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Luca hated it, like really hated it. Logically he knew that his older brother was only looking out for him, but that didn't mean he had to like moving in with him. He would much rather be at home, together with Mama. Not even his two nephews Francesco and Marco could make him feel excited or happy about it.
“It's better that way, you know it. Also it's only for the duration of the time until the divorce is done.” Valentino gave him a smile. Again, logically he knew that it would be better that way, better staying with Valentino. But it felt like a betrayal not to be with his Mama during hard times. For God's sake, he is 14, not a toddler. He could help her around the house, help her move their stuff into a new home, and be there for her.
The Social Worker he had met, had told him that it wasn't his fault that his parents wanted a divorce. The guy also had told him that it wasn't his duty to console his mother. He had said that yes, he could help her, be there for her, but he shouldn't take on every task to make her feel better. Apparently his emotions are valid too, and while he is already a 14 year old, no one should expect anything like emotional support from him. The Psychologist had told him that he was allowed to be upset too.
It also was that stupid Social Worker that had set up the whole ‘Moving in with his adult brother’ thing. To get him out of the house, where people shout at each other the entire day and night.
“We can get McDonald's, if you want. But don't tell the others, okay?” Valentino tries. You have to give him that, he actually tries his best. He has some experience with their mother and divorces. “No thank you, Marco would probably smell it somehow and go crazy.”
His younger nephew does have a crazy sense of smell. Francesco would probably not care much about them going to McDonald's. Francesco is a year older, a little more mature, than him. Well, not in everything, but in a lot of things he is more mature than Luca. Francesco still carries his plushie for support around, and he often wears headphones because he can't deal with noise. But according to Valentino that's because he has Autism or something like that. Luca isn't quite sure what it is. Though he knows that people find it weird, and like to make fun of Francesco for it. In fact, Luca had once punched someone in school because he had bullied Francesco for his autism.
Normally he isn't violent, more of a person who wants to talk it out, but it did feel really deserved and good. The guy had it coming. He is the only one allowed to bully his nephews.
Valentino grimaced. "Yeah you are right. A hyperactive Marco isn't something anyone would want.”
While Luca would love some silence, he was still in a car with his older brother. There was no such a thing like silence with the older man. The guy wasn't even silent when he slept, Valentino talked a lot in his sleep and when he didn't do that, he snores. Luca had spent enough time at his older brother's place to know that. So, he had to suffer the entire ride.
Apparently Uccio has been busy teaching Marco how to throw darts, obviously at pictures of Marc Marquez. Valentino and Marc may have been married for a year now, but the hatred didn't seem to go away. It wasn't really helping that Marc took every single chance to bully Uccio. So Vale had a lot of complaining to do during the car ride.
But that is definitely not Luca’s problem. That's a problem that the three adults need to figure out on their own. Not that they would ever figure that out, the chance is higher that a mouse learns to ride Valentino’s M1.
At Vale’s place, everything was normal. Francesco was sitting in a corner, playing video games on the switch, Marco was busy trying to run away from Marc. “Where did he get the wig from?” Luca asked his older brother, as he saw his nephew running down the stairs with it. Valentino just sighed and shook his head.
Ah, so it's a battle that he had lost.
“Hey Luca, nice to see you. If Marco runs past you, please try to catch him, he needs to take his meds.” Marc said, stopping for a short time with his chase, to greet him. Honestly, big mistake. Marco stormed out of the house with a smile on his face, through the door that Valentino had let open.
Luca was always astonished at how much energy Marco has. The 8 year old kept everyone on their toes, when he felt comfortable and happy. But as soon as other people, people that he didn't know, were there, he lost all of that energy and became a shy, kinda polite, boy.
“Yeah, will do that.” Luca nodded.
“Common, let's get your bags in the room. Then we're gonna help Marc.” Valentino bit his lip, as he watched his husband chase his youngest son.
There are only two bags, he already had so much stuff at the house here, that he didn't need more. It's mostly school books and some underwear. He also had his own room here. So absolutely nothing new.
After they had put down the bags, they returned to the livingroom, where Marc was carrying a tired Marco to the kitchen. “Found him lying outside in the driveway. Nearly fell asleep there. He wanted to go to town to pet some dogs. I’m gonna give him his meds now.” Yep, that sounded like Marco. Still, it didn't explain the wig he was holding.
“I think he will fail and Marco will spit the pill out. Pecco will see it and get all grossed out, probably hiding away for the rest of the day in his room.” Luca knew his nephews pretty well. Marco hated it to take his ADHD meds. Well, he generally hates taking medicine. Doesn't matter if it is for sickness or the stupid ADHD stuff.
“I really need to talk to the doctor, to get him off of that stuff. It doesn't really help anyway and only makes him even more nervous.” Valentino huffed. “Do me a favor, and you can decide what's for dinner today, please get Pecco outside. He's been playing Video Games since he woke up.”
Yeah, he could do that, and while doing that he could get into the good graces of Francesco and get help with his homework. “Homemade Hamburgers.” Luca said, as he walked over to his older Nephew.
He tapped on the screen of the Switch and waited for the older boy to look up. “Hi, can you please help me with my homework? Please, for your favorite uncle?” Luca grinned, he knew how much Francesco hated it when he referred to himself as his uncle. “I’m older than you. And if anything Alex is my favorite uncle.”
“Alex is also younger than you.” Luca argued. Alex wasn't even older than him. “Still, he is way cooler than you.” Pecco had decided and he would probably never chat his opinion on that. “Can you help me with my homework?” Luca asked impatiently. The older boy nodded and got up.
As promised, Luca got Francesco out of the house. They did his homework outside on the terrace. Well, more like Francesco did the entire thing on his own, because he didn't want to deal with Luca’s annoying questions. Not that Luca minded that.
At some point Marco also came out. He was carrying his plushies, holding Vale’s hand and pulling him along. Marc was behind them, he was obviously tasked with carrying the remote car that Marco got on his 8th birthday.
“Let's go and play with them. Marco is probably going to steer the car into a bush and neither Vale, nor Marc, are still flexible enough to crawl into a bush.” Luca said, getting up and patiently waiting for Pecco to put the pen away to join. The older boy put the pen neatly away into the pencil case and joined them.
No one needs to know that Marc is definitely flexible enough. Valentino exercises with him nearly every day. But that's not something children need to know.
That night, Luca decided to have a sleepover with Marco and Francesco. He didn't want to sleep alone, he didn't want to be alone at all right now. He stayed awake the entire night, thinking about his mother.