SO BAD [MXM] [MAFIA] ✓

EPILOGUE

Skylar spends the next few weeks getting accustomed to his new routine.

It's quite the adjustment, not used to... well... stability. His entire life, he has constantly been involved in some bullshit, hardly knowing a break or moment of peace. It's his own fault, too, and he's well aware of that. The change, however, can be fully credited to Ash.

Ashton has to work a bit more during this time, for whatever reason, but that's fine because Skylar still sees him a good amount. He also sees more of both Evangeline and Nina, the latter of which is a lot closer to Ash than Skylar initially thought.

One day, Skylar is finally able to talk the guy into letting him accompany him to work.

"You can't get mad at me again," Ash tells him from the driver's seat, and Skylar rolls his eyes. Really? That's his concern?

"I won't, unless you have any more surprises."

Ash actually frowns, appearing to contemplate that for a moment, which does not ease Skylar. He was joking, but Ash's reaction isn't reassuring in the least, and Skylar squints at him. "Stop being fucking suspicious."

"I'm not suspicious."

The accorder building is honestly quite similar to Crimson's little hideout. As in, it just looks like any other fucking building. It's something Skylar wouldn't look twice at if he didn't know what it was, which he assumes is probably the point.

Upon entry, Skylar doesn't find many people inside, and Ash tells him that's because it's midday. The accorders are generally more active at night, so that's why it's empty around this time. Also, some of them aren't technically accorders, they just... help out, or something. Skylar doesn't know, he doesn't really ask a lot of questions, too fascinated by the fact that he's here in the first place.

A month ago, Skylar would've never even dreamed that Ash would bring him here, the guy was just so secretive. Now, here he is, walking through Ashton's place of work. It's fucking crazy.

Ash leads him across the facility, until they eventually reach a sizable office. It actually looks pretty nice, and is obviously exclusive to Ash. Well, possibly Ash and his mom, since the plate on the desk only reads Rivera and nothing else.

"Okay, wait here. I need to deal with something."

Skylar quirks an eyebrow at him, but Ash leaves before he can ask any questions. This is likely on purpose, but Skylar can't prove that, so he just moves on and does as asked, taking a seat in what he can only assume is Ashton's desk chair and spinning in circles.

Skylar starts to wonder what the future holds, especially when it crosses his mind that well... maybe he could be of some help to the family business, someday. It's not like he has any real intention of going back to school, because he sucked at it anyway. Also, almost dying of a cytozine overdose has made him appreciate life way too much to waste time on anything.

Sorry, but school is a waste of time, at least for him. Maybe he will try to pursue his education some time later in the future, but right now he has other shit to worry about. He's probably missed too much school to graduate, anyway, so it'd be better to try for a GED instead. Also, he's not going to college either. Again... he's done wasting time.

Skylar has been spending most of his time as of late sorting himself out, and also getting his job in order. Ash quit Brandy's a while back, but Skylar held on. Unfortunately, he's on thin ice and in dire need of a mode of transportation, but whatever. The manager there likes him too much to actually fire him, he's sure of it.

Anyway, that's been his main concern. Money and a car and generally finding a way to sustain himself alongside Ash.

"What're you doing?"