Archive of Our Own

When Chreva first joined the hitman team, he eyed each member with a mix of curiosity and confidence. He knew he should count himself lucky to be added to their ranks, but surely their stands had nothing on his. The only member who knew of his stand's capabilities was their leader, and Chreva couldn't wait to show each of them how outmatched they were.

As he sized them up that first day, his gaze had lingered on Ghiaccio. At first glance, seemed like the embodiment of a meek, reserved individual—a stark contrast to the world of calculated danger they operated in. It was the glasses, Chreva was certain. Even back then, Ghiaccio stood out among the rest of the squad, though Chreva hadn't dared to explore the reasons why.

As the missions unfolded, however, Chreva's perception of Ghiaccio began to shift. He quickly learned how truly easy it was to irritate the other man, to bring out the full intensity of his ire– and Chreva found himself seeking it. Craving it. To have Ghiaccio's attention focused on him, and only him, if only for a few moments. was all he needed to sustain himself between missions.

Three months after joining, Melone pulled him aside before a mission to question his motives. With an arched eyebrow and a sly grin, Melone leaned close so the others in the room couldn't hear. "Chreva, what's with your constant need to annoy Ghiaccio? You either hate the guy, or you're looking to bed him. Which one is it?"

"Whoa, Mel, slow down there. I'm just trying to spice things up a bit, you know? Keep the atmosphere lively." Chreva smiled lazily, forcing an air of nonchalance as his mind raced. He never gave it much thought, but he couldn't just say he wanted Ghiaccio's attention, not without Melone taking it the wrong way.

Why did he want his attention, anyway? Fucking Melone. Ruining his fun with pointless questions.

Chreva pushed Melone out of his personal space before adding, "It's not like I'm the only one who sets him off."

"Ooo!" Melone's grin turned sharp as he stared into Chreva's eyes. "We all know each other's buttons, it's part of the fun of knowing each other so well. Yet…. You only pester one of us. And Ghiaccio reacts much more severely when it's you. Curious, isn't it?"

"No, not really." Chreva shrugged. "Jealous? Want me to pester you more?"

"I'd honestly rather you did. Better my laptop be glued shut than deal with your pathetic attempts at flirting."

Was he flirting? Flirting with Ghiaccio?

Chreva chanced a glance to where Ghiaccio stood across the room, arms folded as he waited for Risotto to call with their target's location. His gaze, initially casual, lingered a beat longer as he took in the subtle details. The dim lighting of the room played upon Ghiaccio's features, casting shadows that highlighted the lines of his jaw. Handsome.

Fuck.

He summoned his stand briefly to pull a cigarette from the blunt end of one of his missing fingers. Maybe he should surprise Ghiaccio with something? He'd never thought to use his stand to woo someone before, it was much better suited for maiming and producing various items from his enemies' mutilated bodies.

Livin' Thing could do laps around most stands, but he’d never explored its potential outside of combat. And he hadn't needed to purchase booze or cigarettes since obtaining his stand- a nice little personal perk. Something to think on later, for sure. He needed to smoke and refocus his mind back on task.

Before he could light the cigarette and think about Melone's words, Risotto's call came and they sprang into action. Better for it, anyway. It was probably for the best that he didn't think about Ghiaccio while the other man was in the same room. Somehow, he felt Ghiaccio could read his thoughts some days.

Chreva didn't think about Melone's comments again for a few weeks. The squad was busier than normal, and it seemed like the Boss had endless need for their skills. Target after target fell by their hands, blood staining the streets in the name of Passione. Most missions were solo during those weeks, and Chreva didn't see much of the squad beyond a quick briefing from Risotto.

Inexplicably, he found himself missing them. Especially Ghiaccio.

It was the middle of the night after his last solo mission when Chreva allowed his mind to fully wander. Risotto's briefing earlier that evening informed them that they would be resuming their usual routine, and all of the main members of the rival gang had been dealt with. He could relax his mind and think on matters beyond survival.

Ghiaccio. Of course his mind wandered to Ghiaccio

At 2am he let himself admit he was attracted to the other man.

At 3am he decided he would do something about it.

So when he found himself suddenly paired with Ghiaccio on a mission, Chreva was buzzing with nervous energy. It was a boring mission- at least compared to the rampage over the last few weeks. But, it meant he had time to talk to Ghiaccio. Just the two of them. No Melone.

"Don't," Ghiaccio said as soon as the door shut behind them, "even think about it. These last few weeks have been peaceful, don’t ruin this mission with some inane prank."

Chreva held up his hands, "No pranks. Miss me that much, huh?"

"No." Ghiaccio looked around the small office space serving as the front for their stakeout.

It was small, just enough room for two desks and a few chairs and decorated just enough to pass as a working office to any nosey passerby. Being on the third floor wasn't ideal; while it afforded them a fantastic view of the hotel across the street, their response time would be hindered.

Chreva walked up to the large windows lining one side of the room and inspect the locks as well as the ledge on the other side. "Shit is sealed," he ran his fingers over the busted lock and seals around the edge of the windows. A retrofit for safety mostlikely, still annoying when you may need a quick escape.

"Stop that, Chreva." Ghiaccio dragged a chair over, the metal scraping on the cheap flooring. Chreva could pretend the shiver that ran down his spine was from the noise and not from the sound of his name on Ghiaccio's lips. "We're not to engage. Formaggio is in place to act once we confirm the target."

"Yeah, yeah." Seizing the moment, Chreva swiftly claimed the chair before Ghiaccio could react, quickly plopping himself into the chair he'd just dragged to the window. "Thanks!" He smiled cheerfully up at his teammate.

The only reaction Ghiaccio gave him was the slightest twitch of his right eyebrow before he turned to drag over another chair, sitting it as far from Chreva as possible while still being at a window. Chreva could still kick him if he wanted to. He didn't, but he could.

Observe and report. The most boring of the boring assignments. So below their talents. Had they done something to piss off Risotto? He knew better than to voice his displeasure to their boss directly, but Chreva was certain Ghiaccio felt the same.

Speaking of feeling the same…

Chreva watched Ghiaccio out of the corner of his eye, hoping to catch the other man doing the same. When he failed to catch Ghiaccio's wandering eye, Chreva focused on watching for their target for a bit. And he really did want to focus, to do a good job and all of that nonsense. But Ghiaccio was right there, and, unlike most missions, they were alone.

To his credit, Chreva managed ten whole minutes of silence before turning to Ghiaccio with a lazy grin. "So, Ghia, ever wonder what our target's favorite ice cream flavor is?"

"Ice cream flavor? We're not here for a dessert party, Chreva. This guy is a fucking turncoat, the quicker we figure out who he's working for the quicker we can leave this stuffy office."

"True, but it's essential intel. What if we need to like bribe them or something? To keep our cover?"

"I highly doubt our target will be swayed by some frozen treats. Besides, we won't get close enough to- why am I debating this with you?"

Chreva leaned closer, "You never know until you try. Maybe they have a soft spot for mint chocolate chip. That intel could help Formaggio."

"If you say so," Ghiaccio voice was serious and he didn't take his eyes from the street below them, but his lips twitched, betraying his amusement. "It could be a game-changer. A stupid one."

Chreva, feeling encouraged by Ghiaccio participating in the playful banter for once, wondered how far he could take the conversation. Would Ghiaccio entertain a conversation about non-work related topics? Would he continue to let his guard down? And, more importantly: would he agree if Chreva asked him on a date?

"Speaking of game-changers… what about us? Ever think about what could be, you know, beyond the missions?"

Ghiaccio shifted his gaze toward Chreva, eyes obscured by the glare on his glasses. "Beyond the missions? Chreva, we're here to work. Focus."

"Suuure, work is our priority, but there's always room for a little... extracurricular activity." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Extracurricular activity?"

Chreva winked, "You catch on quick, Ghia. I mean, imagine the thrill of our own secret rendezvous."

There was a moment pause before Ghiaccio threw his head back in laughter. He barked out, "You're unbelievable, Chreva."

Hope blossomed in Chreva's chest. The conversation went better than he'd anticipated, but he didn't want to press too hard. Ghiaccio hadn't shot down the idea of them having something outside of their work, perhaps he was feeling something similar stir in his own heart. Satisfied with Ghiaccio's willingness to entertain his conversation, Chreva let the subject drop and let his focus return to their mission.

After a few hours, Ghiaccio stretched his arms over his shoulders, "This is bullshit. Where is he?"

Chreva shrugged. "Stuck in traffic? Who knows. How long until we call this off?"

"Not until Risotto calls us back. I just hope we didn't miss him."

"Maybe our intel was off. Could have changed dates, or rendezvous locations?"

Ghiaccio slid down in his chair, groaning. He lazily looked over to Chreva, "Hey. Question."

"Hm?" Chreva hummed, keeping his eyes focused on the hotel across the street. If they did miss the asshole they would never hear the end of it.

"Melone mentioned your stupid pranks meant you hate me or something. But you're acting fine, chatting with me like we've known each other for a while."

"Uh, we have known each other for a while. And Melone is an idiot. I don’t hate anyone on the squad, especially not you. You're just easily riled up."

"So your invitation to meet after work was genuine?"

Chreva's heart fluttered and he turned to look into Ghiaccio's eyes. "Of course. We can grab dinner… or at the rate this is going, breakfast."

Ghiaccio's lips twitched into a genuine smile for a brief moment before he dropped Chreva's gaze. "Maybe on a day off?"

"We deserve one," Chreva laughed. "It will be nice to hang out with a friend outside of work."

Ghiaccio's smile faltered, and Chreva couldn't read his expression. "Yeah, that would be nice." He kicked the wall under the window, "Hopefully this asshole fucking shows."

Thankfully, they didn't wait much longer. Their target showed and they alerted Formaggio. With their task completed, they were free to go home after checking in with Risotto.

"Hey, Ghiaccio." Chreva called out to the other man as they began to part ways outside of the office building. "How about dinner tomorrow? My treat."

"Fine. Pick me up at headquarters."

Chreva winked, "It's a date."

Chreva couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration. He intended for it to be a date, but maybe he should have made it more clear. Ghiaccio looked nice, he always did, but no more than usual. While Chreva wore a nice button up and slacks, Ghiaccio wore his usual attire.

As they drove to the restaurant, the atmosphere was oddly tense. Chreva had hoped his effort to dress up would send a clear signal. However, Ghiaccio seemed unaffected, his focus remaining on the passing scenery, barley acknowledging Chreva was in the car at all.

"So, I thought we could try that new place by the museum? What do you think?" Chreva attempted to infuse a casual tone into his voice.

Ghiaccio raised an eyebrow, considering the suggestion. "Sounds fine."

Chreva couldn't help but wish for a more enthusiastic response. His attempts at subtle cues weren't landing, and he found himself mentally kicking himself for not making his intentions clearer.

As they settled into a corner booth at the restaurant, Chreva tried to steer the conversation toward a more personal direction. "You know, Ghia, we spend so much time working together. It's nice to have a change of scenery, don't you think?"

"Sure, a change of scenery is good."

Chreva observed as Ghiaccio looked over the menu with his usual focus. "So, Ghia, what do you think about starting with a shared appetizer? You know, something to set the mood."

"Shared appetizer?"

"Yeah, like that classic move from the movies—sharing food. It's practically a date cliché."

"I don't see the point."

Chreva leaned in, "The point, my friend, is to share an experience. Maybe we'll discover a newfound appreciation for each other's taste." He wiggled his eyebrows.

Ghiaccio didn't respond, his eyes remained glued to the menu.

After a server took their -separate orders, Ghiaccio tentatively spoke. "Chreva, about tonight... I appreciate it. This place is stupidly expensive. I know you’re just being nice to make up for being a dick the last few months, but… this is nice."

Chreva, caught off guard, blinked in surprise. "Make up for– ? No, Ghia, this was supposed to be a date."

Ghiaccio's eyes widened with realization, a mixture of surprise and genuine interest on his face. "A date?"

Chreva nodded, "Yeah, I guess I wasn't very clear…"

Ghiaccio, a hint of a smile breaking through his usually composed expression, responded, "I kinda wanted it to be a date too. Thought you were just being polite."

Chreva chuckled, "If I'm ever polite please call a doctor. It's a relief to know we're on the same page... And, full disclosure, I picked fights with you because you're really hot when your angry."

"Oh, for fucks sake."

"It took Melone being a nosey bitch to make me realize though. I should send him a gift basket."

"Ugh, don't. It would just go to his head." Ghiaccio looked more relaxed now that Chreva ever remembered seeing him before. Beautiful.

Chreva leaned his head on his hand, "You're hot like this too."

"S-stop being weird. And if you keep talking like that I'm dragging you back to my place before our food gets here."

Chreva grinned at the blush spreading across Ghiaccio's cheeks. "One: I am weird. So get used to it. And two: if I just wanted to fuck I wouldn't have bothered with a nice restaurant. I'm looking for something a little more. I guess what I'm saying is… you're hot, but also interesting, and I want to… you know."

"Date?" It was Ghiaccio's turn to grin at Chreva's embarrassment.

Chreva snapped his fingers, "Exactly." He raised his glass in a toast. "To unexpected dates and pleasant surprises."

Ghiaccio, clinking his glass against Chreva's, couldn't hide the glint of amusement in his eyes. "To pleasant surprises indeed."