AU Mafia for @ papichulo

[harderdaddy]

There is never a good time to be called into his father's office, but when Anthony steps in and catches sight of Valentino his all ready pale complexion grows whiter. The man's one of his father's top men, high enough that he's got all his own men under him, and he's probably the son he wishes he had, even over his older brother who ain't always getting himself in shit.

But Anthony ain't scared cause of any of that. He's scared because Val saw him and that new runner in the back alley. Saw him in a position he couldn't exactly explain his way out of. How do you explain away a cock shoved down your throat as anything but what it is?

Which means this must be it. He's told Anthony's father and Val's going to earn himself a heap of praise and Tony's gonna find himself in the Hudson with a new pair of shoes.

He swallows thickly and takes his seat, hardly registering at first that he's not handed down a death sentence. Nothing at all is said of the incident, instead his father just informs him that he going to be working for Valentino for a while, see if his best man can't turn him into something useful. He manages to nod a bit numbly, though a small scowl finds it's way to his face once he properly processes his father's words.

They're dismissed, sent to pack a bag so he can join the crew across town, and as soon as they're in the relative safty of his room Anthony fixes Val with a wide eyed look.

"You didn' say nothin'??"

Comments

[harderdaddy]

It might be a hold over from when Anthony was younger and slightly more respectful, particularly around his father's best man. He understood that feeling the man sparked in him better with age, and while his inner dialogue and fantasies toy with Valentino or Val, he feels he hasn't earned the right in the waking world.

"Yessir-" he starts, biting himself off with just a nod as Valentino continues. He expects to get at least a little ribbing as the new body on the scene, and not exactly a large or intimating figure at that. He let's himself self out and comes round to case the case, straightening his shoulder so he makes the best impression he can.

[papichulo]

While the outside of the building is clean and cared for, it's also fairly unassuming, brown-red brick stacked up like most of the other buildings on the block. Inside, it's a little more luxurious than outward appearances would suggest. The lobby is spacious with a small set of stairs leading up to an elevator and what looks like a concierge desk tucked away just off to the right, manned by a single person that's probably paid very well.

Valentino leads Anthony inside with a subtle tilt of his head, indicating for him to follow. This time, though, the space left between them is intentional, and Valentino makes no move to take his suitcase off of his hands. He stops by the desk to the right of the elevator to ask for a specific key, briefly introduces Anthony to Eugene - the man behind the desk - who nods his head politely but otherwise doesn't say too much, and then Valentino guides Anthony to the elevator.

The lift takes them up four floors. Valentino reaches to slide the cage-like door open, and gestures for Anthony to step out before him, following him out. He leads him down a narrow hallway to a door near the end, uses the key they picked up in the lobby to unlock it, and then pushes it with his fingers so it swings open wide, creaking on its hinges.

"Fortunately," he says, sliding his hands into his pants pockets and leaning his shoulder against the wall just outside of the apartment. "We have room for you. Usually the building is full."

Another half-truth. This apartment has been vacant for a while now, used for storage more than anything else, though it's recently been cleared out. Compared to the rest of the building, it's nothing special, and it clearly has not been kept up with or updated in who knows how long. The paper on the walls is peeling in places, and there are a couple cobwebs tucked into corners here and there. A layer of dust on nearly every flat surface, water stains on the ceiling, carpet that looks like it should be ripped up and tossed in dumpster because there's no saving it. The apartment isn't tiny, but it's relatively small.

Val gestures with one hand for Anthony to go inside and have a look around. "Unfortunately... this apartment has seen better days."

[harderdaddy]

The change demeanor's not entirely unexpected. Valentino's the boss, and his image needs to be safeguarded. Even if he weren't, that sort of flirting isn't something to be practiced out where anyone can see.

The lobby seems impressive enough and Anthony hopes are raised unfortunately high. Standing in front of that open door now, he does his best not to let the disappointment and apprehension show too plainly on his face.

"It's uh...it's fine," he tries to assure, taking it in with increasingly drooped shoulders. It's a mess. But he can hardly complain about it. He'll be labelled the bratty, pampered, boss's kid, and they'll be no shaking it. "I don' need nothin' special..."

[papichulo]

Valentino's job requires many things of him, and one of those things is being able to read people at a glance. Analyzing body language, identifying motive, anticipating someone's next moves, etc. As much as Anthony tries to hide it, Val can see the disappointment threaded in his expression plain as day. He schools his own face easily to mask the subtle, satisfied smirk that wants to tease at the corner of his mouth, and pushes away from the wall with his shoulder so he can step into the open doorway.

Valentino laughs quietly and crosses his arms over his chest, lingering a small distance behind Anthony.

"It's a shithole," he says plainly. "You don't need to lie to me."

It's the worst apartment in the building, and no one's occupied it in years for a reason - but it's not the only vacancy. If Val just happens to casually forget to mention the other unoccupied apartments elsewhere in the building, well - he's a busy man. Sometimes things just - conveniently slip his mind.

For a few moments, he says nothing and just lets Anthony take in the state of the place. Eventually, he takes one step into the apartment, another, uncrossing his arms to drag his fingers through the dust on an old mantle.

"If you want it, it's yours." A pause as he rubs his fingertips together, much like he did back in Anthony's room. His voice drops slightly lower in volume and tone. "If you don't, I might have - something else for you."

[harderdaddy]

He flushes and there's a bashful laugh.

"...it's a shithole," Antony agrees, setting his case down, "But I'm a big boy, I can handle a bit a mess." A whole...whole lotta mess. He happens upon a rat trap that's done it's job some time ago from the looks of it, and he backs away closer to the perceived safety of his keeper.

His head turns with interest, then looks briefly apologetic, but it doesn't stop him from pressing- "Something else?"

[papichulo]

Val doesn't elaborate, but he does guide Anthony back toward the door and out of the shitty apartment, walking behind him with a hand settled in the space between his shoulders. In the hall, Val drops his hand, and takes a second to lock the door back up like he expects they probably won't be coming back even though Anthony has yet to see his other option.

They take the elevator again, this time to the top floor, though it's only one above the one they were just on. The hallways on this level are a much more comfortable width, and there seems to be far fewer doors - only five, it seems, all labeled in single roman numerals. Val leads Anthony to the very end of the hall, where there's a single door marked with a 'V', and fishes a different but familiar set of keys from his pocket and unlocks it.

Like the other apartment, Valentino pushes the door open with his palm and steps aside to let Anthony enter first. He follows him in, but this time, Valentino closes the door behind them.

Perhaps the most immediately-noticeable thing about this apartment is that it's obviously lived in. Very clean, but it's not hollowed out like the first one. It's fully furnished with expensive pieces, and the size of the foyer alone is nearly half the size of the entirety of the shithole downstairs. The walls are painted, not papered, the floors are swept and vacuumed, surfaces dusted, and there's not a mouse trap in sight. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a decently sized kitchen with modern, top of the line appliances. A sitting room, a dining area, a den, and more. It is massive, and luxurious, and probably the nicest place in the building.

"Well," Valentino starts, casual like he hasn't brought Anthony to his own fucking apartment. "Have a look around."

[harderdaddy]

Very curious now, Anthony only just remembers to snatch up his case again before he's swept off and out to whatever this mysterious other option is.

And fuck, it's like stepping into a whole other side of town. Anthony looks around in cautious awe, waiting for the other shoe to drop. This space clearly all ready belongs to someone...to Valentino? So...-

"It's beautiful," he concludes, turning to look back to Val, "Are you...sure there's room for me here?" he asks, "I wouldn' be intrudin'?" He peers into what he can only guess is Valentino's room with a coy smirk.

[papichulo]

Similarly to when they were in his car, Valentino looks at Anthony lingering in his bedroom doorway with that teasing little smirk on his lips, and his mind wanders.

He pictures Anthony standing at the foot of his bed, chin lifted slightly so he's looking up at Valentino. His eyes are so fucking pretty, his mouth soft and tempting. He imagines Anthony laid out on his bedsheets, his skin milky white where Val's peeled him out of his clothes, dotted with light freckles nearly everywhere, his back arched. He imagines bruises at his throat like a necklace, sucked into delicate skin, and fingernails digging sharply into his back, stinging and hot.

Is there room for Anthony here? Valentino thinks he would knock out a whole wall to make space for him without a second guess if there wasn't.

But he doesn't say this. Instead, he takes a moment to wet his lips, maybe the only indication that he's been thinking less-than-modest thoughts about Anthony at all. He takes a slow, sauntering step closer to Anthony and catches his chin between his thumb and index finger, turning him slightly so they're eye to eye.

"I'm sure." Voice low, slightly rough in his throat. Briefly, his gaze flickers from Anthony's eyes, down to his mouth, and then back again, and it's not subtle. "There is more than enough space... and I can keep a better eye on you this way."

His thumb shifts just slightly, touching the corner of Anthony's mouth.

"You are mine, now." His responsibility, his charge, technically, one of his men. His to look after and command - but there's no way he's not implying more than that.

[harderdaddy]

Swallowing thickly, Anthony has muster all his strength to keep his eyes from falling away again. Val's gaze seems hot enough to burn, like he can see right inside Anthony's mind and every one of those dirty thoughts his inspires.

His breath shutters, the corner of his lip quirking, and his eyes drop to Valentino's lips longingly, and then back again.

"Yours," he find himself murmuring, nodding his head softly. He wants to taste that thumb...those lips.

"I could see likin' that..."

[papichulo]

"Yeah?" he murmurs back, and the temptation to lean down and take what Valentino wants is so intense that he finds himself curling his other hand into a loose fist at his side in an attempt to resist. It's clear to Val that the two of them are on the same page when it comes to their... attraction without a doubt - there's no mistaking the way Anthony's gaze drops, that look in his unfairly pretty eyes.

Val could claim him right now if he wanted, he thinks. He hums a low note, thoughtful.

"Play your cards right, and maybe I'll make this... permanent." Again, it's possible he's just taking about the arrangement of taking Anthony under his wing, guiding him and shaping into someone his father might speak about with more respect, but the closeness, the way he's holding Anthony's face is awfully intimate for him to just be speaking business.

[harderdaddy]

Even for as long as Anthony's had a crush the hopeful light that brings to his eyes says he clearly starved for love and affection, ready to accept it from whoever will offer. If Marco had played his card right he could've had him wrapped around his finger. Not that it matters now...

"Yeah," he repeats easily cheeks hot again, but he's less shy about it now. His head turns in Val's hand so that his lips brush against that thumb, before he moves to take a half step back.

"I'll try my best, Mista Valentino. Promise."

[papichulo]

The amount of self-control it takes to keep Valentino from reaching out and catching Anthony by the front of his shirt when he moves to take a step back is impressive. Though he's known for being charming and capable of getting just about anyone to eat out of the palm of his hand, he's also known for his short temper. He's known for being impulsive and brutal and, sometimes, out of control to the benefit of the whole operation, but he can already tell Anthony is going to try his patience in ways he's never had to navigate before.

Like now. That subtle brush of his lips against Val's thumb, his big, bright eyes looking up at him - Valentino wants to devour him.

He lets him go instead, allows him to step away. They have plenty of time, he reminds himself not for the first time. He's watched Anthony from a distance for so long now, he can wait a little longer. Take things slow, make Anthony his. Do it right.

Valentino rubs his fingertips against the pad of his thumb, hand hovering about waist high. He smiles a little, gold flirting in his mouth again. Mister Valentino. God, he loves that, accent and all. There's just something about the way Anthony says it. Maybe Val's just a sucker for anything that rolls off Anthony's tongue.

"Pick a room." Any room, his included, honestly, but he doesn't clarify or specify. If Anthony wants one of the spare bedrooms, that'd be fine too. Val's certain it'd only be temporary, anyway. He tugs his hand free of his pocket and checks the time on his wristwatch. "I need to step out and follow up with a guy, but -," he gestures vaguely at the entire apartment with one hand, "- make yourself at home."

[harderdaddy]

A show of force would certainly capture Anthony's attention in the short term, but this is probably the best way to keep him for however long Valentino might want to.

Anthony nods, and as much as he wants to settle in Val's, once's he's left alone he picks the spare that's closest and puts his things away. He works quickly, taking a small bump from his stash unsure when or if he'll be able to get more.

Curious to explore the space, Anthony finds himself back in front of Val's room, the drugs making the risky choice far easier as he slips inside to see what he can glean. He looks for pictures, books, anything to give him incite that isn't strictly hidden away. Even lets himself stretch out on his bed for a moment as he indulges in his high. At least he only means for it to be a moment...

[papichulo]

As far as insight goes, there's not much in Valentino's room that suggests he's anything other than what's on the tin - nothing glaringly obvious anyway. There are no photographs on display, but there are one or two - one of them of vox (another one of Anthony's father's top men) and another of a very pretty woman with tanned skin and beautiful hair, both of them candid - tucked away between the pages of books with random, uninteresting titles. There's a smaller black book in a bedside drawer, pages filled with seemingly nonsensical notes, vague on purpose as to not be incriminating, and several doodles and drawings of random objects and people, sketched by a talented hand.

Valentino is gone for a little over an hour, meeting with a few of his men to confirm the smooth transfer of product and collection of proper payment. When he returns, he doesn't make a point to be particularly quiet, but he doesn't announce himself either. He sets his keys on a small table by the front door, and starts unthreading the leather wristband of his watch as he pads through the apartment, curious to see where Anthony's settled.

His disappointment over finding Anthony's suitcase in one of the spare bedrooms is minimal and brief, replaced with intrigue and something else when he finds him, instead, in his own bedroom sprawled across his bed like he belongs there. Val pauses in the open doorway for a moment and just watches him, eyes dark with interest. It's dangerously similar to the scenes he'd played out in his mind earlier.

Quietly, Valentino steps into the room, footsteps muted somewhat by the carpet as he makes his way to the dresser pushed up against the far wall.

"Well," he starts, setting his wristwatch down neatly on the top. He turns, leaning his butt against the edge of the wardrobe, legs stretched out slightly and crossed at the ankles as he starts to roll down his cuffed sleeves, eyes on Anthony. He can tell, even with just a casual glance, that someone's been snooping, though how he feels about that is difficult to tell on purpose. "Don't you look comfortable."

[harderdaddy]

Time seems to pass in a blink, and Anthony starts into consciousness with a panicked look.

Shit.

Even with the flirting, there's no way to spin this where he comes off innocent, and it's just the level of foolish fuck up he's sure his father's expecting. Ahead of schedule even.

The shame is evident, shifting to right himself. Is it better to stand or stay frozen in place? His eyes are still tinged with that high, and it's clearly making it hard to make rationale choices.

"...said ta make myself at home?" he offers, hoping he can charm his way out of this.

[papichulo]

Anthony's lucky he's so fucking pretty, even luckier that Valentino's had his eye on him for as long as he has, because if literally anyone else had the balls to go looking through his things and then make themselves comfortable in his bed like they fucking owned the place, he'd have more than just a few choice words for them. As it stands, Anthony looks like he's right where he belongs, at least to Valentino, so he can't really bring himself to be pissed about an assumed invasion of privacy. Val did invite him into his own home, with maybe less-than-innocent intentions, after all, and it's not as if Valentino has anything to hide. Not here, anyway. He's not that irresponsible.

It does not go unnoticed by Valentino that Anthony's pupils are a little bit blown, the whites very slightly rosy near the edges. Valentino's been known to indulge a lot himself - in drugs, in booze, in sex, in a number of vices - but he's measured and careful when he's not behind closed doors. Briefly, he wonders if Anthony maybe has a bit of a... problem, or if he's just anxious about a significant change. Maybe he's just comfortable. Valentino can't say he doesn't like the idea of that.

"You're right," he smiles, his brows lifting and his chin dipping in a slight nod as he shifts to his opposite sleeve, folding it down toward his wrist. His tone and his relaxed body language suggest he's not bothered in the slightest. Anthony is quite charming. "I did say that, didn't I?"

Still, he can sense the uneasiness and the tension underneath Anthony's attempt to diffuse the situation before it's even become one, and he decides to try and ease some of it himself. He loosens the buttons at both of his sleeve cuffs, and then his hands move to his collar to start with the buttons there, a thin gold chain teasing at his throat.

"Are you afraid of me, Anthony?" he asks, his expression curious more than anything. Plenty of people have reason to fear him - in fact, Valentino prefers it that way, especially when it comes down to business - but he's curious if his reputation has shaped Anthony's perception of him before they've even gotten to really know each other. Curious if he can change it. "Did you think I would be upset?"

Valentino chuckles quietly under his breath and pushes away from the wardrobe with his hips, long fingers still pushing buttons through buttonholes down the length of his neatly-pressed shirt. He wanders towards a closet, putting some distance between himself and Anthony, and shrugs out of his shirt so it falls off of his shoulders, torso covered by a thin white a-shirt, arms bared, back to Anthony.

"I wouldn't have left you here alone so easily if I didn't trust you." That's a lie, maybe only partially. He has no reason to trust Anthony other than the fact that he's his boss's son (which might be more of a reason not to trust him, depending on how you look at it), but he also hasn't been given a solid reason not to trust him yet, either.

[harderdaddy]

That problem (because it's definitely a problem) is likely responsible for a lot of his trouble with his father, though clearly not all. The boss hasn't mentioned Anthony's little problem though, it'd be an embarrassment, or maybe he's just hoping if the kid is reckless enough with Valentino he'll end up taking care of him for good.

The smile seems to surprise Anthony, who quickly tries to look as though he'd expected it, grinning and letting his eyes wander openly over the man.

His question makes him pause, and despite the grin still on his face the blond nods. Of course he's afraid. That's just smart. And of course he thought he'd be upset, Anthony looks down at himself like he's just realized where he is and gives a small laugh, marveling that this is all going so well. Maybe he's just imagining all this...

Eyes on that exposed skin, Anthony wants to peel the rest of the layers off him, fingers tugging his own tie loose.

"Does that mean I can stay?" he tests.

[papichulo]

It is smart of Anthony to be afraid. Valentino hasn't gotten where he is by being kind - not exclusively. Being charming and charismatic has helped him gain audiences with people he might not have had a chance to otherwise, but being aggressive and violent has made sure those same people never cross him down the line. Anyone who doesn't fear him at least a little bit just hasn't had the chance to meet the real Valentino, or they just don't respect him, but eventually - eventually, one way or another, they will.

He likes that Anthony nods. Even though Anthony is maybe in one of the safest places he could possibly be outside of his own father's home, Valentino likes that he's wise enough to understand that he's decided to share a roof with a dangerous man. Not that Val has any intention of being violent or cruel to him without reason or provocation, but it soothes something in him to know that the instinct for self-preservation is there.

Valentino slides one of the closet doors open and reaches inside, dropping is shirt into a small, mostly-empty basket tucked into the back corner, meant for dirty clothes. He leaves the closet open when he turns back around, a slow rotation on the heel of his polished shoe. Can Anthony stay?

Sliding both of his hands into the pockets of his slacks, Val just looks at Anthony from across the room for a few long, quiet seconds, almost like he's genuinely thinking about the question posed to him. When he starts moving again, it's a slow saunter toward him, hands still loose in his pockets, and he comes to stand right at the end of his bed in front of Anthony, tall enough that he really has to look down at him.

He cocks his head slightly, dark eyes wandering from his face and down over the rest of him before they drift back up again and settle on brown and blue.

"Right here, amorcito?" he asks, voice low and slightly rough at the edges. He lets the question hang for a second or two, and then pulls one of his hands free of his pockets, and touches one of his knuckles underneath Anthony's chin, continuing in a murmur. "In my bed?"

[harderdaddy]

It's a dangerous gamble he's playing, even with all the shared looks and words, he knows he's pushing fast. That slower saunter has his briefly worried Val's going to put him back in his place and he'll lose any chance he might've had at this. Still, he doesn't move, looking up at him and nodding softly, breath catching in his throat. That touch has him lifting his chin, exposing more of his neck, fingers finally tugging the tie fully free.

"...in your bed," he repeats with a soft smile, and his fingers shift catch lightly at the waistband of Val's pants.

[papichulo]

It's too bad about whats-his-name, Valentino thinks to himself, but he doesn't feel bad at all about Marco. He understands, though, why a man - any man - would risk it all for something like this: a beautiful boy staring up at him with pretty eyes and a soft mouth, blond hair slightly mussed and curling loosely by his ears. It must have been divine intervention that led Val to that back alley two nights ago, or something like it.

Valentino's lips part slightly, tongue licking at his back molars for a moment as he contemplates the consequences of doing whatever the fuck he wants. Truthfully, he doesn't believe there are many, if any, at all. He's damn good at keeping secrets, even better at spinning believable lies - and what the Don doesn't know can't fucking hurt him. It wouldn't be the first thing he's kept from his boss, probably won't be the last, and Val would be a liar if he said he didn't like the thrill of having something he absolutely shouldn't, right under his boss's nose.

Still, he teases, thumb ghosting up the center of Anthony's chin, pad teasing at his plush bottom lip. God, Valentino's a sucker for that smile. "What would your Daddy think?"

Like Valentino gives a fuck at this point. The original plan had been to take this slowly, but how long has he watched Anthony from afar? How long as he kept his distance? He's literally killed to get him here. Valentino thinks he's waited long enough.

He bends at the waist and lifts Anthony's chin and moves his thumb out of the way so he can fit their mouths together almost perfectly. Long fingers shift to frame the edges of Anthony's jaw, and the kiss is firm, but not necessarily aggressive like one might expect from a man like Valentino. From a man who's waited years to taste forbidden fruit.

[harderdaddy]

There's a dismissive snort, long past caring what that man thinks. Not entirely true, clearly, or Anthony might've tried to run from this life, but he can't be his real self anywhere, why risk it all just to get out from under his thumb?

"He gave me ta you," he counters easily, "Makes you the 'Daddy'."

Rocking up to meet those lips, Anthony sighs against them like he's been waiting just as long to feel their touch, and there's a soft laugh of wonder that it's actually happening.

[papichulo]

Fuck, if Valentino doesn't like the sound of that. It doesn't matter that Valentino took Anthony just as much as his father handed him over, hearing Anthony say it - that he's Val's now - is a huge stroke to his ego. And 'Daddy'? Well, that goes straight to his dick.

With his free hand, Valentino fumbles kind of blindly for the ends of Anthony's loosened tie, catching both of them together in one hand to pull him closer and keep him there, though he keeps the loop somewhat slack around his neck so Anthony's free to duck out of it if he wants. When Anthony laughs, Val, surprisingly, finds himself smiling slightly against his mouth, amused but also a little confused.

He bites at Anthony's lower lip, letting his teeth scrape lightly, thumb dragging along the edge of his jaw. "What's so funny? Hmm?"

[harderdaddy]

Shit that's hot. Honestly, when he can only steal careful and random spurts of attention it's all hot, but he's sure Valentino must be leagues beyond anyone he deserves.

"Heh- just...thought you catchin' me was gonna get me killed, and now m'gettin' a taste a heaven," he says, snickering softly at his own words, "Not sure what I did right to turn my luck around."

[papichulo]

Valentino's about as far from Heaven as a person could get, but he's egotistical enough to accept the praise for what it is, chuckling lowly against Anthony's mouth as he kisses him again, hand twisting his tie loosely around his fist. Would it be crude to tell him that what he did "right" was blow some poor fuck in an alley where Val could find them? Probably, and though Val's not opposed to a little vulgarity, the details aren't really all that important, and it'd likely spoil the mood.

What matters is that Valentino has Anthony right where he's wanted him, and it seems the feeling is mutual if Anthony's feeling lucky about it. Valentino lets go of the ends of Anthony's tie and lightly, slowly drags the back of his knuckles from his sternum all the way down to his belt, where his hand then veers to one side, settling warm and broad at his waist.

"Mm, but I think you have that backwards. If anyone's experiencing what Heaven must be like," he muses, brushing another kiss against Anthony's mouth, tongue briefly teasing at the seam of his lips before he breaks away to continue, his thumb rubbing lazy circles against his hip. "It would have to be me, don't you think? I left and came back to an angel in my bed..."

[harderdaddy]

Attempting to coax Valentino into joining him in that bed, Anthony's lips part easily, whining in want of more, it's easy to see how this habit of his turned problem with just how eagerly he seeks for more of a good thing. Greedy.

That flattery makes him beam, praise a far too easy way into his heart, and such praise. "Mmmm~ Ain't no one accused me a somethin' so sweet before. Dunno if an angel does this sorta thing..."