Title: Timeless

Pairing: R27 RebornXTsuna

Disclaimer: don't own and if I did then the whole world would be filled with yaoi

Tsuna is now 16 and Reborn is 24

A/N: We're getting there!

Beta'd by WhiteAngel128

"I've always heard every ending is also a new beginning, we just don't know it at the time. I'd like to believe that's true." Emily Prentiss

Chapter 12: Year Twelve

Tsuna was never the popular one, never. He was just another person within the sea of others. But he had friends, close friends that only went up to five in number, but that was fine with him. He'd rather have a few close friends than a large number of them where he wasn't familiar with any. Still, even with Gokudera and Yamamoto, who always were beside him, Tsuna craved for the attention of his crush, Reborn. No one had really found out about his adoring love…except Giotto.

"So little brother, when are you going to grow some and confess?" The blonde grinned as he willingly teased his younger sibling. Giotto was now eighteen, in the last year of his high school, and was already trying to pick out universities to continue his education. He was much taller now, the blond locks had grown out towards the shoulder, but it kept that same spikiness. No matter how much gel Giotto used to push it down, it remained where it was at.

Tsuna peered up from his bed in confusion, his mind going over the words, before it finally connected. His face flushed bright red up to his ears and he let out a squeak. "G-Giotto!"

The blonde just continued to grin and stepped closer, stopping right in front of the brunet with his arms on his sides. "You heard me. I know about that crush of ours. It's too obvious for me to not see it. Perhaps no one else can since they don't know you as well, but I recognize when I see something different."

The brunet didn't reply to that.

"So when are you going to tell him?" The blonde flopped down onto the bed, letting his body jump at the mattress's springs below. When he saw that his brother wasn't going to reply again, he wrapped an arm around the shoulders to catch the attention and to prevent Tsuna from trying to run away. It was too clear that his younger brother would. "Look, Tsuna, you need to at least have your feelings out there for him to know before someone else comes by to steal him away. You can't be with Reborn forever and watch out for thieves after all."

Tsuna peered up carefully at that, his face still dusted with red. "B-But I'm normally with him except during school days. And there was a secretary at Reborn's work place that was recently hired that I…" There was a slight narrowing of his honey-colored eyes, a light glow of orange mixed in, and for a moment, Giotto almost backed away. He hadn't seen Tsuna get this angry before, no, he had never seen Tsuna get angry in the first place. He had always known the brunet to be kind and sweet, a person that allowed others to walk all over him. It was generally Reborn who didn't allow that and beat anyone who dared try to. Still, if Tsuna was getting this upset over something, that means…

"So I take it someone has already tried?" Giotto whispered, hoping that nothing had happened and only the best resulted out of the mess. He'd rather not see Tsuna heartbroken and falling apart, much less see what a grudge can do to him. Not all people dealt with anger the same way. While Giotto could redirect it or hold it in, what would Tsuna do?

Tsuna snapped his head towards his older brother, almost growling. "No! Absolutely not! I made her know that Reborn is mine!" He puffed out his cheeks, nodding his head rapidly to himself as he thought back to the many instances where he continuously prevented the cursed woman from getting too close. He wouldn't give up to some hag like her, not when it came to Reborn.

The blonde blinked in surprise, not expecting his little brother to already be taking action against someone. It was even harder to see Tsuna so pissed off at something, but it was cute regardless. Patting the brunet on the back, he gave a little bit of comfort before speaking once more. He wanted Reborn and Tsuna to get together, though he originally didn't like the idea and despised it with all his heart, but it was watching them grow up together that made him change his mind. He wanted the best for his little brother, nothing less, and he had no doubt in his mind that Reborn would take care of the brunet regardless. It was clear to Giotto that the raven had some feelings for Tsuna with the way Reborn hung around him, always making sure to keep him happy. He didn't see it at first, but after being around the other for so long, it was quite clear. "Tsuna, why don't you go watch a movie with him and give Reborn some alcohol to drink? You can get him to loosen up and learn a few secrets or some troublesome thieves that want to try and take Reborn away from you."

The younger brother stared for a few moments before breaking out into a grin. That sounded perfect! "Thank you so much, Giotto! I'll try it out tonight! Got to go! Reborn should be coming home from work soon!" Within seconds, Tsuna was racing around the room to grab his bag and a movie before running out the door. There was a yell of words towards Nana and then a slam on the door. Silence only followed, the blonde left behind in shock by how fast Tsuna had reacted, before breaking out into laughter soon after. He hadn't thought that advice would work best, but there was no harm. He had no doubt that Reborn had more than enough control of his drunken state to not do something stupid. Giotto was confident in that…or at least he hoped so.

Tsuna had everything set up ten minutes before Reborn came home. He even texted the other that he was waiting just to make sure that the black-haired man wouldn't accidentally run late without letting him know. He had a movie ready and the drinks Reborn kept in his cabinets out to be served anytime. A thick glass was set on the same table with the bottles and some flavored popcorn was already going off in the microwave, the popping sounds echoing throughout the room. The scent of it was engulfing and Tsuna's stomach almost growled at the thought of eating it.

Just as he was about to sit down on the couch, the door clicked. Perking up, he poked his head over the sofa and stared at the door as it opened, revealing the one person he wanted to see the most.

Reborn smirked, taking off his jacket to hang it on the coat rack, and placed his briefcase onto the floor. He locked the door behind him and pulled off his fedora, running a hand through his spiky hair. "You know, at this rate, I might as well claim you as my wife. You're always here ready to greet me as well as visit me at my office." He placed his famous hat onto the kitchen counter and placed his shoes in their regular spot on the floor so that in the morning he wouldn't have to really look for them. Even his tie came off too, leaving Reborn only in his pants and button-up shirt.

"Is that a good thing or bad?" Tsuna questioned, not wanting to upset the other. He knew better than anyone else that Reborn was very picky about things and there were times, he wondered if he was smothering too much.

The older man smirked and settled down onto the couch, reaching over immediately to grab a bottle. Yanking the cork out, he poured the thick liquid into the prepared glass. "No, it's a good thing. I don't normally like clingy people, but yours is quite…cute. And your clinginess is in a good way, not annoying." Reborn smirked, placing the bottle back down to swish his glass carefully before finally taking a sip. Liquor was just what he needed after a hard day of work with multiple idiots. He really needed a better assistant, the ones he kept firing and hiring were all idiots after his good looks. He didn't care at first, but none of them were ever getting their work done and it was annoying. His eyes peered at Tsuna…perhaps the brunet could learn, but then there was school that was in the way. Still, if Tsuna could take over during the afternoon and handle things, it would make his workload a whole lot easier to deal with. 'Hmm, now that's an idea.'

"Ah, good. If I ever start to annoy you, please let me know." Tsuna opened the microwave when it started to beep, the popcorn bag hot and ready to be opened. Steam was coming out of the top and when he momentarily shook it, more pops could be heard. He went through the cabinets and pulled out a large bowl, pouring the contents inside. Now all he had to do was start the movie and everything would be perfect. Reborn grabbed a few pieces here and there after Tsuna sat down while watching the movie, not minding how relaxing everything was. But he couldn't complain, after a hard day of work that involved morons and paperwork, it was nice to do something like this without a single thought on his mind. And with Tsuna around, it just made that feeling surface much easier and he could let down the barriers he had built up to protect himself without care, knowing that the brunet would do nothing to him. If there was one person he trusted the most, it was Tsuna.

About halfway into the movie, when Reborn had managed to drown himself with three bottles, the raven accidentally began to mutter words under his breath about one thing or another. He hadn't expected himself to drink that much, but being with Tsuna just made him wanted to do so. It was that entertaining and carefree. And he didn't care, not anymore. However, when he was going to start his fourth bottle, Tsuna snatched it away, yelling that he taken too much, and dangled it out of range. Of course, Reborn didn't like that and tried to yank the bottle back into his grasp, hating to waste just good alcohol regardless of the fact that he had already finished three other bottles. However, due to his drunken state, he accidentally pulled Tsuna down as well, having the brunet tumbling on top of him.

Tsuna let out a squeak in shock, not expecting it, but groaned in annoyance soon after when he saw that his crush was still trying to grab that wine bottle. He knew that a drunken Reborn would be a little tougher to handle, but it was well worth the risk if he got what he desperately needed. Wrenching the bottle back, he fell against the couch, his head hitting the arm of the sofa. Luckily for him, the arm was cushioned and it didn't hurt, but it still left him a little dazed. It was during that time that the other took advantage of, however due to Reborn's blurry vision and intoxicated mind, he missed and instead landed on Tsuna's stomach face first.

"Reborn!" The younger man yelled out, growing irritated with Reborn's sudden childish attitude, and tossed the bottle far away from those grabby hands. Those black eyes stared at the rolling bottle, but didn't move. No, Reborn remained where he was at, not wanting to bother getting up when he was too comfortable at this moment in his current position. It was warm after all and he had always enjoyed having Tsuna close by like this. Reborn wrapped his arms around the brunet's waist, burying himself further, and gave a small smile as he squeeze Tsuna tightly. The so-called cushion huffed, "Reborn, I'm not a pillow."

"Eh." The older man didn't budge, making a small grumbling sound, and pulled Tsuna closer to him regardless of the resistance.

The younger man protested under his breath, but didn't do much, letting the other do whatever he wanted. He knew better when dealing with this rare side of Reborn, but at least he had managed to get the other exactly where he wanted him. "Hey, Reborn, I have a question, are you romantically interested in anyone right now?"

Reborn shifted at that, hazy black eyes peering up at the brunet questionably, before heading back into his previous position. It was clear that the alcohol had taken its full effect on his mind. "Kinda…"

"Kinda?" A jolt of fear ran down Tsuna's spine.

"Yeah, I like someone, but I'm afraid that this person might reject me. I'm waiting for the signs to see if everything would work out."

Tsuna's shoulders sank at that thought, afraid that he might already lose his crush to someone else. "Will I have to move away if you fall in love with this person?"

There was a soft chuckle, the sound and movement vibrating against the abdomen. "Absolutely not. You'll come live with me after you graduate from high school."

The brunet tilted his head at that, almost wanting to laugh.

"You know, Tsuna, I'm going to be honest," Reborn muttered with ease, not sure why he was suddenly saying such stupid things. "I'd really be upset if you were to leave me. I'd make sure to strap you down to this place so that you can never run away."

Tsuna blinked in confusion. "Why would I ever want to run away in the first place, Reborn? I love it here and I lov - I mean I'd miss you, too." The teenager winced. He had almost said that he loved Reborn, too. That would be bad at this point of time, or at least, in this situation. There was no telling what drunken Reborn would do or say.

"Maybe in the future when you find out about how I truly feel about you."

"What do you mean?" Tsuna waited for the response, but it never came and when he looked down, he twitched. Reborn had fallen fast asleep on him, gently snoring away in dreamland, still using the stomach as a pillow. The raven refused to budge, snuggling into the brunet's belly without a single care in the world, and seemed at peace. Apparently, the excessive amount of alcohol had done more than making Reborn fall apart. But whatever, it had served its purpose, that was all Tsuna cared about. Running his hands through his crush's spiky black hair, he turned his head to continue watching the movie.