When Tony finally returned to the hotel, he took a quick but through shower and then dressed carefully. His suit was perfectly tailored and creased, the line of his vest lying just so under his charcoal grey jacket, and every strand of hair neatly in place. His cufflinks were understated platinum and his cologne overpriced Creed Royal Exclusive Spice and Wood.

Satisfied, he shot off a text and then grabbed his wallet before moving to the door. When he met up with the other two in the hallway, he found himself pleased with how the two looked standing together. They wore nearly identical suits, classic black-on-black two piece ensembles to Tony's own three-piece, and both men pulled it off very nicely. Tony hadn't been sure what the Lieutenant was going to do with his hair, and had half expected him to arrive with his usual standard of thick dark curls only moderately controlled by the short fade he wore, but he was pleasantly surprised to see the seemingly untamable locks pulled and sealed into a sleek look that managed to appear both modern and classic at once.

Their trip to the Palace passed without issue and they were soon entering what was becoming a familiar sight of high tech equipment surrounded by glass offices. They monitored the traffic camera outside the bar all day, waiting for the time that one or both cousins might appear. Though the exact time varied from day to day, they had observed at least one cousin entering the bar daily without fail, and so they knew they simply needed to be patient.

The hours passed like a hummingbird covered in molasses, still unbelievably fast but somehow stifled at the same time. When they finally saw Nicholai walk into view of the camera, it was just after three o'clock and everyone was ready to get the show on the road. They didn't need to go over things yet again, and so after one last physical check-over, the trio departed.

Unlike his normal talkative persona, Tony was quiet as they moved to the car. He sat in the back, his two 'bodyguards' taking the front with Stan driving. They didn't head immediately to the bar, but rather took a much longer path on roads that were devoid of cameras so that their path couldn't be tracked back to Five-O's headquarters.

Unlike the patrons of the bar who parked in back and out of sight of the main road, Stan stopped the car they'd borrowed from HPD impound directly in front of the main door. Stan alone broke off from the group and moved up to try and open the door. If locked, they'd simply go around to the side door. Luck was with them though, and Stan gestured Tony forward.

Having gone over a few last minute warnings and bits of advice for their youngest during the drive, the trio was already fully in character upon their arrival. Tony adjusted his cufflinks and tie one final time as he moved forward, Stan pulling the heavy door open for him and Almeida and then following behind and immediately moving back into his own place at Tony's right shoulder.

Tony didn't rush, or even walk briskly. Rather, his body nearly swayed with a slow, predatory like grace across the polished dark oak flooring, the men scattered at various tables around the room eyeing him as he approached his destination.

Not seeing the man he was looking for, Tony instead sauntered up to the barkeep. "Pomeriggio [afternoon]." He greeted simply. The grey haired man nodded but continued to watch him without offering a greeting in return. Tony continued unphased. "Sto cercando Nicholai. [I'm looking for Nicholai.]"

The man maintained his silence, but Tony noticed blanching of his knuckeles from where his fingers were wrapped around an empty glass, buffing it with the rag held in his other hand. He could hear a copule of the others in the room standing and moving closer, but Tony didn't turn to look.

"You can tell him Antonio's looking for him." He added, tilting his head just slightly as one side of his lips curled in something that couldn't have been described as a smile when he heard two sharp intakes of breath from behind him. "Trust he'll want to see me." Scuffling could be heard and then a single pair of footsteps retreated quickly from the room.

Smiling, Tony bowed his head slightly. "It seems your services are no longer required, after all. Addio" He stated lightly before turning back around to face the room. Scanning once more at the configuration of the tables, he noted the single table sat apart from the others. It was in the corner adjacent the stage, far enough that the noise wouldn't be obnoxiously loud, but still with a clear line of sight over the stage and the room as a whole. There was a clear berth between it and any other tables, so Tony headed towards it.

The room tensed further, and he had to keep from smirking as he took the seat facing them all, leaning back and crossing his left ankle over his right knee casually as his eyes trailed across the features of the men before him like a king residing over his subjects, as though he alone wasn't sitting while the rest of the room had stood. The minute camera hidden in his tie pin captured the same view, and back at headquarters he knew the team would be hard at work.

Having locked the final face to his own memory, he dropped his eyes to the glossy table surface, lifting one hand to trail across the surface in a random, abstract pattern as he waited. It only took a minute for the footsteps to return, this time multiple in number. From his new vantage point, he was able to see the heavy wooden door next to the bar that must have led to the back of the building.

A man he hadn't seen in person in over a decade appeared, followed by four other men. Nicholai had aged well, his own dark hair just starting to silver above his ears, and his lightly tanned skin remained free of wrinkles. He too wore a three piece suit, though Tony was pleased to note the man's wasn't as expensive a make as his own.

He didn't rise to greet him immediately, but rather took the time to scan over those who entered with him. One of the men was one Tony had been familiar with back in Baltimore named Marc Ricci. The man had been an enforcer who particularly enjoyed his job and Tony was surprised to see him considering he'd been sentenced to double life. He glanced quickly over the others, none of them familiar to him and so he locked back on his target.

Finally, even more languorously then he'd entered the room, Tony sat forward and pushed himself out of the chair. He took a single step forward and held out a hand. Nicholai seemed to be fighting a frown but finally stepped forward and clasped his elbow in turn, both leaning in for a hug and a pressing their right cheeks together in a familiar greeting.

Exchange finished, Tony pulled back and gestured to the other chair. "Please, sit." He offered, tone gracious.

He could see Nicholai's brow twitch slightly and bit back another smirk as the man remained frozen. Uncaring, Tony stepped back and settled himself into the chair he had claimed. Finally, after another long moment, the man sat down rigidly in the other seat, back fully exposed to the room and trying to hide how irritated he was by being forced out of what was normally his own seat.

"So, Nicholai, what brings you here?" Tony asked then.

"I should be asking you that." The man replied, a bit of bite hidden in his otherwise bland tone of voice.

Tony frowned, exaggeratedly. "Asking me? Why would you do that?"

A dark brow was raised towards him. "It's been years since I've seen you, Antonio, and then you just happen to stroll into my bar as if you have a right to a seat at my table? You must admit, it's a bit odd."

The others in the room had settled back at their own tables when the man had joined them- baring Stan and Almeida, who still stood in position on either side of main table, backs to the two men and facing out at the room blankly. At that comment, however, Tony noticed a few of them start to look back over.

The smile that curled his lips wasn't friendly, and his tone of voice lowered in octave when he replied. "It amuses me that you think you have the right to question me walking into your bar, when you've come into my territory, left bodies lying in my streets, and brought the heat down on my business. I would very much like for you to explain yourself." The threat in his tone when he finished was clear, and several men stood and approached once more.

Nicholai though, he had frozen in his seat, skin taking on a slightly paler hue. He didn't respond for a long moment, and when he did it was to call for the bartender to bring them both two fingers of scotch. It was only once the expensive amber liquid was placed before them that the man finally replied. "I was unaware that one of la famiglia was on the islands." He began carefully, every word obviously chosen carefully. "Considering the extensive portfolio we compiled of the dealings going on here before we moved in, it is surprising to me that your name never came up."

Tony, glass still untouched before him to snub the offering, debated between responding with offence or amusement. He decided to go with a combination of both, allowing them to twine together as the crossed his expression, settling deeper back into his own chair with his arms crossed and an ankle once again brought up to rest across the other knee. "You'll remember that I prefer to operate under the radar. Better for business, you see." He tilted his head pointedly. "Which brings us back to why I'm here. You and your… Company, are now a direct threat to the continuation of that business. So where does that leave us?" Once again, the implied threat was clear. A lesser fraction moving in on someone else's business was practically a death sentence if executed poorly, and Tony was calling them out directly.

Nicholai pulled a gun from under his suit jacket and pointed it directly between Tony's eyes, the rest of the room following suit immediately and those who had until then remained at their tables stood to join the crowd effectively boxing them into a corner. Tony shook his head with a small pitying smirk twisting his lips, completely unflinching at the sight he had down the barrel. He'd seen the move coming as soon as the man's arm had twitched but he'd made no move of his own to intervene, instead allowing the man the power play. They'd prepared for this very situation and Tony could see from his peripheral vision that his backup had followed the plan and left their own guns holstered despite the overwhelming number of ones pointing at them.

"We could solve this conflict right now." Nicholai stated coldly, meaning more than clear.

"You could." Tony agreed with a light nod. "But you and I both know you don't have the power to make that decision." Finally picking up the glass set before him, he lifted it and brought it to his nose to inhale the sweet bite of it. He took a single small sip and savored the notes of cherries and raisins coating his tongue and lingering on his palate. "So why don't we cut this little act off early, and you scurry along and fetch your cousin so the grownups can talk."

The gun still pointed at him wavered for the slightest second, but it gave him away all the same. "If that's what you think, why ask for me and not him?" The man questioned coolly.

Tony shook his head, expression turning sad. "Eravamo fratelli una volta, tu e io. [We were brothers once, you and I.]" It was a bit of an exaggeration, but one the other man couldn't deny without the risk of further insulting him and Tony knew he wouldn't do that. "I see now that it was a mistake to try and settle this peacefully with you first."

Nicholai opened his mouth to respond, but paused when Tony pushed himself up from his seat. He stepped closer to the man, not flinching as cold steel pressed against his flesh. He raised his right hand to slap slightly against the other mans cheek, patting it a couple of time and then brushing down it as he allowed his hand to fall down. He pulled a newly printed business card from his inner pocked and tucked it into the one sewn to the front of Nicholai's jacket. "Have Roberto call me." He commanded easily before turning away. The number he gave one to the burner purchased for this very reason, and would be the only phone he carried for the duration of the op.

He ignored the room full of weapons still aimed at them and turned to sauntered back to the door, moving through the crowd and almost teasing them with how easily he offered his vulnerable back to their sights. Stan and Almeida followed behind just as coolly as they'd entered. They made their way back to the car unhindered, Almeida holding open the door for Tony while Stan went back around to the drivers seat.

When they departed, they didn't head back to their hotel or the Palace, but rather the isolated safehouse Tony had borrowed access to and was hidden away in the Ewa Forest Reserve, where they would be living until the case was closed. A benefit of the location was the small access road built between two larger roads. The service road wasn't written onto any map and was fully covered by thick foliage. It wasn't right next to the house, but rather a quarter mile away through thick vegetation. Still, the had an SUV parked upon it and ready to go should they a quick exit.

When they arrived at the house, McGarrett and Williams were waiting for them inside, their own vehicle parked on the same service road they had used to enter the property unseen. The duo greeted them when they entered the house, complimenting them on a job very well done. Apparently they'd already been able to match facial rec to eight of the men who'd been inside the bar and were compiling a growing list of known associates.

The trio removed the small cameras they'd all been wearing, along with the mic's held in place by the bugged tie pins and hidden in the natural bump on the back of their ties, just under the knot. After debriefing separately, Tony slipped out the back door and into the forest behind the house, looking for the small river that was said to be on the property.

He found it quickly enough, the sound of bubbling water catching his ears and drawing him in the right direction. He'd already changed into a simple pair of jeans and a casual plain black short-sleeve button up, so he didn't hesitate to settle on a clear spot of ground by the waters edge, one knee pulled up in front of him and propping up his elbow while his head rested comfortably on the same hand.

His mind was cataloging everything that had happened, his own words and actions along with that of everyone else. He really was proud of the Lieutenant; though he hadn't doubted the man's mettle, he'd seen many a strong man felled under the treat of a gun or two, and so had been prepared for things to take a turn as he was prepared for every other eventuality he could possibly consider.

A branch snapped behind him and he had to stop himself from jumping, still full of adrenaline no matter how well he hid it. He glanced casually over his shoulder to see the Commander making his way towards him. Tony lifted his chin slightly in greeting and then turned back to the water. He didn't hear anything else during the mans approach, but felt him when he settled into the dry dirt beside him.

The silence lasted for several minutes before McGarrett spoke up, voice low and taking on a gravely quality. With electricity already sparking through his veins, the sound brought a stirring of something else to light in Tony's lower abdomen. "Penny for your thoughts?" He asked simply, no expectation in his voice but rather an offer to listen if Tony needed a sounding board.

Tony shook his head slightly, corner of his lips curling. "Too many to put into words." He said instead. The man made an understanding grunt and then quiet spread for another couple of minutes.

"Back at the bar, you called Nicholai your brother. Were you close during your assignment before?" That question Tony knew he was asking more out of concern for the case than for Tony. If there was a stronger bond there than Tony had admitted to then it had the potential to cause issue down the line. McGarrett was being diligent in asking, Tony knew, but the agent who'd gotten used to being questioned over the last few years at NCIS still bristled inside.

"Not really." He replied anyway, hiding the emotion away from his voice and elaborating. "After I worked my way up in the family, I spent most of my time working with Michele Macalusco. I uh, caught his attention and he eventually made me his consigliere when the previous one was gunned down." He paused, remembering all of the shit that had gone down, all of the danger, all of the thrill. He shook the thought off and continued. "Nicholai was a soldier. I saw him enough to be familiar, but we were never particularly close."

Steve shook his head slightly in confusion. "Then why'd you say that to him? Why didn't he call you out on your lie?"

"He couldn't."

"Couldn't?"

Tony dropped his arm and turned to face the man more fully. "The family runs on respect. The last time he saw me, I outranked him a few times over. The fact that he's still not in charge, especially when I'm claiming a breach of established territory, means I still outrank him a couple times over. Something this big, be can't take action without the Bosses consent."

"Pulling guns on you wasn't taking action?"

"Pulling his gun on me was a bluff. He was never going to shoot me, but he wanted to judge my reaction. By that reaction, he saw that I was very serious in my accusation and so he couldn't risk furthering my anger towards them, or him in particular." Tony said, shrugging slightly as he explained further. "He also couldn't back down without losing face in front of his men, so I granted him a favor by leaving on my own. It shows I want a peaceful resolution to this whole thing while reclaiming my place in the power structure at the same time."

"I am.. Impressed." Steve admitted when he finished.

"As you should be, I am pretty impressive." Tony joked, settling to lean back on his arms. Having been so fully emerged in the case for the past few days, and so bogged down with the old memories, he just wanted to take a few moments to lighten the mood and get out of his headspace. It had been his attention when coming to the river in the first place, but he'd gotten caught back up in his own head.

Both brows shot up on the mans forehead and he glanced over at the agent in amusement. Tony was watching him, so he noticed when his gaze caught slightly on the sight of him reclined back, one thin strip of flesh visible along his back and wrapping around both hips from where his shirt had rucked up with his position. Those intense eyes traced the small bit of visible skin as they ran the length of him. Tony was still watching when he finally looked back up to meet hazel eyes. Tony raised a brow of his own, tilting his head and expecting the man to ignore the attention he'd just been caught giving him. A military man like McGarrett wasn't likely to be open about such attraction, even if the might feel it, and Tony was curious how he'd respond to the blatant challenge.

Instead of backing down or ignoring that he'd effectively been caught checking out the agent, the commander surprised him but responding in that gravely voice once more, "You are that." Tony felt a surprising flash of warmth heat his face, for he wasn't typically one to blush. He sent a questioning look at the man, unsure how he should respond considering he hadn't expected to get a flirtatious comment back. His own attraction was still there, of course, and only growing stronger as he realized the fit specimen across from him might actually return his appreciation for those of the male persuasion, and be open to exploring that appreciation with him. The new potential added to the situation didn't make it any less of a bad idea than it had been when Tony considered it before and so he knew he should still be very cautious.

Though the fire still flowing through his veins urged him to push and see where this conversation might lead, he forced himself to abstain. Instead, he pushed himself back to his feet, reaching out a hand to offer the man still seated. "C'mon, McGarrett, we should get back inside and see if they have anything new for us." He stated lightly when the man simply continued to watch him. At the prompting, the SEAL reached out for his hand and allowed the shorter man to help him to his feet.

He didn't let go immediately once he was standing, instead remaining still and tracing Tony's features with his eyes. "Call me Steve." He finally said, voice even rougher than it had been at the start of their conversation, before releasing his hold and turning back towards the house.

Tony would be lying if he said he wasn't filled with disappointment at the chance lost, but he told himself once more it was for the best… At least while they were actively working together.

tbc

Thank you all so much for reading! I hope this first meeting met all of your expectations! I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and if there is anything particular you'd like to see happen, let me know and I may work it into the story if it fits!

As always, your I cherish your feedback, and your support always helps encourage me to write faster! Thank you so much for those who have left feedback!