Chapter Text
If the last three summers of waiting for Luca were nerve wracking, this year was torture. Alberto and Luca had gotten to talk on the phone everyday like usual, but it had taken a few weeks to get rid of the strained, awkward tone they took on. On the days leading up to his best friends coming back, Alberto became increasingly nervous. He hadn’t even noticed Massimo making his favorite pasta four days in a row to hopefully snap him back to reality. On the the fifth day of Alberto pushing trenette al pesto into his mouth with his face blank, Massimo was beginning to get a little more concerned than usual. “Alberto.” He said, startling him so much he dropped his fork. “Yeah?” He squinted his small eyes at his adopted son who blinked at him with his wide, green eyes. “Are you so worried about Luca and Gulietta?” Alberto frowned.
“Uh, no.” His eyes darted down at his plate defensively. “Is that all it is?” Alberto pushed his food around on his plate, watching the way the oils mixed with the pasta, feeling strangely guilty. Conceding, he sighed. “No, That’s not all it is…” Glancing up at the large man, he began to feel a bit embarrassed. “Well… I guess I’m just worried.” When Massimo furrowed his brow and pushed his bowl out of the way, he knew he was listening. “About what, figlio?” Alberto shuffled his feet nervously under the table. Mustering his courage, Alberto explained what had happened last summer and how he had tried to kiss Luca under the stars on the group’s tree pad. He told him how just before he’d been able to, Luca had leapt back, almost falling off the wooden pad in his haste.
“You two did look…strained at the train station.” Massimo murmured, patting Alberto comfortingly on the back. “But I thought you two had fixed everything though?” Alberto raised an eyebrow. “What made you think that?” Massimo’s face twisted up into a sheepish grin. “He kissed you before he left, no?” Alberto could feel himself blushing from his ears down to his neck. “It…It was only on the cheek…” Massimo laughed good naturedly. “Then what is the problem?” Alberto glanced up at him with pleading eyes. “Because what if he regrets it and feels like he has to pretend like he wants to just so he doesn’t lose me as a friend?” Massimo thought laughing again at this point would be cruel, and only make Alberto more anxious so he stifled it just in time, for him to instill common sense into Alberto.
”Alberto, Figlio. Luca is a smart boy. He wouldn’t do something like that. If he didn’t want to kiss you he wouldn’t have.” Alberto considered this. “I guess so…” Clapping him on the back, Massimo smiled. “Don’t worry Alberto. If you still feel uneasy about it, you can talk to him about it tomorrow.” He started. “Tomorrow? They’re coming tomorrow?!” Massimo watched him cautiously. “Yes-“ Oh shoot! I haven’t moved my stuff yet! Giulia’s gonna kill me!” Hunching over his plate, he shoveled the pasta into his mouth until the plate was clean. He stood, knocking his chair back in the process, and dumped his silverware into the sink as he swallowed. “See you tomorrow Dad!” He scrambled around the corner into his room and shut the door behind him, holding his stomach. “Ugh…” He groaned. Shoveling food in his mouth, running up the stairs, and the nerves of seeing Luca the next day was really taking a toll on his digestive health. Once recovered, he began to pick up his things like his drawing supplies and shirts off the floor so Giulia could move back in for the summer.
The next day, Alberto found himself all alone at the train station. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, Massimo was getting old. The hills of Portorosso were already steep as is, but when it rained, it got even more slippery, and not even the experienced fisherman could make his way to the station. They had both made the extremely difficult decision to have Massimo stay home for his own safety, and Alberto would bring Luca and Giulia back home. As it happened, it was raining that day, and Alberto fiddled with the handle of his umbrella. While he could have just let his scales show, other people would be getting off the train, and Giulia wasn’t waterproof. After about a half an hour of waiting, Alberto got worried. The train had never been this late before. Just before Alberto could really start to worry, that awful train whistle blew somewhere in the distance.
Alberto startled and stood ramrod straight, adjusting his suspender straps and rolling his sleeves back up to his elbows. His heart stammering in his chest, he took a few deep breaths and made his way out from the awning to catch the two with the umbrella. He could feel his face splitting into a grin so wide, his cheeks hurt. His heart kicked to attention and even though he had gotten used to the ‘phantom tail’ sensation years ago, it still felt like it was wagging like a dog’s. He had half a thought to feel embarrassed about how happy he was, but every thought he’d ever had flew out the window when the train door opened.
On the verge of shaking, Alberto’s brain helpfully recalled the way Luca had kissed his cheek the last time he had been here. Now he was shaking. The spot on his cheek that had been kissed over a year ago now, still tingled when he thought about it. He heard the familiar, warm, wonderful chatter of the two most important people in his life which got louder the closer they got to the doors and the impatiently waiting boy with the umbrella on the train platform. Finally, just when Alberto was two milliseconds from sprinting onto the train himself, a brown shoe poked around the corner. Alberto’s heart lightened at the sight of soft brown curls, rosy cheeks, sleeves casually pushed up to forearms, ink stained fingers clutching a well worn brown suitcase, and warm brown and honey eyes.
It was Luca.
Alberto swallowed.
Luca’s gaze met his and Alberto shivered. ‘ What is he thinking? ’
Luca’s shoes tapped almost imperceptibly down the steps of the train but to Alberto, they sounded like tidal waves slamming onto the shore. He stepped off the train and took a few steps forward before stopping and holding Alberto’s green gaze. Anxiety stirred deep in the pit of Alberto’s stomach. His grin faltered. Unlike their other summer reunions that had been tearful and loud, with running and hugging and giddy shouts, this time, nothing moved. Luca stood at the edge of the platform watching Alberto, and Alberto stood in the rain watching Luca. Unable to take the silence any longer, Alberto made to open his mouth to say something, anything to break this horrible, tense silence when Luca bent down and set his suitcase gently by his feet.
When he stood up, Luca’s eyebrows were furrowed in something that looked like determination. Confused, Alberto raised an eyebrow back. Then Luca took an audible deep breath and swiftly walked over to Alberto. Alberto watched in awe as the rain met Luca’s pale skin and with each drop, his smooth green and blue scales were revealed in mesmerizing spots. Alberto knew he should have gone toward him to give him the umbrella, but he felt rooted to the spot, Unable to move but at the same time, like he could run ten marathons.
When Luca had finally made his way to Alberto, he hesitated for a moment before stepping under the umbrella with him. Looking into Luca’s brown eyes, Alberto felt his mouth curl up into a small smile. “I missed you.” He said, gazing down at the boy before him. His first friend, his best friend, the boy he loved. Luca’s eyes followed the movement of his smile and his lips parted with a breath. Rain tapped muted, but consistently on the top of the umbrella, and Alberto thought if he could sweat, the umbrella would have slipped from his grip.
The charged silence was apparently getting to Luca as well, because something in his eyes changed. Before Alberto could comment on how large his pupils had grown, Luca wrapped his hands around Alberto’s suspenders and tugged him down to his level, kissing him, pressing his lips to Alberto’s. Alberto’s heart stopped in utter shock, his eyes flew wide open and he was frozen in Luca’s grip. His body felt like it had been doused in that peppermint gelato Giulia liked, every nerve in his body alight. (Except his hands, they were strangely numb) After a moment, Luca let go and pulled back. “Sorry…I missed you too.” The shorter boy smiled sheepishly up at him. Alberto realized belatedly he hadn’t reciprocated the most earth shaking moment of his life. He opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. Then, because he was crazy or something, he grinned at Luca. “Don’t apologize.” His gaze softened as he watched the way heat bloomed in Luca’s cheeks then spread to his ears, and then down his neck. “You didn’t miss.” When Luca tilted his head, confused, and Alberto’s stomach flipped at how sweet he looked, He laughed. “You hit right on target.” He rested his hand on Luca’s waist and pulled him closer again and felt a thrill at how Luca’s hands seemed to instinctively go up to clutch at Alberto’s shoulders.
Luca laughed, bright and happy, Tears blurring both their vision. Alberto hesitated and waited for Luca’s eager nod before leaning in closer and kissing him again. The rain seemed to have stopped for them, neither even heard it anymore. Where the first kiss had felt like lightning, but this second one was like warm summer dew on fresh grass. Luca’s lips felt smooth and tasted like the peppermints he brought Alberto from the train every summer. Luca hummed into the kiss and Alberto pulled back, pressing their foreheads together. They giggled into the space between them, feeling as giddy as when they had first come to Portorosso. “I’ve wanted that for a few years now…” Luca said sheepishly. Alberto lifted that eyebrow again. “Obviously, everyone wants a piece of me!” They laughed. “But don’t worry,” He reassured the boy in his arms. “You’re the only one who gets the good pieces of me.” He winked and Luca blushed even brighter. “Shut up.” Luca murmured, pressing a quick kiss into Alberto’s palm. Alberto felt softer than he’d ever been in his life. He opened his mouth to say something teasing back, but Guilia’s voice rang out across the station, a bit dulled by the rain. “Hey! I let you guys have your tearful reunion moment, Are you done? I don’t want to be stuck on this train when it leaves again!” Alberto looked up, confused, and Luca flushed bright red, burying his face into Alberto’s chest.
“Sorry Giulia! Guess I forgot you came back too!” Alberto shouted across the station. He let a smirk spread across his face as Giulia crossed her arms and glared at him. “If I didn’t have so much paper in my luggage, I would come over there and beat you into tuna, Alberto!” He made a face. “Fish are friends not food.” He felt Luca’s shoulders shake with laughter, his head still against Alberto’s chest. He smiled down at Luca fondly. Oh he really loved Luca.
After they got Giulia, and she wacked Alberto with her backpack for his neglect, They used Alberto’s drain surfing highway to coast down to their home. When they arrived and saw Massimo waiting on a bench outside, All three lectured him on waiting in the rain before piling into a big family hug. Luca and Alberto watched as Giulia helped her father into the house and told him all about school that year and how her mom was doing. Alberto picked up all of the travler’s luggage in one go and once he set it all down, Luca smiled so sweetly at him, he needed to kiss him again right that second. They all piled into the kitchen for dinner, and all three kids practically inhaled their pasta before they all retired to bed.
Giulia let them spend some time in her room with her, but she did still kick them out in the end. After chatting about everything and nothing, the city and the sea, Luca turned over onto his side and yawned. Alberto felt his heart squeeze and he quickly kissed the tip of Luca’s nose. He yelped, then smiled, rubbing his nose. “Stupid…” He muttered, before dipping forward and kissing Alberto back, full on the mouth. This time, Alberto yelped, but it was more of a squeak than Luca’s. He glared at playful brown eyes, feigning irritation. Luca shivered, seemingly cold despite the warm summer breeze. Alberto made to ask if he wanted to go inside, but Luca beat him to it, snuggling in close to Alberto’s chest. Flustered as he was, Alberto still wrapped his arm securely around his new lover. Dizzy and feverish with puppy love, his brain to mouth filter was disconnected, and if Alberto pressed his lips into the top of soft brown curls and whispered “I love you,” into his hair, well that wasn’t his fault. After realizing the weight of what he’d just said, he started to backpedal quickly. It’s not that he didn’t mean it, he definitely did, he just wasn’t sure if Luca was ready to hear that yet. He fears were dampened however when Luca sighed and tangled their legs together. “I love you too.” He murmured, pressing a goodnight kiss into whatever was closest to his lips (Alberto’s neck). The larger boy huffed out a laugh and smiled.
”I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy…” He said to no one in particular. Luca let out a sleepy breath in response. “It feels great. Thank you for everything. Thank you for giving me the chance to have this.” Luca didn’t hear him, as he had fallen asleep, soft breaths fanning Alberto’s chest. Glancing down at him fondly, Alberto closed his eyes and drifted asleep to the sound of gentle waves and the sea salt and old paper scent of Luca’s hair, with a smile on his face.