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It had been almost two seasons since Luca uprooted his entire life to come to school with Giulia. He loved being here, learning things and asking questions; everything was just so exciting.
But today was…harder for some reason. Twice his teacher had to ask him to stop looking out the window and pay attention, which never happened.
What was going on?
Maybe it was because he couldn’t stop thinking about his parents.
Or Alberto.
What were they doing right now? Were they okay? Did Sr. Marcovaldo get enough fish to pay for Giulia’s school for next year? How was Alberto doing with work? Did he ever get sick? Could he afford to get new clothes?
Did he miss Luca too?
Luca’s thoughts are once again interrupted by the bell signaling the end to the school day.
Luca immediately starts packing up his books and heads towards the door. The hallway is already crowded with people, everyone ready to enjoy the relatively sunny day. It had started to warm up even more as Spring approached.
Luca once again turns his gaze to the ocean outside the windows. The glassless architecture allows for a breeze to find its way through his hair, ruffling his short waves and cooling his cheeks.
He hasn’t been able to go swimming in months. He’s been so busy with schoolwork and helping with Giulia’s mom’s shop. He didn’t know the first thing about art, but he could count money now, and he always tried to help with the clean up.
“Luca!” Giulia calls out from down the hallway, pushing past people who’re already trying to get out for the weekend.
“Ciao, Giulia! How was Astronomy?” Luca asks, then listens as Giulia accidentally starts recounting her latest class.
Almost against his will, Luca finds his gaze trailing a small boat motoring along the beach towards a nearby pier.
It was a similar boat to the one Ercole had used to try and ram him and Alberto in the sea. Luca huffs a small laugh at the memory of the panic of trying to hide Alberto’s form from everyone.
“And then stupid Sna. Sienne said ‘no Giulia, you can’t turn in your homework on a napkin’ but how was I supposed to…know…” Giulia trails off as she looks at the look on Luca’s face.
It’s a look she recognizes from her mirror. Longing.
Luca misses something. Or someone.
“Luca!” She snaps her fingers in front of his face, snapping him out of his trance with a startled yelp.
“Oh! Sorry Giulia. I don’t know what’s wrong with me today,” He laughs awkwardly, clutching his elbow.
“Something’s off with you today, are you okay?” Giulia questions, beginning to lead them to an outside corridor.
“Yeah, I’ve just been thinking a lot about Portorosso lately,” Luca admits. It feels like he’s saying something he shouldn’t, like if he reveals that he misses the meals his mom cooked, or cliff jumping with Alberto, it would be like saying that he doesn’t actually want to be at school.
Giulia is quiet for a second, before huffing out a sigh. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”
Luca looks over at her as they settle on a bench near the school entrance. Other students with full bags pass them, some planning to meet up over the weekend, others talking about getting gelato.
“When my parents first separated, it was hard to live away from my Papa or Mama. I always felt like I couldn’t enjoy my time with them, because then I wouldn’t be missing the other. Eventually I kinda fell apart, and I realized that I would always miss the other. But…I would see them again, so I wanted to make the best of my time with both.” Giulia smiles and swings her feet as she recounts her tale.
It comforts Luca to know he’s not alone.
“I guess,” He starts to say, “That I miss Alberto…and the others,” He hastily adds on.
Giulia smiles knowingly before throwing an arm around Luca’s shoulders.
“C’mon Luca, let’s go swimming today!” She exclaims as she rocks them back and forth.
“S-swimming?” Luca stammers out, “What about the shop?”
“Mama can handle it without us for one extra day, and I’ve already asked,” Giulia grins.
Luca, still a little reluctant, asks, “What about the people? Won’t they see me?”
“Not if we go to an alcove! I know a great place!” Giulia promises as she starts dragging them away.
-
The beach is very secluded, and while is still a little nervous, he finds the call of the sea more appealing.
Giulia had packed a spare set of clothes for him; it was clear she had planned this the entire time, but Luca wasn’t complaining.
Slipping on the weathered shirt and shorts that he had received from Alberto, Luca slowly walked towards the water.
“GO!” He hears Giulia call from where she’s slipping off her clothes to reveal a swimsuit, “I’ll catch up eventually!”
Luca, looking back, asks, “Are you sure?”
Giulia just throws him a glance that says, ‘yes you dummy, now go swim’
Luca, taking the invitation, rolls into the water, feeling his scales emerge from his skin. His gills reappear, and his hair is replaced by the familiar fins he’s always had.
He laughs out loud as he feels his true form return.
“Man it feels good to have my tail back!” He calls as he wiggles said appendage around in the salt water.
Giulia, now with her goggles on, runs towards the water, cannonballing into it with a scream.
They both laugh as they go deeper, Luca diving down and feeling the cool water glide over his scales.
He missed this so much.
Giulia had gotten slightly better at swimming, but she still couldn’t compare to Luca’s abilities.
Luca, responding to Giulia’s wave for him to go on ahead, dives under yet again and picks up speed.
He flies himself out of the water, arching his back and reentering in a haze of elation and joy. Every time he emerges, he feels the sun against him, the wind buffeting his hair or fins, and incredible happiness.
He feels like himself again. He feels alive again.
Eventually he and Giulia end up floating on their backs together, letting the sun roast them to oblivion.
Luca finds himself thinking that, while the day was fun, it would have been more fun with Alberto.
Suddenly, they both hear a pair of giggles coming towards the entrance of the beach. Panicking, Giulia and Luca hide themselves behind a rock.
“Why’re you hiding?” Luca asks, panicked.
“I don’t know!” Giulia exclaims, also slightly panicked.
Before either of them could reevaluate their actions, two girls stumble onto the beach. They’re both slightly older, probably in a higher year of school.
They’re laughing together, and they have their arms wrapped around each other’s shoulders or waists. It reminds Luca of how he and Alberto embrace each other, especially while watching the sunset.
“Stop, Chiara,” One laughs, “You’ll throw me into the sea!”
“Would that be a bad thing?” Chiara questions, wrapping both her arms around the first girl’s waist once again.
“It is if I get home and my Dad finds me soaking wet!” The first girl responds.
“Oh lighten up, Soleil. I’ll get you home safe…right after we have some fun,” Chiara gives Soleil a passionate kiss, breaking it as Soleil laughs again.
“C’mon, I can’t go home with hickeys!” Soleil protests.
“I’m not saying you will, I just want some time with you,” Chiarra says as she drags Soleil down onto the sand.
“Just sit with me today,” She asks.
Soleil responds with a kiss to Chiarra’s forehead, then her cheek, then her nose, and then her lips, the last one lasting far longer that the others.
“Fine. But you’re taking the blame if I’m late home,” Soleil says as she holds Chiarra’s hand.
Luca is mesmerised by the entire ordeal. He’s seen his parents be affectionate before, but he never knew that two girls could love each other too.
Giulia, on the other hand, was having none of it.
“Luca!” She hissed in his ear, “We have to get out of here!”
She pulls Luca away from looking at the two girls and towards a piece of beach that is concealed by rocks.
Once Luca is back in human form, Giulia and him head back towards the area where they left their things.
The two girls are still there when they get back, and the one called Soleil has her head on Chiarra’s shoulder. When they hear the other two coming, they jump apart, looking nervous.
Luca waves awkwardly as Giulia greets them, grabs their stuff, and walks away. The two girls awkwardly wave back.
“Darn it, I thought that beach was perfect. I’m sorry Luca, I didn’t know there would be people there,” Giulia apologizes once they’re a ways away.
“I-it’s okay, Giulia,” Luca reassures. Giulia continues to mutter as they walk; Luca catches snippets of her planning another swimming trip and curses about the presence of people.
“Hey…Giulia?” Luca hesitantly asks, trying to get her attention.
“Yeah?” Giulia looks up to meet his gaze.
“I-I have a question.”
Giulia looks at him a little strangely. “Sure, what is it?”
Luca’s cheeks heat as he prepares what he’s about to ask. “Those girls…were they…in love?”
Giulia looks a little more confused, but she responds anyway. “I mean, probably. It looked like they were dating.” She shrugs her shoulders at this.
“And that’s…allowed?” Luca questions, twisting his fingers and looking towards the ground.
“Of course,” Giulia starts, then looks at Luca. She sees the way he’s standing, posture stiff and eyes on the ground.
“Luca, are you okay?” Giulia questions, placing her hand onto his shoulder.
Luca looks up, a little startled. “Yeah,” He breathes out, “Yeah, I’m okay. Just…I’ve just never seen two people who were the same gender date.”
Giulia nods, “It’s not quite that common, but it’s perfectly normal. I honestly thought you and Alberto were dating at first. He got soo jealous at first.” Giulia laughs at the memory.
Luca feels his cheeks heat even more. He and Alberto? Dating? Holding hands and laughing together? Sitting together…kissing…
Luca slaps himself lightly to clear his head. What was he thinking about? He and Alberto…can’t…couldn’t…aren’t like that at all.
Luca is surprised to find that he’s sad about that.
“Luca?” Giulia asks, concerned for her friend.
“I’m okay,” He replies, “But…I kinda want to go home and eat some dinner.”
“I can get on board with that! Tortellini here we come!” Giulia exclaims, starting to race down the hill they were on, heading towards her mom’s place.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alberto wipes the sweat from his forehead, unconcerned about the presence of scales that may appear. Everyone in the town knows at this point; has known for 3 years now.
He looks over to where Sr. Marcovaldo is handling the overflowing fish net.
The pair of them have come to be known for finding great fish and always being on time with deliveries.
Part of that may be because Alberto was a sea monster, and part of that is because Sn. Marcovaldo hired out a boy who competed in the Portorosso cup last year. He was too old to participate with Luca or Giulia, and he wasn’t about to lie about his age like Ercole (blegh).
Over the years, Alberto has found himself growing to love this little town. He still wants to travel with Luca, but he also finds himself wanting to come back, even if it’s just to say ‘hi’ to everyone.
This is the last summer they’ll be here. Over the last few years he and Luca have been studiously studying maps, saving money, and planning which routes to take. They had bought another Vespa after winning the Portorosso cup another time, and Luca earned some money from working for Guilia’s mom. Sna. Marcovaldo was apparently a kind woman who took good care of Luca while he was away. He was kinda jealous how much time she could spend with Luca.
“Alberto, eyes on the nets” Massimo says, kindly pushing his attention back to the task at hand.
“Ah, sorry Dad,” Alberto replies, resuming pulling in the nets up. He had accidently called Massimo Dad one day while they’d been having dinner. He’d just said something casual, like “Could you pass the water Dad?” but Alberto remembers his heart racing while he was waiting for Massimo’s reaction to the word. He’d never called someone Dad other than, well, his Dad, but Massimo was different. Luca told him about how Massimo searched for him after he ran away, and Alberto will forever be grateful to the man who gave him a home and a job after Luca left for school. He never wanted to live in that tower again.
Sometimes he still went there, but it was to relive the memories of him and Luca. Luca was always in his memories now. Every street, every book, and every time he rode a bike he remembered his face.
God he missed Luca.
“Hey Dad,” Alberto says, still concentrating on the nets in front of him. These are the last ones before they head back in for today.
Massimo only hums to indicate for Alberto to continue.
“You know how Luca and I are leaving soon,” Another hum.
“Well…I wanted to ask him to be my boyfriend.”
There’s a moment of silence, and despite knowing Massimo, Alberto’s still nervous at the double confession of liking boys and liking Luca.
Though, anyone couldn’t like Luca was beyond him.
Once, Alberto tried to think back to when he started to like Luca, but he realized he probably liked him all along. The feeling of being admired was addicting, and Luca was cute. He wanted to protect Luca, and he was jealous when he thought that Giulia was stealing him away from him.
Alberto lets out a small smile at the thought.
Massimo raises an eyebrow at the smile on Alberto’s face before turning back to maneuvering the boat back towards shore.
“That’s a fine idea. I was wondering when you would do it,” He chuckles, “You and that boy have been inseparable since the moment you tumbled into my kitchen,”
“Thanks Dad,” Alberto smiles at his feet. It feels good to have it out in the open, even if it was a little embarrassing.
In the distance they both hear a train whistle. Alberto’s head snaps to the sound, and he starts bouncing a little in excitement.
Massimo grins under his heavy mustache and says, “Well, I think that’s our cue to head to the station,”
Alberto nods enthusiastically and continues to watch the faint green line traveling through the distant hills.
—
Luca shouldn’t be this nervous. It was only Alberto. Alberto, who he’s in love with and has been for the past 3 years.
Who he’s going to travel the world with at the end of the summer.
He’s still nervous.
“Relax Luca!” Giulia elbows him from where she’s sitting beside him. Or rather, she’s standing and he’s leaning out the window to get a better view of the station coming up.
Seeing this, Giulia laughs and says, “Someone’s looking forward to seeing his crush~”
“Giulia!” Luca blushes. He’s still embarrassed hearing her saying it out loud. Honestly, he didn’t know how he didn’t figure it out sooner.
It was only when Alberto and he fell asleep together in Guilia’s treehouse that he realized it. He and Alberto had been cuddling (cuddling), and he had woken up in Alberto’s arms. It was so wonderful that he learned that he wanted to be the only one able to do that, and that he wanted to wake up next to Alberto for his whole life.
Now, as the train pulls into the station, Luca can’t wait. Before the train has even stopped, he’s pulled his luggage out and is running to the door.
The second he sees Alberto, Luca is jumping off the train and onto the platform, running to embrace Alberto.
Alberto, with his arms already open for a hug, sweeps Luca off his feet and spins them both in a circle.
“Alberto!” Luca exclaims against Alberto’s cheek.
“Luca,” Alberto whispers into Luca’s ear, making Luca flush slightly.
“Alberto, Dad!” Giulia calls from behind them.
Both Luca and Alberto turn to see Guilia coming down the steps with her suitcase, also running to hug her father.
Luca can’t help but notice Alberto’s hand lingering on his waist while they watch the other two. Luca pretends not to notice, enjoying the feeling.
“Come,” Massimo says, “I’ll make Tortellini. Today is a day to celebrate!”
Guilia pumps her fist in the air and exclaims, “Heck yeah!”
They all make the journey back to the Marcovaldo household.
Luca and Alberto walk side by side with Alberto’s arm around Luca’s shoulders. Luca takes comfort in the weight and warmth it brings him. Once again he marvels at Alberto’s height, him being much taller than Luca, especially since puberty hit.
His voice also deepened, and his muscles are so much more defined from working on a boat with Massimo.
Luca realizes he’s staring when Alberto throws him a glace, and Luca laughs sheepishly before looking away, missing the smile and blush on Alberto’s face.
Alberto loves holding Luca in his arms. It makes him feel like he can protect Luca from anything and anyone, unlike before. Thinking back, Alberto does remember them standing up for each other constantly. It makes him smile more.
“Hey Luca,” Alberto says.
“Yeah?” Luca replies, looking up at him with those adorable brown eyes of his. Alberto could melt.
Instead, he says, “Wanna go for a swim after dinner?”
Luca beams up at him, and nods. “Sounds fun!”
Alberto’s heart speeds up at the sight, and he pumps a fist in the air. First step to confessing accomplished.
-
The sea is dark before the two people standing before it.
The dinner before had been lovely, with Luca’s family joining the Marcovaldos.
Luca had to endure another bear hug from his mother before they got to eat. Laughter and joy had filled the small yard where they ate, and Luca and Alberto kept sneaking glances at the other.
Both tried to find any excuse to touch the other, Alberto especially. He was constantly throwing his arm around Luca, brushing their fingers together, and pressing their legs together under the table.
This wasn’t anything new, in fact, Luca found it so familiar he welcomed it with open arms (Not for any other reason despite what Giulia says).
Now they stood with water up to their ankles, hands clasped between them.
“Ready?” Alberto asks.
Luca grins and nods, “Silenzio Bruno,” He quotes before diving under.
Alberto laughs and dives after him. He opens his eyes to find Luca looking back for him. Alberto absolutely loves those green scales.
Alberto grins and races forward to start their swim. Luca laughs and speeds up to follow him. They jump and dive, speeding through the water with no particular destination in mind.
Luca finds this preferable to any time he went swimming or with Guilia. He loved Guilia as a sister, but it couldn’t compare to the joy that he got from racing through the deep sea with Alberto just in front of him.
Alberto glances back, his glowing eyes visible in the relative darkness of the water around them. Luca grins back, and calls, “Want to visit the island?”
Alberto smiles and calls back, “Sure! Race you there!”
“Oh you’re on!” Luca crows and tries to pick up his speed even more.
On the way they pass each other, and at one point Luca grabs Alberto’s tail, yanking him back. This startles Alberto so much he pauses for a moment, allowing Luca to get ahead.
On the final stretch to the island, Alberto barely pulls ahead, laughing himself out of the water and onto the sandy beach just ahead of when Luca swims up.
“You cheater!” Luca cries, “When did you learn to do that?”
“When you were apparently getting faster at that school of yours,” Alberto teases back, grabbing Luca’s hands and helping him up.
Neither let’s go of the other as they walk towards the long-standing tower, but neither elect to mention it.
Climbing the tower once again, they make it to the top of the roof.
“I’ll get a fire started,” Alberto volunteers, making his way to a pile of prepared firewood.
Alberto always keeps this place stocked in case they make a spontaneous trip here, and it served him well tonight.
The fire is started in a minute and Alberto and Luca lay next to each other, gazing at the stars overhead.
Alberto finally gave in and started calling them stars, but Luca always secretly liked the idea of the Big fish protecting the smaller fish in the sky. He would never forget the first time Alberto told him the story.
Luca lets his hand drift to Alberto’s, trying to act nonchalant.
They lay like that for a bit. Together next a small fire, stargazing and holding hands.
“Hey Luca,” Alberto says softly after a minute, sitting up as he does so.
“Yeah?” Luca asks, also sitting up. Alberto’s face is half lit up by the fire beside them, and so is Luca’s.
“I have a question to ask you, and I wanted to do it before we leave this fall.” Alberto continues, choosing to stare at their intertwined hands rather than look Luca in the eyes.
“Okay, what is it?” Luca asks. His heart is racing. What’s Alberto going to ask? Luca doesn’t want to get his hopes up.
“Before I do,” Alberto starts, then lets out a deep breath. Luca doesn’t press, just lets him go at his own pace.
“I’ve been alone a lot of my life, and when you stumbled in…I think that was the best thing to ever happen to me,” Luca can’t breathe. Was it really what he wanted? Was this happening for real?
“What I want to say is…that…I love you, Luca. I love you so much, and I want you to be my boyfriend, if you want,” ALberto glances up, only to see Luca’s mouth hanging open. His face is slightly pink, but Alberto doesn’t know if that’s from the night air or something else.
For a second they just sit there, then Luca mutters, “Silenzio Bruno,” and leans forward.
Before Alberto can process what’s happening, he’s wrapped in an embrace with Luca’s lips on his.
Luca can’t believe what he's doing. All he knows is that he really wanted to kiss Alberto, and that now he could.
Pulling away and seeing Alberto half frozen, Luca grin sheepishly.
“Yes. I love you too, Alberto,” He says, giggling nervously.
Alberto’s smile could melt a gelato cone in two seconds flat. He leans forward and kisses Luca again, this time with more confidence.
They stay together the entire night, holding each other close and not letting go.
Finally, with their feelings out in the open, they can do everything they’ve ever wanted to, everything they’ve ever dreamed about.
Finally, they’re together.