La Casa de Papel (Palermo) // Translation

25. un gran amor

"Are you all right?" Palermon Velez. She nods her head because she is shocked and unable to speak. Palermo grabs her face and puts a kiss on her lips, two kisses, three kisses. Velez clings to his arms and only a scream brings them back to reality.

"Shoot Stockholm!" calls Denver. One shot, two shots. Velez and Palermo split up and run into the corridor, where they find Arturo with two gunshot wounds on the floor. Stockholm tries to revive him, which ends the first war with the hostages. After a heated debate over whether to let him die or take him out of the bank and have him treated in hospital, the gang decides, at Stockholm's request, to release him. The second great war is just around the corner. The group prepares weapons, ammunition and protective walls. They are all in their own thoughts, in an atmosphere so resigned to all, in which they already know and accept that for the next half hour they will be in a real war in which they will see and experience things that they are responsible for will traumatize their lives by doing things that will shape them forever, but most of all they know that they may never come back. While Velez helps Denver and Rio with the ammunition, she looks at Palermo, who is preparing the weapons at the other end of the room next to Lisbon. Palermo looks over at her as well and they both stand and stare at each other. Velez clears his throat and leaves the room without saying anything. Palermo looks after her and leaves the room just like she does. Velez walks down the corridor and enters one of the rooms. Palermo enters behind here and closes the door behind him. Velez sits down in one of the armchairs while Palermo grabs another and places it in front of her. He puts his arms on his legs and lowers his head. Velez notices for the second time that Palermo is desperate and close to tears. The first time she saw him like this was when Nairobi died.

"What?" Velez says, but pauses immediately when she understands what he's up to. "Don't do that," she says. Palermo looks at her with contorted eyes and struggles not to burst into tears.

"Don't do what?" he asks, his voice so lustless and sad.

"Don't say goodbye,"Velez says sternly and emphasizes every word. Palermo lowers his head again. Velez sighs angrily and looks at him, unable to believe that he is doing this. "Palermo," she whispers, grabs his chin and lifts his head to look her in the eyes. "Are you serious?"

"Velez, you have no idea what we're getting into."

"Yes, I know that. I know that very well. And I also know very well that neither you nor I will die." Palermo smiles hesitantly, but shakes his head slightly. "Why are you doing this?" she asks angrily, referring to the way he silently shakes his head. "Nothing will happen," she says on the verge of tears.

"Listen to me," Palermo says, putting both hands on her legs. "Whatever happens...."

"It's just that nothing is going to happen," she interrupts.

"Listen to me, Velez, please," he pleads. Velez closes her eyes but is ready to listen to his words. Palermo leans his forehead against hers and also closes his eyes. "Whatever happens, go on. I beg you, go on," he pleads and Velez begins to cry while she closes her eyes tightly in fear. "Please don't do anything stupid like kill yourself. You have to get everyone out of here alive. For me. If it's the other way around, the same applies. I'll go on, I'll get everyone out alive. I'll do whatever I can. You will not die in vain. I promise you that I will do it for you. But if it should happen to me, I ask you to do it for me too," Palermo says, wiping Velez's tears away with his fingers. Velez opens her eyes and looks at him.

"What if we both end the war alive?" she asks in a broken voice. Palermo smiles.

"Then we'll go party and I'll take you to the Copa América," he says and Velez smiles. Without waiting any longer, Palermo grabs her neck and kisses her on the lips. A kiss so fiery, so tender and at the same time so full of love. She tries to take advantage of every second of what might be the last kiss. Palermo puts his hands on her waist. Velez pulls him violently to her body and pulls at his jumpsuit. Velez lies down on the couch and pulls Palermo with him. She wraps her legs around his waist and they interrupt the kiss so that Palermo can get up again and, with Velez's help, take off his bulletproof vest. He unzips his jumpsuit and takes it off. Velez imitates him. Palermo helps her take off her T-shirt and conquers her lips again, kisses her impatiently as if it was the first time, as if they had never tried it. He rolls back on top of her and kisses her neck ...