#dinoweek

“—it’s been a long time since you’ve had a drink. You sure you should take that one now?”

“Listen to me Bambino,” Dino said with a sigh but gave Talcott a gentle smile. “The world has gone utterly to shit, and while I am doin’ what I can to help all of ya out, ya gotta let me have just a little something. Even if it is a cigarette once in awhile, even though they’re stale as the night is long, or a drink. I ain’t gonna hurt myself or do nothin’ that’ll cause anyone to worry about me. That me has been long gone—is long gone.”

“I-I know Dino I’m sorry for—”

“Nah, don’t apologize. I get that you're worried. Hell, if I was in your shoes, I would be too. But it’s been a good twenty years since I last let myself slip into the warm embrace of an alcoholic stupor. I promise ya, just because I’m havin’ this,” and Dino glanced down to the amber liquid in his glass. “I ain’t going back to that way of livin’. I got too much worth fightin’ for in my own way right now. Capisce?” 

When Talcott sighed and gave him a nod, Dino huffed and reached over to snatch Talcott’s hat off his head so he could ruffle his hair underneath.

“AH! Hey! Dino! What the?!”

With a laugh Dino held his hat just out of his reach, then laughed more when he struggled to grab it from his outstretched arm.

“Dino! Give it back!”

“What! Ya look good without it! Hair’s kinda mussed up but—”

“Dammit Dino! Gimme my hat!”

“—but hat hair isn’t entirely a bad look on ya!” and with another chuckle he put Talcott’s hat back on his head, and turned it sideways causing the young man to pause and blink up at him.

“I appreciate ya worryin’ about your ol’ pal Dino, but I’m fine, yeah?”

Talcott blinked again, then laughed softly as he put his hat back the way it was supposed to be. “Yeah yeah, ok ok. Fine. Be that way, but...if you need someone to talk to, you know—”

“Don’t worry Kid, I’m pretty sure I know where to find ya.”

Talcott looked at Dino surprised then smiled. “Yeah, I suppose you do.” and after a short pause of silence he got back to his feet. “I guess I’d better finish up that run of supplies. You sure you don’t wanna come back with me this time?”

“Nah, I got a few of the Glaives headin’ out this way to meet me with some information, not right that I ain’t here to meet ‘em.”

“Okay, but...I’ll be back out this way in a few days, I’ll see you then?”

“Course you will little bambino,” and Dino laughed as Talcott rolled his eyes. “I’ll be here waitin’ for ya.”

Talcott smiled. “Alright then, see you later Dino, say hi to Cat for me.”

“Will do, be safe out there Bambino! I expect ya to come back without a scratch!”

Talcott gave him a gentle wave over his shoulder as he headed back out to the boardwalk to head towards his truck. A sigh passed Dino’s lips as he looked back down at the glass by his hand before he huffed out a little laugh. Talcott would be one to worry about him.

Picking up the glass he brought it to his nose, inhaling the scent of the old whiskey he’d been saving. With a sigh he moved to hold his arm over the railing to promptly dump the liquor into the water below. A smile pulled at his lips as he shook his head, and set the empty glass back down on the table.

Coctura had gotten used to being flooded with questions, as she seemed closest to the aspiring jeweler but she too, had no answers. It eventually got so bad that she had Dino write an article about himself, to which she keeps copies of at her counter, to pass out when people would start to ask her about him.

His article of course provides nothing more than the basics.

“Ya do know, Kid, that you’re gonna drive everyone around ya crazy with this right?” the deep baritone voice mumbled softly as it’s owner took a seat next to Dino on the bench overlooking the pier. A cane rested between them, and silence came with it for a moment before Dino chuckled.

“That’s all part of the game,” turning grey eyes to the older gentleman a fond smile played over Dino’s lips. “I’m willin’ to wait and see who actually wants to take the time to get past all the bullshit, and see who wants to know ‘bout the real me.”

With a nod of his head, the older gentleman smiled then looked out over the water. “Remind me of your Ma more and more every day.”

A comfortable silence grew between the pair before Dino eventually turned to his new bench occupant. “Thanks for that, Charlie.”

“Heh, sure thing Kid, she’d be right proud of ya, y’know.”

Dino smiled a bit more to that before looking out at the water. “I take it the restaurant is empty up there?”

“Wouldn’t be down here talkin’ to ya Kid if there were still ears about.” Charlie said with a soft smile. “Wouldn’t want the rumors ‘bout’cha bein’ the head of a ‘Family’ to actually get out and about now, would ya?”

“Oh they’re already out there,” Dino said with a laugh. “I mean, it does make it easier to hide it don’t it?” with a smirk, Charlie reached over and ruffled Dino’s hair causing Dino to click his tongue loudly and leaned away. “Hey hey! Do not touch the hair!”

“Ha, like I could mess up that hairdo with all the shit ya put in it. Hell a hurricane could come along and not a hair would be outta place!” Charlie smiled, his eyes crinkling with it a little. “And about the rumors? I s’pose it does. Well then, Mr. Ghiranze, should I report in?”

“Tch, Mr. Ghiranze he says. That’s your thing. You’re the head of this family, I’m just...along for the ride, y’know? Makin’ sure ya don’t slander my last name n’all.”

Till that sick twist in his gut grew.

His brows furrowed into a slight scowl, more at himself than anything. He was a grown ass man, there’s no way in Astrals name that he was jealous because of the friendship--no brotherhood they shared.

Was he?

When the four of them started to wander back towards camp, he pushed his hands into his front pockets, and laughed softly...more so at himself.

“Ya looked good out there!”

“H-huh?” Prompto stammered.

“Aw c’mon sunshine! Ya know what I mean.” and Dino smirked as Prompto seemed to blush a bit more.

“N-No actually. I um--I don’t.”

That caused Dino to blink at the young blond before his own smile returned, and he slapped a hand on his shoulder. “Ya fight like a team. I don’t see one of ya not supportin’ the other. It’s like all of ya move, and know almost instantly where the other one is.”

“Oh.” Prompto then blinked, and smiled softly.

“That took us a bit of doing I suppose, but I would have to agree with Mr. Ghiranze, we do fight quite well together.” Ignis remarked.

“How many times do I gotta tell ya Specs? Call me Dino yeah?”

“Perhaps when you call me my correct first name, Mr. Ghiranze,” Ignis smirked a little. “I shall.”

Dino blinked. “Wait, did he just—ya mean to tell me Ignis smiles?”

“Yeah,” Noctis said with a bit of light laughter in his voice. “And he usually only does that if he likes you.”

“Your Highness, please…”

Gladio let out a bark of laughter. “Oh boy, here we go…”

Dino smiled a bit more, that pit in his gut eased by their light banter. Jealous right now though he may be, they were letting him see something that was quite rare in the world.

And honestly, the fact that they’d shared it with him?

His eyes widened a little at the sudden realization that hit him like a swift kick from a Spiracorn to the back of his head.

He wasn’t jealous. He was smitten; with all four of them.

Blinking once, he shook his head a little to clear his thoughts as Prompto patted his shoulder and gestured for him to get closer to take one of the chairs that surrounded the fire at camp.

Ignis had started to prepare the evening meal, and Gladio laugh-snorted at something Noct was doing in King’s Knight with him on his phone.

“Hey, you gonna join us?” Prompto asked with a smile as he settled into his chair and pulled out his phone. Dino smiled as he felt his smitten feelings sort of dissolve into something else. A fondness; and a wish to protect that grew like a white hot fire in his belly.

“Yeah, sure sunshine, m’gonna kick yer ass this time!”

“Haha, yeah right!”

Dino took a deep breath and let it out slowly, calming down the sudden bit of rage he felt in his gut. “Nah, not at all Mr. Dorden. Cause if I was, there’d be a guy there, tryin’ to break your fingers compared to me askin’ ya nicely over the phone for what ya owe me.”

Vyv swallowed hard enough that Dino could hear it.

“Now, you and I both know, I ain’t nothin’ like the ol’ man, and I am also very willin’ to look past the fact that ya tired to compare me to him. So, how bout you do me those favors ya owe me, and I’ll let bygones be bygones and not suddenly show up in Lestallum to have a lil’...heart to heart.”

“Well, in that case…” Vyv gave off a soft nervous laugh. “What can I do for ya Kid?”

“Give me every single contact ya got. Don’t care where they’re from, or how old it is. I want names, numbers—whatever. And make sure your still willin’ to print information that I send you. I have a feelin’ your paper is gonna become quite the source of information...”

Vyv pulled his phone from his ear to stare blankly at it a moment, before he pressed it against his shirt, wiping the sweat off the screen before bringing it back up to his ear. “Seriously? That’s all you want?”

“Yep.” Dino said with a smirk. “Now, that wasn’t so hard was it Vyv?”

“No,” Vyv agreed with a slight smirk of his own. “Guess not. I’ll send the information to you before the day ends.”

“Appreciate it.” and Dino ended the call with another sigh.

“So, Kid, goin’ back into the old business are ya?”

“Tch, no…” Dino huffed softly, looking over at Charlie. “Just gonna use the tools and what not I know of to help out is all. And you’re worse than Vyv...stop callin’ me Kid!”

Charlie chuckled softly. “Whatever ya say, Boss.”

Dino rolled his eyes and huffed. “Boss...tch, there was a moniker I didn’t wanna take up again.”

“Maybe not, but as ya say, it’s for the greater good yeah?”

“Yeah...now then, ya still got those hunters out there that are willin’ to fetch stones still for me right?”

Charlie blinked. “Ya can’t seriously mean that not only are ya gonna be an informant, but you’re gonna continue to make bangles and baubles?”

“I plan on bein’ very busy Charlie. Gotta keep people safe by any means necessary.”

Charlie smiled fondly at that. “Alright, that’s your call Boss, but remember,” he then moved closer, gently patting his hand on Dino’s shoulder. “Don’t forget to lean on the rest of your family now, yeah?”

Dino turned his head enough to look up into the Mother of Pearl, noticing that the ushers and the waitstaff paused to look over at him, give a bow of their head and a smile. Coctura herself even bowed her head a little and giggled when he blushed.

“Oh for fuck sake,” Dino huffed, but couldn’t stop the smile that pulled at the corners of his mouth. “Will ya knock it off?!”

“C’mon Kid,” Charlie teased with a soft chuckle in his voice. “The Family’s glad to have ya back is all.”

“Tch, the lot of ya are actin’ like this is some sort of...reunion.”

“Well, in a way...I s’pose it is.”

“If what I knew now, I knew then? Yeah. Probably would have done some things a lot different. But, sadly, what’s done is done. And sometimes, even what ya think is best, hurts someone else along the way.”

“But would I change everything? Nah,” Dino smirked at the slight brow lift he got. “What? Ya can’t be seriously tellin’ me that everyone told ya they’d change everything.”

“Honestly you have been the first to say some. Not all.”

“Ah,” Dino hummed and was unable to keep the smile off his face at that one. “Well, guess leave it to the little guy to surprise ya huh?”

“Perhaps…”

“Mnn,” Dino hummed and let his eyes glance down briefly, then back up at the man’s face. “Guess my time is about done here, huh?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Ah...” Dino sighed heavily, bringing a hand up to rub it slowly against the back of his neck before he smirked. “Ya know what, I’ll tell ya right now, there’s one thing I regret, more than anything else.”

“Oh? Do tell Mr. Ghiranze.”

“I never said, to those I cared about most that I loved them. Not recently anyway.” Dino sighed then pulled his hand out of his pocket to clench his hands into fists. “And that, I guess, knowin’ honestly, that they won’t know just how much I do…is my biggest regret.”

“Really? Not fame? You did seem to be trying to make quite a name for yourself with your pieces.”

“I’d rather be remembered for the fact I gave a shit, then some bit of metal and stone on someone’s arm.”

“You surprise me. Mr. Ghiranze.”

Dino snorted out a laugh. “You’re a formal guy till the end, huh Chancellor?”

Ardyn smirked slightly, his gaze regarding Dino for a moment before he moved swiftly forward. “I am, till the bitter end—”

Dino inhaled sharply as pain ripped through his abdomen, feeling unable to make a sound other than a soft painfilled grunt as grey eyes met gold. Dino scowled at the look of judgement the Chancellor had giving him; was giving him. He resisted the urge to cry out at what felt like liquid fire crawling just under his skin, burning him away.

Changing him.

“Iris,” she said with a soft giggle then smiled a bit more genuinely when Dino took her hand and gave it a shake. “You’re...Dino...the jeweler right?”

Dino’s brows shot up, and he dramatically clutched his chest. “Six, she knows me as a jeweler and not some shady asshole.”

“Hey,” Gladio grumbled softly. “Mind the language will ya?”

“Ah yeah yeah, sorry, force of habit with the company I usually keep, y’know?” Dino gave Gladio a cheeky grin when he got a roll of the eyes in reply and gave Iris a wink when he heard her laugh. “So, what brings ya to the Quay?”

“A small stop before making our way to Cape Caem,” Ignis chimed in. “We thought the atmosphere here might...lift spirits a little.”

Dino looked down again to the young boy who’d yet to look up at him again. “I see. Well, I’m thinkin’ I know just the thing. Why don’t the group of ya join me? Ya hungry?”

“We wouldn’t want to impose—”

“Ya ain’t imposin’ if I invite ya now are ya?” Dino cut off Ignis gently.

“—No, I suppose we’re not.”

Dino gave a gentle nod of his head and gestured to the large table he was sitting at. He glanced over at Noctis and frowned just a little. He too, was much like the young boy, unable to look anyone in the eye; as if he was guilty. Well this wouldn’t do at all. Leaning over Coctura’s station a moment he said something to her quietly, causing her to blink then smile and nod her head. Dino then moved to lead them over to his table.

“Right then, have a seat,” Dino said with a charming smile, pulling out the seat for Iris, who thanked him as she sat down. He did the same for the young boy. “Here ya go, Little Bambino.”

Dino smiled softly as he got a soft thank you. Well, that was a start. He then nodded to the Usher he’d whispered to earlier, who smiled and approached the table.

“Now then, order anythin’ ya like off the menu, don’t care what it is, it’s my treat.”

“Wait, what?” Noctis finally lifted his head from looking at his hands, surprised at what Dino had said.

“Ya heard me. Anything ya like.”

“Whoa...Dude…?” Prompto breathed softly looking over at Ignis.

“What brought this on?” Gladio asked softly, a brow lifting a little.

“C’mon, a guy can’t treat his friends to somethin’ after all the hard work they’ve been doin’ for him? Yer kidding me, right?” Dino smirked a little, and sat down next to the young boy.

Turning his head towards him, Dino watched as Iris gently leaned over, and nudged him a little. The boy shook his head and pressed his lips into a thin line as he looked back down at his hands. He heard Iris sigh a little as she gently grabbed his hand, gave it a squeeze then drew back.

“You’ll have to forgive Talcott, he—” Iris began

“Nah, Doll. There ain’t nothin’ to forgive,” Dino watched Talcott blink up at him and he gave him a gentle smile before looking back at the table. “Now then, take a look at the menu and order somethin’. Don’t make me order for ya…”

At first, the group was quiet around the table, but as the visit went on, their voices grew along with their laughter. Dino was sure his gentle teasing of everyone around him is what started to bring Talcott out of his shell, and he could have sworn he saw a thankful smile from Gladio when Talcott started to laugh.

It was then the cat from the boardwalk jumped up onto Dino’s lap and meowed. Loudly.

“Ah, and who said that ya could come up like that without an invite? Huh?”

The cat meowed again as it got up on its hindquarters and promptly pushed its head up and under Dino’s chin, causing him to grunt.  He didn’t move, and the cat repeated the action, meowing louder at him.

“Yer gonna fall off ya doofy feline,” Dino grumbled but smiled fondly as the cat pushed its face up to his and nuzzled its muzzle against his nose causing Dino to squint a moment before he had to move his hand to catch the cat as it almost fell off his lap with a loud meow of surprise.

“What did I tell ya? Dummy.” Dino chuckled softly as he made sure the cat was now comfortably sitting on his lap, and gave a gentle rub of its ears.

“Is...is he yours?”

Dino looked over at Talcott and smiled. “Nah, he’s kinda everybody’s around here. Anyone that’s willin’ to listen to his sad little meow that he’s hungry is his best friend.”

“Oh yeah, we know.” Gladio chuckled softly.

“Shut up.” Noctis huffed and crossed his arms.

“Haha even had to have the fish cooked he caught him.” Prompto said with a smile.

“Mnn, that’s my fault if I’m bein’ honest,” Dino chuckled softly, and leaned over towards Talcott. “I spoil this guy worse than Noct ever thinks he could.”

“I heard that…” Noctis said with a huff, but a bit of a smile pulled the corner of his mouth upwards.

Talcott chuckled. “What’s.. What’s his name?”

“Mmn just Cat. He ain’t decided anything I call him he likes so...”

“He’s—he’s pretty, can I pet him?”

“Sure thing Little Bambino, but I’ll even do ya one better,” Dino gave Talcott a wink and gently picked the cat up from his lap, and set him on Talcott’s. Coctura then came up behind Talcott, setting down a small plate of cooked fish.

“It’s not the cat’s normal meal,” Coctura said with a smile. “But with as spoiled as he has been the last few days…” and she shot Dino a look.

“Hey! Ain’t right if he wastes away out there now is it?!”

Talcott couldn’t help but laugh softly as he gave the cat a gentle pet behind the ears, then laughed again as the cat turned and smushed his face up into his own much like he had to Dino.

“Ah there, see. He likes ya.” Dino said with a soft fond smile.

“I...I can feed him, right?” Talcott asked softly.

“Course ya can Bambino. Put a bit in your hand at a time...”

Talcott smiled and couldn’t help but laugh as the cat started to eat the bits of fish from the palm of his hand. “Tickles.”

Once the cat had finished its treat, Ignis spoke softly. “I do suppose that we should be on our way.”

Talcott pouted a little. “Aww...well, thank you Mr. Gheer--uh--Girr—”

“Haha, Dino’s fine Bambino.” and he reached over to gently ruffle Talcott’s hair causing him to smile.

“It was nice to meet you.” Iris said with a smile as she and the others also rose from their seats.

“Nice to meet ya too Doll, m’sure I’ll be seein’ ya again sometime.”

“R-Really?” Talcott asked, then giggled as the cat nuzzled against his cheek before he set him down. “We can come back and visit?”

“Sure, long as it’s safe n’all. Who knows, I gotta feelin’ that it’ll be me that comes to visit youse guys in Caem.”

Talcott smiled to that and then started to follow Iris talking excitedly about their next visit. Dino smiled, gently pushing his hands into his pockets only to get a gentle nudge on his shoulder.

“Hey…” Gladio spoke softly. “Thanks for that.”

“Huh? For what?”

“For making him feel like it wasn’t his fault…” Noctis sighed. “He—He needed that.”

“Y-yeah, none of us were kinda getting through to him.” Prompto said with a frown.

“You provided something in his time of need that we could not. For that, you have our thanks.” Ignis admitted.

Dino smiled softly then gently shook his head. “From where I’m standin’, it wasn’t just him that needed it, y’know?” and with a fond smile he moved closer to Noctis, and patted his shoulder.