Chapter Text
Half an hour later, Narancia, Fugo, Mista, and Giorno joined them in the hospital. They were filled in on what had happened. Right now, only one person could be in the same room as Leone at a time. Of course Bruno went.
Leone was covered with wired. He was hooked onto a ventilator and a small vacuum which was gentle enough to only suck out any flowers that would try and make their way up Leone’s windpipe. There was an IV going into his hand. A blood bag and painkiller drip hang from another pole, the blood slowly seeping in from his elbow and the painkillers positions by an artery at his neck. Hanahaki patients apparently went through near constant pain for the few months leading to this.
The doctor told them that Abbacchio was supposed to die today.
Narancia had exploded into tears and Bruno had demanded to see him, so here he is. The doctor’s said that without surgery, Leone would only survive a few more days with everything the hospital could do for him. He will die a painful death, they said, cushioning nothing. And he’s reached a stage of severity that even if the person he loved confessed to him, there was still a prolonged danger of death. It takes a week for the plants to become weak enough to remove from the patients heat and lungs without causing emotional damage, such as weakening emotions such as empathy and love. Only when more of half of the plants were dead could they remove it. And even then, he’ll continue coughing up plants, and then flowers, and then petals until all traces of hanahaki was gone.
Painful in development, painful in healing.
According to his papers, he was his emergency contact as well as the person who has the legal power to decide if Leone should go through certain things, such as increased painkiller dosage or going through the surgery.
He wants Leone to choose. And he wants to learn who it is that Leone learns so he can drag that person here limb by limb and force them to love this perfect man. So he allowed the doctors to put something in him that will wake him up. A few minutes, they said, a few minutes.
It’s a few minutes now and he watches as Leone’s eyes flutter open.
He looks like he’s in pain. Beautiful dawn eyes are dilated and glazed over with the pain. But they clear a bit when they land on Bruno.
“Buccellati?” Leone asks, voice weak and warped by the ventilator, struggling to speak. A flash of sympathy crosses Bruno’s face before he makes his face serious and urging.
“Abbacchio” he says, reaching a hand out and brushing some his hair aside. He doesn’t care what that motion implies. He can do this. He’s never done this before. He’s surprised at how soft Leone’s hair is. He’d always wondered if his hair was dyed or not, seeing as his eyebrows were always painted, but the nurses had removed his makeup making him look so much more delicate, as well as confirming the fact that his hair is naturally this pale. “How are you feeling?”
“Been better” he says. “Wh-where am I?” Bruno moves his hand and takes Leone’s in his, running a thump over his knuckles.
“You’re at the hospital” he says, keeping his voice steady. “I found you in your bed. You weren’t breathing. I cleared your windpipe before bringing you here. You have hanaha-”
“I know.” Bruno closes his eyes.
“Of course you do.” There’s some venom in his tone. “How long have you had it for?” One year? A little over a year?
“I think. . .four months” wait, how did it progress this quickly then? “More than two years.” Oh. Two years, four months. Twenty-eight months. Twenty-eight months of pain, and that. . .Leone joined his team about three years ago. He feels his composure start to crack.
“I hid it well” Leone says, closing his eyes. “Haven’t breathed this easily. . .in a while. Shoulda got a mini ventilator or somethin’. Am I. . .am I here for the surgery?” There’s fear in his eyes. Bruno shakes his head.
“No. I just. . .wanted you to feel better. But, Leone” that’s the first time he’s called him by his first name. The man’s eyes widen. “Who. . .” his voice turns dark with venom. “Who’s that damn bastard who put you through all of this pain, that fuc-”
“Don’t curse” Leone says “doesn’t suit you. Why. . .do you ask?” Bruno straightens, eyes burning with cold fire.
“I’m going to bring them back kicking and screaming and make them love you” Bruno says. “You deserve anyone of your choosing. You don’t deserve this pain. And don’t you dare say that they don’t love you. You should of told someone, Leone. Even if they return your feelings you’re still going to be in critical condition for a week. You” his voice breaks “you almost died . They say you would of died, if I-I-I-” he remembers Polnareff’s words. “I asked Polnareff, I was with him before going to your room. I asked him how to tell someone I love them.” His grip on Leone’s hand tightens and he doesn’t look at his face.
“I wanted it to be nice. Bring you downstairs and make breakfast, maybe do that together. I would of made you that strange tea-espresso of mine that you’re so fond of but I can’t do that. Leone, I care because, well. . .I love you.” Leone looks confused.
“What?” Bruno sighs, standing up.
“I” he points at himself “Love” he pulls his hand away from Leone’s and makes his two hands form a heart “You” he points at Leone. “A-and I bet whoever. . .whoever you fell for” his voice chokes “feels the same. You’re probably close to them- two years, huh. A soldato from another team? They’ll probably agree with me. There’s the obvious, first. You’re a beautiful man, Leone. The first time I met you, I was entrance by your eyes. For years I wondered if your hair was natural and I learned the truth today. You look nice without makeup.
And then there’s your personality. Your curious. Eager to learn. Your kind and caring and you hide it behind your roughness. I can’t begin to count the number of times you’ve helped Narancia with his homework, calmed Fugo down from his episodes, or made sure that there was nothing related to the number four in Mista’s direst sight.” He gives Leone a tired smile. “So who are they? You owe me now. I told you who I love, now you tell m-”
“The first time” Leone says, voice steady and hoarse “I met him, it was raining.” Are those tears in his eyes. “His eyes are the brightest blue you’ll ever know, so kind, so caring, more emotion than I could ever feel.” He closes his eyes, a flash of pain crossing his face. “He saved me from myself. That night. . .I was, I was planning on ending my life.” Bruno doesn’t say anything. He just sits back down, hand staying on Leone’s bed.“He gets stressed easily. He cares for those he’s close to. He’s like a mom, to be honest, worrying over the smallest things, but it’s endearing. I’ve only ever felt safe when I’m around them. It’s like when he’s there, I’m just. . .at peace.” He moves his hand over Bruno’s. “I’ll be o-okay” he says, a cough ripping itself from his throat. “He just told me that he loved me. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.” Bruno just stares dully at him. “Bruno? Bruno? Hey, are you okay?” His face is worried and Bruno feels like laughing. He should be worried about him, not the other way around.
“I can’t believe it” he says, sliding out of the chair and onto the ground, hand remaining under Leone’s. “You-you” he bursts into tears and launches himself at Leone, wrapping his torso in a hug, resting his head over his chest. Leone moves an arm and rubs the back of Bruno’s back.
“You love me” Leone says.
“I love you” Bruno repeats. “I love you I love you I. Love. You .” He moves his head so he can look at Leone’s face, their eyes meeting. “You should of told me all those months ago” he says, voice choking. “You didn’t deserve this pain. I’ve loved you for a while, Leone. I haven’t realized that until a little over a year ago, not as long as you, but. . .I’m surprised I wasn’t the one with hanahaki.”
“Don’t joke like that” Leone says. Bruno laughs.
“Okay. I won’t.” And he leans over and kisses Leone on the forehead.
Leone’s hanahaki lessened. It took two weeks for the plants to weaken enough to do the surgery without getting any problems. Thanks to Gold Experience, the scar was able to go away until it was barely visible. A year or two more and it’ll be gone.
A few days after the successful surgery, Leone could go home. Polnareff, just like before, drove them back, telling Leone how he had driven Leone here and that he owes him his life before crying and ranting in French about “l’amour, l’amour”. Leone didn’t have the heart to tell him to shut up and keep the car from driving on the wrong side again.
When they got home, turns out the kids had made them all a feast with a cake to pair. Trish had come back early for a visit to see how Leone was doing. Leone always like that girl- she was so kind and her taste in fashion is better than Mista’s.
Afterwards, the two of them sat on the couch while a movie was playing. “Do you know what the carnations meant?” Bruno asks. “I’m curious.” Leone nods.
“White came first. Innocence and pure love. Then it was the reds. Light red means admiration, dark red means love and affection. And then there was yellow, rejection and disappointment.” Bruno hmms.
“That’s a pity. The yellow ones were pretty.” Leone lets out a huff and kisses Bruno on the forehead. Narancia lets out an “ew” about how mom and dad are displaying pre-marital kissing.
“Then I’ll give you bouquet of roses and a single yellow carnation” Leone says. They continue to watch the movie and it’s only later that Bruno understands the meaning of Leone’s fictional bouquet. He smiles.