This work uses characters and/or ideas from both the Dresden Files and Katekyo Hitman Reborn. The Works Cited in MLA is on the first page.

Seriously, what should I do next? I know that I want to have the Mafia confront the supernatural world, but...

Should the Accords kidnap a mafia person/flame user to get info after they find out? Or is Kincaid a flame user? Only those with souls can use flames, but that means the Denarians may decide they want Marcone for an entirely different reason...

Chapter 3

Hendricks was… not exactly worried, but something close to it. Dresden, for all that he had technically agreed with John and had formed a really tentative bond the other night, had every right to freak out the moment he woke up. The guy probably still thought of them as enemies, and he'd resisted for so long he probably wouldn't know how not to dig in his heels.

So the Boss had decided to make the guy comfortable. Which somehow consisted of buying his entire apartment complex, making sure the other tenants had good places to go, and then turning the entire place into a house. Dresden's stuff was exactly as he'd left it, except that it was going to be connected to the rest of the building. And a part of the place would be his office.

Hendricks thought his sky was going a bit too far. And with Dresden, getting the man some good food would probably go a lot further.

He just hoped that this wouldn't end up biting them in the but. Dresden, who was technically a Warden of the White Council, who Queen Mab wanted to be her Knight, who had started a war between the wizards and the Red Court vampires, would now be under John Marcone's purview. The Boss had just signed the Accords as a Baron, and he fell under Omerta laws. That's at least three people in the magical sector they'd probably have to fight or negotiate with, and the mafia could react many different ways to a Sky gaining a Cloud Guardian.

They would most likely either avoid them, or attempt to take the Cloud for themselves, thinking that the Cloud is tamed and will listen to them if they can nab them.

You don't tame Clouds, you offer them freedom and bribe them with the stuff they like.

Which is admittedly why he thinks they should give Dresden steak dinners, weird magic supplies, and access to a fiction library. But it wasn't his job to say such things to the Boss (Marcone had told him many times he could say whatever he wanted, but he hardly ever did because it was more amusing to see people scramble).

But it would probably turn out alright. Mostly because Harry Dresden was already a little territorial over them. Nathan didn't think that anyone else had really paid attention, but the guy had a habit of patrolling near their work buildings occasionally.

He seemed to do it more often right after he got a big case, or had to deal with either the Council or the Fae. Almost as if he had to reassure himself that everything was safe, that nothing bad had happened.

It made Nathan feel bad for the guy, constantly believing that everything he cared even a bit for, that all the stuff that reminded him of home, might be gone in a moment.

It made him want to destroy the rest of the wizards and the fae, to see such a strong guy, cloud or no cloud, be so irrationally paranoid and terrified. Because Dresden was a good guy, who tried to do good things, and seeing him so low made the Storm in him rage.

Everyone seemed to think that his Rain secondary made Hendricks softer and more controlled than a Storm normally was. Less dangerous. When in reality, rain had a tendency to cause floods in storms,and floods could cause longer damage than any storm by itself could hope to accomplish.

*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*

Harry Dresden had woken up about an hour earlier. While still injured, he was much less exhausted, which was probably the reason why no one had really said anything when he mentioned that he wanted to go home.

Marcone had amusedly given him a ride, with a distracted Guard tapping her phone. Or at least she looked distracted. Harry, who'd grumbled about his dog and cat until the mobster had let him go, was looking kind of mutinous.

"Look," Harry grumbled out finally, "What do you want me to do. You've got me, like you wanted, so now what."

"Of you," Marcone told him in a voice that might be categorized as gentle, "Given your proclivities, all I ask is that you help me in warding my business and home against magical threats with Gard, take cases for me as you would others, and should me and mine be attacked I would ask for your aid."

As Marcone explained, Harry relaxed slightly. This wasn't actually that bad. Protection, information, detective skills, and aid in defense were all he was going to be asked of, but still…

"We'll make a contract, Right? I want to be there when you're writing it up."

"Of course, Harry," Marcone purred, "I wouldn't want you thinking that we would slip something unagreed upon into a contract."

"Don't call me that, scumbag," Harry said in reflex.

The rest of the drive was characterized by Guard tap-tap-tapping on her phone.

*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*

"What is this," Harry muttered, while looking confusedly at his apartment. Or at least what used to be his apartment. In the week he'd been away(mostly unconscious or to injured to move), it had gone through a big change. In fact, it looked more like a fortress than an apartment complex, It even looked like it had been reinforced in some areas. One of the biggest changes though, was the fact that it only had one door in the front, instead of the multitude for different apartments.

"Think of it as a signing on bonus," Marcone told him with only a hint of smugness in his voice, "So that you don't have to worry about your enemies attacking your neighbors. Though, Considering that your cat has given several of my men phobias it should probably count as your Christmas bonus too. Having mobsters terrified of cats would be a terrible weakness."

"Good Mister," Harry said in a somewhat dazed tone before snapping out of it and gesturing wildly at the building, "Marcone, you can't do this… Whatever this is."

"Besides the fact that it wouldn't do to have you killed because you were incapable of properly defending yourself and your home against threats, this will also be your base of operations. You can use it as your office, shelter friends and allies- including myself, and hold any magical objects as needed. And," Marcone added in an amused afterthought, "Should you gain subordinates, this will be their base as well. Protecting the city would work better if you had minions to help."

Harry hesitated before finally giving in and nodding(after seeing John Marcone's soul, he knew that the guy wouldn't be budged on something like this, and besides, Harry could just annoy him a whole bunch later to make up for it) and moving to walk inside.

"Thanks, John."

"And Harry," John Marcone said just as the man pulled open the door, "I will be having a meeting in two days at Executive Priority Health, I promise that I will explain everything to you then."

*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*

Walking into what was a mob base, even if he technically had ties to the mob that owned it, felt weird. Especially since Harry Dresden wasn't on a case or anything, Marcone had just called a meeting.

And Dresden had come like a dog to its owner.

Needless to say, he really disliked the feeling. By the time he'd sat down at the table Marcone and his… friends(?) were at he was in a pretty bad mood. And It showed.

"Let's just get this over with," Harry scowled. Which, to be honest didn't have any effect on the gathered room except for causing some amusement.

Gold and silver eyes was the most amused, and said in a mock hurt voice, "Aww, I thought you'd be happy to see us."

"I don't even know who you are," came the grumbled reply.

This sobered up the man considerably, and caused sharp eyes to survey him, "My name is Damien Childs," The man almost seemed to hesitate a little before stretching out his hand, "It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Dresden, it's not often that good people actually do good, especially not when it's hard or when it occasionally necessitates doing things others would consider morally or ethically wrong."

Harry Dresden slowly took the hand. Looked at the room of criminals that he'd 'made his bed with,' at the clear respect on the four faces, and sat down. Focusing on Marcone Harry simply said, "You have an explanation for me?"

And John Marcone started talking.

*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*

Apparently the Mafia was more supernatural than Harry had thought. Marcone had just finished telling him about flames(he was a Cloud, Marcone had said), and how it related to what was going on.

Eventually after staring at the Mafia Boss somewhat blankly for a few minutes, Harry said in an entirely to exasperated voice, "Because of course the world isn't complicated enough with just magic, fae, and monsters, they had to add sparkly soul-fire criminals to the mix."

Marcone looked at him for a moment before gently(or as gently as a mafia boss could, anyway) saying, "Harry, I would like it if you were to give us a chance."

"A chance with what?"

"I told you that my flames were sky flames, and about harmony, yes? I would like the chance to see if we could bond," at the minute flinching and withdrawing that were at the very least evident in his flames Marcone hastily added, "You can break it off at any moment, I would just like to ask that you give us a chance to bond and stay open minded."

And Harry considered. He looked at the gathered group, and wondered if he could trust them.

In the end, it was not such a difficult choice. All it took was one question on Harry's part.

"Why me? I mean, I'm not a criminal or anything, and we don't really know each other, so…"

John Marcone smiled at him, bright and true, before simply saying, "You don't give up, you don't compromise your morals. You'd probably kill me yourself if I ever tried to force you to. You make sarcastic remarks to people who could kill you, and don't care about wealth or status beyond what is needed to keep a roof over your head. I admire that, and want to make sure it stays that way."

With every face showing their agreement to that statement, a mildly blushing Harry Dresden agreed to give the Chicago Mafia a chance.

He ended up signing a contract later that day, wondering what he'd gotten himself into this time.

:sorry for the long time, this chapter was just dificult to figure out.

I've had it mostly finished for a couple of months, actually most of my next chapters are mostly finished. I am sorry that I work on so many things at once, but if I try to stick to one thing I give up. When reading, I have to have at least three books at the same time. Don't know why, though.

And yes, I know that the apartment building is unrealistic. However, I don't want to have to bother with neighbors or Harry moving out. So, you get the castle before the apartment burns down. Ta Da.