As Long As You're Alive

Trigger Warning: This story contains heavy suicidal themes. If that's something that makes you uncomfortable then this probably is not for you.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

Tsuna watched the clock impassively.

It was dark and he couldn't tell the time from where he was sitting, but the consistency of the ticking was comforting.

He sighed, shifting into a more comfortable position, and allowing his head to loll back onto the top of the bench. He closed his eyes, taking in the muffled sounds of traffic. Cars rushing overhead, honking, an occasional shout. The city that was so inviting and pleasant during the day pulled a complete one-eighty after dark.

That didn't just apply to civilians.

No. It applied to Cosa Nostra too.

More, even.

The night held a lot of evil since people tend to get brave when they think no one's watching. The smart ones get bolder because they know the right people are watching.

People who wouldn't sell them out. People who valued their depravity.

People who were worse than them.

Wasn't that what Cosa Nostra was all about? Living– No, ruling from the shadows. Committing crimes, hurting people, but only where no one could see. Of course, people knew they existed, but they didn't understand.

It wasn't their place to understand that they were being herded like sheep. Meticulously controlled by the shadow puppeteers.

He laughed quietly. Shadow puppeteers. How fitting.

Tsuna glanced over at the clock again, taking in the soft ticking. He sat up, straightening the way he'd been taught to always do.

He was still in his suit, uncomfortable as it was, it was the only thing that felt familiar at this point. There was still the irritable urge to reach down and straighten it. Tuck his dress shirt into his pants. Redo his tie. Button his blazer.

All the things he was expected to do automatically, and all the things he shouldn't care about. Not anymore.

Still. He couldn't help but purse his lips when he imagined how disappointed Reborn would be. He hadn't seen the man in years, but the thought of letting him down made Tsuna uncomfortable. Even if he was a failure in every other aspect, he decided he could at least attempt to look presentable.

He owed him that much.

Tsuna took a few moments to straighten his suit, fingers skirting the patches of soaked fabric, then ran a hand through his hair.

Satisfied, he pulled his phone out of his pocket. It was banged up pretty bad. The screen shattered into a spiderweb, several pieces of glass missing. Even the metal casing was rough. The number of dents in the back made it look like the victim of a miniature meteor shower.

He sighed, hoping it'd work anyway, and turned it on.

12:23 AM.

Well, then. Just a little longer.

His eyes found their way back to the clock on the wall, letting the phone shut itself off.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

It was funny that everything had happened here. In Rome, of all places. Considering it was supposed to be neutral territory, no one had expected the ambush. It was interesting that someone would be desperate enough to attack Vongola that they'd risk incurring the Vindice's wrath.