Title: A Strong Shoulder
Fandom: Person of Interest
Characters: Bruce Moran, Anthony Marconi, Carl Elias
Rating: G
Author: godsdaisiechain
Length: 850 words

Summary: Pre-Canon.  After they leave the group home, Bruce, Anthony, and Carl discuss their plans for the future. Carl learns that there's more to his friends than he initially thought.



Carl had resisted the idea of being the boss at first. “I don't like it.  Sending people out to do dangerous things while staying safe myself. How could anyone trust me? How will I know what to do?” He looked at Anthony. “How do I protect you? Make sure you’re safe?”

“That’s why it should be you,” Anthony said around a mouthful of whatever he was eating.  In those days, just after they left the group home and were beginning to make money, it seemed like Anthony was always eating.  He grew an inch the first month out. “You even thinking that way. I can handle myself.”

“He’s right,” said Bruce. Anthony was made of solid muscle.  He’d kept quiet and no one noticed how much he could lift, how many pushups he could do. “You need the crew to trust you. Love you, if you can swing it, but people like you. It’s the most important thing.”

As it turned out, Bruce understood this from experience. He had been born into a crew, and wound up, first in juvie and then in the group home because he had taken the rap for one of his uncles. Someone too old to be treated as a child. Afterward, the uncle agreed to fund Bruce in college, set him up with a business selling soft stuff, like mushrooms and marijuana, until “just say no” made that too dangerous.  By the time Bruce graduated college and set up his first accountant’s business, two of the uncles would join his father in the grave, cementing his desire to become a money launderer.

Carl studied and planned and studied. One day, while Anthony was playing basketball with some of the other guys, Bruce took Carl aside. “You’re Gianni Moretti’s bastard,” he said. Carl’s face went hard and angry. “Don’t give me that look. It’s not like she would have had a choice. Or you.”

“He did,” said Carl.  Bruce shrugged, unable to argue that point. “Did he do it?  Have it done?”

“She went to him, looking for money to send you to a better school. You did good on a test.” Carl closed his eyes, suppressing an agony of grief. “She wanted you to be a doctor or something.  He said no and she went to his father. They couldn’t have that. Next week she was dead.”

“How did you find that out?” Carl had known his mother was looking for his father.  And he’d found her, stabbed to death in their kitchen, been shunted into the foster care system.

“My uncle remembered the name. Elias,” said Bruce.  “They were trying to get us to clean up the mess.” Carl went cold. “It was…you don’t do what he done. He tried to keep it quiet, but people knew who she was. You’ve got a claim. You could take over.  There’s a legitimate grandson, but he’s a stupid piece of work.”

“If he wanted me, I wouldn’t be here,” said Carl, pressing shaking hands against his thighs.  He had a father.  A living father. He pressed down the hope that there was a place for him. A family. Love.  He knew, even then, that the hope was foolish, but still he felt it.  

“You could reunite the Five Families,” said Bruce casually.

Carl snorted. “You watch too many movies. Were they ever even united? And why would I want to do that?” Carl asked. “What’s the goal? How does that help anyone?”

“Vengeance,” said Bruce. “Your birthright.”

“Right,” Carl said, hearing the seriousness underneath the joking tone, but he wasn’t ready to be serious, not about that. “Maybe I should walk around with an orange over my teeth. That would look impressive.”

Bruce chuckled. “Think about it…at the right time, it will help for people to have something to say.  We can say that and keep to the shadows.  Be our own men.”  Carl nodded, understanding.  They could have a good life, for a while, until someone took them out.

“I got something else to say to you,” Bruce said.  Carl met his eye. “I love Anthony like a brother.” Carl nodded. “He don’t trust easy, not since he went to juvie, but he trusts you. I ain’t never seen him take to someone like this.” Carl nodded again. “Not even me. You look after him, treat him right, and I will support you to the ends of the earth.”

Carl did not know exactly what Bruce meant, but he agreed without thinking. “Of course,” said Carl. “What about you?”

Bruce grinned. “I’m the strong shoulder behind the scenes.  I’ll be looking after the both of you. We got a lot of money to earn if we want to reunite the five families.” 

“I’ll get the oranges.”  Then Carl paused.  “What made you take up with a couple of goombahs like us?”

Bruce flushed.  “My granpa.  He thought we needed to get to know youse guys.  From the inside.  They put Anthony in my room… and he saw an opportunity.”

“Anthony?” Carl asked.

“You gotta ask him.  I ain’t getting into it.”  Carl wouldn't ask, not right out, but one day he would learn who Anthony really was....