Chapter Text
The sea air hits his nose as soon as he opens the door of the cab. It’s dark, past midnight, but the familiar smell, salty and fresh, fills his nose and lungs as he inhales deeply.
Home.
The shoreline is at least fifty meters from where the taxi has parked at the edge of town. Luca can’t see the water from there. It’s hidden behind the buildings and the darkness of the cloudy night sky, but he senses it in the warm breeze. It’s calling for him from down below the streets of the small coastal town.
“Grazie mille.” Luca passes the cab driver some notes, slings his backpack over his shoulder and jumps out, eager to follow the call of the water. It's been almost a year since the last time, way too long.
“Buona notte,” the old cabbie tells him before driving off. Luca watches the car until the headlights have disappeared around the corner of the cobblestoned street. Then he turns and breaks into a run.
The streets are deserted. No one is up at this hour, the villagers tucked in their beds unaware of the young man dashing past their dark windows. The fast and light tap of his footsteps is the only sound around him. It doesn’t take long to reach the shoreline. Luca drops his backpack on the sand, pulls off his sneakers and socks with impatience, tossing them carelessly aside, and races into the water.
As soon as his toes touch the cool, salty waves, he feels the familiar tingling. Looking down, Luca marvels at the instant transformation. Even after all these years it never ceases to amaze him. From light, pale skin to brilliant green and blue, the scales reach his ankles. Letting the anticipation build, he gazes across the dark water. In the distance, too far to see in the dark night, he can just make out the small, dark shape of an island.
Isola de Mare.
Luca stands very still, the warm breeze penetrating his thin t-shirt and the water lapping at his shins that are now fluorescent green and blue. Even as a human, he can hear the soft footsteps behind him. A smile spreads slowly on his face.
“Took you long enough.” He says it without turning around.
“I could say the same to you.”
Luca can hear the smile in the words, even before he turns around.
“Alberto!”
Before he knows it, he is enveloped in a warm, tight hug that smells like boat wax, wood and the sea. After a moment, Alberto pulls back, grinning at his best friend.
“Late, am I? You're the one who's been gone for years.”
Despite the darkness of the night, the green eyes staring at him are twinkling. Alberto is still holding on to Luca's shoulders, taking him in like he’s checking that he is actually real.
“Years?! Less than one!”
It’s been ten months to be exact. But suddenly it feels longer. Luca finds himself mesmerised by how tall Alberto seems compared to the last time. His chest and arms have filled out, the skin golden brown after long days on the water. His cheekbones are more prominent, but the green eyes are as defiant and cocky as ever framed by the sandy curls grazing his temples
He is more everything than before. It makes Luca a little breathless. They are still grinning at each other, both of them rendered momentarily speechless by this long awaited reunion. Then Alberto shoves at Luca's chest playfully, making him stumble backwards.
“Come on then.” He starts backing into the water, the transformation of his feet and calves imitating Luca’s. Purple and blue, his feet and legs are taking their real form the deeper he moves. “What are you waiting for? Andiamo!”
He dives, splashing Luca with fresh droplets and just like that he is gone, disappeared under the surface. Luca doesn’t hesitate. Still smiling from ear to ear, he follows, dives straight into the shallow water. It surrounds him like a cool hug, the dark, blue vastness of it enveloping him, transforming him in seconds, his body now smooth, strong and beautiful and so very different from the skinny, lanky human alternative. He lets out a shriek of joy, races after Alberto, who only has a few feet headstart, the purple and blue fins flashing ahead like a lightning strike. Speeding after him, moving effortlessly through the smooth water, Luca catches up easily. Laughing, flexing his body and his tail, he darts past Alberto. It’s freeing. Like being released from some kind of shackles, from the limitations of the human form that he has embodied for so long. If you don’t count showering, that is, and that doesn’t even compare to the vastness and the beauty of the water now surrounding him.
Flicking his tail, Luca gathers speed, propels back towards the surface and jumps out of the water just as the clouds part and the bright, full moon emerges, painting everything silver and diamonds. Gracefully, he twists in the air, spreads his arms and laughs at the sky before plunging back underwater with a splash that sends a spray of silver into the sky.
“Show off!”
Alberto is right there beside him, their playful race and dance in a whirlwind of water, moonlight, and pure joy as effortless and exhilarating as ever. They don't have to communicate with each other to know where they are heading. Both of them know.
Alberto makes it to the shore of Isola de Mare first. He overtakes Luca in the end, as always, taller and stronger as he is, but it doesn't take Luca long to catch up. Breathless, he emerges from the water, his t-shirt and jean shorts clinging to his skin that quickly transforms back into the human he is so used to being now. He finds a very relaxed looking Alberto lying on the moonlit sand like he's been lounging around for ages.
“Took you long enough,” he echoes Luca’s own words back at him as Luca flops down beside him still breathing hard.
“Mother of Pearl, I've missed this so much!” He lies back too, his back hitting soft sand. Alberto hums an agreement. They fall into a companionable silence watching the rest of the clouds part in the gentle breeze and give way to the thousands of twinkling stars above them. It’s a perfect summer’s night. Luca hasn't seen such a sky in a very long time. The city lights drown it out.
Alberto is the first to break the silence.
“So, what’s it like out there? In the big, wide world?”
Luca sighs, turns his head to look at his friend. “It's…incredible.”
It really is. The ancient city is buzzing with life–the people, the history. The vast halls and libraries of the university still take Luca's breath away even after all the months he's spent there.
“Everything you've ever wanted?” Alberto is watching him, serious.
“Yeah,” Luca sighs. He turns, props his head on his hand. “Why haven't you come visit?” He can't completely mask the disappointment in his voice. Alberto did at first when Luca went to school in Genova, but over the years, the visits have become less and less frequent. Alberto hasn't come once since Luca was accepted into the Sapienza University of Roma last year.
“Ah, you know–” Alberto waves his hand dismissively. “I'd be like a fish out of water over there.”
When Luca doesn't laugh at the joke, he turns his head too, looks him in the eye. There's something sad in them, too.
“That's your world. This is mine,” Alberto says softly. “You know that.” Then his face morphs into a cocky smile. “And I'm working my ass off! This has been the busiest year we've had. Massimo and I own ten boats now, you know. Twelve guys answer to me now. We are hauling in almost more than we can sell.”
Luca can't help but smile at that. “I know. Giulia told me. It's amazing. You're amazing.”
Alberto cocks his eyebrow like it's obvious, but he looks pleased too, likes hearing Luca's compliment.
Then suddenly he's up on his feet.
“Have you ever tried marshmallows? They are these foam things you can melt in the fire. I got a bag stashed up there.” He points at the dark silhouette of the derelict lighthouse behind them. “I’ve been saving them for you. You can tell me all about Roma while we try them.”
“Marshmallows?” Luca asks, curious.
Alberto is already sprinting across the sand, Luca scrambles up to follow.
They climb up the tower and light a small fire. Just like the old times. The marshmallows are horribly burnt and crunchy on the outside, but sticky and delicious on the inside. They eat almost the whole bag while Alberto tells him about the expanding fishing business, the adventures he's gone on with his new friends, the boat trips, the nights out in the neighbouring town drinking beer and chasing girls. This is the part Luca does not care for. But he pretends to look impressed, anyway. Sometimes he wishes they were kids again, when this part didn't exist. But soon Alberto changes topic, maybe sensing Luca's lackluster reaction at the story of his latest date.
“I'm thinking about getting my own place. Can't stay with Massimo forever. Need my own space. Thought I might do this place up. Maybe build a little house here. What do you think?”
“That would be perfect!”
Isola de Mare is full of memories. Their memories. The thought of Alberto living here makes Luca’s heart full.
As the night continues, Luca tells Alberto about his courses, his new friends, about his internship with one of his professors for the summer. “You have to come visit! We can ride around everywhere! I can show you everything–the Colosseum, The Pantheon, Roman Forum, and the Trevi and all of it!”
Alberto laughs at his enthusiasm, but he promises to come.
“Sooo, piccoletto, you breaking any hearts in the big city?”
He nudges Luca with his elbow.
“Do not call me that!”
“Oh come on, I'm sure you've managed to charm a few girls at least. With that big brain of yours. And the whole–you know–hair and the legs-thing you got going on.” Alberto gestures at Luca.
“The hair and the legs-thing?”
“Yeah! That pretty boy look. Lots of girls are into that.”
Luca snorts, he wraps his arms around his knees, hiding his face for a moment.
“Not girls,” he mutters under his breath, so quietly Alberto can't hear him.
“What's that now? Spill it!”
Luca lifts his head, rests his chin on his knees.
“Nothing.”
Alberto frowns at him. “You don't need to worry. Remember, I’m the most sought after bachelor in this town. I'll teach you everything you need to know. I got your back.” He pats Luca on the back.
“Mm-hmm. Sure you will.” Luca says, grinning, but as he lets his eyes take in more of this grown up Alberto, he silently agrees.
A heart-breaker.
He turns away and lets his gaze travel to the horizon far in the distance. The slightest hue of orange is just visible below the blue.
“I should go. My parents are expecting me at daybreak. I need to get my stuff too.”
“Coming back tonight?” Alberto asks it casually, but Luca can tell it's nothing but. Their days and nights together are few and far between nowadays. When Luca is here, they usually spend every single moment together they possibly can. It's like recharging batteries or like filling yourself with sunlight before winter.
“You bet.”
Alberto's smile could light up the sky.
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