Family

FIFTY-SIX

Present || Leo

His hand tightens around my wrist as I stare dumbstruck.

Alfonzo is responding to me!

I don't even register my hand pulling away from his loose grip as my arms wrap around his frame on the bed until he releases a string of coughs, causing me to pull back worriedly.

"I'll get some water!"

My eyes dart around the room, on the desk next to Alfonzo's bed is a bag filled with lots of bottled water. Hastily, my fingers unscrew the cap and I hand it to Alfonzo who takes it with trembling fingers, choking on some of the water as he greedily gulps it down.

Sighing, he wipes at his mouth and groans as he tries to sit up.

"Let me call Antonio!" I say panicked as he flinches, he's in so much pain.

"Don't." He mutters, his voice raspy, "Just stay here with me please."

My heart clenches slightly at his words and I nod, sitting down in a chair in front of him, anxiously wringing my fingers in my lap.

Alfonzo glanced down at his body, his arm in a cast and the bandages covering him head to toe before he chuckles humourlessly, "They really fucked me up."

My eyes snap up to meet his as they begin to water at his words and he offers me a lazy smile, "Come here Leo."

Alfonzo opens his arm and I waste no time in burying my head into his chest as sobs wrack my body.

He winces slightly at the impact but says nothing, stroking my hair with his good arm as he sits up straight, my tiny firm curled up on his lap.

It reminds me of how he held me back in that place.

"I-I'm sorry." I whisper as my sobs slowly die down, small hiccups leaving my lips.

Alfonzo hums slightly, continuing to stroke my hair before he pats my head, "It's not like you asked to be kidnapped and besides, we're alive aren't we? And that shithead will really get what's coming to him, I'll make damn sure of it."

"I'm just glad you're awake." I mumble against his chest, listening to the sound of his heart beating.

"Alex helped you didn't he?" He says after a moment of silence.

Lifting my head, his troubled expression meets mine.

Nodding at him, he sighs at my response, resting his chin on my hair.

"Alex appeared after the murder, I wasn't in a good place mentally and I'd have multiple breakdowns throughout the week. I didn't end up going to school for two years because of how bad it got and because of the kidnapping." Alfonzo winces slightly y before continuing, "He's my alter ego and switches places with me when I become stressed really or whenever I have a breakdown, he's normally the one to emerge right after."

I stay silent, willing him to continue.

He takes a deep breath before saying, "After Dad sent you away, I was diagnosed with IED, it stands for intermittent explosive disorder which kind of explains my violent nature. The thing with this disorder, for me especially, is that I don't remember what I've done."

Alfonzo pulls away from me slightly and I turn my body so my legs are on either side of him as he pulls my chin up to meet his gaze, "When I burnt your hand that day, even if Alex had taken over and I was hurt you because of my disorder, it's no excuse. I still did it."

My hand subconsciously clenches at his words, "Y-you didn't leave a mark and you were just going through a tough time. It's oka-"

"No! It's not okay Leo. Hate me. Scream at me. Fucking hell stop looking at me like I'm something worthy of your forgiveness."

"I'm so so sorry Leo." He whispers and if I wasn't looking directly at him, I probably would never have seen the tears running down his pale face.

"You hurt me a lot back then and really hated me even when I got back." My voice is quiet as I stare down at my lap.

Bringing my head up to meet his, I sigh out softly, raising my hands to wipe away his tears. Alfonzo flinches, his red-rimmed eyes staring at me, and all I can see is fear and remorse.

"You saved my life when we got kidnapped. You took a bullet for me. You held me so tightly when the car crashed to make sure I didn't get hurt, you held me to your chest and sang that song mama used to sing to us to make us go to sleep at night before you passed out."

His tears have dried up by now but my hands don't let go of his face, stroking the side of his cheeks, "Bubba I already forgave you the day you put yourself in danger for me."

Alfonzo doesn't say anything, staring at me with an unreadable expression and I wonder if I've said anything wrong.

Retracting my hands, I bite my lip nervously, hurrying to apologise, "I-I'm sorry I shouldn't have called you that."

"Say it again." He murmurs, taking a hold of hand and bringing it up to his cheek.

I stare at him in confusion as the palm of my hand covers the side of his cheek again, his much larger palm covering mine. Alfonzo leans into my hand, the hint of a smile gracing his lips, "Call me that again please."

"Bubba?"

His smile widens before he frowns suddenly, "I don't like that you've forgiven me so easily, does this mean you've forgiven the others too?"

Now it's my turn to frown at him, "Getting whipped for days on end until your back starts bleeding to the point of you passing out and having seizures is not something anyone would want to go through but you did it for me."

Tears well in my eyes yet again and it's his turn to wipe them, laughing softly as he does so, "I went through it once so I suppose it made it easier for me."

"Really?"

He contemplates for a second before shaking his head, "I know for a fact that I didn't want you going through any of that, you're already so fragile." 

Alfonzo chuckles, ruffling my hair with his good hand.

"And I don't know." I reply to him.

He stays silent as I elaborate, "I don't know what to think when I see them and I-I don't know if I should forgive them."

"A friend of mine once told me that by forgiving others, it allows you to move on to the next chapter of your life but Leo, take as much time as you need. I can't force you to hate them forever or to forgive them, not that I want to but just take things slow alright? You have me now anyway."

"When we get discharged, I'll teach you how to fight." He states, his hand coming up to stroke my hair again.

"Fight?"

"Mm, you need to learn how to defend yourself and at least be able to knock a punch or two." Alfonzo glances down at me, frowning slightly, "You need to eat more too, you're far too malnourished. No wonder you got kidnapped so easily."

"You got kidnapped too!" My mouth hangs in shock at his words and he chuckles.

"I'm the one who saved us though." He retorts, clearly enjoying teasing me.

"Please don't do it again." I say quietly, burying my head into his chest.

"Do what again?" He questions.

"Don't let other people hurt you j-just to protect me."

Alfonzo stays quiet before he pushes me away from him gently, "Leo trust me when I say this, I'd lay my life down for you."

The door opens suddenly, Antonio, Giovanni and Luca barging in before stopping and staring in shock.

"You're awake!"

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Double update cause I'm awesome 😛 

I need to go and study, got two exams this week 😭🙏🏼