Pinkie's Part:
*ahem* THANK YOU! Now that that is aside, thank you, seriously, to all of you who favorited, followed and reviewed. I'm legit in tears with such happiness. I appreciate it. A special shoutout to Master-of-Masters; for being ridiculously awesome and giving me hope! Thank you!
I will apologize for this chapter though, I don't like inflicting pain, but I feel as though it needs to be there to help move the story along. You can kick me later, as long as its in a review :) Another warning, cursing from the surface of a certain someone, also, I used Google Translate. Gomen. I'm not cool enough to know Italian.
I love the feedback, if you happen to read something that doesn't make sense, please bring it to my attention :D
Onward!
xx
Chapter: Nothing Like Before
Since the chanced event that Tsuna had encountered with a mysterious black clad, fedora wearing man; he seemed to be a little brighter. Everyone seemed to notice the slight change in the dame fellow. His shyness was still rather prominant; but he seemed to carry it a little better. Mochida noticed this and scoffed; the petite bastard had even dared to be brave and change seats so that he couldn't get his hands on him. Though, even after the spider incident; who could really blame the petite man? I digress-
But Mochida had plans to put an end to the brunette's little happiness parade. Nothing pisssed him off more than seeing him smile. Him, the audacity of that miserable little squirt. He was fuming, and felt his eye twitch. He had never liked Tsuna, especially after he had watched as his number one choice; Kyoko Sasagawa, had become slightly fond of the young man. Just remembering that made his mood darken considerably, it had been years ago, in junior high school, but Mochida was a genius who remembered everything.
He was so busy plotting at the bench in courtyard on campus, that he barely missed said object of his obsessions passing by, a large portfolio in his hands. Wisps of hot air forming little clouds from his pout as he ran towards a building, his wrist flicking up as if to check the time, he cursed and pushed his slender legs harder. That, is when Mochida pounced.
He had used a back walk way and ended up in front of the little brunette, he watched for the most oppertune moment, he then decided on sticking his leg out. A rather comical, if not tragic event ensued shortly after. Tsuna had caught the foot with the upper portion of his shin, his signature gasp leaving in lips in breathless wonder. Mochida had exerted enough force to send a soccerball halfway across a football field. Tsuna tumbled forward, smacking his head smartly against the concrete, the portfolio bending beneath his body, his hair sprawled across the head at the downward inpact. He flipped, his legs going over his head and he landed with his neck pinched between his chest and the corner of the building he was looking for.
Mochida laughed, put his hands into his pockets and began walking off, not caring to check if the youth was still awake. He had been able to get his frustrations out for the moment, and that was all he cared for. The campus was almost empty, save for the preparations for the next day's art show. He paused then, and then smirked. He walked back to the awkwardly placed form, and pulled the portfolio out from underneath Tsuna. He flipped it open, he looked at the pieces within and tore each and every one of them into shreds. He huffed in satisfaction, rubbing his hands together to get rid of the traces of charcoal and pastel that had clung to his skin; before once more abandoning the brunette on the concrete slab.
(Lines that Break)
Tsuna bit back sobs as he tried to move; his left arm was broken, than much he was aware. With the impact and the brute force in which he had fallen to the ground, he had unconciously stuck his arm underneath him, trying to cushion his fall. His thick hair had saved his cranium somewhat, though it still throbbed in slight pain. Tsuna had one eye closed, his voice rendered useless as he had bit his tongue on the way down. He was thankful that he hadn't bitten through the muscle, though he did taste the familiar copper. He sighed, and then winced. He then paused, his eyes had felt heavy after the impact, and now he was wide awake.
Freshly fallen snow beginning to cover him as he wanted nothing more than to scream out. He recognized the colors first, and then the swirling imagery that released. The venice scene before him, the snow shivering out of sight as his artwork, the ones he had specifically made got the show, were in tatters, dancing in the soft breeze.
Ruined, absolutely destroyed. He felt warm tears well up as he forced himself upright. His good arm resting over one of his eyes as he cradled the other in his lap. The knees of his pants in shreds, and his clean shirt filled with holes, as well as the palms of his hands, and his chest were wittled with tiny scrapes. He rocked, trying his hardest not to cry out.
He couldn't let the sadness settle in. He shakily rose to his feet, grabbing the ripped portfolio, and limped back to his dorm, or rather he tried, before he stumbled once more. He bit back tears as his ruined arm made contact with the frozen, one eye shut in response to his pain. The half and half scene of the Venice waterfront and his cold reality seeming to mock him. He bitterly laughed, instantly regretting it as his tongue swelled.
A setting sun shared the center stage of Tsuna's vision. The colours blending superbly across the sky. The pale pinks and lavendars colliding like a well coreographed story. Telling of a lost dream, but a slightly more tangible hope, if at all possible in this sense.
The clashing scenery between his two eyes scent his brain into overdrive. His conciousness swayed, his body fooled into believeing it was warm. He could feel the cold bite, but the summer breeze the caressed his skin, contrasted into a nuetral temperature.
He looked down, hopelessness setting in as he looked up at the sky. The grey mocking his bright carribean blue hoody. The white 27 on the front of the sweatshirt was dirty and torn, just like his resolve to get inside, to find someone to help him. Please.. He felt something warm on his shoulder, and as he tilted his head, he saw nothing but black before his vision failed him. He was encompased by something warm, and with just that, at that precise moment he couldn't care less..
(Lines that Break)
Tsuna fidgeted, something itched and it annoyed him. He felt his dead weight in the form of an arm, and it refused to budge so he could scratch at the offensive patch of skin. He then felt something heavy on his legs being moved. He then felt cold, before something warm replaced the heaviness on his legs. He stuggled to open his eyes, and when he did, he was confused.
Neatly lined bookshelves filled any space in his line of sight. He was suprised, and then he realized that he was someone unfamiliar. Though some part of his mind was vividly exicted, the other, logical part of his mind was screaming out about red flags and potential danger. Tsuna made to sit up, and then winced. He peered down, and saw the reason for his arm not moving. It was bandaged, and put into a make-shift splint.
His brows furrowed as he stared. He heard a grunt and then his eyes snapped upwards. He paled and pushed himself further on the bed. Before him stood a man who looked nothing more than a dangerous delinquent. His silver locks parted down the middle, with long tresses slowly depleating in length as they reach the back of the cranium. The many ear peircings, and the unlit cigarette that hung lazily from the slightly parted lips frightened the petite youth. At the realization of the sudden discomfort, he felt the acid green eyes of his current caretaker stare at him with little to no interest.
"Oh, good you're finally awake."
The silver haired male's voice was low, and yet, though masked with slight concern, did not fail to send a shiver up Tsuna's spine.
"My name is Hay- ah, Gokudera."
He went to talk, to give his name in turn; but had great difficulty in replying as he suddenly became aware of the gauze that had been stufed into his mouth. He then tasted the antithestic, the taste overwhelming as the literal sense of cotton mouth made him want to gag. His hands fiddled with the peices, making to move them out. The silverette had moved to the side of the bed, and pulled Tsuna's hands away from the injury, the man's mouth had turned downward, as he pushed a pencil into the brunette's hand. A small notepad was held gently in the man's hands, a look of determination apparent across his features.
"I'm sorry, I know you just woke up, but, I need to know what happened. That person showed up with you, and he looked absolutely fucking livid."
Tsuna blinked.
That person?
He thought about it, and then a light pink dusted his cheeks. The black he had seen before he passed out- it couldn't have been? Could it? He looked down at the notepad and then back up at Gokudera, who in turn cocked his head to the side and moved his neck so he head proceeded slightly forward, downcast eyes and an arch eyebrow, gesturing to Tsuna to begin writing.
Tsuna did his best to jot down all that he could of the events that he remembered before he lost conciousness. He had opted to leave out the fact that Mochida had been the one to cause his fall. What good what it be if he tattled, this was something that would only get worse if he tried to seek assistance, right? He nodded, confirming his own suspicions.
The silver haired man twitched, though Tsuna was unaware that this man had seen the ends of that attack. The shreds of brightly coloured paper landing on the silent, unmoving brunette like a veil of rainbow colored confetti incorporated intracetly like he in himself was on display. He had thought nothing of it, thinking it some silly display of one of those weird art kids. He cursed under his breath, and his gaze shifted to the broken brunette sitting gaurdely on the bed. He shook his head and gestured to the notepad. His fingers on the edge of the paper.
"It's no use trying to lie to me.. if he finds out I didn't gather the information he wanted, sarò un fottuto caso disperato." (I'll be a damn goner) The last bit had been groaned as Tsuna laid the pencil and the notepad to the side of his legs. His hands neatly folded above the blankets as he returned to a reclined position.
"Ah, piccolo bianco moscardino, è sveglio?" (little white octopus, he's awake?)
Gokudera tensed at the sound of this barritone. He slowly turned towards the voice, though Tsuna saw no one, a demanding presence was indeed lingering in the room. He shivered slightly, pulling the blankets up just slightly to cover him just a little bit more.
"Cazzo!-" Gokudera hissed, whirling around fully, slightly bowed before responding;
" Uh, sì, avete domande per lui, Re-" (Shit!- Uh, yes he is, did you have any questions for him, Re-)
"Non dire il mio nome in modo grossolano, alzati, ti tratterò più tardi..."( Don't say my name so carelessly, stand up, I'll deal with you later.) The voice had suddenly taken a plunge in tone, and Tsuna watched as Gokudera flinched before shooting out of the seat he had previously occupied. In his place, stepped a familiar shade of black. Tsuna smiled a little, but it looked a little ridiculous, the gauze beginning to fall out; upon realizing this, he panic and stuffed his hands to his mouth, biting down on his fingers as he tried to keep it within his mouth.
He heard a chuckle and watched as the figure slowly made his way out of the shadows. No doubt to add to the mysterious quality that already rolled off of his form in waves. A hand reached up, tilted the fedora and then rolled it off, down his arm as he caught it between his index and middle fingers. He approached the side of the bed, and sat down on the edge. Setting his fedora on top of Tsuna's legs, he reached over, pulling the youth's hands away, before cupping the chin and forcing it upwards gently.
Tsuna took this chance to observe the older man. Sharp, European eyes were outlined in dark, long eyelashes. But in truth, the color was what captivated him, the deepest color of onyx greeted him. A smirk, almost permanant, however promising of either pain or mischief- was spread across the partially parted lips. The nose was narrow, but not in an unattractive manner, no, it was quite the opposite. Tsuna smacked himself mentally, thinking back to the half hearted sketches he had created, failing to replicate the partial visuals he had been granted the last time he and this black clothed man had encountered one another.
He coaxed the jaw open, and began pulling the gauze out of the mouth. Tsuna felt his jaw lock, and squirmed, but a harsh look from the obsidian eyes made him freeze.
"Reborn."
Tsuna blinked, his head slightly tilting to the left. Reborn pushed the head back into place, flicking the nose gently as he continued to pull piece after piece of gauze out of the tiny pout. After the final piece was removed, Reborn manuvered the jaw, inspecting it to see if it had been broken. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he placed a finger into the cavern, Tsuna's mouth snapped shut, teeth grazing the finger in warning, his brows furrowed. Reborn clicked his tongue.
"I'm checking to make sure the stitches are still in take, idiota."
Tsuna released his finger, and stuck his tongue out. Reborn looked from the tongue to the boy and shook his head in amusement. His fingers skimmed the edge of the muscle, seeing that the stitches were still in perfect condition, he silently thanked the gods that the constant shuffle of gauze hadn't snagged the meticulously placed pieces of metal.
Rebron retreived his fedora and the notepad, he gave them to Tsuna and raised an eyebrow.
"You can't lie to me, Leone, ora, tell me the truth." He tapped the pad for emphasis, and Tsuna nervously nodded, tears welling up as he began to write. This stranger, no, this new aqauntaince had helped him twice. Since when had he been so lucky? Maybe, just maybe, he shook his head to clear the thoughts.
It was too soon to think of friendships, that someone actually cared about his well being. It was, wasn't it?