A/N: New chapter, and this singular day arc is not stopping anytime soon.

The juicy bits of this interaction will probly come next chapter, buuuuut this chapter is still important.

Lets just say its been a long time coming.

Thank you once again to Kitkatkatester and Multtple Mike for reviewing last chapter. :)

Enjoy!

"I can't say I understand what it's like to have siblings, but...it sounds like you two have been really close for a long time," Zoey said in response to Vito.

"Cause we have been, yo, but I dunno if this'll change that forever...I got so mad at him," Vito continued, "but I couldn't yell none or whateva." He had divulged quite a lot, having been talking to Zoey for longer than he'd expected to, still out in the front garden. Something he hadn't said were any particular names. He found her very easy to talk to once his earlier anxiety had gone away.

Zoey hummed in thought, glancing toward the house where she could hear the muffled sound of the two inside talking. Knowing what she did, maybe… "I don't think I'm in any position to give you advice on this sort of thing," she admitted, "but I could direct you to someone who might be able to, if you'd like?"

Vito thought on it a second, then replied, "Whateva, sure, yo."

While those two had talked, the pair in the house had been in deep discussion.

"How much do you reckon he knows?"

The houseguest paced back and forth an equal distance each time, as if still confined to a much smaller space than the living room they were stood in. "He's got to know something. And he seems to really like talking, it couldn't be too hard to get him to spill anything…even if a little coercion is needed it shouldn't be much."

"Right…let's try to avoid that if possible," Duncan insisted. "For your sake." He couldn't get him found out in case Vito decided to run to the guard force in town.

"Mm...one day," he promised himself more than Duncan. "One day soon they'll all pay for what they've done…" His covered hands curled into fists.

"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves-"

"I'm running out of patience, Duncan. I've done what you've asked of me these past months and it feels like we're no closer to him. I don't know how much longer I can take it knowing…" A sharp break in. "...knowing what they've done to…" One could feel his subtle rage through his low, never-not-terrifying-as-it-trembled voice.

"I know. It's been eating away at me too," Duncan admitted. "I've seen how they've changed him, and it's horrific…I barely even see him around town by himself. Hell, I haven't seen him smile since my wedding…" He sighed before his tone shifted to be more optimistic. "...but I have a good feeling that if we get this guy to talk, things'll get a lot easier."

"...and what if he doesn't?" The question was simple, said with the same tone of voice as earlier.

Duncan closed his eyes and sighed again. "I don't know…we'll…we'll cross that bridge when we get to it-"

"How many more bridges must we cross then?" he was challenged.

"As many as it takes."

It was then that the front door opened slowly and Zoey poked her head in, silencing the two men. "How's it going out there?" Duncan asked his wife.

"I got you an opening to talk to him," Zoey replied, having been told who she'd be talking to before her conversation with Vito. "He's much less abrasive than you'd think he'd be, all things considered. Having some sibling issues. I told him you could give him some advice, Duncan."

"Perfect. Thank you, Zoey," Duncan said with a slightly strained smile. "Tell him to come in."

Zoey nodded, removing herself from the doorway.

The two males remaining in the house looked at each other once again. "I think it's best you sit the first part of this out," Duncan said. "We don't want to scare him off."

"Don't make me wait too long," was the reply back before he was left alone for a spot in the kitchen.

It was only a minute or two before the door opened once more, and this time it was Vito who was cautiously stepping through. "Have a seat," Duncan said with an attempt at a welcoming tone that was not very convincing.

Vito found a spot in a chair facing away from the kitchen and towards where Duncan was standing. Duncan forced himself to sit as well, trying to stay calm. Vito looked a bit nervous based on the way he was sitting, keeping a straightened out face.

Duncan cleared his throat. "So, um, advice, Zoey said...you wanted advice?" he started awkwardly.

"Said somethin 'bout it, yeh," Vito confirmed.

"Right…" The two had a brief moment of introduction before Vito started talking about his problem.

"Ah, I get why Zoey directed you to me…" Duncan said with a nod once Vito had stopped talking. "Personally I don't have an amazing relationship with my brothers, but I don't hate them."

"I don't hate mine neither, yo, but he don' listen to me or what I been feelin' bout what he does," Vito further explained, now feeling as if he was being watched by someone other than Duncan.

"You didn't really say exactly what he did that got you into the argument…" Duncan pointed out. He was fully aware that Scott was the brother Vito was referring to, but was keeping this knowledge to himself.

Vito started to look uncomfortable, not because he wanted to cover up for Scott but because he didn't like the fact that he had been complicit in what had happened-not that he had that word to describe it for himself- and the subject itself made him feel horrible. Duncan watched and waited.

After a couple of minutes of silence he finally spoke quietly, "...I started questionin' why he was always hurtin' our servant who didn't do nothin' to deserve it…" As he continued to speak his heart rate had increased; talking about it out loud like this was releasing a lot of stuff that he'd suppressed. "They don't like 'im…I never got it explained why, yo." His fist was clenched atop the armrest.

Vito heard slow footsteps behind him.

"'They' is your brother and...your dad, right?" Duncan's face was stony.

"...yeh...they both do it, yo...it got real bad an' Scott got mad at me when I asked why Mike was on the ground strugglin' to stand-" He wasn't really looking at Duncan, more in the spaces between Duncan as he realized just how much he'd admitted, yet again, to a complete stranger. He'd even gone so far as to use names. He just couldn't stay strong, could he? Had to get all emotional, all soft...he could almost see the disapproval on his family's faces.

The footsteps stopped. Vito felt a looming presence behind him as his heart beat through his chest. He glanced up and back. A single, familiar eye stared down at him, and, startled and on edge already, he frantically stood up, turning and facing its owner.

The man in question wore a red shirt that had definitely been taken from Zoey's costume storage room, as it was much too wide. The brown pants he sported were an inch too short, the socks mismatching. His hands were covered by black gloves that also didn't go together. His hair was kept back, long and low in a ponytail, except in the front where it covered half his face; it was the exact same color as Mike's, come to think of it, as was the aforementioned eye. An eye that had seen too much, and also far too little, of the world.

He towered over Vito's former chair, a very hard to read look on his face for someone like Vito, but clear to Duncan, who interjected, "I think some things should be cleared up before we go any further here-"

"Y-yo...you look like h-him…" Vito said as he took in what he was seeing more, pointing a shaky finger. This wasn't possible...wasn't he supposed to be dead by now?!

"...who do I look like to you?" Vito was asked, the voice the same as it had been when the two had spoken in town just the other day. It felt like his eye bore into Vito's soul.

"...no, that ain't...that can't be right…" Vito's eyes widened as he spoke in disbelief.

"I could tell you many things that aren't right but my continued existence on this earth is not one of them-" he was starting to let his anger through.

"Mal, wait-" Duncan interrupted.

The two both turned their heads abruptly and looked at him. Vito looked clearly shocked, barely recognizing that name but recalling it nonetheless.

"...why don't we start over with the introductions, yeah?"

*Roundabout plays* To Be Continued...

How we feeling? Lemme know with a review, if you want to. Leave a guess as to how many different times I wrote this reveal since starting this story(hint:more than one)

Next chapter arrived when it does. Stay safe out there y'all, and I'll see ya next time :)