Quixotic (2)

2

"Mila, keep your eyes closed!" Aria demanded as they stood at the entrance to the alley, their eyes locked on the double doors twenty feet across the road. Cries echoed across the streets as policemen ran to help the wounded. The child was shaking, her entire body clasped against Brian's torso as he contemplated running the distance, "Mila, calm down, babe."

"Keep your eyes closed, Mila." Brian repeated, reaching back to take Aria's hand in his as he scanned the area. Guiding her with him, they dodged the fallen figures on the road and ran into the hotel lobby, "I need a room!" He demanded, rushing toward the front desk, "Whatever you have available, I'll take it."

He placed the child to sit on the counter, but her hands remained locked around Brian's shoulders. He inched back, gently pushing the child away from him as he guided Aria to take his place.  Handing the woman his credit card, he was given two room keys, "Take Mila upstairs." He demanded, his eyes widened with fear as he turned to see the people flooding the street, "I'm going to see what I can do to help." He told her quickly, his eyes looking once more to the screaming child before backing away, demanding, "Take her upstairs."

"Be careful --." Aria muttered as she watched the man run out the doors, her heart pounding in her chest as she forced herself to turn away. 

Entering the large suite, she immediately moved to put Mila in the bath, "I need you to breathe, baby bird." She hummed as the poured bubbles into the tub, "Play in the tub, okay?" The child nodded hesitantly as she stepped into the bath, "We are safe."

She paced around the room, pausing at the window to search for Brian. The people on the street looked like ants after their home had been stepped on, scurrying around the area in a panic. Her anxiety was spiked, and her breathing was quick. She continued to pace until the door to the room swung open and Brian stepped inside.

He hurried to take a seat on the couch and her eyes hesitantly followed his movements before turning back to look at the three men filing through the doorway, "Joe Gatto." One man introduced, slightly raising his hand as he stood between the other two men.

His name sounded familiar, but her eyes lingered on the dark haired man to his left. She recognized his features as if she had seen him before, but her eyes widened when he said his name, "Salvatore Vulcano, call me Sal."

She glanced back over her shoulder to see Brian sitting at the couch with his head braced in the palms of his hands, "My name is James." The thinner man behind them introduced and Aria quickly turned to look at him, her eyes narrowed, "Everyone calls me Murr." He shrugged his shoulder, nervously twitching his neck to the left as he forced a small smile onto his lips.

"Y'all are from that show on TruTV." She hummed hesitantly, saying, "I watched the first season in college."

"Impractical Jokers." The man standing at the front said, noticing how her eyes continued to glance over her shoulder to their friend sitting on the couch, "You were on a hidden camera television show, so we are going to need you to sign a release form." Her lips were pressed in a firm line across her lips for a moment as she glanced down at the floor.

"Would y'all mind if I spoke with Brian alone?" They filed out of the room without a word, and she moved toward him, a sigh escaping her lips as she took a seat.

His heart was racing in his chest, his adrenaline spiked as he sat completely still, "Thank you." She hummed, a small smile pulling at her lips as she slightly leaned toward him. He looked up with hesitation and met her hazel eyes, "I wouldn't have been able to get Mila out of there alone." She hummed, saying with a small grin, "She's light for a six year old, but I'm not very strong."

"You're stronger than you think." He hummed, running his hand through his long hair, "You haven't shed a tear." He told her, the smallest hint of a smirk pulling at his lips as he stretched his shoulders back and fixed his posture.