[Not a single word escapes his lips. The thermometer is inches away from the feverish teenager’s mouth, not showing any inclination to budging until the the other took the piece in his mouth.]
【 ✮ 】— Blinks, the thermometer successfully reaching his mouth. Welp.
Good…Even though we’ve established that you have a high fever, I’m still going to check your temperature. [From a small kit, he pulls out a thermometer. It’s one of the older models filled with mercury.] Now I’m going to need you to open your mouth.
【 ✮ 】— « Father, there’s no need… » Giorno grumbles, looking at him with a rather puzzled expression, still all curled up in the sheets.
But son, I never once thought that. It’s all your mother. I know you are very professional and would not get involved in such activities with your subordinates. I was offering to stop the rumors that is all.
【 ✮ 】— « That’s why I am here –to tell you and Madre not to believe to every single rumour concerning my sexuality or my relationships with the ones surrounding me. You should know me and have some faith in me, even if I know you’re trying to cope the years you haven’t been there and you left me with my real mother and her new husband. »
Son, do you need Padre to settle some matter for you?
【 ✮ 】— « I don’t need anything. I should hereby request you not to mistake relationships with my subordinates and friends of Passione with something more promiscuous. This makes you fly directly in the ‘embarrassing parent’ corner. »
[He listens to every word that his son says. It upsets him that his son has had an unpleasant childhood. He can sort of empathize with him since his childhood was no walk in the park.]
…I can’t accept this, I am not your mother nor your step-father. I don’t wish to neglect you or abuse you. Maybe this day is like any other day, but please, give me the chance to make it special, If I don’t accomplish that, I’ll drop it for next year.
【 ✮ 】— « If you really insist, then I shall give you a try. I hope this day will be changed into better, Father. »
Nonsense, I haven’t really been present for any of your past birthdays, which I apologize deeply for. So this year it will be different.
【 ✮ 】— « As far as I can remember, the date of my birthday has never been linked to a feeling of happiness. The date of my birthday never changed the mere fact that mother kept neglecting my very existence, or that her husband kept beating me and abusing of me. I have no happy memories related to this day –it was a day like another, it is a day like another. That’s why I never celebrated my birthday, Father. »
