Venice was in full Carnival season, people with masks running through the streets and gallivanting around with no care in the world. Having asked permission to come as a way to escape from France, Hank McCoy was trying his hardest to enjoy himself.
It had been a battle with his adopted father to come, but now that he was here, mask itching across his face, he really wasn't sure why he wanted to be there, except for the preparations for him to come of age going on at home still.
Alex Summers took one look at the crowd and shook his head firmly, mask still in his hand, "No way. I am not going out there. You do it."
Raven Darkhölm adjusted her skirt, rolling her eyes, "We've been over this. You're our best shot. Now put on the damn mask."
"And if I don't?"
"Then he'll have an easier time identifying his kidnapper."
Alex offered her a scowl before putting the mask on and pulling his hat on as well to hide most of his blond hair before pushing his way into the mass of people. Raven smirked before slipping away to the arranged location. Alex wove through the crowd, trying to locate the correct costume. He finally found it when he literally ran into the youth wearing it.
Hank stumbled back, murmuring an almost shocked apology.
Alex was grateful his mask hid most of his features, he shook his head, "No. My fault. I wasn't watching where I was going."
Listening to him, Hank tilted his head slightly. "It's alright. I mean there are a lot of people."
"Still, it was clumsy of me," Alex remembered to trip over the inflections on certain words, adding just the right accent to hide his natural one.
"Well, yes," Hank agreed, blinking.
Alex's brown gaze flickered over the other's form and costume, "You're here with friends, I assume?"
"Well, I," he flailed. "Not really. You?"
"No, not tonight." He looked around, "What do you say to finding somewhere to talk, since we're both on our own. I at least owe you a drink or something for running into you."
Drawing back slightly Hank scanned the crowds, considering how crazy he was about to be and finally nodded. "You don't really, but if you like..."
"I would like," he offered the other a grin, "Come on, I know just the place." Starting to weave back through the crowd he glanced over his shoulder to make sure the other was following.
Hesitating again Hank shrugged before following. Alex reached the edge of the crowd and glanced back again before slipping down a side street, Raven should be on the next block.
That almost stopped Hank short. "It's sort of, empty out here isn't it?"
Great, the one person at carnival who didn't have enough alcohol in him to not question his judgment. "It's a couple streets over, but very few people use it. It's quieter." Alex's hand moved to a dagger as he spoke again, "If you're worried about bandits you needn't be."
Hank blinked, tilted his head and nodded again. What was life without some adventure? Down dark streets with a stranger.
Alex turned to continue on, hiding his smirk. Oh naïveté, it aided his job so very much. He led the way down the alley and around a corner, ducking out of the way so Raven would have quicker access to knock Hank over the head. Almost ready to draw back, Hank continued following him. As soon as she had a decent angle, Raven brought the makeshift club she was using down on the youth's head. She had enough leverage to knock him out but not to do much more than that. "Alright, we've got to work fast. That won't keep him out for long."
A while later, Hank woke up with a groan. "Never, ever being adventurous again," were the first words out of his mouth followed by a whimper. Looking around, he winced at the cave.
Raven was perched just out of sight in the shadows, the only thing catching the light at that moment was the dagger she kept twirling in her hand. They couldn't risk either of them being seen, or their voices recognized, "Now, there's no need to be like that."
Freezing, Hank's muscle's tensed. His eyes were drawn to the dagger. "What's there a need to be like then?" he asked, voice small.
"Really, as soon as we get what we're looking for we'll let you go," she smirked.
"What are you looking for?" he asked quickly.
"Ransom," came Alex's voice, still accented. He leaned against the wall in the shadows behind Hank.
"Oh you're kidding," he said, letting his head thud against the wall behind him.
"Come, it can't be that surprising," Raven remarked. "After all, Carnival draws all the wealthy young pups."
"Can't you find a different young pup?" he asked, voice a little strained.
"Already have you. Getting the message sent even now."
All he could think about for a terrified moment was the look of pure fury that would show up on Sebastian Shaw's face. Hank wondered how Charles always seemed to miss that look, and the disappointed look he'd get from Charles went through his mind as well. "Why can't you be the normal bandits that just want to kill or rape?"
That got a laugh, "Kill or rape? That's honestly what you think? We're in it for the money, kid. Most people are."
Hank made another distressed sound.
Alex glanced around, this was taking longer than it should. He sighed very quietly, knowing their employer's preference for an entrance. "We could always speed up the possible ransom's arrival."
"We could? How?" Hank asked. Really, he wanted out of this as quickly as possible.
"Send them proof you're alive of course," he replied.
"An ear usually works," Raven helpfully suggested.
Hank attempted to jerk back at that, only banging his back on the stone wall behind him harder. "Never mind."
She twirled the knife again, "I don't know. I tend to prefer fingers myself."
Alex rolled his eyes, moving over to Hank, his mask from earlier still in place, "Would be a shame to cut an ear or a finger off, but the ransom really is needed and tends to be slower without proof I suppose."
Turning terrified blue eyes up at him, Hank shuffled back as far as the chains would allow.
Just then a bang and crash was heard, and a false sounding yelp.
Alex managed a passably believable startle at that sound. He glanced toward where Raven had stilled, "Watch him, I'll go check on that." Before she could suggest maybe doing things the other way round he was gone, headed toward the sound.
Hank blinked wide eyes after him before glancing back at the shadowy form with the knife.
Another crashing sound could be heard.
"Incompetent fools," she muttered, rising and slinking through the shadows.
Hank shifted, looking around the empty room in fear and hope. Finally, a man appeared with a torch. He was tall and slender, wearing fine cut clothes, and holding a drawn sword.
"You have fallen in with bad company, I fear," the stranger told Hank as he moved over to Hank, undoing what held him to a wall.
"I'm sorry," Hank replied all but automatically. "Who are you?"
"Call me friend. Or if you need another title, the Count of Monte Cristo should do."
"That's hardly a proper name," Hank protested.
The grey eyes grew shadowed for a moment, or maybe it was the flicker of the torch. "No, it isn't."
M-M-M-M
Several days later, Hank was happily back on his own doorstep. Or rather, intact on his own doorstep but unsure about whether he was happy to be there or not.
Charles had seen the carriage pull up out front and hurried down the stairs to meet the young man in the foyer as one of the servants let him in, "Hank, it's good to have you home. Did you have a good trip?"
"Is Sebastian around?" Hank asked, offering the man who had adopted him a warm smile.
The older man shook his head, suppressing a sigh, "No, he's out for the day."
"Oh. Well, I got kidnapped and almost ransomed," Hank said, not willing to have explained that one in front of Shaw.
Charles' blue eyes widened, "Good Lord, are you alright?"
Hank nodded a little quickly. "I might have been cured of any desire to travel, but yes. Someone came to my rescue."
"Thank heavens. Who?"
"I don't really know. Tall, grey eyes, red hair, about your age maybe..."
Charles' mind flickered over that description, locking onto someone who could fulfill it, mostly, but that was impossible. "Did you not get a name for your savior, Hank?"
He shook his head. "He just called himself the Count of Monte Cristo. I can't place Monte Cristo, can you?"
A look of what may have been disappointment flitted across Charles' features, but he shook his head, "No, it's not any title I recognize."
Tilting his head, hank considered his expressions. "Are you alright?"
Charles offered him a smile, one of his frequent ones that didn't reach his eyes, "Of course I am, why do you ask?"
Hank wanted to say because Charles had his social smile on, not his real one, but just shrugged. The other man arched an eyebrow, but didn't ask again, as he wasn't sure he wanted an answer. "Well, you've had quite the adventurous trip. You must be tired?"
"Very," Hank agreed and paused. "Well, the buildings in Venice were beautiful."
"Up until the nearly being ransomed part did you enjoy yourself?"
"Do I have to say yes?" Hank asked.
"No. I prefer honest answers," Charles replied, "you know that."
"I'll have to say yes to Sebastian."
That was greeted with a sigh, "Yes, you will, but if you didn't like it, you're welcome to answer with a 'no' to me."
"Alright. As I said, it's a beautiful city. But when traveling people frown upon you sitting around and sketching up facades," he sighed. "So, I liked enough of it."
Charles offered him a fond smile at that, "It really is a shame you didn't have someone to travel with. It often helps, I'm told."
"You haven't traveled with someone?" Hank asked.
He shook his head, "Sebastian's always busy, and besides, I've had no desire to go anywhere for years." The lie slid smoothly off his tongue.
Hank frowned slightly. "Are you sure you don't want to? We could try it sometime..."
Charles smiled faintly, but shrugged, "Perhaps we could. I certainly wouldn't say no to at least considering it."
Swallowing, Hank nodded. "Give me time to recover from this one first."
"Yes, recovery from this past trip is certainly a good idea." The older man sighed, glancing at a clock, "Well, if Sebastian is actually home on time, you have a little over an hour to figure out what to tell him and what not to."
"That will be a pleasure, as it always is," Hank sighed quietly.
"I know...I'll be here to support you as always."
Hank offered him a quiet smile. "It's not so bad." So long as Charles was actually there.
Charles arched an eyebrow at that, but finally nodded.
"Really," Hank gave him a smile. "Do you think I have enough time to nap or just change?"
"Go see about getting a short nap. I'll have one of the servants let you know when Sebastian gets home."
"Thank you. It's good to be back."
"It's good to have you back." Charles offered him another slight smile, "Sleep well, Hank."
"Thank you," he repeated and went up the stairs quickly.
The older man watched him go before retreating to the front parlor and locating a book. He settled in to wait for Sebastian to arrive home.
It was in fact another hour past the time Charles expected him home that Sebastian Shaw actually appeared however. The butler informed him that Charles was waiting for him, and that young Master Hank had arrived home. All but swaggering into the room with Charles, Shaw leaned against the doorframe.
Charles finished the page he was reading before marking his place and closing the book. He looked up finally, "Hello, Sebastian. You're later than I expected."
Shaw shrugged a shoulder. "I'm sorry. Was there something you had wanted me for?"
"No, but you could have at least sent word that you would be late. Hank's been home for hours."
Shaw's brow lifted. "Did he enjoy the trip?"
"As far as I know, yes," Charles lied smoothly.
"Well, good for him," Shaw said with a shrug. "He certainly spent enough of our money on it."
Charles gave him a long look at that, "Travel is a good thing for a young man to experience."
"I paid for it, didn't I? What more would you like from me?"
The younger man sighed, "I'm just saying, it was money well spent."
"That's worth something then, I suppose," Shaw said, finally coming into the room and sitting down.
"Where were you this evening?" Charles reached for his book again.
"At a club meeting," Shaw replied, noticing but not entirely remarking on his cold reception. "Have you spoken to the boy about this party yet?"
"Not yet. I was going to do so later. I felt it better to let him rest after his journey home."
"I suppose that's true, but it is coming up soon."
"It is. Was there anything specific you wanted me to say to him in regards to it, Sebastian?" Charles opened his book, turning his attention to it.
"The date, the fact he shall be coming of age," Shaw said, not adding "the price."
"I'll mention it," Charles nodded, ignoring the thought he was sure the other was having regarding the cost to the pocketbook.
"Has he given you any indication for his plans when he is of age?" Shaw asked.
Charles finished his paragraph and kept his gaze focused on the page even after that, "He's not said much. Though he would like some say in his engagement." There was a pause before he continued, "And he would prefer to keep his surname."
There was a long silence from Shaw's chair. "It was your idea to adopt the boy when you found him," he said slowly. "But why should I support him and make him any sort of an heir if he won't even take my name?"
Charles drew a deep breath before laying down his book yet again, "You can hardly begrudge him wishing to keep his parents' name. It's all he has left of them, Sebastian."
"And he cannot even bother to make me a good match out of that?" Shaw asked, attacking the other point.
"I didn't say he wouldn't make a good match. I said he wanted some say in his engagement. I certainly agree with him as regards Mademoiselle de Villefort."
"The de Villeforts are a great connection," Shaw protested.
"Her mother is insufferably stiff, and I don't care for the family. Connection or not, there's something about them that I cannot abide."
Something passed behind Shaw's eyes. "Our connection with them has only ever been of advantage."
"And we have that connection, so I see no reason to engage Hank to Emma," Charles remarked, ignoring the expression that he'd seen before when the de Villeforts were discussed.
Shaw narrowed his eyes and didn't respond, crossing his arms over his chest
The other man sighed softly, "Really, Sebastian. There are other families of equal prestige and connection, some with even higher. The de Villeforts are hardly the be all to end all."
"Should I not act like his father?" Shaw demanded. "Should he not do as I demand?"
"A father should not 'demand', Sebastian. He's not a servant to be ordered around. He's our son."
The older man bit back what he wanted to say and finally nodded. "You're right," he said, managing to sound charming.
Charles offered him a faint smile, one of the ones that didn't go anywhere near his eyes. Sebastian wasn't privy to his genuine smiles often, and it had become even more rare in more recent years. Which would have required Shaw to really notice or care. He rose, going to the sideboard and considering the alcohol options. The younger man sighed softly, returning to his book. He ought to send a servant to let Hank know that Sebastian was home, but he honestly didn't want to act as referee to parts of that conversation.
A short while later, when Shaw was settled down with a brandy, Hank slipped into the room, offering Charles a smile and Shaw a bow of his head. Charles glanced up, offering the youth a gentle smile in response, and set his book aside with the intention of leaving it there.
"Welcome home," Shaw said.
"Thank you, sir," Hank replied, offering a small smile there.
"Did you enjoy the trip?" Shaw asked.
"But of course," he agreed, voice a little too quick.
Glancing from one to the other, Charles motioned to a chair nearer his than Sebastian's, "Won't you join us for a while, Hank?"
Hank gave him a half panicked look before sitting down quickly.
Charles drew a set chess table over, "Join me in a game?"
That made Hank look a little happier, and he moved over. Shaw gave them a long look and went back to what he had been doing earlier. Charles offered Hank a slight, but finally genuine smile as he started the game.
We wanted to thank everyone who's taken the time to read this fic and to offer a special shout out to our reviewers. Leonhart, bowsie22, MaryGarland, and Max Corivn you are all amazing and thank you so very much for taking the time to review. We hope the fic continues to live up to your opinions.
Thank you all again for reading and please feel free to drop us a line, we'd really appreciate it as life is feeling rather overwhelming at the moment.
