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Maybe it comes with inheriting the rings, but Tsuna has realised that he became much more naggier in the past few years. Fresh out of school and immediately thrown into the dark abyss of the mafia, flanked by his guardians, Tsuna grapples with the workings of the Vongola, pouring endless hours of studying and training to present himself, fully-fledged and commanding, despite his young age, as Vongola Decimo.
The coming of age spent perusing over alliances and partnerships, twenty-first birthday celebrated with assassins who dropped by his windows. The first drop of blood stains his hand, and Tsuna learns by himself the different ways to wash blood out of his clothes. Twenty-one, going on twenty-two, and he has the annihilation of an enemy famiglia on his shoulders, countless of names written on his consciousness - a list of those he killed by his own two hands.
Which is why, when he sees bright and bubbly little Lambo getting ready for school, or Hayato burning the midnight oil to obtain his masters, or Ryohei-nii-san panicking as he gets ready for a date - Tsuna feels a little bit jaded. He wants to protect this, his people, his family, and whilst he may have lost his youth and entirety of it to succeed the Vongola, they don’t have to.
Tsuna is only twenty-two, but it is not an exaggeration to say he feels old.
Maybe it comes with inheriting the rings, but Tsuna knows with a surety that his words have power. And so, when he nags, the people of the Vongola always listen to him. “Dress warmly,” and “Recuperate until your wound heals” and if his intuition is particularly kind that day, “Do not, and I cannot stress this enough, do not accept the drink.” (The latter advice came in handy when Chrome stepped out for a mission, disguised herself to enter a nondescript pub in the search for information, and came out safe and sound. The pub and the people inside? Not so much.)
Nagginess aside, Tsuna always worries for his people. Are Lambo and Ipin getting along well with their classmates? Has Kyoya remembered to take his meals on time? Is Hayato getting enough sleep? The thoughts come intrusively, unfettered, and the only way to get rid of them is to check in on his people.
Case in point: “Reborn, when are you going to get married? You’re already 40! Are you going to grow old like this?”
The man looks up from the book he was reading to elegantly raise an eyebrow. Elegantly, Tsuna doesn’t know how it is possible to do so but Reborn reclines with an air of grace; even age has not laid its hands on him, yet. It might be a little nosy of him, but Tsuna has noticed that his tutor-turned-advisor has had a distinct lack of partners despite his… reputation from before.
Objectively speaking, Tsuna is aware that Reborn is a very attractive man, so it makes sense for his long line of suitors - even Bianchi has once fallen for his looks. Although thankfully, the poison scorpion has gotten over her crush and last he heard, is happily dating an independent mafioso. (It is not paranoia if he does a thorough background check on whoever his family members are dating, Tsuna is simply erring on the side of caution.)
Thus, it is highly illogical that such an eligible bachelor is still single - wait. Tsuna feels slightly alarmed, but it is an important question that he has to ask, “Could it be that you can’t… you know? Should I call Shamal in?”
Reborn slams his book shut with a resolute “Dame-Tsuna.”
Tsuna hurries to explain, waving his hand about animatedly, “I mean, you’re single! You! Could it be that I’m holding you back, should I give you a leave of absence? You can take a trip around the world to find your soulmate.”
Reborn looks sorely amused as he answers, “What makes you think I don’t have someone I like already?”
“You have a sweetheart?!” Tsuna gasps loudly, “Why have I not heard of this? Who is it? Reborn! Tell me.”
“Dame-Tsuna,” the man rises from his seat, and smooths down the crinkles in his clothes as he steps closer to pat Tsuna’s head, “If I get married now, it’s still not too late.”
What does that mean? Tsuna repeats aloud, “What does that mean? Huh? Reborn, come back here!”
Tsuna takes to sticking closely by Reborn’s side to find out who the mysterious sweetheart is. As it is, the Decimo is always escorted by either his right-hand or advisor, so it’s not something out of the ordinary for Tsuna to cling closely to Reborn. The man allows it, but doesn’t comment any further apart from the usual affectionate insults - Tsuna has long since given up trying to get Reborn to stop calling him dame.
And Tsuna must acknowledge and admit that he was surprised initially when Reborn vowed allegiance to him.
The World’s Greatest Hitman, known for his staunch independence that even Vongola Nono couldn’t win over his loyalty, and not for a lack of trying - Tsuna has heard from the gossip around the estate that Nono offered all sorts of recompense, money, power, women, but Reborn remained unmoved. Tsuna thought it could simply be an aversion to the Vongola reputation, but as time passed and he witnessed the numerous offers Reborn received and rejected, time and time again, that the answer is not what he thought.
Just for the fun of it, when Tsuna became the Vongola head, he proposed as well. It was a normal morning, Tsuna had brewed the morning coffee for the household as usual, and asked casually, “Reborn, would you like to be my advisor?”
Reborn, who had been contemplating his then state of inactivity, is no longer tied down by his role as Tsuna’s tutor nor his contract to Nono - he was free to go as he pleased. Tsuna, however, had only an insurmountable mountain of challenges coming his way, from the point of his inheritance to the future of the Vongola legacy that he has to continue.
Hence, the proposal was made with all the intentions of a joke, expecting to be brushed off or rejected immediately, Tsuna nearly dropped his mug when Reborn answered, plain and simple, “Yes.”
Which - what? Then, Reborn added, “You still have a long way to go, how can I let you run the Vongola alone? Your remedial lessons start tonight.” Right, that’s more like it. Tsuna resigns himself again to sleepless nights, and tampers down the quiet hum of relief when Reborn doesn’t pack his things to leave.
He doesn’t leave when Tsuna collapses in exhaustion; he doesn’t leave when Tsuna cries at night over the death of yet another subordinate; he doesn’t leave when Tsuna pulls childish pranks at him (although the subsequent sparring session was torturous.)
Tsuna knows that whoever Reborn ends up with will be a very blessed person. Strangely, he feels an ache at the thought of it, of his closest confidant no longer by his side, but eventually, Reborn will leave.
The guessing game continues as they eat breakfast together, and one of the maids smiles indulgently at their usual bickering before leaving the room. Tsuna considers Reborn’s lingering glance at the woman, his subtly happy composure, and the thought strikes: “Reborn, I hate to break it to you but if you are pining after a married woman with three kids - ouch, ow, stop hitting me! I’m sorry!”
Tsuna pouts and holds himself far away from the man, so mean, I’m just trying to help you!
“Eat your breakfast,” Reborn orders, “And stop being an idiot.”
Tsuna remains unbothered and his single-mindedness leads to finding out little details about Reborn’s hidden crush, counting off with his fingers the facts that he knows: mysterious person is a man (Tsuna had no idea Reborn swung that way, and at further inquisition, Reborn states he is an equal opportunity kind of person), is good-looking enough to make heads turn, and is young. How young is young?
Reborn complains, “I wish you were this determined when you were sixteen.”
“If you told me more about him then I wouldn’t have to do this,” Tsuna rebukes back, grumbling. Resting his head on the table, Tsuna asks curiously, “What kind of person is he?”
Reborn must be in a good mood because he indulges Tsuna’s question, “He is kind, ridiculously so, stupidly brave and an even greater idiot.”
“Are you complimenting or insulting him?”
“Both, dame-Tsuna.”
Tsuna sighs, despaired. Reborn is going to grow old alone.
Reborn’s role as Vongola advisor is multi-purposeful. Tsuna always tries to bring him along when going for negotiation talks because one, the imposing presence of the world’s greatest hitman easily scares the opposing party into submission and two, he is a very useful deterrent against marriage proposals, for some reason.
Some days, Reborn’s presence fails to prevent both of the above, which causes Tsuna to wince, having need to pacify and please the demands of his opposition. However, just because he dislikes it, doesn’t mean that he can push them away and so Tsuna grits his teeth and smiles even when intrusive hands touch his.
“My dear Decimo,” the man’s voice booms, “Always such a pleasure to see you.”
Tsuna shifts expertly out of the man’s grubby hands and stands to greet goodbye, without a hint of discomfort showing on his face, “The Vongola look forward to having a mutually beneficial relationship with you.”
Sleazy man attempts again, and before he can imply any other renditions of mutually beneficial relationships, Reborn smoothly steps in to guide Tsuna’s shoulders out of the room, coldly announcing, “The Decimo has other matters to attend to, excuse us.”
Walking alongside Reborn, Tsuna notes the frigid air and carefully points out, “You’re angry.” When Reborn doesn’t answer and continues walking, Tsuna asks, “Why?”
They stop in the middle of the corridor and Reborn swivels around, “Do you really not know?”
Know what? Is Reborn angry with him because he didn’t close negotiations quickly enough? Tsuna tilts his head, considering, when unexpectedly, Reborn steps closer. Tsuna immediately shuffles backwards, it is an innate reaction when Reborn looks dangerous, but his back hits the wall and in one motion, Reborn leans in until their faces are inches apart.
“Tsuna,” he murmurs, voice low and caressing, “Think about it, and tell me your answer by tomorrow.”
Why must everything be a lesson with Reborn? Tsuna protests silently, and watches the man walk away. No, he is not blushing, he is merely surprised by Reborn’s sudden closeness.
The countdown till tomorrow crawls by the minutes, and Tsuna is still reflecting on his behaviour but he can’t find anything amiss. The harbinger of doom opens his office door and Tsuna panics. Like a deer in the headlights, Tsuna grabs onto the first thought that comes to mind and blurts out, “I’m sorry! I didn’t end negotiations fast enough…?”
The ends of Reborn’s mouth twists, as if in amusement, and he marches forward. “You’re such an idiot,” Reborn comments, and barricades Tsuna in his chair. Without warning, Reborn’s hand moves from the armrest to the back of Tsuna’s head, combing through the soft strands of hair at the nape.
Tsuna’s line of sight ends up being fixated at the hollow of Reborn’s throat, the lines of muscles that leads to the inch of skin bared at the neck when nimble fingers tilt his head upwards and Tsuna is staring into dark, onyx eyes. He gulps, “Is that not correct?”
“Wrong, dame-Tsuna,” Reborn replies, before fitting his mouth over Tsuna’s. Swallowing - in every sense of the word - Tsuna’s noise of surprise, Reborn kisses until Tsuna is left flustered and breathless. Sitting there dumbly, staring at the handsome black-haired man, who drops a quick “I’ll give you another chance to answer” before leaving.
Tsuna’s lifts his fingertips to touch his bruised lips, and the realisation that Reborn kissed him has his face reddening like a tomato - and he liked it! He liked the kiss! He is going to become tomato juice if he blushes any further.
Something… changed thereafter. Reborn lets his touches linger, a hand on Tsuna’s back as they converse with other guests; a hand wrapped around Tsuna’s wrist to pull him along; a hand running through Tsuna’s hair to flatten its unruly ends.
Tsuna takes it in stride, as he always does with things unknown, going with the flow is what works best. He ignores the entirety of the situation and lets the days pass as per usual until one morning finds himself in the kitchen with an irate Reborn and a maid near tears.
Shattered pieces of a mug are scattered across the floor. It is the mug that Tsuna gifted Reborn in his first year as Decimo, after he has successfully defeated his tutor in a spar, without weapons and purely just hand-to-hand combat, for the very first time. It is a cheeky gift, with the words 'The World's Best Tutor' printed across it, but it was the intention that came with it that made it precious.
Tsuna knows Reborn liked the mug, it is telling from the daily use, but surely, there is no need to berate the poor maid right? He shoos the crying lady out of the room and takes out a broom and pan to sweep the glass shards.
"It was my favourite mug," Reborn remarks, voice almost whiny.
Tsuna wants to point out that it is the only mug that Reborn uses, so it can't be a "favourite" if there is nothing to compare with, but decides otherwise. Tsuna consoles the man with a "I'll buy you a new one, don't get angry."
Placated, Reborn grabs Tsuna's mug to use instead, pouring himself another cup of coffee, grumbling.
Honestly, when has Reborn become so spoiled?
It becomes somewhat of a pattern in the Vongola household. The maids cry in relief when Tsuna shows up, and even Hayato has learnt to seek refuge in Tsuna's office after one unfortunate encounter has him staining Reborn's suit.
But when Tsuna himself makes a mistake, glancing carefully at Reborn after he had clumsily split the pot of hot coffee - all Reborn does is hold his hand under the cool, running water and rub salve onto reddened skin. Tsuna belatedly realises that Reborn doesn't get angry with him, almost never, apart from the one time when he was younger and negotiated, shouted at Reborn, arguing to break the Arcobaleno curse. Memorably, it was the only time where Tsuna was prepared to physically fight the man, no matter that his chances of winning were slim and almost zero. Almost.
Regardless, Tsuna goes shopping for new coffee mugs in his free time and the enthusiastic promotion of the store aunties has him beguiled. One-for-one purchase, they said. Tsuna massages his temple, how did he end up buying couple mugs? Two cups shaped like mandarin ducks - inseparable and complete only when together. An apt representation of the phrase lovebirds.
All in all, it is a bargain and indeed a one-for-one purchase, nobody buys a couple set just for an individual piece. How should he explain this? I am an idiot, Tsuna scolds himself, and abruptly, a light clicks off in his head.
"He is kind, ridiculously so, stupidly brave and an even greater idiot.”
Oh.
“I am an idiot,” he says aloud again, before running to where Reborn is. Instinctively, naturally, his intuition guides him through the turns and corners of the mansion, right to where his heart lays. The man already has his arm outstretched to catch him, and Tsuna dashes over into waiting arms. Hugging him tightly, Tsuna breathes out sunnily, "I know why you were angry that day."
"Hm?"
Tsuna doesn't answer, instead, he stands on his toes and kisses Reborn firmly on the mouth, paying little heed to the audience around them. Reborn smiles and deepens the kiss, making Tsuna dizzy with the passion and clinging tighter.
"It took you so long, you're really an idiot, Tsuna." Reborn whispers softly, tone affectionate and eyes so full of unveiled love.
"I'm your idiot," Tsuna grins back, and leans back in to kiss again.
Tsuna's math may not be the best, despite all the studying he has done, but the age difference between him and his… partner will surely be a point of contention. No? Tsuna is twenty-two now, Reborn's forty, what of their future hereon? When Tsuna turns sixty, Reborn will be eighty and where does that leave them? Reborn may resemble someone in the same age group, and he does age like fine wine, Tsuna will admit, however -
"Stop thinking so much," the old man comments, easily reading Tsuna's facial expressions like a book.
"Aren't you, I don't know, worried?"
"Tsuna," Reborn looks over, and there is an unadulterated outpouring of affection in his eyes. "We have plenty of time."
It's funny how Reborn is always able to put a stop to his mindless ramblings with so few words. Tsuna snuggles further into Reborn’s recumbence, listening to the steady tempo of heartbeats - enduring like its owner, steadfast and unwavering. Tsuna accepts it, “Okay.”
They have plenty of time.
Later that night, Reborn puts an end to all of Tsuna's poorly conceived, incorrect, notions of his celibacy. He gets back at Tsuna for the "old man" comment by undoubtedly proving his youthful agility and if the Decimo has shaky legs when walking, it's not his fault.
He's merely an old man, isn't it?