Chapter Text
“Where is Skull?” Talbot asked as he looked over the cursed infants. They could practically feel his eyes skipping from one to another as if expecting to find the one he was looking for and Reborn snorted.
“Don’t know why you're interested in the Civilian but he’s the one in purple.” He told the man with a smirk on his lips and Talbot turned his head as if to study the purple man who looked back with his head tilted to the side.
“That.” Talbot said with a hint of ice in his voice and the rest were gearing up to protect the idiot from the old man. Regardless of how much they couldn’t stand him he was still an Arcobaleno. “Is not Skull De Mort.”
“I know he doesn’t live up to the hype but…” Lal began with a scowl but was interrupted.
“Skull De Mort, he who is hated by death. The Fearless Stuntman. I know his tales better than you and that is not him.” He snapped as his head whipped around as if he were looking at Checkerface. “Where is he?” He thundered in rage.
“I am Skull De Mort!” Skull shouted with a glare as he snarled at the old man.
“If you have hurt so much as a hair on that boy’s head, I will make it my life’s mission to run you into he ground.” Talbot snarled, ignoring Skull.
“Your so sure I’m not me.” Skull snapped. “But I’ve never met you! So, you can’t go around claiming I’m not me!”
They could feel the cold fury and rage coming from the old man. “Never met?” He practically sneered the words and gone was the friendly persona. “No, I have never met you. I have, on the other hand, met Skull De Mort. I was the one who sent him to the Circus after he singlehandedly ended a war. I was the one to give him his first motorcycle. I was the one he turned to when he found himself betrayed by his friends and those he had trusted. You are not Skull De Mort. Now tell me Kawahira, where is the real Cloud! I can see this cheap imitation of my friend bears markings of the curse. The infantile body, but unlike the others his pacifier is not draining his Flames. No doubt they are draining the real Skull’s.”
The Arcobaleno’s turned their heads towards Skull, or the man they had believed to be Skull whose hands were shaking in fear. “Skull De Mort refused to come to the meeting.” Checkerface said after a moment, his eyes locked onto the old man. “His cousin, however, offered to go in his stead. His Flames are no match for the real Skull’s, but he wanted a fast way to fame. I offered it to him, but his Flames were too weak to withstand the curse. I was forced to hunt down the man and barely survived our meeting. Last I heard he was in Tibet. Other than cursing him I did nothing to him.” Checkerface revealed.
“You want to survive the curse.” Talbot said after a moment, “then I need the real Skull De Mort. You will find him and bring him back here but make no mistake. Should he die then I will not help any of you.” His head turned and although none present could see the old man’s eyes behind the dark covering it was obvious, he was looking at the Skull who wasn’t Skull.
“As for you, Skull De Mort only had one cousin. A mean, cruel piece of vermin. I heard all about his childhood. The cupboard under the stairs that he slept in until he was eleven. The starvation. The beatings. The broken bones and concussions. The way you ran off anyone who wanted to be his friend. The bully of a cousin who hunted for those weaker than himself and would beat them into a pulp. The way you blamed him for anything you did and would laugh as he was beaten unconscious. A blubbering little coward who thought himself tough. Eating everything in sight to make sure there was nothing for him to eat. Oh, yes boy. I know all about the mean piece of vermin you were. I also know you called him up to ‘mend fences.’ We talked not long before the lot of you were cursed. He had agreed for you to visit but didn’t believe you had changed, no matter what you said. Still, the kind soul he was he wanted to give you a chance. Now look at what it got him. You, sitting here playing up to the fame he worked to earn. Stilling the name, he chose for himself. If anything has happened to him, I will tear you apart and feed you to the wolves. Get him out of my sight and do not return until you have the true Cloud with you.” With that Talbot turned to walk away.
“La…. Just who the fuck are you?” Reborn snapped as he rounded on the Cloud. Unable to bring himself to call the imposter his Lackey. The imposter gulped and stepped back his eyes wide as he looked around at everyone who were all turned to face him. Anger etched into their faces.
“I….” He began as a lump formed in his throat, and he swallowed. “Does it matter Sempai? We’ve been together for decades. You’re not going to choose some freak over me! He wasn’t here to run your errands. I was! I earned my spot as an Arcobaleno. All he did was run away! You should be glad you have me instead of him! He wouldn’t have done anything you wanted him to! So, what if my Flames aren’t a match to his! I was here with you while he was off doing whatever freaks like him do! You think he would have learned how to make you an espresso? He would have laughed in your face! He wouldn’t have paid to go out to eat! He would have demanded you all learn how to cook! He wouldn’t have cared if you threatened him! He would have told you to either shoot him and be done with it or do it yourself! You need me! Not him! You need someone like me! Able to show the World how we shine! That we’re the most powerful people there is! You need me! He screamed in anger. His fists baled into fists and his breathing hard as he panted with the exertion.
“Who cares if I am not the actual Skull De Mort? I was there when he wasn’t! It was me who…” He wasn’t allowed to finish as he slumped over. Verde held up a syringe as he sneered down at the useless lump on the ground. His eyes looked at the Mist who was rigid with absolute fury and then towards his Sun whose eyes were blazing.
“See if Xanxus won’t keep this idiot out of commission while we hunt down the real Skull.” Reborn’s voice with etched with his own fury as he looked at Viper who nodded as they called the Varia Sky.
“You can use the Vongola jet.” Tsuna said and Reborn turned, having forgotten his student was there. The young Don twisted his hands in apparent agitation, and he nodded his thanks.
“I want to be out of here by tomorrow. Let’s go home and start the preparations. The sooner we find the real Skull De Mort the sooner we can break the curse.”