Title: When Gino Met Vino
Series: Gaia Online
Genre: General
Summary: A submission for the Gino's Harem Fanfiction Contest. Gino meets his (mildly so) evil counterpart.
Disclaimer: Gaia Online and Gino Gambino are copyright to the admins of Gaia Online and Vino is copyright to Gino's Harem.
-----
It was a day, not so long ago, when Gino met that other boy. That boy, seemingly different in many ways, yet just so damn similar. That boy who had caught Gino's eye ever since that first fleeting glance. While, at the same time, scaring the life out of him.
---
To Gino Gambino, heir to the Gambino fortune and all-around nice guy, the day was just the same as any other day. Warm, yet somewhat relaxed. No one was within the confines of their homes, if they could help it. Islanders bustled around the marketplace below; the shopkeepers smiled and greeted everyone just the same; maids and servants ran around the Gambino manor and outer grounds with large smiles plastered over their faces, quickly wiped off if Master Johnny dared near.
To Gino Gambino, heir to the Gambino fortune and all-around completely sheltered and bored out of his mind guy, the day was absolutely terrible. All he ever did since having his memory return back in April was sit up in his room and stare out the window at all the fun goings-on outside. Not that his father wouldn't let him out. It was more a case of having nothing to do outside or in.
After all, the blond boy would be sitting around just the same, regardless of where he was.
But, as little as Gino had to do, it was (objectively speaking) a lovely day. His father would likely jump for joy at the idea of his son going out for some fresh air, instead of the usual excuse of 'I can get fresh air from my room'. Thus, it was decided.
Gino rose from his window seat, stretching his arms high above his head and arching his back, listening to the quiet pops and cracks and he stretched the knots out. He brushed back his long-ish blond hair into a loose ponytail, cascading in soft waves down to his shoulders. He quite liked it long now, though he didn't like it at first. It was probably due to his mother cutting his hair every month on the same day until the day she died. She always told him, 'Gino, darling, always keep your hair neatly shorn. When you're old enough, you'll be able to do this for yourself, but until then, I'll do it for you.' He'd always loved the smell of his mother as she sat behind him, snipping off haphazard locks and brushing them to the floor. She was always so delicate.
He stretched again before finally leaving, pulling on his purple vest from a nearby chair it hung off neatly as he left his room, heading quickly down the stairs and into the foyer. The blond nearly made it out without running into his father.
"Gino, where are you going?" Johnny demanded, raising an eyebrow.
"Outside. You're always telling me to get fresh air, so I am." He replied, glancing over one shoulder at his large, bulky father.
"I thought you could 'get fresh air in your room'." Johnny mocked, smirking and crossing his arms over his chest.
"I can. I just want…fresher fresh air." Gino said quickly, then hurried out. "See you later, Father!"
"Wha—that son of mine." Johnny shook his head, smiling faintly. After all, he couldn't be seen caring for another being, not even his son. Even though everyone knew Gino was the number one thing in Johnny's mind at nearly any point in time.
Gino raced outside, taking off at astounding speeds, considering how badly he did way back in the Gaian Olympics. He laughed, shrieking with joy as he ran down a hill, tossing himself up in the air as he reached the edge, before it began to really get steep. From there, he tumbled and rolled, tucking himself up into a ball. Grass stuck to his hair and his clothing, messing up his ponytail and untucking his shirt from his pants.
He lay there, at the bottom of the hill, laughing and gasping for air, his limbs spread-eagle. Up above, the fluffy white clouds passed by, shaping themselves like odd creatures: the MoMo Monkey; the KiKi Kitty. Both children's favourites, for some reason. Gino blamed it on a wasted childhood, spent attached to his mother's apron strings.
Finally, the blond sat up, ignoring the grass poking into his scalp and skin. He watched the people go by: Sasha with an armful of new products to sell, passing Ruby and Peyo on their daily walk, stopping to say hello; Peyo's adorable giggles as "Auntie Sasha" - though she wasn't related to them by any means - fluffed his hair, regardless of the inconvenience to her; various shoppers, just waiting for the next sale.
But who was that?
That young man, his lengthy black hair tugged into a short ponytail over his shoulder, his deep, wine-coloured eyes smirking, his full lips twitching at the corners, his soft, porcelain pale skin. Why did he look so damned familiar? And why did Gino have an urge in the pit of his stomach to call the man over?
Before the blond even realised what he had done, he'd yelled out, rising quickly to his feet to better the sound, and to help the man find the one calling for him. Common sense finally caught up with Gino's excited body.
"Shit." The blond mumbled under his breath, biting his lip as he tried to hide, pretending it was a prank or something. But, of course, the young man spotted Gino immediately and raised one thick black brow. Again, the thought of how familiar he looked struck the blond.
"Hey, you." The brunet called over, from behind the wrought iron fence that separated him and Gino. The manner in which he spoke suggested that he knew Gino fairly well (which we all know is a bold-faced lie), in addition to possibly wanting in his pants (which we all know everyone wants).
All in all, Gino looked positively horrified when the other man spoke.
"Who in the world are you, why do you look like me, and why do you seem to know me?!" Gino cried finally, rushing to the fence, and leaning up against it in such a way that it almost looked like they were mirror images of one another,
"Vino, for the colour of my eyes; I'm not totally sure; and I don't. Only time I would have ever seen you would be at those public events you loath so." The other smirked, reaching one hand through the bars to grasp Gino's. "You're pretty cute, up close and all."
Gino went bright red at this comment, trying to free his hand. Unfortunately, Vino was obviously far more in shape than Gino was, and there was quite the struggle before Gino finally gave up. Vino neatly laced his fingers with those of his blond counterpart, then smiled warmly.
"What do you want with me?" Gino asked plainly, wondering to himself how someone could look so like him.
"Oh, I don't want anything from you." Not much, at least.
"Really?"
"Really."
Gino cocked his head, debating it to himself. He was well aware of his Harem, and for a moment, the thought crossed his mind that maybe this Vino fellow was a lookalike. A wannabe.
Or maybe he was a rapist. Who really knew.
"How about you let me in? I think we should get to know one another. Y'know, because of that whole looking like one another thing." Vino smiled again, almost convincing Gino he was innocent.
"Bucho wouldn't like it. And my father's home."
"So?"
"…come back this evening."
