with every breath he took, alessio ached for his late mother. he was certain that a piece of him died on that day, that she’d carried it with her to return to him once they met again. and it brought him comfort to know that she could still hold him close. just as eleanora carried a piece of him, that no matter where his beloved sister was, he was in her heart. eleanora was a jewel, one of their mother’s crafting, and with each laugh and each smile, alessio could see the beauty of their mother as well as the beauty of his sister. his thumb gently traced her cheek, catching every tear that fell. her words, so vulnerable, so frightened struck a chord in his chest ; one that ached, one that he tried to bury. alessio feared leaving his siblings and vice-versa and as he squeezed her hand and brought it to his lips for a quick kiss he couldn’t help but wonder if he was about to die of a broken heart. it certainly felt that way, but alessio would never burden his sister with that worry. “who knows,” his voice aiming to sound mighty and laced with jest, “perhaps the elixir of life shall be discovered soon and you won’t have to worry about anything but putting up with me for the rest of eternity.” alessio gave her a lopsided grin, reaching over to poke her nose. her musings resonated in alessio’s chest, deep beneath his ribs in a place that ached to be healed. how terrifying, indeed. to place one’s happiness, one’s heart in the hands of another was both a brave, but most frightening surrender. to bear one’s entire being before another had a twisted beauty to it, one alessio knew all too well. and he’d hoped his siblings would find an easy love, someone who wrapped them in adoration that spilled from their chests. that they’d never doubt their worth. perhaps it’d been wishful thinking, mindless dreaming. “love is frightening,” he nodded, brushing a stray curl from eleanora’s face, “it is us surrendering, like a candle in the wind. with one single gust all can be gone.” his gaze softened, “but love is also the bravest act in the world. and i believe it can make us stronger, burn brighter.” thoughts slipped to luciano, as the often did, his expression falling for a split second. no, he had to compose himself and be present for his sister. a soft smile pulled on his lips as he gazed down at her, “it seems to me that he trusts you. that he lets himself be vulnerable with you.” as much of a pacifist alessio was ( and to a fault ), he’d fight tooth and nail against anyone who dare hurt his family. and if anyone were to break eleanora’s heart, they’d have to face alessio. gaze softened and a laugh spilled from his lips, “you promise? because i simply do not think the nuns would appreciate me popping in every day to say hello to you.”
no, it couldn’t be so. a hero alessio was not. he’d failed the pelliterri name in an attempt to get them back on their feet, he’d dug them into a bigger hole. “el, i fear i’m not made for this. to be the ruling lord,” it was a shaky admission, one he’d uttered plenty of times to himself but never aloud. “i will do everything i can to do right by my family, but i fall short. i always fall short.” eleanora’s words tugged at alessio’s heartstrings. was his heart really a special thing? as battered and bruised as it was? “perhaps my heart wasn’t meant to be cared for,” his voice shook, “and i must accept that.” as she leaned into him, he wrapped his arms around her protectively and sheltered her from any storm that threatened to blow their way just as he had when they were children.