Action/Closed -- Vongola XII

[not_mafia]

[It'd been a fitful night for Tsuna, his sleep tormented by nightmares yet again. Scattered nightmares, both from what he'd experienced when he was in everyone else's nightmares, and then some. Let's just say learning what a Chosen was meant for didn't exactly make his sleep any less troubled. He ended up starting awake at around three in the morning, and though he was tired, he found himself unwilling to go back to sleep, so he begrudgingly took a shower, clothed himself, and headed outside.

Zelos wouldn't be in the garden for awhile yet, so Tsuna decided to just take a walk around the castle, letting the cool air clear his mind. His mind wanders to the nightmares. He knows that without those nightmares, it's likely that most of those things would have never been brought up. Knowing what he did... even if it wasn't his fault, he couldn't help but feel like he cheated. Cheated into learning deep-seated issues of his friends. Like accidentally eavesdropping on an intimate conversation, if when you were eavesdropping, you also suddenly found yourself with an inability to walk away.

Of course, he hadn't gotten off scot-free, either, and his own nightmares had... varying amounts of real life consequences, from an almost too easy forgiveness, to a punch in the stomach. He... still wasn't sure how to feel about having his weaknesses exposed like that, honestly.

About thirty minutes later, he finds himself in the garden once more. He sits down on a bench and takes his dagger out of its sheath, and takes a small grinding stone from a pocket in his coat, then sets to sharpening his weapon.]

Comments

[not_mafia]

N-no. [I mean, they kind of bickered a little, but Tsuna wouldn't call it fighting.]

[wilder]

Hm. [He shrugs it off]

Well either spit it out or get past it. Being distracted during a fight is one of the fastest ways to get killed.

[not_mafia]

[He doesn't feel right, keeping it from Zelos. After all, it kind of... was an important aspect of his life.

He drops his gaze.]

I... know what a Chosen does. Martel told me.

[wilder]

[Okay for everything he was thinking it was?]

[This wasn't on the list. And it shows]

- What?

[not_mafia]

Martel was telling me what happened, after she died. About Mithos... and how he tried to resurrect her by sacrificing people with a similar.. mana, I think. The Chosen Ones.

[wilder]

[................]

[There's a long silence before he asks very carefully, though his voice has a bit of an edge to it]

Does anyone else know?

[not_mafia]

[Tsuna shakes his head.] No, of course not.

[wilder]

Well that's something, at least.

[He puts his sword back into it's scabbard before he crosses his arms, turning to the side so he's not looking at Tsuna. Even logically he knows Martel can't be blamed for talking about that stuff, emotionally he's still pissed. ]

So what? What keeps distracting you, Tsunie?

[not_mafia]

[....... oh, now Tsuna thinks he's upset with him.]

I... It just, bothered me...

[wilder]

Well isn't that sweet.

What- did you want to ask questions or something?

[not_mafia]

[Tsuna brings his head up sharply, looking alarmed.]

No! I wasn't even thinking of doing that!

[wilder]

Then what, Tsuna?

[not_mafia]

[Tsuna shrinks under his gaze.]

I'm... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything.

[wilder]

[Yep and that only fuels him further]

Oh for crying out loud! Grow a damn spine already and don't give me that crap!

If you have something to say, which you clearly do if you're thinking so much about my personal life, have the decency to spit it out!

[not_mafia]

I.. I just... [Whatever words he might have said get caught in his throat. He feels so terrible...]

[wilder]

Just what?!

[not_mafia]

[He flinches, eyes shut tightly as he blurts out:] I was just afraid!

[wilder]

-- Afraid?

[WHAT. That surprises him enough to stall the rage for now]

[not_mafia]

[It takes a moment for Tsuna to get his nerve back. His heart's still racing a little.

When he's finally collected himself, he speaks quietly.]

At first, Martel didn't say that it was the Chosen Ones. She said it was a lineage, bred for the purpose of taking her soul. It was... really upsetting to hear. That people were being raised for the sole purpose to... well, to die. It sounded so horrible.

But then she mentioned it was the Chosen Ones, and... all I could think about was you. [He glances up at Zelos meekly.] About how you had to deal with that... and how, if you went back, you might have to-- [Be a sacrifice. Die.] A-and, I wouldn't be able to-- [Do a damn thing. Save you.]

[His body is squared, and his shoulders are shaking a bit, and his eyes are stinging a bit. Don't cry, stupid. Zelos isn't going to be sacrificed. He's safe. He takes deep breaths in an attempt to steady himself.]

[wilder]

[There's a bit of a silence. Getting it now. Oh wonderful, did Martel not mention-]

Tt.

You can relax, it's been stopped in my time. Did she not mention that part?

[not_mafia]

No, she did.

She told me that you stopped Mithos, and that won't happen anymore. [He rubs at his eyes for a moment before looking at Zelos, an embarrassed smile on his lips.] I guess it's pretty dumb for me to get upset when I knew you were going to be okay. But... maybe it's because I realized that if you wound up going back to your world, and something horrible happened... I wouldn't be able to help you.

I mean, it's not that I don't think you're not strong or anything. You're one of the strongest people I know. I just... [He shakes his head. Man, isn't this similar to the conversation they had, when they got back from the expedition?] I guess I'm just making excuses now, aren't I? I'll shut up now.

[wilder]

[a pause]

...Yep. You're an idiot.

[not_mafia]

Sorry, Zelos. I don't really have any right to be upset.

[wilder]

No, you don't. You really gotta work on that.

[not_mafia]

Yeah, I'll try.