Chapter Text
Risotto could never make anything out, just that he was being yelled at.
It always started an incomprehensible, a mess of anger being spat at him. Tears would start filling up Risottos eyes. A fist entangled itself into Risottos hair, the screaming continued right in his ears. Risottos vision was blurry, everything in front of him abstract as tears fell heavy down his cheeks.
Risotto could make one sentence out.
”Stop crying!”
Risotto got tossed back, crying out loud as a sharp pain hit the back of his head. Risottos vision wavered as he fell to the floor, feeling the floor beneath him sway as his stomach twisted painfully. Risotto sobbed into the floorboards, folding in on himself as he saw his tears falling to the floor slowly becoming more and more red as his vision wavered and cut completely.
—
Risotto jolted up, digging his nails into the sheets under him. Risotto choked as his lungs tightened, he sputtered as his body tried to force air in like he was drowning. Risotto panicked as he felt his cheeks wet, Risotto tossed his bangs back and frantically rubbed his face.
Risotto pulled his hands back and saw nothing on his hands, a wave of relief washing over him. Risotto sniffled, wiping his face on his forearm as he struggled to breathe. Risotto curled in on himself, nuzzling into the blanket and sobbing as shame twisting in his stomach.
Risotto froze as he heard a knock on the door, hurriedly covering his eyes with his bangs and trying to rub his tears away but it just made the tears come harder from frustration.
“... Riz?”
Melone called out, Risottos door slowly opened. Risotto tried to hold his sobs in, snapping his head away from Melone as he tried to ignore the shame bubbling in his stomach. Melone stepped in, a worried look on his face and bags under his eyes as he walked up to Risottos bed and knelt down.
“Hey... What’s going on?” Melone asked gently, Risotto kept his head turned away as tears kept falling. Melone gently cupped Risottos face, turning his face towards him and using his thumb to rub away Risottos tears “Riz, what’s the matter? Did you have a nightmare?”
Risotto kept trying to force his ragged breathing steady as he leant into Melones hand, wrapping his little hands around his wrist. Risotto gave a weak nod as he hiccuped, Melone moved his hand to Risottos head and patted his head gently.
“There, there, Risotto.” Melone grabbed a few tissues from Risottos bedside and asked for Risotto to put his hair back. Risotto put his silver hair behind his ears, exposing his black sclera and red irises. Risottos eyes were puffy, tears stained his cheeks. Melone gently wiped away Risottos tears, Risotto squeezed his eyes closed as he trembled. Each time Melone moved, Risottos body tensed and it made that sickly shame grow even stronger.
Melone gave Risotto the tissue and Risotto blew his nose with it. Melone put his hand back on Risottos head, running his fingers through his hair affectionately. Melone got up, sitting next to Risotto on the edge of his bed.
“Oh, Riz...” Melone spoke softly, worried that speaking any louder would make Risotto burst into tears again. Risotto hesitantly shuffled closer to Melone, putting his head against his chest and fluffy robe. Melone wrapped his arm around Risotto “that must’ve been some nightmare, huh?”
Risotto nodded, clinging to Melones clothes.
“It’s normal to have nightmares, Riz, but they can’t hurt you, you’re safe, and you’re safe with us,” Melone reassured, Risotto shuffling around so his head was in Melones lap “I used to get nightmares all the time... About my mother.”
Melone spoke with far off and sad look in his eyes but snapping back to reality to look down at Risotto curled up with his head in his lap.
”But, they were always just dreams, I never saw her again,” Melone chuckled, “aside from once.”
Risotto looked up to Melone, Melone had his hand on his cheek and was feeling the bumpy scar tissue around his eye. Melone smiled at Risotto.
”That time, my nightmares stopped!” Melone started chuckling to himself, “because when she visited me, I had your father with me and safe to say he scared her off for good. Oh, that was the only time I’ve seen him lose his voice!”
Melone laughed thinking about it, Risotto giggled, that definitely sounded like Ghiaccio. Melone laughing along with him as he cradled Risottos head in his lap.
“Risotto, do you want to tell me about your nightmare?” Melone asked, Risotto shook his head “no” once again Melone thought for a minute longer “would you like to talk about it later?”
Risotto shrugged, but still shook his head. Melone understood it was a firm “maybe, but probably not”, Melone ran bus fingers through Risottos silvery hair.
“Okay,” Melone said “do you want to sleep in our bed?”
Risotto pulled away to cock his head to the side, Melone looking a little confused.
“Have you never heard of that before? Well... Small children feel safer around their parents, so it makes it easier for them to sleep when they’re nearby,” Melone explained, slowly, as if he was putting himself to by sleep by talking “I thought you might be able to sleep better, that’s all.”
Risotto clung to Melones arm.
“Is that a yes?”
Risotto nodded vigorously, Melone smiled tiredly at him, getting up as Risotto sat up.
Melone held out his hand, Risotto hopped out of bed and took it. Melone lead them out of Risottos room and down the dark corridor, Risotto holding on tightly to his large warm hand. Melone slowly and quietly creaked open the door to his own bedroom.
Opening it Risotto saw purple fairy lights emitting a soft glow above Melones window, grateful that it wasn’t going to be pitch black. Risotto walked in with Melone, a blue blob of curls in the bed stirred.
“Wh’ happ’ned?” Ghiaccio slurred tiredly, rubbing his eyes and squinting in their general direction. Melone brought Risotto closer to the bed.
“Risotto had a nightmare.” Melone explained, Ghiaccio nodded, pulling the blanket up and letting Risotto crawl up and under the covers. Melone taking his place in his side of the bed, handing off his pillow to Risotto. Risotto held it tightly and put his head onto it, Melone pat his head again.
“G’night, buddy.” Ghiaccio said groggily, giving Risotto a pat on the shoulder before rolling over. Melone running his hand through Risottos hair one more time and whispered.
“Sleep well.”
—
Risotto tried to sleep, squeezing his eyes shut and trying to force his brain to be quiet. Risotto tossed and turned, the bed was comfortable and cozy but thoughts of his birth parents kept creeping into his head. Risotto dug his fingers into his hair, curling up as tears formed in his eyes from frustration.
“Oi.”
Risottos eyes snapped open, Ghiaccio was facing him.
“Still can’t sleep?” Ghiaccio asked, Risottos nodded hesitantly. Ghiaccio narrowed his eyes, furrowing his brow before sighing softly “... Okay, get up.”
Risotto tilted his head to the side as Ghiaccio rolled out of bed, slapping his hand around the dimly lit bedside table and finding his glasses after hitting them. Risotto crawled over to Ghiaccio, Ghiaccio picking him up and walked out sluggishly.
Risotto snuggled into Ghiaccios chest as he carried him down the hallway, Risotto was riddled with more confusion when Ghiaccio bypassed his bedroom to go downstairs. Ghiaccio turned into the living room/kitchen area, plopping Risotto down on the couch.
“I’ll be back.” Ghiaccio said to Risotto, patting him on the shoulder and walking to the kitchen. Risotto popped his head up over the couch, watching Ghiaccio pull down some mugs and turning on a kettle. Risotto watched Ghiaccio working in the kitchen, fiddling with the mugs and leaning against the counter as he waited for the kettle to boil.
The kettle clicked, Ghiaccio quickly filled up the mugs, filling one with milk too and added toppings. Ghiaccio turned and Risotto ducked down behind the couch again, Ghiaccio walking to the coffee table and putting the two mugs down.
“Here,” Ghiaccio slid over a decedent looking hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and sprinkles on it, Risotto stared at it mouth agape, there was even some chocolate sticking out or it! Risotto pointed at himself in disbelief “of course it’s for you! ...Be careful it’s hot.”
Risotto took it in his hands, Ghiaccio getting up to turn the tv on. Risotto blew on it and took a small sip, an overwhelming sense of warmth filled his body as his mouth filled with sweet and chocolatey goodness.
Ghiaccio slumped down onto the couch, taking a sip of his own drink and flicking through shows. Ghiaccio landed on something that looked bright and soft.
Ghiaccio put his arm around Risotto, Risotto leaning in and plucking the chocolate out from his cup and nibbling on it. It wasn’t long after the show started, Ghiaccio scoffed and started naming snide comments about the show to make Risotto laugh.
Risottos laughing slowly got quieter and eyelids becoming heavier, frequently having to snap his head back to position as he sipped the rest of his hot cocoa. Unable to hold his eyes open any longer, Risottos head lulled forward and stayed down.
—
Ghiaccio looked down at Risotto, realising he’d stopped moving. Ghiaccio waved his free hand in front of Risotto, when Risotto didn’t react Ghiaccio gave a soft smirk. Ghiaccio turned the tv off and took the cup out of Risottos little hands and left it on the coffee table.
Ghiaccio wrapped his arms around Risotto, slowly pulling him up. Risotto wrapped his arms around Ghiaccios neck subconsciously, mumbling incoherently before going limp again. Ghiaccio slowly made his way back up the stairs, using all of his concentration to step lightly, dodging every creaky floorboard to keep Risotto peaceful.
Ghiaccio slowly pushed their bedroom door open, trying to pull Risotto apart from him made Risotto whine and cling even tighter to him. Ghiaccio resigned himself to sleeping with Risotto clinging to him on top... Though resigned is a strong word.
Ghiaccio crawled under the covers, holding Risotto close and hesitantly leant his head down. Ghiaccio planted a quick, chastise kiss onto Risottos forehead. Ghiaccios heart melted as Risotto cuddled closer to him with a faint smile on his face.