Chapter 16
Chapter 31
Run, Run as fast as you can
You can't escape me
For I know your sins
That bastard had a lot of nerve- daring to enter his prison, his domain, and make demands out of him- of that Bermuda would grant the Humanoid although nerve alone would not be enough to protect the 'Last True Earthling' from him. He wants that Bastards head on a pike and so help him; Bermuda would have it one way or another.
Which is how the Vindice Warden finds himself flying after the humanoid at inhuman speeds as his Night Flames flood the halls of Vendicare in a twisted game of Cat and Mouse. It does not take long for other Vindice to join in as they come to investigate the -unfortunate and likely soon to be dead- source of their Lord's irritation only to find their Lord chasing the creature that was behind all their pain and sorrow. For a moment, none of them remember the so-called 'Peace Treaty' Vongola Decimo had written in hopes of preventing this very moment from happening as chains and furious Night Flames cut through the air.
Even had they remembered it was doubtful any would have cared, Checkerface had trespassed into their home- their domain- and would pay the price for it one way or another. Yet, even despite their numbers, The 'Last True Earthling' is not defenseless as Mist Flames saturates the air only moments before Bermuda catches sight of Vincentius falling to the ground- his legs suddenly missing- from the corner of his eye. Witnessing the act only fuels Bermuda's own Night Flames and the desire to rip the humanoid limb from bloody limb.
As the chase continues, more fall -Alicia, Gabriela, Raphael, Big Pino, Small Gia, Jack and so many more- as they suddenly find themselves missing important limbs or knocked through several walls yet Bermuda is stubborn and spiteful -if nothing else- as he follows the other into the lower levels with Jager- who had a rather strange gleam within his visible eye- firmly on his heels.
"Lord Bermuda."
"Yes, Jager?"
"I believe Checkerface Kawahira is a pedophile, so I would appreciate it should you not face him alone."
Bermuda would forever deny tripping on thin air- and would likely get away with it seeing as Jager was the only witness- as his head snapped towards the other, "What? Pedophile?" Sure, The Devil was a bastard but not even he could sink that low.., Right? Then again, the bastard was already a child murderer.
"Lord Bermuda, he came here demanding what he assumes to be a child. Seeing as the Arcobaleno are no longer needed the creature lacked any proper reason to even breathe the same air as one, " Jager stated bluntly as his lone eye visibly scanned his Lord's form, "Seeing as your the size of a toddler I would rather not tempt the Devil by leaving you alone with him for any period of time."
And suddenly Bermuda no longer desired five minutes alone with the creature in an isolated room. After all, ninety percent of the time, Jager's hunches were always right and it would explain why The Arcobaleno always looked like two-year-olds besides the power overload issue.
Jager doesn't say a word as one of His Lords chains wraps tightly around his wrist, pulling the elder closer.
"When we catch him, I want that bastard buried beneath Vendicare. "
"As you wish My Lord."
The moment Jager hits the floor, all Bermuda can see it red.
In that moment- that split second of time- the world itself seems to slow for the Vindice Warden as he watches his Lifelong Companion bounce once, twice, three times against the harsh marble floors before stilling- lying before him completely motionless- as something deep inside the Ex-Night Arcobaleno -something primal- snaps.
Distantly Bermuda's aware of the feeling of the feeling of flying and the sound of what could only be his ribs snapping as he collides with something solid only for his body to jump back to his feet and rush the white-haired humanoid once more- as though his leg wasn't broken and his ribs weren't puncturing his lungs- before the Screams of His Flames -demanding blood and retribution- alongside that Primal Urge to tear Checkerface limb from limb- before shoving said limbs down the humanoids throat so he could choke on them- completely consumes the Vindice Warden once more.
After that everything fades into a blur of Furious Night Flames, Blinding Rage and the unmistakable copper scent of Blood.
Honestly, Bermuda's not even sure it was him moving his body after that -It was more like he was just a spectator than anything- but what he does remember is ripping Checkerface's arm from his socket and trying to literally beat the other to death with it and those icy emerald eyes- so dark they were almost black- staring at the Ex-Night Arcobaleno in wide-eyed horror as the bandages on the teenager's face were torn away by one of the creature's Mist Attacks.
What the Vindice Warden is aware of is waking within his own bed with a rather worried set of Guardians crowding the room and Jager- safe, whole and sound through a little bruised- at his side.
He could only stare in horror as his Mist tore away the bandages that hide the savage Devils face from the world- later the white-haired man would find himself wishing he had never aimed to sever the Demon's head- as he found himself staring at the face of a teenager, though slightly different, he knew all too well-
Honestly, A meteor could have stuck Checkerface, aka Uncle Kawahira, at that moment and the white-haired man doubted he ever would have noticed considering how numb he felt. It wasn't possible. That wasn't possible. It had to be some sort of trick.
-After all, Harry, while having his father's coloring, looked so much like his Mother; like his Beloved Lilly.
It had to be a trick, it had to. Bermuda von Veckenschtein was not Harry Potter. He could not be- Kawahira refused to even consider it for if the Vindice Founder was...- yet those eyes... Those Inhuman eyes that seemed to pierce through his very being and into his soul as they burned with unholy fury.
There was no mistaking the eyes of those with Atlantean blood as their heritage would never allow it. Maybe Bermuda was a bastard child? Maybe he was a test tube child? Maybe he was a time traveling Atlantean from before the fall of Atlantis attempting to blend into modern day society?
Honestly, Checkerface didn't care, how wild his theories sounded- even to himself- as Anything was better than the alternative of Bermuda von Veckenschtein having once been Harry James Potter. After all, if Bermuda was Harry...
'I'm searching for the Strongest and you are three of the seven I seek.'
'Thank you for all your help these last few decades, but I will be needing the Pacifiers back now.'
'You should be dead by now.'
Kawahira quickly dismisses the thought, doing his utmost best not to think about the pacifier that still hung around the other's neck like a heavy noose.
After all, Bermuda is not Harry Potter -Its a trick. A nasty trick by the Devil meant to break him down- the Vindice Warden just cannot be. He refuses to even consider the possibility. He did not kill Lilly's Son. He did not sacrifice His Grandson.
"So what set off Mt. Bermuda this time?"
Alejandro couldn't help but question as the blue-haired man leaned against the stairway next to Jager -unable to pry his eyes away from the Mass Destruction playing out before him. The golden-eyed man didn't bother glancing the others way as he took a deep breath -eyes glancing towards the heavens as though praying for patients- with a heavy sigh, "They ate Lord Bermuda's cake."
"Ah, I se- What?!" The doll maker couldn't help but choke as his mind registered the elder Vindice's words.
They ate Lord Bermuda's cake?! Where they insane- or just outright suicidal- no one touched Lord Bermuda's cakes for any reason. It was literally the Third Law of Vendicare.
"Apparently," Jager continued- ignoring the blood curing screams echoing in the background with a well practiced ease- onwards, "they didn't expect Lord Bermuda and I to return early today and hoped to replace the devoured cake with an identical one before he discovered the truth. Unfortunately for them, Vongola Decimo's Cloud has a good control over Namimori making out task easier and there 'replacement' cake won't be done for another hour. "
Lord Bermuda having to wait half an hour- fuming the whole time- for his cake that should have already been ready to devour... Just imagine the results sent a shiver down Alejandro's spine.
"Will there even be a Vendicare left standing in half an hour?"
"Only if he can be distracted long enough."
"Oh? And how do you plan to do that?"
After all, it wasn't easy to distract Lord Bermuda from his anger, let alone his cake or rather lack of in this case. A confident smirk found its way onto the golden-eyed man's face as his chains all but materialized in his bandaged hands, "I may know a trick or two."
"I'm not like him, I'm not."
If Bermuda was honest, the Vindice Warden was aware he was in all but full-blown hysterics; yet how could he not. He had finally taken the moment to go over security footages only to find something he would rather not even consider.
Grandson... Harry Potter...
Why would he ask about one after the other if they were not connected? So logically Harry Potter was the Humanoid's Grandson and him... He was Harry Potter. Which meant Checkerface was his Grandfather.
Checkerface.
He was related to the Devil.
Distantly Bermuda was aware of strong arms wrapping firmly around him- a silky voice whispering in his ear to calm down, to breathe- yet couldn't find it in himself to listen despite the warm -safe, secure- hold.
"I'm not like him. "
"You're not."
"I'll never be like him."
"You won't."
The voice sounded so sure as though it was just stating the obvious- that a part of Bermuda just couldn't help but believe them, "Promise?"
"My Lord, I promise you on my Undead Life: If you become anything like that Monster; I will kill you myself."
If Reborn was honest, the Hitman would admit he was mildly impressed- and maybe a bit jealous- as he watched Shamal work on reattaching Checkerface's arm. Oh, what he wouldn't have given to have recorded the moment or at least been the one to tear the Humanoid's arm off in a rather violent attempt to beat the Atlantean to death with his own severed limb.
"So Bermuda-san did this?"
The white-haired man didn't answer- not that he needed to as anyone with common sense could identify the faint echo of furious Night Flames still clinging to the open wound- choosing instead to observe the ceiling as though it held all the answers.
"So what did you do?" The World's Greatest Hitman added a hint of curiosity to his voice as his black eyes gained a wicked gleam that sent chills down Tsunayoshi's spine. The Vongola Decimo knew that look, it was one Reborn only wore right before he unleashed his rather destructive form of chaos that would end with a leveled city and the Vindice on their doorstep, "Walk in on him and Jager?"
"Him and Jager?" Checkerface couldn't help but speak the foreign words as though tasting them for the first time with a clear hint of confusion in his icy eyes.
"They do make a rather Extreme Couple, do they not?!" Decimo's Sun Guardian questioned with a bright smile as he punched a bandaged fist into the air.
Couple?!
A numbness crept in the Last True Earthlings bones as horrific images filled his mind- Not that he cared. Bermuda was NOT Harry. It was just a sick prank. Nothing more, nothing less.- leaving the white-haired humanoid feeling rather faint. Now that he thought about it, he always did find Bermuda with Jager.
"It's an Extreme shame we couldn't attend the wedding! Maybe they'll Extremely hold another if we ask nicely?!"
Thud!
BEEEEEEEPPPPPP!
"HHHEEEEEEIIII!"
Next to the bedside, Reborn couldn't help but crackle like a madman as he listened to Shamal curse and Tsuna run around like a chicken without its head in blind panic.
Chaos.
Chapter 32
"Jager."
"Yes, Lord Bermuda?"
"I don't suppose you're going to put me down anytime soon?"
"No."
"I know how to walk, Jager. I don't need to be carried everywhere."
"And I know how to break your legs."
"...On second thought, there's nothing wrong with being carried after all. "
"I knew you would see things my way."
It's likely a trap, a darker part of the Vindice Wardens mind whispers, after all, he was never summoned to the Arcobaleno -or rather Ex-Arcobaleno- meetings, Why would they bother requesting his presence now if not to lure him out?
Honestly, even without the voices input, Bermuda does not want to be here -The Ex-Night Arcobaleno would rather be anywhere else in the world then here- but there were times one had to swallow their pride and personal comfort for the betterment of others. This just happened to be one of those times for heaven only knew what stupidly they would do to draw his attention should he not show.
Already images of sinking islands, world disasters and even espionage attempts against Vendicare danced their way through the dark-haired infant's mind.
Taking a breath, Inhuman eyes glance upwards at the heavy oak door before him. He could do this- he was already here anyway so there was no real reason to turn back now- All he had to do was just reach out a hand and knock...which he would... any minute now... Slowly the Vindice Warden lifted a bandaged hand to the door only to stop centimeters from the wood before allow said hand to fall back at his side.
The other Ex-Arcobaleno had held these meetings so long without him, surely they did not need him to attend them now? They likely wouldn't even notice he wasn't there and he had better things to do then sit and listen to their nonsense rambling; like keeping Jager from finally finding a way to actually murder Jack, watching Neville attempt his hand at courting Small Gia through deadly man-eating plants or even ensuring Alejandro's pets didn't eat him... Again.
Without even thinking about it, Bermuda took a step backward into a wormhole of Night Flames- Either way, his Intuition was all but deafening him with its screams for him not to open that door. That some horrid fate- a living nightmare- was waiting for him just inside- which transported the bandaged infant back into the safety of his office in Vendicare.
"You're back early, Lord Bermuda. "
"My intuition wouldn't let me open the door..."
"Oh?" Though the smaller couldn't see it, Jager raised an eyebrow, "Any idea why?"
It wasn't often Lord Bermuda's Intuition wouldn't allow the toddler sized Vindice to do something, though usually when it did it was for good reasons.
"Something about a Fate worse than death."
"...Curious...I wonder what it could have possibly meant..."
Inside the Arcobaleno meeting room: Giotto Vongola, Tsunayoshi Sawada and several halves drunk Ex-Arcobaleno couldn't help but sneeze as they waited for the- late and still missing- Night Arcobaleno to finally arrive. After all, how could they 'convince' the Vindice into a pact with them if the Vendicare Leader and Founder never bothered showing?
Screams.
If Byakuran was honest, the ear-piercing shrieks really didn't bother the Silverette. He had almost conquered the world and lived in Vendicare for a time with homicidal Vindice, after all. Screams were nothing new to him. In a way, it was kind of amusing; watching hundred of fully trained Magicals flees in blind panic from just a small handful in full body nightgowns.
Smiling as he watches the Chaos explode around him, Byakuran ponders if they ever considered the possibility of ganging up on the so-called Death Eaters and overcoming them, if not by skill, then by numbers alone... Probably not.
That would require them to actually have two brain cells to rub together after all.
Several young adults -that he recognizes from the DA- rush forward wands already alight as they throw spells left and right yet he stays back -he's rather curious to see how far this will go without his interference- as he pulls a packet of marshmallows from his pocket while bluntly ignoring the screams, flashing lights, and destruction playing out around him. What to do? What to do?
On one hand, he should have already rushed into combat if only to hold up the 'Golden Boy' image the sheep people held of Harry Potter. On the other, he was supposed to be 'damaged' from his time in Vendicare...
Playing a traumatized hero wasn't easy. Thankfully he had his divine marshmallows- for no matter what Bermuda-Chan claimed marshmallows were the food of the Gods, not cake- to help his thought process along. Keeping his Cheshire Cat smile in place, slender fingers gently pried open the bag- BOOM!- only for it to explode upon being hit by a stray spell.
"...My marshmallows..."
Later Bermuda would raise a brow as he read the Daily Profit:
Slaughter in Diagon Alley. Boy-Who-Live Swears Vengeance for Those Lost.
By: Rita Skeeter
For some reason, the Vindice Warden had the strangest feeling Byakuran-kun was most likely the one behind the slaughter and that the Silverette wasn't swearing vengeance over the lives lost like the Magicals seemed to assume.
"Hey Bermuda, A hundred gold says marshmallows are somehow involved in this."
"Do I look that gullible to you, Jack?"
"Kekeke!"
"Jager, please hit Jack for me."
"My Lord, it would be my eternal pleasure."
CRASH!
A gentle smile twisted onto Jager's lips as he watched His teenage Lord stroll beside him.
Finally, a moment to themselves outside the halls of Vendicare- as the golden-eyed man had taken notice of all the trouble that struck whenever they attempted to have personal time together- and instead within a quite nature path with Clear blue skies as far as the eyes could see and a soft spring breeze- gently kissing the earth as it traveled- for company.
No Vindice.
No Prisoners.
No Alarms or people to intrude on them.
Nothing, but each other and the peaceful nature around them.
Everything was perfect.
Jager could feel his smile growing- threatening to split his face in half- as a smaller hand brushed against his own for a moment before entwining delicate fingers with his own. For a moment, Golden eyes flickered over to His Lord, who continued looking forward as Inhuman emerald tracked a doe and fawn ahead of them.
Beautiful.
He was so lost in his own thoughts, Jager's hadn't even realized he had spoken said thoughts aloud until his Lord spoke up, "I have to agree. Nature is rather beautiful this time of year, isn't it?"
"It is," the golden-eyed man spoke slowly as turned slightly to face the younger, "But who said I was talking about Nature? After all, I have something much more breathtaking to look at right next to me."
Most would have missed the brief flush within His Lord's face with how swiftly it disappeared, but not Jager- He had been with His Lord from the start and spent a millennium all but bound to the other's side; leaving him fully capable of reading Bermuda as if the other was an open book - who gently gripped His Lord's arm; pulling the younger flush against him as golden eyes locked onto the younger's slightly parted lips.
This time there would be no distraction, no interruptions as there were nothing and no one to interrupt them.
"Jager," His Lord's voice was soft like a gentle breeze with a hint of curiosity but the golden-eyed man didn't both explain as he leaned down- causing a sense of pleasure run down the elder's spine- when His Lord... His Bermuda leaned forward to meet him halfway.
It was pure instinct- finely tuned by a millennium of outright paranoia and caution- that had the two pushing away from each other only moments before either could achieve their goal and jumping backward as far as they could before- BOOM! - a loud crashing sound- the shrieking of metal as it was forcibly reshaped, the soft sizzling of heat, the Thundering of the earth as it was cracked open like an egg - pierced the air as the ground shook beneath their feet.
For a moment, all the two Vindice Founders could do was stare at the rubble- that was still quite visibly a satellite- before both head simultaneously turned towards the clear blue skin which didn't so much as have a cloud in sight.
"Jager?"
"Yes, Lord Bermuda?"
"Do you know if its possible to get a restraining order against Deities?"
If so, Jager swore to be second in line to do just that. After all, someone out there was screwing with them considering the odds of a satellite of all things falling from the heavens and almost crushing them at that exact moment.
"Tsunayoshi-kun, what am I going to do with you?"
Bermuda couldn't help but question as he stared at the brunette across from him, who in turn seemed to be attempting his best effort at becoming a living tomato as the brunette hitched up the wedding dress he was wearing. Strangely enough, it rather suited Vongola's Decimo.
"I swear, it's not what it looks like!"
"Oh, and what exactly does this look like to you Tsunayoshi-kun? Because if I didn't know any better I'd swear you were attempting to flee a wedding- your wedding- after being tricked into signing the contract while drunk."
"How did you-"
"Know? I like to think its because I know you Tsunayoshi-kun... and no, I'm not reading your mind. "
Judging from he skeptical look, the Brunette didn't quite believe him but didn't bother to call Bermuda out on it; instead choosing to grant the other his best pleading look, "Please, Bermuda-san, you have to help me!"
"Actually Tsunayoshi-kun, you'll find I don't have to do anything. After all, you haven't committed any crimes against Mafia Law recently... Have you?"
"Wha- but-"
"Its a Yes or No question Tsunayoshi-kun, there are no 'but's about it."
"You're the Vindice, Bermuda! You're a Law Enforcer! Shouldn't you help people who ask for it?!"
"Its because I'm the Vindice, that I can only help you by arresting you Tsunayoshi-kun. Which in turn will cancel out the contract; therefore I cannot help you unless you committed a crime beforehand."
Well, that and the fact Bermuda was all but openly fishing for intel on a recent crime he knew Vongola was behind yet currently held no true proof for.
"Well.. Yes, there was Public Intoxication-"
"Not good enough."
"Public Nudity, Destruction of Public property-"
"Better but I'm afraid it's not enough, Tsunayoshi-kun. All those crimes can easily full under the local Law Enforcement," Bermuda pretended to gain a pondering tone as he titled his head slightly- thankful for the bandages that hid the sadist smirk on his face... Okay, maybe Jager had rubbed off on his a little after all- as he inclined his bandaged head every so slightly, "Surely you've done something worse. Like... maybe Stolen something of importance? From... Let's say, a known protected area?"
It was difficult resisting the urge to crackle as the younger's skin seemed to lose all color- resulting in Tsunayoshi-kun resembling a ghost- at both Bermuda's 'example' and the sound of running followed by shouting voices growing closer to their location. "Tick. Tock. Tsunayoshi-kun. You're almost out of time."
An audio gulp left the brunette as his chocolate covered eyes glance from the toddler sized Vindice before him, then to the pathway behind Bermuda and back onto the infant. So far, neither of his options were looking rather appealing: A sadist toddler sized Vindice or being forcing forced to marry one of the most horrifying examples of the female gender he had ever seen. Seeing as he knew Female Vindices- who were literally living corpses beneath their cloaks and bandages- that was saying something in Tsuna's opinion.
"We...I might have taken an artifact from a temple."
The moment the words left his lips, Night Flames flared to life as the world seemed to shift and change before his very eyes; from a deserted pathway in Africa to the familiar inwards of the Vendicare- and more specifically: His Cell.
"That's all I wanted to hear."
Though he couldn't see it; Tsuna was certain Bermuda was smiling like a demon beneath those bandages.
Later, Bermuda would lean back in his office chair- a pleased air in the room- as the Vindice Warden chuckled at the forged Wedding Contract containing Sawada Tsunayoshi's signature, "My apologies Vincentius; It appears you won't be capable of hosting a wedding today after all."
Without a second thought, the Vindice Warden threw the Marriage Contract into the fireplace's hearth; leaning back in his chair as he watched it- and the evidence of his ploy- burn to ashes.