Worlds Collide

[mostlyajerk]

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[viber]

"Grab whatever shit you can, little Paco deactivated the security so we have free reign. Get moving."

The gang spread out all over the mansion as quickly and quick as they could and Dante paused, taking a moment to ruffle his brothers hair and to reach out, adjusting his brothers sunglasses. Even indoors, he wore them. He told the guys his little brother was a genius and he hadn't let him down. Yeah, Paco was odd but he always did the job well. Paco beamed with pride in return and swiftly started moving himself, knowing what the job was. He wanted to impress these guys, he wanted them to want him like they wanted Dante. They needed money badly and this was the best way to get it in their area. And this one was a big job. They were lucky to be let in on it.

The Rathaways were out of town, security was easily taken care of and Paco had hacked and disabled all alarms, trips and cameras. It was supposed to be easy as hell but no one wanted to tempt fate. They had five minutes tops to grab all the shit they could and get back to the hall.

Paco ran upstairs and scanned the hallway for anything that looked expensive. He'd studied up on this kind of thing, needing to prove his use to these men. He knew the marks of expensive and what would fetch the most. The artwork? For show. No good. The vases? Eh. The real ones must have been kept in storage. But at the end of the hall, on a little table, was a plate. Just a decorative plate. Paco picked it up slowly and looked at the back, his eyes bulging at the autograph on the back. Holy shit. This was worth a mint! A little bit of careless vanity had cost the Rathaways because why the hell would they ever have a knock off on display? He wrapped it up the best he could with a rag he'd brought with him to protect the valuables and slid it gently into his pocket. They were going to love him for this one when he explained it's worth.

[mostlyajerk]

"Who are you?" Hart wasn't an idiot. Inexperienced when it came to actually interacting with the world and people, but he knew things. He noticed that the camera was disabled when he looked up and he saw the way the other boy moved through the hallway. He hadn't been told about visitors, it wasn't difficult to piece together that they were being robbed.

Hart was supposed to be sleeping, which explained why he was wearing a simple white t-shirt and pyjama pants instead of proper clothes. He still had his glasses on, because he had been reading in his room, the door now ajar, letting a little light fall into the hall. "I'm sorry, but you should leave. This isn't legal."

[viber]

Paco spun around mid-retreat and paused, eyes wide as he looked at the kid standing in his bedroom doorway in his pyjamas. Looking right at him. Oh shit. Oh shit, no, he'd seen his face. He'd seen what he looked like and that was the biggest thing Dante always told him never to do. Don't let anyone see you and if you do, run. Well, he wasn't running, he was stuck grounded to the floor, unsure what to do now.

He didn't want to fuck this job up, it was his first and he so didn't want to get arrested. He didn't ever want to be apart from Dante. "Put your hands in the air." Paco managed to say it with plenty of confidence, not letting his voice tremble like it used to. He didn't have a weapon but that didn't matter. It was all in the confidence. "Put your hands in the air or you're going to regret it, rich boy. Now fucking do it."

[viber]

"I got dinner." Paco limped into his bedroom and threw a brown rolled up bag in Hartley's direction, holding his own in his good hand. His one had was now pretty swollen, punching was not very nice. Paco wasn't very good at this just yet, he knew he'd get better but the drug run was not amazing, he got jumped on the way back but he managed to protect the product, just not himself. The others were impressed though, they tipped him a little extra for his efforts.

Hence dinner. He figured he'd be nice and share with the hostage, he heard they were making the call today and Dante had told him they needed Hartley for it. He was probably having a shit day like him. Paco dropped down onto his bed and gave Hartley a frown. Did he really want to ask if he was okay or not?

[mostlyajerk]

"You're hurt." Hart immediately sounded concerned, since he saw no reason to hide that. He was hurt as well, but that was different. He wasn't really used to seeing someone else hurt. "Maybe you can put something cool on it." Whatever he'd do, he just hoped Paco wouldn't leave him alone with the others again. He didn't want a repeat of that. He didn't want to listen to their plans. He didn't want to hear how he'd die.

[viber]

"I'm fine." Paco said in a tone that made it clear that this was not a debating issue. "Eat your food, I paid for that out of my own money and everything. Those things are shit when they go cold too." Nothing like a cold cheese burger and soggy old fries to ruin a dinner. He opened out his bag and pulled out his burger, not waiting for the other to start. He did, however, put his hand in the big gulp cup of coke he had. He asked for ice for a reason. See, look, he had this covered. "You don't eat meat, right? They did a veggie burger so I got you that. I don't know what sauce you like either so I gt mayo and tomato sauce packets."

[mostlyajerk]

"So. This is my room." Hart had gotten up off the floor where he'd fallen in an attempt to... In no attempt, he'd simply fallen over out of fright when somebody opened his window from the outside. But since then Paco had assured him that he was just visiting and so now he got to show him his room. It was bit, if a bit sterile, with many bookcases filled with books. There was a big desk that had his study material as well as space for his current projects.

Once more he was in pyjamas. They really had to stop meeting like this, Paco looked so much cooler than him. "Oh." Hart slapped his forehead and hurried to the desk, crouched down and unplugged the lamp. He wrapped the cord around the lamp and then held it out for Paco with a smile. "Here."

[viber]

"I--I don't want your lamp." Paco wasn't sure what to say to that. He just stared at him from behind his sunglasses, entirely baffled. Taking a lamp right now wasn't a great idea, given that he and Dante didn't officially have a place to crash. After the raid on the warehouse, Paco had to leave his old home and room, only managing to snag a few belongings that were now locked up in a bus station locker. Otherwise, he and Dante were kind of sleeping rough right now. Or they had been since their last place caught fire. He fell asleep one night where they were squatting and the next day ... well, they were separated about two days ago now and he hadn't seen him since he'd woken up. It had been the worst two days.

He kept a distance from Hart, seeming unsure and almost afraid. He wasn't sure what he was even doing here. This was a bad idea. He backed away and moved towards the window. "I should really -- I should go. This was a mistake. I'm sorry, Hart."

[mostlyajerk]

"Oh. Okay." Hart looked around the room, desperately wishing he had something to give him and still forlornly holding the lamp. "I could see about sneaking in the kitchen and getting some food, Paco. If you want." He smiled a little and stepped forward, just to set the lamp down on the desk again. "You don't have to go. Don't worry. If they didn't catch you sneak in, nobody is going to catch you."

People didn't come to his room that often. "I believe some of the pens I have might be worth money."

[mostlyajerk]

"Morning, sleepyhead." Hartley had drawn back the curtains and he moved onto the bed, once more carrying a tray. He put it down and then gently shook Paco's shoulder in an effort to wake him up. "I didn't know what you wanted for breakfast, so I got some of everything."

His parents were out, so getting breakfast that he could have in his room hadn't been difficult to negotiate and since they were under orders to ignore his choice to be vegetarian, there was even bacon, which he had to admit smeleld pretty good. But there were also eggs done about five different ways, from boiled to omelette to scrambled and sunny side up and cereal as well as fruit salad. Hartley never ate a lot for breakfast, but he figured that Paco might be hungry, which was why he also brought bread, butter an jam along.

[viber]

"What? Oh fuck!" Paco rolled over and opened his eyes before he shot up in a panic, blindly trying to get from the sheets. Curse being tucked in. Oh shit! Where was he? What was-- wait, no, he managed to calm down when he remembered he crashed with Hart. For a second there, he just thought he'd slept in the middle of ... well, anywhere. He couldn't remember where he was and that was kind of jarring. Which, admittedly, had happened before. Once he even slept on the beach. It was gross. He let himself fall back against Hart's soft mattress, clearing his throat a little. Whatever. He was still cooler than this nerd, even if he just freaked out like an idiot.

He looked at the food and blinked a few times. There was so much food. "Is this just breakfast or is it dinner and lunch too?" He leaned forward to get a proper look. "That's a lot of eggs."

[viber]

"Boo!"

Paco called from outside the window, knocking on the glass to get Hart's attention away from whatever he was writing and onto him because he was currently clinging to a pipe and he really needed to get in before someone spotted him. It had been over a week since he last visited and he knew it had been longer than he wanted it to be but it took this long to convince Dante this was a good idea. "Let me in, genius."

[mostlyajerk]

Hart rushed to open the window, holding it to Paco could come in. "I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting you..." One of these days he'd not just be in pyjamas around Paco, somehow that was going to happen. "Is everything all right?" Given last time Paco had literally cried in his arms, Hart had no idea what to expect, but his mind was already going through the possibilities. "Can I help you?"

[mostlyajerk]

"What are you doing here? Am I going out? Do you need something?" Hart asked questions the moment he opened the door, once more in pyjamas. It would be an unsettling trend, but given the times Paco dropped by it really was just logical. This time he had actually been asleep though and so his hair was messy and he was still blinking at the light he'd just turned up, covering his mouth as he let out a yawn. "Hello. Good to see you. Sorry, it's late, I forgot my manners."

[viber]

"Sorry, I didn't realise you were asleep. I just wanted to come over." He slid onto the floor and looked up at Hart, raising an eyebrow at him. Did he just always assume Paco was where to steal him. He came over to the bed and smiled a little when he saw Cisca sitting there on a pillow, all happy and ratty. He was so happy Hart did genuinely like her. "I needed to see you." He looked at Hart and swallowed nervously. He and Dante had talked for a long time last night and it sort of helped Paco see something he'd never seen before. Because, apparently, he was an idiot.

[mostlyajerk]

That had agreed to meet, before Hart found out that his parents knew. They had threatened, they had punished and it was all far from over. But what was most important was to protect Paco. Hart had written down what he needed to tell him, because he knew that if he said the truth, Paco wouldn't just leave it be. But this was for Paco's sake and so Hart managed to sneak out at night, so he could stand outside and intercept Paco. He smiled when he saw him, quickly stopping him just before he could climb the fence.

"Hello. Thought I'd meet you outside."

[viber]

"Woah, you're brave."

Paco laughed a little as he came in closer and pulled Hart into a kiss, pulling back with a bright smile. "Do you want to go somewhere? Oh! I know a great place we could go. It'll be nice. Actually nice, not like when I took you to that club Dante recommended." That had been a mistake. Too many drinks, too many loud women flashing their chests, it had certainly been traumatic. Mostly for poor Hart. "We could go get pizza."

[mostlyajerk]

"No comment." Apparently him not discussing his parents' will in front of the entire press just days after they'd died was worth a lot of mumbling. Hart looked down at Jerrie when she tightened her arms around his neck, whispering to her in Spanish to make her relax a little. She kept her eyes closed.

"Should you really be holding the child during a press conference?"

"Probably not, but she won't let go of me. Care to force her?" There, at least he could handle dry humour. "As I've said, Rathaway Industries is stable and in capable hands. The acting CEO and everyone else working their has my complete confidence. I believe that will also reflect on the market, once the dust has settled."

He looked into the camera, his mouth suddenly dry. "There is someone I'd like to speak to, if he watches this." He switched to Spanish seamlessly as he continued. "Cisca misses you. Come by, please."

Hart smiled a little and quickly tried to compose himself again. "No further questions. Thank you."

That said he turned and carried Jerrie down the stairs, glad that there were people who held back everyone that wanted to keep asking him questions. He just needed a quiet moment alone. He just needed Paco.

[viber]

Paco saw the clip, only because Dante sent it to him. He didn't really watch the news much, especially not anything that had to do with the Rathaways. He'd failed Hartley all those years ago and all that sadness and bitterness, it didn't go away easy. He didn't know how to take it that Hart even invited him by. He said he was going back for him but he never did. Not properly. He tried. He jumped the fence and the guards jumped him.

He was sitting in their dingy apartment post work, blood staining his shirt as he sat back and looked at the video he had on his phone of the Rathaway press conference. No wonder Dante sent this to him. Since when did Hart have a kid? Huh. Weird. He had no idea what to think and before he closed it, he heard him speak Spanish and he froze.

Wait, he wanted to see him? Shit. No way. He couldn't do that. He couldn't go see Hart after all these years and all those fuck ups. He didn't make any move to go and see him, he stopped looking at his phone and he sulked in his room for days. Well, until Dante finally got fed up and kicked him out. In his eyes, Paco needed to man up and face his fears. He needed to go see Hart.

Paco had no idea what he was doing or how he ended up going to the Rathaway place but he just did. He wasn't sure he even wanted to go but it was too late now. He was there, across the street and oh man, there was press everywhere. Paco went around the back to try and avoid them, hopping the fence and -- of course, history repeated itself.

He was tackled down by two guys and pinned to the floor before he could even explain himself. "Stay down!"

"I kind of have to, esé, you're crushing me!" Paco snapped as he wriggled against the hold. "I was invited. My name is Paco. Just ask!"

[viber]

Paco had not watched a kids movie in a very long time. He remembered watching a few when he was very little but his pop culture exposure was a little behind. He remembered the box of VHS tapes he had as a child and whenever mom and dad were out, he and Dante would just watch every film they could but none of them were really kids films. He used to love it though, watching movies. It was kind of cool to do it again.

The film they had on now was about a rat cooking and honestly, it was adorable. Their original date plan had been to watch Paco's favourite film, Reservoir Dogs, but Jerrie had gatecrash their date post nap, sad eyed and unable to go back to sleep so they'd switched the film half way through and here they were, with Jerrie between them in her pyjamas, watching a kids film. "I like the rat." Paco told Hart with a smile, clearly amused by this whole evening. What a date.

[mostlyajerk]

"You should. Rats are the best." Hart informed Paco while reaching out over Jerrie's head to hold his hand. This could have been fairly romantic, they had a lot of nice snacks - his cook was really appreciating the new regime so far and it showed - and they had been cuddling, well, chilling right up until Jerrie interrupted them, but this wasn't so bad either. He was enjoying the movie and Jerrie was stretched out on the sofa between them, her legs over Hart's lap and her head in Paco's. She had already accepted Paco as something like another big brother.

"Can rats talk, Paco?"

[donowrong]

"Hello?"

Dante had expected to see his brother here, since this was the room those asshole guards sent him towards. Why were they assholes? Because they have him a funny look and that shit didn't sit right with him. He didn't like this He didn't like it here either but Paco insisted and here he was. So where the hell was Paco and why was looking at this tiny child and not his brother. Twice now. Twice had come here and instead of finding adults, he got stuck with the kid. "Do you know where Paco is?" Could she understand him at this age? Should he talk slow?

[mostlyajerk]

Jerrie was lying on the floor of her room and colouring in her colouring book. She got on her knees when Dante addressed her and shook her head, but then changed her mind and replied. "TV shop." She got to her feet, butt first and then lifting her hands off the ground as well. "Are you Dante?" She beamed at him and then continued to suddenly speak Spanish. "I'm Jerrie. I'm this many." She held up two fingers and then put those fingers into her mouth. "How many are you?"

[mostlyajerk]

Booooooooooored.

[viber]

Meeting?