Chapter Eleven

"Well, I'm listening…."

Scipio looked over the roofs of La Serenissima, his home town and turf, seeking comfort and gathering thoughts.

"My name is Scipio Massimo. I turn 16 in April. As all male first borns of the distinguished Massimo family, I'm to become an officer in the Italian army. Next year I'm going to attend San Martino Military School here in Venice."

A bit surprised by the entry Prosper frowned slightly but decided to follow Scipio to see where he would lead them.

"And do you want to?"

"Hell, no! But what I want has never been of much interest to my father. Family tradition must be observed. Since I can remember it's been always 'Scipio, why did you get only an A-? You need to work harder. Scipio, don't be so clumsy! A five year old can do better than you. Scipio, what sin can I have possibly committed to be burdened with you? Scipio, you're nothing but a disappointment.' Whatever I do, it's never good enough. All's always a mistake to him. I FREAKING HATE HIM!" It broke out of Scipio with loud and wild passion.

Prosper was taken aback…. Scipio is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode…

"So where do we fit in?"

Scipio turned his head to look with fiery eyes over his shoulder at the other boy.

"You're my life line, Prosper! Without you guys I'd probably go off the deep end."

He turned towards the city lights again.

"What about the Thief Lord? Is he a complete act then?"

"No, he allows me to be all that I am and want to be, but what I'm not allowed to be. Let's say he's my other half."

"Why the mask?"

"I started it wearing some time ago. I didn't want to be recognized walking on the roofs. Besides, behind the mask I can be anyone I want and not just the unloved son of Dottor Massimo….You might not fully understand this, but I really envy you. I think it's far better to have no parents at all than mine."

"Scip…."

Prosper's heart ached listening to Scipio's bitter loneliness and he forgave him for everything. He stepped up to him and laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. He felt the vibrant tension under his hand.

"What about your mother? Do you see her often?"

"Once or twice a year when she comes to arrange her affairs and raise some funds."

"But that's good, isn't it?"

"Is it? We're practically strangers. Last time it ended all in a shouting match. I got so angry. She arrives and expects me to be all joy and laughter and play happy family. Anyway, someday I started to observe the street kids from the roofs, thinking about what life must be for them. And one crazy evening I saw from above how Benito Scarface had cornered Mosca and Hornet to take away their haul. And I don't know what the hell came over me, but I jumped down behind him and challenged him to try someone his size." Scipio chuckled quietly.

"And I kicked his arse hard and good. Strangely I didn't feel any fear. Perhaps it was one of these 'I've got nothing to loose' moments. Before I knocked the stuffing out of him for good, he gave me a right hook that I thought I'd lost a tooth, but I didn't and I wore that bruise like a freaking medal of honor. And do you know why?"

Since he had his back turned to Prosper he didn't see him shrug.

"Because for the first time someone looked at me with respect, admiration and trust. I felt like Robbie Williams in front of 40,000 screaming fans."

Prosper chuckled and Scipio chimed in.

"Okay, maybe not like Robbie Williams, but never as good as this before. I think I felt…loved."

Scipio admitted almost inaudibly and embarrassed.

"When Benito's people asked who I was, it was so easy to say I'm the Thief Lord and that this was my turf and my people and Scarface would better get lost. And so it started. Later I picked up Riccio and when summer turned into winter I found the old Stella for them to crash. My father owns it."

"Didn't he ask where you got the bruise?"

"Yes, and that was actually the fun part. I told him I tripped during fencing. He shouted at me for being even too clumsy to walk. Let him think whatever he wants. He can't hurt me anymore."

Suddenly Scipio burst out laughing.

"These days he even questions my sexual orientation. Him already thinking I'm a wimp it's not a step too far out in his line of reasoning."

Prop raised an eyebrow and leant with his hips against the balustrade to be able to look fully at Scipio.

"How come?"

"Just because I lacked a certain enthusiasm to babysit the daughter of his new business friend from UniCredit yesterday evening. Originally I wanted to come by but then he dumped on me that girl."

"And?" A smile tugged at Prop's mouth. "Any cute?"

Scipio shrugged.

"Well, she's….somehow…..no, that's not it….Ahm….she's…I don't know what she is."

"She's at least a girl that stuns the mighty Thief Lord into silence."

Scipio growled.

"Very funny! She's…she's a walking contradiction. She's the very image of sweet innocence with her little girl braids and yet…she breathes fire. By the end of the evening I was close to murder and she tried to slap me."

"Well, you've certainly got some sparks flying there, eh?"

"Don't you start, too! Rather tell me about you and Simona. How come?" he asked playfully and nudged him.

And a blushing Prop started to tell their story, leaving out a fact here and there. Some things were private after all.

"Wow!"

"Yeah, wow!" Prosper agreed softly with a huge smile before he sobered.

"Scip, why did you let me follow you? Assuming you purposely lured me to your home."

Scipio sighed deeply and looked into the night sky.

"I've become greedy. It's…not enough for me anymore to be the Thief Lord. I've become tired of being a pop star. I want…more. And I want it with you, Prop."

Involuntarily Prosper increased the gap between them and wariness coloured his voice.

"What do you mean?"

Scipio turned fully to him.

"I want to be your friend. And I want you to be mine. I want us to be best friends. Equals. Can you do this? Will you be my best friend?"

A smile tugged at the corners of the other boy's mouth that blossomed into booming laughter. He couldn't help it.

"I'm so glad to amuse you."

Scipio commented immediately on the defense. He tightly gripped the balustrade.

"I think I just got proposed to! Yes, Scip love, I will be your best friend. Want to seal it with a kiss?"

A happy and also amused smile lightened up the Thief Lord's face. He relaxed immediately.

"Great! And thanks, but no thanks. But if you want we can cut the insides of our hands and become blood brothers." He joked.

"No thanks. I think we're both too old to play cowboys and indians. Where do we go from here? Will you tell the others?"

"Guess I have to."

Prop nodded.

"It won't be easy. A god decents from the Olymp."

"But you will be there with me?"

"That's what best friends are for."

"Prop? Do you really understand or are you still angry with me?"

"I do understand, Scip. And I'm not angry anymore."

"All's forgiven?"

"All's forgiven. Sure you don't want a kiss?"

Prosper puckered exageratedly his lips and leant dramatically towards Scip.

"Get the hell away from me!"

The boys shared a good naturedly laugh and their friendship was firmly established on new and so much better terms. Prop stood back and watched his friend run a hand through his hair as it was his custom then take a deep breath and expell it slowly.

"Come on, Prop. Let's get over with it."

Resolutely he opened the emergency door exit door and entered again the cinema, not as Dottor Massimo's son nor as the Thief Lord – but as Scipio.

Comment: In the next chapter we're going to make a leap in time about a few weeks. Yep, it's getting spring...peak season for damsels in distress, noble knights and moonlit nights that hide dark shadows...