Title:Ashes to Flames
Rating: PG-13 to eventual M
Pairing: X27, aka, XanxusTsuna
Warnings: Swearing, violence, BL and eventual Yaoi. Oh, and the fact that this is Un-Betaed and probably has crappy grammar.
Summary: Every meeting had a reaction. Each reaction builds upon the next, meeting after meeting. But every reaction has a consequence.
Author Note: If you don't like BL or just this pairing, then don't read it. Any flames or immature negative remarks will be ignored, because I really don't give a damn what you think.
Chapter 2: The 2nd Meeting
It seemed the world was always mocking him. Laughing at him and finding every opportunity to make his life as unpleasant as possible. Today's little headache included the one thing Tsuna hated the most, and that was paperwork.
The damn stuff just followed him everywhere. He hated doing it in school, and now his whole work revolved around paperwork, and how much of it he can sign and shift through. Tsuna had lost count on how many business transactions he'd read, how many damage report or flight requests he'd processed. He'd certainly lost count on how many times he'd written his own name. Tsuna had once suggested to Reborn about getting his signature made into a stamp, which would make processing paperwork so much faster. However, he'd received a quick kick to the back of the head in response. Apparently stamping your name wasn't professional enough for a mafia boss.
Look up at the mountain of papers that overtook his "to-do-box", Tsuna resisted the urge to ignite his dying will flame and just burn the entire stack to a crisp.
Letting out a heavy sigh, he leaned back in his large leather chair and swiveled around to stare out of the large picture window that looked out over the Vongola estate. The sun was shining beautifully, and the weather looked warm.
Tsuna suddenly had the desire to sneak outside and take a nap beneath one of the large trees that sat in the gardens. Not that he would, because if Reborn caught him napping…let's just say he'd be given a quick and painful retirement from his job, and life.
But it really was so nice outside. It should be considered illegal for a person to be cooped up in a stuffy old office on a day as nice as this. Birds were singing, the wind gently blowing, bombs were exploding.
Tsuna groaned, holding his head in his hand and covering his eyes, refusing to look at the destruction that was taking place just outside.
Tsuna was suddenly reminded of his second headache. The Varia.
Three days. They have been here for a totally of three days, and already the manor was starting to look like a war zone. In fact, Tsuna had a sneaky suspicion that at least a forth of the paperwork that sat on his desk was because of the Varia, and their constant bickering with his Guardians.
And the worst part was, it wasn't even the Varia in its entirety. Just the original six from the Ring Battles (Gola Mosca was never replaced apparently). Of course, that alone said enough, because just those six were all battle-crazy lunatics. Tsuna was convinced they got the urge to fight from just breathing air.
The Varia and his Guardians were like oil and water. They just refused to co-exist, to the point where they couldn't even bare to be in the same room as each other.
Tsuna hadn't exactly heard the whole story, but somehow the Varia's headquarters, which was in a separate location from the Vongola's main headquarters, had become damaged to the point where it was uninhabitable. Tsuna knew that much, simply because the damage and repair reports were currently sitting on his desk. So, while construction was underway, the main Varia officers were to live at the main Vongola manor. The other hundred or so members apparently had other accommodations.
Tsuna was suddenly reminded of his most recent little surprise encounter with the Varia, or more specifically, Xanxus.
Ever since the Ring Battles, Tsuna hadn't seen the Varia at all. He'd only hear occasional reports and rumors about their activities. In fact, that had been the first time Tsuna had seen Xanxus in years.
To say he had been surprised, was an understatement. Even though their encounter only lasted barely 30 seconds, Tsuna had been rendered speechless by the vast changes in him.
Gone was the aura of pure hatred, the killing intent, the anger.
Well, no. The anger was still there, but it seemed different. Calmer, more contained.
He has yet to see the Varia leader since he returned. When he asked Squalo about Xanxus's whereabouts, the swordsman grouched and replied "The hell if I know, you shitty brat. Probably off killing something."
Tsuna concluded that he was probably off on a mission. Or at least, that's what he hoped.
A solid knock on his door stirred Tsuna from his thoughts. "Enter." He called, not turning around, still trying to ignore the series of explosions and mindless destruction just taking place outside his window.
He heard the door open and the heavy footsteps of someone walking in. Another explosion, this one a little too close to the manor for Tsuna's personal comfort. He groaned again. They only got away with it because Reborn wasn't even in the country. Had the arcobaleno been here, they would've just used verbal threats and fists.
The person behind him coughed, attempting to get his attention.
"Ah, I'm sorry. What was it---" Tsuna trailed off, as he swiveled around to face the person.
Well speak of the devil.
"Xanxus". Tsuna spoke calmly, yet not quite hiding his surprise.
There stood the Varia leader himself. Dressed in his standard attire of black suit and tie, along with the odd little ornaments that hung off of his jacket. Tsuna had always wondered why Xanxus wore random animal parts, but he really never had the opportunity to ask. All the fighting and battles and attempts to kill each other kind of made it hard.
Getting a good look at the him now, Tsuna could tell he had grown a little taller. His hair remained relatively the same, still as wild as ever. Scars still littered his face and hands, but they seemed more blurred now, less sharp and noticeable.
"Ah, Xanxus…uh, what can I do for you?" Tsuna asked hesitantly. He was kind of caught of guard, with Xanxus walking into his office and all, without the flames and yelling or death threats. The look of annoyance was clearly written on his face, but there was no killing intent. Which was the only reason why Tsuna wasn't fleeing for his life at that very moment.
"Here." Xanxus finally spoke, and tossed a stack of papers that he'd been holding onto Tsuna's desk.
"And these…are….?" Tsuna picked them up slowly, casting a glance down at them.
"My report." Xanxus deadpanned, and moved to leave.
"Ah! Wait." Tsuna called urgently, his mouth moving before his brain.
Xanxus stopped, and cast a questioning glance. His crimson eyes bore into Tsuna, telling him he'd better not waste his time.
"Well…I, uh. I didn't really hear much about what you were out doing. So can you, tell me about it?" Tsuna was starting to think his mouth had become possessed.
Xanxus studied him for a moment, with eyes that seemingly could find any trick, any lie, any folly. His questioning glare traveled all over Tsuna, piercing his very soul, looking for any reason to deny his request. He could've just said 'No', to 'just read the fuckin' report.' But he didn't.
"Fine" Xanxus said, plain and harsh. And then he sat down in the chair that was in front of Tsuna's desk.
Tsuna was once again, rendered speechless.
And so, Xanxus began telling his report. And Tsuna listened.
It was very formal, and straight to the point, Xanxus recounted how he had tracked down a mole within the family. A double agent who wasn't only feeding the Vongola information, but giving information away. Information that wasn't his to give.
It was partway through that Tsuna realized Xanxus was actually quoting his report, word for word. But he didn't mention anything, and continued listening.
And so, Xanxus explained how he somehow had to track down the seemingly invisible man, who was apparently very good at hiding and remain hidden.
"The target was eventually found in Venice. I--"
"How was Venice? Is it nice there?" Tsuna blurted out, again, without thinking. He resisted the urge to smack himself in the forehead.
"I, uh, I've never been there, see. Kinda sad. I've been here for over a year, and I've yet to see such a famous historical place." Tsuna hastily continued, trying to explain his outburst. It felt more like he was digging his own grave, however.
Tsuna waved his hand in front of his face. "Nev--Never mind. Contin--"
"It's nice." Xanxus cut in. "You need to go. A Vongola boss who has never visited Venice is pretty damn pathetic."
"Hehe, yeah, it is kind of pathetic really." Tsuna scratched the back of his head nervously, giving Xanxus a goofy smile. He then coughed, and motioned Xanxus to continue.
Which he did, but a bit more informally. Xanxus explained how he found his target, who was hiding in a secret shack underneath the waterways. Xanxus had actually stopped and explained the layout of the city, and how it was literally a city on water. Which Tsuna found he enjoyed listening to.
It didn't surprise Tsuna the least bit when Xanxus began going intofull details about the captured man's eventual torture and death. But Tsuna just accepted it. It's something that came with the job, and it's was Tsuna's sin to bare as the 10th Vongola boss.
"Overall, it was an unnecessarily boring and troublesome mission." Xanxus concluded, leaning back into his chair.
"Then why did you take it?" Tsuna asked, curiosity getting the better of him. This type of mission really didn't strike as Xanxus's type to take. Especially when there were plenty of other Varia assassins that could've easily have done the job (some of whom Tsuna wished had taken it, just to get them away from the manor).
" I wanted to go to Venice." Was Xanxus's straightforward reply.
Tsuna paused, blinked, then proceeded to break out into a hearty laugh. He covered his mouth to attempt to silence himself, but he shoulders still continued to shake with each laugh.
Xanxus's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion and annoyance.
"I'm- I'm sorry." Tsuna breathed deeply, calming himself down. "It's just, that was the answer I was least expecting to hear from you."
"Hmph" Was all Xanxus said. He then stood up, and pulled at his jacket straightening it out. "Well, if that was all, I'll be taking my leave, 10th." And Xanxus turned to leave.
"Tsuna"
Xanxus stopped mid-step, but didn't turn around.
"Call me Tsuna."
And then Xanxus left, clicking the door shut as he went.
Aaaaannd Chapter 2 is a wrap!!
Wow. I can't believe I finished this so fast. And I'm really happy with it too! 8D
I kinda just left the ending as-is. I was sort of planning on writing a bit more, but I felt it was better to just end it there.
I'm totally spoiling you guys. I should be writing my other fics, but instead, you get another chapter. And you'll probably be getting the 3rd one just as fast too.
And LOVE for all you people who faved, watched and reviewed!!
I'll try to get to review responses in the next chapter or edit this one later with them (cause I really should be sleeping right now….) but really quickly, I wanted to thank both Cyne and T-Gal for offering their services as a beta. If either of you are still interested, can you pop me an e-mail? been kinda annoying for me lately, and lagging like crazy.
More chatter from me later. So for now, enjoy the brief bit of XanxusTsuna fluff. Cause I'll really be cranking up the fluff in the next chapter. Kekekeke.
oh, and don't forget to Review!!!!!!