He couldn't allow these feelings to grow.
If he did, Sonny would find out eventually.
Not to mention the others…
That couldn't happen.
These were the thoughts that led him to the… Mature Entertainment part of Shiloh.
Maybe some casual fun would alleviate these feelings.
For all he knew, Sonny's wife was still alive and he was just waiting to be reunited.
He didn't stand a chance.
Sonny was probably still hoping she was alive.
He didn't have that luxury.
He needed a stiff drink to at least temporarily forget his issues.
Corso headed to the bar, where one of the modified Techno droids, now catered to the Pirates' needs.
"Get me your strongest Unadarian liquor. The entire bottle." He said, slamming a stack of bills on the table.
The droid did as asked, and Corso grabbed the bottle and a glass, setting his sights on a dark corner of the bar.
Now he just needed some company… While drinking, he looked around to see who would strike his fancy.
Still, no one did. None were as good as Sonny…
Yep, the alcohol was working.
A blonde woman approached him.
" Hey there hotshot. Up for some fun?" She asked, showing off her long legs.
Corso looked her up and down.
She'd do.
"If the price is right."
"I can throw in a massage. Talk your troubles away. Sonny getting you down?" She suggested.
That hit too close.
To hell with it, he was already being stupid, what was one extra mistake?
"I've had worse." Corso said, hoping to change the subject.
He was here to get away from thinking about Sonny.
"Let's just get this going." He said, getting up as he guided her to a room.
There, he was caught up on the damn paperwork.
Sonny put his work away and stretched himself.
These last months had been hectic, and he still had to be ceremonially initiated.
If he even made it that far. Tecnoid, thanks to Bleylock, was always on his tail.
And that was even without the whole mess about Corso, especially after what happened at the shooting range.
He wasn't blind.
Corso was attracted to him.
He kept thinking about the training.
He didn't know how to handle that.
His wife could still be out there.
Not to mention his son…
But if she was alive, the best thing he could do was stay away from her.
And if she wasn't… It made matters complicated.
He just wanted to know before he could really do anything.
Still, if he wanted another partner, Corso would be an easy pick.
Still, there was no way he could start talking about it now.
Or even think about it.
But he'd had to know for sure where he, himself, stood.
Eventually, he decided to call it a day.
It was ages ago since he had a drink with some friends, just relaxing.
He decided to head to the entertainment district.
Well that didn't pan out.
Corso couldn't even look her into the eyes after that night.
The woman didn't seem to mind.
She just got dressed and got out.
Eventually, Corso also dragged himself out of bed and got dressed.
But this just confirmed He wanted someone he couldn't have.
Corso felt himself burn up inside with that realization.
Time for a lot more drinks.
Bennett was accompanying Sonny to the Entertainment District for security.
Meant that he wouldn't be drinking but that was a sacrifice he was willing to make.
Sonny hardly went outside the ship, so this might be a good opportunity for him to cut loose a bit.
Maybe they should find Corso to join them?
Bennett looked at Sonny, who nodded.
Sonny found Corso's contact code on his transmitter and gave it a buzz.
No answer.
Bennett smirked.
" It's the Entertainment District, Sonny, Corso didn't go here just for a drink." He said with a sly smile.
Sonny looked at him, a little confused.
Bennett sighed.
"Sometimes you need someone to spend the night with." He said.
Sonny smirked.
"Didn't take him for doing that. Does he do it often?" He asked.
Bennett shook his head.
"Once in a while, when the booze just doesn't cut it." He said.
"I can feel that." Sonny pretended to think, while carefully watching Bennett for a reaction.
Bennett couldn't hold back a small laugh.
"I think I know where to find him." He said.
Sonny nodded.
Soon, they were at one of the more crowded bars.
Sonny tried to play things cool, but he couldn't help but be worried.
Still, why should he be?
Corso was a damn adult.
He didn't need to baby him.
If anything, it was Corso who was taking care of him.
Sonny sighed.
He was ready for that drink, now.
Corso would just tell him he worried too much.
He headed inside with Bennett as they took a seat and ordered a few beers.
He needed it.
What God did he piss off?
Corso tried all night to drink himself out of feeling this way about his Boss of all things.
Sonny wouldn't like it.
Not to mention it would interfere with the training.
What was he supposed to do?
Sonny would find out, and start asking questions.
And if he didn't like it, there went his job.
And who'd protect Sonny then?
He couldn't risk that.
When he couldn't drink any more, he staggered back to the ship, trying to avoid… basically everyone.
Thankfully, the cabin was empty.
He threw himself onto his bed, ready to pass out.
When that didn't work, he got up again.
He needed to work these feelings off.
When they returned, Sonny just wanted to lay down and get some shut eye.
It had been long hours, and he could really do with some rest.
The beers didn't help his thoughts at all.
If anything they made them worse.
The guilt over what happened on Akilian.
Where his wife might be.
If she was still alive… And now he was not just a Pirate but their leader.
What would they think if they ever found out?
He couldn't risk that.
Sonny made his way to the cabin, thinking he would find Corso there.
No luck.
Sonny frowned.
Where'd he go?
Sonny sighed, before he started looking around the ship to find his right hand man.
Corso felt the sweat drip down his back, making his white tank top wet while he continued to punch the fighting dummy.
That said, it was working and he felt himself winding down as the alcohol finally did its job, too.
"You think that's going to help?" He heard a voice say.
Sonny.
Of course he would come looking for him.
"It already is." Corso said, hoping he sounded his normal self.
He did not need Sonny here.
Sonny approached him, having removed his coat and wearing nothing but his black tank top.
That wasn't going to help.
Corso threw another punch that went wide.
"Easy there, you need to focus. Let me help." Sonny said with a smile, while he held the dummy in place.
Corso sighed.
Of course the alcohol was doing its job NOW.
He kept missing and after a while he gave up, tossing his gloves aside.
Sonny let go of the Dummy.
"What's going on, Corso?" Sonny asked, making sure to keep his voice soft.
Corso kept avoiding eye contact, he felt cornered.
"Memories, Sonny. I wish you didn't have to see me like this." He said.
Sonny wasn't quite convinced this was true.
He sighed.
"You know, we have people that can help you." Sonny said.
Corso felt shivers go down his spine.
No way he was going to talk to a stranger about his thoughts.
"Give me a month to figure things out, then we'll talk about a shrink. I'm Chissian, I can deal with this." He suggested.
Sonny gave it some consideration, before nodding slowly.
"One month, Corso. I just want to see you happy and healthy, like the rest." Sonny said, before he left him alone in the gym.
Corso breathed a sigh of relief.
That gave him some time to come up with a solution.
Still, that meant he had to actually figure things out.