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It was abnormal for the base to be as tranquil as it was. There was no shouting match between Prosciutto or Ghiaccio. No back-and-forth between Formaggio and Melone. No cackling from Illuso. Just the soft sound of the TV.
Risotto had received several jobs from the Boss and assigned the team with jobs where their stand worked best. When looked through his file, Prosciutto glanced over at Pesci, frowning as he read through his own assignment. It appeared that he was assigned to work with someone other than Prosciutto. While Prosciutto was critical of Pesci’s word and actions at times, often earning him a light beating, Pesci preferred to work with him over the others. Prosciutto was just as rough as the others, but Prosciutto always uplifted him. The others did not.
He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but Prosciutto enjoyed working with Pesci. He has a particular way of doing things, and he wanted to shape the newbie into a real gangster. He didn’t have the confidence in the others that he would trust Pesci’s growth in their hands. With Pesci assigned to work with someone else, Prosciutto approached Risotto with an uncharacteristic request, to switch places with Melone, Pesci’s current partner. After finding out Melone was going to work with Pesci, Prosciutto tried to step, but Risotto had denied his request.
"Pesci has to learn to work with the others. You cannot accompany him on every mission, Prosciutto," Risotto explained. “Sorbet and Gelato. Illuso and Ghiaccio. Pesci and Melone. You and Formaggio. Those are the teams. It is non-negotiable. You know this.” Risotto ended their conversation at that.
Displeased, Prosciutto turned heel and trotted off towards Formaggio who was watching Prosciutto with amusement. The sooner they completed their assignment the better.
It had only taken Prosciutto and Formaggio three days to execute their target and complete their mission, earning them some pocket change in their eyes. Formaggio chatted Prosciutto up as they returned to their base, making them the first ones back. The rest of the team had yet to return. The silence alone told them that much. This left the two men to do as they pleased; there was only time to kill.
While the team was not a fan of low pay jobs, they would rather spend their time hunting down a target to at least have a rush of adrenaline flow through their veins instead of experiencing a dull, monotonous casual day like some normal civilian. However, Risotto wasn’t around to pass down any more jobs.
Since Prosciutto didn’t have Pesci to look after, he struggled to make use of his time. Prosciutto thought about looking through his list of contacts in his little leather pocket notebook to meet up with someone who could offer him another form of entertainment, but he decided against it. Meeting up and talking with civilians was exhausting on its own right. Until the rest return, he will let his hair down, grab a drink, smoke a cigarette, and relax.
Formaggio had planned to head out to a party nearby after receiving a message from one of his many ‘friends’-with benefits. Unsurprisingly, Formaggio had no qualms befriending fellow Passione members from different squads or civilians. He even befriended targets much to the team’s displeasure. Formaggio never hesitated to off them, but sometimes it was unsettling seeing Formaggio get chummy with a hostage, watching a glint of hope shine in their eye only for Formaggio to be the one to put an end to them.
As Formaggio made his way to the door, seeing Prosciutto’s dreary face as he watched tv while sipping a glass of scotch advised him to stay in and keep his buddy company. They weren’t best friends, no one on the team was or at least they wouldn’t admit it out loud, but he and Prosciutto got along well enough. They were two of the oldest members and have known each other much longer than the others did. Formaggio has become used to dodging Prosciutto’s uptight attitude and comments with ease and humor. It’s what he did whenever the went on missions together.
Prosciutto rustled through his pocket to take out a box of Marlboro, flicking the bottom corner until a cigarette slipped out and took the end between his lips. As he went to light it, Formaggio plopped down next to him, making Prosciutto and his hand unstable and nearly hit himself with the lighter. Formaggio ignored the Prosciutto’s glare, choosing to make himself comfortable by mimicking Prosciutto and spreading his legs so their knees touch, and he hung his hands over the couch. Formaggio turned his attention to whatever Prosciutto had been watching and disregarding the blond's eyes staring daggers into him.
“Why are you here?” Prosciutto questioned after a long drag of his cig, clearly annoyed. “I’m considering this my day off. Scram!” Prosciutto spat. He used his cigarette to point at Formaggio, close to burning him with the head of the cigarette. “I’ve already spent enough time with you.”
“Aw. Come on, man. Don’t be like that,” Formaggio held his hands up defensively. “I just wanted to keep you company. That’s pretty that nice of me,” Formaggio turned and flashed Prosciutto a mocking grin. Prosciutto frown deepened and the vein of on his forehead become more prominent. “There was a party I was going to crash, lots of sexy women, but I couldn’t leave my good friend alone.”
Staring Formaggio down, Prosciutto took another long drag of his cigarette and blew smoke directly in Formaggio’s face, smirk widening.
“No one asked you, Formaggio,” Prosciutto stared down his comrade. “And we’re not friends.”
“That was kind of hot,” Formaggio confessed, “you do that to everyone or am I the only one lucky?”
Prosciutto’s grit his teeth before rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the tv as Formaggio laughed to himself, finding Prosciutto’s reacting childish but entertaining. It was worth staying in with the uptight blond than go out.
The rest of the night was spent in comfortable silence, Prosciutto’s face had finally relaxed again, going back to its tired and weary state. Formaggio could make out the wrinkles on his face when he snuck glances at the blond. Prosciutto almost always had a scowl on his face, so one wouldn’t notice the obvious aging the stress of this job was causing him.
‘Poor guy,’ Formaggio thought. ‘Well, I guess that’s what happens when you put too much on your plate.’
“What?” Formaggio snapped out of his thoughts by Prosciutto’s sharp voice after catching the ginger looking at him AGAIN. Prosciutto is an assassin; he knows when he’s being watched and observed. “What do you want? I can feel your eyes on me. Why do you keep looking at me?” Prosciutto demanded.
“AH. You’re just too pretty, Prosciutto. Can you blame me?” Formaggio joked to save himself, but it proved to annoy Prosciutto more and watched as Prosciutto pale face turn into a shade of red. Joking around with Prosciutto when he was like this was like poking a sleeping bear. Formaggio shot his hands up defensively.
“I’m kidding. Damn. It’s just that. . . you look old, man.” He said honestly. Prosciutto’s blinked twice, surprised, but Formaggio’s idiotic observation only caused a vein appeared on Prosciutto’s forehead again, but noticeably he had calmed down.
“Because I am old, you moron,” Prosciutto gritted his teeth out of annoyance, making his overbite more noticeable.
“Nah,” Formaggio brushed off, “it’s ‘cause you’re so uptight,” Formaggio remarked. Prosciutto blinked at him, anger dissipating too tired to get any angrier. “We’re like the same age, but even I don’t have gray hairs.” Formaggio reached over and gently tugged on the whitish strands mixed in with his blond hair.
Prosciutto gripped Formaggio’s wrist and pushed it away.
“Look, I’m just looking to relax.” Prosciutto thrust Formaggio’s arms away and rubbed his temple, mumbling to himself. “It’s a stressful job, Formaggio. What do you expect?” Prosciutto said unexpectedly. “But I rather do this than waste my life like those pathetic morons who hang out in the club or living a dull life with a wife and kids.”
“Yeah, but you can’t let it eat away at you. You’re letting it kill your spirit, man.” Formaggio argued. They had a short time on earth before they kick the bucket, he’d be damned to spend his moments stressing over things like paperwork and shit. He was going kill and live. That’s how it should be for them. “This job has you being too uptight. Think about when you were young and carefree.” Formaggio gave him a friendly pat, which Prosciutto surprisingly accepted.
“What are you talking about? I’ve always been like this.”
“. . . Seriously?” Formaggio gave him a deadpan look. Prosciutto nodded.
“I don’t like to half-ass anything, Formaggio.”
“Who said anything about half-assing things. All I said is that you need to relax and not let things get to you,” Formaggio argued. People always saw him as incompetent at his job because of what he chose to prioritize, but he just knew what was more important.
“If we relaxed, we’ll get killed.” They stared at each other intently, feeling the heaviness in Prosciutto’s words. Formaggio knew he was right; he knew and accepted that but hearing it come out from Prosciutto’s mouth felt different.
“If you’re worried, don’t be, man,” Formaggio broke the silence and moved closer, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “We’re tough, nothing happening to us,” Formaggio reassured and grabbed Prosciutto’s head to press their foreheads together, mimicking Prosciutto’s own habit. Though they knew it was a lie, it was not something they needed to confront anytime soon.
Prosciutto stared straight into Formaggio’s emerald eyes filled, one’s filled with life and confidence. Why was this man’s energy so contagious, Prosciutto wondered to himself, unable to fight back the smile on his face.
“You’re a pain in the ass, Formaggio,” Prosciutto pulled back, chuckling. “I suppose you have a point.”
“Course I do.” Formaggio wrapped his arm around Prosciutto’s shoulder and pulled him close. “If you ever need someone to uplift you, I’m your man.” Whether Formaggio was serious or not didn’t matter, Prosciutto felt a strange sense of relief.
The two men spent the rest of their day drinking, watching some films, and smoking a couple of cigarettes. Formaggio wouldn’t stop talking a majority of the time, but at least it helped time fly by. As the sun began to set, both men felt their eyes grow heavy until falling asleep on the couch.
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The sound of familiar voices slowly dragged Prosciutto from sleep, the blond’s eyes fluttered open when he heard the click of a camera shutter.
“We’re back!” Illuso announced shaving his camera in their faces. Formaggio’s and Prosciutto's eyes jerked open and stood upright. Prosciutto felt a trail of drying drool on his chin, wiping it immediately. Formaggio relaxed and slumped back on the couch.
“Aw. Look at how cute you both look,” Illuso sneered, showing the men a picture of Prosciutto sound sleep on Formaggio’s shoulder with Formaggio’s head rested on blond’s.
“Bastard. . .” Prosciutto said through gritted teeth, preparing to straggle Illuso who cackled as he ran away into his Mirror World.
“Shut the fuck up, Illuso, or else the neighbors are going to complain again,” Ghiaccio yelled as Illuso disappeared, and then he turned his attention to Formaggio and Prosciutto.
“What the hell is up with you two?” Ghiaccio raised a brow. “You a couple now or something?” Prosciutto cleared his throat, taking his time to properly wake up.
“No. Just tired.”
“Uh-huh,” Ghiaccio didn’t believe him but left it alone. Ghiaccio had left to get cleaned up, mentioning he’d be back to join the blond and ginger after a shower. “I don’t want to come back to you banging on the couch,” Ghiaccio mocked with a grin.
Once again alone, the air was tense and awkward before Formaggio started laughing loudly at what just occurred.
“Y-you should have seen your face,” Formaggio laughed, wiping a tear away. “Shit man, it was hilarious!’ Formaggio burst out laughing harder. Prosciutto signed before succumbing to his own hearty laugh. Laughter filled the room until it was out of their system.
Not much was said while they waited for Ghiaccio to return, choosing to give their attention to the tv, but now Prosciutto was the one glancing at Formaggio, who’s attention was fully on the tv.
“Like what you see?” Formaggio teased with a smirk, turning to catch Prosciutto in the act. Prosciutto rolled his eyes but didn’t hide his smirk.
“Thanks for spending time with me,” Prosciutto spoke truthfully, showing a rare side of the blond. Formaggio eyes widened and mouth gaped in surprise, quickly replaced with an appreciative grin.
“No problem, man.” Formaggio went quiet, turning his attention back to the tv. But he couldn’t stop himself from saying one last thing. “You know, you’re kinda uptight and annoying sometimes, but I wouldn’t change a thing about you,” Formaggio confessed quickly, turning further to hide the pink tint on his cheeks.
For the first time, Prosciutto couldn’t find the right words, now hiding the pink tint on his own cheeks (though his ears gave him away).
Not too long after, Ghiaccio and finally Illuso made themselves comfortable alongside Prosciutto and Formaggio, leaving the two men to contemplate some unfamiliar feelings.