The Family [Finished]

[accalia]

"Now that is cruel and unusual punishment i tell you! for both of us!" Tony cries in mock horror

[yamikuronue]

"Good." She smirks. "Then you won't go getting yourself shot again in the near future."

[accalia]

Tony thinks for a moment. "No, I don't want to be shot again, but if i was in that situation again I'm pretty damn certain i'd do what i did again."

[yamikuronue]

Her face sobers. "Do you want to talk about it?"

[accalia]

Tony looks at Vic for a moment, the question writ large on his face is simply 'Can I?'

[yamikuronue]

Vic ducks her head. "She knows some of it already."

Kate frowns. "This is about Vic, then? I was worried it might be."

[accalia]

"It was about Family." Tony counters "Family is the most important thing."

[yamikuronue]

Kate sighs, running a hand through her hair. "Tony, have I ever given you reason to think I'd be indiscreet?"

[accalia]

"No, that's why i told Vic to go to you if the worst happened. I trust you more than I trusted my mother when she was still alive."

[yamikuronue]

"Who is Vic, really?"

[accalia]

"Family." is all Tony says while nodding at Vic as she stands against the wall. It's not that he's being evasive, it's more that this is the only fact that really matters to Tony.

[yamikuronue]

She rolls her eyes. "So you don't trust me, then."

Vic winces. "It's... a complicated situation."

"He's tried to tell me you're his nephew, cousin, and second cousin on three separate occasions. I'd rather you just say you're not going to tell me," she counters.

[accalia]

"I'm not going to tell you, but only because they're not my secrets to tell. If they were mine you'd know."

[yamikuronue]

Kate sighs. "Alright, then."

Vic clears his throat. "It's me. I'm not... I'm... we're not blood kin, but Tony took me in. He's looking out for me now. I'm in some bad trouble, and he aims to fix it."

Kate blinks, looking back to Vic. "Drugs?"

"No."

"Drink?"

"No."

"Alright then." She shrugs. "That's admirable," she says to Tony. "More people should look out for each other."

[accalia]

"You know, i thought the same thing. Too many people try to get ahead at the expense of others, instead of getting ahead by helping others get ahead." Tony sighs. "And once again i have to thank you for covering for me... One of these days i'll find out a way to pay you back for that."