The Going Price for Home (Leo and Al)

[Fen]

The echoing sounds of soft whines and barks reverberated off the walls, causing his blood to run cold. The stone floors and the chain-link of his pen were foreboding as his young eyes watched the outside, shadows moving on the other side of the door. The bad door. The door dogs went into and never came out of. Would he be next? He had bitten the keeper. Would they come grab him by the scruff of his neck and drag him to the room that reeked of death and fear? He shivered, his too-big-for-his-body paws cold on the concrete as he rested at the back of the cage, his face buried in soiled blankets as he tried to not draw attention to himself. He knew what was going on. He knew what day it was.

Judgement day.

Footsteps on the stone alerted him, and he raised his head, cropped ears perking forward as a hand opened the kennel and reached in, hooking a finger in the loop of his choke collar and dragging him from his place. He cried, he braked, he growled, he yelped; nothing was going to save him now. He jerked up, his already huge, eight-month-old body nearly matching the weight of the human that dragged him, and bit his hand again. It was the same one, he could recognize the taste of this one's blood.

It didn't stop him. He must be used to it by now.

The scent of death grew stronger and stronger as he neared the door, and the human kicked it open with such force that it swung back and left a hole in the wall behind it. More hands flew in to grab at him, lifting him onto the table as he tried to struggle against his captors, the chain around his neck nearly crushing his windpipe. 

That's when he saw it, the needle. He had seen them throwing them away before. He knew what it was for. 

The sharp, metal thing was closing in...

That's when he saw the open delivery door.

-----------------------------------------

Alonzo woke with a start, his head lying on soft cotton pillows, distorted music coming from a broken record player bringing him back to reality. He was panting, his chest rising and falling with every new breath he took, his eyes wild as they darted around the dark room. 

"You alright?" A voice said from next to him, "Alonzo?"

He looked over, squinting a bit to see the outline of a female dog beside him. She was looking at him with curious eyes, and he realized he didn't recognize her. 

"Ah, hell." He muttered.

"You were panting really hard, are you-"

"Out, please." He said, gesturing at the door but not looking at her. She started to say something, but he sent her a glare and she scurried for the door, kicking it closed with a loud slam on her way out.

That was the fifth time this week he had that dream, and his skin still bore gooseflesh from thinking about it. He stood, making sure the woman's footsteps had faded out before he exited the room. The brightly lit hallway blinded him for a moment, and he took a second to adjust before stepping forward again, heading for the nearest drink of water. A few dogs must have heard the commotion the girl caused when she left, and they had their heads stuck out watching Al head down the hallway.

He found a bucket of water and took a long, much-needed drink as he eyed himself over in a piece of broken glass. He looked like hell. Sighing, he sat down, leaning his head against the coolness of the metal wall and his headache began to slow in its throbbing. It would take him a while to recover from that one.

[Leonardo]

"Tell me...is it a crime...to care?" - Leonardo Mancini, 1964.

Leonardo gave those very words to the prying figures of The Chronicle in late 1964, when the community started an "Anti-Crime" campaign. Of course, there greatest targets were those with power. Those who they described had the audacity to control the lives of others, thus altering the course of life for their own benefit. The Mancinis--an extension of the Luchessi crime family--were an easy target. But truthfully, this was an act of terrorism in the eyes of Don Mancini. An act of sabotage on something he believed was beautiful and great. Something he believed was immortal in it's own philosphy; dogs will kill. The will fight for sustenance. But if they banded together, if they unified themselves, they could battle hunger and strife together. Live a life of luxury and self worth.

The price? Swear allegiance to one. Recognize the authority of only one figure. There can never be two kings. A kingdom with two rulers always divides into a chaotic scene of civil war and general infighting. There can never be two captains on a ship, for mutiny is sure to develop within moments out to sea. Before Leonardo, everyone in Bensonhurst was their own captain, their own king. They all claimed their right to sovereignty, killing each other and shedding blood for a simple scrap. Living like savages.

So when the press conference demanded an eplaination for Leonardo's actions, he didn't owe them one. He had not slaughter all of them with little or no remorse. He did not steal and bully from all and treat them like he was superior. Granted, he killed and stole from and bullied some, for the greater cause of encouraging others to band together. And when he created a force to be reckoned with, he did not order all against him to be executed like sheep. Like his mentor, Don Luchessi, he practiced patience and mercy. He became a part of the lives in the entire community, and set out on a mission to be friends with all his associates. Is it better to be loved than respected? Why not be both? After all, he had one thing that many other bosses didn't.

He cared.

---

Leonardo sat in the lounge, pondering over the recent events. He replayed everything in his mind, forwards and backwards. Things were moving a lot faster now that Crowley was stirring things up. And come to thing of it, many numbers weren't adding up. He began to fear that Crowley was stealing some of his business, but he would have to prove that later--

He noticed a female he didn't recognize scurry from down the hall to out of the house. He could tell by the scent of her that she had been...dominated. He tried not to let that bother him too much. He didn't mind visitors, but he really liked to be acquainted with them before--well, nevermind. Boys will be boys. She looks a little disturbed, so he jumped off his chair and slowly headed in the direction she came from.

Alonzo was staring at his reflection. He seemed rather solemn. Perhaps he wasn't a morning person. Leo could understand that...except he was a morning person himself. In fact, he was a any time of the day person. But something about Alonzo told him that he was troubled. Call it his years of experience or fatherly side, but either way, Leonardo hoped he was wrong.

"Alonzo," he whispered, but firmly, so that no one would be woken. "Yous up pretty early." He walked up to him. "Everythin' awlright, my boy?"

[Fen]

Alonzo sighed as he moved his head away from the cool metal. His headache had ceased, and he found himself half-way hearing the voice of the Boss, Leonardo. He turned around, facing the rottweiler and giving what he hoped was a convincing smile. "Hey there, bawss." He greeted, and then sobered a bit when Leo asked him if anything was wrong. He didn't normally like to talk about it, because he would much rather forget than to keep bringing it up. "Ah, I'm fine. Nightmares is all." He shrugged, thankful that his head was no longer pounding and then he realized that if Leo was here, he must have witnessed that tramp leaving as well. "Ah...sorry about that. Too much fun las' night, ya know?" Alonzo hardly kept women around very long. He wasn't the dating type. Has a bit heart, but you have to dig through a sea of asshole and arrogance to get to it.

"Yous up early too, Bawss. Couldn't sleep either?" He smirked, referring to the cute little dame he'd had on his arm for a while now. He'd met her once, but only briefly. He had caught her in his room trying to clean up the mess. Alonzo had nearly laughed himself into a coma at having frightened her. She was a skittish one. But pretty.

[Leonardo]

Alonzo immediately straightened himself out when he noticed Leo was there. He called him 'bawss', gave him a smile, and changed the subject. Clear signs that if there was something going on with him, he clearly didn't want to talk about it. And that was okay. Leo had learned that sometimes it was best not to pry into the lives of his friends. If you fish to deeply, words could be exchanged, and relationships could be hurt. And that would defeat the entire purpose of having a "family". Al was a big boy. A really big boy. If he felt that he could handle this on his own, then he wasn't obligated to talk to anyone about his problems. Had it been Vinny, Leo would have wrung it out of him. But he respected Al's privacy, and left it at that.

Leo caught Al's drift immediately, returning the joke. "I slept very, very well. In fact, almost too well. Woke up an hour early today." He then added. "Hey, Alonzo. We 'ave a good time with our lady friends an' all, but let's be a little more careful about who we bring in, a'ight? You know I mean it ain't a big deal or nothin', but I'd like to at least meet her an' know whos who in da house. Don't get me wrong, I'd nevah deprive any man from sleepin' next to a woman....but when da neighbor'ood sees a community tramp run out of Don Mancini's house ehhhh....I think you follow me, no?"

[Fen]

Alonzo gave an apologetic grin. "Yeah, ah...I don't really know what happened las' night. Won't happen again. Swear it." He looked to Leo and shook his head. "To be honest, I don't have da first clue wheah dat broad came from." He couldn't really recall the previous night. He had went out with a few buddies of his that he had known from the Plaza, and then it was all foggy from there. The nightmares weren't helping either. He could hardly tell up from down lately because of them. He was growing tired of them, and wondered if talking to someone about it might help. Well, Leo was here, he was the boss, the head of the family. Who better to talk about it to?

He looked back to Leo and tilted his head a bit. "Say, Bawss. You evah been to da pound? The big house?" He asked, curious as to whether or not Leo had spent his time behind caged doors. He knew the question might come off as a bit awkward and random, but Alonzo wasn't known for thinking too hard before speaking.

[Leonardo]

Leonardo smiled and shook his head when Alonzo said he didn't remember where the girl game from. He must've had one wild night. Part of Leo understood that, so he let it go pretty easy. "Ayy, fugget it about, huh? "Iss ancient 'istory now."

Al's question was a shocking but interesting one.

Was that what was bothering him? Had he been to the pound? It was truly the worst place for strays, with a mortality rate of almost 90% for those over the age of two. It was also a good way to get your plumbing screwed with. Humans would remove the ability for you to have babies, and crush the sex drive. Dogs with low libido never made really good soldiers, and didn't defend themselves as much as they used to. Leo could imagine having this problem. He loved women to much. But Alonzo never struck him as someone who'd have low libido or even been around the pound for second. He seemed too street smart for that. Then again, he was a big dog. It's a lot easier to catch the big ones.

"I'm can't say I 'ave. Too much stuff 'round 'ere to do. I've been to busy to plan a visit." He grinned. "Plenty of friends who went through it, though. Guido- the humans dat work 'ere recovah'd him. Murray- He was a shelta dog. Even my mentor Don Luchessi was neutered at da pound. Frankie's been theah. But you know 'im. He broke out. He was well prepared." He then asked, "Whatta bout you, Alonzo, yous evah been put away?"

[Fen]

Alonzo listened to him and nodded. "Yeah, Bawss. Mosta my young life." He said, shrugging. "Been havin' nightmares 'bout it lately. Nevah seems ta let up." He straightened a bit, rolling his shoulders as he shifted to a more comfortable position. "Dey was ah...gonna give me da deep-sleep shot. I'd bit da keepah's hand. Dey didn't like that too much. Tha delivery door was left open. Managed to fight 'em off enough to run out, and nevah looked back." He shivered slightly at the thought of what was almost done to him. "Tust me, bawss. You nevah wanna go theah. Dem dogs, they ain't like yous and me. Their brains is all warped from too much time in. Eitha you get adopted by a nice human famiglia, or you rot theah until yous just a skeleton in a cage. I was lucky dem sons a bitches didn't take mah boys. Too young fah it, ya know?" He shook his head. "I ain't nevah goin' back. They'd have to take me dead."

Alonzo grinned a bit. "Tha'd be a hard thing ta do, too. Believe me." He knew that if he ever came across a dog catcher, he'd take every limb off before he let them drag him back to that hell hole. He'd spent his time there, and he never wanted to see another stone cage like the one he had again. Even the concrete of the warehouse, that smooth paved feel, still got to him at times when he wasn't thinking about it. 

[Leonardo]

Leonardo listened with utmost concern . Poor guy. Unfortunately Leonardo couldn't relate to the pound thing, but he could still be there for Alonzo.

"You're damn right it'll be an 'ard thing to do." Leo added, "I won't allow it. Even if I'd 'ave to send ten of my best soldiahs from odda parts of da town. If we gotta be on da blacklist of da whole damn Animal Control, so be it. On toppa dat, dey'd 'afta tangle wit your big ass." He smiled. "Nobody's gonna mess with you, Alonzo. Stay wise, an' trouble'll stay outta ya way."

"You know what impresses me the most, Alonzo, is dat you nevah gave up. You tell me about dese odda dawgs who did just dat--dey laid down and gave up. But you, you waited for ya opportunity an' took it. You got up, an' left. Dat's 'ow it's done, see? How's dem odda dawgs gonna do dat layin' on theah backs an' sittin' on theah asses? I'll tell ya how. In a box. You know, my mentor, Vito Luchessi, went to da pound, an' dey cut 'im. Dey took away his ability to have kids, Alonzo. His own family put 'im in theah in da first place. But he didn't give up. Instead he ran his entiyah organization from da inside until 'is family came back an' adopted 'im again. It's a winning mentality, Alonzo. When I met 'im, my human master 'ad been burned alive in a fiyah. I 'ad nothin', an' I know it was only a matta o' time before da remaining family membahs decided they couldn't keep me any more. Did I curl up into a bawl? Naaaahhh. I went out to create a new family. A family of winnas. Did I succeed?" He gestured to Alonzo. "You tell me, huh?"

[Fen]

Alonzo listened intently, and shook his head. "Damn shame fah ya mentor. Good man though if he managed ta keep everything goin' from tha inside." When prompted with a question, Alonzo laughed. "You know I don't needta ansah that, Bawss. Every mutt on tha block knows that." He laughed again and scratched at his ear a bit. He could relate to feeling like he was in a tight spot. Alonzo had never been a house pet. Animal control had taken him and raised him for the most part. He didn't dislike humans, essentially. Just...what they could do to an animal. He couldn't imagine why they would do such a thing when cute pups and kittens made their own pups so happy. Alonzo knew plenty of housepets who were perfectly happy with their life. It had just never been something for Alonzo. Things were different. Maybe that's why he never got adopted.

"Anyway, enough about tha past. What's goin' on in tha present. Ain't seen ya around much. I know yous busy and all." Truth was, Alonzo had been the one that hadn't been around very much. The constant dreaming had kept him restless on the streets or holed up in his room for a week or more. The only people he even said hello to lately were Vinny and Lily, and they weren't much for conversation when he was in one of his moods. He reminded himself to apologize for being so distant, even if it wasn't in his nature to do something like that. He'd been taking out his aggression in a few street fights, relinquishing all the winnings to the family simply because his reward was making himself feel a bit better. Talking to Leo about it, brief as it was, still helped. It was high-time to move on from those memories. He was here now. That's all that mattered.

[Leonardo]

"Dat's true. I 'ave been busy." Come to think of it, he wasn't thaaat busy. Things were more hectic now with a rival boss emerging, but he still always made time for the little things. Music, art, food. Especially spending time with his lady. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that if this rival guy tried to expand his business, the less time Leonardo could spend on the things he loved. And that made him very upset.

Perhaps Al knew something about this rival that he didn't? He could really use any insight available. This guy was becoming dangerously close to landing on Frankie's hit list. Frankie never missed a hit. But something told him it would be harder to get this guy. Maybe Al could help.

"You evah heard of a guy named Crowley? Know anything about 'im?"

[Fen]

Alonzo stiffened a bit when Leonardo mentioned Crowley. "That psychopath? Yeah, I know him. Ran a few jobs for him when I first got ta Bensonhurst. He's ah messy fella. Don't deal too much in clean jobs. Mosta what he deals in is security and bodyguard stuff, but if you don't pay..." He shook his head. "I heard of ah shallow grave out at tha cemetery that I'm sure he's got his paws all over." Alonzo had left Crowley's little crew now, but he must have grown a bit if Leo was concerned about him. He knew that he had caused some trouble at the junkyard a while back, and that Leo had been doing checkups on his business. He really didn't think Crowley was worth the effort. He was small time compared to the Mancinis. "I'll tell ya one thing though, bawss. He ain't no pushovah. Cocky son of a bitch too, and smart. You think he's somebody to worry about?"

Alonzo looked to Leo, wondering just how nice it might be to rip that bulldog's throat right out for what happened to Guido. Alonzo had never liked him or the way he operated. Maybe that's why he had left in the first place.

[Leonardo]

"Intrustin', instrustin'". It was very intriguing that Al had once been a part of Crowley's operation. He couldn't help but to cgain a little respect for Crowley on top of what he already had. Even though he was a little fellow compared to most, he was still comandeering dogs as big as Al to do his bidding, even if it was only for a little while. Very impresive.

"I'd be lyin' if I said I wasn't keepin' eyes on 'im. Dat doesn't mean he's a threat, but I'm usually very keen on dese things. Wheneva stuff like dis pops up, it's a three part approach to da prollem. First, you try an' befriend 'em. Second, you try an' bribe 'em. An' if awl else fails..." Al knew what the third was. "I've tried da first two. He ain't havin' it. Howeva I don't have a great enough reason to put 'im on Frankie's list...you know any weaknesses or disadvantages our friend has? Something we could use?"

[Fen]

Alonzo nodded. "Makes sense." He confirmed. Of course Leo was keeping tabs on him. The dog was out there stealing his business left and right. It was no surprise to Alonzo at all. "Alls I know is this; he's real crazy man. Super crazy. The guy could have an entire family slaughtered an' not even bat ah eye. I know he's small time, though. Prob'ly not alotta dogs under his lead right now. He ain't tha best at makin' friends. He ain't really ah fighta though, eitha. Gets his goons to do his dirty work." Alonzo shrugged. He didn't really know much about Crowley's weaknesses considering that he wasn't around him for very long before he decided that wasn't his scene. He'd vamped and never looked back. He wasn't someone Alonzo wanted to be seen associating with after the shit he witnessed the man do.

"He's a businessman though, much like yaself. So, cuttin' down his business is really all that gets to him. His people are expendable."