Raven stands silently behind Gokudera and takes in the Vongola Boss. He had been assigned to watch Tsuna before getting shot and captured and he still couldn't tell why this kid demanded so much respect from his guardians.
"Can we talk inside, Juudaime? I…There's a lot to explain."
Tsuna tries to focus on Gokudera but he can't help but glance at Raven every few seconds.
"Ah, okay…But…why…" Tsuna mentally chastens himself. Something was obviously wrong and Gokudera needed his help. "Sure, but…he might have to stay outside…I'm not sure my mom would…um…"
Tsuna feels bad for just saying it and let's his sentence trail off. Raven chuckles.
"Don't worry, I'm actually very nice. And my Boss has ordered me to be…good."
"Er…" Tsuna is still alarmed but something about the scarred man tells the young brunette that he wouldn't hurt them. "Alright…Come inside then."
Tsuna fervently hopes that Lambo is out and about like he assumed.
"He can be…civil when he wants to be Juudaime. But if he truly bothers you, we can make him wait outside."
Gokudera smirks at Raven, who quirks an eyebrow.
"I may not be civil but at least I have self-control when in public places." Raven leans down and speaks so only Gokudera can hear him. "Unlike you and Phoenix, I know what you two did in the changing room and I could tell your little boss there."
It was Raven's turn to smirk as Gokudera blushes profusely before narrowing his eyes at Raven and leading Tsuna inside.
"Come on Juudaime. Pay him no mind."
As soon as they are settled in a host of questions pour from Tsuna's mouth.
"Where have you been? We've been looking everywhere. Bianchi even left to go find you! I still had school so Reborn told me to let her handle it, but…We were all really worried about you."
Gokudera is taken back.
"Juudaime…" The silver-haired teen looks down. "I'm sorry…I didn't have time to explain the situation. Do you remember Phoenix? Well, she needed my help. She tried leaving her Family but I had to travel to Chicago to help her get out of it." Gokudera looks away with an ashamed expression on his face. "But I was captured along with her and we were sent to a…holding area for this whole time. I had no way to contact the outside world. I'm so sorry for not telling you…" He goes down on his knee. "Please forgive me Juudaime for worrying you."
"N-No that's fine! You don't have to apologize! If you were unable to, there's no need to apologize!" Just then Tsuna realizes that Phoenix isn't with Gokudera and the quite scarred man. "Wait…where is she?"
Gokudera frowns and Ravens fists and jaw clenches.
"That's…that's the thing…She's back in Chicago. They released me so as to separate us and they plan to…" Gokudera takes a deep breath to try and keep himself calm. "Her Boss has scheduled her execution…"
"Execution? For what? For just leaving?" Tsuna frowns. "That's not right."
"I know…I know that Juudaime. It's not. Especially when I lo-." Gokudera looks at Raven and turns back to Tsuna. "We need to stop him. We can't let her die."
"I…I really think we should talk to him about this. I really don't want things to get to violent, but if they have to…" Tsuna looks between Gokudera and Raven, thinking about how he really didn't want to feel Reborn's boot and sighs. "I'll deal with it."
Raven throws back his head and laughs, making Tsuna jump.
"He wants you dead young Vongola, that's why Phoenix was sent here in the first place. You go to him and you die, that's the way the O-Loughlin family works." The raven-haired man leans forward and slaps Gokudera upside the back of the head. "And you! If you love Phoenix then just say it. Jeez."
Tsuna sits there with a stunned expression; this was a lot to process. Gokudera is possibly dating this girl, which is great, but once again someone wants him dead for reasons that he didn't know.
"I-I can't just…" Gokudera glances back at Tsuna his face heating up. "I…"
"Er…I…M-Maybe Reborn can smooth things over?"
Gokudera hears Tsuna change the subject and tries to shake the blush from his face.
"Y-Yeah…I…Maybe Reborn-san can…This is why we need your help Juudaime, Yours and the rest of the guardians…I know how powerful the O-Loughlin Family is. And they're…" Gokudera looks away. "I'm not strong enough…"
Raven leans forward again, this time grasping Gokudera's shoulder in a sympathetic motion.
"No one person is strong enough Hayato."
Tsuna takes in the sadness in the grey and green eyes and nods.
"Then we'll help." He smiles. "There's strength in numbers, and we have to fight to protect the happy times, right?"
Gokudera smiles softly at Tsuna.
"Thank you. Thank you so much!" He bows and glances back at Raven, who smiles slightly and nods. Gokudera bites his lip and looks back to Tsuna. "And…Juudaime…I…I…" He gulps and closes his eyes before practically shouting out. "I love her! So thank you again for helping me rescue her!"
Raven smiles and shakes his head as Gokudera bows again.
"You see, that wasn't so hard." Raven's smile turns into a slight frown and he covers his mouth with his hand for a moment before saying. "We shouldn't use the other guardians, normally I would agree with the Young Vongola but for this particular house, the smaller the party the better. Fours the most I would risk. Two from you, two from us. And I know just the guy."