Disclaimer: I do not own Luca or any of the associated characters.

Chapter 10: Finito

Many hours passed until Alberto and Luca's shocking return to Porto Rosso. The Paguro's were beside themselves with worry after discovering Luca's absence, only to find Giulia and Massimo just as panicked above shore, explaining that the Marcovaldo buggy was also missing, along with Alberto and Edoardo.

When Alberto finally arrived, exhausted and carrying a barely conscious Luca, the tiny town of Humans and Thalassinos was in an uproar. The several-hours swim had been harder on them both than expected, and Luca's leg wound had begun to bleed again through the constant motion and resistance of the water as Alberto carried him along. Luca was immediately rushed to the tiny town hospital to be treated while Alberto did his part to explain the multiple crimes and threats by Edoardo to the Constable. The town remained on high alert for several days after that, and Alberto, Luca's family, Giulia, and Massimo stayed attentively at Luca's bedside as often as they could. The hospital elected to keep Luca under a medicated sleep while they found a Thalassino healer to collaborate with for this unique situation. The human doctor was rightfully concerned that he would not know the best way to treat the young Thalassino man, so they took extra measures to ensure Luca would receive the best and most educated treatment possible. While he rested and received plenty of fluids, the nurses had a busy time trying to shoo off Luca's many visitors, insisting that Luca needed uninterrupted rest. The only two that they could not shake from Luca's bedside were Alberto and Daniela, who despite her recent distaste for Alberto had come to appreciate his dedication as he watched over her son so dutifully.

Not three days after their return, Giulia came crashing into the hospital room to announce that the Constable had come to speak to Massimo just that morning. "He told Papá he'd received a call from the dipartimento di polizia in Fiumicino. They said their authorities had arrested a man who had floated into their harbor claiming he had engine trouble. They said he was raving mad with some kind of head injury, going on and on about sea monsters attacking him…" she gave a knowing glance at Luca's family and Alberto. "Anyways, they checked the paperwork and of course it said the boat was registered to Massimo Marcovaldo in Porto Rosso. Papá had reported the buggy as stolen after you all came back, so the Fiumicino police called our Constable to say they'd recovered it and they've arrested Edoardo on theft charges."

"Well, that's incredible!" Lorenzo exclaimed.

"Yes," Daniela agreed. "I'm so happy your father can get his boat back!"

"That's not all!" Giulia continued, literally bouncing with excitement. "It turns out Edoardo isn't who we thought at all! His real name is Gerardo Grasso. He's apparently wanted for embezzlement and intimidation from a former fishing company he worked for in Rimini. He fled west across country towards Cinque Terre, and we were just unlucky that he settled here in Porto Rosso."

"When he found out about the Thalassino community, he apparently thought he could use it to his advantage." Alberto muttered angrily. "He was a conman from the beginning."

Giulia nodded. "Sí, but literally no one believed him when he talked about you all. The Constable told Papá he could hear all the policemen laughing in the background while he was talking about it. And now that Ed—er, Gerardo's been caught they're shipping him back to Rimini to stand trial. Porto Rosso is safe, and more importantly, so are all of you!"

A round of hugs and celebratory exclamations were shared around the tiny hospital room, and later throughout all of Porto Rosso. Alberto only wished that Luca could've been awake to hear the good news. It was, after all, Luca's heroic efforts that had saved not only Alberto but all the Thalassinos in Porto Rosso… but it would be many more days later before Luca was stable enough to wake up, and another full week beyond that before he was discharged and allowed to leave. Luca was understandably eager to be awake and alert again, and he was especially relieved to see Alberto safe and healthy as well. However, both men felt increasingly frustrated in trying to rekindle their relationship… As everything had been such a whirlwind since their return, they'd had hardly a moment alone together. Stolen kisses in passing hallways or secretive shared glances were hardly enough to sustain them after confessing their feelings so passionately as they had done, so less than a week after Luca's release from the hospital they agreed to tell their families the news.

Luca's parents were reasonably shocked, considering their inclination to believe that Alberto had become something of a donnaiolo in the last year. Beyond that, they weren't altogether upset. Luca's grandmother even gave them both a huge hug and a knowing wink. Same-sex relationships were largely common amongst many aquatic species, Thalassinos included. The Paguro's accepted their announcement cautiously, under the conditions that Luca and Alberto could not both disappear topside and live solely as humans as Alberto had done. The young Thalassinos both sheepishly agreed, and Alberto even apologized for disappearing from the community so suddenly last year. Luca expected his parents to be a bit more stern with Alberto, but he was surprised to see they were much more gracious than he expected. Perhaps they were simply relieved to see him return to his own species. Daniela, especially, had softened quite a bit after watching Alberto bring her desperately injured son home after he'd been missing and then continue to care for him for weeks.

Alberto was much more worried about sharing the news with Massimo and Giulia. Relationships like theirs were less accepted in the Human community, and Alberto's tragic upbringing had made him fearful of disappointing his father, whether by blood or adoption. Luca reassured him that everything would be okay. When they announced their relationship to the Marcovaldo's, Massimo was at first very hesitant, until a bubbly Giulia bounced up to give them a very enthusiastic "Congratulations!"

When Massimo did not mirror her excitement, Giulia huffed, "Oh c'mon, Papá! It's not the 1930's anymore. People can love whoever they want. I mean look at them!" She gestured to the two young men, both of them looking very awkward and bashful at that moment. "Have you ever seen two young people more in love?"

Massimo's wide face scrunched so much that his bushy salt-and-pepper eyebrows looked almost connected to his massive mustache. Finally, he grunted and scratched his head under his cap. "Well," he grumbled, "I can't say I understand it… but I love you son. As long as you are happy, I am happy for you."

He then pulled a teary Alberto into a bone crushing, one-armed hug. Giulia let out a celebratory whoop and slung her own arm around Luca's shoulders. He had to stoop uncomfortably since he was now taller than she was. "Geez, took you two lovebirds long enough!" she mumbled with a smirk.

"You knew?" Luca balked.

Giulia rolled her eyes. "Duh, fishbrain! I mean, Alberto's a little harder to read because he's always such a dork—but you, my friend, have absolutely no poker face. I thought you'd both be grey in the gills before you finally got around to confessing your feelings!"

And so that was that. Alberto and Luca could finally spend the rest of their days as young lovers should. Whenever Alberto wasn't working, their daytimes were spent strolling and swimming together, eating gelato, visiting secondhand shops to ogle over interesting human contraptions, and generally enjoying each other's company. Their nights were occupied lying on Alberto's rooftop gazing at the stars, while Luca explained everything he knew about the solar system to Alberto… and when the nights wore on, the young men shared more than just stolen kisses in the dark privacy of Alberto's apartment. Together they discovered a whole new world amongst the tousled sheets and heavy panting, unlocking incredible feelings that neither of them had experienced before. Luca had never imagined how amazing those moments would feel until they were happening, but what he enjoyed even more than feeling it himself was watching Alberto share those experiences and knowing that he, Luca, was the one making him feel that way. Those moments of private ecstasy were reserved solely for him, now, and no one else. And when they were done and exhausted, they would lie together in the dark, holding one another as though they were each other's anchor to the world and letting go would leave them floating away into an abyss. Luca had never felt so whole and perfect in his entire life.

It was on one of these such nights, while their room was illuminated only by dim moonlight, that Luca tucked up under Alberto's protective grasp. His head was laid on Alberto's muscled shoulder, and as they both lay sweaty and satiated in the warm, dark room, Luca felt his eyelids slowly closing as he drifted off to sleep.

"Porca troia!" Alberto suddenly exclaimed, sitting upright in bed.

"What? What's wrong?" Luca asked, frightened.

Alberto leaned over to turn on his small bedside lamp, illuminating the tiny studio apartment in orange light. "What day is it?"

Luca groggily tried to count out the days in his mind. "It's… August thirtieth I think…why?"

Alberto's eyes bulged in disbelief. "Luca! It's almost September!"

"So?"

"So, your semester is going to start soon!" Alberto seemed completely derailed by Luca's calm demeanor. "I completely lost track of the days. I haven't even talked to Pops about it yet... we need to head up to Milan soon to find living arrangements before you start classes! We still haven't even packed!"

Alberto cursed again and swung one leg off the bed as if to get out, but Luca laid a hand on his chest to stop him. With deep, penetrating amber eyes, Luca gazed at Alberto and whispered, "…We?"

Alberto looked momentarily confused, but then a foggy memory dawned on him. "Oh, right… You were unconscious on the beach—from the harpooning and all—but I told you then that I would go to Milan with you." He grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, I kind of forgot you weren't really awake to hear that part. Surprise, I guess."

Luca suddenly straddled Alberto's lap and leaned forward with a kiss so passionate that Alberto wasn't fully prepared for it. Luca tried to convey every ounce of gratitude and love he had for this man into this kiss, and when he eventually pulled away Alberto had to shake himself back into reality.

Luca gave his lover a sweet smile. "It means the world to me that you would come with me to Milan."

"Well—if that's the kind of thanks I get, then I'll follow you anywhere. So long as you keep kissing me like that."

"Well, lucky for you, you won't have to follow me far." Luca chewed his lip nervously. "I've decided to stay in Porto Rosso."

Alberto's smile faded into shock and concern. "What?"

"I sent the University a letter of declination last week… I-I meant to tell you, I just…" Chickened out. "…Forgot."

Alberto suddenly became very stern, and he grasped Luca by his shoulders. "Luca! How could you… Why would you…" He looked incredibly worried. "You said this school was all you ever wanted!"

"I found something else I wanted more."

Alberto's expression softened, but he still looked panicked. "You can't give up on your dream just because of me, Luca…" His breathing hitched, and he said, "I'm not worth that."

Immediately very defensive, Luca released himself from Alberto's grasp and grabbed Alberto's lean face in both his hands. "Firstly," he said in a very forceful tone, "You absolutely are worth that to me, Alberto Scorfano. And don't you ever say something like that again." Alberto opened his mouth to respond, but Luca cut him off. "And secondly, I don't want you to think I made this decision lightly. I thought about it a lot and considered a lot of things before I sent that letter. Primarily, one thing you said about me was true: I haven't taken time to build a life here in Porto Rosso yet, and I want to—with you. But also, I realized that University is designed for people to go learn how to prepare for the rest of their lives and their future careers. Giulia, for example, is going to university to study business so she can help manage Massimo's company affairs when he's gotten too old to do it himself. She's even talked about expanding the company."

Luca looked away from Alberto briefly. "Giulia has a plan, and so going to university right now makes sense for her. But I don't know what I want to do with all my schooling." Luca confessed. "I've only been a constant student for the last several years, and it's all I know how to be. I sent my declination to the University because I want to take some time to figure out who I am, start building my life, and figure out what I want to go to university for."

He let his hands drop from Alberto's face and looked back up at him shyly. "Sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I've just been enjoying…" He made a vague gesture at their intertwined bodies. "…This."

Alberto's previously unreadable expression stretched into a playful smirk. "Oh, trust me, I know you have."

Luca blushed hotly in the yellow lamp light. "You pig! I was trying to be serious!" He made to crawl off the bed, but Alberto only laughed and drew him back, hugging him close to his chest and planting soft, warm kisses up Luca's neck.

"You really… want to stay… in Porto Rosso… with me?" Alberto mumbled between kisses.

"Yes." Luca sighed breathily. Those kisses were coaxing a familiar, fluttery feeling to build in his abdomen. He tried to shake himself free of it, reminding his foggy brain that this was a serious conversation they were having—though it was hard to stay focused with Alberto's warm, strong hands roaming all across his back and sides. "If I stay in Porto Rosso for a few years, I can take time to figure out what I want to do, and you can stay here and help Massimo while Giulia is away at school again." He gulped, trying to focus as Alberto nibbled his left earlobe. "By the time she finishes school, s-she can come back and help Massimo while you and I—" His breath caught as Alberto's hands traveled now to his ribcage, his thumbs brushing teasingly over Luca's pert nipples. "—go to Milan… or Naples… or wherev—ah!"

Alberto's hot tongue licked away the sting of his little bite to Luca's shoulder, leaving Luca shuddering under his touch. "I…am trying… to have an important conversation with you." Luca struggled, "Would you at least try to focus?"

"I am focused." Alberto purred, while clearly demonstrating he was surely not. His hands had now traveled to cup Luca's bare rear from behind and was slowly coaxing his hips to roll forward, meeting Alberto's own hips in the process. Both men gasped at the delicious feeling at their junction, and Alberto continued gently convincing more and more motion from his partner.

Luca, now almost ready to give in, made one last feeble attempt at conversation. Between rolls, he breathily suggested, "I should also… save for tuition… expenses…" Both men's breathing was becoming shallower now. "Do you think… Massimo…. Would give me a job?"

Suddenly, Alberto stopped his rolling mid-thrust, leaving Luca feeling shuddery and confused. When Luca looked at him, Alberto seemed to be lost in some faraway thought for a moment. "Alberto…?"

Alberto looked back at him, and there was a twinkle in his green eyes. "Hey, when I went to the library to check out all those star books, the librarian actually offered me a job. I told her I was already employed and really busy, but she said if I knew anyone else interested, I should pass along the message!"

Huh…so he was listening. Luca was silently impressed by Alberto's apparent ability to multitask under their current circumstances.

Alberto continued, "I guess the local school and library need extra hands because so many Thalassino children have started going to school up top, they're overrun with students. She was worried when the fall semester began, they were going to be fully overwhelmed with their enrollment." He grinned proudly at his partner and gave him a meaningful wink. "You started a trend, Luca. Maybe you can get a job helping the school and library out with it?"

Luca took a moment to consider this. More Thalassino children were electing to attend school? Because of him? The very idea made his heart swell, and the idea of working with other scholars and being surrounded by books sounded like a dream…

"But," Luca said quietly, "You don't want to work with me on the buggy? You're a man down since Edoardo is gone now."

"No offense, Luca," Alberto leaned in close, so that Luca could smell his musk and feel his delicate chest hairs brushing against his own skin. His husky voice rattled in Luca's ear, "But I don't think we'd get much work done out on the buggy…" He kissed Luca's neck again, causing a forest of goosebumps to erupt across Luca's body. "I don't think I could control myself around you."

Alberto leaned back again with a deep inhale, as though trying to clear his own lascivious thoughts from his mind. "Besides, working around a bunch of books all day seems boring as hell to me, but for a Smarty-Pants like you…" He gave Luca's bare behind a playful spank. "It seems right up your alley."

Luca smiled sweetly. "It sounds perfect."

Luca gazed lovingly into Alberto's eyes for a long time. He simply couldn't believe his luck that this kind, thoughtful, incredible man loved him. Alberto lifted his hand to gently brush a few of Luca's curls away and let his hand rest tenderly on Luca's jaw. Luca sighed deeply and leaned into the gesture. So much had changed in just a few short weeks. He had returned to Porto Rosso as little more than a boy, gazing out into a completely unreadable future. Now he had matured into a young man, feeling secure and confident and happy in his prospects… and with Alberto by his side, he knew they could tackle any endeavor together.

Alberto chuckled and leaned up to kiss Luca on the forehead. "Why don't you go by there and ask about it while I'm working?" He settled back on to the pillow and interlaced his fingers behind his head. Luca silently admired his bulging arm muscles as they stretched from the new position. "You can tell me all about it tomorrow…" he sighed, his eyelids sliding closed as he did so.

Luca blinked, suddenly confused. "Hey! You're not going to sleep, are you?"

Alberto cracked one eye open. "Well, yeah? I have to be out at the docks before sunrise."

Luca pouted, still feeling his residual arousal from a moment ago. "But what about all that just now? You got me all bothered."

Alberto grinned in his usually cocky way. "I was just excited to hear you're staying in Porto Rosso for a while."

Luca scowled. "And now suddenly you're too sleepy to be excited anymore?"

Alberto shrugged, but a deceptive smirk was tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe."

Luca huffed and crossed his arms, and finally Alberto's resolve broke. He laughed and pulled himself back upward, locking Luca in an embrace.

"You're adorable," he purred. "But it really is late." His words sounded reserved, but his hands traitorously resumed their roaming over Luca's slight frame.

"Don't start something you can't finish." Luca responded coyly, delighting in the shivers now coursing over his exposed skin. He sank his fingers deep in Alberto's tight curls and leaned in to lick a small, wet line up behind his lover's ear. The low, pleasurable hum he received from Alberto pleased him.

"I always finish what I've started." Alberto growled defensively. "I can tell you're going to become a bad influence on me, Luca Paguro."

"Silencio Bruno…" Luca whispered in his ear.

Alberto chuckled. "Silencio Bruno," he echoed. Then he reached his arm backward to click off the lamp light, sending them back into heated darkness.

X

La Fine.

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey. I loved writing this sweet little story and am grateful that you have taken the time to read it.

Wishing you a Happy New Year and many more to come.
Ciao for now,

Olly BaaBaa-Chan