~6 MONTHS AFTER ~
"Alberto! Net!" Massimo yelled, hoisting the heavy net with his arm and reaching out to hand it to Alberto who was leaning over to grab it from up on the docks.
"We got quite the haul, Massimo!" Alberto yelled so Massimo could hear. With a thumbs up, Massimo smiled while they continued to work.
From the corner of his eye, Alberto stopped wiping the sweat from his brow and did a double take, seeing his father with a hat on, walking arm in arm with a woman. They were smiling and laughing. "Dammit…" he clenched his hands, nostrils flared as a surge of anger shocked his veins. He thought he had more time.
"Alberto?" Massimo called to him, but lucky for Alberto, his papa turned and so Massimo wouldn't be able to recognize him, not that he would without seeing Bruno's eyes.
Alberto turned, loosening his fists quickly with a grin. "Yeah? Sorry, got distracted by the light hitting these flowers over there. Makes me wish I could send some to Luca." He blushed lightly but was unashamed.
Massimo chuckled. "It will be awhile till then. Perhaps something that won't die within a few weeks, yes?" The man tied the boat down and began to help Alberto separate the good fish from those that wouldn't make profit.
Alberto grinned, more genuine. "Good idea. Hey, Massimo, I'm gonna go for a swim tonight. Maybe I'll find some bigger fish!" He flexed his arms, smug.
Massimo hummed, brow arched in concern but chuckled at Alberto's gesture. "If you'll like. But don't worry if you don't. We caught plenty."
Alberto continued to smile, even as his stomach growled painfully, hoping Massimo didn't hear. "Yes, Massimo!" He saluted Massimo, pushing aside the impulsive thoughts to bite, and not just the fish. With Massimo's eye roll, he was reminded of Giulia. "Have you heard from them lately?"
Massimo nodded. "I spoke with Rosa. They've been busy."
Alberto nodded with a wide smile, wanting to assure Massimo it was fine and he understood. When he heard from Giulia and Luca over the phone and through a few letters, Giulia was healing nicely, with the right support and physical therapy, she wasn't wearing a brace anymore, though she commented the scar made her look cool.
Both of them were also getting caught up, hence why letters and calls were less, as well as it being their last year, so they had a lot more work to do, including careers and-what Alberto dreaded the topic of-college, which Luca had yet to talk with him about.
Alberto would usually be even lonelier with that, but he'd been keeping himself busy. Along with a few new policemen assigned to Portorosso, Alberto had more lifeguard duty, even doing handy work for the residents, like repair or yard work. Anything to keep himself away from the island (after he "cleaned" up) and his mind off Luca and Giulia. Though, that didn't last all that long. The nightmares gradually got worse again, after they left, involving Giulia and Luca more frequently. The loss of proper rest was having its toll, but Alberto continued to ignore it and push it down. Sleep meant nightmares, so he would just get as little sleep as he could.
———————
A few days later, Alberto was relaxing against the side of the gelateria, eating a small cone, avoiding the inevitable. He caught a tuna the night he got permission to leave and he was frustrated the large Yellowfin didn't help anything except make up some calories he'd burned chasing it. It was also a good distraction, he'd admit.
"Probably should go back…talk to him." He grumbled, though felt fortunate he didn't see Bruno since that day he passed by, which meant he was plotting or settling in. Alberto didn't like either thought.
"Ow." He pulled his fingertips from his mouth, not realizing he'd eaten the treat mindlessly. Blood pricked from the bite marks and he couldn't help but stare. He was doing that a lot. Staring. Being in a daze. Craving the very thing he'd been too afraid to want. He licked up the blood, a flash of skin with a chunk missing coming to mind before leaving as quickly as it came. "It's getting worse." He mumbled, running his hand through his hair and starting to walk back to the Marcovaldo home to change.
Or so was his plan.
He got down a few blocks when a man with familiar blonde hair saw him. "Scorfano. Walking carefree, despite being a key witness in a still open case?" He asked, tone still bitter, but the investigator wasn't in a suit, clothes more casual, badge on his hip but not in obvious view.
'Speak of the Devil…' Alberto frowned. "Depends. Are you on or off the clock, Signor?" He crossed his arms, standing straighter.
"Relax. I'm just here to ask a few questions, and since I'm off, lucky for you that means I can't use it going forward or else that'd be misconduct." The detective shrugged, body tense and brow still low in a scowl.
"Then I don't have to answer." Alberto replied, nodding then turning to leave, the reminder heavy in his gut. The policewoman's paling face, glassy eyes, her cooling body. Bones and joints popping as he'd attempted to move her before giving up and inevitably calling.
"You know, there's practically nothing on you, record-wise, so I'm curious as to why that is?" He continued, taking one deliberate step at a time, walking right behind Alberto.
Alberto bit his lip. He had to get away.
"Her kid's going to be turning 4 years old soon. The least you can do is give the relatives closure by exposing the killer." He took out a cigarette, obviously bothered by Alberto keeping his mouth shut but he wasn't good at his job for nothing and he felt hopeful when that got Alberto's attention, even if it was a total lie on his part.
Alberto stopped his footfalls, not meaning to. "That's got nothing to do with me. I told you already. So leave me alone."
"Don't lie. You're the one who called her in. You're the one to last see her alive. You even admitted it was impulsive on the killer's part." He snorted, waiting to see if Alberto would slump his shoulders and start talking. What he'd learned about Alberto through the vine was he was a sweet guy. Soft on kids and helpful, hence the lie. So why was he giving him, an investigator, such a hard time when all he wanted was answers? What was worth this level or protecting?
Alberto stayed tense. Guilt tripping him into talking wasn't going to work. He wasn't even the one who killed her! He flared his nostrils again, trying to keep calm.
'The killer is on the island, why don't you look there?' He thought, though he couldn't bring himself to speak.
Then an idea came to him and he couldn't help being wary of why he liked the idea. Maybe he COULD bring this detective to the killer somehow?
"Come on, kid. Help me out here." The man sighed, breaking Alberto of his thoughts. He had to get justice for her. He'd never failed a case and he wasn't about to start now. "You got a Ma? Maybe a Pop? You'd want answers too, right?" The detective felt a sense of achievement as he saw Alberto turn, but wasn't expecting the look he received, the relief slipping a inch but he was a professional so it didn't show.
Eyes slit and mouth in a contemplative frown, Alberto spoke, a small hiss in his tone. "I don't have to tell you. But…"
If his tail were visible, Alberto knew it would be thumping loudly on the gravel. A part of him that sounded like a wary Giulia told him to stop while he was ahead. Then there was his heart…
'No. Don't do it, Alberto. You're better than this!' His conscious was sounding a lot like Luca as of late and with a deep inhale from his nose, Alberto second thought his idea. He didn't want Luca to hate him. "Never mind." 'I'm so…tired.'
"If you don't give me a name, I'll have no choice but to arrest you for the murder, which I'm sure I can prove without a murder weapon. So, we can either do this the easy way or you can be put away." The blonde lied again, lighting another cigarette. He technically couldn't arrest Alberto at all since he wasn't working for one as well as the case had very little evidence with no leads and no one knew he'd bumped into him, but the kid probably didn't know that.
He turned, leaving Alberto to simmer and think about what was the right thing to do.
Still in place again, Alberto tried relaxing his muscles. This guy had nothing on him. Alberto didn't have to say anything. The only crime he could be accused of was tampering with a body.
He began to giggle as the stress began to bubble up and it made him feel like he was light as air with the added lack of rest. He knew he was due for a nap at least.
While he walked, a memory of his mother, whose face he could barely remember, came to mind, her thick curls, like his, framing him as she tucked him in, her frame thin. "Another nightmare? I know they're scary, il mio dolce bambino, but…it's how it must be. Seeing their faces is the atonement for having such a kind heart and cruel belly."
He kicked a rock as he thought his mother was close, but not quite right that night. The memory of flesh and gore in his small hands had him breaking into a run.
————
When he made it in, a little calmer, Massimo peeked from where he was on the phone, a smile turning his mustache upward. "Speaking of, he just walked in. Alberto, vieni a salutare Luca!" He held the phone out after messing with the cord and Alberto took it with a smile that split his face, very surprised and the encounter being pushed to the back of his mind.
"Luca, la mia gemma blu, what's with calling in the middle of the day?" Alberto's heart stuttered in his chest, a little nervous and very happy, Luca's voice alone making him forget all his troubles. Feeling Machiavelli rub against his legs, he leaned down and scratched the back of his head.
Luca's voice sounded like a soothing bell. "Surprised? I knew you would be. Your timing is amazing, Beto! I bet your ears were burning." Luca joked, voice light and happy.
"They definitely were. They burn extra hot if it's you thinking about me." He smirked, trying to push everything away aside from Luca's voice. "How's school?" He asked, leaning against the wall and twirling the cord to the phone, ruining Massimo's work.
As Luca began to speak wildly, happy and full of new information, Alberto closed his eyes, soaking it up. It would be okay. They had nothing on him. Luca was away. Safe. It was okay.
"-has a vacation coming up in a few days, so, Giulia and I are coming back for a bit! Surprise!" Luca's voice broke through Alberto's calm daze.
What? Luca was returning?
"REALLY?!" Alberto's voice rose, rocking on his feet, startled he was starting to doze while standing. "Why only this year?" He hopped up and down, smile hurting his face.
Luca's voice was sweet and soft. "Yep. And it's because Signora Rosa is going on a last minute trip and she saw how great we've been, she surprised us. We might have to do a little more catching up while we're back, but at least we'll get to see each other! I've missed you." Luca rambled, Alberto picturing his movements and his fidgeting even when not being there.
He smiled, very excited, but that meant he didn't have much time either. "You don't give a guy enough time, do you?" He half-joked, half-panicked.
Luca giggled. "Sorry. Each time I tried calling neither of you were home and a letter wouldn't have reached in time. Forgive me?" He asked, knowing full well Alberto wasn't mad at all.
Alberto smiled, humming, his body warming at the thought of Luca returning. It felt like a weight was lifted from his chest, like relief. Being able to kiss him again. Slather his poor Mate (he called Luca such in his head only) in his scent.
Taste him.
Just as he felt warm with the thought, he felt cold, a scene from his most recent nightmare coming to him. "Always, la mia luce calda." His voice was soft, just as his smile was, as he tried holding onto the warmth he was just surrounded with.
After some flirting, both of them terrible at it, the conversation continued as it should. Full of plans, excitement, and longing. It ended when Giulia yelled for Luca to hurry and that they needed to pack.
"Sorry, have to go. I love you." Luca said softly in a whisper and Alberto could practically see the blush on Luca's face, making his own light up.
He laughed and became embarrassed at his voice cracking. "I would hope so, Luca, since you're stuck with me." He paused, contemplative before he continued. "Hey…one last confession. Il mio cuore ti sta aspettando." He whispered and not waiting to hear a response, Alberto smiled fondly, hanging up the phone before his smile fell, his worries coming to the surface again. 'Why can't I just go back to before Papa bugged me?' His nose scrunched, 'I'm starting to lose my patience.' He thought bitterly, wanting nothing more than to erase a couple certain beings off the face of the planet.
Then he could go back to it just being Massimo, Giulia, Luca, and everyone else he loved.
No detectives trying to look into a crime he didn't commit (though connected). No Papa digging up their past and hunting almost constantly just to be an ass. No nightmares and urges to hunt humans and Sea-folk as well.
No one else in danger.
His eyes slit, a growl erupting from deep in his chest. "Stay calm, Alberto." He tried telling himself, taking deep breaths.
"Alberto, dinner is soon." Massimo called to him.
Startled, Alberto stopped on his way up, peeking his head through the doorway to the kitchen. "Okay, I'll be down. Just gonna pick up a bit." He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. He just had to let it out. He could go back to the island. Ya…a few days there until they return and days hunting would do him good. Then he could be happy and enjoy his time with his mate and sister.
Once in, he took a deep breath, then a few more but the anger stayed. He looked to his bed and glared at it long and hard.
Then he carefully took off the bracelet Luca had made him, planting a chaste kiss on it before setting it down safely on his desk. Machiavelli watched him from the door as Alberto rummaged his room looking for something. Machiavelli could feel the rage pouring off him though. He meowed in worry, but no answer came from the young Sea monster they'd come to love.
~BACK IN GENOVA~
"You two talk ENTIRELY too much." Giulia judged, selecting which books she wanted to bring.
Luca rolled his eyes. "Not nearly as much as we used to, so I don't wanna hear it." He laughed at her disgust. 'I am worried about how he sounded, though. It wasn't like himself.' He thought, biting his lip.
Giulia rose a brow, calling bullshit. "Either way, let's go and have fun." Giulia spoke and stuffed the last book she planned on taking in her bag before zipping it up tight.
Luca smiled, shaking his head internally. He was being paranoid. "Can't wait to tell Alberto all about what we've been learning!" He jumped up, stretching before he went to his room and began to pack clothes. He didn't see Giulia's snort and eye roll but that was fine with her.
———————
The friend's were perplexed once they arrived at the station in Portorosso. Massimo and The Paguro's were there waiting but no Alberto.
"Maybe he's running behind again?" Giulia answered, seeing Luca's worried expression.
Luca nodded, still worried but he set his bags down once they departed the train and he ran to give his family a much needed hug.
"Papa, where's Alberto?" Giulia went and spoke with Massimo while Luca caught up with his family, his mom not letting him go.
"Ehh, I'm not sure. I thought he would be back by now. He needed some time for himself is what he told me but I know he wouldn't have missed you both coming." Massimo sighed, grabbing Giulia's luggage as it looked like The Paguro's were finished smothering Luca.
"Time for himself"? Since when is that a thing?" Giulia snorted, perplexed. It was odd, especially if he knew they'd be back in a couple days and by record, Alberto didn't like being alone. "But…let's get going first, it's getting crowded." She smiled, patting Massimo's arm and walking over to Luca and his family as well.
Clouds rolled in quickly, from a blue sky with some white clouds to varying grey all around as Luca and Giulia were shown around, everyone catching up as they walked. Luca especially kept an eye out for his boyfriend, hoping he'd show up soon. Giulia wasn't as worried, since she knew he could take care of himself but she was definitely going to hit him good once they saw him.
When it began to pour, they took shelter at the Marcovaldo home, drying off and Massimo putting the wet towels in the laundry.
"Massimo? I wanted to stay here tonight, if that's possible?" Luca approached.
Massimo smiled softly, standing. "You can set your bags in Alberto's room. It might surprise him." He winked.
Luca blushed lightly but smiled. "Will do. I'll be right back." He turned, before he stopped and looked back, Massimo raising a brow in question. "How's he been? F-from what you've seen?" He asked, one hand going against his chest.
Massimo hummed, messing with his mustache as he thought, silent for a few moments. "Why don't you ask him?"
Luca let out a puff of air. "Do you really think he'd tell me the truth?"
That earned a chuckle, the one armed fisherman letting out a sigh. "He's his usual self, perhaps going out on nightly swims more…" some air left his nose, "…but am I right to assume you're more concerned with what he won't tell any of us?"
Luca nodded slowly. "Yes."
"Perhaps you'll find out more than I can in his room. He won't say, but I've seen the bags under his eyes and sometimes Machiavelli has slept with him. I think it's nightmares." He grabbed the towels, going to ask Giulia to fold and he left Luca to do as he pleased.
Getting the drift, Luca took a deep breath and began walking upstairs, narrowly avoiding Machiavelli swiping at his ankles. "Machiavelli! Stop!" He chided the feline.
Opening the door, it smelled so intoxicatingly like Alberto, Luca inhaled deeply, his body relaxing at the scent surrounding him after months away. It would be perfect, except it was cold. The being who produced the scent wasn't there to wrap him up and laugh or stare at Luca with sparkling green eyes.
The room was as Luca suspected. A little cluttered, bed not made, sketchbook and pencils out on his desk. Luca set his suitcase and bags down, taking a moment to take the room in. "So much neater than I thought it'd be." He spoke to himself, ignoring Machiavelli who came with and seated himself on Alberto's desk. "Where is he?" Luca continued to look around, curious.
He tried avoiding Machiavelli, but the cat had decided after a few minutes, to start messing with Alberto's things, which included his sketchbook, some pages being bent from the angle it fell. The pencils, each making a noticeable clack. Something shiny in the bedroom light caught Luca's attention when it too fell onto the ground. Walking over and bending down, Luca stopped, a feeling of anxiety and panic shocking his system when he saw it.
Gingerly, he grasped the obviously worn bracelet and brought it to his chest, standing straight. Something felt wrong, he quickly realized. Running downstairs with the bracelet close to his chest and his breathing irregular, Luca almost ran full force into Massimo. Backing up, he looked to the man and tried to calm himself so he didn't start rambling. "Massimo, where did Alberto say he was going?"
Massimo hummed, noticing how Luca held his hands to his chest and his brows furrowed. "He didn't. What happened?"
"I…" he paused, nervous and worried as he saw the clouds get darker outside, the wind picking up, "Machiavelli knocked this down. Alberto wouldn't take it off, would he?" He worried, holding it like it'd break if he was too rough.
Massimo grunted, rubbing the back of his neck. "Mmm…no, I don't believe so. He's worked with that on and a few times I remember him screaming and almost crying about getting it caught on the nets. He'd even release large fish if it meant saving it."
Luca looked to the bracelet. "Then where is he?"
——————————
~THE ISLAND~
Grunting as he grasped onto the sharp rocks to pull himself up, Alberto panted, annoyed and frightened.
He'd just swam as fast as he could back to the island from realizing what he'd been hunting for miles. He'd been so tired, more in a daze than anything, he thought he was swimming aimlessly after a fish until a familiar feeling rolled down his spine. The feeling he got when he was hunting and he spotted an opportunity. Once he'd come to, he saw his hand almost wrapped around a similar tail, the creature none the wiser as he knew to hunt along with the current like his papa.
He'd been tailing a Sea-monster.
"PAPA! I know you're here! You don't hunt during storms!" He yelled, trying to shake the scales away and his voice hoarse.
It was stupid-beyond so- of him to return but he hadn't known who else to go to about this. Luca would be horrified, as well as Massimo and Giulia.
He'd spent the days before Giulia and Luca's return trying to hunt and fill his belly as much as he could to fill the void then sleeping where he used to. But what he'd just done frightened him more than he'd ever been outside of his nightmares.
"Well look what the cat dragged in. Finally come to agree with my terms? Or to apologize?" Bruno laughed and hopped down the few steps of the ladder. "What? Still pissed at me? If it's about the cops, they can't do anything since there's no evidence."
Alberto's throat felt thick and he shook his head. "Did Mama ever feel like this?" He croaked, looking at his father with large eyes. He was mad about the murder but began to just not care since as it was put, there was no evidence so no reason to think on it aside from his already heavy guilt.
Bruno startled, not expecting a question about the female of their family. "Do you mean guilty? There's a reason she never hunted. A few times I couldn't stop her from seeing their faces, but she'd get over it after fasting, then she'd eat very little like usual." His voice took a somber tone. There was a pause where neither said a thing until Bruno's eyes widened in realization. "You don't mean hunting though, do you?" His serious expression grew lighter to a sadistic smile. "You mean what I've suffered through all my life. I didn't know it could happen to a child who stopped eventually! Haha, so it was genetic! I thought you took more after your normal mother, but you really are my blood!" He walked a few paces closer, his own electric green eyes slit in glee.
Alberto thinned his lips and let out an exasperated huff. "I'm not like you!" He tried yelling but found his cheeks smooshed by his father's strong hands and his own body feeling sluggish from fatigue.
"You are! Oh…" Bruno's once large grin lessened ever slightly. "My poor boy." The grip lessened. "You must be starving, look at those bags under your eyes. Frankly you look like shit." Bruno released him and went back inside only to come out minutes later with a sack of packaged meat and a nice palm sized chunk in his palm, bloody and fresh. "Here."
"H-how do you know?" Alberto asked, arms protective around his chest as his stomach gave a pained pinch. "How do you know what I was asking about?"
Ushering the piece towards Alberto's face, Bruno gave a pitiful look. "I never had this issue until I tried to limit my intake when I met your Mama, seeing as she barely ate it, her family believed in minimal amounts of human and Sea-folk, if any at all. Unlike my own folks and I…I craved it. When I asked, she never had craved it like I did. You do too though, don't you?" He smirked. "You crave the flesh and blood. The unique taste."
"But I haven't had any since I was a pup!" Alberto whined, shaking his head towards the meat even as his throat bobbed, saliva building. "How can I want it when I'd spent years without it?"
Bruno shrugged, setting the piece on the bag. "Survival. Knowing how and what state I left you, you didn't hunt very well so what you caught you needed to survive. Now that you can eat normal, your body is craving that which you were raised on. It hasn't been quite that long either though, has it?" He smiled, revealing his teeth.
Alberto looked away, hoping it wasn't what flashed in his mind, even as the blush grew, remembering the sweet taste of Luca's blood. The lightheaded feeling he got. His face grew hot.
"Don't be so stubborn. Judging by the blush, that's when the cravings really got strong, wasn't it? It's simple, so I'm not sure why you're being like this. I freshly caught this this morning, so just take it and eat at least one meal with it a day. It'll stave off the cravings and your sleep might get better." Bruno rolled his eyes. His son had better be grateful.
"WHAT?!" Alberto's voice cracked, blush fading with what his papa was suggesting he do. "But that's still a person! I don't want to give-"
Bruno's face grew more serious. More annoyed. "Would you rather take a bite out of your mate or your make believe family? Be grateful I'm doing anything for you after all this bullshit so stop complaining. You came to me for answers, so I'm giving them."
""Be grateful"? Yes, I did ask, but how is this going to help? Isn't it only giving into the desire? I'd only need more after that sack runs out, right? I'd never hurt my love-" Alberto began, annoyed at his father just giving him the same answer when he knew there had to be an option somewhere else.
Then, Alberto truly believed, in the split second between him speaking and his Papa's claws slashing across his face, left side of his forehead to right jaw, that it was meant to be a slap, despite the rage in his electric eyes. He heard his father speak as he clutched the stinging wounds, letting out hisses of his own, stumbling back and trying not to fall down. It stung and began to throb across his face, any movement only making it worse.
"Don't you dare say you wouldn't." Bruno snarled, a deep rumble vibrating his voice. "Not after what you did." He didn't move toward or away from Alberto, who was struggling to not touch his face as the blood dripped into the soaked grass.
Alberto slowly looked up to his father, their looks mirrors of each other.
"I didn't kill Mama."
—————-
~BACK IN PORTOROSSO~
Luca stayed looking through the window to outside as the storm got worse. At first, it was towards the roads, then he tried a different angle to see the ocean. Once the storm cleared he was going to go into the water and search for Alberto. Even his family had to stay there due to how badly the waves crashed against the rocks and each other. His family checked on him before they were given places to sleep, as did Giulia before she decided to go to bed. "I hope this clears up soon." Luca sighed.
In the far distance, some clouds caught his eye, since they were lower than the clouds showering them with rain. Luca couldn't tell where it was coming from, but his body slowly moved from where he sat, eyes barely leaving the cloud. "What is that?" He whispered to himself.
"Luca? Why are you still up?" Giulia asked, having been thirsty and planning to grab a glass of water.
Luca startled, looking over. "Just something strange. I'm just worried. Do you know what that is?" He pointed.
"It just looks like a cloud. Could be fog or something. Can't really tell with all that rain." Giulia squinted.
Luca nodded, mind drifting back to Alberto, somewhere out there in the storm. "He's been so distant." He fiddled with the bracelet.
Giulia sighed as she saw her friend worry. "Yeah. Mmm…I can see why he is though. Hey, don't give me that look." She snipped, seeing Luca give her a kicked puppy look. She exhaled, grabbing a glass. "I admit, I don't know what he's thinking most of the time. But…most of it does have to do with you. Whatever his goals are usually revolve around you. You have to know that right?" She asked, grabbing a glass of water for him too.
Luca looked at it, frowning. "I never asked him to. Do you think he's growing to resent me?"
Giulia snorted loudly. "As if, dummy. But he loves you a lot. I bet he just doesn't want to worry you when you have your own dreams ahead. Same goes for Papa and I. I know he must've told Papa something but he hasn't opened up that much. Like…at all, if I think on it. We know he has a shitty dad, but other than that, what do we know? He's my brother…he should talk to me." She muttered the last bit under her breath.
Luca smiled fondly at her. "Tell him that when you see him. If I've learned anything, Alberto will keep to himself unless we tell him what we need from him. He'd been alone for a long time after all."
Giulia blushed at him hearing her confess that but realized something from it as well. "He only started being distant when that maledetto bastardo came back right? I'm gonna ask Papa what he knows when he wakes up. I'm tired of being in the dark." She set their glasses down and hugged Luca. "Come on. He'll show up eventually, don't worry too much. Get some sleep." She flicked his head.
Luca smiled, thinking maybe she was right. Well, it was Giulia. She was always right. "Buona notte, Giulia." He waved to her as she went to her room and he decided to grab a blanket and sleep on the couch. "Buona notte…Beto. I hope you're safe." He whispered to the bracelet, clutching it against his chest before falling sleep to the sound of the rain outside.
———-
The storm was passing, revealing pockets of pinkish-yellow light of dawn when Alberto emerged from the temperamental waves with more wounds than he'd left with and the sack his papa had given him. He stayed silent and walked sluggishly and slowly back home.
He was late for when Luca and Giulia showed up, so he couldn't have stayed on the island longer than he had, even as his body protested. They'd be mad at him. He hadn't meant to be gone so long.
He ignored the stinging wounds on his face that still bled and the bruising on his neck and arms.
Alberto didn't even register if he walked by anyone, though he doubted they'd be out after how nasty the storm was and how it lingered with strong winds.
He didn't realize how relieved he felt when he saw only the porch light on. He found a rarely used meat cooler of theirs, a small one, and placed the sack inside, hidden below some tuna and mackerel.
He tried being silent as he shuffled inside, seeing it unchanged except for a few extra sandals at the door and the sound of whistling caught his ear, he saw Luca sleeping soundly on the couch. A lump began to form in his throat but he swallowed it down, knowing if he didn't at least clean up and get the wounds stitched, Luca would worry more. Plus all the blood he was accidentally dragging in, he noticed when looking down. Looks like he couldn't sleep quite yet.
Avoiding all the creaky boards, Alberto made it to the upstairs bathroom, wincing and quietly hissing in pain the way up. He could only assume Luca's family were using his own room to sleep. "Could look in the laundry room for clothes." He muttered to himself. There's no way he could avoid their worry and fretting though. Not with the multitude of wounds he had.
As he gathered the first aid kit he grabbed a rag to start disinfecting the wounds on his body first. Those didn't hurt as much as the ones on his face.
Once he got to those, though, he could barely touch them. His head began to throb so deeply he didn't hear the door open until he heard a familiar voice whisper-yell.
"What the fuck happened, you damn idiot?!" Giulia hissed, worry written all over her face.
"Can…can you grab me a change of clothes?" He asked instead of answering. His stomach and head were still reeling.
"Later I will. Seriously, what happened? You had everyone worried sick. Why do you smell like fire and why are your clothes a mess?" She scrunched her nose at the smell, trying to get closer, hesitant at first until he stayed silent. "Hey!" She snacked the back of his head, "do you hear me? Don't make me raise my voice."
"Giulia, please, my head hurts. I can't…I can't touch my face. It hurts too much." Alberto groaned, each movement reopening the wounds in little areas.
"No duh, your face is full of muscle and nerves. I'll grab something for pain then we'll get started." Giulia sighed exasperatingly.
Alberto waited patiently, still lost in his head. If it weren't for the pain, he'd believe he was dreaming. He didn't register when she sprayed some pain relief spray on his face bit by bit. He looked at her face as she ranted about how much of an idiot he was, her eyes full of fire but she tried keeping her touch light as she attempted to clean the wounds. 'Why am I like this right now? Giulia's here and Luca is downstairs.'
His eyes drifted down to see the fresh looking scar on her leg. 'Why didn't I end it before she got hurt?' The lump in his throat grew.
"Hey, I appreciate you're staying still but don't think this gets you out of it. Luca would be soft on you since he likes you but I'm not. Why weren't you there at the station, huh?" Giulia chided. "Seriously, you're supposed to tell me things." She grumbled as she set up the disinfectant ointment and gauze. She wasn't sure how to wrap a face injury but she could at least try.
"I'm sorry…I'm sorry you got hurt, Sorella." He looked to her, hoping she'd know he was genuine.
"It's not a thing for YOU to be sorry over. It's that bastard's. Plus, now we kinda match. He's the one who attacked your leg early during summer, right? You would've ranted about it if not." She nudged his leg with her foot before continuing her work, not acknowledging she was a little happy to hear the nickname.
Alberto nodded. "I should've stopped him way before."
Giulia snorted. "Enough of this bummer stuff. You want to be smiling when Luca sees you, right? You can explain yourself later then, but for now just focus on letting me fix this and try and smile." She smacked his head lightly again.
Alberto tried to obey her, he did. But then his mind kept playing over things. Playing over what he'd learned that night, piecing together memories, his mistakes.
He began to spiral, remembering what he'd done. "Why should I try and smile?" He snipped. He felt angry again. On edge.
Why was this human woman and the Sea-folk in that house so caring to him when all he'd done is screw up and get them all hurt? "That's all I've been doing, most my life! Look at the state of me, Giulia! I've been a wreck ever since my father came back in my life! You know, maybe I was before that too and just blocked it out, but I'm not sure anymore!" He swung his hands up, forgetting to be silent as a mixture of emotions controlled him all at once. Anger, grief, relief. "Why does a damn human care what happens to me?!" He hastily tried covering his mouth as his eyes widened but he winced in pain.
"Yeah. I hope that hurt. Learn to think before you talk." She snipped at him, a little hurt by his comment, but he was in tough shape so she didn't let it get to her. "You seriously need therapy, Fratello." The corner of her lip quirked, thinking it a little amusing.
Alberto couldn't help it. He began to giggle because she was probably right. "Yeah, maybe."
She started with his forehead. "Well, for being a "damn human", why do you like me?" She asked, unsure if stitches would be necessary. "Might have to get Papa to stitch those."
Gulping, suddenly unsure about things, especially how he should act as he'd done things he'd think were undeserving of love, Alberto laughed it off. "Why would I do that? Your ego is big enough, Huuuuman." He snorted, wincing in pain again only to laugh.
They stayed in a relative silence after that, mostly so Alberto wouldn't move his face and each time he would, little chuckles leaving him randomly, Giulia would smack his head. At least until they determined that yes, stitches would be needed.
——————-
It didn't take them long to find someone who knew how to stitch, as Luca had woken since hearing the commotion but kept quiet outside the doorway, feeling he would've been intruding on some sibling bonding.
"Bonding? Us? You really lost it, Luca." Giulia had commented, sipping an early cup of coffee as Luca stared at Alberto's face.
He wasn't used to (scratch that, he never had) stitching flesh though, so he was concerned about how well he'd do and how much pain he'd put Alberto in. "I'm not sure, Giulia. Pretty sure a hospital would be better. Hm?" He looked down to see Alberto holding some of his fingers with his own rough ones, looking like he wanted a hug, green eyes big.
"It's fine, Luca. They'll heal soon." Alberto had been more quiet and softer spoken since Luca saw his physical state, but Alberto pulled him in then, strong arms around his waist and the crown of his head against Luca's belly, since pressing his face there would hurt. "I missed you so much." He slurred with sleep, inhaling Luca's scent, a soft purr leaving his throat.
With a soft sigh, full of relief, Luca began to pet his head, running his fingers through the soft though salt soaked curls for a few minutes, relief washing over him. "They'll leave terrible scars if you leave it."
"I don't think he can hear you." Giulia whispered, holding back snickers as Luca saw Alberto begin to go limp, one arm secured around his waist and the other falling by the side, his head becoming heavy against Luca's belly.
Luca didn't know what to do at first, shocked Alberto could fall asleep like that and that quickly, but they knew they couldn't just leave him like that, so, with some light coaxing, they woke him long enough to lead him to the couch where Alberto, still mostly asleep, kept a hold on Luca's hand.
Giulia sat in the arm chair while Luca adjusted himself and Alberto to where Luca sat on the couch with Alberto's head in his lap. "How much of it did you hear earlier?" She asked, seeing Luca dab at the wounds as they tried to heal.
Continuing to play with his hair, Luca looked to her. "When he started yelling. I'm sorry he said that, I doubt he meant it."
Giulia rolled her eyes. "I know he didn't. He was hurt, not just physically." She looked out the window for awhile, thoughts running. "His dad might be back. There's not many people who would do that to him."
Luca nodded, "we'll have to ask him questions when he wakes up. I think…we're going to have to make him tell us." He looked to the red and puffy wounds on Alberto's face, seeing them try and glaze over to start healing. The depth of them looked like wounds from claws, so unless it was a Sea-folk, then Giulia was probably right, and that scared him.
Not an hour later and Massimo, along with the Paguro parents woke up, heading down for coffee and to make sure the storm had passed. To their surprise, they saw Giulia making some already and Luca on the couch with a sleeping Alberto. An injured Alberto.
"Giulietta, care to explain?" Massimo asked his daughter, brow raised as he tried not going over to inspect Alberto more. All he could see from his distance was the bandages on the young man's body.
"I don't know much either and I think we should ask when he wakes up. He only fell asleep about an hour ago." She nodded and tiptoed over to give Luca his cup and to look at the wounds on Alberto's face. They were still fresh and it looked like the ointment only helped some. She went back to her papa and began making the adults their own cups.
"His dad? Do you think he's still out there?" Daniella asked, looking over worriedly.
"I'm sure it's fine, Honey. We can let the seas calm some before leaving and can ask him when he wakes up. Simple." Lorenzo smiled, trying to assure his wife. He himself never met a Siren-folk (except for Alberto apparently) but he did hear stories.
"You seem to know something about his kind, Mrs. Paguro?" Giulia asked.
Daniella sighed, then took a sip of her drink before she explained all she knew about Siren-folk, which wasn't much but more than Alberto was willing to say. By the end, Giulia's eyes were wide in horror, though when she looked at her papa to see his reaction, it wasn't as shocked as hers. When she looked to Luca, his own were wide and he looked conflicted.
"So we've been living with a-with a-" Giulia began, clenching her fist, feeling somewhat betrayed, not wanting to say the words but she was shocked. Part of her couldn't believe it, but she knew if she tried thinking of the recent past, they'd be right.
"Giulietta." He put his large hand on her own and saw Machiavelli rub his head against her leg. "Do not finish that sentence. Daniella was only explaining what she's heard and witnessed from other Siren-folk, not our Alberto." Massimo cut in, not wanting the word she was about to say even out in the open. His son, his figlio, was nothing like that.
Giulia nodded, "Sorry."
On the couch, Luca was startled to see Alberto with his eyes open when he looked down from his initial shock, but when Alberto noticed Luca, he held a bandaged finger to his lips, telling Luca to not say anything.
Then to Luca's puzzlement, Alberto rolled to facing Luca's stomach and used one arm to wrap around him, despite the pain, burying his face in his mate's clothed stomach, trying to calm himself. He knew he had explaining to do. He hoped he could get a couple more hours to sleep in before he possibly lost everything.
—————————-
Since Luca was trapped, his family left without him an hour later after they had breakfast, leaving Luca with the Marcovaldo's and a back to sleeping Alberto.
"So, papa, how much did you know?" Giulia asked, the father and daughter taking the day off, her hands on her hips.
Massimo sighed, petting Machiavelli. "All I knew was that he was raised to eat it but hadn't since he was a child. You shouldn't be so angry since he's not actively eating people, yes? So why're you so angry?"
Giulia scoffed. "I'm not mad about that! I'm mad that I wasn't told. I'm mad I seem to be the last to know since Luca's not that shocked." She sent a glare his way.
"It's not like that. I only overheard on the beach when your leg was broken so I asked him. I…I didn't know about the Sea-folk being part of their diet though. That…explains a bit." Luca spoke, back to petting Alberto. "I'm worried about his face wounds."
"Face wounds?" Massimo asked, getting up to see and his eyes widened. "Why aren't these stitched? C'mon we should wake him. Those could scar badly and cause infection." He patted Luca's head, grabbing things so they could go to the hospital.
"I guess even Papa's not sure about stitching it himself." Giulia said, very tempted to wake Alberto rudely.
So…she did.
Out of pure spite, Giulia grabbed Alberto by his bicep, pulling him, but that only seemed to startle him and he ended up grabbing her arms and pulling her down on top of him, both letting out load groans of pain while Luca began giggling.
"Get off me, puttana! Gah, everything hurts!" Alberto yelled, still waking up and unable to move or push her off him.
"How are you nothing but muscle and bone?! I thought it wouldn't hurt that bad and you shouldn't have grabbed me then, bastardo ingrato!" She yelled back, trying not to touch him but she had to get up.
Luca attempted to help, but he was laughing too hard so when he tried, he only ended up on top of Giulia, still laughing, it becoming quickly contagious.
—————————
After the dog pile gone wrong, they were able to get Alberto's face stitched up and his other wounds double checked in the hospital. Nothing was broken, luckily, though the friends and father figure were concerned over the bruises and where he got some minor burns.
Seeing what state he was in only confirmed they needed to have a clear and thorough talk with Alberto.
The talk came sooner than the group had anticipated and none of them started it except for Alberto himself. He'd been quiet the way back home and stared often at the ocean. He knew it was time. There was no more need to be fearful and if it did ruin everything, then he'd just go somewhere new or rot somewhere.
He didn't even give them time to settle into the house, him clearing his throat. "He won't bother anyone again. I promise. For-for real this time." He gulped, messing with his fingers when he felt their eyes on him. "I…I made sure of-of that. And-uh…w-what else? I am truly sorry for not being at the station the other day. I meant to be, I just…" he paused.
"Just what? Come on, spit it out." Giulia replied, looking expectant for answers.
"I was hunting for squid or fish. Trying to get full enough." He looked down. "I learned a lot…when I saw my Papa on the island." The lump in his throat was returning. The words his papa said to him. Their fight… "..he said I killed my Mama and ate her." Alberto began to shake, not daring to look at the faces of the people in front of him.
"How could he think that?! You'd never harm your Mama right?" Luca asked.
"I didn't!" Alberto let out, the shakes visible. "I didn't kill her. But… but I did…the other thing. He wasn't back yet that week. We were low on food and I was too young to swim on my own in such deep water. I-I don't remember or know why she passed but…" Alberto's breath became quick as he remembered how livid his papa was when he saw his son covered in blood. "I don't! I don't remember doing it I swear!" His hands went to his head, tears building in his eyes and straining his stitches.
A familiar scent enveloped him, pulling him down a bit. "It's okay. Breathe, Beto. Just breathe. You're going to reopen your wounds. We'll take it slow, okay? Can you hear me?" Luca asked, his smaller hand rubbing Alberto's back and one hand in his hair. "Ah! Alberto!"
Alberto had collapsed to his knees, taking a surprised Luca with. Similar to the night of the beach party, he wrapped Luca in between his legs and wrapped his arms around him. He then proceeded to silently cry, face pressed (probably painfully) into Luca's neck. "Please don't hate me for what I had to do. Please. Please." He pleaded in a small voice, breaking Luca's heart.
Luca pressed his lips into a thin line, a bit offended yet understood why Alberto thought he'd hate him. "Whatever it is, I promise with my heart that I won't hate you. Neither will they."
"Well, I mean, if he killed a kid or something…" Giulia couldn't help but add.
Luca tried flashing her a "not now" look but it seemed to help, as Alberto let out a small sniffle with a chuckle. "I didn't." He sniffled again. "Just my papa…I'm sorry." He grasped Luca tighter.
None of them knew what to say to that nor what to do. Luca had thought for a moment, maybe Alberto was sad about that. "Why did you? Well, aside from your injuries." He tried taking a guess in his mind, but aside from Ercole when they were younger, Alberto wasn't as violent as he felt he had to be sometimes.
Alberto pulled his head away, gently wiping at his eyes, embarrassed but the grief was still there. "He hated me." He cleared his throat. "He hated me for what I did so he said he'd take my mate and kill him too." When he looked to Luca, his eyes were the clearest Luca had seen them since he came back. "I knew he was telling the truth, so I didn't risk it. I made sure he'd never come back…" his eyes swiped away, much to Luca's relief, but Alberto stared outside for a moment before looking back, "…then I burned him inside the stone building on the island, along with everything else of my past." Even though his brows were furrowed, pulling at some stitching, Alberto smiled.
"That's a lot to take in, Alberto. But, you know," Massimo started, walking over and petting his head, " though I see why you did it, it is not healthy to erase and run away from your past."
"Therapy." Giulia "tried" covering with a cough but all Alberto did to acknowledge that, was try and curl even more in on Luca.
He felt tired, now that he got that off his chest and they weren't going to abandon him for what he had to do.
"Don't fall asleep like this! At least make it to your bed first, Beto!" Luca panicked, feeling him get heavier. "P-plus you need your pain killers. Come on, don't go sleeping yet." He patted Alberto's back incessantly.
Massimo and Giulia laughed, but began to help. With Giulia and Massimo helping them up, they eventually got a sluggish Alberto to bed and Luca refastened the bracelet to his wrist. He refused to release Luca again, so Luca had no choice but to grab a book and let Alberto cling.
Hours passed and as Luca was drifting to sleep, book on his chest, Alberto was waking up, moonlight making his eyes glow as he looked at pale skin and light freckles. "Luca?" He whispered, unsure if Luca was in a deep sleep. His stomach growled, eyes trailing over and landing on Luca's neck.
He gulped down the saliva building and tried to gently untangle himself. Luca had slept on the outside of the bed so he had no choice but to think something else as he climbed over him to get out. Pausing as he went to leave the room, he bent down to press a kiss to Luca's forehead. His stomach growled again, making him force his eyes away. It seemed that now he was healing, the hunger returned.
He headed downstairs and snuck to the small cooler, hesitating the whole way. A 5-minute task took almost 20-minutes. His stomach felt a pinch as he held the sack in his hands and took out a wrapped chunk. He wasn't sure what (who) it was or what part, but it hardly mattered as he knew it was a risk he'd have to take in order to protect his loved ones from himself in the future. He just hoped what his father had said about keeping it at bay was right. He unwrapped the piece, though he couldn't tell what part it was even by looking. A serving size, which was good. "One a day keeps the monster away." He muttered to himself before he decided with shaking hands and a starving stomach, he took the plunge after 9-years without.
Luca was a lot stealthier than what others remembered. He snuck out for awhile as a kid when he met Alberto, so it was only fair he stalked his best friend/lover. He'd only barely dozed when Alberto called his name but he had been too much in his doze to answer. Only when he got over and out of Luca's "barrier" did Luca open his eyes. He had waiting awhile thinking he just had to do something but got worried when a long time passed. He'd went downstairs and to his shock saw Alberto outside the back with a chunk of unknown meat. Not even cooked. He realized pretty quickly what that could've been and he wanted to tell out to Alberto, but the look of anguish already on Alberto's stitched face was enough to make him stop and think.
Luca looked away at first, but looked back quickly when he heard Alberto make a chittering sound after. He was happy, if he were honest, when Alberto stashed the rest of the bag away. Seeing Alberto was coming back, he tried hiding which turned out to be useless as all Alberto did was go to the kitchen to get water. It was the near sob that had him walking over. "Beto?"
Alberto startled, eyes nearly pinpricks but he blinked when he saw how scared that must've made Luca. "Why're you up? Thirsty?" He smiled, it hurting a bit. They heal quickly, but the gashes were deep.
Luca fiddled with his fingers. He saw how Alberto avoiding his instincts hurt him. How giving in hurt his soft heart. What lengths he'd go to keep them safe. To keep others safe. "How often do you have to do that?" He asked, risking getting closer.
"You…saw?" Alberto's voice shook. He looked frightened.
Luca took a few more steps closer, till he could brush his fingers against Alberto's hand. "How often?"
"Luca-"
"Alberto, please! I'm not mad. I'm not scared." Luca admitted he was shocked, more so that his Caro would give in. "You know…I'm more shocked, but I know you. Don't I?"
Alberto looked conflicted and very guilty. "I wasn't lying when I said I went those days to fill my belly. Something…happened that terrified me. So I went back to the island to talk to him about…something I can't control. He gave me the sack. If I can just…just…take enough where the urges stay away, then I'll do it. I know that supply will eventually run out, either by finishing it or it going bad. I'll…I promise I'll figure something out but until then this is all I can do-" he ranted until Luca cupped his cheek, stopping him.
"I know it's wrong, but I'll turn my head to it. It's only fair, since you're trying your best to be good and I'm stuck with you. You won't hurt anyone right?" Luca asked, getting closer, wanting Alberto's face closer.
Alberto gaped. "W-what? I mean-but that's impo-Luca~." He couldn't get a sentence out as he became flustered in more ways than one.
Luca giggled, even though he knew how serious this was. He was just happy to have Alberto back. Not angry, not starving himself. Just his usual Alberto. "I'm sorry. I guess no matter what you do, I can't hate you. I can see how you'd feel guilty, if you did have to hurt others, since just the thought of it makes my heart ache since I no doubt will just believe in your strength. But, Beto, promise me one thing?" By then he was close enough to wrap Alberto's torso in his arms.
With glittering eyes blown wide, Alberto nodded, holding out his pinky, even though he didn't know what Luca would make him promise. "Qualsiasi cosa per te. Tutto e niente."
Luca blushed but giggled more. This was definitely the Alberto he'd fallen for. "Don't end up like your father, okay?" He didn't expect for Alberto to bend down and wrap him up tightly.
"Anything you want. As long as you're by my side, even far away, I'll resist and do what I can to keep you." Alberto whispered, his claws digging through Luca's clothes and pinching his skin.
'Yep. Same old Alberto Scorfano.' Luca thought fondly, turning his head to kiss Alberto's ear which he saw turn a bright red.
They'd figure it out. They always did.