A/N: Day 21: travel

The thing about pretty much every mode of transportation is that it puts you in too close proximity to too many people, in Abbacchio's opinion. Trains and airplanes in particular are godawful where this is concerned, so he can't help but be grumpy when he's ushered onto either one.

As such, he's less than enthused when he hears they're taking a train up north on business. Even if it is just him and Buccellati. They'll still have to do the whole 'traveling with other passengers' thing, so he makes his usual plans to sleep for as much of the trip as he can.

…Though, when they board and Buccellati leads him to their own private cabin, Abbacchio thinks he might just change his mind about this being a miserable affair.

"It'll be safer this way," Buccellati explains, slipping past Abbacchio – who's a little frozen with shock right now – to step inside. "And more peaceful."

That second point is a massive understatement, Abbacchio thinks. Last time they went somewhere, he was stuck with the world's fussiest baby behind him. And they'd been attacked by enemy stand users before they even got where they were going.

Hopefully this time, they won't have to jump from the train.

By now Buccellati has taken a window seat, so Abbacchio plants himself next to him with a content sigh. He can even stretch out his legs without having to worry about kicking anyone in front of him. This, truly, is the height of luxury.

"You're the best," he mumbles, sinking into the plush bench seat.

"Thank you," Buccellati says. His nose is already buried in a book he got from somewhere, and there's a tiny, pleased smile on his face.

For once, going somewhere is shaping up to be a painless endeavor.

x

Alright, so the thing about peaceful, private travel is that it's bland.

Even if you're alone in a cozy train cabin with your significant other. Because said significant other is busy reading, but they still took the window seat, and the scenery is repetitive so you really don't care anyway; you'd rather be sleeping.

Abbacchio can't sleep, though, because he can't get comfortable. On an exceptionally comfy seat, with ample leg room, even. Makes no sense.

It's to the point where he's pretty sure he must have passed out in normal train seating before out of sheer desperation to escape an obnoxious environment. In here there's no danger of obnoxious environments, so his brain doesn't want to turn off. That's his best guess.

The train rounds a tight corner, then, and Abbacchio – who has given up – lets his body tip into Buccellati's without bothering to stop it.

Air puffs out Buccellati's nose on a quiet grunt as he's suddenly sandwiched between Abbacchio and the wall of the train. "Leone," he says.

That's his 'I'm trying to read if you don't mind,' voice, so Abbacchio sits back up with a grumble, which takes altogether too much effort.

"You can go lie down on the other side, if you can't sleep over here," Buccellati offers, gesturing at the other bench seat across the way. It's identical to this one, and being as it's devoid of Buccellati, Abbacchio might even be able to curl up properly on it.

Problem is, Abbacchio wants to be next to Bruno. So he can't go over there. "I'm fine here."

"If you say so."

Buccellati is already back to reading his book, but Abbacchio knows that half of his attention is on their surroundings, attuned to him and any other trouble that might come.

Maybe that's what Abbacchio should do, too. If he keeps an eye out it might bore him to sleep – or, y'know, keep him alert, make him useful to Buccellati, helpful before their mission even starts proper…something like that.

To his credit, he manages that for all of five minutes before he's scowling up at the ceiling of the train, wishing desperately for sleep. For some release from this cruel boredom. It's not that he's even prone to boredom – it's just that everything about this is so relaxing that he can't relax, or focus, and thus is left with nothing.

The next turn the train makes is mild, and in the opposite direction, but Abbacchio still thinks it counts as the perfect excuse to lean on Bruno again.

This time he gets a quick, sharp sigh, and Buccellati nudges him away with an elbow. "That one was on purpose," he accuses, one eyebrow raised, his book closed on his thumb in lieu of a bookmark.

"No it wasn't," Abbacchio lies.

Buccellati only shakes his head at him and goes back to reading, apparently not willing to give his shenanigans the time of day.

Which is fine. Abbacchio should be trying to sleep. Or looking out for danger. Not childishly falling onto Buccellati at every available –

Oh look, another turn.

This one's tighter than the first, and Abbacchio maybe hits Bruno with a tiny bit more force than he intends.

Buccellati's book snaps shut, and he gives Abbacchio the most unimpressed look while still squished against the wall. "Leone, I swear –"

"That one was an actual accident," Abbacchio assures, sitting up without any coaxing to show his sincerity.

All he gets is another raised eyebrow.

"…That one was mostly an accident," Abbacchio amends.

There's a little twitch at the corner of Buccellati's mouth that betrays his amusement, and preemptively ruins any reprimanding he might come out with. "Can I get back to my reading now?" he asks.

Abbacchio makes a 'go ahead' motion with his hands as he settles back into attempted relaxation.

The ride carries on in silence for a while, and Abbacchio ponders pulling that stunt just one more time. No one else is here to call him out, and Buccellati doesn't seem to actually mind. Never mind that Abbacchio can't sleep. What else is he supposed to do.

All in all it's a sound decision. He keeps his eyes peeled for the next corner as best he can from his not-a-window-seat –

–But when they hit it, an arm wraps around his shoulders, pulling him in to rest against Buccellati's chest.

Oh.

"There," Bruno says, shuffling around a bit until he's wedged onto the bench at an angle. Like this, he's a much better pillow for Abbacchio, both arms warm around him, book still in his hand and readable. "Happy now?"

Settling in, Abbacchio nods, because he is absolutely always happy when cuddling with Buccellati. Who knew making a minor nuisance of himself would lead to something as nice as this.

"Good." Buccellati presses a kiss into his hair.

Abbacchio can feel himself slowly melting against him, and it turns out that falling asleep isn't as impossible as he first thought.

A/N: This one turned out...ridiculous, and nothing even happens, but I still failed to get the word count under a thousand OTL

Thanks for reading.