Fanfic: Time Lag
Title: Time Lag
Author: saying_sooth
Pairing: 18D
Rating: R
Word count: ~3,000
Author's Note: This is my first D18 fic! Wrote it for the D18 Exchange over at the khr_projects community, be sure to check out the other submissions~ I signed up to pinch-hit for the Exchange since I’ve always been curious about D18, and it was a good experience though I’m not in love with D18 as I am with 8059/5980. Just not my cup of tea. Finally, I’d like to thank alcyonev for beta-ing!
Prompt: “The TYL!D18 reunion post-Millefiore arc.” Specifically, after Hibari comes out of Irie’s machine.
-----
Hibari woke from the machine with a snarl, ready to lash out against the herd he’d been forced to sleep beside for the past innumerable, indistinct hours. He’d tossed and turned in his rubber and metal cage, his dreams full of the reality he’d left behind and the ceaseless urge to break free. He’d wielded imaginary tonfa to no effect, the walls staying intact despite his thrashing. But now he was out.
As soon as his eyes could focus, Hibari slinked out of Irie Shouichi’s underground lab (now a stinking hole in the ground). He could feel Reborn’s gaze prickling the back of his neck, but not even the Arcobaleno could keep him from his solitude.
Hibird fluttered to his shoulder as he made his disappearance. Hibari gave him a stroke on the head that was met with a ‘cheep’ of affection, and they stumbled off into the dark Namimori streets. Hibari arrived at his Namimori quarters close to half an hour later. He was disappointed at its state, the tatters of the rice paper walls and the jagged fissures in the roof. But at least Tetsu, who gave a bark of surprise and joy at first sight, was there. Tetsu led him back to his room and futon, the inner sanctum of the base. Hibari collapsed there, Hibird fluttering off to his own stand to nap the afternoon away.
-----
Sawada Tsunayoshi woke him. Or maybe he didn’t. Sawada Tsunayoshi, his elbows braced on his knees and his posture expectant, was waiting in a chair in the darkness beside him when he woke. There was a smile playing around his lips, barely gracing his expression with mirth.
“We did it,” Tsunayoshi said.
Hibari blinked languidly and let a sigh escape his lips. “It is done,” he replied. “Now let me sleep.”
“Alright.” Hibari heard the sounds of shifting, of Tsunayoshi getting up and walking to his door. “But do not sleep too long, my Cloud. I have need of you still.”
Hibari gave a noncommittal grunt. Who was Tsunayoshi to call him ‘his’?
-----
The news of Byakuran’s defeat filtered out to mafia in all four corners of the globe, and with it spread whispered rumors of the master plan concocted by Sawada Tsunayoshi, Irie Shouichi and Hibari Kyouya. Pledges of alliance flooded the Vongola compound, and Vongola Tenth, along with his Storm and Rain, spent much time in meetings and negotiations. Hibari was left alone, for the most part. Members of the Family looked at him with new respect, admiration or fear, but Hibari disregarded them as he always did. They were only herd animals, always ready to follow.
Hibari went on with his own work, but he suffered often from disorientation and headache: symptoms he would have recognized as jet lag if he’d ever been persuaded to leave Namimori by plane. He was irritable and fatigued in cycles; when he was not sleeping, he snapped at everyone - even Tetsu when the tea kettle whistled too loudly. He sought out battles, taking on the Guardians and Tsunayoshi one after the other, finally condescending to exchange blows with the crybaby cow (it was disappointing, as expected).
The battle that gave him the most satisfaction was when he took on Storm and Rain at once, their blows hammering down relentlessly, some of the barrage at last hitting home. Hibari had snarled when they pleaded a stop and mentioned a meeting in half an hour as an excuse. He’d stared at them, his bottom lip curling, his muscles rigid with loaded adrenaline. And then he’d whirled around, stalking back to his side of the compound while still half-cocked. He supposed his demolishment of Tsunayoshi’s property after that battle was why this man was here now, in his room.
Hibari walked over and snatched the teacup out of Dino’s hands, making a mental note to tell Tetsu not to extend his hospitality to Dino Cavallone when he came over. He slammed the teacup down on his desk, the leftover dregs sloshing out onto his papers.
Dino laughed, his bangs falling over one golden-brown eye although the rest of his hair was pulled up into a low ponytail. “Hello to you too, Kyouya.”
Hibari grunted. “What are you doing here?” He sat down in his chair, his position of indisputable authority where he doled out orders to his committee members and tactic teams, where his word was law. Dino lounged where he stood, hands shoved in his pants pockets and looming a good foot and a half above Hibari.
Dino suddenly looked overcome with concern, putting a hand on Hibari’s desk. “Tsuna asked me to come. He says that you aren’t feeling well?”
Hibari stilled and said not a word.
“Kyouya.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Tsuna’s worried.”
“I’m fine.”
“I’m worried!”
Hibari flashed a glance at Dino, at his shining skin and golden hair. “I’m fine,” he repeated. “Maybe a little tired.”
“Ever since you came back?”
Hibari sharpened his gaze. “Nevermind. Let’s spar.” He sprang out of his chair, put his current ring into his box and snapped out his tonfa, its spikes only as sharp as his smile.
Dino backed up, hands out, pacifying. “Whoa, whoa, maybe we ought to talk more about this, Kyouya.”
“Unless you want to be held responsible for the destruction of Vongola property, Cavallone, I suggest you move to a training room. Now.”
Even with Dino’s skill at running, Hibari’s tonfa managed to collapse a hallway before arriving at a training room with specially reinforced walls. Then, Dino’s whip lashed around Hibari and the concern for others on his face transformed into concentration, into strategy, into calculation.
Hibari enjoyed this Dino because it allowed him to get a little savage, to loosen the restraints that he imposed on his bloodthirstiness in order to interact with people on a daily basis. Mukuro Rokudo allowed him a similar pleasure, but the experiences were slightly different. Mukuro Rokudo was a lying, cheating bastard who did not think twice about fighting Hibari with simulacrums made of Mist and Will. It gave Hibari a certain satisfaction that when his tonfa connected in this fight, they were bruising or breaking Dino’s actual flesh and bone. Then, there was another satisfaction to be gained from fighting Dino nowadays, one that occurred after he pleaded uncle.
After they were both bloodied and panting, almost by mutual agreement, Dino coiled his whip and Hibari returned his tonfa back to their box. Hibari had learned how to end a scrappy, one-on-one brawl, but that was only because Dino had taught him how to start a better fight, one he was sure to win.
Hibari unknotted his tie as he stalked over, tossing it to the wayside. “So where’s your babysitter?” he rasped - Dino’s whip had caught against his throat earlier, almost closing off his air before Hibari had fought it off.
Dino discarded his jacket and shoes in quick succession, laughing again. “Romario? He’s within fifty feet of me, otherwise I wouldn’t be standing here so easily.”
Hibari took off his own suit jacket and helped to strip Dino of his jeans and boxers, not moving away afterward. “Do you think he’s watching this?” he asked before nipping at Dino’s neck.
“He knows well enough when to stop watching. Hey, hey, don’t be so rushed. Lube’s in my pocket, condoms too.” Dino dug them out for Hibari, knowing the Cloud wouldn’t be gentle unless it was made easy. “Gimme a couple minutes, let me-”
Hibari pushed Dino back against the reinforced wall none-too-gently, leaning in and biting his earlobe. “Hurry up, Cavallone.”
“Come on, Kyouya, cut me some slack. How am I gonna stick my fingers there if I’m up against a wall?”
Hibari grunted with annoyance. He spun Dino around so that the Cavallone’s hands slammed against the wall, his ass in the air. “Better now?”
“Lots, thanks,” Dino said, forcing back a chuckle. Hibari was difficult to manage, was sandpaper-rough and cobra-deadly, but that’s what made it fun. Dino prepared himself efficiently and, half-turning, slid the condom onto Hibari before placing his palms back against the wall. “Don’t go easy on me now,” he teased. He figured, either he was telling Kyouya what he was already going to do or one of these days Hibari was going to be contrarian and actually go easy on him.
Today was not that day. Hibari pushed in gradually but relentlessly, not slowing at Dino’s winces or yelps. He fucked the Cavallone Boss at that same, relentless pace, and eventually Dino’s yelps became moans and his winces became shameless grinding. They were both still half-dressed; Dino still had his socks and dress shirt on, the latter’s tails becoming slippery with sweat and wrinkled by the action. Hibari hadn’t bothered to take anything off except his jacket and tie; he’d unzipped his pants and pulled down his underwear only enough to accommodate.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, Hibari realized that he had missed this. Maybe it was the long period of inactivity within Irie Shouichi’s machine; his body hadn’t had this satisfaction in a month even if his mind had only been conscious for a week of that time. He had missed restraining Dino’s taut muscles underneath his hands, pressing close to and into him. He suddenly wanted to see the flexing of Dino’s tattoo. Hibari withdrew, turned Dino around again and peeled the shirt off his skin, revealing the multicolored skin-art that flowed in starbursts from Dino’s left hand, up his arm and down his back.
Dino reached up and tugged at Hibari’s hair, bringing his face close. Hibari allowed the kiss, not biting back.
“You’re being considerate today,” Dino commented when he pulled back.
“Want to lose your tongue?” Hibari growled.
“Nah. Doesn’t sound as fun. Want to finish fucking me to an orgasm?” Dino smiled as he asked; even though Hibari’s expression was stoic, his pupils were dilated even beyond his battle excitement.
Hibari grunted and spun Dino again; furthermore, he pinioned Dino’s arms behind him and twisted them ever so slightly as he thrust in again. Dino gasped, mouthing obscenities against the wall as Hibari fed him a mixture of pleasure and pain.
Dino’s orgasm came as a surprise, a spiraling of tension in his gut that he couldn’t identify and then he was coming, coming, coming onto the wall of the training room. Hibari grunted a few seconds later and stilled. He was breathing slightly faster.
Hibari shoved himself away and did up his pants. When he was done, he looked up to see Dino facing him and staring - the other man was comfortable enough to lounge even in nothing except for his socks.
“I should’ve noticed,” Dino said.
Hibari retrieved his jacket and tie, saying nothing.
“After Tsuna’s death, when you were in on that plan. I should’ve known that something was off.”
“Why?” Hibari did up his tie with smart efficiency.
Dino shrugged. “Because I know you.”
Hibari turned to the door and walked out. Before the door shut behind him, his voice floated back to Dino. “Nobody knows me.”
-----
Things were winding down from the Millefiore crisis. It had been a month since Sawada Tsunayoshi had returned from the dead; to commemorate that event, the Vongola was holding what could be called a re-inheritance ceremony, an occasion for other Families to affirm their allegiances and for the Alliance to strengthen their bonds.
Ten minutes into the event, Hibari was outside and away from the huge crowd. Before the ceremony, Sawada Tsunayoshi - with Reborn beside him - had given him a lecture on not hurting the herd animals, and staying inside was too much of a temptation.
Hibari looked around the grounds and scowled; they were using the formal Vongola mansion in Italy for the ceremony, and Hibari hissed at the unfamiliarity. He wanted to tame it all: the trees, the fields, the house, the people, but he contained himself. Sawada Tsunayoshi had promised to fly him back to Namimori tomorrow, skipping the week of parties and celebration after the ceremony. He’d be back in his undisputed jurisdiction soon. Still, he circled a path around the mansion, searching for a hint of his land.
“Playing hookie again?” said a familiar voice.
Hibari looked up and saw Dino, clad in a sharp three-piece suit that whetted the lines of his body. Hibari sniffed. “Truancy is not tolerated in Namimori.”
“Yet here you are, outside instead of standing behind Tsuna’s chair in support.”
“You are outside as well,” Hibari observed. “Besides, we are not in Namimori. Whoever is responsible for the attendance here is obviously lacking in strict enforcement.”
“Or perhaps he is afraid of disciplining the Vongola Cloud, who is notorious for his dislike of crowds.”
Hibari sneered. “Anyone who is afraid of another carnivore does not deserve the name. Sawada’s Storm Guardian, that lapdog, at least does not hesitate to bare his teeth at the hint of disobedience. The Rain Guardian, Yamamoto Takeshi, is still too willing to forgive.”
“You’re very liberal in your criticism of fellow Guardians,” Dino commented, smiling as he strolled closer.
Hibari’s mouth thinned, but he kept silent.
Dino reached out and tugged at Hibari’s sleeve. “Come on, Kyouya. I want to show you something.” He brushed a kiss along Hibari’s cheek, a proprietary gesture from lover to mistress. Hibari reached up and his fingers closed around Dino’s upper-arm, holding Dino flush against him.
“I’m not your woman, Cavallone,” Hibari hissed into Dino’s ear. “Don’t forget who’s on top.”
They stared at each other, Dino not betraying any pain or fear even though they both knew Hibari’s grip was going to leave bruises for tomorrow. Hibari released him with a snarl of disgust and pushed him an arm’s-length away. “You said you had something to show me,” he stated flatly, turning away and moving across the lawn.
“Yeah. It’s near that fountain, white marble.”
Hibari’s shoes crunched through the grass and he heard the muted echo of Dino’s steps behind him. Hibari wished he could be soothed by the pantomime of leading, but he was too irritated by his lack of privacy. Still, he looked forward.
The white marble fountain was the architectural centerpiece of a garden on the mansion grounds, a garden that would hold an intimate reception tonight. But there were still many hours between now and the start of that reception, and the garden was empty of scurrying butlers or other preparations. As Hibari came closer, he noticed a tray on the paved walk around the fountain. The tray contained a bowl, a teapot and a whisk. Hibari stopped in his tracks, and Dino almost collided with him.
Hibari turned his head to see Dino doing the same - when he followed the Cavallone’s gaze, Hibari saw a woman coming out of the house and holding a cylindrical can in her hands.
“Is that…” Hibari left the question trailing.
“Ah, yeah. Sylvia should be coming down with the powdered tea. And, if you sit down, the view stretches to the lake down there!” Dino gestured - it was a good view, with contours that reminded Hibari of a large pond west of Namimori Shrine. “Sylvia has the training to prepare your tea-”
“I’ll do it myself,” Hibari interrupted. He took off his leather loafers and sat down Japanese-style before the tray.
“Alright.” Dino’s mouth creased into a smile; Hibari’s eyes had achieved that glazed-over look which occurred, occasionally, when the disciplinary leader was content. “I gotta go back to the mansion and reaffirm my loyalty to Tsuna. Have fun, Kyouya.”
Hibari didn’t answer, only picked up his shoes and shifted them slightly so that they sat in a more symmetric position behind him.
-----
Dino finished his part in the ceremony by getting down on one knee and kissing the Vongola Sky Ring snug around Tsuna’s thumb, promising in front of Mafioso, Arcobaleno and God that he would be loyal to the Vongola and, in extension, the Alliance.
Later, in the cocktail and quiche reception in a ballroom of the mansion, Tsuna rescued Dino from a horde of stunning Italian bachelorettes and handed him one of two matching flutes of champagne. They clinked glasses and drank to each other’s health.
Once they both had swallowed, Tsuna clapped Dino on the back. “I am very grateful for your loyalty and friendship, Dino-san.” After the formal greeting, Tsuna’s expression turned sheepish and he shed years of maturity. “I hope Hibari-san wasn’t too much trouble this afternoon?”
Dino shrugged. Taking care of the Vongola Cloud was one of the easiest and least distasteful favors Tsuna had ever asked of him. “He seemed happy with the tea ceremony.”
Tsuna gauged Dino’s expression for a moment. Then, he squeezed Dino’s shoulder with his free hand in as close an apology he could get in this room where he could show no weakness. “You’re angry with me for including Hibari-san in my plan against Byakuran.”
Dino smiled - taking a page out of Yamamoto’s book - because it was the only thing he could do. “Kyouya is Kyouya. You chose him because he is a recluse; no one will ever pry open his secrets because he will never give them permission. And he will never change. His resilience…can be refreshing. Sometimes. At least he’s not like some of those assembled here, whose allegiances shift with the wind.” They shared a smile, and Dino accepted Tsuna’s apology.
-----
When Hibari got off the private jet at Namimori, it was almost midnight. His circadian rhythm believed it was early evening - time for dinner, not sleep. Hibari considered going hunting for lawbreakers on his turf, but he felt sluggish. He made his way through the Namimori streets, forgoing the company car, and the criminals, if there were any, shied away from his familiar silhouette.
Hibari returned to the base, looking in on Tetsu who was in the middle of conducting a debriefing. Hibari waved off the invitation to join and retreated to his room. The darkness curled about him as he silently shed his suit and changed into a yukata whose ends rustled about his ankles.
Hibari’s room was sparse: it contained a futon, a closet and not much else, similar to a majority of bedrooms in his base. But it adequately served Hibari’s needs - he liked to keep business in his office, outside of his bedroom - and it was devoid of Hibari’s greatest loathing, clutter.
Hibari lay on his futon with his eyes closed, searching for sleep. The last time his body had been out of sync with time, he had vented his frustration on the Cavallone and time had returned to its normal flow. But the Cavallone was still in Italy.
Hibari turned and sighed.
In time, the disciplinary leader drifted into a light sleep, thinking of sun-kissed skin and a splatter of blood on that perfect cheek.
Author: saying_sooth
Pairing: 18D
Rating: R
Word count: ~3,000
Author's Note: This is my first D18 fic! Wrote it for the D18 Exchange over at the khr_projects community, be sure to check out the other submissions~ I signed up to pinch-hit for the Exchange since I’ve always been curious about D18, and it was a good experience though I’m not in love with D18 as I am with 8059/5980. Just not my cup of tea. Finally, I’d like to thank alcyonev for beta-ing!
Prompt: “The TYL!D18 reunion post-Millefiore arc.” Specifically, after Hibari comes out of Irie’s machine.
-----
Hibari woke from the machine with a snarl, ready to lash out against the herd he’d been forced to sleep beside for the past innumerable, indistinct hours. He’d tossed and turned in his rubber and metal cage, his dreams full of the reality he’d left behind and the ceaseless urge to break free. He’d wielded imaginary tonfa to no effect, the walls staying intact despite his thrashing. But now he was out.
As soon as his eyes could focus, Hibari slinked out of Irie Shouichi’s underground lab (now a stinking hole in the ground). He could feel Reborn’s gaze prickling the back of his neck, but not even the Arcobaleno could keep him from his solitude.
Hibird fluttered to his shoulder as he made his disappearance. Hibari gave him a stroke on the head that was met with a ‘cheep’ of affection, and they stumbled off into the dark Namimori streets. Hibari arrived at his Namimori quarters close to half an hour later. He was disappointed at its state, the tatters of the rice paper walls and the jagged fissures in the roof. But at least Tetsu, who gave a bark of surprise and joy at first sight, was there. Tetsu led him back to his room and futon, the inner sanctum of the base. Hibari collapsed there, Hibird fluttering off to his own stand to nap the afternoon away.
-----
Sawada Tsunayoshi woke him. Or maybe he didn’t. Sawada Tsunayoshi, his elbows braced on his knees and his posture expectant, was waiting in a chair in the darkness beside him when he woke. There was a smile playing around his lips, barely gracing his expression with mirth.
“We did it,” Tsunayoshi said.
Hibari blinked languidly and let a sigh escape his lips. “It is done,” he replied. “Now let me sleep.”
“Alright.” Hibari heard the sounds of shifting, of Tsunayoshi getting up and walking to his door. “But do not sleep too long, my Cloud. I have need of you still.”
Hibari gave a noncommittal grunt. Who was Tsunayoshi to call him ‘his’?
-----
The news of Byakuran’s defeat filtered out to mafia in all four corners of the globe, and with it spread whispered rumors of the master plan concocted by Sawada Tsunayoshi, Irie Shouichi and Hibari Kyouya. Pledges of alliance flooded the Vongola compound, and Vongola Tenth, along with his Storm and Rain, spent much time in meetings and negotiations. Hibari was left alone, for the most part. Members of the Family looked at him with new respect, admiration or fear, but Hibari disregarded them as he always did. They were only herd animals, always ready to follow.
Hibari went on with his own work, but he suffered often from disorientation and headache: symptoms he would have recognized as jet lag if he’d ever been persuaded to leave Namimori by plane. He was irritable and fatigued in cycles; when he was not sleeping, he snapped at everyone - even Tetsu when the tea kettle whistled too loudly. He sought out battles, taking on the Guardians and Tsunayoshi one after the other, finally condescending to exchange blows with the crybaby cow (it was disappointing, as expected).
The battle that gave him the most satisfaction was when he took on Storm and Rain at once, their blows hammering down relentlessly, some of the barrage at last hitting home. Hibari had snarled when they pleaded a stop and mentioned a meeting in half an hour as an excuse. He’d stared at them, his bottom lip curling, his muscles rigid with loaded adrenaline. And then he’d whirled around, stalking back to his side of the compound while still half-cocked. He supposed his demolishment of Tsunayoshi’s property after that battle was why this man was here now, in his room.
Hibari walked over and snatched the teacup out of Dino’s hands, making a mental note to tell Tetsu not to extend his hospitality to Dino Cavallone when he came over. He slammed the teacup down on his desk, the leftover dregs sloshing out onto his papers.
Dino laughed, his bangs falling over one golden-brown eye although the rest of his hair was pulled up into a low ponytail. “Hello to you too, Kyouya.”
Hibari grunted. “What are you doing here?” He sat down in his chair, his position of indisputable authority where he doled out orders to his committee members and tactic teams, where his word was law. Dino lounged where he stood, hands shoved in his pants pockets and looming a good foot and a half above Hibari.
Dino suddenly looked overcome with concern, putting a hand on Hibari’s desk. “Tsuna asked me to come. He says that you aren’t feeling well?”
Hibari stilled and said not a word.
“Kyouya.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Tsuna’s worried.”
“I’m fine.”
“I’m worried!”
Hibari flashed a glance at Dino, at his shining skin and golden hair. “I’m fine,” he repeated. “Maybe a little tired.”
“Ever since you came back?”
Hibari sharpened his gaze. “Nevermind. Let’s spar.” He sprang out of his chair, put his current ring into his box and snapped out his tonfa, its spikes only as sharp as his smile.
Dino backed up, hands out, pacifying. “Whoa, whoa, maybe we ought to talk more about this, Kyouya.”
“Unless you want to be held responsible for the destruction of Vongola property, Cavallone, I suggest you move to a training room. Now.”
Even with Dino’s skill at running, Hibari’s tonfa managed to collapse a hallway before arriving at a training room with specially reinforced walls. Then, Dino’s whip lashed around Hibari and the concern for others on his face transformed into concentration, into strategy, into calculation.
Hibari enjoyed this Dino because it allowed him to get a little savage, to loosen the restraints that he imposed on his bloodthirstiness in order to interact with people on a daily basis. Mukuro Rokudo allowed him a similar pleasure, but the experiences were slightly different. Mukuro Rokudo was a lying, cheating bastard who did not think twice about fighting Hibari with simulacrums made of Mist and Will. It gave Hibari a certain satisfaction that when his tonfa connected in this fight, they were bruising or breaking Dino’s actual flesh and bone. Then, there was another satisfaction to be gained from fighting Dino nowadays, one that occurred after he pleaded uncle.
After they were both bloodied and panting, almost by mutual agreement, Dino coiled his whip and Hibari returned his tonfa back to their box. Hibari had learned how to end a scrappy, one-on-one brawl, but that was only because Dino had taught him how to start a better fight, one he was sure to win.
Hibari unknotted his tie as he stalked over, tossing it to the wayside. “So where’s your babysitter?” he rasped - Dino’s whip had caught against his throat earlier, almost closing off his air before Hibari had fought it off.
Dino discarded his jacket and shoes in quick succession, laughing again. “Romario? He’s within fifty feet of me, otherwise I wouldn’t be standing here so easily.”
Hibari took off his own suit jacket and helped to strip Dino of his jeans and boxers, not moving away afterward. “Do you think he’s watching this?” he asked before nipping at Dino’s neck.
“He knows well enough when to stop watching. Hey, hey, don’t be so rushed. Lube’s in my pocket, condoms too.” Dino dug them out for Hibari, knowing the Cloud wouldn’t be gentle unless it was made easy. “Gimme a couple minutes, let me-”
Hibari pushed Dino back against the reinforced wall none-too-gently, leaning in and biting his earlobe. “Hurry up, Cavallone.”
“Come on, Kyouya, cut me some slack. How am I gonna stick my fingers there if I’m up against a wall?”
Hibari grunted with annoyance. He spun Dino around so that the Cavallone’s hands slammed against the wall, his ass in the air. “Better now?”
“Lots, thanks,” Dino said, forcing back a chuckle. Hibari was difficult to manage, was sandpaper-rough and cobra-deadly, but that’s what made it fun. Dino prepared himself efficiently and, half-turning, slid the condom onto Hibari before placing his palms back against the wall. “Don’t go easy on me now,” he teased. He figured, either he was telling Kyouya what he was already going to do or one of these days Hibari was going to be contrarian and actually go easy on him.
Today was not that day. Hibari pushed in gradually but relentlessly, not slowing at Dino’s winces or yelps. He fucked the Cavallone Boss at that same, relentless pace, and eventually Dino’s yelps became moans and his winces became shameless grinding. They were both still half-dressed; Dino still had his socks and dress shirt on, the latter’s tails becoming slippery with sweat and wrinkled by the action. Hibari hadn’t bothered to take anything off except his jacket and tie; he’d unzipped his pants and pulled down his underwear only enough to accommodate.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, Hibari realized that he had missed this. Maybe it was the long period of inactivity within Irie Shouichi’s machine; his body hadn’t had this satisfaction in a month even if his mind had only been conscious for a week of that time. He had missed restraining Dino’s taut muscles underneath his hands, pressing close to and into him. He suddenly wanted to see the flexing of Dino’s tattoo. Hibari withdrew, turned Dino around again and peeled the shirt off his skin, revealing the multicolored skin-art that flowed in starbursts from Dino’s left hand, up his arm and down his back.
Dino reached up and tugged at Hibari’s hair, bringing his face close. Hibari allowed the kiss, not biting back.
“You’re being considerate today,” Dino commented when he pulled back.
“Want to lose your tongue?” Hibari growled.
“Nah. Doesn’t sound as fun. Want to finish fucking me to an orgasm?” Dino smiled as he asked; even though Hibari’s expression was stoic, his pupils were dilated even beyond his battle excitement.
Hibari grunted and spun Dino again; furthermore, he pinioned Dino’s arms behind him and twisted them ever so slightly as he thrust in again. Dino gasped, mouthing obscenities against the wall as Hibari fed him a mixture of pleasure and pain.
Dino’s orgasm came as a surprise, a spiraling of tension in his gut that he couldn’t identify and then he was coming, coming, coming onto the wall of the training room. Hibari grunted a few seconds later and stilled. He was breathing slightly faster.
Hibari shoved himself away and did up his pants. When he was done, he looked up to see Dino facing him and staring - the other man was comfortable enough to lounge even in nothing except for his socks.
“I should’ve noticed,” Dino said.
Hibari retrieved his jacket and tie, saying nothing.
“After Tsuna’s death, when you were in on that plan. I should’ve known that something was off.”
“Why?” Hibari did up his tie with smart efficiency.
Dino shrugged. “Because I know you.”
Hibari turned to the door and walked out. Before the door shut behind him, his voice floated back to Dino. “Nobody knows me.”
-----
Things were winding down from the Millefiore crisis. It had been a month since Sawada Tsunayoshi had returned from the dead; to commemorate that event, the Vongola was holding what could be called a re-inheritance ceremony, an occasion for other Families to affirm their allegiances and for the Alliance to strengthen their bonds.
Ten minutes into the event, Hibari was outside and away from the huge crowd. Before the ceremony, Sawada Tsunayoshi - with Reborn beside him - had given him a lecture on not hurting the herd animals, and staying inside was too much of a temptation.
Hibari looked around the grounds and scowled; they were using the formal Vongola mansion in Italy for the ceremony, and Hibari hissed at the unfamiliarity. He wanted to tame it all: the trees, the fields, the house, the people, but he contained himself. Sawada Tsunayoshi had promised to fly him back to Namimori tomorrow, skipping the week of parties and celebration after the ceremony. He’d be back in his undisputed jurisdiction soon. Still, he circled a path around the mansion, searching for a hint of his land.
“Playing hookie again?” said a familiar voice.
Hibari looked up and saw Dino, clad in a sharp three-piece suit that whetted the lines of his body. Hibari sniffed. “Truancy is not tolerated in Namimori.”
“Yet here you are, outside instead of standing behind Tsuna’s chair in support.”
“You are outside as well,” Hibari observed. “Besides, we are not in Namimori. Whoever is responsible for the attendance here is obviously lacking in strict enforcement.”
“Or perhaps he is afraid of disciplining the Vongola Cloud, who is notorious for his dislike of crowds.”
Hibari sneered. “Anyone who is afraid of another carnivore does not deserve the name. Sawada’s Storm Guardian, that lapdog, at least does not hesitate to bare his teeth at the hint of disobedience. The Rain Guardian, Yamamoto Takeshi, is still too willing to forgive.”
“You’re very liberal in your criticism of fellow Guardians,” Dino commented, smiling as he strolled closer.
Hibari’s mouth thinned, but he kept silent.
Dino reached out and tugged at Hibari’s sleeve. “Come on, Kyouya. I want to show you something.” He brushed a kiss along Hibari’s cheek, a proprietary gesture from lover to mistress. Hibari reached up and his fingers closed around Dino’s upper-arm, holding Dino flush against him.
“I’m not your woman, Cavallone,” Hibari hissed into Dino’s ear. “Don’t forget who’s on top.”
They stared at each other, Dino not betraying any pain or fear even though they both knew Hibari’s grip was going to leave bruises for tomorrow. Hibari released him with a snarl of disgust and pushed him an arm’s-length away. “You said you had something to show me,” he stated flatly, turning away and moving across the lawn.
“Yeah. It’s near that fountain, white marble.”
Hibari’s shoes crunched through the grass and he heard the muted echo of Dino’s steps behind him. Hibari wished he could be soothed by the pantomime of leading, but he was too irritated by his lack of privacy. Still, he looked forward.
The white marble fountain was the architectural centerpiece of a garden on the mansion grounds, a garden that would hold an intimate reception tonight. But there were still many hours between now and the start of that reception, and the garden was empty of scurrying butlers or other preparations. As Hibari came closer, he noticed a tray on the paved walk around the fountain. The tray contained a bowl, a teapot and a whisk. Hibari stopped in his tracks, and Dino almost collided with him.
Hibari turned his head to see Dino doing the same - when he followed the Cavallone’s gaze, Hibari saw a woman coming out of the house and holding a cylindrical can in her hands.
“Is that…” Hibari left the question trailing.
“Ah, yeah. Sylvia should be coming down with the powdered tea. And, if you sit down, the view stretches to the lake down there!” Dino gestured - it was a good view, with contours that reminded Hibari of a large pond west of Namimori Shrine. “Sylvia has the training to prepare your tea-”
“I’ll do it myself,” Hibari interrupted. He took off his leather loafers and sat down Japanese-style before the tray.
“Alright.” Dino’s mouth creased into a smile; Hibari’s eyes had achieved that glazed-over look which occurred, occasionally, when the disciplinary leader was content. “I gotta go back to the mansion and reaffirm my loyalty to Tsuna. Have fun, Kyouya.”
Hibari didn’t answer, only picked up his shoes and shifted them slightly so that they sat in a more symmetric position behind him.
-----
Dino finished his part in the ceremony by getting down on one knee and kissing the Vongola Sky Ring snug around Tsuna’s thumb, promising in front of Mafioso, Arcobaleno and God that he would be loyal to the Vongola and, in extension, the Alliance.
Later, in the cocktail and quiche reception in a ballroom of the mansion, Tsuna rescued Dino from a horde of stunning Italian bachelorettes and handed him one of two matching flutes of champagne. They clinked glasses and drank to each other’s health.
Once they both had swallowed, Tsuna clapped Dino on the back. “I am very grateful for your loyalty and friendship, Dino-san.” After the formal greeting, Tsuna’s expression turned sheepish and he shed years of maturity. “I hope Hibari-san wasn’t too much trouble this afternoon?”
Dino shrugged. Taking care of the Vongola Cloud was one of the easiest and least distasteful favors Tsuna had ever asked of him. “He seemed happy with the tea ceremony.”
Tsuna gauged Dino’s expression for a moment. Then, he squeezed Dino’s shoulder with his free hand in as close an apology he could get in this room where he could show no weakness. “You’re angry with me for including Hibari-san in my plan against Byakuran.”
Dino smiled - taking a page out of Yamamoto’s book - because it was the only thing he could do. “Kyouya is Kyouya. You chose him because he is a recluse; no one will ever pry open his secrets because he will never give them permission. And he will never change. His resilience…can be refreshing. Sometimes. At least he’s not like some of those assembled here, whose allegiances shift with the wind.” They shared a smile, and Dino accepted Tsuna’s apology.
-----
When Hibari got off the private jet at Namimori, it was almost midnight. His circadian rhythm believed it was early evening - time for dinner, not sleep. Hibari considered going hunting for lawbreakers on his turf, but he felt sluggish. He made his way through the Namimori streets, forgoing the company car, and the criminals, if there were any, shied away from his familiar silhouette.
Hibari returned to the base, looking in on Tetsu who was in the middle of conducting a debriefing. Hibari waved off the invitation to join and retreated to his room. The darkness curled about him as he silently shed his suit and changed into a yukata whose ends rustled about his ankles.
Hibari’s room was sparse: it contained a futon, a closet and not much else, similar to a majority of bedrooms in his base. But it adequately served Hibari’s needs - he liked to keep business in his office, outside of his bedroom - and it was devoid of Hibari’s greatest loathing, clutter.
Hibari lay on his futon with his eyes closed, searching for sleep. The last time his body had been out of sync with time, he had vented his frustration on the Cavallone and time had returned to its normal flow. But the Cavallone was still in Italy.
Hibari turned and sighed.
In time, the disciplinary leader drifted into a light sleep, thinking of sun-kissed skin and a splatter of blood on that perfect cheek.