Chapter Text
You unblocked this contact.
Charles:
What have you done.
Mi Bello:
Me?
I thought you had me blocked?
And I’ve done nothing.
Charles:
I know its you.
When is it not you.
Mi Bello:
I don’t even know what you’re on about so no.
I have not done anything.
Charles:
Stop lying to me
What.
Have you done.
With my kids.
Mi Bello:
I haven’t done shit with your kids.
I have my own to worry about, you know?
Charles:
Bullshit
One of them has been kidnapped and the other has stopped responding after he came in contact with one of your “straight line” fucks.
Mi Bello:
Mind your language now would you?
I have done nothing with neither of them.
I cannot always control what the others do or say but I can tell you that I haven’t seen a single of your men.
And even if I did what brain dead part of you just assumes I’d tell you?
We were nothing and we still are nothing.
So take your shitty attitude and shove it up someone else’s ass.
Mi Bello:
Charles?
Mi Bello:
Oh great so you get me annoyed and fuck off.
Obviously.
Should’ve expected that honestly.
You changed Mi Bello’s name to Bitch.
—
Their apartment had never felt particularly small before.
It did now.
Gabriel had been pacing for nearly ten minutes.
Back and forth.
Window.
Front Door.
Sofa.
Back again.
Every few seconds his phone lit up as he checked the same conversation he'd already read several times.
Liam had said he'd seen Gabriele get taken.
That was all.
Not where.
Not by who.
Not whether he'd been hurt.
Just that he'd seen it happen.
Gabriel had no idea whether to be furious, terrified, or both.
Mostly both.
The sound of keys finally reached him.
He stopped.
His head snapped toward the door.
Finally.
The door opened.
Gabriel moved immediately.
He was already reaching for Liam's collar before the door had properly swung shut–
And then stopped.
Because Liam wasn't alone.
A shorter man stood just behind him.
Dark hair.
Pale face.
Familiar brown eyes that still held his gaze like the first time he saw the man.
Gabriel stared.
The Frenchman stared back.
Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding him.
Gabriel slowly lowered his hand.
Liam looked between them.
“Gabi‐”
Gabriel grabbed Liam by the sleeve.
“Kitchen. Now.”
“What?”
“Now.”
He dragged him away before Liam could protest.
The moment they were out of Isack's earshot, Gabriel rounded on him.
“Why is the cute French guy here?”
Liam went red.
“Don't call him that.”
“You're avoiding the question.”
“I'm not–”
“Why is he here?”
“Because–”
“Did you bring him home because you like him?”
“No!”
The answer came so quickly Gabriel almost laughed.
Liam looked horrified.
“I am not gay.”
“I didn't say you were.”
“You implied it!”
“I asked why you brought a cute guy home!”
“He's a person!”
“That's your defence?”
“I don't know!”
Liam threw his hands up.
“I don't know!”
Gabriel blinked.
That shut him up for a second.
Liam dragged both hands down his face.
“I was tailing them.”
Gabriel's expression changed.
“Them?”
“Isack and Gabriele.”
“You were still following them?”
“Yes, but listen–”
“You were stalking my friend again?”
“You heard Nico! What did you want me to do!”
“You could have stopped!”
“I couldn't exactly stop after you brought up how that could be Doriane’s old friend! And now because of that I just watched Minì get taken!”
Gabriel froze.
Liam's voice had dropped.
“He was there. In an alley. Some guy took him.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Gabriel quietly asked,
“And Isack?”
“He saw it entirely I think.”
Liam looked toward the other room.
“He dragged me back there because he wanted to check.”
Gabriel's anger softened slightly.
“He was that scared?”
“He looked like he was about to cry.”
That hurt more than Gabriel expected.
Liam exhaled.
“And I didn't know what to do, okay?”
He started talking faster.
“Because if he's a civilian, then leaving him alone after watching someone get kidnapped is just fucking asshole-ish. But if he works for the Court or the Orbit or something, then he's potentially useful leverage, and I know how that sounds, and that makes me an asshole anyway, and then there's the possibility that he's Doriane's Isack and–”
Gabriel stared at him.
Liam stopped.
“...Yeah.”
“Alright.”
“I know.”
“That's a lot.”
“I know.”
“And you still brought him here.”
“I didn't exactly have a better option!”
Gabriel sighed.
For once, he didn't have a sarcastic response ready.
He glanced toward the doorway.
“Okay.”
Liam looked at him.
“Okay?”
“I'm going to talk to him.”
“Why?”
“Because he's terrified, and you're terrible at comfort.”
“I am not–”
“You are.”
Gabriel left before Liam could argue.
He stepped back into the living room.
Isack was sitting exactly where Liam had left him.
He looked up immediately.
Gabriel tried to smile.
It probably wasn't very convincing.
“Hey.”
“Gabriel?”
“Yeah.”
Isack's shoulders dropped slightly.
“I am sorry.”
Gabriel blinked.
“For what?”
“I lost him.”
His voice was quiet.
“I should not have left.”
Oh.
Gabriel sat down beside him.
“You didn't lose him.”
“I did. He told me to go and I left.”
“You were told to run.”
“But Gabriele–”
“Was trying to get you away from the guy who took him.”
Isack looked down at his hands.
“I should have stayed.”
Gabriel had absolutely no idea what to say to that.
He was good at a lot of things.
He could shoot.
He could fight.
He could lie convincingly.
He could pick locks.
He could talk his way out of trouble.
Talking to terrified French guys his age was apparently not one of them.
“Look,” Gabriel began carefully.
Isack looked at him.
Gabriel's brain supplied absolutely nothing useful.
“Um.”
Great start.
“You didn't do anything wrong.”
Isack's eyes remained fixed on him.
Gabriel swallowed.
“And we'll find him.”
He wasn't sure if that was a promise he was allowed to make.
He made it anyway.
“I'll help.”
Isack stared at him for another moment.
Then he nodded.
“Thank you.”
Gabriel smiled weakly.
“Yeah.”
A pause.
Then, from the kitchen:
“Gabi?”
Gabriel looked over.
Liam was standing in the doorway.
His expression had changed.
Less embarrassed.
More worried.
Gabriel sighed.
“Your turn.”
Liam frowned.
“My turn for what?”
“To talk to the terrified French guy you dragged home.”
“I–”
“Here. Now.”
Liam looked at Isack.
Isack looked back.
Liam's face immediately went red again.
Gabriel covered his mouth.
He was absolutely not laughing.
This was serious.
Very serious.
He was also this close to losing his head but that was besides the point.
He'd wait until later.
—
Unpaid Daycare Service
Bortoleto:
Liam is so gay
Antonelli:
What?
Bearman:
That much was obvious
Hulkenberg:
Excuse me?
Lawson:
AM NOT.
Bortoleto:
He’s lying
He’s extremely gay
Hulkenberg:
Lawson is back at your place I hope?
Is he injured or anything of the sorts?
Bortoleto:
Did you not hear me?
Hes gay
Not injured
Hulkenberg:
Considering the last message we got from him was along the lines of
‘I watched someone get kidnapped’
It is safe to assume something may have happened to him as well
Bortoleto:
Well nothing did
So anyways
Also wait who added Fred in?
Vesti:
Kimi
So all of you can berate me for telling Dori as well
Bearman:
Back on topic??
Why is Liam gay?
Lawson:
IM NOT GAY
Antonelli:
Stage 1
Denial
Lawson:
I will rip out your hair.
Bortoleto:
Long story short, he brought Hadjar into our apartment
Antonelli:
Wait hadjar hadjar??
Bearman:
Possibly Doriane’s Hadjar????
Hulkenberg:
You did what.
Bortoleto:
Yup
Very sweet guy let me tell you
Like extremely nice
Would apologize to a wall
Lawson:
Gabi.
Bortoleto:
Ok fine
So Isack was there when Gabri got kidnapped
And he saw it
And since Liam was tailing the two
Isack recognized Liam
So he dragged Liam over to help
Thus Liam saying he may have seen Gabriele get kidnapped
Then Liam had a panic and brought the almost in tears french guy home
Bortoleto:
Hello?
Bearman:
Yeah no sorry just
Hulkenberg:
Processing.
Antonelli:
That word
Vesti:
How does this relate to him being gay?
Bortoleto:
Said french guy held onto his arm when he was getting up and asked him to sit with him for a bit longer
Liam went as red as a Ferrari
Bearman:
Wait now I need to see the guy
Because Liam almost fought him over the good boy comment no?
Antonelli:
Oh yes!!
Please
Please
Please
Gabiii 🥺
Vesti:
How come he isn’t opposing anything right now?
Bortoleto:
Isack woke up and started looking for his phone
Which Liam slipped away earlier
Hulkenberg:
Why can I never leave you all alone??
We dont know who that guy may be and you’re taking away his contacts
Bortoleto:
Thats exactly Liam’s reasoning
If hes a civvi then thats his bad
If he isnt
Well then
Hulkenberg:
Its stupid
Because if he isn’t then that means there are people out there.
Looking for him.
And can I remind you that our boss won’t be too pleased if we start a fight with another group–god forbid the Court.
Bortoleto:
…
Good point
Bearman:
Counter arguement
He’s leverage!
Antonelli:
Counter counter arguement what if he isnt important
Bearman:
Counter counter counter arguement what if he is?
Vesti:
This is pointless
Antonelli:
Hey Fred
Question
While the Hadjar guy is still at their place…
Vesti:
Its a stupid idea
But I’ll ask.