[Drabble] Solace
[Fandom] Katekyo Hitman REBORN!
[Title] Solace
[Pairing/Characters] Superbi Squalo, Dino Cavallone; S80 in denial
[Rating] G
[Word Count] 578
[Note] Keitai drabble written in response to ch. 295. Wryyyyyy.
The memories Squalo received of the future arrived in a jumble, spotted with the tingle of fire and injuries not quite there. Some things he had seen surprised him--his cooperation, his concern, his sacrifice. Though he had always sworn loyalty only to his boss, he had so easily helped the Vongola Tenth, too easily gave in. Too easily swayed by the relieved smile of a brat amongst the burning wreckage of defeat and his neglectful lies of dedication to the sword too often uttered.
With all that he had seen and learned (and all he had yet to understand), Squalo had a million questions to irritably snap and twice as many demands to yell. His attendance at the Vongola inheritance ceremony may or may not have an outlet for all that, but he donned his suit and pride most stubbornly and charged in with a manner of nonchalance weaved between loudly snapped greetings.
If the memories he had received had not been enough to help recognize, the laugh Yamamoto Takeshi made in response to his greeting did more than suffice. It was close, but not quite him; not quite sound enough with his overly honest emotions. It wasn't the same smile that had pulled Squalo from the broken Vongola base and not the same stupid smile that shone so brilliantly at him as they said their goodbyes. It wasn't the same--but the mist guardian girl had certainly tried. If he were anyone else and not as accustomed to illusions (or Yamamoto's mannerisms), he probably would have been thoroughly fooled like the the rest of the invitees.
“Where's Yamamoto Takeshi?” he had demanded of the Vongola Tenth with Dino pressed just as closely and inquiring in a similar fashion. Tsuna's smile was strained with a hundred different weights of emotion, his stuttered whisper reluctant and hesitant. His shaky words of explanation filled Squalo with an unknown anger, a surprising rage and frustration (though the younger boy looked like he was ready to cry as well). His fist clenched on the fabric of Tsuna's suit, clutching almost threateningly until Dino's evenly firm grip on his own shoulder pulled him back. Stepping away from the young Vongola, he finally breathed the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Dino scrutinized him silently until their retreat brought them out of the Vongola family's earshot. Steadying hand returning to it's place on Squalo's shoulder, the Cavallone boss offered a faint smile of understanding with concerned crease (he had no doubt he would be even less composed than the other man had it been his Kyouya).
“What will you do from here? I can cover for you if you want to leave--”
Squalo snorted sardonically and shrugged the other man's hand off with less conviction than he had planned.
“Unlike a wimp like you, I couldn't care less about some brat--” Dino simply smiled knowingly at that. “--and I know my place.” His tone was cold and sharp, anger searing the edges as Dino's faint smile remained unchanged.
“But I will find the one who did this and show my appreciation as that brat's tutor.”
“You acknowledge him as your student now?” Dino asked in a fond tone.
Dino's question went ignored. Squalo still had hundreds of questions and demands about his memories of the future, but first he had to make sure there would still be one (with that stupid smile and the promise of still being able to stand with the sword).
[Title] Solace
[Pairing/Characters] Superbi Squalo, Dino Cavallone; S80 in denial
[Rating] G
[Word Count] 578
[Note] Keitai drabble written in response to ch. 295. Wryyyyyy.
The memories Squalo received of the future arrived in a jumble, spotted with the tingle of fire and injuries not quite there. Some things he had seen surprised him--his cooperation, his concern, his sacrifice. Though he had always sworn loyalty only to his boss, he had so easily helped the Vongola Tenth, too easily gave in. Too easily swayed by the relieved smile of a brat amongst the burning wreckage of defeat and his neglectful lies of dedication to the sword too often uttered.
With all that he had seen and learned (and all he had yet to understand), Squalo had a million questions to irritably snap and twice as many demands to yell. His attendance at the Vongola inheritance ceremony may or may not have an outlet for all that, but he donned his suit and pride most stubbornly and charged in with a manner of nonchalance weaved between loudly snapped greetings.
If the memories he had received had not been enough to help recognize, the laugh Yamamoto Takeshi made in response to his greeting did more than suffice. It was close, but not quite him; not quite sound enough with his overly honest emotions. It wasn't the same smile that had pulled Squalo from the broken Vongola base and not the same stupid smile that shone so brilliantly at him as they said their goodbyes. It wasn't the same--but the mist guardian girl had certainly tried. If he were anyone else and not as accustomed to illusions (or Yamamoto's mannerisms), he probably would have been thoroughly fooled like the the rest of the invitees.
“Where's Yamamoto Takeshi?” he had demanded of the Vongola Tenth with Dino pressed just as closely and inquiring in a similar fashion. Tsuna's smile was strained with a hundred different weights of emotion, his stuttered whisper reluctant and hesitant. His shaky words of explanation filled Squalo with an unknown anger, a surprising rage and frustration (though the younger boy looked like he was ready to cry as well). His fist clenched on the fabric of Tsuna's suit, clutching almost threateningly until Dino's evenly firm grip on his own shoulder pulled him back. Stepping away from the young Vongola, he finally breathed the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Dino scrutinized him silently until their retreat brought them out of the Vongola family's earshot. Steadying hand returning to it's place on Squalo's shoulder, the Cavallone boss offered a faint smile of understanding with concerned crease (he had no doubt he would be even less composed than the other man had it been his Kyouya).
“What will you do from here? I can cover for you if you want to leave--”
Squalo snorted sardonically and shrugged the other man's hand off with less conviction than he had planned.
“Unlike a wimp like you, I couldn't care less about some brat--” Dino simply smiled knowingly at that. “--and I know my place.” His tone was cold and sharp, anger searing the edges as Dino's faint smile remained unchanged.
“But I will find the one who did this and show my appreciation as that brat's tutor.”
“You acknowledge him as your student now?” Dino asked in a fond tone.
Dino's question went ignored. Squalo still had hundreds of questions and demands about his memories of the future, but first he had to make sure there would still be one (with that stupid smile and the promise of still being able to stand with the sword).