[KHR] Love. Actually
love, actually
bianchi centric; pg-13; ~3140w
response to khrfest’s prompt: Bianchi - a woman’s intuition “some people just need a gentle nudge in the right direction.”
Love was a beautiful thing. It was something Bianchi had known ever since she was a little girl. If there was anything to believe in, it would be love. Love was constant, love was passionate, love was everything.
Love was also everywhere. She saw it in the shyness of teenager’s smiles, the crinkling of the elderly’s eyes, even the snouts of dogs as they gave little doggy kisses, everywhere.
Including her own family.
However, it was disheartening to say the least to see that not a single one of them had acted upon their feelings. It was painful to witness that not a single one of them had opened their eyes to the hearts. Devastating that not a single one of them had bloomed in the name of love.
Bianchi knew that it was hard for them to find love like she had found in Reborn, Reborn who couldn’t be replaced by anything in the world, but still. Love was everywhere and these children needed to seize the day and bask in its glory! Bianchi hated seeing people she cared about not being able to feel what it was like to be in love because of their own pig-headedness.
And now, watching a blushing Lambo stuttering in front of a confused Ipin, Bianchi was sure. It was time to take matters into her own hands.
Not a moment to waste, Bianchi thought wryly when Lambo finally burst into tears, leaving a shocked Ipin to fuss over him.
She had lots of work to do.
Bianchi adored Haru. She really did. She admired the girl’s spunk, determination, and ability to smile in the hardest of situations. Bianchi considered her as a younger sister and she was extremely proud of how much she’d grown in the past few years.
But when it came to love, the girl was just a bit shy of delusional.
Her dedication to Tsuna was definitely something great. And Bianchi could tell that Haru truly loved the boy. But despite constant death threats, not-so subtle hints, and more, it was clear as day that Tsuna was simply not interested. He treasured Haru, but as a friend, as family. Nothing more.
Haru didn’t seem to understand that.
“Broken hearts are so hard to deal with,” Bianchi mused aloud as she stared down at her tea. Beside her, Hayato scoffed. She had forced these weekly sibling bonding afternoons as an attempt to get closer to Hayato. Though she usually did most of the talking, at least he managed to drag himself here instead of being dragged. She still had to wear her goggles though.
She lifted the cup to her lips before asking, “Hayato, have you ever been in love?”
Hayato spitting his tea out was answer enough.
“Ah,” Bianchi said knowingly. “Who’s the lucky girl?”
He instantly flushed, from anger or embarrassment, Bianchi wasn’t sure. “Aneki!” he growled hotly. “There is no girl. Never has, never will be.” At this, the fire in Hayato’s eyes simmered a little and he sat back in his seat, sulking like a child.
Bianchi blinked at him. “Does she love someone else?”
Hayato ignored answering her question and opted for lighting up a cigarette instead. Bianchi frowned as he began to smoke. She really hated this dirty habit of his.
“Hayato,” she began slowly. “As my only beloved baby brother, it is in my interests to make sure that you’re thoroughly exposed to the world. Love included.”
Hayato scoffed again. “Stupid aneki I don’t need - “
“Hahi! Haru has brought more tea!”
Haru bounced in the room with a tray of assorted cakes and a pot of tea in her hands. Her short hair framed her face prettily but Bianchi only got to admire the younger girl for a second. Her eyes were on Hayato.
His entire form had froze when Haru announced her arrival. Fists clenched, shoulders hunched. From what she saw, he was biting on his cigarette as well.
Bianchi raised an eyebrow. “Oh,” she said aloud. “Everything makes sense now.”
Haru tilted her head in confusion. “Hahi? What makes sense Bianchi-san?”
Hayato snorted. “Even if she were to tell you, you probably wouldn’t understand, stupid woman!”
Bianchi shook her head sorrowfully. Oh, Hayato.
Haru’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Hahi! Gokudera-san, why do you have to be so rude? Haru hasn’t even said anything and already you’re being such a, such a - “
“Such a what?” Hayato challenged, daring to look at Haru with a stubborn expression on his face.
Haru’s eyes watered and she slammed the tray in front of Hayato before screaming, “Such a conceited jerk!” She huffed angrily and rushed off, not even bothering to bid Bianchi goodbye.
Pain flashed in Hayato’s eyes before they hardened to their usual stony green. He swore a little under his breath and took another drag of his cigarette.
Bianchi raised an eyebrow. She always did consider Haru as a younger sister…
“I see,” she took a slow sip of her tea. “She loves you too. In case you were wondering.”
Hayato choked on his cigarette. Then inhaled it.
Bianchi sighed and removed her goggles.
Ten minutes later when Hayato’s vomit had been properly cleaned up, he asked. “Why…would you say that? She obviously loves the Tenth.”
His voice was bitter and just a little bit broken, and Bianchi couldn’t help but rest her hand on his shoulder.
He flinched. “I-I’m not saying that I love her or anything, it’s just that - “
“Apologize,” Bianchi said firmly. “Then take her out to cakes. If she happens to overeat, don’t you dare tell her she’s fat. In fact, don’t mention weight at all.”
Hayato was silent for a moment. Then he said, “Yes aneki,” dutifully and calmly, just as a younger brother should.
Bianchi’s eyes watered a little before she tackled her younger brother in a hug. Hayato blanched and promptly passed out in her arms.
“Did you hear?” Kyoko looked up from her magazine to smile at Bianchi. “Gokudera-san asked Haru out on a date. Don’t you think that’s wonderful?”
Bianchi smiled back. “Yes,” she agreed. “It was even more wonderful when Hayato came back from that first date with a black eye.”
Kyoko giggled. “I think they’re good for each other,” she admitted, fingers messing around with the pages incessantly. “I’m actually kind of jealous to be honest.”
Bianchi bit back a sigh. Here was Kyoko, beautiful and gentle Kyoko, whose heart wouldn’t last a minute in the mafia world. The girl was like Tsuna in some ways. They both had an amazing shine in their eyes. But as Tsuna grew stronger, the shine increased in intensity, whereas Kyoko’s had dimmed greatly.
She wasn’t meant for this world.
Reborn had told her this before and while Bianchi had acknowledged it, she never considered actually talking to Kyoko before. But now, Tsuna was steadily gaining confidence and he was ready to pull the girl into something that she couldn’t refuse.
Bianchi had to do something about it.
“Why would you be jealous?” she asked cautiously. “I hear you and Tsuna are doing well.”
Kyoko bit her lip. “Yes well,” she hesitated and looked back down on her magazine.
Bianchi frowned. Kyoko was the type of girl that would blush and be proud of her love life. Not pale and shrink from the subject of it. This was worse that Bianchi had anticipated. It was time to go in for the kill.
“Kyoko,” she started seriously. Kyoko raised her large eyes to her. “Do you love Tsuna?”
The girl’s mouth dropped open. “Tsuna-kun and I are still dating!” she protested weakly. “But I do care for him a lot and I worry when he’s out getting himself hurt and…”
Bianchi leaned over to pat Kyoko’s arm. “I know,” she said gently and that was more than enough to have Kyoko launch herself at Bianchi, hands trembling from emotion.
Her eyes started to water. “B-But Tsuna-kun,” she sniffed, gratefully accepting the handkerchief Bianchi offered. “He says that he needs me.”
Bianchi pulled Kyoko close before whispering in her ear, “But what does Kyoko need?”
Kyoko sniffed.
A week later, Kyoko packed her bags and left for university. All she left behind were three notes, one for her brother, one for Tsuna, and one for Bianchi.
Tsuna and Ryohei’s read the same thing. I’m sorry.
Bianchi’s was a little different. Thank you.
Bianchi crushed the note in her hands when she saw the expression on Tsuna’s face and reminded herself that love could be cruel as well.
Hayato approached her after Tsuna stormed off to his room. “Aneki,” he said solemnly, eyes hard with suspicion. “Did you have anything to do with Sasagawa leaving?”
Bianchi smiled wryly at her younger brother. “Kyoko did what Kyoko wanted to do.”
Tsuna was a broken man. He wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t sleep, and he wouldn’t talk to anyone. Reborn had shot him in the head more than a few times but still, no response.
Bianchi was walking to his room to try and convince him to eat something but stopped when she saw that Chrome was already knocking at his door.
“Boss,” Chrome said softly. “Boss, please come out.” Her knocks got more insistent. “Boss, I know it hurts but - “
Suddenly the door swung open and Chrome was face to face with a furious Tsuna.
“You know?” he repeated angrily. “No one knows! No one knows how I feel, how, how bad it feels not having Kyoko-chan with me, and you - you - “
Chrome bit her lip as she backed away. Tsuna visibly deflated. He reached out to her weakly, “Chrome I’m so - “
She flinched when he moved towards her and shook her head furiously before running off. Tsuna sighed and hung his head shamefully.
Bianchi grimaced as she made her way to Tsuna. “That was stupid,” she commented lightly.
Tsuna’s head shot up. “Bianchi!”
She shook her head at him. “Don’t be dame-Tsuna anymore. Think before you talk - but not too much.” Tsuna opened his to protest but Bianchi already started to walk away. “You’re going to be Vongola’s boss aren’t you Tsuna? You can handle something like this can’t you?”
He sighed.
Bianchi walked into the kitchen to see a despondent Chrome sitting at the table, picking at the frayed ends of her shirt sleeve. She placed a comforting hand Chrome’s shoulder causing the younger girl to look up with glassy eyes.
“He’ll come around,” Bianchi assured her. Chrome rubbed her eyes before nodding.
“Of course,” she whispered. “Boss has a kind heart.”
Bianchi smiled at that. “Don’t give up on him.”
“Of course not!” Chrome said loudly, rising from her seat. She blushed when she became aware of her outburst. Bianchi just stared at the younger girl, amused.
“You’re so cute, Chrome-chan.”
Chrome’s blush deepened.
Lambo and Ipin were easy. They were still young and so innocently in love it moved Hayato to pieces, so much that he was actually gagging when he saw the two of them. Bianchi was touched in all ways possible but that was ruined by the fact that Lambo tended to be a complete and utter idiot. And when he wasn’t being an idiot, he was being a crybaby.
Oh Ipin, I admire your strength, Bianchi thought to herself as she watched a calm Ipin soothe a distraught Lambo once again.
“They make me sick,” Hayato muttered from behind her. Soon after he spoke, he squawked in pain. Haru raised the frying pan with a frown on her face.
“They’re adorable,” she hissed.
“They need help,” Bianchi murmured. And so Haru came up with a rather fantastic plan which involved various costumes, disappearance of Hayato’s cigarettes, and a moonlit walk on the beach.
“It’s going to be cloudy tonight,” Hayato said sullenly, one protective hand over his cigarette case. Haru’s cheeks inflated.
While the two of them argued, Bianchi called the local florist and asked that a bouquet of lilies be sent to the house for Ipin, in Lambo’s name.
Cliché, but it would work.
One could only hope that Lambo wouldn’t cry upon confrontation. Key word being “hope.”
“Reborn,” Bianchi whispered as she quietly crept into the apartment. Reborn didn’t appreciate uninvited visitors but Bianchi figured that he wouldn’t mind too much. She had so much to tell him about all she had accomplished - Tsuna held Chrome’s hand the other day, Haru and Hayato were kissing almost as much as they were arguing, and Ipin and Lambo had gotten cuter, if possible.
Bianchi clutched the bottle of wine to her chest happily. She could finally sit down with Reborn and celebrate. Lord knows how long it’s been since they last spent quality time together. To say Bianchi was excited was definitely an understatement
She was thrilled.
Bianchi stopped before Reborn’s door and lifted her hand to knock but froze when she heard muffled voices from inside. Her raised hand began to shake.
Reborn and…
The door opened suddenly and she was face to face with a shirtless Reborn. His fedora was, typically, still on. He raised his eyebrow at her.
“Bianchi,” his smooth voice still sent shivers down her spine. “I see you’ve left yourself in.” His eyes lowered to the wine she held. “And you’ve brought us a present.”
Bianchi’s heart fell a little. Us?
There was movement from behind Reborn and a slender Chinese man suddenly appeared next to him. “Good evening,” he said rather politely. Bianchi stared at his black ponytail and dark eyes and recognized him as Ipin’s trainer.
“…Fon-san,” she acknowledged weakly. He nodded once before turning back into the bedroom.
“Don’t take too long.”
Bianchi’s chest tightened when she realized that Fon was talking to Reborn. And here she was, talking to Reborn. Here she was, a hindrance to the two of them. The two of them.
Love is indeed a cruel thing.
“I should bash this bottle on your head,” she murmured softly. Reborn let an amused smile shadow his features. Bianchi lowered her head as she offered the wine to him.
“But I won’t.”
Bianchi was glad to say that she managed to leave Reborn’s apartment with her head held high.
She couldn’t say the same for when she entered the bar.
“Give me the strongest liquor you’ve got or I swear to God I’ll kill everyone in here,” she threatened the terrified bartender. Almost thirty seconds later she got her drink and proceeded to down it in less than five seconds.
“Another!” she growled.
“Poison Scorpion?”
Bianchi choked on her beer. “Oh no,” she groaned aloud as a bewildered Dino Cavallone took a seat next to her. “Anyone but you.”
Dino mock pouted. “That’s not very nice of you.”
“Save the charm for someone else, Bucking Horse,” Bianchi growled sourly. The pout disappeared from Dino’s face and he smiled good-naturedly, eyes raking down her figure.
“I see you’re all dolled up,” he started. Bianchi scoffed and deliberately chugged her beer faster. He raised an eyebrow. “So why exactly are you here of all places?”
And maybe it was because Bianchi’s a little too drunk and a little too heartbroken when she said, “I got dumped.”
Dino’s eyebrows disappeared in his hairline.
“I see!” Unbeknownst to Bianchi, he gestured to the pale-faced bartender to halt with the drinks. “You know my lady, any more of that alcohol and you’ll be kissing the floor.”
Bianchi scoffed again. “Don’t care.”
Dino’s smile widened though his eyes were purely sympathetic. “My former tutor can be quite the cruel person.”
Bianchi blinked at this and stared into her half-empty drink. “Love can be cruel,” she whispered softly. Dino nodded once and placed a hand over hers. She shrugged away from him, eyes flaming when she finally lifted her gaze to his.
“Bucking Horse,” she warned. “Just because I am drunk doesn’t mean I’m easy.”
Dino continued to smile but the sympathetic look in his eyes was replaced by a rather mischievous one. “I know.”
She stared him down for what seemed to be hours and when Bianchi saw that his smile was unrelenting, she sighed heavily.
“You pay for my drinks,” she gestured at some random place in the bar, “and for the hotel.”
Dino nodded to Romario and rose at the same time Bianchi did, putting a hand on her waist to steady her. This time, she didn’t shove him away. “Cab or the limo?” he questioned politely.
Bianchi snorted. “The goddamn limo. If I’m going to do it with a stupid Cavallone, let me do it in style.”
Dino’s laughter was surprisingly nice to listen to.
Bianchi woke up with a ridiculously painful headache and she spent a good five minutes cursing alcohol, herself, and a few other things before stumbling into the bathroom to empty her stomach. Soon after she’d finished vomiting, she heard Dino’s sleepy voice, “There’s aspirin in the bathroom.”
She quickly opened the cabinet and grabbed the bottle of aspirin. “…Thank you,” she called back to the bedroom, voice weak and uncertain. She heard him laugh and despite herself, she blushed.
Slowly, Bianchi walked back into the bedroom and avoided Dino’s smoldering gaze, eyes searching the room for a bottle of water.
“Here.” Her eyes followed his pointed finger and she let out a mental sigh of relief as she gulped down the pill and the much-needed water.
“Thank you,” she said again, back still facing him. Dino hummed in acknowledgment as she backpedaled into bed, making sure there was adequate distance between the two of them.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re beautiful?” Bianchi raised her head and opened her mouth to call him on his bullshit but he continued anyway. “Granted, you kind of look like shit right now, which is hot in its own right, but really. Poison Scorpion,” His warm eyes met her wide ones. “You really are beautiful.”
You will not blush, Bianchi told herself sternly. Not again, not in front of him. She refused to make a bigger fool out of herself than she already had.
But Dino really did have a nice smile and an even nicer laugh.
“Love comes unexpectedly,” she muttered to herself.
Dino tilted his head to the side. “Hm?”
She sighed. “Nothing.” To his surprise, she crawled closer to him, pressing their nude forms together. Bianchi felt Dino’s heartbeat quicken.
She smirked. “Bucking Horse, has anyone ever told you how loudly you snore?”
bianchi centric; pg-13; ~3140w
response to khrfest’s prompt: Bianchi - a woman’s intuition “some people just need a gentle nudge in the right direction.”
Love was a beautiful thing. It was something Bianchi had known ever since she was a little girl. If there was anything to believe in, it would be love. Love was constant, love was passionate, love was everything.
Love was also everywhere. She saw it in the shyness of teenager’s smiles, the crinkling of the elderly’s eyes, even the snouts of dogs as they gave little doggy kisses, everywhere.
Including her own family.
However, it was disheartening to say the least to see that not a single one of them had acted upon their feelings. It was painful to witness that not a single one of them had opened their eyes to the hearts. Devastating that not a single one of them had bloomed in the name of love.
Bianchi knew that it was hard for them to find love like she had found in Reborn, Reborn who couldn’t be replaced by anything in the world, but still. Love was everywhere and these children needed to seize the day and bask in its glory! Bianchi hated seeing people she cared about not being able to feel what it was like to be in love because of their own pig-headedness.
And now, watching a blushing Lambo stuttering in front of a confused Ipin, Bianchi was sure. It was time to take matters into her own hands.
Not a moment to waste, Bianchi thought wryly when Lambo finally burst into tears, leaving a shocked Ipin to fuss over him.
She had lots of work to do.
Bianchi adored Haru. She really did. She admired the girl’s spunk, determination, and ability to smile in the hardest of situations. Bianchi considered her as a younger sister and she was extremely proud of how much she’d grown in the past few years.
But when it came to love, the girl was just a bit shy of delusional.
Her dedication to Tsuna was definitely something great. And Bianchi could tell that Haru truly loved the boy. But despite constant death threats, not-so subtle hints, and more, it was clear as day that Tsuna was simply not interested. He treasured Haru, but as a friend, as family. Nothing more.
Haru didn’t seem to understand that.
“Broken hearts are so hard to deal with,” Bianchi mused aloud as she stared down at her tea. Beside her, Hayato scoffed. She had forced these weekly sibling bonding afternoons as an attempt to get closer to Hayato. Though she usually did most of the talking, at least he managed to drag himself here instead of being dragged. She still had to wear her goggles though.
She lifted the cup to her lips before asking, “Hayato, have you ever been in love?”
Hayato spitting his tea out was answer enough.
“Ah,” Bianchi said knowingly. “Who’s the lucky girl?”
He instantly flushed, from anger or embarrassment, Bianchi wasn’t sure. “Aneki!” he growled hotly. “There is no girl. Never has, never will be.” At this, the fire in Hayato’s eyes simmered a little and he sat back in his seat, sulking like a child.
Bianchi blinked at him. “Does she love someone else?”
Hayato ignored answering her question and opted for lighting up a cigarette instead. Bianchi frowned as he began to smoke. She really hated this dirty habit of his.
“Hayato,” she began slowly. “As my only beloved baby brother, it is in my interests to make sure that you’re thoroughly exposed to the world. Love included.”
Hayato scoffed again. “Stupid aneki I don’t need - “
“Hahi! Haru has brought more tea!”
Haru bounced in the room with a tray of assorted cakes and a pot of tea in her hands. Her short hair framed her face prettily but Bianchi only got to admire the younger girl for a second. Her eyes were on Hayato.
His entire form had froze when Haru announced her arrival. Fists clenched, shoulders hunched. From what she saw, he was biting on his cigarette as well.
Bianchi raised an eyebrow. “Oh,” she said aloud. “Everything makes sense now.”
Haru tilted her head in confusion. “Hahi? What makes sense Bianchi-san?”
Hayato snorted. “Even if she were to tell you, you probably wouldn’t understand, stupid woman!”
Bianchi shook her head sorrowfully. Oh, Hayato.
Haru’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Hahi! Gokudera-san, why do you have to be so rude? Haru hasn’t even said anything and already you’re being such a, such a - “
“Such a what?” Hayato challenged, daring to look at Haru with a stubborn expression on his face.
Haru’s eyes watered and she slammed the tray in front of Hayato before screaming, “Such a conceited jerk!” She huffed angrily and rushed off, not even bothering to bid Bianchi goodbye.
Pain flashed in Hayato’s eyes before they hardened to their usual stony green. He swore a little under his breath and took another drag of his cigarette.
Bianchi raised an eyebrow. She always did consider Haru as a younger sister…
“I see,” she took a slow sip of her tea. “She loves you too. In case you were wondering.”
Hayato choked on his cigarette. Then inhaled it.
Bianchi sighed and removed her goggles.
Ten minutes later when Hayato’s vomit had been properly cleaned up, he asked. “Why…would you say that? She obviously loves the Tenth.”
His voice was bitter and just a little bit broken, and Bianchi couldn’t help but rest her hand on his shoulder.
He flinched. “I-I’m not saying that I love her or anything, it’s just that - “
“Apologize,” Bianchi said firmly. “Then take her out to cakes. If she happens to overeat, don’t you dare tell her she’s fat. In fact, don’t mention weight at all.”
Hayato was silent for a moment. Then he said, “Yes aneki,” dutifully and calmly, just as a younger brother should.
Bianchi’s eyes watered a little before she tackled her younger brother in a hug. Hayato blanched and promptly passed out in her arms.
“Did you hear?” Kyoko looked up from her magazine to smile at Bianchi. “Gokudera-san asked Haru out on a date. Don’t you think that’s wonderful?”
Bianchi smiled back. “Yes,” she agreed. “It was even more wonderful when Hayato came back from that first date with a black eye.”
Kyoko giggled. “I think they’re good for each other,” she admitted, fingers messing around with the pages incessantly. “I’m actually kind of jealous to be honest.”
Bianchi bit back a sigh. Here was Kyoko, beautiful and gentle Kyoko, whose heart wouldn’t last a minute in the mafia world. The girl was like Tsuna in some ways. They both had an amazing shine in their eyes. But as Tsuna grew stronger, the shine increased in intensity, whereas Kyoko’s had dimmed greatly.
She wasn’t meant for this world.
Reborn had told her this before and while Bianchi had acknowledged it, she never considered actually talking to Kyoko before. But now, Tsuna was steadily gaining confidence and he was ready to pull the girl into something that she couldn’t refuse.
Bianchi had to do something about it.
“Why would you be jealous?” she asked cautiously. “I hear you and Tsuna are doing well.”
Kyoko bit her lip. “Yes well,” she hesitated and looked back down on her magazine.
Bianchi frowned. Kyoko was the type of girl that would blush and be proud of her love life. Not pale and shrink from the subject of it. This was worse that Bianchi had anticipated. It was time to go in for the kill.
“Kyoko,” she started seriously. Kyoko raised her large eyes to her. “Do you love Tsuna?”
The girl’s mouth dropped open. “Tsuna-kun and I are still dating!” she protested weakly. “But I do care for him a lot and I worry when he’s out getting himself hurt and…”
Bianchi leaned over to pat Kyoko’s arm. “I know,” she said gently and that was more than enough to have Kyoko launch herself at Bianchi, hands trembling from emotion.
Her eyes started to water. “B-But Tsuna-kun,” she sniffed, gratefully accepting the handkerchief Bianchi offered. “He says that he needs me.”
Bianchi pulled Kyoko close before whispering in her ear, “But what does Kyoko need?”
Kyoko sniffed.
A week later, Kyoko packed her bags and left for university. All she left behind were three notes, one for her brother, one for Tsuna, and one for Bianchi.
Tsuna and Ryohei’s read the same thing. I’m sorry.
Bianchi’s was a little different. Thank you.
Bianchi crushed the note in her hands when she saw the expression on Tsuna’s face and reminded herself that love could be cruel as well.
Hayato approached her after Tsuna stormed off to his room. “Aneki,” he said solemnly, eyes hard with suspicion. “Did you have anything to do with Sasagawa leaving?”
Bianchi smiled wryly at her younger brother. “Kyoko did what Kyoko wanted to do.”
Tsuna was a broken man. He wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t sleep, and he wouldn’t talk to anyone. Reborn had shot him in the head more than a few times but still, no response.
Bianchi was walking to his room to try and convince him to eat something but stopped when she saw that Chrome was already knocking at his door.
“Boss,” Chrome said softly. “Boss, please come out.” Her knocks got more insistent. “Boss, I know it hurts but - “
Suddenly the door swung open and Chrome was face to face with a furious Tsuna.
“You know?” he repeated angrily. “No one knows! No one knows how I feel, how, how bad it feels not having Kyoko-chan with me, and you - you - “
Chrome bit her lip as she backed away. Tsuna visibly deflated. He reached out to her weakly, “Chrome I’m so - “
She flinched when he moved towards her and shook her head furiously before running off. Tsuna sighed and hung his head shamefully.
Bianchi grimaced as she made her way to Tsuna. “That was stupid,” she commented lightly.
Tsuna’s head shot up. “Bianchi!”
She shook her head at him. “Don’t be dame-Tsuna anymore. Think before you talk - but not too much.” Tsuna opened his to protest but Bianchi already started to walk away. “You’re going to be Vongola’s boss aren’t you Tsuna? You can handle something like this can’t you?”
He sighed.
Bianchi walked into the kitchen to see a despondent Chrome sitting at the table, picking at the frayed ends of her shirt sleeve. She placed a comforting hand Chrome’s shoulder causing the younger girl to look up with glassy eyes.
“He’ll come around,” Bianchi assured her. Chrome rubbed her eyes before nodding.
“Of course,” she whispered. “Boss has a kind heart.”
Bianchi smiled at that. “Don’t give up on him.”
“Of course not!” Chrome said loudly, rising from her seat. She blushed when she became aware of her outburst. Bianchi just stared at the younger girl, amused.
“You’re so cute, Chrome-chan.”
Chrome’s blush deepened.
Lambo and Ipin were easy. They were still young and so innocently in love it moved Hayato to pieces, so much that he was actually gagging when he saw the two of them. Bianchi was touched in all ways possible but that was ruined by the fact that Lambo tended to be a complete and utter idiot. And when he wasn’t being an idiot, he was being a crybaby.
Oh Ipin, I admire your strength, Bianchi thought to herself as she watched a calm Ipin soothe a distraught Lambo once again.
“They make me sick,” Hayato muttered from behind her. Soon after he spoke, he squawked in pain. Haru raised the frying pan with a frown on her face.
“They’re adorable,” she hissed.
“They need help,” Bianchi murmured. And so Haru came up with a rather fantastic plan which involved various costumes, disappearance of Hayato’s cigarettes, and a moonlit walk on the beach.
“It’s going to be cloudy tonight,” Hayato said sullenly, one protective hand over his cigarette case. Haru’s cheeks inflated.
While the two of them argued, Bianchi called the local florist and asked that a bouquet of lilies be sent to the house for Ipin, in Lambo’s name.
Cliché, but it would work.
One could only hope that Lambo wouldn’t cry upon confrontation. Key word being “hope.”
“Reborn,” Bianchi whispered as she quietly crept into the apartment. Reborn didn’t appreciate uninvited visitors but Bianchi figured that he wouldn’t mind too much. She had so much to tell him about all she had accomplished - Tsuna held Chrome’s hand the other day, Haru and Hayato were kissing almost as much as they were arguing, and Ipin and Lambo had gotten cuter, if possible.
Bianchi clutched the bottle of wine to her chest happily. She could finally sit down with Reborn and celebrate. Lord knows how long it’s been since they last spent quality time together. To say Bianchi was excited was definitely an understatement
She was thrilled.
Bianchi stopped before Reborn’s door and lifted her hand to knock but froze when she heard muffled voices from inside. Her raised hand began to shake.
Reborn and…
The door opened suddenly and she was face to face with a shirtless Reborn. His fedora was, typically, still on. He raised his eyebrow at her.
“Bianchi,” his smooth voice still sent shivers down her spine. “I see you’ve left yourself in.” His eyes lowered to the wine she held. “And you’ve brought us a present.”
Bianchi’s heart fell a little. Us?
There was movement from behind Reborn and a slender Chinese man suddenly appeared next to him. “Good evening,” he said rather politely. Bianchi stared at his black ponytail and dark eyes and recognized him as Ipin’s trainer.
“…Fon-san,” she acknowledged weakly. He nodded once before turning back into the bedroom.
“Don’t take too long.”
Bianchi’s chest tightened when she realized that Fon was talking to Reborn. And here she was, talking to Reborn. Here she was, a hindrance to the two of them. The two of them.
Love is indeed a cruel thing.
“I should bash this bottle on your head,” she murmured softly. Reborn let an amused smile shadow his features. Bianchi lowered her head as she offered the wine to him.
“But I won’t.”
Bianchi was glad to say that she managed to leave Reborn’s apartment with her head held high.
She couldn’t say the same for when she entered the bar.
“Give me the strongest liquor you’ve got or I swear to God I’ll kill everyone in here,” she threatened the terrified bartender. Almost thirty seconds later she got her drink and proceeded to down it in less than five seconds.
“Another!” she growled.
“Poison Scorpion?”
Bianchi choked on her beer. “Oh no,” she groaned aloud as a bewildered Dino Cavallone took a seat next to her. “Anyone but you.”
Dino mock pouted. “That’s not very nice of you.”
“Save the charm for someone else, Bucking Horse,” Bianchi growled sourly. The pout disappeared from Dino’s face and he smiled good-naturedly, eyes raking down her figure.
“I see you’re all dolled up,” he started. Bianchi scoffed and deliberately chugged her beer faster. He raised an eyebrow. “So why exactly are you here of all places?”
And maybe it was because Bianchi’s a little too drunk and a little too heartbroken when she said, “I got dumped.”
Dino’s eyebrows disappeared in his hairline.
“I see!” Unbeknownst to Bianchi, he gestured to the pale-faced bartender to halt with the drinks. “You know my lady, any more of that alcohol and you’ll be kissing the floor.”
Bianchi scoffed again. “Don’t care.”
Dino’s smile widened though his eyes were purely sympathetic. “My former tutor can be quite the cruel person.”
Bianchi blinked at this and stared into her half-empty drink. “Love can be cruel,” she whispered softly. Dino nodded once and placed a hand over hers. She shrugged away from him, eyes flaming when she finally lifted her gaze to his.
“Bucking Horse,” she warned. “Just because I am drunk doesn’t mean I’m easy.”
Dino continued to smile but the sympathetic look in his eyes was replaced by a rather mischievous one. “I know.”
She stared him down for what seemed to be hours and when Bianchi saw that his smile was unrelenting, she sighed heavily.
“You pay for my drinks,” she gestured at some random place in the bar, “and for the hotel.”
Dino nodded to Romario and rose at the same time Bianchi did, putting a hand on her waist to steady her. This time, she didn’t shove him away. “Cab or the limo?” he questioned politely.
Bianchi snorted. “The goddamn limo. If I’m going to do it with a stupid Cavallone, let me do it in style.”
Dino’s laughter was surprisingly nice to listen to.
Bianchi woke up with a ridiculously painful headache and she spent a good five minutes cursing alcohol, herself, and a few other things before stumbling into the bathroom to empty her stomach. Soon after she’d finished vomiting, she heard Dino’s sleepy voice, “There’s aspirin in the bathroom.”
She quickly opened the cabinet and grabbed the bottle of aspirin. “…Thank you,” she called back to the bedroom, voice weak and uncertain. She heard him laugh and despite herself, she blushed.
Slowly, Bianchi walked back into the bedroom and avoided Dino’s smoldering gaze, eyes searching the room for a bottle of water.
“Here.” Her eyes followed his pointed finger and she let out a mental sigh of relief as she gulped down the pill and the much-needed water.
“Thank you,” she said again, back still facing him. Dino hummed in acknowledgment as she backpedaled into bed, making sure there was adequate distance between the two of them.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re beautiful?” Bianchi raised her head and opened her mouth to call him on his bullshit but he continued anyway. “Granted, you kind of look like shit right now, which is hot in its own right, but really. Poison Scorpion,” His warm eyes met her wide ones. “You really are beautiful.”
You will not blush, Bianchi told herself sternly. Not again, not in front of him. She refused to make a bigger fool out of herself than she already had.
But Dino really did have a nice smile and an even nicer laugh.
“Love comes unexpectedly,” she muttered to herself.
Dino tilted his head to the side. “Hm?”
She sighed. “Nothing.” To his surprise, she crawled closer to him, pressing their nude forms together. Bianchi felt Dino’s heartbeat quicken.
She smirked. “Bucking Horse, has anyone ever told you how loudly you snore?”