AN: It is my headcanon that La Volpe was Federico's mentor and I ship them like burning. No regrets.
La Volpe wasn't sure what had happened. Yesterday, his apprentice had been the same child he saw every day; now, he was looking at a young man, handsome and strong, with enough curiosity to kill ten cats and whose touch no longer felt innocent and friendly.
Federico's full lips curved into an inviting smile, his long finger dragged over La Volpe's jawline, and he was close enough for La Volpe to see precisely where his pupils stopped and his dark brown irises began. That finger tilted his chin up, and Federico leaned over him; La Volpe found himself scooting back in his seat, though he couldn't quite bring himself to push Federico away yet.
"Come now, Maestro." Federico's voice was a playful purr. It sent shivers down La Volpe's spine. "You fancy men. I know. I've seen it. Well, this man is curious."
"I can remember when this man was a boy," La Volpe growled weakly. His hand shot up to push Federico away; it gripped the front of his tunic and stayed there, neither pushing the young man away nor pulling him closer. Federico's smile grew.
"Is that what is stopping you, Maestro?"
"In part," La Volpe replied, though his mind was quickly separating that bratty child from the handsome young man before him. He felt Federico's fingers trail down his throat lightly and squirmed involuntarily. Not there, I'm sensitive there— "Then there is the beating your father would give me if he found out."
Yes, his father. Giovanni had entrusted Federico into La Volpe's care. Concentrate on that, and not the way Federico's shirt dipped down between his pectorals—
"I will not tell him." Federico chuckled, a low sound at the back of his throat. La Volpe's resolve weakened. "Will you, Maestro?"
"Do not call me that when you are initiating something like this," La Volpe snapped, harshly because he knew he was losing this. Rather than flinch the way he normally did when his teacher was severe with him, Federico's expression changed into faint amusement.
"As you wish, La Volpe," he replied smoothly. "Or would you prefer 'Gilberto'?"
It proved to be La Volpe's undoing. With a growl, he gave Federico's tunic a rough tug; Federico's legs slid into place on either side of La Volpe's thighs as he settled into the thief's lap. His eyes gleamed with excitement as La Volpe gripped the back of his head, and his triumphant smirk reminded La Volpe far too much of himself.
"I would prefer you stopped talking," La Volpe answered shortly, and Federico's chuckle was low as he was pulled into a kiss.