Chapter One
Francesca's POV
Friday night. Another college party. The 4th semester started three weeks ago and I already feel like I've been to enough parties for a lifetime. Me and the girls stop in front of the fraternity hosting the party, observing the decoration - which consists basically of a huge banner that reads "Happy 21st Birthday, Leon!!!" with questionable calligraphy and ink stains here and there.
"Ugh, men... why can't they make a simple banner right? Nothing in this decoration is appealing to the eyes." - Cami mumbles by my side and gets a laugh from Vilu.
"Cami, don't be mean. The boys did their best..."
I watch the place while my best friends discuss the manual skills of our male friends. Some people come in and out of the place, the music is muffled from outside and some flashes of colored lights escape through the windows. In the midst of the groups of people circulating around the facade of the house, I see Marco. He sees me too and smiles.
"Hey, I saw that." Camila nudges my arm. 'I was already wondering where our dear Marco Tavelli was. I haven't seen him in ages."
"Tonight promises to be interesting, huh, Fran?" Violetta laughs, teasing me. I roll my eyes and smile.
"Ha Ha. Girls, you know how my story with Marco is. Since he requested a transfer to London, we decided to take a break from... whatever it was that we had. I adore him, but it wasn't meant to be. Good thing he moved before we got into a serious relationship."
"Well, I like him. If you guys atarted dating, I'd approve 100%."
"I know, Vilu. You made that clear since the first time I bumped into him in the university corridors."
"Well, what can I say. I'm a romantic" she says, shrugging and then slotting her arms between mine and Cami's. "Now, let's go in. My boyfriend is waiting for me inside and I'm really in the mood for a drink."
***
The party has been going on for 3 hours now, and I'm slightly drunk. Not drunk like Cami, who is currently engaged in a dance battle - if you can call it that - with a group of Brazilian boys, but drunk enough to stumble twice on my way to the sofa in the corner of the room. Our whole group of friends is here tonight, as well as the rest of the entire university. After all, it's not every day that the motocross king and vocalist of the biggest band in Buenos Aires gives a birthday party. Funny how even in college, you can still feel like you're in high school sometimes.
I sit on the sofa, finally, and emit an involuntary sound as I feel my legs relax for the first time tonight. I close my eyes and lean my head against the wall, letting the music enter my ears and take over me. Although I'm not a fan of this song - or more specifically, of the person singing it - I start humming the lyrics of Destinada a Brillar quietly. After a few minutes, I finally open my eyes and instantly regret it.
I see the guy sitting on the other end of the sofa, all dressed in black leather and his hair messy, staring at me with a mocking expression.
"What?" I ask impatiently.
Diego doesn't answer, he just laughs and turns his gaze to the crowd. Ugh, this guy….
Vilu and him have kissed a few times at parties just like this one, when her relationship with León wasn't going well and they took a break. I never liked that jerk and definitely never understood what she saw in him. Camila says it's the magic of bad boys, that seduces you when you least expect and makes you want more and more. Anyway, I wasn't surprised at all when my best friend came to me telling that Diego had gone braging to León about the great time he had with her the night before. Vilu eventually forgave Diego, but I didn't. This guy is always looking for trouble and seems proud of being an idiot.
It's no secret to anyone that Diego Hernandez is involved in illegal stuff. He's a drug dealer and I've heard that he once stole some shit from a rich girl from the university. Normally, I don't have much contact with him. In fact, I don't even remember that he studies with us most of the time. But from time to time he reappears, getting into fights or... hanging out with Marco.
Yes, Diego and Marco are friends. Best friends. That will never stop sounding crazy to me, considering that Marco is the sweetest and most respectful boy I've ever met. When I first started hanging out with Marco - before he told me he was moving to the other side of the world and ended our "relatioship" - I tried to ignore my convictions about Diego and have a good relationship with him, for everyone's sake. But that's just impossible. Diego is everything I disapprove of.
"Hey, Di." a short girl with curly hair and dark red lips approaches and starts talking to him (read: flirting). "You disappeared. I missed you this week in class."
I roll my eyes and try to ignore the conversation happening next to me. I try to focus on watching my drunk friends doing embarrassing things in the middle of people and it actually works. Until a guy with an unhappy expression enters my field of vision and starts approaching with wide, firm steps.
"Dude, are you crazy?" the guy yells when he stops in front of Diego, who just looks boredly up at his face from under his long, thick lashes. "You're kissing my ex-girlfriend in front of me, knowing damn well we broke up four days ago?"
"Man, you're drunk. Just go back where you were, I'm not looking for trouble, okay?" he replies. The girl, now sitting on his lap, huffs and rolls her eyes at her ex-boyfriend.
"Do you think I'm joking, asshole?" The guy's fingers tighten around the beer bottle in his hand, and I see a vein in his forehead about to explode. "I'm not afraid of you, Hernandez. Don't doubt that I'm capable of beating your ass up."
At this point, people around are already paying attention to the discussion. The music is still too loud but it's possible to hear some cheers coming from drunk boys. I look back at Diego and he slowly takes the girl off his lap and stands up, facing the man.
"Dude, seriously. I don't want to fight, okay? I'm not doing anything, just enjoying the party. And you should too. If you want to fight, go fight alone. It's not my fault your girl chose to spend her nightsitting on my lap". He stares the guy with firm and challenging eyes.
And suddenly, the guy punches Diego in the face.
Before I could understand what was happening, a fight broke out and everyone around me started shouting. Some people backed away as punches were thrown, forming an circle around the two fighters. The girl with red lips - now smeared - screamed desperately. I was stuck between the wall behind me and the two men fighing in front of me, meaning i couldn't leave to a safer place. After what felt like an eternity, a few boys managed to hold the furious guy for a few moments. And then, before I realized what I was doing, I pulled Diego by the arm firmly, guiding him to the nearest bathroom door, pushing him inside and entering right after him, slamming the door shut. When I locked the door, I turned to face Diego.
"Are you fucking serious?" I shouted, irritated. "Can't you go to a party without ruining everyone's night? Is fighting the only thing you know? You -"
Suddenly, aggressive knocks on the door behind me made me jump, and the drunk guy's slurred voice spitting threats to Diego only made me more stressed out.
"OH MY GOD, JUST SHUT UP! GO AWAY, THE FIGHT IS OVER, DOUCHEBAG!" I shouted back.
After some time, the knocking stopped, and I heard what sounded like León's voice yelling. I spin around to face Diego, feeling my face hot with angry.
"Are you happy? This fight just ruined León's birthday. And now I'm stuck in this bathroom with you because aparently I'm the only one trying to prevent the death of two young men tonight. Why are you even here? For God's sake, I--" I interrupted my speech when I see blood dripping from Diego's fingers, where his hand was holding his head. "Holy sh...did he hit you with a bottle?" I asked in shock.
"That's what it seems" Diego says dryly.
I run to grab something to clean the blood. I hand the toilet paper to Diego and rummage through the cabinets for some first aid supplies.
"Fuck, this hurts," Diego cursed while trying to stop the bleeding with the paper.
Finally, I found a box of band-aids and other first-aid materials and turned to the boy leaning on the sink counter, staring at the injury through the mirror reflection, clearly not knowing what to do. I took a deep impatient breath.
"You know what? Here, let me do this." I guided Diego to the edge of the bathtub, and he sat down, becoming shorter than me and giving me a good view of the huge cut on his scalp. "This is going to hurt," I say, short and to the point. I take a clean cloth and wet it a little, then bring it close to the wound, and when I finally touched Diego, he flinched and made a noise of pain. I clench my jaw and sigh, trying to contain my frustration.
"Fuck," he's tense, the word is said through gritted teeth. "Careful".
"I'm trying".
I go for it again, and this time, Diego doesn't flinch. After long minutes, I managed to clean the entire wound, including the blood that had dripped onto his ear, and improvised a terribly made bandage.
And then, for the first time, I looked down at his face, and Diego was staring at me attentively. I ignored it.
"Your eyebrow and lip are cut too," I stated.
"Really? Huh, that's funny. I hadn't noticed the bloody taste in my mouth and the pulsating pain above my eye," he said sarcastically.
"Ha." I said, annoyed. "For God's sake, what did I do to deserve this? I knew I should've stayed at home studying for my next exam," I kept rambling while Diego just stood still, letting me continue to clean up the mess on his face.
When I finally touched the gauze to his lip, it twitched, and Diego gasped weakly. I unintentionally raised my eyes to his, and something inside of me softened as soon as those big brown iris met mine. And before I could bring myself to apologize for a reason I didn't fully understand, he whispered a quick "sorry" and swallowed dry, while still holding my gaze. I looked away.
When I finished my work, my annoyance had dissipated a little, and I was able to talk to him again without spitting curses and yelling.
"That's the best I can do," I step back, observing my work.
"Thanks," he says weakly, standing up slowly and walking toward the mirror. Upon seeing the messy bandage, Diego let out a low mocking laugh. He's laughing. "We already know you definitely can't be a nurse."
I stare at the man in front of me incredulously, my mouth open. "I'm sorry? You're seriously gonna make fun of me after I saved you from bleeding to death?" Diego chuckles again and raises his arms in a sign of surrender.
"Okay, yeah, sorry. You did an awesome job fixing my bleeding head and face, okay?."
As I was about to reply something, a new voice echoes from outside again. "Fran? Diego? Are you guys in there?" I recognize Violetta's voice. "León already kicked that boy out. You guys can come out now."
I look at Diego as I respond to my friend. "Hey, Vilu. Yeah, I'm coming." I pass right by him, towards the door and unlock it, but before i open it and finally leave that crazy situation, I turn to Diego one last time.
"Just to be clear, the fact that I didn't leave you bleeding in the middle of this party doesn't mean I like you or can stand you. And just because that lunatic started the fight doesn't change the fact that you also messed up. Next time, do everyone a favor and don't show your face around here, okay?"
And with that, I walk out of the bathroom, without looking back.
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asking and receiving (bonus below readmore)
[ID: A black and white, digital Trigun comic of Vash and Wolfwood. In the first panel is a close up of Wolfwood's mouth as he says, "Vash". Accompanying it is a close up shot of Vash's eye, widen and cheeks flushed. Wolfwood presses a knee against the open space between Vash's legs and says, "Tell me everything you want from me." Wolfwood's face is equally as flushed. He continues to say, "I'll give it to you. Everything." As he talks, a wide shot shows the both of them in white space. Vash is sitting, leaning a little back with both hands pressed against the surface he's sitting on. Wolfwood is in his white dress shirt, stripped of the blazer. He's still leaning in with one knee in between Vash's spread legs, his right hand touching Vash's lips and his left hand behind his back.
The shot closes in on Vash's mouth and Wolfwood's hand against it, pressing down on the lower lip as he says, "You have to ask though. Go on." His hand moves down to Vash's chin, gently holding it. With a shy and uncertain expression, Vash hesitantly asks, "Um... K... Kiss... Please?" Wolfwood, without wasting a second, leans in and kisses him and indulges by pressing deeper, eliciting a small noise of surprise from Vash.
Wolfwood moves away from Vash first and with a smile, asks, "What else?" Vash tugs on Wolfwood's left sleeve, wordlessly budging Wolfwood to give him his hand that was still behind his back. In the next panel, Vash utters, "Hold me..?" He's holding Wolfwood's left hand with his own while his right hand is reaching for his waist. Wolfwood complies, moving his left hand to Vash's shoulder and his right hand continues to touch Vash's cheek. Wolfwood asks again, "What else?"
More comfortable now, Vash leans in to kiss Wolfwood. Wolfwood catches him immediately, pressing his thumb against Vash's lips to stop him before demanding, "Hey. Ask." Vash looks back in surprise and Wolfwood meets his eye with a quiet, insistent look. They're quiet for a moment before Vash leans in again and curtly requests, "Kiss. Me." Wolfwood says "Good", smiling as he lifts his hand away, and meets Vash's lips. In the next shot, Wolfwood had adjusted his position, sitting on Vash's thigh. The hand that was once on Vash's cheek has moved its way to Vash's nape, pushing away the collar of his jacket with his pinky. His other hand continues to grip on Vash's shoulder. Still kissing, Wolfwood asks again, "What else?"
In the next shot, Vash is starting to turn, moving Wolfwood with him. Vash asks, "Let me on top of you?" Wolfwood says, "Mhm" before asking again, "What else?" The next panel shows a close look of Vash's face. He's looking down, flushed and shy just as he had been at the beginning, but now, more decisive. Vash asks, "Wolfwood... Let me have you..?" A panel of Wolfwood taking Vash's hand into his, pulling it towards his chest. The next panel shows Wolfwood lying down where Vash had laid him. Vash's hand is on Wolfwood's chest, covering the cross of his rosary while Wolfwood's hand lingers against his, loosely pressing Vash's hand in place. He looks up at Vash with a shy smile of his own, flushed cheeks. He says, "All yours."
A panel shows a close up of Vash's tender gaze before he leans down to be closer to Wolfwood. The final shot is a front view of their positions, Vash's face turned away from the viewer; Vash is leaning over Wolfwood who's lying down with his right leg draped over Vash's legs. Wolfwood's left hand holds onto Vash's left arm. With finality, Vash says, "...Mine." End ID]
[ID: A follow up bonus comic in a looser, sketchier style. They're laying comfortably in bed when Vash asks, "What was that earlier?" referecing to the start of the previous comic. Wolfwood glances away and says, "To get you used to it. Asking. And getting what you ask for. Since you're alwasy hesitant about it." Vash's eyes widen, tight lipped. Wolfwood continues, "Knowing you, it'll be a tough habit to break..." When he says this, Vash can't help but laugh, unable to deny it. Wolfwood slowly brings a hand to Vash's cheek and continues to say, "So I'll keep trying -- whatever ways I can... to get it through your thick skull." Vash takes Wolfwood's hand with his, kissing the the palm gently. Wolfwood's eyes soften and holding onto Vash's cheek, he leans in to try for a kiss. Vash says, "Hey..." before stopping Wolfwood's lips with the back of his hand, a smug look on his face, "Ask." Wolfwood's embarrassed and with little irritation, asks, "Really?" Vash smiles, saying, "You're in need of practice too." They pause for a moment, Wolfwood looking contemplatively, before he's leaning in again, asking, "May I please kiss you?" Vash looks him in the eyes and says, "Yes." The comic ends with a "chu", indicating an off-panel kiss. End ID]
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Chapter Two
Francesca's P.O.V
It's been a week and a half since Leóns party and I've been extremelly busy with classes and all of the complementary college projects i've signed to this semester. I barely have time to think about anything else besides sheet music and guitar chords.
I was in the middle of revising a song lyric that I've been working on when my phone starts vibrating, and my brother Luca's name appears on the screen.
"Ciao, Luca. Cosa desideri?" I answear not really in the mood for talking.
"Woah, okay... i missed you too." He teases. "How are you? We haven't heard of you in weeks."
"Sto bene, Luca. Just very busy." i try to sound as friendly as I can.
"Hm. Good to hear. Soo... you already know why I'm calling, right? You still haven't told us if you're coming for nonna's birthay party."
I take a deep breath and press the bridge of my nose with my thumb and index finger. I hate to sound like I don't care about my family's stuff. I mean, I love them and I miss them very much. But sometimes it seems like they just don't aknowledge the fact I'm living in another continet and it's not that easy to go visit. Plus, I'm really focused on college right now. They'll be offering a huge opportunity to work with the biggest singer of Buenos Aires, Angie Carrara (aka Vilu's aunt), to the student with best grades by the end of the semester and I've been working my ass of to get it.
"Yeah, I know.. I'm sorry. It's just that I still don't know if there'll be any exams in that week. I promise I'll give you guys a response ASAP."
"Hm... alright. Just please don't take too long, 'kay?" I mumble a positive answer. "Okay then... Prenditi cura di te. We'll be waiting for you call.
"A presto". I hang up and stare at my screen. God, I really need a good night of sleep.
I stretch in the chair and run my hands through my hair, sighing wearily. After a few seconds staring at the wall, I finally get some courage to get myself up and go to the cafeteria buy myself something extra-sugary.
In the middle of my walk from the dormitories to the main building, I notice how crowded the campus is today. For some reason, it seems to have more people around this wednesday afternoon. I watch as a few groups of students pass by, chatting in hushed tones. As I finally approach the grand entrance of the University of Buenos Aires, I spot a rather... amusing pair, whispering intensely in a more secluded corner.
I spot Ludmila's shiny hair first. Her colorfull outfit starkly contrasts with Diego's plain gray shirt and black pants. I try not to stare but I just can't help feeling intriged by this weird duo.
Obviously I'm not able to make out the words, so I eventually give up on watching them. But not before Diego cathes my staring eyes and stops talking. I try to act normal, as if it was just a coincidence that I was looking at their direction the same moment he looked at me, and rush into the building.
***
I'm sitting at a table in the corner of the cafeteria, waiting for Cami who's currently stuck in class with Gregorio. Poor her. I sip my cup of hot chocolate slowly, savoring it before it ends and I have to go back to my studies.
I am completely distracted inside my own mind and don't notice the blonde girl coming in my direction. "Hi, Fran! How are you today?" Ludmila aproaches me with that well-known fake tone in her voice. "It's been a while since we last had a chat!"
I stare at the girl, trying not to give her a face as annoyed as i feel right now. I've known Ludmila since high school, when i moved to Argentina with my family and started studying music at the Studio 21. It's no news that she's a trouble maker and will do whatever it takes to archieve her goals. Good thing we don't get to spend too much time together here in Uni.
"Hello, Ludmila" I reply not really giving her much attention.
I can sense what's to come when she pulls the chair on the other side of the table and sits in front of me. "So, how's the... chocolate?" she asks, in that typical Ludmila way.You can tell she's struggling to find friendly words to say. God, she's terrible at pretending to be interested in other people.
"Great. Can I help you?" I ask her directly. We both know she wouldn't come here if she didn't wanted something from me.
"Woah, Fran, it really hurts my feeling when you speak to me like this" She touches her chest in a hurt way and makes a sad puppy face. I say nothing, just stare at her with my brow arched, waiting. "Well, okay. Whatever," she drops the act. "I just wanted to ask why were you eversdropping my private conversation yearlier".
I keep staring and pretend I have no idea what she's talking about.
"Oh please, don't play dumb with me. What did you hear?" She is leaning on her arms, almost reaching the middle of the table, looking at me intently.
"I didn't hear anything, Ludmila. And I wasn't eversdropping."
She fake laughs, dismissing my answear with a "don't bullshit me" look.
"Seriously. I couldn't hear a word. And honestly, I don't care, either. So, don't worry. I won't tell anyone you were dealing drugs with Diego or anything." I say, getting up and grabbing my stuff.
Ludmila laughs loudly at that and I turn my head at her direction, actually intriged by her reaction.
"Drugs?! Oh, please, Fran. As if i needed any of that shit. Mind you, I'm pretty content with my sane mind. I'm naturally fun and entertaining." She runs a hand through her hair and leans back in the chair. "Plus, I would never do that to my body. Hello?? I'm an artist. A star. I gotta take care of my health and my voice." She says, as it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Aaalright... good for you. Really, congrats." I say, forcing a interested voice. "Now, if you excuse me, I have a saxophone waiting for me to play it in my dorm." I walk away as quickly as I can, leaving her no chance to keep the conversation going.
As I was briskly walking through the place, I bump into a familiar redhead who also seems to be in a hurry.
"Oof! Francesca, you nearly knocked me over!" Camila scolds me. "Where are you going with such hurry?"
"Sorry, I was running from Ludmila. She's certain I was eversdropping her and Diego earlier."
"Well... were you?" My friend asks, as we leave the building.
"No!! Of course not. I just saw them suspiciously whispering and thought it was weird." I say, trying not to sound as if it was a big deal because I know how invested in gossips Camila can get.
"Hum... I see." She ponders for a moment and we keep walking towards the dormitories. When I think the subject is already over, she spats "But like- why were they together? I mean, what could these two possibly have in common? Obviously it wasn't for drugs. Ludmila would never use any of that..." she keeps rumbling as I stay silent. Suddenly, Cami stops mid-walk and gasps. "Oh. My. God. What if they're secretly dating???"
I turn to look at my insane friend. "What? Where'd you get this idea from?" I say. "Of course not. They would never date each other. Plus, what's this? Middle school?" I dismiss her crazy idea, but as I think about it I start wondering if that would be really impossible. "Anyway. It doesn't matter. Why are Diego and Ludmila even a topic of our conversation?"
I open the door in front of me and enter the dormroom, leaving those thoughts in the hallway.
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