Anger Management [Meloghia]

Chapter 13: Side Effects May Vary

Fugo took his strawberry ice cream from the vendor, thanked him, and turned to Giorno who was already eating his mint ice cream. The vendor had offered the cones for free but Giorno insisted on paying since they had always been so good to him in the past. It was a bit warmer today then the rest of the week had been, and Giorno couldn't resist stopping by his favorite gelato stand in his old district since they had business there today.

He'd brought Fugo along as his liaison. Mista had insisted on coming too as Giorno's bodyguard, but Giorno didn't want to send the wrong message by bringing a gun. He figured between Requiem and Purple Haze, they would manage.

"Well, I think that went well," Giorno said.

"They caved at the first threat. Your old district is very compliant," Fugo commented.

"Leaky-Eyed Luca is well aware of what I'm capable of, and now that he's on my payroll, he won't dare defy me. So we don't have to worry about drugs here." Giorno smiled and licked his ice cream. Fugo felt nervousness roiling in his stomach. He technically supported the drug trade last week as one of Giorno's right hands. It had been a desperate moment and Fugo hadn't had any other options. Besides he knew Ghiaccio wouldn't do anything stupid and he trusted him. The Prozac seemed to be helping immensely, he hadn't had a single outburst all week since taking it on Sunday. It was Thursday now and he felt his body was starting to get used to the dosage. The levels were evening out a bit so that his excitement levels were no longer that of Narancia.

He'd been keeping track of everything in his journal but hadn't recorded any rage outbursts. The only side effects he'd really noticed that he'd read could be common were his headaches but they were mild. He also hadn't been sleeping as soundly but he was no stranger to perturbed sleep so again he felt that wasn't anything to worry about.

Overall, Fugo was feeling good.

"It's funny being here again," Giorno said, interrupting Fugo's thoughts. "The last time I was here, I was still pickpocketing and driving people for money. I had a dream back then fuelled by my hatred for the current system. Now on the other side of it, being the Boss of Passione and actively making the changes I dreamed about....it's a bit surreal."

"I can imagine. I can't believe we're at the top of Passione now," Fugo said. A man walked past with a purple "p" tattooed on his neck. He nodded to the pair as they passed. "The respect people give us now is something I've never experienced in the past."

"Have you ever been in this part of Napoli before?" Giorno asked.

"Not really. I mostly kept to the southern part where I lived and then Bucciarati's district."

"Then I have to show you this spot I used to go to. It's beautiful. Come on," Giorno said and sped up. They talked about work as they walked. Giorno stopped after a time and looked ahead smiling. Fugo turned to look. They were standing at a railing overlooking the docks and the ocean beyond. The afternoon sun painted everything in warm oranges and reds, making the scene look like an oil painting he would have studied in a book back in college. It really was breathtaking.

"Wow," Fugo breathed.

"Yeah, we got here at the right time too. An hour til sundown." Giorno leaned against the railing and admired the scene before him.

Fugo looked at Giorno and watched him. His captivated expression was inspiring to say the least. Giorno was a person who didn't let the past get to him. He always strove to the future with a sparkle in his eye. Fugo admired that and wished he too could break free of the past and be as optimistic. He felt being medicated this week had given a small glimpse of what Giorno's outlook must be like daily. He craved that purpose and will, Giorno's resolve to do anything and everything to get what he wanted.