Tsuna sighed through his nose as he walked into his dorm. He was already being targeting for bullies. Was it because he had a sign hanging over his head that just screamed, 'Pick on me, pick on me!'?

Whatever the case, he was being bullied and it was only his first day. So it wasn't a great day for him. They decided to smear uncooked eggs over his desk when he left with Reborn. Reborn had come to the class because the Principal wanted to talk to him and Reborn was to explain certain things to him and all that. Show him the ropes. And when he came back his desk smelled terrible and he was forced to sit with it because the teacher didn't want him leaving the room to get anything because the second bell had already rung and it was time for class.

Reborn looked up when Tsuna walked in, motioning for Tsuna to join him at the table.

Tsuna cocked his head in curiosity. He kicked his shoes off hurriedly and sat across from Reborn. He reluctantly put his bag on the table when Reborn gave a pointed look at it.

"You have homeowrk don't you?" Reborn asked. He leaned against his hands and stared uninterestedly at Tsuna.

Tsuna hurried to get his phone out, fumbling it and dropping it on the table with a loud smack. Reborn watched, his face devoid of expression as he waited for Tsuna to answer him.

'I do but it's just math and English.' Tsuna slid the phone across the table to Reborn could read the message he typed out. Reborn nodded and slide it back.

"I'm supposed to help you with your homework so what are you good at in school?" Reborn asked.

Tsuna couldn't help it, he laughed a little when he was asked that. 'Nothing.' He typed.

"Well that's an obvious lie. Everybody's good at something."

Tsuna didn't try to argue, just shrugged, and pulled out what he needed to finish and do. Reborn pulled the math worksheet towards him and snorted. It was way too easy for somebody in Tsuna's year to be doing, it was simply adding and subtracting with single digit numbers. This was appallingly offensive to people that were actually smart in Tsuna class.

"Is this what your math homework is?" Reborn asked. He wa still trying to figure out if this was a joke.

Tsuna nodded, looking perplexed as to why Reborn looked so aghast.

"This is disgraceful. It's just adding and subtracting. You do this in grade one. This shouldn't help you at all. Even if it is the teacher's way of building you up, that should be on the first day of school, not middle of the school year." He seemed to think for a second before he put the sheet down again. "Alright so finish this and I'll help you with things you can't do."

Tsuna looked up at Reborn in disdain; of course he could do this simple addition. And he finished it within ten minutes. Reborn looked it over and seemed satisfied but he wasn't giving up there. He pulled Tsuna's math book towards him and flicked through the pages. He had been given an outline of what Tsuna would be learning and he seemed keen to try and help Tsuna.

It was a nice gesture but Tsuna knew he was beyond helping in math.

"Okay, do these questions for fractions." Reborn said, pointing to a list of questions along the page. Tsuna's face fell as he started working, trying to remember how to do this.

"What do you need help with?" Reborn asked.

'A lot.' Tsuna typed. He refused to meet Reborn's eyes because he knew that Reborn would be mocking him. But he felt a tap on his head and when he looked up Reborn was staring back blankly, no emotion as always as he started to explain how to multiply fractions. It was better to do the basics of one thing Tsuna needed to know and Reborn knew that he would need to fractions so why not help him with it now.

After they finished all of Tsuna's homework, flying through it with ease now that he actually had help, Reborn let Tsuna pack his things up. But right as Tsuna was about to retreat to his room, Reborn grabbed Tsuna's hand and pulled him back.

"I'm teaching you learn sign language." Reborn said. Tsuna looked at him uncomprehensively; he had never heard of sign language before. "Sign language is what it is called for a reason." Reborn started to explain. He stuck his thumb out and said, "This means father. I'll be teaching you Japanese Sign Language and when you learn mother, do not ever sign mother at an American or British person."

Tsuna crawled into his bed as early as he could. Reborn had taught him some helpful signs he could use but he just hoped he remembered them. His memory was terrible and his mother used to call him Space Cadet.

But thinking of his mom was probably a mistake as he felt his once happy mood deflate. His smile slipped off his face and his eyes welled with tears. He wanted to talk to his mom. The two had been really close. She was his only support really. Iemitsu was at the office all day and came home for dinner but that was the extent of how much they interacted. He asked about Tsuna's day and everything but there wasn't the companionship he felt with his mother. She was so open and never made him feel terrible.

A sob wracked through him, making his chest hurt. He was used to mild pain by now, his lungs would randomly feel like he was breathing in fire instead of oxygen, but the kind of pain he felt wasn't physical. It was the weight of knowing he'd never see his mom again. The fact the last he saw of her was a burnt face and a grateful smile. Everything in him hurt with the fact his mom was gone.

He tried to rub away his tears. He really hated crying but it was all he could do. What else could he do?

Reborn knocked on his doorway, leaning against it and looking out into the hall. He wasn't going to intrude if Tsuna didn't want him and he recognized that Tsuna just needed to cry.

"Is there anything you need?" He asked simply.

Tsuna sniffed, typing out a message, he knocked on his bedside table to get Reborn to look over and he tossed his phone to Reborn. He caught it effortlessly and read the following message, "I'm just sad. My mom was really the only person I could talk to since I was always bullied in my old school. It looks like it'll be no different here since people are doing things to make me miserable. Don't go out of your way to do anything though."

Reborn rolled his eyes and walked over to Tsuna's bed. He sat down gingerly on the edge, like he was ready to spring up at the drop of a hat, and handed Tsuna his phone. "It's part of my job as your roommate to listen to you. But that doesn't mean I'll listen to you just because I have to. And I can't help you unless you want it. Just tell me when you need me."

Tsuna seemed shocked. His lip quivered as he tried to not start sobbing again. Reborn started to get up but seemed to pause, looking over at Tsuna with dolefully.

"Don't hold it in. If not me, find something to help you express what your emotions."

Reborn left without another word and Tsuna felt lighter. Reborn was nothing but a stranger at this point yet he had a way with words. This stranger at least cared for him, if above anything else. Even if it was just slightly.

He wished he could have said he slept soundly but nothing was ever that simple.

Tsuna had been having nightmares for a while, ever since he had been brought home. The doctors had tried convincing him to use sleeping medication but he always slept too long and too deep. He didn't like sleeping as deep as he had, it freaked him out and it felt like he might never wake up again.

This nightmare wasn't even coherent though. He woke up and was just scared. There wasn't a reason but there was an aching, all too familiar ball of nerves at the base of his throat that let him know that he should be scared.

And he was. His gut twisted and clawed as it writhed, his head pounded with his heart, his entire body started hurting and tingling and the scars he had on crawling up along his arms seared. Tsuna's breathing picked up and he started trying to untangle himself from the blanket but he just got himself more stuck and fell out of bed.

He flinched when he hit the ground, more for the fact he knew that Reborn would probably wake up. He tried to be quiet as his knees hit the ground with another too loud thump. He crept along the floor, picking himself up carefully as he stepped into the hallway. There was a dim light on in the hall, a night light plugged into the socket about halfway. It was enough to light the floor three feet [92 cm] on either side

"Why are you up?" A voice asked behind him. Tsuna jerked and looked behind him fearfully. He relaxed when it was just Reborn, who else would it be, and he tried to laugh it off. But Reborn just looked at him meaningfully, waiting for an answer.

Tsuna fumbled to do something. He didn't know very many signs and he didn't have a notepad or his phone with him and he looked hopelessly at Reborn. He positioned his thumb, index, and middle finger towards the ground but Reborn shook his head.

"You did the sign wrong. You have to splay them out more. There you go; keep going." Reborn urged.

Tsuna held up his pinky. Then his first three fingers positioned horizontally before finally making a 'v' shape in the air. Reborn took a second to figure out what Tsuna was trying to say.

"Suimin?" He asked for clarification. Tsuna nodded, smiling a little. He put up his pinky twice more before making a claw with his fingers. Reborn nodded as he got it. "You can't sleep. Bad dream?"

Tsuna nodded, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably.

"Do you want to tell me about it or would you rather calm down?"

Tsuna held up to fingers, implying he wanted to calm down first.

"Is there anything you need?" When Tsuna shrugged, Reborn uncrossed his arms and stepped towards him, herding Tsuna into the kitchen. "There's no use sitting in your room then since it just feels suffocating."

He was pushed into the bright kitchen, the yellowed light hurting his eyes and he had to blink away the pain. Reborn moved about the kitchen, gathering cups, setting water to boil, pulling things out of the cupboard resting over the sink. Tsuna stood uncomfortably in the doorway, fidgeting with his shirt hem.

"This is where you live as much as it is where I live, Tsuna. I won't be mad if you make yourself feel comfortable." Reborn said, leaning against the counter. Tsuna tried to look abashed but it made him feel worse. He hated this new environment he was forced into. There was nothing good about this entire thing.

"Do you want me to teach you more sign language to take your mind off of everything?" Reborn asked. Tsuna nodded eagerly. He really didn't like not being able to talk to people. He just hoped there was at least somebody that knew JSL so it wouldn't be as hard.

The two spent the next hour going over the alphabet. Reborn made sure Tsuna had the entire thing down pact before he even suggested going back to bed. When he did, Tsuna stiffened, not sure what would greet him if he went to bed.

"I'm not going to say you'll be fine, Tsuna, but you can't live in fear. It makes it worse." Reborn said. He got up from the table pushed to the corner of the kitchen and made his way back to his own room. Tsuna stared at his back forlornly and couldn't help but thinking, 'He's quite handsome for a supposed 17 year old.'

But he managed to force himself to bed, fading in and out of sleep. He was never asleep long enough to dream and was restless the rest of the night. He was just glad there was no nightmare even beginning.

Tsuna woke up to Reborn shaking him. They locked eyes and Reborn straightened, saying, "If you don't get up soon, you'll be late."

He wasn't lying and Tsuna had to rush to get ready. He dragged a brush through his hair while he tried to brush his teeth. His clothes were haphazardly thrown on himself and he tried to make himself look somewhat okay before he left his dorm.

People from all over town were allowed to visit today and he needed to look at least a little presentable. He would most likely see people he knew so he wanted to at least not be made fun of for his appearance.

When the bell rang signalling that class was in for the day, Tsuna slipped in. The teacher walked in a few minutes behind him and he sighed in relief, successfully avoiding a detention.

He wanted to do better here at his studies then when he was at Namimori Middle. It was embarrassing to have people shout his nickname in recognition when he walked in that first day on campus. Few people recognize him as Dame-Tsuna, but most recognized him as Sawada Tsunayoshi who lost his kindhearted mother. Some looked with mild respect at him when he passed and he was glad that he was able to pass off as likeable on his first day.

Sighing, he opened the lunch he got from the school. They insisted that he take something each day and took it upon himself to eat what they gave him. He looked out the window as he absentmindedly lifted the chopsticks to his mouth.

A voice said, right beside him, "Useless-Tsuna?", and he couldn't help but turn towards the call. People used it as his regular name in Namimori middle so he was used to reacting to it. It earned a couple laughs from some of the students that heard but most just ignored them.

The voice was home to one of his old classmates though; Yamamoto Takeshi. He was the jock, but he was a likeable jock that was getting by on his kindness and how good he was at baseball. Everybody was his friend and he seemed to enjoy the attention. Yamamoto seemed more human in this school though; just visiting a friend that was admitted here by worried parents.

Yamamoto smiled easily down at Tsuna who felt his lips twitch in response. He had nothing against Yamamoto, heck, he was the only person that gave Tsuna the time of day sometimes.

"Hey Tsuna!" He said. He pulled out a seat from a neighbouring desk and sat down. "Nice to see you're okay now. I heard that you can't speak; is that true?"

Tsuna shrugged, nodding. He looked down at his lunch again and poked through some of the rice.

"Well, I'm just here for our class as they heard about Oliver transfering and decided to make a card. Sorry but I don't have one for you as they didn't make one. But I'll come back tomorrow so we can talk some more, sound good? I'll even bring a card for you!"

Tsuna was smiled, nodding. Yamamoto chattered casually with Tsuna the rest of the time until Oliver walked in from talking with his own room mate. He wished Tsuna a good day and made the same easy conversation with Oliver, the two joking and prodding fun at each other.

Tsuna tried not to linger on the two talking but he couldn't help it. He was lonely as he never had that companionship that the two had. It was hard thinking that he might never get to joke around like that.

He wasn't able to think that long though as Reborn took Yamamoto's vacated seat. Tsuna jerked back in surprise making Reborn stare at him in disdain.

"What? You think I'm some goblin come for your gold?" He asked sarcastically.

Both of them had a small laugh over that. Reborn was back to his emotionless face quickly though and he tapped the desk beside Tsuna's lunch. "Don't stop eating just because I'm here, Tsuna. I know I'm a catch but you didn't eat this morning either."

Tsuna shrugged, continuing to pick at his food. Reborn watched him for a moment before looking away, looking where Tsuna had been.

"Isn't Yamamoto the name of that popular sushi place?"

Tsuna nodded, shrugging. He had been there once but it was so busy they had to leave since the store was running out of food. They hadn't expected as much customers as they had so Tsuna didn't get to have anything. He didn't mind though since his mother promised to take him later on. Guess that was another promise that wouldn't be fulfilled.

Reborn tapped the desk again, getting Tsuna's attention. "There's no use thinking when you should be eating. Here's a deal: I'll give you a pass on homework tonight if you finish half of this lunch."

Deals and bets weren't really where Tsuna liked to be but missing out on homework was a better thing to keep him going.

Edited: 02/01/16

I feel so bad this took me almost a month to update. I am so sorry about this. But what I said about the night terrors is true to a point. The websites all said the same thing as the child would usually shake from fear, scream with wide eyes, and bolt upright in bed. So it just worked out perfectly since it also said it happened when they were moved to a new and unfamiliar place.

Good to know that this is a good story from the reviews, thanks to everyone who did. I'll try to be more diligent about the updates but no promises.

-Gate