Chapter 112: Pleasant Day Ruined

[Name: Danielle Luciano

Mother's Line: Dolly Henderson

Grade: C

Template: N/A

Description: Dolly had been unaware that you even knew that she was pregnant and had been hiding it from you all this time, hence the distancing. Giving birth in secret, Dolly gave birth to your first child though decided single motherhood wasn't an option and gave her to Lucky.

Abilities:

X-Gene Empathic Touch: An ability that allows the user to perceive and understand the emotions of others through physical contact. When the user touches another person, they instantly gain insight into that person's current emotion.]

This was the window Ricky often found himself staring through after his training sessions, lost in thought as sometimes he would gaze out at it, wondering about the kind of little person he had brought into the world.

Back then, he hadn't cared much for his bastards or their individuality, their potential, or the lives they might lead. 

Instead, his thoughts had been more selfish, centered on whether they could one day hand him a few bucks for beer.

"Pretty cool, huh?" Ricky said with a smile, his tone light and inviting as Danielle clutched her teddy bear a little tighter, her small hands gripping it like a shield. 

"Yeah." Danielle murmured softly, nodding as her wide, expectant eyes lifted to meet his.

Grandpop Lucky had always filled her head with stories about Ricky—the daring things he'd done for the family, the way he commanded respect, and, most importantly.

How much he loved her.

However, Danielle was scared, terrified even, that Ricky wouldn't love her the way Grandpop Lucky always said he would. 

Her tiny hands clutched the teddy bear tighter as Ricky stepped forward, lowering himself onto one knee to meet her at eye level.

Danielle didn't know how to react, her social anxiety creeping in as she averted her eyes to the floor and hesitantly extended her hand. 

Her X-Gene had given her the ability to sense and read others' emotions, a trait that had shaped her behavior over time. 

She had developed a habit of feeling secure only after understanding how someone felt about her. 

It was why she always felt safe in Lucky's arms, his overwhelming care and affection for her were like a comforting blanket that eased her fears.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to come back," Ricky said softly, a warm smile spreading across his face as he gently took Danielle's small hand in his.

"Looks like we've got a lot of catching up to do." Ricky's chuckle was lighthearted, but the weight of his words wasn't lost on either of them as his emotions flowed towards her. 

Danielle's eyes welled up, her lips trembling as tears began to spill, overwhelmed by the moment she had always hoped for.

*Sniff*

"Wh-What did I do?" Ricky stammered, his brow furrowing in confusion. 

Then, like a wave, it hit him, the empathic sensation flowing back from Danielle, her emotions brushing against his own. 

Relief, pure and overwhelming relief.

Before he could say another word, Danielle dropped her bear and bolted into his arms, wrapping herself around him tightly. 

Ricky staggered slightly, caught off guard, but steadied himself as her small frame trembled against his chest. 

She sniffled, clutching him with all the strength her little arms could muster, as if afraid he might disappear.

Ricky simply smiled, caressing her bright blond hair while showing his sincerity, and in that moment, all her fears dissolved.

10 minutes later,

Lucky, who had been peeking in through the crack of the door, couldn't help but smile at the scene before him. 

Ricky sat on the floor with Danielle curled up on his lap, her tiny arms still clinging to him as if she never wanted to let go. 

Ricky's expression was soft, his hand gently patting her back as he murmured something soothing.

'You're kidding.' Lucky frowned, peeking through the door, knowing how shy Danielle was as she avoided talking to nearly everyone and clammed up at the slightest attention.

Yet, somehow, Ricky had managed to break through that wall with ease.

But Ricky had a way with his kid that was impossible to explain as it was like he had a natural gift for making people feel comfortable, especially those closest to him.

Kids, no matter how timid or reserved, always seemed to feel comfortable around Ricky, like he had an unspoken way of making them feel seen and understood.

For the last ten minutes, the two had been chatting back and forth, diving into the simplest yet most endearing topics as their conversation flowed effortlessly, going something like this:

"What's your favorite color?" Ricky asked, glancing up at the pink walls, already having a pretty good idea of the answer.

"Pink." Danielle replied softly, and Ricky chuckled, nodding in agreement.

"Who's the coolest person you know?" Ricky asked, his tone light and Danielle's smile bloomed as she looked down, her cheeks tinged with pink.

"I don't know," Danielle muttered, though her smile was evident, causing Ricky to laugh.

"Oh, come on, you have the answer right in front of you." Ricky gestured to himself dramatically, and Danielle let out a soft laugh.

"Chester."

"W-What!?" Ricky's jaw dropped, exaggerating his shock as he swayed Danielle in his arms, her laughter filling the room once more.

"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you my favorite color," Ricky said, thinking aloud. Danielle looked up at him, waiting for an answer, but he remained silent.

"What is it?" Danielle murmured, eager for the answer.

Ricky smiled down at her, rubbing his chin thoughtfully before snapping his fingers right in front of Danielle to keep her attention.

"Mine's green. So, what's your favorite food-" 

As they talked, Ricky learned all sorts of things about his daughter; Danielle loved pink, her favorite person was him and not Chester, she adored Lucky and Chester, and she had a soft spot for ice cream and horses.

What Danielle hated, though, was the color blue, for some reason she couldn't explain. 

She also disliked Frank, and swans, there was just something about them that unsettled her but what really caught Ricky off guard was her intense dislike of baseball caps.

"Why baseball caps?"

"They look funny."

"I guess I never thought of that," Ricky mused, realizing that baseball caps did look a little odd now.

"Are you going to leave again?" Danielle asked softly, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"Probably," Ricky said softly, his gaze dropping to Danielle, the weight of his words bringing a sudden sadness to her expression.

"Oh." Danielle's somber tone echoed out, holding his hand a little tighter as Ricky felt an intense wave of sadness flow through her.

"But it's only work and I'll be gone for a couple of weeks." Ricky rubbed her blond hair, seeing the girl look back up at him.

"Will you come back?" Danielle asked, her big eyes filled with a quiet desperation as she clutched his shirt tightly, afraid he might slip away if she didn't hold on.

"Duh." Ricky pinched her cheek, only for Daneille to slowly duck her head again.

"Will you leave me again?" Danielle asked, not wanting him to leave as she looked a little teary eyed.

"Uh, of course not." Ricky grinned, gently lifting her chin so she looked up at him, pinching her cheeks playfully. 

"If I ever move or settle down somewhere else, you're coming with me." Ricky revealed, his words making Danielle's eyes light up with excitement, stars practically twinkling in them as she looked at him in awe.

"Really?"

"Of course, I'm taking you with me, kiddo. I'll stuff you in my suitcase if I have to." Ricky laughed, and Danielle finally let out a sigh, her shoulders relaxing as a smile spread across her face.

"Okay." Danielle felt content at his words, lowering her gaze along with her wide smile.

"Anyways, you want to get some ice cream?" Ricky asked, standing up as Danielle snuggled into his arms.

"Yeah." Danielle rested her head on his shoulder, her voice soft as they walked out of the room together.

*BAM*

Ricky opened the door suddenly, causing Lucky to tumble backward, rubbing his head as a bump quickly formed.

"Ow~" Lucky groaned, rubbing his back and looking up at Ricky, raising an eyebrow and offering a smile.

"Grandpop?" Danielle tilted her head cutely, her blonde pigtails swaying as she looked at him with curiosity.

"Hey, honey bear, I was just fixing the door," Lucky lied with a sheepish grin, but Ricky snickered, earning a glare as they walked past him.

"Let's go, honey bear, we've got ice cream to eat while grandpop here fixes the door," Ricky teased, walking away with Danielle in tow as Lucky shot him a hateful glare, but Ricky just laughed, clearly enjoying the moment.

"Oh, I almost forgot to ask, how's Jake been?" Ricky stopped and glanced back at Lucky, who let out a dry cough.

"I'll fill you in after you take her out for some ice cream," Lucky said, forcing a smile. Ricky raised an eyebrow, but before he could say anything, he looked down to see Danielle tugging at his shirt.

"What are you getting?" Danielle asked cutely, her big eyes wide with curiosity. Ricky smiled, hoisting her into his arms as they stepped out the door.

"Whatever you want, kiddo," Ricky said with a wink, carrying her outside.

"I don't know what I want." Danielle pouted, feeling unease at all the flavors she would have to pick from.

"What about chocolate?" Ricky asked, walking out of the mansion as the sun hadn't quite set in.

"I don't want Chocolate."

"Then do you want to get Vanilla?"

"Yeah."

Their conversations played out like this, with Ricky asking questions and Danielle offering brief, shy responses. 

It was a rhythm they had fallen into, comfortable and easy, each word exchanged like a small step toward getting to know each other better.

When they arrived at the ice cream parlor, Danielle clung to him like a koala bear on an eucalyptus tree, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck as they sat down.

The moment they entered, whispers seemed to ripple through the small crowd. 

Ricky didn't bother paying attention to the passing glances; his focus was on Danielle, who was nestled close to him, her small form practically fused to his side. 

Two vanilla sundaes were set down in front of them, the whipped cream piled high and topped with a cherry.

"On the house, Slick. Welcome home." One of the servers said with a smile, nodding toward Ricky, who returned the gesture with a grin of his own.

"Cheers," Ricky replied, lifting his glass in a casual toast before clicking it gently against Danielle's. 

She, in her excitement, hurriedly took her ice cream, the cold sweetness causing her face to light up with delight.

Ricky watched her for a moment, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as she dug in, oblivious to the stares around them as it was a simple moment, one that felt like it could last forever.

"You really like ice cream."

"I really do." 

They both laughed at the sight, Danielle's joy infectious as she continued to enjoy her ice cream, a little smear of chocolate on her cheek. 

Ricky, however, couldn't help but glance out the window, his gaze drifting over the busy streets.

Gazes passed him as if he were a fleeting wonder, but Ricky knew the truth since they weren't looks of curiosity, they were filled with fear. 

His presence in the city wasn't just noticed; it was felt. 

His very existence meant something to the people who looked his way, like a match to the gasoline.

The families had begun disputing over everything, and Ricky's return was the spark that threatened to ignite it all.

The growing discontent simmered beneath the surface, unnoticed by most but felt by those who were close enough to see the cracks. 

Nothing had erupted into full-blown violence yet, but the small, constant squabbles were enough to weigh heavily on the people around him. 

Law-abiding citizens couldn't help but feel the tension in the air, it was only a matter of time before their world collided with the chaos of the underworld, whether they liked it or not.

"Are you looking at the balloon too?" Danielle quietly asked, snapping Ricky out of his daze as he looked back at her and then back out the window.

There, he saw a kid walking around with a pink balloon, laughing loudly while talking to his friend as a thought sparked in his mind.

"Hey, Danielle, close your eyes," Ricky said with a smile. Danielle, ever trusting, shut her eyes, her curiosity piqued as Ricky stood up.

However, the fearful gazes that lingered on Ricky didn't bother him at all and sometimes, they had their benefits.

"Hey, brat!" Ricky called out to the kid with the balloon, a grin spreading across his face. 

The moment the kid's eyes locked on him, they widened in fear, his smile faltering as he froze in place.

It wasn't all that uncommon for people to recognize Ricky after the Irish massacre as the families made sure he was easily identifiable, a tactic to ensure he could be reported if necessary. 

However, this had a butterfly effect and slowly, everyone on the streets began to learn what Ricky looked like.

"Oh geez, what did you do, Trevor!" One of the kids yelped, backing up quickly, leaving Trevor standing alone.

"I swears, I didn't do anything, Slick I'm sorry-"

"Give me your balloon." Ricky held out his hand, his fingers making a 'gimme' motion as Trevor glanced nervously at the balloon.

"B-But, it's my balloon-"

"Actually, kid, you're just confused." Ricky pointed at the balloon with a smile, his tone almost playful. 

"That's actually my balloon, so cough it up." Ricky leaned in a little closer, his smile never fading but his eyes cold since he wasn't afraid to go as far as pushing him to the ground then stealing his lunch money.

"Trevor, just give it to him!" Trevor's friend whispered loudly from the side, clearly nervous as Trevor hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly held out the balloon.

"Hmmmm." Ricky hummed thoughtfully, glancing down at the balloon as he took it from the kid's trembling hand.

"Now you're making me feel like some kind of thug. You think I'm a thug?" Ricky asked, raising an eyebrow as Trevor quickly shook his head, wide-eyed.

"No I-"

"You know what would make me feel better? Your lunch money. Cough it up." Ricky made another gimme motion, watching as Trevor pouted, but reluctantly reached into his overalls.

"Four nickels, really?" Ricky scoffed, counting the change in his hand before pocketing it. 

"And I want your shoes, too cause why not? I've already gone this far." Ricky held out his hand, watching as Trevor sniffled and reluctantly handed over his shoes.

Ricky tied the laces together and tossed the shoes onto the power lines, watching them dangle there as he let out a satisfied sigh, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. 

"I feel better now~" Ricky muttered, nodding in contentment as he glanced back at Trevor.

"And a word of advice," Ricky added, giving Trevor a light flick on the forehead. 

"Get a damn red balloon next time like a f*cking man." Ricky turned away, his voice dripping with amusement as he walked off. 

Trevor stood there, rubbing his eyes, while his friend cautiously reappeared from behind a corner, looking at the scene with wide eyes.

"Man, he really shook you down for all you had, I guess the rumors of him losing his touch were rumors after all-"

"Got that right!" Ricky called out with a chuckle, watching as the kid went pale and bolted in the opposite direction, Trevor stumbling after him in pursuit. 

Ricky grinned, shaking his head as the chaos unfolded, the brief moment of power leaving him with a sense of satisfaction.

"Okay, now open your eyes Daneille."

*Gasp*

"A pink balloon!" Daneille's eyes had stars in them, taking the pink balloon before Ricky suddenly placed the four nickels on the table.

"Money!" Daneille happily said, reaching out for the nickels as Ricky patted her head.

"Are you ready to go back?" Ricky asked with a smile, watching Danielle bobbing her head up and down as he picked her up.

Walking back to the mansion with a content smile on her face, Danielle's head suddenly jerked to the side after hearing the distinct sound of wings flapping. 

Her eyes scanned the sky, narrowing slightly as she searched for the source of the noise, the peacefulness of the moment disrupted by the unfamiliar sound.

"Chester!" Danielle yelled out, her voice filled with excitement as the bird flapped toward her as she embraced him gently, stroking its feathers with her free hand.

"Hello, my little bird," Chester cooed, his tone affectionate as Danielle smiled, feeling a familiar warmth in his presence.

"And it's nice to see you, Ricky," Chester added, turning his gaze to Ricky, who rolled his eyes in response.

"Yeah, good to see you too," Ricky said with a smile, watching as Chester flapped over and landed on his arm.

"Seriously, good to see you." Ricky added, his tone genuine this time as Chester nodded its beak in acknowledgment, the bond between them evident.

"It truly is. How's Alexander holding up?" Chester asked, his tone soft while wondering what his furry familiar in arms was up to as he looked at Ricky.

"Still bad at Go-Fish." Ricky shrugged, Chester nodding with a slight huckle escaping his beak.

"I don't think three years would've made a difference on that front. And Henry?" Chester asked, his words trailing off as a heavy silence settled between them.

"..."

"I-I see." Chester noticed Ricky look away, letting out a sigh before he turned back to him.

"He saved my life by stalling Dracula long enough for me to escape." Ricky revealed, and Chester nodded in understanding and though their relationship hadn't been the best, they still shared a bond of familiarity.

"I wanted to hold a service, but it didn't feel right if you didn't come," Ricky smiled at Chester, who looked slightly surprised before giving him a curious look.

"Who are you, and what have you done with my summoner?" Chester asked, his tone a mix of confusion and amusement.

Ricky opened his mouth to reply, but before he could say anything, Chester turned his gaze elsewhere.

"CHESTER, MY FRIEND, I HAVE RETURNED!" Alexander called out into the night, perched atop Asterion, who waved a greeting to the crow.

"I am Asterion, I've heard a lot about you," Asterion said politely, his deep voice carrying through the night air. 

Lucky inhaled sharply, a cold breath escaping him as he processed the strange sight. 

Danielle, wide-eyed and clearly fascinated, stared at the duo, her gaze flicking between the talking bull and what she had first assumed was a talking mouse.

"I'm taking Danielle inside," Lucky said firmly, already turning to lead her away. 

Danielle, however, reached out toward Asterion, her small hand stretching as if wanting to touch the mystical creature.

"I'll tuck you in later, okay, honey bear?" Ricky called over his shoulder, flashing a reassuring smile at her. 

Danielle puffed her cheeks, a bit pouty, but she nodded, her reluctance fading as she followed Lucky inside.

"Am I to assume you've made friends, undead alike?" Chester asked, eyeing Asterion, followed by the small army behind him.

"It's a much longer story," Ricky replied with an anxious laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. 

Chester raised an eyebrow, then his gaze shifted lazily to the cat casually laying in Asterion's arms.

"You are?"

"Garfield, the lovable cat," Garfield said, winking at the reader before looking back at Chester, who squinted his eyes in amusement.

"I see there's a lot to love," Chester replied with a witty comment, which made Garfield's ears stand up in slight surprise.

"I'm big boned-"

"No, you're not, that's Garfield. He's a pain in the ass, but he's our pain in the ass."Ricky replied with a grin as Garfield, arms crossed, shot them a look of mild annoyance, as if to make it clear he knew exactly what Ricky meant.

"I better get my lasagna," Garfield grumbled, his tone dripping with the kind of entitlement only a cat could pull off, despite his recent behavior being borderline tolerable, if you could even call it that.

"Anyways Asterion, could you shrink or-" Ricky wondered out loud, seeing that the mansion wouldn't be able to house his mighty figure as Asteiorn nodded.

"I could turn into a human if that would suffice." Asterion gestured, smiling while Ricky gave him a dumb look.

"You could have done that this whole time, why didn't you say something?" Ricky asked, knowing there could've been a lot of places they could've gone that wouldn't have freaked everyone out.

"Well, you didn't ask."

"...."

Asterion then shifted before their eyes, his form rippling as he morphed into a muscular Greek man with striking white hair. 

His only garment was a simple cloth draped around his waist, leaving his chiseled physique on full display as he stood tall, exuding an aura of strength and ancient power.

"Chuck, Boney. Chester will guide you to the basement, where you'll stay until I figure out what to do with you," Ricky ordered, his tone firm. 

The skeletons exchanged glances, their hollow eyes locking on Chester, who let out a long sigh.

"Fine, fine," Chester muttered, clearly unamused, but resigned to the task.

"Follow me."

Now left with only them, they walked into the house, where Esmerelda was cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

"Oh, bambino, sit, sit!" Esmerelda gestured eagerly, her hands covered in flour as she worked over the stove. 

Ricky sighed with a smile, stepping over to the counter and sitting down, watching her with fondness as she continued her culinary masterpiece.

Garfield was absolutely enamored, slowly crawling out of Asterion's arms and stretching towards the kitchen. 

His eyes locked onto Esmerelda, the woman who would forever be his favorite on this entire planet. 

He wiped his eyes dramatically, as if to say he was on the verge of tears, and slowly padded toward her, his stubby legs barely keeping up with his enthusiasm.

"I'm home."

"Slick." Lucky called from the stairs, his voice sharp, cutting through the air. Ricky glanced up, a strange feeling settling in his chest.

"Yeah?" Ricky responded, his tone a little cautious as he started to walk up, but instead of waiting, Lucky turned and headed straight for his office. 

Ricky followed, still unsure of the tension hanging between them. As he stepped into the room, he noticed the air felt heavy, thick with unspoken words as Lucky stood by his desk, his eyes fixed on Ricky with a look that was unreadable.

"It's about Jake, he's missing." Lucky finally came clean, looking at Ricky who was momentarily frozen before his rage boiled over.

"WHAT!?" Ricky yelled, his voice echoing through the room as he stormed over to Lucky, his frustration boiling over. 

*BAM*

Ricky slammed his fist against the desk, a slight crack forming while causing the papers scattered across it to flutter slightly. 

"Who was it! Was it the Gambino family or the-"

"It's not any family, it's complicated-"

"Then explain it to me. Where the hell is Jake?" Ricky demanded, his voice low and dangerous as he stormed over to Lucky. 

His rage was palpable, and the desk groaned under the pressure of his hands, splintering slightly as he gripped it. 

Lucky raised an eyebrow but didn't flinch, his eyes sharp as he assessed the situation.

"After you left, Jake was under a lot of pressure to not only prove himself to the family but to prove himself to you, and to cope with the stress, he turned to substances." Lucky continued, his words cutting through the air, freezing Ricky's entire body in place.

"What?" Ricky's eyes widened in shock, while Lucky pressed his hands together tightly.

"The kid only mixed with cocaine at first, which we overlooked since all of us take a dab once and a while, but then he went deeper into the rabbit hole and started messing with heroin." Lucky's words hit Ricky like a wave of guilt, he couldn't shake the feeling that, in some way, he was entirely responsible.

It had been Ricky who urged Jake all those years ago, but more than anything, it was his influence that had pushed Jake deeper into the rabbit hole, now buried under the weight of the addiction that consumed him.

"I'm sorry Slick but he crumbled, it's not your fault." Lucky patted his shoulder as Ricky silently stood there.

"The same pressure that creates diamonds is the same that can shatter concrete." Lucky voiced out, trying to ease Ricky who covered his face.

Instead of feeling guilt, Ricky erupted into almost hysterical laughter, quickly covering his eyes as if trying to block out the reality and Lucky remained silent, watching him without a word.

"I was going to come get you to tell you I wanted to make a move regarding the families, but this takes priority." Ricky suddenly turned away, heading for the door as Lucky reached out.

"Slick, wait-"

"A Luciano never turns their back on one of their own. You were the one who always told me that," Ricky said, pointing at Lucky as the man swallowed his own words, letting out a deep sigh.

*SIGH*

"Slick, it's not that simple. Everyone in the family has been looking for him. Even Meyer took time off to help, but the kid just vanished," Lucky said, gesturing to Ricky, emphasizing that it wasn't as straightforward as he was making it seem.

"Don't worry, I'll find him, but I'll need a key to his house." Ricky coughed up, Lucky sighing before ruffling through his desk since Meyer had given him one to check in on Jake from time to time.

"What was the move?" Lucky suddenly asked, his pace of searching continuing but looking up at Ricky.

"I wanted to know the closest confidants of heads." Ricky walked over, watching Lucky find a mess of keys while going through each and every one.

"Because?"

"Because when I take everything from them, I don't want anything swept under the rug, I don't want them to hide a single asset from me." Ricky's eyes were cold, remembering the words Profaci told him about the families kicking him out.

"I'm taking everything from them, and I'm not leaving a single breadcrumb for their f*cking families." Ricky spat, his eyes burning with menace and Lucky met his gaze, silently handing over the key.

Although it wasn't the kind of length he'd usually go to, Lucky didn't try to stop him. 

Everyone has their line, the point where they know they've gone too far and every man, especially those in the underworld, has to draw that line for themselves.

But those lines didn't exist for bosses, for those at the top, those who had to cross boundaries for both moral and immoral gains. 

Profit was profit; it wasn't as simple as good or bad. 

The only thing that mattered for a family was success, and the boss had to do whatever it took to ensure they were elevated even higher because stagnation was unacceptable.

Lucky was his own boss, but he also understood that Ricky was his own boss as well. 

Someone who needed to develop, to iron out his own path, regardless of whether he agreed or not.

"I'll see to it."

10 minutes later,

Ricky arrived at the lone two-story house, the dim light of the evening casting long shadows across the broken landscape. 

As he stepped inside, the full extent of Jake's fall hit him like a wave as the place was destroyed, furniture overturned, walls scuffed and scarred, as though seventeen grown men had unleashed all their fury in a vicious battle, tearing the space apart in a frenzy.

But it wasn't the wreckage that stopped Ricky in his tracks as his gaze drifted to the wall, where a picture hung crookedly. It was from three years ago, a time that felt both distant and painfully close. 

Ricky, Rocco, Eddy, and Jake, all of them smiling, caught in a moment before everything had shattered. 

Before the choices, before the gruesome events, before the struggles.

Ricky's frown deepened, not because of the destruction around him, but because of that damn picture. 

It was a ghost from a time when things were simpler, or at least, he'd believed they were.

"Dammit, Jake," Ricky muttered under his breath, his frustration boiling over. He stormed up the stairs, pushed open the bathroom door, and grabbed a stray hair from his comb. 

Ricky's eyes narrowed as he examined it, not at the hair but at the figure who had been following him this whole time.

Then, just as he turned to set the comb down, a shadow flickered in the corner of his vision as it moved slowly, deliberately, creeping toward him. 

Ricky moved silently, slipping toward the side and staying just out of sight so that it forced the figure to come closer. 

The figure, aware of this movement, continued creeping forward, its gaze fixed on the spot where Ricky had vanished. 

As it turned to where he should have been, it froze, a chill running down its spine as Ricky wasn't in front of him, but right behind him, standing silently in the shadows, a predator waiting for the right moment.

"Five words, all you get before I slice your throat," Ricky, who had successfully blended into the shadows, hissed out as his voice low and menacing, causing the figure to immediately raise their hands in surrender.

"S-Slick, it's me, Meyer!" Meyer stammered, his voice shaking and Ricky froze, recognition hitting him like a wave as he slowly lowered the dagger.

"Holy sh*t, Uncle Meyer, how have you been?" Ricky muttered, his voice filled with surprise and relief. 

He turned the ragged man around and pulled him into a tight hug, the tension between them finally easing.

"I would've been better if you were Jake." Meyer let out a tired laugh, patting Ricky's back before the latter backed up.

"Sorry bout sneaking up on you, I just thought you were Jake and I-"

"No, no, don't apologize." Ricky held up his hand, stopping Meyer who felt guilty.

"If anything, it's my fault for pulling a knife on you-"

"No, no, it's my fault for sneaking up on you." Meyer held up his hand this time, stopping Ricky who felt guilty.

"....."

"Are you looking for Jake too?" Meyer asked, watching as Ricky placed the hair into a strange black orb. Ricky nodded without hesitation.

"Yeah, I feel like I have an obligation to find him, get him straight." Ricky confessed, his voice heavier than he expected. 

The weight of responsibility pressed down on him as Meyer shook his head slowly, a look of concern crossing his face.

"No, Slick, it's my fault, I pushed him too hard when you left and then one day, he just snapped." Meyer said, walking over to the toilet and sitting on it, pulling out a cigarette.

"I wanted him to fly higher, but-"

"Like Icarus, he flew too close to the sun." Ricky sighed as Meyer raised an eyebrow, then chuckled, patting Ricky's shoulder.

"Long story, funny story, which I'll tell you later when we go find Jake." Ricky said, waving him off. Meyer quickly shot to his feet.

"You found him?!" Meyer asked, his voice full of shock as Ricky began slowly moving the orb, the arrow pointing in an odd direction.

"Yeah and he's-.....below?"

20 minutes later,

Instead of searching the surface, Ricky and Meyer found themselves deep in the sewers, Jake hidden beneath the city's chaotic streets. 

They navigated through the labyrinth of tunnels of the New York sewer system, the stench thick in the air as they moved. 

After twisting and turning through narrow passageways, they stumbled into a fully functioning underground city, an unexpected, gritty world where the homeless had built their own community, thriving in the shadows far from the city above.

"Woah, did you know this even existed?" Ricky whispered to Meyer, both of them equally stunned by the sight before them.

"No idea," Meyer replied, shaking his head while Ricky stepped further in, and as he did, the eyes of the residents slowly shifted toward him, a mix of curiosity and wariness in their gaze.

"Ricky Luciano, what a pleasant surprise," a man's voice called out from the crowd of homeless figures. He emerged from the cluster, his steps confident as he made his way toward Ricky as the latter raised an eyebrow, sizing the man up, his instincts immediately on edge.

"Hey-....you." Ricky said smoothly, playing it cool. The man laughed, a dry, knowing sound.

"Don't worry, Slick. I wouldn't expect you to know me, seeing as the deal with the high table hasn't been completed yet." The homeless man gestured for Ricky and Meyer to follow him.

They walked into a small shack, the walls worn and the air thick with the scent of must. 

At the far end of the room, a rickety desk sat, its surface poorly repaired as the man slid into the chair behind it, then gestured for them to sit across from him.

"Please, would you like some water? Perhaps some tea?" The man offered, his voice smooth but laced with a hint of mock politeness and Ricky shook his head, his focus sharp as he kept his gaze fixed on the man.

"No, uh-"

"Just call me the Bowery King."