Archive of Our Own

"It's the fourteenth of June, life has been going steadily the past few days in daivan contrary to-" a stretched hand moved quietly to turn off the small device.

The room was lit through a dim light, serenely, Bernardo sat there eyeing the many papers orderly scattered all over his desk.

Being the second-in-command of the organisation for over ten years his vision was used to being weary however very working. 

Ten years.

Standing from his seat unveiled the surpassed pain which his infirm body was mantling. Regardless, Bernardo made his way to the door.

Ten years in the mafia.

Upon seeing their superior, the two subordinates situated by his office's door hurried to his side. All set for any coming order.

Ten years climbing in the ranks.

Bernardo only inertly rose a hand to stop his subordinates in their tracks and dismiss them to their original spots. His steps not letting to spare a second before taking off on their own.

The mafia was the furthest from what he once planned for his future. Neither threatened nor compelled into joining, it became Bernardo's sole home. It was hardly the dreadful place and having been of authentic significance as well as holding a pivotal duty to attend to, it was easier for Bernardo to pass months and years there.

The sound of the elevator's arrival took his mind off his past, after leaving the army, and to the bugging reality of having to go out for work.

It wasn't a common occurrence as Bernardo was in charge of the economical and political behind the scenes matters, even so, there would still come these sort of irksome days. 

By the time, Bernardo reached the first floor and out of the main gate, his eyes scanned the area, grateful for the absence of his private chauffeur, he went on walking.

Having been imprisoned in the same circadian routine, it couldn't be helped that seeking another change of scenery would be an essential pressing desire.

Bernardo began striding and mingling through the many crowds of people outside. It was the morning of a usual weekday. His feet marched in the direction of a close train station which turned to be mere seven minutes from the headquarters.

Not having his face as known as the other capos permitted the long haired man to have some freedom without the constant worry of being a target for their enemies. 

And even if it somehow happened, and if today became his last, it wouldn't be a troubling hassle.

There were many outstanding others in the famiglia aside from him. With some little training, they would be perfect as his replacement and probably even more devoted to the Omertà.

And this life of his, he wasn't really keen on keeping.

Undoubtedly, He would regret. Bernardo hadn't yet found the meaning of his life nor even got close to it. His life was just going on uninteresting.

"....Life goes on, uninteresting yet unfulfilling"

Familiar words echoed in the back of Bernardo's mind, his steps halted slightly after managing to take him to the station and right before the opening gates of the awaiting train.

Having taken his first steps in. Those words..He was never told them. Not a memory he could remember.

As soon as Bernardo took a seat, his green orbs got lost in the flocks of passengers going in, as well.

"Life...unfulfilling.." His lips repeated, unconsciously, in a murmur.

The alerting ringing of the train doors about to shut resonated in the closed space. Everyone was sitting in their respective places except for a single youth who suddenly rushed in.

A blink escaped Bernardo over what just occurred and his eyes didn't spare any bits of time following the mysterious blonde. 

Although he was no sort of delusional dreamy man, the moment Bernardo's sight fully took in the latecomer appearance, "angel.." mindlessly slipped his lips.

No, not only his lips. Bernardo could have sworn the other one sitting a few seats away from him was, unmistakably, an otherworldly creature.

The chanting golden adorned alluringly both of his hair and pair of eyes. His sterling face proved to be no older than twenty-five. And though his messy yellow shirt and black pants lacked any grace in them, it all made the sight the more captivating. 

His eyes lost on the young man the entire time, the Mafia commander wasn't aware of the passing minutes until the announcement of reaching his destination came to be.

Forced to look away and get on the move, Bernardo let out a sigh and with heavy steps started to get off the train.

. . .

With eyes suddenly shot open, the sight of the bedroom welcomed Bernardo's gaze bringing his conscience back to reality.

Lying in bed for a few minutes. The dream was slowly fading from his mind. Or maybe it did already. Just like a far memory in his head.

Lest wasting any more, Bernardo rose to go on with his morning routine before heading instantly to his office.

Once he was seated there, countless ringing reverberated in the room. Going swiftly from one telephone to the other Bernardo's hands were moving systematically, not missing a single call.

Usually, the hours would go by like this. Save for the times he would get a quick meal or a coffee break. Bernardo Would be confined in that space for the whole day.

A slight pain overtook his head.

The ache disappeared as soon as it happened however Bernardo let go of all the devices spread before him and let his eyes rest for a short while.

Once he allowed them the vision again, the blonde from the past day crossed his mind.

Bernardo gazed at his subordinate who just entered the room. "Take care of the calls here until my return. I will not be late." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Bernardo stood and left the room. Making his way out of the building, he kept sturdy footsteps and made sure to be out of anyone's sight.

It was for work. He had to go out to re-check things from the other day. There was surely no chance of meeting that blonde ever again. Even if he took the same route, the same time, it just wouldn't work this mystically. 

The station finally came to his sight. Bernardo's eyes meticulously explored through the mobs before giving up and entering.

Immediately after sitting, his eyes went on scanning the people who were still boarding the train.

Not a single familiar face came in view. The disappointment was gradually building up in Bernardo's gut. Although he insisted on claiming that stranger wasn't the reason for what he was currently wasting his time doing, yet Bernardo kept on patiently staring, awaiting.

The doors were about to close, almost nobody was outside anymore. The train started to shut entirely leaving Bernardo's inner hopes shredded.

It was the distasteful expectation.

Bernardo turned his sight to pass the time by merely looking out of the window on his right side, The reflection on it caused his eyes agape before instantly turning back to the other one sitting exactly across from him.

He was there. He had been from the start. It was only Bernardo's mistake which made him fail to notice.

A relieved smile crept to his lips as his stare was fixed fondly on the blonde. It was as if the mere existence of that stranger put his whole being at ease.

Meanwhile, the youngster continued glancing down. Not at all bothered by the ongoing stare of Bernardo, just focused on passing time doing absolutely nothing. As if Bernardo's existence wasn't known to him in the first place.

The re-opening and closing of the doors reminded Bernardo of how far they had gone. Passengers went in and out. Nevertheless, the blonde kept still in his place not showing any indications of taking off anytime soon.

At first Bernardo planned to just wait for the stranger's time to leave in order to do the same and follow him to start some sort of a conversation, however it was turning to be an unachievable case.

Lest not knowing his way back or worse, getting into any of GD's secret turfs, Bernardo decided not to stay any longer and leave by himself.

His gaze lingered one last time on the blonde before making his way to the door.

The rest of his day went on, uneventfully. 

. . .

Owing to the unbarred window, the sunrays proceeded to seep through.

His body was used to pulling all nighters for many following days. Yet this time sleep willed its way in Bernardo's mind.

Hazy visions were intruding, causing his eyelids to flicker open to his well-known surroundings.

It was as soundless as it had always been. Everything was well in their respective orders. Coffee, abandoned in its place, had gone cold. 

And silence overtaking the place.

Letting out a hushed grumble. "Today too." He whispered to the empty office.

As if it had become an everyday pattern recently adapted and loved by him, Bernardo mirrored the actions of the past two days.

Though, This time with the determination that he would surely gather all courage and strike a conversation with the blonde. He wouldn't hesitate or leave it for inutile hopes anymore.

Eerily similar to before, the streets had almost the very same people everyday. Perhaps it was the work of going out at the same time yesterday and the day before.

But wasn't today much earlier in comparison?

Instead of sparing either time or any bits of energy pondering over something this trivial, Bernardo hurried to his destination entirely avoiding any of his other surroundings.

The train was there awaiting in its normal location however looking semi full due to different schedules from the past days. Bernardo made his way in but couldn't occupy his usual seat.

It took him a few seconds before finding another one closer to where the blonde was used to sitting.

With the passing of another minute, the train began to depart.

Alarm started to crawl inside of Bernardo. No matter where he looked, there were no blondes in sight, at all. His eyes kept hastily going back and forth however each time was but in vain.

Even though this outcome was to be expected, it still carried as much dejection along.

He could sit still here and wait. After all, Bernardo was only one hour earlier than before. Undoubtedly, the blonde would enter any given minute. It was only a matter of time. 

After giving in to such thoughts, Bernardo sighed quietly before letting his sight take in the full view around him.

It was quiet and calming. The slightest of voices couldn't be heard anywhere. Everyone was ever only focused on the windows by their side.

Bernardo was slightly confused.

Daivan had been known for breathtaking sceneries mostly everywhere, it wasn't surprising for someone to get lost in them. On the very contrary, it was pretty common.

However since boarding and for the past thirty minutes, they had been only going through a dark tunnel.

The train came to a halt before gradually stopping. Its doors began opening in the same systemic manner in order to allow the single passenger outside, in.

Bernardo's eyes turned to them, right away. He was met with the one he had been long waiting for. 

His mind instantly disregarded everything as Bernardo's legs spared no second before walking to the stranger's side who was still by the train's door, looking for some free seat where he could sit.

Which made him miss the presence coming to join him.

"Pardon." Bernardo spoke in a low murmur yet made sure the one across from him had heard well and clear.

It wasn't the best of a start and undoubtedly not a one that Bernardo was aiming for. 

The boy's eyes blacked out as soon as the words reached him before going back to their golden while appalled features enveloped his face, "Leave," He said quietly in a direct threatening way. Irritation began creeping to his face as well and twisting the blonde's expression into a hideous one. "Never ride this train again. Leave." His voice kept rising with every word.

Before Bernardo could get the time to register the scene before him, endless murmuring from behind the two started to echo through the entire train.

None of the other passengers were looking at them, their eyes only glued outside of the window.

It was dark. There was absolutely nothing. The train had been in the same place since the blonde's arrival from over five minutes ago yet their eyes were staring so closely so deeply through darkness.

And even though, their lips kept on parting then mingling once again, there were no voices coming out. They weren't whispering but only constantly moving silent lips.

Yet, the murmurs around Bernardo..

Subconsciously, Bernardo's feet retreated once before freezing in their place. He was facing the still passengers. On top of it, the clench of his heart and the slowing of his own breathing were making it all the worse.

It was getting darker in there.

No one was moving.

The windows were devoid of any of the passengers' reflections.

A stretched hand gently got a hold of Bernardo's arm before pushing his entire body out of the train and causing him to fall on the subway station.

" Never again. "

The doors instantly closed as the train went on its way through the dark tunnel and completely out of Bernardo's sight.

Left there in the empty station on his own, Bernardo's steady breaths and heartbeats started to revert back to normal. Indicating well how their deterioration was caused by the eerie train. 

Not before the passing of a couple of minutes that Bernardo stood once again and began with heavy steps making his way to the nearest train office which was, luckily, close by.

Once in there, Bernardo started reciting the events of the past days in as much detail as he can manage, in order to get any sort of answers or leads.

"Sir, the station you are talking about has been out of service for the past seven decades. There have been no trains going in there."

"Moreover, fourteenth wasn't three days ago, today is the fourteenth of June."

. . . . . . . . . . .

Rustling papers echoed in the hallway. 

Being the only one presented there, his hand kept going hastily through the pages one by one as his eyes glanced carefully at each picture there.

In the death records

. . . . . . . . .

Walking quietly through the gravestones passing them one after another while taking detours every now and then.

As if a carefully memorized path was the desired destination, the footsteps made their way in no time to a particular grave before stopping entirely.

His gaze lingered momentarily on the craved name before kneeling softly to place the white lilies. 

"We have met once again, Gian"