Part Eight

Colonello Chapter 15

Trying to traverse the Sun plane when it's owner and master was angry was like trying to swim through molasses. Whenever Colonello tried to ease forward, tried to see further, a great mass would press down on his being, tighter and tighter, until he was forced to pull himself in, to tuck himself into an angry little ball of energy that sizzled anything that came too close.

Reborn had an infinity to hide in, and Colonello only had a few measly hours to find him before he had to return. If Reborn wanted nothing to do with them anymore, then that was one more point to Colonello, more time that Tsuna could devote to him instead of ornery Reborn.

But he was hunting out Reborn for Tsuna, so at the very least, he would devote a little more time to it until he gave up and returned. Reborn couldn't hide forever. Colonello would find him.

When he squeezed back into his human body, he had been stretched for so long it felt strange, like he was a rock trying to fit through the eye of a needle. Hearing came first, the groan of old pipes as water rushed through them, vision coming next and the then everything rushing into together, struggling to snap back into place before they were lost.

Verde's anger crackled across his skin before he'd even opened his eyes fully, despite the fact the other demon was doing no more than reading a book, posture loose and face calm.

Skull was the one to explain, spinning lazily in the desk chair to face him and the beast under Colonello's skin rankled at the predatory look in Skull's eyes, the glow of power, the glow of madness, a tightly reined animal ready to attack.

Before Colonello could do anymore than get angry, get violent, the bathroom door opened and Tsuna's quiet, tired voice asked for clean clothes. Verde unfolded from the floor in a single, graceful movement in answer, voice a low hum in the background as he and Tsuna decided what the human wanted to wear.

When the bathroom door opened again, it came with the artificial scent of Tsuna's shampoo and the mint of his toothpaste and the person himself trudged out, picking his way across the room to slump onto the bed next to Colonello, Colonello all but preening that he was the first choice.

The first words out of Tsuna's mouth asked for Reborn, and under the bitterness Colonello felt sorry that he would have to disappoint, would have to murmur platitudes and useless words because Reborn simply would not be found.

Tsuna refused to tell him what he'd said to Reborn, and a haunted look crossed his face. Colonello bet he didn't even realise that his hand had shot to his throat protectively, fingers curling and then loosening as he scrubbed at a bruise that was no longer there.

When he asked to go with Colonello next time, to traverse the plane in a human body, Colonello wished he could have said yes, couldn't find the words to tell him no, tell him why it was a no.

Verde, still crackling, still humming with power, answered in his stead.

Tsuna pressed further, harder, demanding information with every word, posture straightening as he got closer to the answer he needed.

Skull mentioned Second Blood

Tsuna mentioned Second Blood, and every fibre of Colonello's body was suddenly alert and aware. He made sure to be the first to show his interest, unable to stop himself from taking Tsuna in from every angle.

Verde tried to make it a no, did his damn best, but Tsuna wouldn't back down and Colonello couldn't help but press to the human's side like a cat seeking attention.

There was a part of him that wanted to pluck Verde's eyes from his skull when the other demon appraised Tsuna in a similar manner, because Colonello could see what Tsuna couldn't, blown pupils, a ring of colour, a monster coiled in a cage suddenly too small. But Verde spoke, rather than acting, a testament to his control and Colonello nearly whined when Tsuna stood, seeming too big in the space of the bedroom.

Tsuna said his name, his, each syllable falling from his lips like honeyed water, gave permission, and Colonello was normally very careful in acting very human around Tsuna to not scare him, but he couldn't stop himself from darting in, fingers curling around an inviting waist, hands quivering in excitement.

He was being too eager, he could see it in Tsuna's eyes, the press of a hesitant hand against his chest that burned like fire and before Tsuna could rescind his offer, could understand the gravity of his words, Colonello was accepting the permission before it was too late.

A hand curved against a waist, another tangled in Tsuna's shirt collar and Colonello had access to skin, unable to stop himself from having a taste, the buzz of power under Tsuna's skin almost tickling, thick against his tongue.

Colonello skated his hand to the back of Tsuna's neck, other hand holding him steady and couldn't help the noise that trickled from his throat, a noise of ecstatic happiness, before his teeth were breaking skin and drawing blood.

The beast wasn't under his skin anymore, it was a part of him, humming along his arms, dancing by his fingertips, igniting his Aether and it was almost instinctive, mechanical, as he untangled his fingers from Tsuna's hair, to bring his wrist to his mouth.

If Tsuna was a demon, if he wasn't so fragile, so human, so perfect, he would have broken the skin himself, would have let them tangle together in a match of strength and wills as they drew blood and Aether and shared power.

But…in Colonello's opinion, this way was just as fun, the taste of his own blood in his mouth, mixed with Tsuna's blood, like a storm on his tongue and before Tsuna could back away, because Colonello could see the realisation in his eyes, Colonello languorously dragged his hand up Tsuna's side and pressed his mouth against Tsuna's.

He could tell the moment that a part of him became a part of Tsuna instead, shared in blood, taken and given freely, because his human shell, woefully limited and dull, became suddenly sensitive and Tsuna started shivering in his hands.

When the body in his arms was pulled away, Colonello fought not to snap and snarl in Verde's face, feeling the sting of reprimand even as Verde fussed over Tsuna.

Tsuna whimpered, then, and Colonello found himself struggling against boundaries he didn't even realise he had, fighting everything he had and only limiting what he wanted to do as a brush of skin and a hitch of breath, a smug murmur of words.

It was step too far. Verde struck back like a venomous snake, eyes bright, teeth bared, and Colonello saw the glint of jealousy in his eyes, the burn of want.

Verde had expected Tsuna to ask him.

Colonello was barely aware of Skull guiding Tsuna from the room – the human had what he wanted after all, Second Blood, a closer tie to a being of Aether – but Colonello could feel the contract buzzing, the piece of him that was now Tsuna rumbling under his skin.

Verde's anger snapped, sharp and stinging against his side, so explosive that Colonello's arm was vaporised before he could step back, the release of power rocking the building and setting alarms off in the distance.

The pain was nothing to the smug satisfaction.

Colonello had Second Blood. Tsuna was his.