Under My Wing

"I don't think I'm gonna like Italy dad," Tom patted Ein's shoulder.

"You'll like it, Ein. Trust me; there are a lot of things to do here. You'll never be bored."

"I think Niko already found a new hobby. He threw a rock at a fish."

"Your brother is adopted."

"Oh, that explains a lot."

"SCREW YOU OLD MAN, I AM NOT ADOPTED, AND YOU KNOW IT" Niko threw his last rock into the ocean. "Huh, that's odd. I seem to have the adoption papers in my office."

"You wish I were adopted but jokes on you. I'm too perfect to be adopted!"

"Perfectly idiotic," Ein snickered to himself.

"I will hit you, Ein."

"Boys!" The three of them stopped bickering, faced with Tony's wrath.

"We are in Italy now. Try to act like adults and not children. I do not want to make a bad impression in front of Ronan."

"You mean your old man crush?" Ein called out his mom.

"What?" Tom was confused.

"Oh yeah, dad, you didn't know?" Ein had a cheeky grin "mom finds your dad hot."

"Is that true?" Tom looked at his wife in disbelief.

"Well, umm," she cleared her throat, "I didn't want you to find out this way."

"My dad is 53, Tony!"

"And!? Your dad ages like fine wine!"

"Oh my god."

"It's true!"

"I don't even wanna hear this right now; I just can't" Tom felt like gagging.

"You age like fine wine too, but your dad is like that really fine wine that never ages out of place," Ein and Niko gagged.

"Stop, just don't talk about my dad like that ever again. I don't think I'll be able to handle it."

"You just can't handle the truth" Tony crossed her arms.

"TONY"

"I think dad feels inferior," said Niko

"Have you met grandpa Niko?"

"Oh yeah, quite a few times when dad used to visit him more."

"What's he like?"

"Well, I can definitely say he lives up to his name of former mafia king dudes gaze can kill armies," Ein gulped

"S-so do you think he'll like us?"

"I dunno, maybe he'll pluck out the weakest and send them to the front lines to either die or toughen up."

"I-i don't wanna go the front lines!"

"Then I suggest you avoid looking like a wet noodle" Eins mind was going a million miles a minute. 'How am I supposed to convince grandpa I'm not a wet noodle!' He thought to himself. Seeing everyone was already leaving, Ein hurriedly ran to catch up.

"Dad, try not to scare the children. There are a few you haven't met yet," Darren said

"I am fully aware, Darren. Just make sure everything is ready for when they arrive."

"I've already got that covered, even tho I think it's better they don't show up."

"What was that?"

"Nothing" Darren left the room. Hearing a knock on the door, Ronan checked the eyeglass.

"Dad, it's me. You can let us in" seeing it was Thomas, Ronan opened the door and stepped aside, letting everyone enter.

"You could've given me some warning beforehand, Tom."

"I thought you might like the surprise, dad" Ein hid behind Tom, trying to stay out of sight.

"Want to introduce them to me? It seems you've had a few more since your last visit."

"You already know Richard and Niko; then there's Ein and Jennette, another pair of twins, and Sammy, and the littlest one is Rocky."

"The one hiding behind you is?"

"Ein, I have no idea why he's hiding like this" Tom grabbed Ein's arm and dragged him out from behind him.

"Ein, this is your grandfather, my father, Ronan."

"H-hi, sir!" Ein avoided eye contact, afraid of what Niko said.

"You seem timid" Ronan got down at eye level.

"I-i'm sorry, sir i-i don't want to offend you. I don't want your gaze to kill me either!" Ronan laughed

"Huh?" Ein looked at Ronan

"It seems Niko has told you about me. That kid always exaggerates things, yes, I may be scary or intimidating, but I won't kill you. You're my grandson," Ronan smiled.

"M-My mom said you age like fine wine."

"EIN LYNN WOLFIER"

"EEP," Ronan chuckled

"Trust me. Your mother is not the first one to say something like that."

"She's not?" Ein tilted his head. Ronan nodded.

"I may look old now, but back when I was your father's age, I could make any girl wish they were by my side."

"Who did you choose?"

"Ein, I don't think that's appropriate."

"It's alright, Thomas," Ronan stood up "come with me, Ein" Ein was hesitant but followed his grandfather deeper into the estate.

"I chose someone a very long time ago, a woman who was just stunning and as smart as our high-school teacher. She was everything I wanted"

"What happened to her?" Ronan entered his library with Ein following behind.

"Unfortunately, when your father was seven, she got extremely ill and passed away."

"I'm sorry, sir."

"It's alright, and please call me grandpa. You don't have to be so formal" Ein nodded, watching Ronan grab a large book off a shelf.

"Come here, Ein" Ronan sat down in one of the chairs, and Ein sat next to him on the armrest.

"What's this?"

"It's a family photo album your grandmother demanded I update consistently, or she'd stop making me breakfast and letting me have dessert after."

"You got dessert after breakfast? Lucky"

"Not the kind of dessert your thinking. I'll tell you what I mean when you're older."

"Oh, ok!" Ronan opened the photo album going to a picture of his and Addilyn's wedding day.

"You really do look like dad."

"All the Wolfier boys look similar. It's only the girls that tend to look different."

"My sister looks very different."

"Well, past generations haven't always been Italian blood. After all, my father was African American."

"How does that work, grandpa?"

"It's complicated but look here" Ronan held the book up to make it easier for Ein to see the pictures.

"There's you, grandma, and I think your mom and dad?" Ronan nodded.

"You could have someone look like somebody from 6 generations back. It all depends on the genes in your body, but your grandmother was perfect."

"She looks really pretty."

"She was, and in my mind still is, she was the one who decided to let your father take over."

"I wish I could take over."

"Well, you're scrawny and maybe a little timid, but we can work on it. It just takes time, and one day, if your brothers find their own passions, you can take over after your father."

"Niko makes fun of me when I talk about taking over."

"Big brothers tend to be the mean ones, but as long as you aim for it and trust yourself to follow through and improve, you can do it."

"When you met grandma, did you want to take over?"

"No, not really. I didn't want to put her in harm's way, but she was persistent and always wanted me to aim for it even if it was risky."

"Do you think I'll take over or one of my brothers?"

"Well, between you and me, your brother is a little too arrogant. You're the perfect balance that we need."

"Can you tell me more, grandpa?" Ronan smiled.

"Sure, Ein"

"I already know what I want to do, dad," Nicolette sat across from Atlas.

"Then what is it? I'll pay for whatever you have in mind."

"I want to be an assassin," Atlas spat out his coffee.

"Are you alright, father!?" Altas coughed a couple of times.

"I-i'll be alright, but an assassin? That is a very dangerous job, Nicolette."

"I know, but I decided that maybe this is a way to become useful. I know I'm blind, but maybe I can use that to my advantage."

"Well, it certainly is ambitious... are you sure this is what you want?" Nicolette nodded.

"It's going to be very risky, but it's what I want to do, dad. Besides, it'll give me the skills necessary to kill Zayne quietly if needed."

"Huh?" Zayne poked his head up from the fridge.

"It's a dangerous job. I don't know if you're capable of doing it."

"Trust me, dad, I can do it. Besides, I can earn extra money, and we can renovate this place. I refuse to be a burden to our family any longer."

"Oh honey, you're not a burden."

"Regardless, this is also something I need to do for myself" Nicolette stood up from her seat. "I hope you'll support me, father," she bowed.

"Nicolette..." Atlas sighed "alright," Nicolette smiled

"Thank you"

"Have you decided on the place you want to learn? Unfortunately, they aren't easy to find since being an assassin is not something they want to publicly announce" Nicolette nodded.

"It was difficult as I can't see but hearing their introductions with Zayne's help, I think I've found the perfect place."

"Where's it located?"

"Romania" Zayne chimed in

"Romania!? Do you know how far away that is!?"

"I am aware, father."

"What if something happens to you!? I won't be able to do anything to help!"

"Dad... I already know that mom went there."

"... how did you find out?"

"Mom's books" Nicolette opened her backpack, taking out a journal. "Mom wrote in her journal about her experiences. I read this before grandpa was able to remove my sight" Atlas held the book in his hands, seeming to be lost in thought.

"What she went through at that school was very difficult, and it nearly broke her in the end."

"I know, but she also talked about how the school made her feel like she could do anything if she put her mind to it, and that's what I'm going to do."

"Then I'll contact the school in Romania..."

"Dad" Ein looked up at his father.

"Yes, Ein?"

"I want to take your place when I'm older! When you step down as Mafia King, I want to take over" Tom stood there in shock.

"That's a very umm... ambitious thought Ein."

"It's not a thought, father," Ein said sternly. "I meant it."

"Well, that's not for me to decide. You have to earn that place above your brothers Richard and Niko."

"Then I will! I'll prove that I'm just as good a choice as them, even better!"

"Pfft, as if you could do that," Niko shoved Ein a little.

"Niko, do not shove your brother."

"Listen, dweeb, no girl even wants to look at you. Your friends are incredibly weird like you, and unlike me, you're weak, scrawny, and very dumb. So if anyone is going to take over, it's me," Niko stomped on Ein's hand.

"Oww!" Ein held his hand, watching it turn red.

"Niko, that's enough" everyone looked at Richard, who had just entered the estate.

"Tch, why did you have to come back!?" Niko glared at his brother.

"I came back because this is my family, and I was right that you would bully Ein while I was gone because that's all you ever do with your sad little life. Now move along, Niko" Richard had his face inches from Niko's. Despite the slight height difference between the twin brothers, everyone could sense Richard's intimidation.

"Fine, if you want to be on that little loser's side, then go ahead. It's just a waste of time and talent on your part" Niko turned around and left.

"Richard... uh, thank you."

"Don't thank me, Ein. He's not entirely wrong. You let people walk over you and let them think you're weak like a little puppy. You don't stand up for yourself, and that needs to change."

"But I don't even know where to begin..." Ein rubbed his arm "you heard him. He's obviously saying I have no chance."

"That's what we're going to work on, and you're going to work until you feel like your bones are going to break" Richard scanned him up and down, "which is not gonna be long by the looks of it."

"What do you mean?"

"You said you wanted to be the next Mafia King, right?"

"Well... yes"

"Good, because I have zero interest in taking over, and I have decided to take you under my wing till you're ready, so don't you dare disappoint me, Ein. Do you understand me?" Ein smiled brightly and stood up, doing a salute.

"Sir, yes, sir!"

"Don't do that?" Ein dropped the salute.

"Yes, Richard!"