Disclaimer: I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.
Warning/Spoilers ahead: Soft Lemon
Tsuna wasn't sure what happened after he had passed out but the next thing he saw when he woke up, was Leon perching on his nose.
"Huh?" Leon's long tongue flicked the bridge of his nose.
"You're finally awake." Propped on a chair, sitting on a stack of pillows was Reborn. The hitman was flipping through a newspaper.
With one last flick, as if telling him to get up already, Leon scurried off his face and on to his pillow. Tsuna propped himself up on his elbows, blearily taking in his surroundings. The room he was in was luxurious — that much was obvious but as soon as he realized it was just him and his tutor, he shot up and threw his covers off. Panic seized him.
Reborn moved like lightning and he was forced to sit still as the hitman held a sharp green meter stick against his neck. The newspaper dropped to the floor, forgotten. He flinched as Reborn pressed it against his adam's apple. "Calm down before you hurt yourself Dame-Tsuna. If its Mia you're worried about, she's fine."
Tsuna gritted his teeth. "And her leg?" He sharply eyed his tutor. He remembered how bad it was. His fingers twitched. He wanted to go find her but he knew that Reborn wouldn't let him go. Not until they finished their talk.
Reborn lowered the meter stick, his beetle black eyes unreadable. "It wasn't good." The hitman admitted and Tsuna stilled. "She had lost a lot of blood. I don't know what happened in there but the damage to her leg was severe." Tsuna felt sick, as if someone had given him a direct blow to his stomach. He thought it was bad but not that bad. "But if it hadn't been for your quick thinking, she would have bled to death already. So good job Tsuna." Normally, he would have glowed under the praise, but now he felt like throwing up. Could she still use it? He was afraid to know. "She would have lost it but someone from the Order came by."
At this, he turned to his tutor. Completely fixated on him now. "The Fox called in for backup as soon as the Angler surfaced. Also that was a very neat thing you guys found."
"Reborn please." Tsuna was not in the mood to entertain his tutor.
Reborn smirked. "Relax Dame-Tsuna, I told you. She's fine now." A hundred questions bubbled to the tip of his tongue but he held it in, not wanting to incite his tutor's ire. It was annoying but he patiently waited for the hitman to continue. Fortunately, he didn't have to wait too long. Reborn launched into his story.
Hearing about the possible collapse was one thing, it was another being there altogether. They had been in the middle of wiping out almost the entirety of enemies when it happened. The Fox, who flitted in and out of the shadows taking out enemies like a ghost, reappeared in the courtyard. He held a grunt by the neck that he roughly shoved aside.
"Take that!" Skull was clinging on to someone's head, pounding it with his muscled fists. "Hey, why did you stop?" He asked when he saw the Fox. Reborn and Lal held their fire as they sensed something amiss. The Fox then turned and without a word, ran, grabbing Skull just as a giant crack zigzagged across the courtyard. He leapt, just in time as the entire monastery, courtyard and all, collapsed with a terrifying groan. They watched like ants, helpless and at awe as an entire mountain roared, a good chunk of it falling into the sea.
Skull gaped at the destruction all around them. Scores of rocks continued to fall and Lal Mirch pulled off her goggles, dumbstruck at the calamity. The Fox seemed surprised as well, before composing himself. He dug into his belt pack and pulled out a pair of compact binoculars.
"Reborn!" Lal Mirch marched towards him, fury lining her scars and brow. "Didn't you say Sawada was in there?" She pointed her gun at him. "What the hell is this? He could be dead!" Reborn kept silent. Those brats...
"Don't be too sure." The Fox calmly interrupted. He readjusted his binoculars. Lal turned to him, scowling and he offered it to her.
Suspicious, she took it from him and peered into the direction he pointed at. She stiffened. "What is that?"
Leon immediately turned into a scope for him. There! The first thing he saw was a ball of light. Attached to it, rising from the water, was a giant fish. Bigger than Skull's octopus but smaller than a whale. On closer inspection, Reborn realized that it wasn't a fish but a submarine. It had been ejected out by the mountain but made no further movement as it slowed to a glide on the sea. "I'll be damned," Reborn whistled.
The hitman wasted no time and called for Lorenz. Lal and Skull did not come with them, choosing to stay behind to clean up any left over stragglers from the hit attempt. At least, any that were left that survived the destruction. The latter didn't really want to stay, as he wanted to check out the cool-looking submarine but Lal held him by the jugular and threatened to toss him over the cliff if he didn't. So, it was just them.
"Reborn!" The hitman looked down as the helicopter rose. Lal glared up at him. "Make sure to bring Sawada back!"
"Senpaiiiii!" Skull waved at them. "Tell Mia I said hi!"
Reborn saluted them then retreated to the cockpit to sit beside Lorenz. The Fox stood behind them, holding into the seats as they approached the vessel. They saw the hatch open and a tuft of white hair poke out. Reborn could almost hear Ryohei Sasagawa as he yelled in triumph. He pumped his fist in the air as the rest followed out.
"You two get off first while I try and land this!" Lorenze brought them closer, the helicopter's bright lights blinding the teens on deck. The shielded their eyes. As soon as they were close enough, Reborn and the Fox jumped down.
"Reborn-san!" Hayato exclaimed, relief painted all over his face. "Hurry, you gotta come Tenth passed out but the Lady — " The Fox strode past them, evading the others and deftly hopping down the hatch. "Hey!" The bomber followed angrily.
Reborn had a bad feeling when he mentioned Mia. He swiftly followed the Fox into an impressive control chamber but Reborn didn't have time to admire the engineering. His attention was immediately grabbed by the two teens that lied side by side on ground. Tsuna looked relatively unharmed — except for his shoulder that was bleeding — but Mia looked critical and for some reason, her leg was trapped in ice. Her father was beside her, holding her hand and brushing her hair aside.
"Not good," the Fox commented grimly, startling Nicolas, who squinted at the newcomer. When the man turned to him, his expression sobered.
"Reborn." One of the professor's pupils was blown wide. Reborn was impressed the man managed to stay conscious and coherent despite the concussion he must have been suffering. "My daughter, help her. Please."
"You don't have to ask," Reborn found himself replying immediately. He checked Mia's vitals and was alarmed at how weak her pulse was. "Professor, I'll do what I can but I'm gonna have to ask you to step out for a bit. Please." He added at the end.
When he hesitated, Takeshi, who had been quietly on standby, spoke up. "You can trust Reborn Professor. Mia and Tsuna trust him, we do too."
The conflict was present on Nicolas' face. Reborn could see how hard he was trying to stay grounded in the present, to be with his child. Finally, the Professor relented. He leaned down slowly, pressing a kiss on the crown of Mia's head and murmured a small prayer. He then staggered to a stand. Takeshi rushed forward to keep him steady. With one last worried look at his friends, the young swordsman helped carry Nicolas out. They closed the hatch, leaving the hitman, the fox and the two brats together. Reborn took off his hat and set it aside.
"So this is the famous Zero Point Breakthrough," the Fox commented as he inspected Mia's leg. He ran his hand over it and clicked his tongue. "Oh that's vicious."
"Are you gonna explain or do I have to beat it out of you?" Reborn demanded.
The Fox pulled off his mask, his green eyes drawn into a serious frown. "Let's just say she was pulled very harshly from one place to another and we're lucky her leg is still intact." He cryptically replied. His frown deepend. "If you're thinking of using your flames it won't work. There's not enough strength in her — at some point you can't force the body to heal if its beyond it's capability. She's lost a lot of blood and she's showing signs of Overload." He tilted her head to the side and pulled down the flaps of her jacket aside. Dark blue veins crept along her pale almost grey skin.
"What the hell is that?" Reborn asked, taking a closer look. Never in all his years had he seen anything like it.
"It happens when you push your body's capacity to channel Flames too far. Most of the time it happens when you force your flames out without a proper conduit — the Mafia and the Arcobaleno wouldn't know. You all have your rings and pacifiers after all." He looked pointedly at Reborn's then glanced around them. "Between this and the Vault, her Flames were probably forcibly taken from her - more than her body could handle."
"But basically, this is when the body is burned from the inside out. Everyone is different, some are able to withstand their flames," He glanced at Tsuna. "Others... can suffer extreme side effects."
Reborn didn't need to the told which state Mia was in. "What can we do then?"
"Master Decimo will be fine. The Miss...is is beyond my ability." Ian looked to the hitman, a look of absolute dread written all over his face. "I'll have to call her."
"Who?" Tsuna interrupted, pulling him out of his story. He eagerly leaned forwards on the bed. "C'mon Reborn please don't leave me in suspense. You said she was okay!"
Reborn smacked him over the head. "And she is," the hitman confirmed. "We brought you all back here, to Vongola HQ and the Fox called in the Owl. She met us here and treated Mia. She'll live but she will have some life lasting scars. They've been giving her blood for the last several hours."
"The Owl?" Tsuna inquired, rubbing the back of his head.
"That would be me." A stern-looking grandma strode through the doors. Back straight, heels clicking sharply against the floor. She was dressed in a simple white blouse and slacks, her white hair was cropped short, one eye was blind, the other saw through a monocle. If it wasn't for the hair and wrinkles around her mouth and eyes, she would have been mistaken for someone in her fifties. On her hip, hung an owl mask. She carried a medical bag. The Owl stopped by the foot of the bed and fixed Tsuna with a critical look that made him feel exposed, like all his weaknesses were laid bare for all to see. Already, he was on guard.
"So this is the boy meant to be the Tenth heir." Tsuna tried not to shrink under her gaze. She was from the Order, Tsuna reminded himself. He refused to be dragged around by them when the Vongola was already a pain in his ass. "I am here to report that the girl is doing well and there will be no lasting side-effects. She should wake up in a day or two. I've only healed her to a certain point — not completely." She added sharply when Tsuna was about to ask. "She will need to heal naturally from now on. The body shouldn't rely on flames too much."
"Why not?" he asked, frowning.
"Too many had seen her hurt, including your Father. Someone would notice something amiss if she was suddenly walking again and..." her eye settled on Reborn. "Its necessary. This will give her body time to adapt." Adapt what? An entire conversation passed between the hitman and the Owl in silence. Tsuna had only been out for several hours — or maybe a day? — but it seemed Reborn knew something.
"Why does she need to adapt?" Tsuna asked slowly, turning to his tutor.
"I'll explain later," Reborn promised him. "For now, let her take a look at you."
What? Tsuna didn't want to. But when Reborn threatened him with his mallet, he stuck out his hands to her, scowling. The Owl walked around the bed and took hold of his hands. She peered at them. "Hmm... Very good." She turned his hand, then lightly tugged at his arm. Tsuna realized it no longer hurt but it did feel tender and slightly sore. "This one is healing well. It was deep but not too difficult, I've set it in a way so it would heal in a week rather than months."
"You didn't think it could be healed all the way as well?" Reborn piped up, curious.
The Owl finally glanced at him, her expression was dry. "It can, I just didn't want to do it. I'm old, not blind. He would most likely run to the girl the moment he woke up." She tugged harder at Tsuna's arm and he yelped. "That should keep you here for a couple of hours. You will feel tired but the fatigue is normal and should fade soon but I would advise you to take it easy for a week or so." She glanced at Reborn. "Nothing too strenuous now." She laid his arm back down. With the tip of her finger, she turned Tsuna's head left and right.
"Uh... thank you... ma'am?" Tsuna held his arm awkwardly.
The Owl continued her inspection of him. "No need for thanks. Just doing my job."
"I see... did you treat Nicolas too?" Tsuna asked her.
"I did. His hands were a sight, had a concussion alright but nothing I couldn't handle." Tsuna sensed something off.
"How is he?"
She peered at him through her monocle. "He's recovering but he may suffer from memory loss. Now what is it that you really wanted to know? Speak. Otherwise I'll leave now."
"Pandora." Tsuna watched her expression but her face was a blank slate. "What happened to it?" He sensed Reborn's interest at that and he glanced at him from the corner of his eye. Tsuna gave him a look, echoing the hitman's word's from earlier. I'll explain later. Reborn's mouth twitched. Touche' his black eyes seemed to say.
The Owl looked to them both. Finally, she said, "It is in the Order's possession as is the Angler as well." She directed that at Reborn. Reborn clicked his tongue in disappointment.
Tsuna on the other hand, didn't care about the Ang-whatever. "Will it keep bothering Mia?" Tsuna asked, his tone growing hard.
"No." Her response was final. "It has exhausted all its power and is 'sleeping'. It won't wake again."
Tsuna doubt it. Called bullshit on it even. "How do I know you're not lying? And what about the Order? What are your plans for her? And what — "
In one swift movement, something small flew from her hand, shooting straight into Tsuna's mouth. He nearly choked before managing to swallow it with great difficulty. "What was that?" He thumped his chest. "Was that medicine? Poison?!"
"Its grape candy." The Owl held a small purple ball between her fingers before popping it into her mouth. "Don't concern yourself too much boy. Personally I don't know as I wasn't there, I was called in for an emergency. That's all. What happens to the box, I don't know. As for plans... I'm too old to bother with the higher-ups." Owl began to rummage through her bag and brought out a stethoscope. She listened to his lungs. "All clear. Well, if you want my opinion I wouldn't take her as an Operative. Too many risk factors makes one easy to compromise."
She eyed him pointedly. Tsuna could take hint, Mia was a risk because she was affiliated with the Vongola. It slightly soothed his worries but did little to satisfy him. However, he didn't think she would tell him anything more. They watched as the Owl put away her things.
"I will come back again to check on the girl. Until then, I suggest you don't speak about the Order outside of your inner circle. You'll find that anyone outside of it would remember things differently from you. Like that boy — Basil, I think his name was." Tsuna stiffened. "After Fox's little stunt, you didn't think we would let CEDEF know we exist right? Don't even attempt it boy. As far as they know, the girl has some talented friends."
"Wait..." Tsuna tried to stand but Reborn held him back with his stick again. The hitman jabbed him in the sternum. "Reborn!" Tsuna protested.
"Tsuna don't." Reborn glared at him. Tsuna couldn't believe this.
"You should listen to your tutor child. The Order has given you an opportunity, don't waste it."
The Owl nodded to Reborn and slipped on her mask. The fox mask made Ian appear mischievous yet sinister. The owl mask, while solemn, sent anyone who looked at it reeling with uneasiness. Tsuna couldn't look at her long without feeling discomfort in his eyes. Was it the mask? He wondered. It got so bad that he felt sick and the feeling only went away when he looked at anything else but her mask. As soon as he did, the Owl quietly slipped away.
"She's gone." Reborn said.
Tsuna slowy turned to his tutor. "Why did you stop me?"
"Because you were being an idiot," Reborn bluntly told him. "We know nothing about them and they don't appear to be hostile. Don't pick a fight with the Order Tsuna. Even with the Vongola backing you, it won't end well. All they want is to be left alone. Just don't talk about them."
Tsuna scowled. The urged to chuck his pillow at his tutor strong but that might not end well for him. Reborn might retaliate with his giant flail. He rubbed his face trying to get the frustration out. "I still can't believe they — they overwrote Basil's memory!"
Reborn quietly mulled over it, "I did mention the Fox some time ago. No wonder Lal didn't recognize him, he never made it to the report. They must have gotten Basil sometime after the Conflict then. Fortunately, we didn't talk any more on him."
"And you're okay with that?"
"Stop whining already Dame-Tsuna. Basil's fine. If he doesn't know, your dad won't either. As far as they do know, Mia has friends in interesting places. They think its because of her grandfather's connections."
Tsuna's jaw dropped. "But aren't they just misunderstanding things?!"
Reborn sighed. "Mia would have appreciated the opportunity, why can't you?"
"I-It's not that I don't!" Tsuna grumbled. "Its just... insane!", Reborn smirked. "So, you gonna tell them?"
Tsuna glared. "Of course not! Whatever keeps dad off mine and Mia's backs! Its just... I worry for Nicolas." He fell back into his pillows, defeated. "I don't know how much he remembers." Would Nicolas forget everything? Or just the monastery? When he found out he was going to be the Tenth boss it took him weeks to get over the initial shock, months to get rid of the denial and close to a year or so before he could accept it. Nicolas only had a couple of days to process it all and even if he did, he worried the older man would forget it all and revert back to being a distant father.
"He's come around to check on you a few times now." Tsuna whipped his head towards him in disbelief.
"Really?" He asked hopefully. If Nicolas visited then that means...
Reborn raised an eyebrow and Tsuna blushed. "Yup. So, you gonna tell me what really happened or am I supposed to take Gokudera's word for it?"
Knowing his friend, if he had given a rundown of what happened, it would be overly exaggerated. Tsuna sighed. It frustrated him but maybe Reborn was right, that this was the best outcome they could have... even if it was orchestrated by the Order.
"Okay, fine. But no hitting!"
They spoke for hours and true to his word, Reborn didn't smack him around. Tsuna was grateful, as his body was still tired in ways he hadn't felt since the first time he had been hit with the Rebuke bullet. Throughout their conversation the hitman listened quietly, only interrupting once or twice to ask questions. Tsuna told him everything — except for the conversations he had with Nicolas and Mia. He skimmed over those. It felt too personal and intimate to share and Reborn seemed to understand this.
Afterwards, Reborn then filled him in on what happened on their side. Tsuna admitted he let out a few choice curse words out for his dad. He wasn't proud of it but he was just so furious. Reborn let him stew in his anger until he could calm down. At some point he would have to confront his father. He preferred not to, but if his Dad were to show his face to him while they were still here in Italy, he wouldn't hesitate flipping him on his ass. His Dad's priorities aside, CEDEF being compromised was concerning.
Tsuna pinched the bridge of his nose. God what a mess. "Does Grandpa know?"
"He does. He's not very happy with the situation but everything is proceeding smoothly. He made sure to chew out Iemitsu for that." The corner's of his mouth tugged to a half-smile. At least Grandpa was on his Dad's ass. "Still, the leak had gone on for months. Your info isn't exactly advertised throughout the mafia but you can expect a significant increase in assassination attempts in the future."
Tsuna groaned at this and flopped back on his side, facing away from his tutor. That's it, he was going to strangle his Dad the next time he saw him!
At some point, he had fallen asleep again, only to wake up alone and disoriented in a dimly lit room. He had been woken up by a nightmare, one that he could no longer remember but left him cold and anxious. There was food set next to him and a note that was propped on a tray. He didn't feel like eating but read the note. It was written by Reborn. In it, the hitman said he rigged the bedroom door and windows with explosives. If he tried to leave earlier than the set amount of time, he'd be blasted into Mars. Eat, rest, and don't go looking for Mia. The hitman will be back.
Tsuna crumped the note in disgust and threw it away. Reborn that jerk! He didn't go back to sleep that night. When the hitman returned and he was finally allowed to go out his room, he barely had one foot out the door before he was ambushed by his friends.
"Tenth!" Hayato cried joyfully, catching him in a hug. Takeshi was next as he pulled Tsuna into a headlock. Lambo had jumped on his leg and Ryohei swept them all up in a massive group hug. Tsuna laughed, even if several limbs were jabbing his ribs. Hayato loudly complained and the boxer released them.
"How are you feeling Tsuna?" The boxer asked. Chrome peeked out from behind him. She had let her hair down and was wearing a jumper. She waved at him.
Tsuna smiled back. "I'm okay. A little tired. My shoulder got fixed too but I'm not supposed to do anything too much." He looked around. "Where's Hibari-san?"
Takeshi shrugged helplessly but from his smile, Tsuna figured he didn't have to worry. Knowing the prefect, he must have went somewhere that didn't have crowds or was napping on the roof but Tsuna doubted the latter. It was too warm to sleep outside. "How about mom?"
"Maman is in the garden with I-pin and Fuuta!" Lambo chirped up. The little boy grinned at him.
"So, you guys mind showing me around?" He smiled as the grins on his friend's faces widened. Lambo tugged on his pant leg.
"Let's go see Maman first!"
"Hai hai," Tsuna indulgently followed his youngest Guardian. Lambo's arms were still a few inches short too hold hands with so he decided to carry him.
His mother was having tea in the garden when they arrived. To their surprise, Nicolas was there too. He had a new pair of glasses on. "Tsuna!" His mom jumped out of her seat when she saw him. She eagerly waved him over. He set down Lambo and immediately the boy shot off to play with I-pin nearby. He approached his mother cautiously. As soon as he was in arms reach, she lunged at him, pinching his cheeks. "Mou! I can't believe you — going cliff diving? I don't mind if you want to be adventurous but try to be careful okay?"
Cliff diving? Since when did he go cliff diving? "Mwooom! Owww!"
Nicolas set his cup down. "He's learned his lesson Nana. Let him go. Honestly, both him and Mia really are peas of the same pod." He sighed.
His mom glared at him one more time before releasing his cheeks. "I can't believe Mia-chan broke her ankle after tripping on those stairs. Poor thing. This place is so beautiful too." Crossing her arms, his mother lamented over Mia's injury while Tsuna threw looks at his friends. But they were just as clueless as he was. "Still Nick-kun, it wasn't too difficult for you was it? You had to drive all of them here."
They all tensed. Tsuna's mouth went dry.
The professor shrugged and smiled. "I don't mind. It was definitely an... experience." They flinched as the man glanced at them. When his mom looked away, Nicolas winked at them. Tsuna nearly cried with relief. For now, it looked like the professor was going with the flow.
"So all of you were here." Bianchi appeared behind them. Immediately, Hayato went down with a choke. Froth spilled out of his mouth like a geyser.
Just like that, he felt like he was home and yet, something felt missing...
While the others frolicked in the garden (and to give Hayato time to recover), Tsuna stayed with his Mom and Nicolas at the table.
He had been worried over his Mom since they had gotten separated and was curious on what she knew. From what she remembered, all the explosions and gunfire was all film making magic and that they were all extras. His father wasn't part of the mafia or some intelligence organization, he just had a really great-paying corporate job. Nicolas wasn't hurt, it was just fake blood. They hadn't split up, Nicolas had taken them on a separate road trip to visit Mia's old home and went sightseeing. Their injuries? All accidental. Mia broke her ankle from slipping on the stairs and Tsuna tripped over a diving cliff. The mansion they were staying in was a fancy hotel paid for by his Dad's boss. It sounded something that Reborn would have come up with.
Tsuna resisted slamming his face against the table but couldn't help his face from twitching. It was insane how much his mom misremembered. Briefly, he wondered if the Order had anything to do with it or it was just his Mom being her usual self. Either way, it was insane. Hold it together Tsuna! While his brain was sorting out the mental gymnastics, Nicolas looked collected as ever.
But he supposed it was better this way. He didn't like it but he preferred if his mother knew little as possible.
"I'm going to head back first Nana." Nicolas stood up with some effort. "And Tsuna." He placed a hand on Tsuna's shoulder. He squeezed his arm reassuringly. "Come find me when you have time. Let's talk if that's okay with you."
His heart nearly jumped out of his ribcage. "O-Of course!"
With one last pat, Nicolas walked back inside.
After that, his mom proceeded to drag him for a walk. Arm in arm with his mom, they strolled through one of the four gardens the Vongola had while his friends trickled behind.
It was beautiful, Tsuna admitted. He was aware that someday he would inherit all this and no matter how pretty the estate was, he didn't feel a single shred of interest towards it. Listening to the chatter of his friends however, the children running around, and his mom admiring the flowers, he could imagine a life here. A warm summer breeze caressed his cheeks. For a moment, he let himself dream about it. Him and Mia walking through this very garden, hand in hand. They would be laughing and kissing each other. She would tease him and he would retaliate by attacking her sides. They would roll around the garden, terrorizing it until their clothes were ruined and she would use dirty tricks to bring him down. Mia...
"Boss?" Chrome appeared beside him, looking worried.
With a pang, Tsuna realized his smile had gone. An ache bloomed in his chest. He missed her. It was followed up by how worried he was for her. They must have noticed his expression as they quickly bid his mom goodbye and continued showing him around the mansion. Tsuna wondered if they were distracting him on purpose. There was the dining room where they ate a bit. It was past lunch time so they only had snacks which was fine with him since he wasn't all that hungry. They weren't allowed to go in most rooms as that would require permission from the Ninth, but they were allowed to go to roam the west wing. This includes the courtyard where the rest of them could train, the gardens, a game room and even an indoor pool. One by one, the others showed Tsuna their rooms.
Once or twice they ran across regular staff members who bowed in respect to him and some Vongola family members. Those usually gave them a wide berth. Tsuna appreciated it, since he really wanted nothing more right now from the Family. He didn't feel like being swarmed — he might just suplex the next person if they did.
Next, they headed out to the library. As they rounded corner, they nearly ran into the Ninth, accompanied by a man with bown hair on the back of his head and white hair at the front and...
"Nero Sir!" He blurted out then mentally thanked God that his voice didn't crack. His friends quickly followed in greeting the older men.
Nero Matteis had aged a bit from the last time they had seen him but for some reason he was dressed in clothes for farming complete with a hat. Despite looking out of place and a man in his nineties, he remained the most imposing figure in the vicinity. At the sight of him, both men let out sighs of relief.
"Tsuna." The deep baritones sent goosebumps running up and down his skin. He stood in attention. "Its very nice to see you again. My, you've grown." Nero smiled kindly at him.
Tsuna blushed. "Its very nice to see you too sir. I'm glad to see you're in good health. Um... what brings you here today?" His eyes flickered to the Ninth. For some reason his grandpa looked tired, as did the man beside him.
Nero chuckled. "Only here for a chat. Isn't that right Timoteo?"
Grandpa seemed to age rapidly as soon as he was addressed by the older man. "Yes, we just needed to discuss some matters. Nothing you need to be concerned about Tsunayoshi," he added warmly for Tsuna. Tsuna wasn't exactly sure what was going on but whatever it was, it stressed his Grandpa out.
"Well, I'm afraid I can't stay long." Nero leaned down slightly, a mischievous glint in his blue eyes. "I'm not allowed to be here in Italy you see."
Not allowed "Eh?" Tsuna gawked at the man. "Um... you're not here to visit Mia or Nicolas?"
Nero straightened and shook his head ruefully. "As much as I want to, it would be best if I don't. I've spoken to Nicolas on my way here already and he has told me much. I'm grateful Tsuna, to you and your friends. Mia has found her way and it seems my son is finally finding his." The corner of his eyes crinkled up to a smile filled with pride and deep affection. A warm feeling blanketed the hall and a lot of them relaxed as it settled. Even the Ninth and his subordinate blinked at the shift.
Nero was terrifying when they first met. He broke through Varia ranks with his bare hands, shrugged death threats off like they were nothing and walked off his injuries. Tsuna would believe it if Mia told him her grandpa could deadlift tanks and toss them. Looking at the man now, he was the picture of a happy old man who had lived a long life with love. His smile lines stood out more than his scars did, and his normally towering form was a pillar of warmth. He looked more like what Mia described him to be.
"Well Tsuna, take care of yourself now. I hope you and your friends would consider visiting my farm in the future." He patted Tsuna's shoulder gently and then walked off, humming with his hands behind his back.
"Kid, you have no idea how much you saved our asses back there." The man beside the Ninth said. He loosened his tie, the tension leaving him ruffled.
"Ganauche!" The Ninth called out sharply. He shook his head. "Honestly... "
"So why was Nero here grandpa?" Tsuna decided to ask.
"Ah... he wasn't very pleased with what happened to his son and granddaughter." Okay, but that still didn't explain why they were so bothered with Nero. He was a lone man against the most powerful syndicate family in the world.
"And... the Vongola just let him?" He watched their faces carefully. The Ninth looked like he was suffering from a headache.
"We have been experiencing difficulties with our military contracts outside of Italy lately. His doing, I'm sure." The Ninth sighed. "I'm not sure how he does it."
Tsuna's brows shot to his hairline. Of all the things he was expecting, it wasn't that. Tsuna knew Nero was retired but maybe he still had some influence after all? He nearly wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Mia's grandfather was basically bullying the Vongola and just essentially sowing discomfort. It nearly sent him into hysterics.
He tried to keep his face straight. "I see... I hope he lets up soon." He suddenly remembered something. "Oh yeah, could I ask for a favor grandpa?"
The Ninth beamed. "Of course Tsunayoshi."
Since he was in Vongola HQ, its possible it would have come up on its own. Tsuna wanted to let his intentions known before they do. "I know my inheritance is still a few years away but I'd like to finish highschool first. Before then, I would like the Vongola to exclude me from its affairs. "
"Tenth?" Hayato spoke up quietly beside him, uncertain.
The Ninth froze, startled by his unexpected declaration.
Tsuna continued gaze at the Ninth. "If its anything related to me, you can let me know and we'll handle it but other than that, please keep us out of it."
Ganauche started to frown. "Hey now..." he started to protest but held back as the Ninth stopped him. The Ninth waved him off.
His Grandpa looked at him with understanding and respect but Tsuna could sense a tinge of disappointment. "I appreciate that you chose to tell me. Very well, I had wanted to discuss if you and your guardians would consider spending your summers here but those lessons can be held off until you can officially inherit." He smiled. "I will speak with Reborn. For now, you should enjoy your time here. Once Mia wakes up, be sure to take her around the gardens. Our gardners have worked hard to impress."
At the mention of Mia, Tsuna felt that pang again. He forced a small smile. "Thank you grandpa, I'll make sure to do that."
"Well Ganauche? We still have business to attend to. I don't think Nougat would appreciate me being late."
With a final nod, the Ninth and his subordinate left, leaving behind Tsuna and his friends. Only Hayato seemed slightly disappointed that they couldn't come more to Vongola HQ. Tsuna wanted to feel a little bit sorry but he had enough. He wanted to spend what little time he had living a normal life (as normal as it could be) with his friends and family. This he explained to Hayato. The bomber rounded his shoulders, ashamed.
"Sorry Tenth, I got carried away."
"It's alright, I know how much this means to you too. We got plenty of time for that. For now I just want to hang out you know?" They talked about upcoming school events, the festivals they could attend, places to visit... the talk of future plans kept him occupied but at some point he felt tired and excused himself to go back to his room. But sleep didn't come to him easily. When he was alone he would fret and pace, with his friends he tried to interact as much as possible.
The next two days passed like that. Mia was still asleep and Nicolas was nowhere to be seen either. Tsuna kept looking for them despite the best attempts of his friends to keep him distracted. He knew they were just as worried as he was. At some point he took to wandering the halls aimlessly. Not sure where to go, he followed his footsteps back to the west wing where they were staying and eventually found himself standing outside Mia's room again. His friends had shown him her room last time but they, including himself, had been given strict orders to leave Mia alone until she woke up. He often stopped by here when he could.
For a while, he just stood there. He wanted to see her, to see if she was okay. He remembered the last time she had been unconscious. The waiting had worn him thin. Back then he was able to train to take his mind off, now he wasn't even allowed to do a single push up until he was cleared.
He had probably been there for close to half an hour when the door opened and Nicolas poked his head out, startling him.
The man smiled at the sight of him. "Hello Tsuna, I was hoping you'd come by."
Tsuna blushed. "H-Hello. Sorry, I should have come find you sooner. I didn't realize that you were here."
Nicolas pulled the door open and gestured inside. "Come in. We can talk here."
Tsuna tentatively stepped in and was pleasantly surprised. Unlike everyone else, Mia's room had a separate receiving room that was divided by another set of oak doors. Two luxurious couches filled the space with a table in between.
"You can sit if you want." Tsuna jumped. He hurriedly took a seat.
Tsuna was annoyed with himself. He wasn't like this with the Ninth. Nicolas hasn't said anything yet either! The professor sat down in front of him. Silence stretched before them and the longer it went, the more bullets Tsuna started to sweat.
"Tsuna." Nicolas had only said his name once and waited until the young don looked up and met his gaze before speaking again. "I've spoken with Reborn and he filled me in. I don't remember much of what happened at the monastery but from the little that I do... I would like to thank you." Nicolas then bowed. A proper, Japanese bow.
Tsuna didn't know what he was expecting but it wasn't that. He gaped. "Y-You don't have to thank me! Nicolas-san, please lift your head!" He begged.
Nicolas lifted his head slightly but Tsuna still couldn't see his face. "I could have lost her." The muted anguish lingered in his words. "Mia is all I have left of El. So please, don't say I shouldn't thank you."
It didn't feel right but Tsuna saw how much it meant to him. "Okay then Nicolas-san. I accept your gratitude."
"Good." Nicolas met his eyes. The man smiled. "Its good to be humble but not too much okay? You're too nice for your own good."
His ears grew warm. "Y-Yes sir," He ended up stuttering.
"I'm... still not fully onboard with the Mafia thing but if you want it, don't hesitate to ask me for anything. We'll need to discuss the logistics sometime however — you're all still at school and I would prefer you all finish —"
Tsuna stared, absolutely floored at how quick Nicolas switched to his professor mode. And wait a minute? Why was he getting lectured?!
Fortunately, his friends found him several minutes in and managed to rescue him with the excuse for food before the Professor could whip out university brochures. Tsuna was completely spent at that point. He never made it to dinner and ended up making an excuse to go back to his room. For the rest of the night, he tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
At some point he did but was woken up by Reborn a few hours later. His tutor smacked him out of bed with his mallet. "Oi, get up Dame-Tsuna. She's awake."
That was all he needed to hear. He slipped on his covers, nearly ran into a dresser and smashed his toe on the edge of a door trying to get out. Cursing under his breath, he made a mad dash to Mia's room. The world had been a blur to him. He didn't even notice his dad as he somersaulted over his head. All he could focus on was one thing. Skidding to a stop outside her room, Tsuna took a moment to compose himself.
Faintly, he could hear the sound of a guitar coming from the bedroom. Was Nicolas playing? The music stopped.
"Eh?" The door swung open and Nicolas looked down on him knowingly. Ears warming up again at being caught twice, Nicolas chuckled. The professor stood back and gestured with his head.
"You're the first one here. Go on." Not wanting to be told twice, Tsuna headed straight towards her bedroom doors. Heart pounding, he opened it. Her room smelled of antiseptic, like a hospital room. Tucked in a corner was a pole. Beside it, a wheelchair. It bothered him but all his worries, his discomforts, went away as he laid eyes on Mia.
She looked straight out of a dream.
She was resting against a pile of pillows, a shawl over her shoulders with her hands folded on her lap. At some point she must have fallen asleep again as she had her head turned towards the balcony. Color had returned to her skin. Her hair framed her face and shoulders, giving her a warm glow. He suddenly felt like he was floating, reminded of a time when he saw her in a similar light. Just like then, she took his breath away.
At the sound of the door opening, she stirred and rubbed her eyes. "Pa?" When she saw him, her eyes rounded. They stared at each other as silence stretched between then. Tsuna didn't know what was wrong with him. No words came to mind, not even a small hello. He felt someone push him gently from behind and he was forced to take one step, then another and another until he stood over her. He was faintly aware the door had closed behind him. Mia looked up at him, her blue eyes bright. Seeing his expression she frowned and she reached, touching his hand.
"Oh Tsuna," she said, voice soft and full of compassion. Drops started to fall. He didn't realize he was even crying. Something in him snapped and he curled in himself. Somehow, Mia managed to get him to lie down by her side as he sobbed into her lap. She stroked his hair, his back and whispered words so warm it soothed the ache in his heart that returned tenfold in that moment. He was overreacting, he thought. Everyone was okay now, she was okay now too so why was he crying like a little baby? He sniffed, annoyed at himself.
He felt Mia brush away his tears and he turned, burying his face deeper into her covers while he hugged her waist. He heard her chuckle. "I missed you too."
She continued to stroke his head. It felt really nice and eventually he found himself dozing off. He stayed like that even when their other friends came in.
"Should have expected that you would be here first Tenth! Uh... Tenth?" He heard Hayato trail off. He ignored them.
"Tsuna," Mia chided, knowing he was awake. His response was to tighten his hold around her waist. Exasperated, she said. "Tsuna come on now."
"No," He grumbled childishly.
She sighed while the others chuckled. "Okay you big kitten." She poked him teasingly. She resumed brushing his hair with her fingers again. The sleepiness came back with a vengeance. The last three days crept up at him and this time, Tsuna willingly gave in to it. Last he heard, as he drifted off to sleep was Mia.
"Alright, what did I miss?"
No matter how many people came into her room, how much people shouted, bickered or roughhoused, Tsuna stayed deeply asleep. Nobody bothered to wake him up, until Reborn came around to drag him off for dinner. Tsuna would complain, whine and protest but Reborn wouldn't relent and Mia just smiled and waved goodbye. He had thought that he would feel better now that she was awake but as soon as he was back inside his room, his relief faded and the anxious feeling threatened to swallow him again.
The darkness in his room only exacerbated the feeling even more, leaving him cold and restless. He tried to sleep but ended up staring at his ceiling for hours. He didn't understand why he felt this way. He knew everything was okay now but somehow he couldn't stop the thoughts from flooding in, filling his mind with images where they failed. Where he lost her.
He needed to see her.
Hours later, when everyone had gone to bed and he was sure Reborn had left. He threw off the covers and climbed out of his window and unto the roof. Fortunately, her room wasn't too far from his so it was a relatively short walk and he dropped by her open balcony without making a sound.
Her sleeping silhouette greeted him through the glass but it didn't calm the thick ball of anxiety rolling around his stomach. She looked too still. He checked the door and found it unlocked.
"C'mon Mia," he whispered disapprovingly. What if somebody else came sneaking in? Somone like you? A voice that suspiciously sounded like Reborn said. Heat crept up his neck. This was different, Tsuna tried to reason. He just needed to be sure she was okay.
Tsuna crept inside, closing the door behind him with a small click. When she didn't move, he let out a small breath then carefully made his way to her. Mia was facing the balcony, her covers strewn haphazardly around her, almost falling to the floor.
He watched the steady rise and fall of her chest, her expression the most peaceful it had been since they arrived. But this didn't calm him. With only the moonlight, she was painted in blues and greys, reminding him of when he found her in that cavern. She's okay, he reminded himself. Still, he couldn't resist brushing back a strand of her hair.
This stirred her awake. He thought about making a break for it but her blue eyes held him in place.
"Hello," she greeted him softly. "What are you doing here Tsuna?" She got up and turned on the bedside lamp.
"I just... I needed to see you," he confessed lamely. They had seen each other hours ago but he couldn't explain it — he just really needed to see her with his own eyes. Make sure that she was here to stay. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up." He stood there, awkwardly shuffling on the balls of his feet.
Mia glanced at the balcony then at him. There was a knowing look in her eye that made the heat reach his ears now. Yet, Mia said nothing. She reached out, her fingers wrapping around his.
"You didn't wake me up," she said and looked at him with an expression that made his legs go jelly. "I needed to see you too."
She lightly tugged on his hand and guided him to sit at the space beside her. She scooted a bit to make space and he sat down, still embarrassed he got caught.
"Couldn't sleep?" Mia asked softly.
Tsuna played with her fingers. "Yeah," he admitted in a low tone.
"You want to talk?"
Tsuna shook his head. He didn't feel like talking.
"How about a hug?" He turned to her and practically engulfed her, pulling her across his lap and burying his head under her chin, still mindful of her heavily bandaged leg.
Mia let out a small laugh that sounded like tiny bells.
He felt her slowly rake her nails through his scalp and he sighed, burying deeper into her neck as the knot in his chest began to unwind. She was okay... and yet... his eyes were drawn to her leg. The Owl said Mia won't need a cast as she had broken nothing — a small miracle — but there would be scars. He didn't like that. Every scar she had was a constant reminder that he failed to protect her. Reborn had tried to explain it to him, that there was a limit to how much the body can heal with the use of Dying Will Flames. The hitman didn't sugarcoat it and the implications it came with, left a growing pit off terror in him.
If it hadn't been for the Owl...
"Tsuna." Mia had stopped and tilted his face towards her. As if sensing his thoughts, she said, "It'll be okay."
"But — " she rubbed the tension away from his arms. He didn't even realize he was gripping her tightly.
"It'll be okay." Mia repeated firmly. "So don't make that face okay?" She pressed a kiss on his forehead.
Her lips felt like magic. The growing pit inside began to ebb away from her touch and he leaned into her. She giggled, light and happy, and nuzzled him. He let out his own chuckle.
"I've missed this," he sighed as he started playing with her nightdress. It was made of lightweight material, soft and not too thick.
Mia hummed. "You know what else I miss?"
"What?"
Her expression turned sly. She brushed her mouth over his. "This." She kissed the corner of his mouth.
It hit him like lightning. He breathed in sharply. He tried not to think about it but the thought was still there. It didn't help that she was on his lap and that her nightdress, which he originally found cute, was now too thin for him. Resist Tsuna, resist!
But Mia seemed to be in an affectionate mood as he felt her fingers trail the back of his neck, sparking his nerves down to his toes. He looked down, trying to hold on and ended up looking straight at her cleavage instead.
Her dress was fairly modest — simple frills, sleeveless, not too low of a neckline — yet it didn't stop his mind from wandering. His skin was warming up and fast. This was bad.
"Hey Tsuna?"
"Y-Yeah?" He cleared his throat and looked up at her.
Her expression was so tender, so warm, for a moment it left him breathless. She touched his cheek. "Thank you," she murmured, her blue eyes swirling with deep emotion.
His mind went blank. When she pressed her lips against his, it lit a fire in him that rapidly spread across his body. Before he knew it, he had her flat on the bed, with him over her and nestled between her legs. Mia looked up at him in shock.
Suddenly, the air between them was supercharged and he struggled to hold the fire back. Maybe it was the stress from the entire week finally catching up but he knew. In that moment, he just wanted her.
"Tsuna...?" Mia didn't move, her eyes wide like a deer in headlights.
"I — c-can we —?" He didn't know how to put it into words without sounding crude. This scorching need in him that could only be satisfied by her. It never got this bad before but now...
As always, Mia seemed to understand what he needed. Her face colored a delightful shade of red. He tried to snap out of it and turned his head away. He focused on the lamp. "I-I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. Did I hurt you?"
Slender fingers touched his faced, guiding him to look at her. She traced a single finger across his lips, his jaw, then down to his neck, leaving behind a searing trail in its wake. "Don't be sorry." Her eyes trailed down. Her finger hooked around his collar. "I think... we can push it a bit. As long as we're careful?" Blue eyes bore into him innocently. Lord, how could she be so cute and tantalizing at the same time?
Tsuna fucked up. His brain was already fogging up. Mustering the last of his self control, he met her eyes. "Are you sure?"
Their noses brushed and he could feel the warmth of her breath against his cheek. "Yes."
He closed the gap with a deep kiss. Mia allowed herself to be pushed down, her arms coming up to wrap around his neck to pull him flush against her. This time, he let his hands wander without restraint. With one to brace himself against the bed, he reached, slipping the other under her dress. Her slid his hand up her leg, tracing and squeezing the curve of her hips and waist, across her stomach, her abdomen... up until he reached the curve of her breast. Slowly, he traced her with his fingers. She shivered and when he cupped her, his thumb running across her nipple, Mia briefly broke the kiss.
"Ohhh..." She breathed, her eyes fluttering.
It was better than he imagined. There were nights when he would lie awake in his bed just dreaming about it — that and other things — until he had to take an impromptu shower in the middle of the night. She was soft and she fit his palms perfectly. He adored how she felt in his hands and Mia seemed to like it very much as her back lifted, pushing into his hand. Caressing and kneading, he felt her perk up and she turned away, hand over her mouth as she tried to keep the little sounds she was making down. Nibbling her ear, he pinched her. She cried into her hand.
He felt a thrill shoot through him when he heard it. Through the haze, he realized he still wanted more.
Moving himself down to her neck, he latched on to the spot he knew would make her sing. And she did. She moaned softly and tilted her head back against the pillows. It was the opening he needed and proceeded to kiss and suckle his way down her neck and collarbone, stopping just above her cleavage, where he met resistance in the form of her dress.
Earlier, he liked it because it was cute. Right now, it was more of a hindrance. Without thinking much on it, he yanked down the front of her dress, exposing her breasts.
"Ts-Tsuna!" She hissed, embarrassed at his stare. Her face was red as he pushed himself up to look down on her.
Seeing her stripped halfway, her hair in disarray over her bare shoulders, breasts just begging to be touched and shyly gazing at him through her lashes... he would be lying if he said he wasn't rock hard right now. He licked his lips and she stilled. He pulled his shirt off and watched as her eyes darkened.
Taking one of her hands, he pressed his lips against her palm before pining it above her head. More. He lowered himself and held back a growl as his skin burned from where her chest touched his. More. She parted her sweet mouth, allowing his tongue to meet hers for a sensual kiss while his other hand raked her form. More. He moved down to her chest where he fondled, sucked and licked. She writhed under him.
"T-Tsuna..." she mewled into the pillow. She drew their intertwined hands to her face and lovingly nuzzled the back of his hand. Her other was clutching the sheets as she quivered from his touch.
Seeing her like that nearly had him spiralling out of control. The fire that he had been holdin back exploding into a blaze. It clawed at his chest, begging — no, demanding for release... His hips bucked, their cores brushing against each other and he groaned at the spark of pleasure that came with it. Her back arced as she gasped, her grip tight and desperate.
"Mia." His voice came out low and husky. He planted their foreheads together so he could look into her eyes. With her free hand, she stroked his face, leaving fire across his skin where it lingered. The things she did to him... Slowly, carefully, he started to grind against her. Any words between them lost as heat and pleasure built, his breaths becoming shorter, harsher while she whimpered against their hands.
She wrapped her good leg around him, allowing him to have better access to her and god. The friction, combined with the wetness he felt from her through their clothes sent his senses into a frenzy. He kissed her, hard, as they rocked against each other. Mia returned his kiss with equal want. She arced herself against him, wanting to let him feel every inch of her and matched his hips, thrust for thrust.
He felt that part of himself coil, tighter than a spring and he knew he wouldn't last long. The sounds she made, how she felt against his skin, how she even smelled... eventually he snapped. Gripping her hip, his movements became erratic as he grinded against her. Fire engulfed his entire being — it was nothing how he felt when he was in Hyper Mode. It tore through his senses, blinding him and consuming him in a flash. He cried into the crook of her neck as he rode out the remnants of pleasure.
When the searing heat faded, the first thing he noticed as he finished was Mia caressing his nape. Her touch was gentle and he could feel himself becoming drowsy. He propped himself on one arm to nuzzle her face.
"Are you okay?" she murmured against his mouth.
He hummed and opened his eyes. Gosh, she was so pretty. "I'm... great." Great didn't cover it. He felt awesome. "How do you feel?" he asked her. She shifted and he felt her body twitch underneath him.
She kissed his cheek. "I feel great too."
She looked content, but her body was saying otherwise. She was subtly rubbing her thighs together. He may have had his moment, but she didn't. From the little things that he'd heard from the other boys in his class and the occasional peek at porn, he knew that girls get off differently. That it takes time. It didn't sit well with him that she wasn't satisfied. From the way her body still reacted to his touch, she was very close too. He brushed his lips against hers. "Let me know if you don't like it."
"Like what — oh."
The hand on her hip travelled down between her thighs, his fingers meeting soaking fabric. "Is this okay?" he asked her carefully. She had given him permission to touch her but not like this and no matter how horny Tsuna got, he would never do something she wouldn't want.
For a moment, reason and desire warred on her face, until she ducked her head. She said something that he didn't catch. "What was that Mia?"
She peeked at him through her lashes again. "C-Could you touch me please?" She asked, as if he he would say no. Which was ridiculous because hell yes he'd do it. He kissed the corner of her mouth.
"I'll do whatever you want me to do." She flushed and he chuckled. Deciding he'd teased her enough, he let his hand do its work. Kissing her neck, he pressed his fingers against her core. Her reaction was instant — she bucked into his hand. He swallowed at how damp her panties were and resisted the urge to pull those off too.
Slowly, he started to stroke her. He watched her face, gauging if he should add more pressure or go faster. She threw her head back when he found her sweet spot, his name a melody to his ears.
Tsuna won't lie. It was hot. His own arousal was stirring again. When she started grinding against his hand, one arm wrapped around her chest, the other over his heart, she looked him straight in the eyes like a hunter locking on its prey. He found himself ensnared in a dream. He imagined her on top of him, making the same motions she was doing with his hand. This is what she would do, her eyes seemed to say. This is how she would ride him one day.
He made a strangled noise from the back of his throat. This was going to haunt his dreams for a while.
"Kiss me?" she pleaded breathlessly.
Tsuna all but pounced on her. He didn't know why she was being so polite and at the same time demanding but he didn't care. It was hot and he was all for it. She moaned into his mouth. Just a little more...
Her thighs suddenly clamped around his hand as her body shook right down to her toes. She buried her head into his shoulder, crying incoherently. Tsuna held her, pressing kisses to her temples. Eventually, she stilled.
"That was..." he couldn't find the words to describe what he witnessed.
She pulled him in for another kiss that he happily returned. "Amazing." Mia pulled back, her eyes alight with wonder. "Where did you learn to do all that anyway?"
"Learn what?" he asked curiously.
Mia stared at him in disbelief. Tsuna didn't know what she meant. Learn what? But Mia didn't bother to elaborate. Shaking her head, she pushed herself up to sit. He let her, his eyes glued on her chest. He thought how beautiful hers are and was just content with watching them all night. So when she fixed her dress, hiding her breasts away, he made a little whine of disappointment
She glanced at him, amused. "Could you help me reach the bathroom? I'd like to clean up."
Right. They should probably do that. He suddenly remembered his own mess in his pants. Mia wasn't allowed to put weight on her healing leg, so he had lended himself as a crutch for her while she hopped on one leg. She refused to be carried.
"You sure you don't need any help?" he asked her, worried. She was holding the edges of the sink for balance.
She looked at him coyly. "And have you take me on the bathroom floor? Not a chance."
Tsuna blushed. "I didn't mean for it to go that far," he admitted, heat creeping up to his neck and scratched his cheek.
She blushed too. "I know, now shoo!" He waited for her to finish. When she was done, she was wearing a fresh set of clothes (including underwear). She tried to hobble through the door when he decided to scoop her up in his arms. Mia immediately resisted.
"Tsuna," she protested. "Your shoulder!"
"Is fine," he assured her. His bullet wound had been healed up to a point that new skin had grown over it. He wasn't allowed to carry heavy things but Mia wasn't heavy at all. She frowned at the sight of it.
"Who healed it?" she asked, tracing the edges of his healing wound. He carefully laid her back on the bed.
"Not sure. Might be the Owl."
"The Owl?" she repeated curiously. Uh-oh. He kissed her.
"No more Order stuff. Okay? We'll talk about this after." She sighed but didn't push further.
Tsuna decided to have a quick shower instead, letting the cold wash away any remnants of his desire. It was difficult, considering what they'd just done but he managed. He tossed his soiled boxers into the hamper and reused his sweats. He then spent fifteen minutes towel drying his hair.
Mia was waiting for him when he came out. She was combing her hair with her fingers but was already noddin off. Looking around, Tsuna found his discarded shirt. He picked it up from the floor and gave it a good dusting before putting it back on.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" she asked him hopefully.
He sank down by her feet, his towel over his shoulders. "Sure, but I'll need to leave early. I wouldn't want to get you in trouble with your dad." Mia nodded understandingly but her shoulders slightly drooped. He hated disappointing her. He clambered over the bed and dropped beside her. "C'mere." He opened his arms.
Mia curled into his chest. Pulling the covers around her, he tucked her in. "What's wrong? Won't you get cold?" she asked him, noticing that they were separated by the comforter. He let her rest her head on his arm
He combed her hair with his fingers. Honestly, he might be tempted do more but she didn't need to know that. "Its for the greater good," he told her solemnly.
Her brows knit together and she looked at him, amused. "Greater good?"
"I don't mind being cold if it means your dad won't throw me out. I stay with you and this way, he'll think nothing happened." They shared a chuckle that faded as Mia let out a yawn.
"Someone's tired." She glared him accusingly.
"Thanks to someone." She mockingly thumped his chest. He grinned and she poked him. Nothing too hard, but it made him grin wider.
"We'll need to talk about this soon," she sighed and started playing with his sleeve.
"But not now," he added. She nodded sleepily.
"When we get home." Home. He pulled her closer. Home sounded wonderful. As he kept combing her hair, her eyelids fluttered to a close and eventually her breathing evened as she drifted off to sleep. He couldn't wait to come home. That was true, but he would miss this. He had gotten so used to having her by his side, it didn't feel right anymore not to have her there. He was already dreading the loneliness.
"Tsuna..."
"Hm?" He craned his neck. He thought she was asleep. Her eyes were still closed, but there was a slight crease on her forehead.
"Go to sleep... already you... dork."
"I will," he promised. One eye opened to criticize him.
"M'kay," she murmured, closing her eye again. Just when he thought she was finally asleep — "Tsuna?"
"Yes Mia?" he indulged her patiently. He continued running his fingers through her hair.
"... love you." She sighed before falling back to sleep. Then she was faintly snoring. His fingers froze as he stared at her in shock.
He had always imagined their first 'I love you' to one another would be heartfelt and special. The kind you'd see in TV or in mangas. Granted, her 'My heart is yours' when they confessed originally was pretty romantic but still. He pouted. From the way she was snoring, Mia might not even remember what she said. Tsuna sighed. Well, he supposed it was fine. He cupped her cheek and smiled as she pouted in her sleep.
Tsuna leaned in close and whispered, "I love you too Mia."
Author's Note: Would you look at that, our boy finally got some.
Just a quick reminder on their ages, Mia is turning 16 in a couple of weeks with Tsuna following her a month after. This was a really fun chapter to write even if it did start off tense. Tsuna has gone through a lot in this arc, so did Mia, but I'm proud of how much Tsuna had grown here. His spine is shiny, he isn't taking crap from anyone anymore (except Reborn) and he gets openly appreciated a lot for once. Still, no matter how much he matured, in some ways he's still our sweet and adorable Tuna.
I originally didn't plan on the lemon but with so much sexual tension between these two, it was inevitable that it would happen and I really like how it went. I hope you did too dear Reader. Let me know your thoughts on it.
Alright, all that's left is the Epilogue. Thanks again everyone for reading and have a great week ahead!