Summary: "Tell me you love me." He can't help but feel he's heard this before.

Quote: I loved you when love was Spring, and May, Loved you when summer deepened into June, and now when autumn yellows all the leaves... - V. Sackville-Wes

Recommended Song: Drops of Jupiter by Train.

Warning: Slight OOC, but that can be brushed off by the AU. A little vague on the AU part, but all you need to know is that they're not mafia. Also, slash? If that's not your thing, I don't know how you made it this far.

Notes: Not-mafia-AU.

/

January is cold and the snow on the ground crunches loudly when he moves, leaving crisp footprints in the winter wonderland. Skull's icy breath swirls in the air when he laughs, twirling until he collapses in a fit of laughter. He leaves a large outline in the snow where he lands.

"You're so childish," Colonnello chastises. He wonders why it's his job to babysit the kid. "Get up already."

Skull wiggles a bit, rocking back and forth in his oversized coat until his laughter dies down to a few tiny giggles. He reaches his hands up to grab something, but the air is unobscured so he lets them fall back down.

"I can't." He says, and there's something about the way he says it that Colonnello immediately doesn't believe, but he slowly moves over to help anyway.

"Hurry up," Skull whines, voice raising a pitch. "It's cold."

"And whose fault is that?" Colonnello retorts. He sticks out his hand to help the younger one up.

Skull grasps it tightly, making sure he has a firm grip before pulling down with all his might. Colonnello could've probably stayed upright, but was too tired to care that he was falling. He lands on top of Skull, face pressed into the crook of his neck. Skull wiggles a bit.

"Mother nature's," He says and Colonnello has almost forgotten he had said anything. He snorts and rolls over, making his own imprint in the snow and gazes at the cloudy sky.

"It was supposed to be rhetorical." And he doesn't have to look to know Skull is sticking his tongue out at him. "Idiot," he scoffs.

"You know you love me," Skull shoots back and they've had this conversation a million times before.

Yeah, Colonnello thinks, I really must.

/

White Day comes and goes and soon enough Colonnello finds that it's the end of March before he realizes it. The flowers have long since bloomed and he suffers through Skull's endless complains about the lack of snow. The pollen irritates his nose almost as much as having to trail after Skull and his search for adventure in everyday life.

At some point Colonnello suggests they go to Tokyo, just to get out, he says. He secretly just wants Skull to shut up, but there was no way he was saying that. The way the other boy's eyes light up makes him wish he had said it before, complaints or no.

They go one long weekend full of train rides with too many people and not enough room. Colonnello shuts his eyes for a moment and when he wakes up, Skull is drooling on his shoulder and they've missed their stop. So they ride the train back again and manage to get there before sundown anyway. They're both sore and hungry, but that doesn't stop them from hiking all the way to Tokyo Tower and standing at the very top when the moon hangs high in the sky.

It's amazing what you can see from almost a mile up in the air. The sky is clear for once and the stars shine like Skull's smile when he leans on the railing. They don't say much because words aren't needed.

"Thank you," Skull whispers and Colonnello is suddenly grateful for the lack of people around because he would deny that blush with his life, damn it.

He starts to say something when Skull turns and suddenly his breath is caught in his throat. The lights behind him give off some sort of glow and Colonnello forgets what he starts to say in an instant.

"Something wrong?" Skull asks, frowning.

Colonnello just mumbles for him to enjoy the view while it lasts and the rest of the night is blur of colors and sushi.

/

They fight somewhere in the summer and he doesn't remember why. Everything is a rush of noise for days on end and Colonnello gets the feeling he doesn't want to remember what they (he) said. The days are colorless, leaving him to wonder if this is what life is like without Skull. He doesn't actually remember any time before the over-grown child.

The date doesn't hit him until he opens the door one evening after day 1-something of Life Without Skull and finds a package poorly wrapped on his step. Even without a card, he can guess who it's from by the bright purple bow and ugly red wrapping paper. He unwraps it without much thought, wondering what Skull could've possibly given him and why, when he finds that it's a bandanna. The same bandanna he'd thought he lost weeks ago to the harsh wind of the forest. It must've taken Skull hours to find it due to wet land and overgrown bush.

The bandanna is wrapped around something itself, so he pulls at the strings gently until it unravels. A picture floats down, one from Tokyo Tower and Colonnello doesn't remember taking it. It had two people in the shot, but the one that really mattered had scribbled himself out with a black sharpie. The smell is fresh and it hits Colonnello's nose like poison. He flips the card over.

Happy Birthday is scribbled there in familiar handwriting. I'm sorry isn't, but Colonnello gets the message anyway and runs barefoot out of his house so fast he doesn't remember getting out the door.

He catches Skull halfway to his house, head turned down and soaked from the drizzling rain. Colonnello flies through puddles and is drenched himself by the time he manages to grab his best friend's shoulder and spin him around. Water drip-drops down the teen's face, and something about it makes the blonde think it's not rain, but he doesn't mention it. Instead he pulls the other closer, whispering apologizes over and over, running a hand through damp hair. They stay like that until one of them gets enough common sense to get out of the rain. They go back to Colonnello's house because its closer and Skull's stuff is already there anyway. The two of them shiver from the cold when they get inside and still are when they change clothes.

Colonnello grabs Skull's arms and falls back on the couch. He tugs on a blanket before he can complain. They flip through the channels, making stupid comments about crappy TV and trying to keep from falling asleep. At some point, Skull actually does leave the world of the conscious, but not before turning over on the way-too-small couch so he's facing his friend. Colonnello wraps his arms around the smaller one, forehead pressed against another's and thinks that this might be perfect, before he too is gone.

The next morning they both wake up with colds, but Colonnello doesn't really mind. And from the look on Skull's face, neither does he.

Colonnello puts on the bandanna that morning and doesn't take it off.

/

August is typhoon season and the air is sticky and hot. They have trouble leaving their homes because of all the wind and rain, so they grab their things when they can and spend days over each other's house. Colonnello's home never seems to have a pause in the weather and Skull's shakes in the rough wind, but they make best of it with microwaved smores and nasty hot chocolate, which is mostly water anyway.

Skull's birthday comes and goes and they celebrate with cake and a few beers. They're not technically of age, but who has to know? Skull's face is flushed before they even finish the six pack and it's a great effort not to fall down, so he runs into Colonnello instead.

"H-hey," Skull slurs. "You, you have nish hair, did you know that?"

Colonnello wraps one arm around Skull's shoulders and tugs him toward the bedroom.

"You're drunk," He says. "You only had two beers."

"Not dru-" Skull hiccups a bit midsentence and Colonnello can't help but laugh. They make it to the bed without breaking anything, but a lamp does fall when they walk by. He throws Skull onto the bed, even though he's not heavy, and Skull giggles to himself long after the bed stops bouncing.

"Go to sleep, " Colonnello says and he's already halfway out the door. Skull calls after him.

"Wh-where ya goin'?"

"To get some peace and quiet from the monster on my bed." Colonnello only means it as a joke, but then Skull bursts into tears and he thinks it might not have been a good idea.

"Whoah, hey, what's wrong?"

Skull sobs into a pillow and shakes his head while Colonnello rubs comforting circles on his back. He's not good at this, but Skull isn't himself so he thinks he won't mind.

"Y-y-you're gonna leave me," The last part comes out like a wail and the older blonde winces. Never bring alcohol again.

"I'm not going to leave you," Colonnello tells him. The sobs die down for a moment.

"Promise?" The voice sounds strained and a little raw, but Colonnello shakes off.

"I promise."

Skull brings his head out from the pillow, staring at his friend with red-rimmed eyes.

"You don't hate me?"

"Who told you that?" Colonnello says and thinks, whoa, what's got you upset? "I don't hate you. I've never hated you and I never will."

Skull shifts again so his face is hidden against the fabric.

"Really?" He asks, voice much quieter than before. He relaxes on the bed and stretches out his limbs.

"Really," Colonnello reassures him. "I don't hate you. I don't- it's just the opposite really. And I maybe, might…Do you….?" He flounders for a moment, wondering how to say this thinking that he might be a little tipsy too. Finally he just takes a deep breath.

"Skull, I-"

And then he realizes that the person in question has fallen asleep.

Colonnello lets his hand fall back to his side and wonders just exactly he thought he had been doing.

/

Nothing really happens between the end of August and November. The trees become bare, Colonnello starts wearing sweaters and forcing Skull to do the same, despite his protests. The rain finally stops, which is a blessing to all. They pile up their leaves and jump into the mounds they make. Colonnello acts responsible and Skull acts childish- same old, same old. Life is good.

But Christmas comes too soon and Colonnello is left wondering what to buy. Clothes seemed too impersonal and despite his young demeanor, Skull had long since outgrown toys. Music was always a nice choice, but when he goes to the store they've sold out of almost everything. Colonnello curses his luck and finally decides to make his own crappy gift instead of buying one. It's not like he could do any worse than what they had left at the mall.

So Colonnello breaks out all the decorative supplies he has, paper and markers, clothe from old bandanas and some other crap he doesn't remember buying. He sits straight, stares at the items, and thinks I have no idea what to make from this trash.

An idea does stick in his mind. A stupid, girly idea, but it's his and he has no other options. He swallows his pride and buys sewing needles and stuffing. He works whenever he Skull gives him a moment to himself, but life is busy and the date grows faster than he wants it to.

Christmas Eve comes sooner than expected and he's almost finished, but he runs out of thread a few stitches too short. So then he has to runs over to the only open store in town twenty minutes before he's supposed to meet Skull to exchange gifts. He takes three steps in before it feels like something stabs him right in the stomach and he passes out.

And that's the story of how Colonnello ends up in the hospital on Christmas Eve with appendicitis.

When he wakes up, Colonnello finds a red eyed Skull asleep on his hospital bed and a major pain in his side. He tries to shift without waking up the other, but Skull is up in a flash.

"Are you okay? Does it hurt? Areyouinanypain?" It comes out in a rush and Colonnello blinks a few times before answering.

"I'm fine," he says. "Where am I?"

"The hospital." Skull lets out a laugh that sounds just a bit hysterical. "Only you could walk around with appendicitis and ignore it until your appendix literally explodes."

"Who cares about my appendix? I don't even what it does anyway." Colonnello is not usually the one to make light of a situation, but he feels like the roles needed to be switched today.

"I care about your appendix, dumbass!" Skull is practically foaming at the mouth. "What were you even doing at that store anyway?"

"I was buying thread for…" Colonnello trails off, face flushing with the meaning of his words sinks in. "Oh, no. What day is today?"

"December 26."

Colonnello groaned loudly, running a hand through his hair. He had missed Christmas! Thing just couldn't get any worse.

"Skull, I'm so sorry I missed Christmas. I-"

"You know what, you should be sorry," Skull said, hold up one hand to cut Colonnello off. "I sat on that park bench for an hour, wondering where you were before I finally got a call from the hospital telling me you were having surgeryand they wouldn't tell me what for. And then I have to sit in a crappy, plastic chair, worrying my head off for four hours before they finally let me see you and you weren't even awake! So then I sit in a slightly different chair for even longer, hoping you aren't going to die because no one still won't tell me anything and eventually cry myself to sleep. And now here you are, having the gall to apologize to me because you missed Christmas!"

Skull finished up his rant so loudly it was a wonder a nurse didn't come in and kick him out on the spot. He breathed, harshly for a moment, staring at Colonnello expectantly.

"Well?" He asked.

"Um, I'm sorry?" Colonnello managed. Skull's eyes water and he throws himself onto his friend, wrapping his arms around his neck, and sobbing.

"I th-th-thought you were going to die!" He wails, wrapping his arms tighter around Colonnello's neck. The blonde ran a hand through Skull's hair.

"I'm fine, see? I'm sorry I worried you." He said. "Shh."

Skull pulls back, rubbing his face with his sleeve almost violently. He mumbles something Colonnello didn't quite catch and reaches underneath the bed, pulling out a bag.

"What's that?" Colonnello asks.

"You're present," Skull answers and Colonnello feels guilty all over again. He takes the bag gently, pulling off the paper slowly.

It's a scarf, one obviously handmade. The stitches are a bit tight in some places and farther apart in other and it's not the best job he's ever seen, but it's green and soft and warm and Colonnello feels ashamed.

"Thank you," he says and puts in on even though the room isn't that cold.

Skull smiles.

Colonnello gets discharged right before New Years.

He has a little trouble walking, but the pain medication and Skull's help does wonders. Somehow, he manages to finish his own gift without Skull's knowledge and plans on using it as a New Years gift, which is an okay plan in his mind.

They celebrate with homemade fireworks just for the heck of it. They drive to the outskirts of town in a badly beaten pickup truck overflowing with food and explosive material. The firecrackers ring in their ears, burning the asphalt it lands on. Sparks light up the sky in different shapes and colors. Red. Blue. Orange. Green. Pink. Purple.

One firework is larger than the rest. It lights up the sky in a volcanic eruption of gold and silver. Skull and Colonnello laugh until their throats are sore and their faces feel like splitting in two. The embers take forever to die in the midnight sky, not completely gone when the next batch fall.

"I have a present for you," Colonnello says before they light the last explosion. Skull cocks his head instead of asking anything. His eyes glow in the dark and his grin is akin to the Cheshire Cat's, which only serves to make Colonnello feel more awkward.

The older one of the two pulls out the bag and hands it over. It isn't big or decorated, but the bag isn't what's being given, so it didn't really matter, Colonnello thinks.

Skull takes it with a smile anyway, gleefully reaching into the package. The paper falls from his hands when he pulls out his gift.

Obvious stitches of thread lined the sides, awkward and dark against the light material. Two buttons sat in the middle of the doll's face, one just a little lower than the other. The rest of the doll's face was drawn on, which suddenly Colonnello was all too aware of. Would it really have taken that long to put the face on manually?

But Skull doesn't say anything, just grins that stupid grin of his and throws his arms around Colonnello's neck. Someone, they're not sure who, trips and they roll on the ground but neither of them lets go. Colonnello winces from the pain in his sore stomach and Skull's lips brush against his own, so it doesn't really matter.

Tears start dripping from his face and could he be more of a girl? Colonnello hastily wipes the water away, but it's too late, the damage is done and Skull presses his face into the crook of his neck, squishing the mini-Colonnello between them.

"Get off," Colonnello somehow is able to say. "You're heavy."

Skull shifts a little, just enough to get his jacket to ride up a bit, and smiles into Colonnello's shoulder.

"Can't." He says. "Too heavy."

"And whose fault is that?"

"You're mom's."

Skull (finally) rolls off of him and Colonnello has a sudden feeling of de ja vu hit him like a brick. Or an appendix exploding.

He opens his mouth to say something, but like so many times before he's cut off. A pair of lips meets his own and it's not at all like he imagined, it's so much better than that. Definitely a lot sloppier, but good nonetheless and he'd take this over his imagination any day.

"I love you," One of them whispers and it really doesn't matter which any more because they both feel the same (always have) and the moment is perfect and things are going to be just fine.

The last rocket remains unlit.