chimericalclaw | open post

[His voice is hard, a refutation of Tsuna's statement.]

It doesn't matter what I think.

[It's too late. The thought reaches him before he can blank it.]

People— [no.] don't put their trust in— [no.

Altius's back hits the nearby wall as he tries to keep his mouth shut and maintain his control, but he can feel himself approaching his limit rapidly, the power of this place crushing his willpower the way his grip tightens around his pen and notebook. A crack spreads out from where he's touched the surface, a sudden break that would threaten the integrity of the structure with one more like it.]

Murderers, [he whispers through his teeth.]

[His shoulders suddenly drop, like a pressure around his entire body has suddenly been released. The underlying sound of crackling static stops.]

[Tsuna isn't sure if he should reach out or not. If Altius needs his support or if he needs a moment to settle. And the word continues to hang in the air.

There's definitely a version of Tsuna would have freaked out over this. A Tsuna that hadn't really been exposed to the Vongola and everything that it is. It's a funny thing, belonging to the Mafia. How quickly your views change.]

My tutor's a hitman.

[He says it rather plainly.]

We don't really talk about it or his past a whole lot, but I know he's done stuff that I probably don't approve of.

But. I trust him.

So, it's not everyone.

[The gaze that meets Tsuna's when he looks up is full of disdain.]

You're a naive fool. It makes you too easy to use.

[Oh, if only he could leave it at that. But with the retort already come to mind, he has no choice. He does, however, keep his tone quiet. Bad enough that he has to confess this at all. If it's just the one hearing it, maybe he can do some sort of damage control...]

It's not the past. It's not something I've left behind. Nor is it anything someone else decided for me.

[That is something that people say about him often. And Tsuna would say that he's used to it, but there's still something of a flinch.]

But you had a reason, right?

[He wouldn't even necessarily take back the first statement. Tsuna shouldn't put his trust in those like him—or those like his tutor, most likely. Just for his own sake.]

Of course I have a reason.

[His demeanor gets no softer, though neither does his voice rise in volume.]

No one puts effort into anything for no reason, even if it's nothing more than curiosity or boredom. But what does that matter when I already know the myopic and hopeful idiots that take up so much of the world would never agree with it?

Edited (... singular reason. one of them.) 2025-09-04 03:37 (UTC)

[And yet, he's found himself in the position where inevitably, he has to.

Tsuna shrugs, being one of those myopic and hopeful idiots.]

It matters to me. Because even if I don't agree with it, I can at least try to understand.

And if I understand then maybe there's another way forward.

[He clicks his tongue against his teeth with something like an aggravated sigh. He'd expected no less, though.]

I am not interested in wasting my time arguing. Death is the kindest thing I could have given any of them and there is nothing you or anyone else can say to convince me otherwise.

[Tsuna cannot say that that makes him particularly happy. But it's also fairly clear that he's not done.]

But why?

Is whatever you have going on that bad?

[There's a vague annoyance in the furrow of one of his brows.]

The world is thoughtlessly cruel and the people in it are just the same. Now that I've come here, I've realized that's the case no matter what universe people come to exist in.

I disagree!

[There's a surprising amount of conviction in his voice when he says that.]

I feel like when you look at the world that way, you're really only looking at half the picture.

Because there's a lot of good stuff to.

[There's a level of forcefulness to his low reply, even if his posture is nearly that of a defeated man, shoulders sunk and head partly lowered.]

As I said.

[Tsuna proving himself to be one of those hopeful idiots he has no interest in arguing with.]

This is why I have to lie. Even if trust wasn't an issue, all of my days would be wasted by people like you and your lectures.

Then I won't lecture. I don't think anyone really listens to me anyway.

[More often than not, he does have to let his fists do the talking.

Though people listen more than he thinks.]

I guess...it's just. I'm sorry you feel that way.

[And there's a lot of sincerity in that.]

[He lets out a long breath audibly, eyes turning elsewhere—though it seems almost more tired than annoyed. Even thoughts of telling (or threatening) Tsuna to keep all of this to himself prickle dangerously, so he lets the idea go. But maybe if he's lucky, the boy feels bad enough for Altius to do so anyway.

He hates the thought, though. Not Tsuna's sincerity in itself, but the fact that it's directed his way.]

Save your sympathy for the people who deserve it.

[He tucks his notebook and pen away, if just to have something to distract himself.]

They're more likely to listen to you than to my true thoughts.

[Tsuna probably won't say anything. Not unless this escalates.]

Maybe. But I don't know if they're the ones who need it right now.

It's not like I try and make a habit of any of this.

[The implication that he needs sympathy is... annoying, but apparently expressing that through the brief twist of his mouth is enough to satisfy the conditions of his sentencing.]

Of what, expressing your hopes and dreams? [There's a bit of sarcasm in the question, but just a tad.] I suppose you do tend to be rather quiet, don't you.

[When it comes down to it, he's surprised Sawada actually relented when he said he didn't want to argue. He narrows his eyes slightly, then:]

Are you really so eager to let people like me take advantage of you? Because that's what happens when you extend your efforts to those who've proven themselves untrustworthy.

[His hopes and dreams probably aren't much compared to other people. He just wants to live a happy, normal life with his friends. Though with the chaos that permeates his life, sometimes it feels distant. Or he needs to adjust his definition of normal.]

Are you really that determined to take advantage of me?

I've already said I trust a lot of untrustworthy people.

[A normal life. If only.]

You and whoever else I can convince, for whatever I can get out of you, [he admits, disgruntled with the necessity of the admission. He lets out a low noise before continuing.]

It's a wonder you're still alive, with that mindset.

Ain't that the truth.

[It truly is a wonder sometimes, how he's still in one piece.]

I won't let you get a lot though.

[Another crackling in the air, a tensing of his jaw. He doesn't even want to bring up the idea, but he currently doesn't get to decide what he says—only how he says it. It's an attempt to regain some control when he forces a dismissive tone into his reply.]

What, then? Will you run to warn everyone about my sinister nature?

Only if you try something. But I'd like to believe you're better than that, Mr. Altius.

[He's not even smug, he's just honest.]

[Though the answer should be a relief, he finds himself bristling for a separate reason entirely.

He doesn't get it. Is this sort of naivete so strong it simply leaves those afflicted with delusions? He'd hardly even been trying any particular manipulation with Sawada...

... it bothers him.]

Why are you sorts this way, [he mutters, bringing a hand to rub at his face. His next remark leaves him with greater ease than it should:] If you wait long enough for that to be obvious it will already be too late.

[Tsuna shrugs. He supposes it's been than the alternative. He doesn't want to be like Xanxus.]

Too late for what?

For anyone to stop me.

[He always has contingencies and only makes his moves when he's certain he can get what he wants. He's had the years needed to teach him how; if Sawada truly, foolishly decides to keep all this to himself, then that's a simple matter to take into account among the rest.]

Not that my plans are likely to involve much more than returning home and destroying this place as I leave it.

I get that we all want to return home, but I don't think this place needs to be destroyed.

[Even if it is just a computer program, there is something more. Of that, Tsuna is certain.

Truthfully, he hasn't decided what to do just yet. It's times like these that he misses his Guardians.]

[His eyebrows raise slightly and he folds his arms.]

You would leave it and risk that other innocents might be abducted and tortured here?

[He knows others believe this place might be worthwhile if they could only gain control or reach some sort of agreement with the AI. Altius has no such optimism.]

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