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Janos didn't have many friends in New York…sure, there were people who had been kind to him but they hadn't really offered to be his friend. That is….besides one very special person he met on his first day there. He'd been wandering around the city, wondering at the beautiful buildings when he happened to accidentally bump into a rather handsome young Sicilian man named Gaetano. From the minute their eyes met he knew this man was different. Gaetano was tall, muscular, had olive skin and a mop of pitch black hair which hung in soft curls that would fall in front of his face. He looked like a Roman statue with dark eyes that stared deep into your soul. And yet despite his appearance, Gaetano was a fairly soft spoken man. Nonetheless even his voice sent shivers up people's spines due to his haunting beauty.
It was surprising how quickly the pair got along and even more surprising that they were both able to land a job at the same hotel. Alas…they got separated during the fire and Janos feared he'd lost Gaetano for good. That is…until that night in the hospital.
As he lay there in his bed, weeping softly and mourning not only his misfortune but the loss of his dearest friend, he suddenly heard the soft padding of footsteps coming towards him. "Janos? qual è il problema?" A familiar voice whispered in the dark. Janos bolted upright, his heart jumping into his throat. "Gaetano?!" The voice softly shushed him as the figure came closer. He could just barely make out the face…but he knew in an instant when he saw the raven curls.
"Gaetano!" He threw himself into his friend's arms, sobbing openly. "Don't cry bambino…don't cry….the tears will sting your burns…" the Sicilian whispered, rubbing his friend's back in soft circles. "I thought- I thought I lost you!" Janos whimpered "I couldn't see with all the smoke and I heard you calling to me but th-then it…it stopped…I was so scared….." "I'm sorry…I was trying to find you but some burning rubble fell on top of me and trapped me…." Gaetano murmured sadly "I um….I got burned too."
Taking a step back, Janos could just barely make out the bandages on his friend's face….and neck….it looked like they led all the way down to his chest. "Gaetano…." He whispered, his eyes filled with worry. But the Sicilian just smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "It's alright….I'll be alright." He chuckled softly "the bandages come off tomorrow." "But…but it's all the way down your neck and…oh Gaetano…." His eyes began to water again as he pulled his friend back into his embrace.
“Shhhh…I'm alright bambino…I'm alright…I'll live…” Gaetano whispered, trying to comfort the tearful hungarian. “Gaetano I'm older than you…why do you call me that?” “Because you're sweet and innocent just like a little boy.” Gaetano hummed, smiling. “I…I don't feel so sweet or innocent now…” Janos replied sorrowfully, “I feel like a monster.” “Hey. You listen to me and you listen good. You are not a monster, you hear me? You are Janos Szabo.” Gaetano scolded firmly “you are kind, you are caring, and you are my closest friend in the world. capire?” Janos nodded, his lip trembling as he hugged his friend tighter, hiding his face in Gaetano's shoulder. As he began to weep once more, he could hear Gaetano humming an old Italian folk song to him as they embraced. It wasn't long before Janos had cried himself to sleep.
When he awoke the next morning Gaetano had vanished. In a panic he tried to find him but was informed by a nurse that his friend had been discharged. However…Gaetano had left him a note. il mio dolce bambino, don't worry for me. We will meet again I promise. Once we have found new places to dwell and make our livings we will meet again in central park. Just look for the Sicilian with ink black curls. il tuo più caro amico, Gaetano Facinelli.