The Gig [Finished]

[accalia]

"Okay, what's eating you today?" Tony asks "You look like someone shot your dog."

Tony tries to be comforting, he really does..... he's also really bad at it.

[yamikuronue]

Vic takes a deep breath, but lets it out in a sigh. "I probably won't be in tomorrow."

[accalia]

"You're allowed days off." Tony agrees "I've only kept you on my schedule because it's more convenient for you to be working at the same time as me, seeing as you're doing my filing and paperwork."

Tony looks Vic over 'Ywant the rest of tonight off as well? I can finish the shift by myself if you need the time."

[yamikuronue]

Vic hesitates. "No," he says, finally. "I don't know when I'll be back." Well, I know, but he won't like the answer.

[accalia]

that gets a sigh out of Tony. a deep and long one too.

"Alright... Two questions then, and answer them honestly please, I've come to trust you and i'm a fair hand at reading people. the two questions are: Should i keep the job for you or look for someone new? and why?"

Tony doesn't sound angry. He sounds disappointed, sure, but nothing more than that, this is Vic's decision, he just wants to understand.

[yamikuronue]

Vic thinks for a long moment. He doesn't want to lie... but he doesn't want to tell him the truth. And he can't just not answer. Finally, rubbing his face, he mumbles, "No. But it's not you. I'd come back tomorrow if I could."

[accalia]

"That answers my first question. the second though.... that was an evasion. Care to try again?"

Tony accepts the fact that Vic's quitting easily enough. The kid wasn't comfortable with the work, not for long term anyway and the debt was paid off almost six weeks ago, but Tony wasn't letting him wriggle out of the answer, at least.... not this easily.

[yamikuronue]

Vic chews his lip, debating what to say. "I'm in some trouble," he says, finally, and then the tears spring hot and fast to his eyes, and he rubs at them with the back of his hand, trying to hide the fact that he's going to pieces like a little boy, like a girl even.

[accalia]

Tony lock actually hurt at that comment, like physically hurt.

"You know me better than this." a long pause "Get your coat. I'll turn the place over to Bear for the rest of the shift. we'll take a bit of a drive, talk, and then you can decide if I get to help or if you just want to be dropped off somewhere. Fair?"

[yamikuronue]

"You can't help," he says, even as he grabs his coat and pulls it on.

[accalia]

"Sure can't. Not without knowing what the problem is. Once I know, well that's probably a very different matter." Tony agrees shrugging on his coat "and if nothing else we'll at least have one last midnight milkshake."

[yamikuronue]

Usually that'd be enough to bring a small smile to Vic's lips, but they don't even twitch. 'some trouble' indeed.

A few moments brings them to the car, where Vic, even once prodded, doesn't begin talking. Where to begin? What can he even say? Finally, he begins with, "So the Boss has this daughter."

[accalia]

Tony nods, he thinks he knows the general shape of this story already. He tries for a bit of levity to lighten the mood, keep Vic talking about what's eating him.

"Hmm? I thought he had a son. Though we're not exactly social, what with our professions being what they are."

[yamikuronue]

"He might. But the point is, the Boss has a daughter, too. And she's..." He sighs. "I'm sure you can imagine what happens if you so much as look at the Boss' daughter wrong. Which is why I would never. But."

[accalia]

"Yeah, I know first hand what an overprotective father with power can and will do." Tony agrees "I take it she's somehow involved in your troubles?"