act eight: what's yet to come
The soft sound of a young voice wailing in its slumber breaks Dominic's focus, bringing him back from the imaginary world he'd prepared to immerse himself in, back from the tales of warfare and bloodshed that had haunted his mind for so long now. Knowing immediately the source of the sounds and where to go, Dominic stands from his desk with a sigh and a smile, shaking his head.
"Poor little guy... must have had a bad dream."
Making his way through his home, Dominic leaves his den and passes quietly beyond his bedroom, where within his wife lie sleeping the night away as she'd been needing to for so long now. Just a few feet down the hall the wailing continues, carried out by powerful lungs built to alert the young one's parents of its anguish.
In just a moment's time... he was within the room, and the source of the tears and the crying was quick to calm his voice and instead wail softly in fright, staring up at his father with sad eyes brimmed with tears. Laughing softly, Dominic leans forward and lifts the child from its crib, knowing one day soon the little man wouldn't have to stay confined to such places any longer.
Thoughts of the future were daunting ones for him, they reminded him that even though he'd already taken the responsibility to ensure a safer future for his family... he'd still have to take the responsibility of raising his child-- and any future children he may have-- alongside of their mother to eventually set them free.
As the parent of such a small child, the last thing he'd ever wanted to do was let him roam free... he was still too young, and even in Dominic's eyes set towards the future, he'd still feel too young when the day came for him to branch away. Those were the days he'd dreaded most, a dread shared with their mother for the fact that their first had only just arrived into the world.
Still, it was too soon for thoughts such as those... the present was meant to enjoy every moment, and the future was meant solely for the present's preparation. Dominic began to softly rock his child, whispering to him quietly with a smile on his face.
"Hey little guy... you're okay, daddy's here..." he began with a general line meant to sooth the little one, despite the fact that he'd not even understand those words for some time still yet to come. It was the tone that mattered most... perceived tone in writing was just as important as perceived tone in everyday speech.
As it stood, the tone he'd used with his son was enough to get the quiet wailing to stop, and so he made his way across the room to the small chair in the corner, sitting down in it and staring down at the small bundle quietly staring up at him in his arms.
"Look at you... you're already getting so big and it's not even been a full year! You're growing fast, son... I can't wait to see what your future has in store for you. I just, I can't... I can't even imagine it, really!"
Dominic's words had a hint of giddiness to them, and it was as though all previous concerns he'd had with the troubles coming his way all too soon had simply... faded. As if in the end, they just... didn't matter any longer.
There was a truth to that, too... they really didn't matter, nor did they ever in the first place. There were so many newfound differences between Dominic and his peers, and while he shared their love for their company, he just... he loved his family even more. He would do anything for them, even leave the company he'd returned to save in the first place if it meant keeping them safe and happy. It had been his family in the first place that motivated him to save the company, nevermind the love he had for the place... there were many factors to his return he'd never even addressed, in all actuality.
"If it weren't for you and your mom, kiddo, I don't know what I'd be doing today... I know I wouldn't care nearly as much for my work as I do now, though. I guess... I guess I owe you that, huh?"
Dominic smiles down as his son coos softly, reaching a tiny hand up to grab at his chin. A warmth spreads through his chest, the undeniable pride of being a father sweeping through his veins. He wondered if his old friend missed sensations like these... if he ever wanted nothing more than to drop this cliche-ridden final act business of his and just... go back to make amends with his family. Of course he had to miss his son... this kind-of feeling offers more than any possible end their company had waiting for him, right?
So then... why was he so stubbornly persistent in some notion that this time, that these days absolutely had to be his final ones. To let his son grow up without a father... it was unforgiveable, it was nothing better than giving up on everything he had to hold dear to him still. Yes, Dominic understood why the man felt the need to do all this, but... in the end, he also understood it was all entirely unnecessary.
"Uncle Chris, he... I hope you can see him again soon, buddy. I'd like to try and get him back to where he needs to be, but... he's grown so obsessed over his own story now, he... it's not even an ego any longer, it's just being selfish. I just... I wish it didn't have to be this way with him, you know...?"
The child stared back up with quiet eyes at his father, hearing the confliction in his voice and growing concerned with what may be happening in front of him. The child makes a soft noise of confusion, tears threatening to spill over once again out of fear that something may be wrong, but his father quickly recovers from his former mix of emotions and plasters a smile across his face, leaning down to place a kiss on his son's forehead.
"Sorry, Ehno... I didn't mean to upset you, I just... I want my friend back, I guess."
The child continues to stare on in confusion, not able to grasp the meaning or intent to the words of his father, just knowing there's a hint of sadness behind those happy eyes staring back at him. Nonetheless, the happiness was strong... it was generated from the presence of the child, after-all, and it was enough to bring the child back from the brink of tears. A soft yawn escapes the child's lips and he lifts both tiny hands up to rub gently at his eyes.
With a small laugh, Dominic kisses his son one more time and carefully stands, bringing him back over to his crib, laying him down within it and covering him slowly as the child closes his eyes, squirming in the crib to get comfortable. Waiting to make sure his son is truly fast asleep, he watches on for a good five minutes before quietly leaving, his smile never leaving his face.
In the end, it was his family that had kept him from going insane when his best friend announced he was dying. It was his family that kept him confident even when the odds began to stack themselves against him. Even when the people he cared for had finally shown him their true colors... it was his family that had reminded him that there were better things to focus on.
No matter how desperately these people that would stand against him wanted him to fear the outcome of this match... he knew, at the end of the night, he just... he couldn't. There was nothing left to fear any longer, he had already done everything he had ever set out to do, and the only thing left was to try and bring the company back from the edge of collapse.
And as far as the high honor that would come should they manage to beat him on that night... the fact was he still had his own opportunities left to use to beat them right back. The struggles he would have to endure would, in the end, be incredibly similar to the ones he'd endured long ago in his past... and he'd learned to stop fearing the past a long time ago.
"Heh, I guess... I guess I really don't have much to worry about in the end, huh?"
Dominic reassures himself as he makes his way back into his den, staring down the sheets of paper scattered about his desk. Every paper had its purpose, it told the story of those who would fight to end his own... and they stood for his determination to prove to them why the greatest stories never have an ending.
Smiling, Dominic Pericolo shut the light off to his den, the pen beside the papers now allowed to rest in peace. As it turned out, the history of war wasn't something he absolutely had to delve into... it was just something to touch upon as a bit of an example.