jonah azzaro | d2 cbd1 (fin)

Jonah's room reeked of cologne. Pine, cedar, and midnight sky, whatever that smelled like. While he loved the scents and appearing presentable to guests, it was mostly to keep everyone else out. With nowhere to hide in the villa, except his room, he treated it as his fortress. Defend it from his brother and sister. Protect it from nosy cousins. He played music on his grandpa's old record player, staring directly at the ceiling of his black box of a room.

Oh to be the entitled kid. There was no responsibility to clean up or do chores if nobody bothered to visit his room and no responsibility to spend day and night learning a trade. The youngest kid? The pressure was so low, that Jonah defied gravity with his legs kicked back. Career training was the extent of his studies, just in case push came to shove and issues underground turned dire.

But the family knew to call his number last. Precious to the touch, Jonah plated himself in a coat of bronze and cologne. He took and took, never quite giving enough back. At sixteen, did they need it, anyway? They'll get that in ten years when he's spoiling his nieces and nephews to be crowned Favorite Uncle in the villa.