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last online May 14, 2024 11:42:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2022 15:07:29 GMT
"No problem, babe. For just being a slice place, it's really, really good. Makes sense, considering it's run by a guy that moved here from New York," Cassie said about the pizza, finishing her slice off quickly. She had been way hungrier than she'd thought. Patting his broad, muscular back when he started struggling with his pizza, she continued, "But just because it's really good and you're hungry, doesn't mean you should wolf it down." He must have choked out of surprise, given his eyes were wide with fear and he was chewing his nail, she finally registered. Bad memories? Probably. He seemed to have a lot of those. Best not to ask, and let him bring them up, if he felt comfortable.
Rubbing his back gently, she continued pondering this mystery person she'd met before who Luca reminded her of - because, as it was dawning on her, the person she was thinking of wasn't Luca. There was that guy she went out for drinks with one time, and then accidentally ghosted because it was finals. She couldn't recall his name off the top of her head, but it was something with an S. He'd been younger than her, with an unlined, baby-smooth face. Definitely not him.
“I guess you’ve probably lived all over throughout your long life, huh? Sure is a coincidence you also lived in DC when I did, but… I’m pretty sure it wasn’t you, it was just someone you’re reminding me of, if that makes sense,” Cassie said, smiling softly at him.
A shameful realization hit her, and she blushed so deep that it threatened to send her back into looking like a demon. “Oh, no. You look kinda like dad’s partner, Tony. I had a completely age-inappropriate crush on him when I was 16, and my brother gave me nothing but shit for it. To be fair, I deserved it. I was so thirsty I kept staring at him at dad’s funeral.” She continued giggling with embarrassment into her hands. “He was hot, and I just wanted a distraction from being really sad, but, still. God. I guess I’ve always had a thing for tall, dark and handsome Italian men.”
@lupo
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last online May 14, 2024 11:42:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2022 6:31:20 GMT
Luca leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, while she gently rubbed his back. He grunted when asked about how he’s lived all over throughout his long life, and then nodded. “Yeah, I have lived in a lot of places.” Sighing, he softly went on, “It’s…not a coincidence I lived in DC when you did, Cassie.”
He looked at her reluctantly, bit his lower lip, and admitted, “When I lived there, I went by the name of Anthony Laguardia. Ben always called me ‘Tony’ while at work or when we were off duty.”
He leaned back to grab his wallet out of his back pocket, opened it, and produced a folded wallet-sized photo of him and her father, standing together, raising beers in hand, smiling happily, as they wore Italy’s football team jersey’s at a busy sport’s bar as they watched Italy playing in the World Cup. He smiled as he took a look at it, having a fond memory of that night. While Italy unfortunately lost, they were still in good spirits and having fun. While his partner didn’t drink often, that night was a special occasion as they rooted for Italy. While Ben appeared to have one too many drinks, Luca never looked like he drank anything at all.
He chuckled in amusement. “Italy almost won the match that night during the World Cup series,” he told her with a sad smile as he handed the photo over to her. “We were having fun, drinking, snacking on whatever they could bring us, while we enjoyed the game.” He laughed lightly. “I had to carry your father home after the match was over. It was also the time he learned he wouldn’t be able to drink me under the table”
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last online May 14, 2024 11:42:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2022 7:10:43 GMT
"So it was you," Cassie squeaked. Cool, she'd chosen the exact wrong person to tell that anecdote to. Embarrassment made her adrenaline rush, her heart pounding as she shifted to her demon form. He was moving right along past that, thank God, and she gradually shifted back as he continued talking.
Her finger touched the photo tenderly after she took it from Luca. "Aw, look at him, he's absolutely blasted. I'm glad you both had a good time. Come to think of it, I feel like I remember that night... you put him down on the couch and he didn't move for like 12 hours." She put on a bit of his Brooklyn gravel, but in a pitiful whine, "I'm never drinking agaaaaain, Cass!"
Winding her arm in his, she gave him a long, contemplative look. "Why didn't you tell me? If anything, I think it's nice we have that in common."
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last online May 14, 2024 11:42:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2022 7:51:22 GMT
He smiled faintly. “Yes, it was me.” Grinning a bit at her, as if he was trying to decide to mention something to her or holding off on it. Luca gazed at her while she touched the photo. He chuckled, “He was blasted. I’m glad he didn’t get alcohol poisoning; otherwise, I would’ve taken him to the hospital to get his stomach pumped.” He laughed at Cassie’s pitiful, whiny Brooklyn gravel voice. “You know, when he finally showed up for work after he took that day off to recuperate, those were his exact words to me, and to never challenge me to a drinking match again.” He smiled at the memory and then when she winded her arm around his. He fixed his eyes on hers and when she asked him why he didn’t tell her, his smile faded. Looking away, he quietly told her the reason. “I…” he swallowed hard in fear and hesitation, “I was afraid how’d you react. How you feel about me after. If you end up hating me and want to fight me, or kill me…somehow.” He paused, tilting his head back against the couch, and stared at the ceiling. He went into deep thought for a minute, thinking about Ben and what happened, which caused tears to well up from his tear ducts, but not threatening to spill over yet. “I killed Ben…I accidentally killed him…” He suddenly admitted, not realizing it at first, but then…
"I killed him..." he repeated, barely above a whisper.
Luca’s eyes widened in shock and horror when the realization of confessing to be her father’s killer was blurted out when he very well didn’t mean to. Heart racing and breathing hard in a sudden burst of panic throughout his body, he grabbed his hair briefly, before quickly moving off of the couch, as he said in a panic, “I’m sorry…I’m so sorry. I know, I know…apologizing to you won't bring back your father. It never brings anyone back or brings peace of losing a loved one…but I really am sorry.” Tears started running down his cheeks as he started to lose it. “I’ll leave you alone. I’ll even understand if you end up despising me for killing him. I’ll understand if you want to beat the shit out of me, or find a way to kill me over and over until something finally kills me.” Trembling with guilt and panic, he murmured, “I’ll understand, and I won’t fight back or defend myself because I don’t deserve forgiveness. Your forgiveness, nor your family's forgiveness.” He started to quickly walk toward the door, wanting out, and never show his face anywhere again.
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last online May 14, 2024 11:42:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2022 8:17:45 GMT
Cassie watched him leave the room as if in slow motion, her mind busy cranking on overdrive as she processed what Luca had said. A series of things suddenly made sense to her about her father's death. The five deep gouges in his stomach. How he'd gotten to their house. Why he'd refused to tell her who killed him, again and again, only giving her the name of the doctor who'd threatened him. She ran to Luca, beating him to the door, grabbing him from behind in a fierce hug. She said nothing for a minute, holding him tight like it could put the pieces of him back together.
"One of the last things dad said was 'Don't blame him.' He insisted the doctor that pressed him into going after you was the real one that killed him. Wouldn't even tell me your name because he was that determined to protect you." She nestled her face between the hollow of his shoulder blades. "I forgave you a long time ago, before I even knew who you were. So don't you dare leave me, Luca."
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last online May 14, 2024 11:42:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2022 8:44:14 GMT
Luca grabbed the door handle of the front door by the time she caught up with him and stopped turning it to open the door when she wrapped her arms around him from behind, and held him tightly in determination of not letting him walk away. Something he didn’t think would happen, his mind making him think she would want revenge for killing her father if she found out he was the one who killed Ben. He grimaced with emotional pain, tears running down his face, but he also said nothing for a minute, as he gradually released his grip from around the door handle, and then leaned into her hug before slowly falling to his knees as he was overwhelmed with emotions. As soon as he was down on his knees, he covered his face with his hands as he leaned all the way over until the back of his hands were barely touching the floor. His body racked as he allowed himself to cry hard as his guilt-ridden mind, after all of these years, finally accepted what he did and what happened after she forgave him, rather than what he feared after all of these years.
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last online May 14, 2024 11:42:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2022 9:21:16 GMT
One part of the memory of her last moments with her father floated back to her.
"I coulda got him, Cass. Relatively easily, even," Ben choked, blood on his lips. "Couldn't bring myself to do it. He's the best man I've ever known, and he doesn't deserve the storm that's coming for him."
The warning confused her then, but now... she supposed her dad wouldn't have been the last to come after Luca, for one reason or another. You didn't live so long with such remarkable powers without getting noticed. Grimacing a little, she bookmarked that conversation for later, and gently rubbed Luca's back as he sobbed. She stayed with him as he cried, and cried, and cried, raw pain like an open wound on his soul.
A good deal of time later, and his shivering was subsiding, the sobs farther and farther apart. She kissed the top of his head, then went and got tissues, a glass of water and a washcloth damp with cold water. "Hey. I got you some water and other stuff, if you're feeling a bit better... if not, I'll stay here with you as long as you need, okay?"
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last online May 14, 2024 11:42:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2022 20:57:14 GMT
He didn’t know how long he allowed himself to cry, but it was something he should’ve done sooner rather than later. Holding it all in gradually changed him over time, and not for the better. His only saving grace was he was still emotional and some cases bothered him, but his negative traits of aggression and anger had seeped through the cracks in his armor ever since he became a detective, and more so when he decided enough was enough, and became a vigilante on the side.
Sometime during his sobbing, he had ended up stretching his legs out, and laid down flat on his stomach, and kept his eyes closed as he pressed the side of his face against the cool, hardwood floor that was exposed around the doorway area of the hall of her apartment. He soon stopped and quieted down, feeling her kiss his head, and then listening to her walk away to get what she wanted to give him. When she returned, he partially opened his red-rimmed, tear-stricken eyes, and looked up at her as she told him she brought him some water and a couple of other items, of which he spotted the box of tissues and a wet washcloth.
“Okay, give me a moment,” he quietly replied, his voice hoarse from crying. He closed his eyelids again, collecting himself as he turned over onto his back with a slight groan, and laid there for a while with his hand covering his eyes. He cleared his throat, breathing in a few deep breaths, and then asked in a tiny voice, “Cassie? Can you stay here with me until I’m feeling better?”
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last online May 14, 2024 11:42:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2022 21:26:55 GMT
The back of her throat ached, her chest hurt, and she started to feel a headache blossoming behind her forehead. While it almost never manifested as crying, her emotional pain inevitably turned into physical pain like it would for anyone else. After he turned over, she kissed him on a tear-soaked cheekbone, then carefully lifted his head into her lap. “Of course, Luca.”
Pretty sure he's not the only one that's in love, Bell, she thought to herself, smiling softly, sadly down at Luca. She held one of his hands, the other gently caressing his hair. If he needed her to stay here all night, she'd do it.
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last online May 14, 2024 11:42:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2022 8:12:36 GMT
Cassie may not be crying when her emotional pain manifested into physical pain, but he could still smell the change in her emotional state when he picked up the scent of her chemo-signals her body was giving off. He removed his hand from his face and rested it on the floor as he peered up at her when she kissed him on his cheekbone. He breathed in a soft sigh as she lifted his head into her lap carefully when she agreed to stay with him until he was better. He sighed, feeling…a sense of comfort he hasn’t felt in a long time, not since he was with Abbey, who ended up putting up with him for a long time until her death not long after they moved to DC.
“Thank you,” he murmured. He looked at her intently as she held his hand with her one, while tenderly caressing his hair with the other. He blinked his eyes slowly a few times, before his eyelids fluttered closed, and he sighed again, feeling a moment of peace gradually fill him. He murmured something else, but it was barely audible to her; though, it sounded like he said, “Ti amo.”
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