dappered | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ So.

It's been over a month, now, since Gamma's return to his world to find everything as he'd left it. They'd finished the fight against Byakuran, allied with the Vongola, and things have settled back into peace. Nuadoria seems sometimes like a dream except for the physical evidence, the brand still carved into his skin to prove its reality.

Uni doesn't speak of it, or doesn't remember, but she seems to know that something has changed with him. She let him resign as a Guardian with that sad understanding smile, let him wander Italy for a little bit to recover (to get over it, to get over him), and finally asked Gamma to oversee her home operations while she traveled to Japan. He couldn't refuse. She's not a little girl anymore and her decisions have the weight of the Sky Arcobaleno behind them, and as much as Gamma dislikes the Vongola he knows she's safe with them and doesn't need him around to glower and make biting comments.

So here he is, sitting at an Italian cafe and sipping his wine. The fate of the Millefiore had left a power vacuum that the Giglio Nero were in no position to take advantage of, and all kinds of lower families were making their presence felt. He's heard humors of another up and coming family, something with a lot of ties to the yakuza, and supposedly their boss is a powerful but reclusive young man barely out of his teens. Intel so far hadn't been able to produce any reliable images or even estimate the kid's abilities. The parallels are too close to the Gesso for Gamma to ignore it, hence his coming personally to do some reconnaissance. A little bird had told him that the Mezzanotte boss was here at this little block of commercial district today, was in fact in the restaurant across the street right now, and Gamma's hoping to get a glance at the kid himself.

If he can figure out which one he is. All Gamma has is a general description, dark hair, pretty, most importantly would be toting some kind of bag large enough to conceal a sword. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[If he could say one thing about the individuals he met, it's that they're all fake. Their smiles, their flattery, their politeness and respect, and the only sincere thing about them all is they want something bad enough that they'll do anything.

This lunch has been no different. Which is exactly why after sitting in silence through three-fourths of it, listening to wild stories and arguing politics that had no place at a table of business, that he gets up and excuses himself. And they're used to it—at least, the ones that were not the now stood-up guests—so none of them bother to try and stop him, instead putting their energies into making false excuses for his abrupt self-dismissal.

They also know what time it is, and he's never late for this sort of appointment.

It's unfortunate, he thinks, when he steps out of the restaurant, slinging his bag over his shoulder once he's straightened out his coat. He heads off down the street in what seems to be no particular direction.

It's unfortunate, but that's just the way things are. He doesn't have time for the useless.]

[ He almost misses it. A glance away at the wrong time, and he looks back to see a figure that meets all the criteria disappearing into the foot traffic of the sidewalk. Gamma swears, leaves his wine and a bunch of bills before vaulting the little decorative wrought iron fence, heading after the man. Running would cause a scene so he walks briskly, controlling the urge to shove people aside. Hopefully the bastard doesn't turn a corner and get into a car, or worse turn around and recognize him. People remembered that he'd been Blackspell and some didn't believe that he was coerced. They remembered him for the murders, and they didn't forgive. It was why he'd resigned as a Guardian. ]

[He's careful to avoid the people he passes, moving just enough to slide out of the way to prevent even brushing others he passes by. And all he does is walk and continue to walk, one gloved hand on the shoulder strap to his bag and the other in his coat pocket. There's enough hustle and bustle that it's fair to say Caim really isn't aware of another following him.

Except, that's not entirely true. Because a tiny feeling starts to wretch in his gut but he doesn't make any move to suggest he's suspicious of someone following. He'll find out, he's sure. Caim can't imagine who is crazy enough to be stalking him down an open street, if there is a someone doing so, but he chalks it up to there being a first time for everything.

Just before he'd finally have to pause at a crosswalk, he slips off to the side to move down an alleyway. So cliche, Caim sighs to himself. Poor helpless victim pursued by unknown assailant. Slips into the alleyway to try and run only to find themselves very very alone and at a dead end. What was he to do if he was being followed, then?

—Ha. There's always at least two cliche versions to every scenario, isn't there?

And curiosity kills even the most stubborn of cats.]

[ Well shit. Apparently he'd alerted his quarry. He's getting old and rusty, it seems.

Following the guy down an alley seems suicidal, especially when Gamma hadn't come to pick a fight, so he just ducks against a building and patiently waits for the other to re-emerge. ]

[And he'll take his sweet time, okay, because he's feeding his little stray kittens and their momma that those assholes back home won't let him take home and have in his room. Which, if Caim really thought his little cats would be safe with people like that around, would tell them to piss off and he can have cats if he wants.

...That and a certain other might feel replaced.

When he does finally reemerge he pauses only to pull out his cell phone to look at the time before putting it away and going to (reluctantly) stand at the stupid crosswalk. Maybe he's just paranoid. Or maybe the guy isn't an idiot. Either way, Caim can't waste anymore time or he'll be late.]

[ ..................................okay he did not just see that.

Had that kid really gone down there to feed strays?

It swiftly ceases to matter, anyway, because as the Mezzanotte boss leaves the alley mouth the shadows finally fall away from his face, and Gamma's heart stops.

No fucking way.

He stares, stricken, and keeps staring, until he realizes that he's actually walking forward without conscious direction.

It's impossible, he knows it's impossible, it's impossible but--

He stops several feet away. ]

[He doesn't look at anyone and even now, he's just staring straight ahead and glaring at that red sign prohibiting walking. Just when it turns green, though, he hears a high pitched squeal from some kids and that manages to catch his attention, looking over his shoulder towards them before looking up in Gamma's direction. He might be looking at Gamma, because he seems to hesitate just slightly, but maybe not because regardless of hesitation or not, it's overall too careless of a reaction when he turns away to go and cross the street.]

[ Yeah how about Gamma DARTING FORWARD TO CATCH YOUR ARM, huh? How about that?

Also Caim should look where he's going, because some douche just sped through that red light and Caim would've walked right into it. ]

[Caim blinks when he's suddenly grabbed by the arm, but before he can turn around or do much of anything he watches said douche in car break the law and pass by.

So then they're standing there at the curb, people filtering by them but Caim doesn't notice them at all. All he knows is someone is holding onto him and he's pretty sure this guy is the same one following him.

So, this guy stopping him from potentially getting hit by a car makes things a little more complicated, doesn't it? He finally tilts his head back to get a better view of Gamma.

Ah. A light-haired Italian, is it? He'll just say thanks—]

...You look familiar.

[That was so far off from thanks, but it came out of his mouth before he even realized. And, truthfully, Gamma does look familiar now that he thinks about it.

But, he doesn't know where from or why. ...Which family, then?]

[ oh my god.

There's nothing he can even think of to say. Bad enough someone with Caim's face, someone who had almost gotten hurt right in front of him, and now...

There's no recognition in his voice or his eyes, and somehow that's the worst of all. But then again, isn't this how it happened in Nuadoria? People came and went, and sometimes didn't remember.

He's never heard any stories of the natives being whisked off to other worlds, though.

He probably ought to say something. Probably ought to let go of the other, but he can't make his fingers unclench, can't wipe the probably pathetic expression off his face. ]

[And he just finds himself standing there staring at the other's expression blankly, unable to show any sympathy for that look he was being given because he just couldn't possibly know what he was suffering from. But, he finds it disturbing that he feels a need to stand there until the other lets go rather than push him away and go about his business. Caim glances away finally, not willing to look at such an expression like he was the cause of it. So, to stare at gamma's hand instead is his next decision.]

"Did you follow me all the way from back there just to stare?"

[ The voice snaps him out of it.

(It's the same)

He lets go of Caim-- of the Mezzanotte boss's arm, stepping back and smoothing his expression over. He's a goddamn professional and this is just some crazy coincidence, this isn't Caim, it can't be Caim, it's just a stranger wearing Caim's face and speaking with Caim's voice.

Yeah. ]

My apologies. I thought you were someone I knew at first.

Are you alright?

[Huh. He looks at Gamma again, and although he might be suspicious he's pretty good at not showing it. In fact, he's probably be perfect at it in a few more years, but being so close to him it's easy to see that he is pretty young and thus isn't quite as disconnected with the world as true adults could be.]

I assume it would have been difficult for you to see that end unfortunately thinking I was someone you cared for.

I'm fine. Thank you.

[He isn't sure what else to say, though. Because he's never come in contact with this; never met a member of another family that was following him only to turn around and ask if he was all right.

He imagines that for this man that person had been important to him for such a seemingly drastic change in the ultimate goal.

—Ah. Politely:]

May I help you with something?

...

...

Yeah. Yes. [ He smiles way too cheerfully. ]

You could agree to let me buy you dessert.

...

[wtfwtfwtfwtf!!!1111]

...You want to buy me dessert. [does not comprehend.]

Well, I was pretty sure you'd already eaten lunch, or I'd offer to buy you that, and dinner is a long ways off. Plus there's the whole connotation thing, you know. Dinner is like, dinner, but lunch is more casual. Right? And it would be totally inappropriate for a complete stranger to ask you to dinner.

Unless you wanted me to.

... [ohmygod. the request is so out the blue and ridiculous that he can't help himself. He's got no choice but to accept because this is DEFINITELY the oddest "explanation" he's ever heard. Points for creativity, he guesses.

...And preventing him from getting hit by a car.]

If... that's what you really want.

[ CHARMING SMILE GO ]

I would like nothing better.

My name is Gamma.

[GD IT GAMMA.

He looks a bit caught off guard by the smile and glances away (but not before his cheeks flush a little), quickly putting another thought into his mind concerning the name.

Okay. Gamma, then. He's heard that name before.]

Caim.

[ He's braced for that, somehow. His smile freezes in place just for a second before he moves past it and offers his hand like they were ordinary people meeting on the street. ]

It's nice to meet you, Caim.

[ And maybe he hesitates, just a little, at the name. ]

[ He can't remember the last time he talked to anyone this much, nevermind politely.

It takes him a second, but he looks back to Gamma then to his hand before reaching to take it.]

...Pleasure's mine.

That's very kind of you to say.

[ He resists to call that blush back by bringing Caim's hand to his lips, contents himself with the ordinary and mundane handshake instead. And then indulges his own idiocy by linking his arm with Caim's, strolling off down the sidewalk with him in tow. ]

So.

[Annnndd Caim's pretty dumbfounded, realizing he's getting more and more confused the longer he stays in this other's presence. That's probably why he lets himself get dragged along.]

...So...?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only