Chapter 1: 3 more days
Chapter Text
Mafioso walked silently through the isles of slot machines and other ways to gamble in his family casino. His fedora blocked his eyes from the world while still letting him see what he needed to.
People around were groaning, cheering, and silently focused on what they were doing, Mafioso knew it to well. Though he was looking for a specific someone who owed him a large sum of money. His eyes darted around the room until a familiar fedora was spotted.
Quietly Mafioso approached, still keeping a good distance and waiting for them to stop yapping their head off to a stranger sitting next to them.
Surprisingly it didn't take long for them to find somewhere else to go and Mafioso quickly swooped in like a hawk to grab Chance's wrist and drag them out the casino and away from public eyes.
"Where is my money Chance" Mafioso said flatly once they were out of the casino.
Mafioso leaned close to his face, still holding his wrist. Chance was visibly stunned and flinched "Uh- I-" He stuttered
"I don't need any funny business" Mafioso interrupted "where is the money"
"Jeez give me a minute to speak" he said "I can get you the money If you give me another day"Mafioso stared at him and Chance gave a nervous laugh.
"You've said that lie before"
"have I?"
Mafioso sighed rubbing his face with his free hand "Yes you have, the past 3 times"
Chance smirked "You're the one still giving me timeeee~"
"Ha" Mafioso laughed dryly and tugged his wrist so they were a bit closer "You have three days or there will be consequences"
Chance blinked then nodded as if he had a choice. "Alright then I'll see you then" Chance said, smiling.
Mafioso sighed and let go of Chance who stumbled back a bit. But as he began walking away Chance surprisingly stopped him
"wait" he said quickly. Mafioso turned to face him. Chance paused then said "wanna get drinks real quick?"
Mafioso paused 'why does this idiot want to get drinks?' "why do you want to get me drunk so I forget about our deal?" He said slightly annoyed
"would I really do that?"
"yeah"
"You know me too well" Chance put a hand to his heart and closed his eyes, shaking his head. "it doesn't have to be alcohol just so we can chat" Chance smiled nervously. Mafioso blinked, still staring at Chance like he was crazy (he kinda is).
"I'll pay" Chance offered.
"Chance I own the casino"
Chances face flushed in embarrassment "Oh yeah..." But Mafioso sighed and gestured him to follow him to the bar.
---
"I don't have much time to 'chit chat' Chance"
"and why is that? It's kinda late and I'd assume you don't work quite as much at the end of the day"
"I have to take care of Gubby" Mafioso said without thinking
"Gubby? who's that? Chance asked looking at Mafioso with confusion
Mafioso was slightly embarrassed but tried to play it off as much as possible "Gubby is my rabbit-"
"you have a rabbit?" Chance said in disbelief
"yeah..?"
"I do too!" Chance said excitedly and began to yap about his bunny spade
Mafioso didn't expect to have an actual conversation with Chance but he found himself listening to chance and nodding along to what he was talking about and sometimes adding onto what he was saying. Mafioso lost track of time as their conversation went from rabbits to food to hobbies even though he was still being his cold and serious self neither of the two was unhappy about having someone to talk to.
it was a little less than 11pm and he had spent about an hour and a half talking with Chance. "It's getting late I should head home" Mafioso said standing up from the bar stool.
Chance dropped his shoulders but nodded. "See ya in three days Mafi!"
Mafioso sighed at the nickname but gave a slight wave goodbye to Chance
---
When Mafioso got back home to his penthouse he went straight to his bedroom and let Gubby out of his pen. Gubby stomped his foot angrily but still jumped into mafioso's arms.
"I'm sorry I'm late Gubby I would've been home earlier if Chance wasn't such an idiot" Mafioso said quietly and headed to the fridge to grab Gubby some lettuce for a snack.
Mafioso went to sit on his bed and Gubby happily ate as he sat in his lap.
Mafioso watched and his mind started to wander. He thought mostly about Chance and how he let that bastard get his way again. His throat began to itch, probably from the lingering smoke from the people who smoke in the casino so it wasn't much of a problem. His eyes began to feel heavy and went to get ready for bed. He took Gubby off his lap and Gubby looked personally offended but made himself comfortable on the bed anyway. After a long day of work and other business to take care of you would think it would be easy to fall asleep but it took him more than usual but sleep eventually came.
Chapter 2: Missions and pizza
Summary:
Mafioso gets teased about chance while on a mission but it's not much of a problem, right?
Notes:
Wow a second chapter already! I must be dreaming with the amount of motivation I have for this!
I'm not saying I'm gonna have daily updates but I'm gonna try to update as often as possible but school does start soon so thats not fun :/
I tried my best to research for what mafia actually did and I got a general idea but it could be a bit off but it doesn't have to be perfect so I think I did a good job
anyway please enjoy <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Mafioso woke up to the irritating sound of his alarm clock. He groaned and smacked it lightly until it shut up. Gubby was woken by Mafioso's sudden movement and woke up too.
"Good morning Gubby" He said, still half asleep.
Gubby climbed up to Mafioso's neck and rubbed against him. Mafioso smiled and pet the white bunny. He glanced at the clock: 7am. Mafioso usually woke up about an hour earlier than he had to just so he could hang out with Gubby for a while. Even though he got days off he still wanted to spend as much time as possible with him.
His throat felt scratchy. Great, just great, hopefully it wasn't strep throat. (oh bestie your in for a treat ;] )
Eventually he got up and got ready for his day. He changed into his usual work outfit and put on his fedora then headed to the kitchen to make coffee. Usually Mafioso would drink his coffee and move on but today he sat and thought for a bit. Why did he let Chance get away again? Also why did he want to chat? Mafioso sighed and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and hair.
Before he left for work he chugged water and grabbed some cough drops. It didn't help but there wasn't much else he could do about his throat. He headed out the door to get his work day started.
---
"Alright boys" Mafioso said leaning over the round table with Contractee, Consiglier, Capigrime, and Soldier all sitting looking through the files presented on the table. "we've got a rival group who is allegedly going to try to take control over a local restaurant"
"why would they want to take control of a restaurant?" Consiglier questioned, looking through documents of local news and descriptions of people in the rival group.
"It could be for income" Contractee suggested "But restaurants might not be suitable for income"
Mafioso shook his head, handing Consiglier a file. "The owner is said to have ties with certain government officials, they could be using that to their advantage."
"So what's the plan?" Soldier said, looking over at Mafioso.
Mafioso thought for a moment, tapping a finger on the table. "someone goes undercover as a waiter-" Mafioso started coughing and he covered his mouth with his arm. "you alright boss?" Soldier said with concern in his voice. Mafioso cleared his throat. "yeah- *cough* I'm fine, I just woke up with a sore throat." He paused 'why does my cough feel sharp?' It wasn't like a normal cough but he shook it off.
"Sorry, let me continue. Someone can go undercover and look for any suspicions. We can communicate through the headphones and come in for backup just in case." Everyone nodded and continued looking through files and papers.
"I can go undercover this time" Capigrime spoke up and looked at Mafioso "if you have a sore throat and are trying to be stealthy you wouldn't want to be coughing and drawing attention to yourself" Mafioso thought for a moment "sure" He said "then once you guys are ready you can continue working on previous tasks or you can prepare for the mission. It starts at 4:30"
---
The time was 4:28, Mafioso, Soldier and Contractee were standing at the rooftop of a concrete building with their headphones and mics set up. Consiglier was down at the side of the building so he could see what was going on. "Why would they plan to take control of a restaurant at 4:30?" Contractee wondered out loud. "Maybe because less people eat that early and nobody expects crime to happen in broad daylight" Soldier responded, still focused on the restaurant.
The restaurant was one of the fancier ones in the city. It had the standard red carpets, wide windows that covered the walls and people that greeted you when you first came in. Capigrime had snuck in through the back which was surprisingly easy for such a fancy place.
There were no suspicions yet and the men were mostly silent, focused on the task at hand until Soldier looked over to Mafioso "what happened with Chance yesterday?" he questioned covering his mic so the others couldn't hear him.
Mafioso was like a deer in headlights and he looked away in shame. "I-" He paused and covered his mic too. "I gave him 3 more days" he admitted. Soldier paused and giggled "you really have a liking for Chance huh?" he teased. That really got Mafioso's brain running. "Lets talk about this later shall we?" Mafioso said, covering his face hoping his it wasn't tinted red. Soldier nodded but still had a smile on his face when he looked away.
Mafioso mentally smacked himself in the face. He didn't like that idiot. Not one bit. But he couldn't find the reason he gave Chance more time. Again.
Time passed. Nothing happened.
"Alright boys, I say we call it quits" Mafioso said into his mic. About two hours had passed and there was still radio silence in the restaurant and Capigrime can only go so long without getting noticed.
"Alright then" Capigrime said quietly "Meet at the concrete building"
When everyone was gathered at the side of the building they collected mics/headphones and stuffed them into a bag. "How about we get pizza tonight?" Mafioso said, looking at his watch.
"That's good with me," Consiglier said cheerfully. Everyone else agreed and they headed of to the local pizza place.
---
"Soo boss" Soldier looked over at Mafioso as they sat at the table booth in the pizzeria. "whats up with Chance, huh?"
Mafioso rested his face on his hands and sighed "I don't even know at this point" He gave up on excuses.
"You still haven't gotten the money?" Consiglier said in disbelief, "what has it been? Almost a year?"
"*Cough* someone has a crush~ *cough* *cough*" Contractee joked.
Mafioso just buried his face in his hands. "I don't like that idiot gambler," Mafioso said flatly, trying to hide the embarrassment in his voice.
The waiter at the pizzeria looked at them with confusion and set down the cheese and pepperoni without saying a word.
Once everyone was done joking about Mafioso's crush that he "didn't have" they ate their pizza while chatting about other things. Mafioso still had Chance on his mind but still had fun with his boys and finished off the night on a (mostly) good note. His cough wasn't much better but he didn't care, it's not much of a problem. (sure buddy)
Notes:
I really wanted to write another chapter but its already 4:13 am and I have stuff to do with my friends tmmr so I js planned ch3 and Im gonna go to sleep
srry if there are any mistakes in my spelling/grammar
anyway thx for reading <3
Chapter 3: Library visit
Summary:
Mafioso can't seem to avoid Chance no matter how hard he tries.
Notes:
What's that in the sky? It's a bird? It's a plane? Nope it's my motivation slowly coming back!
ok but some family stuff happened and I needed some time but I'm good now!
anyway please enjoy <3
Chapter Text
Mafioso woke up in a coughing spree.
He sat up quickly and coughed into his hand while clutching his chest. Gubby sat up from his spot on the bed and looked at Mafioso wondering about all the noise.
Pain shot through his chest with each cough and it took him a good three minutes for him to finally stop and think about what the hell just happened. Looking down at his hands, he noticed he coughed up a bit of blood. It wasn't much but it was definitely blood. He sat there staring at it for a while, something was clearly wrong.
He groaned and scooted out of bed and into the bathroom. The blood went down the drain as the water washed over his hands. He thought for a moment, any normal person would go to a doctor. But he really didn't want to go. It wasn't gonna kill him if he waited a bit to go to the doctors, all he wanted to do today was relax with Gubby and he was going to collect Chance's debt in two days so, it could wait.
The thought of Chance made his stomach twist in a way he wasn't familiar with. Chance's dumb voice rung in his mind. Mafioso sighed and rubbed his face as if that could magically shake away his thoughts. (it didn't work)
Mafioso got ready to go out. He wanted to simply sit at home with Gubby and relax. And what better way to do that then finding a good book to read with a rabbit on your lap?
---
The library was nice and quiet.
It smelled like old books and a hint of coffee from all the people doing work early in the morning. He strolled on over to the fiction, skimming the titles and occasionally picking up a book then putting it back after reading the back. Nothing caught his eye yet- except someone with a very familiar fedora and headphones.
Mafioso took a double take. Shit, so did the other person.
"Mafioso?" Chance said looking back at him with an eyebrow raised.
"Chance." Mafioso responded coldly. The last thing he needed was to be near him. At the same time he didn't mind but he didn't want Chance to know that. He looked back at the bookshelf, hoping Chance would just walk away but of course he didn't.
"it's surprising seeing you dressed like this" Chance stated. Mafioso wasn't in his normal work outfit obviously, instead he was in a gray short sleeve and black sweat pants. He looked back at Chance.
"yeah..? I'm not working right now so-"
"your eyes are kinda pretty" Chance interrupted.
Mafioso paused. He wasn't wearing his usual fedora so his eyes weren't covered by shadows for once. He suddenly felt a little vulnerable. His face wasn't covered so all his emotions could be read much easier.
"oh." He said feeling his face flush slightly at the complement "Thanks..?"
"anyway!" Chance said cheerfully "What brings you here?"
Mafioso cleared his throat, putting back on his usual act of pretending not to care.
"I was looking for something to read on my day off, but I might need to find a book on how to get idiots that like to gamble to leave me alone" Mafioso deadpanned
Chance kept the same smile but Mafioso could tell he rolled his eyes under his shades.
"well if that's the case then-"
Mafioso started coughing. He held his hand to his mouth to cover any possible blood from being seen. Again, he felt those sharp pains in his lungs, his knees felt weak the more he coughed and eventually he stopped and looked back up at Chance. He kept his hand closed just in case he coughed up any blood.
"Are you alright?" Chance said, tilting his head slightly with concern
Mafioso caught his breath. "Pardon me, I'm not doing too good today."
"I can tell" Chance joked. "well I hope you find that book! I still won't leave ya alone until I'm right at deaths door!"
"we'll see" Mafioso said, wiping his hand on the side of his pants before turning back to the bookcase and grabbing a random book.
Chance waved goodbye before going back to strolling through isles of books.
Silence again.
---
Mafioso plopped down onto his couch.
Gubby quickly jumped up near his feet and stomped his foot angrily. Mafioso picked up the little ball of fluff and emotions and pet his slowly on his lap. He hadn't gotten a book from the library dispite that being his only reason to be there but he wasn't sure if he could focus on reading now.
Mafioso thought about Chance for a bit. His dumb voice, his dumb smile and the dumb way he was always on Mafioso's mind. There was no more denying it. Mafioso had a crush on him. But why should Mafioso bother? He knew Chance didn't like him, why would he? Chance is just gambling with his life and seeing how far he can push Mafioso until he actually did something.
Mafioso reached for the remote to pop on a movie. Hopefully it could distract him from everything. He didn't need "feelings" or Chance or anything like that. He had to do his job and not let Chance push him farther.
Chapter 4: Oh shit...
Notes:
Heheheh Mafioso is in for a treattt. I hope he likes roses!
I wrote this on half a braincell while listening to tv girl
anyway please enjoy <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Mafioso didn't need an alarm to be up at 5:00am.
He stood in the bathroom and stared at himself in the mirror. Hair tangled, eyes heavy, and unfortunately in pain. He had only gotten about two hours of sleep until he was woken up by another coughing spree. I didn't help he had gone to bed late because his brain wouldn't shut up. (damn poor guy can't get any sleep cuz of Chance)
He sighed and sat on the floor with his face to his knees. Why was everything going wrong? He had to worry about his work, these dumb coughing sprees and worst of all he didn't actually want to get Chance's debt anymore. Of course, he still wanted the money but he didn't want to stop seeing Chance. His stupidly cute face and they way he said Mafioso's eyes were pretty yesterday. Mafioso's face felt hot at the thought of that moment.
He needed to forget this. He didn't want to want Chance. Surely after he gets the debt this will all go away. (Keep telling yourself that >:] )
Mafioso stood up and went to his kitchen. He sure as hell wasn't going back to sleep, so coffee was probably his best bet. He felt burnt out.
"Just one more day" he murmured to himself. "Then I get the money and get myself a doctors appointment."
He went to work early that day. He didn't want to sit with his thoughts anymore.
---
Mafioso sat at his desk going through paperwork for a while. It was boring sure, but he didn't mind. Even though his throat and lungs ached and he coughed a bit as per usual the day was mostly fine so far. He had a meeting with his boys and a couple documents to look through then the day was over.
He groaned and let his head rest on his hands with his elbows on the desk. His eyes darted to the digital clock sitting on his desk. 9:24 am. Only four hours after he woke up. Time felt so slow. Even though he's had sleepless nights before and bad days, he felt so tired.
His breath felt heavy.
Suddenly another coughing spree. Mafioso grabbed at his chest and with each cough felt his lungs feel tight and sharp. It was more suffocating and painful every second. Until he felt something come up his throat. He coughed into his hand and caught his breath.
In his hand sat a small pinkish rose. It was a bit bigger than a quarter but that was the least of Mafioso's problems right now.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!?" He shouted in shock.
He stared at it for a second, slowly regaining his breath as blood dripped from his hand and mouth.
"Boss..?" Contractee said staring at him while holding the door. Consiglier and Capigrime stood by in the hallway.
Mafioso froze. How the hell do you tell someone you're fine after you've coughed up a rose and that you don't have a crush on a gambler that owes you money and your life isn't falling apart and you miss your pet bunny and- Mafioso paused his train of thought and took a breath. He had to be honest and swallow his pride. Everybody struggles at one point right?
"I... don't know what's happening." Mafioso said nervously, showing them the rose. Soldier came in and took one look at the rose.
"Is that why you were coughing..?" he said. Mafioso nodded and his hand starting to shake slightly.
"Wait, how did you cough up a flowe-?" Consiglier started. "Boss... is this because of Chance?" Soldier interrupted. Everyone looked at Soldier with confusion and Mafioso felt his face heat up a little when Chance was mentioned.
"...what?" Mafioso said nervously. "Have none of you heard of hanahaki disease?!" Soldier shouted. "It's went flowers grow inside you because of unrequited love" He said, shaking his head.
"It is Chance is it?" Contractee said looking back at Mafioso.
"Am I that obvious?" Mafioso said annoyed, covering his face with his free hand in embarrassment. He had accepted his fate by now. Chance was going to be the death of him.
"Sorry boss but for once you didn't kill Chance immediately, you don't seem to hate him as much as other people that owe you money and you talked to him for about an hour a couple days ago at the bar." Capigrime stated.
"how did you know that?"
"The cameras at the casino"
Mafioso sighed and looked over at Soldier "Ok, so what do I do now? Or am I doomed to be suffocated by flowers?"
Soldier shook his head "you ether confess and hope he likes you back or get them removed surgically. But that does mean you will no longer have feelin-"
Mafioso saw a glimmer of hope. "I'll do that." He said confidently. But the more he thought about it the more he hated the idea.
As if reading his mind Capigrime spoke up "are you sure boss? Maybe it would be good to have someone who isn't your employee or your bunny"
"...No" Mafioso forced himself to say "after I collect the money I'll get the flowers removed and never have to think about Chance again"
Everyone exchanged glances and nodded. "alright then boss" Contractee said a little disappointed.
And the day continued with occasional coughing sprees and another flower but Mafioso got through it with coffee and willpower.
---
At 3:48 am Mafioso lay in his bed wide awake, tears running down his cheeks and Gubby at his side.
He didn't want to let go. The more he thought about it the more he thought about Chance. He felt so stupid for this.
He was kind of scared. Every morning had started with coughing recently and if he really did have flowers in his lungs how long would he still be able to breath?
He told himself it's fine, everything's going to be better soon...
Hopefully.
Notes:
Ya'll aren't ready for the next chapter >:)
Also school started so I might take a bit to update cuz the education system is hell :3
<3