Harry cursed in every language he knew. Gobbledegook was particularly satisfying, even in his current condition.

He had no idea what the hell the curse the Neo-Eater hit him with actually was, but it was making him bleed almost too fast for his Flames to keep up with the blood loss. It resisted every use of magic he had tried against it. The curse had opened multiple wounds over his body and caused him to bleed faster than should be humanly possible. Trying to close the wounds by multiplying his own skin cells with Flames after magic had failed to help had caused the curse to not only reopen the wound but open up two more.

He'd been multiplying his own blood cells since near the exact moment the curse had managed a glancing graze of a wound against him. It wasn't even that much of a nick, but it was enough for the spell to do as intended and rip open what looked like four inch long deep knife wounds in multiple places. His Flames were the only reason he was still breathing- unlike the fool to have cast the damn thing.

(He wished he could have taken his time with that particular kill, but blood loss meant he needed to be quick and get out, especially since he couldn't heal himself)

His magic didn't work against it, and his Flames were too busy frantically keeping him alive to do anything to help him after that initial attempt. (Not that he would, since even direct application of his Flames to the area only seemed to make more curse-wounds.)

Skull couldn't go to a normal hospital with a curse-afflicted wound and he couldn't go to St. Mungo's or he'd be recognized and detained 'for his own good'. But he needed help- he was woozy and lightheaded and nauseous- and if he passed out before he got help there would be no saving him.

That leaves the Arcobaleno. Specifically Reborn.

He's angry about it- he hadn't wanted them involved at all and this will absolutely get them involved (violently too- Skull had long ago learned that while the Arcobaleno might push him around, yell and hit, they were the only ones allowed to do so as far as they were concerned) but Harry needs the help.

He curses some more even as he staggers as black spots crowd his vision and his head suddenly feels ten pounds lighter.

No choice then.

The thought crosses his mind even as he prepares to use his depleted magic. It's not working against the curse- whatever it was- but he could still apparate. He's a magical powerhouse and yes, he's lost a lot of blood and yes, his magic is doing it's best to lessen the damage, but there's enough to make that distance.

It's hard to focus through the blood loss he's suffering from even with his Flames working overtime to replace the blood but he's Skull de Mort. He's Skull, he's Harry Potter and he has determination enough to topple entire governments if he wants, so he turns on his heel and apparates.

There's a chance no one will be there. There's a chance he'll splinch himself. He might have miscalculated the distance, his magic any number of things- he might not make it.

He's Harry-fucking-Potter.

His landing is less than graceful. It jars his injuries, sending white hot shards of pain through his body as he crashes into the ground. The breath whooshes out of him and his vision is graying out alarmingly, but he can see enough to confirm that he hasn't lost any body parts. That was good. He didn't need anything else on his person to start bleeding while these curse wounds were in effect.

Blood loss is bad.

Sensing other people's Flames takes a moment to orientate himself, because it's hard and it's a magical thing and magic is low at the moment, but he almost passes out in relief because he can feel them.

The sense quickly fades, but he knows the Arcobaleno are heading his way even if he can't see them yet. His arrival would sound like a gunshot, but wrong. That would draw them in like nothing else. On full alert with weapons and swift steps.

Which was good.

Harry didn't think he could get his weak limbs to push himself back to his feet to call out or anything other then try to stay awake.

LINEBREAK

The Arcobaleno are on edge and, quite frankly, angry. There's worry and concern lurking in there somewhere but anger is easier.

Skull had stormed away after that fateful day where he had lost control of his Flames weeks ago and they had heard nothing from their Cloud since.

That wasn't normal.

Skull was a worrier when it came to people he cared for, he demanded updates from all of them when they left their main base of operations for any sort of job. It hadn't always been so- there had been a time where they ignored one another- but once their bonds had been established that had changed. The Arcobaleno had only ever needed to see one incident where Verde had failed to call in to decide to never break the tradition again. Granted, they went years without speaking to one another, caught up in their own lives and business, but when they were in contact, when they went on missions, Skull demanded updates.

They all concluded it was his Cloudy tenancies showing themselves, what little the man possessed so they allowed it. It was useful. Skull had started the habit, but it had spread amongst each other so that they kept their eyes on each other through these quick messages and updates. Especially since the curse was lifted, they had come together, bonded better than they had in the beginning, so this was completely out of the established behaviors that Skull exhibated.

It was all the confirmation they had needed to know the infamous Cloud temper did in fact lurk within their obnoxious Cloud and was just as impressive as the rumors claimed (if not more so).

Keeping in contact with one another had become an ironclad rule with them- they updated each other via texts when they went out on missions, when they arrived and when they were on the way back. Plus periodic check-ins in-between or they told the others that 'radio silence' was required. Even if it was small things, like pictures or just Reborn and Colonello bragging about kills.

Over three weeks without a word from their Cloud and no sign of him raging anywhere in the Mafia world and they were all antsy and on edge and angry. Looking for him turned up nothing, calling got voicemail, searching for him did no good. And when had Skull gotten so good at hiding that they couldn't find him when they wanted to? Mammon was throwing a fit that her most hated ability was used so often and with no readable results.

So that left the question: where was he?

The sound of a single shot of gunfire- it's off somehow, it's not quite gunfire and they all know it, but it definitely isn't the sound of a car backfiring and no one should be able to get that close to their home without alerting them, not with Verde's improvements and especially considering that literally no one knows this mansion even exists- gets their attention. It doesn't even cross Viper's mind that this could be Apparation because who did she know that was magical and able to get onto the property?

Reborn is the first one out the door, vanishing into the shadows, Colonello right on his heels, rifle already in his hands. They move out, sliding through their land like the shadows in firelight. Swift and soundless, flickering from place to place from pure speed, there and then gone in a blink.

It's Mammon that spots Skull first and only because she feels the twang of magic against her Flames. The noise that leaves her lips is entirely involuntary. Her reaction instantly draws the other's attention and when their gazes land on what arrests her attention, they all still when they see what draw such a reaction from their Mist.

Eyes widen in disbelief, in horror, even as weapons are lowered and some take quick, sharp steps forwards, but no sound escapes their throats. Their gazes are glued to a terrible sight, and not one of the Arcobaleno even breathe for a moment. Out of all the situations they imagined, this was not one of them.

Even though he hadn't checked in, they hadn't, not once, never once, had any of them thought that this may be the reason why Skull didn't reach out to contact them in some way. He was an odd Cloud, none of his reactions fit anything they knew so they just marked this reaction down as one of his Cloud problems.

If they had thought for even a fraction of a second that their Cloud wasn't able to handle whatever he intended to do, they wouldn't have been nearly as accepting of their failure in searching for him. They wouldn't have just retreated to the mansion and decided to wait for Skull.

(They shove the horrifying image from the Future-That-Never-Was, that image of their Cloud crumbling to the ground with the gaping hole in the side of his head out of their minds. The image that would haunt them all for the rest of time.)

Reborn is the first to break out into a run.

He is the World's Best Hitman and he trusts his own instincts to alert him to any danger the other Arcobaleno miss, but more than that, Reborn is the Sun and it is his job to heal the other Elements in his Sky when they cannot help themselves.

His job to heal Skull.

Skull who is sprawled out face down in a puddle of blood every single one of the Arcobaleno know should mean he was dead from blood loss hours ago. The amount is at least twice the entire contains of a human body. He's clearly not since they can see that he's still breathing shallowly and blood is still rushing from his body in a way that is entirely unnatural.

Reborn's slacks are instantly soaked in blood as he kneels down and reaches out for their Cloud and flips him over to see the wounds. Skull is wearing an odd kind of armor, made of some kind of scales, but it slides off easily enough, leaving tiny rivers of blood to flow freely over pale skin and the dips created by muscles and bones.

Clever bastard.

Reborn has the absent thought, recognizing instantly what Skull has done to keep up with his loss of blood as his hands light up with Sun Flames and clamp onto the torn flesh nearest to his heart.

He notices immediately that Skull is still conscious, if only barely, as his eyes are glazed and unable to focus on him and his features, rather just barely aware enough to know that a person is hovering in his space. Reborn grits his teeth and fights off a memories that is crowding close to the surface of his mind-

(-he had been too late, one side of Skull's head was completely gone, the half of his skull still intact glaring at him with one unfocused violet eye and his lips pulled back in one last defiant snarl-)

He breathes in and tastes iron. A moment after, just as Reborn sinks his Sun Flames below the surface, of Skull's skin, he feels the Cloud's body shutter. He ignores the other Arcobaleno who have all rushed to their side even as they carefully search the area for any threats. His attention is focused on the sudden surge of Flames from Skull.

His lids lift as something sharp and focused, something dangerous and feral flashes in Skull's eyes clearing the glassy unfocused gleam away like a lightning strike, while a hand flashes out coated in blood and locks around his wrist.

"Do not."

It's a command, that everyone can hear even as Skull's voice is rougher than sandpaper, dry and ragged but sharp enough with the edges of Flame that Reborn stills.

LINEBREAK

Skull sensed the exact moment the Arcobaleno saw him. Their Flames had all collectively, eerily, frozen before surging throughout their bodies in preparation for action. In the moment between, all natural movement had ceased, like the dead air before a hurricane.

It takes a moment before he hears one of them run to his side. He's barely conscious as he feels his body be rolled over. His eyes aren't really focusing, but he knows that Flame so warm at his side, and even if he hadn't sensed it he would recognize the dark silhouette of Reborn leaning over him long before anything else had given the man away. Long before the gleaming yellow Flames flare to life in his hands and cover the wounds on his chest.

Skull knows he plans to help him, had in fact chosen to come to the Arcobaleno with that purpose, but not yet. No, Skull knows Reborn can't yet, he isn't sure what Flames are doing, how they are interacting, with this strange curse, but after experiencing his own…

He doesn't want to imagine what Reborn's 'Activation' might cause when paired with it. Maybe nothing, but Skull trusts his gut and his luck enough to not allow Reborn free reign with his Flames just yet.

In his state of injury and blood loss, Skull's thoughts are not so clear and rational. He runs on instinct, on gut feeling, a vague sense of urgency, and half remembered thoughts. All he can really remember is that he needs to be careful of Flames, that they shouldn't touch him yet. He knows that loss of rational, logical thought, the loss of clear memories, is quite a bit not good. Still he can't quite remember why, and in the lack of knowing, it is easy- instinctive- to fall back on war instincts.

Skull had long ago learned as Harry to ignore life-threatening wounds for periods of time while he fought to ensure he'd live after he was down. This instinct rages through his brain a surge of adrenaline and his magic reacting to his instinctive knowledge that if any more wounds were ripped open on him (what he assumes Flames will do to him) it would kill him and his eyes clear. Adrenaline and magic allow Skull to move his blood coated hand striking out and clamping over Reborn's stilling the move his Sun was making to help him.

He manages only two words, sharp with command and audible, no matter how it hurts to form the words. But it's enough. The hitman ceases his efforts. The effort takes a lot out of him, because as soon as Reborn has stilled Skull wavers. Adrenaline and magic fade and his bloody hand slips from Reborn's wrist. Sounds vanish and his eyes begin to roll back on the edge of nothingness.

Harry doesn't have much time.

He knows Viper has magic. He had realized long ago. Fighting a war with magic on the front lines meant that Skull was very, very attuned to the use of it- even if it was small amounts. He'd never brought it up- Skull wouldn't know of magic after all- and since he had never really used any magic in Viper's presence he doesn't believe she knows that he knows about it. Still….Viper will be able to sense the curse magic on him if she pays attention. He just needs to make her pay attention.

He only manages to gasp two more words, slurred and almost inaudible, before his mind retreats- not unconscious but completely unaware of the world as he focuses only on his Flames and keeping himself alive. Let the others worry about the rest of it. He'll just make sure he has enough blood in his body to be alive when they finish.

"Viper….sa'curse…"

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Mammon straightens at the sound of her name her eyes narrowing beneath her hood as her mind flashes through various reasons Skull would mention the word 'curse' to her specifically.

She wants to brush it off as unimportant but her instincts are sharp, and she has long ago learned to trust them. Skull is obviously dying. There's a factor here that prevents him from accepting help. Something has to be done that she, specifically must do.

Her Cloud had asked for her after stopping Reborn. All of the Arcobaleno knew how to think through things like blood loss and pain, so even if most people would brush off his reaction of pushing their healer away from him, they wouldn't. There was a reason they hadn't seen yet. One that only she knew.

What does Viper have or know that the others do not?

It takes a frantic few seconds before Mammon figures it out.

Her eyes widen behind her cowl and her hands still as she stares at the Cloud.

Curse.

Curse.

It was an actual curse. Her Cloud was talking about magic.

Viper herself wasn't exactly a witch. She wasn't a Squib either. She was technically considered a Hedgewitch. Someone with magic, but not enough for a wand. She could make and use both potions and runes, and a few spells would work wandless for her, but she didn't have a core large enough to truly learn. (Not that it stopped her from finding ways to substitute with her Flames just to prove she could, but most magic was unattainable for her personally.)

She still researched, she still learned all she could because she knew the knowledge could and would save her life and the lives of others. (Plus there was the money making opportunities if she managed it right, and she was very good at her information gathering job. This just expanded her clientele.) She searched out the old and unknown for herself to use in her illusions, and she knew enough to know what she was seeing.

This was a curse, but she needed to figure out which one.

Her hands rushed forward skimming as close as she could to each wound on their Cloud before she realized what she was seeing.

Oh shit.

It shouldn't even be possible. This was a curse that was beyond ancient- she had only looked at it because it had been between her and an old Egyptian tomb full of treasure- and she had watched the man who had been hit die in moments.

They had learned over the course of trying (and later succeeding) to get the treasure that magic was useless against it, which was why Viper knew what she was seeing. Flames were the only way to survive once it was effecting a person and even then it had to be done in the proper order or it would only make the curse worse.

Sky Flames would petrify sections of skin wherever the wounds were, Sun Flames would speed up the effects of the curse like giving it a supercharge, Lightning Flames would just make it harder to stop the curse, upping the defensive properties of it, Rain Flames would only slow the curse down, it wouldn't help anything, Mist Flames created new more dangerous wounds, and considering Skull's response to Reborn, Viper figured he had discovered that Cloud Flames would just multiply the wounds already present.

(Later, when Skull finds out that he had been hit with a very ancient Egyptian curse that only Flames could fix, that Viper just happened to know how to counter due to earlier treasure hunting, he would shake his head and mutter about 'the Potter Luck at its finest.')

"Fon!" Mammon shouted, her gaze never leaving the bleeding form of the Cloud.

Storm Flames had to be applied before everything else. They were the only ones that could destroy the curse itself, and even then it had to be done by someone who knew what they were doing and who had very good control or it would kill the person under the effects of the curse by basically disintegrating them.

Fon knelt at Viper's side immediately. "What do you need?"

"Give me your hand." She snagged the closest hand and brought it forward so it hovered over Skull's wounds. "Focus. I know you'll be able to feel it. The energy that is tainting him."

Fon obeyed without complaint, and sure enough- "What is that?"-his eyes narrowed. It didn't feel like Flames, but it definitely wasn't natural or friendly and he could feel it trying to spread. It was dark and almost slimy.

And it was hurting Skull.

"Don't worry about that for now," Viper answered, tone sharp and almost dismissive, "I need you to overwhelm it, and only that, Fon. It will fight you every step of the way and if you waver for even a moment it will kill Skull."

Fon tensed sharply even as the stillness around him told him how the warning had effected the others.

(The memory of a blood soaked field dead bodies around their Cloud, Skull crumbed in the center with a hole in his head but the evidence he had gone down fighting every step of the way, taking down an entire third of the enemy forces before the shot that killed him had struck-)

That would not happen.

Fon's determination lights a bonfire of red on his hands as he reaches for the energy in his Cloud that is wrongwrongwrong.

Viper is right.

It fights back, lashing out at him like the stinging strikes of a salted whip, writhing under his assault, and causing Skull to arch of the ground with obvious pain though not a sound escapes his lips apart from a hissed shallow breath. Fon doesn't waver for even a moment his eyes narrowed with focus as he destroys the energy that doesn't belong on anyone Fon choses to shelter in the eye of his Storm.

By the time Fon manages to destroy it completely- whatever it was- since it kept trying to hide from him like it was actually sentient and aware Fon was going to destroy it Fon is actually winded. He knows this means that anyone else would be edging on complete Flame Exhaustion. He leans back "It is done."

"Reborn, go." Viper commands and Reborn is there his hands flaring with the healing Flames he had tried to use earlier.

The wounds are sluggish to respond, and it takes more Flame then is should but eventually Reborn gets the wounds closed up, glad that the presence of Storm Flames would have killed any bacteria that may have gotten into Skull's wounds.

Colonnello is the one that picks their Cloud up and heads for the mansion while Fon takes an extra second to burn the blood staining the ground away.

Skull has a lot of explaining to do when he's actually conscious, but for now they will take care of him.