Chapter Text
The morning sun slipped through the tall windows of the Vongola mansion, painting the room in soft gold. Inside, on the wide cushioned seat by the bay window, sat a young man with messy chocolate-brown hair that spiked in every direction. A longer section at the back swayed gently whenever a breeze snuck in.
Tsuna held a sketchbook on his lap. His charcoal moved in slow, careful strokes across the page. His honey-brown eyes were soft and faraway, lost in scene he was drawing. A small, peaceful smile curved his lips. He looked like someone who belonged in a quiet library or a sunny meadow, not in the heart of the most powerful mafia family in Italy.
Curled up right beside him was Bester, the white lion cub who had grown far too big to still be called a “cub.” His massive head rested on Tsuna’s thigh, chest rising and falling in deep, contented breaths. Tucked even closer, using Bester’s fluffy mane as a pillow, Natsu the tiny orange flame creature shaped like a baby lion. Natsu’s tail twitched once in his sleep, then stilled again.
A gentle knock broke the silence. Tsuna blinked slowly. The dreamy look faded as reality returned. “Come in,” he called, voice light and polite.
The door opened. One of the mansion’s older butlers stepped inside and gave a deep, respectful bow. “Good morning, Young Master. Breakfast is ready in the main dining hall. The ninth and your brother are already waiting.”
Tsuna closed his sketchbook with care and set it on the small table beside him, along with the piece of charcoal he’d been using. He wiped his slightly smudged fingers on a cloth. “Thank you for reminding me, Marco. I’ll be there in just a minute.”
The butler bowed once more and quietly left, closing the door without a sound. Tsuna stretched his arms above his head, then looked down at the sleeping pair beside him. “Hey… time to wake up, you two. Breakfast.”
Natsu’s ears flicked. A tiny “Gao~” grumbled out of him as he burrowed deeper into Bester’s fur.
Tsuna laughed under his breath. He reached down and gently scratched behind Natsu’s fluffy ears.
“Come on, little guy. You’ll miss the pancakes if you keep sleeping.”
Natsu cracked one glowing eye open, gave a dramatic yawn that showed all his sharp baby teeth, then stretched his small paws. “Gao…gaoo!”
Tsuna scooped him up carefully and settled the flame creature against his chest. Natsu immediately snuggled in, wrapping his tail around Tsuna’s arm like a living scarf.
Tsuna turned to the big white lion. “Bester,” he said softly, leaning forward to press a light kiss on the lion’s broad nose. “Good morning.”
Bester opened calm golden eyes and gave a low, rumbling sound that was more purr than growl. His tail thumped once against the cushion.
Tsuna smiled brighter. “Can I ride you to the garden first? I want to see the roses before we eat.”
Bester blinked slowly his version of a nod and shifted so his body was easier to climb onto.
“Thank you,” Tsuna whispered. He stood, still holding Natsu securely, then swung one leg over Bester’s broad back. He settled comfortably, fingers sinking into thick white fur. It felt warm and safe, like sitting on a living heater.
“Alright, Bester. Let’s go.”
The white lion rose smoothly to his feet. Even with Tsuna’s weight, his movements were silent and graceful. He padded toward the door, which Tsuna leaned down to push open with one hand.
They moved through the long hallway. Sunlight streamed across marble floors. A few guards stationed along the corridor straightened instantly when they saw the trio. Their eyes widened some in surprise, others in quiet fondness. Whispers followed them like a soft breeze.
“Is that really…?”
“The Young Master…”
“With the lion again…”
Tsuna didn’t seem to notice the stares. He was too busy scratching under Bester’s chin while Natsu purred against his neck.
They reached the glass doors that led to the inner garden. Bester pushed them open with his broad head. Warm morning air rushed in, carrying the sweet smell of blooming roses and freshly cut grass.
Tsuna took a slow, deep breath. “Smells nice today.” He guided Bester down the stone path lined with red and white roses. The lion walked slowly so Tsuna could look at everything. Natsu lifted his head too, sniffing the air with interest.
After a few minutes Tsuna patted Bester’s head. “Okay, let’s head to breakfast now. Grandfather will worry if we’re late.”
Bester turned without hesitation and carried them back toward the main wing.
When they reached the tall double doors of the dining hall, Bester stopped. Tsuna slid down with care, gave the white lion a quick scratch behind the ears, and whispered, “Thanks, Bester. Go rest now, okay?”
The lion nudged Tsuna’s hand once with his big nose before padding off to his favorite sunny spot near the windows.
Tsuna pushed the doors open and stepped inside.
The long table was already half-full. The smell of fresh coffee, warm bread, and grilled meat filled the air. At the head sat Timoteo di Vongola, silver hair neat, eyes sharp but kind as they landed on his youngest grandson. Right beside him was Ieyasu, tall, broad-shouldered, with the same chocolate-brown hair as Tsuna but cut short and neat. He looked up from his plate and smiled the second he saw Tsuna.
Tsuna walked straight to his grandfather first. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Timoteo’s wrinkled cheek. “Good morning, Grandpa.”
Timoteo’s stern face softened right away. He reached up and patted Tsuna’s messy hair. “Morning, Tsunayoshi. You smell like roses.”
Tsuna laughed quietly. “I stopped by the garden.”
He moved to Ieyasu. He bent and kissed his older brother’s cheek too. “Good morning, Ieyasu-nii.”
Ieyasu grinned wide and ruffled Tsuna’s already wild hair. “Morning, little brother. You’re late. We almost started without you.”
Tsuna stuck his tongue out just a tiny bit before sliding into the empty chair right beside Ieyasu.
The butlers moved in at once, setting plates in front of him: golden pancakes, crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, and a small bowl of cut fruit. One of them poured orange juice into his glass with a polite bow.
“Thank you,” Tsuna said softly to the butler, then picked up his fork.
Timoteo watched him for a moment before speaking. “Tsunayoshi, where are you going today?”
Tsuna swallowed his first bite of pancake. “Ah, I’ll be going to a café today. There’s a commission for a painting I’m about to start. The client wants something special.”
Ieyasu raised an eyebrow while he sliced the thick piece of grilled meat on Tsuna’s plate into smaller, easy bites. He slid the plate back toward his brother. “I thought you were going to practice for the theater thing. The girls were begging you to join them.”
Tsuna took the meat with a small “Thank you, nii,” then smiled. “Kyoko, Hana, and Haru told me I should rest today. They said I have an important client coming up, so I shouldn’t tire myself out before that.”
Ieyasu snorted. “Those three worry about you more than we do.”
Tsuna giggled. “They’re good friends.”
Timoteo took a slow sip of his coffee. “You’ve been quite busy this summer break, Tsunayoshi. Are you sure you don’t want a real vacation? You could go somewhere quiet. Beach. Mountains. Anywhere.”
Tsuna shook his head while he poked at his eggs. “It’s fine, Grandpa. I still have three weeks before summer break ends. I like staying busy. It feels nice.”
Timoteo studied him for a long second. Then he nodded slowly. “Alright. But later today, don’t be late coming home. Xanxus will be here tonight for family dinner.”
Tsuna’s eyes lit up. “Really? Okay, Grandpa, I’ll come home early.” He paused, fork halfway to his mouth. “Is it only Xanxus-niisan coming?”
Ieyasu answered before Timoteo could. “Nope. Mom and Dad’s vacation is over, so they’re flying in too. And my friends are coming over after. Gokudera, Yamamoto, Ryohei all said they missed the food here.”
Tsuna’s smile grew bigger. “That’s going to be fun. The house gets noisy when everyone’s here.”
Ieyasu laughed. “Noisy is right. Last time Gokudera almost set the curtains on fire arguing with Lambo.”
Tsuna giggled again, covering his mouth. “Poor curtains.”
Timoteo watched them with a fondness that softened the lines of age on his face. His weathered hands rested lightly against the table as he observed the easy rhythm between his grandsons, the teasing, the protests, the unspoken understanding beneath it all.
He remembered it clearly. The day they had first arrived in Italy. Their parents had left them in the care of the Vongola while they went on an extended vacation, and the estate had felt both livelier and louder from that moment on.
Tsuna were small, wide-eyed and uncertain in a foreign land. The first night, he had padded quietly down the corridor in oversized pajamas, clutching a pillow, and knocked timidly on Timoteo’s door.
“Grandpa… can I sleep here?”
Timoteo had smiled and lifted the blankets without hesitation.
On nights when Ieyasu had been busy with lessons or responsibilities, Tsuna would return to Timoteo’s room without fail. And when Timoteo himself had been occupied, the boy would wander to his older brother or even to Xanxus to sleep or play, seeking the quiet reassurance of familiar presence.
And when the brothers argued over trivial things like who cheated in a game or who took whose dessert they would storm dramatically into Timoteo’s study.
“Grandpa, tell him I’m right!”
“He started it!”
“That’s not true!”
Timoteo had laughed then, just as he found himself laughing softly now at the memory.
The sound drew Tsuna’s attention. “Grandpa?” Tsuna asked, tilting his head. “You’re not eating.”
Without waiting for an answer, Tsuna grabbed a piece of meat from his own plate and leaned across the table, stretching on his toes slightly. “Say ah.”
Timoteo blinked in surprise before chuckling warmly and obliging. Tsuna carefully placed the food into his mouth, looking pleased with himself.
Ieyasu stood from his seat and walked over, his earlier teasing gone, replaced with quiet concern. He rested a hand lightly on the back of Timoteo’s chair. “Grandpa… are you feeling okay?” he asked gently.
Timoteo exhaled slowly, the sigh not heavy with sorrow but with nostalgia. “I’m feeling fine,” he assured him. His gaze softened as he looked between the two boys. “I was just remembering the first days after you arrived here. How you two would bicker endlessly… and then run to me to settle every little argument.”
Tsuna blinked. Ieyasu’s lips curved into a softer smile.
“You remember that?” Tsuna asked quietly.
“How could I forget?” Timoteo replied. “This mansion was too quiet before you came.”
Tsuna looked at Ieyasu. Ieyasu looked back at Tsuna. And without needing to speak, they both grinned in perfect unison, they stepped forward and wrapped their arms around Timoteo from either side, nearly knocking the breath from him.
“Grandpa!” Tsuna laughed, burying his face against him.
“You’re stuck with us,” Ieyasu added with playful firmness. “For a long time.”
Timoteo’s laughter echoed through the dining hall, rich and genuine. He lifted his arms, embracing them both despite their size and the way they leaned their full weight against him.
“My precious grandsons,” he murmured.