Chapter Text
The club was gathered at a lake on a mountain, a quiet secluded place which surprised TJ. He’d just had his first shootout alongside his family and was sporting a brand new bandage on his arm as almost a badge of what he’d went through.
“TJ, because of your circumstances, you’re going to skip the hangaround process and be a blooded in patched member. We’ll still have to teach you things like we would a hangaround, but you are part of this family.” Dundee said as he handed over a box all wrapped up in shiny blue paper. “I made this one special for you son.”
TJ looked quizzically at Dundee before opening the package. A jacket, white as fresh snow was inside sporting the iconic Bondi patch. A few small patches were on the front that matched the others but one patch stood out. “The Dark Prince of Vespucci?”
“Yuno’s got a matching one, his doesn’t say dark though.” Dundee said with a cheeky grin before ruffling TJ’s hair. “I’m glad you’ve joined us son.”
A loud splash in the distance distracted them and Dundee noticed Barry grumpily treading water and Collin laughing at him. “I better take care of that, we’ll start teaching you the ropes once it’s cooled down.” Dundee said before sprinting off to throw Collin in the lake.
“Ugh…I really need to fix my hair.” TJ said as he annoyingly itched the back of his head.
“What’s wrong with it?” Jesse asked as he looked over at him.
“The back of it!” TJ as he grabbed a pebble and tossed it into the lake. “I miss my fucking fade!!”
Jesse laughed and TJ shoved his shoulder. “Don’t laugh!!” He yelled grumpily.
Jesse peered at the back of TJ’s head and laughed again. “Holy shit he’s balding already!”
“Shaddup!”
—————————
“Thanks again Miss Pixie!” Yuno said cheerily as he stepped out of her office, the therapist following behind shortly after.
“Hopefully this technique will help keep that anxiety in check.” Pixie said with a soft smile. “I’ll see you again next week?”
“Yeah, I’ll do my best.” Yuno said quietly, briefly being distracted as Doctor Harlow called for her next patient. An older looking man with wispy gray hair stood up with his cane and Yuno couldn’t help but feel an unease as he looked at the man. “…Miss Pixie? Who’s that man?”
Pixie followed his gaze. “That’s Doctor Isaac, he used to work here many years ago. I haven’t seen him in quite a while, I should go say hello.”
“Uhh, yeah you do that.” Yuno said inching towards the door before running for it. Once he was out of the building and down the stairs he sighed.
“What was that??? I haven’t felt that weirded out since..” Yuno mumbled to himself as he caught his breath. Across the street he saw an all too familiar figure of a man in a dark trench coat and an oversized crow. “….Norman.”
Yuno felt frozen to the spot. What was he doing here?! Part of him screamed out to run, to hide, to do something . But then he saw Norman’s face, he looked upset. What on earth could make the god of Death seem so sad?
After a moment of battling internally between fear and curiosity, the curiosity won out and he nervously crossed the street. “Are you ok?” Yuno asked quietly. “You…you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want..but.”
Norman looked up as the smoke from his cigarette danced with the breeze. “I’m here to do my job.” Norman said with a dejected sigh. “Don’t worry, it’s none of yours. Not today anyway.” He added with just the slightest smirk.
“That’s. Reassuring I guess?” Yuno said with a nervous laugh. He paused as he watched Noxee stretch her scruffy wings before flying off into the sky. “Thank you again for helping me save TJ by the way.”
“Brotherhood is a strong connection.” Norman said as he flicked the end of his cigarette away and lighted another. “Mine was a lot like you.”
Yuno timidly sat down next to Norman as two smaller crows landed next to them. The hacker looked curiously at the birds as they squabbled with each other before Noxee came back down and scolded them both.
“Those are some of her children. Smoke and Ghost.” Norman said as he watched Yuno out of the corner of his eye.
Yuno couldn’t help but laugh as the smallest one had decided his untied shoelaces were suddenly the best toy. “Hey, that’s attached!” He laughed before reaching down to the crow and being surprised that instead of flying away it hopped onto his hand. “They’re heavier than I expected.”
The little crow seemed almost insulted by that and pecked at Yuno’s helmet before it fluttered off in a huff.
“I think you offended him.” Norman said with a slight grin.
“Sorry!” Yuno yelled after the crow. He nervously shuffled a bit on the bench before sneaking a peek back at Norman. “So…why are you here? I mean, is somebody dying in the hospital?”
Norman took a long drag of his cigarette and sighed. “There is a surgery today. It won’t be the doctor’s fault, something terrible is coming. Something I’ve been avoiding for my own selfishness.”
“…..your brother.” Yuno said softly. “Something bad is going to happen to him? And you can’t do anything to save him?”
“Something already did.” Norman said with a surprising softness to his voice. “And I’ve been avoiding those consequences for far too many years.”
“What happened?” Yuno asked, surprised by this sudden display of emotion. The terrifying god of death seemed so human for just a moment.
“Let me tell you a story……”