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#and bruno responded with: i wish i was dead
painful-pooch · 10 months
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Medals For Scars - BTHB
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I'd like to thank @whumperofworlds for asking for this! I decided to have this be a fairly short write, but if people want to see what really happens next, just leave a comment so I know lmao. That being said, let me tag the Bru Bru/ Military Whump squad!
@badthingshappenbingo 'Scar to Remember'
Tag Squad: @actress4him, @redd956, @ocean-blue-whump, @pigeonwhumps, @technom0ose, @inscrutable-shadow, @straight-to-the-pain, @thethistlegirl, @sssunshinebreeze, @crash-bump-bring-the-whump, and @brinkofdiscovery
Continued after Tell Me When It's Over
CWs: Military Whump, Angst, PTSD, Panic Attack, Abuse from Commanding Officer, War Talk, *slightly grimdark*, and Mentions of Blood/Gore
~~~
Bruno stood in the hallway, poised and standing with a sense of purpose while his shoulders remained tense. He was dressed in full service blues, his uniform crisp, his tie straight, his shoes well polished, his ribbons positioned over his heart, his wings and occupational badges shining, and the bandages under his mangled chest concealing the damage.
He knew by now how it worked. He'd stand before a panel of both officers and enlisted, explain what had happened in excruciating detail, and then be given their decision of whether or not they would submit it for either the Air Force Cross or some other medal that signifies his honorable actions.
Bruno scoffed unknowingly, the word tasting bitter in his mouth. Honor. Such an overused word, yet people didn't comprehend what the reality of being honorable entailed, the scars it left behind, nor the painful memories that would come to haunt them during the hours of the day and night. People who say they know what war is have no fucking clue what it's like.
They aren't the ones having to put down someone else's pride and joy six feet under. They aren't the ones staying up 'round the clock, knowing that if they snooze for even a moment, their teammate could wind up dead beside them. They aren't the ones having to leave a body behind and telling the parents, spouse, or child of that soldier that their loved one is gone forever.
The taste of war was something Bruno could describe so easily depending on who asked. For the joke of it, he could just say it tastes like a fuck ton of Monster Energy, shitty MREs, and whatever random ass bug crawled in your mouth at night if you left your cot net open. For someone who wanted to really know the truth, Bruno's answer never changed.
It's something you can't stomach until you've learned to harden your heart and mind to it. Your mind can't begin to comprehend the utter chaos of the battlefield. No matter how organized it may seem, it's a cesspool of rage, unhinged emotions, death, blood, and dreams of a long life ending suddenly. When you breathe it the first time, you can't help but gag and cough because it coats your throat with what feels like knives slicing you from the inside. Once you swallow your fear and your woes, then you can taste it. It stings for a second, and then it's a fusion of melancholy and metallic aftertaste. Whether it's your own blood, someone else's, or even the residue from all the gunfire and smoke, it all ebbs into a certain tang that... if you've been around it long enough, it's sweet. If not, it is the most bitter thing you've ever tasted.
His chest began to hurt and he grimaced, a hand being brought up to grip the clothing over his sternum, as though the shrapnel from the accident were back in his chest. It grew harder to breathe, the hallway beginning to tunnel. He shut his eyes and clenched his jaw, hoping the waves of duress would pass by him, but he was met with a gentle tap to his shoulder, his head snapping towards the direction and coming face to face with her.
"Hey, are you okay? You're up next," Miranda spoke in that same voice she used on that fateful day. He wouldn't be here without her, but sometimes...
Sometimes he wished he hadn't survived.
He had to respond back before she could tell he wasn't in the greatest of moods. "Yeah. I'll be fine. It's just an award committee trying to pull every detail they can out of me. It won't be fun, but it'll get done soon enough."
"You can tell them that it's too fresh in your mind, Bruno. Why don't you let me go in-"
"Lieutenant Ryker, are you trying to talk our wonderful Captain Stenberg out of getting the Medal of Honor?" General Kane appeared around the corner, his eyebrow raised, his grey eyes ever so depressing to look into. "Well?"
Miranda straightened up and adjusted her Marine dress uniform, clearing her throat and throwing Bruno a look of displeasure. "No, of course not, General Kane. I was simply insisting that Captain Stenberg take a brief moment of leave to clear his mind of the traumatic events that occurred."
Kane barely even paid a second glance to Miranda, taking a step closer to Bruno, his hand reaching out to straighten Bruno’s tie and messing at the ribbons, wings, and the occupational badges he wore. "Captain here actually passed his baseline trauma exam. Isn't that right?"
Kane wasn't wrong. Bruno did pass the test. After 13 subsequent failures, tape scrubbing, and a few... corrective actions to fix his emotions. "Correct, General Kane. Mira- Lieutenant Ryker, I will be fine. Thank you for your worry, but this won't be long. Recounting the events will be simple enough. I'm assuming the mission has been declassified due to the circumstances of the possibility for the Medal of Honor?" It's a complete joke. He doesn't deserve the damn fucking medal. He deserves to die on the battlefield like a true warrior.
Miranda sighed and raised her hands. "Got it. I'm sorry for assuming that the incident where he almost died doesn't affect him at all. Sorry for assuming that he's just a normal man who sacrificed his damn chest and everything for-"
"That's enough!" Kane roared at her, Bruno unknowingly flinching at that. "You don't get to say whatever you want about this. Weren't you the one he took the blast for? Shouldn't you apologize to him for his fucked up chest?"
Bruno stopped listening at that point, his eyes fixated on a point in the wall, the ringing in his ears getting louder. He could hear the sound of his heart beating proudly in... in his fucked up chest; beating away without a care in the world. He didn't know why he felt really hot all of a sudden, sweat forming on his brow. He couldn't tell why it was getting harder to breathe or how the walls were closing in around him.
He just wanted to duck down.
He couldn't take another blast to his already fucked up chest. He didn't like the rain on his face. It wasn't rain though.
It was blood. Dripping, dripping, dripping down his face, hot and heavy, the screams and cries of agony an undertone of the deafening ringing in his ears.
And then the slap came out of no where, rough and stinging. Bruno registered it seconds after, his hand gently reaching up so that his fingers brushed up against the most likely reddened skin. "S-Sir?"
"Get your sorry ass together, Captain, or so help me I won't help you climb the ranks to Major. Hell, this could get you promoted. Now get your act together, stand straight, control your breathing, and get the fuck in that room. Tell them whatever they want. The mission was scrubbed as a Humanitarian effort to provide food and water to the locals when shit hit the fan for you and Lieutenant Ryker."
Miranda stared in rage and shock, standing in front of Bruno, her finger in Kane's face. "You *don't* touch him like that. I thought you knew better than to fuck over the one person on the team that half respects you."
The General stood there, his demeanor already giving Bruno a bad vibe, who was barely even there as it was. Kane and Miranda stared down one another, a silent discussion going on; one that Bruno didn't know what the contents were until Kane scoffed, pointing at Bruno. "If he fucks this up, I'll have you both on details that will make the Marines look like rocket scientists when they cut the grass in front of the their barracks with safety scissors. Understood?"
Miranda would have said something, but Bruno’s squeeze on her shoulder reminded her to choose her own battles, sighing and saluting alongside Bruno. "Copy. In that case, I'll leave Bruno to go ahead and present to the panel his recollection of events."
Kane grinned so smugly and patted Bruno’s cheek. "Atta boy, you'll be a fine officer. Now go get yourself a nice medal and a promotion. Don't let me down. You can't afford to."
The hall became so quiet, Bruno and Miranda watching as Kane disappeared, a sigh of relief coming from beside him. "I hate him so much," Miranda spoke with so much venom in her words. "I just want to... agh, forget it. He doesn't deserve another moment of my time. Bruno are you going to actually be fine?" She held his cheek, her lovely green eyes shimmering like a forest.
Bruno didn't even know what to say in return, so he took her hand off his face, whispering back, "It doesn't matter if I'm fine, Miranda. That's not something that should hold any importance." He forced a grin and smirk, winking at her with a bit of his dashing demeanor he puts up whenever he's pushing others away. "Besides... it's not something I can afford. I'm the leader of this team. I hold the line. I am the one who has to keep the rest of us up."
"And what about you? Who's holding you up? Bruno, don't walk away from this!" Miranda raised her voice to a harsh whisper, trying to stop Bruno from knocking on the door.
Bruno spun on his heels, and he stood rigid, holding back the anger that was rising in him. "When are you going to learn to just give up on me? I'm a lost cause. The sooner you accept that reality, the easier it'll be when..."
"When you die? Is that it? Do you just want to die, Bruno? Should I have let you bleed out on me back there?" Miranda was starting to tear up, making Bruno pinch the bridge of his nose tightly.
"I have to go... please, before I say anything else to make this worse than it already is." Bruno turned away again, knocking at the door and waiting to be told to enter and stand before the panel.
"You may enter, Captain Stenberg," a male called out from within the room, Bruno's hand reaching to turn the handle and pull it.
Miranda's voice was filled with sorrow and pain when she bid farewell. "Before you go in there... I'm not giving up on you. Not then, not now, and not ever. Now go get your medal that you earned."
Bruno couldn't turn to her. He didn't want her to see how much shame and pain he had within him. He heard the fading foot steps go away from him, and in order to not keep the panel waiting, he opened the door and entered the judgement chamber.
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justheweirdo · 2 years
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A little, but important, sneak peek from a very long project. Idk when it’ll come out, but I hope soon! There’s a piece of my heart in it <3
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“THIS MIRACLE ISN’T A BLESSING AT ALL!” at the end, Bruno shouts out his thoughts and a short moment of silence comes in.
He talks again, but now his voice is low and trembling, “We are suffering mamá… Julieta is always full of work and stress, Pepa shuts her emotions down over and over, the kids are stressed too and I… I can’t take it anymore… everyone hates me, my familia hates me, you hate me, I hate- I’m leaving…” he speaks in fear while his hermanas embrace each other with wide, wet eyes and a little grey cloud on their heads.
“If you leave this house, you are DEAD to me,” Alma says quietly, she is calm, so calm that she scares him, this time her face become apathetic and her eyes empty.
“MIERDA MAMÁ, I WISH I WAS DEAD!” he barks. He gasps at his own words and looks for his hermanas eyes. A tear runs in his beard and he escapes in his room before his mamá can respond.
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See no, hear no, speak no
Au were Bruno, Dolores, and Antonio represent the three evils, kind of
It’s after the casita is rebuild, a month later. Bruno and Dolores have some issues with rejusting to their powers
One night Bruno is awake and he talks to casita, telling it about while he loves his gift for seeing thing for the family, he hates the pain and fear it brings.
He’s also worried about Dolores and how she handing all the sounds again, after many month of hearing like a normal person
He says something like “I don’t want to see the things I see, I don’t want Dolores to hear the things she hears and I don’t want Antonio to grew up speaking and knowing about horrible things”
He then goes to bed. The casitas hears his worries and makes a plan! Why not help it’s little seer and give him what he wishes?
The next morning Bruno wakes up blind, Dolores wakes up deaf and Antonio mute
The trio obviously freak the hell out which cause the family to wake up and see what’s going on
Chaos
As the family keeps overthinking and talking over one another, Bruno keep responding to a voice he hears
Mirabel notice; “tio…who are you taking to?”
Bruno; “her name is Alice? Is she a doctor? She’s telling me to try to calm down”
“Bruno……your talking to a rat”
More chaos as the family realized that Bruno is blind but somehow as a poet like Antonio???
Then Dolores has a vision. Her eyes glow red and pop! A ruby tablet appears, showing Antonio leading the family to somewhere
As the chaos is happening Antonio is freaking out, he can’t talk and now he can hear everything, sudden a voice is super loud, asking for help. Not knowing what to do he pull on his mom’s dress and leads her to the voice, the family fallows
After the person is safe the family goes back home but tells the villagers that they have a family tap they can’t come out today, the villagers are confused but understanding
So Bruno is blind but can speak and understand animals. Dolores is dead and now has visions, and Antonio is mute but has superhearing
Bruno explained about taking to casita and how he wishes he didn’t have to see what he sees
The family then spends hours trying to get casita to undo the wish, no not even mirabel can change the sentiment house’s mind
The trio is now stuck like this, possibly permanently
But that ok their the Madrigals! They can overcome this……maybe?
A month later and surprisingly Bruno is the one that seem to adjust the most to this wish. He explained that for 10 years he Bering living in a close dark space only talking to the rats, the only difference is that the rats can respond
Antonio has no problems being mute, he never really talk much before. But he is sad that he can talk or understand his animals friends or tell his family how much he loves them. But for the superhearing that’s hard for him.
Especially since he get migraines and his ears ring
Bruno still has side effects from his one seer powers (weak lungs, migraine, chorionic pain). Dolores now has that to Experian plus her old side effects, not fun
As for Dolores she has the hard time adjusting. While she didn’t like her old gift, it was helpful. She could hear everything and everyone and know that their safe. She could hear her family and their movements. But now her head is empty and she has anxiety of not knowing her family is safe.
All three have a hard time explanation to the other how the powers work. Dolores can hear so she can’t hear how she talks, Antonio is 5 so he can’t spell and Bruno can’t read what the others wrote down
The family is now taking sign language for Dolores and Antonio and Bruno is learning how to read braille.
It’s a hard adjustment but they can figure it out….
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BRUNO & THE STRANGER
💚❤️💚❤️💚
She knocked on Bruno's glowing door. She remembered what it looked like on the inside and realized he probably couldn't hear it. She let herself in and called out. The sky above had changed with the time. She heard Bruno respond from the top of the stairs.
"I'm not climbing that again," she muttered under her breath. As previously done, she decided to gather the magic up in a bubble to launch her up to Bruno's vision cave. She launched as before, but it wasn't nearly as fun, terrifying Bruno out of his wits. This time, though, she landed in Bruno's waiting arms.
"How did you know I'd do that?"
"I knew you wouldn't climb the stairs," he chuckled.
"We've got to find a solution to this," she peered over the edge.
"Another time," he was still holding her, bridal style.
She could feel his gaze watching her. She turned to meet his eyes and kissed him. A deep kiss full of longing and promise.
"Have you had enough time to process what I told you?" She asked him once he had put her down.
"You mean the part where you're literally hundreds of years old? Or the part where you can speak to the dead and actually spoke to my father?"
"Both, obviously"
He closed the door to his vision cave. A few scattered pieces of visions glowed green.
"I don't know how to feel about any of it," he shook his head, trying to clear out thinking space.
"What... what if I could -" Lina had started but knew she was treading on an open wound.
"If I could... like... show you. Your father?"
Bruno's eyes got wide.
"Being able to speak and communicate with the departed is something I was born with. It wasn't taught to me. I did learn how to... help others see their departed loved ones. I know you'll need time to think about it, and it's very, very sudden -" she was cut off by Bruno rushing her and squishing the air out of her lungs in a hug. She put her arms around him, with comforting sounds coming from her voice.
When he withdrew, he was smiling.
"I wish the entire family could -"
"They could,"
"We can all meet him??"
"Yes, it..." she bit her bottom lip. The spell to cast would come at a cost, but it could be done.
"In theory, yes, you could all meet him at the same time. In practice, you won't 'hear' him. You'll be able to communicate -"
"When can this be done?"
"Traditionally, the best time to cast the spell is Samhain, but the seasons are reversed in the Southern hemisphere. When is the last harvest?"
"Last harvest? We harvest year round. Pepa keeps the crops watered..."
"When is the next equinox, and when is the shortest day of the year, in terms of daylight hours?"
"I don't know. The days have felt shorter, and I'd have to ask and find out."
Catalina was deep in thought. Should she tell him what all would be involved?
"It works like my light magic, like when you were telling the children stories and I cast light figures in the sky. At least, that's how it appears. Kind of like the figures in your visions." She sat quietly.
"What will you need?" He asked.
"So the way I do this, I show all the departed humans that are still with us. Which means if anyone else has passed in the last 50 years, and if they are lingering, they will be visible, too. It takes a lot of energy. Whatever encourages the spirits to come visit, the better. I will need someone to look over me because I will be all but incapacitated," she took a handful of sand and let it fall through her fingers. "For the ones beyond the veil to be seen, the caster will be as though in childbirth. Life energy in exchange for life energy." The sand ran out. She avoided Bruno's eyes.
She felt a warm hand on hers and looked to see Bruno smiling with tears in his eyes. Her heart melted at the sight. In that moment she would've done anything for him.
He uttered some smattering of Spanish half whispered, she didn't catch it all but the following hug and feeling of tears on her shoulder translated it all. She nuzzled her face into his neck in response.
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honeyxmonkey · 2 years
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Bruno: I can't find it!
Julieta: can't find what, hermano?
Bruno: my will to live
Julieta: [extreme concern]
Mirabel in the corner: [wheeze]
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Yandere Madrigal Pt.2 Forever~
You woke up only to find yourself roped in a chair but also in a tower were bruno was. you were trying to unknot the knot but it was no use."Just Give up Already your never gonna leave this place" Bruno said chukiling. He was about to say Something but Then he heard his mom calling for him. he was about to leave But then he said "If you try to escape this tower your sleeping with rats!". When he left you saw a rat soming closer you thought it was gonna bite but it was only going to help you with knots.'Yes!' you said to yourself whispering. You went down the stairs only to see Isabella Checking if the doors and windows were open so she can close them. she was about to go to brunos but Julieta called her down for something "Coming Mom!" Isabella said. You Quikily ran to Mirabels room hoping nobody saw you or heard! You were relieved that mirabel wasn't in her room. You went to the Window only to see high place to jump but you had an Idea! You went to Mirabels bed and grab all the blankets and sheets to go down but also notice that it was dark outside and cold. You went down and Run as fast as you can and caring if you heard Pepas screaming wit thunder or Hearing Mirabels Complaing voice you just ran to your parents house. When you Opened the door you notice the blood in the house, You were going to your parents room "Mama? Papa?" and saw both of your parents dead on the floor. You were about to scream but then someone choking you. You never thought that camilo would choke with such anger "YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN LEAVE US!?" Camilo screamed. He then kicked you in the stomach coughing up blood but then passing the only thing you felt was someone Carring you in bridal stlye. You really whished that you will die already but that never came true, You would always get beat up by anyone if you have misbehave but then Julieta Would always heal you. "You Know what I wish for?" you Didn't respond to Dolores " To Marry You~" Dolores said Whispering while grinning. You Wanted to die... To Live happily... With your parents and friends... But You knew had stay here... FOREVER~...
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loveinfall · 2 years
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Bittersweet
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Pairing: Eren x Reader
Format: Angst w/ no comfort- Season 4 spoilers
Warning: none
Summary: In which Eren pays a bittersweet visit to some strangers old friends.
This isn’t what I want at all.
I wish the good old days would come back—the days where we were we all were close and felt close. The days where everyone was on the same page and had the same goal, to destroy the titans and restore humanity’s freedom. The days where Mikasa, Armin, Eren, and I would run around in the walls that sheltered Shiganshina and its citizens as we’d listen to Armin’s ambition about proving the sea.
The days..when I had him.
Isn’t that right, Eren?
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The atmosphere was heavy.
Shuffling could be heard outside the door but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Not when the man sitting in front of us could transform any minute.
“We’re going ahead.” A male voice outside the door spoke, breaking the silence in the room.
“Very well.” Eren replied.
It was silent again. I hated this kind of silence, the silence where you know something bad is bound to happen. I could easily guess I wasn’t the only one nervous, just taking one glance at Gabi’s expression you could easily guess she was beyond horrified. If it wasn’t for Armin speaking up then we all would’ve just been sitting here with our hands on the table.
“Was that Floch’s voice? Did you come here with Floch?”
“Yes.” Eren blankly replied.
I looked at Eren then looked around the room, everyone’s face was covered in dread. I looked at Eren again and held eye contact with him for a split second until looking down in realization of what I’d done. It hurt to see that the light that once sparkled in his eyes had died and dimmed over the years. His determination and passion wasn’t visible anymore. Eren looked so…dull.
“I just wanted to speak with you. Just a quiet chat…Conflict is not necessary to solve Eldia’s problems.” Eren announced.
I wanted to talk too but the words weren’t there. I was afraid that the questions I had would make me seem too inquisitive, in which I probably wouldn’t get any answers to. I believed it’d only leave me more curious. The thought of it only made me bite my lip and squint my wide eyes in anxiousness.
I could at least start it off shallow.
Releasing my lip from my teeth I spoke up, “Are Hange and everyone else…” I was cut off. “Hange and the others will be fine. We’re just re-locating them.” Eren reassured looking at the table.
Well that’s a relief. I let a small smile bloom on my face as I kept my eyes on my hands that’s still sat on the table.
“Eren, we’re the ones that wanted to speak with you.” Armin stated. “We just wanted to know what you were thinking, Eren. Why did you decide to attack Marley on your own…?” Armin sputtered.
“Eren, have Yelena and Zeke really won you over?” I asked looking up at the brown haired man who’s attention was now on me. Mikasa also looked up at Eren with worry in her eyes.
Eren lightly leaned in his chair with his hands still on the table.
“I am free.” He responded. “Huh?” Armin questioned as we all looked at him shocked yet confused. “Whatever I do. Whatever I choose. I do it out my own free will.” Eren added on. Mikasa, Armin, and I just looked at him with worry and confusion.
“You met with Yelena in secret the night the railway opened, right?” Armin interrogated. He pushed farther “Even after that, this has all been what you wanted?”
“That’s right.” Eren simply stated. Mikasa quickly cut him short. “No. You’re being controlled.” I nodded in agreement.
“The real Eren would never get innocent citizens and children involved, even if they did live in the enemy’s territory.” Mikasa voiced looking him dead in the eye and stood up.
“Not to mention you…you said it yourself…you care about us more than anyone.” I uttered recalling the time we discussed who was gonna inherit Eren’s titan.
“Are we wrong? You saved me from those kidnappers…and wrapped this scarf around me…you did it all because you’re a kind person, right?!” Mikasa mentioned. “Didn’t you also hold my hand to reassure me anytime I was scared because you’re kind!” I added slightly standing up and holding my hand out as a demonstration.
“I said keep your hands on the table.” Eren remarked in a cold tone.
The tone he used was so unlike the Eren I knew, so it made me flinch in surprise. Even though I had more to say, Mikasa and I just sat down with my eyes casted back on my hands that now lay on the table. Accepting the fact Eren didn’t have ears for anything me nor Mikasa had to say.
“I hid myself in Liberio and spoke with Zeke. Brother to Brother…” Eren said. “I learned a lot then. Zeke knows more that Marley does.” Now focusing his attention on Armin, he asked “Armin. You’re still going to visit Annie aren’t you?” Armin didn’t respond but instead looked at him shocked. Eren took it as confirmation and continued.
“Do you choose to do that? Or is that Bertolt?”
Now Armin was alarmed “Wh-What do you..” Armin trails off.
“If memories play a major role in forming a person’s identity, that could only mean that Bertolt’s become apart of you. A part of an enemy soldier that feels love for another enemy soldier is influencing your judgment and how you move.” Eren asserted with a sharp look.
How could he say such things out loud and to Armin of all people? Even after all the hardships we’ve been through together this is the thanks we get? Eren, just what the hell are you up to?
“Armin…Bertolt’s gotten into your brain. You’re the one being controlled by the enemy.”
“Eren!” I snapped, looking at him with now furrowed eyebrows and a frown. “What’re you trying to do?” Mikasa spoke up with a hardened gaze. Eren turned his eyes to left of the table where we both sat.
“I’m saying that there’s nothing further removed from freedom than ignorance.” He mugged. I grimaced at his use of the word ignorance to mock us. “I learned about the Ackerman there too.” Eren added closing his eyes and pausing. “The reason…you’re strong, Mikasa.” The male continued.
Mikasa perked up at the mention of her clan and name. I raised an eyebrow at his second sentence. “Eren, what’re you talking about.” I spoke up with a voice laced with obvious confusion. “For all their efforts, Marley’s scholars barely have any information about titans.” The emerald eyed male voiced.
“But they did discover there was an accidental byproduct of Eldia’s experiments with the subjects of Ymir over the centuries…” He trailed off before continuing. “…A bloodline that could partly manifest the strength of a titan while in human form. The Ackerman clan.” I let out a silent gasp with wide eyes.
Mikasa’s really strong but Eren could still be lying. Manifesting strength? C’mon now.
“The Ackerman clan was designed to to protect Eldia’s king. Traces of that instinct still remain. So when Ackerman sense the presence of a certain host, the remnants active in their blood.” Eren continued. “Huh?” Mikasa expressed through both words and facial expressions. “In other words, you only cling to me…” He stopped before furrowing his eyebrows.
“Because of your instincts as an Ackerman.”
Mikasa eyes widened in shock but I could also see the hurt in them. I opened my mouth to say something but I was interrupted by Eren.
“In that moment, when you were facing death, you obeyed my order. To fight. All of the conditions were complete to awaken the instincts that hid in your Ackerman blood.” He said reminiscing both him and Mikasa’s first life-or-death battle. “…You gained the battle experiences of all past Ackermans—by way of path. Only because your blood mistakenly thought I was the host you had to protect.”
“…This can’t be.” Mikasa quivered. She looked so hurt it made me hurt, my hurt was quickly turning into anger by the second because of how much Eren downplayed Mikasa’s sacrifice for him. “It can’t? Why not?” He asked as if to mock her. “It was not.” She paused before continuing. “…a mistake.”
“It was because it was you…because of you, Eren.” The coal haired girl desperately tried convincing with a pained smile, whilst shaking. “…I was able to become strong. It was all because of you.” She claimed. Mikasa’s right—everyone became strong for Eren.
“Based on the research—once an Ackerman awakens their powers, they often suffer from sudden headaches. They say this correlates to the real self resisting from being forced to protect the host. Sound familiar?” Eren countered.
Dread and a mix of hurt covered Mikasa’s face. I could assume it was true. “What I’m saying is that the real Mikasa—disappeared in that cabin on the mountain at nine years old. Leaving only you behind, ever faithful to your Ackerman instincts.” He resumed. “No…” Mikasa denied.
“A clan created to follow order. But don’t worry Mikasa. Y/N here is just like you.” He “reassured”. I let out a confused noise, ripping my gaze from Mikasa to Eren. “You aren’t tied by blood but most definitely created to follow me around like a pup with no owner. I held your hand because I love you? Don’t make me laugh.” Eren professed burning holes in my face.
His gaze made me feel small and alone at this table full of people. Eren doesn’t love me? Even though we indirectly expressed our feeling under the fireworks that night? I could feel that familiar burn at the tip of my nose that made it flare up into a soft red.
It hurt.
“You mean nothing to me. All those words I said were meaningless. All you did was put a weight on my back, weighing me down with this dumb romance of yours.” Eren spat. “You trained like a mad dog to keep up with me just for it to mean nothing, giving up time and meals, all for nothing. Silly don’t you think?” He continued
“No—it was for you. Because—It was because you pushed me to-” I tried explaining with a lump in my throat preventing me from speaking properly. “Now you’ve gone mad and you’re starting to sound like Mikasa.” The male asservated. I leaned back slightly and let my shoulders drop, hurt and confused.
“Both you and Mikasa are silly. One tied by blood, the other by delusional—one sided love. Following orders without a protest for no reason even if it meant giving up their own lives and bodies. In other words slaves.” Eren presumed with a never wavering expression.“Stop it, Eren!!” Armin desperately tried stopping the brunette.
“Do you know what I hate most in this world?” The expressionless male’s question hung in the air. “Anyone who isn’t free. They’re no better than livestock.” He stated matter-of-factly.
“Eren!!” Armin shouted again.
“Just looking at the both of them made something inside me boil. Now I’ve come to see why.” Eren continued verbalizing.
“I couldn’t stand to look at delusional slaves who never failed to follow orders without question”
My breath hitched and I could only look at my hand that would most likely never feel warmth or comfort again. I could only think about the moments me and Eren spent together in Marley. Did it mean nothing to him? Was our—my love really one sided?
“Ever since we were children…Y/N, Mikasa—I’ve always hated the both of you.” Eren finally put into words.
I couldn’t contain contain the tears that finally spilled from my eyes and the little noise that slipped from the back off my throat.
“Eren!! How dare you!!” Armin screamed jumping out of his chair onto the table ready to punch Eren.
“Armin hold on!” I said reaching for him. Before I knew it Mikasa had slammed Armin onto the table using a technique taught to us during our cadet days. All three of our chairs were now on the floor. “I told you. All you both have done was dedicate yourselves to a delusion and nothing else, even attacking and threatening to attack one of your closest friends.” Eren spoke eyes darting to my hand reaching out for Armin and to Mikasa’s grip on Armin, voice and expression never wavering.
I quickly rejected my hand and pulled it to my chest. “N-No” Mikasa stuttered backing away from Armin with her hands up as a surrender. I saw a tear escape from her already clouded eyes. Next thing I knew Armin had punched Eren knocking him out the chair, and knocking the table over in the process.
Armin had yelled so loud that Eren’s guards had entered the room to check up on him. “Mister Jeager!!” Both men yelled with beads of sweat on their face. “It’s fine.” Eren replied with blood running down his nose to his chin.
“So Armin…” Eren spoke, whilst throwing Armin into the shelf of wine in the process. “We’ve never fought before, have we?” He continued, walking over to Armin who was recovering from the previous attack and bleeding from the mouth.
Armin ran forward with a war cry preparing to punch Eren but Eren was quicker. “Know why that is?” He paused in between punches. “Because it’d never be a fair fight!” Eren finalized giving Armin a knee to the side. Armin fell to the floor. He was done. “Just stop…” Mikasa pleaded, tears streaming down both our faces. “Armin…” I whispered in between sniffles walking over to him and passing Eren in the process without sparing him a glance. Dropping down on my knees, I helped Mikasa lift him up.
“Like I said at the start. If you told me where Zeke is…there’d be no need for us to fight.” Eren reminded. “So just come with us. Take them away.” He ordered the two guards. “Yes, sir!” they both complied.
“So? What is it…you even wanted to say?” Armin breathed. “Is this the freedom you wanted? The freedom to hurt Mikasa and Y/n…? Tell me.” Armin asked. I looked down at the floor with slightly blurry vision and a frown. “You’re a slave, too…and your master’s a worthless bastard.” Armin insulted. “Who’re you calling a slave.” Eren grunted gritting his teeth, his expression and voice wavering ever so slightly. “Let’s go.” He demanded.
“Where?” I asked, voice shaky. “Where it all started. Shinganshina district.”
I look down at my hand and tear up at Eren’s words from earlier.
My hand’ll never be held again, huh..
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showtoonzfan · 2 years
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Encanto hot take (and rant)
BEFORE YOU READ: Hey guys, I know it’s been awhile, but I’m back! So....Encanto has become my current obsession. I may do a review on it, because there’s so much I want to say, but for now, here’s a hot take I wanted to share. Please let it be known that I already typed this whole thing out, so I DID trail a little at one point, and I end on another thought I had, but the hot take is about Bruno. When it comes to what I wrote about Peppa, Bruno, Isabela, and Alma, I’ll elaborate and go into more detail about them as characters some other time. I say this because I don’t want people to get caught off guard at what I say because it’s out of the blue I will admit lol. Anyway, there’s a LOT here, so if you feel like reading....a lot, feel free!
So for those who don’t know, there was a storyboarded deleted scene where Maribel is doing chores with Agustin and Felix, and at one point, Felix explains how Bruno (at that point named Oscar) left. In one of the old versions of the movie, Bruno had legit snapped at his mother, and said he couldn’t take in anymore and wanted to leave. (He was probably so over the edge and driven to that point, I doubt he did it out of nowhere). Alma responded with “If you leave this house, you are dead to me”, and he responded with “I WISH I was dead”. And yeah, holy shit that’s deep. Eventually the director/writer got asked about this, and he said that they felt Bruno being afraid to confront his mother about everything was a “stronger” arc for him and.......am I the only one who....disagrees with that? Wouldn’t it have been stronger if Bruno actually DID finally snap at his mother and THEN was afraid to confront her about it years later after leaving? It doesn’t even change his character either, he could have still been timid and shy, but he feels bad about what he did and regrets saying it. Then, in the end when they reunite, he sticks up for Maribel, but immediately tries to apologize to his mother, only for her to stop him and admit SHE was wrong the entire time, ya know....instead of HUGGING him and having everything magically fixed. 🙄
And it’s sad because I actually DID like that scene, where all it took was Maribel to give him the push he needed to confront his mother and say “I don’t care what you think of me, but you’re not going to blame her”. It was the first time we actually saw Bruno upset and ready to possibly yell at her for all she’s did, only to have her hug him, which....yeah, I guess is heartwarming because it reveals she truly missed her son, but still....with all the emotional core the movie built up, only to lead to.....THAT, it just doesn’t work in my opinion. I legit would have LOVED to see Bruno snap at his mother, and the fact that it looked like he was legit ABOUT to only for them to cue the happy forced ending is just...sad. Because yeah, let’s not teach kids that even though people can be soft and timid, they can still BREAK. Let’s not teach kids that even though you can love someone, that person can still be in the wrong, or needs to hear it. And most importantly let’s not teach kids that even though someone APOLOGIZES, the damage done can NOT magically go away. All they need to know that if someone apologizes, it’s OKAY. Just forgive that person, because forgiving someone is the most EASY thing in the world! 😀
And let me make something clear. I DON’T....HATE....ALMA. I don’t hate her, I really don’t. Do I despise what she did and how she treated her family for years? Yes. Do I get downright pissed whenever I talk about how she treated her family? Yes, but I don’t hate her. I don’t want people to think I’m trying to attack her and make her look like she’s in the wrong and that it’s all her fault, and that the lesson they shared with her wasn’t good, because it WAS. I’ll say right now, the main thing I absolutely LOVE that they did with her character is not make her a heartless villain. It’s clear that she cares about her family, she loves each and every one of them, but she was FLAWED. She cared about her family, but she treated them all in a way that wasn’t healthy, and the movie ACKNOWLEDGES that. It’s so good because there are people like that out there who exist. People who genuinely LOVE their family, but don’t treat them the right way. And I’ll say it again, I’m so glad she apologized and owned up to what she did. But you know what I DO hate? I hate how this fandom will whine, bitch, and attack someone for NOT liking a character. I shouldn’t even have to explain myself on how I feel about Alma, but I did anyway because I don’t want people to think I’m attacking her, even thought it’s pretty obvious why I get pissed when I see the ending of everyone easily forgiving her. Like, I’m sorry, but if I don’t like Alma, then I don’t like Alma. I UNDERSTAND WHERE SHE’S COMING FROM, but I’m allowed not to like the person she became after her husband died. Same with Isabella, because Jesus Christ, I have seen SO MANY fans upset at the mere THOUGHT of someone not liking her, and I’m over here like “Gee...I wonder why....😒”. She was a bitch throughout the entire movie, and then people get flabbergasted at why some don’t like her, and think that even though it sucked that she was being perfect her whole life, it doesn’t excuse how she treated Maribel, and the movie treats that scene as if it was MARIBEL who had to learn and come to grips with Isabela, instead of...maybe BOTH of them understanding where each came from? In the movie it was Maribel being like “oh okay NOW I SEE what happened, and what you went through you’ve changed my mind” like......?? Or how I see people surprised that no one likes Peppa. I LIKE Peppa as a character, but if I think her holding a grudge against her brother for YEARS and not even standing up for him when the town talked shit (before he left) makes her look a TAD unlikable, then I’m sorry, but that’s what I think. Before you get mad, yes I know about Peppa and her arc, I’ll elaborate more in another post. But yeah, fandom, you need to calm the fuck down.
And that my friends, is why Encanto is too complex to be a kids movie, let alone a DISNEY movie. If this movie was longer and aimed at mature audiences, or maybe for ALL audiences, it would have been SO SO MUCH BETTER. I don’t blame the writers for the ending or the nitpicks I had, I blame mostly Disney and the time they had. This movie is filled with complex family dynamics, REALLY COMPLEX, and to tell it as a kids movie wouldn’t have been my choice. I’m one of those people who thought this should have been a show instead so...yeah. Okay, I’m done wasting your time, I’ll make another post elaborating and explaining more about what I said above, so please don’t attack me, at least UNTIL I explain fully lol. Thank you for reading, and l’ll see you soon! 👋💕
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missing from here, missing from me
Fic title: missing from here, missing from me
word count: 3347
summary: Alberto goes missing. Luca manages as best he can, which is not very well at all. Alberto/Luca, Luca and Giulia as close friends, and some dad!Massimo angst in the background. 
warnings: angst with a happy ending, crying, tension in friendships and family dynamics at times, missing person, mentions of/allusions to experimentation, reckless decision making. Please let me know if I missed anything. 
A/N: First time writing for Luca and it’s an absolute angst fest. Would love to know what you think! Played with structure and style here too, so I hope you enjoy it! <3
--
Luca knows before Giulia’s mother has hung up the phone that something is very wrong. Alberto is the first thought in his head, and it’s the one that does not let go.
He stands up so fast that he knocks back the chair he’d been sitting in as Giulia’s mother gasps. It clatters against the wooden floor and he should probably pick it up but his feet are rooted to the ground and his hands cannot let go of the edge of the table.  Giulia says something, but she sounds like she’s in a faraway tunnel. Her touch on his arm is the only thing that keeps Luca from bolting out the door.
Giulia’s mother says little. “How long ago?” she asks into the reciever, followed by a “We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
Luca’s stomach has a lead weight as Giulia’s mother turns brown eyes onto her daughter, and then to Luca.
“It’s Alberto,” she confirms. “He’s missing.”
--
The train ride is long. The Italian countryside passes by in a rush of greens and blues and grays. Luca looks out the window and thinks that it would be more beautiful if he was on a Vespa, with Alberto’s chest vibrating beneath his arms as he shouts with eurphoria.
Missing.
Alberto has been missing for 13 hours and Luca feels like there’s a part of him that’s missing too.
--
His own mother and father, in their human forms, are there at the Marcovaldos’ place when Luca opens the door. Giulia runs straight into her father’s embrace, pressing her tear-stained face to his broad shoulders. His rumbling voice offers words of reassurance that Luca doesn’t hear.
Luca stands in the doorway and feels lost.
His mother takes a step towards him, says his name. Luca cannot bring himself to move.
“Where is Alberto?”
--
The police had already come, Giulia’s father explains as the adults drink coffee and Giulia drinks water and Luca tries not to throw up. What if he’s dead? Luca thinks and then immediately: Silenzio, Bruno.
There’s a crease between Signor Marcovaldo’s thick brows and a hunch to his shoulders. He is gripping his mug of coffee so tightly Luca wonders briefly it if might break apart in his hand.
“We’ll find him,” Luca’s father says. Luca opens his mouth to respond when he realizes that his father is looking at Signor Marcovaldo. That the words of reassurance were not meant for his son, but for the other father in the room.
Giulia’s dad sets his cup on the table in front of him and walks out of the room without responding. Luca sees the way he about to slam the door before he stops it, and closes it softly.
--
His parents offer to take him home. Luca uses as few words as possible to explain that he would rather stay here. In case there’s news. Luca expects a fight that is parents don’t give him.
His mother hugs him extra long before they leave. Luca returns it, if only because he knows it will help his mom feel better.
They promise to come back in the morning. Luca nods. He bites his tongue from asking them to stay, too. What if they disappear like Alberto?
--
Giulia is quiet that night. Luca sleeps out on the hideout and tries not to feel like the weight of Alberto’s absence will send him tumbling through the floor and crashing to the ground. Giulia leaves the window open and for that, Luca is grateful.
“Luca?”
“Hm?”
The silence that follows is suffocating.
“Do you think Alberto… ran away?”
“No.”
“I’m scared for him.”
Luca knows that he should offer some words of reassurance. That’s what friends do. But he cannot speak past the hardening lump in his throat and he stares at the lights above him that Alberto once insisted were anchovies and can feel his chest pulse with an ache he cannot name.
Alberto was always the one to quiet the fear inside of him. Silenzio, Bruno, Luca thinks fiercely, and swallows when he realizes that voice sounds an awful lot like Alberto.
--
Luca smooths his hand over the poster to adhere it to the wall. His hand does not linger no matter how much he wants it to. Neither does his gaze. If he does either for too long, he will begin to cry.
“C’mon,” Luca tells Giulia when he can feel her worried stare boring into the side of his face. “We have more posters to hang up.”
“Hey,” she says, putting her hand on his shoulder.
He shrugs out from under her grip. “I’m fine.”
He knows that he is a terrible liar. He knows that Giulia can read him better than anyone. He waits for Giulia to call him out on it, unsure of what he will say in response.
She says nothing. She can, after all, read him better than anyone. So she hands him the next poster, and they get back to work.  
--
I’m gonna fix this. That was his promise to Alberto a year ago. He wants that to be his promise now. He wants to say it—wants to scream it—wants it to be true.
Luca doesn’t know if he can. He thinks of the clock at the bottom of the ocean and wonders if it is still counting the seconds. Luca is.
He makes it to noon before he cries.
--
Signor Marcovaldo starts to make Trenette al Pesto and stops halfway through. Luca watches from the dining room table as his parents and Giulia’s mother have a hushed conversation in the next room over. Signor Marcovaldo’s hand wavers as he reaches for the garlic cloves, then drops to his side.
“Perhaps we should… order something instead,” he says.
“Papa—”
He leaves. Giulia sighs. When she starts chopping the garlic, Luca busies himself by draining the pasta. He pretends he doesn’t see Giulia wipe her eyes on the sleeve of her striped shirt, and he decides to return her watery smile.
--
“Maybe he ran away,” the police say the next day. Early afternoon sun filters through the open windows, the salty ocean air tickling Luca’s nose.
“He didn’t,” Luca interrupts. He has spent most of his life not knowing things, but he knows this. Alberto didn’t run away.
“Sweetheart,” his mom begins, and Luca’s stomach rolls. He steps back when she reaches for him.
“He didn’t.”
“I know he’s your friend, kid,” one of the officers tells him, “but we found plans and maps at that island you said he used to spend his free time at.”
“That’s different,” Luca says, his throat tightening. “That was before. He wouldn’t run away! The life he has here is important to him. I know it.”
“Luca—”
“No! I know Alberto! He didn’t just run away.” Luca can feel his heartbeat pounding in against his ribs, like it wants to break free of his confines of his chest. As desperate to reach Alberto as the rest of him is. Luca’s eyes flit over the room to settle squarely on Signor Marcovaldo, who stands in the corner and stares at the floor.
“He wouldn’t abandon the people he loves,” Luca insists.
Signor Marcovaldo’s gaze rises and steadfastly meet’s Luca’s own. “And we won’t abandon him.”
--
“You’re going to collapse if you keep going like this,” Giulia tells him quietly the afternoon of the following day, in the middle of the town square. Luca can feel the rain against his scales and dripping off his fins.
“I’m fine.”
“Luca, you’re not yourself—”
“What do you want from me, Guilia?” Luca snaps. “I’m trying to find Alberto, and I don’t know where to look, and I don’t know who took him or why and I can’t sleep at night because I don’t know that he’s safe and I never got to tell him—”
Luca’s voice fails him when Guilia grabs him and pulls him into a hug. She doesn’t let go for a long time. And when she feels Luca’s shoulders jerk with an aborted sob, she just squeezes tighter.
--
Luca sleeps for a few hours the third night. He wakes up when the door opens and Signor Marcovaldo’s broad frame is silhouetted against the light form inside the house. He is wearing his hat and has a lamp in his hand. Luca slides down the ladder and calls out to him.
“Luca. You should be asleep.”
“Are you going to look for Alberto?”
There’s a beat, and Luca wonders if he’s going to lie to him. “Yes.”
“I want to come with you.”
“It is late—”
“Please, Signor.”
Luca looks up at him. He can sense, more than see, the way Signor Marcovaldo looks at him. Close and studying, as if trying to parcel something out. Whatever it is, he seems to find it, as he looks in the direction of the town, and then back.
“Alberto cares very much for you, Luca.”
Luca’s heart stutters a little. His lungs squeeze. “And I for him, sir.”
A heavy hand lands in his hair and ruffles it. “I know. Come. Walk with me.”
--
Luca had learned much in his year at school. He learned about stars, and spelling, and addition.
He did not learn how to deal with this.
He did not learn how to count the hours when the days bleed into sleepless nights and time itself starts to lose meaning. He did not learn how to stop counting the minutes, as if counting to sixty a million times will stave off the way his vision blurs on the edges if he stands in one place for too long.
Luca throws a tarp over the rusting Vespa and wishes that the hole in his heart could be covered as easily.
--
When Luca becomes too exhausted, he sleeps. When he sleeps, he dreams of Alberto.
The dreams are a patchwork quilt in memories. Alberto’s sun-warmed shoulder brushing against Luca’s, the teasing quirk of his eyebrow, the stretch of his spine when he planned to put himself firmly in the way of danger. Then the echo of take me, gravity as he disappears down the edge of a cliff to dive into the water below.
Luca follows, every time.
Alberto disappears.
Every.
Time.
--
Luca stares at the anchovies (stars, he knows, hot balls of gas lightyears away from here but Alberto is not here and Luca wants to hold on to the parts of Alberto that he can with both hands) when he hears the phone ring.
Signor Marcovaldo picks up on the first ring. Luca realizes he must have been waiting. He wonders how many nights he spent at the kitchen table, also unable to sleep. Luca glances at the still-open window to Giulia’s room, sees her light immediately click on, and wonders if maybe nobody in this house has slept since Alberto went missing.
Luca sits up when he hears Signor Marcovaldo knock on her door.
--
They have a lead. Signor Marcovaldo sits on the edge of Giulia’s bed. Looks at Luca through the window. Found some fabric that matched his shirt a few miles north.
Luca slides down the ladder to the ground so fast he feels his palms rubbed raw from the rope burn.
Luca tears the tarp off the Vespa and kicks it into gear. He hears his name being called from the house, the thundering of footsteps down the stairs after him.
“Wait!” Signor Marcovaldo calls to him, but all Luca has done for the past week is wait.
He feels a sudden weight on the back of the Vespa and sees Giulia yanking on a helmet.
“Go!” she shouts in his ear.
He turns the Vespa north and goes as fast as he can.
--
Luca races the moon. Portorosso gives way to a tree line, thick with the scent of dew and dirt. He thinks he can feel Giulia’s hands shaking around him, but he does not know if that is the thrum of the Vespa beneath them or if her anxiety is an echo of his own.
All he knows is that Alberto is north. So that’s where Luca wants to be.
--
“STOP!”
Luca sees it at the same time Giulia does and brings the Vespa to a lurching halt against the dirt trail they had been following. Giulia tightens her grip on Luca to keep them both from careening off the vehicle.
Luca blinks at the figure in the road, clearing the spray of dust from his eyes.
The moonlight filters weakly through the leaves of the canopy above them. Luca can barely see, but the headlight from the Vespa offers enough of a glow to make out the form that stands on the path. Just far enough away from the light to be a shadow in the darkness.
Luca tentatively climbs off the Vespa and takes a step forward. It has been over a year, but Luca has seen that same silhouette in his dreams every day for a week.
“Alberto?”
The answering voice is raspy and hoarse, but its familiarity thunders in Luca’s head. “L…Luca?”
And then Alberto collapses.
--
Luca does not reach him before he hits the ground but it’s a close thing. “Alberto!”
The bottom of Alberto’s tank top is torn, he cheeks gaunt. Parts of him are blue scales. The base of his skull has purple fins that fade up into his soft tower of curly hair. Almost like he had gone for a swim, and not fully dried off.
“He’s bleeding. And I think he has a fever,” Giulia says quietly, and only now does Luca realize that she is kneeling on the other side of him. Luca hears her voice as if he’s underwater. There’s something off about it, he knows, but he cannot place it.
“C’mon, Luca. We have to get him home.”
--
The trip home is quiet. They sandwich Alberto between them and Luca drives even faster on the way back.
Alberto’s weight and heat against him is a reminder of his presence—heavy and warm and here—but it’s not as comforting as Luca had thought it would be. He’s hurt. He’s sick.
I’m gonna fix this, Luca thinks, and guns it even faster as Portorosso comes into view again.
--
Luca does not know what he expects when he pulls up to the Marcovaldo’s home. He had not thought about it. Giulia is pulled aside by her mother, hushed and harsh words shading the concern from which they originate.
Signor Marcovaldo says nothing. He pulls Alberto up in his arm and disappears into the house. The churning in Luca’s gut spikes the moment Alberto disappears from his view, so Luca follows.
Giulia’s father takes Alberto back to his room, ducking into the small doorway. Luca lingers at the threshold and watches.
“Never do that again,” Signor Marcovaldo says as he lays Alberto down in his bed. It’s not until he turns to look at Luca in the doorway that Luca realizes he was speaking to him, not Alberto.
It is not a promise Luca can make. Not when he can see the rise and fall of Alberto’s chest for his own eyes.
“I had to, sir.” Luca takes a step into the room. “Is… Alberto going to be okay?”
Signor Marcovaldo turns to him, then sighs. He wordlessly places his hand on top of Luca’s head as he passes by.
“I need to make some phone calls,” he says in lieu of an answer. “Watch him for me, Luca.”
--
In the hours that follow, Luca does not leave the room.
Giulia’s mother comes in and lectures him about running off. Giulia tries to come to his defense—“we found Alberto, Mamma! Can’t you just leave him alone?”—but Luca shakes his head and apologizes, even though he is not sorry.
Signor Marcovaldo has a doctor attend to Alberto. Infected, the doctor says. But treatable. I believe he will make a full recovery.
Luca pretends he does not hear the relieved tremble to Signor Marcovaldo’s breath in response.
--
Luca is alone with Alberto and the sun is just barely peeking over the ocean’s horizon line when Alberto wakes up.
Alberto’s hand twitches in Luca’s. His green eyes crack open, and Luca leaps to his feet.
“Luca?” His name falling from Alberto’s mouth—dry and raspy as it sounds in this moment—is nearly enough to make Luca’s knees give out from under him.
“Sì, sì, sì.” Luca fumbles for the glass of water and straw on the table beside the bed. “Here.”
Alberto does not look away from Luca’s face as he drinks the water. Luca knows this because he, also, cannot bring himself to look away. As Luca pulls the cup away and turns to call for Signor Marcovaldo, Alberto’s grip on his hand tightens.
“Wait,” Alberto says.
In this moment, Luca does not believe himself capable of denying Alberto much of anything. So he stops, and turns back.
“You’re really here?”
Alberto has never sounded so small. When he touches Luca’s cheek, Luca goes very still.
“Sì,” Luca whispers.  
He watches as Alberto’s green eyes flood with tears, and then hears the creak of the floorboards behind him. When Luca glances over his shoulder, he sees Giulia’s father in the doorway.
“Alberto,” Signor Marcovaldo says, and Alberto breaks.
--
Luca has to leave the room when the police come to get Alberto’s statement, but he hears whispers of it amongst the adults late at night when he is supposed to be asleep.
Word of sea monsters is spreading, Giulia’s mother says. You said Alberto said they were talking of research? I do wonder if it may have been more about experimentation—
Signor Marcovaldo’s rumble interrupts her. He escaped, Giana, and they raided the warehouse. They are not a threat any longer. That, and Alberto’s forgiveness, is all I care about.
Massimo, it’s not your fault—
It is, came the firm disagreement. Dio mi perdoni, but it is.
--
Two days later, Alberto sits in the hideout beside Luca and watches the sunlight filter through the leaves above them.
The quiet between them is filled with the sounds of Portorosso around them: children playing soccer in the town square, fishermen calling to one another on passing boats, seagulls squaking as they pass by overhead. Giulia was working on selling what remained of the family’s stock of fish, so her idle chatter is nowhere to be heard. Luca closes his eyes and listens mostly to Alberto drumming his fingers against his own stomach.
Alberto had been quiet in the days since waking up. Luca didn’t press him on it. The sound of the breath passing through his lungs and his footsteps when he walked was enough for Luca.
“Hey,” Alberto says suddenly.
“Yeah?”
“I never thanked you for coming to find me. That night, in the woods?”
Luca frowns and looks over at him. Alberto is still staring at the sky. “You don’t have to thank me. Of course I’d come for you.”
“Yeah, I just…” Alberto trails off, then sits up suddenly. Startled, Luca sits up too. Alberto turns to look at him, his green eyes intense. “I… I feel like I knew that. When I was… there. I can’t explain why, I just… I just knew.” He grabs Luca’s face in both of his hands.
Luca swears his heartbeat stops all together, then starts thundering in his chest. “Alberto—"
“I…” Alberto swallows. His eyes search Luca’s face like he might vanish if he so much as blinks. “I wasn’t sure I’d see you again. I fought my way out for you, but even then, I… I wasn’t… I couldn’t be sure, but I kept thinking—”
“Silenzio, Bruno?” Luca supplies, and turns to kiss Alberto’s palm against his face.
Alberto’s answering laugh is watery and thin as he presses his forehead against Luca’s. It is the most beautiful thing Luca has ever heard in his life.
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sohin-ace · 4 years
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Headcanons for bucci gang for a selectively mute fem!s/o speaking for the first time and their first words to them were the words "I love you so much" paired with a pure and genuinely happy smile 💝💗💝💖
This is THE CUTEST THING!
This hit a bit too close to home and I cried a bit while writing this.
I'm sorry it took so long, I wanted to take my time on this one. Hopefully you'll like it!
Bucci gang w/ a selectively mute S/O speaking for the first time HC
Bucciarati:
When you first joined, Bruno insisted to take you to a professional to maybe do something about your mutism.
He felt concerned and a bit defeated when you refused, but he didn't push it. After all, it didn't affect your performances on missions or anything.
"If you don't feel comfortable, you don't have to say anything, amore."
He knew that it hurt you just as much as it hurt him, but again, he would never force you out of your comfort zone.
One night, Bruno stayed in his office to take care of endless paperwork, as usual.
It was around 3 a.m. when he heard a gentle knock on his door.
When you shyly entered and closed the door behind you he was surprised to see you'd still be awake.
He got up and joined you halfway when you had slowly reached out to him. He could read it in your eyes, you had something important to tell him.
Worried, he approached you and held your arm as you said, soft and strained.
"I... Love you... So.. Much, Bruno." You had accompagnied your words with a beautiful yet shy smile and Bruno's eyes widened.
He couldn't contain his gasp as he gripped both your arms tightly.
"Y/N... What... What did you- Did you just-... I'm losing my mind... C-could you say that again?! Oh please God, let me hear it again-"
You were shocked by his reaction.
The usually so calm and composed Bruno Bucciarati was sounding so desperate and in the verge of breaking down.
He softened his eyes on you, but you could see from the way his chest heaved uncontrollably that he was bottling his emotions.
He gently held your face and leaned your forehead against his.
"You are so strong, my Y/N... It must have been so hard for you..."
His hair tingled your face and when you moved some strands behind his ears delicately, he started shaking.
You wrapped your arms around his neck and he let out a hearty laugh, his eyes wet and the lump in his throat painful.
"Tesoro mio, I'm so proud of you. I feel so blessed to hear your angelic voice... Just for me... God..."
He held you flush against him and his mind raced with the sound of your voice.
Abbachio:
You had found him alone one night, a bottle of wine in front of him.
You knew damn well he would drink his blues away when he thought everyone was asleep and you hoped this would cheer him up a little bit.
You walked up to him and he jumped, startled, only relaxing when he noticed it was just you.
He looked down at his empty glass in silence. What could he say? There was nothing to say.
He knew you wouldn't ask questions and he wouldn’t answer them anyway. You could only silently judge his pathetic, worthless self. Or so he thought.
You carefully snaked you arms around his neck from behind, as gentle as you could be.
"I love you so much... Leone.. Leone..."
His heart almost stopped. He tensed up as his chest started to hurt.
Was he drunk? No, he didn’t even drink that much already, he could hold his liquor way more than that-
"Y/-..."
He could barely finish saying your name when he turned his head to look at you, a sweet and genuine smile gracing your face.
He stood up so abruptly he almost knocked you and his chair down as he pounced on your smaller form.
He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched your shirt in his fists, desperately clinging onto you as he buried his crying face in your neck. Gosh he couldn't let you see him like this.
But at the same time, he couldn't remember the last time he had been this happy. Or just happy at all.
"You spoke my name... Of all things... You said my name... Gosh your voice is... I don't deserve you..."
Your voice echoed in his mind and for once, he was so extremely grateful to have Moody Blues to replay that exact moment, over and over.
He couldn't get enough of it.
He replayed your words before sleeping, when he woke up, when he felt like drinking...
Giorno:
Giorno was a fairly quiet person himself.
Due to his background he grew to know to stay silent when necessary, so he understood you.
He related to you a lot, never pushed your boundaries to speak up and made it easier for you by asking 'yes or no' questions.
It didn't change the fact that in his eyes, you were a beautiful and strong person, worthy of love and respect.
Still, he wished you would open up to him one day.
You two were just peacefully watching the horizon, the breeze and quietness of the city making the moment very romantic.
"It's a beautiful view, isn't it?"
He did not expect an answer of course, but he still loved to speak to you, as he knew you were always listening.
You looked at him dead in the eyes and you choked a small hesitant gasp, still unsure of yourself.
He leaned down. "What's wrong, amore?"
Upon seeing his soft green eyes, you felt encouraged and spoke up while fidgeting with his blonde braid.
"I love you so much... Giogio..."
His eyes widened and his lips parted, completely taken aback. But upon seeing the adorable, sweet smile you were gifting him, he could hardly control back his actions.
He instantly held your face and brought you in for a passionate and loving kiss that spoke all the words for him.
You had felt his tears streaming on your own face, but he was sure to not show them to you as he immediately held you against him after pulling away.
"So brave... To speak your confession to me like this... My angel..."
Mista:
Mista was leisurely chilling on the couch, drinking some soda when you sat down next to him.
"Sup babe?"
You tugged on his shirt and he automatically leaned down to your level, not without a little hum of confusion.
Oh, did you want to kiss him? Haha, cute.
But then you gently cupped his ear and leaned your lips towards him.
"I... Love you... so much..." The last words died in a soft whisper.
When you let go of him to see his reaction, he didn't budge a muscle.
He dropped his drink and spilled it all over his pants and the floor. Oh but he didn't even care, he was completely stunned.
He would have been frozen in place till the end of time if you didn't shake him out of it.
"B-babe- oh my god... OH MY GOD HOLY FUCKING- Y/N !!!"
He litterally jumped out of his seat and howled to the whole headquarter.
"YOU TALKED!!?? MY BABY SPOKE WORDS HAHAHA HOLY SHIT BRO OH MY GOD!!! YOOO EVERYBODY COME HERE!!!"
The Pistols flew out everywhere and cheered with their user who was still jumping and grabbing at his head in pure euphoria.
He couldn't stop laughing and he tackled you down on the couch, holding you tight like you would disappear.
"You are so amazing, Y/N, my baby, oh my god, I love you too-"
He couldn't stop peppering your face with kisses after that.
Narancia:
Spare this boy. He was especially sensitive to your condition.
Why didn't you speak to them? Bucciarati said you could talk, but you didn't?
No matter how many times he was explained the situation, he didn't get it.
He always tried to make you laugh, and joked around. It didn't make you talk, but surely it made you fall for him.
He eventually accepted the silent treatment but still asked you so many questions.
"What's your voice like?" "Do you have an accent?" "Were you always mute?" "What do you scream when you stub your toe?"
One random day you approached him and hugged him very suddenly.
"O-oh- What's going on cutie?"
He had a goofy smile on his face and reciprocated the soft embrace before you backed up a bit, looking into his eyes.
"Narancia... I love you... So.. So much..."
...Was it real? Was this really happening?
He let out an incomprehensible yelp and stuttering sounds of confusion and shock.
"E-eeh.. Whaa-.. Uh... Whu... Ah-..?!"
He cupped his face, covered his mouth, grabbed his head, he didn't know what to do, how to react, he was so shaken and distraught.
He eventually started to sob loudly and his eyes watered freely. He was so moved.
"Your voice, Y/N- your voice..!"
His own voice cracked into a high pitched squeak and he grabbed your shoulders, hanging his head low and broke down completely.
You carefully patted and carressed his arms and back in comfort.
"Y/N! Y/N! YOUR VOICE IS SO PRETTY OH MY GOD PLEASE SAY SOMETHING ELSE PLEASE PLEASE IT'S BEAUTIFUL YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL DAMN-"
He was so scared it would be the first and last time he ever heard you.
It was so difficult to calm him down.
Fugo:
He actually made a lot of research on selective mutism to understand what it's like, what causes it etc.
He felt concerned that you would have to go through something like this when you were such a good and kind person.
He liked how your silent calm nature contrasted with his own angry one and he was thankful to have someone like you to help him tone down.
You had come up behind him one day after he got extremely frustrated with Narancia.
He was fuming and clearly, whatever you wanted right now, he was not in the mood for it.
You only grabbed his hand gently and rubbed the back of it, sending him a sweet smile.
"I love you... So, so much..."
He flinched and subconsciously clenched your hand. Hard.
What was that? WHAT WAS THAT?
His eyes were wide as saucers and his entire body stopped responding.
"...Y/N?" He called weakly, thinking foolishly that maybe that wasn't really you in front of him.
You sweetly caressed his cheek and he looked like he was going to pass out.
Everytime he tried to form words, they would come in short breaths. He was so overwhelmed, he had such a difficult time processing his emotions.
For the first time, you saw him smile a genuine smile of happiness as he shakily put his hand over yours holding his face, nuzzling into your touch.
"I... I love you too... You are so incredible, you sound so much better than I ever expected."
Trish:
Trish always tried her best to make you speak.
She knew she shouldn't push you, but she wanted you to feel okay and safe with everyone.
She was a bit shy herself and didn't have the best background for growing up into a loud person.
One day, you went to her and grabbed her attention. When she turned around, and you finally spoke your love to her, so softly, so quietly, she immediately jumped.
"I... I love you Trish... So, so much."
"Wha-... What did you say...?" She is breathless and can't help but cover her mouth in pure shock.
Surely she hallucinated just now, right?
You grin at her dumbfounded expression and her mouth opens and closes as she doesn't even know what to say or where to start.
This is not like she was used to being told she was loved, but from you? This was like a dream!
You noticed the tears brimming in her eyes and she bit her lips before she buried her face in her hands.
You had to take her in your arms and hold her tight while she sobbed.
It's only when you start patting her back gently that she realises this isn't a dream.
She immediataly coils her arms tightly around your neck and stutters, overwhelmed.
"I can't believe it, I can't believe it, I can't believe it-"
You chuckle quietly and she cries even harder when she finally hears your laughing voice.
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vague-and-aloof · 2 years
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which cats are members of the family and what is the gift of each cat in your Cats-encanto?
Hi, sorry this took forever for me to respond to, but I've been a bit busy over the holidays and then I accidentaly forgot about it. BUT- here I am and I have to say, this is really good question. I had to really think it over for a while.
This will be a long post, so here we go!
The Adults
- Old Deuteronomy is Abuela - mainly because I can't really see anyone else in the role. But I can't honestly say that he would make the same mistakes that Alma does in the movie.
- Jennyanydots is sort of a mesh between Pepa and Julieta - because I really see her as the Matriarch of the tribe. Loving, caring and super nice but also a bit stressed and frustrated over the younger cats and their shenanigans. Her gift is healing. She is married to Skimbleshanks who has no gift but is very loving and supportive of his wife.
- Bustopher Jones is part of this family too, though not based on any character from the movie. He used to have a wife- who did have a gift- but she's now dead and he's an in-law with no gift.
- Coricopat and Tantomile - also not based on any character on the movie, but c'mon I had to include them! They're twins and both have the same gift. They're both psychic and can make others do or hear what they do, but only by touch.
The Kids
- Macavity is Bruno - the oldest son of Old Deuteronomy, born with great powers but is seen as a bad person who's hurting the family with his gift rather than helping anyone. Although in my mind he's not as sympathetic as Bruno. His gift is controlling the weather, though he has more control over it than Pepa has in the movie, and he loves using his electricity.
- Demeter is Dolores - she was traumatized by Macavity when he was still part of the family and 'still hears him' even though he's gone. She's on-guard and anxious at times, but is also kind and sweet towards her family. She's also the oldest daugter of Jennyanydots and Skimbleshanks and her gift is reading people's emotions, though it's only on the people in close proximity and requires a lot of focus.
- Bombalurina is also part of the family, but she's not really based on any specific character from the movie. She's Demeter's younger sister and her gift is Super Strength.
- Jemima is Antonio - the youngest daughter of Jennyanydots and Skimbleshanks and the last one in the family to recieve a gift. She loves Tugger like a brother, looks up to him and wishes for him to have his own gift. Her gift is vocal control/can influence others with her song.
- Munkustrap is Luisa - the second oldest son of Old Deuteronomy and is groomed to be the leader of the family after he's gone. He's very hard-working, helps everyone who needs him, protects the family and puts everyone before himself, even though he's cracking under all the pressure he's putting on himself. His gift is sensing danger and trouble.
- Mistoffelees is Isabela - he's the son of Bustopher Jones, the twin brother of Victoria. He- like Macavity- is very powerful but living under the pressure of being perfect, good and well-behaved so people won't think he's like Macavity. Though he's secretly longing for a freer and more exciting life. His gift is just magic (honestly, I couldn't pick one. Just imagine he can learn all kinds of magic)
- Victoria is the daughter of Bustopher Jones, the twin sister of Mistoffelees, and she is also not based on any character from the movie. She's very kind, sweet and loves making friends and is betrothed with Plato, who she loves very much. Her gift is grace and agility.
- Rum Tum Tugger is Mirabel - the youngest son of Old Deuteronomy and is the only one who didn't get a gift. He tries very hard to act like he doesn't care about this and has created his own alter-ego to make other cats like him- but he really just wants to feel like he's part of the family.
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cassthecringe · 3 years
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i wish to hear more about part 5 avdol 👀
OMG I WOULD LOVE TO THANK U FOR GIVING ME AN EXCUSE TO KIND PERSON
i genuinely think avdol would become a good mentor figure for everyone in the buccigang, including and not limited to bruno and abbacchio. giorno and him are probably closest tho,,,but i also do like the idea of fugo and avdol being close cause i like to think fugo reminds avdol of himself when he was younger (this is more headcanony than canon stuff tho)
as for actual plot stuff and how avdol would affect it;;;;;; due to avdol’s competence, no one dies <3 sorry araki but nara bruno and abbacchio are alive now. I'm still trying to work out the details regarding how he could prevent bruno’s death tho. maybe bruno will still have to die but I'm thinking about it
ALSO bc of avdol’s influence i think fugo would hum and haw over if he should go with the bucci gang some more. i dont think he actually will tag along completely, BUT he doesnt just leave he just does some sniffing around from the inside. they’ll meet up again later rather than fugo tagging along from the beginning. like fugo is like “yall r crazy. let me do sum research and ill get back to you” and maybe fugo finds polnareff that way (lmfao could u imagine. pol gets kakyoin flashbacks)
lots of kakyoin flashbacks actually. this would really be a bone breaker if this is an au where kakyoin is still dead
ANYWAY. since I'm still not sure abt the details of avdol’s impact on the PLOT, lemme get into character dynamics
giorno: big mentor figure, probably steals some (a lot) of bruno’s thunder in this regard. giorno just rlly respects him and avdol acknowledges giorno is a very hardworking kiddo (which giorno appreciates). i imagine he grows very fond of him throughout the events of va. idk if it would ever cross the line of mentor-protegee to father-son but regardless they're rlly close and giorno values his opinions a lot when he becomes the don even tho avdol says he doesnt wanna be involved in mafia business (and he doesnt but he cares more about the well being of his kids ie the buccigang than staying away from organized crime)
fugo: fugo is like a crazy thrashing dog that is going insane and yet never turns to nip at its owner who is holding it back (in this case that is avdol). yea i imagine avdol and fugo have a good relationship Eventually but it takes fugo some time understandably to accept/warm up to it cause of his issues with authority figures and how they've done him dirty before. avdol is nothing if not a patient man tho and i imagine fugo eventually comes to rlly trust him which is why he decides to squirrel around to get buccigang some info on the inside of the gang rather than disembark completely
narancia: nara would be as hostile as he can be at first i feel like cause he might think avdol is trying to replace bruno but once he learns avdol is a) not in the gang and will never be in the gang he’s not trying to take anyone’s position and b) sees BRUNO warm up 2 avdol, he accepts him very fast. it’s like a switch flipped it’s v sudden and intense change in demeanor. avdol is kinda surprised but like he’ll take it. avdol thinks nara is very funny and he helps him out w schooling when fugo is gone. avdol also listens to nara’s music w him and gives him recommendations which narancia is SUPER HAPPY ABT cause no one was willing to talk music with him before (indulge him and let HIM talk abt it yes, but never respond in turn and have a conversation before). nara loves avdol and avdol loves him in return. fun family (:
mista: hmm i cant see mista and avdol being suuuper close?? at least not at first but they def get along. but when avdol gets comfortable enough w the buccigang to do his funky fun smartass stuff sometimes (like how he was during the judgement fight) mista and him get a LOT closer. mista thinks avdol is the funniest man on the planet and they can have good talks. avdol is a good person to think out loud with which i think mista kinda needs. also I'm sure avdol is enamored with the sex pistols. not many stands can even talk yet these lil guys have outright personalities of their own. avdol joins mista during feeding time just cause he’s rlly intrigued by these lil guys. mista was a little weirded out at first but since warming up to avdol he doesnt mind (:
trish: HIS DAUGHTER NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! he’s got the age, he’s got the kindness, he’s got the patience, he’s got the respect, HE!!!!!! IS. HER DAD NOW. avdol might've laid the sympathy on a little too thick when they first met so trish might not have liked him much at first, but he notices she’s rlly stressed out and talks her thro it/lets her speak her mind which is rlly nice. trish hasn't ever had anyone prompt her to lose her shit before helping her to piece back together again but tis nice. when trish is supposed to be dropped off with diavolo, she actually hugs avdol (: also when trish awakens spice girls u BET avdol is rooting her on and helping her get more comfortable w her stand. avdol is thinks spice girls is rlly fuckin cool and combined w spice girls and avdol’s guidance, trish actually gets rlly handy at using her stand. pls imagine magician’s red and spice girls just chilling. thanks. anyway if avdol were to legally adopt ANYONE in the buccigang it would be trish. trish lives w him after va
abbacchio: i don't think avdol and abbacchio would be besties but bruno trusts him and narancia likes him so i think abbacchio wouldn't hate him despite them first meeting bc of giorno lolol. so like they're civil but i cant imagine their interactions getting warmer until after avdol tags along when they split up from the gang. abbacchio is like “why tf r u even still here” and avdol is like “YOURE the oldest here and ur only 21 u need an actual adult. no but i just wanna watch over the kids and make sure they're safe” abbacchio respects that. also avdol encouraging trish to train w spice girls is why trish is able to keep abbacchio from getting a fist through the torso (she makes him rubbery as spice girls can do so he can withstand the punch king crimson gives him) and he's kinda grateful bc of that to both abbacchio And trish. uhh yeah. lol. also avdol has good taste in wine which abbacchio can respect
bruno: FINALLY the man himself. for a long time he is just politely friendly towards avdol cause idk if bruno would know how to deal w someone who would be more likely to be a mentor to Him rather than vice versa but as avdol and him spend more time together and watch over the kiddos and abbacchio together they get more comfortable. idk if they’d ever get close close but bruno can rely on avdol and he does during the final fight. when they come out victorious bruno kinda promises him he’ll always have a home in italy if he needs anywhere to rest it’d be sweet (: avdol in turn would say if ur ever in egypt just ask around and u’ll find me
anyway uhhhhh yeah. i hope u enjoyed reading all this fjkdnjc;n i just think. avdol is very loveable and very cool and he would've added a lot to part 5 in my opinion,,,,
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themuzzleofnemesis · 4 years
Text
6–Memory of Mother; Scene 1
The Muzzle of Nemesis, pages 201-217
…Who am I?
I am…
My name is…
--Levia.
Levia Barisol.
What was that just now?
I was sucked into that woman…
And now I was inside some building somewhere.
.
Was this--the hall of a theater?
There was a screen and audience seats. And behind me was a film projector.
I had no memory of where this was, but--
The name for this place immediately came to my mind.
.
--Evils Theater
.
A name that showed up in Nemesis' memories.
.
“…Wait a second. If that’s the case then this must be—"
That meant that I was inside the world in Nemesis’ memories.
That in itself wasn’t all that strange a thing.
I was after all in the middle of performing a “Swap” with her spirit.
But if this was a vicarious experience of Nemesis’ memories—
Then how was it that I was myself?
Normally I would lose my own memories while in the middle of an experience.
I would completely become Nemesis while seeing her life.
But right now, I—
I was inside Nemesis’ world while retaining my memories as Levia.
My feet spontaneously headed deeper into the hall.
I walked inside a single room there—it had “director’s room” written on the door.
This must be the director’s collection. Several antique-looking items were inside.
Katana.
Scissors.
Wineglass.
Spoon.
Mirror.
And--
That doll.
The green haired doll that Mr. Ziz had fished out of the sea and Gallerian had owned.
I approached the doll to look at it more closely.
At that moment, I incidentally looked at my face in the nearby mirror.
--Yes, that was my face.
Not Nemesis, me—Levia.
It appeared that this wasn’t just a memory, but that I had entered this memory world as myself, even in appearance.
…Looks like the Black Box has gone into a full-blown breakdown.
I was growing increasingly more anxious over whether or not I’d be able to return to the real world.
--I heard the sound of a door open from behind me.
A new person had entered this room.
“So you’ve come, Nemesis. …Or should I be calling you now Führer Sudou?”
It was a woman’s voice.
When I turned around I could see—the woman in the kimono who had sucked me in.
Despite my appearance, she had acknowledged me as “Nemesis”.
And yet, appearances aside even my memories were my own, not Nemesis’. Apparently we were acquaintances, but I had no idea how I ought to respond.
--However, my mouth began to run of its own accord, and said:
“…Long time no see, Mother.”
Bizarrely enough, regardless of the fact that I was myself, the memory was proceeding smoothly along with the vicarious experiencing of Nemesis’ life.
I wound up feeling like I was being forced to play the role of “Nemesis”.
“Surprising, isn’t it? That this theater alone is untouched despite the forest having completely burned down,” Nemesis’ mother—Kayo Sudou said.
But her expression immediately turned serious.
Rather, she almost seemed a little angry.
“…”
I—Or rather Nemesis—made no reply.
Kayo continued talking, gazing fixedly at Nemesis. “I had no inkling that you would be able to resurrect the ‘boy’—that thing that was sealed away a thousand years ago. I don’t know how you found it…Though, well, I imagine you had some hints from the ‘Demon of Wrath’.”
Nemesis, who had been silent up to now, finally opened her mouth.
Though my will tried to go against it, it was evidently pointless.
“That ‘boy’ was in that ancient legacy site in Levianta…Lunaca Labora. The only one who was able to undo the seal was his creator, the ‘Demon of Wrath’—Mr. Ziz.”
“So, the demon tried to trick you into using it to destroy the world.”
“No. Actually, Mr. Ziz was against it. It is because he didn’t want to use it that he sealed it away himself. But I persuaded him, and in the end he relented. He said to ‘do as you like’.”
“Why would you do such a thing…”
“I need enormous power to secure victory for Tasan Elphegort! …I’ve been working hard in the Tasan Party, and so I’ve become its leader. Now I am in a position to govern the whole country—but of course this important role is almost impossible for me to do by myself. Now that Gammon is gone I’ve been trying to better the country all on my own.”
“And the result of that was this invasion of your neighboring nations?”
“If I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have been able to hold down the dissatisfaction smoldering in the country. War begat war, and then suddenly Elphegort had become the enemy of almost all the other nations.”
It appeared that chronologically this was approximately around the time Nemesis killed Bruno.
Kayo took out a pipe and started to smoke it.
“—And so, unable to backpedal on your actions, finally you turned to a forbidden weapon.”
“I had my nation’s scientists analyze the ‘boy’ and improve upon it into a practical weapon—the weapon of mass destruction, ‘Punishment’.”
“The other countries aren’t likely to keep quiet once they learn such a thing exists.”
“True. Actually, just the other day some assassins arrived from the United States of Maistia looking to destroy ‘Punishment’. And their leader…was Bruno.”
“Bruno Zero!? That’s a blast from the past. So he was still alive, huh.”
Upon hearing that, Nemesis snorted. “—He’s dead now though. I killed him.”
“That’s quite merciless of you. I would think you’d view that man as your savior.”
“Savior? Him? …Don’t be stupid. He was always serving Gallerian. No—maybe he was the one who was truly ‘evil’.”
“Bruno…He likely had his own mixed feelings on you. Because he loved Gallerian he couldn’t simply watch his daughter die. But—I’m positive he also despised you, more than that. He hated me, so he hadn’t wanted to accept the fact that there was a child between myself and Gallerian.”
So, he had mixed feelings of love and hate.
“…That’s got nothing to do with me.”
On that point Nemesis and I were in agreement. It’s not like she chose the parent she was born to.
Kayo sighed as she continued smoking. “Hah…You’ve killed quite a few people, haven’t you. –Including Nikolay.”
“That was ten years ago already. He himself asked me to kill him. I merely granted his wish. …Nikolay told me something. That he ‘hadn’t been able to fulfill his role’. And that’s why you chased him out of the forest.”
“His ‘role’, huh—It’s true, he didn’t carry out what I ordered him to do.”
“But Nikolay did properly look after me. Unlike you, always absent from home.”
Kayo once again blew out smoke.
She shut her eyes once, and then immediately opened them again, saying, “…You misunderstand what Nikolay’s ‘role’ was.”
“What…do you mean?”
“I did not order him to protect you. …Just the opposite. I told him to kill you when he got the chance.”
“Wh…”
“But he opposed that. He wasn’t that soft when he was young, albeit. Maybe he was touched from having watched you from nearby for so long. Perhaps he was projecting, seeing you as being like his real daughter.”
“Now that you mention it, I think he did mention having a daughter…”
“You’ve met her yourself, I’m sure—Come in,” Kayo called out to the other side of the door.
Yet another person arrived in the room.
“—Postman!?”
Nemesis was the one who shouted that then, but if I had been able to move I would have shouted just the same.
“You know that she was a member of PN—or rather Pere Noel, yes?”
“Yeah. I would receive my assassin orders through her.”
“At the same time, Postman is also my servant. Due to some circumstances I was entrusted with her by Nikolay.”
Kayo gestured with her eyes, and Postman took off the cap that was hiding her face.
Nemesis—and myself as well—saw her face for the first time.
She was an adorable young girl with blonde hair.
--She was a girl!?
But comparing that fact with what Kayo had just said, one answer came forward.
Essentially, Postman’s true identity…was that of Nikolay’s daughter.
Though in spite of that, there seemed to be too much of an age gap there.
As though appearing to anticipate that question, Kayo began to explain. “Postman doesn’t age, you see. It’s a side effect of a treatment I performed on her.”
“A treatment?”
“When she was young, she was assailed by an incurable illness. Having been newly appointed a judge of the Dark Star Bureau, Nikolay—or rather, Hanma Baldured, consulted me, as I was the girlfriend of one of his then-colleagues. And I was rumored to have been a witch. …So, I performed a treatment with magic. But it didn’t go completely right. The illness was cured, but in return she had become doll-like, having lost her voice and her will.”
Kayo patted her hand on Postman’s head.          
But there was no change in Postman’s expression.
“That wound up being the cause for Hanma’s divorce with his wife. Still he continued to raise his daughter alone for a time, but he was quite young, and with his eyes on advancement in the Dark Star Bureau he came to bear increasingly heavier responsibilities. At the same time, he also had become obsessed with magic that would allow one to wield power that exceeded human knowledge. Hanma volunteered to become my apprentice, and in exchange for accepting him I sought for him to give his daughter to me.”
“For—what purpose?”
“I was seeking a ‘raw material’ like her. A living doll to make into a ‘receptacle’. –Though, ultimately that didn’t work out. …Whatever the case, Hanma must have regretted having let go of his daughter, somewhere in his heart.”
“But wait a second. There’s a discrepancy in your age with that story just now. Isn’t Nikolay a great deal older than you?”
“…I’m like Postman. I am also a being that doesn’t age.”
I couldn’t make sense of it all, so far removed from common sense.
Nemesis must have been the same. She returned back to the main topic relating to herself.
“…Why did you order Nikolay to kill me?”
“It’s simple. You--were something that fulfilled its purpose to me merely by being born. Once you had achieved that, I had no more use for you.”
“I don’t understand…birthing a child only to kill them.”
“That’s not it. It’s not that I wanted to kill you, really. I just didn’t need you. I just asked Nikolay to dispose of my discarded refuse.”
“…I don’t believe you. You were always so kind to me—”
“You—have distorted your own memories. Right after you were born I left the forest, and I never went back until you were arrested. You have created these false memories of me raising you because you didn’t want to accept that.”
“…Then what about Mr. Ziz? The blue octopus you gave me as a Christmas present—”
“You mean the ‘Demon of Wrath’? If I had really given him to you as a present I would have then realized what his true identity was, don’t you think?”
“But Mr. Ziz told me you’d bought him at the market—”
“If he told you that then I’m sure he was just playing along with you. So as to keep you from falling apart if you noticed the inconsistency.”
--Certainly, among all the memories that I had seen up until now…Kayo had never actually made an appearance, not once.
Everything that had to do with her was just reminiscence in Nemesis’s memories.
…They had all been little more than her own delusions—
“You’re lying…That can’t…”
“Nemesis. Even you must have realized it somewhere deep in your heart, haven’t you? It was for that reason—you tried to kill me. –By dropping ‘Punishment’ on this forest where I am!”
“No! It was because there…are monsters in this forest, and people were frequently going missing here...I was trying to give the people of my country less grounds for concern--”
“It was for that reason alone you dropped a weapon of mass destruction on the country that you rule? You don’t think that’s strange for you to say? …Sorry, but you won’t be able to kill me that easily!”
Kayo leaped towards Nemesis, and started to strangle her neck with her hands.
“Grk…”
It hurt.
Nemesis’ pain was being transmitted to me.
She tried with all her might to throw off Kayo’s arms, but to no avail.
“H…ow? I…have…demonic…power…”
“What a pity for you. I also have demons inside me! I am not some mere contractor like you! I—have taken six demons into myself!”
Six…that lined up with how many antiques there were in the room.
“So I am able to kill you, contractor that you are. Once I learned that you had the ‘Demon of Wrath’ dwelling inside you, I couldn’t leave you be any longer. –I will kill you, and then steal the last demon!”
Kayo tightened her grip even further.
“Glu…eck.”
In response, I could feel Nemesis’ body progressively begin to grow weaker.
If this kept up—
“…Huh!?”
Suddenly the strangling force slackened.
Seeing an opportunity, Nemesis kicked Kayo in the stomach.
Unable to take the blow, Kayo released her.
“Hack!...urgh…”
After breathing on all fours for a moment, Nemesis raised her head.
--Kayo was laying on the ground, groaning in pain.
One of the artifacts in the room—the katana—was thrust deep into her back.
“Ggu—Postman…Damn you!”
Behind Kayo as she screamed stood Postman, expressionless with hands stained in blood.
“…”
Despite bearing a blade wound that would normally have been fatal, Kayo was still alive.
If what she said was true…Only a contractor would be able to put a stop to her.
“…Mother.”
Nemesis stood and drew her gun from its holster.
--It was the revolver.
“Hey Mother—Right now I’m pointing the muzzle of my gun at someone.”
That person was none other than Nemesis’ mother herself.
“You don’t have…the right to call me mother…You bitch, I should have killed you myself right after giving birth to you.”
“You are a very, very evil woman. Abandoning me in the forest, bringing so many people to unhappiness—"
“—If it hadn’t been for you and her, I could have taken in the Demon of Deadly Sin…and become a truly ‘pure being’…I was so close…”
The katana in Kayo’s back fell out, and the wound began to steadily close.
She had a marvelous recovery ability.
“Now, I…I don’t care what happens. No matter how hard I try I can’t help this world. So then, rather—”
“…That is your true nature, Nemesis. The one who desires destruction…Your real identity is—”
--What Kayo said in the end was drowned out by the gunshot.
.
Nemesis was kneeling by Kayo’s corpse, sobbing.
“…Ua—uuuaah…”
--Poor Nemesis.
Continuously betrayed by those you believed in.
Unable to make anyone happy no matter how hard you tried.
You aren't to blame.
The one at fault is--
.
This very world itself.
.
So you need to purify everything.
Destroy it all.
.
…Whose voice is this?
Mine?
No, it can't be.
This is--"the other Nemesis".
The being that had always been speaking to her.
The other me.
Me.
Nemesis.
Me.
Levia.
Me.
Me.
Me.
.
Obeying my voice, Nemesis left the theater.
And then entered the nearby Tasan Headquarters.
There was no way that it would be so nearby, but that doesn’t matter.
More important than that now.
Hurry and press the switch.
The forbidden device is beyond this point.
If you do it now no one will discover it.
Come, hurry.
Bring everything to an end.
Bring punishment.
Down to this world.
  --
<<prev------directory------next>>
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blackevermore · 3 years
Text
x Lo So
{Bruno x Chia}
Summary: What did Chia do when the gang was away
Notes: I had this idea while listening to old timey music of Chia waiting for the gang to come back but accepting their faith. This is technically the first time she admits her feelings for Bruno.  In all honestly this is a brain dump. Aslo sorry for all the mistakes and blah I wrote this in one take ;;
Word Count: 2.5K
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"If you understand how dangerous this is going to be for my gang and I. I would appreciate it if you didn't come to Italy at all."
That had been the last thing he said to her over the phone before hanging up. At first she had been upset he would hang up on her without hearing her protest. But now she understood he didn't want to hear the pain he left in her heart. He hung up so that the last memories of her voice were happy ones. Just as she couldn't bear the white noise of the line ending, he couldn't handle the sound of silent tears falling down her face onto the phone. Chia knew she couldn't make promises out of the impossible so asking him to be safe was fruitless. Telling him to come back to her in one piece was teasing false hope of the faith chosen for him. 
Chia knew there was no point in trying to call him back. He would have already destroyed the phone and threw it away. If there were ways to do so, Bruno would completely ease himself from her memory if he meant sparing her for what was meant to come. In a way, he was grateful he couldn't. If he were to die, many would mourn him, but it would her, besides his gang, from the heavens he would watch over and send wind blowing kisses to. Every day when the wind blew past her face and a cold breeze touched her cheek, it would be him telling her he was free and finally home. But he wasn't dead yet and she wasn't mourning.
Chia knew it was best to stay away from Italy while issues started to rise from the underground. Word had made it all the way back to her father's empire that Passione was currently under fire. Like Pompeii, Passione's volcano had finally erupted and unknown to the innocent lives of Italy danger was shifting. But Chia didn't care and within two days of the phone call with Bruno she was on a plane to Naples from Cameroon. Naive to blind hopelessness when she stepped off the plane she made her way straight to Le Libeccio. She knew Bruno wouldn't be there waiting in the back with a glass in hand listening to the record player. Nor would be  Abbacchio sitting at the table with his headphones on blocking out a petty argument between Narancia and Fugo. Chia didn't even have hope that when she hung up her coat at the door and waved to the host that the latest member Mista would catch sight of her. Bruno had promised he would finally introduce her to Mista the next time she visited.
As she took her seat at the gang's table in the back, she made sure to sit in the extra chair. She knew from memory how the gang preferred to sit. Bruno always left of Abbacchio and right of Fugo. Narancia sat to Abbacchio’s right, which left an empty chair. Chia could guess that empty chair was now Mista's. But it didn't make sense why there was another chair. Chia knew it couldn't be true that Bruno always had an extra chair at the table just in case. Nor would it be true that an extra chair was there for her. But in the moment of wishful thinking Chia pretended he did do it for her. In the quiet back room of the restaurant, Chia saw the imprint of the gang enjoying another day with each other. Bruno would finally make it back to the table with information about the day. Abbacchio would only listen long enough to understand it was a free day. Narancia would cheer, but Fugo would remind him he was still behind on his homework, instantly killing Narancia's spirit. A figure in a weird hat would take the seat next to Chia, but before the figure could introduce himself, someone was calling for her attention.
"Ma'am?" The waiter said, a few steps further than usual. He had a look of worry on his face as he waited for Chia to respond.
"Uh?" Chia turned her head blinking a few times to bring herself back to reality.
"Are you ready to order?" The waiter asked gently, he could sense that air of sadness and worry coming off of the girl. He too was worried about Bruno and his gang, the whole town was when it became clear they were missing for a few days. 
"Y-Yes," Chia responded.
~~~
Every day since her arrival, Chia would walk from her hotel to the restaurant for lunch and dinner. The host would greet her promptly and walk her to her seat asking about her day. At first Chia thought it was odd but then it became clear that he only wished to soften the misery she was feeling.
"Your meal will be out soon, ma'am. Your worries will be over soon as well." Chia wanted to ask the man how he would know that. Why would he say it if he had no proof that Bruno was alive? When the questions in her mind became too loud she quickly reached for the wine glass to silence them. The taste was awful and she hated every second of it rolling down her throat. She wasn't sure how Bruno and Abbacchio would ever sit and drink this so casually. When the food came she thanked the host and tried to enjoy it but the joy of Italian food didn't fill her. 
"Chia?" The voice that called to her wasn't foreign but it wasn't the voice she wanted to hear. Slowly Chia turned around and saw Fugo standing in the arch that separated the main sitting area from the back. She stood from her seat ready to greet Fugo, but her legs grew heavy, and she fell back into her seat. Fugo hurried to her side to catch her, once Chia was in her seat correctly he could see the tears bubbling in the corners of her eyes. 
"You left them?" Chia said not above a whisper.
Fugo's breath hitched and he became hesitant to answer.
"I had to." Fugo's guilt started to crawl up his back as Chia looked him in the eyes. He didn't see anger, just like Bruno, there was no disappointment. Fugo wanted to explain himself. To ensure her that he was just as loyal to Bruno as he had been before everything. But the worlds were stuck. His mind was racing trying to find the words to tell her it hurt him so much to walk away. "I couldn't-"
Chia saw the tears forming in his eyes and she pulled him in for a hug, "I know Fugo, I understand." She held him like a mother happy to have her child back. They shared the space to cry together. Fugo felt heavy in her arms and she knew she felt the same to him. Chia was happy to see Fugo, he was her last ounce of hope.
~~~
"I have to go." Fugo stood at the arch of the back room with his head hanging.
"I know," Chia said, sipping her tea heartbroken by his news.
" If I could I-"
"Fugo." Chia sat her cup down and shook her head to dismiss him. Fugo felt shame but he had to do as he was ordered. Chia meant nothing to him personally, which made it easy for him to walk away from her. But he knew that to someone else she was a part of a bigger world and he had to show his respect. If he was being repositioned, that meant Bruno and his friends were still alive. 
"I'm sorry."
"I know."
"I'll come by when I can." With that, Fugo walked away with nothing more than another hole in his heart. He didn't have to see Chia's red eyes and running makeup. He didn't have to hear her cry or allow her tears to rip him apart. Chia was safe where she was, and so was he, his survival meant more than the tears of someone's lover.
~~~
"Fugo, why is Rome on fire?" Chia rose her drink to her lips as she watched the news. He wasn't meant to actually know the answer. He was r meant to give her hope that it had something to do with Bruno.
"I don't know." He responded, refusing to look at the tv. Chia continued to watch the tv as the news anchor tried to put together what was going on in the background. Right as the news anchor stepped out of the way of the camera Chia was sure she saw someone in a white suit stumbling across the intersection. Her eyes widen and she shakenly sat her cup down on the table. Unknow to her Fugo had seen it too and held his breath.
"Fugo-"
"I don't know."
~~~
It was Sunday morning, Fugo was gone again and told her he wouldn't be back anytime soon. He had expected her to say farewell or something in those sorts. However, Chia did no such thing and told him to come when he could as if she would be staying in Italy. She wouldn't for today was her last day before packing up and going back to the states. That morning was peaceful and the air outside seemed to have life in it after the events of two days before. The people of Italy seemed to magically breathe life into her. In her days of staying in Italy she had gone through the seven stages of mourning. She had accepted that if the gang were to come back, Bruno wouldn't be among them. She had accepted that her love confession would be to a headstone when they lower him six feet under. She had already imagined that it would be Abbacchio that hears her and turns the others away as she said her final goodbyes. Or maybe none of them would come back and it would be just her and Fugo. Fugo may have had his own life outside of hers, but in silence, they shared their grief. He wouldn't walk away from her even if he genuinely wanted to. 
Chia could feel the rays of the sun shining on the back of her neck against her emerald. She ran a hand over the gem and sighed. She had to get going to start packing for the long trip back home. She finished what was left of her breakfast and stood to put on her coat. She paid her tab and waved goodbye to the host and waiter. As she made it to the door she pulled on the handle right as someone pushed. She stumbled back a bit and the person on the other side caught.
"My apologies ma'am." The stranger helped her to her feet. Chia looked up to the man holding her and blushed in embarrassment. 
"No I'm sorry, I didn't see you on the other side." Chia smiled nervously and tried to sidestep the man with a nod. But when she made it around him she right into another person. She pulled away quickly and covered her face.
"I'm so sorry!" She said.
"No no it's my fault! I should have seen you. A pretty like you is hard to miss." The new stranger winked at her and Chia nearly tripped over her feet to getaway.
"Giorno move your ass out the way, my chest hurts and you standing there makes it hurt more." Chia snapped her head around when she heard Abbacchio's rough and grumpy voice. He was wincing a bit as he pushed past the two strangers in the door. Chia wanted to reach out and stop him but she didn't get the chance when she was quickly yanked from here she stood into a tight embrace.
"Chia!" Narancia yelled and pulled her off her feet and spun her around. Chia was too shocked to react so she stayed still. "You must have heard what was going on, it was crazy, first we got a new guy, that him Giorno, then Bruno become a capo, then we had to protect Trish, you'll like Trish, she's a bit mean but she's nice!" Chia couldn't even hang on to any of his words as Narancia tried his best to recall everything. While he was in the middle of something or the other about Abbacchio getting hurt Chia pulled him into a hug. She buried her face in his shoulder and he patted her back.
"You're safe Nara, you've made it." Chia could feel the tears starting to fall before she could try and hold them back.
"I'm always safe. I told you I would stay safe." Narancia gave her a hug back then pulled away when he saw Mista coming up the side of him.
"Oi! Narancia this is your girl?" Mista looked Chia up and down spectacle. Narancia nearly choked on air as he threw his hands up to protest.
"No!"
"Then who is she?" Mista smirked and narrowed his eyes at Narancia trying to get the truth of out him. He poked Narancia a few times trying to egg him on to spill the beans.
"Narancia, Mista, stop harassing people." Mista stopped his teasing when he heard his capo behind him. Narancia smiled and whispered a quick 'see ya' to Chia before pushing Mista into the restaurant against his will. When the boys moved out the way of Chia she felt her heart skip a beat. The last few days seemed like years and Chia was already accepting the faiths. She had cried too much already and prayed to nothing. She was sure that her wishes were left unheard and the days would continue on. 
But before her stood Bruno is his amazing mafia glory. Glowing with the sun as his halo. He was wrapped in bandages and nursing an arm in a slash under his jacket. He looked tired and in need of a proper rest but underneath it all he was relieved to still be alive. When Bruno saw Chia he felt the world stop, much different than before. His heart started to race a mile a minute but he had to keep his calm and collected composure. On his good arm hung a young girl with soft pink hair. She looked towards Bruno then towards Chia before letting him go and nodding with a smile towards Chia.
"You hung up on me, Bucciarati." Chia was the first to speak up.
"I'm sorry," Bruno responded.
"You worried me, Bucciarati."
"I know."
"I thought for sure that would be the last time I heard your voice."
"It should have been," Bruno moves closer to Chia and hesitantly takes her hand. Chia looked him in the eyes to see if there was anything that followed those words. Bruno was never one to say what was entirely on his heart. You had to look in his eyes to see his hidden emotions. "But it wasn't." 
"I love you, Bruno."
"I know." Bruno leaned in and took Chia's lips into his and for the first time in a very long time Bruno allowed the world and worries around him to melt away. The heavens would have to wait or him once again. For now, he had to live on for one more person. 
Mista and Narancia smiled and giggled in the store windows as they watched what happened outside. Giorno wanted to ask what was happening, but when he saw Abbacchio come back and hit the boys upside the head, he knew better than to ask. When the others did move from the window he caught a glimpse of outside and smiled. 
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junosartsthetic · 4 years
Text
A Curiosity
This was originally going to be part 1 of a multi-part fanfiction but I don’t think I’m going to finish it due to lack of motivation atm. Later on I might come back to this but for now it’s just this. I won’t comment on any possible confusing notes on the off-chance I continue this. 
Heels clicked on hard stone, waves crashing nearby. The sun set lazily below the horizon, the golden hour glow illuminating your upset form.
You clenched your fists, tears in your eyes as you paced. The expensive black dress you wore swung about haphazardly, silken fabric brushing against your legs.
You took a glance at your phone which rested on the granite bench just outside the high class restaurant. The screen remained dark.
You headed towards the guard railing, intricate metal bars shielding you from a fall into the cool Italian waters. Your freshly painted nails dug into the railing.
Where was he?
You brought a hand up to wipe the now falling tears, hesitant to ruin your dutifully done make up. 
This wasn’t fair.
You spun around swiftly, scanning the scattered people who strolled about the piers and seaside buildings. None of them were who you were looking for.
“God damnit!” You stomped your pricey heels against the pavement.
Your boyfriend was supposed to be here, he promised. And yet, it’s been a half an hour and there’s no sign of him.
You knew he had issues. He’d been so angry lately.
You brushed a finger against the bruise on your cheek, concealed with foundation. 
You shook your head.
No. The sweet teen you fell in love with was still there underneath the druggie he’d become. Right?
He started using at such a young age, tempted by the scum of the earth mafia.
You told him to stop, been pleading for years now, but you were now 20, and nothing has changed. 
You let out a long sigh. Maybe this was for the best. You hadn’t seen him in weeks, but he’d gotten in touch with you and told you to meet him here. He said he wanted to tell you something.
Gritting your teeth, you stomped back to your phone, spinning back on your heels once you had the device in hand to head back to the bus stop. If he wasn’t going to show, then it was over.
Before you made it to the bus station, a calm and melodic voice stopped you. “It’s a gorgeous view, isn’t it?”
You turned your head.
A man leaned against the railing, facing towards the sunset and sea.
The white suit he wore, dotted with little black marks, fit his tall and rather lanky form nicely. 
His black hair, cut into a precise bob, flowed gently in the breeze.
A golden glow cast onto his face, allowing you to see a glimpse of a handsome face.
Even though he didn’t look at you, you knew he was calling to you.
A knot of both anxiety and curiosity gripped your gut. 
You hesitantly stalked forward a few steps, resting your hands against the railing a ways away from him.
You looked to examine his face.
His features were soft, yet intimidating in a familiar way. The way he carried himself was elegant, yet dangerous.
You didn’t need to ask to know why he was here or who he was.
He was a mafia member, no doubt, and if a man like him was meeting you instead of your druggie boyfriend, then something must’ve happened. Something your boyfriend couldn’t walk away from.
“He’s dead,” you spoke, voice stable, though your body shook and your cheeks dampened. It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.
He nodded. “Yes.”
The knot in your stomach tightened. You wished you were wrong, and yet knew you were right.
“How’d he die?”
The man finally turned to meet your gaze. “You don’t want to know that.”
You narrowed your gaze. “Tell me.”
He let out a sigh, taking his hands off the railing before walking over to you.
You stayed where you were.
He pulled a familiar necklace out of his suit pocket. It was the necklace you’d given to your boyfriend on his birthday last year. 
Blood stained the silver heart shaped locket.
“Here,” he spoke, holding it in his palm. 
You took the necklace, giving it a single look before tossing it into the ocean.
“I don’t need it.”
The man’s lips lifted into a soft smile. “Will you be alright?”
You stared at the locket as it sank into the  bright blue water. 
“I don’t have a choice, now do I?”
He didn’t respond, just resuming his act of leaning against the railing and staring at the horizon, this time, right next to you.
“Your boyfriend was dabbling in mafia business. They’ll come after you if you attempt to look into his disappearance.”
“Death, you mean.”
He gave your face a glance. Your expression was stoic. Tears no longer fell.
“The police are treating it as a missing persons case. Eventually, it’ll be forgotten.”
“Like every other person in this godforsaken country who fucks with the mafia.”
He felt the sting in your voice. His chest tightened. This wasn’t the first time you’d dealt with the mafia.
“One day it’ll change.”
You scoffed. “Will it? You’re one to talk. You’re part of them. Now get out of here before I do something I regret.”
He remained.
You let out an irritated scoff. 
“Alright, then I’ll leave.”
You turned to leave, but his voice stopped you once more.
“You’re all dressed up.”
“And?”
“You have a reservation here.”
“Okay.”
He held his hand out to you. “Let’s talk inside.”
“Why should I? I don’t trust you. I don’t know you. My boyfriend was murdered. I’m not really in the mood for dinner.”
He gave you a look which you recognized. You didn’t have a choice in the matter.
You placed your hand on his.
“Fine. Lead the way Mr...”
“Bruno. Bruno Bucciarati.”
You sat down at the table, Bruno shooing away the waiter with a kind smile and a shake of his head when prompted with ordering.
You stirred the full martini glass in front of you with a painted nail, eyeing the man across from you.
“You never told me how he died,” you spoke, voice quiet but stern.
Bruno’s kind smile fell into a tight-lipped frown. 
“Don’t get involved. Please. It’s in your best interest if you—“
“What? Let it go? Move on? No.”
You took a sip of your drink, dark red lipstick now staining the rim. “Listen, whether you like it or not, I’m getting to the bottom of all of this. I’ve had it. And besides, why do you care? Why’d they even send you?”
Bruno debated internally. The boss didn’t send him, in fact, he was the one that killed your boyfriend.
“You’re in a dangerous position, and the further you delve the worse it’ll become.”
“You don’t think I know that? You don’t know me so don’t pretend to, Mr. Bucciarati.”
He let out a sigh, clasping his hands together. “I know that you’ve had more run ins with the mafia then you let on.”
“Oh, wow, aren’t you Sherlock Holmes?” you quipped sarcastically. “Everyone has. They’re inescapable, which is why I want to change this fucked system.”
Bruno admired your drive, though he knew you’d die if you tried to challenge the mafia on your own. He bit his lip. He shouldn’t…
“You should go home and get some sleep,” he said, beginning to stand. He held out a hand to help you up. You took it. “And don’t speak so loud about all this. You’re already a target.”
“I’d love nothing more than to leave.” You gestured to the table. “You’re paying for the wine.”
With that, you strode out the door. 
Bruno watched you leave. He clenched his fists. Damn him and his hospitality.
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darknessisafriend · 4 years
Text
You won’t touch her ever again Bruno Weiss x Reader
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Anon asked: you are being harassed by your ex-boyfriend, he stalks you and gets really angry. Luckily for you bump into Bruno who helps you out and offers you to hide in the theatre for a few hours and then he protects you like gets possessive and aggressive cause he has already fallen in love with you  
I hope you’ll like it !
“Just leave me alone, okay?” you shot angrily at your ex-boyfriend, he had followed you today and now he was on your doorstep, refusing to leave.
“C´mon baby, I love you” he insisted, reaching out to touch your hand but you quickly moved your arm away, he won’t touch you ever again.
“No, you don´t, I broke up with you which means I don´t want to see you anymore” you added strongly, he really needed to leave you alone.
“Oh really? What do you think you´re going to become huh?! You´re nothing without me” he scoffed with a frightening grin before it faded and he violently hit the wall next to your head making you shriek in fear. He hissed in pain as he realized how strongly he had punched the wall, that was your opportunity to run away, you pushed him out of the way and started to run, you ran as fast you could, hoping he won’t follow you.
“Hey! Where do you think you´re going!” you heard him yell, he was probably already running after you, you needed a shelter, something, someone! You took a turn which lead to a busy street of the city, maybe that will calm him down, then you slowed down, trying to blend in the crowd, you walked fast to avoid drawing to much attention, you quickly turned your head to see if he was still following you , and unfortunately you spotted him, he was still quite far from you, you could still hide somewhere. You turned your head but heavily bumped into someone.
“Oh sorry I...” you started to apologize, you looked at the man, he was elegant, well dressed, his jet-black hair were smoothed back.
“Are you alright?” he asked you with a hint of concern in his voice, he was kind enough to see something was wrong, maybe he was your way out.
“I... someone is following me, he´s going to hurt me, can...can you help me please?” you begged him, quickly looking behind to see where your ex was, ‘please help me’ you prayed in your mind. The man quickly understood your distress.
“Alright, come in, it´s my theatre you´ll be safe here.” he indicated showing the place a few meters away, he placed his hand on your back protectively, looking over his shoulder for anyone suspect.  You felt a bit of relief as he closed the door behind you.
“My name is Bruno” he introduced him with a kind smile offering his hand to you.
“I´m Y/N” you replied on a thankful tone as you shook his hand.
“Pleasure to meet you Y/N” he added before guiding you downstairs.
“Follow me” he instructed you, keeping his hand on your back, you arrived at what you assumed to be the backstage, obviously it wasn´t a theatre, it was more like a cabaret, the women there had the minimal attire, some of them were even topless, he guided you to an adjacent room, he made you sit on a chair.
“Is he going to be a problem?” he asked you as he bend down to be at your height, his eyes were serious and determined, there was no trace of fear in them.  
“I don´t know, he´s... he’s crazy” you tried to explain, your voice trembling, but the emotion was still too strong, Bruno made a calming gesture with his hands.
“Okay, everything’s fine, you can stay here as long as you want, you´ll be safe” he assured you, by his tone you believed him, he really made you feel safe somehow.
“When are you leaving?” you asked him, you were afraid to come out of this place and find your ex waiting for you outside.
“After the shows tonight around midnight. Why?” you lowered your eyes, you didn´t want to bother him by asking this, he briefly ran his tongue over his lips as he understood.  
“I can escort you to your home if you want, it´s not a problem for me.” he offered softly, a small smile forming on his lips to reassure you.  
“I don´t want to bother you”
“No, no it´s fine...sorry I really have to take care of the rehearsals but please make yourself comfortable.” he finished on a definitive tone, you watched him leave, you smiled to yourself, he didn’t know how much he had saved you today, you sighed in relief, you ‘ll be safe here, at least for a few hours.  
And you didn’t see time pass, there was so much going on even during rehearsals, the women came into the room you were in to change costume or put some makeup on. Some of them even tried to get to know you between their gigs.
“Hi! Are you new here?” asked a first one with curiosity, she had a kind and friendly smile.
“I´m not working here, Bruno just saved me earlier” you explained truthfully.
“What? Oh no you poor thing! Are you alright?” another exclaimed, visually checking your body to make sure you didn’t have any wounds or bruises.
“Yes, thanks to him I am” you answered, shyly lowering your eyes, a smile forming on your lips as you thought about your savior.
An hour after maybe, the show started, you went behind the curtains to watch the show; the style was pretty much like a French cabaret, which meant pretty women, half naked, dancing in a seductive way on some music played by the pianist. Despite this, the show was still enjoyable, the public essentially composed of men, didn´t touch them, unless they agreed to it first. And Bruno was a very good speaker, you wondered if he had written all he was saying or if someone else had. And then, when he wasn´t on stage, Bruno, would notice you and smile at you, it was bright smile, affectionate some would say.  
The night finally came to an end and you were glad, you were tired and struggled not to doze off.
“Alright, ladies, you did a good show tonight!” praised Bruno with grin as he hugged his girls. He escorted them to the door.
“Rest well tonight and see you tomorrow!” he wished them as he looked at them leave.
“Goodnight Bruno!” they all wished him in unison, you chuckled, it was a real little family he had there. He came back to you, putting on his coat.
“I hope I didn´t make you wait for too long” he inquired with a polite smile.
“No, the show was quite entertaining actually” you admitted, his brows slightly furrowed together, he was surprised.
“I´m flattered, thank you... Shall we go?” you nodded eagerly, tightening your coat around your body.
However, you felt anxiety built in your chest as you stepped outside, it reminded you what had happened earlier, he knew your address, what if he was waiting for you at home? or what if he was coming inside it during the night to make you pay? You didn´t want to go to your home anymore, it was too dangerous.
“Are you alright? You seem preoccupied.” noticed Bruno, he looked at you in the eyes, trying to know what was going through your mind.
“I´m just afraid he might come back after me....” you confessed, your voice slightly shaking
“Do you know him?” he asked you, starting to understand the situation, you nodded, looking at your feet.
“He´s my ex-boyfriend...he doesn´t want to leave me, he harasses me” you sighed “he has hurt me before, that´s why I left him...” you explained, he knew everything now, he frowned.
“He hit you!? If ever crosses my path I swear he´ll regret to be born!” he raged; you were startled at how he lost his temper after what you said, was he quick to anger or simply very protective of women? But somehow it reassured you, at least you knew that if your ex came back you´ll have someone to protect you. He noticed he had startled you.
“Sorry, I didn´t mean to frighten you, I just don´t get why someone would hurt a woman like you.” he apologized, briefly looking at the side with embarrassment.  
“No worries, I appreciate your concern.” you replied honestly, it really reassured you, you weren’t alone, someone cared about your well-being.
The both of you started to walk, you stayed closed to him, your shoulder constantly brushing against his, even though it wasn´t very appropriate to do that, but he didn´t seem to mind and you felt shielded.  
“So, how did you ended up working here?” you asked after a bit, have a conversation was the least you could do to thank him.
“I was performing in the streets as a kid, tap-dancing, until the boss saw me and my cousin, she hired us. And one day as we were invited to perform on Ellis Island, I started to meet these women, coming here for a new life, but because they were alone or in a bad situation, they faced expulsion, I decided to offer them a way out by working at the theatre.”  
“Oh, poor women...” you sighed, they went through so much, the war in Europe was truly terrible at the moment, and as they arrived in America in hope for a better life, they had to do this...
“Oh I do not force them to do that, but it´s what pays best” he quickly explained, afraid he had scared you.
“Still, it is terrible to end up selling your body and humiliating yourself after fleeing the war” you added sadly, Bruno swallowed down.  
“At least they have a roof over their heads and food, and they’re under my protection; unfortunately, it’s the best I can do for them.”  he responded; you felt conflicted about what he did, sure without him, these women would be on the boat back to Europe or dead in a back alley of New York but he probably didn’t imagine how terrible it was not to own your own body, you felt relief that they were consenting at least.
Anyway, you refocused your attention on your surroundings, he was extremely nice to escort you at this time of the night.  But as you had almost reached your building, you noticed someone waiting at the corner of the street, his hat hiding his face but somehow, maybe his posture or just a feeling, you knew it was him, your heart started to beat fast, fear filling your whole being, you had to tell Bruno; trembling like a leaf your hand managed to find his, holding it tightly as you slowed down, he looked at you surprised by this physical contact.
“What is it?” he asked you intrigued, until he followed your gaze, and he realized that the man was your ex, Bruno tightened his grip on your hand, he brought his face closer to your ear.
“Listen, let’s pretend we’re a couple, taking a little stroll and turning around to go back home, I can hide you for the night.” he suggested in a murmur, you quickly nodded and hoped your ex didn’t recognize you. You snuggled deeper in Bruno’s embrace as he protectively passed an arm around your shoulders.
“Hey! Y/N!?” you jumped at the sound of your ex’s voice, he had seen you, you kept walking like you didn’t hear him, Bruno turned his head to look at him.
“I’m sorry man, you’ve mistaken my girl for someone else.” he spoke on a casual tone, you wished you were as good as him in this sort of situation.  
“No, you’re lying, I recognized her!” you ex accused as he quickly came to stand in front of the couple you formed, his eyes locked with yours, harsh, he was furious. “Y/N come with me” he asked on a very calm tone, which you knew was a dangerous thing with him.  
“Too bad, she’s with me, I’m her boyfriend, isn’t that right love?” replied Bruno first looking at the man with possessiveness in his eyes before gazing at you.
“Yes” you said trying to appear as convincing as you could, your ex ignored your answer his eyes focused on his enemy.
“You better get your hands off of my girlfriend.” he threatened Bruno, looking at him dead in the eyes; but Bruno didn’t obey, he stood his ground.
“Or what? Do you think I’m scared of someone like you!?”  Bruno took a step forward, and pushed you behind him protectively.
“And she’s not with you anymore, get over it, she’s mine” he declared ferociously; then he took out of his coat a push dagger, holding it strongly between his finger, you could feel he was seeing red. But you ex was full of rage too, he didn’t have a weapon but he positioned himself for fight, he was a strong man and now you feared he might be able to take down Bruno, and he will beat him until death for touching you. Losing his patience Bruno attacked first, throwing a punch, his blade missing your ex of few inch, you brought your hand to your mouth, you didn’t want anyone to be hurt.
“Stop!” you called them, trying to make them break the fight, you deeply appreciated how keen Bruno was to defend you but he could end up in prison for that and you would blame yourself for it for the rest of your life. And the fight was getting even more violent, your ex had managed to throw a punch in the jaw of your savior, but Bruno was fast to replicate, crushing him against the wall, knocking his head hard against the bricks, your ex groaned in pain; Bruno’s forearm came on the man’s chest and the dagger under his chin, both were panting; your ex was now realizing the situation,  he lifted his hand in the air in submission.
“You won’t touch her ever again!” he snarled loudly, his fist trembling, he was so close to do it.
“Bruno!” you called him strongly, making him snap out of his rage for your ex, you didn’t want your savior to be arrested “I think he understood, we should go before the police arrives” you added, trying to reason him.
“But he hurt you!” he objected on a harsh tone; he didn’t want to let the man go freely.
“Bruno, please...” you begged him, approaching him and putting your hand on his shoulder, it seemed to do its effect on him, his eyes softened as he looked at you before he turned his gaze to your ex once again, he brought the blade even closer, dangerously caressing his skin.
“If I ever see you near her again, you’ll be dead before knowing it.”  he swore, his tone low, intimate and dangerous which made it even more frightening, the man swallowed down. Bruno slowly released the pressure he put on the man’s chest, then he took a few steps back but still holding his weapon ready, you had never seen your ex so scared, he didn’t even look at you and ran away, watching him get farther and farther in disbelief, were you finally free of him?  
Bruno put his dagger away and smoothed back his hair, he looked back at you, a small smile started to form on his lips.
“Come on, let’s bring you to my place, you’ll be safe there.” you smiled back at his kind offer, he put his hand on the small of your back, quickly looking behind for any danger, he was being so caring and protective of you but in a good way, contrary to what you had been through before with your ex.
You finally arrived at his apartment, it was modest with a bedroom and another bed in the living room. Bruno took of his coat before offering to take off yours.
“Would you like something to drink or eat?” he offered you with a very sweet voice as if he wanted to be forgiving for something.
“No, thank you I’m quite tired actually.” you confessed, scratching your head with embarssement.
“Oh yes sorry! With all this stress you must be exhausted, you can take the bed here and I will sleep in my own bedroom, if it’s alright for you, unless you prefer a room with a lock?” he asked you eagerly, wanting to make you feel as comfortable and safe as possible.
“No, no, the living room will do, after all what you’ve done for me today, I think I can trust you.” you replied with a friendly smile, you looked at each other in the yes for several seconds, as you were lost in each other’s eyes.  
“I will leave you to rest then.” he finally declared, snapping out of his thoughts, he gave you one last smile before heading to his bedroom.
“Bruno!” you gently called him, catching his wrist, he turned his eyes traveling between your hand on him and your face.
“Thank you, you’re a good man.” you told him with honest, your voice was soft, then you stood on your toes and delicately kissed his cheek, he closed his eyes and exhaled as you did so, your face stayed close to his as he made eye contact with you , his hand went up to lightly caress your cheek, his eyes were full of affection.
“I want to kiss you Y/N...” he cooed, his eyes traveling to your lips, a smirk started to form on your lips.
“Only a kiss then, let’s keep the rest for tomorrow.” you replied on a flirtier tone; slowly he leaned in and placed his lips on yours, it was so gentle, feathery like, you responded by putting a bit more pressure on his sweet lips, cupping his jaw; how could you say ‘no’ to such a caring man like him, you were willing to give it a try, after he had protected you like no one ever did before.
Tags: @lyoongx​ @skaravile​ @weirdflecksbutok​ @niniitah-ah
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