Mobster Boy

19

My heart's still pounding out of control long after Chance leaves. 'What was that, just now? If Hideyoshi hadn't interrupted us...' The door creaks open and I sit up, unsure of what I'll say to Chance. But instead of the tall gangster, another familiar shape hops inside. "Oh, Jazlyn! Come here, girl." She rests her chin on the mattress, whole body wiggling with happiness. "I'm not sure if you're allowed to be in here, but it should be fine as long as you don't hop up on the bed." Hearing the word "up" just makes her more excited. She lifts both front paws on the mattress, woofing at me. "Ah! Jazlyn, no!" I get up and pull her down, sitting on the floor beside her so she has no incentive to hop up onto the bed. Jazlyn doesn't know how big she is, most days, and tries to rest on my lap with little success.

"You big baby..." I grab her face with both hands, smooshing her face and talking gently to her. "I'm glad they're treating you well, too. They're not exactly who we thought they were. Definitely dangerous...but maybe not the worst kind of criminal. Sketchy, to say the least. But they're kind to me, too." Holding both my arms around Jazlyn's neck, I give her a tight hug. She's the only connection I have left to my parents. 'Where are they?' I only decided to stick around in order to find and punish them for what they did. But I quickly got swept up in the plot to expose the Governor and Giovanni. 'It became more important to me than finding my parents...' "But it's not like they made it easy. We definitely weren't close like other families. And they left without warning. They didn't even pause to think what would happen to me. Well...I'm sure they did and figured I'd die in the crossfire of all the messes they made." I lean forward, heavy with anger, and sadness. "Jazzie. This gang has been better to me than my own family. I don't want to leave...I want to stay with Chance..."

"Is that so?" I sit up, startled.

"Oh!" I blush furiously. "....how long have you been there?" Chance is leaning against the doorframe. The man could be quiet as a cat when he wanted to be.

"Just long enough to see you talking to an animal. Like a lunatic." He saunters over. "Maybe I really should leave you home tomorrow." I'm immediately on the defensive.

"Lots of people talk to their pets! If you had one, I bet you'd spoil it rotten." I frown up at him while he smirks down at me.

"We'll see about that." He crouches down, stroking Jazlyn's head. "I still don't know what I'm going to do with you once this is over." Pouting, I take his tie and tug on it, bringing him close enough to kiss.

"You still have to help me find my parents, Chance. Don't try to duck out of our bargain." He waves it aside.

"Of course I will. I promised I would. But even if you're a part of the gang, you're still a normal boy." I snort.

"After all this, I'm finding it harder to agree with that." Chance is thoughtful, looking distracted. His mind is obviously elsewhere, running calculations.

"It's true, there is something a little...different about you. Some coldness. In a good way." 'How can there be a good way for something like that?'

Coming to his senses, Chance shakes his head and then kisses me, firmly. "Listen, let's talk about it later. For now..." He takes me by the hand, urging me to my feet so he can clasp me close to his body. "Let's go blow off a little steam." I grin.

"That sounds nice. What did you have in mind?" Chance runs a hand through his hair, pushing his bangs up out of his face.

"I'm too cooped up in here. Let's go for a ride around town." Excited, I hold him a little tighter. I'm already anticipating the heady, warm adrenaline rush that always comes over me when we ride along at breakneck speed.

"Let's go to your secret place, then!" I grin happily.

"Sounds perfect."

~~

We go to where his motorcycle is parked. Once Chance straps my helmet on, we take off. I cling to his back, my cheek pressed to him, feeling warm muscles under the leather. Even though I try to convince myself it's a normal ride, I can't help but soak in all the details and commit them to memory. This is something I never want to forget. 'This won't be the last ride together. Don't even think things like that.'

~~

Chance parks just outside the observatory, taking my hand to help me get off the motorcycle. "We probably shouldn't be gone for too long. What if the others need our help preparing for tomorrow?" I ask, frowning.

"Then they'll call us." He senses my hesitation and puts an arm around my shoulders, squeezing me.

"Everything is under control." '...I actually believe it when he says it like that.' I wonder what it's like to be Chance, endlessly confident and cool, always sure of himself and his actions.

"It's really beautiful out there tonight." The skyline stretches before us, glittering just as it had that first night. That first night freed me, no...Chance freed me. 'Chance trusted me with this place. Will he trust me enough to bring me along tomorrow...?' Sure, he'd let me stay while he interrogated Giovanni's guy, but that was when we were safe in the mansion.

"Hey." I don't realize how wound up I am in my own thoughts until I hear him speak.

"Mmm?" I hum, looking at him.

"I need you by my side." His cold steel blue eyes catch mine, deadly serious. "You're coming with me." A brief moment of hesitation. "Right?" A big grin spreads over my face.

"Of course." He smiles, moving so that he stands behind me with his arms around my waist. We stay out there for at least another hour in comfortable silence before Chance decides it's time to head home. 

~~

The next morning I wake up tangled in Chance's arms. When I try to scoot away and get ready, his grip tightens and he holds me to his chest, not letting  me leave. "Chance, come on." His hand finds the back of my head, gripping it firmly to keep me in place.

"Just a minute longer. Are you really ready, Adrian?" I take the time to give my response the weight it deserves.

"...Yes. Absolutely, yes." He kisses my forehead and lets me go, rolling off the bed.

"Then come on. We have a long day ahead of us."

There's already a fresh pot of coffee brewing in the kitchen. 'The others must be awake.' I'm full of nervous jitters, looking around for any sign of life in the house. "Where is everyone?" I ask, frowning.

"Getting ready, in their own way." He looks at me, a brief flash of concern making its way through his cold mask. "Hideyoshi and Ash will be with us. Don't worry. They haven't left." My frown deepens.

"No, no, I wasn't trying to imply that...I guess I'm just chatting to fill the silence." He shrugs. Chance rummages around in the top cabinets for his favorite cereal. He pours out two bowls. "Here. Bon apetit." I chuckle and eat the sweet chocolate bites as quick as I can, somewhat pleased that Chance and I have similar tastes. Chance peels off the little post-it note on the cereal box when he thinks I'm not looking, the one threatening death to anyone who eats it without his permission. It's also a small reminder, but a nice one, that Chance trusts me now. We toss our bowls into the sink and head to the front door.

The rest of the gang is already gathered there, looking sharp and dangerous. 'Just like the first night in the mansion.' I smile thoughtfully. "Good morning Chance. Sleep well?" She gives me a wink and my face goes thermonuclear, but Chance just puts an arm around my shoulders and holds me closer.

"Yeah. I did. Are you guys ready?" If anything my face catches even more fire after that.

"As ready as we'll ever be." Marcus straightens out his outfit and fusses over Phaedra a bit.

"I got the car." Ash announces.

"Then let's do this."