Little things matter too
When Reborn woke up, Skull was gone. He blinked and sat up, looking around. It was still night, the moonbeams cast a silvery-white glow on the floor. The window was open. Oodako was gone too. He frowned slightly and got up, making his way to the window and peered out.
Near the lake a lone figure could be seen curled into itself in a small, loose ball. Reborn frowned, then saw the curling ivy that formed steps leading from the window to the ground. He hesitated briefly, then swung his legs out the window. Leon woke up from the slight noise and scampered over onto his shoulder. Reborn didn’t mind. He slowly made his way down, and walked over to Skull silently.
”Lackey?” he called when he was only a meter away. Skull jumped, whirling around with wide eyes, he relaxed upon seeing Reborn. (A strange burst of pride jumped in Reborn’s chest knowing that Skull felt safe around him).
”Ah,” Skull said. “Hello Senpai. Want to sit?”
Skull waved his hand and a dry spot appeared on the dewy ground. Reborn sat next to him silently. After a while of sitting in silence, Reborn spoke.
”I thought you said wandless magic is exceptionally hard?” he asked.
”It is. But it just comes to me naturally,” Skull answered, and the two lapsed into a minute of comfortable silence.
”...where’s Oodako?”
Skull jutted his chin towards the lake, and Reborn squinted into the dark waters. Oodako, now the size of a pickup truck, was playing with the Giant Squid. Reborn remembered seeing the squid and wondering how it fit in the lake. The two giant animals were playing together in the water, the occasional splash of water landed near the two human’s feet. Reborn gave a small ‘ah’.
”...hey, Senpai?” Skull asked, and Reborn glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. “What’s your real name?”
Reborn pondered on what to say for a few seconds. He had the urge to tell Skull the truth. And wasn’t that strange? He lived for chaos, thrived in it. He loved twisting words and giving people headaches. And yet... he shrugged, looking back out to the lake.
”If I tell you mine, will you tell me yours?” Reborn questioned.
”That’s fine with me,” Skull agreed easily.
”...Renato. Renato Sinclair.”
Skull stared at him for a few seconds, and then gave a breathy little laugh.
”You know,” Skull said, “now that I hear you have a name, you don’t seem as... untouchable anymore. Not as scary.”
”Was I scary to you?” Reborn asked, amused.
”Ah, yea. Quite a bit, really.”
”I see. Then? What’s your name?”
”...Rigel. Rigel Artemis Black.”
Reborn stared at him for a bit, then nodded.
”You’re right,” he said, and Skull blinked. “Hearing your name does make you seem more normal.”
Skull threw back his head and laughed. Then he turned his head to Reborn and smiled. And Reborn’s breath caught.
He wondered why Skull chose to wear all those layers of make up and piercings when he was so, so beautiful without any adornments or paint on his face. His eyes were sharp, bright and beautiful- so much that they put gemstones to shame. Dark purple hair matted by sleep and without its usual spikiness curled around his pale face. A straight nose and lips quirked up into a smile. Slender neck and bite-able collarbones.
Reborn’s mouth went dry and he turned his head away quickly. He cleared his throat, trying to shake his thoughts away.
”How about we play a game?” he asked lightly, and Skull tilted his head.
”What game?”
”Twenty questions.”
Skull hesitated, but then nodded.
”Alright. You wanna ask first or should I?” he asked.
”...you can ask first.”
Skull nodded and then asked, “How old were you when the curse struck?”
”23.”
”Ah. Favourite colour?”
”Yellow.”
”Should have expected that. Any siblings?”
“I’m an only child.”
”Mm. Fourth question. You don’t have to answer this one. First kill?”
”... a man. He cheated on his wife. She wanted him dead.”
”When?”
”I was around... 12 or so, I think.”
”Former significant others?”
”Only one-night stands.”
The questions went on until it was Reborn’s turn to ask and Skull’s turn to answer.
”Siblings?”
”I have a few half siblings.”
”Real looks?”
”Just me with black hair.”
”Age when the curse struck?”
”Twenty.”
And so on. It wasn’t until the last question that Skull faltered.
”Last question. You said something about a bounty on your head before. Why?”
Skull blinked, and then stiffened. His eyes glazed over and he grew even paler. He began to shake his head, fears pooling in his eyes.
”No,” he whimpered. “No, no, no... I swear. I didn’t do it. I swear! Don’t leave me, okay? I didn’t do it!”
To Reborn’s shock, Skull began to cry and Reborn felt a burst of panic. What the hell was he supposed to do? He’d never been in this position before! So he did what he could only think of. He grabbed Skull and pulled him to his chest. One hand cupped the back of Skull’s neck, pressing the younger’s face to his chest and his other hand stroked Skull’s back comfortingly.
”Hey,” he said soothingly. “Calm down. Calm down, amore. It’s ok, I won’t go. Calm down...”
A while later, Skull’s sobs turned into the occasional hiccup. They stayed like that for a while, Skull holding onto Reborn like he was the last thing left in the world, and Reborn rubbing soothing circles onto Skull’s back.
Skull sniffled and buried his face into Reborn’s chest.
”...sorry,” he mumbled. “And thank you.”
”...you’re welcome.”
They lapsed into silence again. Leon watched silently from his place in the ground. Oodako and the Giant Squid watched curiously too. Reborn cleared his throat. “I may not be the best comforter or listener,” he began slowly. “But I’ll always be here if you need someone to lean on. I swear it.”
”You don’t know that,” Skull mumbled, gripping Reborn’s shirt tightly.
”I do,” Reborn said firmly. “I do know. And if I’m not there, then you have the rest. Fon will help you, Lal and Colonello too. Viper, I bet, won’t even charge you if you’re in desperate times. Verde... he may act like he’s heartless, but you do remember what happened when you got kidnapped, yes?”
Skull gave a muffled laugh and hit Reborn’s chest lightly.
”I remember. Then... thanks, Reborn.”
The Hitman hummed and nodded, not that Skull could see it. “Hey... Reborn...”
”Yes, Skull?”
”...huh, I think that’s the first time you called my name. Anyway, can I... can I call you Renato?”
”...of course. What should I call you, then?”
”Just Skull. I really like that name. I disowned myself a long time ago anyway. Or Lackey. I don’t mind.”
”Hmm.”
Skull pulled himself off of Reborn, who squashed down the feeling of disappointment blooming in his chest. The Skull grinned at him.
”Hey, Renato?”
”Yes, Skull?”
Skull leaned forward, brushing his lips against Reborn’s.
”Thank you. I mean it.”
Reborn froze, his brain having stopped at the kiss. Then it started to work again as Skull got up from his seat, about to walk away- no! Don’t go!
Reborn lunged at Skull, Who yelped as he was tackled to the ground. “Reb- Renato-Senpai?!”
Reborn stared at the male under him, then crashed their lips together. His Sun Flames purred as they finally, finally entwined together with Skull’s Cloud Flames. Skull gave a small smile against Reborn’s lips and brought his hands behind Reborn’s neck.
Leon and Oodako watched in satisfaction and gave each other their version of a thumbs up. About time...