It's been a few days now. Crip occasionally chats with the new neighbor, but that's about all the social interaction he's received.
Victor has been on edge, not having anything to do was driving him crazy. He wanted to at least go out and do something! Anything for crying out loud!

Victor: "Good morning little birdie."
He says softly as Crip walks out of the bedroom rubbing his eyes.

Crip: "Good morning Victor..coffee?"

Victor: "Already made."

Crip smiles and heads for the coffee pot.

Victor: "Listen..I was thinking, today, we could go out. I know we don't normally do that, but I figured it'd be better than sitting in this house for another day."

Crip blinks a bit, then pours his coffee and starts to talk.

Crip: "Well..where do you wanna go?"

Victor: "I'm not sure...anywhere, I guess. We can just find something to do."

Crip: "Okay. That's fine with me."

Victor smiles a bit. He loved how Crip trusted him. So the two get ready, and Victor makes a few calls before they drive around the city. In the car, Crip just stares out of the window, until Victor breaks the silence.

Victor: "Let me know if you see anything you wanna check out."

So he can really choose? Victor is just going to let him pick?

Crip: "It's just the city. We can do anything really. I'm sure we've both done almost everything the city has to offer.."

Victor smiles a bit, never taking his eyes off the road.

Victor: "We could always leave you know. Move far away from this place. Just you and me."

Crip giggles a bit: "And go where exactly?"

Victor: "Anywhere you wanted. A house near the beach or maybe even a cabin in the mountains?"

Crip almost blushes thinking about it. The mountains...to be so far from civilization, and in the cold weather..a warm log cabin, with a fireplace, no cars, no murder, no rapes, no crimes at all. Just their own little slice of heaven. How could they even do such a thing?

Crip: "Ha..but what about the mafia?"

Victors eyes drift to Crips.

Victor: "I'd give up everything for you."

Crip can definitely feel his cheeks getting warm now. He averts his eyes, to look back out of the window, and Victor returns his eyes to the road.

How can Victor put so much faith in him? Victor would give up everything he's ever had...what he killed for, just to run away? To run away with Crip? Why? Crip doesn't understand any of that...and yet it made him feel so excited to hear Victor say something like that.

Suddenly, his eyes land on a sign. Fireworks, being shot off in the water outside the city. Crip rarely got to see fireworks. He remembers Edgar shooting some off when they were kids. It scared Crip too much to ever handle fire, but he loved watching the pretty colors in the sky.

Crip: "They're shooting fireworks in the water tonight. East side...can we go?"

Victor smiles: "Of course we can. Let's grab something to eat and waste some time."

Crip smiles. The remainder of the day consists of wonderful food from a dine-in-restaurant, and then some lingering around the docks. Finally, nightfall was drooping over the city like a plague. The light died out, and one by one, the street lights started turning on.
Victor finds an empty dock, and the two walk onto it.

Victor: "I can see them setting up over there. This should be the perfect spot to watch."

Crip peers around the place, taking in the sight of boats, the streets, and...a few cars. One in particular looks familiar. It looks like...one of Victors..

Crip suddenly realizes they've been followed all day long. Did Victor have a couple of his men following them? He seemed to do that quite often...it was kind of...bothersome. It's like they really have no private time unless they're indoors or about to have sex...

Crip: "Victor.."

Victors gaze sinks to Crip, and his smile drops.

Crip: "Do you have your men following us?"

An awkward smile creeps onto his face.
Victor: "It's..I just want to make sure we are safe..especially since you were just kidnapped."

Crip: "But I'm not alone...you're here.."

Victor is quiet for a moment, then drops his nervous smile.

Victor: "Does it make you uncomfortable?"

Crip lowers his head, and nods.
Crip: "It just feels weird being followed and watched...I mean, on my own, okay, fine, but now while I'm with you. I wanna be able to love you without anyone else intruding.."

Victor smiles yet again, and pulls out a phone, typing on it for a minute before putting it back into his coat. The van then drives off, and Crip is really happy. He loved that Victor listens to him. He listens and tries to understand instead of getting angry and doing what he wants anyway.

Victor was so great.

Victor: "Now, let's have a seat and watch, hm?"

The two sit, feet hanging above the water.

Victor: "I love you Everett..you know that, right?"

Crip moves his hand near Victors, and Victor in turn shifts to hold his hand.

Crip: "I love you too. I think...without you, life wouldn't be worth living. Now that I actually like being alive...I don't ever wanna go back to the way things were. I just wanna live life with you."

Victor: "Yeah..I feel the same way. You are my future, little birdie."

A loud bang rings through the air, and the first wave of color splashes into the sky. It's beautiful, and everything that's happening, seeing the colors, feeling the warmth from Victors hand and his words, it all makes him feel happy and peaceful inside.

This is probably the most peaceful things he's ever experienced.

The fireworks last a little over an hour, and once they're over, they stand up start walking towards the van.
Crip is walking ahead, ready to feel the heated seats. That's when he hears it.

Victor: "Ow-"

Crip turns, and Victor is holding the side of his neck. He pulls something, out of his neck, and it looks like a needle with a little rubber on the end of it to stop it from shooting through.

Crip: "What is that?"
He asks quickly, and Victors eyes are wide as he stares at the needle.
Then he looks up slowly. In Victors eyes, everything is starting to spin and look crazy.

He's been poisoned.

He moved forward, grabbing onto Crips shoulders, and it's obvious from the look in his eyes, he means these next words.

Victor: "Run."

Crip: "V-Vic-"

Victor: "You gotta go, now! Run!"

Crip feels his heart jump and he turns quickly, running as fast as he could. Victor starts feeling his heart slow, and everything spinning and moving was making his dizzy. Suddenly a figure appears, but it's hard to actually see a face. Colors were running, like a messed up 3D movie without the glasses...
Ugh....
He feels like he's gonna be sick.

"Well well, Capone. Seems you made a big mistake."

The voice is echoing, making it hard to properly hear.

Still, he can't just sit here feeling like he's about to die. He has to fight! Give Everett enough time to get away.

He lunges forward, completely missing the man and falling instead. He groans, trying to look around but everything's so crazy looking. He's so dizzy. How can he fight like this?

"Don't worry..I'll take good care of Everett. Rest In peace now."

Victors eyes widen. Is this it? This is how he dies? All because he loved Everett so much, he'd disregarded all his safety precautions...

Still...for Everett, it was all worth it, wasn't it?

He can see Everett's face, the way he smiles and cries, the way he blushes and laughs...the way he held Victors hands, and the way he snuggled up to him in his sleep...

Yes. For Everett, it was all worth it. Even this.

The last thing he sees is black coming at him. The mans shoe, coming towards his face. One harsh kick, and Victor blacks out, and succumbs to the poison.