Scroll of the Fox

Of Idiots and Flames

Dedicated to Darknessmoonsglow (AO3)

xxxx

Reborn wasn't really sure when it happened; he just knew that it did. It might have started sometime during or after their fight against Byakuran in the future. Or maybe even earlier when he saw the true potential Tsuna possessed that was nearly destroyed due Nono's reckless decision to seal the young Sky's flames. He'd already had a few choice words with Timoteo about that, but it was beyond the point. What mattered right now were the Sky flames he could feel hesitantly hanging around his flame core. They weren't trying to reach it but they were also not backing away, like afraid to make contact yet not wanting to give up. He could sense the physical exhaustion of their owner but they were unwavering; strong and vibrant and oh so pure. 'Oh curse lifting be damned...' He knew those flames; knew the owner. He trained the bloody idiot himself after all. Those beautiful and comforting Sky flames that he nurtured belonged to his reckless yet amazing little student; they belonged to Tsuna.

He really couldn't help feeling proud for his student nor the fondness that accompanied it. In his time in the mafia, many Skies had tried to rope him into a guardian; a few more subtly than others. None of them though really succeeded. They were either too weak to tame his powerful Sun flames or had already possessed a full set of Guardians, thus not feeling too inclined to bond with him. Luce had been a prime example of the latter. She was the strongest Sky he had met but she already had a full set. There had been tentative bonds between the Arcobaleno but nothing solid. Despite the respect they held for her, they were all deeply hurt by her betrayal. She had foreseen everything yet she chose to remain silent. She had her own reasons, he was sure of that, but it didn't lessen the impact at the end. So feeling those pure and strong Sky flames practically asking for Harmonization, he felt inclined to respond in kind.

He allowed his Sun flames to extend from his core and wound around the tendril of warm orange fire. A silent moment passed, lasting naught but a few milliseconds, before he felt as though a thick cloud of smog had been blown away from his mind. Gone was the dark grey at the edge of his mind, the paranoia and insanity he acquired in his line of work; it was replaced by vibrant orange and golden colors, giving him a sense of clarity. It was simply euphoric. Breaking away from his haze, he ignored Fon and Collonelo's questioning looks and focused on his student. A small gasp had sounded from the winded teen before his head whipped at the hitman's direction. Everything became background noise as their eyes locked from across the clearing. Tsuna had a stunned look at his face, eyes shining with confusion and... was that hope? Yeah, it certainly was. Reborn lifted his fedora and smirked with open pride at the teen. A single clear tear escaped the young boss' brilliant orange eyes before they closed and the most beautiful smile graced his face. It seemed like everyone present in the clearing had stopped their conversations to simply stare at the brunette.

They all secretly agreed that day on one thing; Tsuna was a saint in their dark world. That and his smile, so full of innocence, was a weapon for world domination.

xxx

Old man Talbot had informed them that despite the curse been lifted, their bodies would gradually grow back to how they were. Most of them had openly groaned at that; they would have to go through puberty again. Not to mention the pain and cramps their growing bones and stretching muscles would ensue. Reborn had the urge to violently beat someone at the thought. Before he could make a move to Skull though, lithe arms scooped him up. Looking up his obsidian eyes met caramel ones. Tsuna had guessed what he was about to do and decided to save the immortal Cloud for yet another beating.

Holding firmly on the tiny Sun, he let his Sky flames flare around him, a barely noticeable shimmer under the surface. Reborn felt them envelope him like a comforting blanket, relaxing his high strung nerves and nearly turning his body into jelly. It was weird; the kind of weird that you can't help like despite your skepticism. He suspected it was because of the Harmonization. No other theory matched the results. He refused to think about that ridiculous one his mind tried to push into the forefront. No way could that ever happen. So, shaking those thoughts away, he relaxed into the warmth of the Sky flames, feeling them purr with satisfaction. He couldn't help himself thinking about how instinctual, how primal, Tsuna sometimes felt. From the way he looked at certain people, to the feeling of his flames. They were wild; not the untamed one, no. It was a controlled wildness, like someone who knew true freedom and lived by their own rules without being hazardous.