"I'm escaping this world

one step at a time

but all I need first

is a partner in crime" - J.H.

 

Laughter and posh lectures one with another. Gentlemen in suits and ladies in dresses. The environment felt elegant and suffocating in this venue, at least for the seven year old Giotto. He looked adorable in his little suit, at least that’s what everyone said as his father showed him off. His father was the chief of security of the city, wealthy, handsome, widower, everything and anything Giotto could care less of. His most popular trait was his hatred and fear against mutants, beings with supernatural abilities that could surpass animal and machine. The city both feared them and revered them, it was a dividing side. But being a small minority they would only stand out every so often in the news. What his father would never know was that his own son was a mutant with developing powers. Another rub to the head, causing his hair to get messed up caused Giotto to groan and sneak away, away from the strong smelling perfumes and out a door that led to the outside for fresh air, the back parking lot barely lit up by a street lamp and decorated with a few garbage cans. “Stupid party, stupid stuff, stupid dad.” Giotto muttered under his breath as he got his hands in his pockets and kicked around a rock. He hated social events like this. Not only was he ignored, he was used as an item to show off. “Stupid!” He kicked the rock again.

Léon grinned at Giotto's request. He had so many instant ideas of who he was going to ask. He knew right away. He was excited to fight back against the Skulls. It was about time they fought back. "I'm no mutant, but I'll definitely join! I know two people already who would love to right too. One's a mutant and one isn't. Don't worry you won't be disappointed. I'll find us an army!"

Stiles nodded and immediately went about thinking of a strategy. Capturing someone shouldn't be too hard. Personally he wouldn't mind forcing the truth out of the captive; as a doctor not only did he know how to heal the body, but he knew exactly how to destroy it too. But obviously the mutant option was the better one.

"I'll get to work immediately." Stiles said with a nod.

Meanwhile as Giotto went to look for Jesse, it didn't take too long to find him. He was playing pool with a group of men who cheered him on as he played.

Giotto smiled when he found Jesse playing. Though weren't they meant to be collecting on info? Regardless. Giotto walked over, excusing himself as he reached Jesse and pulled on his arm. "Jesse!" Giotto said, pulling him to the side for a moment. "I talked around to Stiles and Léon. They're going to help us out a whole lot. Léon will find us people willing to join in on an attack against the Skulls. Stiles will be helping by trying to find a member we can interrogate information out of. I also learned that the Skulls have mutants within their ranks helping them out. So if we do attack, it might be mutant versus mutant at some point." Giotto explained, smiling as he did. This was great information. More than he had expected to find for the day. "We're on our way, Jesse, and we're almost there!" Giotto said with a small squeal. He looked down at the pool stick and blinked. "Oh! I should let you finish your game. Oh! Teach me how to play!" Giotto said as he hugged Jesse. They collected enough information. A little recreation time never hurt anyone.

Jesse wasn't expecting Giotto so quick. Sure, he was slacking off a bit by playing pool, but it had a purpose nonetheless. By beating others in pool, or even the card games or sparring, that generates reputation. The better the reputation the more people respect you. And the more people respect you, the more people will be willing to take your side and fight with you. That's how it worked in the club. That, and by being humble as well.

"Mutants in their ranks?" Jesse asked. Now he really wasn't expect that. He believed it was utterly disgusting, how mutants were turning against their own kind just to save their own skin. "Those f******. Whatever, you're right. We're gonna make it." He patted Giotto's head and led him right to the table. Some of the other players raised an eyebrow at who the hell this new kid was. Jesse took Giotto's arms and showed him how to hold the pool stick.

"Just hit the white ball, and knock it into the other balls to get it onto the holes. Guys, take it easy on him." He said to the others, who in turn nodded while crossing their arms. He let go of Giotto's hold. "Try hitting it."

Giotto carefully adjusted himself to hold the stick as told. It was so hard to do so, especially since the thing was easily as twice as big. He relaxed his muscles, watching as the stick rested on his fingers in one hand, resting on his shoulder as he used his other arm to get ready to push. He could feel all eyes on him, watching him give it a try. He wanted to shrink, but he also wanted to show off to Jesse that he could do what he could. Or at least try. "The white ball, right." Giotto muttered. He aimed and got ready, hitting the thing with the stick. Though it appeared to have been a little too much force, as the ball went flying off the table before hitting one wall, then another, another, then hitting Giotto straight on the forehead, before landing back on the table with a thud, right on a colored ball as the force when he hit one ball sent that one rolling, hitting another which hit another, causing a chain reaction as every colored ball slowly but surely rolled down their holes, much to surprise. Giotto by this point was rubbing his head, what looked like steam or smoke ever so slightly hissing and floating over where the ball had hit. "Did...did I do it?"

Jesse didn't even realize how bad of an idea that was until he saw Giotto go to attempt shooting. He was actually going to stop Giotto but it was already too late; Giotto shot the ball which went on a complete frenzy. Some of the onlookers ducked quickly. At first, the onlookers crossed their arms and was looking at Giotto like he was an idiot until one noticed the color balls go into the holes.

"What the f***! Look!" One said as he pointed to the pool table. The rest of the onlookers snapped their attention towards the table, where their mouths were gaping wide open from the 'flawless' play.

Jesse shook his head and grabbed Giotto by the shoulder. "Hotshot-!" How head slowly turned to the pool table, and right as he saw the last few balls fall into the hole his face displayed the same expression as the rest of the spectators.

"....You did it.... Kinda..."

Giotto rubbed his forehead. He would definitely have a bruise on it later. He would have to use either make up or a large bandaid to cover it up. "Wait, really?" Giotto asked, looking up as he blinked a few times. All the colored balls had gone down the hole and the white ball stood there innocently, though if you looked close enough you could see a tiny speck of blood from Giotto's forehead. Giotto squealed, jumping up and down. He had never done anything like that before. He was actually good in this game, it turned out...kind of. "I did it Jesse! Like you! Like you!" Giotto squealed as he jumped onto Jesse, hugging him excitedly. "Maybe I should have this kind of game at my house after all! We could play when you aren't busy and dad isn't home!" Giotto said with a small laugh. Maybe on their vacation weekend. That could also work. "Oh!" Giotto said, handing the stick to one of the nearest players. "It's your turn, I think?" Giotto said before turning to Jesse. "Jesse, my birthday is soon, I'll have Sebastian deliver your costumes. Oh! Also! After we're done fixing this mess with the Skulls...would you like to come on a tiny vacation with me? Around Christmas maybe? Johnny and Mimi can come too! Hell, Stiles and Léon can come too if they want! Beauty too! There's enough space! It wouldn't be long, so please?" Giotto asked, his arms still wrapped around Jesse's neck, in his mind already planning months ahead of time despite so many activities already on their way. That was the kind of kid Giotto was. Or at least the kind he was raised to be. Before he could get an answer he felt as someone accidentally bumped into his back, pushing him forward before ending up giving Jesse a kiss on the lips once more. Just all part of Giotto's terrible, good luck and bad luck that seemed to go around by the flip of a coin.

Jesse wasn't really prepared for Giotto's sudden burst of excitement and energy. Usually he would be used to this by now from the younger male, but no matter what Jesse would never get used to it. He patted Giotto's back lazily, congratulating him of his... 'achievement.'

"Uh yeah..." Jesse said with a small nod of approval. The onlookers was still confused, with the one receiving the stick shrugging and began to go pick up the balls. What Jesse definitely wasn't expecting was the kiss. His face turned beet red, and the people around began to chuckle, holler, and snicker. Jesse pulled away with his lips forming a thin line. "..."

Giotto didn't look very stunned, compared to Jesse. But he could feel how awkward Jesse felt. "(Uh oh, I screwed up!)" Giotto thought, his face blushing red. He stammered. "Um..." Giotto quickly let go of Jesse. Not only had he embarrassed Jesse, but in front of people he was trying to act cool at. He didn't know what to do. "Uh..." Get away, and maybe find more info. That's what he thought. "I...I have to go check on something, real quick!" Giotto said, backing away, his face still blushing. "I-I'll be right back. I just have to check on something. C-Call me if anything, yes?" Giotto said, his nervousness showing as the lights started to flicker at the speed of his beating heart. "Er...be right back then!" Giotto said before running off. He ran across, up the stairs and out of Eden, giving a small bow to the guard before running off. "(I'm so stupid!)" Giotto thought. He didn't want Jesse see him freak out of how embarrassed he was currently. He ran off to the junkyard, the one place he knew he could scream and no one would really mind.

Jesse really didn't know of how to react. He looked around and was going to say something to Giotto, but found his words stuck in his throat. It wasn't that he was freaking out of what just happened, it was more that he was just very surprised and caught off guard. He quickly reached out his hand to grab Giotto's wrist before he escaped, but sadly that failed.

"H-Hotshot-"

At the junkyard, as soon as Giotto went to scream, he was interrupted mid-scream by the sound of some humming. On top of a pile of some old cars above him was Beauty, sitting down on the hood of one of the cars.

"Y'know," she began. "Usually people scream in their pillows."

Giotto looked up at Beauty. He wiped away small tears. "There isn't a pillow nearby." He said as he walker closer to where she sat. "I did something dumb by accident again to top the already mounting stuff in my head. I wanted to get out of the club before I accidentally short circuited something. I once lost my cool in a hospital and I made the room go dark." Giotto said with a nervous chuckle. "I'm surprised to find you here though." He gasped, his eyes gleaming. "I met your brother! He's very cool! Also, the plan against the skulls is taking place! We're going to round up some people, gain some info, and kick them right out of the city. We'll make it right again! I don't know if you want to join, but you totally could if you want to. The bigger the numbers the better."

Beauty leaned back on the hood of the car. Apparently Giotto does lots of stupid things.

"Well, I saw you walking in the street a while back and I decided to follow you. No one should be alone out here this late. This is one of the worst areas in the city. You should really learn to notice when someone's following you." She patted a spot next to her, wanting Giotto to climb up and sit next to her. She didn't mind being in junkyards. Actually it might be some of her favorite places to be. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

"It figures you guys are going to do something so stupid. I guess I could join. But you do know... Some people are probably going to die right? On both sides. I can assume you already know mutants joined their ranks. Some did it to be selfish and save their own skin. Others did it... Because they felt like they had to. Mutants with families especially. They joined so the Skulls will leave their families alone. But sadly the Skulls are probably going to go after them all anyway. That's how it works with them especially if you're a mutant. They use you like a tool and they throw you away when they don't need you. They leave your corpse on the street for rats to pick on. But those who joined because they wanted to protect their families or because they were scared... We might have to kill them."

Edited June 12, 201510 yr by Aqua7KH

Giotto climbed up, taking a seat next to Beauty on the hood of the car. "I didn't even notice! You're good. I know this part of the city is bad. Before I met Jesse I wouldn't even dream of coming here. But I keep meeting so many nice people. Diamonds within the mountains of dirt. Ya know?" Giotto said as he laid back on the hood. He thought about what she said. He hadn't thought of that. "We..." He started. What could they do? If they didn't do something, people would die. If they did, people would die. It was a lose and lose situation. "We...we'll give them a chance to change sides! Once they realize that the fear can end they can turn on the ones who are into it for power. It can work, I think..." Giotto said. He felt so helpless. If he could he would ask the police for help. But they wouldn't. "We...can't just leave it like this. We have to do something. If we don't no one will. Innocent people will die. I won't sit still in my room and watch the people die when something can be done." Giotto said with determination. "People might die...but they would die to keep multiple of other lives from being killed without just reason." Giotto said as he looked down. "It's risky. But we will all know the risk."

Beauty looked down at her hands. She thought about it herself. Death was never really something she was concerned with. People die... It sorta just something she accepted. Bad things happened and sometimes you can't do anything. Other times you can.

"My father would have joined no matter what." She said with a small chuckle. "He was a great man. Huge in politics. He wasn't a mutant, but he damn well fought for them even before he found out I was a mutant. He wanted mutants and humans to be together... But someone didn't want that, so he ended him. My mother died when she was giving birth to my little sister too. He always told us to fight for what's right. And that's what we're going to do now." She slowly took Giotto's hand and smile. "Hey, don't call me Beauty okay? My real name is Lucy. Only special people call me by my name. I know we only just met, but I think you're simple and naïve enough that I can trust you." She said half jokingly with a grin.

Giotto listened, smiling. "I wish I could have met your dad. He does sound great. I can only wish my dad to be so open to mutants. But he...just doesn't like then. He didn't like them before, and after finding out my mom died because of a mutant highjacking a car, he hated them more. Now...I actually have no idea what would he do if he found out I was a mutant. Either options could end up badly, honestly. He isn't a very patient man." Giotto said with a slight shiver. Giotto looked over at Beauty as she told him her real name. "Lucy...how pretty. Thank you for trusting me, Lucy." Giotto said. So they were three siblings? That sounded sort of fun. He still deep inside wished he had siblings himself. It just seemed fun to have around. Not being so lonely and all. But he had Jesse and all of these friends he was making, so it was good. "Ah, I stormed off before Jesse could stop me, I think I might get yelled at by him. Oh well, better scolding than spending a day watching that stupid WWE wrestling. Seriously, who likes that? It's so fake." Giotto said as he looked up. He wished for a second he could see the stars. "We'll one day find a way to have mutants and humans co-exist. One step at a time. First, the Skulls. All we have to do is find someone who knows more about them than we do, and hope they have the information we need."

Lucy chuckled as Giotto commented her name. She used to hate her name, however after she adopted the nickname Beauty she began to appreciate her name after a while. When Grim had mentioned WWE, Lucy visibly cringed.

"Please don't even mention it. That show is just terrible. The only think I like about is the cute buff guys~ Everything else sucks." She downright hated the women wrestlers. They were all fake skinny little girls who argued and beat each other over who's man slept with who, and it was just downright aggravating. Lucy began looking into the sky as well. "No matter what we will co-exist. Even if that means we'll all have to die and go into the afterlife. Who the hell knows. And don't worry about information. I'll find something out. I have just about every man in the city wrapped around my finger if I wanted to. I just need to... 'Persuade' them."

 

When Grim

 

Grim

 

Grim

 

---

 

"Right, you have your power, which you can use. That's a relief, I thought I would have to ask Sebastian." Giotto said with a sigh. He looked down. "Thank you, Lucy." He paused, looking down at his phone to see the hour. His eyes widening. "SH*T!" Giotto said, jumping onto his feet so fast he fell off the hood, and onto the floor. He quickly got up. "T-Thanks for the chat, Lucy! But I really have to go right now! Talk to you later! Say sorry to Stiles and Leon for me!" With that, and a small bow, he ran. He started to run down the street, doing his best to make it to the gold district. He speed dialed Jesse as he ran. "H-Hey Jesse! I'm SO sorry for running out like that! I was going to return, b-but I have something with dad which now I'm totally late because I suck at keeping up with time! Oh man dad is so not going to let this pass." Giotto said, flinching at the thought of the punishment he would have tonight. He reached to his place, crawling up the rope into the balcony and running to the door. "Text me or call me after midnight, we'll meet tomorrow anywhere, because I-" Giotto's heart stopped when he opened the door, seeing his father already there. Giotto felt his entire core shake. "Giotto...you missed your practice..." His father growled. Giotto backed away, completely forgetting that he had yet to hung up with Jesse on the phone. "I know, I'm so sorry! I'll make it up by taking twice the practice next time, I promise? Please daddy? Today was just a busy day-" Giotto yelped as he dropped the phone. The only thing that could be heard from his line were the sounds of Giotto whimpering along with loud thuds and curses, along with a scolding how 'unproper' it is to be late to anything.

(What...? *looks back*

...

....

.....

http://tmblr.co/ZQqe8q1is7k14

 

Lucy wasn't really expecting Giotto to be gone so quick. She knew his father was... Tough but she didn't think he was that bad. She wasn't even able to say goodbye. She only just sat there, rather perplexed. "Bye...?"

Meanwhile, Jesse was sitting on top of a building, smoking a cigarette. He was never really a smoker, only smoking when he was truly stressed out and when he truly felt like it. He valued his teeth and whatnot, so he only smoked once in a blue moon. What he really wasn't expecting however was the phone call. He was used to Giotto talking very fast and frantically especially when it had to do with his dad, but he didn't anticipate the thuds and commotion coming out from the other end.

"Hotshot it's- WHAT THE F***?' WHAT IS GOING ON OVER THERE?!" Without hesitation, Jesse practically jumped off of the buildings and began to volt towards Giotto's house. He was prepared to kill already. 'If that motherf***** hurt him...."

Edited June 13, 201510 yr by Aqua7KH

After a while, there was only silence, until Giotto spoke up. "...please don't come...I don't want you to see me like this..." By the time Jesse did arrive, Giotto was hidden away in his bathroom, the door open. Sitting in the tub as the shower head rained on him, fresh cuts and bruises all over his body, the blood flowing down the drained as it washed his stinging back. He didn't want Jesse to see. He'd get angry, and that would mean trouble. "Dad loves me...he just gets angry if I miss something important that's all..." Giotto muttered, not sure if to himself or to someone else. His face remained untouched, for the sake of being seen out in public. His father was always careful about that. But the rest of his body wasn't spared a single beating, back aching and bruises in the shape of his ribs forming to the sides. His wrists hurt. "Maybe I should set an alarm next time, so I don't forget..." Giotto muttered, picking up his sponge and carefully trying to wash the blood off him.

Jesse did not listen to Giotto at all. He was coming over no matter what. That was final. Within fifteen minutes of the phone call, Jesse was already inside storming inside the bathroom. He ripped the shower curtain open, not caring at all if Giotto was naked or not. There was a certain look in the elder boy, one that was of calmness and rage at the same time. He grabbed Giotto by the shoulders, his eyes lighting up on fire as he witness the blood as well as the new cuts and bruises.

"Where is... he." Jesse spat venomously. He looked like he was ready to kill, like a tiger ready to pounce. "Tell me where he is so I can kill him!!! I want to kill that son of a bitch!" He began to shake Giotto, albeit slower and more gentle than before. "Where is he?!!!!"

Giotto looked up at Jesse, only flinching due to the sting of the injures. He shook his head. "I'm not saying." Giotto finally said. "All I can say is that he is at work." Giotto said as he smiled. "I'm fine. Just need to make sure I don't miss it again. He really loves me, he just gets mad easily. Once he starts taking his medicine again he'll be all better!...I think." Giotto said with a chuckle. Then the door opened. "Giotto." Giotto looked up. "In here, Sebastian." Giotto called. Then in walked in a man wearing casual clothes as he was carrying a tray of bandages and other medical equipment. "Alright lets get this-" The man paused as he saw Jesse holding onto Giotto. The man's eyes widened as something started to crack from the man known as Sebastian. "Uh oh. Sebastian wait, this is Jesse! He's the kid I've been asking you about!" Giotto said as he waved his arm. Good timing as well, for a second later the sharp end of the energy blade that now stood in front of Jesse would've gone right through his skull. "...Oh! This is your friend!" Sebastian said smiling, the energy retreating back to Sebastian's fingertips before disappearing. "It's so nice to meet you Jesse. I'm Sebastian. Giotto's uncle and caretaker." Sebastian said smiling as he walked over to Giotto. "Come on Giotto, lets patch you up." He insisted. Giotto smiled and looked up at Jesse. "Don't worry so much about that. Honestly, I think it's good to keep him busy, so he doesn't end up doing something if rumors of mutants start to spread."

Jesse was at a loss of words. Only God knew what was keeping Jesse from beating some sense into his friend. Jesse was literally two seconds away from slapping Giotto silly until Sebastian came in. The next few seconds was a whirl to him. He was just so shocked and confused at what the f*** was happening right now that it all felt like some kind of dream or nightmare, or some kind of terrible acid trip. Maybe all three. Another thing that set him off was the fact that Sebastian acted very happy and normal even though Sebastian almost murdered him. It was then, that Jesse finally was able to get some words together.

"...What. The. firetruck!" Jesse suddenly roared, almost slamming his fist into the wall. "Oh! This your friend? Is nice to f****** meet me?! WHAT THE F***! Your nephew just got beaten by your ASSHOLE c*** brother, and all you can say is 'It's nice to meet you'?!" Jesse didn't even care how loud he was. A part of him wanted Giotto's father to storm in so Jesse could beat the s*** out of him.

Sebastian's expression hardened. "He isn't my brother. He is my brother in law. I am Giotto's late mother's brother." Sebastian corrected. He walked over to Giotto, rubbing his head gently before using the medical items. "I'm sorry I tried to kill you. I thought you were an intruder. I am able to control energy and manipulate it at will." Sebastian said as he thought of Jesse's words. "And you think this doesn't hurt? The fact that I'm helpless to stop this from happening? He is the most powerful and influential man in this city and you think that I haven't tried before?" Sebastian said as he turned off the water and dried Giotto up, wrapping the bandages. "I've tried everything. I cannot get custody of Giotto. The only thing I can do is wait for him to reach a legal age to simply leave and come with me." Sebastian said as he tied up the bandages. "Until then I make sure he is alive." Sebastian explained calmly. "It's ok really." Giotto said smiling. "Dad just gets angry that's all." The words cut Sebastian like a knife, but he didn't say anything. "Please Jesse. Calm down. If you try to fight dad not only will he get you arrested, he might find out about Johnny and Mimi, and everything we've been working for will go down the drain." Giotto said calmly as he sat up and hugged Jesse. "We can take care of him later. We have alot on our plate as it is currently."

Jesse really didn't want to hear it. He didn't care who Sebastian was to Giotto's father. All he wanted to do was to beat the living day lights out of Giotto's father and end it all.

"So?!" Jesse asked, forcing himself to calm down at least a little bit. "Just take him and go! I was stuck in a God-awful foster home when my FATHER killed my mother and attempted to KILL me, so y'know what I did? I told them to go f*** themselves and I left. Or reveal to the word what he does! Something-" he was going to continue until Giotto tried to defend his father once more. Jesse growled and glared at his friend.

"If you say that s*** one more time it's going to be f****** me you're going to have to worry about you hear me?! I don't give a s*** if we have all the food in the world on our plate! I want to deal with him right now! I'm gonna f*** him up!"

Giotto felt himself shrink at Jesse's anger. Sebastian scoffed. "You want to meet him? Fine." Sebastian said, standing up. "I know where he works. Where he is currently. Let me give you a ride there, and we'll see how far you will go." Sebastian said, picking up Giotto in a bundle of towels as he settled the young heir on the bed. He dressed up Giotto into his pajamas and turned back to Jesse. "I'll take you straight to him. Right there, right now. But have you any idea what will happen to you? He will of course look into it, and find out about Johnny's current situation, and find out of the falsified certificates, and then he'll be arrested and the girl taken away. After that? You'll be lucky if you aren't sent into a juvenile facility. After that? You'll be lucky if Giotto makes it out alive in his next encounter, because as far as Alexander knows, Giotto has no friends and no one knows about his scars and his current situation. Which will lead to the conclusion that Giotto has been sneaking out all this time. What do you think will happen to him then?" Sebastian hissed, glaring down at Jesse. "Your actions will cause a series of events, a domino effect. I will take you to him, but are you ready to face what it will eventually bring?"

 

 

---

This is Sebastian btw

 

 

(It's not showing up D:)

 

Jesse wasn't expecting what Sebastian said at all. Right then, he was put in his place possibly for the first time in his life. Sebastian was right. If Jesse went to go see Giotto's father, that would probably be the worst mistake he could ever make. It was too large of a risk and the consequences would be devastating. Slowly, Jesse looked to Giotto, back to Sebastian and the back to Giotto once more before looking to the side. He shut right up after, almost as if he was a small dog that had just gotten yelled at. He really didn't know what to say; he couldn't say anything, honestly. Now he felt terrible. Not only because he almost f***** everything up for everyone he knew, but also because he just disrespected an elder who was Giotto's only caretaker. Not only that, he almost attempted to kill Giotto's father. Still, Jesse had a dim feeling of rage inside him. He couldn't stand just staying quiet and not doing anything when someone was hurting someone he cared about.