Verse: Scary and/or protective lovers of Sawada Tsunayoshi. Godspeed.

Each established pairing stands on its own.

Warning: Some events are dramatized for the story's effect.

Dedicated to: Klanglilie

1. Nemesis

When the first barriers fell, everyone was alerted in the middle of class. Tsuna drew the window drapes and slammed the doors shut, making sure they were locked. The protection runes that were etched in the classroom walls started glowing blue.

"Come on," Mochida said. "We can fight them!"

"Yeah!" Longchamp said, pumping his fist. "Me and Pantera are strong enough!"

Tsuna ignored them in favor of counting his students. Some were petrified while others joined the boys in saying that they could join and fight. Sometimes Tsuna wondered why he became a teacher. It wasn't like he was respected. No one believed he even had a Summon, and he was too much of a pacifist to confront them about it. He didn't grow up with a lot of people listening to him anyways.

Tsuna stilled. "Haru," he said, tone eerie calm. The students tensed, having never seen this side of him before. "Where are they?"

Haru fidgeted. "I—G—Gokudera snuck them out and I told him not to, I swear, sensei! I'm sorry!"

Of course they did. Ever since the murder spree, they were too curious for their own good, and Tsuna should've known. Though it was a bit mortifying that students managed to sneak out without him noticing, Tsuna had bigger things to worry about. "Stay here," he said, bypassing some runes with his credentials. "No matter what happens, you guys stick together, alright?"

After receiving some frantic nods, Tsuna left and sent a message to the school faculty about the missing students. He ignored Nezu's incredulous text, too busy wracking his brain to guess where the kids could've gone. A call came through his earpiece. "Yes?" he said, pressing the button.

"Tsuna, they're coming in too quickly!" Dino said, panting. Some distant chanting sounded through his end. "Headmaster Talbot's saying we need to set up the emergency barriers!"

Tsuna burst out onto the balcony, and saw the teachers erecting a green shield at the sparring fields. Dark clouds loomed in the distance; a flash of jade lightning made him step back. "You can't!" he said. "There's students missing! They won't be able to get in if they're out there!"

Several roars bellowed from the rising black smog. Tsuna's blood ran cold when three figures appeared, running towards the expanding barrier. He dashed back inside. "Dino, do you see them?"

"Scuderia won't get to them in time!" Dino said.

"Goddamn it!" Tsuna sprinted towards the fields and waved his arms. "Don't! Stop!"

A few teachers, including Nezu, looked at him, distraught, but still continued constructing the barrier. Talbot, the bastard, didn't bat an eye when the students came into view. Yamamoto was carrying Gokudera on his back; both had scrapes and cuts on their arms and face.

"Sensei!" Kyoko screamed, her eyes wide in terror.

Whirls of shadows rose from the fog. Tsuna's stomach dropped when they latched onto the students like vines. Struggling, they shrieked and clawed the ground in a desperate attempt to hold something, anything, to keep them from being swallowed by the mist.

The Soul Mark engraved on Tsuna's back pulsed along with his rising fury. He ignored Dino's cry for him to stop. Tsuna wasn't letting his students die. He focused an obstruction spell into his fist, with the help of the pulsing magic from his Bond, and smashed through the barrier.

His shout was drowned out by the fog's rumble. Sinister tendrils, reeking of ancient, malignant magic, tried grabbing Tsuna, but dissipated from the bright light that erupted from his hand. A large portion of the mist retreated back, revealing the gasping and pale students.

Kyoko was the first to snap out of her shock. "Sensei, it wasn't Mukuro. He didn't kill them!"

Tsuna scowled. Was she serious right now? "This isn't the time for th—"

"It's the Arcobaleno!" Yamamoto said. Tsuna flinched. Arcobaleno? As in the Eight Knights of Hell Arcobaleno? "We managed to figure it out." Yamamato laughed. "Well, Gokudera did."

Before Tsuna could regain his bearings, his Bond went haywire. He barely moved in time when a large javelin pierced his previous spot with a deafening thump. Gokudera yelped, almost falling over if Yamamoto hadn't caught him. Tsuna helped Kyoko up, then pushed her away when a swarm of chains sailed above the dense mist and rushed towards them.

"Sensei!" Gokudera said.

Tsuna didn't move. He didn't have to. A translucent dome materialized around him, deflecting the chains with ease. His Summon's Seal appeared under his feet, and Byakuran rose above it. The white-haired demon wrapped his arms around Tsuna's shoulders. "I told you they're dramatic," Byakuran said in a childish tone. He looked towards the smog with a sly smile. "And scaredy-cats now, I see."

"Byakuran," a deep voice rumbled.

"Oh, there they are."

Tsuna opened his mouth to speak until he heard the javelin rattle and hum. Byakuran was faster though. With his black wings expanding, he thrust out a hand towards the students, sending them flying with a gust of wind and shattering a part of the school barrier for them to enter. "No children allowed," he said, gathering Tsuna in his arms.

The ground caved in as soon as the javelin returned to its wielder, a pale demon with long black hair and red-and-black armor. Tsuna's hand tightened around Byakuran's shoulder; his scales dug into Tsuna's skin but he didn't care. Byakuran's eyes had gone completely black.

Another Arcobaleno appeared from the mist, with chains wrapped around and dragging behind his black body. "How quaint—you shackled yourself to a human." He spat the word out with disgust.

"I didn't need another excuse to kill you, Bermuda," Byakuran said, "but I'll make an exception again."

"Don't provoke them," Tsuna hissed.

"You worry too much." Fangs elongated from Byakuran's mouth and the purple marks on his face dripped down his cheeks like tar. "I won't even let them touch you."

"I'm not useless." Tsuna let his own magic ignite pure orange flames in his hands. A black core developed inside from Byakuran's shared magic.

"I never said you were, dear."

"Cover me."

Byakuran laughed in delight. "You're too perfect." His wings splayed higher. "Remember—"

Their Bond pulsed with seamless synchronicity, when Tsuna's eyes turned white. "Go for the head."

2. Dulcet

There was nothing better than waking up to a perfect cup of coffee and home-baked muffins.

Tsuna inhaled the pleasant aroma from his orange mug and sighed in content; it smelled lightly caramelized, a bit nutty, with a touch of something floral. He blew on it while letting his palms curl around the ceramic and soak up the warmth. "You weren't in bed," he said almost petulantly.

A large hand ruffled Tsuna's hair before sliding down and resting on the nape of his neck. Zakuro pressed an apologetic kiss on Tsuna's cheek; his red hair was still disheveled, and his stubble tickled Tsuna's skin, making him laugh.

"Sorry," Zakuro said, voice a little rough from sleep. "More inventory came in. I didn't want to wake you."

Tsuna frowned. "I could've helped."

Zakuro sat down at the kitchen table; his hand traveled to rest over Tsuna's. "We can't have you injuring your hands." His lips curled into a lazy smile that still made Tsuna's heart flutter. "I got it, sugar, so don't worry your pretty head over it." He didn't budge when Tsuna smacked his arm. Zakuro was all firm muscle while Tsuna was more lithe, and smaller.

"I can handle myself, thank you," Tsuna said, rolling his eyes. He shoved a piece of sugar-topped raspberry muffin in his husband's mouth, then sipped his coffee. It tasted heavenly. Zakuro really brewed the best coffee. "We need to open soon."

Zakuro remained unfazed with the same smile on his face, as usual. Tsuna could only huff in fondness, and let Zakuro give him another kiss, this time on the lips. The tang of warm coffee and sweet bread lingered until opening time.

They owned a café called Allora, which was Zakuro's fault because he was horrible with names— why would anyone name their café after an Italian filler word?—and had bought the store on a whim as an anniversary gift years ago. But the shop was cozy with a good amount of regulars either way.

Despite how laidback Zakuro seemed, he was a hard-worker (when he actually tried), and since Tsuna had hired Fran and Akiko as cashiers and baristas, Zakuro wasn't overwhelmed from the orders by himself. Though he still found reasons for way too many smoke breaks, and dawdling in the kitchen where Tsuna baked with a culinary student who called himself Ginger Bread, and Daniela.

Morning rush hour passed in a breeze. It wasn't until late afternoon when things got rough. Namimori was a nice town, but had its fair share of bad apples. Sano Toshiko, the mayor's wife, was notorious for ordering the most ridiculous coffee order with two pumps of this and three packets of that. Usually Akiko handled her since Fran would just respond with sarcastic, deadpan remarks, whether he meant it or not; but today, Akiko was out sick.

"Did you get all that?" Sano said, not even bothering to look up from her phone.

Fran didn't look up from the cash register either. "I guess."

Sano scowled. "What do you mean you guess? You did or you didn't."

"…I guess."

When Fran finished the drink, he made a point to announce it for other customers to hear. "Here's a grande with one quarter non-fat, extra hot, split quad shots"—he looked at the giggling patrons—"that means one-and-a-half shots decaf and two-and-a-half shots regular. Two pumps white mocha, three pumps mocha, two packets of Splenda, double-blended with non-fat whip, caramel drizzle, and some salted caramel topping." He handed it to Sano whose face was red. "I guess that's everything."

It didn't stop with Sano. A few more customers trickled in later with less-than-stellar attitudes to the point that Zakuro actually stayed behind the counter with Fran. Tsuna took a small break from the kitchen to talk with Kyoko and Haru, two students attending culinary school; they all stood by the counter while Fran prepared their orders.

"I've been trying to make my own recipe," Kyoko said, "but my friends were saying that it came out too bitter, so I was thinking—"

The bell tinkled when the door opened and Tsuna didn't have time to blink when a tall, fit young man grabbed Kyoko's wrist. "Why aren't you picking up my calls?" the man said. "I told you to never come here anymore. Didn't I tell you that?"

Haru and Tsuna quickly came to Kyoko's defense. "What the hell are you doing, Shiro?" Haru said. "Get your hands off of her!"

Tsuna narrowed his eyes. "Sir, let Kyoko go."

Shiro sized Tsuna up none-too-subtly. "Are you the fucker?"

Tsuna blinked, stunned. "What?"

Kyoko tried pulling Shiro towards the door. "Shiro, please, don't do this. Let's just go."

Shiro shrugged her off, almost knocking her back. "Don't tell me what to do, not when you're sleeping with this bastard."

Again Tsuna could only say, "What?"

Before Tsuna could clear up the horrible misunderstanding, Shiro reached out to grab Tsuna's collar but Zakuro blocked him instantly, and lifted Shiro by his expensive dress-shirt instead. The younger man paled underneath Zakuro's taller height.

"Yon't don't touch him," Zakuro drawled. His eyes darkened. "And you're going to leave." It wasn't a request.

Zakuro held Shiro up for a moment longer, with the younger man's toes barely touching the ground. When Zakuro finally let go, Shiro scrambled out the door. He didn't look back.

"Are you okay, Kyoko?" Tsuna said, checking Kyoko's hand. There were faint bruises forming around her wrist.

She put on a shaky smile. "I'm okay."

Zakuro sighed as he slung an arm around Tsuna's shoulders. "You deserve better, idjit. I'll call the cops."

"Oh no, you don't—"

"Kyoko," Haru said, her lips pursed.

Kyoko wilted but didn't protest when her friend pulled her into a hug. Fran shook his phone in the air. "Zakuro-san deserves an Oscar."

His joke broke the tension somewhat, making everyone chuckle. After the police came to document the assault, Tsuna grasped Zakuro's hand, running a thumb across his knuckles, while staying near Kyoko as support. He smiled when Zakuro squeezed back.

3. Silhouette

There was only so many death threats a single person can get in a day. Sadly Tsuna wasn't just any ordinary (or single) person. He was the youngest ambassador of Japan to date, and might've reconsidered his career options once or twice in his flourishing career.

After securing a precarious deal with Italy last week about persecuting Guido Greco, an Italian citizen and university student who killed 8 people in Japan, Tsuna waited for his arrival. Italy wasn't keen on losing an up-and-coming technological genius with distinguished academic achievement, or admit that one of their people turned out to be a heinous serial killer, but Tsuna managed to persuade them otherwise.

"He's set to arrive in twenty minutes," Lal Mirch said through Tsuna's earpiece. "I'm going to oversee the transfer. Stay put. I'll be up as soon as it's over. Don't give Turmeric a headache."

Tsuna looked mildly offended, even if Lal Mirch wasn't there to see it. She likely sensed it anyways. "I never give anyone a headache," he said. "Stay safe."

"Always do."

With that Lal Mirch was off. Tsuna tucked his hands into his pockets. His suit jacket was draped over a chair nearby. He was inside the Kokuyo Police Station supervising Guido's transfer from the airport to the police. After that the man would be sent to Midori's Criminal Psychiatric Ward pending trial.

"Were there any problems on the way?" Tsuna asked the Police Chief.

Chief Ito shook his head. "No. The criminal's been detained securely since he came out of the airport. My officers have been maintaining steady communication since then."

Turmeric tilted his head slightly, with his hand on his earpiece. He nodded to whatever was being said and turned to Tsuna. "Sawada-san, they reached the facility."

"Okay," Tsuna said. "Chief, there's—"

The lights flickered then shut down. Turmeric immediately grabbed Tsuna and led him outside. "Sawada-san, we need to leave!"

"What's happening?" Chief Ito said to the frantic detectives and officers. "Status report!"

"Computers aren't working, Chief!" a detective said. "Systems are all down and the electricity's off!"

"What about the back-up generators?"

Turmeric led Tsuna away before he could hear an answer to that. "Guido's escaped," Turmeric said, moving through the dark hallways with ease.

Tsuna tensed. "What? Why? How?" His mind went to horrifying thoughts when he considered Lal Mirch.

"Your safety's our priority! We just need to get you out of the building and away from the area."

"What about the police?"

Turmeric opened a door that led to the back of the building outside. Tsuna followed him out as fast as he could and didn't notice a darting figure coming towards them until it was too late. However Turmeric had his pistol out and already aimed. A succession of loud bangs cracked in the air, forcing Tsuna to cover his ears. He could never get accustomed to the sound of gunshots.

When he saw Guido underneath the streetlights, Tsuna drew back as if he was shot. Guido looked deranged, face gaunt and pale, and his eyes were wide with hysterical glee. His straightjacket was torn up the front, letting his arms free and dangling by his sides. His knuckles had fresh bruises and lacerations. Tsuna didn't want to know where they came from.

"Sawada-san, get to the car!" Turmeric said.

Tsuna widened his eyes. "But—" Guido's eyes flickered to him, freezing Tsuna in his spot. This man wasn't human.

Turmeric couldn't say anything else. Guido dashed forward with an amazing burst of speed. He kicked Turmeric's hand before twisting in the air and aiming another kick at his head. Turmeric leaned back to dodge the sudden attack, then grabbed Guido's leg to knock him off balance.

But Guido used Turmeric's hold as momentum to spin and bring him down with his other leg choking his neck. A sickening crack resounded in the air. It rang in Tsuna's deafening ears on repeat. Cold sweat broke out on his skin. He couldn't move. It was as if his body shut down.

"Turmeric," Tsuna croaked out. He flinched when Guido flipped onto his feet and turned to him.

"Nineteen," Guido said in Italian, his voice breathless.

Tsuna took a small step back. His brain told him to run—so why couldn't he run? Guido straightened himself and rolled his neck. "And you," he said, "twenty."

As if his senses woke up, Tsuna turned to run. He didn't get far when Guido slammed into his back. With a cry of pain, Tsuna struggled under the man as they rolled on the concrete. He gasped when Guido finally came out on top and gripped Tsuna's neck.

Tsuna scratched and clawed at Guido's hands, but it was useless. His lungs burned from the lack of air; colorful spots danced in Tsuna's vision, blurring some parts of Guido's face. The killer was still grinning.

"Timoteo sends his greetings," Guido said, his voice distant.

Timoteo? The don of the Vongola Famiglia? Tsuna lost grip of the meager puzzle pieces to put them together—he needed to breathe.

"Tsuna!" An enraged cry bellowed in the distance—or was it near?—before someone tackled Guido off.

Coughing, Tsuna clutched his throat as he tried sitting up. Everything hurt. "L—Lal," he rasped.

Lal Mirch might've been smaller than Guido, but she moved much faster than he did, evading his kicks and acrobatics with ease—her movements were all the more vicious, too. Finding an opening, she jabbed Guido's solar plexus hard, knocking the wind out of him, grabbed his hair to pull him down, and slammed her knee against his nose. That only made Guido laugh harder.

Eyes blazing, Lal Mirch knocked him to the ground and grabbed a hold of his leg. She twisted. A howl of pain replaced Guido's maniacal cackle. She clutched his hair again and slammed his head against the concrete over and over again.

"Lal," Tsuna said, stumbling to his feet.

"Stay there, Tsuna," Lal Mirch said, making him recoil. Tsuna had never seen her so furious before.

"You're going to kill him. You'll end up in jail."

Lal Mirch clicked her tongue. "He'll wish he's dead." She stood from Guido's prone body and kicked his ribs. It took a moment for Tsuna to realize that he was still somehow breathing, alive.

Speaking in her earpiece, Lal Mirch headed towards Tsuna, and surprised him when she pulled him into a hug. "You're okay, Tsuna," she said. "Breathe with me."

Tsuna's quick heartbeat flared the already existing pain in his chest and lungs. He clutched Lal Mirch's arm. "Turmeric," he whispered.

"I know," Lal Mirch said, voice low. "I'm here, Tsuna. You're alright."

They remained like that until back-up arrived to take Guido into custody, and for the rest of the day, Lal Mirch never left Tsuna's side.

4. Sanguine

Retirement was good while it lasted, and it needed to turn into a permanent honor code in the business.

A lively piano jingle mingled in the smoky air, saturated with roaring laughter, clinking glasses, and jovial conversation. It was a comforting sound for Tsuna, grounding him in the present. After opening his own saloon, he didn't expect to make it big, but it ended up becoming a hub of gossip, entertainment, and good liquor.

While Tsuna had been used to working in the shadows, bounty hunting as a lone wolf on some occasions, he found comfort in others' company. Having people around cast away his quiet solitude.

However he had woken up that morning with an uncomfortable churning in his guts, and that was never a good sign. Despite the day going well for the most part, it hadn't ended yet.

The saloon's wooden doors flapped open, its creaks fading just as quickly into the uproar. As he served up another tin cup of whiskey for Jack, the town's sheriff, Tsuna didn't bat an eye when a familiar pair of lips pecked his cheek.

"Evenin' there, gorgeous," Colonnello said, making himself comfy on a nearby stool. He placed his beige wide-brimmed hat aside on the counter, and knocked on the sturdy wood with a gloved hand. Though Colonnello was dressed down, wearing a long black coat over a pair of trousers and a navy blue vest, Tsuna knew he had guns strapped to his body like second skin. Old habits die hard. "Got some of that good stuff ready for me?"

Raising a brow, Tsuna answered in an impeccable personation of Colonnello's Southern drawl, "I don't have the faintest idea what you're talkin' 'bout."

Sighing, Colonnello placed his chin on his palm. "Love it when you talk my language."

"Idiot," Tsuna said, switching to Japanese; however it didn't have much heat, and he couldn't contain a smile.

"I like that, too."

Jack cleared his throat, gaining both of their attention. "I was hoping to ask for a favor, Mr. Sawada."

After pouring a cup of water for Colonnello, Tsuna turned to Jack, ignoring Colonnello's indignant cry. "Depends on what you're asking for."

"Cavallones took a hard hit today."

"Who'd want to mess with a bunch of horse-lovin' fanatics?" Colonnello said, rolling his eyes. He made a small face when Tsuna whacked him over the head.

"I didn't hear about anyone stealing horses, Sheriff," Tsuna said. "And I don't like riding them either, so you'd be wasting both of our times."

Colonnello winked. "I can think of somethin' else you'll like to ri—" He didn't get to finish when Tsuna gave him a mean side-eye. Colonnello raised his hands. "Just jokin', sweetheart."

Jack looked at the couple in amusement for a brief moment, but sobered up just as quickly. "There's no horse-nappin' happening." He leaned in close, drawing Tsuna and Colonnello forward to hear his whisper. "Somebody killed Francesco this morning. News isn't out yet, can't have people panickin'."

While Tsuna and Colonnello exchanged wary looks, Jack pulled out a tattered, bloody handkerchief from his long coat and unfurled it on the counter, making sure no one else could see. A bird's footprint was imprinted on the edge. Colonnello snorted.

Jack leveled him with a serious look. "I take it you recognize it?"

"Must've been serious if people hired that psycho," Colonnello said, chugging his water. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Or desperate. None of them ain't good news though. You're lookin' for Birds. Don't know his real name, but he has more than a couple of screws loose in his head. He's smart, too—bad combo."

Jack frowned. "He like you two?"

Tsuna smiled slightly. "We're retired, Sheriff." He paused, taking the moment to dry off some cups. "I never met him before. The lot of us don't get together for a couple of drinks in the syndicate, but he's clean."

"Clean?"

"Never failed a job."

Colonnello shook his empty cup. "Come on, sweetheart. I worked in the barn all day, got it squeaky clean, fed the animals—I deserve a reward for a hard day of workin', don't you think?"

Tsuna filled a glass with brown whiskey and slid it to a patron who had signaled him for the order. "I can't have you out of commission tonight."

Colonnello's grin turned lecherous. "Oh, got plans?"

The doors flapping open caught Tsuna's eye. He pursed his lips when three men walked inside. Two of them were abnormally pale and tall, with lanky limbs and shabby hats that did little to cover the sunken eyes. The one leading them was short, with a red scarf obscuring his mouth.

"No," Tsuna said, brushing a hand against the knife on his leg. "But our plans just walked right in." He glanced at Colonnello. "Haven't had a good feeling since I woke up this morning."

Understanding flashed in Colonnello's eyes. Neither of them downplayed Tsuna's gut feeling—it had saved them countless times in the past.

"Sheriff," Colonnello murmured, picking up his cup, "a little warning."

Tsuna was already on the move before he could hear what Colonnello said after. He sauntered over to where the three man stood at the end of the counter. "Gentlemen," he said.

"Ah, impeccable timing," the stout man said. He sounded much more sophisticated than he appeared to be, but there was an undercurrent of a manic curiosity in his pleasant tone that put Tsuna on edge. "You have a fine establishment here. I presume it's yours?"

Tsuna glanced at the man's silent companions. They were eerily still. The piano tune in the background didn't stop, though he noticed Jack leading the patrons out in small clusters in an inconspicuous attempt to clear the area. "Yes. Is there anything I can get for you?"

"Oh, I won't be here long. I was told that many secrets are traded here."

"More like spit, kisses, and fine liquor. What are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for some old colleagues of mine. They've left the company I work for at the moment, and I heard that they've been mingling in this town. It's a nice place, a little quaint maybe."

Tsuna chuckled. There were still some customers left; the pianist, unfortunately, would have to stall a little longer. Tsuna noted to give him a raise. "That's a little vague, isn't it?"

The other man's eyes crinkled from a smile. "Well, one of them's quite sharp with the trigger. The other's more efficient with his hands. They were quite valuable to us, so we'd like for them to come back."

A resounding silence then settled between them. At the corner of Tsuna's eye, Colonnello took a swig of Jack's half-empty cup and placed it back on the counter with a soft thump. "That's some mighty fine compliments, but I don't think we're gonna go back any time soon, right, sugar? Not when you killed the mayor."

"Pity," the man said. As if on cue his companions snapped their heads up to meet Tsuna's gaze. "This is a lovely place."

Tsuna moved before he saw the gangly twins brandish their machetes. He ducked behind the counter and rolled out of the way, unsheathing his knife. Bottles of expensive liquor shattered above him as a volley of gunshots rang in the air.

"You're paying for those!" Tsuna said.

With a wild grin, Colonnello aimed his revolvers at one of the twins. "Talk later, sweetheart, I'm a little busy."

Twin number two leapt after Tsuna, but he dodged every swipe just narrowly, flipping over toppled tables and kicking chairs at his opponent. The twins were abnormally fast. When Tsuna finally found his opening, he twisted behind the twin's outstretched arm and grabbed it.

However, before Tsuna could go in for the kill, he noticed Birds picking up a broken bottle and aiming it at Colonnello's head. Tsuna kicked the twin away, momentum halting, and flung his knife at Birds' hand. "Colonnello!"

Birds cried out when Tsuna's knife stabbed his palm, forcing him to drop the bottle, and Colonnello immediately shot him dead. Tsuna grunted when he barely dodged twin number two's slashing machete. He bumped into a table and rolled with it to the ground, feeling glass nick his palms. That didn't stop him from moving.

He grabbed an empty cup and chucked it at the twin's head. Five gunshots rang in the air. Tsuna panted to catch his breath. Twin number two slumped to the ground like a ragdoll, blood pooling from his head and chest. The look in Colonnello's eyes was nothing short of murderous.

"Fuckin' hell," Colonnello said, rushing over. He placed his revolvers back to their holsters. "You okay, sweetheart?"

"I'm alive," Tsuna said.

"You're bleedin'." Colonnello's voice softened when he reached for Tsuna's hands.

Tsuna huffed, and kicked an empty cup. "I liked this place." He scowled at Birds' corpse. "For a clean guy, he's sure underwhelming."

Colonnello laughed as he led Tsuna to the counter, which was miraculously still intact, and pulled out some bandages from underneath. "You ain't wrong there." He righted up a stool for Tsuna to sit on. "You know, I could use a drink."

Tsuna sighed, but smiled anyways. "Make that two."

5. Ineffable

The doctor had said that he should limit his jumps on the ice after he four weeks off for a knee injury. Tsuna was pretty sure he got the message the first time. Bluebell had been a little overboard the first day he returned to the rink; she tied his skates herself so they wouldn't be too stiff, and even checked that the blades were placed right.

She smacked his hand away when he tried to return the favor. "I can do it myself, dummy." She pinched his cheek, not enough to hurt. "You're the one who should be careful. Just because we got gold doesn't mean you can YOLO on the ice."

Tsuna laughed. While many people couldn't handle Bluebell's blunt and amped-up personality, he was one of the few who saw her for who she really was. She didn't intentionally mean the comments she spat out in rapid-fire; she was still working on her filter. She did let him tie her long hair though.

Some skaters were already inside the rink. A group of pre-teens practiced their Lutz in a corner while the more advanced skaters warmed up in the center. Aria and Gamma, a rival pair skaters, had already arrived beforehand, and performed lifts, garnering awed looks from others. Bluebell turned up her nose, not even acknowledging Aria. While Aria and Gamma wore matching white-and-green training outfits, Bluebell and Tsuna wore blue-and-black ones.

"Hello there, darlings," Iris said with a cheery wave. She was their coach, and a two-time winning Olympic Silver medalist for England. Though her partner retired from the sport altogether, she stayed to coach the next generation of pair skaters. "Tsuna, how are you feeling?"

Tsuna smiled. "I'm good, thanks."

"We can't have you straining your knee, so go through some light warm-ups first. Keep an eye on him, Bluebell."

"Roger that!" Bluebell said, making a mock-salute.

She led Tsuna in by the hand, like always, and they skated a few laps around the rink. Their blades scraped lightly across the ice in perfect harmony; since there weren't too many people, Tsuna could hear his skates and found comfort in the steady rhythm, along with the warmth of Bluebell's hand.

The cool breeze picked up its pace around them as they did, a perfect constant that didn't push or pull too hard against them. Tsuna missed the ice, and skating—it made him feel powerful and beautiful all at once.

While they warmed up with simple jumps, they were mindful of the other occupants in the rink, even Aria and Gamma, who were doing more complicated axels. Bluebell hummed a cheerful tune from the snack commercial she saw that morning while they cooled down.

"I kind of want chocolate now," Tsuna said, keeping up with Bluebell's moderate pace.

As expected Bluebell perked up. "Chocolate?" Sweets were her obsession, which she had to ration to watch her weight; but when they could eat them, Tsuna would bake a cake as a treat, especially when they won a medal. "Why?"

Tsuna blinked. "What do you mean why?"

They raised their clasped hands over a little girl, who almost bumped into them coming out of a spin, and moved their legs away from her outstretched blade in a little curve. Bluebell huffed. "Careful!"

"Sorry!" the little girl squeaked out.

Never breaking pace, they entered their last lap. Tsuna shrugged. "I don't know, I just want chocolate. I might have some leftover cookie dough at home."

"You can't eat them," Bluebell said. "We have to get ready for sectionals." She patted her stomach and pouted, which Tsuna always found adorable. "Your cookies always give me five pounds. Iris will yell at me."

Tsuna chuckled. "Iris won't yell at you." He paused, noticing Aria and Gamma practicing their choreography. That wasn't his concern though, it was them not caring about other skaters struggling to get out of their way. "The most she'll do is give you the mom stare."

Bluebell groaned. "I hate the mom stare."

"Alright, lovebirds, no more dallying!" Iris said from the other side of the rink. "Gotta go over choreo! Chop, chop!"

"Well then," Bluebell said, "not like you need rest or anything."

Tsuna smiled. "I'm fine, Bell. I won't overdo it. If it gets too much, I'll let you know."

Even though Bluebell was rarely anxious about competing, she was anxious whenever one of them got injured. She had broken her ankle when they were 15, just entering the national stage, and became more careful about taking care of herself, and by extension, Tsuna.

Ironically worrying got her nervous, and Tsuna had proven himself to be her best anchor in situations like those—until he injured his knee when they had done a quadruple twist flip. It was really Tsuna's fault for not throwing her high enough, but Bluebell had carried him to the ambulance herself without hearing a word he said.

Bluebell sniffed as she led him to Iris. "You better, dummy."

Before they even reached the center, Tsuna noticed Fuuta, one of the younger students, doing some backward crossovers towards another corner. Aria and Gamma headed for him. That wasn't what put Tsuna on edge—it was the couple, the more experienced skaters, clearly looking at Fuuta, who had just turned for a double Lutz, and not stopping.

Tsuna moved without thinking, and let go of Bluebell's hand. "Hey! Look out!"

"Tsuna!" Bluebell said, skating after him.

The next seconds blurred by. Tsuna didn't register holding Fuuta until they both slammed against the barriers. The sound thundered throughout the whole arena, as the two tumbled over onto unforgiveable concrete. Twisting at the last second, Tsuna landed on his back and rolled to lessen the impact.

"Oh my God!" Iris said above several concerned voices.

"Are you fucking crazy?" Bluebell piped up. She wasn't talking to Tsuna, but she might as well have. "You could've hurt him, you blind bitch!"

"Bell," Tsuna wheezed out, letting Fuuta go. "I'm okay." His back and shoulders throbbed, but his head and legs were fine. That was good, he guessed.

"What are you talking about?" Aria said, crossing her arms over her chest. She had three inches on Bluebell, who didn't need the extra height to look intimidating.

"Are you okay?" Fuuta asked Tsuna, tears brimming his eyes. "I—I didn't mean to go there. I wasn't paying attention and—"

Aria gestured at him as if he was some insignificant bug, making his shoulders hunch. "See? He should've paid attention."

Before Tsuna could speak, Bluebell glared at Aria. "I saw you clearly look at both of them. I'm not fucking blind." She shoved Aria, who fell in Gamma's arms. "You should've known better."

Tsuna gripped onto the barriers. "Bell!"

Bluebell ignored him. "You saw the kid and instead of moving, you just kept going! Even when Tsuna told you to watch out, you fucking went in! I swear, I'm going to cut you in your sleep one day."

Gamma pulled Aria behind him. "I'm sorry for Aria's tactless words," he said, ignoring his partner's scowl. "But both of you were at fault." He looked at Tsuna with slight disdain. "Control your woman."

Tsuna glared. "What did you say?"

Iris then appeared and shoved his blade guards in his hands. "Hey, hey, hey! Everyone, calm down! Bluebell, get off the ice, now. Tsuna, wait for me by the bench."

Bluebell gaped at her. "But—" She shut up when Iris gave her a pointed stare.

Grumbling curses under her breath, Bluebell glowered at the unfazed couple. Then quickly, she raised her leg as if she was going to kick, and grinned when Gamma flinched.

"Bluebell!" Iris said.

Bluebell just shrugged, but still had a shit-eating smirk on her face. She skated backwards to the exit while mouthing, "Sleep with both eyes open tonight, bitch", then turned with graceful swivel.

Tsuna handed Bluebell her skate guards and patted the seat next to him. Fuuta was slumped on his other side, fiddling with his thumbs. Bluebell sat with a loud thump.

"Iris is right," Tsuna said, patting her shoulder. "Calm down."

"No, I'm not going to"—Bluebell flexed her fingers to make air-quotes—"calm down. I want to knock some dumb bitches down and shove their blades up their asses."

"Language."

Fuuta paled.

"How are you so calm right now? You literally knocked yourself over and probably aged your back 70 years." Bluebell gestured at Gamma who looked small under Iris' scathing talk despite his superior build. "And you were about to defend my honor. Where'd your balls go, dummy?"

Tsuna placed a hand on Bluebell's neck and massaged it gently to assuage her anger. "Unlike you, I don't voice a murder with intent out loud."

That made Bluebell pause. "Really?" Tsuna nodded. Laughing, Bluebell cuddled up to his side and rubbed his aching back. "Oh, honey bunches, I knew I could always count on you. But I call dibs on being first."

"Win sectionals first to make it hurt more."

Bluebell cackled. "I'll make them choke on all our medals."

Tsuna straightened up. "Iris is coming."

"Damn it, she's giving us the mom stare."

Fuuta just wondered what the fuck was wrong with them.

6. Aquiver

Police cars and ambulances surrounded Cervello Bank. Tsuna was also sure that snipers were set up in nearby buildings. A crowd of reporters and bystanders were pushed back by officers; some wailed the names of their loved ones. Other paramedics and EMTs on-site were being debriefed by Jaeger, the detective squad's sergeant. Tsuna locked eyes with Reborn. He hadn't changed out of his suit from yesterday morning, the last time they'd seen each other.

Elena nodded towards the bank. "Is there anyone injured?"

Jaeger looked more haggard than usual. Tsuna sympathized with the man. He must've ran himself ragged to catch the robbers, only for it to deteriorate into a worst-case scenario. "So far, no."

"How many hostages?" Tsuna asked.

"12," Reborn said, walking over. "Two of the security guards are down, four are the bank's employees, and the rest are civilians, some with children."

Lambo, one of the younger EMTs, paled. "Down? Like—"

"Dead."

"What about the clerk who dialed emergency services?" Elena said.

Reborn's face remained impassive. "Dead."

Tsuna was tempted to reach out and grasp Reborn's shoulder, but knew it was the last thing he needed right now. Though Reborn had shown his fair share of PDA, it was usually behind closed doors or when they were off-duty, but even that was sparse with the enemies Reborn made on the job. Both were serious about keeping their personal and professional lives separate; it was necessary in their line of work. Most people didn't even know they were married.

Three loud gunshots cracked in the air. Tsuna grunted when Reborn pushed him to the ground as onlookers screamed. He looked up at Reborn, ears ringing. "They're from inside."

Helping him up, Reborn jogged back to his team. "What happened?"

Jaeger was on the phone while Basil and Simora looked on the scene with apprehension. "There were shots fired," Simora said. "Sergeant's trying to contact them."

"Oregano said Romeo's waving a gun but not shooting anymore," Basil said. "She doesn't have visual on the other two. She's not sure who he shot."

"Paolo," Jaeger said, "what happened? Paolo, Pa—No, I'm just concerned about what happened. Is anyone hurt?" He paused to listen what the other man was saying, then gestured for a notepad. "An inhaler?" He scribbled something down. "Is there a doctor or nurse? No, Paolo, I'm just tr—"

Tsuna peered down at the notepad. His stomach lurched. Two citizens shot, brother asthma attack.

"No, Romeo, I'm not trying anything. What I can tell you is that NOCS is going to end up staying because of what just ha—" Jaeger spat out a curse when the robber hung up.

"Sergeant," Tsuna said, ignoring Reborn's warning look, "let me talk to them."

Jaeger scowled. "You have no right to—"

"It's an opportunity. I can go in, scope out the situation, and report back to you." Tsuna pressed on despite Reborn now gripping his arm. "They don't know who I am. I'm practically harmless."

"That's the problem," Reborn said. "You'll go in unarmed and unprotected."

"That's the point. We can't let them think I'm a threat. They'd shoot me if I walked up with a gun."

Reborn narrowed his eyes. "You're not going in."

"There are people injured in there. You can't just tell me to stand down. It's my job, Reborn!"

"It's our job to protect them."

I have to protect you, went unsaid but Tsuna could read it in Reborn's eyes. He appreciated the sentiment, he really did, but they were close to overstepping their boundaries.

Jaeger interfered. "Maintain professionalism." He glared at Reborn when he tried to retort. "No, what he said is"—he sighed—"sensible. This is a good chance to keep them distracted long enough for NCOS to sneak in. We'll strategize a plan if it goes well."

"For the record, Sergeant," Tsuna said, "I served in Trinisette for 10 years as a combat medic." The other detectives stiffened. Trinisette was a special-ops team in the Italian army, which dealt with long-term infiltration, international intelligence, and battlefield assistance. "I'm more than capable of handling myself." Tsuna directed that at Reborn, who remained silent.

"Get their trust," Jaeger said. "Paolo's very close to his brother Luca, and he's not that bright. Parents died in a car accident when they were young, both jumped around foster care a lot without a stable home. They're loyal to Romeo, but they're malleable with the right push."

Tsuna grimaced. "That'd also make them unstable."

Simora nodded. "Pretty much. Romeo's the one you have to jump over first. Since he's the alpha, he'll try to strong-arm you and resist."

"Does he care about them?"

"Not exactly. In short he's an adrenaline junkie. He gets off on this shit."

Tsuna outstretched his hand. "Alright." When Jaeger handed him his phone, he waited while the line rang. It didn't take long. The detectives put on their headphones.

A strained voice spoke, "Look, Ser—"

"This is Tsuna Sawada," Tsuna said, omitting his marital surname. "I'm a paramedic from Simon Hospital and I've been notified about some injured victims inside the bank."

Romeo barked a laugh. "What is this, the cavalry?"

"It's in my best interest to ensure people don't die under my watch."

"And if I say no?"

"One of your friends is suffering from an asthma attack without an inhaler. If he's not treated soon, he'll die."

"D—Die?" a distant, weepy voice said. "No, Luca can't die, Romeo! He can't!"

There was some scuffling on the other line before Paolo spoke up, "Luca forgot his inhaler at home!"

"You don't fucking say that, you idiot!" Romeo said.

"H—He can't die! Please bring his inhaler!"

"I'll have to check his ABC's," Tsuna said. "Do you know what that means, Paolo?"

Paolo let out an aggravated cry. "What's the alphabets gonna do for Luca?"

"I have to check his airway, breathing, and circulation to make sure he's getting enough oxygen in his body, so I'll have to bring some equipment with me and check him myself."

"Romeo, please let him help Luca!" Paolo cried. "Please! I won't say no anymore!"

"Alright, alright, fine!" Romeo said. "Just shut the fuck up!" He snatched the phone away. "You better not pull anything funny, or else I'll kill you too, Mr. Sawada." He hung up.

Everyone moved quick to prepare. Reborn personally fitted a bulletproof vest underneath Tsuna's green jacket. "I'm going in with you," he said in Japanese.

Tsuna frowned. "What?"

"They haven't seen my face."

Tsuna sighed. "Renato."

"Tsunayoshi."

They stared at each other, not backing down. Finally Tsuna punched Reborn's chest without much strength, and gripped his dress shirt, as if it'd anchor them. "You follow my calls, got it?" They had served together, so Tsuna wasn't worried about their coordination. He was more concerned about how everything would play out. They had to be prepared for the worst.

After Reborn changed into a spare paramedic uniform and put on a bulletproof vest, he shouldered a trauma bag Elena handed him and followed Tsuna towards the bank. Both raised their hands.

"I'm the paramedic," Tsuna said. "We spoke on the phone." He remained relaxed when a bulky man with a pistol came up to the door. There were tear tracks on his face, but the fact that he wasn't wearing mask set alarm bells in Tsuna's head.

After unlocking the door Paolo stepped aside, but raised his weapon when he saw Reborn. Tsuna focused on breathing. "Who's that? He's not supposed to be here."

"He's Lambo," Tsuna said. "There's other people hurt, Paolo. He's here to help me."

"You're here to help Luca!"

"And I will help Luca. I just can't ignore the others. They're my Luca, understand?"

Paolo furrowed his brows, but nodded anyways. "Don't do anything," he said to Reborn.

Tsuna kept his gaze straight after scanning the scene. The dead security guards and bank teller were sprawled near the counter where a plastic bag rested; it was filled with cell phones and wallets. The hostages sat in a line with their hands raised, trembling and keeping their eyes down. An elderly man and a young woman moaned in pain from their wounds—one gunshot wound to the left shoulder for the elderly man and two gunshot wounds to the abdomen and leg for the young woman. Both of them were bleeding out too much without any assistance.

"Hey," Romeo said. His mask was tucked in his jeans. "I didn't say you could bring a friend."

"I can't help all of them by myself," Tsuna said, focusing on Luca's wheezing breaths. The blond man couldn't fully exhale. "He needs—" Tsuna stepped back when Romeo pointed a gun at him.

"I can't trust you with anything," Romeo said to Paolo. "What if they have weapons? Come on, frisk that one. Drop the bags."

"You're only going to waste time," Tsuna said. "He needs treatment now."

"Romeo, please," Paolo said.

Tsuna tried not to lean back when Romeo stepped forward in his personal space. Reborn went slightly stiff behind him but didn't move. "I'm the one in charge here, sweet cheeks, so hands up."

It wasn't surprising that Romeo searched Tsuna longer than Paolo did with Reborn, but it was still uncomfortable. Romeo smirked, letting his hands linger on Tsuna's legs and waist. Tsuna didn't betray anything. This was what Reborn had predicted, grudgingly, and how most of their covert operations went in the past. Tsuna was the lure while Reborn was the surprise. And since Paolo didn't find the gun Reborn hid behind his boot, they were in the clear.

"What's this?" Romeo said, patting Tsuna's chest.

"Bulletproof vest," Tsuna said.

"What, you don't trust me?"

"The sergeant doesn't."

Romeo laughed. "Alright." He kept his gun trained on Tsuna's head. "Get to it then." Paolo tried to come over but Romeo barked out, "Hey, you keep an eye on him!"

"Will you let Lambo treat the others?" Tsuna said, his hands still raised.

"But Luca," Paolo said, looking back and forth between his gasping brother and Reborn.

"If you let them die, you're going to face worse."

Romeo sneered. "What have we got to lose anyways?"

"An escape. Sergeant Jaeger managed to get the car you wanted. He's sending it over, but if you don't let them be treated and let me tell him that they're fine, the car's gone." It was a lie.

"We can go home?" Paolo muttered, his eyes flitting around.

"Fine," Romeo said. "If he pulls anything, your pretty brain's gonna paint these walls."

Tsuna and Reborn exchanged slight nods before tending to their respective patients. Luca was leaned against the counter, his face pale and lips cracked from dehydration. "Luca," Tsuna said, "try to focus on my voice. I know you're stressed but that won't help you right now. I'm going to help you breathe, okay?" He took out the nebulizer and a face mask from his bag, but tensed when Romeo pressed his gun against his head.

"What is that?" Romeo said.

"It's a nebulizer. It'll make it easier for him to breathe." Tsuna gave Romeo a hard look. "It won't kill him."

Romeo grinned. "Just wondering." He didn't move away. Out of the corner of Tsuna's eye, he saw Reborn bandaging the woman's abdomen and administering pressure.

After strapping the face mask on Luca, Tsuna administered the medication. Slowly Luca's wheezes calmed down but didn't disappear. It was more severe than Tsuna diagnosed, and he didn't have the necessary skillset to do more than administer an IV. "Just focus on me," he said, finding a vein on Luca's arm and inserting the IV. "Breath in slow, nice and easy. I'm administering fluids since you're dehydrated, okay?" Luca didn't say anything, though the relief in his eyes was palpable.

"He needs to go to the hospital," Tsuna said, looking at Romeo.

"No," Romeo said. "He's staying. You can't make him better?"

"I'm a paramedic, not a doctor. My priority is to stabilize his breathing; it's not responding well to the medication. He'll get better treatment in a hospital where there's more equipment and—"

"Shut up. Stop bullshitting me. He's breathing okay now, so you can leave."

"He's only able to make it this far because of the medicine. If I leave, the albuterol will run out."

Paolo pointed his pistol at Tsuna and marched forward. "No, you stay! Luca can't—" He yelped when Reborn surged forward and sliced his Achilles tendon with his knife.

Tumbling forward, Reborn grabbed Paolo's stray pistol and aimed it at Romeo.

Romeo glared. "You fucking—" He instinctively jerked his gun back when Tsuna rose towards him and swiftly disarmed his weapon.

Tsuna kicked his chest, knocking him back, while levelling the gun back at him. "Move and I'll shoot."

He kept the gun trained on Romeo while Reborn hauled the robber to his feet and slammed him on the counter head-first, knocking him out. If Reborn slammed Romeo's head twice, Tsuna feigned ignorance.

After signaling Oregano everything was clear, Reborn helped Tsuna debrief the EMTs and paramedics on the victims' conditions. NOCS swarmed the bank and lead the hostages out. Paolo, Luca, and Romeo were sent off in separate ambulances with a detective while Tsuna took the elderly man, Matteo, in his. Before Basil entered the back with them, Reborn walked up and jerked his head to the side. "Get out," he said.

Tsuna pursed his lips. "Reborn."

Basil rolled his eyes but left anyways. Reborn climbed in and shut the doors. Sighing, Tsuna tapped the wall to signal Elena she could go. The sirens turned on not too long after they started moving. A brief silence settled between them, tense but not uncomfortable. Tsuna kept an eye on the monitors. Matteo's heartrate remained stable.

When Reborn's hand rested on Tsuna's leg, it stayed there the whole way to the hospital. And if Reborn waited for him at the end of his shift, Tsuna didn't say anything. He just hugged him for a long while in the parking lot, where it was only two of them underneath the soft streetlights, and focused on their steady heartbeats.

A/N HAPPY NEW YEAR, PEEPS!

I didn't want to leave an author's note in the previous chapter because I didn't want to break the flow of reading that one before coming to this one. It would've been distracting, I feel.

I felt bad for not being able to update in a long time—school and life had me busy—so I tried to write what I could by writing two prompts, which you can still request here. I'm not sure if I did them justice, but I tried. In the previous drabble Tsuna's supposed to be some vague Mother Nature spirit, but I'll leave it to your imagination. I hope I didn't butcher yours too much, De hearts 26. :'^)

Pairings for both prompts were randomized with the exception of Byakuran and Reborn here. I didn't think that having only two of them for this prompt would be satisfactory, so I padded out the middle with other pairings (while also giving both pairs requested, even though they were optional). I hope this came out okay, Klanglilie. :'^)

Thank you for reading, and supporting me for this long. I truly appreciate the love you peeps give to my fics. They wouldn't be able to last this long without you. And of course, all my gratitude for my beta, nico, for bearing with me, and LadyIDK for being a wonderful friend and supporter. I can only ask for your patience and understanding about updates, but rest assured that none of the fics are abandoned.

I hope everyone's having a good start to the new year! Sending hugs and good wishes your way. :^D

Have a lovely day~

Little Miss Bunny