Chapter Text
Skull didn’t know what he was going to do. He had made his displeasure with the Triad’s known, but now he had to decide where to go from there. He eyed the Storm whose Flames were roaming with a possessiveness to them. Reborn’s Flames were trailing almost curiously around him, but there was an edge to them. One that was begging for his attention, while acting as if he wasn’t.
“La…Sk…” Colonnello’s voice called, as if the man wasn’t sure what to call him anymore. He had a desperate look in his eyes that he wasn’t used to seeing.
“I’m not good with emotions.” Skull found himself stating after a moment. “I’m a Cloud, I’m possessive and I like my freedom.” His eyes flickered over all of the others who were looking at him.
“I’m also not good at the forgiving stuff. I used to be, once upon a time. I forgave and forgave and forgave but it was always one way. I was the one people hurt and walked all over and expected to forgive every slight and…” He took a deep breath.
“And I killed them. All of them, because they still betrayed me. Even after all the times I forgave them. Even after loving them, finding out they didn’t care about me nearly broke me.” He pressed his lips together as he looked around at those present.
“I don’t have it in me to forgive and forget.” He could feel the intense pain from his words as if it stabbed into them. “I also don’t have it in me to start over, to pretend like the past didn’t happen.”
He could almost hear the pained whin of their Flames. He knew from Fon’s memories that the Giglio Nero’s were gone. They had chosen him, but the real question was, was it too late? Did he have it in him to let them back in?
“You’re all crazy asshats.” He said after a moment. “The next time you betray me, I’ll make you wish I had killed you.”
“You’re coming home.” The words came from Reborn who was looking at him with such intensity that he thought he might combust into flames.
“Yea. I guess I am.” He stated with a nod of his head. He wasn’t prepared for the bone crushing hug the formidable Sun pulled him into.
He didn’t know what was going to happen. He didn’t know if he would ever really trust them, or if in time the pain they had caused would become only a distant memory.
What he did know was he needed to live in the here and now. He would face his demons, because he may be a Black, and a Peverell, and a Potter, but he was also Skull De Mort. He who is Hated by Death.
Several days later he slid the small silver key into his pocket as he closed the door to the house in Cudillero. The others stood by a sleek SUV, and were watching him.
“Let’s go home.” Reborn purred the words out and Skull nodded in agreement as he slid into the back seat. Five years and several long months after leaving Italy behind, he was finally ready to go back.
The house was much as he remembered it. His eyes took in his bike, the small piece of leather that was torn made him wince. He would have to fix it. Fon walked as if he were his shadow, following him through the house and he felt a smile twist his lips as he noted his favorite tea in the cabinet.
He would need to buy new bedding and things for his room. He had, in an act of finality, gotten rid of his old stuff. He snorted to himself. He, more than anyone, should know that nothing is final.
He pulled the door to his room open and staired. His heart fluttered in his chest and he could feel the pleased and territorial Flames surrounding him.
On the bed was a duvet with snow owls. “Will you tell me about her?” The smooth voice of his Storm called out to him and he didn’t need to look at the man to know who he was speaking about. Just like he had seen Fon’s life, so too had the Storm seen his.
“Hedwig.” His voice came out stronger than he thought it would. “She is the only being that has never hurt me. She was my best friend…” He found himself speaking of the Owl that had been dead for most of his life as the man took a seat on his bed as he walked around the room.
“Do you like it?” Fon ventured as he finally took a seat on the bed beside the man.
“Yea. It… It feels like home.” Skull stated with a nod and Fon’s Flames seemed to purr like a giant cat.
“Home.” Fon muttered softly and Skull nodded as he laid back. His eyes glancing at the ceiling.
He didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but for the moment he allowed himself to bask in the feeling of home. His eyes slid closed, and it wasn’t long before he fell into a deep and undisturbed sleep. The first good sleep he had gotten in far too long.
*
Fon watched his precious little Overcast Sky as he slept. He knew Skull was still angry at them. A slight movement caught his eye and a moment later he was standing in front of his Cloud as three men appeared from the shadows.
“It looks as if our precious decedent has a guard dog.” One of the men stated, his voice was dark and silky as he looked at him with the eyes of a killer.
“We are not here to harm the boy.” Another of the men stated sternly. Disapproval clear in his voice.
“I dare say not.” Said the third. He couldn’t make out their features. They were hidden in shadows.
“We have simply come to check on him. He is the last of us.” The first stated as he strode forward and Fon would swear the man seemed to phase through him.
“The best of us.” The second stated as he followed the first one.
“The kindest of us.” Stated the third as he followed the first two.
As if sensing the danger, the others barged into the room, but Skull didn’t wake as the three men turned to look at them. “The Arcobaleno’s. How… quaint.” The first sneered at them.
“Who the fuck are you?” Reborn’s voice growled out the question as he raised a gun and aimed it at the three men in their Cloudy Sky’s bedroom.
“I am Antioch Peverell. He who has made Death it’s domain.
“I am Cadmus Peverell, he who turned revenge into an artform.”
“I am Ignotus Peverell, he who made the art of spying.”
“We are the three brothers, and this is our descendent. The last of our line. The last of our blood. He has designed to give you one last chance. I would be careful of how you use it because the next time you harm our child, you will find out how little your titles mean.” The first bit the words out.
“Arcobaleno’s. The world’s strongest, you will die as easily as every other person who dared to cross one of us and we will happily take you to Death’s domain.” The second sneered.
“I did not think you would be so kind as to kill them brothers.” The third stated cooly. “It would be much better to take our little Skull and leave them to flounder into the abyss of insanity.”
A cold cruel laughter left the three shadowed men as they seemed to fade from the room. “Goodbye darling Skull, we will be watching.” Their voices rang softly over the room as the Arcobaleno’s shared a wide-eyed look.
None of them knew what they had seen for sure, but they didn’t need to. They had already seen what life without their softest member was like. It was a life none of them wished to return to. They would prove to Skull and to everyone else that Skull belonged with them.
It was a silent promise they made as they watched him sleep. Their Cloud. Their Sky. Their family.