Beautiful Mistakes || Luca x Alberto <3

Slowly Healing

(I suck at drawing hands, yo 😭)

Alberto tensed up, mouth dropped open. His heart raced and his face immediately flushed. Hands twitching, he slowly looked at Luca, his face full of complete shock.

Luca's face immediately changed into a look of panic as Al sat staring at him.

Covering his heated face, Luca stuttered, "I-I'm sorry! I-I-I don't know why I did that! Oh no, oh gosh..."

He nearly tripped as he quickly stood up and began to leave. But before he reached the door, he was pulled back by Alberto's hand grabbing his wrist. Turning back to him, Luca's eyes widened, stunned.

Blushing, Al looked into his brown eyes, just as stunned as he was. Still holding onto Luca's wrist, Al slowly slid his hand down, until he reached his fingers. He held Luca's hand, firmly, and continued staring at him.

Alberto swallowed, and managed to choke out two words. "Please stay..."

Luca eyed him, dumbfounded. He was unable to move, or respond.

Annoyed, Al said to him in a demanding tone, "Sit, idiot."

Without saying a word, Luca obeyed and sat back down. Still holding Al's hand, he avoided his eyes, feeling deeply embarrassed. Alberto shifted in his bed and sat facing him. He held Luca's face in his hand and then wrapped it around his neck, pulling him close. Tearing up, Luca returned the hug and buried his face in Al's chest, shaking.

"I missed you so much..." Luca sobbed as he held onto his shirt.

Alberto shushed him, replying in a soothing voice, "I know, I missed you too."

They sat in silence for a while, until Luca had calmed down. Wiping his face, Luca sat up straight, looking at the floor. "Do...y-you hate me?"

Alberto shook his head and replied softly, "Of course not, I could never hate you. I'm not mad, I was just...unable to talk, after what happened..."

Luca sighed, "It's been so hard, this past week. Even though I had everyone else with me, I still felt so alone. I didn't have you...I thought you were mad at me for lying about what happened. I felt terrible, I still do..."

Al ran his fingers through Luca's hair. "I was never mad, Luca. I was in shock, I wasn't feeling so great, myself. I know you guys were scared of what they'd do if you told the truth...honestly I believed them, too. We know how much they hate us, especially me. They'll do anything to make us miserable. You don't have to feel bad, I feel terrible that you...had to watch all of that."

"I thought he was going to kill you..." Luca croaked. "I was sure we were all going to die. But it's not like it was our fault, we couldn't do anything! They're stronger than us! They even took our knives...We just wanted to see Riccardo again. We didn't know..."

Al leaned closer to him, "None of us knew. And it's not Riccardo's fault, either. Even if he can't see us again, he's still our friend. I still can't believe that...he and Antonio are brothers...I feel so bad for him. He shouldn't be living under the same roof as that guy, we need to get the cops or something. His parents have to know what's been going on!"

Luca pulled away from him, "No! What if they don't believe any of us and leave Ercole and his friends alone? We would all be dead for sure! I don't want Riccardo going through that pain just as much as you don't, but Alberto...anything could happen. Even his injuries wouldn't get them arrested, because there's no proof that they were hurting him!"

"But what about the photos?" asked Al. "We have evidence to prove that they're harassing other kids! How could the cops believe them when we have all the proof right here?! Have you even taken them to the police, yet?"