Act Seven: Anger Management
Skull had informed his boss of the first meeting, but he thought it was just an excuse to take a break. So how was he going to break it to him that it was serious?
He chewed the inside of his lip thinking of all the possible scenario's.
~ Imagination ~
"Hey boss! I have to go now to a super important meeting that a man with a checker tattoo on his face guilt tripped me into going to! See 'ya"
His boss would look up, " Sure, Skull! You can leave right away, when you spin that pile of hay into gold!"
And Rumpelstiltskin will appear and everything will be unicorns and fairytales.
He choked on air. Did I really just think that...? Sometimes I wish my mom didn't force me to listen to all those little kid stories. I knew it would come back to haunt me.
Skull looked at the ocean. Now, how did he end up in the middle of the ocean in a teensy little boat?
Blurp, blurp, blurp, blurp, blurp.
"What's up with all the bubbl- AHfrglemphu!" He gurgled when his row boat turned over knocking him into the water. Skull's head bobbed to the surface his eyebrow twitching at the sight before him.
"Ignore it Skull, a little octopus is not laughing at you. You're just imagining weird things again." The octopus seemed to laugh louder at this.
Skull glared at the small creature, "Please refresh my memory, how do you make stewed octopus again?" The animal paled and stopped its laughing noises only to make pathetic whimpering sounds while shaking.
"Huh? Wait uh, I'm sorry, uh, octopus! You caught me at the wrong time!" The tiny red creature looked up hopefully. "You do look delicious though..."
The octopus's eyes bulged and it started to panicked. Skull realized what he said wrong and shook his arms. "Not that I would eat you or anything! I swear!" It looked at Skull and they stared for what could have been ages.
Then the octopus hesitantly made its way to him. Skull took a long look at it and concluded it was too adorable for its own good.
He nearly jumped, except for the fact he was in water, when the little guy snuggled into his arms.
In that moment, he knew that he didn't want to let go of that little octopus, and Skull didn't.
Skull brought the cute bundle of tentacles to the Carcassa mansion.
"I'm sorry, but what did you say?" the Carcassa boss asked.
"I said, ' I'll be out for the next couple of days because I was told to meet with the strongest.'" Skull repeated.
Even with him repeating that Vittorio was still unable to comprehend. "B-but is Reborn, THE Reborn really going to be there? And not just him, but LAL MIRCH, FON, LUCE, VIPER, and VERDE?"
Dear god, his boss was loud. Skull nodded, and his boss continued.
"AND APPARENTLY YOU'RE ONE OF THE STRONGEST?" He screeched.
Skull looked at the new chandelier fixture. They always needed to get a new one. Seriously, they broke on a daily basis. "Supposedly..."
His boss started panicking, "I thought it was a joke when you told me about the meeting a week ago! This is just absurd! Impossible! I know you're strong, but that strong? The others will kill you! Especially Reborn! He's Vongola! VONGOLA! You'll die for sure!"
Of course the Vongola hate us. Carcassa deals drugs, harms the innocent, and helps ships humans. I would too if I didn't know you, and even then...
"You also have duties here too! Just that one day you took off the Italian military was able to get a lot of our men and goods. Someone was also able to hack into our system, and you still need to finish the recovering the files and take care of that pathetic squid!"
Did he just call the little guy pathetic and a squid?
"So you can't leave, Skull!" His bossed sobbed hopping from his chair and clinging onto Skull's leg. Skull twitched.
Irritating. "Look, Vittorio." Skull ground out.
Vittorio froze hesitantly looking up, it was never good when Skull called him by his first name. Nope, not good, at all.
Skull pried Vittorio off and lifted him off the ground by his collar. "First of all, the little guy is an octopus not a squid, and considering that he is mine, you will not use pathetic when referring to him." He paused.
Vittorio gulped mentally noting not to insult Skull's odd pet choice.
Skull continued, "Secondly, I have no choice but to go. I don't want to, but if I don't something bad will happen. I'm not sure what exactly. However, from what Checkerface was implying it could affect this entire world-"
"Skull, do you expect me to believe such bullshit?" The Carcassa interrupted. Skull's eyes narrowed and he slammed Vittorio into the wall. Hard.
A loud crack resounded when his bosses' head snapped back into the surface. Vittorio just shivered barely managing to keep a shriek of pain in as he looked into Skull's glowing eyes.
Skull's dying will never had its flame visible; the only sign of him going into dying will mode was his eyes, but it didn't have a drastic affect on the color considering his eyes were naturally purple. Only a few in the Carcassa could actively access the flames. Sadly, the boss wasn't one of the,
He couldn't help but be a little grateful. At least this time Skull only slammed him into the wall. Last time, he was yanked from behind his desk and thrown out the door. He broke his arm along with his pinky finger, hip bone, nose, and collar bone.
Skull had apologized for two months straight, but still never got over the fact of what he had done in his rage. The kid had issues.
"Do not interrupt me." the purplette hissed. Vittorio shook his head hurriedly up and down. Issues was an understatement.
Skull lowered his boss until he touched the floor, but still held onto his collar.
"I will be going. I don't want to, but I it's important." Skull stated and let go of the Carcassa boss.
Vittorio and Skull's eyes meet, and for a second Vittorio prayed to every deity he has ever heard of for his young subordinate not to kill him.
"Make sure to have a list of what I need to do when I get back. Look after the little guy for me." Skull walked out.
Vittorio fell to his knees and picked up the phone, trying to slow his rapid heart pace.
He heard a "Yes, Terzo?" from the other side.
"Find-find the best a-anger management therapist f-for the kid... preferably one with fighting experience." He breathed in shakily, "... and possibly a career counselor for me."
"... okay, boss?" Was the unsure reply before he hung up.
The sun was blazing down on the barren canyon. If the little guy came with me he would be fried. That sounds so goo- no! You can't eat the little guy! Even if he would be delicious. Skull thought as he walked up the mountain.
Unfortunately, his motorcycle wasn't able fit through some of the narrow paths and he had to leave it behind.
He pulled at his bodysuit, which was sticking uncomfortably to his skin, and adjusted his helmet. His helmet was still on, because he couldn't find it in himself to look at the others in the eye. Was he insecure at the thought of being rejected, again?
Yes, very.
Hopefully, Luce would at least tolerate his presence.
"I didn't think you would come." A smooth voice rang out. Skull glanced up and saw it was Reborn.
Reborn must really be as good as they say because I didn't notice his presence at all.
Reborn stroked one of his sideburns, and Skull couldn't but think about how they managed to bounce back perfectly. "You still are a kid, regardless of the fact that you're in the Carcassa Famiglia."
He smirked cockily, which pissed Skull off slightly. Don't try to punch the world's greatest hit man in the face, Skull.
...When did I have to speaking to myself as if I was a two-year-old? No, I think the question should be, when did I start to need to so I wouldn't do something rash?
"You being a part of the Carcassa even down grades you from a kid into a lackey. How nice it'll be to have another lackey."
"L-lackey?" He sputtered alarmed, "Like hell I'm nobody's lackey! What are you an abusive sempai?"
Reborn aimed a pistol at him, "I guess that makes me 'Reborn-sempai' to you then..."
Skull's mouth dropped. Was he serious?
Reborn's smirk widened, "... lackey." Skull clenched his fists for a second coming to a silent decision.
He waved his hands frantically around. "Fine I'll call Reborn-sempai, but I'm The Great Skull-sama! Not just some lackey!"
Now, Skull was glad for his helmet despite the heat, because it hid his blushing face. It's really embarrassing to do this in front of him.
Reborn kicked Skull in the back of the head stifling a laugh. The Great Skull-sama? This kid just got more pitiful and bothersome.
"Gah! That hurt!" Skull shrieked feigning pain. I never thought I'd be grateful for Ramone for putting my body through abuse, but thank you Ramone! Because I bet that kick would've knocked out most people.
Reborn 'tch'ed and continued onward.
Someone placed a hand on Skull's shoulder. "Skull-kun?" His body went rigid not hearing those words spoken by Luce, but by his mother and father.
"Yes?" He squeaked. Luce frowned, why does Skull-kun sound apprehensive? Surely, there isn't a reason to be anxious? She thought.
Skull took a deep breath and made his shoulders relax. "Hah hah, Luce-san do you think you could remove your hand again...? It's a bit weird, 'ya know?"
"Oh!" Luce exclaimed, thinking that Skull must have been just uncomfortable with being touched. A lot of them had trust issues anyway.
"I'm sorry Skull-kun! We should hurry up any way! Reborn-san already left."
Skull shifted uneasily. It would be rude for him to say anything about how Luce addressed him, and he didn't want to hurt her feelings...
"Of course, Luce-san! Let's go although I don't want to see stupid Reborn-sempai!" He shouted. Luce smiled refraining from hugging Skull who looked absolutely adorable.
"Skull-kun, why not call me Luce-nee instead." Luce exclaimed and looked at Skull flashing her puppy-dog eyes. "Please?"
"Uh, sure?" Skull muttered unable to defy that look. Maybe he was pathetic.
Luce clapped her hands in glee.
She looked at him smiling. "Okay, then let's go, Skull-kun."
Skull nodded automatically. Luce... Luce-nee. The corners of his mouth turned upwards forming a small serene smile.
Everyone stood there. Scratch that.
One martial artist was meditating.
One pregnant woman was trying to converse with a hit man.
One hit man was glaring at the ground impatiently ignoring said woman.
One insane scientist was babbling intelligent nonsense.
One officer was scoffing at how she could be training.
One blonde-haired trainee was currently hiding behind a boulder.
And one illusionist was... well use your imagination.
And there stood Skull, leaning on a rock, waiting for a certain man to arrive.
While waiting, Skull was thinking. Of what you may ask, is so important pass through his thoughts? Simple. A name for the little guy.
Tako maybe? Nah, I'll always think of Takoyaki. Squishy? Ink? Annoying Cute Octopus? Does that count as a name? He kind of reminds me of the octopus in one of the King Kong movies. When it was small at least. What was its name again? Gah! Who would've thought naming an octopus would be so hard?
A foot connected with Skull's head, forcing him out of his thoughts and face first into the dirt. Did Reborn have to really do that?
"Yes, I did." Trying to pretend you can read minds? What an irritating hit man you are, Reborn.
"Reborn-san, please don't treat Skull-kun like that. You'll hurt him." Luce berated.
Lal snorted, "He needs training."
Luce looked at Skull concerned. "Skull-kun, are you all right?" Skull nodded and got up dusting his jump suit.
She smiled brightly. "That's goo-" Tap, tap, tap.
Everyone tensed up ready for an attack. They then saw it was Checkerface. Skull clenched his hands.
Verde adjusted his glasses, "So you've finally arrived Checkerface. It's rude to keep us waiting."
Checkerface smirked. "Shall we get started?"
"Mu, will you get to the point?" Viper asked impatiently.
"I have asked all of you to gather here to accept your roles as Arcobaleno." Checkerface said gravely. "All you have to do is accept the power of the I Prescelti Sette."
The others looked perplexed, except Skull who had already decided to resign himself to his fate.
Reborn was the first to speak. His fedora shadowed his black eyes. "Arcobaleno? The I Prescelti Sette? Explain."
"Oh, The I Prescelti is a part of the Tri Ni Sette that you all will be able to accept. Once you accept this power a pacifier will appear marking you as an Arcobaleno, the strongest in the world."
The to be Arcobaleno stared - except Skull of course - one sentence ringing through their minds: The strongest in the world.
Some only thought it was natural ( Reborn, Lal, Verde, and Viper), while others were modest (Fon and Luce).
While everyone was occupying their minds, Skull saw a man with a camouflage headband sticking out from behind a boulder. He was looking proudly at Lal. Weird.
"So will you accept?" Checkerface's voice rang out.
"I don't see the harm in it, so yes. I'm grateful that you have acknowledged me for such a position." Fon bowed respectfully.
"That will be a yes from me too, Mister Checkerface." Luce stated.
"Why not? It seems interesting." Was Verde's reply.
Lal curtly replied, "Hmph, just get it over with."
"Mu, fine. This power you'll grant me will serve as payment." Viper agreed.
"Whatever," Skull muttered staring at his reflection from his helmet glass. This will probably be the last time I look like this...
Reborn stayed silent. Everyone looked at him waiting for his answer. He stayed in what seemed like deep thought for one minute, before saying, "I accept."
Checkerface grinned and gestured for them to gather around him. Once they gathered he pulled out the clear pacifier.
"What is tha-" Verde started asking, but then the pacifier emitted a bright light engulfing them.
At the same moment everyone felt that there was no turning back; their lives would forever be changed. That's when they all felt a burning pain as their bodies protested. Their bones, organs, everything shrank.
Who exactly was screaming, no one could figure out if it was themselves or someone else.
Skull was trying to absorb whatever was causing him so much pain, but he couldn't locate exactly what was causing it. He was hunched over when he saw another shadow jump into the light and push someone out. The blonde man.
The light faded and with it Checkerface, their forms, and their pain.
Skull wheezed heavily and looked around at what are now the Arcobaleno. If he himself wasn't in the same predicament, he could've laughed. They looked ridiculous chibified.
Fon, for once, looked like he wanted to go on a rampage, a cute one.
Luce was in a state of shock, an adorable one.
Reborn was in a state that could only be described as pitiful, self pity never looked so cute.
Verde was knocked unconscious because of the pain, somehow the cuteness outweighed the creepiness.
Lal was gasping for air shaking violently, rather adorably in her chibi form.
The blonde man was collapsed in her place, adorably unknown to Skull still.
Viper was on the ground tangled in her robes, like everyone else, adorable.
Too much fucking cuteness. Was the only thing registering in Skull's mind.
The newly made Arcobaleno didn't move, until Skull couldn't wait any longer and got up. They jumped, minus Verde, the blonde, and Viper of course.
"Where are you going? We need to fix this." Reborn spat at Skull.
Skull glared at him. "Well, Reborn-sempai, I'm going back to my famiglia. If you think you can fix this, go ahead, but in the mean time I'm going home."
Fon, Lal, and Luce looked at him astounded.
"Skull-san, how can you say that? Our bodies..." Fon murmured. Skull stood still unsure of how to reply.
What was he supposed to say, 'I already knew this would happen'?
He finally said something, it was a stupid, he should've said nothing and left just then. "I don't care. I have work to do."
They stayed their staring until Verde, Viper, and the blonde soldier stirred. Upon assessing the tension the trio wondered why everyone was staring at Skull.
Skull was starting to get irritated with all the looks. It was unnerving, like he had a laser pinter on his head.
Reborn seemed to rapidly lose his 'cool hitman-like charm' and shot at Skull. The purplette shrieked in surprise diving out of the way.
"'I don't care.'" Reborn mocked shooting more rounds at Skull, "'I have work to do.'" His gun ran out of bullets. Reborn chucked the gun at Skull's head barely missing. He then collapsed onto his knees shaking.
Skull trembled slightly. I've never heard of him like this before. I should go...
He turned and hastily made his way out of the canyon.
The other Arcobaleno stayed there for much longer, until they slowly left returning to their lives. Except Reborn, who went into exile.
( A/N) I can't believe I nearly forgot Oodako! Thank god I noticed before it was too late. Also, yay for my longest chapter as of now! Took forever to write, but I hope you guys enjoyed it. Sorry for the wait, kind of lost inspiration for a while, so I was really grateful for BlueCapricorn's helpful review! It got me concentrated on my fic again. :3
Now to answer some of your questions:
Ginshi-chan: I wasn't trying to portray Luce as mean, if that's what you meant Ginshi-chan, but more of how she just reminded Skull of his parents
BlueCapricorn: Thanks for telling me Skull's helmet says's Carcassa on it ( Well during his introduction at least). An interesting tidbit, but I don't really want to incorporate it. You also pointed out I haven't really gone into Skull's 'dark side'. I tried to show you guys this 'darker side' of him in this chapter. On Skull's flame, I kind of mentioned it in this chapter, and for those of you that didn't get the gist that the 'object' he uses is his own body. I was also messaged about his name by Blue, and how it's English and questioned his origins. In my story Skull is a mix of Japanese and French, thus the made up last name Semblant, which is French. If you want a reason why his parents named him Skull, they're actors, haha, actors give their kids wired names. I can't answer all of your deductions, because it'll take up too much space here. Sorry!
Remember, there hasn't been much revealed about Skull, so I've made up a lot.
Ciao~ Ciao~!