Anger Management [Meloghia]

Chapter 25: Early in the AM

Risotto laid awake next to Prosciutto; his phone said it was almost four in the morning. He was always the first in the house awake, followed by Pesci or Prosciutto. This morning, however, he was awake earlier than usual. He'd dreamt of his cousin again, saw the car veering out of control as Damien pushed him out of the way. The flash of the license plate in his mind as the car sped away: BK-022EZ.

He didn't usually stay the night in Prosciutto's bed but he had been feeling particularly anxious all day. Fugo's outburst at the mixer hadn't helped. As he looked at the clock again he saw it was October 14th, his cousin's birthday.

"Can't sleep?" Risotto turned to see Prosciutto watching him. His blond hair was loose around his face. Prosciutto reached a hand out to stroke his cheek but Risotto looked back up at the ceiling. He scooted closer to lay on Risotto's chest. "Damien?" Risotto ran his fingers through Prosciutto's hair as they laid there.

"It's the fourteenth," was all Risotto said.

"Did you dream about it again?" Prosciutto asked quietly.

"Yeah."

Risotto felt empty again. Prosciutto was the only thing in his life, besides killing, that held that all-consuming ennui at bay. Things had certainly improved since he'd confessed his feelings for Prosciutto, a part of him had revived inside himself that he'd thought had died with Damien that night. He'd lost his best friend to the insolence of a drunken man, one that after careful planning, Risotto had eliminated. That loss weighed heavily upon him. He still longed for his older cousin's counsel and friendship when things got particularly tough. He'd found a similar admiration for Prosciutto, except it had turned into more than just friendship.

"Are you worried about the mission?" Prosciutto asked to the darkness.

"I don't like sending you in there, especially without me to back you up," Risotto admitted.

"I have Pesci, I'll be fine," Prosciutto said. "Not to mention Ghiaccio and Melone."

"I know, but I'd rather go with you and leave Sorbet and Gelato in charge here. But with Gelato out of commission, and Sorbet's information necessary in the field, it's the best configuration I could come up with. Staying was the best option," Risotto said quietly. He continued to run his fingers through the blond strands.

"Riz, I'll be fine," Prosciutto said again. He laid his hand under his cheek. He stroked Risotto's chest with his other hand.

"That's what you said when I left you at the train station," Risotto sighed.

"This is different."

"Is it?" Risotto asked himself more than Prosciutto. "We're just as blind."

"There are a lot more of us this time going," argued Prosciutto.

"Doesn't mean casualties don't happen," he countered.

"Pesci's a lot stronger than he used to be," Prosciutto stated. "He's grown since my death. He goes right for the heart now. No prompting."

"Yeah. He's definitely improved." Risotto put his other arm behind his head. "You do good work."

"That's because I'm the best at what I do," Prosciutto said smugly. Risotto smirked. He loved that confidence. It was what always put his mind at ease when Prosciutto went on a job alone. He would never falter in the field. If he committed to something, he would follow through without hesitation. He knew he shouldn't dwell on this, on any of it, but Risotto had been confident about the last attempt too. But he was sending most of them with this time, way more than he would normally for something like this. No chance of failure. Maybe it was the lingering anxiety from his dream that made him feel this way.