A Fair Game
by Forevergal
Keep your friends close. Keep your enemies closer.
DISCLAIMER: NONE OF THESE CHARACTERS ARE MINE, NEITHER IS SOME OF THE DIALOGUE, THEY BELONG TO THE WRITERS AND CREATORS OF BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. THE ONLY CHARACTERS AND DIALOGUES I OWN ARE THE ONES THAT I CREATE.
Just a little guide you might need while reading this.
babbo: Dad, daddy, in Italian.
cugina: Cousin sister in Italian.
cugino: Cousin brother in Italian.
Don: Godfather, the head of the Mafia family.
Donna: Godmother, the head of the Mafia family.
fratello: Brother in Italian.
madre: Mother in Italian.
padre: Father in Italian.
ragazza: Girl in Italian.
ragazzo: Boy in Italian.
sorella: Sister in Italian.
zia: Aunt in Italian.
zio: Uncle in Italian.
Chapter One
Sunnydale, CA
1998
"Buffy! Xander! Can you guys believe it? We're in high school! On top of that, we get to go to the same school together! Remember when we used to go to all different schools, I only got to see you guys like once a month!" Willow squealed excitedly to her two best friends.
"Now that I'm more mature, my parents aren't gonna' be in my face as much!" Xander exclaimed.
"Xander, my dear 'cougino', you do realize that you'll never truly get freedom, right? We're in the 'business', so if you were hoping to be able to do anything you want, it ain't gonna happen." Buffy clarified. The other two understood what she meant. Suddenly loud voices and cheering filled the yard.
"What's going on there?" Willow wondered. All she could see was girls blushing and and students yelling and screaming. A huge bunch of students gathered around something the trio couldn't quite see.
"Beat him to a pulp!" one boy yelled.
"Kick his ass!" another boy shouted.
"Angel! Angel! Angel!" several kids cheered.
Buffy, Willow, and Xander went closer to get a better look. When they finally became part of the group, they caught a glimpse of a handsome well-built junior throwing a freshman's books on the ground. Buffy's eyes widened at the sight.
"Who's that hot-shot? He looks so familiar!" Xander asked. In her head, Willow was asking the exact same question. Buffy had nothing to say. She furiously pushed through the crowd until she was in the center. Willow and Xander tried pulling her back, but soon gave up.
"Look boy, I know today's your first day, but let me make this clear: nobody fucks with me. Let this be a lesson for all of you newbies here!" the junior threatened. The freshman, Michael, lay frightened on the ground.
"Leave him alone!" Buffy yelled. And just like that the yard was all quiet and everyone turned around to find themselves staring at a small first year. The junior boy who was the center of attention just stared at her for a brief moment, and a sly grin started to form on his face.
"Well, if it isn't 'my lady' Marciano!" he said, a slight Italian accent on the tip of his tongue. Everyone whispered to each other at his words.
"Why don't you piss off and pick on someone your own size!" Buffy quickly thought of something to say, her anger rising.
"Is that what your poor excuse of a 'babbo' told you, eh Elisabetta?" he taunted.
"You don't know nothing about my 'padre', Angelo! By now she was almost fuming.
He chuckled, then he took a step forward. "When I takeover the 'business' I'm gonna' make you eat shit." he said calmly.
"When I take over after my father, I'll just throw it all back at you!" Buffy said through her teeth, trying to control her temper.
"Like you could even pull that off, 'ragazza'. I'm older, stronger, and way smarter than you could ever be." He smirked disapprovingly.
"Well between you and me, Vitale," she accented his last name particularly, then continued, "You just strike me as a hotshot jackass horny jock!" she spat out, slowly finding her confidence again.
The boy spat on the ground, then he slowly walked towards her. He took her face firmly between his hands and stared at her for a moment. He put on a cheeky grin as he looked down to her.
All of a sudden he bent down and planted a harsh firm kiss on her lips. She struggled, but after a few seconds, he retreated.
"It's good to see you again Buffy." And with that, he walked away, laughing, as she threw curses at him in Italian.
Los Angeles, CA
Present day
"Buffy? Buffy!" Willow called.
"Huh? You were saying?" Buffy asked, dazed. God! I need to stop dreaming about him! That was years ago!, she thought.
"Did you even pay any attention to what I was saying?" Willow asked, shaking her head in frustration. Just then, Xander barged in, unannounced.
"Dona! Something big just came up. Don Vitale wants to meet with you tomorrow! He's returning from Rome this evening. He says it cannot wait! What should I tell Giles to say to their Consigliere?" he panicked.
Buffy froze at the mention of the great Godfather Vitale. It's been five years since she'd last seen him, or even heard from him. But that was when she was still eighteen and hadn't become Dona, the boss. She didn't feel that she could handle seeing him again.
She thought for a second, then responded tentatively, "Tell him I'll be expecting him tomorrow afternoon."
Rome, Italy
He furiously walked down the hallway of the Vatican, five men behind him, all in grey Gucci suits. The man pushed open the doors of the Cardinal's chambers and invited himself in. An elderly naked man was in his bed up to no good with a younger blond woman in lace.
"And he calls himself a saint!" the man muttered under his breath.
"Don Vitale!" the Cardnal gasped.
"Cardinale. I believe we have a problem." He paused for a moment, then continued, "You cheated me and now you will pay." He pulled out a gun and pointed it straight at the Cardinal, who was tentatively reaching for something under his bed.
"Don't you even dare try to fight back!" Vitale yelled. "Adriano?" he called to his cousin behind him, who stepped forward and fired at the woman's forehead.
"Please! Please! Stop! I'll give you back the money! Don't hurt me!" the Cardinal pleaded desperately. He quickly wrote a cheque and gave it to one of the men, who handed it to the boss. Then Vitale shot his traitor execution style and walked away with his cheque, his men behind him.
"Prepare the jet and get my bags! I want to be back in New York as soon as possible! Tomorrow I have an appointment in LA!" he ordered.
