Skull returns with Colonnello after grocery shopping, both their arms laden with bags as they race each other to Reborn's front door.

Reborn opens the door and Verde steps out, Skull coming to an abrupt halt when he recognises the man. The scientist passes by and offers a nod. A car drives up to the curb behind Skull's and the entire side disappears for Verde to get in before it drives off.

"Come on," Reborn says and gestures them in, helping take some bags from each and kicking the door shut after.

"Who was that?" Colonnello asks, dropping the shopping on the island counter after Reborn.

Reborn shakes his head, looking distracted but not in a bad way. "I'm meeting for a contract, lock up when you leave." He grabs his briefcase off the dining table and leaves without another word.

Colonnello turns on Skull.

"It's a bit of a long story," the Cloud offers, already moving to put the shopping away.

It's actually not that long and they flop down onto seats at the dining table after packing everything away so Colonnello can ask questions.

"So we keep the Lightning away," Colonnello summarises. "Because he's an indecisive shithead."

"Yep!" Skull chirps, balancing precariously on the back legs of his chair.

Alright, easily done. Colonnello is still a bit confused about what his job is though, since Reborn isn't part of an established famiglia so there are no territory squabbles or information digging or income streams. There are no missions needing to be done.

It's just one lone hitman, an adrenalin junkie of a stuntman and now a soldier.

Colonnello has been trying to get information on Guardian bonds but it's so restricted to the high-tier famiglias that he's flying blind. He thinks he knows what should happen, but clearly Reborn and Skull just skip over most traditional steps. Which is actually great, because this all feels so natural, but Colonnello is a little worried that he might become too relaxed and won't do his job properly.

Colonnello is a bit nervous, since Rains are supposed to be liaisons, calming and friendly. Colonnello doesn't have a temper or anything but talking to people is boring, especially if it's all that fancy, double-meaning bullshit. Lal usually just threatens people so she's not a good role model for this. He wishes he could ask Lal but Reborn being a Sky needs to be kept a secret.

Skull is pretty weird too though, just in general. And Reborn isn't the best example of a Sky. Or even a normal Sun, now that Colonnello thinks about it.

This is obviously a very strange set that's being made. Maybe Colonnello should just ask what he should do? It's not like Reborn or Skull would call him an idiot and then kick him from the bond. Okay, so they would call him an idiot, but Colonnello is pretty firmly set up in their bonding.

"What do you do for Reborn?" Colonnello wonders. He still has COMSUBIN, still has three years left of his military service, but he can still be a Guardian. He'll make it work.

"I give him hugs," Skull says proudly.

Colonnello barks out a laugh. "I meant, am I supposed to do anything in particular? Should I follow him on his jobs?"

"God no," Skull says instantly, losing balance and thudding forward on all four chair legs. "No, Reborn gets so bitchy if you do that and he will drive you insane with his passive aggressive comments."

"Then what do I do here?" Colonnello slumps forward over the table and rest his chin on folded arms. "I just wait for him to get home like a pet."

Skull shrugs. "I hang out here because I get lonely easily." He mimics Colonnello's position, lying on the table. "There's the Sky flame overload that he needs us for but it's a 'running background installation' kind of thing."

Colonnello looks around. "Should I leave then?"

"No, you don't have to," Skull denies quickly. "There's just no particular reason to be here, but you can still stay. We're friends, we don't need a reason to hang out."

The blond still looks like he doesn't understand but nods slowly. "I guess it has to be a little strange, having a freelance hitman be a Sky."

Skull sits up. "Hitman?"

Colonnello stares. "I'm sorry, what?"


Reborn rears back when Skull wrenches open the door.

"You're a hitman?!" Skull shrieks, eyes wide.

Reborn shoves Skull inside, slams the front door shut behind them, and then locks onto Colonnello standing further inside the house. "You told him?!"

Colonnello throws his hands up. "I didn't know it was a secret! Why is this a secret? Fuck, how is it a secret – you've killed hundreds!"

Skull makes a shocked sound.

"I don't enjoy it," Reborn retorts, lying straight to their faces. "It started out of self-defence. I struggled in the Mafia, okay? My parents died very early and people bullied me so I don't really know affection-"

Skull begins to relax, expression going from shock to pity.

"Fucking liar!" Colonnello crows in amazement, crossing his arms. "God damn, you're in the running to be titled the world's greatest hitman, how are you shy about telling your own Guardian?"

Reborn jabs a finger at the blond. "Say another word and I'll show you just how good I am at killing a bitch."

Skull bows his head, shoulders hunching. "Do you hate me?"

Reborn blinks. "What? No."

"Then why did you lie?" Skull asks the floor quietly.

Reborn pauses, putting his hands on Skull's shoulders gently. "You're a civilian, I didn't want to scare you."

"Reborn," Skull says calmly, peering up at the hitman. "You've killed lots of people in front of me."

"I…don't remember that."

Skull waves vaguely. "During the Interpol missions we go on. I don't see you do it but there are a lot of bodies, it's kind of hard to miss."

Colonnello opens his mouth, closes it and then tries again. "Interpol missions?"

Reborn sighs.

"Yep!" Skull chirps instead. "Reborn got me in on it, so now we both work as super cool spies." Skull pauses and tilts his head in confusion at Reborn. "Wait, so Interpol hired you as a hitman?"

"That's correct," Reborn lies with such confidence that he almost makes himself believe it.

"Really?" Colonnello muses, looking shocked. "Wow, I thought you'd be on the most wanted list."

"Well, I happened to save one of their higher-ups on a hit a few years back," Reborn makes up. "They look the other way as long as I repay them by taking their jobs at a lower price."

The two make understanding, awed noises and nod along as Reborn launches into an entirely fictional hit where he saved a Governor General and several politicians from a shoot-out.

Reborn is a little bit incredulous that these two idiots are buying it, especially when they've just uncovered another lie, and this only cements his decision to add Verde.


.

A/N: Poor Nello is trying his best to be a good Rain, when Skull is an awful Cloud and Reborn is a pretty shit Sky.

Verde is also slowly closing the gap in the race for favourite Guardian even if the scientist doesn't know it. (I know some of you don't like Verde but he's still tame compared to Reborn's other Guardians *ahemFonahem* so I feel like he should get another chance.)