Clear As The Sun
#40 of Roman Life
Sometimes things can be that clear, sometimes they can't.
Hello everyone!
After a somewhat (EDIT really long, hadn't realized that, sorry :/) long pause, here it comes the next chapter of my series! Sorry if I am not managing to put out this, and other stories, more often. Being busy in real life, I am trying to cut out some time to do proper writing and such ^w^' I hope you understand! And I hope you will like this chapter, and leave a comment, a vote or a fave as a reminder of that 
As always, thank you Gritou for being there for me, and I am counting the days left before August
Luca was enjoying the nice brezza1, the gentle wind being enhanced by the moving motorcycle. The air ruffled his fur, stopping it from being soaked in sweat; he had left the visor of his helmet up, and he would have gone as far as unlace it, like some furs did, if it hadn't been a tiny bit too irresponsible to do.
The lupo's enjoyment was unadulterated by the focus of driving, since it was Ale who was in charge of it at the moment, his broad back luckily not sheltering him from the wind. The lupine was almost tempted to encircle his friend as he had done last time, but he left his paws firmly grabbing the appropriate handles.
Snorting, he tried to push away the reason why he couldn't do that, not wanting to ruin the experience of the morning Roman breeze, but his mind didn't listen to him. To his rottie's eyes, if he had hold to his friend, that would have meant that he needed comfort and physical contact, which meant he was still shaken.
He had barely accepted to let him drive, since it was what they did most of the times, and wasn't exactly like the dark canine was taking care of him. Although it might have been just that, another expression of Ale's mothering him, like he had done all week-end long.
Not that it had really bothered him; it was nice to see his roommate worried about his well-being, and getting asked how he was doing and such. But the novelty of that had wore off after the tenth time, when his reply had gained an annoyed tone; then, his friend had understood and stopped, but he could easily go back to it at any sign of emotional weakness.
"Dio me ne scampi2". Luca prayed mentally, hoping to be heard. Apart from that aspect, the rottie had been a great friend: they played various games on their PS3, watched TV and relaxed, slowly forgetting about that accident. Or almost forgetting: the lupo had noticed the tension and the repressed anger in Ale's body language, but the rottie had refrained to let it out, as a good friend would when trying to comfort someone.
That he was being a good friend it was chiaro come il sole3, the black canine going to the extend of not seeing his girlfriend. Luca knew that they had talked, and that his friend had explained the situation to Clara; he just hoped that the German Shepherd wouldn't hold it against him. The Rottweiler had been absolutely adamant and insisted to stay home with him, rebuking his efforts of letting him go and enjoy some time with the Sheppie.
Sighing, he leaned on the small trunk, wanting to get lost in the beautiful scenery of Rome in a summer morning. His eyes wandered, spacing from the clear blue sky, unmarred by clouds, and focused on admiring the air evolutions of the rondini4, the small birds gracefully flying over the great mass of Castel sant'Angelo.
Seeing swallows always cheered him up, ever since his puppyhood: he didn't know why, maybe because they seemed so carefree and happy, maybe because they heralded the beginning of spring and summer, which in every Italian's mind meant the coming of vacation and relax.
The black birds were replaced by huge, ungraceful seagulls, the mean tempered animals riding the thermals just above Trastevere, hoping for a quick and easy meal from the trash of the restaurants, or a boccone5 from the patrons of the same places. That also meant they were about to arrive and, as expected, they were soon parking, just a few streets away from the basilica.
Descending from the moto, they quickly unbuckled their helmets, habit making their paws quick to put them to rest in their rightful places. They did it without a word, both still somewhat sleepy and, therefore, silent; after retrieving the keys, Ale actually looked at his friend for a moment, his mouth opening to talk.
"Are you.... Sore from the ride, Luca?" The buff restorer asked, changing his question quickly once he saw the frown of his friend. He probably realized he would get an earful if he had asked how the lupine was doing... again. Instead, he had given an opening for good snark.
"You know how that question sounds, when it is asked to a gay fur..." Luca mused, smirking at his friend. The rottie took just a few seconds to realize the implication, his flustered expression a good payback for the smothering care of the week end.
"But I am sure you would be gentle with me." He winked, pulling him in a half hug and relishing on the blush displayed through the dark fur. Ale didn't know that he wouldn't mind a rough ride, and he shouldn't ever get to know such a piece of information.
"S-se scherzi così6, you sure can't be sore." The bulky fur stuttered, picking up his co-worker's arm and freeing himself from the hug, starting to pace to work, his haste in hiding his embarrassment immensely cute. Luca just chuckled, happy that the message had been received, then went to catch up with his friend, the two spending the few minutes' walk without saying anything.
The small interaction had the unwanted affect of recalling a certain kiss, with doubts attached to it. It seemed like the cougar was willingly to give him the bedroom's action he was craving for, though a dispute can be done on the roles of the participants. Edward's intentions were still mysterious, the lupo too shy to try to poke him in the day and a half that had passed.
Though, the mountain lion didn't try to contact him either, or at least he hadn't as for the last time he had checked...Taken by the moment, he took out his phone, bringing it to life and his feet to skip a step when he noticed a received text with the American feline' name on it. The message had surely arrived during their trip to work, the vibration and sound being overtaken by the roaring motor of their vehicle.
He opened it with a flick of his thumb, forcing his heart to beat a little less fast while he read it.
Morning Luca! Are you doing okay?
_ _
The question would have annoyed him if it had come from the rottie, but Edward hadn't pestered him for the past few days, so he had the right to ask. Paying half attention to where he was going, he typed down and sent a short reply.
'Giorno7! I'm doing fine, my friend made sure I didn't fall in depression. Walking to work
_ _
The lupine put his phone back in its place as they were entering the piazza before Santa Maria in Trastevere, the basilica looming over it. Even from a distance he could pick up the familiar short figure waiting under the colonnade, her brown fur behind highlighted by her lovely white and pale yellow dress.
"Cazzo8." Luca cursed, slowing down his pace.
"What?" His roommate asked, shortening his stride to comply with the new speed.
"There is Sara there." The lupo simply said, his ears dropping a bit.
"Yeah, she works here. So?" The Rottweiler questioned him with a bit of curiosity.
"I have to tell her how I screwed up with Stanley." He stated what was obvious to him; he hadn't thought about preparing for delivering the news, and God knew how the squirrel would take it.
"She already knows." Ale simply stated, suspiciously avoiding looking at his friend. The lupine paused, calculating the scenarios, before asking a question of his own.
"Did you tell her?" The wolf demanded, trying to keep his tone calm. No use to scold the fellow restorer, even if he was treating him like a child.
"No, she texted me saying she knew what the stronzo9 did, and that I needed to keep you happy, and that she would talk with you about it in person." The buff canine confessed in a blur, barely taking a breath between phrases. That explained his behavior during the week-end, at least partially, and he couldn't hold a grudge for not telling him, it wouldn't have been fair.
He was about to say as much when he felt his cell10 chime, prompting him to get it out and see the new text from the American waiter. It turned out that there were three of them.
Cool of him! You've got to relax, I hope.
_ _
Going to restore some art?
_ _
Also, sorry, I had been fully immersed with work, that's why I had been silent :/
_ _
Luca smiled a bit then answered him with a longer messaggio11. With the advent of whatsapp and the likes, he was taking fully advantage of the writing freedom, without the fear to go beyond the characters.
I did, just relaxed with him, nothing in particular done.
And yes, I am close to finish my work in the chapel,
which makes me happy. And don't worry,
I understand you were busy ^^
_ _
Content with his ability of handling smileys, he returned to the topic at hand. "I forgive you for not telling me, Ale. At least I won't face an emotional Sara."
"That is a tiiiiiiiny bit sexist, you know?" The Rottweiler jabbed at him, his frown splitting into a grin.
"I am gay, I've privileges." He dismissed the comment, the couple entering the cool shadow of the colonnade, just as the sun was gaining full force. They found their friend there, resolve in her eyes, the kind of posture that made her tower over everyone.
"Ale, Luca, buongiorno12." She greeted them, paws clutched in front of her.
"Good morning Sara. Why so formal?" The lupo asked, shivering a bit. He didn't know what the formality meant, if she was going to turn against them or... He stopped his thoughts, since there was no use to wonder on things happening just then.
"Because there is the need of it. I know about Saturday." The rodent said, tightening her jaws.
"Yeah, Ale here told me you knew it. The question is, how?" The lean canine asked, going straight to the point. He felt the rottie moving to stand a bit far from them, understandingly not wanting to be caught in the crossfire.
"Oh." Sara exclaimed, glaring at the muscular restorer before focusing on the lupine again. "Well, the ragazzino13called me right after the fact."
"Did he...?" The wolf didn't complete his sentence, the vibration of a new text distracting him. He didn't pull out his phone, it wasn't the time; of course, the squirrel took advantage of slight pause and talked over him.
"I can handle the tantrum of a kid fifteen years younger than me. Besides, I gave him quite the scolding." Sara said, weaving her paw to sweep away the matter. "But I didn't want to tell you that. I wanted to apologize."
"For what?" The lupo replied, surprised. In his mind he was the one who needed to apologize, but he knew better than try to change his friend's mind when she was set on something.
"For putting you in such a situation. I should have... investigated." She said, moving fast to hug him, her harm reaching him around his mid-chest. "I'm so sorry."
"It's, uhm, okay Sara, no need to apologize." Luca returned the hug awkwardly, patting her back as to console her. They stood like that for a couple of minutes, the lupine not daring to break the embrace first; thankfully, Sara did it, and her eyes were almost dry. He really didn't know how to handle a crying woman, he never did.
"I want you to know I was, and am, really angry about this. I thought that kid was a grown up, but it seems he really isn't." The rodent said, her voice being as close to growl as a petite squirrel could be.
"You never know people. Especially on this. Hope you didn't chew him up too much." He tried to smile, and pulled it off even if it came out a bit unsure. Even if the husky deserved it, it was never good to be mean; it made you lower to his level of pettiness.
"Maybe a bit. I turned all stronza di ghiaccio14, as my dear Franco says." Her smile was predatory as she said that, showing that even a puny herbivore could be dangerous.
"That was... nice of you. But you shouldn't have been that harsh on him." Luca replied, frowning a bit. It was okay to show firmness in one's ideals, but when confronted with such situations it was never good to descend to their levels.
"I might have been carried away. I don't deal well with furs shouting on the phone." The squirrel agreed, partially justifying her behavior. Ale seemed to disagree, judging from his expression, but the lupo stopped attempt of him talking with a quick nod of the head. No need to start a discussion on How To Handle A Homophobe.
"Quel che è fatto è fatto15, I guess." The lupine declared, hoping that his friend hadn't verbally abused Stanley too much.
"Indeed." She concur, her expression softening, changing it to a less dangerous-looking smile. " Besides, I did offer him help, if he wants to change his screwed views."
"That was nice of you. Though, you should be more, uhm, Sugary Teacher Sara if you do, so to not scare him off." He recommended her; it was the right thing to do, to offer help, though he doubted it had been worded in a soothing and calm way. But there was no use to delve in the past, and, since it seemed the serious talk was over, he grabbed the occasion to look at his phone again.
Good to hear all of that!
_ _
Also, I have to apologize for the kiss, it was rude of me ^^'
_ _
Hope it didn't scare you off. I would like to see you again.
_ _
The convo made him awww inside, appreciating his concerns about ruining. His answer was quick to write and send.
Not scared, just surprised! You still need to explain a
few things though, that aren't that clear.
This time he kept holding his phone, so to be ready in case a new text arrived. "I hope this mess won't give you problems with your mom, Sara."
The rodent sniffed her contempt, a surprisingly loud noise for such a petite woman. "She can bitch and moan quanto vuole16, as far as I care."
"You shouldn't shun your mother like that." The rottie pointed out, entering the fray of the conversation after so long.
"You never met my mom. What does it says that I put half the country between me and her?" She grimaced, eliciting a barked laugh from her co-workers.
"She can't be THAT bad. She is your mother, after all." Luca replied with a smile, enjoying the light subject at paw.
"She is always proper and.... Formal. Stiff and without emotion. If it had been for her, I would have studied Law or Economics." The brown squirrel shivered at the dreadful thought of wearing tailleur17 and being in a soul-eating job.
"But you chose to rebel and follow your hear, going against what society wanted for you!" Ale declared, looking at her with adoration, like she was the greatest heroine in the history of the world.
"She had bad luck; she ended up with a strong willed daughter." She nodded, visibly basking in the respect, even if it was a mocking one.
"You go girl!" The lupo exclaimed, snapping his fingers thrice with sassiness, earning puzzled eyes. "What? I can do that from time to time!"
"Ooooookay. Still, I should have known better with Staley. He is the son of my mother's friends, so he was bound to turn up like that." Sara said, going back to the previous topic. But just briefly, since she saw the expression on the lupine's muzzle and quickly added more. "But you can never know, after all."
"Yeah, you can't ever know." The Rottweiler echoed, sounding thoughtful. The lupo recorded that and added a note about inquiring on what was going on with his friend, maybe in the evening, or soon enough.
"Still, I am glad you cheered up il tuo amico18, as I requested. You deserve a treat!" The small restorer said to the much bigger canine, fumbling with the contents in her purse.
"Of course I did! And I hope you aren't seriously going to give me a biscotto19." Ale spoke up his disgust of such a thing, even though his nub of a tail was slowly wagging behind him.
"Nope, don't worry. Here." The rodent rebuked him, handing him two pieces of paper. "I received four free passes for Hydromania20, which are two too many for me. You can go with Clara if you want!"
Luca didn't listen to the attempts of his friend to refuse the gift, since his phone had sprung to life once more, and he was too focused on reading to pay much attention.
Glad I didn't scare you!
_ _
And yes, I owe you explanations :3
_ _
What do you think if we meet Mercoledì sera21?
_ _
For a beer or a meal, whatever you like!
_ _
The proposal was to be expected, but still caught him off guard. It sounded awfully a lot like a date to him, and he wasn't sure he should do it... The cougar had his girlfriend... maybe... Still, he should give that a try, after so long....
"With whom you are texting so much?" The question, coming from Sara, interrupted his train of thought, making him blush slightly for his distraction.
"It's, uhm, Edward." He admitted, trying not to flick his ears and reveal that something was up with the feline.
"The waiter-student of architecture? Seems like you two become friends!" The feminine restorer exclaimed cheerfully, happy that not everything had gone wrong during that visit.
"Maybe something more than friends. He kissed Luca. On the mouth." The black canine rumbled, destroying and shattering any hope of Sara not discovering that bit.
"COSA22!?" She shouted, her brows trying hard to climb over her skull. Luca just sighed, preparing himself for the following onslaught, deciding that he would make his friend pay for that.
Translation:
1) Breeze.
2) God help me!
3) Clear as the sun. Akin to "crystal clear".
4) Swallows
5) Mouthful.
6) If you joke like that.
7) 'Morning!
8) Fuck!
9) Jerk/asshole.
10) Short for cellulare (mobile phone).
11) Text/ message.
12) Goodmorning.
13) Little kid.
14) Bitch of Ice. Technically, stronza means "piece of shit", but we don't really have an equivalent of bitch that isn't linked to prostitution ^^
15) What is done is done.
16) How much she wants.
17) Lady's suit. Yes, we use the French term, for some reasons.
18) Your friend.
19) Cookie/biscuit.
20) Water park near Rome
21) Wednesday evening.
22) WHAT!?