Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas

[Lucretzia Largo]

Lucretzia, still completely unaware that the brothers were competing for her attention and affection. Smiled at Pavi's last remark. She reached over and took Luigi's hand firmly in her own.
"Did-a you try and-a cook like me, angelo?" She said smiling sweetly.
"Che è meraviglioso, bambino! I should-a show you how to-a make my special pastas. And-a other family recipies from-a my side of-a the family. Only Vittoria knows how-a to-a make most of-a the dishes. But I would-a love if-a one of-a my other children did as-a well. That way when you're a Papa you can-a make food for them-a too!"

[Luigi Largo]

Luigi smiled at that and wrapped his arm around his mothers shoulders kissing the top of her head. It still felt strange that he was now taller than her and had to look down at her to look in her eyes.
"I like that idea Mama." He said reaching over with his other arm and taking a spoon to stir the marinara sauce some. "It was the only way I could think of to keep your memory alive, though Dad didn't like it at all. I cooked when I could."

Unsuccessfully though as most of the time he'd end up burning whatever food he was trying to fix to black ash. But he was sure now that with Mama was with him she'd teach him everything she knew about food and cooking. He ignored the remark about children though as Luigi never once considered the idea of becoming a father ever.

Not that he'd tell his mother that as she had dropped hints several times that she wanted to be a grandmother someday. And telling her that he didn't want children would break her heart, the very last thing he ever wanted to do to his mother.
"The only way Pavi and Amber could keep your memory alive is to wear your clothes and perfume." He said casually trying to embarrass his brother further by dropping hints about his brothers cross dressing habit and mommy issues. "But I remembered every time you and I cooked together when I was little, and tried to make it like you from memory. Though no one could ever make food the way you did Mama."

[Pavi Largo]

Pavi scowled to himself, irritated that his plan to irritate the other had failed. At the remark about cooking when he could, however, Pavi had to suppress a snort, remembering a few times when Luigi's failed attempts at dinner had wound up in black masses on their plates, and Luigi would insist that he and Amber eat it anyway.

But at Mama's remark about Luigi having children...Pavi couldn't help but laugh aloud. The thought of Luigi having a bunch of kids running around, along with someone willing to even have them with him in the first place, was hilarious. Pavi knew their mother wanted them all to be parents at some point(which wasn't even possible in Pavi and Amber's cases, as they'd both had that precaution taken care of years ago), but he couldn't believe that after spending so much time with the three of them that she actually thought that they would.

Before he could even make another remark about that, however, Luigi had already beat him to it, this time going in for a much more embarrassing reply than he could even think of. Reddening beneath his mask, Pavi glared at Luigi, trying desperately to come up with something to throw back at him. His feminine characteristics weren't exactly a secret, and he'd never been very ashamed of them...but with his mother in the house, it was a little different. He knew that Lucretzia admired Luigi's more masculine attitude, and knew not what she thought of his own attitude, so he was constantly feeling the need to prove himself. To prove that he was a man just as much as his brother.

"That is lie!" He accused, feeling his face redden further at his own lie. Unfortunately, his brother was telling the truth; after their mother had died, Pavi had spent a good amount of time trying on her clothes and makeup. "There was-a only that-a one time...and...that was-a just to please Carmella. Amber, I mean," Pavi shook his head, surprised that he'd accidentally called their sister by her former name. "She...wanted to play dressup, Mama. So, being a kind grande fratello, I agreed-a to play with-a her...in...your-a clothes."

[Luigi Largo]

Luigi's smirk grew at Pavi's increased anxiety and panic. Oh he had him now, hell if he 'accidentally' let slip several of Pavi's "secrets" he was sure he'd have his mothers affections all to himself.

"You were wearing one of Mama's chokers two days ago Pavi, or were you playing "dress up" with Amber then too? And from what I recall you wore one of Mama's dresses everyday for a year after she left, there's even several photos of you in them to. With makeup, and jewelry, and a wig."

Luigi turned to his mother.
"Don't blame yourself for Pavi's....unusual...fashion sense Mama. He's always been very feminine. After you left though he just got more so."

[Lucretzia Largo]

Lucretzia was to stunned to speak, she could only gape at her both of her sons words. She wasn't sure how she felt about Pavi's cross dressing and feminine manners. Lucretzia had been raised in a very, very old fashioned family. Where the men were masculine and scoffed at the ideas of fashion, their looks and would've rather died than ever be caught wearing anything slightly feminene. Let alone full out drag.

Had Pavi been raised in a place like she had, he would've been humiliated, scorned, and possibly beaten to ensure that he never did it again. That thought made her stomache hurt a little at the thought of her son being hurt for something as silly as wearing her clothes. And it made her a little sad too, that Pavi had to wear her clothes to feel closer to her because she wasn't there with him.

"It-a doesn't matter." She said a little slowly and shakily reaching over to stroke Pavi's cheek with her finger tips. "It's-a just cloth, that's-a all clothes are really. And-a if it makes you feel better, and-a closer to-a me when you are-a lonely, I-a don't mind if-a you do it."

[Pavi Largo]

Pavi's face burned with embarrassment and anger beneath his mask, so much that he felt as though the dead flesh might melt away from the rising heat. Thankfully this was impossible; otherwise, he be even more humiliated than he already was, if that were even possible. He glared daggers at Luigi through the eye holes of his mask, afraid to meet their mother's gaze for the moment in fear of what he reaction to Luigi's revealed "secret" might be.

It was bad enough to have grown up knowing his was a disappointment to his father for all he had done. During that first year, Rotti had wanted absolutely nothing to do with any of his children, particularly Pavi for the very reason Luigi had just admitted. And when he'd been forced into contact with his youngest son, he'd done nothing but stare blankly at his little cross-dressing freak of a son, shaking his head in disgust and muttering something about the future of GeneCo.

Even now the remarks were hard to pass off as nothing, and the thought that their mother, his last surviving and caring parental figure, would turn away or give him the same disgusted glances, was more than Pavi could bare to take. He was close to turning and walking right out of the kitchen in shame, embarrassment, and possibly a little bit of fear, until he felt his mother's soft fingers brushing gently across his skin. Pavi blinked in surprise, turning to look at his mother with widened eyes.

Even more shock came at the sound of her comforting words, and it took a few moments before Pavi at last smiled in response, taking his mother's hand into his own thankfully. "Grazi, Mama," he replied, barely attempting to mask the relief in his tone. Shooting another look at Luigi, this time a smug one, he gave the woman a gentle hug, before pulling away with another smile.

[Luigi Largo]

Luigi scowled harder than he ever scowled in his life. His face contorting into a mask of absolute rage at Pavi's smug look and the attention their mother was lavishing on him. That should be him in Mama's arms not his fucking freak of a brother.

"That's good too know Mama." Luigi said calming himself down so that his mother couldn't see just how much it upset him. He reached over and stirred the bubbling pasta. "That you love all your children despite our many, many faults." He smiled, almost charmingly leaning over to kiss his mother on the cheek.

"It's nice to know," He continued as he stirred the marinara sauce. "even though I have a few temper problems, Amber's drug use and smuttiness, Vittoria's...eccentricness, and Pavi's effeminacy. You'd love us no matter what." He chuckled then, ready to drop hints at Pavi's other "secret" not looking at either Pavi or his mother as he walked around the kitchen pretending to put this or that away. Or rearrange the spices. Then he walked back to the stove looking down at the sauce smelling it critically.

"Though I suppose having a son like Pavi is like having another daughter. Almost more of a woman than Amber and Toria, in more ways than one."
He said casually lifting the spoon and tasting some of the sauce.
"Needs a bit of sage." He said casually as if he hadn't just dropped a very, very large hint about his brothers sexuality.

[Lucretzia Largo]

Lucretzia scowled a tiny bit at Luigi's slight jib at Pavi. True her youngest son was very effeminate. But that was no reason to strip him of what little masculinity that he did have. Saying that Pavi was like a daughter to her...really?! She'd have to give Luigi a very firm talking to.
"Not-a at all," Lucretzia said wrapping her arms around Pavi's shoulder and hugging Pavi gently. "He's-a just a bit, different that's-a all. He is-aeccentrico, doesn't mean he's-a any less of-a man than-a you or any other-a man."

True her youngest son was very effeminate. But that was no reason to strip him of what little masculinity that he did have. Saying that Pavi was like a daughter to her...really?! She'd have to give Luigi a very firm talking to about teasing his brother about how he acted.

Then she heard Luigi's "hint" about Pavi's other "secret". Her brow crossed at that a bit. Unsure what exactly Luigi was getting at, and whether or not it had been something good or bad.
"Pavi..." Lucretzia said slowly turning her head to look Pavi in the eyes giving him a troubled but questioning look. "What-a does he mean by-a that? 'A più di un modo?' "

[Pavi Largo]

Pavi suspiciously shot his brother a look, his smug attitude melting into a far more tense one. He'd grown used to his brother's constant jibing about his sexuality, ever since he'd first found out about the fact that not only was Pavi very interested and borderline obsessed with the ladies...he rather fancied the gentlemen as well.

That had been a rather awkward experience. Pavi had been caught making out with one of the male body guards in what he'd thought to be a private closet...until Luigi had walked in, of course. That had quickly turned both awkward and humiliating, and his brother had held that little "secret" over his head ever since. But in honesty, it wasn't much of a secret, as Pavi didn't seem to mind being open about his feelings towards men.

But with his mother it was a different situation entirely. His mother was old-fashioned, Pavi knew, so he'd been trying rather hard to keep his sexuality as quiet as possible. And, of course, Luigi was planning on tearing all that down for his own amusement.

"Nothing. I have-a no idea what-a he's talking about," Pavi muttered, looking away from his mother. He moved towards the sink, acting as though he were simply putting something away. He was tempted to turn and bolt for the door, considering what would inevitably be coming next, but that would only make things more difficult for them in the long run. All he could do now was wait for the end, and he nervously bit his lip, keeping his back to both his mother and brother as he waited.

[Lucretzia Largo]

Lucretzia wouldn't be detered though, whatever Luigi had been hinting at had been important. She could tell by the breif look in Pavi's eyes that not only was this important but also that he was worried about it as well. And that scared her.

"Paviche," She said walking behind him and gently stroking his hair with her finger nails. "What-a is it, love? Tell Mama, I'll-a understand. If-a it's the-a fact that-a you still kill women for-a their faces I-a understand, bello. Mama will never, ever stop loving you. So please let-a me know, please bambino?"

[Luigi Largo]

Originally Luigi had planned on blurting out that Pavi liked men just as much as he liked women. (Though he seemed more interested in women more often than not, almost obsessed at times.) But now that he saw the pleading in his mothers eyes and Pavi's refusal to meet her gaze, he had a very wicked idea.

"Go ahead Pavi," He shrugged casually. "Better she find out from you than from someone one else. Like say the media or the gossip rags."
It was a well known fact that Pavi was bi, something that had been leaked to the public a few times with lurid pictures and videos on-line. All of which were either brushed under the rug, or if they couldn't do that simply stated that it was a Pavi double.

Though Luigi was sure if he showed his mother one of the photos of Pavi lip locked with another man, she'd know it was him. Maternal instincts over ridding any explanation Pavi could come up with. And since Pavi was such a bad liar, particularly to their mother, it wouldn't be that difficult for her to see the truth that was as plain as the clips on Pavi's face.

[Pavi Largo]

Pavi slowly turned to face his mother, uncertain if he could trust her words or not. His deepest fear at the moment was not that his mother would simply stop loving him; it was that she would start hating him, turn away in disgust, and possibly run away again. Like Rotti had done from the start of his more feminine characteristics.

"You're not men, you're creatures! I'm embarrassed by you."

The last words his father had said to he and Luigi echoed in his memories, and Pavi doubted he could handle hearing them twice. Especially if the second time came from his mother. Pavi opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't find any words to say in response to her question. How could he? What was he supposed to do, just come out and say that he was as big of a whore for men as he was for women?

Media. Gossip rags. Luigi's remark grabbed Pavi's attention, reminding him of the article he'd found in the paper earlier this morning pertaining to himself. He'd quickly removed it, lest his mother should happen upon it, and had tucked it safely away in the pocket of his vest. It had been a rather tame, considering what he was used to finding about himself in the news; nothing other than a picture of himself and a one of the male opera cast members caught making out behind the Genetic Opera House. It would get his point across, and it would save him from having to explain his "secret," though he wished there was another way he could let his mother know.

But considering Pavi was to tongue-tied to speak at the moment, he simply removed the article clipping from his pocket, tossing it on the table silently. He turned away from his mother, stepping away from her touch shamefully. He hated being forced into this now, and he would be sure to find some way to get back at his brother; but for now, he no doubt would have to pick up the pieces of his mother's reaction to this little bit of information.

"See for-a yourself," he muttered, glaring daggers at Luigi from the corner of his eye. "Since-a you're so interested in it, fratello, why don't-a you explain?"

[Lucretzia Largo]

Lucretzia felt herself tense up as Pavi turned away from her. He refused to even look her in her eyes, that was a first from him. Usually when he spoke to her he couldn't look away from her face. It was like he was trying to judge her reaction to everything he said, as well as memorize her face for ever.

"Paviche?" Lucretzia asked walking over taking the photo in her hands carefully in her hand like it was a viper ready to strike. She let out a small gasp at the sight. Her youngest son lip locked with another man, their hands all over each other. She set it down quickly unsure what to say what to think.

Her son, her baby boy, enjoyed sex with men as well as women. Lucretzia knew about bisexuals, growing up in the first half of the twenty first century how could she not? But she never once thought that one of her children would be one.

Not that she didn't love him any less, but it made her a little sad. Sad because she knew that there would be no way Pavi would have a normal life. A wife, children. Then a thought came to her mind...that there had been something she had done that had made him be bisexual.

She had coddled Pavi the most when he was a baby and a toddler. Always had her next to her, let him put on her makeup and perfume for her when he asked. Rotti had fussed at her saying that she was treating him like a little girl and that it would mess him up later on in life. And now, apparently, Rotti was right.

"Questa è la mia colpa è tutta colpa mia!" Lucertzia said turning away putting a mouth over her mouth, she bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from sobbing.
"Sono stato affettuoso con te. Perché mi hai trattato come una ragazzina.Perché mi hai trattata come una ragazzina, perché sono una cattiva madre."

[Luigi Largo]

It was going better than he expected, he knew that his mother was rather....old fashioned about certain things. So it was a stab in the dark about Pavi's sexuality. Maybe she wouldn't care and maybe she would. As it turns out she did care a lot. And judging by the tears and the crying she wasn't taking it well at all.

"It's alright Mama." Luigi said going over to his mother and wrapping his arms around her shoulders and allowing her face to be buried in his shoulder. Her rubbed the back of her head soothingly, glancing at Pavi with a challenging look. "It's not your fault that Pavi 'goes both ways' and is super, super effeminate. Look at me I turned out normal, so it can't be your fault."

[Pavi Largo]

Pavi closed his eyes, keeping his back to his mother at the sound of her tears. This was exactly what he'd been afraid of; being such a disappointment that he made his mother cry, made his mother sad. He couldn't bare to listen to it, and made his way towards the door, then stopped suddenly as her words reached his ears.

Her fault? She was blaming herself? Now this wasn't what Pavi had expected. Rotti had certainly never blamed himself...though he'd certainly blamed her mother enough to last for both of his parents. Turning slowly to face his mother again, Pavi met Luigi's gaze, but said nothing for several moments. Even now, the game was still in play, and now he was planning his counterattack. He would not allow Luigi to steal away all his mother's affection, or her respect, for that matter. He would not be the pathetic little middle child anymore.

"Normal? Please," Pavi replied, keeping his gaze on Luigi. Even though he was looking at Luigi, his next words were directed at his mother. Despite the fact that he valued his mother's opinion above all else, Pavi wasn't able to deal with yet another parent viewing him as a disappointing freak. He might not have been normal by any means...but that was by his own personal choices, not his sexuality.

"Mama...who I am attracted to is-a not-a your fault," Pavi continued, voice softening a little as he turned his gaze to her instead. "Mama, I have always liked-a boys...and-a girls. It was-a nothing you could have-a prevented." Pausing, Pavi looked at his mother almost pleadingly, before said in a much quieter voice, "Mama, please. I know that it's-a different, but...I was-a born this-a way. Can't-a you except-a me for what I am? Please, Mama."