Idling at a stop light, Reborn looks around in boredom and catches sight of Fon standing at the entrance to a well known Mafia restaurant, speaking with a man who might be American if Reborn is correct.
The security holds out what looks to be a lightbulb, a simple distraction tactic if any civilians are watching, used to prove if someone is flame active. It flares red when Fon touches it and yellow when the other man does.
Reborn has the abrupt and ridiculous thought that Fon doesn't need another Sun because he has Reborn.
While handcuffed to Lal's bed, Reborn had a bit of a revelation. It occurred to him that he's been very passive, and most of that can be explained by Reborn not taking attacks on his person seriously at all or by how reticent he was at first regarding being a Sky.
However, Reborn is also self-aware enough to realise he wants Fon and he wants Verde but he's been putting off talking to them and setting boundaries because he's not sure if he's ready to take in more Guardians.
Skull and Colonnello were needed because of his flame issue. Reborn can't just wave off a new Guardian with an excuse, it will be because he wants them and nothing else and he's afraid of what that means for him.
Reborn should talk with them at least, make sure everyone is on the same page. Fon still owes Reborn a kitchen anyway, so if the conversation veers off, Reborn has a fall-back excuse.
The traffic lights turn green and Reborn takes a left into the nearby parking lot.
When Reborn enters the restaurant, Fon and his friend are being led to a table in the back corner. Reborn waves off the server who approaches him and weaves through tables towards the Storm. Fon can apparently sense the stare because he turns to look.
"Fon," Reborn greets. "Come here often?"
Reborn puts a bullet through the other Sun's head. People flinch but it is a Mafia restaurant, so they stay out of his way. Reborn holsters his gun and smiles charmingly at Fon.
"Good evening, Reborn," Fon says back. He looks down at the corpse leaking blood on the hardwood flooring. "You are still upset with me, I see."
"What would I be upset about?" Reborn muses. He hooks his elbow around Fon's and leads him back out to the main entrance. He waves over a waiter as he passes. "Not to worry, I'll pay for the clean-up. Table for two, private, if you wouldn't mind."
The waiter bows and takes two menus before he leads them upstairs to a large room tastefully decorated in deep blue and silver with a giant floor to ceiling windows taking up one entire side.
The waiter pulls out a chair for Reborn and begins to pass them the leather-bound menus.
Reborn holds out a hand to stop the waiter and orders for himself and Fon. He's come here often enough that he knows his favourites and he's guessing with Fon's dishes but it shouldn't be too bad unless Fon has an allergy.
Fon only watches him with a smile.
"Excellent choices, Sir," the waiter acknowledges. "I will be back shortly with your orders." The waiter bows his head and leaves quietly with the menus still under one arm.
Reborn delicately unfurls the napkin on his plate and places it over his lap.
Fon tilts his head. "You look...a bit rumpled."
"You were not in the bathroom today," Reborn says instead. "Too busy chatting with that corpse downstairs?"
"I thought it would be best to give you some room," Fon admits. "And the Triad had me contact Henry to receive a parcel, we are merely business acquaintances."
Reborn huffs and turns to looks out of the windows, scanning the buildings opposite for snipers. He once shot a man in what should be the next room over.
"I do apologise for murdering your girlfriend," Fon tries.
"I needed Alicia to find the contacts of the Mist who's been framing me," Reborn corrects. "It's a whole other matter that has nothing to do with you, and everyone keeps distracting me so I have gotten absolutely nowhere with it."
Fon smiles.
"No," Reborn warns. "No, Fon, you are not forgiven. You hurt Skull."
"He didn't have to get involved," Fon points out. "If someone throws themselves in front of a hungry tiger, it is not the tiger's fault for their nature."
Reborn stares Fon down. "When a tiger breaks into my home I think it's entirely justified if I kill the beast."
Fon waves a large sleeve. "The metaphor is not entirely representative of the situation. It is symbolic."
"I know what a goddamned metaphor is!" Reborn snaps back. "Fuck, you piss me off."
Fon blinks, startled.
Reborn pauses and reassessed himself because that was genuine anger at such a simple comment. "I'm sorry, I haven't eaten anything today and there was a...situation that just happened."
"No matter," Fon reassures. "Let's talk about a different topic until the food comes. I will be travelling to Milan soon; do you recommend any particular tourist attractions?"
So Reborn rattles off a list until two waiters arrive with the dishes and lay them out gracefully, pouring Reborn's wine and Fon's tea. Reborn eats half of his meal before Fon switches back to the important topic and starts off strong.
"You don't act like the other Skies I've observed," Fon hums, lifting his tea. "That's my fault, for expecting you to be...similar."
"To be normal?" Reborn offers as a correction, raising his wine glass in toast at being an awful Sky.
"To be similar," Fon insists, reaching across the table and pushing Reborn's arm down. "So I don't misunderstand again, tell me what you want in a Guardian."
Reborn watches Fon closely for any signs of hesitation. "I want an equal partner, not a subordinate. Someone loyal, someone who will treat us -all of us- as their first priority. I want you to genuinely enjoy our time together, with everyone, and be close and just-" Reborn grimaces. "I don't want to be treated as a boss, as if this is business, because you're going to be with me for rest of our lives...and that sounds like it would be very lonely."
Fon seems perplexed at the start but his gaze becomes steady, determined. "I'm happy that you're not normal," he admits. "Because that would be so nice and I want it too."
"Happy that I'm not similar," Reborn corrects.
"Oh, we are far past that level now," Fon sighs fondly. "This is wrong and you are spitting on tradition and we will have to kill so many to make them finally shut up." He picks up a piece of braised pork and puts it in Reborn's dish. "Eat. You need energy for the massacre."
"Okay, okay," Reborn says with a laugh, blocking the next attempt to pile more on his plate. "So you know what I want, now I need to see you act on it," Reborn states, picking up his fork. "If you're after me - not just any Sky."
Fon smiles at Reborn, a bit exasperated. "I have my pick of Skies scrambling for my favour back in China. If I wanted an obedient one, we both know I wouldn't be here with you."
Reborn raises an eyebrow. "Actually though?"
"I should let you meet them," Fon suggests pointedly. "Perhaps you'll learn to be a bit more open to a Guardian courting you, hm?"
"You chased me down!" Reborn scoffs. "What courting? Bring me roses and coffee."
"I was advertising my abilities," Fon argues. "I like to think I promoted myself quite well."
Reborn splutters a for a moment because technically Fon did showcase his hunting, stealth and martial arts very well. "That was - you were like an animal! I thought you had gone feral at the start."
Fon hides a chuckle behind his sleeve. "Ah, perhaps I did lose control of myself the first time. When I realised you could hold your own, when you did not look at me with fear but excitement and exasperation...I wanted to see if I had found a Sky who could finally keep up with me, who didn't want me to tame my instincts."
"No, I want that," Reborn says quickly. "One hundred percent, please calm down. At least try to hide it better."
Fon shrugs carelessly. "I have begun meditating, but it does not seem to be working very well."
"Maybe focus on other things then," Reborn suggests. "I just met a Rain, you could beat each other up until you decide who the alpha is."
"I thought you already had a Rain?"
"I do," Reborn confirms. "But apparently he comes in a set. My fault for not reading the fine print, I suppose."
"Interesting," Fon laughs. "If you try to find another Storm, I will burn them."
Reborn nods along. "I expect nothing less from you. I suppose I got the fluffiest Cloud in history but a category five Storm."
