FSE

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formerly SoFurry search engine

Hey everyone, here another installament of what I can now call my on-going little series. This chapter hasn't many different settings, but Santa Maria in Trastevere relly exist, though it isn't probably under restoration; all events and characters are, of course, fictional. If you liked this chapter, drop a comment or fave or vote, I will appreciate that :-) Once again, I thank Gritou for his help and for being at my side, thank you babe !

The big paw picked up the brush and raised it toward the big fresco on the wall, gently applying the protective paste on the vest of a saint. This process was very delicate and needed to be done slowly, applying too much paste would numb the recently restored fresco, ruining months of meticulous work.

Most found this work very boring and tiring, but Luca felt a rush of excitement every time he realized how every stroke of the brush would help preserve the piece of art for many years to come; it was also very relaxing for him, all the worries and desires were left behind, leaving him in a concentrate and peaceful state that many Buddhists would envy.

The lupo lowered the brush again so that it could take more of the paste, and then resume his work, making sure that every last part of the red robe was coated with the paste. Some days had passed since his week-end with the handsome lynx, and he believed he had got over it, but thoughts of Stanley sneaked in his mind almost constantly. Even now the muzzle of the severe saint resembled the lynx's, and the silliness of it made him put down the brush and stop for a minute to sort his feelings.

Why did that one night stand (well, actually two) obsess him that much? He knew from the beginning that nothing different would have come out of it, it was plain impossible since they had an ocean between them and two different lives. Probably the notion of being so compatible didn't help him forget, nor the fact that he hadn't been in a stable relationship for a long time. Shaking his head, he was about to continue his work when he heard a cry below him.

"Hey Luca, wanna take a break?"

He didn't need to look down to recognize who it was; Ale's offer was very tempting, and a quick look at his watch told him that he had been up there for almost two hours. As much as he liked it, his arms needed a little rest after all that work.

"Yeah, give me time to put everything away and we can walk outside!" Luca accepted, putting the brush in a jar full of water and closing the one with the past. He then took off his plastic gloves and began to descend from the platform , being careful to put his footpaws in the right place.

He finally reached the floor, meeting an impatient rottweiller who annoyingly greeted the lupo.

"What took you so long?"

Luca's ears flicked. "What are you talking about, I was quick!"

"You could have jumped" the black dog growled, his eyes giving away his joking.

"Yeah, and you could have cropped your tail!" The tall canine growled back, showing his teeth so to keep up with the fake argument.

"Whut?" was Alessandro's reaction, his paws instinctively going to his tail, as to defend it from the scalpel. "What's wrong with my tail?"

"Tail? It's a flesh tube, a tail must be bushy!" Luca mocked, waving his tail to mark his point.

The rottie had enough of this bout of jokes caused by him. "Ha-ha, so funny. Do you still want to take a break?"

The answer was a simple nod from the grinning lupo, and with that they both walked out of the chapel and outside the basilica, heading toward the exit with one of his heavy wooden door open.

The door didn't lead directly in the piazza but under a marble-columned portico, a usual feature in the most ancient Romanic basilicas. It was also good for the canine duo, as a persistent rain was falling on the stone-paved piazza.

"Do you want to go to the bar?" Luca asked, while he gave his arms a much needed stretch. It was nice to be outside, and the rain cleaned the air from the smog though each breath seemed to be full of warm moisture.

"Nahh, too much rain, I prefer to remain dry. We can just stay heeeere." The muscular guy yawned the last, showing all his teeth and actually tearing up a little.

"Did get much sleep last night?" The lupo asked, giving quick look to the tonsils of his roommate.

Ale shook his head, and answered only after another yawn, while drying those little tears from the angles of his brown eyes. "Nope, I stayed up all night chatting with Clara. Well, mostly listening to her".

"You really want to get into her pants, don't you" Luca smirked, elbowing his roommate.

The dog looked outrageous, and quickly defended himself. "You think I'm not a decent guy? She has a beautiful voice, I like listening to her, and her chatting gave me some ideas for our date of Friday! And you are just making fun of me."

"Just a little vendetta for the other day" the lupo snuffled, the air beginning to be too much moist. "She did gave you a good first impression".

"We had a good evening in that pub, and we share lots of common interests." The rottie simply put, suddenly shy.

Luca smiled at this sight, since he knew his friend well and he was showing all the sign of a crush; he could play macho all he wanted, but he still remained a nice, shy guy at heart. Though he liked to see Ale like that, he decided he didn't want to have a love-struck friend for the moment.

"Like la Rrroma?" He used his magic trick, emphasizing the r.

"Yes, like la Magica. And stop mocking me; I'm not going to take her to a game as a date!" The black dog returned to his senses. "Though she would be so grateful if I gave to her the shirt of Totti..."

"You don't have a chance to get his shirt Ale." Luca leaned to a column, turning his shoulders to the deluge. "So, what are your plans for your date?"

"I don't know yet, but you can help me think one now. So, let me think..." Alessandro began to pace before his friend while he was pondering. "Maybe it's too soon for a date with only the two of us, maybe an evening with friends is much better!" He finally proposed.

"So she brings a friend and you do the same?" Luca summed, feeling that it wouldn't turn well for him.

"Exactly!" The restorer was really excited at the idea, his tail wagging at high speed. "A good evening with friends at a club, then you'll distract her friend..."

"Wait a minute, why do I have to be your wingman? In your plan, her friend is male and gay? I don't want to hook up with a girl!" Luca protested.

"You're my best buddy, of course I choose you" the other said, gesticulating with his paws, "besides, I didn't say you should hook up with her friend, only distract!"

"Ok, I'll be your wingman. I hope it won't end up like that time at Vito's" the lupo said, the memory stilling the conversation.

He didn't know what Ale was thinking, though the wagging tail gave away some hints on that. His mind was filled of thoughts about that historical fiasco, his cheek feeling the ache from the slap he received that night, which didn't end like it did with Stanley.

He transferred his gaze from his friend to the mosaic of the inner façade, leaning more to the column and trying not to fall in a funk. He should begin to go out more often, and to visit more gay clubs, he really needed to find some fun and maybe love, not replaying two days with a lynx in his head over and over again.

"So," he started to talk again "if I'm going to help you with Clara, will you come with me in some club?"

"Sure, why not? And why are you smiling now?" Ale asked, noticing the grin on his friend's muzzle.

"Not many straight guys would go to a gay club." He mused, waiting to see how the other canine would respond to that.

"I would do everything for you, even bear some ass groping. Besides, I like to show off". With that, he began to flex his muscles, and Luca couldn't help but admire them.

"You'll have so many suitors, if you do that in a gay club." The lupo winked, hiding his examination.

"Hey, my ass is only for girls to play! They can admire it and even touch it, but not put things in it!" The rottweiller almost cried, his ears flicking at the notion of something thick and hard approaching his rump.

"It's the risks in going in a gay club, Ale, just don't drink too much and stay away from the bathrooms." He chuckled, his pants becoming more tight despite it was his best friend he was picturing as a bottom. He couldn't stop that, it was too hot to not think about it, though it made him feel guilty for doing that, he really shouldn't think Ale that way.

"Slacking off as always, eh ragazzi?" The two dogs turned their heads to the newcomer, who was just folding a red umbrella.

"Ciao Sara, how are you doing?" Ale greeted the older colleague. Well, that wasn't fair, Luca said to himself, she was only three of four years older than them, but her presence and her massive knowledge on art and history made the average squirrel tower over them at times.

"Fine, fine but how are you Luca? You seem to be very ... pensive." She asked while shaking the umbrella.

"I'm fine" he shrugged off the question " I was just thinking about which club to go this Saturday, one nice enough to impress Ale's new cotta."

He mentally slapped himself, while the brown stare moved from the lupo to the other canine, a big smile appearing on the short muzzle."A crush? Who is the lucky lady? Do I know her?"

"Y-yes, a crush" the rottie said rubbing his neck with one paw, shyness showing in his tone and posture, "her name is Clara. I don't think you know her since she is a praticante in a lawyer study."

"That's a pretty name" the squirrel said, putting her umbrella against the wall and her paw-bag on one dry spot of the pavement, settling for a chat with the two dogs. "Where did you meet her?"

"He met her in a pub in San Lorenzo just this Saturday," Luca answered so that his friend got some respite, he knew the rottie would clamp up otherwise, "they connected immediately and talked all evening. It's been insufferable since then with their conversation on the phone and him speaking always of this Clara".

As he thought, this last bit made Ale snap out of his timidity. "I'm not always talking about her!"

"Weren't we talking about your date with her just a few minutes ago?" The lupo toyed with his friends a little bit more.

"A date?" Sara chimed in "Where are you going to take her? Ponte Milvio?"

"God help me, no!" Ale replied quickly, shocked by the suggestion. "It's so predictable and lame, much better here in Trastevere!"

Sara pouted a little, angling her head with a confused look on her face. "But I thought you young and trendy Romans all go there when you want to have fun."

"That's what Moccia wants you to believe" Luca chuckled deeply with his ears flicking for the amusement.

"His films full of teen romance ruined that place. I remember a time when that poor bridge wasn't covered by lockers, each one symbolizing eternal love!" The rottie added, his voice full of contempt to this modern practice and the film director behind it. "You should know better Sara, you have been living here for six years !"

"Bah, I'll never understand you southerners. I've been there and it seemed a nice place to take a girl" she said, not at all taking aback by the scolding. She actually crossed her arm on her breast, in that typically female way that suggested she was in the right.

"That's because the mists numb your place there in Milano !" he retorted, a canine poking under his lip and his fur slightly bristling.

"You Romans are a little too litigious, you have too much sun !" She responded, a low growl emitting from her interlocutor.

The two stared at each other for a few second, before Sara spoke again: "We shouldn't degenerate this nice conversation, so can we call a truce ?" The squirrel proposed, extending one paw toward the black canine.

Ale hesitated for a moment before taking the offered paw . "Sorry about that, you wanted only to have a good chat ."

During this entire squabble Luca had been a silent watcher, he knew both furs and that they wouldn't turn things in a nasty way. Still, he was amazed how skillfully the short woman had defused the dangerous conversation, not many people could do that with Alessandro, as the lupo had discovered in their many years of friendship.

"You must excuse him; this mutt gets cranky when it's raining!" The tall dog joked, blocking his friend's head with an arm and rubbing playfully the knuckles of his free paw on his skull.

"Lemme go, lemme go!" He yielded, trying to escape the embrace, while Sara was openly laughing at this demonstration of male bravado.

The lupo only stopped when he saw a passing old parishioner shaking her head in disbelief at the sight, which made the two of them blush and the squirrel laugh even more.

"You two are nuts!" She managed to say between giggles.

"Yeah, we know" Alessandro said, glaring at his roommate while straightening his shirt. "And gays are supposed to be quite and girly."

Luca only chuckled, used to statements like that from his buddy. Someone else would have felt insulted, but he knew that it was only a joke.

"You really should be careful when you say something like that" Sara admonished the black dog, though she wasn't really into it.

"Yeah, yeah, I shouldn't out my friend like that, there are too many homophobes around. I'm sorry Luca." He apologized, misunderstanding his colleague.

"So, is the professor here or can we talk a little bit? I really don't want to work today." Sara asked, finally taking her jacket off herself.

"Now who is slacking off?" The rottie taunted. " No, he has a ceremony at the Faculty today."

She didn't react, too superior for that. "Sweet, it will keep him occupied for the whole afternoon. How did you get here?"

"I drove both of us in my car." The lupo answered. "It was a pain in the ass to find a free parking spot here, but we would end up completely wet if we had taken the motorcycle."

"I'm lucky I live nearby" she said, and then her muzzle was lighted up by a thought. "Ah, now that you remind me, I've really been wanting to ask you how you two met for while, from your closeness you obviously grow up together!"

She was met by two surprised gazes, Ale actually letting his mouth open a little. Luca was the first to recover, slowing working his mouth into forming words. "You know us for, what, two years? And you never asked that?"

"I know it's weird" she answered, obviously confused at her own behavior, "I don't know why I didn't asked that before. I didn't have the need to know that until now, I suppose."

Luca didn't accept the answer, but he didn't want to press the matter either; she must had her reasons for asking only now. "We didn't grow up together." He said. "Actually, we didn't know each other prior to university."

"I don't remember where we met exactly for the first time." Ale interrupted, deep in thought and trying to remind that moment.

"How could you forget?" The lupo said with a hurt expression.

"It was a long time ago!" He tried to defend himself. "I think it was Carlo who introduces me to you, but I'm not sure."

"At least your memories are right on that. It was the first day of university, you forgetful mutt." Luca said, his expression loosing up a bit.

"So cute, you were inseparable since then!" Sara assumed, seemingly softened by these remembrances.

"I won't call cute our manly bond of friendship, but pretty much yes." The rottie admitted stoically, his ears still flicking for the girly compliment.

"I won't dare to make you any less a man, Ale" The squirrel smiled, pinching the masculine fur in a very grandmotherly way. "You two must be grateful to this Carlo, who is he?"

The questioned shared a glance and Luca gave a simple nod before Ale began to explain: "He was a friend of my family, a little older than me, and he helped me integrate myself in the Faculty. So he presented me to everyone he knew, and Luca was among them."

The explanation wasn't clearly enough for the curious woman, thus she moved her quizzical stare to the other dog, who caught the unspoken question. "I knew Carlo for a couple of years back then and, you know, he was more than a friend, uhm, he was my boyfriend at the time."

Sara realized that she had touched a sore spot, so she quickly changed subject. "I see. Well, that pretty normal, a common friend was the way you got to meet. By the way Luca, do you still work at that fancy guide agency?"

"Yes, the Figli di Orazio. Why?" The lupo said, a little taken aback by this turn of the conversation.

"Well, since you have guided so many tourists you should be great in taking people around Roma and pointing out the sights and their stories." She said while looking at the falling rain.

The tall canine smelled the intentions of his colleague and cut the conversation short. "You have someone who needs a guide? You can ask me directly, I won't be offended."

"I'm not comfortable in asking favors so openly" she said, unhappy that her true motives were discovered so rapidly.

"You haven't caught the Roman spirit yet, you can always ask for favors to friends!" Ale said, surrounding her shoulder with one meaty arm and shaking the diminutive woman.

"I-I-I wi-i-il never under-r-rstan-n-nd you ter-r-roni!" She rattled, trying to escape the powerful embrace.

"We are not terroni!" Ale said, releasing his colleague.

"Everyone south of Bologna is a terrone" she replied while massaging her right shoulder.

"Are you done harassing her Ale?" The lupo asked, receiving a simple "Yeah" as a response. "So, who do you want me to help?"

"It's a friend of my family. He has been transferred here in Roma and he's never been here, so he needs someone to introduce him to the city. I'm not asking you to be simply a guide" she clarified "but to show him the life of the city, to be his cicerone."

"I will gladly do that. What's his name?" Luca asked.

"Oh, wait a sec, my mother send me his name." She said, starting to search for her phone in her paw-bag.

"You don't remember his name?" was Alessandro's amazed exclamation.

"I'm poor in reminding living people's names. Ha-ha, here it is!" She cried holding the little marvel of technology in her right paw and beginning to browsing it. "Ok, here we are, let me check if it is the right e-mail."

Her interlocutors looked at her with amused faces, one of them freezing when she uttered the name.

"Stanley."