Cloud AU's

Class Trip

"You want me to what?" A shrill voice shouts, voice pitching even higher and breaking on the last word, demanding an answer. Teetering between 'you're serious' and 'you can't be, I misheard you, surely'.

"Get kids out of a plane." The other replied, even and to the point. Okay fine, of course- not!

"How- why--" Angry fumbling, hands gesturing, face twisting and voice tumbling over itself with half-formed questions made up Skull de Mort's current state of being. Which, as his verbal partner happened to be Reborn, was per course.

"Are they still arguing about it?"
a third voice questions.

"I believe Skull hasn't gotten the message quite yet." another replies, observing the spectacle the way one would a variation of an episode from their favorite series. With intrigue.

"Huh, --hey idiot!" They call out.

"What?" The first voice, Skull, responds, aggravated. By the discussion or the rude call is at this point inconsequential to his mounting annoyance.

"Reborn wants you to join in on teaching some mobs the fine arts of your profession."

Skull processed the words: "Which one?" The rest frowned, about to respond but Skull pulls though "-Living doormat, idiot, stuntman or Arcobaleno?"

A beat of silence. A blink. A glance around to ensure they didn't imagine it.

"You have self-awareness?"
The fourth voice that's argued with the third whispers, as though they can't believe the man's brain holds sentience.

"Yes, Verde, I do - have to since I'm in the entertainment business and an unofficial yet publicly reserved target for practice shooting."

Verde huffed, rolling his eyes at the frank explanation but he didn't deny the truth it held. Something who knew the man knew to be rare when talking with their Cloud.

Skull continued, this time eying Reborn with open suspicion since he can't hide it; Reborn was a mind-reader in his own right, and since he wasn't an exceptional Mist, it was useless. He'd be better off spending that effort elsewhere. "Ya do know I've never taught someone anything in my life, right?"

Reborn smirked, and that was all the answer Skull needed.
Reborn wanted exactly that -his lack of experience- and probably what came with it: a distraction. They've had this song-and-dance too often for Skull not to take the hint and cue eventually.
Otherwise why would Reborn bother to ask Skull when he's the extraordinary teacher with fuck knows how many skills?

Skull huffed, aggravation settled into a dull sense of acceptance, admitting defeat to his new task. "So? Which subject?"

"Their idiots and civilians" for now was left unsaid but Reborn knew Skull knew it was at the very least heavily implied, considering his own past.

"Stuntman" Skull deduced, frowning up to meet danger incarnate's dark gaze.

Reborn made a sound between a chuckle and a scoff, it was full of mirth. Which, in the language of stick-up-his-ass meant yes.

Skull's mouth twisted sideways, considering the ramifications.
For all that was the Omerta, they should at least try to steer clear of civilians - he had been an exception of the highest caliber, the Arcobaleno Curse a death sentence above Vindice's cold prison walls. So for them all to start a mission around civilians and not voice dissent (like they had with him joining their first meeting)...

"Should I pity my first students?"

Reborn didn't even give a verbal confirmation, yet his eyes seemed to convey enough.
Up to you they seemed to say, shaded by his favored fedora.