Mist | Pixar Luca Fanfic

Chapter 6: Cheeto puff

TW: The following chapter contains violence. Please click out of this book if you are sensitive to fighting/injuries.

Tick.
Tock.
Tick.
Tok.

The splashing of the waves on the beach created a sensational sound of peace. 5 pm arrived as the bells of Portorosso rang to notify what time it was.

Alberto's POV
"This boy was somewhat interesting" Alberto reflected, following the Asian as he made his way down a dark alleyway.

The boy's steps were repetitive, he maintained a slow and steady pace, admiring each building, each path, and each person that he came across. But the boy never seemed to look back even once.

"Isn't it quite late already? What is he doing, roaming around a dark alleyway at such a late afternoon?" Alberto thought.

Then, a pause. The boy halted as a mysterious figure emerged from in front of him.

"Why are you out so late?" the mysterious figure chuckled, causing the boy to retreat slowly.

"I-I just wanted to take a walk" the boy asserted, clenching onto his backpack.

"Ooh, I wonder what lies inside that backpack of yours." the voice giggled, "get him."

Two mysterious figures appeared from the darkness, both of them holding onto a wooden baseball bat.

"Stop!" the boy spoke, attempting to back away further from the dark silhouettes. But it was too late, no one listened to him.

"He said stop" Alberto stepped forward, using his hand to shield the boy. The silhouette laughed before walking into the light. A man as tall as Alberto stepped out, he had jet black hair, which was sleeked back, and a pair of appalling hazel eyes.

"Disgusting sea monster." the voice growled before the two of the man's sidekicks pinned Alberto against the wall. The boy gasped with horror as he attempted to pull the two men away from Alberto... But it was no use, they didn't budge.

"1..." the man let out his first punch towards Alberto's stomach as the two sidekicks clasped tightly onto Alberto's wrist, causing a black and blue tint to form, a bruise.

"Stop that!" the boy hit one of the men with his backpack, only to be shoved back onto the cobblestone ground.

"2..." the man released his second punch towards Alberto's thigh which caused Alberto to groan in agony.

"3..." the man yelled once again. Alberto closed his eyes, waiting for the sharp pain to strike. Nothing.

"I said stop!" the boy yelled.

The man who punched Alberto was on the ground. Alberto opened his eyes to discover the boy holding onto a giant water bottle.

"Do you two want a taste of this water bottle too?" the boy warned the man's two sidekicks while clenching tightly onto the handle of his bottle.

"You better sleep with an eye open!" one of the sidekick alerted before carrying the unconscious man away from the fight.

Alberto collapsed onto the rock-solid ground, panting as he struggled to catch air into his lung. There was a small sound of wheezing ringing from his chest. No words were exchanged between Alberto and the boy. The loud silence shrouded the alleyway, it continued for 2-3 minutes before the boy quietly crawled over to Alberto, both of them leaning against a blue brick wall. The boy stared onto the opposite side of the wall and closed his eyes.

"You ok?" Alberto wheezed, clenching onto his chest tightly.

"Yeah... You?" the boy looked over at Alberto, his eyes filled with concern.

"Never been better" Alberto snickered before reaching his hand over to the boy's water bottle. "This... This thing is a lethal weapon!" Alberto grinned, rotating and examining the bottle with his shaky hands.

"This lethal weapon is called Mr. Gigantic, my mom gave it to me when I was younger to encourage me to drink more water" the boy forced a gentle yet reassuring smile.

"Well... Nice to meet you Mr. Gigantic" Alberto said, pretending to speak to the water bottle. "Since I have gotten the honor to meet your best friend, Mr. Gigantic, how about you? What's your name?"

The boy froze and took a deep breath before speaking, "I don't have one."

"Impossible. What do your parents call you then?" Alberto looked at the boy.

"They gave me a Cantonese name... But I don't have an English name." the boy blushed with shame.

Alberto saw the embarrassment in the boy's eyes and patted his back. "Well, I'll give you a name... Cheto"

"What's that? It sounds like those Cheeto puffs I snack on" the boy looked up, his eyes ignited with a spark of joy.

"In Italian, it means calm and tranquil! I'm an expert at these things" Alberto paused to inspect the boy's reaction before continuing, "since you so calmly used Mr. Ginormous as a weapon to protect me, I'll call you Cheto!"

Cheto laughed, his voice soft and gentle. "I love that! Since it sounds like Cheeto without the extra e, it will be easy to remember!"

Alberto rolled his eyes jokingly, "anything you say, Mr. Cheeto"

A warm breeze bristled through Cheto's hair, causing him to shiver.

"We better head home," Alberto spoke, "it gets colder during the nighttime in Portorosso."

I'll walk you home!" Cheto proposed, clapping his hands together with excitement.

"Nah, you're the one who's shivering" Alberto gave Cheto a friendly nudge.

"No! You defended me when those people were ganging up on me, it's the least I can do!" Cheto insisted.

•••

The recurring beat of steady footsteps reflected through the walls of the houses of Portorosso, as Alberto and Cheto conversed with each other.

"By the way, did you know that guy?" Cheto hesitated, "the guy back in the alleyway"

"Y-yeah, his name's Ercole" Alberto frowned.

"Ercole...? Ercole Visconti?" Cheto asked.

"Yeah, why? Do you know him?" Alberto inquired, slowing down his pace to walk next to Cheto.

"He saw me yesterday. He told me to be cautious of sea monsters!" Cheto twitched and hugged his own arm.

"Sea monster, huh?" Alberto frowned once again, "I remember you said you're afraid of them"

Cheto nodded while looking down on the ground.

"Well... What if you saw one in the ocean?" Alberto asked, his brows furrowed with focus.

"Nothing" Cheto shrugged, "as long as it doesn't hurt me, I wouldn't do anything to it"

A surge of relief filled Alberto's body, causing him to stretch his arms with a grin. The rest of the walk was quiet, a somewhat comforting silence with some occasional coughs and sniffles.

"Aaaaaaand we're here!" Alberto applauded.

"Wow! Your house seems very comfortable and cozy!" Cheto's eyes lit with admiration.

"Yeah! Wait till you see inside!" Alberto bragged, tilting his chin upwards with pride.

"Maybe another day, I don't want my parents worrying about me" Cheto sighed before turning around to walk back towards the piazza.

"Hey, Cheto" Alberto called.

"Mmhmm?" Cheto replied from a distance, turning around to the tall curly-haired brunette.

"Thanks... For walking me home" Alberto's face glowed before shutting the door.