#mafia edit

about an hour later, the door finally opens again. they walk out the door, jaws clenched and shoulders tense. sam immediately hurried out the bar, whereas tommy walks out to head to vinny's office. and of course, paulie heads toward you.

you were wiping down the bar, looking at him from the corner of your eyes curiously before looking up. "i thought you might check on me." a smirk on your face, an arm moving to rest on your hip

he scoffs, a cigarette hanging loosely between his lips. "check on you?" he smirks, leaning against the bar with his wrinkled sleeves rolled up to his biceps. "you don't need that. you'd probably chew my face off if i did."

you shrug, turning around to place some bottles and plates back into their place before grabbing a whiskey glass. "depends. are you planning on being a dick?"

he chuckles, deep and hearty as he nods cockily. "you know i always do."

the glass is slid towards his way, two ice cubes with a decent amount of whiskey—his usual order.

he smirks, not picking it up right away as he looked at you directly in the eyes. "wow, you managed to get it right this time."

you let out a scoff, leaning your weight against the counter. "boy, i always get it right."

he purses his lips into a thin line, nodding as if he didn't quite trust that. "mhm. sure."

you shake your head, preparing an order as sarah hands me the list of drinks. you looked at him as you worked, "you complain all the time."

"only when it's bad. like that time you added vermouth in it." he said in that confident tone.

you roll your eyes, before carefully placing the cups on the tray in front of you, circling around him to make your way towards the table to serve the customers.

you turn your way back into the bar, looking at him briefly, catching the way his jaw was still slightly clenched and his shoulders were tense; clearly still plagued by the meeting with the don.

"so," you say lightly, "was it rough?"

he exhales through his nose, looking into your eyes briefly as he sipped on the drink. "why, you worried f'me now?"

"please," you roll your eyes, turning around and cleaning just to have anything to do with your hands. "i'm more worried about the furniture. or having to clean it."

"witty." he quipped, gulping his drink down.

"i try."

"yeah, keep worryin' about me, dollface; i might end up thinking you like me." he said cockily, tilting his head slightly as he leaned his weight into the counter.

"like?" you chuckled, leaning against the counter. "what are we? in third grade?"

"uh-huh, but you smiled earlier." he grins cockily, pointing his finger lazily.

"i smile at everybody."

"nope." paulie says confidently.

"don't read into it." you huffed quietly, looking at him.

"i was not."

"yes, you were."

he shrugs. "maybe."

he sets down the empty cup, pushing it towards you as he stand up. "well, i gotta go, doll. got some business to tend to." he said gruffly, sliding a 20 dollar bill your way.

you slide it back, huffing. "i told you, you ain't gotta do that."

"i'm not taking it back." he says, shrugging as he slips into his suit jacket. he winks, before turning around to make his leave. you sighed and shoved the cash into your pocket, watching as he left.

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you don't realize how much quieter the bar gets when the boys weren't here. not pure silence—this place was never silent. only, less chaotic.

the door opens while you wiped the same table twice, you barely even noticed with how your mind seemed to circle back to him. a cough breaks you from your thoughts, and you look up to see him. his suit was more wrinkled now, his knuckles slightly dirty with a cut on his lip.

"why'd you come back?" you asked, walking over to the bar to put the rag into the sink.

"to walk ya home. get your coat." he said gruffly, his head tilting slightly as he scowled.

"you don't need to do that." you wiped your hands on your apron before untying it. he scoffs, his hand flexing and relaxing at the same time.

"just– stop protesting with me, alright? walk with me." paulie said, looking up at you with a slight tense look in his face.

"alright. where's your car?" you asked, curious why it wasn't parked outside. he grunts. "tommy borrowed it f'some business."

you grab your purse and your coat after turning the lights of and locking up the bar, heading his way after insisting to walk you home.

"so what happened? you chewed on a knife or something?" the two of you fell into step along the sidewalk, the sky was dark and the air started to pick up. he shakes his head, laughing quietly.

"something like that."

you looked at him as the two of you walked silently, until you couldn't help yourself. "it's still bleeding, you know."

"i noticed." he said simply. you scoffed, rolling your eyes. they were all like this, all fight and no self-preservation.

"and you're not gonna do something about it?" you asked, glancing at him.

"it's nothing." he shrugs.

you sigh, digging into your purse to grab a handkerchief, before handing it to him. it was white with a print of pink lilies and it distinctly smelled like you. he stared at it for a minute, maybe even a little shocked that someone like you would ever care for someone like him.

"i'm fine–" he starts, and you glanced at him sternly

"paulie." you start, and that seems to have done it. he takes it with and nods in acknowledgment, holding it up against his lip. there was a moment of silence between the two of you that stretched out until you reached your apartment. you turned to look at him as you stood in front of the door.

"this is me." he nods, pulling the handkerchief away from his mouth as he looks at you. he tries to offer it back, then looks down to see the blood and suddenly smiles sheepishly.

"sorry... 's a little bloody." he said, holding it out. you smiled and shook your head—which didn't go unnoticed by paulie.

"keep it."

"you smiled at me." he said in awe, leaning against the door.

"oh shut up." you finally turned the key, opening the door. right before you closed it, you said a quiet goodnight.

he smirks cockily, his head tilted with the handkerchief in hand.