Summary: Tsuna gets shot, kidnapped, experimented on, and has nightmares about it. No Flames, just mafia. How terrifying.
Story Background: Set in Arco!27 AU, Tsuna is kidnapped and experimented on via Estraneo-style. He meets something that's not supposed to exist while being experimented on, but he's delirious off meds and pain, so who's gonna believe him? Maybe his cavalry? Who knows. Not me.
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Nails dig into the skin of Tsuna's palm as he opens his eyes, wide, drawing blood and forcing poisoned breath out of him. The sudden and nonsensical rage, suffering, destruction and utter hopelessness that boils and course through his veins makes him terrifyingly confused and very much awake. Tsuna's first instinct is to get up and run. Run as if he's truly worth the skin on his back that he suddenly realises feels like they're being scraped off.
Tsuna wants to run.
But why can't he move?
He bites, thrashes and howls in panic, throwing sheets off as everything is suddenly far, far too hot. There are sharp gasps for breath, and he drags each lungful of air like he's been choked, even though it pains him so. Pain blossoms in his head, set off like firecrackers in New Years, and his scalp is sensitive with needles prickling and stabbing and please-!
A bite on the flesh of his palm as he muffles his screams, and in the corner of his eyes Tsuna sees flashes of demons and protruding masses of flesh move and whisper, curious while laughing at his anguish. Peals of laughter are what he thinks he hears, but only on another plane, another dimension, another place. However, in that moment and in that time he is subject to sharp, grating squeals that grow louder the more he shifts.
("He's awake," they rumble and groan. "He doesn't belong, but he's awake...")
("How unfortunate.")
There is light, bright spots of light that dance across his vision even as the horrid abominations hum and giggle. He thinks those gleams of light might be the light of the streetlamps glistening off the pile's too sharp teeth and so he tries his best to ignore them.
There are tears in his eyes as Tsuna's screams die away, his throat run raw, too exhausted and too tensed and too sensitive.
(Tsuna.)
He is sure that he's bleeding now. Aside from the gashes on his palm, he's sure that every pore on his body must be bloody because there's so much pain. His stomach feels like it's on the brink of caving in on itself, and he's pretty sure his kidneys have turned to stone.
The mass makes to move towards him but Tsuna ignores them, hoping, praying, wishing and begging that they would leave him alone if he doesn't acknowledge them.
(Tsuna, wake up.)
They're advancing, he realises. Slowly, but surely, and the laughter grows louder and he thinks he can hear growls and screams mixed in this time.
Sweat beads and trickles off his forehead, mixing with the trails left by hot tears, pooling on the sheets of his bed and subconsciously, through the haze of what seemed like neverending torture, he wonders what he's ever done to deserve this. He hears himself wheeze and stutter, and fear spreads in his chest like vines, weighing him down until he feels like he can't even fucking breathe.
In a moment of clarity, Tsuna realises he's afraid because he's alone.
Tsuna is alone.
...And that's not right, because wasn't there supposed to be someone else in this room with him?
'NO!'
(Call Shamal. He's not waking up. Shit, there's too much blood.)
The screech of denial in his ears make him wincs, but he pushes ahead with nothing but wild abandon and desperate hope that if he keeps pushing he might get out. Might find something that will tip and make him realise-
Realise what?
Breathing seems a little easier now, but he's still far too sensitive and his body still feels like a live wire, all the way down to his toes.
Shakily, he tries to open his mouth.
(Don't you leave me, Tsuna. Don't leave us. Don't even dare-!)
His jaw is tense, and opening them feels like a feat in it's own right. Yet, he forces them open and they chatter, teeth feeling nigh sensitive against the cool air of the night.
"H... help..."
The mass stops moving. He almost cries in relief.
It is hoarse, and a weak, fragile little thing that he's managed to grind out. More gasping and forced breaths than anything, but he is emboldened as rationality comes back to him upon hearing his own voice, albeit in bits.
(He said something. Shut up! I heard him, he said something! Fon, get Skull!)
He tries to speak again, but not only does he find himself without any energy, but the shuffling mass seems to be looking at him with piercing intent and Tsuna gets a feeling that he doesn't want to garner any more attention than he has.
Besides, who knows what else lies beyond this room?
So, he starts trying to remember.
Think back. Remember. Where is he? How did he get here? Why is he here? Why is he in so much pain?
A whisper, bubbling at the back of his head, causes Tsuna to lose track of his thoughts. Focusing all his attention, he tries to make sense of it.
'Stop...' he hears. 'Stay... here... a boon, for you...'
'No,' he thinks back desperately. 'I have to go... but the pain... it's too much. I have to get back--'
Cold, stabbing wind washes over his body and Tsuna almost screams. A hiss, and that awful, pitching voice claws against his ears once more.
'So long... company... a boon... a present...'
I dont want anything, he wants to say, nothing but to leave this cursed place. Lucidity and consciousness begin to slip, and he feels panic read its ugly head.
"Please..." he whispers, a ghost of what he want to convey. Darkness (blessed, welcomed darkness) is taking him when he hears it.
'So be it... Farewell then, Sawada Tsunayoshi... a parting gift... a curse, a blessing... it shall stay with you.'
And then Tsuna falls.
.
He awakes with a start and to a white ceiling.
A sharp inhale, and he barely takes in the strangely comforting but familiar scent of antibiotics and sterility, before attempting to snap into a sitting position.
Keyword being: attempting.
The small brunette quickly finds himself being restrained, and still in a haze of confusion, that shoots a hot line of panic up his spine because where is he, what is he doing here, why can't he see anything, why is everything blurry, why was there pain and needles and torture and please don't make him go back-!
Warmth envelops him suddenly and Tsuna stills, quickened, bordering on hysterical breath slowing and desperate, nonsensical pleas that he hadn't realised was being said die into whimpers. He hears a heartbeat that could match his in intensity, and he eventually realises that he's being hugged. Tightly.
"Breathe," commands the warmth above him, and Tsuna is exhausted and afraid, but he can still pick out the cracked bits of concern and worry etched into that authoritative tone.
And so he does.
He breathes, taking in the heady scent of coffee and gunpowder, of vanilla and mint, of fields on a sunny day, of home.
Tsuna doesn't realise it, but he relaxes, releasing clenched fists and shuddering breaths. His shoulders feel loose, like the weight of the world has just been lifted off of them. Blearily, he opens his eyes, fear and caution still laced in his gaze, and winces when he feels cool air blow over the sweat on his brow.
"You're safe," whispers the(familiar, familiar!) voice above him, cracked again with reliefsorrowreassurancerageLOVEangerfear- and Tsuna can't help but look up against the tightening of the hug.
Beautiful black, soulful, yet sorrow-ridden eyes meet his, and Tsuna can't help but miss the usual sparkle of mischief and chaos usually found in those pools. Briefly, he notes the eyebags and red-rimmed eyes of tell-tale sleepless nights.
"Reborn," Tsuna whispers in recognition, and finally, finally, he feels something deep within his soul slot into place, filling- overwhelming him with a sense of safety and warmth and belonging. He starts crying again. "I missed you."
There is a crack in those eyes as Reborn inhales sharply, and Tsuna is being buried into the man's chest again. This time, the boy reaches up with shaking hands to return the embrace, clutching and not giving a damn at the wrinkling suit.
"I missed you, too."
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A.N:
I might expand on this? Depending on how interested you guys are in watching Tsuna suffer/being cuddled to death by overprotective Arcobaleno. Idk, but tell me if yall want some Guardian appearances.
Also I love yall so ding dang MUCH you dont UNDERSTAND.