Acknowledging Change

Title: Acknowledging Change
Chapter: 08 - Food
Fandom: Katekyo Hitman Reborn
Pairing(s): Reborn/Lambo
Author: Athame (a.k.a. Ghost of a Rose/Morrigan Moonwater/Nephthys Snape/Soundbreaker)
Disclaimer: Katekyo Hitman Reborn, and the characters therein, belong to Amano Akira. I make no profit in their use.
Summary: Lambo's biggest vice when he's emotionally out of sorts...
Rating: G
Words: ~1375
Author’s Note(s): I've had this done for a while (at least over a month . . . ) and just sitting on Google docs. I don't know why I hadn't posted it. Hopefully, there's not something wrong with it that I can't remember . . .

***

Lambo blinked his eyes open before uncovering his head. The light streaming in the window blinded him, his eyes squinting as he looked over at the clock, smacking down the pillow as it obscured his view. It was the middle of the morning. Reborn hadn't woke him, as was normal. He wondered if the other man had even slept in the room, as the other bed was made; but, that was not unusual even if Reborn had slept there.

He puzzled over why the hitman wouldn't have, for a moment. Then, the night before came crashing down in vividly detailed memories, from the accident to Reborn's words. For a moment, he wondered if the older man would even notice if he just crawled back under covers and pillow for the rest of the day, the rest of his life.

Absently, the Thunder Guardian fingered the snake pendant resting against his chest. The action centered him and his resolve. He would just have to face the hitman, after he answered the gnawing hunger in his middle. Slowly, he pulled from the bed and made his way to the bathroom.

Images of the night before continued to assault him, and the more he thought about it, the more his stomach churned. He didn't feel sick, so much as hungry. If anything could take his mind off Reborn, for at least a little while, it'd be food. Mind on the room service menu, he quickly saw his to abolutions and made his way to the phone.

***

An hour later, Reborn was not surprised to enter the suite and find Lambo only half clothed and eating a large quantity of food. The young Thunder Guardian was expectedly still upset about the previous night, and food was likely his biggest vice.

The tutor said not a word, selecting a fresh suit from his luggage and absconding to the washroom. He took a quick shower then maticuously groomed himself. His image was too important to simply toss on some clothes and go out the door. Not that it took a lot of time, efficiency was everything.

However, today he took his time. This gave himself and Lambo time before they were face to face again. Reborn knew the teen wouldn't want to talk. Light of morning had probably brought both enlightenment and fruther sorrow. That a man, however young, who was trained to kill could mourn so for a stranger . . . 'So much like Tsuna . . . ' The hitman mused. Though, admittedly, Tsuna wasn't as innocent and easy to emotion as he once was, those close to him knew he cared as deeply as ever on the inside. In time, Lambo would begin to be the same, if only to be like Tsuna.

Tired of stalling, something he rarely ever found occasion or want to do, Reborn returned to the main part of the room. Apparently he needn't have bothered in stalling, Lambo was gone, and had been since right after Reborn had gone in to take his shower. The same dish of food the Thunder Guardian had been eating sat abandoned and cold. Where had the boy gone? Frowning, he looked around the room, grabbed his hat and a few other things from the top of the bureau, then left to find him.

***

Seeing Reborn had made Lambo's stomach twist, and he had to get out of there. He didn't go far, just outside. The hotel was small, not Reborn's style as had been made repeatedly clear; so, there was no where inside to go to avoid the older man, who no doubt would say something harsh or act as if nothing had happened. Lambo didn't feel he could handle either.

Fishing in his pocket, he realized he didn't put anything in any of them: no keys, phone, or wallet. He ran a hand through his unruly hair and headed for the nearby park. He hated how Reborn's mere presence, not that the other man's presence was small, had such an affect on him. It was something he imagined would plague him for the rest of his life. There were no doubts for him that Reborn would out live him. The thought that he might not . . .

Lambo sank on a bench, slouching and laying his head back to stare at the dreary sky above. It wasn't until a minute later he realized the bench was wet from morning rain and had soaked the seat of his pants and through his cowprint shirt. He'd neglected to throw on his jacket.

Being on a job with Reborn wasn't a good idea. He lost all sense. Sighing, he sat up and rested his elbows on his knees.

Watching the rain clouds hang low and move in from the ocean's direction, Lambo let his mind wander, back to the thought of Reborn dieing. A man like Reborn didn't die in bed, or even by a bullet in the night. No, it would be in a blaze of glory doing something significant. He deserved no less. Lambo's mind couldn't conceive of anything resplendent enough to visualize, not that he could ever let the thoughts go that far.

Life without Reborn . . . The Thunder Guardian felt his chest tighten like a weight pressed down on him to prevent him from breathing. It hurt; he felt nauseous, and knew he was being foolish. Reacting to nothing more than a thought as he was. He was obviously still worked up about what he'd seen.

~But you've seen worse,~ He reminded himself, thinking back to the warehouse a couple months before. Those had not been children. It amazed him the things he'd done as a child, even the things Tsuna and the others had done as teens. Maybe there wasn't a sane one amongst them. ~But, they'd had to, we'd had to . . .~

Lambo's dark thoughts were interrupted by black fabric being thrust under his nose. Startled, his eyes followed it to an orange covered arm then further up to the stern face of the mafia's number one hitman. At first, he just stared at him, as if trying to decide if he was really there. When the corners of those dark eyes creased in irritation, the younger man took the offered jacket and slid it on.

His eyes closed, taking in the warmth and the scent of the tutor. He was barely able to stifle the groan that threatened to escape him. Pulling it closed around himself, he refused to look at Reborn when he opened his eyes again.

The other man seemed fine with that, choosing to sit beside him on the wet bench in silence. It seemed strange that Reborn would give up his jacket, but it was always best not to debate or argue with the hitman. The silence wasn't that comfortable, at least not to Lambo.

It felt like hours later when Reborn rose gracefully to his feet. For a moment, Lambo both thought and hoped that he was just going to walk away. Then, Reborn turned to him and held out a closed hand. Frowning, he reached out, palm open for whatever it was he was being offered. His cell phone, keys, and wallet fell into his hand, the wallet tumbling on down to the ground.

"Follow me." It wasn't a request, but Lambo thought to refuse, briefly. If it weren't for the pain that would surely follow if he did, he might have been more likely to follow through with the urge.

Silently, the teen Guardian stood and walked behind the older man. With Reborn, you never knew what to expect, so Lambo was both curious and worried as they continued along for several blocks. Finally, the hitman turned and entered a small restaurant. Lambo wasn't sure why they were there, but he'd be fine with getting something to eat. He took the menu that was offered as he sat down then looked to Reborn in curiosity. Were they there for business or simply to eat?

"Just order something, anything." Reborn never looked up from his own menu. Deciding to just go with the flow, Lambo nodded and read over the list of foods himself. He'd worry about whys and whats later.