Prologue: Desperation

They say that desperation can push a man to his limits. Proud warriors can turn into beggars and thieves; beggars and thieves can turn from petty criminals to the slums of human lowlife. If desperation could do this to men, imagine what it could do to young boys of the age fifteen.

Specifically; Roxas and Sora.

The two twin brothers had fled from their parent's home in the east-end of London. After a life-time of dealing with an alcoholic mother and an abusive father, they had finally managed to escape. It had taken months of preparation and half a litre of pig's blood stolen from the butcher's to orchestrate their own kidnapping.

Their parents had probably not cared, but they hadn't stuck around long enough to find out. With a stack of stolen savings they had managed to get to Dover and then on a ferry to Calais where they then half-smuggled half-bought their way through France into Italy.

Now, the two twins were staying in an abandoned cinema in Venice. Why Venice? You ask. Well, that would be slightly difficult to explain. However, the two brothers had always dreamed of going to Venice. When at the age of five their mother's sister had stayed to look after them, she had told them of the beautiful city. Forever since then they had dreamed of going there. Both of them had learned to speak Italian, and they had even started making their own little fund in order to sponsor a trip. (Their mother, when she had found it, stole the money and wasted it on gut-rot.)

Then, when it had come to the choice of where to go they had both decided on a whim to go to the place they had always dreamed of going to. After all, why shouldn't they? They were free now. It wasn't like there was anything stopping them getting there.

And nothing had.

It had almost seemed too easy.

It had been late December when they had escaped their home. It was now early January. The proximity of water and lack of warm clothes that the two had brought did not bode well. Within days of their arrival both of the boys had developed runny noses and harsh coughs. Most of the food they ate was stolen or bought with stolen money. They both hated it, Roxas especially. Being the oldest by a few minutes, he felt responsible for his brother.

His desperation grew with each passing day that they spent in the city. At first he searched for work, but none would hire the two young boys. Then, for a short period of time he considered bringing them into an orphanage; but that idea quickly passed. Both of them had quietly vowed to each-other on the long ferry ride from Dover to Calais that they would never ever submit to parental forces again. Not even if they married anybody.

Now, completely bereft of ideas and stuck up the metaphorical creek without a paddle for his gondola, young Roxas would do anything if it could save him and his brother.

There had been whispers amongst the gondoliers; rumours about a new group of Mafioso taking control of the underground world. Desperate and delusional, Roxas suddenly came up with an idea on how to save him and his brother from the bitter teeth of Venice's winter.

And so it was, that desperation would lead the two twin brothers to become a part of a criminal hierarchy that was known by most as merely "The Mafia".

AN:
So, here's the prologue of a new and hopefully wonderful fic!
Check my profile for a link to a picture of Axel with his Zippo (and a fedora!)

This prologue fought to be written. I feel it's much too serious. Later on in the story there is much more funny.
But yeah.. I had to at least set the stage seriously before things go out of control crazy!

Credit goes to Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord which was partial inspiration to the beginning of the story.
And also Debi Gliori, because I will be using her sense of humour later on in my writing. READ HER BOOKS. THEY ARE FANFREAKINTASTIC!

Read & Review! 3
The more reviews the faster I get up the first chapter!