Nature of Nurture - scene
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"What do you do in your free time?" Young Cavallone heir asked some days later. When Allesio answered with 'sleep' Dino looked properly confused, "I mean for fun? Do you have any interests?"
"Shooting practice." Was another prompt answer from Alessio, she didn't really thaw yet with Dino and was a bit uncertain still, after that assassination attempt that had nearly succeeded.
"Outside of family business?" Dino looked a bit worried and Alessio wondered if it was for her or because Reborn had turned around to listen in.
"I was taught not to indulge any interests outside family business." She recited from memory; she had been asked similar questions before, sometimes by Angelo, just to see if his lessons had taken root...and borne fruit.
"Eh?" Dino looked scandalised now and she felt a bit bad for saddling him with such an ugly truth –see what they teach under your roof? Didn't you know this? Why were you allowed a privilege like fun past-times? Right, you're the heir- "Who taught you that!?"
"My tutor." Alessio was intrigued by Dino's frown and mounting tightness around his eyes, was he really taking that much offence for something that seemed trivial to her. "Angelo Mariani." That brought Dino slightly out of his contemplation. "Your father?"
Alessio didn't trust her tone not to be scathing so she just nodded in confirmation, briefly, and observed his expression, not wanting to think on 'father' and 'Angelo' in same context.
Dino was properly angry, but didn't know who or what to be angry at, he just knew he was and it frustrated him further. He remembered his younger years well and couldn't fathom not reading comics, playing video games, reading novels,... what would his life have been like if those had been taken away from him, if he were forbidden to even do anything outside of weapon training and physical exercise. He glanced at Alessio again, no wonder he was so stiff and unfriendly, he obviously had no idea how not to be! Were all other children of his future –please don't let Reborn read my mind!- subordinates trained as such? He hoped not!
"Ignore all of that!" Dino burst out because he had to, something was going to burst and his hands had started to shake so he just had to- "If you want to go skiing, horseback riding, bungee jumping- I don't know- please do!"
Alessio wanted to believe him, but she was cautious, she learned the hard way to be cautious of even those presumed to be closest to her so she felt the need to test Dino, to test his boundaries. How far would his acceptance stretch? This was something that plagued her every time she looked in the mirror, put on clothes, showered; she knew she was a girl, even if her body didn't cooperate.
She wanted to wear high-heels because she loved their look, put on make-up when she felt vulnerable and desperately needed armour. She wanted to feel pretty and while she absolutely loved suits, that fit her so snugly in this life like they never had before, she wanted to reclaim something of her old self back. She needed it.
"So you're telling me," her mind went back to a pair of yellow high heeled boots that she only allowed herself to glance at and the pain of not being allowed such a simple piece of comfort because it might embarrass him, her boss. "If I went out right now and bought myself high heels and make-up just because I wanted to wear them, you wouldn't mind?" Alessio just looked at Dino with a firm gaze and barricaded her heart so she wouldn't be hurt, but still in the set of her shoulders there was hope that there was some truth to those Sky Flames and –please show me that you and Tsuna really are alike, that you have more than a tutor in common – she waited and she hoped, but not too fervently, because she knew hope lead to disappointment.
"Sure," Dino just stared at her as matter of fact, as if he hadn't just done something, hadn't just given her something that many others would have sneered at her for or, in best case, thought she was joking. "If you like it and have fun wearing it then go for it."
He almost committed the fatal mistake of thinking his subordinate –I hope Reborn isn't reading my mind! - was joking, but he saw the way the boy's muscles tensed for just a moment before he forced them into relaxation. After seeing that, Dino considered the question honestly and found that he wouldn't really mind, even less so if Alessio would be happy. At eighteen years of age Dino couldn't imagine never having fun or being forbidden to do things he liked and he had no desire to have his –tentative friend?- experience it either.
Would he mind if Alessio wore dresses and make up? Not really, he supposed it wasn't any of his business what Alessio wore just as Alessio didn't comment on his messy wardrobe or tangled hair and a shirt from yesterday. The only thing necessary was being able to do his duty, but Dino had no problem believing that Alessio might just teach himself to run in heels if needed.
"Then I'll be going shopping tomorrow during your training." Alessio did her best not to show too much emotion but relief and happiness mingled together and formed an indiscernible mass that she would examine once she reached the safety of her room. "I'll be going now, good evening."
And with that she turned to leave, as she had before Dino stopped her with his questioning, changing course now for her room, hearing conversation between tutor and student behind her.
"Looks like you're not completely useless Useless-Dino." Reborn spoke, acting a bit surprised.
"What?" Dino sounded legitimately confused. “I just said what I thought." Warmth spread through Alessio's chest at those words and she swallowed harshly, it had been a while since tears stung her eyes she never imagined that next ones would be of happiness.
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