous enough to pause his jack-hammered thrusting, the action unsteady and loud. She paused for a moment; her legs loosening from the man's hips, before she fixed herself and fell back into her paid role.

"My mum says hi."

"Tell Kaede I said hi too!"

"Okay," the boy murmured before turning and walking up the groaning stairs, wondering if this would be the time he fell through one of the steps.

Xanxus coughed from his chest, the wet, vibrating sound of disturbed phlegm clear and ringing out in his stuffy little room. The air in his bedroom was frigid and stank of body odour and moisture. His sheets were thin and felt moist on his skin like they had absorbed the water from the air around him and it froze his body further.

He had been sick for three days and showed no sign of getting better. The authorities had moved the old homeless lady on, she usually had some sort of home remedy for the slum kids. As such, his mother was working to bring in more customers to try to pay for a doctor's visit.

The wrathful little Sky grit his teeth and balled himself up tighter, trying to tuck his feet under his own thighs to warm his freezing toes. He shuddered violently and felt his throat itch again, left nostril thoroughly blocked.

Being sick was a painfully boring state. It left him confined to his pathetic excuse of a bed and glaring at the far wall without entertainment. He couldn't even go piss off his Daiki like this. The last visit he had made to the Sun with his nose clotted and made the cobalt boy grimace and drag him back to his slum-side home.

He coughed again and then swallowed thickly, a half-assed attempt to soothe the sand-paper of his throat.

"At least cover your mouth when you cough," Daiki groaned as he walked in, tugging his shirt collar over his nose with distaste. "Ugh, this room reeks."

"Then get out," Xanxus heaved, eyeing the bag Daiki dropped onto the floor and began to work at the straining zipper. "...What did you bring me?"

The Sun snorted to himself, amused by the ease of the other's curiosity, already sure it was for him. Nonetheless, Daiki pulled out two thick blankets that had been painstakingly shoved away and unfurled them on top of the Wrath's shivering form.

"Kaa-san's making me look after you 'cause you're younger," Daiki hummed, tucking the edges in tidily. "So? How bad is it?"

"It fucking sucks and I want it gone," he snapped before growling as a copper hand came to press to his brow, stark cold against his feverish skin.

"Thought so," Daiki murmured, "You wouldn't have stayed in if not."

Xanxus hated this rickety old building and Daiki knew it. It was in the way vermillion eyes glared at the banisters and the way he crawled into the baker's own bed every other night. He hated it when his mother's customers grunted and squealed like pigs through the floorboards, and he hated it when Daiki walked through it, hated how the space blighted the Sun.

"Kaa-san made you soup. You better eat it all, I don't want to carry it home."

"Too tired to move," Xanxus scowled, "Feed it to me."

"I'll get a pipe and pour it down your throat," the other grunted.

Xanxus gave an angry scowl and pulled the sheets higher up on his shoulders, already feeling his feet begin to warm as his sparse body heat filled the space. He huffed as Daiki sat on the edge of his bed and half of him crashed down on his stomach.

"Fuck you," he snapped, and the Sun snorted as he unscrewed the cap of his thermos and let the steam rise up.

"It's instant miso, so just eat it."

"Ew."

"Don't say 'ew', you've never even eaten miso before," Daiki scolded, stirring a spoon around the broth before shoving the Sky into an upright position. "Open up."

Xanxus made a face but dropped his jaw and let the other slip the spoon between his teeth, withdrawing to scoop some more while the Sky swallowed what he had been given. He was fed, and he felt his stomach warm and fill slowly with every spoonful, Daiki careful not to spill any on him.

The Sky turned away for a moment and coughed violently before pausing as the cold hand of the Sun rubbed slow circles into his chest. He gave some harsh breaths and relaxed under the touch, letting his head fall back against the wall before shivering at how cold it was.

"Don't lean there," Daiki huffed. "I'm doing all this to get you warm and you're making yourself cold again."

Xanxus grumbled and sat properly for the rest of the feeding, tilting his head as Daiki occasionally brushed his face as if to feel his temperature again. He licked his lips as Daiki put away the empty thermos and grabbed a towel and a water bottle, wetting the material and wiping down his throat and forehead.

"Sleep," Daiki instructed, his voice a constant low tone that made the Sky unwind.

"Get in with me," he demanded, pulling his sheets back.

The Sun eyed him for a moment before he sighed and put away the bottle, stepping over and climbing into the hard cot. He shuffled to get comfortable before drawing the Sky to his chest and made lightly caressed his temples to ease any aches.

"Rest...Rest," Daiki murmured, feeling the Sky's lashes glance over his throat with every slow blink.

Arms came and wrapped around him as Xanxus nestled in more, a long breath flushing out and fanning against his chest. Daiki let out a long-drawn hum, continuous and deep until vermillion eyes, which were always pinched into a glare, slid shut and the wrath slipped into sleep.

"I better not get sick from this," Daiki muttered before yawning and settling down with his nose buried in spikey black locks.


Mephistopheles stumbled across the room, limping on every fourth step or so until he wheezed and dropped down where Daiki was knelt, ready to receive him with warm praises on his tongue.

"Good job, Miphy," he crooned, scratching at the pup's scalp. "You did that much faster than last time."

The Sun continued to pet the stray as Mephisto made guttural noises of pleasure under his hands, tail wagging happily as he relaxed against him, the daily exercise always something which took a lot of energy. He smiled down at his companion when the pup dropped his chin in his thigh, content to lay there for a while in the Winter sun.

"He's close to healing then?" Mao asked from the futon, laying on her side to watch the early morning interaction.

"Closer, but he's still got a ways to go," Daiki admitted, letting the creature lick his palm for a moment.

Daiki huffed as he stood up and walked to a small cupboard where he pulled out a pill bottle, dumping two into his hand before he returned to Mephisto's side and bent down. The fight was weak and easy for the man to overpower, and he encouraged the pup to chew and swallow the medicine, whines echoing from Mephisto's throat when he was left alone again.

"Sorry, puppy, Mao-sama doesn't like you on the bed," he chuckled as he plucked the snowy dog from the ground and placed him in the lavish bed off to the side. "Stay...No, you have to stay."

Mephisto barked once but ultimately fell silent as Daiki walked back to Mao who had pulled the sheets aside for him, the two underground royals sliding their arms around one another as they shared a quick kiss.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, pressing the back of his fingers to the woman's brow he examined her pale parlour and cracked lips.

An illness had taken Mao only days after the Sawada debacle and it showed no true sign of mercy upon the woman's body, her history of weak conditions proving true. The doctor Daiki had called in claimed it to be a simple bug, and the fact that it managed to shake the lady so had the walls of the Watanabe talking under their breaths.

Daiki had quelled them within hours of the whisper's births, but there was no true way to silence men. So instead, he stayed by Mao's side and kept her warm even when she ran feverish.

"How were your friends?" Daiki asked, letting cool strands of inky hair slide between his fingers.

"They were well, Daiki-sama," she sighed, "It was good to see them again after so long."

"You can invite them over whenever you want," he hummed, enjoying the way her eyes lit up so beautifully. "I'll try to be present next time and you can introduce me as your trophy husband."

A bell of a laugh tumbled from Mao's petal pink lips and the Sun felt his heart warm as she cuddled closer, gazing up at him fondly.

"I'm sure they'd love that."

"Yeah, I'm sure you'd love that too," he scoffed before kissing her temple. "Do you plan to stay in bed all day?"

"I think so, yes," Mao responded quietly, "Though, I am beginning to feel better."

"Wonderful, my Lady. I'll walk with you in the garden when you feel up to it, I'm sure the fireflies miss your company."

She smiled at the reminder of how he had found her, months ago, surrounded by a halo of fireflies as she had walked the edges of the koi pond at midnight, a lantern clutched in her hands. She had been barefoot and rather plainly clad, but the way the fire had pressed to her skin's colour and her figure against the horizon of a cloudless night sky had made her the most irreplaceable woman in that one moment.

Or, at least, that was what Daiki had told her when he had laid with her in the grass, his lips so gentle against her flesh and body so warm compared to the breeze.

That was about the time, Mao thought, that he finally began to look at her with warmth in his eyes, rather than that strange spark of…

"Or perhaps my Lady is already off with the fireflies?" Daiki asked, drawing her from her thoughts as he caressed her cheek.

"Not quite yet, my Lord," she laughed, enjoying the cool palm against her fevered skin. "You have me for a while longer."

The blankets were pulled higher on their shoulders as Daiki pulled her to his chest, holding her tight as she felt the feminine structure of breast press to her cheek as she closed her eyes. She breathed as he kissed her face again, and willed herself to ignore the glaze in his eye which returned, though rare as the red moon.

"To have you for a while longer," Daiki whispered. "For just a little more time together...That's all I could ever want."

Such sweet words.

Mao hoped they'd spoken to her one day.


"Construction's done on the lot, Oyabun-sama. We're double-checking the details now."

"Good. All traces of the previous structure?"

"Wiped clean, just like you asked. Like that old bakery was never here."

"Stock furniture and embellishments should arrive by Wednesday. Call me if not."

"You got it."

Gravel crunched under the car as it rolled up the driveway to the Varia mansion, its imposing structure cast in the soft, white glow of moonlight, yellow eyes of windows stared unblinkingly out at the black horizon. The door to the sleek car clicked open and Daiki stepped out with a sigh, his stomach still twisting uncomfortably after the plane ride.

Daiki scanned the empty entrance quietly, seeing not a thing out of place nor a speck of rust on the iron sconces. He let out a breath and saw the air mist out of his lips before he crossed the white gravel.

Low ranked Varia members unpacked the man's luggage from the boot, their eyes drawn to his back despite their best efforts as they watched this stranger look upon their fort like an estranged friend, something burning behind golden eyes that made them feel both unwell and invigorated in his presence. Their stares were interrupted, however, when the doors to the Varia domain were thrown open with a thunderous 'bang' and the Storm, Belphegor, took a running jump at the guest.

"Ottone!" Belphegor cheered, wrapping around the Sun and grinning broadly. "Ottone!"

"Hello, Bel," Daiki huffed, tugging the youth up to sit on his hip. "Ooft, you're getting heavy."

"The prince has many burdens and responsibilities resting upon his shoulders."

"Sure," he snorted, walking into the building with ease. "How is everyone else?"

"They're all upstairs waiting for you! Best get ready for that, shishishishishi, the prince won the bet with Lussuria so I got to greet you. He's being all huffy."

"Can't wait for that," Daiki murmured, climbing the stairs, ignoring the confused expressions sent his way by the Varia officers they passed. "Really, Bel, I shouldn't still be carrying you around. You're fourteen now."

"The Prince should not be forced to complete petty labours," the Storm scoffed, idly brushing the petals of vase flowers as it crossed his side. "And Ottone doesn't feel anymore strain from this than he would lifting a wine bottle."

"It's the principal of the matter. What do you do when I'm not around?"

"The prince demands Levi service him."

"Of course you do," the Sun laughed before pushing the doors open to the main sitting room, the place lit by a heavy fire with curtains drawn and figures clad in black uniforms lavished on sofas.

The Varia Guardians each turned their heads, eyes illuminating in the flickering darkness as they assessed the returning figure. Then they grinned, teeth bared with venomous joy, their bodies slowly tensing as if they were ready to lunge.

Daiki smiled at them all and said, "Hello everyone. I'm back."

In a flash, Lussuria was on his feet and running at his fellow Sun, all but tossing Belphegor out of the way to embrace his little brother. The man kicked his heels in glee as he was hugged in return before he pressed a quick kiss to the younger's cheek, leaving a layer of gloss on his skin.

"Hey, Sis."

"Shove it, colour-pallet," Squalo scoffed, kicking off the flamboyant man before landing a punch on Daiki's shoulder. "Took your fucking time, hey trash?"

"I hate planes," Daiki grumbled before he was dragged across the room and none-too-gently shoved onto the golden framed couch which sat beside an empty, gaudy chair. "Ah, feels good to be back."

He sighed and ignored the weight which settled on his chest, the heavy shadow laying down on top of him and rested its lips on his collar.

Daiki blinked and thought of Mao to excuse the way his heart stirred in his chest, feeling it ripple happily at the soft reminder of the woman.

At least he had that going for him.

"I hear you've been run dry, Squalo. Everyone's been chasing you around base," Daiki hummed, looking to the scowling Rain.

"God, it's like they can't fucking tie their own shoelaces! I gotta do everything 'round here!" he boomed, finally free to bitch to fresh ears. "I've got four new squads of newbies practically crawling up my ass cause they can't write a fucking report without needing proofreading like I'm their fucking Middle School teacher!"

"Here he goes again," Mammon sighed, looking up from their readings with a downward twist to their lips. "Did you really have to set him off?"

"Squalo just needs some time to vent," Daiki assured, getting to his feet despite how everyone collectively bristled, hating how the couch was empty again. "Come on, let me at your head."

Squalo snapped his teeth but slumped onto the floor in front of the rogue Sun's couch, a silent demand for the space to remain filled by copper and cobalt. He blinked once before sighing as fingers weaved into his long hair and began working at his scalp, a slow and gentle massage that made his eyelids droop and the pressure in his temples ease away.

"Fuck, that's good."

"You're swearing too much," Lussuria crooned sweetly. "It's becoming sort of obnoxious."

"Tell the same person to rewrite his report seventeen times, then we'll talk, you rainbow fuck."

"Be nice," Daiki hushed, feeling a tension begin in the room. "Let's not fight tonight. Let's just rest."

The Varia side eyed him for a moment, before they all disengaged and relaxed, slumping into pillows as they diffuse finally.

"You're doing a splendid job, Squalo," the Sun crooned lowly, his voice a constant timbre which made those who listened melt into their loungings. "This can't be easy, but you're not only managing but excelling. You're doing more than we could have ever expected, and I'm sure everyone is grateful."

The Rain bared his teeth at the floor in a huff, his pale skin doing nothing to hide the brilliant red which painted his cheeks at the praise.

The gentle kiss that was pressed to the crest of his skull was the last straw and Daiki smiled as he felt all the tension and fight in the poor Varia man drain out of him, his body falling slack against the couch and between his knees.

"I think you should think about going to bed soon," he murmured to the officer.

"Fuck you, trash," the Rain grumbled, tugging on his hands to make the massage continue. "This is too good to stop just yet."

"Okay," Daiki laughed and continued to tend to the man before he looked up and smiled at the shifting Lightning, who sat restlessly on the couch across the room. "Is something wrong, Levi?"

The goliath's lips opened mutely before he looked away, hands balling into fists at his sides.

"...Come over here."

Leviathan twitched before answering to the call, slowly sitting down beside the Sun. He gasped lightly when he was tugged, his cheek coming to press to Daiki's thigh as his head laid on his lap, a hand carding his hair in a manner that sent tingles down his spine.

"It's okay, Levi," Daiki murmured, both hands occupied with lulling two of some of the world's most feared assassins. "I understand you and your Family are still in a state of unrest, and my actions have only added to your tensions."

"We're all pretty grumpy about this lady, Ottone," Bel grumbled from across the room, his knees tucked up his chest. "You belong to the Boss. He won't be happy."

"Boss will, undoubtedly, make you pay," Mammon scoffed, before glancing up from their spreadsheets and added, "Steeply."

Daiki bit his tongue and tried to ignore how a heat pooled in his stomach at the words, a weight pressed down on his shoulders from behind as a breath fanned in cheek.

Mammon's claim was gospel.

. . .

The ice was as cold as ever when Daiki laid his palm on it, his breath fogging in the arctic room. He gazed through the thick containment and felt his chest turn to a vice as vermillion glared, unseeingly, back through him.

"You idiot," he sighed, voice echoing in the lonely place. "Still a little thief who doesn't know when to stop."

"Boss misses you," Lussuria uttered, closing the door behind him as he entered.

"How could you know that?" Daiki scoffed.

"We can feel it. Faintly. Like the sound of a butterfly's wings tapping at the glass of a jar."

"Poetic," came the snarl. "But unfounded. The Nono's ice should have cut it all off."

"He could never truly seal Boss. And he knows it. You feel it too, little brother. We know you do," Lussuria continued patiently, hearing the squeak of fingers pulling at flat ice. "We've seen the way you act and react. A devil on your shoulder."

"Stop it, sister."

"Boss gets so excited when we tell him you're coming. We feel him tremble."

"Shut up-"

"His Flames might be sealed, Daiki, but Xanxus is still here!"

"I said enough!" Daiki boomed, and the Varia fell silent.

The rogue grit his teeth and pushed off from the ice, pacing the concrete floors as his skin pebbled from the cold air. Steam hissed out from between his teeth as he stood with his back turned, a few paces across from the solemn-faced Sun.

"The way that you are acting, Daiki, none of it makes sense," Lussuria began again, voice changing from sure to pleading. "Your letters have shortened and lessened over the years, you're coming less and skipping planned dates. And your marriage-"

"Leave my marriage out of this, Lussuria," the Sun snapped, glaring ahead at the wall to contain himself. "Mao-sama has nothing to do with this!"

"But she does, and to say otherwise is stupid, brother! What do you think will happen when Boss breaks out? He loves you!"

"I understand that this is stupid, I understand that he may have chosen me. I understand that he may break out one day," Daiki whipped around and snarled in anger, muscles tense and hands warm with unresting fire. "But I understand that I am turning twenty-two in two months! And I understand that he is sixteen and static!"

Lussuria held firm and didn't express any reaction to the fury displayed before him, watching the younger Sun hiss Italian with acidity.

"I am trying to continue, Lussuria. I did not freeze with Xanxus; I cannot pretend I did. I grow older and I progress. I do not have the unwavering loyalty you do, Varia, and if I did, what would you have me do? Wait until he is free and then fuck him again? A twenty-five upon a sixteen?!"

"Look at him and tell me you see a boy. Boss is just as old as you-"

"I look at him and I see the exact moment from five years ago!" Daiki growled, gesturing to the being of cold fire violently.

A pang went through them at that moment, the breath growing heavy in their lungs until they coughed. Arms reached out and wrapped around Daiki from behind, a chin settling on his shoulder as intangible hands caressed his chest and throat.

Lussuria slumped a bit and looked to the youth suspended in time, a guilty furrow to his brow as he bowed his head.

"Sorry, Boss. I know you don't like people yelling at your Daiki."

Lips as warm as the frosty air kissed at the rogue's nape slowly, the presses of nothing gentle but so very clear. Daiki let a sigh leak from his tongue as he felt his muscles loosen, the attention doing something to his Flame, and Lussuria smiled from across the room.

"Yeah. Boss is a lot stronger here. He wants you still."

"...We can't always have what we want," Daiki grunted, shrugging off the phantom and taking long strides toward the doors. "I'm going out."

Lussuria watched the doors slam shut behind the Sun and sighed softly, feeling the air become stagnant and near unbreathable - the way it always was when that copper being wasn't near. The Varia man reached up and rubbed his nape.

The butterfly sat, subdued, on the bottom of the jar.


"Hi, kaa-san."

"My baby!" Kaede squealed, wrapping her arms around her son and tugging him against her. "Oh, Daiki-kun, I've missed you so much!"

"Missed you too," Daiki murmured, leaning into the embrace with a happy rumble, her scent sparking soft memories.

"You said you were coming to see me, but I didn't expect you so late at night! I thought you'd come by in the morning," she tutted, pulling him into the house.

A black umbrella sat in the rack by the door, the permanent marker labelling of 'Daiki' etched into the wooden handle. It had lent in that position for nearly five years, since Daiki's final exams when he had forgotten it in his rush out the door.

Three cups on the shelf were startlingly green and held cartoonish faces of frogs on their ceramic. They looked mostly for display, now that there wasn't a little boy demanding hot cocoa every afternoon in the Winters.

Kaede smiled as she stood with her son, all grown up, in their living room. She gazed at him, seeing the lines of his face, the faint scratches on his arms, the ruffle of his clothes. A long breath came from her as she parted and poured some milk into a pot and set it to boil, recognising her little boy's signs of distress even all these years later.

"So," Kaede chirped, pulling Daiki's from the stove. "How have you been? How's Mao-chan?"

"Mao-sama is doing well. She's gotten over her flu already. She wants me to tell you that she liked the perfumes you sent."

"Wonderful! Poor girl deserves something nice once in a while. Has to deal with you every day, I know how hard that can be."

"Kaa-san," Daiki whined, getting a laugh and his cheeks squished between her hands. "Stooop!"

"Oh, you know I love you, honey," she cooed, dropping a kiss on his forehead. "Whether you're the Oyabun of the Watanabe Yakuza or not, you're still my little baby!"

"Kaa-san!"

Kaede pressed another kiss to his face and smiled when he scrunched his nose at her, just like the way he used to when she demanded she kiss him before he went to school.

"Now, Daiki-kun...What's wrong?"

Daiki paused for a moment, and she saw the glee she had built in him fade. He bit his lip and looked to the floor, a scratch mark still present on the floorboards from the time he had knocked over a pot.

"I...I don't want to talk about it."

His mother thumbed at his hairline for a moment, her worry obvious even as she nodded in acceptance. She hummed a directionless tune and let him rest his head on her chest, holding her son as the minutes ticked by.

"How long are you staying in Italy?"

"Two weeks."

"How about you spend a couple days here? You can help out with the bakery, just like old times."

"Yeah...Yeah, okay," Daiki agreed, before hiding away in his mother's chest again, her nightgown a soft and warm material. "Thanks."

"I'm your mother, Daiki-kun," Kaede hushed, before stepping away. "The milk's boiling. Get your cup off the shelf and rinse it out."

The young man smiled and got to his feet to grab one of three froggy mugs and walked over to the sink, cleaning dust from the green and dried it off. He set it down on the counter and set himself on a stool, watching with a soft gaze as his mother poured hot milk and cocoa powder in.

"Careful, it's hot."

"I know, kaa-san."


"Hey, Daiki, can I tell you a secret?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"Someone tried to kill my mum last week."

Daiki looked up from his colouring book and stared at the boy across from him. Xanxus was curled up on the floor without a care in the world, bored as he picked at a scab on his knee.

"Don't worry," the Sky continued. "I got to him first."

The Sun gazed for one, two more moments before dropping his head back to the task of smearing red wax onto the skyline of a river scene-

Waking up in your childhood bedroom, years after having moved out, had a special kind of nostalgia and discomfort to it. Daiki stared up at the ceiling for a couple moments, seeing faint shadows of snowflakes cast across the white paint, disturbing the amber glow of streetlights.

The constant, electric 'croak' of the frog alarm reverberated beside his head and urged back a long-dead irritation for the sound.

"I didn't miss you, Mr Fuckface," Daiki groaned and drove his thumb into the button.

Daiki sighed and sat up in his bed, pulling his sheets to his chin with a frown as the cold air brushed against his skin. He glanced around before snapping on the lights and reluctantly pulling himself from the bed, his phone already flashing on his nightstand.

The young Oyabun yawned as he stepped into the bakery, freshly showered and dressed. He caught the apron tossed his way and tied it up behind his back in a manner that was engraved in his brain just as deeply as riding a bike.

"Good morning," Kaede hummed, "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, feels good to get in bed after flying for so long."

"You always hated flying. Come, now, we'll get started on the morning's work."

. . .

Daiki leant up against the counter as his mother chattered with another lady, the woman having finally finished cooing at her 'handsome son' and moved onto the actual transaction. He glanced off to the glass door and put his chin in his hand, a sigh building up in his chest.

It was great to be back, to be surrounded by the smell of childhood, the smell of home. But the thoughts were clawing at the back of his scalp and the pressure was leaning against his heart.

"Sorry, kaa-san," Daiki started, pushing off the register and walked around to the back. "I've gotta make a call real quick."

"Hm? Okay, take your time!" Kaede waved, before turning back around, leaving the man to smile a bit and stepped into the living room of the Yamaguchi household.

Daiki gave a breath and set himself down on the arm of the couch, fishing his phone from his pocket and selected the familiar number.

"Hello, Watanabe-dono!" Adachi Koga greeted.

"Hello, Adachi-san. I apologise, but this call is not for you," he hummed, getting a knowing grunt from the other end.

"Of course, my Lord. The Lady is currently in your chamber, I'll hand you over to her quickly."

"Thank you."

There was rustling and indistinct voices as Daiki let himself flop onto the couch, his knees hanging off the end as he stared up at the ceiling.

"Daiki-sama?"

"Mao-sama," he sighed, before pausing as a faint yawn sounded through. "Oh, did I wake you?"

"Kind of," she murmured, a tone of fondness in her voice as the crinkle of sheets sounded. "But I can sacrifice a couple hours of sleep to hear you again."

Daiki felt himself smile and let his heart stumble and fumble in his chest, dedicating his attention to her voice rather than the presence he felt standing at his feet.

"How is your illness? Are you feeling better?" he asked warmly.

"Much better. The doctor said I should be completely healthy in a couple days."

"That's wonderful," he smiled, eyes growing soft. "That's wonderful, my firefly." Daiki sighed and rolled over on the couch, arm tucked to his chest comfortingly. "And Miphy? Has Adachi-san been giving him his meds?"

"Yes, every morning," she giggled, before a cough racked her violently, the sound deep and throaty.

"Mao-sama," the Sun began, worry evident. "Maybe I should just let you sleep."

"No, no. It's fine, Daiki-sama, there's no need to-" another round of coughing cut her off

"Firefly," Daiki said, voice stern as he sat up and frowned at the far wall. "I want you to call for Adachi-san now. Have him bring you water or something to sooth. You will sleep and rest until I get back. I don't care if you're feeling better, you are to stay in bed unless absolutely necessary. Am I understood?"

"But, Daiki-sama, I'm-"

"Unwell," he snipped, a guilt slithering into his heart as the line dimmed for a moment, a reminder of how far away he was from her. "Look just...For me, my Lady, let yourself rest. Knowing you are unwell is...Painful."

"...Very well, my Lord," Mao buckled, "I shall rest until you return. But know that I expect something in return!"

"Anything you want," Daiki laughed softly, calming down with the acceptance. "What is it?"

"I'll think about it," she hummed, and the man grinned at the hints of her cheeky nature.

"I'll be patiently waiting," he smiled, and laid back down as the woman began to softly speak into his ear, filling him in the short time that he had been absent from the Watanabe Relm.

"Adachi-san has been running about handling matters for you. You'd best reward the poor boy when you return, my Lord. He deserves it."

"As you wish," he sighed, waving absently to the door as it creaked open, a brief acknowledgement to his mother.

Or who should have been his mother. Squalo loomed from the foot of the couch with a sneer on his face, arms crossed irritably, a light dusting of snow tangled along his pale crown.

"I'll call you again soon, my Lady," Daiki hummed, no shake or change in his voice nor body as he stared back at the torrential Rain. "Rest and get well soon."

"Oh," she sounded disappointed, and it made him warm. "Very well, my Lord. Be safe."

Daiki closed his phone and folded his arms behind his head, gazing lazily up at Squalo who bared his teeth.

"Get the fuck up, trash. We're going home!"

"I'm in my childhood home right now, Squalo. Actually, how did you get past my mother?"

The Rain paused and glanced off for a moment, hesitation clear as he coughed quietly. He sneered into the corner before turning back to the Sun.

"The Varia kitchens have been ordering our breads from here since you first left. We...take turns coming to pick up the order."

Daiki tilted his head slightly and said, "cute."

"Oh, fuck off," Squalo huffed, kicking his dangling feet. "Get off your ass, we're going back to the headquarters. Come on, Bel's throwing a hissy fit 'cause you're not there to pamper him."

"Sorry, Squalo, not this time," Daiki denied, getting a narrowing of the eyes. "I've promised my mother I'll spend the next two days with her. I'll come with you then, but no sooner."

"But-"

"No sooner," Daiki repeated.

There was a moment of thick tension in the room before Squalo scowled and nodded, anger in his submission.

"Fine, but it'll be Lussuria who comes to get you, I hope you're ready for that," he warned, stomping up to the reclining Sun.

"I'll keep it in mind, thank you," Daiki hummed, reaching his arm out at the approach and guiding the head of silver down until he could press a light kiss to the man's brow. "I'll see you soon, Squalo. Be safe."

"Yeah, yeah," the Rain grumbled, closing his eyes as lips brushed his crown again. "Okay, that's enough, get off me."

The Varia man stood to walk away, but he was stopped by the hand on his wrist and he snapped his head down in confusion at the restraining. He paused what he was about to shout, however, when he saw the look of well-veiled conflict on Daiki's face.

"Squalo...what do you think will happen when Xanxus breaks free?" he asked, staring at his lap in quiet contemplation.

The Varia Rain gazed at him for a moment, barren of the marks which once were engraved into his copper flesh by teeth.

"Boss will take back everything that is his," Squalo answered, unfaltering and undoubting. "And you know that rejecting him will do nothing. Boss will find you, just like he did before."

"But time has passed, Squalo," Daiki insisted, looking to him. "I am not seventeen anymore. Do you really think we should just let things be as they were?"

"All I know is that when Boss returns, I will be there waiting for him," the man stated, looking the Sun in the eye. "Will you?"

The cobalt man waved as the Varia breezed out of the room, his hair billowing after him until the door thud shut behind.

. . .

Daiki scrunched his face as Kaede peppered him with kisses, a bag of leftovers in his hand to 'share with his friends' when he got back to the Varia Headquarters. It was unlikely many of them would ever get to taste it, since Belphegor would definitely snatch it and squirrel himself under Squalo's sheets, leaving crumbs for Squalo to find in his bed later that night.

The thought made the Sun smile to himself and his mother beamed.

"Be sure to say thank you to them," she tutted, straightening out his collar. "And to not give them trouble and to help out around the house."

"I will, kaa-san..." Daiki bit his lip for a moment. "Kaa-san, when are you going to come back to Japan with me? Leaving you in Italy whenever I go back makes me worry. I'd be half a world away if anything happens."

"I'm fine, Daiki-kun," Kaede laughed, patting his arm. "I've still got Todd and the other workers here to help out, not to mention the whole street would riot if anything happened to me. Apparently, I've got some real 'powerful people' on my side!"

The young man snorted when his mother made air quotations around the term as if she didn't believe it despite how many people whispered about the Varia officers who walked through her door at least twice a week. He let out a breath and let her comb his hair with her fingers.

"Maybe when I'm older. Much older," she admitted, "I've still got some fight in me yet, honey."

"Okay, kaa-san," Daiki relented, letting her kiss his cheek.

The horn of the car waiting outside blared angrily, Squalo no doubt leaning over the driver to slam his hand down on the horn impatiently. Lussuria was meant to come alone according to Squalo himself, but the rest of them seemed to tag along, too restless to wait for the rogue to come to them.

"Go on, your friends are waiting!"

Daiki rolled his eyes before hugging his mother once more and then ducking out of the little Yamaguchi Bakery, it's white on green sign familiar and nostalgic even as he approached the sleek, black car with blacked-out, bulletproof windows.

A chaperone got out and opened the door for him, revealing five sets of legs, crossed or splayed in a comfortable square seating arrangement, every one facing one another. They were all in varying states of displeasure and pout as Daiki climbed in, at least three sets of hands grabbed him by his jacket and dragged him faster, throwing the rogue into the centre most seat - a place he was sure Xanxus had once sat.

"Give the prince his reward for his patience!" Belphegor demanded, making a grab for the bag of leftovers only to have Squalo steal it from Daiki's right side.

"Get back you bloody pest," the Rain snapped.

Daiki let out a chuckle as the youth reached desperately for the food, still belted down in his seat.

"Come here Bel," he hummed, opening his arms to the boy as the car moved.

The Storm glanced to him and then to the inviting embrace, before he pouted and looked away with a huff.

"Bel," Daiki laughed, "Come on, Bel, c'mere. Come to Ottone."

The nickname made the little prince perk before he grit his teeth and grumble loudly. Belphegor angrily undid his belt before scuttling across the car and curled up on Daiki's lap, letting arm come around him and fix him safely to the Sun's chest.

"You treat him like a baby still, Daiki," Mammon scoffed, more than happily taking up the now vacated space.

"He's the youngest, Mammon," Daiki responded, and the twitch of their lips didn't go unnoticed. "He'll always be the Varia baby."

Belphegor muttered in disagreement but fell silent when Daiki squeezed him a bit and kissed the top of his head in the centre of his polished circlet, the young boy looking very ready to fall asleep. The sight made Daiki frown, and he glanced to those around him, getting a wince from Squalo who ate the leftovers like he had been fasting for days.

"Oh, you lot," he sighed, rubbing Belphegor's back until the boy dropped his head against Daiki's chest and slipped into sleep. "You're a mess, you lot, you know that?"

"No, we're not," Lussuria pouted and Daiki turned to him.

"How many lattes are you running on right now?"

"...Seventeen."

"In how long?"

"In the last three hours."

"We can handle ourselves," Levi grunted, slumped over slightly in his seat. "We just...let ourselves go for a while. We can handle it, usually."

"We'll make you pay for damages," Mammon grumbled, laying down across the large space they had claimed. "Later though."

Daiki glanced to everyone in the car before letting out a long breath and nodding in acceptance, feeling Squalo and Lussuria lean against either shoulder and begin to doze off. He hummed absently as he sat in the car; the Guardians sleeping soundly in an assortment of positions, bathing in the settling solar atmosphere.

The driver glanced at them through the rear-vision mirror and he nearly hit the brakes when he saw some of the most deadly men in Italy laying up against a single man, all of them pleasantly asleep. The single awake man would run his fingers through their hair and pull their jackets higher on their shoulders, like a matron of murderers.

When golden eyes snapped up and stared into the mirror, the driver dropped his gaze back to the road and stayed that way for the rest of the drive.