Even after a few weeks, Reborn doesn't hear any rumours leaking out from the Sfondo or the small famiglia they defeated, which is great and gives Reborn more time, except…

Except Reborn doesn't see them in time. A quick glance over his shoulder and Skull is already out of cover, trying to drag a downed Interpol policeman to safety, the man leaving a streak of red across the ground from a shotgun scatter in his gut.

Reborn has been practicing, thinks he has the technique almost perfected. He's used it a couple of times to test it, but only when no one will be walking away alive, to ensure his trump card is kept secret. Reborn still doesn't think he's ready to use it in public quite so soon.

Except someone is pointing a gun at Skull. Reborn doesn't have time to warn his Guardian, doesn't think a normal bullet will be fast enough to take out the threat, and so he fires off a Chaos Shot.

The sky bleeds fire, a golden sunset because he's panicking, he can't hold in the Sky flames when he's putting everything he has into keeping Skull safe.

After the light dies down, the world seems so much darker for the lack of that blinding light.

Skull stands up, rising above the corpses and cowering Interpol officers. He smiles, bright and loving, and Reborn can't find it in himself to be upset.


Viper falls into step with Reborn, bleeding out of the air. "That was dumb."

"It's been like a day," Reborn complains. "Let me have the calm before the storm, give me some time to hate myself before you line up to have a shot too."

The rumours are wrong anyway. The Chaos Shot is not straight; it's tumbling, weaving strands of gold that overlap and come together and split off. It looks chaotic but it is deliberately designed, it is accurately programmed pathing for each bullet in a hail of them, it is complete and utter control.

People are scared of it, they want it, they want a lonely Sky, a dumb but powerful Cloud. Then people dug deeper and found Colonnello, found Lal, realised Reborn essentially has an army in his hands.

Freelance, stumbling around, no Mafia backing to prop them up or to whisper in their ear who to be cautious about. How wonderful, a ready-made Sky with all the power and skill that would have taken a famiglia years and countless resources to create.

At least the other three haven't been found yet, though Reborn is pretty sure Fon is going to demand to be included soon.

Viper sighs. "We might have to do something drastic. You need to bond soon or we'll have to deal with challengers."

"Let them come," Reborn mutters. "I'll cull the weak."

Viper tsks and then comes to a complete stop. They gesture through a shop window at some fancy ties. "Fine, play coy, I'll do the stupid courting thing so you'll give me your harmonisation virginity or whatever the fuck it is."

"I have two bonds so I'm not a virgin," Reborn retorts, just on principal. "But really? You want to shop with me?"

Viper laughs and pulls the door open. "You are going to pay me back three-fold with your blood, sweat and whole lot of tears."

"Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of."

"Get in, bitch."


Reborn bursts through Skull's door. "Look at my socks!" He throws himself at the couch, onto Colonnello and kicks up his feet so Fon can see his ankles covered in bright yellow socks with little lizards walking around.

Fon catches a foot before it kicks him in the face and smiles. "Very cute."

Viper floats through the door. "I'm not your lackey, don't leave me with the bags." Their tentacles drop some fancy black paper bags down in the entry way and also closes the door too.

"Oh, and I got some ties!" Reborn cheers, rolling off Colonnello and darting over so he can crouch down and rifle through the bags. He comes out victorious with a box that he quickly disassembles to show a tie that looks like a bright yellow sunflower, holding it up for everyone to see. "Look at it, it's so pretty!"

Skull makes awed noises and joins Reborn at the bags so they can go through the purchases. Everyone else is more focused on Viper's smug smirk. The Mist waves a hand with a flourish and very kindly provides subtitles for the words they mouth.

I'm winning.

Fon sits up straight, Lal glares, Colonnello puffs himself out to look bigger and Verde pushes up his glasses with narrowed eyes.

They already agreed that they'd try to wear Reborn down about the bonding thing, but they also agreed that it wasn't going to be a competition.

"That one is so cute!" Skull squeals. He tucks himself under Reborn's arm and gets an automatic hug, the stuntman squishing his cheek against Reborn's.

Skull smiles at Viper with teeth.

Verde abruptly demands, "Reborn, you should try them all on for us."

Reborn lights up at the idea but then his expression quickly evens out when he realises what he's doing. "No, that's okay." Reborn starts packing up all the boxes that he tore out of the bags and detangles himself from Skull. "I have...other things to do."

Reborn glances at everyone subtly, but with the attention on him, it's still very noticeable.

"I'll join in," Colonnello declares, leaning forward. "You got any clothes my size?"

Reborn has a tailored three-piece suit in white and baby blue because Colonnello would look magnificent in it.

"I guess…" Reborn begins to say casually. "If I look around my stuff, I could find something that would fit you."

"We all know you have something," Lal deadpans.

"You know, for a Rain-" Reborn tries.

Verde scoffs. "As if you're the best example of a Sun."

Reborn frowns at the scientist. "I am a pocket full of sunshine, fuck you very much."

"Ah, yes. A pocket full of burning, cancerous sunshine."

Reborn drops the tie he's holding, stands up, and plants his hands on his hips. "Verde, I am your Sky, and you will obey me."

Fon starts laughing.


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A/N: Btw I've started translating a Chinese web novel about a villain getting a protagonist cheat. Come over and say hi;

inoveltranslation (dot c o m) /when-the-golden-finger-lands-in-the-hands-of-the-villain/