"Talk"

'Thought'

[Control]
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"Makima, this is Vinnie and Jimmy, people I trust very much."

In the outside world of New York City, Jackie Estacado and Makima could be standing in front of a black car, with two men who stood next to the vehicle. The younger-looking black-haired adult male was known as Vinnie Mortarello, while the other one was an older man with a bald head and a hat. He was a surprised and interested expression when he saw the redhead with yellow swirly eyes, a child who had hidden behind the man taking care of her while holding her puppy closer to her chest.

"So this is the rumored child the boys have been talking about?"

Jimmy was a little bit in disbelief to see Estacado have a little girl with him, as someone as infamous as him, it was very unexpected

"Yes, I am currently her guardian until I can find her a proper home, be sure to let the boys know that she is not to be fucked with under my care."

Jackie wanted to be clear about who he was taking care of and who not to mess with while he was around, which was a new and weird experience for the red-haired girl.

"Don't worry Mr. Estacado, we hear you loud and clear."

Both Vinnie and the Grape nodded and understood the situation. Clearly, they had no intention to harm the yellow-eyed kid, let alone mess with her. She was interested in seeing such loyalty.

"Now then, where to?"

Jimmy stepped aside and Vinnie opened the back door of the fancy black car, allowing both Estacado and the young small kid to hop in

"Take me to the bank, I need to make some withdrawal."

Once everyone was in the car and properly seated, Jackie made his request on where he needed to go and with a simple understood nod, they drove off

"Any reasons for your withdrawal, Jackie?"

Makima was a bit confused; if her caretaker was only going to get some money from the bank, then she didn't understand why she needed to be here.

"To buy you some new clothes and gifts, think of it as an early birthday~"

Jackie ruffles the girl's red hair, which makes her frown, but also blushes slightly from the affection and kindness. Soon they arrive at the bank. Once there, Estacado steps out of the car.

"I shouldn't be long Makima, the boys should keep you company until then."

With all that said, Jackie closed the car door and left the yellow-eyed kid alone in the car with his two loyal friends. A moment of silence fell before them all as they now awaited the return of the man who had just left.

"... [Tell me all you know about Jackie Estacado]"

"No problem Ma'am."

But with a firm command from Makima, who wanted information about her caretaker, both Vinnie and Jimmy accepted the request and started talking, though they seemed unaware of what she had asked and what they were saying.

"Jackie was once an orphan, just like his girl Jenny, but Aunt Sarah knew his Father and decided to take him in."

"Of course the Don, Paulie Franchetti, used this to his advantage to make Jackie work for him, at first it was simple grunt work job meant for the lower down people, but once Paulie saw some of his, 'Potential', he was given more harder jobs meant for the best."

Both Vinnie and Jimmy took turns explaining a brief summary of Estacado life, where he come from and what he does, which the young small kid listened very carefully with interest

"Potential you say? [Please explain more]"

And the more Makima learned, the more curious she became, which led her to ask the two men for more information, which they provided without delay.

"Jackie is a professional stone cold heartless killer, those that wronged him before are most likely sleeping with the fishes by now."

However, much to the red-headed girl's surprise, Vinnie just revealed something that was definitely unexpected.

'I guess I should've expected as much, since he is part of a Mafia of some kind, but to think such a kind and nice man turned out to be a monster like me, it is something to be surprised by.'

Makima wonders whether she should be more disappointed than she is now, or less interested in learning more.

"And Paulie is very keen on making sure that Jackie's talents are used to get what he wants, in fact, if it wasn't for him, and the many people that he was sent to kill, the Don wouldn't be as powerful as he is now."

"But despite the many sins he now carries on his back, a lot of people can't help but respect him."

The yellow-eyed kid made sure to keep the name "Paulie Franchetti" in her memory, because Vinnie kept mentioning the man as if he were important

"Of course you respect him, bringing fear and death would make anyone loyal and fall in line like a good dog."

Although for what Jimmy said, Makima couldn't help but roll her eyes, seeming unimpressed with what the Grape said about respecting her caretaker

"We don't respect him because he's a monster, we respect him because he's more human than most of us."

The small young child couldn't help but once again be surprised to hear Vinnie say that about Estacado

"What?"

"At the end of the day, Jackie wants nothing more than to live a normal happy life, everything he does, he does it for the better, for the people he cares about, like us, Aunt Sarah, Jenny."

Vinnie then turned around to look at a confused Makima with a smile

"And even you Makima."

After Vinnie said all that to her, she was once again left in stunned silence, looking down at herself and wearing a expression that gave the impression she was very deep in thought now

"I see..."

After a while, Estacado had returned and sat back next to Makima, counting the cash in his hand and making sure he got the amount he needed

"I got everything that I need from the bank, let's go."

Though Jackie pocketed his money, he couldn't help but notice the red-haired girl who was silent and looked down. He assumed she was mistreated by Vinnie or Jimmy, but seeing their calm oblivious expressions, he knew it wasn't that.

"Anything you would like me to buy you?"

In the end, Jackie could only assume it was something personal and decided to do something to make the yellow-eyed kid happy.

"... Burger King would be appreciated."

"You heard her boys, to Burger King, make sure it has her favorite Whopper in it."

As soon as Makima made her request, Jackie wasted no time fulfilling it, telling Vinnie to start driving while asking Jimmy where the best Burger King was. Though as he was doing all this for her, she couldn't help but frown more and look at him, as if trying to solve a puzzle she couldn't understand yet.

'More human than the monster huh?'
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Would Makima have the same power level as her adult self, or would she need to learn to get stronger?

(BTW, anyone who is influenced or infused with the Darkness or the Angelus is immune to Makima controlling abilities)