(See the end of the chapter for notes .)

Chapter Text

Fugo was heading to his bedroom, when he heard a strange noise and stopped. He turned around, only to find an empty hallway.

He walked to a door on his left, leaning his head on the old wood. Fugo heard a groan, whoever was inside sounded in pain.

If he wasn’t mistaking, this should be Narancia’s room. Although he wasn’t completely sure since Buccellati’s house was pretty big and it had been less than two weeks since the noirette formally joined Passione.

He knocked on the door but received no response, so Fugo enter inside and looked around the room. There wasn’t any sign of the boy except, for a lump under the bed sheets…

Fugo walked to it and slowly peeled off the blanket until it revealed Narancia’s face and short hair.

“Fugo? What are you doing here?” His voice rose in surprise, before he fruitlessly attempted to cover it .

“I heard something and came to check it out. Are you feeling sick Narancia? You look pale.” Fugo’s hand went to the boy’s forehead.

“Hmm, you don’t have a fever…Did you eat something bad?”

“I think so… My stomach hurts and… it’s bleeding too.” Narancia added reluctantly, before he closed his eyes and groaned in pain.

“What!?”

“I don’t know. It started bleeding about… two hours ago? I tried to stop it with tissues and stay in the bathroom until passed.. It doesn’t bleed that much now. But it still fucking hurts.”

Fugo tried to think back to what he knew about diseases from his biology classes in university, but Narancia’s symptoms didn’t remind him of anything in particular. There was, however one thing that crossed his mind. Fugo pushed that thought away though , since there was no chance that… Or could there be?

“Are you sure that you ate something bad and it’s not something else?”

“I mean- Maybe? I guess? Ugghhh I have no idea! I’m always eating garbage I’m not supposed to!” Narancia cried as he grabbed his head.

“And is this the first time it happened?”

“Y-yeah.”

Fugo hesitated for a moment.

“I’ll go to the pharmacist and be back in a few minutes. Try to rest in the meantime.”

Narancia nodded before closing his eyes and sighing.

“Hello.” The teen greeted an older lady behind the counter.

“Hello there young man. What can I help you with?” She spoke slowly and warmly, offering Fugo a kind smile.

“I have a problem.” His tone became grave and professional as if he were discussing with Buccellati the mafia’s affairs. But she didn’t seem to be phased by the fourteen year olds attitude.

“I think my.. sister is having her period.”

“Ooh, I see.” Her brows slightly raised as she covered her mouth with her hand.

Then the pharmacist started asking him questions regarding his “sister’s” health, to which Fugo either knew the exact answer or had no idea how to respond. She also gave him a few advices before he left with a small bag.

Fugo found this experience fascinating since he learnt new things, but overall embarrassing.

“Here you go.” He said once Narancia returned from the bathroom, as he handed the teen a pill and a glass of water.

“Thanks Fugo!” Narancia downed it immediately.

“It should take effect in a short while. How are you feeling?”

“A bit better after I took a nap.” Narancia said offering the boy that wide, childish smile Fugo knew so well already.

"Thanks a lot Fugo! I think I might have died without your help!”

“You wouldn’t have died Narancia.” Fugo tried to hold back the urge to roll his eyes.

“In fact, what you’re experiencing is perfectly normal. ” Fugo started pacing around the room and began explaining.

“You see, at a certain point in time your body starts to go through changes, and one of those changes which you just experienced is called menstruation.” Fugo stopped abruptly and turned around only to see Narancia staring at him.

“Period Narancia.” He was met again with a confused expression.

“You don’t know what a period is?”

“Uum, no.”

Fugo sighed exasperated. “Ok, you’ve heard of puberty before right?”

Narancia paused for a second before nodding.

“Good. Periods are a part of puberty and like I said it’s something normal. Because your body starts to develop and change as you grow up. Do you get it now?”

“Yeah!” Narancia nodded before smiling enthusiastically.

“So I’m on my period?”

“Yes.”

“And I’ll be fine?”

“Yes, Narancia.”

“Yahoo! I’m on my period!” Fugo’s shoulders tensed up momentarily from the loud shout.

Narancia was about to leave the room, when Fugo added.

“You shouldn’t mention it to anyone though.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Narancia spun around with an eyebrow raised high.

“Only girls have periods.”

Fugo’s words froze Narancia in place, only expression changing from confusion to shock to anxiety and finally… fear.

Now was the moment of truth. There were many ways to go about it. However Fugo knew there was no reason for him to sugar coat the situation, so he just asked directly.

“Why did you hide this from us?” Fugo looked at Narancia straight in the eyes as he asked calmly.

Still Narancia became more terrified and pale. In that moment Fugo realized that his tone might have been mistaken for anger, since he was known for his violent temper.

“I’m not mad. I just want to know.” After what seemed like a long time, Narancia leaned back on the door, hands resting on the knob. Fugo supposed that, Narancia was holding it in case he tried to leave.

Narancia looked down at his… her feet and started tracing circles on the floor.

“You know how.. I used to live on the streets and went to juvie because of some shitty people? ”

“Yes.”

“And you remember how weak and defenseless I was when you found me?” Narancia’s brows furrowed from her own description, but Fugo chose to not comment on it and simply nodded.

It was true, if they had not met she would have most likely died on the streets from the eye infection.. or from freezing… or starvation.. Whichever would have gotten to her first.

“Then you can imagine what would have happened to me if anyone found out I was a girl.”

“And is that.. why you hid it from us?” He sounded somewhat hurt and Narancia immediately reacted.

“What!? No!” Her eyes widened, looking at Fugo with disbelief.

“It’s just that… You know. Buccellati didn’t want me joining the gang in the first place! If he knew I was a girl he wouldn’t have let me in a million years! And even if he did, that fatass Polpo would have sent me to a whore house, not here!”

Narancia pouted and were it on another occasion Fugo would have found it amusing. Yet, he had to wonder if it would not have been easier for Narancia to just return home and continue school like Buccellati had told her.

Then again Fugo knew that just like him, Narancia hadn’t been raised in a normal household.

“How come… your parents never told you about periods?” Fugo’s question seemed to surprise the teen, as her eyes stopped on him and her eyebrows raised slightly. While her mouth that formed a straight line, puckered downward.

“Oh. Well, my mom died when I was very young so I guess she didn’t think I would need to know and my dad doesn’t give a shit about me so..”

Narancia’s words were followed by silence. She returned to drawing circles, while Fugo’s mind was racing a thousand miles a minute. Should he say something? Or just let Narancia gather her thoughts first?

What had she gone through all her life? How hard had it been for her to hide it? Did someone else know? What if the gang found out? What if Buccellati or Polpo found out? Would it change anything like Narancia said? Did anything change now that he found out? Did Fugo think any differently about Narancia now?

All those question disappeared the instant his gaze moved from the floor on Narancia.

No. He was still the same, she was still the same to him. The corners of Fugo’s mouth perked up as he walked to the noirette blocking the door.

“Narancia, you’ll always be you to me. Whether you’re a boy or a girl, you are a member of Passione and a member of our team. I promise I won’t tell anyone, your secret is safe with me.” Fugo showed a small smile which in return made Narancia offer him a bigger one ten folds. Before he found himself tackled into an unexpectedly gentle hug.

“Thank you Fugo.” He heard Narancia’s soft voice and breath on his ear. Suddenly he had the sensation that his face was getting warmer, but he just blamed it on the almost non-existent space between their bodies.

After all, nothing changed between him and Narancia.

Right?