Angelo woke up on a cold concrete floor. Prying his eyes open past the blood on his temple that had apparently leaked into them, he could see old wine shelves and crates. He knew this place – the wine cellar in the Kuron Estate.
He didn't have to be a genius to realise his hands were tied. There were the memories of earlier, maybe it was even the night before, maybe it was morning now. He set free a bunch of people being transported for human trafficking, of course he was bound. At least he wasn't gagged – not that he would speak, but just because it generally sucked to have a dirty, gross rag in your mouth.
He could see someone already in the room – it took his eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness, but thankfully the familiar lighter clicking on and off was helpful in figuring out who was there. Jose sat up against the right wall, flicking around his lighter.
"You really screwed up, kid."
That was the first thing out of his mouth. No, how are you? No, are you okay? No, how you feeling after realising your father is more of a piece of shit that you originally thought he was? Just, wow kid, you fucked up. Angelo didn't find that funny, so he slowly sat up. He was almost angry, but then he saw Jose's expression: he looked more sad than disappointed.
"They were supposed to move fifteen people last night." He said. "Six of 'em escaped thanks to you." He flicked the lighter. "Don's angry. You're lucky he isn't cutting your fingers off."
Angelo knew what that meant from Jose's mouth – something along the lines of, don't worry about your hands, they'll still be usable after this. Didn't mean he wasn't he wasn't getting punishment, though. Angelo didn't need to sign or speak what he was thinking for Jose to understand what was on his mind, either.
"Yeah… children." He said quietly. "I know."
He stopped clicking his lighter and switching to sign language. Jose was the one who taught Angelo sign language in the first place, so despite his scars and the dreadful look on his face, his sign language was pretty precise in movement.
I've seen it before, He was saying. And I hate it. But you didn't stop it, kid, you slowed it down. And you'll get your punishment for it. That's how it works.
Angelo just glared at him, and Jose sighed as if he understood what he was trying to say. No, you shouldn't have done nothing. But you should have been smarter. Rage makes you loud, even when you don't talk. If you're gonna burn down this place, do it right.
Angelo wipes blood from his head and eyes as he continued. You're not a monster for trying, kid. You're just not a god, either.
Angelo paused, glancing up at him as he lowered his hands. He wasn't sure if Jose would understand what he was trying to ask, but apparently he did. Like Jose had gone through this exact scenario back when he was younger, and knew what Angelo was thinking.
They're safe… He signed. But not for long if I don't do nothin'.
That wasn't what he signed, because in sign language that would make as little sense as it did out loud but even less so, yet that's how Angelo translated it in his head. Jose stood up, looking down at him with regret and a chest full of pain.
I can help them, but if I do, I can't help you. He signed. It's your choice, kiddo.
Angelo looked at him, hard, before he looked away. Whatever Jose was planning, it was better if he didn't tell him. He could take the punishment, that was nothing to him, but he wanted those women and children safe. Jose sighed lightly, waving his hand to get Angelo to look at him again, and he did.
Then I'll go. He signed. But next time, idiot… do it the right way.