Bored.
Bel was bored.
The shark left to go find the boss and Levi was a pervert.
Unfortunately that left him with either Lussuria, which meant school, or Mammon, which meant money – taken not given.
Even more unfortunately, both officers were headed to the same place.
So, he was stuck in the back out the car while Lussuria drove them out to pick up the boss.
The boss and a stray.
Whoever they were, he hoped they could fight.
….
At some point she must have drifted off as she was abruptly woken at the landing
Hermione shot up with her wand in her hand, utterly startled by the sudden jolt.
The men across from her chuckled and she glared at Xanxus. Particularly at the full glass in his hand.
"How long has it been since you've been in the real world?"
She sank back into her seat as they taxied.
"The Dark Lord came back during my fourth year," her voice was low, "it marked the start of the Second War.
"When I was sixteen the ban on under-aged magic was abolished to grow his army, but it effected all of us.
"That year I –" she choked up and shook her head, "I ob-obliviated my family and relocated them out of the country.
"I've been stuck there ever since…"
She took a moment to compose herself without allowing either man to respond.
"Where are we?"
"Palermo."
….
Xanxus couldn't help the relief he felt at seeing Lussuria in the driver's seat instead of Levi.
The man was a good soldier but he was repulsive, repugnant.
He was honestly grateful he was a leftover of Tyr's and not actually his guardian.
He watched as the luxury car came to a stop and a teenager came barreling out.
Bel made a beeline for the Cloud and – before he could shoot the brat – she whipped her wand out and blasted him back several meters.
Squalo gave her an impressed smirk and sauntered over to the car opening the door for him.
….
Lussuria was absolutely thrilled that Xanxus finally brought home someone cute.
Bel was adorable when he was younger but he feared the prince was becoming a – Primo forbid – rebellious teen.
But this stray the boss had picked up was adorable, especially when she deflected Bel.
She had a cute face too and her thick hair was wonderful!
She was dressed in ratty clothing but he had already decided that when they got back and she would get fixed up pronto.
She would probably fit in Bel's old uniform…
He glanced at his passengers through the rearview mirror
The boss was in the middle with the girl to his left and on his right Bel was stuck crammed between the door and Squalo.
It was a big car but it was most definitely not meant to fit four on the backseat and Squalo was obviously not pleased at the arrangement.
But after the girl had attacked Bel it was probably best to keep them apart.
He wondered what her name was.
He glanced back once more and nearly started.
He had been one of the boss's guardians for nearly as long as Squalo, he knew the boss's flame signature well enough to be able to notice even minute changes.
And something major had obviously changed.
….
She had technically been kidnapped – maybe it wasn't really kidnapped – and as soon as she got off a plane in Merlin-damned Parlemo of all places a teenager of all things dared to attack her.
It had taken her but a moment to assess the situation as she had developed a cast-now-question-later attitude and drew her wand at the drop of a hat.
Maybe it was kind of problem.
But is it really paranoia if there's someone out to get you?
Regardless, a school aged kid had lunged at her with a knife and a smile on his face.
And now she was trapped in an enclosed space with him.
Hermione surprised herself with her glee at the fact that the kid was still unconscious – even if it had only been 10 minutes.
"You really need to tell me what the hell is going on," she hissed at Xanxus as the car pulled through wrought iron gates.
Through the windshield she could see the imposing gothic structure they were approaching.
The man shot her a menacing glare and continued staring straight ahead – he was irritated but she could see the tension seeping from his shoulders as they pulled up to large building.
As they slid out of the car she faintly heard the kid speak,
"The shitty boss doesn't need to tell anyone anything, putanna."
When she rounded the back of the car, the kid was on the ground and Xanxus had his gun aimed at the kid's head.
When she looked got closer – wand in hand – she noted Squalo's bared teeth and the knife pressed to Xanxus' throat.
They were like, like, animals.
Xanxus barked something in what she now knew to be Italian and the kid's smile faded just a bit.
Then the man who chauffeured them got out of the driver's seat and ignored the scene entirely and headed straight for her.
"It's so nice to meet you, dear! My name is Lussuria!
"Why don't we go inside and leave these men," he rolled his eyes, "to act like children ."
She looked from the stranger to Xanxus and back again.
"Take her inside," he barked.
Hesitantly, she pocketed her wand and allowed the flamboyant man to lead her inside.
….
Squalo would like to think that the brat would have known to hold his tongue after knowing the boss for so many years but he knew otherwise.
The brat had always been outspoken.
Which was usually fine if it was directed at Levi or Mammon or any of the kid's kids or really anyone that wasn't him or the boss.
And apparently Hermione.
He found himself agreeing with the notion.
He didn't know much about the Cloud but he found her ferocity appealing.
If he had his sword attachment he would have gutted the brat where he stood. Well, more like lightly maim him.
Unfortunately all he had was the gun tucked in his waist band and while he was a good shot, there was never a doubt boss could handle himself.
He was still allowed to be pissed.
….
"What's your name, dear?" Lussuria asked as he led her through winding corridors.
"…Hermione. Where are we going?"
Instead of answering he ducked into a room leaving her to wonder whether or not to follow.
However, she needn't wait long before the man came out arms laden with clothing and a pleased smile on his face.
"All in due time," he sing-songed. She felt her irritation growing and her wand hand twitching.
They climbed a flight of stairs and entered another corridor.
They passed a door with a crack down the middle before stopping and entering the room next door.
"This will be your room while you're at the compound," Lussuria laid the clothing on the bed and turned to face her.
"You're bond with the boss is still new – no matter how strong it may be – and you should be more comfortable here than if we put you elsewhere."
She crossed her arms and glared.
"What exactly is Varia?"
Lussuria's smile seemed to grow at her question,
"We are the Vongola Familgia's Independent Assassination squad.
"But more questions later!
"Let's get you out of those rags!"
….
Watching their new Cloud stride into the boss's office wearing the Varia's custom leather uniform was interesting, to say the least.
While Squalo knew the clothes were probably Bel's cast offs, they looked completely different on her
The jacket hit mid-thigh and the high collar framed her face nicely.
The shirt beneath was plain white and the leather pants rode high accentuating her legs despite her height.
Her hair was pulled back and she was scowling fiercely.
She slammed her hands on the boss's desk, "I needto know what the hell is going on, and you are going to tell me."
The boss just smirked at her.
"How, in Merlin's name, did you end up as an assassin in the Mafia?!" she screeched
He pushed himself off where he had been leaning on the wall and placed himself on the couch.
"If you keep this up, you'll force her into a conniption, shitty boss."
He grinned as he easily dodged the boss's half-heartedly chucked a bottle.
The pair glared at each other locked in a battle of wills.
He sat back in his high backed chair and crossed his arms.
….
Hermione hoped she was finally going to get some answers.
She had bits and pieces of information but not the whole picture.
It was infuriating.
"When I was 13, I was adopted by the Don of the Vongola Familgia."
How does one just happen to get adopted by a Mafia Don of all people?
"The old man's oldest son, Fredrico, caught up in school and taught me Italian.
"When I was 14 he sent me off to Colombo Academia – the Mafia school."
Of course there was a school for Mafia children, of course there was.
"Later that year I harmonized with the shark and several months later with Lussuria.
"When we were 15 Squalo defeated the Sword Emperor Tyr, the previous head of Varia, and succeeded the title to me."
She tapped her chin, "What about that kid with the knives?"
It was the man on the couch that responded, "Belphegor – that brat – followed us home and broke into the compound."
"Did you finish school?" she had a feeling she knew the answer.
Xanxus – with his terribly scarred face – just gave her a look that told her exactly how many ways he could kill her.
"I thought so…" at one point she would have been scandalized but that was then and this is now. She was an adult and she wouldn't even recognize that girl if she saw her in the mirror.
"How many guardians do you have?"
….
"Close your eyes," he commanded in his gruff voice.
Xanxus watched her reluctantly obey and noted her distaste for order.
"Now, like you would focus on your magic, focus on your flames," she frowned as she searched.
He could tell the exact moment when she found them and he glanced over to the shark who also had his eyes closed.
"Can you feel the bond between us?"
The Cloud nodded.
"Feel it and follow it until you can find my flames."
….
It was like nothing she had ever experienced.
The purple flames roared within her.
Much stronger than even her magic – and in that she was no slouch.
She could feel the connection.
She could feel the bond between her and the long-haired man.
She could feel the tendrils, the five bonds stretching out and she found herself wrapping her hands around the largest one.
She found him.
After years of being incomplete, she felt whole.
Xanxus' flames were rage, fury.
His flames were violent and turbulent.
But they were also warm and comforting.
A fire could both comfort and destroy.
For the first time since she was a child, she felt at home.
"Alright, that's enough.
She opened her eyes and blinked several times.
"You should have felt the connection of five bonds.
"The strongest bond between us marks you as my Cloud Guardian and the rest show your connection to the rest of my officers.
"As I know you have noticed, I do not have Pure Sky Flames.
"The scar I had marked me as that trash's horcrux."
Her eyes widened at the confession.
"People aren't meant to be vessels for souls and that scum's soul shard was assimilated into my own.
"The old man figures that it corrupted my flames."
She watched the long haired man cross the room and pour the man a drink.
"Not that it fucking matters anyway, boss.
"We'd all be damned without you."
Maybe it wasn't necessarily obvious to others, but to her it was as clear as day.
This was a man that gave people a home.
He was gruff and violent and downright mean, but he definitely cared about his people.
She finally addressed the other man in the room while her Sky – a thought filled her with pride – drank and let her process.
"I'm sorry, but I never caught your name."
"Superbi Squalo, raggazza. Varia's Rain Officer and Second in Command," the man held out his left hand for her to shake.
His hand.
Was not a hand.
"What happened to your hand?"
She scowled as both men roared in laughter.
"He cut it off."
Now, she knew she looked scandalized.