This chapter has also been edited. Like a lot. Also in my years of no activity, so many people have added this to their watch list, and I'm very grateful; thank you for adding this story despite my long hiatus! You guys are so awesome!
ONWARDS~!
Chapter Two: First Meeting
Reborn was still outside on the porch of the Sawada household, after what was seemingly forever. However, before anyone could say anything else, a brown haired woman who Reborn assumed to be Sawada Nana (due to her striking resemblance to her son), popped her head out of the side of a doorway, a smile on her face. "Tsu-kun- oh? Who's at the door?"
Before the boy could reply, Reborn butted in. With a polite bow, he introduced himself. "Hello, it's nice to meet you, Mrs. Sawada. My name is Reborn, a close acquaintance of Tsuna." Reborn recalled from the information given by Luce. "Something came up and I'm unable to find a place so I was wondering if I could stay here." At this, Tsuna gaped at him and Reborn watched in amusement as Tsuna's expression turned from shock to panic.
"Oh, of course! We have a guest room upstairs you could probably use!" Nana replied enthusiastically.
"Mom, wait. I have no idea who this guy is, really." Tsuna said, hands flailing again. Reborn snorted.
"That's not nice to say to a friend, Tsu-kun." Reborn responded, acting offended. Tsuna's incredulous expression was priceless.
"I'm sorry, Tsu-kun's being so rude today! Why don't you come on in!" Nana gestured excitedly. After giving himself a mental cheer, he took off his shoes and left them in front of the door, before stepping foot into the home with proper Japanese mannerisms he had picked up from various studies on the country.
"Oh, Reborn, why don't you join us for dinner? I always make more than enough, so I'm sure we'll be able to serve up another plate for you." Nana commented kindly. Despite the fact that Reborn hated the fact that he'd have to sit with other people, possibly even having to socialize while eating, God forbid, he was also not someone who would turn down food.
"Of course, thank you for offering, Nana-san." He replied in genuine gratitude. Tsuna made it obviously clear he was displeased by huffing in annoyance quite loudly. When Reborn gazed at the boy out of the corner of his eye, he found the short brunet glaring up at him. Reborn found the boy strangely endearing. Cute, Reborn thought absentmindedly.
"No need for formalities, just call me Mama!" Nana exclaimed. Reborn was appalled. Despite the minor culture shock he had from staying at Italy and suddenly moving to Japan, stepping into the Sawada household seemed to be a new world entirely. What kind of woman was trusting enough to ask a man to call her mama when she didn't even know him for even an hour? Being affiliated with a job that required trusting no one was not coming in handy for him right now.
"Mama," he murmured quietly to himself, getting used to the feeling of calling a woman he had known for less than an hour a title that was quite endearing.
"You don't have to call her that." Tsuna replied flatly, as Nana led them both to the kitchen."I'm sure it'd be more comfortable for me and you if you didn't."
"Actually, I'm quite comfortable with calling Nana-san, mama. So stingy." Reborn said with equal emotionless vigor. Teasing people was one of Reborn's favorite pastimes and it was hard for him to not tease a boy that had quite the entertaining reactions to his jabs. Tsuna's indignant snort further enlightened his future plans of making fun the boy as he slid into his seat next to I-Pin who was excitedly clapping as Nana shoveled out food onto dishes.
After everyone was served, she sat down, gesturing to everyone. "Dig in!"
Reborn did not have many encounters with emotions of love, but he swore he felt it when the first bite of Nana's food went down his throat. Nana's food is definitely the best gift brought to this world, Reborn thought. However the amicable atmosphere was broken by the ringing of Reborn's phone. Looking at distaste at the offending object of technology now nestled in his hand, he excused himself apologetically before receiving the call.
"Dammit Luce, I was eating."
"You're such a child." Luce chuckled, tone teasing. "I called to let you know we're doing sort of a meet and greet with the rest of the team tonight."
"Ugh."
However, the phone was already beeping the signal that Luce had already hung up and his complaints would reach no one except for himself. Reborn internally cried over the detestable situation he was put under before entering the kitchen again, eating the food slowly to flavor the taste of his thieving career slowly spiraling into nothing.
"Reborn, does the food taste good?"
"Yes, it's delicious. Thank you mama."
At least he had a place to sleep.
After dinner, Reborn immediately set out to meet the rest of the gang, dragging his feet in an unenthusiastic walk.
He wondered what he did to deserve his oncoming torture. He also wondered if Luce just secretly had held something against him and she was using this as a ploy to make his life as miserable as possible.
When he spotted the dismal location the group was supposed to meet at, he didn't even try to suppress his groan of displeasure.
When he entered, it seemed Reborn was the last one to arrive at the warehouse. The others were gathered around a rusty, metal table, one that had been clearly out of use for some time. When he entered, all heads turned to face him, and he became the new item of scrutiny. Luce just shot a smile at him, but it was the kind that had a sliver of malice in it, one bordering more on a smirk.
"Nice for you to come, Reborn. We were just about to start introductions." She said, her voice smooth as always. Reborn just shrugged, plopping down into the only other unavailable seat. Reborn now found himself between a spiky, green haired man that looked like he belonged in a science lab, and a hooded figure. At least the group had some variety.
Seeing that everyone was settled, Luce cleared her throat, getting ready to speak again. "We'll introduce each other, going in a clockwise direction. I'll start." She announced. "I'm Luce, the one who arranged this whole expedition. My age isn't of importance, and I hope that we will all be able to get along, for the sake of success."
It wasn't much of an introduction, but you could never give much information away. Especially to other thieves.
Everyone took turns talking. There were all different kinds of people. Someone who excelled in the martial arts, but had a calm and laid back nature, a blonde haired man and a woman who had both had spent some time in the military.
Reborn could not see what Luce saw in these people. He couldn't even decipher why she had chosen them as a team. Some of them were already shooting hostile glares at each other and the hooded character seemed to be almost anti-social (not that he could actually say anything about that). They were an unruly group that was too used to individuality. People that were somewhat inept to communication.
And then in clicked.
They were all too used to being alone. At this revelation, Reborn turned to look sharply at Luce, his eyes asking if his theory was correct. When Luce realized Reborn's observation, she gave a small smirk. The clever curve of her lips told him everything. Reborn internally groaned, already seeing the deadly gleam of failure staring him in the eyes.
How was a group who couldn't even communicate to each other, steal one of the most expensive treasures of the world? Group thievery was something done with support and communication, not shunning and glaring at people the first chance they got. If this was how their group was going to be, stealing the diamond was going to be an impossibility.
There was only one thing they could succeed in this situation.
Failure.
As soon as his eureka moment ended, the rest of the group also seemed to make the breakthrough except the one with the crazy purple hair and outfit, Skull. More like Thick skull.
"Well, shit. We're trying to steal one of the most expensive diamonds in the world and we're just seven socially awkward thieves trying to make it." The military background blond sighed.
"Actually, I consider myself to be a pretty good thief, so it's six." Reborn replied. He was given annoyed stares in response, which he shrugged to. It was true.
"I do not think teaming up with any of you will benefit me financially, so I think it's best I take my leave." Mammon said, although it was more of a murmur. The chair screeched as he stood up, making everyone flinch at the sound. Before he could leave though, Luce stopped him, speaking up.
"Not benefit you financially? We're stealing a diamond worth 10 million US dollars. I wouldn't say it's your most ordinary gain in profit."
"Maybe if I was alone. But I'm with seven others who don't seem to know the first thing in teamwork."
"Hey, you're the one leaving the party first, fuckboy." Skull griped.
"I would agree with him, but that would make me feel less intelligent." Reborn added, earning an insulted screech of gibberish from Skull and a few snorts of amusement. However, their words seemed to make Mammon reconsider, which was the point after all.
"I'm only here for the money, so if I don't think we can get our shit together by at least a month, I'm going solo." Mammon replied monotonously. Luce nodded.
"I can agree to that."
"Great." With that, Mammon left, which Reborn was secretly grateful for because it allowed him his cue to leave.
"Meeting adjourned?" Reborn asked Luce, in his way of discreetly asking for permission to leave.
"Yeah. Meeting adjourned. Hopefully we can all get along next time." She replied. Reborn grimaced. He didn't want a next time.
"Next time. Right. Ciao, Luce." Reborn gave a curt nod of his head and left the hideout. However, before he closed the door to the meeting spot behind him he heard Luce murmuring something.
"Stay on your guard, Reborn."
So. It's been a lifetime or something. Sorry, I just didn't have the motivation to continue the story and then after re-reading KHR, I just got back into and yeah. Thank you to those who still stuck with it and for all the new people that added it to their favorites ;-;
Also did anyone catch that kpop reference? And those memes.
Anyway, like always critique is appreciated. ^-^