Chapter Text
“That was certainly an interesting introduction,” said Carlo, setting his bag down in one of the hotel chairs. “They were right about one thing - you are a very intriguing man.”
Robert laid his own bag next to Carlo’s, and nodded in agreement, too exhausted to comment. He practically fell into the other chair.
“The lecture, though, was one of your best yet,” Carlo added. He was already unbuttoning his shirt, facing away from the professor.
Unable to help it, Robert watched as the light green top slipped off of his partner’s soft, bare skin. He knew exactly why Carlo never changed clothes facing him. No matter how many times he called him beautiful, Carlo still was not comfortable enough to show his bare chest to him.
Now in pajamas, Carlo turned around. Robert held his arms out, and was quickly rewarded as the Italian embraced him, sitting down in his lap.
Robert chuckled and kissed him deeply. It had taken some time for them to become this affectionate. When Carlo had first come home with him after conclave ten months ago, they had already reached hand-holding and warm embraces. Their first kiss, however, had been short, and only moments before they parted ways.
By law, Carlo could only stay in the United States for ninety days, and he couldn’t return for ninety-one days. Even with a tentative kiss, those three months without him had been brutal.
Robert had grown accustomed to being with Carlo. Living together had proven easier than expected. They had quite a lot in common.
For one, they were both early birds. Robert, of course, had always risen before the crack of dawn to complete fifty laps at the Harvard pool. The first time he did this after Carlo’s arrival, he’d been surprised to come home to the smell of coffee. Carlo had been curled up on the couch with a mug in his hand, quietly reading his Bible.
“There’s more in the kitchen for you,” he’d said upon catching Robert staring at him.
So Robert fixed his coffee and then took a seat in the living room to review his lecture notes for the day. Ten minutes later, he set his coffee down and went upstairs to shower and get dressed. And when he returned, he found breakfast already made - sausage and eggs.
“Wow,” said Robert. “I didn’t know you could cook.”
And that was how Robert learned how much Carlo liked cooking. From that day on, Carlo made breakfast and dinner. Robert, to be fair, took it upon himself to wash the dishes.
In general, food had been a fun adventure for both of them. Carlo was skilled in Italian, French, and British cuisine, but was unfamiliar with most others. Robert had loved introducing him to American food, like hamburgers and hot dogs, and other ethnic foods like Mexican, Chinese, and Thai. Carlo had been mortified to see that spaghetti with red sauce was a popular dish in America.
After a week, Carlo began meeting Robert for lunch each day, sometimes packing food for them, and other times they’d go to a restaurant. Robert couldn’t help but feel guilty about leaving Carlo at home all day, but the younger man seemed to find ways to fill the time.
After his last lecture of the day, Robert would return home to eat whatever dinner Carlo had made, and they would sit together and discuss their days. At first, Robert had more to say - sharing stories about his students and colleagues. Carlo had fewer things to tell about - meditation and Bible study. But three weeks later, he’d apparently gotten bored, and started going for walks and trips to the store, collecting his own small stories to share at dinner.
During their second month together, Robert had awoken in the middle of the night to the sound of Carlo screaming. He’d immediately flashed back to the night at the Vatican - Carlo’s ear-splitting scream as he was branded was a sound Robert would never forget. He’d run to the other man’s room and folded him into his arms. After many comforting words and some gentle rocking, Carlo had fallen back to sleep. The next night, Robert had offered for Carlo to sleep in his bed, and to his surprise, Carlo accepted. From that night on, they’d shared a bed together.
But when Carlo had temporarily gone back to Palermo, he’d been completely alone. Robert could tell during his bimonthly visits to Palermo that the younger man had hardly slept. Robert himself felt a deep loneliness without Carlo, and talking on the phone everyday did little to alleviate that feeling.
Although they had yet to make love together, they were equally affectionate with each other. They held hands, they snuggled, they kissed, they spooned.
Robert had a sneaking feeling that Carlo had not initiated sex for religious reasons. Although he had been released from his vow of celibacy, it would still be a sin to have sex before marriage. He was certain the only reason Carlo had opened up this much with him was because the Pope himself had approved of their relationship.
“I love you,” said Robert, finally breaking the kiss.
“Ti amo,” Carlo replied, breathless.
“I’m sorry your friend didn’t show up,” said Robert.
“Me, too,” said Carlo. “It’s not like Jaques to miss an appointment like that. I’ll call him in the morning.”
“We should go to bed,” said Robert.
“We should,” Carlo agreed. “Though I’m not sure I’ve been kissed properly yet.”
“Is that right?” Robert grinned, and pulled him back down.