[ Alberto'd been trying to keep cool at first, but as Izuku responds, he can't disguise the wash of emotions across his face as he tries and fails to take in what the other boy's saying. As Izuku finishes, the look on Alberto's face is a stark contrast from the excited grin and trills of laughter he'd worn moments ago. His brow is knotted, a tidal wave of painful thoughts growing and showing themselves around the corners of his eyes, that slight squint that shows the sting. He glances away, not bearing to make eye contact for most of that, but finally turns slightly to peer off the edge of the hand they sit on while he speaks, tone tentative and softer than before. ]
...So... we can't go home? We're... stuck here? Who do they choose — why me? I mean— what I mean is...
[ He looks back to Izuku with a more worried shade of hurt in his face now, but a sudden focus, his voice tempered and more intent, more intense. ]
Do you know if a boy named Luca is here? Or a man named Massimo? Luca's short, with brown hair, big brown eyes... A-And Massimo's huge with one arm and a mustache...! Have you seen anyone like that?!
[ There's a hint more desperation as his situation sinks in. He was happier with his "hunted and poisoned and kidnapped and tossed overboard in another ocean" idea. At least then, he could return to Portorosso, or run away to Genova, whichever was closest. He's not really invested in a place. He's not really invested in much in his life back home, in fact — only two people. Otherwise, all he'd ever dreamed about was leaving, seeing other places, and if this had happened a month ago, it would have been a totally different reaction. It would have been an escape — he would have felt freed.
But now... he feels loss. Loss of his hopeful future he'd only just built in the past few weeks — loss of his only friendship, loss of a man who'd been a better father to him in less than a month than his own father had been in years, loss of a newfound safety, loss of acceptance by those around him that was long presumed impossible, loss of some semblance of structure in his life at long last... But just as soon as he'd made this new life for himself, only able to do so with the help of these two men he's asking for, two individuals who changed his life and soul forever in only two weeks' time — just as soon as they'd promised him this horizon he'd never been able to reach on his own, it's gone.
If he's alone again... without them...— He needs to know that first and foremost. Anything else Izuku could tell him would only be useful if he knew how he'd have to approach it. He's never trusted in "a sense of community," he doesn't know what that means; so for him, it's a black and white "alone" or "not alone," depending on if Luca or Massimo are here — or neither. But somehow already— the voice of doubt is louder than the voice of hope. ]
no subject
...So... we can't go home? We're... stuck here? Who do they choose — why me? I mean— what I mean is...
[ He looks back to Izuku with a more worried shade of hurt in his face now, but a sudden focus, his voice tempered and more intent, more intense. ]
Do you know if a boy named Luca is here? Or a man named Massimo? Luca's short, with brown hair, big brown eyes... A-And Massimo's huge with one arm and a mustache...! Have you seen anyone like that?!
[ There's a hint more desperation as his situation sinks in. He was happier with his "hunted and poisoned and kidnapped and tossed overboard in another ocean" idea. At least then, he could return to Portorosso, or run away to Genova, whichever was closest. He's not really invested in a place. He's not really invested in much in his life back home, in fact — only two people. Otherwise, all he'd ever dreamed about was leaving, seeing other places, and if this had happened a month ago, it would have been a totally different reaction. It would have been an escape — he would have felt freed.
But now... he feels loss. Loss of his hopeful future he'd only just built in the past few weeks — loss of his only friendship, loss of a man who'd been a better father to him in less than a month than his own father had been in years, loss of a newfound safety, loss of acceptance by those around him that was long presumed impossible, loss of some semblance of structure in his life at long last... But just as soon as he'd made this new life for himself, only able to do so with the help of these two men he's asking for, two individuals who changed his life and soul forever in only two weeks' time — just as soon as they'd promised him this horizon he'd never been able to reach on his own, it's gone.
If he's alone again... without them...— He needs to know that first and foremost. Anything else Izuku could tell him would only be useful if he knew how he'd have to approach it. He's never trusted in "a sense of community," he doesn't know what that means; so for him, it's a black and white "alone" or "not alone," depending on if Luca or Massimo are here — or neither. But somehow already— the voice of doubt is louder than the voice of hope. ]