[Chuuya hears him, and it’s those words that snap him back to reality and have him falling to his knees from the sheer weight of his emotions. Apollo curls up right next to his neck, even as Chuuya trembles with the force of holding back his tears.]

It’s stupid, right? Caring about a bird this much? Even if I watched him hatch and take his first breath, it’s stupid to care this much about an animal.

[He only wishes he didn’t care this much.]

Some mafioso I am.

[He laughs, but there’s no humor in it.]

Maybe making me do that was a sign that I’ve gotten too goddamn soft.