Heart Strings (Passione x Reader)

Chapter Thirty Two

"Losing," Risotto answered. "I'm afraid of losing."

"Losing what?"

"It's your turn to answer my question."

You smiled wholeheartedly, "okay. What I think about before sleeping? Well, things I love."

"What things?"

"Your turn," you replied with a grin he couldn't see.

"Losing in general, losing at my responsibilities, losing at games, losing at life," he paused. "This will sound foolish, but losing at love, too."

"You love someone?" You asked quietly.

"Your turn," he reminded you with a coy smile.

"Family, friends, places, I love them all." You turned over, surprised to find Risotto still looking at the ceiling.

"I didn't want to say for sure, all this time, but I love someone," he spoke quietly, you could barely hear him.

"Who?" You blurted. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"It's supposed to be your turn," he said as he turned to face you, "but I didn't ask a question." His white hair fell over his face, but his red eyes still found yours. "They all chase after you, I'm aware, and I only watch over you."

"Ris," you began, stopping when his hand fell atop yours.

"But that never stopped me from feeling the same as they do," his gaze remained, "I only hope you don't think I'm a nobody. I know you might feel for another but, you should leave knowing that I do care."

"You're a fool," you whispered to him, looking back at him. His pale skin had a rosy tint and he met your eyes easily.

"Of course I am," he laughed lightly, a twinge of pain beneath it. "But you have someone waiting on you, right? And I have to rest."

You frowned briefly, "I mean, you're a fool to believe you're nothing to me. Just promise me you'll rest and I'll leave."

"I promise," he smiled, "and y/n, if you need me to kick his ass, wake me up."

You beamed, "you better be actually asleep then." Your hand rested on the doorknob. "Promise me one more thing?"

"Hmm?"

"Promise me that you know I care."

"Promise," Risotto said gently as you closed the door.

- - -

"Oh, you're still here," Formaggio said.

You sat beside him on the couch, reminded of the night he'd come back drunk soon after you'd met him. "I thought you were sober."

"That's what bothered you?"

"Of course she bothered me, but, the alcohol bothered me more." You glared at him, taking notice of his ashamed demeanor; huddling into himself. "I was so mad at first, but now," you stopped.

"I know, I'm sorry," Formaggio rambled.

"I really thought you were getting better, and I thought when it got tough, you knew I was there," you said to him quietly.

"I did, I mean I do know that you're there."

"So why didn't you come to me?" Your voice rose and you shied away.

"I wanted to, I even made it to your house once, I wanted to knock but." Tears bloomed in his eyes and you subconsciously wiped them away. He met your eyes and spoke, "I was scared, and it's no excuse for everything that happened. It's only an excuse for me not knocking, I was afraid that after you stayed, even though I said it was okay that you might not like me the next day, I was afraid that might be true. So I wanted to keep pretending you'd never stop liking me, and I didn't want to risk losing that mirage. But then I made that awful mistake." He wrapped his arms around his legs.

"That day I was here because I came to see you," you spoke timidly.

"Why?"

"I don't know Formaggio."

"I've said it so many times but, I really am sorry. What I did was," he looked up at you, "awful. I don't know what I would've done if we were in swapped positions, so I can't blame you for any anger. I just hope I get another chance."

"I'm mad Formaggio, but I'm still here. Come to me if you need it, alright?"

"Alright," he said with a bittersweet smile.

Shuffling footsteps echoed down the hallway and Melone appeared with a stifled yawn. "Great," he mumbled, "Formaggio made me do his work and now he's taking time with y/n that I should be having!"

"Hey, why should you?" Formaggio protested from beside you.

"Because I want to. I've barely seen y/n lately." Melone reached out to you, leading you towards his room. "I don't care if Risotto is angry later, I don't sleep well without someone else." He whispered the last part as he climbed into bed hastily. You laid beneath the thick blanket, surprised at its softness.

Melone pulled you into him, wrapping his arms tightly around you and locked you with him with his legs. His hair was strewn around him and he lightly snored moments later. You sighed and shut your eyes tightly, you fell asleep much faster if there was a conversation going, but that was out of question.

You looked around Melone's room as well as you could as he clung onto you. There was a mess of clothes on the floor and his dresser had a few pictures you'd hope to remember to look at later. He had been gone lately and his room showed it; moments of everyday life paused. You tried to shift around and Melone relented as you turned to face him before he closed you in again.

You had your head resting under his chin when his fits started, small but repeated. He would mumble incoherently and shake slightly then fall back into sleep. He shook himself awake on the next one. "Melone, are you okay?"

He looked down at you tiredly, "yeah just a few bad dreams." You wrapped your arms around him tighter. He lightly kissed your head as he attempted to sleep again. Blushing like a fool, you closed your eyes.

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Ch 33 Preview

Risotto looked past the kitchen to the others, who were lost in their own conversations. "I can't ask you to do that."

"You don't have to, I'm asking, you just need to answer." Risotto turned to you, his shoulders relaxed.

"Then," he said, "please help me."