"Everything we do, even the slightest thing we do, can have a ripple effect and repercussions that emanate. If you throw a pebble into the water on one side of the ocean, it can create a tidal wave on the other side." – Victor Webster

Luce refused to lie to the Strongest Flames, who each had such fragile trust that one wrong step would shatter any chance of properly working with her. So she didn't. They took missions until their trust in each other and their cohesiveness was progressing, all the while she made sure they knew that she had something to tell them but it needed the right time. Two months in, she sat them down and told them about the Curse that was coming for them, about Checkerface's role, about her ability to See, and what she planned to do with their help. Then she looked each of them in the eye and made promises. Viper, a Sky who would accept them quirks and all. Fon, an apprentice he would love and a nephew that would follow one of the purest Skies. Reborn, two brilliant and compassionate students that would change the world together. Lal, that not all hope was lost. Verde, a world he helped revolutionized.

She had nothing for Skull and the Cloud didn't ask. While she could see almost anything, Luce couldn't see him like she could see others and so the Sky apologized. The Cloud simply waved her off with genuine nonchalance.

"I have all I want."

When they didn't leave after being told of the Curse, she thanks God and every saint she can think of and promises to attend Mass more often that she does. Not long after, Lal brought in Colonello, who was then pulled aside by Luce and returned as a quiet man for several days before becoming his loud self once more. The knowledge they now had was sobering for the Seven and helped to solidify the initial stirrings of trust, though it was in the fledgling stages for now. None of them discussed their pasts, not yet. Why offer up information that could later be used against you? Just because they had started to bond and the seeds for trust had taken root, didn't mean that they actually trusted each other that much currently. Skull refused to lie to the others about his past, but omitting wasn't the same as lying and they only ever asked about Wilhelm-Skull because they didn't know that there were others to ask about.

Of course, they have to remain in close contact for Luce's plan to work and so each of them have a room in her manor. His room was so blatantly marked as his territory to the point that other than a knock on the door, he would remain undisturbed. After all, no one wanted to upset the largest unknown in the group that had defied any and all expectations from the get go. Behind a locked door, safe in his own physical Territory, Skull would bleed away. Purple faded to red, violet to hazel, as he faded to his primary self, Claire. Sometimes, behind an additional wall of Flames, he would cycle through his flames and selves. Sun brought dark blond hair, cognac eyes, and The Handyman rising to the front. Storm was bloody red hair, bloody red eyes, and a manic grin as Vino came out. Cloud tinged the world purple-violet from his hair to his eyes to his nails when Skull was front and center. Papa Gandor had blamed it on the potency of his Flames when he focused on only one aspect at a time.

-.-.-.-.-.-

Skull lounged on the love seat, contemplating the Donna seated across from him with a determined look in her eye. Compared to most other Dons and Donnas, she was rather refreshing in that she didn't treat him or the others like minions only around to do their bidding. She was open about what she could and could not disclose, very much like his older brothers. Skull blinked and his hair gained a slight red hue for a moment as Claire took the reins.

"Let me talk to a contact of mine."

His eyes gleamed an unholy red-violet, and if it were anyone else before her, Luce would have sworn she was making a deal with the Devil himself.

(In so many other worlds, Luce would ignore Skull and let so many injustices be done to the Cloud by the other members of the set, bitter about so many things. In other worlds, Luce did not interact or involve herself with them, ignoring the warnings she had Seen from those versions that had Bonded to the Set. This Luce ignored those particular versions of herself, instead focusing on those versions that so fiercely loved their Arcobaleno that they would do anything for them. This Luce, who befriended the German Skull, loved her set just as fiercely. But she loved the world as well. So she would love them both together and defy Fate.)

A/N:

Sorry about the wait between chapters. Life got in the way and this particular chapter was fighting me to be written because my muse did not want to write this one at all. But it had to be written to finish establishing what I want for this world. The Arcobaleno are going to be together for at least 2 more chapters and we're going to start seeing the effects of the Baccano world colliding with the KHR world, beyond Claire being the Skull in this particular world.

Also, thank you Guest for your reviews. If it was more than one person, I thank all of you. I try to read and response to each review if I can.