"What do you think?”

It was a very warm and welcoming place, the decor was done simply and in comfortable red tones, like something he would have seen in his grandmother's house in Verona. Luca felt like sitting in one of the armchairs near the reception desk, making himself a hot chocolate and settling down by the fireplace with a blanket over his shoulders.

"I liked it.”

“We have a reservation.” Elijah said proudly, leading him into the restaurant. It was six o'clock sharp, which meant that Elijah had planned the whole thing, killing time at school to get him there on time.

"What am I gonna do with you, huh?"

“How about saying, 'Thanks, Elijah. You are so generous.”

"Is this how you hit on people?"

"It's working?”

Luca sighed and accepted the hand Elijah offered, guiding him towards the maitre. The place was too specific. Other people their age probably wouldn't like the place as much as Luca had. The worst part was that he didn't hate it at all, Luca appreciated the effort Elijah had put into finding something so… so like him, like he'd found a little piece of Italy just to make him feel better.

“You didn't have to.”

“I wanted you to feel welcome.” Luca didn't need to look at Elijah to understand what those words really meant, understanding what Elijah really meant was "I want you to feel at home so you never have to leave me."

Luca didn't know since when everything was so obvious. Every word and every gesture. It was like they were dancing, like they knew each step and were just waiting for the music to end before finally… yeah, okay. Luca then lifted his head and faced Elijah who at that moment seemed like the most perfect man in the whole world, the one Luca had always dreamed of having; kind, understanding, handsome, well dressed, so tall and strong he knew he'd never have to worry about defending himself again. But Elijah had always been like that, the perfect prince,  although a little rebellious. In the end, it really was obvious, wasn't it? That was the reason for his problem. It didn't matter who he looked at, Luca would always end up in this same place, searching for Elijah in every face. Maybe he should just… stop looking elsewhere.

"We can go home if you want." Elijah told him, now stopping in front of him. He must have been making a fool of himself again, looking at Elijah without saying anything.

“No, we can eat.” When the smile returned to Elijah’s face, he knew he had made the right choice.

They followed the maitre down the row of tables until they climbed a pair of stairs and then entered a room that was larger than the floor below but emptier, filled with small round tables and more private ones at the back of the room next to large windows that let in daylight, but as night began to fall, aromatic candles were already lit out in the middle of the table, brought the perfect atmosphere of the Italian countryside.

"I hope the gentlemen approve the seats." They nodded and were soon offered the menu.

The truth? Luca wasn't interested in the food or the decoration, that wasn't why they were there. Or was it? Come to think of it, Elijah always did the opposite of what he expected. So, Luca had made up his mind, he would let Elijah tell him what to do next.

"What do you want to eat?” Elijah asked, hands gripping the menu, but his eyes were on his, eyes that looked greener than ever under the candlelight, the dim night making the atmosphere even more intimate and personal.

"I don't know, a wine? You choose.”

Elijah stared at him for a moment, seeming to consider the answer, and moved a little closer, putting an arm around his shoulder and closing the rest of the distance between them.

“I wanted to talk about us.”

“I know that.”

“I just…need to know.”

"I know that.”

“It's been ten years. I need to know.”

And Elijah was right. They were so small and innocent back then, and then... then they were still small, but not so innocent until... until he freaked out and then Elijah freaked out and he left without telling anyone. So, out of nowhere, and just as he did, out of nowhere, Elijah had called him, so different from what Luca knew and so familiar at the same time that it left him confused for a long time. He remembered that for long months he only had the energy to fulfill his obligations and cling to these daily calls until he knew what to do. And here they were, practically in the same place, the difference was that now they understood what the consequences would be, no matter what the decision at the end.

"I like you.” Luca decided for the simpler answer. He admitted that he wasn't the most assertive person or made the best choices, but of this he was certain; he liked Elijah, he loved him. And nothing could change that.

“That's not what I asked.”

"I don't know. I miss you. That's enough?”

"No.” Elijah said it all so seriously that he kind of... wanted to laugh. Or moan. Maybe it was a little bit of both. Nobody could blame him for that.

“So, it's up to you.” It was better that way, Elijah always made the best choices.

“Luca! You said you weren't ready!”

"I'm not. I will never be. I don't want to destroy what we have. I really don't want a relationship. But…”

"Why do you have to be so confusing!"

“It's not about sex. That's the easy part.”

“Luca, I know. What can I do for you to--"

"Gods, Elijah! I am the problem. I'm very unstable. You don't want to walk around with a time bomb in your pocket, do you?”

“Baby, you can explode whenever you want, as long as you explode with me.”

Luca moaned and put his hands to his face, this was ridiculous! They both knew why he had left and they knew perfectly well why he had come back. Luca was still getting used to the idea that this time he had nowhere to run when his feelings erupted everywhere, forcing Elijah to pick up the pieces.

"Can you be serious for five minutes?"

“I know all that, darling. Every little thing you think you can hide from me.”

"It will be worse than before!"

“You said I could decide.”

"Yes, but-- I want to take it slow."

"Then, let me decide. I just need your permission.”

“Permission to do what?”

Luca watched in slow motion as the hand that had been around his shoulder traveled to the back of his neck, massaging the spot, and gently pulling him closer, tilting his head until it reached just the right position for Elijah's lips to finally come down against his in the sweetest, most innocent kiss he'd ever tasted.