For The Love Of Music

Something Good

The song was Something Good by Alt-J

You slowly sat up, your sleep having been disturbed by the shifting of the bed and the sound of footsteps. Blearily rubbing at your eyes, you sighed and asked your partner if he was really leaving in the middle of the night for yet another assignment. Already halfway out the bedroom door, Risotto merely gave you a hum of confirmation before exiting, not even bothering to give you a proper goodbye. Tired, and more than a little disappointed at the fact that he was leaving so soon after only having been back for one day, you opted to lay back down though you knew it would be some time until you could sleep again, your worries and loneliness weighing heavily on your mind.

~

He didn't come back the next day. He didn't come back that week. He didn't come back that month. Though you weren't actually a member of Passione, or any other group, you still heard things, and all of Italy seemed to know about the top assassin squad turning rogue.

Everywhere you went, hushed whispers followed you as it was no secret that you had been involved with Risotto, and others began to avoid you, fearful of the vengeance that might come down upon you. You paid them little mind, your focus being on the fact that the man you had loved, who you thought had loved you in return, had more or less left you for dead, vulnerable to any attack that might come your way due to having associated with him. You became numb to the world, living but not really, just going through the motions of your everyday life. At night you would slip into one of the old shirts he had left behind and cry yourself to sleep, desperate to hold on to some reminder of his presence. Even in your dreams he was elusive, always just around the corner, forever beyond your reach no matter what you did. Most mornings you woke up in a cold sweat, panting heavily as if you really had spent the whole night chasing shadows.

As time passed, and the truth of his permanent absence settled in, you began to slowly piece your life back together. You gave his old clothing away to a local charity, locked away all the gifts he had given you in storage, and the single picture you had of the two of you together was tucked away into a box stored in the far back of your closet. After a thorough cleaning your home was looking much more presentable, as you had let it become a mess after his departure, and now that you were embracing a fresh start it only felt appropriate.

Now that your chores were complete you took the time to freshen up your appearance, changing into your most flattering outfit. Even after the incident with Passione and La Squadra some of your friends had resolutely stayed by your side and you would be going out with them to one of your old stomping grounds. For the first time in what felt like forever you felt like you could forget about him, if only for the night, and you felt a little lighter.

~

"Hey Risotto why didn't you bring along-", Pesci's was interrupted mid question by Prosciutto angrily slapping a hand over his mouth and glaring at him.

"Shut it Pesci, that's none of our business", he hissed at the younger male, glancing at Risotto who still stood motionless with his back to them.

Ghiaccio leaned forward in his chair, arms crossed as he asked, "Wait a sec, the little asshole has a point, why the fuck didn't you bring them along?"

"They are virtually defenseless without you there, and as we all know the boss isn't above attacking civilians. Especially ones who have close personal ties to the leader of a group of traitors", Melone added in, giving a small shrug as if he hasn't just pointed out what was basically a death sentence.

All of them were ignored by their leader, silence filling the room until he finally turned to face them.

"Formaggio. You're up first, I want you to follow Buccellati's gang and locate the boss' daughter. Report back once you find something."

"Can do", Formaggio gave a lazy salute before leaving the room to prepare for the assignment.

"The rest of you will sit tight for now, we don't know which operatives the boss has sent to take care of us so it's best if we wait for them to show themselves", having said that he moved to leave as well but he stopped when Pesci asked where he was going.

"Out", was all he said before walking away. He had somewhere important to be.

~

Risotto sttod outside his former home, hidden in the darkness of the night as he watched the lights go off and on in different parts as you moved around from room to room. As foolish as it was, he stopped by when he could, not to talk to you but to reassure himself that you were fine. The period after the initial break from Passione had been the worst, multiple people had been sent to make an example of you but he had intercepted every single one of them and shown exactly what happened to those who threatened what was his. After the death of 7 assassins the boss had stopped trying, having more pressing matters to attend to then the ex-lover of a traitor. Even with the threat now gone, he still felt the need to return now and then, if only to give himself peace of mind.

Gazing at your silhouette in the window, he swore to himself that he would return to you when this was all over. You may have thought that he had forgotten you, but he had avoided you for your own safety. If he had his way something good would come out of this mess, and it would be a permanent place by your side.