It doesn't work, is the thing. Reborn doesn't have good control to push his flames inside the cube Verde made him and they just don't want to co-operate regardless.

Sun flames radiate. Even in his sleep Reborn is putting out flames, any plants near his bed growing roots strong enough to shatter a vase and twisting to reach him, blooming flowers creeping through the window.

If Reborn sits on a park the bench leaves will turn to him and it feels like staring eyes. Sometimes they whisper things. Sometimes Reborn listens.

Sky flames are lot more solid, much like Storm or Lightning, with the other end of that spectrum being the gaseous Mist and Rain. Reborn needs to focus and channel, but nothing wants to go outwards – it wants to sink in, tunnel through the two early bonds and solidify into what feels like a noose.

Reborn doesn't know why people celebrate bonding as if it's some holy experience because it feels pretty shit so far. Skull is the closest to achieving a complete connection and Reborn just feels awkwardly bloated.

Maybe he's not doing this right.

Well, clearly he's not doing this right but the point still stands.

Skies always talk about not being whole, missing pieces and feeling empty until they find their Guardians. Reborn is perfectly fine, thank you, no jigsaws here. Which means that Skull and Verde have crammed themselves into place where bonds definitely should not go. (Being around Verde makes Reborn's foot itch a little, from the tiny static shocks at his heel.)

Reborn, in the privacy of his own mind, realises that the channel of flames that link a Sky to their Guardian would mean that flames drain out of the Sky at a constant rate - and so of course they would start feeling empty if they have no one on the other side of that bond, their flames just leeching into their surroundings.

Bonding would therefore create that 'whole' feeling because they are no longer losing those flames into the environment, but instead feel it move through their Guardians. He never had that problem before because his Sky flames couldn't get out through a door that's jammed shut. Although, now that it's a bit broken in places, Reborn is getting that strange sort of…needy feeling.

Reborn tells the logical part of his brain to shut up because he doesn't need his own mind arguing against him here. Reborn does not require Guardians to live a happy and fulfilled life.

But he still has a problem. He has approximately zero control over his Sky and he can't train with it because the moment he loosens his grip it will flood the bonds. God forbid any wisp of fire gets into his surroundings either.

Permeating the air with Sky is a technique people colloquially call 'Sky attraction'. It's a nice way of saying 'bear trap'. The moment someone even remotely matching a Sky steps into the invisible cloud of neediness, the flames will latch on to the Potential and not let go until it finds someone better.

Being around a person's flames, every minute of every day for however long it takes to find a new candidate, can do strange things. At the basic level it will impart a sense of familiarity with the Sky. Then comfort and closeness. Then when it hangs around too long, when it really sinks in; warmth right down to the bones.

Then Protectiveness.

Love.

Obsession.

Skies not raised in a famiglia, ones who don't have the information and protection that position carries, they don't last long. Usually killed by Potentials when the poor Sky finds someone better and the lack of that loving warmth makes everything feel so much colder and dim.

Reborn has been hired to kill insane Potentials before, which -a small voice in the back of his head says- might be part of the reason he doesn't want to touch his Sky flames. Not that Reborn needs more of an excuse than simply pointing at Fon to demonstrate how much being a Sky sucks.

And so, Reborn can't control his flames to push it into Verde's cube, nor can he train himself in control because a slack grip will immediately solidify the bond.

Reborn contemplates his next step as he throws up blood into the toilet.

"Reborn," Skull says quietly from the doorway.

The hitman jerks in surprise, spits out a mouthful of blood and slams the toilet lid down before casually resting an elbow on top like its super comfortable sitting on the cold tiles of his bathroom. "Skull, I was just. I think I ate something bad – uhm." Reborn squints. "So this asshole punched me in the stomach and it's taking a while to heal."

Skull's bottom lip wobbles and his eyes looks wet with unshed tears. "Are you sick?"

"Define sick," Reborn muses. Then he frowns. "Why are you in my house?"

Skull throws himself forward and drops to his knees beside Reborn, hugging the hitman tightly. "What can I do to help? It's going to be okay, we'll take it one step at a time."

"Did you break in?" Reborn asks, incredulous.

"Define break," Skull mutters into Reborn's collarbone. "I have a key."

"I certainly didn't give it to you."

Skull pulls back only as far as it takes to meet Reborn's eyes. "What are you sick with? Is it a spy thing? Did someone from the Mafia, like, poison you?"

Reborn blinks. "You know, Skull, I would like you a lot better if you were less of a freak."

Skull gives him jazz hands. "But life would be a lot more boring."

Reborn almost says; 'I kill people, what part of me is boring?' but instead goes with; "Give me the key."

"I have a spare so it would make zero difference," Skull admits. "But if it makes you feel better-"

"Do whatever you want," Reborn sighs. He lifts the toilet lid to spit out some more blood.

"Oh," Skull drags out slowly. "That's a lot of blood. You feeling a little dizzy there, babe?"

Reborn shuts the lid firmly.

"Okay," Skull says. He sits down more comfortably and rubs soothing circles into Reborn's back. "If you don't want to talk, you don't have to."

Reborn hunched over, his elbow on his knees and face in his hands. After a long moment Reborn takes a stuttering breath. "When I die-"

"You're not dying," Skull states adamantly.

"I'm throwing up blood," Reborn laughs hollowly. "Maybe they'll award me the world's greatest title posthumously."

"We can fix it," Skull insists. "Do you know what's wrong?"

"It'll be quicker to list the things that are actually going right in my life," Reborn scoffs. "I bought some new shoes last week, that was nice."

Skull looks like he's about to start crying.

"It's nothing," the hitman sighs. He stands slowly. "It's fine, Skull. Just forget it."

"Please?" Skull asks, peering up at him from the ground. "I might not be able to help, but I personally find it's easier to get my head in order if I have to explain things out loud, so maybe it'll help you at least a little."

Reborn flushes the toilet. "I'm going to brush my teeth and we're not going to hang out in the bathroom anymore for a start."

Skull hovers the whole time, arms half extended like Reborn will collapse from blood loss any moment. They do move to the couch and Skull runs around collecting water and snacks in an attempt to replenish Reborn's blood levels.

Reborn lazily munches on a protein bar, occasionally tearing off a piece and feeding it to Skull, who has taken up residence with his head on Reborn's lap and doesn't seem to be moving any time soon. Reborn has never wanted a dog but this is actually pretty nice.

Reborn finishes the snacks and they sit in silence until Skull starts crying.

"I know that's fake," Reborn says sternly. "Those are crocodile tears, you can't fool me."

Skull rolls over to bury his face in Reborn's stomach and hiccups quietly.

"If your makeup runs and you stain my suit…" Reborn beings threateningly.

Skull bursts into dramatic wails.

"Damn it, fine!" Reborn shoves Skull off him and onto the floor. "My flames are not behaving and while I do have a solution, I can't use it because it needs technique. And." He gestures vaguely off to the side. "My flames are not behaving."

Skull crawls back up onto the couch and stares until Reborn properly explains the issue with his flames and the new box, but leaves out the superfluous stories about why it happened. (His dignity is wounded more than enough already.)

"Could…" Skull hesitates. "Could the box not be working properly?"

"Verde's too good," Reborn denies. "He loved the challenge; I could read it in his eyes. He wouldn't have done a bad job on purpose and he's too good for it to be a mistake either."

Skull bites his lip, teeth clicking against the silver piercing there as he thinks. "I wouldn't hold you back. You know that, right? I wouldn't … I wouldn't stop you from doing what you love. I'd help you."

"I'm not bonding with you," Reborn says firmly. "…and you'd take too much of the weight, you wouldn't last. My flames are meant to be shared between six."

"I can take it!" Skull reassures. "You always say I'm too strong for my absolutely shit control."

Reborn stays silent for a long time. "Maybe. Maybe I should ask Verde. Two could share it…"

Skull perks up. "So, after this, you'll be better?"

"I should be."

Skull holds out a hand. "Go for it."

Reborn blinks. "Now?"

"When do you want to do it?"

"U-um," Reborn stutters, taken aback at how fast this is moving. This is kind of a big deal, not something you decide to just go for. But when has Reborn ever been hesitant or unsure? "Okay, yeah. Now is fine."


.

A/N: Skull has ceased to be a person in Reborn's eyes. He has instead become a pet, loud and annoying, who needs too much attention, but he belongs to Reborn all the same.