Chapter 117: Leading Counsel?

Next Day,

"So, are we just gonna wait here forever, or what?" Jake asked, pulling back the curtains to reveal a sea of people outside the family's residence as he glanced over at Ricky, who was casually playing cards.

"Of course not, but I need a lead council and Lucky says he has a guy so I'm waiting here for him-"

"Aye, Boss, there's a guy here claiming he was sent by Lucky to see you!" Marino, the ordinary mobster on guard duty, called up, eyeing the man who smiled back at him.

"And would you look at that, he's here," Ricky chuckled, standing up. Jake sighed but didn't argue, handing him his cards.

"Stand in for me while I hire my leading counsel." Ricky laughed, walking out the door and down the stairs to a surprising sight. 

"Ricky Luciano, I presume? I'm Thurgood Marshall, and it's a pleasure to meet you." Marshall smiled, Ricky a little surprised since he assumed the person Lucky was sending would be an Italian attorney.

"You can call me Thurgood or Marshall or-"

"Honestly, I think it would do you wonders if you referred to yourself as Marshall," Ricky said, uncaring at who it was that Lucky sent while patting his shoulder as he motioned toward the living room.

"So, first things first, can you practice law in Texas?" Ricky asked, and Marshall vigorously nodded, pulling out a briefcase.

"Over the last three years, after graduating from Howard at the top of my class, I've been passing the bar in every state. Texas happens to be one of them." Marshall handed Ricky his proof, and Ricky, impressed but in a hurry, gave a quick nod of approval.

"Well, Marshall, let's get down to it, shall we? Why should I hire you?" Ricky asked, his gaze steady as he watched Marshall nod and look directly into his eyes.

"Because no other lawyer would put their life on the line to win this case for you like I would." Marshall said, his tone serious as his words didn't trigger Ricky's lie detection, and he nodded in response.

"I know I'm young, but like you, I want to make a name for myself and I want it to come out swinging." Marshall pitched himself, not the case, watching Ricky raise an eyebrow in intrigue.

"Ricky-"

"Call me Slick, only those close to me call me Ricky and the only thing that is close about us is the distance." Ricky yawned, reaching over and grabbing a cigar before clipping it.

"Then, if you would excuse me, Slick, I know how bad you want this, but don't you want someone representing you who wants it just as bad? Someone who would break into a residence to pitch himself?" Marshall said, his words filled with utmost sincerity, catching Ricky off guard.

"Wow, that's a good pitch-wait, what do you mean break-"

"Like I was saying, Gino, this case is huge, and I know you owe me, but I want you to know-who is this?" Lucky guided his old friend Gino into the living room, only to find Ricky sitting with Marshall.

"What do you mean, Pops? Isn't this the guy you were going to bring in?" Ricky asked, side-eyeing not Marshall, but Johnny, who went pale.

"No, I called up my buddy Gino Giovanni. I don't know who this cat is," Lucky said, pointing at Marshall, also side-eyeing Marino.

"Man, I guess I really should've vetted him more before letting him in," Ricky muttered, noticing Marino's sweating face. He quickly covered for him as Lucky squinted at the man.

"Uh-huh." Lucky could see right through it but wasn't about to undermine his son in front of these people as he kept his thoughts to himself, maintaining a quiet composure.

"Marshall." Ricky suddenly turned to Marshall with a smile, causing the latter to cough nervously.

"Yeah?" Marshall asked, sweating bullets, while Lucky calmly pulled out his pistol.

"Who are you?" Ricky tilted his head at Marshall, who laughed awkwardly, but Lucky had already drawn his gun, his eyes locked on the man.

Click

"You shouldn't laugh, you're wasting the ten words you have left before I pull this trigger," Lucky said seriously, making it clear he was ready to kill Marshall.

"Answer me boy, who are you?" Lucky raised his gaze, forcing a shudder out of Marshall who shook in place.

"Nobody but a poor and helpless black man," Marshall spoke in seven words, his voice steady as Ricky raised an eyebrow but Lucky felt no symphony.

Danielle, his granddaughter, was upstairs taking her nap and although Ricky was here the question remained in his head.

What if he wasn't?

"Can I have an extension-"

BANG

Marshall had exceeded his word limit, and before anyone could react, Lucky pulled the trigger. 

The bullet flew, but it bounced off Ricky's barrier, harmlessly deflecting as the tension in the room thickened.

"Let's hear him out, I mean, the guy walked into the tiger's den, after all," Ricky laughed, his tone light but the threat in his eyes clear as Marshall had better speak fast if he wanted to survive.

HUFF

HUFF

Marshall's knees gave out, collapsing onto the ground as Lucky kept his gun pointed at him, unwavering, despite the barrier now circling around him.

"E-Everything I said to you before is true, Slick! I just left out the part where your father didn't hire me but the part where was here to be your lead counsel is true!" Marshall's words caught in his throat, but he persevered, yelling with all his might as his entire body shook violently in fear.

"Such a way with the truth," Ricky laughed, knowing the reason the gun hadn't gone off was because Marino had spoken the truth for him first, allowing Marshall to proceed without mentioning it.

"I get where you're coming from, Slick I do, I see this all the time, you are going with someone you trust, but is that someone really right for you, right to lead your case?" Marshall threw Gino under the bus, trying to make his case only for the old italian face to turn red.

"THE F*CK YOU SAY TO ME!" Gino marched forward, but this time, Lucky was becoming intrigued and stopped him.

"I know you want to disregard me because it's easy, but I'm telling you, Ricky, this will add to your case. No, this will make your case the hotpot of the country." Marshall continued his pitch, looking up at Ricky's calm smile. 

But Ricky's eyes seemed to press down on him, making him feel rooted to the spot, unable to move.

In the future, Marshall would always refer to this exact moment, where he was weighed down not by the gun in Lucky's hand, but by the mere gaze of Ricky. 

It was a look that pierced through him, heavy and unrelenting, as if Ricky could see straight into his soul.

"A black lawyer defending a mutant, it's never been done!" Marshall yelped out, pleading almost in an attempt to gain any kind of interest from Ricky.

"The headlines, the coverage, it will be nationwide, and I can tell what kind of guy you are, Ricky. You're not afraid of the spotlight and all the hate or love that comes with it." Marshall's entire back was soaked in sweat, the only thing hiding it being his suit jacket. But even then, anyone could tell by the look on his face that he was barely holding it together.

"I believe in you, Slick. I believe in your case, and I know, I KNOW, that I can win this for you if you just give me the chance." Marshall almost pleaded with Ricky, fully aware that no one was more perfect for this exact case than he was.

Ricky stood for a moment, rubbing his chin and although he wanted to just dismiss Marshall, something suddenly clicked. 

It reminded him of a time when he was begging Abraham to teach him, desperate for guidance even though he didn't want to admit it. 

In that moment, he felt incredibly helpless in the face of overwhelming power and begged the old drunk. 

Now he saw himself in Abraham's shoes, staring at his own pleading expression, and for the first time, understood the weight of what it meant to truly give someone a chance in desperation.

"Okay." Ricky nodded, standing up and extending his hand. 

"I'll trust you." Ricky smiled, and Marshall shot up to his feet, his face breaking into a wide, ecstatic grin.

"Slick I swear you won't regret-" Marshall widened his eyes, smiling but before he could pull his hand away, Ricky's eyes gleamed with green.

"Marshall, you know what kind of man I am, right?" Ricky suddenly pulled him in close, his grip tightening around Marshall's hand forcing him to wince, feeling the intensity of Ricky's gaze.

"I'm someone you don't cross if you lose," Ricky said, his voice low and cold. "And if you cost me this case, practicing law again will be the least of your worries. You'll be wondering which river I'll throw your dead body into." Ricky's words were chilling, and Marshall's entire body froze in fear.

"So let's get this clear, I can tell what your agenda is and I don't care cause I ain't some noble soul, I do not even acknowledge anything that doesn't mess with me but if you lose..." Ricky warned, his grip tightening as Marshall felt as if his hand would break.

"You're messing with me, understand?" 

It was then that Marshall realized this wouldn't simply define his life, but cost it if he ended up failing. 

It was a fleeting moment, where his entire life flashed before his eyes, yet even when everything seemed certain, Marshall tightened his gaze.

Those who want to make a difference have to put themselves in the crosshairs of death.

"I understand." Marshall said resolutely, locking eyes with Ricky, who merely nodded.

"Good, cause we leave in 24 hours." Ricky then walked past Marshall, and as he did, Marshall collapsed to his knees, his body giving out as Ricky remained the only thing keeping him upright.

"Hey Gino, no hard feelings, alright? I'll compensate you for your lost time." Ricky walked up to Gino, who had been sending hateful glares at Marshall, but his expression softened when he turned his gaze back to Ricky.

"Oh nonsense Slick, I'd never ask anything for the son of Lucky-"

"No, no, no, I insist, come on let me treat you at the stork club, the least I can do." Ricky slinked hi arms around Gino who laughed while Lucky hung back.

"Johnny!" Lucky yelled out, Marino trembling over at the side as Johnny rushed into the mansion at the call of Lucky.

"Yeah, boss!" Johnny rushed over to Lucky, almost saluting him, waiting for his order. But his eyes couldn't help but fall on Marino, who was quivering off to the side.

'Dammit, Marino.' Johnny instinctively knew something had gone wrong. As the head guard of the Luciano family residence, Johnny was well aware that any mistake, no matter how small, was his responsibility. 

Marino's failure didn't just reflect poorly on him so now, it was Johnny's problem too.

This job of his, guarding the Luciano residence wasn't merely an easy job but a highly coveted one within the family.

Guarding the Luciano residence wasn't just any job as it was one of the most coveted positions within the family for the lowest members since it gave them an easier way to climb the latter, and anyone who held it was expected to perform flawlessly. 

The pressure to keep the family safe was immense, and one slip-up could cost more than just a job, it could cost lives.

But letting a stranger into the residence, with nothing but his word, was something so ignorant that even a rookie wouldn't dare do. 

It was a fundamental mistake, the kind of error that should've been caught the second Marshall stepped through the door. 

Johnny's jaw clenched as he watched Marino fidget, knowing this blunder wasn't just careless, it was reckless.

A lapse like this wasn't just a failure of protocol, it was a betrayal of trust, and that kind of thing didn't go unnoticed in the Luciano family. 

Johnny's mind raced, weighing the consequences as Marino would be lucky if this didn't cost him more than just his position.

"You better kiss the ground beneath my son's feet since we both know he is covered for your ass." Lucky side-eyed Marino, bowing his head while indirectly giving Johnny the information as he also bowed his head.

"I'm grateful boss, it's my fault this happened and I take full responsibility." Johnny took the blame, knowing that it was his fault regardless since he was in charge of Marino.

Lucky frowned at the proclamation, his eyes shifting to one of the up-and-comers in the family. 

He could see the boy's unease, the quiet awareness that this was a pivotal moment and Lucky understood the reaction; it was the right one, the kind of integrity that should be expected from anyone in his position.

But that didn't mean it was typical, in fact, most people in Johnny's position would've thrown the lower members under the bus without hesitation, sacrificing them to save their own skin. 

"I'll deal with you later Johnny, and you Marino, you're reassigned." Lucky gave out orders before turning to Marshall, still trying to regain his bearings that were shaken earlier.

"And you, Slick wasn't kidding when he said if you fail you'd die but let me make this clear for you." Lucky walked up to Marshall, watching him flinch at his steps until he was right before him with a cold gaze.

"If Slick is gonna take your head, then I'm gonna go after everything you love, because no one messes with my boy and simply walks away," Lucky threatened, his voice dripping with cold malice.

Marshall looked up at the man, meeting the icy glare of one of the most powerful mob bosses in New York, maybe even the most powerful.

"This ain't a warning, I'm threatening you," Lucky said coldly, his voice carrying a weight that made the air itself feel heavier. 

With a final, calculated glance at Marshall, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing through the room.

"Johnny, if that cat isn't here tomorrow then it's your head!" Lucky yelled out the door, walking out to catch up the likes of Ricky and Gino.

"Listen, I didn't mean to cause trouble for you-" Marshall looked towards Johnny hatefully gazing at him, only for his words to be interrupted.

SLAP

Marshall stumbled backwards, Johnny hovering above him with a vicious expression plastered on his face as Marino tried to pull him away.

"Johnny, it ain't worth it-"

"Dammit Marino, your getting reassigned, that's a f*cking demotion!" Johnny yelled, angry at the fact that Marino should've known better but still wanted to put the blame on Marshall.

SIGH

"Get him up, this cat ain't leaving our sight for the entire day." Johnny let out a heavy sigh, calming himself down before ordering Marino who forced Marshall to his feet, pushing him forward as the lawyer only had one thought in his mind.

'What did I get myself into.'

Meanwhile in downtown Manhattan,

Arriving at the Stork Club, they were promptly escorted to a private booth, the kind reserved for those with power or influence. 

The club was alive with the hum of conversations, the clink of glasses, and the smooth jazz playing in the background, but none of that seemed to matter as Ricky, Lucky, and Gino settled into their seats.

"So, how do you know my pops?" Ricky asked, his voice smooth, leaning back into the plush leather booth. 

He had a curiosity in his eyes, but he was also watching Gino closely, trying to gauge how much truth was in the man's words.

"Long story short, I used to run with the Five Points gang back in the day. Not as big as you might think, but we had our territory, our connections." Gino laughed, remarking about the good old days when he ran in the streets with Lucky.

"Gino here was ironclad, he could take a punch like no other." Lucky nudged his shoulder, laughing along as Ricky smiled at this side of his pops.

"But not a bullet." Gino said, the inside joke registering within the space before a loud ensuing laughter followed.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Gino burst out laughing, his voice echoing through the booth. Ricky joined in, but Gino's laughter was the loudest, almost contagious. Gino wiped his eyes as he calmed down, still chuckling.

"You're probably wondering why I left, right?" Gino asked, his gaze steady on Ricky, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

 Ricky leaned back, clearly intrigued but also with a hint of suspicion in his expression as the question had been sitting in the air ever since Gino had started his story.

"Well, although I could take a punch, a bullet on the other hand…" Gino paused for effect, looking at Lucky who was now staring at the table, unusually quiet. 

"Let's just say, I like my health more than my ego." Gino finished with a wink, a casual shrug, patting to his chest with a smile.

Lucky didn't laugh and instead, he just sat there, a somber look on his face, his thoughts drifting somewhere else.

"Come on Lucky, it's been twenty years since we last saw each other, don't be down in the dumps." Gino flicked Lucky some sh*t as the latter laughed with a forced chuckle.

"Alright, alright, I just still feel guilty-"

"By mother Mary, will you let it go, it's not your fault." Gino sighed, messaging his forehead but Lucky still remained quiet at the side.

"Anyway, I'm sorry for pulling you down here, but I need you to stick around." Lucky said, his tone sharpening as he leaned forward slightly, his eyes locked on Gino. 

"There's some business I want to discuss, one that involves a lawyer-"

"Honestly pops, we can talk shop tomorrow." Ricky waved to the side, Gino laughing along as he nodded towards him.

"Yeah Lucky, you drag me down here for a case then go with some cat, at least let me have a drink first!" Gino hollered out, reaching for the champagne brought to their table.

"Alright, alright." Lucky smiled, thinking he should at least treat Gino to some fine dining before getting down to business.

"Anyways, I've heard a lot about you Slick." Gino pointed his glass of newly filled champagne towards Ricky, showing a toothy smile.

"Good or bad."

"Both."

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" They all burst into uncontrollable laughter, Gino pounding the table before finally composing himself.

"Seriously though, thank you for your service to the church," Gino said, offering a genuine nod, but Ricky rolled his eyes.

"I'm serious, Slick, it's a big deal that you're an honorary cardinal, and you should be proud," Gino continued, his tone more sincere and trying to show that he wasn't busting his balls.

"That's what I keep telling him, but the little bastard thinks it's just a small little thing," Lucky waved his finger at Ricky.

"Kids these days," Gino rolled his eyes, only for Lucky to start laughing as they all began to dine on fine cuisine, the mood lightening as the conversation shifted.

A couple of hours went by, and the moon had risen, its silver glow cutting through the thick clouds that had gathered in the sky, obscuring the last traces of daylight.

"So a Frenchman, German, and Irishman are drinking beer at a bar, right?" Ricky started another joke, smiling ear to ear as he hadn't been able to tell one of his bar jokes in a while. 

"And a fly lands in each of their beers; the Frenchman flags the bartender down and asks for another beer." Ricky almost chuckles, keeping the flow smooth so as not to take away from the punchline.

"The German scoops the fly out and continues drinking his beer." Ricky swats the air, seemingly mimicking the German before smiling wider.

"But the Irishman takes the fly out, holds it over his glass and screams 'Spit it out ya dirty bastard!'" Ricky yells to give the joke more effect, his words causing Gino to convulse in his seat.

PFFFT

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Gino let out a belly roar of laughter, trying to hold it down only for the laughter to spiral out.

"YOU'RE A RIOT SLICK, A RIOT!" Gino laughed out, smacking his knee with a booming laughter before he slowly wound down.

"Man, it's really good to be back." Gino said with a nostalgic smile, reminiscing about his time in New York as Ricky tilted his head, curious.

"Why did you end up leaving and starting a practice upstate anyways, did you get bored down here?" Ricky asked, piecing together bits from their hours of conversation but before he could get anything juicy, the conversation always shifted.

Gino was evidently a close friend of Lucky, but due to unforeseen circumstances, he had decided to pursue law school and eventually start his own practice upstate.

"I just couldn't run with the gang anymore," Gino admitted, his smile tinged with sadness as Lucky lowered his head. 

"My heart was always with the Five Points Gang and my brothers, but my body just gave up on me-.....I just couldn't do it anymore." Gino flashed a toothy smile at Ricky, who glanced down thoughtfully.

"But I don't regret it. Thanks to these old bones of mine, I found my lovely lady and had three beautiful kids with her," Gino said, his smile warming as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a worn photograph.

"Three boys." Gino said proudly, holding up the picture for a moment before tucking it back into his pocket. 

"I swear, my love wanted to kill me after our third since she always wanted a girl. But hey, what are you going to do?" Gino chuckled, his pride shining through despite the jest.

"Anyhow, life sometimes throws a curveball, and just when you think you've struck out, one of your teammates steals home and wins the game," Gino said with a shrug, leaning back in his seat. Ricky side-eyed Lucky, who was still down in the dumps, his usual confident demeanor replaced by an uncharacteristic quiet.

Sigh

"I think I'm calling it-"

"No, you can't Gino-"

"Sorry, Slick, but my old lady will kill me if she finds out I've been drinking," Gino said as he stood up, prompting Ricky and Lucky to do the same.

"She's got me on this diet the doctor claims is good for me." Gino sighed, glancing at his plate, still a little full of salad, but he couldn't bring himself to eat any more.

"I'll call a car for you," Lucky said, patting Gino's shoulder reassuringly and meanwhile, Ricky silently stepped back into the shadows, his presence fading into the dim light of the room.

Throughout the conversation, Lucky continued to wear that same guilty expression that lingered on his face, preventing him from fully enjoying himself. 

When Gino's car arrived and he bid his goodbyes, Ricky disappeared momentarily, only to reappear behind Lucky, silently gazing out into the distance alongside him.

"What the hell was that, pops?" 

"JESUS!" Lucky's heart jumped into his throat as he staggered back slightly, clutching his chest before letting out a heavy sigh.

Sigh

"It's nothing-"

"Don't bullsh*t pops, you did something to him." Ricky gestured and Lucky sighed, walking down the street as tRicky started following along.

"I didn't do anything to him, it was Gino who did everything for me." Lucky revealed, Ricky raising an eyebrow in response.

"Gino saved my life, Slick. He threw himself into a bullet to save my hide," Lucky said, his eyes fixed on the sky as Ricky's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Gino loved running in the gang, it was his passion, but he threw it all away to protect me." Lucky still wore this guilt on his sleeve and Ricky could see how much it had affected him.

"The injury left him unable to run like he used to and he had trouble breathing for years., years." Lucky really emphasized that last part, showing how difficult it was for Gino to breathe regularly after being shot in the chest.

"He gave it all up, to save me." Lucky voiced one of his biggest regrets, kicking a nearby rock as it skidded across the pavement.

"Sounds like a good friend."

"Best friend, and it's because of everything he did for me that I tried everything to get him back on his feet. I thank the Lord he found a good life after the gang." Lucky said, exhaling deeply. Ricky patted his shoulder, his expression softening.

"Then I'm guessing that's why you were so stiff in their pops, I mean, I've seen mimes more talkative than you." Ricky nudged Lucky, busting his balls as the old man chuckled.

"Sometimes guilt just doesn't go away, you have to live with your mistakes and I have to live with the fact that I ruined Gino's life-"

"You didn't ruin his life-"

"Yes I did!" Lucky suddenly yelled at Ricky, looking surprised that the old man raised his voice over this before smiling.

"Sorry, it's just really personal-" Lucky rubbed the back of his neck, his discomfort evident as he tried to ease into the conversation and Ricky, however, held up his hands, signaling for him to stop.

"No, no, no, I get it, it's your time of the month." Ricky joked, Lucky punching his shoulder with a playful smile.

Meanwhile at the mansion,

"Hehehehehehe~" Danielle chuckled maniacally, being hosted on Asterion's shoulders and running around the yard.

"So, Slick actually killed Dracula?" Jake asked with a baffled expression, Chores leaning back in his seat while sipping on some milk.

"Not only Dracula, but became the Black Knight." Barko, in his werewolf form for the sole purpose of cutting up his steak, grinned through the sharp, elongated teeth as he finished his sentence.

"But what happened, what made him actually want to-...you know-....and start to you know-......I guess be better?" Jake trailed off, his voice dipping into an abbreviated hesitation, referencing the dramatic change in Ricky. 

The two of them exchanged a brief look before shaking their heads, as if the answer was too complicated or painful to explain.

"All we know is that at his lowest point, he entered the trials to be a black knight and saw something that must've warranted a dramatic change." Barko explained, seeing that shift happen when both of them weren't there.

"In any case, this is a good change and will do wonders for him moving forward," Chores lightly commented, his tone calm but insightful as Jake nodded in agreement, his gaze thoughtful as he considered the shift in Ricky's direction.

"And what are you two going to do?" Jake asked, his eyes shifting between Chores and Barko as Chores wiped his mouth.

"I'm starting a company with the coven under Ricky," Chores vaguely explained, his thoughts still lingering on the plans. 

"It's a household appliance company of sorts, though I'm still working on how to adapt the blueprints he gave me to the current technology we have now." Chores rubbed his chin, brooding off to the side.

A lot of the goods that required mass production hadn't been properly developed in this era, which was why Chores was taking longer than expected as he was determined, though, to solve the problems. 

However, at this moment, Barko remained silent, unsure of his place within the fold. 

It wasn't that he didn't know his path, it's just that he didn't know which path to take.

Unlike the others, the way forward didn't come easily to Barko as he still struggled to figure out if he wanted to continue where he left off before all of this and return to his research, or fully delve into the world of magic. 

The uncertainty weighed on him, as he found himself torn between the familiar path of logic and science, and the unknown yet captivating realm that seemed to offer endless possibilities. 

Each choice felt like a step into uncharted territory, and Barko wasn't sure if he was ready to commit to one or if he'd ever find the balance he sought.

Jake, noticing the shift in Barko's demeanor, didn't comment further, sensing it wasn't the right time to probe.

"Daddy!" Daniell suddenly called out, reaching toward him as Asteron gently set her down, and she rushed forward eagerly.

"Hey, pumpkin." Ricky picked her up and spun her around, smiling as she latched onto him, her small arms wrapping around his neck.

Danielle's shift from shy to comfortable was swift, as unlike others, she could feel the immense love Ricky had for her as it made everything seem as though it was all going to work out just right.

"Let me tuck you in, ok?" Ricky pecked her cheek, turning back to the house as Danielle pouted slightly while resting her head on his shoulders.

"Okay." Danielle's muffled words came from Ricky's shirt as he walked back into the house.

"Jake, hit the sack because we're leaving bright and early tomorrow." Ricky notified him, prompting Jake to nod.

"Alright, sweetheart," Ricky said, brushing a stray blonde curl away from her face. "How about a story tonight?"

Ricky smiled as he plopped Danielle onto the bed, where she immediately clutched her bear tightly, her little face lighting up with excitement.

"Alright, what do you want? A little variety, maybe fantasy-"

"I want to know the story about how you met Chester!" Danielle exclaimed, holding her bear even tighter as her eyes became that of puppy dogs when gazing at Ricky.

"It's not that wholesome but we first met about three-four years ago." Ricky realized that it had been a while trying to think back, without mentioning the weird system.

"I don't really know how to explain it other than he just appeared, out of thin air almost." Ricky worded it so Danielle could understand, but the little girl tilted her blond pigtails.

"How?"

"Uh, like poof-"

"No daddy-"

SIGH

Danielle sighed, reaching out her little hand to pat Ricky's before shaking her head and looking up at him.

"What was that for?" Ricky laughed out, seeing Danielle almost pity him as she looked away for a moment then answered.

"Daddy isn't good at storytelling, I feel bad for asking." Danielle ducked her head cutely, unknowingly insulting Ricky who twitched his eyebrow in response.

"Wh-What? I'm the best storyteller, I've got numerous awards." Ricky lied to Danielle who's eyes suddenly sparkled at his words.

"What kind of awards?"

"Tall ones that are like this big." Ricky showed the description of the awards through his gestures, stretching his arms wide as Daneille gasped.

"Woah~" Danielle easily bought into Ricky's lie, star struck at how large the awards were before he regained himself.

"Alright, now to prove it, once there was a black knight who was handsome and dashing and downright handsome, also so good looking-"

Ricky began his tale by boasting to Danielle about his good looks, much to the annoyance of his own daughter, who eventually grew tired of his self-absorption. 

Only then did he shift gears, recounting the epic story of how he had slain a mighty beast and restored peace to lands once teeming with dreadful creatures.

Ricky poured all his effort into painting himself in the best possible light, crafting a story that revolved around his romantic escapades. 

Danielle, however, was captivated for an entirely different reason as she clung to the edge of her seat, not for the romances he wove into the tale which were clearly intended as the story's centerpiece, but for the plot itself. 

It was evident that she cared far more about the unfolding narrative than any mention of the women he kept slipping into the story, which she seemed to tune out entirely.

It was only after the epic climax of the beast being slain that Danielle finally drifted off to sleep. 

Ricky, sitting at the edge of her bed, quietly rose and slipped out of the room and as he stepped into the hallway, he spotted Barko in his dog form, perched silently at the edge of the stairs, watching him with an unreadable expression.

"I take it you're not in the mood for a bedtime story either?" Ricky quipped with a chuckle as he started down the stairs, Barko walking silently beside him.

"I... I think I want to start a lab again," Barko declared boldly, his voice tinged with both hesitation and resolve as Ricky raised a brow, pausing to mull it over for a moment.

"Alright, I'm guessing you want to pick up your research on the X-gene?" Ricky asked, watching as Barko shook his head before his eyes tinged with resolve.

"I want to study magic and how it relates to the field of science since I believe the correlation is closer than anyone could ever know." Barko puffed out his chest as Ricky stopped, turning back to the dog.

"Wait, what about your X-Gene? Turning yourself back-"

"I... I've accepted that this is who I am," Barko said, looking up at Ricky with newfound confidence as he was no longer ashamed of his true self, having embraced who he was in his heart.

Barko's strengths were far from the typical ones needed in a fight and unlike his companions, who excelled in physical prowess, his only true gift was his mind.

However, even his own brain seemed to curse him into this form of a dog and unlike others who picked themselves up, Barko drifted.

But not in the sense one would expect, he never showed his internal strife and always hid it with a smile.

He purposely stayed present, just far enough out of reach to truly understand the suffering he was enduring within. 

At first, Barko believed that by mastering magic and regaining the use of his lost limbs, he would finally feel better.

But after all those years, overcoming countless limitations and achieving the incredible feat of wielding magic despite not being born with it, Barko couldn't help but look forward. 

More specifically, he couldn't help but look up.

Barko knew that he didn't need to be the strongest for his achievements to hold value, but whenever he looked up at Ricky, he saw an endless mountain. 

And with that gaze came the painful sting of mediocrity, a reminder of how far he still had to climb.

Even Chores, who had seemingly started from the same place as him, continued to climb higher and higher, leaving Barko feeling smaller with each step of his ascent.

For a long time, Barko had been content with his place within the fold, looking up with admiration but over time, that contentment began to fade, replaced by a growing bitterness.

It wasn't Chores or Ricky he resented, but himself. For a long time, that false sense of content began to poison his very being, as the smile and facade he'd carefully maintained slowly started to crack.

But at Dracula's castle, when Barko was drowning in self-doubt, frustrated with only being able to manage a few ghouls, the one who shone a light on him wasn't Ricky, Chores, or any of the witches or vampires, it was Asterion.

It was the moment when the high-ranking vampires tried to persuade Asterion that their mistress would handle the situation, but Asterion wasn't having it. 

He pushed forward, his resolve unwavering, and said the words that would forever change Barko's life.

'The reason being is that I let Ricky face Dracula alone, thinking it might help him finally lay his past to rest.'

They were such simple words, spoken in the heat of the moment, likely to be glossed over by anyone who heard them the first time. 

But for Barko, it wasn't the words he heard, it was what he saw and something changed in him, something deeper than mere sound.

On that endless mountain, the one he always saw when gazing up at Ricky, Barko suddenly realized that Asterion wasn't looking up like the rest of them, he was looking down, at all of them.

Ricky was high up, sure, but he was still climbing and even so, despite Asterion being stronger than Ricky in every way, Asterion still reached down, while Ricky continued to reach upward.

That was the moment Barko truly realized the hands lowering toward him from everyone around him, offering chances to start his climb. 

Yet, he never took them as he had always believed that this was all he'd ever be.

But Barko needed to know, he needed to ask and so, one day, he approached Asterion, who was peacefully sitting on a rock, staring at the sunset.

Flashback

"Asterion, can I have a moment of your time?" Barko walked up to Asterion, the mighty minotaur slightly turning towards him with a smile.

"Of course, what can I do for you, Barko?" Asterion gestured towards his side, wiping away some of the dirt on the stone as Barko walked over and sat next to him.

Asterion smiled at him, patiently waiting for the words to come but when Barko opened his mouth to speak, the words caught in his throat as he didn't truly know how to begin.

"I-I'm scared." Barko suddenly started, revealing one of his deepest insecurities out of the gate before immediately feeling ashamed.

"Me too." Asterion chuckled, looking over at the sunset as Barko flinched, looking incredulously at him.

"Y-You're scared?" Barko asked, thinking it was unheard of for someone like Asterion to be scared.

"Of course, I, the father of all minotaurs, am scared of numerous things." Asterion laughed, the beautiful sunrise dazzling onto his smile.

"It was the reason that I sat in a cave for centuries, because I was scared of living," Asterion said, his voice steady and truthful as Barko slowly ducked his head.

"H-How did you know-"

"I didn't." Asterion interrupted, causing Barko to look at him incredulously once again.

"T-Then how?" Barko's mouth became agape, asked Asterion who chuckled before petting his head.

"When Ricky came to my cave and spoke his intentions, I already knew that he wanted to use me." Asterion's words shocked Barko, sitting there frozen as the minotaur continued to pat his head.

"It was very obvious, I mean, I might have been in a cave but that doesn't mean that I am a fool." Asterion laughed, pinching Barko's cheek before returning his sight to the sunset.

"But unlike others who bribed me with riches, false promises, that Ricky was different, weird almost." Asterion recalled their interaction with a hearty laughter.

"Never has someone come to me and called me purpose 'a load of bullsh*t' and it very much caught me off guard." Asterion leaned back on the rock, laughing even harder at the courage Ricky showed that day.

"For so long, I thought I was honoring my friend, but in a way, Ricky was right to say that simply waiting in that tomb was no better than being dead myself." Asterion showed a sad smile after that, looking up at the blue sky dimming by the second.

"Then over those three years I thought of what my Daedlus would say to me? What would my son say? But most of all, what would my love say?" Asterion then looked at Barko, still reeling from his words.

"I think they would want me to live and when Ricky came back, that was when I agreed." Asterion revealed the real reason why he came out of that cave.

"I followed Ricky all the way here because of my appreciation for that fact, giving me a new perspective I never would have had if I had stayed there." Asterion held his heart, the very same holding the scar that always pained in that cave but now, all he could feel was the heart beating in his chest.

"And for the first time in centuries I am excited, to really live once more and find what it is that lay in wait for my glory!" Asterion gestured towards the sunset, proving of the wonders that lay at the end of it.

"Do you have any idea of what you want-"

"None!" Asterion bellowed out a laugh, Barko gazing at him in silence before sulking his head.

"But that's what makes it so exciting, that I do not know what lies ahead but I keep going anyway!" Asterion marveled, looking ahead towards the unknown path not with fear, but with excitement.

"Aren't you scared that you'll fail? Of never reaching your potential?" Barko asked, voicing his own insecurities even more but Asterion chuckled.

"When do you think the best time to plant a tree is?" Asterion asked, watching Barko as he truly began to think about it as the Minotaur then patted his back.

"It's eighty years ago!" Asterion laughed, seeing Barko's sulking expression before he gestured forward.

"But do you know when the second best time to plant a tree is?" Asterion's words guided Barko's gaze forward for the first time since he arrived, his eyes drawn to the beautiful sunset.

"Now." Asterion's gentle voice rang in Barko's ears, watching the creature finally look up for the first time since he got here.

"Barko, the second best time to plant a tree is now."

END Flashback

"I want to grow, like a tree!" Barko was still in his own memory and blurted out towards Ricky, who stood there scratching his head.

"Wait, no I-" Barko stammered, his cheeks flushing as his words faltered, completely derailed by the metaphorical forest of thoughts tangling in his mind.

"Here's the deal, Barko, I really do value you as a comrade but I'm in the business of making money and I don't see how research can do that." Ricky said, looking down at Barko, who went to reply but stopped in his tracks.

"So how about this, Meyer has been looking after my clubs, but I need someone to replace him until I can come back and finally learn how to do it myself," Ricky said, causing Barko's head to jerk back in surprise.

"So here's the deal, you look after my clubs and manage them until I get back, and I'll fork up the money for your research, deal?" Ricky said, holding out his hand and reaching down towards him.

But instead of looking down and simply accepting that this was where he would always be, Barko finally reached up.

"Deal, and Slick, I swear I won't let you down and prove to you how valuable my research will be," Barko said, saluting with his paw as Ricky chuckled.

"We'll see, go to my pops after we leave and he'll square it away." Ricky waved as Barko smiled white his tail wagging as he puffed out his furry chest.

"I won't let you down, Slick. My research is going to be a tree, a big, beautiful tree!" Barko said, his voice trembling as he wiped his eyes and with that proclamation, Ricky finally smiled.

"It f*cking better be!" Ricky called out, walking out of the mansion with a laugh.

Ricky left the house and soared into the night, eventually arriving at a neighborhood purchased under the bank, where the coven was staying for the time being. 

It was only temporary, until they took over New York, since Ricky planned to give them a burrow to completely control.

As he arrived at the front door, Ricky saw Zatanna pouting through the window, arms crossed, while Agatha sighed beside her.

"No, I want Daddy to tuck me in," Zatanna said, her body going limp as her cheeks puffed out as Agatha pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation.

"Zatanna, daddy is-"

"DADDY!" Zatanna cried, flying forward and ramming into Ricky, her giddy laughter echoing through the air.

"Surprise!" Ricky laughed, but Agatha simply turned away, walking to tuck baby Johnny, sucking on his binky, sound asleep.

"Alright, let's tuck you in," Ricky said, kissing Zatanna's forehead as she smiled and hugged him as they walked to her room.

For the next five minutes, Zatanna eagerly told him everything he had done since they had last spoken, until she finally tired herself out and drifted off to sleep. 

Turning around, Ricky saw Agatha leaning against the doorway, rolling her eyes at his sleazy smile.

"Don't even give me that look." Agatha scoffed, trying to walk away only for Ricky's hands to slink around her waist.

"What look?" Ricky asked, nestling his head on her shoulder as she looked away.

"Save it, Ricky, I know you're leaving." Agatha said, breaking away and walking back to the kitchen, with Ricky following her.

"Baby, you know I'll come back-"

"Do not baby me, Ricky, I'm serious right now," Agatha said, holding up a finger as she did the dishes by hand, even though they both knew full well she could use magic to do them.

"I'm serious too, this isn't me going off to fool around but to protect our future-"

Crash

"How are you going to Texas to protect our future when you could stay here, and protect our real future?!" Agatha threw the plate into the sink, glaring at Ricky, who finally realized what this was about.

"Agatha-"

Sniff

"Don't." Agatha started tearing up, backing away only to give in as Ricky took her into his embrace.

"Agatha, I swear to you that I'm not going to just abandon you, I love you," Ricky whispered, stroking the back of her hair as Agatha grabbed his shirt, squeezing it tightly.

Hitting her head against her chest, Agatha didn't know what was wrong with her since this wasn't supposed to happen. 

All Ricky was ever supposed to be was a piece of meat, some short-term relief, but somehow, she had unknowingly fallen for him, and fallen hard. 

Agatha had grown to truly love Ricky, not just as the father of her children, but as a partner in life and for that reason, it scared her.

Agatha had never felt this way for any man the way she felt for Ricky, even with her extended life it was still something new to her.

It was a strange scenario as even with two kids and the understanding that Ricky was there to save and protect her coven, he had always been meant to be a safeguard. 

Yet somehow, someway, he had slithered into her heart and stuck there.

It took an insufferably long time to admit, but when Agatha looked at Ricky, she couldn't deny the reality that had always either slipped out or been unconscious in her actions.

"Agatha, look at me." Ricky tentatively asked, his voice soft as her tear-filled eyes met his as his green eyes were filled with warmth as he gently caressed her cheek.

"I promise you, no matter what, even if you end up hating me, I will never leave you alone." Ricky laughed softly, and Agatha chuckled as well, wiping her eyes.

"You can't ever leave me, leave us," Agatha sniffled, her voice trembling, and Ricky kissed her forehead gently, his heart swelling with the weight of her words.

"Never." Ricky whispered, his voice filled with certainty, before lifting Agatha into a princess carry. 

He held her close, walking back to the bedroom, his steps steady, as if he had already made his peace with the promise he had just made.

Sniff

It was just three words, a simple feeling, and even if they had been held in for so long, the world would continue to spin as normal. 

Yet, when Agatha looked up at Ricky, she couldn't help but finally utter the words she had kept hidden within her heart for so long.

"I love you," Agatha said, her voice thick with emotion, her fear lingering in the words. 

She was scared that even though Ricky had promised, he wouldn't say it back, that somehow, it wouldn't be enough.

"Oh really-"

"Ricky~" Agatha whined, trying to pull away, but Ricky silenced her with a passionate kiss, his lips firm against hers as it was the kind of kiss that made her forget everything else, just for a moment.

"I love you too." Ricky uttered the words that forever made her heart at ease, walking towards the bed as they snuggled next to each other.

Although it's easier for Ricky to express feelings through his cock, sometimes the words, the true emotions, are harder to convey. 

Ricky, understanding this, didn't seek to prove his sincerity with his body this time and instead, he chose to show it through his actions by holding Agatha gently, letting her rest peacefully in his arms.