Title: Embellishments

Author: Eeevee

Rating: K

Disclaimer: still don't own Baccano!

Author's note: bad attempts at a Brooklyn accent and an attempt to be IC… written off the anime. Anyone else notice the disappearing bow?

Maiza reached up and pulled the hat down off the shelf as he explained to his younger companion. He plopped it on the young man's head and smiled as Firo peered eagerly in the mirror.

He grinned and touched the brim, "I like this one, Maiza."

Maiza gave another smile as he glanced in the mirror. He thought the hat was perfect for Firo. The green suited him very well. Except for… Maiza blinked, deciding to bring it up outside the shop. No need to point it out in the store.

"Welcome to the Martillo Family." He said instead enjoying Firo's child-like expressions.

"I ain't one yet." Firo protested, still admiring the hat, although his dark eyes widened slightly, "Not 'til tommorra."

"The ceremony's already started." Maiza remarked and seeing Firo's look he added, "I'm buying you this hat, aren't I?"

"Oh yea, thanks a bunch Maiza!"

Maiza paid for the purchase and the two headed for the door. He almost pointed the problem out again but was sidetracked with the two very odd people they ran into at the door.

He stared at them in bemusement and shook his head.

"Firo."

"Yea?" Firo paused and looked over his shoulder was a slightly puzzled look. His bangs were scrunched up under the hat's brim showing his eyes.

Maiza had to think around the fact that Firo was ridiculously cute. It was hard to believe that the boy was actually 18 and a highly skilled assassin in the mafia. Then again there were far stranger things in this world; things that weren't nearly so endearing.

He wasn't sure when he and Firo had become friends. Perhaps he had seen a younger brother in the adopted boy. Or maybe it was Firo's rather charismatic personality and innocent face that drew him. Of course, that was just a façade; Maiza knew of the boy's knife skills. It offset his utter lack of common sense when it came to danger.

And tomorrow would be the day when he would face his friend in a show of fancy knife work. He knew he'd be hard pressed to keep his secret considering how good Firo had become.

"Are you going to see the Gandors tonight?"

"Naw, they'd just take me out. I need to be in top shape to defeat ya, Maiza." Firo smirked. "Can't do that when I'm nursing my splittin' head, now can I?"

"You won't be able to beat me anyway." Maiza replied mildly with a bit of steel in his mellow voice.

"Ha ha, someday I will!"

"Not when you look like that." The older man teased back remembering what he was going to say in the hat store.

"Look like what?" Firo questioned, cocking his head and exposing the offending item even more. Maiza had to chuckled. "What? What're ya laughin' at?"

Before Maiza could answer a loud ruckus caught both Mafioso's attention. He reached out and caught Firo by the collar firmly.

"Let go Maiza. I wanna check it out."

Maiza just shook his head in amusement, "I'm sure you do. Just hold still a moment then I'll let you go."

Firo instantly froze up wondering what in the world Maiza was going to do.

The big, gentle fingers ran lightly across his forehead making him blink a few times. Then they tugged on his hat. He almost protested that he was very attached to that hat despite owning it less than five minutes and that Maiza better be caref--.

RIP.

"Maiza!"

The older man looked up, startled at the accusing tone. He frowned.

"Why'd ya do that for?"

Maiza stared at the cute little green bow in his palm and then at Firo. He couldn't help it… he started laughing.

Firo, utterly baffled by his friend's behavior, snatched his injured hat back. He put it snuggly on his head and listened for where the noise was coming from.

"Anyway, I'm goin' ta check it out." Firo said hanging onto his hat just in case his friend decided to commit more injustice against the poor thing. He was already considering where to take it to get it fixed up.

"Be careful." Maiza cautioned still a little out of breath from laughing so hard. "And don't worry about your hat; I'll fix it if you bring it by later. I just can't have you going out with bows or someone might mistake you for a girl."

Firo pushed out his lip in a pout, "I don't look like a girl."

Maiza pictured the bow in his hair again and just chuckled, "Go check it out. I will see you later tonight, okay?"