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Buccellati's zippers were useful for several things. One of them was storing things; other, crossing through several barriers easily. The last one was hiding. Inside, you could hear the noises from the outer world, but they couldn't hear what was inside. Traveling around it was like walking through an holographic negative world, the places where the building should be, hollowed out for Buccellati to cross. Matter was dense, but in gas state at the same time, so that it was solid but could be crossed through. Bruno didn't try to navigate too much through it, and when he hid he remained still on his position.
Its only disadvantage was that he couldn't see the living things on the other side, but it didn't take him much to recognize the one yelling.
"Forget it! I don't want to play another of those stupid card games."
"C'mon Abbacchio we only need another one to play". Mista replied.
"No way."
"Are you afraid to lose?" Giorno inquired.
"You are going to be the one losing your teeth if you don't shut up."
"Killjoy" Fugo complained.
"If you teach me I don't mind..." Trish's shy tone stated. Some cheers of joy followed as Abbacchio left the room with a huff.
Bruno chuckled. He was hiding through the walls of the house, guarding in case anyone tried to break into it. The big country house had a lot of windows, but many of them were sealed, and others were locked beyond use. If someone was to enter the house they would have to break in through the door or shatter glass, so Bruno stayed put looking for those cues.
Abbacchio rested against the wall letting out a sigh. At least he could stay on watch while those brats played around. Sometimes he was forcefully reminded that he worked with kids, and quite often they let their guard down. "Someone's gonna go and stab them from the back some day."
He didn't register the zipper opening behind him until he was dropped inside the pocket dimension of Sticky Fingers. "Who's gonna stab who?" Said Bruno. Abbacchio took a moment to process the situation. He looked at Bruno, and noticed he was able to see him clearly even though what surrounded them was a dimly lit space.
"It's a way of speaking" Abbacchio said as he stood up. He patted his clothes even though there wasn't a trace of dust on the floor into the zipper.
He tried to keep his cool, but couldn't stop himself from peering around. It was the first time he had entered that space, he didn't even know other stand users could be in there. He called Moody Blues just to fade it right after. Bruno cocked a brow with a tiny smirk and Abbacchio frowned in response. "I didn't know I could enter" he pointed out. "What do you need from me?" He returned to his soldier stance: Back straight, sight forward, and ready to take any order Buccellati gave.
"I was just thinking..." He started. "If you didn't have anything to do, you could keep me company on watch." He wasn't demanding anything but Leone wouldn't even think on refusing.
"Of course."
Bruno started walking. The path supposed to be the wall was narrow, but certainly broader than it was in reality. That, or they had been squeezed until turned thin without even noticing thanks to Sticky Fingers. For Abbacchio, Buccellati didn't look any different than outside of that place, but it might be because he had been squeezed as well. Their steps made a mute thumping noise that he didn't find unpleasant, but looking at the purple walls annoyed his eyes. It was as if trying to see in the dark and looking at a bright light at the same time yet he knew exactly where the path was.
Abbacchio focused on Bruno's back.
Buccellati turned just to find him squinting again at the walls. "You will get used to it" he assured. "Or maybe not. You are the first person I let into Sticky Fingers."
"The first living person" Abbacchio joked. He didn't want to give away he was flattered. It could be a lie, but he didn't think Bruno would lie to him, less in something as silly as that.
"Same thing." Buccellati smiled, and Leone's heart skipped a beat.
The path became wider when they turned the corner. "Where are we now?"
"Where do you think we are?"
Abbacchio turned and looked at the route they had followed. He let out a deep hum. He didn't want to disappoint when Buccellati was looking intently at him like he expected the right answer.
"We must be around the entrance" Abbacchio stated, before staring back at Bruno looking for a reaction that indicated if he was right.
Bruno shifted his weight and placed a hand on his hip. "Couldn't expect less from you" he praised. Abbacchio raised his head with pride for an instant, and then doubted. He wanted to believe his relationship with Buccellati was professional yet kind of close, maybe not to call him a friend, because that would be lowering him to his level, but close, yet so much flatter in such short time didn't feel right. He grew suspicious and slowed his steps behind Buccellati. What if this was the attack of an enemy stand? If this wasn't his Buccellati, where was he?
The sound of wind against the walls broke through the silence like a blade. "When Narancia arrives, we will know by the sound." Bruno said. "I could open a small zipper to look through, but that would mean increasing the risk of being spotted."
They were on a dead end. Behind Buccellati there was a barrier, what was supposed to be the front of the house, right by the door.
"If you can fit other people inside, why don't we move around inside of Sticky Fingers?"
Bruno looked surprised, and mused for a second. "That's... Not a bad idea, but I might get lost. Think that the structures are reversed." He gave a sheepish smile. "I'm not that good with directions, I can only move around like that through some streets on Naples." Abbacchio nodded. "Plus, it would be too tiring to keep everyone inside of Sticky Fingers all the travel."
"Are you getting tired by having me inside?"
"Just a little."
"Then maybe you should kick me out."
"Don't you want to be here?"
"I don't want you to be tired."
"You didn't answer my question."
"I don't mind, although I don't know why you brought me here."
"Just wanted you to have some privacy. Lately you look like you want to burst into flames."
"Blame Giorno."
"Figured as much." The soft look Bruno was giving him was almost painful for Abbacchio. He almost didn't want to believe that was his Bruno, because he was certain he didn't deserve that treatment. "What's wrong?"
Abbacchio snapped out of his mind. Lost in his thoughts, he hadn't noticed Bruno moving closer and placing a hand on top of his shoulder. He became hyperaware of that touch.
"Nothing" he lied. "I'm thankful for all you do for us, but you shouldn't worry about me."
Bruno's expression turned into one of concern for barely long enough for Abbacchio to notice, then it turned back to his neutral one. Leone's heart loosened at the feeling that yes, that was the kind of reaction his capo made. That damned bleeding heart that made him too good for this Earth.
He let out a sigh. Bruno started to patrol following the same path they had crossed previously, walking past Abbacchio and taking the turn again. When the other followed behind he looked up and down at the corner. It still hurt his eyes, maybe a little less than before. He ran his fingers over the surface and tried to drag his nails down, wondering if that would open a zipper just like Buccellati would.
Instead, Bruno produced a gasp and turned towards him with surprise painted on his face. "Please don't scratch the walls."
"S-sorry?" Abbacchio apologized nervous, not knowing where that reaction came from. The window on Buccellati's suit showed the thin trace of nails. He trailed the lines up to Buccellati's neck, where they peeked out of the collar. Then it clicked inside of Abbacchio's head. This technically was Sticky Fingers too, even if it wasn't the humanoid shape of the stand.
Buccellati turned again and went on walking. Abbacchio didn't want to follow this time. He knew he would get closer to the surface on his side, and would move his arm away from his body, just enough to brush the back of his hand against the wall.
He didn't feel much. It wasn't cold, nor hot, and it didn't feel like skin, just like a tingly buzz that wouldn't let him push through. Bruno, on the other side, stopped again and held his breath.
"Leone" he pronounced as if tasting every letter. He approached the other man, that tensed under Bruno's grip on his wrist. "If you want to say something..." he pulled his hand forward, rising it until Abbacchio's fist was in between their chests. "We are in private now."
Abbacchio tried to breath but found himself unable to let even a small amount of air into his lungs. He was lost in Bruno's eyes and his own shame for giving himself away so easily. He didn't understand how Buccellati looked so determined in that situation, like he had found the key to a mystery and he was ready to give the final answer. Then his eyes softened, and his free hand was tracing Leone's jaw. "Leone" he called again, and the called couldn't get enough of it. He loved every syllable that came out of that mouth. "Don't look so scared, I'm not mad."
Bruno's hand swam downwards towards his neck, letting the slender fingers rest under the strands of white hair. Abbacchio's breath hitched and a hurried breath was finally allowed into his lungs. He was sure he was dreaming, for this was too good to be true. He remained still.
"Leone" Bruno called a third time. His other hand was no longer holding Abbacchio's wrist and was instead placed on his cheek. Leone blinked and his eyes darted to Bruno's mouth, that twisted into a pleased smile right before Bruno pulled him down to kiss him.
Abbacchio tried to control himself, but that iron grip on his self restraint melted in an instant when he couldn't help but to tangle his fingers on Bruno's hair.
The kiss was filled with need and Abbacchio could no longer discern if it was his own. His body ached to get closer even though their chests were touching already and Buccellati's hand had moved to his waist, keeping him locked in plance as if separating would physically hurt him. Abbacchio dared to trace the scratch marks he had made slipping his fingers under Bruno's collar, and its owner opened it completely without even breaking the kiss.
They broke apart when oxygen became a necessity and took it as a chance to see the disheveled mess the other was turning into. They closed the distance again but broke apart under the increasing noise of gravel on floor.
"Narancia's here." Buccellati stated. The annoyed look on his face was unlike him. He unsuccessfully tried to remove the lipstick from his face, and Abbacchio wiped it for him with his thumb, still letting the situation settle on his mind. The warm skin under his touch felt like a dream. Bruno donned a shy smile as he mirrored his actions, but avoiding his lips. "I guess you will have to reapply your lipstick."
They didn't come out of the pocket dimension until there were desperate knocks on the door, and by then, they had made themselves presentable again.
"You can come again whenever you want... to vent" Buccellati whispered as he unlocked the door.