“You done?”

Alceo Dentari, with one eyebrow raised, nodded in response to his own question. He wasn’t going to say ‘yeah, you’re done’ out loud but it was pretty obvious he was thinking it inside that Italiano head of his.

“It’s funny. See, before a few days ago if anyone had asked me what I thought a’ Tom Sawyer I’d a’ said I had no strong opinions on the kid.”

It had been a glorious day in Brooklyn. Temperatures had been up around 90, the sun bathed everything in it’s magnificence, and the breeze on the bank of the Hudson kept things from becoming too uncomfortable. Just as well really as Dentari wasn’t exactly a shorts and wifebeater kind of guy.

Yes, even in this weather Dentari wore only the finest Italian tailored outfits.

“To the best a’ my knowledge I ain’t never had no run ins with him. I don’t think we ever shared a ring together, I don’t think we ever exchanged no pleasantries in the back.” Dentari said now shaking his head with a slightly bewildered look upon his face. “I ain’t never had to concern myself with Tom Sawyer until this week...”

“Don’t get me wrong, I heard a’ him. I seen him wrestle... I seen him get his ass handed to him on a silver platter.” Dentari continued as the faintest hint of a smile flashed up in the corner of his mouth. “It’s just I ain’t never been the chef, capiché?”

“So seein’ as we ain’t had no... prior interactions...” Dentari said slowly, picking his words carefully, “I don’t quite understand how the kid can sit round by himself, or with his schoolyard chums, an’ talk ‘bout Alceo Dentari like he knows the guy’...”

“But, when that happens, I kinda gotta get an opinion fast, don’t I?”

“So you ask me that same question today, ‘what do I think a’ Tom Sawyer?’, I gotta say...” he rubbed his chin and thought for a moment before answering in a strangely upbeat manner. “I think the kid’s got sense.”

Spitake.

Wait, what?

“I mean, I’d describe myself as a stand up kinda guy.” Dentari said without a hint of sarcasm, incredible I know, but it’s true. “That’s how I was raised, you know? If someone shows me the level a’ respect I deserve, I’ll pay it right back to ‘em. The trouble with Defiance is that there ain’t too many people ‘round that’s willin’ to set aside their ego an’ give credit an’ respect exactly where it’s due.”

“Christian Light, Kai Scott, Cancer Jiles, none a’ them wanna acknowledge just what I done here in Defiance.” Dentari said, the bounciness in his voice started to fade, inching him ever closer to the broodiness that we were so used to, “They don’t respect me? I don’t respect them.”

“But Tom Sawyer ain’t like that.” He added shaking his head, “No, the kid’s got sense ‘cause he’s the first man I come across, after a year an’ a half in Defiance, to actually put his hand up an’ admit that what I done since arrivin’ here ain’t been nothin’ shy a’ biblical.”

Can you say delusions of grandeur?

“So I guess congratulations is order, right?” Dentari chuckled, “Yeah, bravo Tom. Give youself a pat on the back, you’re the first person in Defiance history Alceo Dentari ever said anythin’ nice about.”

“But wait...” He added, holding up a hand,  “Do me a favor, will yous, Tom? Put the cork back in the champagne bottle. Just ‘cause I got a modicum a’ respect for yous don’t mean I like yous... an’ it certainly don’t mean I’m gonna lay down for yous.”

“No, Tom, ‘cause I respect you I’m only gonna defeat you.” He said making sure the intended target could hear and comprehend every word nice and clear. That was the tone of voice we were more used to. “I ain’t gonna beat you.”

“If you can’t work out the difference ask Heidi Christenson. Providin’ she can stop whippin’ your ass for long enough she might be able to explain it.” Dentari said, baring his pearly white teeth through a sinister smile, “See, she showed me no respect... So I beat her.”

“This is just the wrong place an’ the wrong time for you, Tommy.” Dentari added, “I ain’t got no problems with yous, but through no fault a’ your own you’re blockin’ a path I shouldn’t even have to be walkin’ right now.”

“I should already be in the Ladder War!” He raised his voice ever so slightly, enough for those closest to him to stop what they were doing and look over for half a second. “I qualified the moment I almost comatosed the former World Champion.”

“So if I gotta go through this formal qualification; if I gotta prove myself for the hundredth time then I’ll play ball, I’ll do it, an’ there ain’t no way yous is gonna stop me.”

“I don’t want to render you unconscious, Tom.” Alceo said, again without a hint of sarcasm in his voice. But if you looked into eyes you’d have to second guess just how much he meant it, “But if you insist on gettin’ back up every time I knock you down then I ain’t gonna have no choice but to do so, an I ain’t gonna hesitate in doin’ it.”

“There’s only one thing I care about an’ that ain’t your general health an’ well being.” Dentari added, this time sounding and looking like he meant every word. “All I care ‘bout is gettin’ to that Ladder War so as I can finally wear the belt that I deserve.”

“So, Tom, if yous got as much sense as I think you have, you won’t listen to your friends.” Dentari said, “You’ll make your own mind up over just how much a’ the real deal I am.”

“An’ if you’re a good boy, after I’m done with yous, I’ll get Big Vinny to grab a pen, a scrap a’ paper, an’ I’ll give yous another autograph to add to your collection.” He said with a wink, “How’s that sound? A nice souvenir you can show the grandkids one day. Tell ‘em the tale a’ the time yous came up short against Alceo Dentari.”

“After all, I gotta give you somethin’ to look forward to, don’t I?”
 

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