Chapter Text
For the most powerful alliance of mafia famiglie in the world, they sure have time to waste. The old Carnivore passed on his title to Tsunayoshi already, so Hibari has to wonder what the purpose of this after-party is.
His fellow Guardians scattered around the luxurious room, blending in the party unlike him, but he isn’t fooled.
Takeshi and Mukuro keep being engaged in conversations by the others famiglie, and forced to play nice with them. Or so it looks like.
Hibari hovered around them earlier and heard them answer the subtle insults sent their way by subtle insults of their own, then doubling down on them until they were left alone.
The little animal kept to the buffet after being treated like the child he is by a woman one-too many times, Ryohei never straying too far away from him.
And Hibari did think Ryohei wouldn’t have so eagerly partake in the party, but there he is, witness of his shameless betrayal.
Tsunayoshi does look like he’s having a terrible night. The baby keeps pushing him to make small talk with the bigger names attending the party, and he still has to grow out fully of his shy, jittery, and insecure demeanor.
In the meantime he’s being looked down upon, and talked down upon. Hibari can tell from the way they stand around him, the way they look at him.
Hayato would have blow up each of their faces long ago if it wasn’t for Tsunayoshi.
No need for him to worry though, Hibari will bite these fools to death later.
Kusakabe puts himself between him and whoever was making his way over him. Hibari scowls harder, and tries to disappear through the wall.
Kusakabe doesn’t put himself between him and Tsunayoshi, and Tsunayoshi gives him a jealous look while walking by him.
He puts his hands on his hips. “And why don’t I have a competent bodyguard like Kusakabe?”
“What do you think we are?”
“Useless, that’s what. Did you even talk to anyone yet?” Hibari glares, and Tsunayoshi pouts. “Yeah, I thought so.” He slumps against the wall next to him, and sighs loudly. “Well, you’re all useless except for Hayato of course. Bless his soul.”
Hibari huffs. “You won’t even let him speak out.”
“Maybe, but trust me his flames talk for him just fine.” He snickers. “Also it’s the four times he received an important message he absolutely had to show me. In private of course.”
“And you threw him to the wolves in thanks.”
Hayato smiles up at some Donna who apparently never heard of personal space, and it wouldn’t surprise Hibari if he slips a mini dynamite in her bag before he manages to get rid of her.
Tsunayoshi elbows him in the side. “Don’t say it like that, it’s just teamwork alright? And I had to talk to you. Listen, can you find Chrome and check on her for me? I—”
“Chrome doesn’t need to be checked on.” Hibari rolls his eyes. “Just leave her be.”
“I know that, it’s not like that. Do you have to make every instance of me worrying about you belittling?”
“You don’t worry half as much about the rest of us.”
Tsunayoshi throws his hands up in the air. “I wish I could! You know, instead of worrying about literally everyone else in a five miles radius around you?”
Hibari smirks proudly, and Tsunayoshi rolls his eyes. A particularly high-pitched and fake laugh draws their attention to Mukuro and the woman he’s currently entertaining.
Tsunayoshi smiles. “Isn’t it nice he stuck with us for so long already?”
“How suspicious.”
“I know. Do you think he’ll start the mass Mist flames-induced hallucinations soon? Or maybe he’s messing with the food or something?” He sighs. “I wish he would.”
Tsunayoshi sighs again, long and dreamy. He keeps the façade for a whole second before dissolving into a fit of giggles, sharing a knowing look with Hibari.
Hibari huffs a laugh, then chuckles silently, his shoulders shaking.
“I could just bite them all to death.”
“I wish I could let you. Ah, gotta go save Hayato before he commits a murder. Just go check on Chrome quickly, okay? Please? I leave it to you, Kyoya!”
Hibari watches him scurry off, and parts from the wall with a sigh. He walks around the room looking for Mist flames affected area, utterly ignoring any and all who try to catch his attention.
He finds Chrome on the balcony, sat against the wall. There’re subtle Mist flames around her, that don’t appear to make her blend in the surrounding more than stopping whoever is looking at her to register her presence.
Hibari smirks. She would have tricked him if he wasn’t so familiar with her flames.
He leans against the wall. “What are you doing? You’re better than that. Just stare them down hard enough until they take the hint.”
Chrome smiles. “Reborn-kun explicitly said we had to play nice. When you can’t engage with the enemy, you have to make sure not to cross path with them. It’s 101 battles strategies, Kyoya-kun.”
“Then leave. Make yourself a Mist double. One for me too.”
She shakes her head. “Don’t tempt me. Did Mukuro-kun make one?” she adds after a beat.
“Surprisingly no.”
“It’s surprising you’re still here too, you know,” she teases, and he rolls his eyes. Chrome stretches out her legs in front of her, smooths her skirt. She sighs. “I’m not good at this.”
Hibari scoffs. “You fit right in then.”
“Not true,” Chrome says, grinning nonetheless. “It must be even harder for Mukuro-kun, but he’s talking with all these people so easily. I thought it’d be better if I stayed aside instead of ending up making all of you look bad.”
“Like we care, or are any better. Don’t be stupid.” He offers his hand, and Chrome hesitates for only a second. “Hayato will blow up something soon. Or a someone if we’re lucky. You don’t want to miss that.”
Chrome laughs. “No, I don’t think I want to. Thank you, Kyoya-kun.”
She smiles warmly at him, and he shrugs, averting his eyes.
“Let’s go.”
Chrome takes the lead, a joyful skip in her steps. Hibari snorts.
She whips around, the way she suddenly feels self-conscious written all over her face.
“Did you just laugh at me?”
“No.”
“You did! Kyoya-kun it’s so mean, what is it?” She spins on herself, twisting her head to see above her shoulders. “Is it my hair? Is it my clothes?”
Chrome makes a mirror out of her flames, and Hibari holds back another chuckle at the way she flails in front of it.
“You’re fine, hold still.”
He swats her hands away from her hair, and slides them above her shoulder. He tucks in the tag of her jacket.
Chrome inhales sharply, turns to him red-faced, her hands covering the back of her neck.
“You let me walk around with my tag out this whole time? Oh my god, you guys! I’m not going back in there.”
“Don’t be stupid, it’s tucked in now, isn’t it?” Hibari takes her hand and drags her inside, Chrome putting up a halfhearted fight. “Tsunayoshi asked for you.”
Chrome complains to him the whole night, and Hibari has Mukuro hiding the tag of her skirt with his flames instead of bringing it to her attention.
Girls are so unreasonable sometimes.