Skull very gently puts the man on his bed since he doesn't have a guest bedroom. He converted it into an aquarium actually, but that's fine, his own bed will do.
Skull places the hat that fell off on the nightstand and debates on what to do now. He should call his manager since he'll be going on an adventure soon, then he needs to start packing.
The handsome man looks pretty out of it so Skull has time before they go save the world. Skull tilts his head and decides to be extra nice, so he starts taking the man's clothes off. It's probably uncomfortable to sleep in a full suit.
Skull starts with the shoes and works his way up. He leaves the pants on because if the bad guys burst in then he doesn't want the man too undressed. Skull pauses after opening the jacket and wonders if this is a spy movie because those are definitely guns.
Skull struggles a bit with the last few pieces of clothing. The jacket comes off but the leather gun holster is two loops around the man's arms, connected at the back by a thick strap across the shoulder blades and lies tight against the man's body with a sleek looking handguns pressed against his ribs on each side.
Skull plays with the weapons for a bit when he finally manages to get it off, trying out some cool one-liners in the mirror, but refocuses after. He takes the tie off next and then decides the man looks flushed.
Wet towel? Sure. Sounds about right. Skull takes his gloves off and grabs a handtowel to soak it under the tap before laying it over the man's forehead.
Skull jerks his hands back when he feels something like static electricity from touching the man's bare skin. Skull only freaks out more when he sees purple fire flicker to life on his fingers where he touched the man.
Skull tries to quickly pat the flames out on his stomach but it doesn't go away. Skull looks around frantically and then just touches the man's face again, hoping it works like an on/off switch.
It goes out and warmth seeps into Skull through his hands and up his arms, soothing and soft like hugs. Skull pulls back and the fluffy feeling is dampened but doesn't go away entirely. There's a strange sensation of…of knowing the man is there, as if Skull is now hyper aware of him.
Skull likes it.
Reborn wakes up to the freak's face hovering over his, close enough that Reborn goes slightly cross-eyed. Reborn shoves the man away and jerks up in what is apparently a bed.
There's a heart-in-the-throat moment of panic when Reborn realises his guns have been taken away but finds his holster dropped on the floor at the foot of the bed with his other stripped off clothes.
"You're awake!" the freak chirps.
It reverberates strangely through Reborn. Reborn takes a deep breath and pretends he can't feel what…what may just be a….
His Sky flames are pathetically weak, suppressed under the immense weight of his Sun. There should have been no way to bond to anyone, such brittle flames can't support a Guardian bond.
Except it's not just his shallow puddle of Sky because Reborn's Sun flames are being converted and then funnelled through. It's not a real connection, barely felt even if Reborn concentrates, but it is the beginning of something.
No, Reborn refuses. Never mind, it doesn't count, Reborn wasn't awake.
"I need to go," Reborn chokes out. He clears his throat and continues smoothly. "I have business to attend to."
He slides off the bed and quickly dresses while the other man stands as well.
"Can I help?" the freak asks. "I'm a stuntman, you know! Super good with motorbikes!"
"I'll keep that in mind," Reborn murmurs as he put his fedora on last and then speed walks away.
The freak follows him to the door and watches with a very intense stare as Reborn heads for the train station.
"I'm Skull by the way!" the freak calls out.
Reborn never wants to see that psycho again.
After the seventh time Skull tracks Reborn down, Reborn finally admits that maybe he needs to address the…the bond-like issue (which is definitely not due to bonding) where Skull can apparently just feel where Reborn is, among other things.
"Skull," Reborn begins, grip tightening on his takeaway cup of espresso.
Skull shrinks back into the car seat but then pats the passenger side to invite Reborn in off the sidewalk. "You feel stressed so I came to help."
You're the one making me stressed!
Reborn manages something like a smile. "What did I say about the strange feelings you get?"
"Um," Skull mumbles sheepishly. "That they don't mean anything and I should ignore them and not follow you around."
"That's right," Reborn says encouragingly. "It was an experimental device and the...agency is still working out some problems. I really am sorry you got involved in such government business but it's best to just let it go away on its own."
"I know," Skull says quietly but perks up soon after. "Have they said anything about hiring me yet?"
"Still deliberating," Reborn soothes. "We did a large batch of hiring just a month ago so it would be hard to fit anyone else in."
Skull nods along because this is the same answer as the last few times he asked. "Did you want a ride?"
"…Yes."
.
A/N: I'm tempted to make Skull think this is all 'government business' throughout the entire story and he just never realises he's in the Mafia.
