Yamamoto and Gokudera were waiting for Tsuna to answer the door. Somehow, Yamamoto was able to drag Gokudera with him to hang out with Tsuna. Since it was the end of class most people like to leave as go into town. The curfew was eight on Fridays thankfully so there was a lot of time for them.
"Oh come on, don't be like that. Like I said, Tsuna's nice." Yamamoto protested. Gokudera was looking angry at having to come. "And he recently lost his mother too, maybe you two can bond or something." Yamamoto said.
Gokudera bristled. "Fuck off."
Yamamoto smile back. He wasn't bothered by how harsh Gokudera was.
The door opened finally opened. Reborn looked at them briefly, his hands behind his back.
"Tsuna?" Reborn asked.
"Yep!" Yamamoto said cheerfully. "We promised him that we would go out tonight. Oh, this is Gokudera Hayato, he's my new roommate."
Yamamoto kept his grin as he stepped in.
Gokudera mumbled, "I can introduce myself, idiot"
Reborn raised an eyebrow but looked over at Gokudera. "Your sister's here."
"What the hell! Give me some warning next time. I'm not ready to-"
"Don't care. I'll go get Tsuna." Reborn started to walk off but seemed to remember something, making him turn around to face the two. "Don't smoke around Tsuna.."
"The school made me quit." Gokudera said gruffly.
"A lot of students here have asthma." Reborn said almost as an afterthought. "Be careful what you get into. It's a small town."
Reborn left. They could hear him talking to Tsuna. "Dumb and Dumber are here for you," Reborn said.
"Who?" Tsuna asked.
"Just go look. I'm tired. Don't ask me to bail you out if you're out passed curfew.
"I thought ms. Bianchi was with you. So you're just going to sleep with her?"
"Choose your words better. She can leave whenever she wants. She's good at cuddling though."
Tsuna felt slightly weirded out hearing that last part. He wasn't sure if he was ready to delve that far into Reborn's personal life.
He was saved by Reborn walking to his room. Tsuna wandered out and saw Yamamoto and Gokudera both standing in the doorway. Yamamoto must have said something because Gokudera looked ready to kill him.
"Hey," Tsuna said.
"Hey!" Yamamoto repeated. "Are you ready to go out?"
"What? You were serious about that? We aren't allowed to go out guys." Tsuna said anxiously.
"Yeah we are. Everybody does it on Fridays. Come on we'll go to an arcade! And when were done we can watch a movie!"Yamamoto smiled so excitedly Tsuna felt like he couldn't say no.
"Alright let me get a jacket in case it gets cold. Reborn might lock the door to so I might have to take a key." Almost as if realizing something, Tsuna hide his arms behind his back quickly. He almost ran down the hall to get a sweater and hastily put it on. The two were still waiting for him and left when he put his shoes on.
"So where are we going first?" Tsuna asked as they stepped out of the school.
"Well I was thinking we could go get something to eat first since I'm hungry." Yamamoto said.
"When are you not hungry." Gokudera grumbled.
"When I'm sleeping!" Yamamoto exclaimed. "Nobody's ever hungry when they're asleep."
"Actually you just don't feel it because your brain doesn't focus on it in your sleep." Gokudera reasoned.
"I don't get it." Yamamoto said. "If the brain is doing your dreams and making everything bam, how does it know its hungry?"
"It doesn't. That's what I said. It doesn't focus on the stomach's messages saying it needs food because its regulating your breathing and heartbeat."
"Is it your brain is too busy going bam that the gurgle of you tummy when sleeping?"
"What the fuck did you just say?"
Yamamoto didn't answer as he realized Tsuna wasn't walking with them.
"Tsuna!" He called. "What's up?"
"Mukuro is texting me." Tsuna said when he caught up with them.
"Ohh. What's he saying?" Yamamoto asked.
"He's asking where I am. I just told him we were going to an arcade and to watch a movie."
"Invite him to the movie! You've been gushing about him for weeks now. Let us meet him."
"It hasn't been weeks."
Yamamoto looked at Gokudera in exasperation. "Mukuro is a roommate in a higher grade. He's been talking to Tsuna for a while. The last couple weeks he's stepped up the charm on Tsuna."
"I know. I was there the last two weeks." Gokudera growled.
"Oh, you were? That's right! You were! I forgot because its been exam week and you went to a better place."
"I didn't die, idiot! I went to a more advanced class. Why they put me into a dumbass class, I won't know."
"Yeah, you're a student that easily gets 100s." Tsuna said. "You're obviously smarter than us."
Gokudera shrugged, trying not to look too mean. "I-I wouldn't say I'm smarter. I'm just good at b-books."
"Guys, that's the arcade up there! Let's go!" Yamamoto said. He pulled Gokudera with him as he jogged up to the doors.
"What the hell! You said we were getting something to eat first." Gokudera protested.
"This is more fun. Right, Tsuna?"
"Right", Tsuna said. He smiled encouragingly. He had to answer Mukuro before he followed. Mukuro seemed a little on edge about him going out though. Tsuna brushed it off and said they would talk later. They could even get Mukuro and watch the movie with him.
He walked into the building and saw Gokudera and Yamamoto already furiously playing a boxing game. Gokudera was the only one doing it angrily though. Yamamoto seemed to be having the time of his life. As Tsuna walked up he heard Yamamoto say, "Half of the school's betting on when they'll get together."
"Betting when who'll get together?" Tsuna asked.
Gokudera jumped, making Yamamoto get the last punch in. "Oh what the hell!" Gokudera exclaimed. "This game is rigged. The math was so easy; how could I not win!"
Yamamoto shrugged and turned to face Tsuna. "What do you wanna play, Tsuna?"
Soon all three of them were playing games and having a great time. Gokudera even smiled. Tsuna was happy that they were able to hang out together. He didn't get out much as he always never had a friend to go out with.
This school really was a new start.
The three made their way out of the arcade at six; two hours after they had entered. Tsuna had been given a cheap set of hair clips as a joke and Yamamoto and Gokudera both got a matching pair of themed star wars sunglasses. It's like a flip had switched and Gokudera was animatedly telling them about theories he had about the Star Wars universe.
"-so that's why I think Jar Jar Binks is a Sith Lord." Gokudera said. He has given them a whole lecture on it and Tsuna felt like his brain melted from the terms. He had never seen Star Wars in his life but he wasn't about to say that after Gokudera got so excited.
"So, what happened to Binks then. Did he just disappear in the prequels?" Tsuna asked.
"I don't know. I haven't watched the prequels for a while. I don't like them." Gokudera said.
"Why not?" Yamamoto asked.
"I find the writing and execution is poor at best and the CGI is really over the top. Some people do like them but I'm not one of them. I find it doesn't really tell the story as well as they could have."
"Huh, I haven't watched the prequels so I don't know how bad they are." Tsuna said. Gokudera shrugged.
"Where are we eating? I'm hungry." Gokudera announced.
"We could go to my dad's sushi place." Yamamoto offered.
"You guys have the best sushi." Tsuna said.
"Then let's get Gokudera some! He's never had it, right?"
"No I've never had your stupid sushi."
"Then let's go!" Yamamoto exclaimed as he dragged Gokudera off. Gokudera was kicking and spitting with curses flying every second word as he was dragged through the streets. Tsuna found this was a perfect time to leave them and take a shortcut.
The only reason he knew the shortcut was there was because he put a piece of bright orange tape onto the concrete wall. It was a good way to remember. Most people just thought it was random graffiti on the walls as a lot if gangs liked to spray paint along it. But it was just a reminder to Tsuna that he need to take this road for his shortcut.
He was even surprised he found it in the first place. He was just running from people. They were the nastier people in his old school. They thought chasing him was fun. They never actually hurt him when they caught him; and they caught him a lot. They just high fived each other, maybe kicked him in the ribs a couple of times. But nothing more than that. It was perplexing.
In his shortcut route, he could still hear Gokudera cussing up a storm. He was glad he took this route. At least then he wouldn't have people looking at him weird.
But he also met up with his old bullies.
Out if all the days in the year, it was this day that he met with them. The one day he was having fun and he met up with the only people in the world he'd rather never see again. And if course they noticed him too.
"Hey! There's idiot-Tsuna!" One called. He never cared to learn their names really. They were just dubbed with bullies number one, two, three, four, and five. This time there were one, three, and five in the group. Two and four were gone. Tsuna really couldn't miss them. Especially when they used his annoyingly demeaning nickname.
"Hello", Tsuna muttered. He gave a polite smile and tried to walk past quickly.
"Oh no you don't!" Number three called. He grabbed Tsuna's wrist and pulled him back. "I gotta say, you're looking right happy today."
"Well, I-I am with friends." Tsuna said. He tried to squirm away from them but number three's grip tightened.
"What are these?!" Number five exclaimed. He pushed back Tsuna's sleeve and made a show about looking over Tsuna's arm. "Man, I never knew you had such a chaotic life there, dame-Tsuna. Why so many cuts?"
"They're n-none of your business." Tsuna said. All three whistled. Like they were impressed.
"Wow, dame-Tsuna grew up. Now he can talk back." Number one said.
"I say if he likes to cut up his arms, why not let him keep going." Number three suggested.
"No! No stop it!" Tsuna cried. He struggled harder and almost got away from number three. But five came up and grabbed him around the waist, pushing him to the ground.
This was a deserted back street so nobody would hear him screaming sadly. Tsuna was resigned to whatever they were going to do because he was weak. But suddenly the pressure on his back was gone and people were screaming.
Tsuna had no idea what was happening but rolled over to the wall anyways. That way people wouldn't step on him. It was a good idea too because there were loud noises of things hitting the ground, like somebody had released an entire pack of tic tacs onto the ground.
He looked up carefully and saw Mukuro holding a slumped over number five. The other two were groaning on the ground, just starting to be able to move.
"Don't you dare catch let me catch you near him again." Mukuro growled. Number five whimpered and nodded. "Get out of here."
The three scrambled off. Tsuna could only think, "I've never been more attracted to somebody then right now."
"Hello, Tsunayoshi." Mukuro said.
"Hey." Tsuna responded. "I didn't know you were in these parts. I thought you were with Chrome."
"She asked if we could get something to eat so I promised to go get something for the both of us. I like to take this shortcut as its faster to the convenience store on the other side of town. They have the best chocolate."
"I never took you as a chocolate eater."
"Yes, you don't know a lot of things about me. So, who were these people?" Mukuro looked down and Tsuna couldn't help but be embarrassingly lost in his red and blue eyes.
"Um well," Tsuna let out a small cough, feeling his face heat up a little. ""T-They were some of my friends from my old school."
Mukuro raised an eyebrow and sat next to Tsuna. He stretched his leg out lazily, tilting his head against his shoulder to look at Tsuna. "Not very good friends if they're tossing you around." Mukuro tucked a piece of hair behind Tsuna's ear. "Are you alright? You were screaming quite loudly."
Tsuna rubbed his throat absently as if he just noticed how tender his throat had felt. "I didn't notice. Guess speech therapy's working." He gave a half-hearted smile and a laugh; Mukuro humoured him.
"What happened?" Mukuro asked suddenly. He pointed to the joint on Tsuna's wrist. His sleeve was still pushed up a little. He hurriedly pushed his sleeve down while muttering, "I-I don't want to talk about it."
"You can tell me. I won't poke fun. Unless you don't think I'm good enough."
"N-No you are. It's just-well they're from a skin graft. I think that's what it's called. I-I can't really ever remember the name of it. I'm guessing you know about the fire that happened in Namimori Middle School? That destroyed the insides of half the building?"
"I can't recall I have. What happened?"
"...Nevermind." Tsuna said. He didn't feel like getting into and felt like he would probably cry if he tried. "I don't think I can talk about it. I-I'm sorry I can't. It was nice seeing you." Tsuna got up, dusting off his pants. "Thank you for helping me. Are you going to my dorm later for movie night?"
Mukuro shrugged lazily. "I'm not sure. Chrome might want to stay in tonight. Of course, she's obviously invited?"
"Of course! If she wants to come, she can. But are you?"
Mukuro got up as well. He was graceful and fluid and made Tsuna feel awkward with watching. He turned his eyes to where there was an abandoned sales hut. The window was boarded up with graffiti scrawled over it. Mukuro touched Tsuna's chin, making him look over in shock.
"I'll think about it." Mukuro almost purred. He leaned in close but a shrill ringing caught them both off guard. Tsuna stepped away and patted his pockets, trying to find his phone to see if it was his.
Tsuna expected it was probably Yamamoto calling, asking where he was. But it was...His brother.
"What?" Tsuna breathed.
"Who is it?" Mukuro asked. He stepped closer and peered at the name. There were two; Giotto but in brackets there was Ieyasu.
"I-It's my brother. I didn't think he had my phone number. I didn't even think he wanted to talk to me. Just a second."
Tsuna answered the phone shakily. "Hello?" He greeted.
"Hello, did I get the right number?" This was definitely his brother.
"Who are you looking for?" Tsuna really didn't want to believe that he was the reason his brother went out of his way to call him and figure out his number.
"Well, are you looking for Sawada Tsunayoshi?"
"Yes! Is this who I'm talking to?"
"Um, yeah. This is him. Uh, Tsuna. How did you get my number? I thought you were still in Rus-Russer. I can't say it."
Giotto laughed. "Russia. I left last week. I decided to fly home for a few weeks. It's been a while and I wanted to catch up with my favourite family member. Your voice changed."
"I thought dad was your favourite because he's the only one that let you eat candy. And yeah, I just recently got my voice back."
"Well, him too. He doesn't talk as much. He's the reason I got your number though. Somebody called the house and left a message, telling him your number. He wouldn't say what it was about. But I'm at the airport right now. I have about an hour to kill before I have to check in."
"So you really are coming back?" Tsuna felt his pulse quicken slightly. Giotto hadn't been home for almost a full nine months.
"Yes. Don't tell dad I'm coming back. He gets weird about it if he knows after I...told him."
"He didn't take it very well. You met somebody that helped right?"
"Yes, most of my friends are coming back with me anyways. You'll get to meet all but two."
"Why two?"
"One of them is taking exams this week, the other doesn't like to be in a bigger group of people. So the rest shall come but they might branch off and meet with family since some are from Japan as well."
"And you met them just walking through Europe?"
"I went through western Asian countries too, Tsuna. They were all on their own and seemed to enjoy talking to me. I'm glad it went well at least because I have better friends than before." There was distant voices in the background and Giotto paused to listen. "I have to go now, dear brother. They're boarding early. I'll call you when I can."
Tsuna hung up after Giotto did. His face was way too hot and his hands started shaking in his excitement. Mukuro looked at him curiously but Tsuna wasn't sure if he could even talk through his excitement and the fact his throat felt almost raw.
"Should you tell your friends that you can't make it?" Mukuro asked bemusedly.
"Maybe." Tsuna said. He pulled out his phone and told them anyways. He got an instant response from Yamamoto full of exclamation points and emojis. Tsuna snickered from how excitable he was and put his phone away.
They walked back to the school silently. Mukuro carefully slipped his hand into Tsuna's as they walked. Tsuna really wasn't sure how he felt about it but let it anyways. They arrived at the school in time for Yamamoto and Gokudera to jog up to the doors.
"Hey, Tsuna!" Yamamoto called. He waved and caught the door from Mukuro. "Sorry we lost you back there. I'm sure you had your own fun!"
He seemed to side-eye Mukuro and gave a subtle thumbs up as he passed Tsuna. He tried not to blush and scream like he wanted to but Yamamoto was making it hard not to.
"Who the fuck is this?" Gokudera asked, pointing to Mukuro.
"Mukuro Rokudo; pleasure." Mukuro answered. He bowed his head slightly and seemed to smirk at Gokudera.
"I met him last month. He's been busy with finals so there hasn't been a time where I could introduce you guys. Sorry." Tsuna fidgeted with his sleeve. "He's coming to watch the movie with us."
Yamamoto grinned, throwing an arm around both Gokudera and Mukuro. The two stiffened in sync. Gokudera was the only one to react and elbowed Yamamoto in the stomach.
"Get off me, asshole." Gokudera growled. Yamamoto made a placating gesture and stepped back. "Don't touch me. But how the hell did you meet?"
"Oh, well, Reborn gave me a bunch of papers to take to his room. His roommate dropped them and ran off before she could pick them up. And Mukuro was the one to answer the door." Tsuna scratched at his neck but Gokudera seemed satisfied.
"Whatever. Let's go."
"Alright, we better go pick out something to watch before Reborn gets out there. He'll most likely kick us out too." Tsuna said. He ushered all of them up the stairs hurriedly, trying to get out of the main foyer.
They all piled into Tsuna's dorm and onto the couch. Reborn seemed nowhere in sight but it smelled like food had been cooked so Bianchi must have helped him cook something while they were gone. Tsuna wouldn't be surprised if Reborn did it all himself.
It was easy to decide which movie they watched because nobody cared what it was. As long as it was something. Tsuna couldn't remember a single detail as to what happened either because they ended up talking the entire time. Mukuro was probably the only one watching the movie.
In the middle of it, Tsuna felt his phone vibrate. He had gotten an email he got from Reborn. It said, "If your friends and you don't quiet down in the next three minutes, I can't promise this will end well. Come to my room when they're quiet."
Tsuna didn't want to know what Reborn was going to do. So he quickly shushed everybody. "Reborn's trying to sleep I think. He just emailed me telling us to be quieter."
"What is he, a soccer mom?" Mukuro asked. Tsuna was concerned for Mukuro's well being after that comment.
"I'll be right back. Just keep watching the movie without me." Tsuna said. He stepped around the couch carefully, trying not to trip over all the legs. Everybody was taller than him and he hated it.
Reborn's room was at the very end of the hall and every single step felt like Tsuna's last. When you woke Reborn uo, you prayed a collective prayer to every deity you knew. The floor creaked every step he took and he winced every time. Reborn was terrifying when he was cranky; he was also cranky about ninety percent of the time. Unless he was just like that naturally.
Tsuna honestly didn't know. All he knew right now was that he didn't want to go into Reborn's room when he was just woken up. There was a high possibility he would have something done to him.
And he was absolutely right. Reborn had put saran/plastic wrap across the door frame where Tsuna's face would hit when he walked in. Tsuna had to resist the urge to scream as he stumbled back. He was able to catch himself on the wall but it was close.
"Come on in." Reborn called, like he hadn't been the cause for Tsuna's face being caught in plastic wrap.
"Reborn! Why the heck did you do that!" Tsuna said accusingly.
"You guys were being loud. One of you had to be punished." Reborn said. He was laying down underneath the blanket but Tsuna swore Reborn was smiling.
"Is that all you called me in here for?"
"No, you're going to get me candy for waking me up."
"It's passed curfew, Reborn. I can't leave the dorm, let alone the school."
"You're so boring, Tsuna. You honestly think people follow that rule? Do you honestly think I don't have ways to leave the dorm and building undetected?"
"Well, I'm clumsy. I'll trip over everything and make people have to come out and see what's happening. Get somebody else to do it." Tsuna started to walk away but he felt something cold hit against his neck.
"I'm not done talking to you, Tsuna. Get back here." Reborn said icily.
"What did you just-did you just throw snow at me? It's the middle of the fall. Where did you get snow?" Tsuna screeched. Reborn motioned for him to calm down.
"I have my ways. Now go get me candy. And make sure its sour too. Take Mukuro with you or something. Just be back before ten because that's when security guards make their rounds."
"I never said-"
"I'll do one essay for you if you do this by the way. Take it or leave it. Of course, you're the one that woke me up in the first place so I don't know why I'm offering you anything."
"Deal. Can it be for any subject?"
"Yes, any subject. As long as you're back before midnight, have my candy, and haven't been caught. Now go." Reborn rolled over so he was facing the wall. Tsuna presumed he had fallen asleep again but he could never be sure.
Tsuna tried his hardest to be stealthy about leaving too. He didn't expect that it would work because he was the clumsiest person he knew. But Mukuro noticed. Gokudera and Yamamoto were engrossed in the film they had been watching now that they finally settled. They seemed to have started it over. Mukuro didn't care for watching it though as he saw Tsuna try and inch by.
"Where are you going?" Mukuro asked softly. Tsuna would have screamed if it wasn't for Mukuro's patient hand over his mouth. "Please, you'll alert the other two."
Tsuna nodded slowly and wiggled his mouth free. "I'm going to the convenience store. Reborn wants candy so I'm getting it for him. Want to come with?"
"Sure", Mukuro breathed. "Is there any reason for me to stay without you around?"
Tsuna tried to ignore that comment and focused on getting his shoes in the dark. By the time he had crept out of the dorm with Mukuro, it was already quarter to nine. Reborn honestly thought it would take him an hour to get candy?
Mukuro seemed perplexed at the timing though. "I never thought it was as late as it was." He commented.
"Yeah, I hear some people say, 'time flies when you're having fun.'"
"I can tell you it certainly does." Mukuro slipped an arm around Tsuna's waist. "Tell me, what store are we going to? We've made it out of the building, but what now?"
"Well, there's one on the corner. Maybe. I could be reading the sign wrong. There's also another one the opposite. It's farther away but there's more in it."
"Let's go to the bigger one then. Reborn would appreciate the choice."
Tsuna shrugged. He was fine with anything. As long as it meant he was able to be back before midnight like Cinderella.
Mukuro wasn't bothered to take his arm away either as they walked. It was almost cold so they could get away with it. It was almost welcome as the wind was cold and Tsuna's sweater wasn't the thickest against wind. Mukuro didn't mind either as he felt Tsuna press closer to his side.
"How was your day, Tsunayoshi?" Mukuro asked. He was taking a stab at idle conversation. Tsuna really didn't expect Mukuro to ask how his day was though.
"It was fine. I got to have a day out with my friends. I got some hair clips as a final prize from the two."
"Where are they?"
"In my pocket. I wore this sweater. Why?" Tsuna looked up in curiosity.
"I'll put them in your hair for you." Mukuro said simply. He stepped back, giving Tsuna room to root through his pockets. "Your bangs are in your face anyways."
Tsuna shrugged, pulling out the clips. They were simple and in the yellowed street light they glowed almost blue from the metallic paint. There was a design of a flower at the end of it and Mukuro let out a small, almost eerie chuckle at it.
"How cute, Tsunayoshi." He said. He took the clips from Tsuna and carefully put the in Tsuna's hair. There wasn't much of a difference but Tsuna's hair was out of his face at least. Mukuro trailed a careful hand down the side of Tsuna's face.
Tsuna coughed and turned his face downwards, stepping back half a step. "We should get going." Tsuna said a little too highly. He coughed again and hoped his voice dropped. "We can't have Reborn waiting long. I'll be the one paying for it."
"Well, we could let him. He never said we had to hurry." Mukuro said. He gave a sultry smile that made Tsuna a little uneasy.
"Well, let's at least get everything first. We're almost there!"
Tsuna almost ran ahead in his haste. He was so nervous. He felt like Mukuro was going to kiss him. He couldn't have that. He didn't know how he felt about Mukuro yet. And even if he did, why would anybody want to date him? There was no reason to it and Tsuna wasn't sure how to react.
In the store, they found what the needed easily. There was all kinds of sour candy. The one that stood out were these gummies coated in sugar to make them sour. It was as good as anything they could get. They got a couple different kinds because Reborn never specified.
Tsuna started shivering as the water from the snow started dripping down his neck. He had almost completely forgot about the snow slowly melting down his shirt.
"Mukuro," He said. "Can you help me out? There's water going down my back. Can you wipe it off? I-I can't reach it."
Mukuro seemed almost amused at the request. "I can." Mukuro leaned closer so nobody could hear him. "Step into an isle so nobody can watch us."
Tsuna did just that as he let Mukuro pull the sweater away from his back. Mukuro let out a small sound of surprise before anything though.
"What is it?" Tsuna asked. Was there some sort of mark on his skin?
"There's a bill here. It's in a plastic bag so it's not wet or anything.
"Reborn gave me money by throwing snow at me?" Tsuna asked hysterically.
"Must be."
Tsuna was still baffled when they left the store. He was carrying the bag they had in his arms, the change in his pocket, and the confusion in his mind. This was the most ridiculous thing Reborn had ever done with him. There was probably worse from when he was younger.
Mukuro let Tsuna blunder through baffled sentences as they walked back. He obviously wasn't very interested in the conversation but Tsuna didn't pay attention to that. He finally stuttered to a stop on his own as he realized they would have to make it back inside.
"If we left through a back door, how are we going to get back in?" Tsuna asked.
"I scale the building." Mukuro suggested.
"What, no. You'd fall off."
"Oh no, I've done it plenty of times before. It's perfectly safe. There are footholds people put on their window sills for you. Quite a few people do it to see their friends or partners after hours."
"You aren't getting hurt for this. We can take the same route as last time. We'll just walk faster back into our dorm. So no building climbing-!" Tsuna was cut off by Mukuro tackling him behind a bush conveniently placed behind them. Tsuna breathed harshly as he started to ask what happened but Mukuro put a hand against Tsuna's mouth.
"Somebody;s coming." Mukuro muttered in Tsuna's ear. "Act natural."
But the minute he said to act natural, Tsuna felt an overwhelming sense of fear collide into his chest. They were going to get caught. It was dark out but the person probably had a flashlight. And the bush was barely covered with leaves anymore so if there was a flashlight then it'd easily go through the leaves and they'd be caught.
Mukuro seemed calm about it though and just casually straddled Tsuna's thighs like it was a comfortable, old leather chair. Tsuna had no idea where to put his hands so he awkwardly let them drop onto his stomach. This was so weird. He wasn't used to this level of intimacy.
"Tell me a story." Mukuro said, distracting Tsuna. "Tell me about your brother. What made him go to Europe?"
Tsuna sighed out. He hesitantly let his hands rest on Mukuro's knees. "Well, he got hurt at school a couple years ago. Somebody pushed him out of a two story window by accident. He won't tell us if it was an accident or in purpose. He broke three of his ribs; his lung was punctured; he had a broken arm; a fractured leg; and a concussion. The doctor put him on heavy pain medication so he wouldn't be able to feel much, other than being numb.
"But when he was healed and out of therapy, he was more angry. He just stuck in his room most of the time. Mom" Tsuna paused, feeling his throat close up. He cleared it a little bit but he talked even quieter than before. "...My mom tried to get him to eat but he just wouldn't come out long enough to talk to us. He stuck to his room or he was out till morning.
"But he had a drug problem. He got hooked on the pain medicine and that led to others. He decided that backpacking through Europe might help himself. His best friend was going with him so he'd be able to work through going off it completely as his best friend held no patience for drug use."
"So this entire time he's been walking through Europe?" Mukuro asked. He seemed almost in awe.
"No, he came back for m-my mom's funeral. I wasn't out of my sleep so I didn't see him. He visited me a couple of times too but he left to go to Germany after a couple days. He told me a little later that he wasn't able to stay long. He also is going through western Asia. But he's coming back today. I don't know why."
Tsuna held back a cough. He brought his sleeves up to his face to muffle it. He wasn't sure if the somebody Mukuro heard had walked off yet or had sat to listen to Tsuna's story. Mukuro didn't seemed bothered though as he shifted slightly against Tsuna.
"So, why don't you talk about your brother, Tsuna?" Mukuro asked after a beat of silence.
"There isn't much to talk about. There's four years between us so there wasn't much we had in common. We got along but we never actually became friendly." Tsuna shrugged. "I'm glad he's doing alright. His best friend isn't the one to budge once he's made up his mind."
Mukuro smiled, seeming to lean closer slightly. "It's good he has somebody. Do you have somebody like that?"
"Well, I-I have Reborn. That's the closest thing I've had to a friend all my life. D-Do you?"
"I would like to think so. But do you mind if I tell you something?" Tsuna shook his head. "Well, I would like to take you on a date and have you be another somebody for me. Is that alright with you?"
"Y-Yeah", Tsuna said breathlessly. "Yeah, we could do that. But do you mean as in dating or just...friends?"
"I mean as in dating, Tsunayoshi. Why else would I ask."
Tsuna felt dumb having asked now but he brushed it off. "I don't know why else. I've just...never had anybody ask me out before"
Mukuro laughed and Tsuna felt his breath ghost over his neck. "Don't worry. I'll be a lot of firsts for you. Can we start with one first right now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Can we get our first kiss out of the way? That way it isn't as awkward. And we'll be even closer."
Tsuna didn't trust himself to talk so he just nodded. Mukuro took it as he took Tsuna's face in his hands and gently slid their lips together.
It was wet and awkward but Tsuna loved every second of it. He was able to finally know what love was. It was the excited jitters he got from this. How much he wanted to be even closer. How he felt like nothing could go wrong. Because let's face it, this was probably the happiest Tsuna could feel right now as Mukuro slowly guided him through the kiss.
They broke briefly and Tsuna felt his entire body go red. He didn't think he could meet Mukuro's eye if it went on. And in a way he wouldn't have to as Mukuro was kissing Tsuna's neck gently, making Tsuna snicker as it tickled.
Tsuna's phone going off distracted them though. He scrambled to get it out of his pocket and Mukuro pulled back, looking curiously and somewhat annoyed at Tsuna.
It was Reborn emailing him. "I can see you two from my window and I know you have my candy so walk around the hedge until you find a small balcony and jump onto it. It's an vacant room so the door is unlocked and there's no set alarm. It's 10:05, too. Bet's off." Reborn said.
Tsuna let out a small groan. Mukuro was looking curiously at him so Tsuna explained what was happening. They followed Reborn's instructions and found out that there was a lock on the balcony doors.
"Give me one of your hair clips, Tsunayoshi." Mukuro said. Tsuna did and watched as Mukuro unlocked the door for them.
They both carefully stepped through the room. It was empty with the basic, open floor plan of every dorm but there was a somewhat eerie feeling of walking through it. Like somebody was watching them. Tsuna tried to shake it off, putting it to only his imagination. Mukuro certainly didn't say anything.
That might have been because the security guy was coming down the hall too. So Mukuro pushed Tsuna back into the dorm, down the hall of the empty dorm, and into a supply closet that was at the end of it. Tsuna felt cramped, being pushed up against Mukuro like this. It wasn't a bad feeling it was just embarrassing as he had no idea where his hands went or where he looked so he wasn't staring.
Mukuro wasn't bothered though as he let his hands ghost over Tsuna's body; down his back, up his arms, across his hips, back down to his knee where they stopped and braced against the back of Tsuna's knee. Tsuna looked down at the hands on his knees, rubbing the side of his neck.
There wasn't much for them to do either. The security was coming into the room, the keys jingling as they unlocked the door. Every night the security people checked empty rooms to make sure nobody was hiding in them. It was a known fact it happened every five hours. It was just the fact of figuring out the schedule and not getting caught. Tsuna felt like they were going to get caught though, the one time he went out passed curfew.
But, almost like some higher power had heard his fears, there was a loud clang outside of the dorm. The footsteps that were rapidly approaching the door stilled before they receded.
There was a sharp call from the man as he ran, "Hey! You kids. Get back here!"
Mukuro and Tsuna looked at each other in confusion before Tsuna's phone buzzed. Reborn was emailing him again. "Run." Was all he said.
So that's what they did. And in record time, they made it back into the dorm before 10:20, when the roommates check in that everybody in the dorm was there.
Gokudera and Yamamoto were gone. Reborn probably told them to leave before the check in, Tsuna thought. Mukuro was probably going to have to stay the night or escape by scaling the building. That didn't bother him now. He was just curious where Reborn was.
"It's about time you came back." Reborn said. He was walking down the hall. "I was beginning to think I would have to call mom and tell her you were gone from your rooms."
"At least we actually got you the candy." Tsuna said. He held the bag out and Reborn walked forward to get it.
"Keep the change." Reborn said as he walked off. "And go to bed. It's later than when you usually go to bed."
Mukuro started walking forward. "So I guess I'm staying, aren't I?"
"Yeah, I guess so." Tsuna said breathlessly. He gave a smile, taking the lead to his room.
The next morning, Tsuna woke up to somebody knocking on the door. Mukuro wasn't beside him and he felt a twinge of sadness about it. But he didn't let it bother him as he struggled up, staggering out to see if he needed to get the door.
Reborn had it though. He looked like he had been up for hours already.
"Who is it?" Tsuna asked through a yawn. He rubbed his throat as it started hurting. Reborn looked back at him, his eyes almost showing anger.
"Somebody for you." Reborn said. He quickly regained his composure and let the person step in.
And, like he half expected, Giotto stepped in. It was still a shock for most people to see the two as they could be twins. The only differences were that Giotto had blond hair and amber eyes. Tsuna had brown eyes and hair. That was the only differences in their appearance though. Everybody would always why they weren't in the same year and never seemed to believe them when they said that Giotto was four years older than Tsuna was.
It was still a shock to see the amber eyes too. Tsuna grew up seeing them but after a year of his brother being gone, you almost forget about it.
Tsuna couldn't help the giddy smile he felt coming on. Giotto had a similar one. Reborn just looked bored as he left.
"Long time no see, Tsunayoshi." Giotto said. "Do you mind if I sit?"
"N-No, no not at all. Do you want anything to drink or eat? I have to get dressed so I need to-" Tsuna made a vague gesture behind him.
"Go. I'll keep. G should be coming up soon. Somebody stopped him in the lobby; he told me to go ahead."
Tsuna nodded, giving another week smile before he scampered off down the hall. He quickly threw on some jeans and a random t-shirt on his floor. He found socks underneath his bed and quickly brushed through his hair. He brushed his teeth and grabbed his sweater off the ground and he was ready.
Reborn met him outside his room, asking, "That's the brother?"
"Yeah, he is. Use Giotto. He doesn't like his old name." Tsuna answered.
"He doesn't know when to stop talking." Reborn said bitterly.
"What did he say?"
"Called me a girl like it was an insult. He's lucky I'm not angry today."
"You mean you're not angry all the time?"
"Like you would ever know." Reborn walked down the hall to his room. "If you need me, I'll be in my room. If not, don't worry about it."
Tsuna wasn't sure what the last part meant but it was too late to question it as Reborn had already closed the door. He shook it off and went to meet Giotto in the living room.
Giotto was patiently waiting, sat in a dining room chair. He looked up when Tsuna came down the hall and smiled. Tsuna gave a hesitant one back and sat across from Giotto.
"How are you, Tsunayoshi?" Giotto asked.
Tsuna shrugged. "I'm fine. I almost got caught past curfew last night so I'm a little tired. You?"
Giotto mirrored Tsuna shrug. "I'm waiting to hear back from a couple of my friends."
"I don't know who your friends are." Tsuna muttered. He sounded almost ashamed. It was a little maddening as Giotto was the reason he knew nothing about his brother because he cut contact with everybody.
Giotto smiled as he looked over. " While I was backpacking through Europe with G, we met up with Knuckles and everyone else along the way. There's Lampo, who had exams; Asari, who went to visit family in Tokyo; Knuckles is the one who agreed to check us in somewhere; G most likely got caught up in a chemistry lab; and Alaude didn't come since he'd rather stay in France close to his mother."
"Knuckles is the priest right?" Tsuna asked.
"Yes. Him being a priest is a reason he ended up following me around Europe. He helped me when I was about to have a relapse." Giotto shrugged. "I told him to go back to his church but he said this was much more exciting for him."
"So he's here because you're religious now?"
"No, he just wanted to follow me. We're friends as well." Giotto paused, looking around. "Anything fascinating like a love interest in your life?"
Tsuna looked away from Giotto, rubbing at his jaw, before nodding.
"What?" Giotto interrupted. "You're like 14. You don't need a boyfriend. You need to do your homework."
"I'm almost 16, Giotto."
"You're older than I thought, Tsuna." Giotto said in surprise.
"I'm a lot of things you once thought." Tsuna said under his breath. At Giotto's confused expression Tsuna gave a smile. "Nothing, I was talking to myself."
"You wouldn't want to start doing that. When you start answering, make sure you call help."
Tsuna felt his smile become more forced. "I'll try my best."
Giotto seemed to think before getting up. "I better go see where G went off to. I'll meet back later so I can show you where she's buried. Dad never showed you where, did he?"
"I was bedridden for months. He never tried to interact with me much after I came home." Tsuna said bitterly. He tried to smile reassuringly though.
"Mm, well I'll show you. You can bring your roommate if you want; I know how bad you are at remembering things."
"He might not want to come but I'll ask anyways." Tsuna knew for a fact that Reborn wouldn't want to either. He never seemed interested in any aspect of Tsuna's life in all honesty.
Giotto nodded and almost ran out of the dorm. Tsuna tried his best to ignore that as he went to his own room. He most likely had plenty of time to kill before he would have to think of going with Giotto. It was best to sleep now while he could instead of wanting to sleep the entire time the two were together.
edited: 05/15/16
i know some of these sentences might sound off or smth but i dont care lmao its like two in the morning. I hope if anybody's rereading the story as i go that you like the changes!
Reviews are appreciated!
-Gate