Work Text:
It was quiet in the church after the mass. Was. That was before something has happened.
"RUV NO. THAT'S NOT A CAT. PUT HIM DOWN!"
Sarvente shrieked upon seeing her friend carrying a little teenager like how to carry a cat. Hands on the sides of the torso and letting the limbs go loose.
"I.... I don't know what to do." Ruv murmured in confusion.
"First, where did you get him?" Sarvente asked, trying to not sound more scared because she can't have her accused of kidnapping. And obviously she can't have Ruv be arrested.
"Found him staring at the books behind the altar all alone."
"Did you ask first?"
"I did what you told me, Sarv. He was just staring at me. I stare at him back. He didn't budge."
'Didn't budge?' Sarvente thought. "Wait like stare as in regular stare of stare as in 'get the hell away from here or the country and don't come back'?"
"Uhhhhhh"
That hesitation made her confirm it's the latter. But they are still struggling with the matter on their hands. And it's in a form of a small black haired teenager.
His gray eyes just looking around the garden they were in and his mouth is sealed shut.
"Ruv, next time don't just randomly pick out a random person off just because they're wandering in the church. What if someone else saw and we get reported of kidnapping?"
"He's just by himself and the church is empty."
"What if he's lost? Have you thought of maybe his parents or guardian looking for him?"
"I am not lost. I came here on my own."
The conversation paused when the teenager spoke. The two took a look at him and he wasn't even scared. He's clearly annoyed he's being suspended off the ground like a kitten but he gave off a glare that demanded them to put him down.
"Come again?"
"I am not lost. I came here on my own." He repeated. "Put me down."
Ruv finally registered what he was told and lowered the teenager up until his feet reached the ground. Then he lets him go. The teenager briefly dusted his uniform clean and crossed his arms, facing the two as if he's not intimidated by them despite they are taller than him. "I got here, staring at the details inside the church. Then you picked me up and brought into this garden. That's all."
The two shared a glance at each other. What the teenager said were mere facts. He doesn't seem to have any malicious thoughts and wandered in the empty church.
"Clearly we have gone off on the wrong foot. Sorry for the slight inconvenience." Sarvente responded, giving a sweet smile. "Let's start over. My name's Sarvente, the head of this church. And this is my friend, Ruv. He's taking care of the messes in the church. What's your name?"
"Kyoya Hibari." He replied.
"How should I call you, like Kyoya?"
"Hibari's fine."
"Ah yes, okay." Sarvente corrected herself. "Hibari, would you like something to eat? Or maybe drink? I can make tea if you want."
"Wait what?" Ruv questioned. He knows Sarvente would immediately try to fix up whatever is going on, then invite to the church but never offering treats.
"Would you do me a favor and buy something warm and sweet at the bakery? We can't have our guest be hungry."
"Ah, right, uhhh bread." The Russian man stammered a bit before turning heels and immediately sprinted out of the garden.
Seeing him off, Sarvente turns to Hibari and continued to interact with him. "Sorry about earlier. He may come off as scary but he's actually a nice guy."
"It's fine."
"Now, follow me. I would love to hear your thoughts about the church."
o-o
When Ruv returned back to the church, a bag filled with bread in hand, he hears his friend's giggling from the small dining area and followed the voice. There, he sees Sarvente fully had her attention to the seemingly quiet teenager.
"You say you aren't a Catholic but you sure pick up a Bible to read." She remarked.
"There's nothing much else to read."
"If you want, I can provide you with more books to read. You can keep that one for sure."
"Thank you."
Seeing dear Sarv doing most of the talking in the conversation and the guest being minimal in responding, Ruv felt an odd feeling inside him. Maybe seeing her have her full attention towards a small teenager made him...
"Oh Ruv! There you are." She beamed a heartwarming smile at him. "Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it." She skipped towards him, taking the bag of bread off his hands, and heads to the kitchen before turning to the teen sitting on the edge of the table. "I'll heat these up more for you, want any butter or jam on your bread?"
"Butter is fine."
"Okay~" She responded before turning to Ruv with a stare that clearly saying 'be nice to him' and finally goes into the kitchen.
Now alone with the teen, Ruv took a better look at him. He looks like an ordinary teenager. Just that he's wearing a school uniform. Sarv had told him how pretty Japanese school uniforms were and he thinks this teen is also Japanese based on his name.
Hibari's a name of a bird right?
He finally noticed that Hibari has been staring at him. Not staring. Glaring.
Ruv has never been good at facial expressions so he's definitely sure he's glaring back at him. As if they're trying to intimidate each other. One glares darker, the other glares darker than before.
The Russian man is very much impressed. This person isn't afraid of him. Instead he gave a very intimidating glare. Very few people are capable of that, Sarv included. And he doesn't want to go through that train of thought again.
'Be nice, you say?'
Deciding to become a bigger person figuratively since he's already bigger than the teen, Ruv steps towards Hibari, and brush his hand over that round little head.
"What are you doing?" Hibari asked in confusion.
"You'll end up wrecking your facial muscles too if you continue staring like that to me." Ruv came up with a lame excuse. He just want no more of the glaring. Plus his resting bitch face is causing him more trouble in one day. So he continues rubbing that small head. 'He really has that cat behavior.'
"What other motives you have on patting my head like that other than your sad reason?"
"Maybe to prevent us from fighting. I know you're strong. You are very brave to even talk to me that way. Am I right?"
"I don't have to prove you that. And I know you are strong too." Hibari pointed up to the left side of Ruv's face. "That."
Ruv knew he was talking about the big eyepatch covering that side of the face. For some reason he didn't remember when or even how he got the eyepatch in the first place. "Long story. I don't want you to bore."
"I see. You can stop petting me now."
"My bad." He finally lets go and rested his hand on the table. "Ahem. What made you restrain yourself from fighting me then?"
Hibari looks around the room they're in. "Can't help but admire the work done in this building. Would be a waste if it'll be gone." His eyes returned back into reading the book in his hands. "How about you? You're struggling to keep your voice down as if your regular voice can shake everything."
'Was that too obvious?' Ruv thought. Yes he's been trying his best to lower the decibels in his voice. But Hibari must've been observant to notice it.
"Her?" Hibari managed to ask using one word and they both knew what it meant.
"Sarv?"
"You don't want to upset her."
Of course he doesn't want her to be upset or even angry. She may look like a pretty angel from heaven, nice and sweet and kind to take him in the church after multiple times they fought, leaving each other scars and marks completely hidden within their clothes. But Ruv knew her more than anyone. She has small pretty horns that can grow big when she's mad. Her eyes can turn dark pink, dark wings come out from her back. She can show hell in a snap. She can do everything he wants like a goddess. Words can't fully describe about Sarvente. It's just hard to tell her-
"You're quiet." Hibari interrupted Ruv's thoughts.
"Uhhhh...." Ruv noticed Hibari leaning closer as if staring deep into his soul. His silvery eyes widened a bit as if he realized something.
"Don't tell me. Are you...."
Before Hibari could finish his sentence, Sarv enters the room with a plate of lightly toasted bread. Ruv thanked God for luck.
"I'm back~" Sarv smiled, then noticed Ruv has moved a bit further than Hibari though she's sure he was inches away. "Is there something going on?"
"No, everything is just fine." Hibari shook. "He's just curious about me, probably." He took a side glance towards the Russian man.
"Umm, I think I'll go out for some air." Ruv heads to the door. "Feels a bit cramped in here."
"Of course, you may." Sarv nodded. "Just be careful outside okay?"
Ruv nods back before turning around and walked out of the room. But not before noticing Hibari's little smirk, seemingly mocking him.
'I know what you're hiding.'
o-o
'That was so close.'
Ruv walks along the hallways illuminated by glass stained windows. He knew he had to get out before he'll be teased like how young teens would do when they find out someone has a crush on somebody. Now that he thought about it, Hibari doesn't look like the type that will tattletale any gossip he knew. He's the quiet, very observant type that doesn't care about what is going on around him that wasn't related to him.
And the fact their conversation was cut off has never fully confirmed what he was thinking about so it's just a stroke of luck.
Ruv noticed he talked more with Hibari than when Sarv talked to Hibari. Maybe they were in a same range that's why they bonded in that way? Maybe a sort of mutual respect probably was made. It's very complicated.
As he was about to move on with that small interaction with a teenager, Ruv encountered another teenager.
'Not again.'
This time, it's a blue haired teenager. Blue hair shaped like some pineapple, and different colored eyes. Left blue, right red. He also dons a uniform, but it's in green. Their eyes met and they encountered an awkward pause.
Ruv, now knowing what to do since he was berated on how to treat smaller strangers, took a sigh and asked. "Why are you here?"
"Oh my, I have been caught." Was the sarcastic response let out by this teen. "What are you gonna do about it?"
"I guess you have something you want to look for?"
"Oh, straight to the point. That's good." He shook his head. "Alright. I'm looking for a guy somewhat my age. Shorter than me, wears a uniform, has black hair and sharp silvery eyes that stare as if he wants to fight you."
Ruv already know who he was referring to. "If you're looking for that person, I can lead you to where he is right now. What are you, like his friend?"
"Kufufu~" The teen chuckled. "I don't think friend is an appropriate term to describe what my relationship is to him."
'What?' Ruv questioned that idea. 'Are they like acquaintances? Enemies? Rivals? Or are they in an intimate relationship like how Sarv talked about how relationships with similar genders should definitely be normalized?'
"It'll be better if I know where he is at this moment. No need to specify what our connection is like." The teen added, as if he read the taller man's thoughts.
'This one's too suspicious.' Ruv thought while guiding the teen back to the room. If it's really bad to bring this suspicious teen with a fruit shaped head to where Sarv is, it might be easier to him to get rid of him. Or Sarv would. She would never want to harm what interests her.
Ruv braced himself before entering the room with the blue haired teen and the four of them stared at each other. 'I should've asked her first before bringing him in.'
By the moment the two teens lock their eyes to each other, Ruv can see Hibari's eyes widened a bit and then about to pull out something out of his pockets when he was stopped by the other teen by suddenly rushing in to wrap his arms around him.
"There you are, I've been looking everywhere for you." the blue haired teen tightened the embrace. Then leaned in to give a kiss on that soft pale cheek. "Do you know how long I've been walking around the town just to find you?" He kisses again.
The three of them are genuinely startled. Even Hibari stuttered to give out an answer. "W.... Well..." He didn't speak more after that. A very faint color appeared on his cheeks, as if he's feeling uncomfortable with the events that just happened.
Sarvente noticed the newcomer and jumped up from her seat. "Wait... That eye... I can't believe our paths met again."
The blue haired teen faces her, while still holding Hibari, still stunned with being hugged and kissed. "Ah, it's been so long, sister." He looked at her nun outfit. "Disguising yourself as a worshipper?"
"Just a purpose of bringing other people to the right path. How about you?"
"Still the same thing. Same motives."
Ruv was so confused with what's going on so Sarv filled it in. "Oh Ruv, this is Mukuro. We had encountered like few times before."
"Oh. You know her?" He asked for confirmation.
"It's a long story." Mukuro nodded. He's still grabbing Hibari tightly. "But I don't think we have time to sit down and chat some more. You see, we're just visiting here, our flight home is tonight and we have been looking for this little bird the entire day."
"Oh I see. Is he someone special to you?"
"A-Absolutely n-" Hibari gasped out but Mukuro's hand pushed his head to press against the taller teen's shoulder, effectively muffle his voice.
"Oh yes, we're very close. We have a very intimate bonding time. If you know what I mean." Mukuro smiles, winking as if suggesting something.
"Uhhhhhh...." Ruv has no idea with that means. On one hand, he sees Hibari trying to say something but is obviously flustered and struggling to get out of Mukuro's grip and another is Sarv genuinely entertaining Mukuro's words as if they have been friends for a long time.
'Wait, I have never seen this boy before. How did she know about him?'
Mukuro doesn't look immortal. He's just a regular looking teenager except the red eye and a weird hairdo. But he does have this dark aura hidden behind his innocent like smiles. He would definitely like to pry people's minds open and make fun of it. Yet he's not hostile against Sarvente. He's talking normally and having a pleasant conversation. But the way he smothers Hibari is at least concerning.
"He...He's gasping for air." The Russian man pointed out.
Mukuro pulled back a bit, looking down at Hibari coughing a bit. "Oh, did I hurt you? I'm sorry." He coos, gently patting his head and giving a gentler hug.
"Awww, how sweet." Sarv smiles. "I can see you have such a wonderful bond. It's like you never want to let him go again."
"Oh why would I want to let go such a strong, passionate, and beautiful little bird?" Mukuro leans in again, giving a small kiss on Hibari's forehead. "I've always had my eye on him." He kisses his cheeks and the tip of his nose. "I do everything to make him mine." And finally kisses the soft lips.
Hibari has been trying to tug something out from his pockets since Mukuro started to snuggle and kiss him. His face has been tinted pink and couldn't refuse to the sweet treatment. But when he felt lips pressed against his own, his arms stopped and drooped down to his sides, face blushing darker and eyes wide open. And when their lips parted, he finds strength to bring his arms up to grab on Mukuro's shoulders and nestled his face over his chest shyly.
"You're possessiveness is still strong, I see." Sarv comments.
"Get a room." Ruv blurts out, clearly noticing Hibari's refusal to have anyone look at his face.
"There's a room in here for you to rest if you like."
"Thanks for the kind gesture but we still have to pack our things in our hotel room and our flight is like hours away." Mukuro politely declined the offer.
"I see. But if you are here again, please visit us here!"
"Of course, this chapel is a very important highlight of our trips from now on." He smiles and then nudges the other teen. "Are you going to say something?"
Hibari lifted his head, finally calming himself down and bowed down in respect. "Thanks for having me here. I appreciate our conversations."
"Awww you're welcome, Hibari." Sarv gave him a gentle pat on the head. "Have a safe trip home and don't forget my little present!"
Hibari picks up the Bible he forgotten on the table and Mukuro picked up his hand, giving a gentle kiss before intertwined their fingers together as they leave the room.
"See you next time, sister!" Mukuro's voice came up, slithering his arm around Hibari's waist before they were out of the room and into the hallway, away from earshot.
"Awww I never thought he would be that deceptive." Sarvente remarked as she started to tidy up the table.
"Uhhh deceptive?" Ruv reacted.
"Oh Ruv, you thought I would be that gullible? They were acting like a couple. Mukuro's just being silly just to get Hibari out of here."
"They don't look like acting."
"It did fool you, right. But in your mind you're questioning how I know that. How I know him in the first place."
"Oh yeah, you said you encountered him. But the entire time you were with me and I never saw him."
"Yes but I meet him at night, in dreams."
"Dreams?"
"You know, walking into other people's dreams? I saw him when he was younger stumbling into my dreams and we fought multiple times."
"So this is the first time you see him in person?"
"Yep." She picked up the plates and heads to the kitchen. She started washing the dishes and humming a bit.
"So uhhh, then what happened?" Ruv asked from the doorframe of the kitchen.
"To what?"
"You and the boy?"
"Oh, so you see, some people love to play God. Creating alterations on young children for personal gain. Mukuro's one of the unfortunate children. Especially his cute red eye. Little by little, he grew less afraid of me and more mysterious. He even ask me for a fight while in the dream world."
Ruv now remembers the few times he hears her sleep talking and somehow talking like she's against someone else. He thought it's a bit better than when she's sleep talking about the awkward rough beginning of their relationship.
"Turns out that's what the bad people wanted. Making him fight me to get stronger. Like testing his abilities. Then one night, I said it would be better if he's not controlled by the bad men. He said that he was waiting for a perfect time."
"Perfect time?"
"Few weeks later, I found out there's a massacre in Italy. Not much news about it. Only way I know is that when I dream again, I see him smiling ear to ear, saying he is finally free. He also thanked me for everything and he said he'll destroy this insignificant world. Silly words."
"What." Ruv paused. "So you saying, he was experimented as a child, fought you in dreams, then he killed the people who experimented him, and he's out ready to destroy the world?"
"Hmmmm..... Something like that!" Sarv finishes the dishes and wiped her hands clean. "The people he killed were bad men so I was rooting for him. The next ones weren't."
"The next ones?"
"Yeah, he went overboard. It's a long story but he's like a celebrity of prisons. Kinda like you!"
Ruv doesn't want to remember those darker times in his very long life. Got to the point he'd kill anyone who cross his way. He's relieved he's not that volatile anymore and just had to do it in emergency situations. "Thanks." He just nodded in defeat.
Sarvente seems to notice Ruv's out of words and doesn't say anything else. "Awww, don't you worry, Ruv-ruv." She reached up and pinched her friend's cheek affectionately. "He's not a big threat right now. But if our plans meet at one point, just cheer for me and I'll send him to hell again if it's necessary."
"Okay." Ruv nodded again after shuddering at that thought of Sarv fighting an an insane teenager with unusual abilities.
"Right! There's some other stuff we should do today. Let's finish quicker so I can make us a big feast!" Sarvente happily skips out of the room, resuming back to her routine.
"Sure, whatever you say."
It's been almost always like this everyday. The two of them doing chores for the church. But it's like a breather when small things shifted the usual things around, such as unexpected guests.
Ruv recalls again the way he rubbed Hibari's head. It's like a small gesture of affection probably. But he has always been hostile towards other people other than Sarv, except Hibari. The teen is quiet and can be violent too if their interaction was longer but Ruv is somewhat convinced they reach an unspeakable respect towards one another.
"Maybe I've gone more soft-" Ruv mumbled under his breath.
"What did you say?" Sarv asked, still within earshot.
"Nothing." He waives it off and follows her out of the room, hoping the 'softness' he felt is just temporary.
o-o
"Get your hand off my waist."
Hibari finally spoke up once the two of them are back to the altar part of the church.
"Oh, why now? Don't tell you you're liking our little act and afraid to tell it to my face?" Mukuro starts to tease, tugging Hibari closer to him. "We do look like a cute couple."
"We. Are. Not. A. Couple." Hibari pushes Mukuro off him.
"But the way you're reacting to my hugs and kisses are so cute. I would love to do it again."
"For the record, I didn't consent it. You suddenly hugged me in front of the nun and her bodyguard, started saying deceptive words, and kissing me." The black haired teen crossed his arms.
"But when I first got contact of you, I did whisper to follow my lead, didn't I? Or was your hearing been failing you when I hugged you?" Mukuro's smirk grew wider.
"I was caught off guard. Nothing more."
"But when I kissed you on the lips, your face flushed and became more shy counts as 'caught off guard' too?" He licked his lips as if for emphasis.
"I didn't expect you to push forward with that. I wasn't prepared -"
"Oh so you need to be prepared before I kiss you then?"
"That's not what I mean." Hibari's getting a bit mad. He doesn't want to deal with Mukuro right now, especially after the stunt they pulled back there.
"You have to admit that I am a good kisser. Made you speechless, right?"
"Can't say that."
"Have you ever been kissed before?"
"No comment." Hibari refused to answer.
"No comment means none so I'm definitely your first kiss. I'm truly honored."
"God no." Hibari frowned at the thought. No one else done violating his lips until today.
"Say it."
"No."
"Little skylark, I can do this all day."
"Fine." Hibari relents, pouts a bit while looking at Mukuro. "You're a good kisser. Happy?"
"Absolutely. Hearing that from your lips brings me joy. You definitely liked that kiss."
"But it doesn't count because I didn't consent to it." He looked away, heading to the front doors.
"There's a thing called stealing a kiss, and you know it."
Hibari reached his hands into his pockets. "I can't believe I am forced to be submissive in the couples act in front of a nun. If only I could just-"
"Get your tonfas?" Mukuro cuts him off. "I know you're hiding a spare, retractable ones in your pockets. I've been trying to stop you from getting them and staying too long with her."
"Her?"
Mukuro leaned into Hibari's ear. "Lucifer herself."
Hibari was stunned to hear that the nice nun was a demon in a disguise. Mukuro reached to grab his hand and plants a kiss on the knuckles.
"Now I don't want to pry you off her hands if she gone too clingy to you. I can't afford to let you out of my sight and can't afford to fight her right now. Believe me, it's a hassle to do. So be a good bird and behave until we get home, okay?" The blue haired teen explained.
Hibari felt uncomfortable with the very suggestive treatment Mukuro's been doing to him but he has no other choice but to relent. Better this than whatever Mukuro believes the demon nun would do to him. He sighed. "Fine, until we get home. But you owe me a fight."
"Of course, you can come to me anytime."
He pouts again. "Saying that then when I go to your den, you're off to some country without any word. I feel tricked by you every time."
"Even so, I'll always have my eye on you." Mukuro smiles, putting his hand over Hibari's waist again.
"Don't do it too much."
Hibari doesn't fully understand what's going on but he ends up following Mukuro at the end. He still couldn't believe he had to have a buddy system with the jerk for the entire trip and much more now when they pretend to be a couple in a church. As they finally get out of the premises, he tucked in one of his hands into his pocket, touching the cold weapon hidden inside to calm him down. 'Few hours left.' He muttered as they walked down the street together back to the hotel.
o-o-o