"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.

Jesse went right in, immediately making a small ruckus. "This is a stick up, bitch!" But sadly Hansel already 'knocked the guard out.' So much for going on in style. Jesse always wanted to say that, but oh well. He leaned forward to look at the guard. There was no way he looked alive but might as well not ruin the hope for Giotto. Jesse listened to Hansel's orders, however he didnt like the idea of him bossing Giotto around.

"Hey, you're not the boss of him." Jesse said protectively to Hansel. Jesse turned his head over to Giotto. "Hansel and I will distract the other guards, you get to the security room and mess stuff up."

Giotto rolled his eyes at Jesse's wishing to give the orders, but complied regardless. "Got it. Be careful." Giotto said, and with that, they went separate ways. Hansel walked with Jesse across the white hallways, around the offices. In a break room at a few guards around a table playing cards, and making bets with treats and candy. "There's our men." Hansel murmured as he turned to Jesse. "Sing your song whenever you're ready." Hasnel said as he turned invisible. Giotto ran across the hallway down to the furthest one, walking up to the door with big bright red letters that said SECURITY ROOM. "Oh boy." Giotto sighed. He knocked loudly on the door and pressed his back against the wall. The guard in the room opened the door, taking a step out to look around. "Huh?" The guard murmured confused, and Giotto quickly ran inside before slamming the door shut, locking it quickly. The guard began to pound on the door. "Hey! Is this some kind of joke?! Knock it off guys!!"The guard yelled. Giotto walked up to the grand monitor that had screens with views of every hallway, room and cell. Inside special cells that neutralized the mutants' powers with a wave of energy sat different peoplem ranging in ages, the youngest looking around 14 while the oldest in his late 50s. "They're all mutants...?" Giotto gasped. When he heard that mutant numbers were bigger in the bronze district, he never really saw it until now. Even though they barely made around 14 prisoners in total, that was a lot of mutants regardless. "Right..." Giotto rested his hands on the monitor, feeling the vibrations and energy that connected throughout the entire building. Data and energy ran through his veins as codes phased in front of his eyes and electronic whispers screamed in his mind. "Here we go." Giotto's mind connected to the system and soon everything began to go according to his orders. Suddenly every single locked cell opened up, deactivating the anti-mutant system, allowing the mutants a free pass out.

Jesse crossed his arms and looked right at Hansel with the biggest look of un amusement written all over his face. He didn't 'sing.' Honestly Jesse hardly ever used his ability... He didn't really know why. Apart of him didn't like using his ability.

"It's not 'singing' it's being a total badass and screeching." Jesse said. Right after he took a deep breath and screeched. All the men easily passed out from the sudden loudness to their ear drums, and glass shattered all throughout the room. Because of the walls, the other rooms weren't really affected by the screech. After the cops passed out, Jesse looked to Hansel. Already some sounds went off due to the cells being opened. "Looks like hotshot got the job done." He said.

Hansel smiled. "I'm impressed...you're so young yet it is that powerful. Powers grow with the mutant. No one will want to mess with you once you've reached adulthood." Hansel complimented, turning as he hurried down the hall to the cells. The mutants stepped out of their prisons, looking around confused. "What is going on?" "Is this some kind of protocol or...?" Hansel appeared by them. "You're all getting a free pass out of here." Hansel pointed down the hall. "Get going, run home and don't look back!" He ordered. The mutants looked at each other and began to follow Hansel to the exit. "Don't worry, we're keeping the guards busy." Hansel assured, watching the mutants hurry down the hall as he walked back to Jesse. One mutant that seemed around Jesse's age walked up to them, ice forming with every step she took. "Are you guys really helping us?" She asked. "Of course. We know you haven't done anything wrong...you should hurry home. I'm sure your parents will be glad to see you again." Hansel said. The girl's eyes gleamed with happiness. "Thank you!" She said. She hugged Hansel, and then hugged Jesse, giving him a grateful, icy kiss on his cheek before running off with the rest. Giotto explored through the database, slowly erasing the profiles made on the mutants that began to run through the exit. "Gone, gone, gone, gone..." Giotto murmured. He then smiled, with a loud spark, erasing all of the security video before shorting out the entire power supply of the building, the lights going out in an instant. "...I think I did good..." Giotto murmured, walking across the dark room nd to the door, thinking of how he would get through the police man, that is, until he busted right in with his flashlight.

Jesse wasn't really expecting such a compliment on his power. It caused him to blush and rubbed the back of his head. Was it really that powerful? Truthfully... Jesse was embarrassed to use his power. It wasn't because he didn't think it was powerful no.... It was because deep down he was ashamed of being a mutant. Jesse grew up with such a racist father, who used to go on and on about how discusting 'Mutes' were. Mutes was the lowest slang insult to refer to Mutants. It was the mutant equivalent to the N-word. Because he was around that for his whole life Jesse developed a tiny bit of prejudice on his own. Suddenly, Jesse received a kiss on the cheek from the young lady which in turn caused Jesse to reach out to her.

"W-Wait- yo- call me!" He called. It didn't occur to him after she left that she wouldn't be able to call Jesse anyway; she didn't have Jesse's number.

Hansel chuckled a bit, and then felt as someone tugged on his pants. He looked down to see Giotto crawling on his fours in the darkness. "What the hell?" Hansel asked. Giotto hushed him. "We gotta go go go go!" Giotto hissed as he crawled away to the exit. Hansel stared. "Wait wasn't there a guard inside the room?" Hansel asked. "There was. I sneaked in and I trapped him in there but I don't know how long that chair is going to last." Giotto said rather nervously. Adrenaline was rushing within his body, the senses of energy still tingling in his fingertips. Hansel shrugged and nudged at Jesse. "Lets go, before any other cops from nearby find out something's wrong." Hansel insisted. He three walked off, hurrying back into the darkness of the ally ways, leaving the place desolate and with a few knocked out cops. Hansel turned to the two smiling. "You guys were amazing. Jesse's powers are able to knock several people with a single blow, and he didn't even used his full extent! And you kid, you're like a master key to every electronic lock in this city. You two are incredible." Hansel breathed. Giotto chuckled at the compliment. "We did good...right?" Giotto asked. "Yeah. Now children will be returning to their parents, husbands and wives to their loved ones, mothers and fathers to their children. You've done a great deed today. They can go home and reassure that they will live another day." Hansel said. Giotto sighed gratefully. "I managed to erase all of the data and surveillance video..." He added. "Even better!" Hansel hugged the two. "You two just became heroes for the mutant community!"

Jesse looked down at Giotto, walking around on all fours like he was a puppy. That was something you didn't see everyday. He had to admit it was both funny and adorable just seeing the little guy just crawl around. Giotto rushed them out of the exit with Jesse looking back.

"It's just one damn cop! Why didn't you just knock him the f*** out or something?" Once they were outside, Jesse didn't really take the hug quite too well. Again, he wasn't really used to hugs too much. He wasn't a touchy feely type. But that was mostly due to his 'masculinity' or 'man-hood.' As he calls it.

"Heroes huh?" Jesse asked as he patted Hansel's back. He had to admit he liked the sound of that. A certified hero of mutants. With a small grin, Jesse threw his arm around Giotto's neck. "Damn straight we are! With hotshot and me combined, there's no way we'd go down. We could free every mutant in this damn city! Just you watch. We'll be much more someday."

'Much more than ghosts... The city... Will be ours.' Jesse thought.

Giotto smiled at Jesse's excitement over what they had done. Heroes. Something he never really thought he'd be called, ever. Of course, he always thought Jesse as a hero from the beginning, as he had save his life that night at the party's parking lot. It felt nice to have helped. "We can save so many mutants from danger..." Giotto smiled. More mutants out not only meant that they were saving them...it also meant more people that could possibly team up against the skulls and put them in their place. "You two truly make a great team. Heck. If I find out of any more situations like this one, you two will be the first I'll call!" Hansel chuckled. He looked up at the darkness of the city and then back at the two. "Now then, I think its best you two head home. Your responsible guardians must be worried, and its best to stay away from the crime scene to avoid suspicion." Hansel suggested. "Going home to nap does sound nice...~" Giotto hummed. He was about to ask Hansel something else, but when he turned, he was already gone. Invisible or not. "...man that's kind of a cool power." He turned to Jesse. "But better yet, once we tell Johnny he'll realize that what we did was good after all!"

Jesse couldn't agree more with what Giotto had said. He couldn't wait to get home to rub it all into Johnny's face that he was wrong and Jesse was right. Just the thought of it was the cherry on top. Johnny was always proven right, but now Jesse was finally gonna tell him off. Jesse was right for once. Hell yeah.

"Who cares if that guy can turn invisible? Hell, we just released an entire cop station of mutants! That'll make Johnny eat up all the s*** he's been telling us. F****** finally too. I'm sick and tired of that mother f***** proving us wrong. You know what?" Jesse wrapped his arm around Giotto's neck. "I think this calls for a celebration. I gotta meet someone to pick up something anyway. Let's go to Eden and grab a drink." He led Giotto to a tiny alleyway, and behind a dumpster. There was a small mass hidden under a cover.

"And I'll drive us there~" With that, he took off the cover and revealed the broken down rusty bike they had. It actually had wheels and parts now. There were new seats, and it was painted along with the rust with some graffiti designs on it. It was definitely not the best looking bike, but it was something. It was more like a dirt bike than a motorcycle

"They're working on a better one from scratch. So I just got this as a temp I guess. It runs good even though it looks like absolute s***"

Giotto's eyes gleamed in awe at the bike. Yes, it indeed, looked like crap. Hell. It didn't even look safe. But when had they ever done anything that was considered safe by the term of the word? "Forget about the looks, if it works it works doesn't it?" Giotto smiled and walked around it. It amazed him how they could turn a useless bike into something usable and wonderful, despite how bad it looked. "Wait, you're going to drive? But you have helmet, I don't~" Giotto complained. Not that he cared or not about having a helmet, more of the worry that Jesse was going to be the one driving. He trusted him...it was just...Jesse was going to be driving. That should be enough of an explanation. Regardless, he sat in the back seat of the bike, getting comfortable as he watched Jesse get ready to take off...he had a smirk on his face. Oh no. The moment Jesse hit the pedal, Giotto let out a small scream before holding onto Jesse as if he was the only thing keeping him between life and death. Giotto would forever be Giotto...regardless the situation. "How did you even got it to ride this fast this is nuts!"

Jesse was somewhat expecting the scream. The scream itself yes. But how loud it was, no. It was so damn loud he thought Giotto somehow had Jesse's power too. The scream could've knocked out the guards in the police station! Still, he didn't let that distract him. Instead Jesse sped up to a reasonable rate and tried to calm Giotto down.

"Jesus Giotto calm the f*** down! I had Gianni and some dudes over at Eden fix something for me. Gianni fixes cars as a side job. You're gonna need to learn not to be such a tight ass because damn!" With that, he switched lanes to another highway.

It was easier said than done to calm down the sheltered boy. But after being reassured that other people had worked on it, Giotto opened his eyes and began to look around. His eyes gleamed as the night lights of the city glowed ever so brightly, replacing the stars that they could never see within this metropolis. He had to also admit that the wind in his hair felt very nice...it was a change of pace. Once you didn't think of imminent death, it wasn't so bad in the end. He loosened his grip ever so slightly and rested his head against Jesse's back. "You know...I never really told you this." Giotto smiled. "I'm happy to have met you, Jesse!" With that he even decided to tease the driver by adding one more statement. "You know, we make such a great team, lets get married!"

"F*** no and f*** that. There's no way I'm getting married especially to you. Ugh I'd shoot myself if that happened." Jesse said blankly, half-joking. He could only imagine what it'd be like to be married to Giotto. Giotto would probably be so clingy and ugh. Honestly Jesse didn't want to get married period. He didn't like the idea of commitment at all. Plus with his usual attitude he barely kept girlfriends for more than a few weeks. He got on to the highway and sped up. The lights of the city just zoomed by like thin rays of light.

Giotto laughed at Jesse's statement. It was funny to think. Giotto would end up trying to dress Jesse up a bit more formal from time to time, he would indeed be the clingy type, and would be the type to hog all of the bedsheets. "O-Oh! Jesse! Tomorrow is my birthday!" Giotto gasped, amazed that he had forgotten considering how long he had planned for it. "Tomorrow Sebastian is going to come over to your place, I asked him to make a costume just for you, and Johnny, and Mimi with masks and everything! He's also willing to give you guys a ride over! You guys are getting VIP access!" Giotto squealed, smiling as he hugged Jesse, the two eventually reaching to Eden.

Jesse rolled his eyes as Giotto hugged him. Jesse really, really wasn't the clingy type. Even when Mimi clung to him he got annoyed.

"Yeah yeah, I'll put on dressy s*** just for you. F***, Johnny's probably gonna make me comb my hair though. He can go f*** himself..." He grumbled. Once they got to Eden, Jesse parked the bike right in the alleyway and slid right inside while saying 'hi' to Angus. Angus as always was guarding the door with his Bouncer's Paw. Even though he was just guarding, Angus absolutely loved his job especially when he got to beat the s*** out of somebody. Once downstairs Jesse looked to Giotto.

"What do ya wanna do here? I could use another whiskey but I think the bartender won't let me drink twice in a day. The bastard."

Giotto thought about it and smiled at Jesse. "Well..." He murmured, playing with his fingers as he shifted his feet. "I...I want to have an adult drink!" Giotto declared. "I want to have one of those thingies that you had. What was it called again, whiskey? Yeah, that. I can totally be as tough as you if I can drink it?" He then pounded his own chest while smiling, trying to look tough, only to then rub his chest and murmuring out a small how. He chuckled nervously and sat down on the bar, taking out some money. "I'm going to be as tough as Jesse, and maybe then Johnny won't baby me as much either!"

Jesse immediately followed and sat down right next to Giotto. Boy did he want to see this. Honestly Giotto probably wouldn't last a sip. Just the thought of Giotto drunk was both dangerous and absolutely hilarious. He would probably be a bumbling idiot. It was good to know what type of drunk you were anyway. Happy drunk... Anxious drunk... Sad drunk... Jesse was easily an angry drink. No matter if he was drunk or sober, Jesse was still rude and had a huge attitude. He would've gotten knocked out twice if it wasn't for someone calming down the people Jesse piss off.

Meanwhile, as soon as the bartender got a look of Giotto, he immediately gave Giotto his response.

"No." He said blankly.

Giotto whimpered. Not that he wasn't used to getting no's. His father denied him of the simplest of pleasures. However he wasn't as happy. It wasn't fair! Jesse got to drink a glass, why not him? "Oh come on! Pleeeeeeaaaaassseee? I promise I won't tell and its only one tiny sip? I'll pay tax and give you a tip. Please just once and I promise I won't ask again. Tomorrow is my birthday...wouldn't you do a small exception for a birthday boy?" Giotto asked, quickly using his small trick of puppy eyes, looking at the bartender with the most pleading eyes.

The bartender still shook his head as he was drying some glasses with a towel. "You look like you can't even handle a cup of apple juice." He was going to continue, until he saw the sadness in Giotto's eyes. It was his birthday tomorrow too. The bartender slowly signed and picked a clean glass up.

"A drop." He muttered.

Meanwhile Jesse began to crack up. Not only because of the apple juice comment, but also on how Giotto was able to convince the guy. "Wow!"

Giotto quickly smiled ever so brightly at the bartender. His puppy eyes always worked with everyone, his dad being one of the few people who could break away from the charm with his own deadly glare. "Thank you!" Giotto cheered, waving his feet back and forth. He gave Jesse thumbs up and watched as the bartender filled a cup with the smallest serving of whiskey possible. Giotto glanced down at the amber colored liquid with curiosity. His dad always had these really pretty bottles filled with all kinds of adult drinks. This was one of those types. "I'm so excited...!" Giotto squealed. He picked up the glass and drank it all up in one gulp. Not like it was much anyways. He settled the glass down, tasting the bittersweet drink as it left a burning sensation down his throat. It took a few seconds...before Giotto's pupils dilated and his temperature began to rise in his cheeks.

The bartender couldn't help but walk away after that. He knew Giotto would be completely wasted after that one tiny drop even if it was drowned with soda. The last thing he needed was to get fired by some idiot.

"I'm not getting fired for this bulls***" be uttered, before sliding away to go inform Angus that he had some work to do in the next few minutes.

Meanwhile Jesse was grinning like an idiot. As soon as he saw Giotto's eyes Jesse began to crack up once more. This was going to be glorious.

"How does it feel...? Pfft..."

You know how there are happy drunks, sad drunks, angry drunks and so on? Well Giotto was more of the psychological and gentleman drunk due to his father's influence and education. He usually acted as normal as a kid should act...it appeared alcohol simply brought out the expected side of him. He slowly turned to Jesse, a smile spreading on his lips. "...I am feeling fantastic! I cannot believe that such alcoholic beverage would taste so bittersweet! The burning down my throat is much more than what I anticipated but it actually feels pleasurable despite being somewhat painful! I am close to be flabbergasted, but I don't think I mind at all!" Giotto said as he smiled sheepishly. He was drunk and he would have no memory of what will happen...but it was surely an unexpected sight. "I must thank the wonderful bartender for considering that tomorrow is my birthday to have allowed me to taste something that would have been out of my reach until the age of 21. That reminds me that tomorrow is my birthday party isn't it? Jesse would you like to be my dance partner for it? My father wouldn't question any of it since Sebastian was in charge of inviting everyone..." Giotto then went on and on and on and on...just talking...and never stopping.

Jesse instantly regretted ever wanting Giotto to get drunk. He thought Giotto would be a complete mess. But no. Giotto was himself 100000000x worse. Jesse had to put his hands to his ears to suppress the desire to kick Giotto in the balls.

"Jesus Christ you're never going to drink again." Never could Jesse imagine a Giotto more annoying. And he was a gentleman too. Jesse hated the prissy proper gentleman types. And there Giotto was. Talking and talking and talking and talking. After a few minutes Jesse just placed his hand on Giotto's mouth. "I wish I had some f****** chloroform to knock you the f*** out." Jesse usually said the worst things possible, but never actually meant it. Most of the time.

 

Giotto blinked as Jesse covered his mouth. "But it would take a whole minute for me to be knocked out through chloroform, plus, isn't that illegal and considered kidnapping?" Giotto muffled through Jesse's hand. He could keep talking forever and ever until he saw the hour on the clock and somewhat gasped. "Oh it appears I am somewhat late! I should get going! Hey Jesse, will you be coming home with me or shall I escort your home before I head back to my own abode? It's pretty late and you never know what terrible and scary things go bump in the night. Though you are fully capable of protecting yourself. Speaking of yourself I must remind you that tomorrow I will send Sebastian over to give you custom made costumes for my party as well as be your ride to it. Maybe next year I should invite all of Miliani's family. I'm sure they would love to attend a party once in a while! I hope you like masks, however. It is a masquerade and we will have to wear them all the time. Though you can totally find me even if I wear it, because of my hair and all. Speaking on my hair what's your favorite color mine is red..." Giotto went on to blabber, just talk over and around stuff, even as he walked with Jesse through the crowded club to the outside.

Jesse really wasn't having it. He wasn't handing Giotto drunk well at all. As he got on his bike, he turned around to tie a gag around Giotto's mouth using his old bandana he always carried around.

"Oh my f*******- just shut up!" As soon as the gag was on, and Giotto was well fastened on Jesse's back, Jesse began to speed right out of the alley and onto the streets. Never will be ever bring Giotto to drink ever again. Hopefully the hangover will make Giotto shut up the next day.