Chapter Text
Babe watched the man spar with his opponent. There was an air of quiet confidence about him, each move measured and purposeful. His presence commanded attention, not through ostentation, but through the sheer poise and grace he carried himself with. The man and his knife were in sync, almost like they were one entity. It was truly ethereal, and Babe was captivated.
“Checking your husband out ?” Alan smirked, “I mean, why not, it’s only been six months since your wedding, right ? And I heard the newlywed fever last for at least a year.”
Babe scoffed, not sure if he was annoyed that his friend had caught him blatantly checking his husband out or if he had been rudely interrupted from it, so he simply decided to ignore his friend and focus on the cleaning of his precious gun.
They were in the training room of the joint meeting house for both clans, either training or cleaning their weapons. Babe made himself comfortable in a corner, to clean his guns, while his husband, Charlie chose to train combat manoeuvres with his knife, alongside their men. Each busy with their own task until Babe was distracted by his husband.
“Hey, on a serious note, how are you dealing with the whole marriage thing ? I know that it was technically forced upon but there were several positive reactions to it, like the indeed increase in presence and trade, and our arms deal transactions have been significantly more seamless than before. Now, we are even working together with that new drug transaction.” Alan took out his own gun to clean.
Babe hummed in response, as the elders had predicted, the marriage was indeed a smart move for both clans but for him personally…
“What’s with that reaction ? Is living with the Agnar heir that repulsive ?” Alan asked, intrigued by Babe’s solemn response, usually his friend is rather vocal in expressing his views.
“It’s not, we are figuring it out.” Babe clarified, but Alan was no longer paying attention to him, distracted by Charlie’s younger brother Jeff’s entry into the training room.
Was Charlie repulsive ? Well, initially Babe did think Charlie was repulsive, after all, their families, the Armato Clan and the Agnar Clan, were rivals – enemies even. It had been bitter feud for generations. Their rivalry had spilled blood, ignited wars, and carved a dark legacy in history.
However, it all changed by an unprecedented move by the clan heads, Reval from the Armato Clan and Tony from the Agnar Clan, to end the animosity. An alliance was forged – a marriage alliance. Afterall, relations held much greater importance than paper. This alliance will not only bring an end to the generational feud but boost presence and trade for both, and in this peace treaty, the pawns were the two alpha heirs of the respective clans.
Babe, with his alluring eyes and fierce loyalty to his family, had always seen the Agnar Clan as the enemy. He embodied the raw strength and brutality his family valued. His amplified senses gave him the upper hand in many scenarios, and he was known for his unwavering dedication to the Armato Clan’s cause.
Charlie, on the other hand, was the Agnar Clan’s silent protector — swift and ruthless, a man of few words and strategic actions. Babe, till this day, does not know what Charlies’ powers are. There had been rumours that Charlie was just a regular alpha, but Babe could tell, there was something about Charlie, something special.
Both were perplexed and resistant when their fathers announced the marriage, but ultimately, resigned to their fates.
The wedding took place in a neutral location, under the watchful eyes of both families. Babe and Charlie exchanged vows with tense smiles and clenched fists, each wary of the other. Their union was a spectacle of forced civility, a public display of peace that belied the private turmoil they both felt.
After the wedding, Babe and Charlie moved into a luxurious penthouse, a gift from their families symbolizing the new alliance. The first few weeks were marked by silence and suspicion. They lived like strangers, each retreating to separate corners of their shared space. The married couple had immersed themselves in their respective clans’ work, Babe focused on the Armatos’ arms deal and Charlie with the Agnar’s drugs supply.
Though, they were married with the aim of peace between both clans, yet both Babe and Charlie treated each other as enemies, observing each other closely, noting of every movement, akin to how a predator observed their prey and due to this obvious tension, they did not involve themselves with each other or their works.
They worked separately until their fathers had asked them to work together on one particular arms transaction, Armato would lead the deal with the Agnars’ providing support. This particular arms supplier was a weasel, always creating some form of trouble and thus their fathers thought it would be a good idea for them to work together.
As they began to plan, their differences quickly became apparent. Charlie’s insistence on detailed strategies and careful planning clashed with Babe's impulsive nature. Their arguments were frequent and fierce, each blaming the other for their inability to cooperate.
Despite their discord, they embarked on the mission, their fathers' reputations and the fragile peace between their families hanging in the balance. Babe headed the mission, meeting with the dealer while Charlie stayed in the car, monitoring the deal from there. They hadn’t brought many men since it was just a payment and retrieval. Babe could hear that there were more men than usual on the dealer’s side but did not bother informing Charlie through the comms. This was a simple mission, they faster they finish it, the faster they can go back to being strangers, this was the mindset until disaster struck and the mission descended into chaos.
The heirs and their men were both overwhelmed. There were far too many adversaries and Babe’s firepower and fighting skills could only help him so much. He was cornered and Charlie, seeing his arranged partner in peril, fought his way through the melee to get to Babe but his recklessness only added to the confusion. They managed to escape but the transaction ended in complete failure with both heirs battered and humiliated.
Back at their penthouse, the reality of their situation hit hard. Their fathers were furious, the alliance between the families now more fragile than ever. Babe and Charlie, nursing their wounds, faced the harsh truth: their inability to work together had nearly cost them their lives and jeopardized everything their families had fought for.
Babe still remembered how quiet the room felt after their fathers had left for the night. Charlie was seated at one edge of the sofa and Babe at the other. The earlier incident still playing in both their minds vividly.
Babe recalled the panic in Charlie’s eyes as he fought through the chaos to get to Babe and Babe could tell that Charlie was probably reviewing the entire ordeal in his head now. From the start, Babe could tell that Charlie was a strategist and Babe’s impulsiveness and ignorance may have been the reason behind the failure of the mission.
Babe had broken the silence first that night, apologising for his blatant ignorance and thanked Charlie for coming to save him. Charlie had nodded at him, apologising as well, for not putting in more effort to work together.
To say it was awkward would have been an understatement, but this failed mission had become the catalyst for establishing a reluctant truce between the heirs. The painful lesson made them understand that their survival, and the peace between their families, depended on them finding common ground.
So, it was true when Babe said, he no longer finds Charlie repulsive and they were figuring it out, and this time together rather than separately and Babe liked this change. He and Charlie were not all chummy buddies, but they no longer acted like strangers either, so coming home no longer felt suffocating.
After the night, both agreed that they had to put in effort to at least get to know each other’s work ethics so that they next co-assigned task goes by smoother. It was awkward but they sat down across each other on the dining table and reviewed the failed mission, each explaining where they lacked and what could have been done better.
Babe was amazed that the conversation was flowing, though not smooth but flowing. Both somehow compromising yet their difference showed. Charlie was careful whereas Babe was more daring. Both heirs realised it was definitely going to take more than one dining-table conversation to create a more peaceable environment.
The process was arduous, but they had to, they could not let their families’ legacy of enmity dictate their choices anymore. They had to make this work, the marriage had already established a joint alliance to the rest of the mafia world, and any form of weakness would be a means for the Agnar and Armato clans to be exploited by the power-hungry rivals and neither Babe nor Charlie could afford that.
The reluctant truce had not just led to Babe and Charlie to communicate more effectively, learning to appreciate each other's strengths and compensate for their weaknesses but it developed a mutual trust between them, realising that they could potentially complement each other in their work.
Babe started involving Charlie in strategic planning, valuing his insights on the ground operations. Babe, in turn, shared his ideas for enhancing their family's security and operations, which Charlie respected and implemented. Their partnership at this point was still purely professional, until one unexpected morning, Babe saw Charlie cooking in the kitchen.
Charlie was a genuine mystery, not just to Babe, but to everyone in the mafia world. The lack of information about him was not the only reason he was feared, he was like a robot, once his target is locked, only death awaited. It was swift and silent, no one able to see it coming or prevent it. It was one of the major reasons why Babe was unsure about this whole alliance. He had enlisted North and Sonic to do a background check on Charlie but other than the information that Babe already had; they were not able to discover anything else.
Charlie was locked mystery and Babe did not have the key.
However, the image of Charlie in the kitchen, with his hair askew, glasses on and casually humming to some music being played through his phone, was contrary to the Agnar heir’s reputation. It was surprising but in a good way, because Charlie, in that moment, looked approachable, resembling his age, reminding Babe that Charlie was indeed younger than him.
Babe knew the younger was handsome, attractive even, but right now, Charlie had a different kind of charm, a charm that Babe wanted to explore.
“I did not know you wore glasses.” Babe commented, as he entered the kitchen.
“Yeah, I usually wear contacts. Do you want to breakfast ? I think I made enough for two.” Charlie asked.
The conversation was casual, neither heir on guard and as they ate breakfast on the dining table together, it was the starting point of allowing each other glimpses of their lives as simply Charlie and Babe and not as heirs of the two biggest mafia clans.
Mutual respect had developed into tentative friendship. The two started to co-exist like roommates, friends even and this development did not go unnoticed, their combined strength of Agnar-Armato alliance was starting to bring stability and unprecedented prosperity as they dominated the underworld of Thailand.
“What are you thinking about, P’Babe ?” Charlie’s question brought Babe back to reality.
He shook his head as he observed his husband drinking water from his water bottle. Charlie’s forearms were glistening from a thin layer of sweat and veins of his hands were popped out, probably from his strong grip on the knife during the training earlier. Babe took in a breath, his mind racing.
“Really, nothing ? Cause, I think, you have been cleaning the same part for ten minutes now.”
Babe could see the cheeky smile stretching across on Charlie’s lips. The development of friendship opened an outlet for teasing, jokes, and laughter between them and maybe even, casual flirting. Yet, there was something that bothered Babe. Charlie seemed open but it was controlled, like there was some form of restriction, and Babe wanted to know why.
Charlie was still a locked mystery but this time, Babe wanted the key.
“How would you know ? Unless, of course, you were not paying attention to your sparing.” Babe smirked.
Two can play a game.
“You do realise that I could feel your eyes on me the entire time, right ?”
The married couple stood there staring at each other, a teasing smile playing on both their lips.
“Am I interrupting something ?” Jeff looked at Charlie, then at Babe.
“No. How are you doing, Jeff ? It’s been a while since I have seen you.” Babe asked, turning his full attention to the youngest.
Babe’s first impression of Jeff was not pleasant. The met during the wedding and the youngest Agnar was aloof and standoffish. However, soon, Babe realised that contrary to his first impression, Jeff was actually an insightful young man, it was just that he did not do well in crowds. He helped his older brother in strategizing and through their co-operations, Babe had started to develop a soft spot for the youngest.
Babe also realised that the Agnar heir was fiercely protective of Jeff. Charlie had observed Babe closely when Babe had first approached to talk to Jeff, completely on guard. Jeff’s power was no secret and Babe understood why the older would be protective. Thankfully, over time, he had realised that Babe meant no harm and truly just wanted to know the youngest and relaxed his guard and now they all share an amicable relationship.
“I’m doing great, P’Babe, been busy with college assignments.” Jeff answered.
“That’s good, want to join us tonight at the bar ? It will be fun, and it is just the usual gang.” Babe offered and loudly added as Alan joined them, “and I’m sure Alan would be thrilled to have you there.”
The oldest spluttered and Babe let out a snicker. Charlie smiled observing the situation, everyone knew that Alan from the Armato Clan had developed liking to the youngest Agnar Heir, and Charlie wondered if his younger brother also shared the sentiments, if the slight dusted pink cheeks were anything to go by.
“Sure, and uhm P’Charlie, can I talk to you ?” Jeff faced his older brother.
“What is it, Jeff ? Everything good with school ?” Charlie asked as the brothers entered the balcony of the training room.
‘Yes, everything is good with school but that’s not what I want to talk about. I saw something again and, this time I saw blood. It is getting dangerous Phi.” Worry dripped in Jeff’s tone.
Jeff could see into the near future and the vision this time scared him; he did not want to lose his brother.
“We cannot stop now, Jeff. We need to do this in order to stop him.” Charlie sighed.
Even if it was dangerous, it had to be done.
“I know, but we don’t have to do this alone.” Jeff’s eyes shifted to where Babe and Alan were standing.
“P’Babe is someone we can trust. I know it is hard Phi, but he can help. You just have to let him in.”
Charlie knew P’Babe was someone they could trust, of course, he was. The man wears his heart on his sleeve. P’Babe was only hard on the exterior but completely soft on the inside. He is quick to anger but is just as quick to love and Charlie had seen it, in the way he cares for his friends and men and recently has even extended it to Jeff. It melted Charlie’s heart seeing someone else be protective of his younger brother as well.
Charlie sighed. The past six months had developed a precious trust between him and P’Babe, a rare gem in their world of deception and intrigue. Yet, this precious trust was plagued by Charlie’s controlled distance.
The monster that Charlie was playing with, if not careful, could destroy everything that Charlie had vowed to protect.
The complexity of the situation and its potential repercussions left him in a constant state of inner turmoil.
“I don’t want to get anyone else hurt, Jeff. Two deaths were enough.”
“Yes, but Phi, if you die, then those two deaths will be in vain. We don't have to do this alone, so please, think about it.” Jeff patted Charlie’s shoulder as he exited the balcony and walked towards Babe and Alan.
Jeff’s visions never failed, and Charlie had learned this the hard way. However, this time he was determined to make sure that they didn’t come true, he was going to change them.
So, Charlie had to choose, and he had to choose fast.