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Chapter Text

Luca had no idea what Alberto’s problem was.

It didn’t help that nothing he was saying or doing made any sense. Like the bike. Why’d he jump on the bike and ride down the hill? Was Alberto getting frustrated with him because Luca hadn’t been able to figure out the downhill yet? Was Luca letting him down?

“Look,” Alberto said. Great. An explanation. “I was just showing you how to do it right.”

Now that was a joke. Luca hated to admit it, even inside his head, but he was slowly realizing just how little Alberto knew. Only a short while ago, he lived in complete awe by all the cool stuff Alberto knew and all the cool stuff he’d done… only to realize he just made stuff up to sound important.

And his idea for conquering the downhill?

Luca ground his teeth. “You don’t know how to do it right!”

“I got us down the hill, didn’t I?”

Again! He was just playing it off! “You crashed! Into the sea!” How could he not see all of this?

“It’s fine,” Alberto again seemed to ignore what Luca was saying. He played off the whole thing like nearly killing both of them had been a joke. The sling shot from angry to goof was throwing Luca for a loop.

“Nothing’s fine! My parents just saw me!”

If anything would shake Alberto out of his insistence that everything was okay, that had to be it, right? His parents were the whole reason they were trying to get a Vespa in the first place. What if his parents actually had caught up to them? What if he hadn’t been able to get away? Would they have grabbed him, forced him back to the sea? Back to Uncle Ugo.

Surely, if anything, Alberto would care about that.

“Luca, your parents aren’t here.”

Again! Why was Alberto doing this? Refusing to listen? Refusing to care? Was it really so important for him to be always right?

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Luca shot back.

“Look, this town is making you crazy,” Alberto said. “We just need to win that Vespa, and we got to get out of here.”

Just follow my lead, Alberto kept saying. Except following Alberto’s lead led to him getting punched by Ercole. Except following Alberto’s lead meant believing the stars were fish. Portorosso had changed Luca. A lot. And it was making him see so many holes in Alberto’s plans.

Alberto had no idea his façade was fading. He still played it off like he knew everything. Even when he put his arm around Luca’s shoulder, the gesture felt anything but comforting. It felt like a strangle hold. An insistence that Alberto had to be right. And Luca had to be wrong.

He threw Alberto’s arm off of his shoulder and walked away.

“It’s not going to be any different,” he said.

It wasn’t that Luca thought Alberto was being intentionally manipulative. But… he just couldn’t see. If they kept running away… did that come at the cost of always deferring to Alberto?

“I want to go to school,” Luca finally admitted.

He’d already thought it through. It costs a bit of money, Giulia had said. It couldn’t have been that much money. When they said they wanted to buy a Vespa, she laughed. And if a Vespa was “a lot” of money, and going to school was “a bit” of money… then why couldn’t they go to school instead?

They’d split it. They’d both go. It would be incredible! And perfect! Alberto obviously was curious about the world, too, he just was so stuck on wanting to impress Luca. Maybe if he told Alberto how impressive he’d be if he actually knew the right things?

Alberto, though, scoffed.

“That again?” he asked. “We can’t go to school.”

Again! Refusing to listen! Refusing to recognize that he didn’t know anything about the world.

“You’re just afraid you can’t do it!” Luca shot back.

“I’m not afraid!” Alberto growled. “You’re the one who gets afraid!”

Luca’s cheeks burned with shame. He remembered their last run-in with Ercole. He could barely hold onto that harpoon – okay, well, so it was a harpoon and those things were seriously scary - but… that was a low blow, to use his fear as a way to hurt him.

And then Alberto shoved him.

“Shut up!” Luca shouted, shoving him back.

It became a full-blown brawl. Luca didn’t care if he hurt Alberto. Alberto had already been hurting him enough. It felt good to get it out. And Alberto obviously needed to get it out, too.

“What happens when she sees you!” Alberto shouted. “When anyone sees you!”

That was rich coming from Alberto. The kid who dragged them both into a human town without a single care in the world. All that bravado only counted if Alberto was getting his way?

“You’re alive!”

Giulia’s voice broke them apart.

Luca took a step back, and struggled to regain his breath. His anger was still there. If anything, the fight had only riled him up more, not burn the heat off.

Giulia gave them both a hug. She had no idea what was going on. She probably thought they were all going to laugh about it.

“You’re never allowed on that bike again,” she laughed, ruffling Alberto’s hair. “Stick to food, big guy.”

Alberto just growled at her and walked away.

Luca closed his eyes for a second. Let her think he’s just embarrassed… even though Alberto never gets embarrassed… and always plays everything as fun or funny or…

“Umm… what’s going on?” Giulia asked him.

“Nothing,” Alberto called. “Let’s just get back to training.”

Luca closed his eyes again. He should just let it go. Just go back to training. Pretend none of this happened. …but if they won the Portorosso cup… if they got the Vespa…

“Actually, we have something to ask you,” Luca said, stressing the ‘we.’ He really wanted Alberto to know that this was something he wanted to involve him in. “We were wondering… if we could come with you to your school?”

And Giulia’s face brightened up. “Santo Pecorino! That’s the best idea ever!! Yes! Of course!”

Luca smiled. Yes! This was perfect! He could just imagine how much fun he and Alberto would have at school, learning all about the world and-

“Uhh… Giulia,” Alberto said. “Your school… does it take all kinds of people? I mean… what if some of them were… different?”

Giulia laughed. “You mean dressed weird?”

She meant that lightheartedly, a little throw back to when she first rescued them and recognized them as underdogs like her.

“You’ll have the prize money-“ Giulia explained quickly. “That’ll be more than enough for you to get in, plus… buy some new clothes.”

Luca nodded along, too. See, Alberto? Luca wanted to say. We’ll be fine!

“What if some were, oh, I don’t know, sea monsters?” Alberto asked.

“Sea monsters?” Giulia asked.

“I doubt your school would even accept sea monsters, right?” Alberto asked.

What was he doing?

Luca jumped up, fake laughing. “That’s a weird joke, Alberto,” he said, grinding his teeth together to stop from saying anything else. What was Alberto doing? They had kept their sea monster identities a secret all this time! And suddenly, going to school would be too much of a risk? Why was Alberto doing this?

Giulia just stared, trying to make the connection. Luca almost wanted to whisper under his breath, “See? She had no idea what we are! We’ll be safe!”

But no.

Alberto just had to shrug, but there was no humor in his movements. “I know, it’s kinda hard to imagine, let me just show you.”

Luca realized what Alberto was planning to do too late. He reached out, but he couldn’t hold Alberto back. He dove… right into the water.

And … laid there. Like he’d died.

Luca covered his mouth with his hands, holding back all the things he wanted to say. This couldn’t be happening… this couldn’t be happening…

Giulia rolled her eyes.

“I guess this is how fantastically bad you are at swimming?” she grumbled as she waded into the water to grab his arm.

Unfortunately, when she lifted it out of the water, she felt the scales. It was impossible not to. Luca held his breath… how was she going to react? She thought the sea monster thing was fake, right? She kept saying all the photos were faked… she wasn’t like Massimo… throwing harpoons into the sea at every shimmer. She wasn’t interested in hunting sea monsters.

Maybe she’d realize what they were… and she’d accept them. And then. Then Alberto could see how they could all go to school.

Giulia screamed, stumbling backwards.

The look of disgust that spread on her face as Alberto’s tail slowly lifted out of the water… and no… Alberto pulled himself out of the surf, his mouth pulled wide in a ferocious growl…

“Don’t hurt us!” Giulia said when she finally scrambled onto the shore, reaching for Luca’s hand.

“See?” Alberto said, catching Luca’s eyes. “I knew this would hap-“

“SEA MONSTER!” Luca shouted.

He immediately regretted it as the pained look crossed Alberto’s face.

“Luca?” Alberto asked, the anger in his voice vanishing in an instant, replaced only with hurt.

Luca shook his head, frozen to the spot. He couldn’t believe what he’d done… he should have turned to Giulia… explained who they really were. Giulia looked at him, and only saw what she thought was Luca’s own terror.

She grabbed a piece of drift wood, swinging it at Alberto but missing. “Stay back!” she shouted.

Alberto took one shaky step back, but even the attack didn’t reignite his anger. Luca couldn’t think of anything to say. Apologize. Explain yourself… tell Giulia the truth.

But Alberto had been right. Luca was too afraid.

They stood there, all three of them at a standstill, immobilized by their own shock.

“SEA MONSTER! THERE IT IS!”

Alberto’s head jerked up to the rocks ahead. It was Ercole, with Guido and Ciccio. And all three had harpoons. Alberto finally started to move. Back into the sea. Luca’s heart was breaking – of course he wouldn’t seek safety with him or Giulia… he had no where to go.

“Ragazzi, now!” Ercole shouted.

“No!” Luca shouted, finally finding his voice.

But Ercole obviously wasn’t going to listen.

The three boys threw their harpoons. But Alberto wasn’t moving fast enough. It was like he’d been already struck. He was slow. Dull. Unbothered by fear or urgency.

It made him a perfect target.

“Ahh!” Alberto cried out.

Luca gasped. It felt like all the air had been sucked out of his chest. He couldn’t tell where Alberto had been hit. The waves were coming in too high, but Alberto’s arms wrapped around his side. He stumbled, the waves crashing over his head.

“We got it!” Ercole shouted triumphantly.

“No!” Luca shouted again. And just like every other time he’d found his voice, it did nothing.

Guido and Ciccio waded into the water, grabbing the harpoons that had missed, which were floating on the surface. Alberto saw them coming. His eyes went wide with terror, and then –

His head dunked under the surface.

Luca couldn’t take his eyes off the spot he’d vanished. The white crests of the waves were now tinted with red.

“We got it!” Ercole repeated. “Hurry, Guido! Ciccio! To the boat! It’s not getting away!”

They ran off, for once barely noticing that Luca and Giulia was there.

Chapter Text

Alberto thought nothing could be worse than betrayal.

It wasn’t his first time realizing he could be given up so easily. That he was disposable. He thought nothing could hurt him that badly ever again. As if the trauma of having his dad abandon him would numb him to all other pain.

How could Luca turn on him?

How could Luca see Giulia disgusted in Alberto’s sea monster form and not realize she’d just as easily be grossed out by him?

Where had he gone wrong?

He didn’t want to leave. He wanted to stay there. Wait for Luca to apologize. To say something like “I’m coming with you.” He’d even take Luca saying “I’m a sea monster, too.” But there was nothing.

He would have stayed on the shore forever if it weren’t for Ercole.

The harpoons didn’t even look scary. Their screams didn’t register. There was a gapping, hungry hole in Alberto’s chest that had no space to be afraid.

He tried to retreat into the water, but-

It felt like when Ercole punched him at first. A blunt throb of pressure. But then a stingy, tingly, lightningy pain electrified his body.

“AHH!” Alberto cried out.

The words spilled out against his will. His back had been turning, so he didn’t see the harpoon coming.

Alberto’s legs gave out, and the waves crashed over his head. He screamed again in pain and dared to look at the injury.

He wished he hadn’t.
He couldn’t even see it clearly at first. He waved his hand in the water, to try and wave the blood stained water away, but it clouded everything.

“Oh, no,” he whispered.

The harpoon was sticking into his right side. Not too deeply, but enough that Alberto couldn’t even see one of the prongs.

What was he supposed to do now?

Splashing. Rocks crunching. Those sounds dragged Alberto’s attention away from his injury and he looked back at the beach. It was Ercole, Guido and Ciccio… they had even more harpoons. And they weren’t slowed down by the water.

Now, he was afraid.

He scrambled under the waves again, kicking away from the beach. But every step brought a shock of pain shooting up into his side. He tried flicking his tail, to push himself away. But that, too, was impossible to do without pain. All those muscles were still connected to the muscles in his side that were ripped to shreds.

The beach was shallow. If he couldn’t get into the deep, the land monsters would be back. They could find him easily. They’d be back with more harpoons. And the ocean waves weren’t helping. The tide was going in, the waves were going in. He would have to fight to get into the deep.

Alberto’s thoughts were racing.

Panic wasn’t going to help but he was helpless.

Alberto screamed again. He’d gotten too close to the surface. Close enough that the wooden end of the harpoon had stuck out of the water, and a wave grabbed it, yanking at the already painful wound. He’d have to get rid of that.

But… that had to be bad, right?

He knew why land monsters used harpoons. The pointy-end was meant to stab, to penetrate into the flesh… the barbs on either side of the pointy-end was to ensure the harpoon stayed in whatever the land monsters were stabbing.

So… tearing it out wasn’t going to be a smart idea. It was just going to make the wound worse. But what choice did he have? Maybe that was why he couldn’t move? Maybe it would be better not to have it stuck into him? And it wasn’t that deep… was it?

No… no it wasn’t that deep. He could still see one of the barbs sticking out. That meant the harpoon was like… at most, maybe like, two inches into his side. That wasn’t bad. It’s not like… he had anything important right there… right?

Well… Andiamo.

Alberto closed his eyes, grit his teeth together, grabbed onto the harpoon, prepared himself for the shock, and pulled.

He growled through the pain. That was easy – wait, no. The pain felt just as bad as the first – a new electric wave of pain blanketed him.

Stupido.

Alberto let go of the harpoon and tried to swim.

Stupido!

It didn’t help at all! He still couldn’t swim. And now there was even more blood in the water. This was bad… this was really bad. Alberto put his hand over the wound, hissing at the pain. He couldn’t keep all the blood inside. He grit his teeth together again.

How much blood could he lose before he…

Silenzio, Bruno. Nope, don’t finish that thought.

He was going to get out of this… he… just needed to…

Alberto’s thoughts were racing again. He needed to get to the island. That’s it. At least he couldn’t get harpooned on the island.

No, no… wait. He’d never make it. He had to get back to land. Blood attracted sharks. Any sea monsters knew that. But where could he go? Right here?

No… he was going to be fine. He just had to rest for a bit. He had to get away from the surface. Off this stupid beach. Get to deeper water. He would just get some seaweed to wrap up his injury. That’d stop the blood. He just needed to get somewhere where the land monsters couldn’t reach him. He just had to move.

His right leg was pretty much useless, but he had arms. He dug his hands into the sand below, and dragged himself forward. He just had to get far enough that he was out of the shallow water.

What’s the point?

Alberto didn’t even bother to tell Bruno to shut up that time. What was he fighting for? What was he going to do? Go back to the island? Really? And then what? He was alone.

A new wave of pain washed over him, but this was the pain of betrayal. Luca had done this. He had yelled ‘sea monster!’ He had brought Ercole. Why? What did Alberto do to make Luca hurt him?

That was all he had.

Alberto was too exhausted.

He looked up at the surface. How deep was this? Ten feet? eh… that’s far enough. It had to be.

Alberto curled up into himself, his tail wrapping around his body. He just had to sleep it off. This wasn’t that bad. He just needed to rest a moment, and then he’d be fine. He’ll figure something out. It was just a scratch.

Alberto closed his eyes.

Everything was going to be fine.

Chapter Text

Luca had no idea how long he and Giulia stood on the shore in silence.

He couldn’t move. He held his hands over his mouth, as if wishing he could have physically stopped his words from leaving his mouth.

The sun continued to set, transforming the orange sky into a deep red. Luca didn’t like it, but he couldn’t look away. It wasn’t fair that the sea was so silent. So still. So innocent.

It was so easy to imagine that any of that had really happened. Everything was so surreally calm. Luca found himself wanting to stay here… almost like if he gazed long enough at the sea, he’d wake up to realize none of it had happened.

The distant rumble of a boat motor stirred him from his thoughts. That would be Ercole… and the reality of everything felt even more cold and terrifying than it had watching it happen.

What did you do?

No, Luca told himself, his hands dropping to his sides and clenching into fists. What am I going to do?

He couldn’t be afraid. Whatever he’d said, that had been a gut reaction. An impulse. A fear of losing what he’d been hoping for a - escaping his parents’ punishment. It was the wrong thing to say, especially to Alberto, but he wasn’t going to waste any more time feeling awful for what he’d done – feeling sorry for himself – when Alberto needed him.

“Come on, Giulia,” Luca said, his face set with determination. “We need to get your papa’s boat. Alberto needs our help.”

Giulia’s face still wore an expression of shock and confusion.

“You’re not seriously going out there-“ Giulia started.

Luca cut her off. “Alberto’s my friend. Yours too.”

“That…” Whatever she was about to say, Giulia swallowed back. “You’re right.”

“Let’s go,” Luca said.

Luca didn’t trust himself to say anything more. Ask Giuliano what she thought. He ran as fast as he could. It was a marvel that only a few weeks ago, he’d been staggering around on a pebbly shore as Alberto did his best to teach him how to walk. But sea monsters used a lot of muscle to swim and all Luca really needed to do was use those muscles differently. It was part of the reason he had so much stamina when riding a bike, how he’d become better and better each day, exceeding even the speed of humans who’d been training to do it all their life.

He cringed at the memory. If only he’d gotten over his fear. If only he’d taken after Alberto. Told Bruno to shut up, shouted a hearty andiamo and took a leap without thinking.

That’s what Alberto had been trying to teach him all along, wasn’t it? Maybe Alberto couldn’t put it in the best words, but Luca was always dwelling on the ‘what ifs.’ It held him back.

Luca pushed the thoughts away, saving them in a corner of his mind for when he could explain all of this to Alberto.

They’d reached the pescheria.

Luca didn’t want to think about whatever levels of trust he might be breeching by stealing Massimo’s boat. For someone who had welcomed Alberto and Luca into his home without complaint – who had fed them, sheltered them, and sometimes (unintentionally) terrified them – Luca just really hoped nothing bad might happen.

But they needed a boat with a motor. Ercole had a motor. And there was no way he was going to be able to paddle that other boat fast enough.

Or you could swim.

Luca didn’t know why he kept holding on to the idea that he could stay ‘human.’ Maybe it was Giulia’s reaction. Her scream still echoed in his head. Her instant conclusion that Alberto would hurt her. Luca had probably only guilted her into coming along to help. She had been awfully quiet.

“Shh,” Luca whispered as they both climbed quietly into the small fishing vessel.

“Yeah, that shushing isn’t going to matter in a second,” Giulia said as she pulled on the cord to start the motor.

“Come on, come on,” Luca urged under his breath, his eyes flashing from the ocean spread out before them and back at the Marcovaldo house. Luca definitely wouldn’t put it past Massimo to know the sound of his own boat motor. And he really didn’t want to disappoint the man by taking his boat without permission.

“Alright… what now?” Giulia said as they put distance between themselves and the shore.

“Go back to that cove,” Luca said. He hadn’t noticed how quickly he had taken charge.

“And then what?” Giulia asked. “Luca… Alberto. Your friend? He’s a sea monster.”

“So?” Luca asked.

Giulia huffed for a second. Luca braced himself for what he feared would be a hesitation. Some kind of disgust.

“Well, how are you going to find a sea monster above the water?” Giulia finally asked.

Luca’s determined look faded slightly. “I… I don’t know.”

Giulia searched his face for a better answer and finally Luca sighed and started to ramble. “Look, if anything, maybe he’s fine? You know, just hiding beneath the surface until everyone goes away. You know, because going to the surface is just going to open you up to harpoon attacks. Hunting sea monsters with harpoons like that doesn’t make any sense. You hunt whales with harpoons because whales have to breath air, right? So each time it comes up for air, you just throw another harpoon until you hurt it so much it stays at the surface and….”

Luca winced. He really needed to stop letting his mom lecture him on land monsters and their murders.

“Alberto’s probably… just laying low. We just need to make sure he’s-”

“Oh, I don’t believe it, Giulia and Piccoletto,” Ercole’s voice interrupted him. “Are you hoping your papa’s legend will rub off on you? Well, beat it. There’s no piece of the reward here for you. They don’t give out rewards for who saw it first, number one, and number two, we were the ones who hit it.”

Luca quickly realized that Ercole hadn’t put two and two together. He didn’t know the sea monster was Alberto. Only Giulia did.

“Did you not hear me? I said leave. Now,” Ercole said.

Luca scowled.

“Guido! Hit their boat!” Ercole ordered.

Their motor was stopped, so Guido just looked puzzled at what Ercole wanted.

“With the harpoon, idiote!” Ercole said.

“Hey!” Giulia said, revving the engine of their own boat and getting out of the way.

Luca bristled, though he held his tongue. He nearly wanted to stay and fight. Jump into Ercole’s boat and punch him in the face. Though the moment he thought about wanting to do that, his mind flashed to the fight he and Alberto had gotten in with the bully only the night before.

Luca had begged Alberto to leave. He hated how quickly he’d switched roles.

“It’s a big ocean, we’ll look somewhere … else?” Giulia said, her voice trailing off as she slowly killed the motor.

“Wait, I see something!” she said, pointing to the water. Luca leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. Something was there. Just on the surface. Could it be?

“Sorry!” Giulia quickly said as the sound of Ercole’s boat motor filled the air, realizing that her loud enthusiasm had alerted the bullies. “That was too much!”

But it was too late now.

Ercole’s boat swept past them quickly.

“No!” Luca shouted as the three boys reached greedily into the water.

“What is it?” Ciccio asked.

“Ah! It’s just a fish scale!” Ercole said, disgusted.

“Not just any scale,” Guido pointed out.

And that’s when Luca got a good look at what it was. A single, large purple scale. It was covered in blood.

Chapter Text

Luca’s blood was boiling.

Each whoop and shout of delight ripped into his chest, tearing his heart into pieces.

“Look, there’s more!”

Ercole and those bullies were pulling pieces of Alberto out of the ocean, into their greedy little hands, as if each scale was a coin. As if their reward would bubble right up to the surface.

Luca knew what this meant, even if Ercole hadn’t seen that far yet. Alberto had to be close.

But what could he do?

They were trapped now. If he jumped into the water, the entire gig was up. He could stay down there forever – he’d have to stay down there forever. There was no way he’d be able to come back up to the surface and let everyone see his fish face. Ercole, Guido and Ciccio had a harpoon for him, too.

But Alberto had to be here. Close. How hurt was he?

“What do we do?” Giulia asked. “Those... are what I think they are, right?”

“Scales?” Luca offered.

“Yeah…” Giulia said. “I mean, not just any scales. Right? I… Luca…” she looked away awkwardly. “I…” Luca bit his lip. Waiting for her to say whatever she was trying to say. Whatever she was trying to say. Luca knew what she was thinking. She had to be putting pieces together.

Luca tried to guess what she was thinking. Her expression seemed to be racing. Until finally she said, “You know… when you said thought the fish were stars, I just… I thought you had run away from one of the towns in the south… the mafiosa, you know… ‘sleeping with the fish?’ I… Didn’t know you… meant literally.”

“Giulia, I-“ Luca started.

“Just stop,” Giulia said, and – Luca’s heart leapt into his throat – she reached down and grabbed her father’s harpoon.

“Giulia??” Luca asked, his voice shaking.

“I get it,” Giulia said. “You can’t rescue him with them around. I’ll draw them off.”

“What? Really?” Luca asked. It seemed like a complete about face from her reaction to Alberto.

“Go,” was all she said.

Luca stole a quick glance towards Ercole and his gang, but there were too busy arguing over scales and scanning the water to so much as notice them. “Thanks,” Luca whispered before he slipped into the water.

From under the water, Luca could see the glint of the harpoon Giulia was holding. For a wild second, Luca wondered if he’d been tricked. That Giulia had convinced him to get into the water so he could transform and then she’d spear him. Instead, she pointed into the distance and shouted as loudly as she could, “LUCA, THERE IT IS!”

The next second, the boat as the boat’s engine revved up and Giulia leaned forward, the water churning wildly as the boat peeled away. Predictably, Ercole’s boat also came to life, chasing after Giulia.

That was… that was it. The humans were gone.

With a swish of his tail, Luca swam for the bottom of the bay.

“ALBERTO!?” Luca called out, looking everywhere. The water was getting dark. It was tough to see. The water was black and the sky above was black. And… the water really didn’t look quite so big from the surface. It seemed like an easy search.

But now under the surface?

Silenzio, Bruno.

Luca couldn’t despair.

They had found those scales right here. If only he didn’t give up. Luca kept swimming around, sporadically, without a real plan. Where would Alberto be? What if he same back to the island? What if he went back to shore? What if…

Suddenly all the questions evaporated because…

There he was!

“ALBERTO!” Luca shouted, swimming up to his friend.

He was curled up in a ball, his tail wrapped around himself. His tank top was ripped, and… Luca winced. He could see something pink and angry underneath… scales standing up all jumbled, not lying smoothly down. Luca reached for his shirt, to pull it up, to get a better look at the wound.

Alberto trembled at his touch, curling into himself tighter.

“Alberto!?” Luca asked, shaking his shoulder. “Alberto? It’s me, it’s Luca. I’m here. Are you-”

“It’s fine,” Alberto coughed.

“What?” Luca asked. “No, it’s not fine.”

“It’s fine,” Alberto repeated again, gently trying to push Luca’s hands away. He hissed as his efforts just brought a fresh wave of pain. “Ah,” he said through gritted teeth. “What are you doing here?”

“I… I’m sorry,” Luca said. “I… I don’t know why I said that, but I couldn’t … abandon you.”

Alberto didn’t say anything. He just scrunched his eyes closed more.

“Come on, we’re going to fix this,” Luca said. “And you need help. Come on!”

“Where?” Alberto asked.

Luca hadn’t really thought that far ahead. Granted, he and Giulia didn’t have unlimited time to discuss plans. Had she just given him an opportunity to leave? Did she intend to keep helping them? To stay being friends?

All Luca knew was that they had no where else to go. No one else to turn to.

Alberto might have said he was fine, but Luca could barely recognize his weakened voice.

“Can you swim?” Luca asked.

Alberto trembled. “I … no.”

Luca wriggled his arms underneath Alberto – one arm behind his knees and the under his arms and around his chest.

“Where are we go?” Alberto asked again. But Luca didn’t want to answer. All he could be thankfully for was that it was dark.

He swam as fast as he could.

He knew Alberto wouldn’t like the idea. Not like he could blame him. So… he lied.

“We’ll get to the beach,” Luca whispered. “Once we’re in our human forms… you’ll feel better. I’ll fix you up a bandage. You’ll be fine. No one’s going to throw a harpoon at you if you’re a kid. And… then when the sun comes up… we’ll… leave this place.”

It was the worst lie of his life and Alberto bought it entirely.

Getting Alberto out of the water was hard. He was heavy when he was in the water – but without the water helping hold up some weight, he was a lot harder to get out onto land. The square was empty, so thankfully no one was around to see them.

Luca dried Alberto off as quickly as he could, before shaking himself dry as well. Thankfully Alberto was woozy. He didn’t know where they were. Where he was taking him. Luca wrapped his arm around Alberto’s waist and pulled him up to his feet.

“I thought we were staying here?” Alberto asked, his words sloppy.

“You can’t sleep yet,” Luca said. “Just a little further.”

Massimo’s fishing boat was back in it’s normal spot. The lights were on in the kitchen. Giulia could have ran home… told her sea monster hunting dad that she knew where there were two sea monsters… This was risky… so very risky…

Alberto seemed to know it, too.

Alberto suddenly dug his feet into the ground.

“No,” he whispered. “We can’t go back here.”

“It’s the only place we have to go!” Luca whispered, wincing at the fear and hurt in Alberto’s eyes as he gazed upon the home Luca had been trying to take him too.

But if Alberto was going to plead, he lost his chance.

The gate to the courtyard flung open. And there was Massimo, staring down at them. Giulia was standing behind him.

Chapter Text

Alberto's legs were already having a difficult time supporting his weight, but at the sight of Massimo, they just gave out altogether. Thankfully Luca wasn't overwhelmed with his dead weight.

That was it.

This was how he was going to die.

Alberto would have much rather just died on the ocean floor. It would be peaceful. Calming. Not like this. Giulia was right there and she'd waved a stick at him and screamed and pleaded with him not to hurt her... and Luca just... brings him back? Any second now. Any second she would turn to her father and point at him and tell him, "that poor orphaned kid you took under your wing is a monster" and that'd be it.

Alberto was going to die.

"Luca! Alberto!" Massimo said. "I was so worried. Where have you been??"

Alberto struggled to keep his eyes open. He was very lightheaded. He wasn't nearly as fine as he told Luca he was, and this? His heart rate jumping so fast, it was absolutely wrecking his ability to stay focused.

"It's Alberto, signor," Luca said. "He..."

No further explanation was needed. Alberto's eyes started to roll into the back of his head, his eyelids fluttering.

"Hey!" Luca said. Were they underwater again? It definitely felt like they were underwater again. Were they getting away? Alberto felt Luca's grip tighten around him.

The world spun. Alberto's eyes were closed - he wasn't unconscious yet, but he felt like everything was shutting down. All his defenses... gone. Any second, he was going to die. Get stabbed by a giant harpoon by an even bigger person. And maybe? It was better he couldn't see it when it happened.

**

Luca was glad he decided to trust Giulia and not be afraid.

"What happened?" Massimo asked, his voice breaking in alarm, as the three of them gathered around Alberto's unconscious form. Massimo reached into his pockets, retrieving a pure white handkerchief, which he pressed to the wound. It wasn't until they were under the lights surrounding the Marcovaldo courtyard that Luca could see the blood wetting Alberto's shirt where he'd been stabbed. Luca gasped at the sight of the wound, during the fleeting moment when Massimo pulled up Alberto's shirt to reveal it, and before he smothered it with the cloth.

It was an ugly, ripped gash. Luca could see the pink flesh underneath. This was horrible.

"What happened?" Massimo asked again.

Luca looked at Giulia for a moment. Had she told him anything!? She shook her head.

"I just... we were looking for him!" Luca said. He was so nervous, that his voice waivered uncontrollably. "He went off on his own and..."

"Hurry, in the house," Massimo said, easily scooping up the young boy in his giant arms. "Giulia!" he ordered. "Go fetch the doctor."

Luca refused to leave Alberto's side. This was going to be so dangerous! A doctor? Was there any water involved in human doctoring? What was he going to do if there was? Was this a bad idea?

"Is it bad?" Luca asked hesitantly.

"Si," Massimo said. And Luca believed him. He hadn't known that man to mince words, or dress them up to play down a bad situation. The problem with honest people. Luca bristled with fear.

"It's that Visconti boy," Massimo's voice rumbled with anger. "He never laid hands on Giulia, grazie dio, but this has gone too far."

Luca felt like he couldn't breath. He'd intentionally left things vague. This wasn't good. If Massimo thought Ercole was the culprit... the only thing Ercole had stabbed tonight was a sea monster. If Massimo went and tried to confront him...

"I... I didn't see what happened," Luca said.

Massimo looked at him with a warm look. "You don't need to blame yourself."

Luca cringed when Massimo looked away. This wasn't going good...

Massimo laid Alberto down on a very small couch. Alberto looked so frail... so helpless... without a huge, boisterous grin or an easy laugh, he was almost unrecognizable. He wasn't the kind of kid that was supposed to get hurt like this.

"This will need to come off," Massimo said, indicating the ripped shirt. "Here, hold this tight. It will stop the bleeding. I will be back with water."

"Water? What's water for?" Luca stammered quickly.

"Luca, it's okay," Massimo said, misunderstanding Luca's panic. "We're going to need to wash the wound."

"Wash?" Luca whispered.

Oh no oh no oh no. Oh, this was bad. Washing wounds?? Why did humans need to do that?! What was the point of putting water on a wound?? Did it need to swim? He should just fling Alberto over his shoulder and stumble out of the house. They'll figure something out... they'll..... Luca glanced back towards the kitchen, at the harpoons hanging from the wall...

But Massimo was back before Luca could make up his mind.

"Luca, hurry, we need to be ready for the doctor," Massimo said.

"Right... okay," Luca said. He froze completely when Massimo gently shooed him out of the way.

In his hand he held a knife.

Luca started, but all Massimo used it for was cutting the shoulders of Alberto's tank top.

"You don't want to move him around that much," Massimo said.

"Right..." Luca said, his hands giving away just how nervous he was. A few more swipes of the knife, and Alberto's former wardrobe mainstay was nothing but strips of fabric on the ground.

Alberto moaned a little, kicking his leg.

"Ah, he's in pain," Massimo said gently, his great big eyebrows knitted together in worry. He put his enormous hand on Alberto's forehead, all but smothering his face.

"And he is feverish," Massimo said. "Here."

Luca froze. Massimo was grabbing a wash cloth... it was dripping with water!! He made a move to put it on Alberto's forehead. Why were humans like this!? Luca lunged forward to grab his hand at the exact minute that the front door slammed open.

Luca took a deep breath. The doctor was here.

But he was going to have to be more on guard than ever.

Chapter Text

For a wild moment, Luca debated whether or not he should try to intercept the doctor. Shake her hand, thank her for coming out, but no, they really didn’t need any doctors here right now.

How much water did a doctor actually need to use?!

Luca had no idea. Any time he was sick, his mom just made him lay in bed. Which was surrounded with water. What did humans need so much water for?! They lived on dry land, they should be fine without it.

How was he supposed to do this?

He shot the most desperate, pleading look he could to Giulia.

But while he was distracted, Massimo set the wet washcloth on Alberto’s forehead.

Luca cringed, his entire body frozen in place, his eyes completely unbroken in their focus on Alberto’s face. Maybe no one else would notice… but Luca could notice. At least the washcloth was a deep navy blue… if he squinted really hard and tried not to notice, Luca could almost pretend like he didn’t notice the scales that had appeared under it.

Under… Luca groaned. He was going to have to keep that washcloth on… or… something. He planted himself at Alberto’s side, smooshing his hand on top of the washcloth. Alberto trembled slightly but didn’t wake up.

“Alberto…” Luca whispered softly.

“Alright,” the doctor said after she’d set her bag down. “The kids can go now.”

“I can’t go,” Luca said, desperately. “I have to stay and help and make up for-”

“This is no place for a child,” the doctor started to say, but Massimo came to Luca’s defense.

“Let him help,” Massimo said, and Luca was overwhelmed with thankfulness. Which hurt the moment realized Luca was staying only because he was terrified how the man would react if he realized they were both sea monsters. Would that kindness last?

“Allora,” the doctor muttered, but accepted the condition.

Luca’s shoulders sank as he let out of breath, but he was nowhere near being safe.

“That’s a bad wound,” the doctor said once she peeled off the dressing. Even Luca, who was zero experience with human wounds, could agree. “Was it an accident?”

How could it be an accident? Luca wanted to scream. Did humans just regularly fall on harpoons?!

Massimo only answered, “The boys were practicing for the race.”

“This wasn’t a bicycling injury,” the doctor said. “I’ve treated far too many fishermen in this village to know it when I see it – this was done with a harpoon. A very jagged cut. This will be difficult to stitch. But not impossible.”

That’s good, Luca thought to himself, really hoping that stitching didn’t involve water. But that’s also not good that the doctor said the injury was caused by a-

“A harpoon?” Massimo asked.

“Si,” the doctor said.

Luca cringed again as he focused everything he had on holding the washcloth tightly to Alberto’s forehead. He’s going to figure it out… he’s going to-

“Luca… a word.”

Which were, in Luca’s opinion, the absolutely worse words to hear.

“It’s okay,” the doctor said, setting out supplies. “The stitching will only take a few minutes.”

“What’s that?!” Luca asked, pointing at a small glass bottle the doctor had taken out of her bag.

The doctor sighed. “Ether.”

Luca grimaced.

“I already washed the wound!” Luca jumped to his feet, really not knowing what else he could do or say.

“This is for the pain,” the doctor said. “See?” And she poured some onto a cloth and – Luca stated – settled over Alberto’s nose and mouth. “See? He breathes this in and he won’t wake up. Stitching isn’t going to hurt as bad as this did,” she gestured to the wound, “but we don’t need to make the hurt any worse.”

“Oh… okay,” Luca said.

“Luca,” Massimo said. And that… was the last thing Luca could think of to get out of whatever talk he was about to have. He looked around the room for Giulia, and quickly pointed to his own eyes, then to her, then to the doctor.

She got up without a word.

Luca was naturally nervous, which didn’t get any better when Massimo led him to a secluded corner. He doesn’t do well with fear, Giulia’s words from days early ringing in his ears.

“You said you did not see what happened,” Massimo said.

“No,” Luca answered, his eyes glued to his bare feet.

“I noticed… earlier… my boat was missing,” Massimo said.

Luca cringed really hard.

“I…” he started.

“I’ve said before… money is tight,” Massimo said. “Was… Alberto… did he try to go out? Fishing? To help?”

Luca looked up, taking in Massimo’s expressions. They were such small, simple changes, but Luca could see something like guilt and hurt on the man’s face.

“I don’t know,” Luca said. “Maybe.”

Massimo sighed, as if accepting that this must be the truth.

“I have noticed things about you boys,” Massimo went on.

“You… have?” Luca asked cautiously.

“I haven’t said anything but… I should have,” Massimo said. “I noticed it from the first time you both arrived in this kitchen. No shoes. Poor clothing. That appetite. That broke my heart. You both being so willing to work. Sleeping in Giulietta’s treehouse. I know she told me you were friends from school. From Genova. But that wasn’t the truth, was it?”

Luca cringed again. OH no!! He was about to figure it out! That we don’t belong here! That we’re -

“There’s talk in town, too,” Massimo went on.

Luca wanted to pass out. Did someone see us? There were so many close calls! So many times when a passerby could have seen a scale!

“You boys… don’t have a home, do you?” Massimo finally said.

Luca’s shoulders dropped.

“Oh… uh…. No?” Luca said. It wasn’t entirely untrue… Luca had just run away from his home and Alberto’s home was a dilapidated stone tower.

Massimo didn’t have an answer for that right away. He took in a deep breath like he had settled on something and stood up.

“No more of this,” Massimo said. “No more sneaking away to help out. You know, I feed you because you earn it. You deserve it.”

Luca nodded, a wave of thankfulness threatening to knock him over.

“Thank you,” Luca said quietly. And he couldn't believe it! When he walked back into the living room, the doctor was just finishing up putting a nice, clean, dry white bandage over Alberto's wounds.

“And when Alberto wakes up… I think I need to have a talk with him,” Massimo said.

Chapter Text

When Alberto wakes up.

Those words rang in Luca's ears. For a few fleeing moments, Luca felt like something had been fixed. Something wonderful resolved. But really, all he'd done was able to stammer through a few words and get them out of being discovered once again.

So Massimo thought they were runaways?

Luca still remembered Giulia's expression when Alberto told her that. It wasn't quite disgust or fear or anything. Not like the way she reacted when she knew Alberto was a sea monster. But she eventually gave them a place to stay and kept their secret...

Massimo though...

If he was able to still treat them with kindness after coming to the conclusion that they'd run away from their parents - that he didn't immediately think they were bad kids - then maybe...

No... Luca couldn't let himself think like that.

Massimo wouldn't act the same if he found out Alberto was a sea monster. There were some things Luca had learned that people could forgive of other people. Running away from home. Wearing weird clothes.

But not being human?

Okay, breath... Luca told himself. The doctor had come and gone. Alberto had gotten patched up. The doctor didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Maybe that's because she didn't stay long. It was in the middle of the night, though... maybe she just really wanted to go back home.

All the gore was hidden away. Nice, clean, tidy bandages covered Alberto's side. And he looked... well, except for him being unconscious with a slight quiver on his face to betray how much pain he was in... he looked... okay.

"What did she do?" Luca asked quietly to Giulia.

"Uhh... she gave him a shot, and well, stitches," Giulia said, looking between her papa and Luca. She cringed and Luca knew immediately why - Luca had no idea what stitches were, but to explain it in a way that wouldn't give away how little Luca knew about ordinary human things?

"You're lucky you didn't watch," Giulia said with nervous laughter. "I thought it was interesting, so, you know, I watched. It's just like sewing, really, not much different. Just... a thread and a needle and... you stitch the skin closed."

Luca grimaced. That sounded awful. And painful.

"But.. that's it, right?" Luca asked. "Alberto is going to be okay?"

"Yeah!" Giulia said.

Luca steeled himself again. He could do this. Just get through tonight. Stay up all night if he had to, just to make sure Massimo didn't figure anything out. It was all up to him. They just had to...

Oh, carp.

They couldn't just wait until morning and sneak away into the sea and run away again. Luca didn't know everything about stitches, but... he was pretty sure thread wasn't strong enough to go through scales. Or even stay in place during their transformation.

Alberto was stuck in his human form until he got better. Which meant they were stuck in Portorosso until he healed.

Luca cleared his throat nervously.

"H-how long are those supposed to stay in?" he asked, silently wishing that it wasn't a stupid humans-would-totally-know-this question.

"Oh... for a few weeks," Giulia said.

"Weeks?!" Luca repeated.

"The doctor said she'll have to come back in the morning to make sure there aren't any infections... but..." Giulia trailed off as her father got up and left the room.

In a flash, she was at Luca's side.

"I don't know how long we can keep this up," she whispered.

"What do we do?!" Luca asked, so glad that he was at least able to confide in her. "He can't change, that'll rip out of the stitches, and we can't-"

Massimo came back with a small bowl of water.

Luca wanted to pass out.

"What's that-!?" Luca started, his voice noticeably panicked.

"Calma, Luca," Massimo said. "The fever is the most dangerous thing now."

Massimo sat on the couch next to Alberto's legs, his eyes sad. Luca's heart jumped into his throat as the giant man made a reach for the washcloth on Alberto's forehead. Except it hadn’t dried out… Luca could still see a glimmer of purple underneath…

Chapter Text

"No, papa, wait!"

Giulia had noticed what was about to happen a moment before it actually happened. But she was clear across the room. She couldn't do much more than call out.

Luca, on the other hand, was right at Alberto's side.

"Signor Marcovaldo!" Luca said, reaching out and grabbing his arm. Which did manage to stop him, though Luca was pretty sure he was surprised more than actually physically thwarted. "Uhh.... don't worry about it, I can do it!"

Massimo's face remained unmoved.

"Luca, you don't have anything to feel guilty for," Massimo said.

"I-I want to help," Luca said, nodding vigorously as he quickly turned back to Alberto. He hunched over Alberto's chest, hoping he was blocking Massimo's line of sight, and quickly took the washcloth off, wiping off the last bit of water - and with it, the scales vanished into normal human skin.

Luca released an anxious breath.

"Here!" he said in a forced cheerfulness as he handed Massimo the wash cloth.

Massimo sighed. "It's warm. And dry."

"What does that mean?"

"He is getting an infection."

Luca had no idea how bad that was, but the way Massimo said it made it sound like a matter of life or death.

"And... cold water... stops it?" Luca asked.

"No," Massimo said. "But it will keep his body temperature down. The body rises it's temperature to fight infection, but if the temperature gets too high, it can cause more harm."

"What... what kind of harm?" Luca asked.

"Death... is possible."

Luca felt like an invisible hand had closed around his throat. Death?! There was death around every corner. Death if Massimo found out Alberto was a sea monster. Death if Luca tried to stop him from accidentally finding out he was a sea monster. What was he supposed to do? Except get no sleep at all until Alberto woke up and could fend for himself...

No, no, no.... this is impossible.

What was the best thing to do? He couldn't try to stop Massimo from trying to save Alberto's life! But... by doing that, he was risking Alberto's life!

Massimo made the decision for him.

He had returned the wash cloth to the bowl of cold water, letting it rest long enough to absorb all the colds. He even took his time wringing it out, which Luca was incredibly thankful for. Maybe... maybe he wouldn't notice... maybe it would be like the first time Massimo placed the wash cloth on Alberto's forehead, when only Luca had noticed because he was looking for scales.

Alberto's eyebrows wrinkled as the wash cloth returned to him.

Luca felt a pang of sympathy. He really was hurting. But maybe he was waking up! And the three of them together could certainly foil Massimo's plans to take care of Alberto! But then. Alberto did the absolute worse thing in the world. He didn't wake up at all. He tried to roll over.

He wasn't successful. But that wasn't the point.

The wash cloth slipped.

Scales.

Luca couldn't move.

There was absolutely no mistaking what they were. They were bright, and shiny, and purple. And of course humans put wash clothes on foreheads, where sea monster scales were the most pronounced.

Luca cautiously looked over at Massimo. Seconds passed silently.

What was he going to do?

Chapter Text

The silence was thick. Heavy. Suffocating. Like a blanket, suddenly weighing down on Luca's shoulders.

His mind was blank.

A thousand whispers of what he could say, what he could do, murmured in the far reaches of his mind, but truth be told - he was terrified. He didn't know what to do. Because the uneasy idea settled into his head that he was helpless. There was nothing he could do.

He couldn't grab Alberto and try to make a run for it. He wasn't that strong, one, and two - where would they go? The only safety was in the water, and Alberto couldn't change.

Luca could try to say something, but that heavy-dread-blanket was pressing against his throat. Breathing was difficult. Let alone finding his voice and saying something.

The silence continued to linger.

"Uhh... papa..." Giulia managed to find her voice. Maybe she was better at getting over the shock. This wasn't the first boy-turned-sea-monster experience she'd had, after all. "I-"

But Massimo cut her off.

He didn't say anything. He merely lifted his hand, a silent gesture for silence.

Luca kept thinking this is your only chance to do something, do it, now! and kept freezing. What could Massimo possibly be thinking? Contemplating? Struggling with? And could Luca help?

And then, at the least opportune time possible, Alberto began to stir.

Just the softest groan from Alberto's lips sent a spike of dread through Luca. His head lolled to one side, and his foot started tapping... he was waking up! Luca desperately wished he could tell Alberto to go back to sleep... to not be conscious and see whatever Massimo was about to do... about to say... that would be a hurt unlike anything he was suffering from. But seeing Alberto in pain seemed to be enough to make up Massimo's mind over whatever he'd been conflicted with.

"The washcloth has been off for too long," he finally said, and that was it. Massimo rewetted the washcloth dutifully, and smothered the purple scales with it as if nothing had happened whatsoever.

Just like that, the suffocating blanket of silence lifted. The room was still silent, but Luca could breath. He could hear the faint calls of fisherman whispering through the open window, the slight glaze of the early sun starting to warm the horizon.

"I.... can explain," Luca finally said.

"What is there to explain?" Massimo asked. It was a genuine question, but Luca almost wished he'd asked it sarcastically. How could he be so... silently accepting? After all their weeks of hiding, it almost felt unfair for this acceptance to come without any fight.

"About Alberto," Luca said. He knew, despite Massimo's reaction, that he wouldn't feel better until it became said. And confronted. Head on.

"What needs explaining about Alberto?" Massimo said.

"He..." Luca trailed off. Should he even say? What if Alberto didn't want Massimo to see him as a sea monster? What if pretending he was entirely human was what everyone wanted? What if that's why Massimo was ignoring what he saw? Not saying anything about it? Because he was just going to pretend like he didn't notice?

And that thought hurt even worse than the dread of being rejected.

Massimo must have noticed Luca's struggle.

"Giulia," he said. "Please. Keep an eye on Alberto. Luca, come with me."

Luca didn't know if he was ready for side-conversation-part-two, but Massimo led him to something he wasn't expecting - the kitchen wall, decorated with harpoons.

"These will need to go," he said.

Luca nodded, even though a shiver of revulsion shook him as he helped carry two of the three harpoons.

"He should not have to see these when he wakes up," Massimo explained.

They were silent all the way to the docks.

"We carry these for protection," Massimo explains, and then shakes his head. "I have never known anyone who actually needed it, though. Anytime a boat overturned, and we lost someone... we always blamed the sea monsters. Not the waves, or the storms - the things we could see with our own eyes. As far back as I could remember, no one would get in a boat without one."

"And now?" Luca dared to ask.

Massimo didn't have to use words. He just tossed his harpoon into the water, disappearing into the blue.

"I suppose I will need to change," Massimo sighs, looking down at the tattoo on his arm. "A long sleeve. Until I can do something more about this. Come, we have much to do. You and Giulia still have the race today!"

The race? Luca had all but forgotten about it. But beating Ercole at something did have a nice ring to it.

Massimo turned back towards the Marcovaldo house, but Luca stayed put.

"We both are," Luca blurted out.

Massimo stopped to give Luca a knowing glance.

"Yes, I know."