Paranoia

Julian waited for the man to answer. Zackariah, visibly irritated, looked around as if purposing avoiding eye contact. Julian followed his field of vision. Apparently, a piece of mulch on the tiled floor was more interesting than answering a question. "Mr. Dimartino?" Julian tried to veer his eyes in his direction. The man gave him a quick glance, rolled his eyes and shrugged.
"Eh...I don't know yet. I mean...just met the kid. He's cute, I'll give him that. Not too smart, though. He's...he's like a puppy."
"A puppy?"
"Yeah...cute, cuddly, eager to please...but sometimes, they just get under your foot and try to trip you. They don't mean it, we suspect but...if they don't grow out of it, they get sent to the pound." Julian lifted his fingers, trying to sort out the meaning behind Zack's metaphor. Zack waited for a few moments before seemingly giving up on letting Julian figure it out for himself. "What I mean is he's cute and fun to play with now but he He has to grow up some more. At this present time...he's just something to do."

"That's...messed up."
"A bit, yes."
"Why are you so interested in Aleera? And why not just go for her head on? Why use Gabe?"
"Aleera is a difficult woman. You know that, right? She's tough...the tsundere of my heart, you see." Zackariah sighed lovingly, a mannerism Julian associated with his own love for Gabe. "She's the most beautiful woman I've seen. So different from those other floozies I've been with...she has more to her than just a great pair of tits. She has brains, brawn...killer thighs. God, what I wouldn't do...or rather, who I wouldn't do to get her."

"So you see," Zackariah chuckled, "Gabe is my ticket into the Akamatseru clan. I'll keep him around, you know...give me someone to keep myself warm on those cold nights...take me to family functions where I will then cuddle up to an undoubtly drunken Aleera while the little one is...I dunno...finding some lipstick to go with his shoes." Julian's jaw dropped slightly, the plan before him shocking. Zack had put alot of thought into this conquest of Aleera. He probably thought of many ways to try and win her over, all of them probably failing. But by having Gabe in his grasp, he could easily get to his prize. But what would become of poor Gabe once his purpose was fufilled?

Julian shook his head, "No...that's...that's horrible." He glared at Zack, pointing accusingly. "You're using Gabriel! You're using him as a fuck buddy and as a bridge to Aleera! You don't care about him one bit. And he...he loves you."
"He loves the image of me, I think. Which is still fine."
"How can you live with knowing you are manipulating a poor, innocent boy?!"
"You act like I don't feel bad. I do. But it isn't my fault he is oblivious. I think I've given him enough signs to let him know that what we have is just superficial."
Julian fumbled, rising out of his seat. Zack raised a brow, "Where you going?"
"Home."
"You aren't going to let them know about this, are you?"
"What do you think!?"

Just as Julian slid his chair in, he came face to face with the dark-haired man. "Ah!"
"You will not screw this up for me, boy. I've tried to be nice to you. But if you mess this chance up for me...I'll show you what growing up in the ghetto can do to someone's mind...makes them oh-so numb to things such as assault and manslaughter..."
"Are you seriously threatening me?" Julian's voice trembled. They were in a public area, so he looked around at the other patrons. But they simply seemed enticed by the violence, like wild animals waiting for the pack leader to make the first strike. He was in their territory. Help for him was null.
"If you continue to get in my way, yes. So do yourself a favor and keep this between us. Or so help me, I'll make you and your little boyfriend's lives a living hell. Got it?"
"Julian?"

The two men looked over, noticing a young woman approaching them hesitantly.
"Dafne, what are you doing here?" Julian asked, his voice pleading for assistance. The woman stopped for a moment, her mind registering the scene.
"I...I went to the gym, to see if you were okay...but the trainers there said you left and came here and...what's going on?" Zackariah backed away from Julian, grinning at Dafne.
"Nothin', cutie. Just talking to your friend Julian here...and you are Dafne? Nice to meet you. I'm Za-"
"I don't care who you are. Were you bothering Julian?"

"Rude, aren't you?"
"What did you say to him?"
"Nothing, my dear. I was just telling him I'd...see him later. Right, Julian?"
"Mm...."
"Now, if we're done accusing me of wrong doing, I better be going. The air in here suddenly got...stuffy. I shall see you around, Julian...was...good meeting you, Dafne."

Dafne huffed as the man went out of sight, turning to Julian. "You okay?" The man let out a huge breath, all the pent up fear finally able to escape. "He really shook you up, huh?"
"He's using Gabe to get to Aleera. And there's nothing I can do. Gabe won't believe me..."
"Maybe not...but you can't just let him get his heart broken..."
"What am I going to do?" Julian asked desperately. Dafne bit her lip before giving him a nice pat. Instantly, he felt soothed.
"There there...we'll think of something...you'll see. Come on. Why don't you come home with me? I'll make some tea and once Antoine gets home, we'll think of something..."

"We'll think of a way to protect those two from him. Promise."