Chapter Text
Fon’s eyes trailed worriedly over their smallest member. Skull, who was looking out the window with a wistful look on his painted face. His eyes staired into the distance in a way that worried all of them because they knew if Skull ever found what he was looking for they would lose him.
“Skull?” He called towards the quiet male. A side only a very people ever got to see. Most would only ever see the mask he wore. They saw a loud braggart who enjoyed being the center of attention. Fon was pleased that after many years together the Cloud had given them the opportunity to see beyond the mask he wore.
Skull De Mort was a soft spoken and thoughtful individual who preferred to take a person’s measure before forming an opinion on them. Even then that opinion was not solid. It was as malleable as wet clay. He seemed easy-going but should his ire be risen it was like an inferno. He was gentle but there was steel hidden in his depths that made even Reborn look in admiration.
“Can I help you, Fon?” Skull’s soft voice called towards him, but the Cloud didn’t turn around.
“Would you like to spar?” He found himself asking and amused green eyes turned to him. It was just one more mask Skull wore. The outside world thought Skull’s eyes were purple, like his Flames and hair. They weren’t. His eyes were a beautiful breathtaking emerald. His hair wasn’t even a purple shade like most assumed. It was a feather soft black, and Fon still had no idea how Skull could change his eyes and hair so thoroughly in the blink of an eye.
“Perhaps tomorrow.” Skull’s voice sailed over his ears as the Cloud gave a small smile before turning to look back out the window. Fon walked over to the Cloud, standing at his back as he peered out the window. “It’s going to rain today.” Skull mumbled softly and Fon looked towards the cloudless sky and nodded.
This was just one more thing that they all found intriguing about the Cloud. It didn’t matter what the weather was like or if the Sky was clear. If Skull said it was going to rain, then you could put money on it raining. He was never wrong.
“What has your attention little Cloud?” Reborn’s voice rumbled as he entered the room. Fon turned his head to see the same worry he felt mirrored in the man’s eyes. As if on silent que the others came in and placed themselves around the room.
“Rainy days always make me contemplative.” Skull said, and Fon gave a gentle smile towards their strange Cloud.
“Everything makes you contemplative.” Reborn chuckled and Skull turned around to look at the man and shrugged.
“Are you having nightmares about the future that wasn’t?” Verde asked with narrowed eyes as he looked at the Cloud as if he could force an answer from him.
“The future that wasn’t doesn’t give me nightmares but thank you for asking.” Skull said with a final look towards the window before heading over to his normal seat. A large plush chair that was a true eye sore, but Skull had fallen in love with it and none of the Arcobaleno’s could bring themselves to deny the Cloud anything.
“Mu, what were you thinking about Skull?” Viper asked, getting directly to the point and Skull smiled at them.
“A pair of eels and an octopus.” He said as he shook his head with such fondness in his eyes that they all ached.
“Oh?” Reborn called when he didn’t elaborate.
“The eels were twins, you see.” Skull chuckled after a moment. “One twin had terrible mood swings. He might laugh or he might squeeze you depending on his mood. His brother was always seen as polite and calm in comparison and most people even thought he was nothing like his brother or the Octopus they hanged around. The Octopus was like Viper but a little more cunning and would orchestrate things to get the most amount of profit. Anyways the second twin, like I said was calm and polite. With a deep love of Mushrooms.” Skull’s smile widened even as Colonnello draped a blanket over his lap. “Thank you.” He told the man before returning to his story.
“Anyways. The second brother was, in some ways, like Fon. He hid himself in such a way that most people did not see beyond what the eyes saw. He always had a smile on his lips but in ways he was perhaps more volatile than his brother. Where Floyd, the moody twin, would tell you from the start that he wanted to have fun by squeezing you his brother would let you lower your guard before going in for the kill. Behind his easy manners lived a predator and people often forgot it because of the Octopus and his twin.” Skull’s voice was mesmerizing.
“When dealing with the Octopus it wasn’t Floyd you had to watch out for but Jade. The right hand of the Octopus.” Fon gave a soft sigh; this was a story he had heard a thousand times but it never got old.
“Kora! I want to hear about some of the trouble the octopus and the Eels caused!” Colonnello called and Skull gave him a small grin and nodded as a loud knock echoed through the room and the others barely contained their scowls. Why did someone have to interrupt when Skull was telling stories?
“I’ll get it.” Reborn grunted as he made his way to the front door and opened it to see his dame student who was fidgeting on the door step.
“Err… Hi Reborn!” The Vongola Sky said as he rubbed his neck.
“Is there a reason you’re here?” Reborn grunted annoyed at having Skull’s stories cut off.
“Don’t be rude Reborn. Tsuna, please come in.” Skull said with a gentle smile that made the Sky blink. His eyes went to the Sun who gave a gentle smile towards the Cloud and Tsuna felt as if his world had shifted. That wasn’t a look he had ever seen on the Sun’s face when it came to Skull.
“I wasn’t being rude Skull. He has our numbers so there is no reason for him to show up without calling ahead.” Reborn defended himself getting a soft laugh from the Cloud.
“Sometimes things have to be said in person.” Skull shrugged as he led the way back into the main area where the others were sitting, and Tsuna blinked at how they were situated. The couches were turned in such a way that they were all facing the ugliest chair he had ever seen.
“Kora?” Colonnello nearly whined as he looked at Skull who reclaimed his seat and Fon stood to replace the blanket. “If we are having a guest, I will go make some tea.” The Storm said as he gently reached up to stroke the soft hair, only a little surprised Skull hadn’t changed it when he went to greet their guest.
“Skull, Kora?” Colonnello called and the Cloud smiled his gentle smile.
“He’s adorable on rainy days.” Reborn chuckled and Tsuna blinked as he glanced out the window to see a bright and clear sky.
“Umm?” Tsuna wasn’t sure what to say as he looked from the window to his tutor and over towards the Cloud.
“I told you, don’t believe everything you hear about us. Skull likes to be contemplative. He blames the weather, but everyone knows it’s just who he is.” Verde grumbled.
“If by everyone you mean those few Skull actually allows close to himself.” Lal snorted.
“What brings you by?” Reborn asked when Fon reentered the room and passed their Cloud a steaming cup of tea.
“I wanted to throw you guys a party to celebrate the curse breaking and you all having your old bodies back.” Tsuna grinned as he wondered if he had eaten something to make him hallucinate.
“That sounds fine Kora but you’re interrupting. Reborn make your student sit down I want to hear it.” Colonnello called with a huff as he turned eager eyes onto Skull who raised an eyebrow.
“Mu, he’s not wrong and you know how he gets for your stories.” Viper called and before tsuna could say another word he was being pulled to sit down by the Sun who glared warningly at him even as Skull let out a soft laugh.
“Very well, you wanted to hear about the trouble the twin eels and the Octopus caused?” Skull asked with a fond smile but none of them knew if it was a fondness for them or a fondness for the stories he liked to share on days like today.