As soon as Elise left the plane at Zurich airport her eyes were instantly drawn to Basch. He looked off into the distance, waiting impatiently. She had a feeling he wasn't carrying his gun on him, being this was an airport, and all and that was probably making him anxious. She quickly moved to greet him, throwing her arms around his neck, the weight of her knocking him back a step. Elise buried her face in the crook of Basch's neck inhaling the familiar scent of guns and chocolate, as he lifted her up into his arms as much as he could with his small height advantage. She hadn't realized how much she had missed him and that's all she could think of as he gentley returned her to the ground, her shoes clicking against the hard tile floor.
Taking her small hand in his own, he gave her a rare small smile, before directing his servant to take Elise's luggage. Together, they walked outside of the airport and were greeted by a driver who looked to be in his late fifties. He held the door of a Mercedes open for the two. Even though Elise detested violence, being the treasured daughter of a mafia family did come with its perks. Basch spent the entire drive home on the phone with one of his men as she watched the city pass out of the darkly tinted windows.
Once they arrived at the estate, assistants rushed towards Basch, shoving countless documents towards him, each trying to speak. Elise tried to grab his attention, but to no avail seeing that he was already leafing through one of the documents. She thought back to the five years she had spent living with him, starting at the age of seven and ending with twelve. He was always a busy man, that hadn't changed, and neither had the estate. She slowly walked in finding everything to be exactly the same as she remembered.
The rooms were spotless. The large chandelier hung beautifully from the ceiling, reflecting every ray of light, making a beautiful rainbow across the walls. Elise's footsteps echoed as she walked into the comfortably familiar hall. She slipped out of her shoes in order to step barefooted on the soft, rich carpet that covered the stairs. Making it to the top she felt a childish excitement, she ran to her bedroom, shoes in hand. This too, was exactly as she remembered.
The walls were a light pink with white stripes. Pressed against the back wall was a white twin bed, its sheets a pastel pink. The bed was covered by messily piled stuffed animals. A small table sat next to bed, a lamp and ceramic vase made by her rested upon it. Fresh flowers rested in her little vase. She didn't see a speck of dust. The room had been cleaned for her return.
Elise smiled slightly, flopping carelessly onto the bed, finding it to be much smaller and less plush than she had remembered. She shifted uncomfortably to get situated on the oddly unfamiliar bed. Her phone vibrated and she quickly pulled it out. A text from Lovino lit up the screen.
To: You
Elise, I convinced Antonio! I'll be in Zurich by tomorrow. Where are you in the plan?"
From: Lovino
Elise jumped from the bed, excited by the successful advancement of their plan. She quickly typed a response.
To: Lovino
I'm in Zurich, meet you at café Odéon tomorrow?
From:You
She waved at a servant arriving in her room to deliver her luggage to its new home. As she slid over to search through the bags her phone vibrate, once more a text from Lovino.
To:You
Si, See you there at ten.
From:Lovino
She cheered internally; she would finally get to see Lovino again after eleven years. She could remember the childhood memories faintly. The sound of her father playing the piano drifted throughout the house, the delicious smell of Spanish cooking mixed with the music. Her cousin Otto had occupied Feliciano, and Lovino sat, concentrating on trying to draw. Wanting to play princess, she would make him be her prince. She didn't notice the blank airheaded smile on her face until Basch walked in.
"Hello, spacey girl." He said with a hint of a smile in his voice.
Elise snapped out of the fond memories and turned to acknowledge him. "Hello brother." She said with a friendly grin.
He rumpled her hair, this time a very present smile on his face. "You know you can call me Basch, I'm only your cousin." He chuckled.
Her smile widened as she gave him a big hug. "But Basch, you took care of me for five years, you're like a big brother to me."
As he returned the hug he mumbled, "Whatever you say," He paused before adding, "little sister."
They remained hugging for nearly a minute before Basch broke it and kissed Elise's head, before leaving her alone. After a long day of plane rides and excitement, Elise finally went to sleep.