Chapter 18
Chapter 35
"Bermuda," Jack spoke as the warped his way into the other's office, "We have a proble-"
"If it has anything to do with Vongola, Giotto or Tsunayoshi-kun; turn around NOW Jack."
"...How did you know it involved Vongola?"
A soft snort left The Ex-Night Arcobaleno as he buried his face into Jager's shoulder, "When does it NOT?"
Peaceful.
Bermuda supposed if he had to describe his day so far it would be chaotically peaceful.
Jager was sitting next to him 'helping' with paperwork- otherwise known as the elder man slipping his paperwork into the younger's own pile little by little everything His Lord wasn't looking.
Alejandro was chasing his newest pet- a horse sized Manticore that had somehow managed to eat Jack while the rouge was sleeping- around the halls of Vendicare. Though Judging from the muffled threats echoing from within its stomach, the rouge had woken-probably by the stomach acid attempting to digest him- and was rather displeased with his current position.
Last Bermuda saw of his Mist Guardian, Luna had been with Rokudō Mukuro...
For the sake of his remaining sanity, The Vindice Warden decided he didn't want to know what they were doing. He was still haunted by horrifying thoughts of purple haired silver eyed children attempting to destroy the mafia and therefore trapped inside his prison from the last time he asked.
Small Gia was with Neville, last, The Ex-Night Arcobaleno had seen of the two they had been in the gardens on a Luncheon that should have been classified as a triple X feature for multiple reasons. He had immediately attempted to obliterate himself but Jager must have a six sense for such occasions as the Vindice Warden was willing to swear on everything he held sacred that Jager had not been behind him seconds before.
Big Pino was in his Lab- no doubt taking the moment of peace to work on his inventions- where no one quite dared to disturb the Vindice least they ended up a piece of charcoal like the unfortunate Guard on Lunch Duty. As for the rest of the Vindice, they were running their shifts: guarding prisoners, patrolling the halls, having a massive food-which might have also involved acid and explosives- fight in the kitchen.
By three in the afternoon, Bermuda managed to finish a good portion of his paperwork- the Ex-Night Arcobaleno could actually see his desk and floor for a change- and allowed himself to take a break -more of Jager threatened him with personal training lessons if he didn't- for a late lunch while overlooking the papers.
Albus Dumbledore Streaks through Ministry of Magic Birthday Suit
By: Jasmine Carter
Albus Dumbledore Moons Minister
By: Johnathan O'Neil
Albus Dumbledore: Nudist
By: Elizabeth Writhe
Albus Dumbledore: Leads Charge for Nudist Activist
By: Michael Antigo
Albus Dumbledore: Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Should He be Allowed Near Our Children?
By: Rita Skeeter
Shaking his head, Bermuda placed down his papers as Jager lifted him from his recliner and carried the toddler sized Vindice over to the table where a steaming plate of roast was already waiting for him.
"Anything of interest in the papers, My Lord?"
"Apparently Dumbledore is a Nudist. Remind me to add Public Indecency to his charges, Jager."
"Of course, My Lord."
All in all, it was a perfectly peaceful day within the walls of Vendicare.
Renato.
How long had it been since someone call him that? How long had it been since he's heard his birth name muttered by another's lips?
Pitch black eyes narrow as a scowl finds its way onto their owner's face.
It didn't matter, either way. Vendicare- and those that reside within its Living Hell- could not touch him and he had plenty of time to look into the meaning of speaking that name later... Once he figured out how the other had even known it.
It shouldn't have been possible.
They couldn't possibly know. No one had ever connected Renato Sinclair and Reborn in all his time as the later. He had done a very thorough job of erasing all his connection and contacts- anything and everything that could possibly connect the two- from this plane of existence.
Yet somehow He knows, which means They know.
The Vindice knew and had known for only God knows how long.
So why mention it now- Was it a threat? A clue? A promise? If so, what was the treat/clue/promise Bermuda had all but whispered into his ear? - what could the Vindice possible have to gain from it? Why show a hand, they didn't even attempt to play?
It didn't make sense, then again, nothing involving the Vindice ever did. Sighing softly, the child-sized hitman pinches the bridge of his nose in vain hopes to drive off the oncoming headache he could already feel building in the back of his mind. The bastard probably did it just to get underneath his skin.
"I should have shot him when I had the chance."
Though it likely wouldn't have done anything to the Vindice Warden- for some reason bullets never seemed capable of touching the Vindice or maybe it did and they just didn't notice? It's not like he ever asked. - but it sure as hell would have made Reborn feel better to just empty his the ammunition within his pistol into the other's brain. He just needed something to take his frustrations out on.
"HEEII-!"
Slowly, Reborn turned towards his closet and the source of the cut-off scream as a demonic smirk found its way onto his angelic face. Oh, would you look at that:
A volunteer.
"Dame-Tsuna, A Mafia Boss should never be caught eavesdropping."
BAM!BAM!BAM!
"HHHHEEEEEIIIIIII!"
"-and there's a possibility my Grandson is the Devil. A devil I created because I didn't do the job right and worse: He's Married," The white-haired man stressed the word as though it was the most horrible thought in existence," My Lilly's son, married to that golden-eyed Guard Dog of His-"
Nana couldn't help but shake her head as she listened to Kawahira's ranting.
The poor man was having a hard time recently, especially now that he finally had a proper lead on the location of his lost grandson. Only to find the poor boy had already carved out his own life with his own two hands, much like her Tsuna-Chan had done with Reborn's Torturing and constant aid. A part of her wondered if this was the fate awaiting when she would finally meet her older son- Bermuda- again.
It had been so long since she had last seen her eldest, he was likely a grown and handsome man by now with his own beautiful wife to come home to and maybe a child to keep his wife company while he worked to support them all like all good husbands should- for she knew her son and Bermuda was a good boy which had no doubt become a good man and a better husband/father. Especially as her oldest son had her beloved Jager-kun to be his model on what a true man should be.
Deep within the bellows of Vendicare, both Bermuda and Jager couldn't help but freeze as a cold 'Nana is thinking about me' chill ran down their spines.
It's ridiculously easy to break into Hogwarts despite the school being deemed within Magical London.
Then again, not even the 'Safest Place on Earth' could keep him out- He's like a shadow within a midsummer night: Silent, deadly and gone within a heartbeat. - once he's decided he wants in. Its help Hogwarts itself feels much like Vendicare-as stairwells move on their own, a stone gargoyle jumps to the side as to permit him passage and a door opens to grant him further access- to the point its nostalgic. So really it's no surprise when he manages to locate his target rather swiftly- its almost as though the castle had led him to them- instead of having to spend hours searching the building from top to bottom.
Just seeing the Magical cause the blames beneath his skin to flare with silent vengeance yet he does not allow it to surface. He cannot allow it, as His Lord does not know he's here and if he had it his way, Bermuda never would.
Still, Jager was never one to lie to himself, so the golden-eyed Vindice can say without a doubt, he loathed the continual existence of Albus Dumbledore. There was a heavy grudge residing deep within his undead heart against the elderly wizard, a very personal one.
This was the man- who shared a spot with Checkerface and that bastard Byakuran on his Most Hated List- that was the puppeteer behind it all.
The creation of not one but two so-called 'Dark Lords'.
The deaths of thousands of Magicals.
The so-called Prophecy that damned the Potters; a whole family wiped out leaving only one to be all but strangled upon invisible strings.
Harry Potter...
No, His Lord never spoke about his Life as Harry Potter- Bermuda never even acknowledged being the child- but His Lord never needed to.
Jager wasn't blind and though his Lord would never know it, there was a cell within the lowest sealed level of Vendicare that held two corpses like prisoners that had once been a horse of a woman and a whale of a man. His Lord might have turned a blind eye to his past and let them get away with the outright abuse and thief they committed against him as Harry Potter but Jager never would.
It was a shame he wouldn't be capable of completing his 'Justice' just yet though, but he could not kill Albus Dumbledore- Not yet at least- nor could he spirit the other off without Bermuda noticing so he settled for what he could do:
Complete and Total Destruction of the Reverend Man Magical London worshiped as the Second Coming of Merlin.
And if he got to fuck with that silver-haired bastard while he was at it...
Well, that was just an added bonus.
The next morning saw several new articles being printed across Magical London.
Albus Dumbledore: Hairless
Is it a new trend?
By: J.T. Boone
Albus Dumbledore: Loses position as Headmaster of Hogwarts
By: Jasmine Carter
Today Albus Dumbledore lost his potion as Headmaster of Hogwarts of spontaneously confessing to an attraction towards several children residing underneath him as students while in the midst of a meeting with the Hogwarts Board, Minister of Magic and Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Though he claims its most likely a students prank against him, Dumbledore has been temporally arrested until investigations are complete. Filius Flitwick is now acting as Headmaster of Hogwarts due to the close bonds between Minerva McGonagall and Dumbledore causing many to question whether or not it is wise to leave a close associate of Dumbledore's in charge.
Albus Dumbledore: Past Sins Affecting Magical London
Responsible for Not One but Two Dark Lords
By: Rita Skeeter
Gritting his teeth, a Byakuran crumbled up his paper.
He didn't know how Jager-kun had found the time to set all this up overnight -The other was a Vindice for God's Sake! They rarely even had time to eat so how could he make time for this?!- which meant he was going to have to pull off something impressive if he didn't want that bandaged corpse to keep outclassing him at his own game.
"Jager?"
"Yes My Lord?"
"Why did the Wizards find Byakuran-kun tied to a stake and covered in pig's blood in the middle of a dragon's reserve?"
"I don't know My Lord, why?"
"Jager... Stop trying to feed Byakuran-kun to dragons. They're not going to eat him."
"I'm sorry My Lord, I have no idea what you're talking about."
For some reason, Bermuda highly doubted that- it might have had something to do with the rather pleased air around the elder or the smug satisfaction hidden deep within golden jewels- but he knew Jager better than he knew himself at times and this... This had Jager's signature written all over it to the point the golden-eyed man might as well have written his name on Byakuran-Kun's forehead in bright neon colored sharpie.
Still, Bermuda doubted anyone else would make the connection besides Jack- he had been an almost victim too many times not to recognize the elder's handiwork- who was more inclined on giving the Golden-eyed Vindice advice than trying to stop him from committing a proxy murder via hungry dragons. A heavy sigh leaves the Ex-Night Arcobaleno as he tilts his head back just enough to see the sky, "Honestly, what am I going to do with you?"
"Love me."
"I already do that, Jager."
"Love me enough to overlook murder."
Sometimes Bermuda wonders if Jager remembers if they are the Vindice. Besides revenge against that creature Checkerface, Enforcing the laws have been their purpose for almost a millennium. It was difficult to overlook any slight though for Jager...
Bermuda supposes he could lessen the other's conviction to house arrest instead of throwing him inside a cell. Maybe even put him on Community Service- CoughKitchenDutyCough- after a firm lecture on how to be subtle when attempting to commit murder.
Chapter 36
"I think I'm in love."
"Oh?" Though he knew the other couldn't see it, Bermuda raised a brow and gave the other a curious look, "Someone I know?"
A soft wistful sigh left the Silverette as he leaned against the Owlery window as slender fingers absentmindedly plucked a marshmallow from the Vindice's slice of cake, "Luna Lovegood."
Bermuda would forever deny choking on his cake as the silverette's words registered within his mind.
Luna Lovegood? His Mist Guardian? They meet and the word wasn't in flames?!
"And how did that happen?"
"She punched me for almost killing you."
"...Almost Killed me?"
"In my defense, you weren't the original target. Just an unfortunate bystander."
"You know, that does explain why My Vindices seem to want your head on a pike outside our gate."
"..."
"..."
"... I'll buy you two cakes every year for the rest of our lives as an apology and another two if you don't let your Guardians kill me."
"I don't know you did just confess to attempted murder."
"Four cakes as an apology and ten for my continual safety as long as I stay within the law. That's fourteen free cakes of your choice every year as long as we both shall live."
"Jager would make me twenty cakes a month if I let him put your head on a pike."
"...Good point. That one really hates me...How about thirty cakes every two weeks I'm not dead?"
If Bermuda's honest, he doesn't want to know how he was dragged into the madness that currently consumed everything around him but somehow- someway- The Vindice Warden is certain he can trace it all back to Vongola. After all, when something went wrong nine times out of ten Vongola was behind it.
And only Vongola level Madness could somehow manage to set all of Rome on fire during a single trip. Gods, just the thought of the paperwork for this disaster had the inhuman eyed Chibi wanting nothing more than to reach over and strangle the sheepish brunette that at least had the common sense to stand a good five feet away from the fuming Ex-Night Arcobaleno. Yet no matter how tempted he was, Bermuda knew he couldn't; Jager would kill him if he started another Mafia War over a few scraps of paper.
"Bermuda," The source of all his current problems speak hesitantly while shifting slightly upon his heels as he managed to draw the toddlerized Vindice's attention. "You're on-"
"Not one-word Tsunayoshi-kun."
Whatever excuse Giotto 2.0 had, Bermuda didn't want to hear it. He would much rather just stand there, daydreaming all the inhumane ways he could torture Giotto for daring to have children in the first place- the bastard had reproduced solely to spite him through the Vindice Warden still held the firm belief Tsunayoshi-kun was actually the blonde's clone- while Rome burned to ashes in the wind around them.
"But-"
"No."
"Its-"
"Tsunayoshi-kun, I'm warning you."
"You're coat's on fire!" The brunette blurted out the words while shirking into himself -and as far away from the Vindice Warden as possible- upon feeling the overwhelming killing intent that filled the air around them. Slowly, the Ex-Night Arcobaleno turned his head towards the teenager standing next to him, "In case you haven't noticed, Tsunayoshi-kun: thank you and your Guardians all of Rome in on fire. Therefore: I. DON'T. CARE."
"But-"
" If you say one more word, Tsunayoshi-kun; I'll rip out your tongue. There will not be another warning."
Light.
Its the first thing Bermuda notices as the Vindice Warden finds his mind slowly drifting up from the darkness known as sleep and that alone is enough to set off silent alarms within the Warden's head. After all, his bedroom was in the middle of Vendicare where no light could reach- Jager had bluntly refused to allow him a room with a window for fear of assassins and Hitmen using said window to murder him in his slumber- let alone manage to wake him.
He's tempted to groan in misery- and had he been a lesser man, Bermuda might have- yet The Ex-Night Arcobaleno kept silence as an inhuman emerald eyed pried itself open. The wooden walls are the second sign that something is off. Vendicare is making of stone, marble and precious materials; look all you want, one would never find wooden floors let alone walls. The third sign and probably the most telling one of all was the pale skin- his skin- visible for the world to see.
No longer bothering with suability, the dark haired teen pushes himself so he's sitting on his legs as inhuman eyes stare down at his own skin and lack of bandages. Only two people alive -or more of undead- knew Bermuda infused his bandages with his Flames making it impossible for anyone but someone with a certain frequency of Night Flames to remove them. Bermuda, himself, was one such person and the other was-
"Jager."
"Good Morning Lord Bermuda. I trust you slept well?"
Slowly, the Vindice Warden allows his eyes to dart towards the doorway -or more specifically- the dark-haired, golden-eyed man standing inside it that was soaked to the bone with only a towel hanging loosely off his waist.
Dear Gods, If that towel slips I will forgive you for everything expect Checkerface's existence.
"-Lord Bermuda?" Distantly, Bermuda could hear the concern in Jager's tone but his mind was a bit distracted at the moment, watching as the towel moved further down ever so slightly as the man walked closer.
Fine. I'll forgive you for Checkerface's existence as well. Unfortunately for Bermuda, the Gods didn't seem to be looking for forgiveness that day as the towel stayed upon the elder man's hips.
The sun was shining without a cloud in the sky as a soft breeze kissed over the land and warm water lashed gently against the pale sand. All and all, it was a beautiful day; Bermuda couldn't help but think as the teenager leaned against Jager's chest as a pair of strong arms wrapped against his waist and the other's chin rested on top of his head.
Their island was quiet and peaceful as there was no Vongola, Mafioso, or his Vindice insight to cause him untold headaches. There was no paperwork, natural disasters of the Giotto/Giotto 2.0 kind, no 'Jack'incidents around the corner, no mythical creature having escaped Alejandro's clutches just for another attempt to devour the unsuspecting Vindice Warden. Instead, it was just him, Jager with but Nature itself for company.
All in all, everything was perfect.
"I should let you talk me into a vacation more often."
Bermuda bluntly refuses to acknowledge the fact he had been kidnapped and somehow smuggled out of Vendicare by his ever loyal Right Hand. As far as he was concerned it was just Jager's 'unique' way of requesting a vacation in a sort of why the Ex-Night Arcobaleno couldn't refuse- as he was already there- even if he wanted to.
A deep chuckle echoes above his head as arms tighten to the point Bermuda felt as though he was but a stuffed animal being cuddled by an oversized child, "That you should, My Lord."
Meanwhile, the darkened halls of Vendicare had descended into utter chaos as the inhabitants of Vendicare discovered that both Their Lord and His Right Hand was missing. It would be the start of a worldwide manhunt that would tear apart of the Mafia World and last for eighteen months before the two finally reappeared back upon the doorstep of Vendicare as though they had never left.
"Reborn-kun."
He needed better security.
Strangely enough, that was the only thought going through Bermuda's head as the Vindice Warden glanced up from his never-ending torture known as paperwork towards the child-sized hitman in his doorway. If Bermuda was honest, the first sign something was off was the lack of the Hitman's usual cocky response- the Ex-Sun Arcobaleno never missed a chance to prove how much of a smartass he really was- instead, it was replaced solely with the slight narrowing of pitch black eyes.
Sighing softly, Bermuda gently set down his quill -Jager had ruthlessly crushed any and all hope within the Ex-Night Arcobaleno of acquiring a real pen anytime this century with some nonsense excuse about tradition- choosing to focus on the Hitman.
"Can I help you with something, Reborn-kun?"
"You." The world that slipped past the hitman's lips was more of a growl then an actual word as pitch black eyes seemed to glow ominously and a steady rise of killing intent filled the air between the two Ex-Arcobaleno.
"Me?"There's a hint of faulty innocence within the Vindice Warden's voice as the Ex-Night Arcobaleno's bandaged head tilts ever so slightly to the side in what most would have considered honest confusion, but not Reborn. As far as the ex-Sun Arcobaleno was concerned, the other was openly mocking him.
"You bastard-"
No one mocked him.
Click. Reflexes alone had the Vindice Warden wrapping away as a rain of bullets shredded his chair.
"If this is about the espresso, I would like to point out that Turnabout is fair play. You stole my cake, therefore, its only fair I steal your espresso."
BAM!BAM!BAM!
Honestly, Bermuda couldn't help but sigh softly as he shook his head while warping out of the rain of bullets once more, Reborn-kun could be such a child at times.
Later, Jager would enter the office carrying another stack of totur... paperwork for His Lord- he completely meant to think paperwork. After all, he would never torture his Beloved Lord no matter how many times the other worried him halfway back into his grave every time Bermuda left the safety of Vendicare...Honest! - only to find the room in complete ruin and the bound form of the 'World's Greatest Hitman' unconscious on the floor with a sticky note to his forehead reading:
Jager, I know what you're thinking so just to be clear; Reborn-kun did it. -Love, Bermuda
Bermuda himself was nowhere to be seen.
Within a small cake shop in Namimori, A bandaged infant stilled slightly as a faint scream- that sounded remarkable a lot like he always imaged Reborn-kun would have he been born a woman- echoed throughout his Night Flames. Bowing his head slightly, Bermuda allowed himself a moment of silence for his poor unfortunate Sun- hopefully he wouldn't need a new one once Jager was finished with the Hitman. He was rather fond of Renato, though he felt no guilt for leaving other to Jager's 'tender care'.- before refocusing back on his beloved cake.