Chapter Text
Luca’s mom told him about soulmates once. She said wherever your soulmate first touches you your scales become a rainbow of colors. But not everyone meet their soulmates, she said. She had no rainbow scales anywhere and neither did his dad. They said they were fine with that. They had each other, that’s all that mattered.
The boy didn’t know if he agreed with them. He wanted to see the world, travel to new places.
And maybe bring his soulmate with him.
But he wasn’t allowed on the surface or to wander too far from the farm, so his chances of finding his soulmate was slim. Even though his heart ached for someone he didn’t know, he accepted it as the way it’s meant to be.
Until he found the strange metal noise-maker and the picture of a funny looking land monster.
Until he met Alberto.
Alberto was everything he wanted to be. The boy was brave and loud and could walk on land like it was easy. He welcomed Luca into his hideout so quickly, shared all of his treasures with him, and became his first ever friend.
They had a dream, to build a Vespa and travel the world together. It felt so right, so perfect, Luca should’ve known.
It seemed so obvious in retrospect. All the signs were there. All the touching and smiles and laughter, it was right there.
After the two survived the crash of their Vespa, narrowly missing a big rock, the two danced in the water. Alberto had grabbed him by the hands and spun him around and around until both were dizzy. They had did it! They flew!
As Luca followed Alberto back to the island, he saw it. He saw the rainbow scales now decorating his hands. They glimmered in the sunlight filtering through the water.
His stomach felt fuzzy and he opened his mouth to tell Alberto, but he stopped.
Alberto was his soulmate. Alberto was a boy.
He clutched his hands to his chest, hiding the scales. Alberto didn’t have to know. They could just stay best friends. It’s fine.
It’ll be fine.