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Something told him that if he hadn't said something soon, Matteo would have. While Nico was generally the quiet type who kept his thoughts to himself, he felt spurred to break the silence, both in an attempt to get to know the other vampire better and because he worried a little that he just wasn't engaging enough. While he did not yet have any expectations beyond this night, there was hope, deep down, that maybe...

No, he wouldn't think about that right now. Instead, he focused on Matteo's reply, the body pressed against his, and that sultry voice that had drawn him in. When the other vampire called him cute, he couldn't help but grin. Of course, Matteo could just be saying it; used to saying whatever he thought someone else wanted to hear.

Ah. What did Nico do? That wasn't a question he would typically answer with honesty, but he did not feel the need to lie for some reason.

"I'm a hitman." he shrugged. "My family hires me out as a contract killer."

And then didn't pay him for it, which was becoming a bit annoying.

It was a little surprising the way Matteo responded to Nico’s confession. He hadn’t precisely expected the blonde to go running for the hills, but he had thought maybe there would have been some amount of shock. Or maybe not. They were both Giovannni, after all. There were far more shocking things going on within the clan.

“My family seems to think I owe them something, so I don't exactly get paid,” Nico said. Though he tried not to let his irritation leak into his tone, his expression darkened slightly as he gave his head a shake, dark hair falling over his eyes so that he had to reach up to push it aside. “But I have a place to say on the estate, and I get a small stipend.”

Thus the ability to at least go and grab a few drinks every once in a while.

They were only a couple of blocks away now, and Nico was beginning to feel more at ease. He let out a light chuckle and tilted his head towards Matteo a little, resting his head against the other vampires as he held him close to his side. “Sure, I have stories. They all pretty much end the same, though.”

However, some instances were more bloody than others.

"It's not quite that." Nico smiled though, because it was nice to hear from someone, even if that someone was practically a stranger, that he had value. "It's more like...I won't do what they want, so I'm being punished for it."

Manipulated would have been the correct word, if it was actually working. Nico could give a s**t about what was wanted of him, however, so he was not about to give in. Besides, they could find somebody else.

It was weirdly easy to tell Matteo these things, given that they hardly even knew each other. Nico couldn't say that he'd ever felt more comfortable around someone so quickly, even after a bit of a shaky start. There was something about him that seemed to draw at Nico, pulling him out of his typical cold and calculating shell. He didn't really know what that meant though. He was still in the mindset that this was going to be nothing more than a bit of fun, even if he wished it could be more than that. Matteo just didn't seem like the type that was looking for more.

As they came to the end of the block they were on, by now on the very edge of the city, Nico turned them around a corner. Talk of stories aside (what Matteo said puzzled him, as he wondered if there were some hidden meaning there), the vampire lifted his free hand to point. "And there it is, the family estate."

It was about what one might expect in this family. Gated, a fairly nice courtyard, a large, sicilian style mansion, a bit of land....

....A group of idiots on the front lawn hurling insults at each other while two vampires threw fists back and forth, all of which Nico could hear quite clearly despite them still being over half a block and a long driveway away.

Yep. This was home.

The voices grew louder the closer they approached. The gates before the long driveway were already open, and Nico steered them in that direction. "There's rarely a dull moment around here." the vampire replied, sounding more resigned than anything. It was precisely what he expected, outside or inside the expansive home. Puttanesca was well known for its nasty tempers, and fighting was commonplace within the family or with other families. If he wasn't careful, he might get sucked into this one, and he was sure it was over something ridiculous.

There were other things he'd much rather be doing. The most important was currently tucked in at his side with an arm wrapped around him. Voices rose loud enough for them to snatch a few words here and there, Sicilian accents thick.

""

Nico couldn't help it. He made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat and rolled his eyes skywards, muttering something under his breath, almost like a mock prayer for God/Grendel to give him strength as they drew nearer and nearer to the excitement.

A few in the crowd of jeerers spotted them, and he heard several begin to call his name, attempting to get him to come over to...he had no idea what. Help settle the matter, perhaps? Though there didn't seem to be much to settle.

"Let's just ignore them," Nico said to the man next to him, ushering him faster toward the main entrance. "They'll either fight it out or remember that they are cousins and pretend it never happened."

yayoi

They were fortunate. The few that had turned their attention away from the fight and had spotted Nico did not pursue them, though they did call out a few lewd jeers when they noticed Matteo on his arm. Nico gave them a rude gesture in return, and while one or two glared and told him to '******** off, then,' the few others laughed and turned their attention back to the action.

He just barely caught the tail end of Matteo waving at the crowd when he turned his attention back to the other vampire. Well, that explained a few of the jeers, particularly the ones that had called out to Matteo to drop Nico and join them instead. "Good." He said, with a soft smile, "Wouldn't want to lose you just as we finally get to my doorstep."

Well, not quite, they still had to make their way through the mansion and to where Nico stayed. He let himself inside, only to nearly run straight into another vampire who was on his way out. Nico sidestepped quickly, sweeping his gaze over the other, his expression going passive once more.

"Off to join in the fun, Thomas?" He asked, and the tall, lean, dark haired vampire shook his head.

"Got a quick job to do for your father before sunrise. He's been looking for you, by the way. Expected you back ages ago."

"Well, he can keep waiting. I'm busy tonight." Nico's eyes were cold as he turned away.

"Sorry about that. It's always a bit...hectic around here." Which was why Nico so often stayed out even once he'd done his job. It was either that, lock himself in his room, or get drawn into some stupid s**t he didn't want any part in. At least when he went out to the club, he had something nice to look at.

After that they managed to make their way through the large building without running into anyone else. Not too surprising, given that it seemed like half the household was outside. Eventually, they came to a door, and Nico had to fish his free hand into his jacket for a key, unlocking the door before they could step inside.

It was more like an apartment or a suite then a room. Large, spread out, and seemingly befitting of somebody with a higher rank then just a hit man who wasn't paid very well.

Nico let his arm slip out from around Matteo and turned to close the door behind them, sliding the lock back into place.