Disclaimer: I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Warning: AU/Unbeta'ed

Rating: T (probably)

Genres: Romance/Suspense (sort of)/Crime ('cause Mafia and tiny mention of possible violence)

Summary: This AU in which Reborn is a government (undercover) agent infiltrated in the Mafia for years now, with the objective of destroying the most influential Families. Tsuna is the only Vongola heir left, survivor of attempts from the Underworld that got the Ninth's sons. Reborn is in his earlier to mid-thirties while Tsuna has already celebrated his twenty-two birthday. The scene is set before Tsuna's coronation as the new Don, as in the night before/very early morning. No Flames.

A/N: I don't think I should add Angst. I would have added Turmoil if it existed though. Well, it depends on how you'll perceive this one-shot. Hope you'll enjoy!

The room was completely dark, safe for some moonlight falling on the pillow on the soft bed. Clothes were lying on the floor, completely forgotten by their owners. Suits and ties had been thrown unceremoniously without a care about their state afterwards, already forming wrinkles on their otherwise smooth fabric. Their trail led to the only large but simple bed in the room, with silk and expensive sheets. Covers wrapped around a single waist, hiding powerful legs but revealing a sculpted chest. Some scars and hickeys marked the strong back, though they weren't visible in the engulfing obscurity. Wild brown locks curled on the nape of the neck, the sweat already dried. The figure shivered from a sudden cold draft. The arms locked beneath the pillow, burying the face in it. No movement followed after and the only sound that could be heard was the soft and almost inaudible breaths coming from the sleeping form.

Everything was peaceful, slumbering in perfect quiet.

A tall black-haired man sat in an armchair in one of the corner of the room, immobile. On the chest of drawers beside him lay a mobile and a gun. His eyes stared at the lonely figure in the bed, ignoring completely the items. His nudity didn't bother him even as he bent, putting his elbows on his knees. His face didn't betray anything but his gaze revealed his turmoil. He stayed silent, watching and reflecting.

Contrary to the man peacefully sleeping, Reborn had woken up in the middle of the night, finding his arms wrapped around the other and his face buried in the brown hair. For a moment, he had been absolutely content, basking in bliss he had never experienced before. A bliss that had shattered when he had remembered where he was and more importantly, who he was.

Reborn rested his chin in his cupped hands, still observing the slumbering man. After carefully untangled himself from the other's embrace, he had walked up to the chest of drawers, retrieving the mobile and the gun. He had stared at them for a while before finally moving and finding himself into the position he was in.

There were rules to follow. All of them were important if one wanted to complete the mission and come back home, safe, both in mind and in body. Until now, Reborn had always more or less followed them, flirting but never breaking. He was the best, not only because of his skills but also because of his lucidity. He never forgot the objective and never got swayed by his mission –his target. It was unbecoming of agents to fall. It was unbecoming of him to fall.

So when did he start to sway? When did he start to call the target by his name? When did he start to see past the status? When did he start to grow attached? When did he start to question his mission? When did he start to doubt? When did he start to fall?

Reborn didn't know. Oh sure, he remembered the first time they had met. Since the first time, he had felt a pull towards the boy (young man). It hadn't been the first time he felt attraction for a target or someone linked to the target. So it hadn't been that difficult to ignore his desire. No, it probably hadn't started at the first approach. It was still okay then. There were other objectives –climbing ranks, getting to know the right persons, finding names and proofs to organize their downfall– so it had been almost simple to brush the pull aside. No, it had probably started at the second or maybe third meeting.

Getting to know the target was quite an effective method to gain the trust needed to collect evidence. The closer he got, the easiest it became to find what he wanted. Usually, once Reborn earned this trust, he completed the mission rather quickly. He knew that this one was different. He was after all part of a national-scaled plan from the government in infiltrating the Mafia, taking down the most influential Families and taking over the Underworld to squash down progressively their power. He was prepared for these long years of lies and deceit, waiting and biding his time. Earning the trust of the most influential heir of the biggest Family was bound to be hard and long.

On some ways, it has been. On others, it has been so easy Reborn had suspected his identity had been discovered.

Surprisingly, Reborn had almost instantly gained the Don-to-be's (Tsuna's) trust. He had only needed to be there, listening and teasing, advising and training, supportive in many ways without trying to be intrusive. Unsurprisingly, the Guardians had been very protective (possessive) and suspicious, glaring and investigating. Their boss (Tsuna) had let them at their search with only a fond roll-eye, trusting that they wouldn't find anything incriminating on Reborn, spending his leisure time with the undercover agent each time he could. And slowly but surely, he had managed to worm his way into Reborn's mind and maybe (certainly) somewhere else.

Of course, the fact that Reborn had been (so) wrong about Tsuna had successfully thrown him off. He had expected a spoil brat, uncaring and ruthless, cruel and cold, certain to have his every whim obeyed. Instead, he met a humble young man, attentive and compassionate, kind and warm, never taking anything for granted. A pacifist fool, Reborn had thought, briefly wondering how such a person could be within such a powerful Family. He had met the Guardians not long after, struck by how violent (insane) and utterly loyal (devoted) they were to the young and idealistic idiot. That time, Reborn hadn't understood. He had needed to witness an attempt on Tsuna's life to realize that the seemingly delicate and vulnerable shell hid a powerful and focused control of skills and movements, turning him from harmless to lethal. Reborn had seen and then had begun to understand.

It only took an attempt on someone else, on a member of one of their allies –the Shimon, another problematic and very secretive Family– for Reborn to understand how dangerous and deadly Tsuna could be. Anyone trying to kill Tsuna's friends (cherished and loved ones, almost kin) turned instantly his wrath on them, learning exactly why Tsuna was to be feared and respected before perishing and becoming a striking example for anyone stupid enough to try again. When Reborn had seen his care (devotion) for his family, the first seed of doubt had been planted in his mind without him noticing.

As time passed, the pair grew closer. Reborn learned that his first impression had been accurate. Tsuna was a pacifist, choosing to negotiate peacefully instead of shedding blood. He was generous and sincere, winning hearts. He was also extremely busy but always managed to find time to be with Reborn to share a talk, training or a laugh. Far from oblivious, Reborn was quickly aware that the attraction he had felt first was mutual, catching the lingering glances, the bright smile or the eagerness. Once he had realized that he could use it at his advantage, he hadn't expected the feeling that pierced right through him.

Guilt.

Reborn suddenly felt guilty at the mere thought of deceiving Tsuna. It was startling enough that he had unconsciously started to keep his distance, confusing (worrying) Tsuna. He needed to, fighting an inner battle to define his identity. When he was with Tsuna, Reborn was Reborn, a skillful hitman without any attachment, free to move as he wished. He forgot that he was firstly Renato, an undercover agent with a vital mission to complete. He forgot that the affection he received wasn't for him but for his false self as he lured everyone (Tsuna) into a trap.

Forgetting who he was. It was a warning for any agent, informing them that they were too invested, too involved in their mission. It was a broken rule that would only bring them pain or death at the next mistake. As for the guilt, it was also a warning, one of the last. One step in the wrong direction, and all rules would be broken and the agent would fall.

Reborn was aware so he tried. He pulled back enough to compose himself, reminding himself of his mission. The next time he were to see Tsuna, he would have to remember the truth and act accordingly.

It worked for a time. Reborn came back to Tsuna, both falling into their friendly routine. There was something different though. Tsuna was distant, sometimes unreadable, refusing Reborn to get too close. Reborn worried, thinking he had been compromised in some way but didn't know, couldn't ask. In turn, he snapped more and more frequently, failing to keep a clear mind. It lasted until Tsuna found him one day, alone, taking steady but shy steps towards him, looking both uncertain and determined. When Tsuna confessed his wish to take their relation a step further (lovers, not friends), the relief and especially his delight had been so intense Reborn instantly knew. These feelings weren't born from the perspective of being able to carry on his mission. They were born from the idea that Tsuna didn't hate him, didn't reject him but wanted him to be there (together).

He had fallen.

For weeks Reborn denied this revelation. He just couldn't have fallen. He was the best agent out there, lucid and aware. He couldn't have failed. For weeks he avoided thinking (acknowledging) about it, focusing on this new relationship with a tentative (hopeful) Tsuna. And then, suddenly, there wasn't any more time to stall. The coronation was the next day, the final deadline.

So here Reborn was, silently contemplating the mess that was his mind (heart) on a chair in a dark corner of a shared room. His eyes had never left Tsuna during his reflection, facing his feelings (fear, respect, desire, love) and debating with his reason (duty). He soon would have to decide.

A call would be enough to warn his fellow agents of his success, offering Tsuna on a plate and therefore, making him disappear definitely (prison, death not by his hands but still because of him).

A shot would be enough to destroy the most powerful Mafia family, letting it drown into misery and grief, self-destructing (his heart shattered in a billion of pieces, no longer feeling anything but poisoning guilt).

A cloud covered the moon, plunging the room into complete darkness. Tsuna vanished from his sight, still there but unseen. It was easy (but not) for Reborn to imagine himself being alone in the room (lonely). The thought made him shift in the chair, uneasy (sadness, grief, guilt, lost, so lost). The sounds of the regular and soft breaths helped him relax (still there, still alive). Reborn blinked and the moon reappeared, allowing him to stare once again at the peaceful sleeper (lover).

Reborn had two identities, two lives. It was time to decide which one would be the truth.

If he called, Reborn would return to being Renato, the undercover agent (liar, life's thief). If he destroyed the mobile, he would stay Reborn, the hitman (Tsuna's only lover).

If he shot, Reborn would disappear along with the last heir (murderer, Tsuna's murderer). If he kept the gun and stayed, Reborn would live beside the new Don (smiling Tsuna).

The choice should be simple. It wasn't.

The figure on the bed moved, arms spreading and feeling the cold sheets beside him. There was an interrogative sound coming from his throat as he sat up, the covers falling a bit but still covering his nudity. A sleepy voice called out, whispering, softly.

"Reborn?"

When he didn't get any reply, he wriggled out of the covers and crawled towards the edge of the bed. Tsuna had always been able to pinpoint the location of anyone in a room, even when he couldn't see them. Reborn watched –or rather perceived– him approaching carefully, feeling his way to avoid falling off the bed (had happened once, Reborn had laughed so hard in amusement and incredulity, learning another side of Tsuna, his occasional clumsiness from his childhood and teenage years). He stopped at the edge of the bed, tried to find a comfortable position to sit and spare his sore muscles and gave up when he understood he wouldn't find one. Instead he leaned a bit forward, tilting his head.

"Are you okay, Reborn?"

He sounded a bit lost, clearly wondering about the why and what, but mostly concerned. His thoughts were completely focused on Reborn, already thinking about possible problems bothering him, preventing him from sleeping, trying to find a solution. When he didn't receive any answer, he stayed put and silent, determined to wait until Reborn felt comfortable enough to share his worry. Until then, he wouldn't push but wouldn't sleep either.

Reborn didn't say anything for a long time, observing him attentively, remembering him (words, skin, personality, quirks, feelings). Finally, his voice pierced the silence, husky from keeping silent for hours.

"I love you."

Tsuna started, clearly not expecting the words (first time he said them, first time he admitted them). His eyes widened, and without needing to see, Reborn knew that his face was flushed by both embarrassment and happiness. Then he smiled, beautifully and lovingly, humming.

"I love you too."

Reborn briefly closed his eyes, letting the words penetrate his very being (body, mind and soul, heart). He took a deep breath and stood up.

He has made his decision.

A/N:

So... was it a farewell or not? What do you think?

The idea had kind of stuck into my mind, preventing me from writing anything else or even doing anything else (like my essays, crap. Well, at least, I don't work anymore).

Anyway, thanks for reading! Don't hesitate to point out any mistakes or share your thoughts!

See you next time~