Chapter Text
Deuce hadn't expected his mother's sudden illness. One moment she was perfectly healthy, and the next, she was dying before his eyes. They did everything they could to ensure her recovery, but the pills were too expensive, and her boss wasn't happy about the time she was wasting.
The whole situation only intensified the anger and sadness he felt over his father's death. So, seeking comfort and validation, he told his other delinquent friends about the situation and how he would have to give up all criminal behavior to get a job.
Whether out of empathy or malice (Deuce couldn't really ask), one of the oldest members of the group decided to introduce Deuce to a cousin known for his generosity. And for being part of one of the most dangerous gangs in the entire Queedom of Roses, as Deuce later discovered.
He knew being part of a gang was dangerous, but he desperately needed money to help his ailing mother. So when he was offered a position with The Southern Thorns, promising a lucrative amount of cash and adrenaline, he accepted without hesitation. After all, he was already a delinquent, so who cared if he sank deeper?
The cousin's name was Jonas Napier, and he was simply a recruiter and a member of the gang's fourth division (dedicated to distributing certain products). However, while he wasn't the most important figure in the gang, the division's vice-commander, Shiro Irusta, certainly was. Shiro was responsible for compiling a list of new members introduced to the gang through his division and then passing it on to the third division (responsible for gathering information on everything related to the gang).
Deuce was guided by Napier for the trial organized by the third division for new recruits and, thanks to his natural talent, magic, strength and agility, he easily dominated the rest of the amateurs and even five members of the division itself, becoming the favorite of the trial and being assigned to the second division (the one in charge of collecting debts and attacking any rival) when he stated that he preferred field work to paperwork.
The Second Division was under the command of Twain Bramate, whose vice was his younger brother, Ness. Both brothers were taller than Deuce, with bleached mohawk hair and hazel eyes. Deuce received training from Ness for a full month before he could be called up, but the reward of that month was certainly worth it. The month he received his first paycheck, he was able to pay for his mother's treatment. By the time he turned 15, his mother was almost fully recovered, so he finally told him how he had been earning so much money.
The night after his birthday, he came home to find his mother on the phone with his grandmother, crying and telling her how she had ruined her own son's life.
"I don't know what to do, Mom," she said. "If only I hadn't gotten sick, he could still be a happy child, but now he's in a gang, and I'm afraid he's in constant danger."
Deuce pretended not to hear the call, but he spent the rest of the night crying, thinking about how he'd made his mother cry and stolen her smile. Luckily, his grades were excellent, thanks to some gang members who helped him deal with the teachers, who decided it was best to let him go.
Unfortunately, when he decided to leave for his mother's sake, he discovered that leaving a gang was even more dangerous than being a member...
~♠~
~♥~
Ace Trappola was born into a long line of professional thieves and con artists, disguised as circus performers: The Amazing Trappolas. So, of course, he grew up with an arsenal of lethal and illegal tricks that proved very useful in acquiring jewels and money.
From a young age, he was taught to deceive people, to manipulate his body as needed for theft, to use magic to obtain the shiny objects he desired, to speak and act in ways that would make him either loved or hated, and many other things instilled in him as family traditions.
He deeply admired his older brother, Jack, even more than his father. Jack was a student at the Night Raven School, which made him one of the best magicians in the entire Trappola family. His unique magic allowed him to create powerful illusions, perfect for a circus act or for creating a distraction during a bank robbery.
It was a surprise when Ace developed magic years earlier than the family expected, simply due to his stubborn desire to be as good as his brother. It was an even greater surprise when his unique magic turned out to be the ability to copy another person's appearance and unique magic.
Ace couldn't have been a happier child, allowed to be as mischievous as he liked, and with the development of his unique magic, he quickly became a key player in the family's grand schemes and intrigues. But not everything could be as good as he wished.
Unfortunately, he discovered that his heart was softer than his family's...
From a young age, Ace had faced skepticism from his family. While his words were as sharp as his mother's knives, his actions and personality spoke volumes. Things like comforting children at the circus, being far less intelligent or more childish than Jack, crying at his family's words, or even trying to intervene in punishments he considered excessive made him the occasional target of ridicule from the other branches of the Trappola family and a source of shame for his parents.
In comparison, Jack was the golden boy of the family, thanks to his unique magic and intelligence, and he was also the first Trappola in decades to attend such a prestigious academy as NRC. It wasn't hard to see the favoritism shown to his brother and the constant judgment directed at him.
The breaking point came after a major jewelry heist at a gala full of wealthy people, where a minor distraction with a woman almost ruined the plan. Ace could still see the grotesque images Jack had forced him to watch on his father's orders as punishment for his lack of focus.
From that day on, Ace had discovered that stealing and scamming didn't make him as happy as cherries or cute animals, so he quite easily decided that he no longer wanted to be part of the show. However, at the first small complaint about how boring the same routine had become, his brother made sure to crush any hope Ace had.
"We're The Amazing Trappola Ace, who've been in this business forever, and we should be proud of that," he said. "Don't tarnish the name and tradition just because of a few slow days. We don't want the rest of us hearing you complaining and starting to rearrange those ideas, do we?"
Ace grinned and teased his brother for treating him like a child, saying he just wanted a little more action, but understood that planning was important. His brother smiled back and stroked his hair before leading him to his room, wishing him a good night's sleep, but making sure to lock the door to his large bedroom.
As he sobbed, Ace could only think that one way or another he had to get out of the Trappola family...
~♥~