Title: A Strategic Distraction
Fandom: Viola come il mare
Author: veronyxk84
Pairing: Viola Vitale/Francesco Demir
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: none
Word count: 300 (Ellipsus)
Spoilers/Setting: Set post-S2.
Summary: Francesco finds Viola still working late and steals her away for a quiet moment, just for the two of them.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction created for fun and no profit has been made. All rights belong to the respective owners.

Challenge: #516 - Late
Also for: #503 - Bicker by drabble_zone

—

Francesco woke up and instinctively reached for the other side of the bed, finding it empty. “Viola?”

No answer.

Rubbing his eyes with a sleepy sigh, he stepped barefoot onto the terrace. She was there at the table, hair tousled, gaze locked on her laptop.

“Viola… it’s late. Come to bed.”

“I know it’s late,” she murmured, not looking up. “But I can’t find the opening. And I have to turn in the article by tomorrow.”

Francesco exhaled. “Got it. Come with me.”

She finally looked at him, incredulous. “Are you insane? Francesco, it’s ridiculously late and my deadline is in less than eight hours. I don’t need distractions.”

“I’m a distraction?” he asked, amused.

“Francesco, please. I need quiet. And silence. And—”

“You need to step away, Viola.”

“No. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Yes, you are.”

They kept bickering as he gently closed her laptop and helped her stand.

“Francesco, seriously, it’s late. And I have to finish.”

“If you keep staring at the screen, you’ll never finish.”

She yawned. “You’re going to make me miss my deadline.”

“You need a strategic distraction,” he said, guiding her toward the door while slipping on his shoes without bothering to change out of his pajamas.

Viola dozed through most of the short drive, and when they stopped, she blinked in surprise. “A gelato shop?”

“Open until midnight,” he said, checking the time. “You’ve got about ten minutes to pick your sweet distraction.”

Viola sighed, but took his hand. “You’re completely ridiculous.”

Francesco laced their fingers together, smiling. “For you? Always.”

Sitting on a bench outside the glowing gelateria, with the smell of warm waffle cones drifting through the air, Viola leaned against his shoulder enjoying her gelato, and thought that maybe this really was the best strategic distraction in the world.


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