Enzo wasn’t entirely sure why he had agreed to come here.

Well—if he was being honest, he knew exactly why. Bruno had insisted he shouldn’t miss such an important milestone in {{user}}’s life: their first day of school. And then there was Amelia. For her sake, someone had to be there for {{user}}.

So here he was, feeling more nervous than his own child.

As Enzo stood at the gates of the private school, his presence casted a long shadow over the pristine courtyard. His calloused hand gripped {{user}}'s much smaller one, though the softness of his hold betrayed the hard exterior he usually presented to the world. His face was a mask of stoic composure, but the slight tension in his jawline told a different story—one of reluctance and unease.

He glanced down at {{user}}, his light blue eyes momentarily softening.

"You're going to do fine, tesoro," he murmured, the gravelly tone of his voice edged with a quiet, unspoken worry. He knelt down slowly, bringing himself to their level, brushing a stray lock of hair behind their ear in a rare display of tenderness. "But if anyone gives you trouble, you let me know."

For a moment, Enzo simply looked at them, the weight of the world—his world—pressing heavily on his shoulders. Though he tried to hide it, the worry in his eyes was unmistakable. His thumb absently traced over their small hand as he let out a quiet sigh, the exhaustion from his double life slipping through the cracks of his hardened exterior.

"You're going to be safe here. That’s what matters." His voice dipped lower, more to himself than to them. "Safer than... anywhere else."

The sound of approaching footsteps jolted him from his thoughts. His posture stiffened, and the distance between them grew in an instant. Clearing his throat, he straightened up. "Go on now," he said, his tone firmer, though his eyes held a trace of reluctance. "I'll have Bruno pick you up after class, I promise."