Ten Flames

A Sense of Shock, A Decision and Tsuna's First Lullaby

"Who is that?"

The trio just stared slack jawed. The shared thought of disbelief and shock hung in the air like a noose and the awkward silence filled the air suffocating everyone except for one smiling oblivious child. Finally the brunette childishly satisfied with fiddling with the edge of the coat noticed the burning stares directed at his tiny figure. Tsuna looked at the men who just stared back in return. It was like you could see the silence between them. As the child scanned the room his large honeyed eyes rested onto a strange figure that practically screamed power and demanded respect despite his baby shaped appearance he could see the figure was possibly the strongest in the room and for some inexplicable reason Tsuna was drawn to him. Maybe it was because of the contrast between the physical and the internal, the almost regal aura this other exuded, all-in all his very presence seemed to attract the child and without even thinking he began crawling toward said infant.

Bermuda if one looked closely under his bandages raised an eyebrow at the approaching figure. Was this child crazy? Not even the strongest of mafioso would so casually approach the boss of Vindice and even if they weren't aware of his status his overall overwhelming power should make even the most dense be wary of him. But not this child. He could see that the young brunette held a strong will and a lonely past through his large eyes that seemed to reflect everything and Bermuda undeniably felt pulled into those eyes, possibly attracted by the pure innocence and warmth that had always been so tragically absent in his own life.

The child with tiny hands reached out to the baby and without really understanding himself the Night Arcobaleno let him. Their hands grazed each other and ever so slightly the infant had to suppress a shiver. Even underneath the bandages he could feel the smooth pale skin of the child as well as the faint underlying pulse of power under the softness. And then Tsuna smiled. A smile that made the emotionally dead Vindice guards feel something other than revenge and hatred stir within them. A smile that caught their breath. That melted even if only a tiny bit of the giant glacier that they had froze themselves into. In a way it scared them- they who lived their lives in the darkness of revenge to feel... something, anything was something that was considered wrong yet they couldn't help but yearn for it.

"Up!"

A young clear voice echoed off the grey dreary walls that immediately reminded the general crowd of melting caramel; sweet, warm and addictive yet exotic due to the words being spoken in japanese. Bermuda couldn't help but stare incredulously (though he hid it pretty well) at the brunette, he understood the language the child was speaking having learnt many languages himself, what he couldn't seem to wrap his mind around was the child itself who obviously directed the order toward him. This two-year old evidently wanted him to lift him up onto his throne. The bandaged Arcobaleno weighed his options. If he adhered the commands of a mere child that would instantly cause his reputation to drop faster than a certain hitman running to his beloved espresso after a month of caffeine deprivation. However if he refused the child could very well cry and then he would be the jerk of a boss who made little children cry. Of all things good and pure- he was the Vindice Boss goddammit! He didnt know squat with kids- torture and final complex judgements that would affect a persons entire life?- Now THAT was his forte. In fact how was he in this situation in the first place!?

*snort* "I-I can't..." *chuckle*

Everyone's head whipped to the source of the offending individual much to their surprise they saw Bermuda's right hand man Jäger reveal his presence with his hand to his mouth and shoulders shaking in attempt to stifle his laughter. Though his boss's internal confusion and chaos was well hidden, having served so long by the arcobaleno's side the tall male was able to pick up the faint hints of emotion on the other's face. Though Jäger was a usually stoic solemn man the ridiculous scene of an adorable child asking to be picked up by the boss of the most feared formidable group of the underworld not to mention the sight of said boss with the most lost, panicked expression he'd ever seen just sent him over the freaking edge. His failure to muffle his laughter only served to make the situation even more humorous causing slight snickers even from the other subordinates much to the arcobaleno's chagrin. 'Seems like someone is simply begging for more paperwork.'