Ciao - Luberto

Chapter 21

*Alberto's pov*

The cabin house was fairly pleasant. It had a spacious living/cooking area, and two sleeping areas on a sort of balcony upstairs. Giulia and Alberto soon got to work, unpacking and staring a fire. But Alberto noticed Luca had gone straight up the bedrooms and onto their bed. Alberto climbed up the thin staircase and found Luca lying on the bed, facing the ceiling.

Alberto lay down next to him "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Luca said with an unusual amount of brightness, turning to face his boyfriend.

"No you're not." Alberto relied, cupping Luca's face "You're really warm. And clammy."

"Seriously Berto, I'm okay!"

"You're ill. And you never get ill." Alberto said, concerned "Talk to me. Something's up."

Luca sighed, before speaking "It's from the stress. Moving here wasn't a barrel of laughs, but we're safe now. I'm worried about my parents. There is no way of contacting them, and even though everyone keeps reassuring me that they'll be ok no one can guarantee it! And.. I feel.. selfish, worrying so much."

Alberto's eyebrows knitted together "What do you mean?"

"Massimo is in just as much, if not more, danger as my parents! And he's alone, and he only has one arm! And I know he's very capable and strong but he's your father, and not once have I had to reassure you of his safety but you've had to reassure me multiple times." Luca blurted.

Alberto pulled Luca into a hug "Listen to me. I am worried about Massimo, but he is a strong man. Though of course it's not ideal, he can take many blows. And even if he is in just as much danger, your worrying is still okay! I'd rather we talked about it often than you bottle it up."

Luca looked up at him, a somewhat peculiar yet happy expression on his face "Thank you. Ti amo."

"Ti amo anch'io." Alberto smiled "No more keeping secrets from eachother. Agreed?"

Luca nodded "Agreed."

"AM I UNPACKING ALONE?" Giulia shouted up the stairs, making both of them jump slightly "ALBERTO GET YOUR RAGGEDY ASS DOWN HERE AND HELP, PICCOLO PEZZO DI MERDA."

"Cazzo, sto arrivando!"Alberto yelled down, rolling his eyes. "Colonel Marcovaldo is calling." he sighed getting up, making Luca chuckle.

Luca started to jump up before Alberto stopped him "Hey! You're ill! Stay right there."

"I'll be fine, it's just a cold-"

"Amore mio, you have a temperature. I don't know a lot about human illnesses, but Giulia does. Stay there, I'm getting her."

Luca admitted defeat and lay back down, getting under the covers as Alberto ran down the stairs.

"I think Luca's going down with something." he announced.

"Oh?" Giulia said, loading the fireplace with logs "Let me see." She brushed the ashes off there trousers.

"Dr Marcovaldo is here to see you, Mr Paguro." Alberto said regally, opening the door for Giulia, who rolled her eyes laughing.

"What's up with you then?" She asked sitting down on the bed.

"Whatever Alberto told you, he's over exaggerating." Luca replied, burring himself under the covers.

"Are you accusing me of lying?" Alberto asked in a fake hurt voice, gasping theatrically.

Giulia put a hand to his forehead "Oh yeah, you got a fever. Alberto wasn't exaggerating, for once. You're gonna stay in bed until your temperature goes down."

"I want to help!" Luca protested, sitting up.

"You'll be helping by not making us sick and staying here getting better." Giulia replied firmly.

"She knows more than we do, Luca." Alberto reasoned as Luca opened his mouth to protest.

Luca huffed and fell back on the pillow, scooting even further under the covers. Even sick, he looked adorable, Alberto thought.

"We'll leave you be now. Come on, Al, we've got so much to do."

The rest of the afternoon was spent trying to figure out the impossible stove, unpacking and folding endless clothes and chopping firewood. The two were so busy they had forgotten to eat. Among the chaos, Alberto went to check on Luca several times, and every time he went up, Luca was asleep, mumbling slightly.

Just after the sun had gone down, the Giulia and Alberto sat down by the fire, eating bread and a meaty broth.

"This has been one heck of a day." Giulia said, sighing.

"No kidding. My arms are aching from chopping all that firewood." Alberto replied between mouthfuls.

The sat in silence for a bit more, watching the fire.

"I'm worried about Luca." Alberto said suddenly. It was true, though Giulia knew how to help him, he was still bothered.

"He'll be fine, Alberto. I've had a fever like, 7 times."

"Sea folk don't get sick like this though. I mean, not most of time." he replied, still looking at the fire.

"Oh?"

"Well, obviously most of the time we're in the water, so being in the damp or in the rain doenst hurt us, unless we're in it for ages, as we're used to salt water. So Luca's never fought something like this before. And he looks pretty ill, don't you think?" Alberto said, facing Giulia.

"Fevers can be pretty exhausting. And it's from stress, from what I can see, so it's can't be something he caught."

"I know. I don't know, it's just he never gets sick. But I know he'll be fine."

Giulia smiled reassuringly, before taking there bowls and leaving them next the sink. They were too tired for washing up, it would be a task for tomorrow.

"I don't know about you, but I need some sleep. Buonanotte, fratello."

"Buonanotte, sorella."

Alberto sat by the fire for some time more, thinking. He was confused of what his emotions should be. Should he be relieved that they were safe? Or angry that they had to hide? Or worried about Massimo, Giulia and Luca? There were too many conflicting thoughts in his mind. Alberto tried to shake them off, standing up and going to his and Luca's room. He smiled as a he entered, seeing his sleeping boyfriend. He changed into his pyjamas, before crawling into bed, spooning Luca. He rested his head on top of Luca's, smelling his hair. It was a sweet, familiar smell, kind of like cinnamon and hot tea. It made him instantly feel better.

If he had Luca

he was okay.

HELLO! I AM SO SORRY IVE BEEN GONE FOR SO LONG, I KIND OF HAD A WRITING BLOCK BUT I AM BACK :))) THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT, WE ARE NEARLY AT 5K READA!! LOTS OF LOVE <33- May