Chapter Text
BRUNO
A few hours have passed since the incident, Bruno was back to work stuff and Narancia was making dinner. They have decided to eat at the base today to not leave Mista alone.
Speaking of Mista he didn’t wake up yet and was still laying on the couch with a fresh pile of folded clothes laying beside him. They’d rather have him wake up here than alone in his room. Who knows what the state of the child’s mind was at right now.
Narancia’s story was actually quite concerning to Bruno. Is Mista running away a sign that he doesn’t remember them? And where his memory even ended at. Bruno tried to recall some facts from Mista’s childhood, but he couldn’t find any. Even though the man was quite talkative, he didn’t mention it a lot.
What will Mista even be like, how’ll he act? Bruno got to know him when he was 17, what did he do earlier aside from being sentenced to prison.
While the current situation wasn’t very pleasant, Bruno thought that he could use it to find out more about his friend and maybe this way understand him better, because, to be fair, he didn’t quite understand him as an adult with his unique behavior and bizarre quirks. But Bruno was thinking too much into the future. He had to focus on the present, his family will be here soon. And he also had job to do. He stretched and, with a sight, returned to work.
NARANCIA
Narancia was given the responsibility of cooking dinner and looking after little Mista. He also had to take the trash out.
Well, little did Bruno know, Narancia had never made dinner after he joined the passione. After joining he was avoiding it at all cost, he would gladly help, but making everything all on his own? Gosh, what a burden! He was fine with risking his life and going on dangerous missions, but cooking? For seven people?! Well, Mista was now small, so more like six and a half. He smiled to himself. Fugo would be proud of Narancia’s math skills.
With that in mind his thoughts returned to the meal he was preparing. It was spaghetti, a simple but classy choice.
But right now the spaghetti was near saying goodbye and leaving everyone on empty stomach. Narancia was too focused on making the sauce that he forgot about the noodles that were now spilling out of the pot. He quickly turned the gas down, but some of it got burnt in the flames. Oh well, it wasn’t that much. He threw it out to a freshly emptied bin hoping that no one will notice, what if they would think that he burned the water with the macaroni inside. That would be so embarrassing.
Narancia got back to cooking. Since Bruno asked him to make dinner, that would mean that his colleagues will come back soon. He was actually really curious how will they react to little Mista. And how will he react to them! If he was scared of just Narancia then how will he react to Fugo’s angry face or Giorno’s weird hair? Oh gosh, what about Abbachio with his dark makeup and sharp features, he was sometimes scaring even Narancia (though he would never admit it). The only person that Narancia could never believe that little Mista would be scared of was Bruno. The only ones that feared him were his enemies.
Narancia thought about Bruno. It was probably hard from him even though it’s only temporary (or as Narancia has hoped) he was very close with Mista. Well, he wasn’t the only one, Narancia’s bond with Mista was also very strong, actually all of the gang had a kind of family dynamic. It will be an interesting journey for sure.
Narancia looked over at the sleeping little Mista. Even unconscious he was wearing his hat that was now too big and covered his eyes. Narancia was always curious what was it about. He tried to ask many, many times, but Mista kept quiet.
…but wait a minute.
Mista wasn’t here right now, or atleast the old Mista. This little version however was probably way easier to break.
Actually, as he thought about it, he didn’t know much about the adult men. Sure, he have heard the story about wanting to live a peaceful life and stuff, but he felt like he had never heard a full version. He’ll have to ask Bruno about it. Or maybe little Mista will be eager to tell him some more. Narancia grinned mischievously. Well, this could be fun.
But right now little Mista wasn’t waking up. With a sight he finished the rest of the dinner. Now, let’s hope that others will come home before the food will cool off-
DING! DONG!
Suddenly a loud noise tore through the silence. Narancia jumped out of surprise. It wasn’t that he didn’t expect them to come back this early, he just didn’t expect them to come right when he was thinking about it.
And what’s with this doorbell anyway, why is it so fucking loud?! He stepped out of the kitchen.
Looked at little Mista.
Nothing.
Then he looked in the direction of Bruno’s office.
Also nothing.
He hoped that Bruno would come down, he would explain everything a lot better than him. But he must be absorbed into his work. Ehhh… Poor man.
DING! DONG!
„Coming!” shouted Narancia slightly irritated and ran to the door. God, who was so goddamn impatient-
It was Fugo of course.
Alone.
But beside that he was in a perfect condition. Honestly, even though Narancia was squinting he couldn’t make out a singular scratch. The mission must have went well. He started to feel jealous, but then the worry washed over him.
„Where is Abbacchio?”
This was probably how Bucciaratti felt earlier. He hoped that nothing happened to Abbacchio like to Mista.
Fugo grimaced.
„Why are you so nervous all of a sudden? It’s a normal thing to happen, you know? We are not children.”
Narancia must have still had that concerned look on his face, despite thinking about how ironic that it comes from their youngest member.
„He went to a liquor store. He said something about restocking his wine collection.”
Narancia relaxed. This whole Mista situation was getting to his head.
„So, um, can I come in? You’re kinda standing in the way.”
Narancia stopped dazing off and shoved to the side.
„You want some dinner? Um, I made pasta.”
„Oh, yeah, sure.”
Fugo sniffed.
„I think i can smell it even from here and honestly it smells really good.”
„Yeah, um, that’s cool.”
Fugo sighed tiredly.
„Narancia, what’s going on? You are acting strange and don’t even try to brush it off.”
Narancia shrugged off his shoulders.
„Just follow me.”
***
The first thing that Narancia saw on his friend’s face was shock. While Fugo would usually hide it, he couldn’t control his reactions right now. The next expression was in contrast very common, Narancia knew it all too well, the furrowed brows and tightened lips - concern. He bet that Fugo was thinking of a hundred different ways to solve the problem without even hearing the full story first. So Narancia told him the whole story, not that was a very long one. He appreciated that even though he was sure that Fugo wanted to point out all of their mistakes, he decided to let him go just this one time. But since nothing was changing - little Mista was still asleep and Narancia was still hungry, they decided to just eat and think about it, when they reunite with their comrades.
„You know” - Fugo said after swallowing a bite - „It’s not that unusual of a situation, do you know that it had already happened a few times before?” he said and took another bite.
„Really?” - Narancia was speaking with his mouth full. - „So what happened last time?”
Fugo swallowed. „Well, I don’t know the details, but the stand user was like a perv. And so, the victims defeated him even in their younger bodies.”
„Oh that’s cool! So we don’t have to worry much.”
Fugo stared at him for few seconds and sighed.
„The guy is long gone. And it also happened long time ago, somewhere near Egypt i think. Also I don’t even know if it’s true.”
Narancia felt that Fugo was insinuating something.
„Sooo…?”
„So that means that this stand user is different, he might be much more dangerous or have completely different and complex rules to his stand.”
Narancia nodded in understandment.
Fugo started talking faster and faster.
„We have to gather everything we know about him, Narancia, only you were there so you need to tell me everything, let’s start from the moment youarrivedwhatdidyouse-„
„Whoah, Whoah, hold on Fugo. Let’s just wait until everyone comes back and only then will we bite into this topic. Don’t stress over it right now, just enjoy your food. You’re also probably tired after the mission.”
Fugo loosened his shoulders and sighed.
„You’re right Narancia.”
They were eating in a comfortable silence for a few minutes now and just when Narancia thought that Fugo’s brain changed it’s subject of overthinking, he began again.
„…Narancia, and wh-„
„Fugo…”
„Yeah, I know, but this is really important.”
Narancia catched his eyes, he really was serious. He gave up.
„Okay, what’s going on?”
„When Mista came back or whatever, did you check him?”
„What?”
Fugo was clearly frustrated.
„Did you check if the stand didn’t leave anything on his clothes or head or something?!’”
Narancia frowned.
„Fugo, I think I could have sensed a stand, if it was there.”
Fugo stood up.
„So you didn’t check.”
While saying that, he already began to quickly move toward the living room where Mista was sleeping. Narancia followed him.
It’s been a long time since Narancia saw Fugo that frustrated. Angry, sure. But in hard situations he was always cold minded.
But this time it was different, it was about his family. They were the only thing they had. After all, in the beginning it was only them three and Bruno.
And while Narancia understood the feeling, he had it himself, he had wished that Fugo was acting like normal, because now he had to be the strong headed one, he had to be Fugo’s support and he wasn’t sure if he will manage.
Full of stress he stopped next to Fugo who was leaning over little Mista already focusing on finding the stand.
He stood there for a while in an awkward silence.
Little Mista looked exactly the same as before, laying unnaturally still and breathing rhythmically, the too big hat covered his eyes. Small lips parted and little nose scrunched in the same way as a normal one would.
„Soo…, do you feel anything.?”
„…No. And you?”
„Nothing. Listen Fugo-„
„Wait.” Fugo’s brows furrowed even more intensely. „We don’t know what rules this stand has, what if it something else, we have to search more.”
Narancia gave up in trying to convincing him to stop. Atleast maybe Fugo will calm down a bit. That was until:
„Fugo, what are you doing, you can’t do that!”
„It’s not important right now.”
Narancia stared in disbelief as Fugo began to reach for Mista’s hat. He shook his head and grabbed Fugo’s shoulder. He turned back impulsively. Narancia for the first time ever saw that Fugo have glossy eyes.
He have to put an end to it or it all will end very badly.
„Fugo, you can’t.” Narancia said hardly.
Fugo tried to free his hand, but he was unsuccessful.
„But-„
„No, Fugo, you’ll regret it, please think about it for a while it’s not worth it.”
Fugo wasn’t convinced.
„But the stand-„
„Fugo look me in the eyes”
Their gazes met, one stubborn and solid, second one fragile and teary.
„You don’t feel anything, right? Because I don’t.”
Fugo slowly nodded and dropped his gaze.
„What will be next, you’ll try to flip little Mista’s organs inside out to find a hint of a stand?”
Fugo was standing in front of him looking down.
Narancia felt that he went a bit too harsh on him. He sighed.
„It’s not about it, isn’t it?”
Fugo didn’t answer. Narancia sighed again and then pulled surprised Fugo into a hug. After a while, Fugo hugged him back. They stayed like this for a long time, no words needed to be said because they understood each other perfectly. And even though Narancia felt something wet that suspiciously felt like tears he didn’t say anything.
After a long time they finally pulled back.
„Let’s go finish that spaghetti.” Narancia said with a smile.
Fugo sniffed and wiped his eyes. And then he smiled back.
„Okay, let’s go.”