Chapter Text
Nearly eight months ago, Italy, 2000. Somewhere in an apartment.
It's amazing, terrifying, and exhilarating how a few words can completely change your entire life.
When Gelato calls Sorbet into the living room to talk with him, the topic presented is the last one he thought he'd be facing today. Or anytime in the near future. But here it is, right in front of them, impossible to run away from now.
"I'm pregnant."
For the first few seconds, Sorbet isn't sure he's heard his husband clearly. He rubs at his ears a little. "You -- huh? Say that again?"
There's obvious reluctance on Gelato's face, which is new for him. The two of them have built their reputation on being wild and unpredictable, never hesitating to jump into a situation, especially if there's cash at stake. But ever since they had that way too close call a little while ago... he hasn't been the same. But this? This is totally unexpected.
"I'm pregnant," Gelato sighs again. "It's yours."
"I know that, that'd be like telling me it's a human," Sorbet quips back. "I trust you. That's not -- that's not the problem." He pauses for a moment, letting everything sink in as his eyes grow wide. "My, God. Oh, my God. Do you -- how pregnant are you?"
"That's not how it's usually phrased, but I'll go with it," Gelato murmurs. "I'm not sure, exactly. My period should've come two weeks ago, and it didn't. And assuming I was pregnant for a whole month before that, could be six weeks." His voice trails off.
Both of them come to the same realization at the same time.
"Gelato..." Sorbet says. His voice hovers just above a whispering tone. "Oh my God. I could've lost both of you."
"And I could've lost you," Gelato says back. He's not a man to cry, never has been, but damn is he on the verge right now. His eyes burn, and he blinks to clear them. "Even -- even if they hadn't killed me, too, I could've lost you. And I swear, I swear to God I had no idea that I was -- that I might be --"
It's still hard for him to say it out loud. It feels like he's going to puke again, but Gelato forces the bile back down his throat. Not showing weakness, even in front of his husband, is instinctual by this point. Weakness and impulsivity is nearly what got the two of them killed. If it hadn't been for Risotto's near-inhuman gut sense of something being wrong, they wouldn't even be having this conversation. This is putting everything into a perspective neither of them ever wanted to look through, and it's uncomfortable, and raw, and the two of them both just want to run from it.
Run.
That gives Sorbet a thought. He folds his hands and laces his fingers together, resting his chin on his hands. It's not very often that he puts a lot of thought into his decisions, but he's gonna have to. Whatever future they're going to have together depends on it. And, more importantly, their baby depends on it.
"What if," Sorbet starts to say. "And hear me out here -- what if we just... disappeared, for a little while?"
Gelato lifts his face from his hands. He's been focusing all of his energy on trying not to cry, but he's on alert as soon as Sorbet's words register. "You mean, like. We just... get the fuck outta here?"
Sorbet nods. "Yeah. We could go anywhere, anywhere as long as it's not here. We could just go hide out in the middle of nowhere, out in the country somewhere. We won't tell anybody, if you want to, we could get up and go now. Fuck, drive around randomly to throw anyone off our trail and then get the fuck out of here." He lowers his voice a little. "Anywhere where you'll be safe."
"This isn't just about me," Gelato reminds him. "Don't expect me to be fine with you throwing your life away to keep mine safe. If we're gonna do this, it's gonna be for the both of us." He swallows. "Or, the three of us, I guess."
The idea of bringing a life into the world when his area of expertise lies in taking it still isn't settling in with him just yet, but hey. He's got a couple of months to get used to it, right?
"I --" Sorbet looks like he's going to protest for a moment, but he thinks about it, and decides otherwise, nodding slowly. "Alright. I'll work as hard to keep myself safe as I will to keep you safe." Getting up from the recliner he's been sitting in across from his husband, Sorbet settles down on the couch next to Gelato and takes one of his hands in his. "Whatever happens from here on out, we're gonna work through it together." He manages a tiny smile, coaxing one from Gelato in return.
"Yeah. You and me, just like it's always been." Gelato laces his fingers with Sorbet's, sniffling before giving a little laugh. "It'll be our adventure. The Great Escape!"
And what a wild adventure it would turn out to be, in the end. They leave that afternoon, taking little more than the clothes on their backs (not that they have much else) and what little money they have and setting off for nowhere.
Little did they know, the wheels were already turning to set into motion events that would affect them and their entire group for years to come.