Lunga vita al nostro viaggio

Who the fuck is Nadia?

Non mi va di iniziare una nuova raccolta su AO3, per ora, quindi la metto qui anche se è in inglese :P

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Martino should have known this would happen, when he bought Nico a smartphone for his birthday. That, eventually, he'd sign up on Instagram and use it to share his art. And that was just fine, but then they boys heard about it and Luchino got into his head that he had to be Nico's agent - since I Contrabbandieri di Porri were still waiting for their big hit - and that the views on his profile would benefit from showing some 'work in progress' videos.

Marti was quite certain that he'd say that his creative process was something too intimate to be shared, that part of uNreal99 's charm was their anonymity and laugh Luca's proposal off. Except he didn't. He listened intently, nodding along and saying that he would consider it as long as his boyfriend was okay with it. A statament which, of course, hit a nerve and had Marti laugh bitterly.

"Now you make it sound like you need my permission to do things, Ni." He had snapped, in a biting tone.

"It's not that." Nico had clarified, reaching out to stroke his knuckles soothingly. "It just wouldn't feel right doing things that could upset you, if I can help it. You know that you always come first, right?"

"Awww, you guys." Luchino had cut in, trying to placate his friend as well. "Forget I've even asked if it's gonna 'cause a rift between you guys. Federica would kill me if she found out I was responsible for Martinico - Rames, Nicotino, however you want to call this beautiful union of yours - splitting up over this."

"Lu. Luchì. Calm down. You too, Nico. We're not even having an argument, here. Of course I'm okay with it. If anything, it's you two suggesting that I wouldn't as if I were some kind of jealous freak..."

It doesn't bother bother him at all, really. They are all just nicknames on a screen, with no chance on getting their dirty little hands on his boyfriend in real life. Plus, the raunchiest comments are things like 'your biggest fan since day one' , 'the true work of art is you' , 'this world is lucky to have so much beauty in it, and you certainly do your part' all coming from the same account that always ends their messages with a 'kisses from N.' The only one Nico never fails to reply to, with a rose and heart.

Well, that does bother him a little. Not too much, honestly. He's just curious about all this flirting since, well, Nico never fails to mention in the captions to his photos or in his videos that he's got a boyfriend. Why they keep on stalking his profile, then, liking every post? Why is Ni being so nice to them? Does he need to step in and tell this person to leave him alone?

"Who's this nadia.morriconi44 who liked your post on instagram? Who liked all of your posts, really, and keeps sending you kisses in the comments?" He asks one day, casually, over lunch.

"And what about it? Are you jealous?" Nico teases him a bit, not letting him answer to that as he goes on "I do admit she tends to go a bit overboard with the compliments, but that's how she is. She is married and, besides, I'm way too young for her. "

Okay, so that '44' in her nickname is her age?

"As if that had ever stopped people from being stalkers. Or creeps. She wouldn't be the first woman in her forties hitting on a man in his twenties... And why are you talking as if you know her personally..." He doesn't, does he?

What if she's someone he got to meet through his parents?

"Because I do, Marti. I can call her right now, and ask her to lay off the praise." Nico doesn't even need to dial the number, he has it saved on his phone. What the... "I'm not sure she'd read my reply on Instagram, or look at Directs. She barely even opens Whatsapp. She's worse than me, when it comes to technology... Nonna? Hi, it's me Nico. Yeah, yeah I'm good. I'm just calling because Marti has seen all your likes and comments on my posts and wants you to stop stalking me."

No-nonna? Nadia Morriconi is Nico's grandma? From which side, exactly? What's with all those pictures from art galleries and clubs from every corner of the world... Isn't she, like, nearly eighty or something? Why does it even matter? How is he supposed to face her, whenever they will finally have a chance to meet in person? And no, Nico can't put her on speaker. He needs to run away and hide, cursing his stupid possessiveness. She probably thinks her sweet Niccolò should kick him out and find someone better. Somebody who trusts him and doesn't see him as a serial cheater, always ready to have another man or woman on the side.

"Martino, dear. I'm sorry." Why is she the one apologizing. It doesn't make sense. He should be the one... "Nico is my only grandson and I'm so proud of him that I tend to step over the line sometimes, and make a little uncomfortable with my compliments. Besides, I didn't realize how it'd look from your side. No need to apologize, I get it. You're talking to someone who can't stand to hear 'Carlotta' because that's the name of his first girlfriend. Which, for the record, still flirts with him - as if he hasn't been married to ME for more than fifty years - and he's just too naive and keeps saying she's just being polite. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?"

It sure does. Comforting, even.

"He still keeps in touch with Maddalena and Luai, can you believe? Sure, they are both going out with other people at the moment, but between you and me... And don't get me started on how people look at him, even though they know he's with him. There's this guy from Foggia, at his Uni, which Nico claims to be straight but..." That gets him a well earned pinch on his thigh from Niccolò.

"Well, when you two are done gossiping about me let me know." He pouts, pretending not to be amused by those two teaming up against him.

"Will do, Ni. Now, Nadia, where was I..."