paradisa | Action/Closed -- Vongola XII

[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.]

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Just what?!

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

-- Afraid?

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

[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.]

[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?

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.

[a pause]

...Yep. You're an idiot.

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

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

Yeah, I'll try.

You better. Because if we find a way home? I'm going, no matter how risky my life is back there.

Okay. [He looks up at Zelos.] Just... please stay safe?

Heh. I'll sure try- but whatever will be, will be.

No... promise me you won't die.

Sorry, but I'm not promising that, Tsuna.

Then promise me that you'll do everything you can to make sure that you don't.

Like what? Freeze my aging like Mithos did so I can live thousands of years instead?

Pass. [Assuming it's not already too late...]

That's not what I mean and you know it!

Oh, so old age is okay?

Theeeeen what if it came down to my life or the lives of an entire village? I mean if I did everything I could to keep myself alive, I could make sure I don't die...

[Tsuna frowns, but... calms.] That won't work, Zelos. I know you'd never do that.

Maybe. But it's what you're asking me to do, by making me promise that.

No. I'm asking you to either make sure you never get into that situation, or you find another way.

Tsunie, when you're in my position sometimes not getting into that sort of situation isn't an option.

And sure, I'll try to find another way- but sometimes there isn't one, okay?

Then you make another way.

[He seems pretty dead set on this.]

...As much as I can respect and like the stubbornness, sometimes life doesn't work like that.

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