Work Text:
When it came to the people that Lucy trusted most in this world, she could only barely count them on just two hands.
Trust was a hard thing to come by these days, and Lucy felt that to the extreme. Seeing the worst within people combined with her tendency to prefer being alone didn't earn her many friends, though that also meant she didn't have many enemies either. That was perfectly fine by her. She was far happier with a small circle of friends anyway.
She leaned back slightly on the grass, picking the small wildflowers around her to weave through the long, curly golden locks of hair she was swiftly braiding with a small smile. It was the little moments like these that she treasured the most, being able to spend time with her closest companion without having to worry about the outside world.
"I'm almost done, Giorno." Lucy said, finishing off the last few strands before tying it off with the small red ribbon he always wore in his hair. After letting the braid fall back down his back, the girl scooted forward and gently wrapped her arms around him from behind. Her ocean blue eyes slid shut as she rested her head on his shoulder. Giorno didn't respond right away, but he did press a hand against her own with a small sigh.
This was something the two of them always did whenever Lucy was able to visit Italy. They'd sit in his backyard, and bask in each other's presence for hours on end. Sometimes she'd ask about the various reptiles he managed to tame over the months, and sometimes he'd ask about the flowers she cultivated back home. More than a few times, she brought those plants as a gift for him. It was always such a treat seeing them in planters around his room or planted in small plots in the back!
Lucy lifted her head when she felt Giorno turn to look at her, and she could feel her heart begin to race like it always did when he smiled at her like this. It was a subdued smile reserved for just her, filled with unspoken trust and affection. Sometimes it made Lucy think he loved her just as much as she loved him. Perhaps he did.
There was something there, she knew that much to be true. All the shared glances when no one else was looking, how their hands instinctively found the other's when they were side by side… Once, he said that he only felt comfortable around her, a sentiment that she readily shared. Everyone around them suspected that the two of them had a secret romance going on with each other.
That, unfortunately, couldn't be further from the truth.
In spite of their behavior, the two hadn't ever said out loud what exactly they felt to each other. Giorno seemed content with just calling her a friend, and Lucy was also fine with that. Still, it took every molecule in her body to not simply lean over and press a kiss against his cheek.
"Is there something on your mind?" Giorno's voice cut through her thoughts, and Lucy blinked a few times before shaking her head.
"Nothing important, no. I was just spacing out a little." She responded, giving Giorno what she hoped was a reassuring smile. He nodded once, gently squeezing her hand.
"I wish I could stay here longer with you, but I have important business to attend to soon."
This was the worst part of her visits; having to leave his side sooner or later. She completely understood that being the don of a mafia with far more reach than one could ever imagine meant he'd constantly be on call, but she couldn't help but selfishly want him to drop work for a day just this once. The arms that were wrapped around him held him just a bit tighter before they released him from her grasp. There was always tomorrow, wasn't there? And the day after too.
Lucy allowed the boy to pull her to her feet, after which she brushed off the skirt of her pink sundress. She was almost anticipating him to let go of her hand sooner or later, but he never did. After gathering up her courage, she hesitantly laced their fingers together. She felt him tense up a little and she began to regret her choice, but he quickly relaxed.
"Tomorrow, I shouldn't have anything Passione related to do," Giorno said, glancing at her from the corner of his eye, "Is there anything you'd like to go see or do?"
She hummed thoughtfully, looking at the sky briefly before answering, "Can we walk down the Lungomare Caracciolo? I've been wanting to see the coast all summer."
"I wish you would've told me sooner. We can certainly go."
"You already had so much planned! You know that I enjoy the places you already take me. It's fun seeing where we go next." Lucy admitted with a smile.
The truth was that she'd follow him anywhere, should he allow it. She wasn't ashamed to admit that in the slightest.