He wasn't sure what to think at first. Shock, disbelief, maybe confusion. Anger was quick to follow as he remembered.
("I started when my father left. Then, I just stopped counting after awhile." Alberto had sniffed, it being the night of their fight, holding back more tears, voice full of sadness.
"I know you'll return. You always do…but I can't help but worry. What if you like that life better? Like your human friends more?" He'd worried, not looking Luca in the eye.)
Luca wasn't an angry person, usually. The last person he got angry with was Ercole during the race. Oh, but this man who just introduced himself…Luca was furious.
Before Alberto or anyone could stop him, Luca was out in front of Alberto, fists clenched as he stormed towards Alberto's father, nose scrunched and honey eyes slit.
"That's him? That's…" Giulia asked, having broken from her own shock and rolled up sleeves that weren't there before she was right there with Luca, teeth bared. "You bastard! I swear-" she began but Alberto was on them, pulling her back and trying to reach Luca.
"Stop it. Giulia, calm down. Luca-" Alberto saw Luca go to smack Bruno, but was obviously dodged, Bruno seeing it coming.
"Luca Paguro! What has gotten into you?" Daniella yelled, going to hold her son back, who was pissed, trying to do anything to Alberto's neglectful father.
"Haha, what have you told them to make them so angry at me, Alberto?" Bruno laughed.
Alberto bit his lip. "Nothing. I got it settled, you two. Leave him alone." He breathed, letting Giulia go and giving her a "stay put" look.
Daniella had reached Luca, but he ripped his arm from her grasp. "Luca!" She gasped, only one other time had he ever done something like this.
He ignored her, claws out and muttering about everything Bruno had done to Alberto (that he knew of), his anger flaring.
"You sure, Alberto? Your mate keeps giving me a look and he's muttering." Bruno kept dodging, but making no effort to truly put distance. "Maybe I should let you hit me." He looked to Luca, the corner of his lips curling up.
"Luca, drop it." Alberto went passed Daniella, giving her an apologetic look. She only sighed, letting him try and stop her son instead, who wouldn't listen to her at least. She crossed her arms and huffed, figuring Alberto would settle it if it was his father.
"How dare you show your face after what you've done! Do you know how many-mmph!" Luca ranted, getting more heated, but was stopped by a rough hand against his mouth and his body being pulled against a familiar, strong torso. He grabbed at Alberto's hand, his emotions bubbling up for the man he loved, throat clogging with frustration. There was a kiss to his head, Alberto's voice soft. Unfairly so, since he should be the one angry, not Luca.
"I'm okay, Luca. Remember? I just want to enjoy the night so don't let him ruin it for us, yeah?" He kissed the top of Luca's head again then with his hand still over Luca's mouth, he tilted the other's head back and kissed his nose. "Grazie, mio eroe." He chuckled, a smile on his lips, green eyes bright with love.
Next thing Alberto saw was a head of curly red hair running passed and doing a round house kick towards his father's head. "Take that!" Giulia yelled.
His father had been distracted, a look Alberto couldn't pin on his face, so the kick actually landed, a crack being heard.
Alberto's eyes widened, the only one seeing his Papa's lip and nose scrunch, eyes dark.
He released Luca but wasn't able to stop Giulia from going for another kick again, accidentally hitting lower, the kick hitting his bicep.
"That was quite rude, Signorina." Bruno said, voice low and grabbing Giulia's ankle before she could retract it, her body losing its balance as she tried fumbling to keep it and pull her leg back. "Really, il mio ragazzo, who have you surrounded yourself with?"
"Papa, let her go." Alberto took large strides, reaching a hand out to help pull her away.
"Don't think I will. Stop, Alberto." Bruno warned, his grip on her ankle moving to grip it properly and his other hand landing with a smack against her knee cap. He began to put pressure.
"Ah! Let go, Bastard!" Giulia yelled out, a cold sweat running down her neck. "Let go!"
"PAPA! She's only trying to protect me. She's a human, so please." He hurried, voice higher in panic and he placed his hand over the other's, trying to pry it away.
"I haven't hurt you, so why is she attacking me unprovoked?" Bruno didn't release and Alberto knew Giulia couldn't keep her balance much longer, her body shaking.
"Just let her go fi-" Alberto stopped as Giulia let out a pained scream, Bruno ripping his hand from Alberto's grip and moving one hand from her knee to her shin and pushed down while the other hand lifted her ankle up, the motion strong and quick, the snap louder than the waves in his ears. The noise Giulia made due to the pain was blood chilling. Loud, garbled by sobs and broken breaths.
'He hurt Giulia. He hurt my sorella.' He'd thought, eyes bright with anger as his own hand moved to wrap around his Papa's throat, pushing him. 'I swore he wouldn't hurt my loved ones. Massimo's going to be livid. I let his daughter get hurt.'
"Giulia! Are you okay?! Of course not, Luca, why would she? Hey, hey, we're here." Luca had ran up after his shock, having not been sure how to help the situation, holding Giulia close as she put distance and Alberto was pushing his father away, her hands fighting to not touch her leg as she let out agonizing screams at the pain. "Don't touch it." He warned, worry lacing his tone and he looked at it. It was not the best sight. Her leg was already red and turning colors, the shin bone having a divot with the higher half looking like it wanted to break the skin, it being out of place.
"What happened?! I was only gone a moment…Luca, we need a splint until we get to the hospital, okay? I didn't expect her to be hurt!" Daniella approached, having left in a hurry to fetch the police at the commotion.
She looked passed Luca, who went to find a stick anywhere on the beach, but gasped when she saw the man's human guise fall as he entered the water, Alberto snarling and his own form changing as well as they grappled and she saw a form she grew up to fear. Long, pointed fins with a tall dorsal. Long claws and sharper teeth, their coloring usually a mix of vibrant colors.
She'd heard stories and parents would mourn their children when she was young, because of the form of monsters disguised as their kind. They were called Sirens. She thought they were extinct, like she'd thought earlier, but Alberto and the man were proof. Her gut sank further. How many more were there?
"They were only going after you because they knew you left me!" Alberto yelled, part of him knowing if he wanted a chance to win (though he didn't know how he would) he'd have to get more on land with his father and do serious damage.
"You were old enough, quit being a baby." Bruno pulled and kicked Alberto where he could, becoming annoyed. He wouldn't allow himself to be disrespected. Not after everything he'd done for his son.
Alberto grunted in pain here and there, hearing some cracks, the kicks hard with his Papa not holding back. "10 years old wasn't old enough and I couldn't even imagine going down to the village and I was too frightened to come here either. I'm still frightened and it's all your fault!"
"How is it my fault now?" Bruno began using his claws, as Alberto wouldn't let up his own punches, relying on his strength.
"Are you fucking serious?! How many of those missing people are your fault? I know I broke my part of the deal but I had to and I know if I can survive on animal meat, then so can you!" The air left his lungs as his Papa tripped him, then he stepped on Alberto's chest, the pain from the kicks spreading, making him gasp.
"Then beat me! Prove to me you've grown stronger without the proper support you need. But you're soft and it's all because YOU are the one who allowed yourself to get close and now you're so ashamed of who you are you're fighting to hide it." He began adding pressure, Alberto's hands going to his leg when his father pivoted and put his other foot near his throat. "Move and I stomp your windpipe." He looked to their audience, a frown at seeing the only policewoman in Portorosso there, inspecting the girl. That was a pain. "You think you're better than me, kid?" His voice got louder.
Daniella and Luca were trying their best to splint Giulia's leg, knowing it could worsen if they moved her and the policewoman took out her radio to call for an ambulance. "Miss Marcovaldo, what happened?"
"Mmm-nghk. Ever-everything's cold." Giulia replied, the pain unbearable.
"Things were already out of hand when I went to get you. I thought-"
Both she and the policewoman stopped at Bruno's voice carrying through to them.
"You knew I'd taken those people and yet you kept your mouth shut! You're not saving anyone but yourself, so grow a pair and start being a proper Siren-folk, Alberto!" Bruno bellowed, lifting his head and looking the policewoman in the eye, gauging what she'd do with the information and knowing he could easily escape, unlike his son. Their talk would have to wait unless Alberto came with him.
"Fuck! Stop it, Papa! Just stop!" Alberto yelled, struggling more now in his panic and gagging when he felt the foot on his throat get heavier. "What was I supposed to do?! No one would believe me without proof and then they'd ask me questions! No matter who I am, I've still consumed human and Sea-folk flesh when I was young, so either way I'm guilty!"
"Exactly! You save one child yet end up sacrificing many more. At least I own up to it. You couldn't even keep your part of our bargain. If you would've, all those humans and a few Sea-folk would be alive and with their families. It's all your fault these people lost loved ones! It's all your fault, so the least you could do is embrace what you are because you're a monster just like me!" Bruno looked, seeing flashing red lights in the distance.
"What's that sound?" He stopped, craning his neck, seeing an ambulance and a policewoman near Luca, his mother, and Giulia. 'How much did they hear?' He saw the policewoman begin to walk over, one hand on her gun as the EMT's took Giulia and it seemed Daniella didn't give Luca a choice in making him go with them too.
"Signor, release the boy and put your hands up." She warned, voice stern and authoritative.
Bruno rose a brow at the woman, but proceeded with caution. "Very well, but, he has a job to do that I've forgotten to bring up so I'll be taking him."
"Can't let that happen. The young Paguro said you broke his friend's leg, so I'm taking you in for questioning." She replied.
"That's interesting. Take the side of a child when they're the ones who started it. But if you want me to step off him, fine." Bruno did and the woman reached for her cuffs, making the mistake of taking her eyes off of Bruno. "Get up, Alberto." Bruno kicked his side to get him moving.
Alberto still refused to look at the woman, shame adding pain to what wounds his Papa already inflicted. Getting up proved difficult as he was sure he might've cracked something. "Right."
"There. Now if you'll excuse us." Bruno smiled, waiting till he saw the ambulance leave, moving quicker than the policewoman anticipated. Next think she knew, her gun was ripped from her hands and pointed at her own head. She froze. "Now…as I said, I'm leaving."
"Papa, don't shoot!" Alberto cried, body slowed by pain and realized his father wasn't playing. He'd been distracted by the ambulance, thinking everything was finally over, but…his Papa proved him wrong.
Bang*
The policewoman fell limply into the sand and Bruno pocketed the gun. Alberto stared, the scent of gunpowder strong.
Bruno stretched. "What a fucking night. Started with stopping you from marking your mate bloody and ended with me killing an officer. You children are a pain. Come on, let's drag her with us. We have some important things to talk about."
Alberto would've laughed if he could. "Seriously? If you wouldn't have broken Giulia's leg, the officer wouldn't have shown up. What could be so important you killed her?"
"It's about our kind, Alberto. Also, would you rather she go "missing", or let her loved ones see she was shot between the eyes? Now hurry, before anyone else shows up." Bruno grabbed her legs, hoisting her like a bag of potatoes, grunting.
No matter how much he wanted to, Alberto was in no physical condition to fight over a corpse. Plus, they'd pin it on him if he brought her in. He hated it. He wouldn't think twice about taking the blame if it wasn't for his loved ones. They needed him to be free. Clenching his fist, he shook his head. "I have to make sure Giulia is okay."
Bruno groaned, rolling his eyes. "She'll be fine. What I need you for is more important."
Alberto was exhausted and just wanted to check on Giulia and lay down. "What about "our kind"?"
"I'm afraid there's only us left as far as I've seen. So, I need you to continue our bloodline but with a sea-folk most likely as you're young. I'm getting older in age, so I can't. At least not successfully." Bruno shrugged the shoulder that was free.
Alberto, on the other hand, wasn't sure how to feel. He blushed at the prospect, any person would, but felt sick to his stomach. He'd never wanted to sleep with anyone except Luca, and that was only when he started falling for him. "No the fuck I will not!" He clutched his side, the skin hot and painful.
"I'm not asking you to find a female as a mate, you're clearly infatuated with Luca, but I do need you to breed. Our kind isn't the most fertile, hence why there isn't plenty of us. It was a miracle as is that you were born and unfortunate that your…never mind." Bruno looked away briefly, huffing out his nose before he looked back to Alberto. "I'm not going to get caught, so go ahead to your…what did you call her? "Sorella"? So they took you in? We'll see how long that lasts, il mio bambino. As for my meal here, if they ask, say you ran off before you saw what happened."
Alberto's jaw clenched tightly. "I can't keep letting you get away with doing this. I'm going to be the one put away for your crimes and I can't do that. I have Luca and Massimo who need me. I help others around Portorosso as well. Just take the gun and leave."
Bruno paused to think about it. "All this fighting has made me hungry though, Kid. What are you gonna offer in exchange?"
"I don't know! But she's involved in this, even-even d-dead, since you involved others. I can't just…" Alberto's voice broke. He couldn't keep doing this.
"I see your point. But…you're in no position to carry a body, so how are we going to do this?" Bruno would've liked the meal, the kids making him use up valuable energy, but, he would admit Alberto doing time would be inconvenient for him as well. Plus it wasn't like Alberto was going anywhere. He had attachments. "I'll leave her here and you go get the police to get her corpse. I'm taking the gun and I'm leaving for a bit. I expect you to think of what's best for our kind while I'm away. Have to keep the humans and Sea-folk off my ass now that you've made things complicated. Clean up our island too, before someone finds the bones there." Bruno then dropped the woman, not caring how she landed, rolling his shoulders and walking back into the water without so much as a goodbye.
"Thanks….just leave again, like that's going to solve anything. Fucking Hell." Alberto groaned, hissing in pain and trying to breathe normal as he tried moving the body, the woman getting colder by the moment. He grasped her hand to pull and shuddered at his intrusive thought. 'Skin's soft. Decent size. She'd be a good meal. Too bad it's too late.' "I have to get the police, then check on Giulia. I hope I don't get into too much trouble." He had expended too much energy himself and he was injured. "How can I be hungry and in pain?"
——————————————
He used a phone as an anonymous caller, simply to buy himself time and hopefully washing where he touched in saltwater helped. He felt horrible, but he couldn't get caught.
Walking into the hospital, he tried his best to ignore his own injuries. The tile was white and a light blue, kind of mesmerizing if you looked at them long enough. It was a small hospital but one nonetheless. "Hello, Signora. Would you happen to know where Giulia Marcovaldo is? I'm her brother." He asked the receptionist, the woman looking at him worriedly.
"I have to have you sign in, but she's getting prepped for surgery, so her father and the family she came in with are waiting next to her room. Oh, the room is 204." She smiled after. If she saw the scratches and bruising on his arms and face, she didn't comment.
"Thank you." Alberto waved, not liking it was bad enough for surgery.
He turned a corner after getting lost a couple times, his mind wandering and finally saw Luca and Massimo, chatting quietly and waiting. Alberto suddenly felt nervous and ashamed, nonetheless still in a lot of pain. Slowing his steps, he approached them, Luca seeing him first and standing immediately.
"Alberto! Are you okay?! I'm sorry, I should've tried staying behind but mom insisted I go with in case they had questions about what happened and-" Luca began but was stopped by the look of relief and guilt in Alberto's eyes.
"Don't worry. I'm glad you left." His voice croaked, holding back tears. "How's Giulia?"
"She is about to go into surgery. The fractures were bad. Alberto…why is she hurt?" Massimo stood, approaching and fist clenched.
He saw Massimo looked tired and about to cry. He didn't blame him, he felt the same, just with added guilt. "I'm sorry…I couldn't protect her. I tried, but I keep thinking maybe I could've tried harder." 'Like actually killing him do it doesn't happen again.' He flinched at Massimo putting his hand on his shoulder.
"I asked "why". Not for an apology." Massimo said again.
"She-I…my Papa…he showed up when we were on the beach. They were angry at him for some reason and instead of listening to me, she decided to attack. Papa didn't like that, so he broke her leg. I tried prying his hands off, I swear!" Alberto began to panic when he felt Massimo's grip tighten considerably.
"Stay here." Massimo's voice was low.
"What are you doing?" Alberto asked, though he had a pretty good idea. Luca look to him worriedly and got closer, grabbing his hand.
"Hunting a sea monster." He replied simply, as if it were just another fishing trip, despite the anger in his tone.
"No, Massimo stay, please! He won't be on land, I promise. Stay here. Giulia needs her Papa." Alberto begged, grabbing Massimo's arm, looking to his father-figure with pleading eyes.
"He hurt my daughter." Massimo turned to Alberto, the rage palpable.
"I know, but he left. The ocean is large and he's a strong swimmer. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for letting her get hurt. Please just…just stay." Alberto began to feel dizzy, his breath giving out, the pain and stress not good on his body.
"Alberto, what's wrong? Are you hurt somewhere we can't see?" Luca asked, able to now cut in. He laid his hand on Alberto's back.
"Ah!" He hissed, flinching away. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, did I hurt you?" Luca asked, trying to inspect without touching him.
"I'm okay…I'm…" Alberto tried but his body gave out from the pain and exhaustion, his head hitting the tile, which he didn't feel as Luca and Massimo panicked and his eyes slipped shut.
————————————-
When Alberto woke up, everything felt too bright and it reeked of sterilization. His body didn't hurt as bad but it was sore. "Mmm…" he groaned, hearing someone move next to him.
"Beto! You're awake. Need anything?" It was Luca, his beautiful face and curls coming into Alberto's line of sight.
"Water." He tried moving, but his body felt heavy. Making a displeased noise, he started by using one arm at a time to at least lift himself into sitting up, gasping at the pain it sent.
"Don't move. Here." Luca chided, handing him a paper cup with water which he took gratefully.
"Why am I in a hospital bed? Wait! What time is it? How's Giulia?" Alberto jumped, everything coming back to him.
Luca smiled at him and put his hand to his cheek to calm him. "She's resting in her room. We had to postpone going to Genova until she could be dismissed and maybe a couple days of bed rest. They don't want her going on a train right after release. Her mom and the school know." He took a deep breath and looked worriedly in Alberto's eyes. "As for you, you had a few cracked ribs and some internal bruising so they patched you up. We heal quick, but your injuries will still take a bit. Why didn't you tell them you were hurt? You worried us when you just passed out like that. I was so…" Luca cleared his throat and wiped at his eyes.
Alberto's heart ached so he put his hand over Luca's and turned his head to kiss Luca's palm. "I'm sorry."
Luca scooted closer in his chair, grabbing the other side of Alberto's face to make them eye to eye. "Alberto. I'm going to do something selfish and ask you some things while you can't run. Please don't look so scared." He spoke softly, Alberto having a good idea what it was about.
"I'll try." His eyes began to sting but he allowed Luca to do as he wished.
"I guess…I'm not sure where to start. In the panic of getting Giulia stable, hearing what he was saying was a shock. But you…I thought he was lying at first, because my Alberto wouldn't…but then you didn't defend yourself or deny it. Alberto, did you really eat people? Did you really allow your father to hurt others, knowing he would? Why would you protect him?" His voice was getting higher with panic and sorrow.
"I tried, when I first knew he was back. That day at the beach when the boy got pulled under the tow. Then I tried confronting him. Didn't work. I know it looks like I was protecting him, but I'm not. What you all don't get is that he's taken out men bigger than Massimo and he has no moral code. By keeping you all away from him I was trying to protect you." Alberto snorted, wanting to pull away but also stay close.
"But you knew? Those missing people, you knew what happened and still didn't go to the police?" Luca asked.
"Like I told him, Luca, no one would believe me and my father is sneaky, he'd know I went to them and then he'd go after you." He pulled his face away this time, looking down at his bandaged arms and the I.V. sticking out.
"Eating others?" His voice was soft, so badly wanting to reach for Alberto again.
"That's how I was raised. We're…different from you and your family. Our instincts are stronger, more in control than I'd like to admit. That's why Massimo was worried that morning when I was eating primarily meat." Alberto clenched and unclenched his fists.
"Why did you even stop eating?" Luca slowly reached his hand out, not liking the distance.
"A deal I made. A selfish one." He sighed, turning his hand palm upwards so Luca could hold it. "I'd stop eating, a way for him to force me into eating how I should, and in turn he leaves your village and Portorosso alone. It was dumb. I only made myself weaker that way." He whispered, not looking at Luca.
"How long were you alone?" Luca began to whisper as well.
Alberto groaned, not in the mood, but he was weak to Luca. "Since I was 10 years old, roughly. But why does that matter, Luca?" He exclaimed, agitated. He didn't expect Luca to stand and wrap him in a hug, ear against Luca's chest where he could hear his heart.
"It doesn't, I suppose." Luca kissed his head, refusing to let go.
Alberto felt the tears well. He'd done so much wrong. How could Luca embrace him? But then the anger simmered, remembering what got them in the mess at the beach in the first place. "Why did you guys not listen to me? You both had no reason to get upset; I did!" He pulled away again, brows furrowed, looking at Luca angrily as some tears fell. "There was no reason. None. I understand you both care about me, but if I say "leave it", then there's a reason. All I wanted was to enjoy the night before you and Giulia had to leave! Now her leg is broken and someone's dead!" He gripped his head, the tears falling more.
"What? I understand now we were in the wrong, we both realize that, but what do you mean someone's dead? Do the police know?!" Luca panicked, trying not to raise his voice.
Alberto whipped his head to Luca, angry. "Yes, they fucking know, I'm not that dumb. I didn't allow him to take her but I was in no position to drag her either. He took the gun though and I called anonymously." Alberto's body was tense.
"Alberto, calm down. I was just making sure. Why anonymously?" Luca began to think he should change the subject but this was serious. If he had to do something to help, the sooner the better.
"I can't afford to be put away for a crime my father committed. I have Massimo to help and I have you. I just don't know…I don't know how much longer I can do this." He ran his hands through his hair the best he could, the shame and guilt still there and he released a breath.
"Do what? This is serious though, so we'll have to think of a plan. But for now, you need to rest or else you'll never heal." Luca pushed down on his chest gently.
"We?" Alberto asked, laying back. "Luca, I don't want to involve you guys. I only have to worry about the policewoman issue since Papa left again. I don't know for how long, but he did. You guys are safe." He sighed again, even more exhausted than he was when he woke up but all he could muster was to stare at the ceiling. "Luca?"
Luca walked back to the chair, having grabbed some water. "What is it, Caro?" He smiled small, hoping the nickname would help Alberto's mood.
Alberto choked on his breath and a blush covered his face, the heart monitor going up slightly. "Why the damn name?" He groaned, both waiting for him to calm before he could continue with what he really wanted. "Can…can you stay until I fall asleep?" He held a hand out, an offering for Luca to take it.
Luca sat, grabbing a book and placing his hand in Alberto's firmly. "Get some sleep. They'll probably be in to check on you soon." He waited, Alberto looking at him for a bit, scanning his features as his eyes softened with contentment until his eyes slowly drooped to closing, his breathing evening out.
'What do we do? If it's true, they might still put him away so they have someone to. Maybe we can hide him until we go to Genova and he can come with? Mmm…maybe, but I also doubt that'll work.' Luca sighed, wondering what Alberto would do. It was obvious how Alberto had been acting was weighing on him, Alberto usually being the type to help others and take the blame. He didn't want Alberto to suffer, but there was so much Alberto had done that was almost hard to wrap his head around. "What have you gotten yourself into, Beto?"
———————————————-
A couple days and Alberto was well enough to visit Giulia in her hospital room, Luca having just got back from his parents and helping him walk. Her leg was elevated and she was huffing, complaining about being bored and in pain.
"I know, Giulia, but you must heal." Massimo assured her.
Massimo visited Alberto a while after he'd woken up, the air still awkward, but both leaving things be as both Alberto and Giulia were injured.
"Ugh! Is there anything I can at least do aside from puzzles? Can you get me my books?" Giulia asked, until her eyes caught Alberto and Luca hovering near the door. "Hey, you two." She smiled awkwardly, especially towards Alberto who she hadn't seen since his eyes were feral and her in agony from her leg.
"Bored, Giulia? I can run and get the books if you want?" Luca offered, grabbing a chair for Alberto to sit. He still wasn't supposed to exert himself too much, the ribs he cracked being severe.
"Maybe later. I heard you got hurt, Alberto?" She asked, worried.
"Just some cracked ribs, scratches, and internal bruising. We sea monsters heal fast, but I'm not at 100% yet. Once I am, I'll carry you around so you're not going stir crazy." Alberto smiled, happy to see her well and talking to him, that worry flying out the window.
"Don't rush it though, Alberto." Luca warned, gently running his hand through Alberto's hair. Alberto side eyed him lovingly.
"I'm just happy you all are safe." Massimo said, making sure Giulia was comfortable.
"Hah, it's going to take more than that-" Giulia began, but was cut off by two men in suits knocking on the door. They nodded to the group and held up their badges.
"Sorry to interrupt, but may we have a word with Alberto Scorfano?" The one with black hair asked.
Alberto technically didn't have any records, medical or anything. So they must've known his name by mouth and what he had to fill out while hospitalized. He knew something was going to happen. If it wasn't for the EMT's, no one would probably be the wiser of the officer's last whereabouts. He sighed, struggling to stand again, but Luca helped.
"Why do you need to talk with him?" Massimo asked, his hand on Giulia's good leg.
"Just investigating, Signor. It shouldn't be long." The blonde one said, nodding to Massimo.
"I'll be right back. I did cause a ruckus, so there's bound to be questions." Alberto grinned, holding his side while he followed the detectives outside the room and to his own where they could speak privately.
"I'll go get your books." Luca said, before he ran out, first planning on listening into what the men wanted from Alberto.
"Ms. Calina. 38 years old. You were the last to see her alive, along with another mysterious man. The EMT's said she went to break up a fight while they escorted Miss Marcovaldo to the hospital. Care to tell us why police found her body, no gun, where she was last seen?" The blonde asked, voice deep and stern. His partner had a notepad out.
Alberto gulped, but knew his plan wasn't a full proof one when he went through with it. "The man took the gun with him and left. All I did was call it in, as you could see, I couldn't very well lift her, could I?" He snarked, feeling defensive and body tensed.
"Do you know the man? Or do you naturally pick fight with your elders?" The blonde asked.
"Yes." Alberto replied, crossing his arms.
"That's it? Just "yes"? If you're telling the truth, wouldn't you want us to know what we can to catch him?" The blonde one rose a brow, seeming to catch onto Alberto's tone quickly.
Alberto tried straightening his back but only ended up biting his lip as the pain coursed through his torso. With their gazes still on him, he breathed slowly, regaining himself before answering. "It wouldn't matter since he's long gone to who knows where by now. You're lucky there's a body to even be found." He looked away, regretting his decision to have his Papa leave the body.
"I'd like a name, young man. You must have one for him." The blonde urged.
"Does that mean there's more?" The black haired one asked.
"No." He tried breathing normally, but all he wanted was for it to be over, the need to fight or flight making his fingers twitch. He knew they were just doing their jobs, but he was feeling cornered. Cornered and in pain. "It was impulsive. Just means he wanted to hide the body to not get caught."
"Her name is Calina." The blonde spat, not the best type of man to deal with troublesome young people.
Alberto clenched his jaw tightly. "My apologies."
"Listen, kid, we simply want to find the bastard who killed her and you're our only lead." The black haired one tried reasoning.
Alberto didn't bite. "I know what I tell you won't help you find him, so you might as well close it up. You're only here right now because Mrs. Paguro called the officer then an ambulance for my sister's broken leg. Trust me, if I wasn't injured, neither of you would be here about a dead officer. Make up whatever story you want about her death, but I can't help you." The pain meds were wearing off and all he wanted was to curl into Luca's chest and forget the whole affair.
The detectives looked to each other before nodding in a silent agreement. "I suppose that's all we're going to get for today. We might be back later on for more questions. Hope you get some rest, Mr. Scorfano." The black haired one nodded to him and the blonde looked at him suspiciously before they both left his room.
Alberto's lip began to wobble, he tried relaxing his body and he tried laying down. He began sniffling, the judging looks hitting a sore spot. "I'm not a bad kid, I'm not a bad kid, I'm not a bad kid. Papa…why'd you have to kill them?"
"Alberto? Can I come in?" Luca asked, having heard it all but didn't want to seem suspicious by walking in right after the detectives.
"I'll be over in a bit." He sniffed, trying to shake himself from his adrenaline boost from the questions, trying to feel like himself, only to feel Luca wrap his arms around him and kiss his head.
"I'm here and you're not bad. I think you're amazing, despite this whole mess. And hey," he nuzzled Alberto's head, letting go for a moment to look at him, "I'm your boyfriend now…talk to me." He smiled with a blush, worried when Alberto sat up in a hurry and howled in pain as that wasn't smart of him to do.
"Fuck-dammit-! S-sorry." Alberto groaned, body shaking from pain.
He knew he shouldn't, but Luca began laughing. "Hahahaha, I'll get the nurse for some pain medicine. I'll be back in a jiffy." He then bent down and kissed Alberto's cheek. They'd get through this. If they could get through the small minded town of Portorosso by being sea monsters and if Luca could go to a human school, then they could get through this mess Alberto's Papa got them tangled in.
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It took another week for the siblings to be released, both on strict orders, though Giulia even more so due to how bad the fracture was.
Neither Luca nor Alberto brought up about the dead officer, only that the detectives wanted to get to the bottom of what had happened since Giulia's injury was so bad. With no real evidence, there just wasn't a reason to bring it up since the detectives wouldn't be bothering them.
Alberto and Luca were sitting atop the brick wall outside the Marcovaldo home, looking at the stars. It was once again time for Luca and Giulia to leave, though later this time. "I hope you both can get caught up in your studies." Alberto mentioned, kissing Luca's hand.
Luca giggled, the kiss light enough to tickle. "I agree but it should be fine since the school knows there was an "accident" that happened and Giulia and I are both pretty smart." He frowned. "Are you sure everything is okay now? Your father really left Portorosso and the detectives are off your tail?" Luca worried.
Alberto hummed. "Yeah. They have nothing on me and Papa won't return until things died down, which might be awhile with all he's done to make everyone in a tizzy." He took a deep breath, the motion a pinch in his chest. "Though, he does enjoy when that happens. He might ask me for an update next time we meet." He kicked his legs, dreading the inevitable day.
""Next time"? No, no, Alberto, don't say that. He can't come back. W-why would he?" Luca's eyes were wide with worry. He gripped Alberto's arm, wanting Alberto to look at him.
Alberto smiled gently, not at all worried since he didn't have to do anything about it for awhile and he knew what he was going to do…for the most part. His Papa was somewhat unpredictable.
He grasped Luca's face and gave him a gentle kiss, barely putting any pressure to nibble Luca's bottom lip before he pulled away, proud of the blush on his beloved's face. "Just something he said before leaving. Don't worry, I've learned from my mistakes and I doubt it'll be anytime soon." He sighed, spotting a Vespa down the road. "Hey…I'm gonna work even harder so I can get us that Vespa. Then I'll surprise you and take you out to surprise lunches or dinners." He bumped his shoulder against Luca. "Then when it's time for your finals or a big project, I can steal you away for a quick ride so you don't get overwhelmed and can start anew with a fresh look." He smiled largely, excited, nose scrunched.
Luca couldn't help it. He didn't want to be the only one embarrassed and the thought was very romantic and sweet. "What kind of ride?" He narrowed his eyes, a coy smile on his lips with the blush that hadn't left.
Alberto snorted, about to retort when the words clicked, his face and neck turning a dark red and his body jerked as he spluttered and coughed, unable to actually say anything. "WHOA!" He yelled, almost losing balance but Luca caught him around his hips, his body shaking with giggles.
Still blushing, Alberto stabilized and wanted revenge, so he turned in Luca's grasp, moving to where he straddled the wall and using his hands he moved Luca's head to the side, nose at the corner of his jaw. "You won't be so smug when I make good on that, will you?" His voice low and purposefully husky before he gently raked his teeth against Luca's neck, his tongue licking the spot after, making sure to keep his instincts in check.
"I said no markings, remember?" Luca held back a small moan behind a gasp.
That made Alberto chuckle and he pulled away. "Don't worry, I didn't break skin and the red lines will vanish in a bit. I won't hurt you."
Luca smiled fondly, laying a kiss to his lips. "I've always known that."
Gladly accepting the kisses, Alberto pulled Luca almost into his lap, kissing him back as much as Luca would allow.
Besides, these would be the last long and lingering kisses until Luca and Giulia returned home. Not to Genova, but back home, to Portorosso.
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Luca gave him one more kiss on the cheek before he waved goodbye, the train letting off its last whistle. Giulia was already making faces at him from their seat.
Alberto watched the train until he couldn't even see the smoke anymore. "What's the plan for the rest of the day, Massimo?" He asked, turning to the large man.
"Perhaps cleaning up any extra things in the house so they're ready for when Luca and Giulia return?" He asked, patting Alberto's back. "Then making lunch and make sure our nets are ready for the morning." He chuckled.
Alberto smiled large. "Alright."
"By the way, Alberto," Massimo stopped when they got close to the house, "you will tell me if your Papa returns, yes?" He asked the young man.
Alberto nodded. "Yeah. But I'm pretty sure he won't be back for awhile. I'll let you know." He lied, though Massimo didn't know it.
Massimo only grunted in reply, grip firm on his shoulder. "Let's make your favorite."
"Sweet!" Alberto smiled, hoping the darker days were behind them for at least a bit.