Verse: Arranged/contract marriages (plus X27).

Dedicated to Miniclio.

TW for second short: violence, mild gore, some explicit language.

1. trying to annul the engagement with the man that'll kill you for the heroine in the future is much harder than expected

This was the most nerve-wracking thing Tsuna had ever done in his life—well, lives, whatever. Ever since that nasty accident near a construction site and waking up in the most popular romance novel to date in his previous world, Tsuna was not a happy camper. No, he just had to go through some isekai bullshit that was the craze right now—then—and now his life was pretty much forfeit.

Because he was reincarnated as the son of Duke Caelus, the heroine's future bully and a target of all of her suitors' ire, especially his current fiancée, Bermuda von Veckenschtein, the eldest son of Archduke von Veckenschtein. The problem? Bermuda was going to murder him for the heroine after, well, it'd been a while since Tsuna had read the novel, but he definitely remembered the antagonist being killed in the name of love and vengeance and blah blah blah by Bermuda, who was one of the more terrifying suitors with his explosive temper and powerful dark magic.

Ugh, just thinking about it had Tsuna gagging. So, when he came to in the world and found out that the novel's antagonist had been knocked unconscious by falling from a tree (to spy on Bermuda training—dear lord, but awfully convenient for Tsuna), one of the first things Tsuna did was curate a very-detailed-but-not-so-detailed-that-it-made-him-suspicious presentation for when Bermuda visited out of courtesy of Tsuna's "tragic injury". Honestly, Tsuna had been through worse than a bump on the head, but his current parents had looked like they were preparing for his funeral.

And lo and behold, when the notorious Bermuda von Veckenschtein appeared in one of the tea rooms, Tsuna had the modesty to admit that the kid was handsome. Bermuda was tall for a twelve-year-old, with pale skin, silver eyes, and wavy black hair tied back in a small ponytail. He was decked in all black and gray; still, he pulled it off well, balancing between powerful and sophisticated with grace befitting of a noble child.

Tsuna didn't waste time getting to the point. "Good afternoon, my lord! Thank you for coming to see me today. There's something I must tell you in utmost importance if you'll allow me!"

Tsuna might be many things—clumsy, weak, cowardly—but he knew his manners, something that shocked the whole household. And he wasn't going to lead the pathetic life of Dame-Tsuna again this time around. (He was still working on convincing his current parents to support his dream of becoming an innkeeper or work in whatever hotel-equivalent field there was here; he was not letting his hospitality degree go to waste, damn it.)

Bermuda froze, the cup of tea hovering right before his lips. Tsuna frowned. That was…not what he expected. "Er, my lord, are you alright?"

Was Tsuna too forward? But Bermuda had always seemed like the no-nonsense type. Oh, shit—Bermuda was a kid now, that was when he was a teenager! They were even years away from the main plot! Maybe Tsuna should've read the prequels more seriously. Hey, he wasn't a fan of the series, just curious about all the hype. Plus, he'd been a working adult. He barely had time to feed himself, much less read through fifty volumes plus eight special editions of alternate endings.

"I…am fine," Bermuda said, staring at him over the brim of his dainty teacup. That was terrifying. And did his eyes seem darker? "You seem in high spirits despite your injury."

Tsuna laughed to ease the awkward tension and thumped his head before realizing his mistake with a wince. "Ah, well, you know, it's not that bad. Could've been worse. I'm a tough nut to crack. I'm alive and functioning great for the most part! And oh boy, did that get me thinking a lot. I'm alive." Tsuna sniffled for dramatic effect. "The doctor said I was dead for a little while, but then"—he made little jazz hands—"a miracle! Ta-dah! I'm alive!"

Oh god, he was rambling. He rambled when he was nervous, and Bermuda's increasingly intense stare wasn't helping at all.

"What?" Bermuda looked a little confused and really, the kid was adorable, more like a growling puppy. "You—"

Tsuna snatched up some parchment from the table, mindful of his cup and plate, and cleared his throat. He felt like he was presenting in front of a class, an experience he'd rather not revisit again. "Have you heard of the phrase that life flashed in front of your eyes when you die, my lord? Because that happened to me. I thought—I thought that there were so many things that I needed to do, that I could've done better, that I should've done instead. I—There were a lot of regrets." Tsuna wiped away his eyes to stop the tears, even if it was embarrassing. So, what if he mixed some truth? All the better to make this as convincing as possible. "It really put my life into some perspective, and I've spent the past few days thinking a lot about my regrets and would appreciate it if you listen to me without interrupting, thank you." If he rushed through those last words, neither of them said anything.

Glancing down at his shaking fingers, Tsuna refused to look at Bermuda. "I regret how I've treated Mama and Papa all the time—taking everything from them and never giving anything back. I'm working on it! We're going to take a trip to Papa's vineyards this weekend!" Tsuna was definitely scoping out the area for potential hotel-building as a future investment. "I regret treating all the servants here like—like trash and"—he chuckled—"I don't know why they make it so difficult for me to help them. I helped in the kitchen today though and baked those biscuits and macarons for you! I hope you like them." The chefs had a heart attack when Tsuna first entered the kitchen and stress-cooked a plethora of dishes. Now he was their precious little helper and coddled way too much. "And most of all, I regret not treating you like a human being. I've been obsessive about you for, um, really no other valid reason I can remember other than you being rich and from an important family. I guess being engaged to you was sort of a validation of my self-worth, but it just inflated my ego more than necessary."

All right. He was doing fine. This was great. Now the killer line: "And that's why I believe we should annul our engagement for both our peace of mind. I'm certain that there are other candidates worthy of your marriage and, hopefully, love."

Tsuna did a mental fist-bump. He didn't even stutter! This wasn't so bad after all.

A few seconds of silence passed before the seconds turned into minutes that had Tsuna sweating a little. He peeked at Bermuda just to gauge his reaction and was met with a terrifyingly blank face. Well, at least Bermuda would be one hell of a poker player. Also, was the room getting just a little darker or was there a storm brewing outside? Strange since Tsuna had ran around the garden this morning under the bright sun. There'd been no clouds in the sky then.

"I recant my earlier statement," Bermuda finally said, setting down his teacup. The small clink of glass made Tsuna involuntarily tense. His own instincts went haywire; there was an uncomfortable tug in his chest when he made eye-contact with Bermuda. The other's eyes were impossibly black now. "You are not well."

"What?" Tsuna nearly shrieked. "I am fine! Look, when you die or almost die, whatever, you—just end up resorting your priorities, okay? And hey, I'm a nuisance. You hate me! I know you do! All I ever did was—was cling onto you like a leech, stalk you any chance I got like a creep, and annoyed the hell out of you! You should be happy that I'm saying this out loud for the both of us! I'm even going against my pride to do this, so it'll be easier for you!"

And shouldn't Bermuda be happy? He hated the original son so much in the future that he ended up killing him! For a woman! If that wasn't romantic as fuck (messed up as it was), then Tsuna was going to eat his left shoe. He wanted to be far away from Bermuda and the main plot as much as possible. This was the first time he took an initiative in anything. Surely the gods or whatever higher being there was would take mercy on him; heck, even reward him for growing a spine.

There was a flash of pity in Bermuda's eyes. "Tsunayoshi, you should rest. You are stressed."

"What the hell? That's not how you should react!"

Bermuda pursed his lips. "Then how should I react?"

Tsuna threw his hands helplessly in the air. "I don't know, happy? Elated? You don't have to smile, but you should be leaving right now and taking that proposal back to your father." He flinched and stumbled over his chair when Bermuda rose. "Don't—Stay away!"

To Tsuna's utter horror and confusion, Bermuda looked almost pained before his face returned to his barely-kept poker face. His jaw was clenched so tight Tsuna thought he would break his teeth. "You…are afraid of me."

Flashes of little details from the novel about the antagonist's definite gruesome death had Tsuna gasping. "I—I—" He squeaked when Bermuda suddenly appeared before him, crouching, and with a hand gripping Tsuna's chin. Tsuna widened his eyes. Was he going to die again, here? Several years too early? Just because he wanted to get rid of an engagement that neither of them wanted.

"Who did this to you?" Bermuda said, his voice low. "Who poisoned your mind with such lies?"

"W—What?"

Suddenly, an adorable lion with little wings appeared near Bermuda's head in a flurry of orange lights and sparkles. "Congratulations!" it said in an overly-cutesy voice. "You successfully triggered the romance route with Bermuda von Veckenschtein! Wow, that's our heroine for ya! Still, it's early but—what the hell?" Tsuna would've laughed at the sudden change of tone from cute to menacing if Bermuda wasn't staring daggers at him. "You're not the heroine. Who the fuck are you?"

"Tsunayoshi," Bermuda said, "tell me. I'll seek vengeance in your name swiftly."

"Um." Tsuna had no idea what to do. He kept glancing back and forth between the two menacing presence. His overly stimulated brain couldn't take it anymore. He went out like a light.

2. not even death has a hold on you, baby, just enjoy the ride while it lasts

Gunshots, clanging metal, revved up engines, inhumane snarls, clicking bones—those sounds continued to haunt Tsuna at every corner. The world had gone to shit during his honeymoon and what a reckoning it was. His father had vehemently opposed the marriage, Nono had a heart attack a week before the wedding, and Tsuna could care less altogether. It was as if the universe was also against his perfect matrimony.

Well, all he had was a middle finger in response because he was in a life-or-death situation—again.

"Ts—Tsuna-san, the door's not gonna hold!" Shoichi, a high school student, said, his eyes wide.

Snarling zombies battered against the dented door with a ferocity even Tsuna had to admire for a second. He clicked his tongue and scanned the storage room for any other possible exits or items to pilfer. Of course, their run into the city just had to be ruined by a bunch of the undead like usual.

Akiko, Shoichi's older sister, shoved some more bandages and expired painkillers in her overpacked bag. "We got everything we can take from here. We need to go. Shoichi, get over here."

The siblings were resourceful and intelligent, which was one of the main reasons why Tsuna had let them follow him for his weekly run into Midori. They were also residents, making their knowledge of local stores and streets invaluable. It'd been forever since Tsuna had lived in his hometown, not since Nono and his father uprooted him when he was six-years-old the second Federico died.

"Parking lot's clear!" Kensuke said, peeking out the awning window. "Looks like a bunch of the bastards are at the door."

Tsuna really wanted a cigarette. Sadly, Xanxus had the last pack with him. Tsuna looked at the teenagers half-panicked faces and sighed. Never in his life did he think he'd be a babysitter, even when they were good kids. He settled on the thought that he had a little luck left after all that shitfest. "Ken, get the window open." He shoved more shelves to block the door. "You two, help him and climb out."

"What about you, Tsuna-san?" Shoichi looked so pale he might as well be dead.

Tsuna ruffled his hair and gave him a peace sign. "I'll be right behind you, kiddo. Get the car ready for me, okay? We're gonna get out fine."

And Tsuna wasn't wrong. He left as soon as the zombies burst into the storage room. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he sprinted towards the only working car in the parking lot and slid in the driver's seat with a finesse the other teenagers sort of envied. Heh, they were so easy to read. "Seatbelts on, kids!"

He stepped on the gas and drove through every shortcut and ruined backyards back to their base. The teens' bickering was a calming sedative amongst the chaos. There was no shortage of zombies every couple of blocks. Empty homes and toppled cars cast an eerie picture to any outsider, and the sky was already darkening to a burning sunset. Luckily for them, it was still the middle of spring. The global outbreak had started four months ago the day after Xanxus had fucked Tsuna into their hotel bed good. Was it so much to ask for, at least, a peaceful honeymoon?

As he drove into the woods on the outskirts of town, a small sense of foreboding tingled along his spine. Usually, Xanxus would follow him on his runs since he couldn't stand anyone—he did tolerate the kids to an extent, which Tsuna thought was cute—but this time Tsuna convinced him to stay and guard the group since they'd lost a few people in the last run. It wasn't Tsuna's fault they'd been stupid enough not to listen to him.

This run had been fairly short anyways. Less people meant less rationing. However, Tsuna's itch for a smoke was getting more potent the closer he got to camp.

"Hey," he said. The teens quiet down immediately when he spoke. "Keep an eye out and watch each other's backs."

"What's wrong?" Akiko said. She proved to be a pretty good shooter once Xanxus showed her the ropes properly and had her gun out and ready.

Kensuke gripped the handle of his katana. Its twin was with his cousin, Takeshi, who was back at camp. Shoichi groaned from another stomachache but had his baton ready. Tsuna almost laughed. It was like he and Xanxus were raising a group of feral children together. They were just amazing.

"Gut feeling." That got the teens tense and high on alert. No one ever doubted Tsuna's guts after that horrible incident in Kokuyo two months ago. It'd been the first time Tsuna and Xanxus had joined an actual group rather than being alone together.

Once Tsuna parked behind Watanabe's truck, he climbed out with the teens following suit. Their camp was in a mid-sized field with some tents and outdoor cookware. All their ammo and guns were stashed in Xanxus' bulletproof jeep, which was where he and Tsuna slept because they didn't trust anyone not to steal or kill them in their sleep.

"Welcome back," Yoshida Ayame said with a wan smile. "Dinner will be ready soon."

"Thank you," Shoichi muttered when no one else spoke. He shuffled closer to Akiko when Ayame's husband marched towards them.

"Don't just enter like that!" he said. "Stay back and wait until we inspect you all!"

Kensuke glared at him. "Fuck off, old man!"

"What the hell did you say, brat? How dare you! Have some goddamn respect for your elders!"

Tsuna stepped in. "If any of us were bitten, we wouldn't be here." He offered a crooked smile. "You know how I work, Yoshida-san. Expect anything less than cutthroat and I'll just be disappointed in you. Have a little faith, hm?" His eyes wandered to the small streak of blood on the fuming man's neck. "Got into a little accident?"

"What?" Yoshida looked to where Tsuna's gaze was and then paled.

Tsuna straightened. "Where's Xanxus?" He and his husband had an internal radar for each other ever since they'd first met, and Xanxus would always be there to meet him when he returned from his runs.

If anything, Yoshida got paler. Tsuna snatched the man's shirt and hauled him close. "Where is he?"

"H—Hey, let him go!" Kimura said.

Tanaka tried to get in-between Tsuna and Yoshida. "Let's talk this out, huh, Vinci-san?"

Tsuna didn't budge. "Everyone, come out. Now. We're gonna do a little roll call."

Everyone flinched from his gaze. Minutes later Tsuna's suspicions were confirmed. Fuuta, Takeshi, Nagi, and Mukuro were missing. That was practically all the kids in their group. Kensuke looked close to rampaging until Akiko forcibly pulled him back with Shoichi's timid help.

"What happened?" Tsuna's voice was unnervingly calm. He pulled out his gun and pointed it at the sky. "It better be good, and it better be fast before I give those undead motherfuckers a reason to pass by."

"You're fucking crazy!" Kimura said, brandishing his axe with shaking hands. He yelped when Tsuna pulled the trigger three times. The gunshots were loud and jarring in the tense silence.

Not a second after, an explosion sounded in the distance. Something bright red flared in the sky. It wasn't a part of the sunset. Tsuna grabbed his bag and sprinted towards the jeep. He ignored the shouts behind him. The other teens barely managed to climb in the car before he sped deeper into the woods.

His breaths were even and calm, steady, even as he rammed down hordes of zombies in his path. Xanxus could bitch at him about it later—after Tsuna beat the ever-living hell out of him. Blood pumped hot in his head as he maneuvered around the dense trees. Once he saw familiar figures in the distance, he stepped on the gas.

He tensed when an intense vortex of blood red fire exploded past him. Someone screamed in the back. Tsuna turned the wheel, and with a sharp jerk, the car skidded across the ground, knocking down several zombies in the way. He pulled up to a stop in front of a wide-eyed Nagi and Fuuta. "Help the others get in!"

He clambered out of the car and looked around wildly for any sign of the other kids and Xanxus. His breath hitched. A guttural war cry tore through the quiet, much more like beast than man. Amongst fallen zombies was his husband, heaving and snarling. A horrible bite mark marred his left hand. It was Tsuna's nightmares coming to life and there weren't enough curses Tsuna could throw at the world already.

But, upon closer inspection, Xanxus was hunched over Takeshi and Mukuro like a protective sentinel. His eyes glowed red, the same shade as that fire from before, along with the veins down his neck. Blood and guts stained his torn dress shirt, hands, and teeth.

"Xanxus?" Tsuna said, voice hushed.

His husband's head snapped towards him. Xanxus shuddered, then keened for him.

A/N HAPPY BELATED VALENTINE'S DAY! :'^)

First snippet is funky. It's weird, but let's just say that Tsuna should've read the prequels properly, lol. The way I see it, Bermuda and his fiancée were on decent terms (more because Bermuda had a strong sense of duty and loyalty) before the heroine entered the picture and introduced him to independence and all that jazz. It made sense in my head but that snippet went off the rails when Natsu appeared, haha.

Second one—I'm so sorry if it wasn't what you expected, Miniclio. And I somehow made it about zombies, too, rip. But like you mentioned before, Tsuna was set to become Decimo, didn't want it, met Xanxus while training to take the mantle, and basically came up with the plan of marrying Xanxus once they were ready so Xanxus could be Decimo instead (their secret contract, lol). The wedding was predictably chaotic, and I just had to make their honeymoon worse by throwing the apocalypse at them, haha. Also, the idea of Xanxus and Tsuna unexpectedly raising feral children is hilarious. No Flames (unless you're the 0.01% of those bitten by a zombie and awakened because I guess that's a thing now). Feral!Xanxus, yes. I also see it that their honeymoon was in Japan so when the world started ending, they're trying to return to Italy and reunite with the Varia somehow. Varia is also trying to get to them but…complications, lol.

Anyways, see you in the next one! Got a prompt/suggestion? Drop it below and I'll try to get to them!

Have a lovely day~

LMB