Chapter Text
/Someone's Hungry/
Ietsuna had just been grocery shopping, as it had been this turn for the week, when he heard the rather loud rumble. Blinking, the man looked around, wondering where the sound was coming from and why it seemed like only he heard it.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrum
There it goes again! Is he seriously the only one hearing this? Curiousity getting the better of him, he goes to check where it could be coming from, finding that the source is around the corner from the aisle he is in, which is where the sweets are.
And to his surprise, he finds it's a raven haired kid, a red Disciplinary badge on his arm, and steel in his eyes as he seems to glower at the price on a package of green tea mochi, his stomach growling at him all the while as he does.
Now thoroughly amused at the slightly adorable situation, the ash brown man thinks he might use this to his advantage.
After all, he could always use a helper, with the usual ones doing their own thing at the moment.
(Meanwhile...
"I thought you were going to go to the store with him Satoshi-kun!" Ienari asks his twin in looks with only their pupils different, shock and guilt heavy in his tummy.
"I thought Nami-chan or Tsuna-nii were going with him; I had a spelling bee after school." The shy blond with red eyes nearly cries, his eyes teary at all the bad things that could happen to their Tou-san. After all, just last week someone got mugged and someone had even tried to pick-pocket Nana-obasan!
Who knows what terrible things could happen.
"I was helping Nami-chan with her paperwork, since she had more then usual since the Prefect left earlier today." Tsuna says as his speech wobbles here and there, the red haired girl with her brown eyes a bit red sniffling beside him.
"If someone hurts Tou-san I don't care what Kaa-san says; I'm using the kitchen knives to cut them up!" She announces even as she cried, tears falling down her cheeks at the thought of her father hurt somewhere on the cold ground. Violence is no fun when the people you care for are hurt bad.
"Not without us you're not." Ienari and Satoshi say at the same time, matching hard looks on their faces and in their eyes, laziness and shyness disappearing.
"We'll also have to tell Saki-Obasan; she'll also want a piece of who ever hurts Tou-san." the only brunet in the group said, his eyes hard and determined.
Now they could only wait until the ash brown man came home, or until they got a call something happened.)
Smirking ever so slightly, the father goes ahead and takes one of the green tea mochi packages, getting a glare directed at him for the action.
"Listen kid, I've been glared at by much more terrifying people; try and wait a few years till the baby fat goes away, then you'll have something." Ietsuna says, eyebrows raised when he sees an actual dark aura appear around the kid.
(... He swears to god, if he is in an Anime or Manga, he will go try for the Lottery; knowing his life, he might have crazy luck to make up for all the crazy in it.)
"... Anyways, if you're interested, I might have a deal for you." the blue eyed man continues, the steely eyed kid now looking at him wearily.
"I'm listening, Herbivore." the older man nearly snorts at the classification.
"As much as I enjoy salad as the next person, I love my meat to much to give it up, so I'm still an Omnivore kid. But anyways, I could use a hand with some of the groceries I'm getting, which is a bit much. In exchange for helping with my things, I'll buy you some Mochi. You interested?" Now, normally he wouldn't just ask a random kid, but he's found that those in the same Disciplinary Committee as his daughter are a special case.
While yes they are violent in the protection of the town, they also do help those in need or trouble, though it is considered polite to give an offering of thanks in return.
Does he understand why these kids have so much power? No he does not.
Does that mean he won't use any of the services that they supply? Hell no, if it prevents him from sore feet and aching arms.
Besides, it's not like the kid isn't getting something out of it (though why the heck they start so young, he does not understand; this kid looks eight and his own daughter joined at five after all).
"...Three packages." the brat before him has the nerve to demand.
"One package is more then enough."
"Four."
"Yeah, no."
"Four and a half.
"Hmmm, I guess I could go one and a half, but that's it; I'm not made of money and the mochi you want is expensive." Ietsuna answers calmly, his cool gaze meeting a glowering one.
"... Fine."
Well, the kid's getting 45 mochi, he himself is getting less ache's and 15 mochi for his family; seems like a okay deal.
(Of course, if he knew what this results in, he probably should have just walked on by.)
/Why So Confusing/
Hibari Kyoya stared hard at the man he was helping, carrying some of the groceries (which did not hold the mochi his stomach had desired).
The Carnivore was admittedly confused.
No one, besides a rare few, really ever approached the eight year old, finding him 'scary' or 'creepy' as was the case. Not even his own parents cared to be around him, the rare times they were home they would have him at arms length. Though this could have been because the young boy admittedly enjoyed the nature documentaries his aunt gave him then the religious teachings his parents servants had originally tried teaching him. (No one in the world would ever realize just how lucky this was, and would thankfully be blissfully ignorant of a bloodthirsty zealot that could have been.)
But this man, this 'Omnivore' approached him and even struck a deal with him and haggled. They had even ruffled his hair, the man's warm hand a weight on his head. It had been a strange action, though not an unpleasant one. (And he might not mind if the man were to do so again.)
Though it had especially gotten interesting when the man had knocked out an annoying herding Herbivore who tried at being a Carnivore to bother them. (The child noted it would be best not to call the older man pretty as that seemed to incite anger to a rather dangerous degree.) The thug and his friends had went down easy.
So yes, the Omnivore was a source of confusion for the young boy not used to people or any type of affection.
"So, I notice that you're part of the DC; you wouldn't happen to have met my daughter, have you?" is suddenly asked, the question making the Skylark pause.
There was only one female in his committee, the only one who passed every test like the others to get in. (Like his parents, the youngest Hibari had great expectations for those who followed him, though he didn't involve religion to be followed in his group.)
"... Your offspring is the Rabid Female?" the raven couldn't help but ask, now really looking at the man's face to see if he could catch any resemblance in features.
"... I'm guessing that you have fought her?"
"Yes; she fights as if crazed, no rhyme or reason to her style, which while advantageous at times, can also be her down fall when she loses herself." was his answer. (Though it made sense now why he was so confusing, as the brown eyed female was confusing most times of the day, especially when she turned all red for no reason he could see.)
So, this was the Rabid Female's father...
How interesting.
"Hibari-sama!" and think of the female and so she does appear.
"...Okay, Nami can you help with some of the groceries?" the Omnivore says after a moment where he looks between his stunned daughter and her Committee leader.
"Y-yes Tou-san." the red haired girl says, taking some of the bags from the raven haired boy, blushing as she does so.
Really, why does the female do so? If she is ill she should not be outside, possibly spreading it around.
"Well, here's the house; you can just follow me to the kitchen." and with that said, he goes into the Elder Sawada's house, helping him put things away along with four other children, three of whom run the minute everything is put away, leaving him with the Omnivore and the Rabid Female.
"Okay, so do you want to stay for dinner tonight, or do you want to just take your treat and leave?" is asked of him.
Thinking about it, if he just leaves now he will only go home to a empty house with a few cooks and maids who avoid him whenever possible. Though if he stays, there will surely be crowding, which he finds he does not like.
On the other hand, he is still curious about the confusing being.
"I will stay, but I require a snack." he answers, to which the brown eyed girl immediately goes to what seems to be a pantry to get him what he desires.
"... Well, welcome to the Sawada households kid." the father says wryly, his hand reaching up to ruffle his hair once more. (Which he secretly didn't want to stop.)
(And ever since, whenever the ash brown haired man goes shopping, a Skylark always joins him. Now, while Ietsuna appreciates the help from who he finds out is Hibari-san and his daughter's crush, he could definitely do without it when trails of bodies start following him from the grocery store.
Then again, he shouldn't have fed him his cooking; who knew the boy would love his curry that much? ...Or would break down when hugged? (He had no idea the kid was touch starved! Otherwise he would have never held him so he could better see the festival fireworks, he could have seriously triggered something more violent in the child then tear stains on his yukata!))
/Found It On The Doorstep/
When the glasses wearing man had went to get the paper, he did not expect to be yelled at. First thing. In. The. Morning.
"VOOOOOOOOOOI! YOU SURE TOOK YOUR TIME YOU SHITTY OLD MAN! I'M FREEZING MY ASS OFF!" was what was yelled at him, early in the morning when he was just waking up.
Needless to say, all the Varia higher ups soon found out why you do not bother/annoy/try to kill Sawada Ietsuna in the morning.
Because he will screw you over and enjoy every minute of your pain.
Xanxus had actually tried to warn his damn subordinates, though due to cockiness and the fact that Ietsuna didn't look like much of a threat with his duck covered bath robe (gift from his boys), fuzzy panda slippers (Gift from the girls), and his pretty boy looks (from his grandmother), they hadn't thought much of him.
When Squalo had opened his mouth, Xanxus had just upped and left, wondering if they would all still be alive when he got back from his sudden patrol around the neighborhood.
When the hour was a little more acceptable, he had come back to find they were, though all were seriously drained.
"You fucking trash, I told you all to be on your damn best behavior here." He growled as the others just groaned, most of the others too tired to even talk.
"W-what the hell did he do to us Boss?" Leviathan asked, a stutter to his words.
"It-it's like the Prince can no longer use his flames!" the youngest groaned, curling into a little ball.
"You know what he did, don't you you shitty boss." his silver haired second growled.
Xanxus snarled at them, "It ain't my place to tell you trash; you want to know, ask him. And you don't have to worry you scum, your flames will come back in an hour or so as long as you don't try and use them." and with that said, he knocked on the door this time, though not to loud to be annoying.
He didn't want to be on the wrong side of Ietsuna's Draining Will Illness.
As the door opened, his old guard looks fit to ask questions much, much later, before he seems to be caught flat footed when he sees the wrathful young man before him. There is an awkward moment of silence, as the two just stare at each other for a moment, before the blue eyed man moves.
Smacking him upside the head, which actually damn well hurt, making him and a few of his men yell, only to be cut off by a glare.
"That is for not calling me to update your status, driving me mad with worry, and being an overall annoying brat. When I said go take a day off, I didn't mean come over to my house!" the man growls, before pulling Xanxus towards him, the teen ready for a punch.
Which doesn't come; instead, he finds himself trapped in a familiar embrace, which admittedly stuns him for a bit.
"And this is because you're still breathing; you better not worry me like that again, or I will be the cause of any injuries you receive." is muttered crossly, Xanxus not able to hold back a chuckle, his head coming down to rest on the now smaller man's shoulder.
This is what he has been missing since he was ten, this piece of home. And even though it left him, it still left a point of weakness in a cell phone number, given to a child who could have lost it or given it to someone.
A person can do a lot with a phone number; it was why he didn't call until he did, not wanting to endanger the married man.
"Well, enough of that; want to come in for breakfast? Those idiots can join as long as they behave." is offered, the blue eyed man pulling away to glare at the stunned assassins behind them.
(In their defense at the time, none of them knew of the terrifying 'Dad Ability' at the time, or how effective it could be. They were just shocked at how much more relaxed their boss looked.)
/Nope, Nothing Normal Here/
Varia and Satoshi
Little Satoshi, while the smartest in the house, was also the least unimpressive in his eyes.
He couldn't compare to his younger sister, whose violence terrified others even though she could still draw them in with her cheerful smiles and eyes. He also couldn't even hope to be as sneaky as his little brother, who could use his words to trick and trap others when he had the motivation to. And how could he ever hope to even think he could be like their oldest brother through bond, whose warmth could even draw in people like the Hibari-san, whose kindness could melt even harder hearts.
All Satoshi could say for himself was that he had a good memory and was painfully shy; how was that impressive?
And then he met Superbi Squalo and found himself amazed.
"Vooooooi, shitty boss! Stop taking all the pancakes!" was yelled, the silver haired teen scowling fiercely at another scowling dark haired teen.
The young man was loud, he moved with a grace that was deadly, his eyes confident and strong.
Satoshi didn't fully understand what beauty was then, but he thought the young man fighting over his Kaa-san's breakfast was beautiful.
-
"What the fu-" was almost yelled at his oldest, before a dark aura filled the room. (Huh, so he could do it too; nice to know that.)
"Curse in front of my children and I'll do much worse then just making you tired." Ietsuna tells the silver haired teen, who cringes at the reminder, as he puts a plate in front of a little blond boy with a tiny crown on his head. (Really, just how young are assassins starting these days? They keep on getting younger and younger every time he looks.) All the Varia had been on their best behavior, pulling out manners that haven't been used in years in fear of punishment when Ietsuna had let Xanxus and them in for breakfast with a glare.
Yeah, he still got's it.
"Well, what's with the brat and why is he staring at me?" Squalo grumbles, shooting a look at Satoshi, who is now already hiding behind his father.
"This is my son, Satoshi." he answers, Xanxus raising an eyebrow at that.
"You have a kid?" the red eyed teen asks, looking hard at the shy little blond behind his old guard.
"We were blessed and had triplets." his mahogany haired wife says cheerfully, all the teens pausing at that.
He can see them picturing it now, having three kids instead of just one. He and his wife receive their fair share of looks for that.
"As much as that must suck, why is your brat still staring at me?" the Rain flame user asks, eyes meeting the little boy's, who blushes at that.
... Oh no, please don't say this is what he think it is. Please say his intuition is wrong for once.
"...You'reverybeautiful! DoyouwanttoMarryme!" his red eyed son says as loud as he can, only taking one breath, his face covered in a pink flush. He then bolts out of the room when the guy with piercings spits out his juice, with Squalo's jaw hanging open. (And did the five year old just snap a picture or something?)
Xanxus just gives him a look.
"... So my kids may have an attraction for violence."
Vari and Nami
Nami is the next of his children to walk through for breakfast, her favorite book, Ways to Maim, Torture, and Kill, in hand.
"Tou-san! Can I learn how to do a Glasgow's smile?" she says as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, eyes sparkling.
"What have I and your mother said about torture techniques?" He looks over at his daughter who takes her plate from him, book set on the counter.
"That I can't learn those until I am at least 15, so that I can be mentally prepared for the mental aspects and if any of my boyfriends or girlfriends think of ever trying anything I do not want." She recites dutifully, pouting.
"Shi-shi-shi; having to wait for all the good stuff. The Prince has known how to torture and maim since he was five!" the blond child boasted (and why the hell is that a thing to boast about?!), grin growing when Nami just gives him a look.
The grin is no longer on his face once the girl has him tied up in her knitting needles and yarn, down so tightly to impede movement. (Hmm, still needs to work on her speed; if it wasn't for the surprise she wouldn't have- wait a minute.)
"Nami, how many times do I have to tell you; no knitting when eating." he sighs, going over to the tied up blond, who is trying to wiggle out.
"But he was being meeeaan; I don't like it when others are mean." she pouted, tightening her string on the boy, who gasps as she does so.
"Yes, but what if he got food on all your pretty yarn? You wouldn't be able to make anything with it dear." his wife scolds, making Nami pout even more before she reluctantly loosens her hold, letting the blond free.
(Why is this his life again? Knitting shouldn't be considered a deadly weapon in any world.)
"I'm going to just have some toast Kaa-san; I have early morning patrol now." And saying so, the red head takes two pieces before she runs out, the blond boy starring after her as she goes, a little pink on his face.
... Nope, not going to touch that, not at all.
Varia and Ienari
Ienari, who just walks in, takes a good look around at the dinning room table.
Yeah, no. Not worth the headache it's going to be; he'll just eat some of the pastries he has hidden up in his room.
"Ienari-kun, you better be just forgetting something and not planning to eat those snack cakes for breakfast." is the slight scolding he gets from his father.
"Just thought I left the computer on; I can just go back to it when I'm done with breakfast." he sighs, going over to the table, noticing how a few double take around him.
(So they've probably already met Satoshi, huh? Though why is the silver hair guy giving him that sideways look for? His twin in looks wouldn't have done anything too bad to him, his shyness wouldn't let him.)
"Ah, this is my second child, Ienari. As you can tell, he's Satoshi's twin, while Nami is born fraternal to them."
"We got the best of both." Ienari says with a half-hearted wave, before taking his plate and going to the living room. Seeing as his dad doesn't call him back, he relaxes.
He didn't think he would be to comfortable eating his food with highly trained, assassins who were strangers. It would have been rather off putting.
Varia and Tsunayoshi
"Tou-san! Tou-san! You won't believe what I won!" is announced just as the door is opened, running able to be heard.
"I thought you said you only had three brats?" Xanxus asks Ietsuna, pulling his hand away from his weapon, the others following his example.
"Well..." and saved by the dinning room door opening, little Tsuna smiling brighter then the sun.
"I won Tou-san! I won the Epic Super Robot, ESR!" okay, maybe not, judging by the stare directed at the back of his neck by undoubtedly red eyes. (And what kind of name is that for a toy?)
"That's great Tsuna-kun, we'll see the requirments on how to get it in a bit. Now though, would you like to join us for breakfast, after we get introductions out of the way?" He asks, drawling the boy's attention to his breakfast guests. Blinking, the boy smiles at them, even as he hides behind his legs.
"Hi." he says a little shyly.
"This is my nephew on my brother's side, Sawada Tsunayoshi. Lion cub, this is a group known as the Varia, lead by Xanxus over there." he introduces, noticing how the Sky and Storm user stares hard at his son through bond.
"You don't call him uncle, but father; why's that trash." is the first thing that pops out of Xanxus's mouth.
... Considering the adopted Sky's situation, this can either end very very badly or not so badly.
And little Tsuna immediately puffs up, the dangerous glint in his eyes that means a headache for Ietsuna and heartache for Nana.
"Because he's my Tou-san in all the ways that matter. He's the one who helps me with my homework, helps me with my hurts, is there for me when the monsters come, is teaching me to defend myself, feeds me yummy curry when I'm really, really hungry! And, and he's always there for me, he kisses me good night, he takes me to school when Kaa-san isn't feeling good and he's, he's just there. The funny blond man doesn't even do half that stuff, and I don't want him too; I have Tou-san already, so there!" The cute little brunet huffs, eyes glowing orange and glaring at the other sky as if daring him to argue.
A moment of silence covers the room, everyone watching the display, before the teen Sky actually snorts.
"Sure your dad isn't your mom as well?" the teen says, realizing too late what he just said as Ietsuna gives him a flat look.
"Excuse me Tsuna-kun, but it looks like I have to teach troublesome brats lesson on respect." is the deadpan reply which makes Xanxus flinch as he is dragged outside to the backyard. And even if he doesn't use his lovely brass knuckles with their lovely wave like design and switch blade combination, he can still make a brat or two learn the error of their ways.
(And while the costs for fixing his and Nana's fences is slightly painful, as well as the yards themselves, it's worth it to see his bratty little Sky relax, even if he is getting the snot beaten out of him by the older man. Just like old times, even if he has to cheat more since the kid is stronger.)
/Now Look What You Did/
It started with one simple, could have been easily overlooked comment if his children weren't so in tuned with anything involving their father. If Xanxus had said it later, it probably wouldn't have made such an impact as it did. As it was, Tsuna had been with the others watching the fight between his father figure and the scary teen, Satoshi and Ienari joining due to curiosity with Nami just coming in from her morning patrol, none of them having to go to school today as it was a day off. Meaning all of them heard the comment when said.
"You know, I really hate that illness of your's." the youth growled, causing Ietsuna to roll his eyes.
"Yeah, well at least you're not the one suffering from it."
"Tou-san is sick!" is the cry from four different children, making the ash brown haired man wince.
Sure, he had planned to tell his kids eventually, but he was planing to do so when they were much older. A lot more older.
Glaring at Xanxus, who only looks away with a guilty scowl, Ietsuna sighed; what's done is done, no changing that.
"Yeah, I am, though I was planning to tell you all later; looks like that later is now though. Lets go to the living room, this going to take a while." hopefully his children would take this well.
(And if he thought his children becoming protective and possessive to dangerous degrees was taking it well, then they were handling the information fabulously well.)
/This Changes Stuff/
Nami wasn't sure what to think of the information she just heard, her mind repeatably going over facts.
The Draining Will Illness was a rather nasty Flame related illness; it basically drained the person's flame to aid in strengthening a weak body. Unfortunately, for everything that was strengthened, another weakness would come up, putting the flames into fixing that part while the part that they were focused on previously started to weaken without the support.
This is what her Tou-san had, the only reason he was alright like he was because he was a Sky, which allowed him to live a lot longer with the sickness due to the fact it only ate up half those flames, and that he found that he could drain the flames of others to aid him.
"I only take what I need; unless I really need to, I don't completely drain my opponents." Was what her blue eyed father had said, a sad smile on his face as he faced them in the privacy of the living room, none of the guests present.
But what if he didn't have anyone to drain? Wouldn't that mean his own flame would be taken instead? He said he would be around for a long time, but just how long was a long time for him? Adults have funny ideas on time after all.
They had spent the time after the discussion just snuggling with the older man, who shared a bit of the newest story he was working on with them, a tale about a dragon and a cat who traveled with a group of kids to find a lost treasure.
Though in the end, they had to leave because their father had to work on said story, leaving them to their own devices.
Which was completely alright; they had to call a meeting with Takeshi and Hibari-sama, because those two would certainly want to know. And maybe they'll also have ideas about how to help Tou-san!
(Ietsuna does not know why, but he has the sudden great urge to call any school that teaches medicine, and apologize to them. Repeatably.)
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