Title: Wrathful Grapes and Aged Wine

Summary: In which Hibari is one, Alaude the other. Dino/Alaude

A/N: I actually wrote this on Tumblr in response to one those Ask thingys where my character had to 'confess' to another. Here's the result of that.

-o-

His feelings for the man should've been as impossible as the man's existence itself, even by any stretch of imagination. The laws of the universe generally seemed to dictate that the dead stayed dead, save in memory and science fiction. And so, the first generation Vongola Cloud's sudden appearance ripped a gaping hole in the fabric of logic, and baffled many brilliant minds. Not even he seemed to understand his purpose, conscience having drifted in from some unknown dimension and physical form materialized out of the air, as befitting of his element.

In a number of ways he resembled his present day successor, intimidating in both body and spirit, and it was perhaps because of this reason that many shied away from him. Dino was one of the few exceptions. After swallowing the shock of the situation, along with a rather large dose of suspension of disbelief, his inquisitive nature overtook all else. Hardly a stranger to death, curiosity was a luxury Dino could afford.

Rumors were the preferred choice of ammo when it came to the real mafioso housewives of Sicily, and Dino wasn't deaf to the rumors that had them in titters. Dino was whipped by some 15-year old. Dino had a thing for jail bait. Dino ran a brothel that supplied underage boys. The rumors grew more outrageous between each passing.

It was safe to say Dino had grown attached to his student, in a strange, inexplicable sort of way. Oh yes, Hibari's little sadistic streak was endearing. As endearing as a tonfa to the gut could get. Dino may not have been the sanest of individuals, but he certainly wasn't stupid. He was fond of the feral little beast, but Dino wanted to live. Who could fault him for it?

Dino would find Alaude in various parts of the Vongola base, always in quiet reflection, perhaps pondering the reason he had been brought back into this world. In moments such as these, Dino would fill the air with chatter, and Alaude would respond in that short, succinct way of his, sharp eyes full of appraisal. They were different than the looks Hibari gave. The dark-haired teen was quick to underestimate and dismiss you. Alaude's experience ensured he didn't make the error of doing so.

And this was why Dino fell in love with Alaude. He lacked the blind bloodlust that so governed Hibari's actions. Dino could safely share the same space with the blonde guardian without experiencing perpetuating threats to his existence, if not only a few irritated glances every now and then. Alaude also did not share the habit of calling everyone an herbivore—he actually addressed individuals by their birth-given names. Offhandedly, Dino was pretty sure he would've preferred to hear his own name being called in the bedroom, rather than heavy sighs of, "Ohh, herbivore!" (He promptly pushed the imagery aside and hoped it would never come to light again.)

A meaningful gaze here, a light touch there. The Cavallone youth had somehow slipped his hand over Alaude's one morning, and the silent guardian had permitted it.

Moments later, Alaude looked to him coldly. "Spare me the foolishness you're about to spout, Cavallone."

A chuckle. "When have I ever spared you?" Dino asked, before dipping in close to impart a bit of foolishness that only the space between the two could hear.