It’s a late and rainy night. 4am? 3am? Who knows? Sorbet is up sitting on the couch unable to sleep, sipping on some water while he tried to get some thoughts out of his head. He’s Interrupted by the sound of keys opening the front door. Sorbet recognizes the culprit’s footsteps, Risotto. He was surprised he was out this late, he thought.
He watched as the door slowly opened and Risotto stepped inside before closing the door behind him without a sound, Sorbet simply stared at him waiting, not saying a word. Risotto turned up to meet his gaze, that’s when Sorbet got a good look at his face. Through his wet hair and soaked hoodie, Sorbet could read his face clear as day. Not many could even begin to decipher the stoic man’s demeanor, but Sorbet could. He prided himself in that he had a good judge of character and rightfully so. Tired, hollow, and sad. Risotto looked dejected and his eyes were slightly puffy. he must have been crying.
Despite seeing him in such a state, Sorbet said nothing. He simply continued to stare at him waiting for the younger man to make the first move. After a moment of silent acknowledgment, Sorbet stood up from the couch and walked over to Risotto.
It felt slow, he took only a few steps but it felt like he was walking a mile. Sorbet stood in front of risotto for a moment. Risotto, despite his stature towering a head over sorbet, felt small in this moment. Risotto said nothing and lowered his head down not knowing what to do or say. Then suddenly it happened.
The anticipation was broken once Risotto felt Sorbet’s hand at the top of his head guide him to his shoulder. A gentle tussle of the hair and soft pats to his head before Sorbet broke the silence between them. In a tired yet reassuring voice, Sorbet spoke quietly to Risotto as he stroked his damp hair letting out a big sigh.
“Ay, figliolo…”
Those words broke something inside him. Risotto began to feel hot tears trickle down his cold face. He hid his face deeper into Sorbet’s shoulder and he began to sob quietly. Sorbet could barely hear Risotto’s sobs despite his head leaning against his as he silently comforted the man.
Sorbet didn’t care to ask questions, he didn’t need to, it was all irrelevant. All he knew was that this, comforting Risotto, his coworker... No. His friend… his boy, was all that mattered. Sorbet hugged him properly, holding Risotto in his arms as he patted his large back. He sighed, “…you’ll be alright, son…”
In that moment, Risotto felt small in Sorbet’s arms. It was a warmth he hadn’t felt in a long time.