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Aldo had an air of déjà vu, as people filled the papal apartments. He had not expected to have to go through this ritual once more. Not so soon. Not ever. And certainly not in the same circumstances.
He realised, now, how young and peaceful Cardinal Benítez had been when he'd arrived at the conclave, despite his difficult journey. The toll the papacy had taken on him was obvious now, greyed hair and sharper lines on his face. Aldo had seen the man fight for twelve years for every moment of calm, of peace, of normality. Of love.
On the other side of the bed, the Camerlengo's hands were joined so tight his knuckles had gone white. Cardinal Sabbadin's head was bowed. Aldo knew it was probably not out of piety, but rather a desperate need to control his emotions.
Aldo himself felt… empty. He knew himself well enough by now to be aware that his own emotions couldn't be kept at bay forever. And yet, he hoped the waves of denial would last long enough to allow him to be strong for his friend.
At last, the Cardinal Major Penitentiary arrived.
"Subvenite, Sancti Dei . . ."
—
The first to raise his head was the Camerlengo. Aldo heard him draw a long, steadying breath before reaching out for Innocent's hand. With slow and careful movements he coaxed the ring into sliding off the Pope's finger.
One of Giulio's assistants rose from the front of the crowd, bringing a silver box. Aldo took it from his hands, and went to Giulio's side. He didn't have to be alone in this. Their gaze met for a moment as Giulio installed the tools required to break the seal with trembling hands.
Aldo witnessed a crack in Giulio's composure as the seal broke. "Sede vacante," he announced in a hollowed tone.
Aldo intended to move through the crowd of gathered people, to provide reassurances as well as to try to shield Giulio from prying eyes. Everyone here knew how close the Holy Father and his Camerlengo had been, and the rumours had not always been kind.
Before Aldo could cross the threshold of the Pope's chamber though, Giulio caught his arm.
"I need— I need your help," he whispered in his hear. "I haven't been able to retrieve his locket yet."
Aldo nodded, understanding the urgency. He could do that. He diverted people's attention until the room was mostly freed from its occupants and then planted himself in the entrance, locking the Prefect of the Papal Household in an important conversation. Of course the man was loyal to Innocent, and had known about their relationship for a few years now.
Aldo saw from the corner of his eye as Giulio quickly unclasped a thin golden chain, and tugged on it, immediately clasping the pendant in his hand to protect it from prying eyes.
—
Too soon, Giulio had to escape for a much needed smoking break. Aldo was invited to follow him. They didn't talk, too afraid that opening their hearts to one another would make them weep and crumble too soon.
They repeated the ritual, over and over, because Aldo might not be secretary of state anymore, but the list of important tasks Giulio had to perform was endless.
The sun was setting by the time they found themselves free from duty. They retreated to Aldo's apartment, enjoying some calm on his terrace. Aldo finally disrupted the ritual by asking for a cigarette. Giulio merely raised an eyebrow at him.
"I know, I know. It's been a decade. But the world is a bleak place right now, and it might help."
Giulio took his lighter out of his pocket one more time, and the pendant came out in the same gesture. Aldo had never seen it before, even though he had been aware Vincent wore it constantly under his clothes.
Giulio noticed his gaze, and dropped it into Aldo's hands. It was a heart-shaped locket, accompanied by a ring. The simple band of a wedding ring. Aldo had seen the same locket and the same ring on Giulio, on many occasions. He had seen the ring on Vincent's hand, once.
"May I… open it?" The question was too intimate, out of place, but Aldo realised he wasn't grieving the Holy Father as much as he was grieving the holiest relationship he had ever been given to witness, spread over twelve beautiful and intense years.
Giulio chuckled, watching over his shoulder. "Go on."
The pendant opened easily, the mechanism well maintained. On one side was a tiny picture of a somewhat younger Giulio, watching the sun rise over Vatican City, his gaze lost over the view, a cigarette in his hand. He was stunning, Aldo certainly understood why Vincent had chosen it. On the other side, Aldo recognised a picture he had taken himself, at Castel Gandolfo, eight years ago. Vincent holding Giulio in his arms, with Lake Albano in the background. Both men wore white pants and white shirts, with no clerical collar. An hour before the photo was taken, they had been hidden in the chapel as Aldo pronounced the sacraments of marriage.
Aldo caught Giulio's gaze as tears threatened to spill from his eyes. "I don't want to miss him."
And finally, Giulio crumbled into his arms.