𝕁𝕁𝔹𝔸 𝕏 ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕣 (Mostly Lemons)

Abbacchio x Reader (Time's Arrow)

April 10th, 2001.

Naples, Italy

9:40 PM

The crickets are chirping, lake is as still as it can be on a summer night, glistening like diamonds as it mimics the coruscating stars in the dark sky.

Your whole family sat inside the lake house, greeting new guests and sharing their thoughts and prayers. The air was too tense for you, however. You needed a break.

The air was warm, your exposed thighs felt nice against the freshly cut grass.
Yet you couldn't help but shiver at the sight of yourself through the lake's mirror-like reflection.

"What an ugly creature." You'd think, studying every inch of your face. From your crooked nose to your frizzy hair. Nothing about you was satisfactory to your own needs.

"(Y/N)?"

The hoarse voice coming from behind you sent a shiver down your spine. You turn around in shock and connect your eyes with his own, the unique golden purple shade of them twinkled for the first time in years.

"What are you doing here?"

He stood at the door frame of the lake house, wearing his signature black cloak that hugged his body blissfully. In his hands, he held a neatly folded police uniform.

"Abbacchio... I didn't think you'd come back here."

The man sighs heavily, pulling his gaze away from you to place the uniform onto the glass table on the porch.
"It's the only place I don't have bad memories in."

"Do... you want me to go?"

"I never said you were a bad memory."

"Hey, (Y/N), do you wanna join us inside? We're greeting the guests."

You don't bother to look back at your younger cousin. Instead, you continue staring at your reflection.
"I'm just here for fresh air. I'll come back inside later."

"Abbacchio... I'm so sorry. I didn't... I didn't know."

Leaning his body against the kitchen counter, he folds his arms tightly and sighs, looking away from your general direction as strands of his long grey hair painted his face.

"It's not your fault. I should've just taken the bullet instead of him. He didn't deserve to die."

"Neither do you!" You cry out in horror, taking fast steps closer to him but halting just centimeters away, afraid that by touching the fragile man, you'd break him.
"This wasn't your fault either, you didn't know what was going to happen. You were just doing your job."

"My job was to protect the innocent from this flawed country, and I couldn't even do that for him. I couldn't save anyone even if I put my life on the line."

He goes to reach for his third glass of wine, his furrowed eyebrows and glassy eyes concealed from you as he held in his tears.
Yet it was clearer than the night sky in your eyes.

You reach out to grab his hand before he can hold the glass, your warm fingers gently holding his cold hand as you caressed his thumb gently.
"You saved me, Leone. You put your life on the line for me and for my family. You don't deserve this suffering."