New York, the city that never sleeps. Lights flashed and music blared from the different clubs adorning the streets.
A young woman walked down the street, her blonde hair bouncing with every step she took.
No one really noticed her. She was just one of the many faces in the crowd.
The woman was trying to hold back the tears that she had held back for hours, but now threatened to spill.
She walked into a well known tavern and sat at the bar. The young woman sighed and looked around.
To others it would appear that she was waiting for her friends to get here, impatient they were taking so long.
But it was much more than that...
"Aida."
A young man said, with dark eyes and even darker hair, and sat beside the girl.
Aida turned to him, "Tony."
Tony offered a small sad smile and ordered two shots of whiskey.
As soon as the glass was on the table, Aida downed it, despite the burning sensation it made in her throat.
Aida turned to Tony.
"He's gone. I can't believe he's gone." She whispered quietly.
Tony didn't answer and at first she thought he didn't hear her.
"I know." The young man said in a steady voice.
Aida took a deep breath,"I'm sorry." She whispered again, bringing her eyes to meet Tony's.
"Thanks."
Aida knew it didn't numb the pain. The pain of loss, the pain of emptiness. Aida's own mother, Annalise Baccaro, died of cancer when Aida was eight.
Aida knew it wouldn't help... But she had said it anyway.
A rebel tear escaped and trailed down her face. It was followed by another and another and another after that. She was not openly sobbing. Aida was just letting the tears fall silently one by one.
She tried to stop, but her eyes proved rebellious.
One moment she is sitting on the stool and the next she is on her feet, her head pressed into Tony's chest.
Aida wished she could stop, Anthony wasn't her father. She was suppose to be comforting Tony, not the other way around. His father had died, not hers. At least not yet.
Aida took a deep breath and stepped back from Tony.
To other people, Tony would have looked perfectly fine. But Aida saw past him.
Aida knew he was hurting, but big bad Tony wasn't suppose to cry.
Aida laid a bill on the bar and pulled Tony out of the tavern. They walked in silence until they came up to a deserted building.
They entered it and walked past the guards. Aida led Tony up the stairs and pulled him into a room.
She turned on the lights and Tony sat on the couch.
Aida sat beside him and placed a hand on his knee.
"Tony it's okay." The young woman said moving her hand to intertwine with his.
He looked at her and tears brimmed his eyes.
Aida didn't say anything, she just sat there as he cried. Her fingers intertwined with his.
When Tony stopped, he squeezed her hand, as if to see if she was still there.
Aida gave a gentle squeeze.
"Sono qui. I'm here, I'm here."
He gave her a small smile and dried his eyes.
Aida squeezed his hand once more before standing up.
"I must go meet with my father."
Tony nodded.
"I'll see you in the morning." With that Aida exited the room and went to her father.
"Papa?"
Aida asked knocking on the door to his office gently.
"Come in." Came the muffled answer.
Aida opened the door and stepped in.
Her father was looking out the window onto the lighted streets.
Aida walked up to her father and stood beside him.
A wrinkle was in his brow and Aida knew her father was thinking hard about the events of today.
She rested her hand on his shoulder.
Elias sighed and removed his glasses, rubbing his eyes.
He replaced the glasses and looked to his daughter. He smiled and hugged her.
Aida buried her head in his chest and took a deep breath. Her father kissed her head and pulled her back to examine her face.
"Aida."
"Papa."
Elias offered a small smile that was soon replaced with a slightly hardened expression.
"Darling, as you know there is a war raging right now. One against me and Dominic, leader of the Brotherhood."
Aida nodded.
"I want you to stay safe. I have already lost someone."
Elias placed his hand on his daughter's cheek.
"I don't want to lose you."
Aida nodded and noticed her eyes starting to water. She choked backed the tears.
"What of Tony?" She asked.
Elias sighed, "Tony wishes to burn the Brotherhood to ashes, and I cannot stop him. He wishes to work with me."
"But, Papa, he-"
Elias sighed,"You don't understand, Aida. I can't stop him, he will either work with me or try on his own. The only way I can keep him safe is with me."
Aida sighed and nodded.
"Now I also need to keep you safe. I will have two of my men guard you at all times."
Elias put his hands on his daughter's shoulders,"Mia figlia, I love you."
Aida embraced her father,"I love you too."
Elias smiled and kissed his daughters head. He would kill Dominic, slowly and painfully. For Anthony.
A/N:
Sono qui: I'm here.
Mia figlia: My daughter.
Please correct me if I am wrong, I don't speak Italian. I just looked these up on google.
I don't own POI or any of it's characters. I do own my OCs.
Please R&R
~EASF out
