The drive to the mall was more chaotic than peaceful, which, honestly, I should’ve expected with Alessio bouncing in the passenger seat like he had a hundred energy drinks. He kept adjusting the radio and talking a mile a minute about all the stuff we needed to buy. Luca sat quietly in the backseat, staring out the window, his leg stretched out carefully since we hadn’t figured out the whole booster seat situation for him yet.

“Ricardooo,” Alessio sang dramatically, drumming his fingers on the dashboard. “We have to buy toys for Luca. And Funko Pops for me. Obviously.”

“Obviously.” I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “Fine, we’ll get Luca whatever he wants. But no filling the whole cart with your Funko collection.”

“No promises,” Alessio grinned mischievously, tapping away on his phone, probably planning out every store we had to hit.

Spoiled kid. But then again, who wasn’t in our family?

---

The mall was its usual loud, crowded, overstimulating self. People everywhere. Stores blasting music. Kids dragging their parents from one place to another. Luca kept his hand locked in mine, gripping his crutch tightly with the other as we walked behind Alessio, who was already scouting the stores.

I could feel Luca getting nervous—the noise, the crowd—it was a lot. But he was handling it better than I thought. He didn’t say much, but that was normal for him when things got overwhelming.

“Ricardooo!” Alessio shouted from ahead, turning around to face us while still walking backward. “Should we hit the toy store first? I’m getting Funko Pops. Obviously. And Luca can get anything he wants!”

I smiled, I think that Luca would love that. “Yeah, toys first.”

We headed toward a toy store that I knew had everything from action figures to plushies.

Honestly, it was my favorite too, filled with stuff I still geeked out over—comic books, video games, board games. You name it.

When we walked in, I immediately felt Luca’s hand loosen its grip on mine. I glanced down to check on him; he looked a little more nervous now that we were inside.

“You good, bud?” I asked, crouching down beside him.

He nodded but didn’t meet my eyes. Something was off, but I wasn’t going to push him just yet. Alessio, on the other hand, was already halfway through the store, picking out comic books and Funko Pops like he owned the place.

“Didn’t you just buy comics, like, last week?” I teased, raising an eyebrow as he tossed another one into the basket.

“Papa’s paying,” he muttered with a grin, shrugging like he couldn’t care less. “So might as well go all out.”

Spoiled. Absolutely spoiled.

You are also spoiled

I couldn’t help but say that to myself.

But honestly the twins are the most spoiled.

I shook my head, amused, and made my way toward the plushies section, figuring I’d find something for Luca to keep him distracted. There was a whole range of superhero-themed teddy bears and plush animals. I grabbed a Spider-Man plush—since Luca loved him—and also found an elephant plush that was soft and cute, the kind I figured Luca would like.

“Hey, Luca, what do you think?” I asked, holding up both the Spider-Man and the elephant for him to choose.

He stared at the toys, his eyes lingering on the Spider-Man one before looking away, still not saying much. I could tell something was on his mind, but he wasn’t ready to talk yet.

I crouched down in front of him again, gently ruffling his hair. “It’s all good, bud. We’ll get both for you, alright?”

Luca nodded, his thumb hovering near his mouth, I sighed softly but didn’t say anything.

---

Alessio reappeared with a ridiculous amount of Funko Pops and comic books. “I’m getting these for Luca too,” he said, holding up a bunch of superhero-themed comics. “Papa’s money will definitely be gone today.”

I snorted. “Dude, you’re going to bankrupt him at this rate.”

“Well, he shouldn’t have given us the credit card then!” Alessio grinned, completely unbothered as we headed toward the cashier.

We paid for everything and walked out, Alessio taking Luca’s hand this time while I got stuck carrying all the bags.

“Let’s go hit the clothes stores now,” Alessio declared, already leading us to Il Gufo, one of the fancy Italian shops Papa used to take us to when we were Luca’s age. It was all high-end, stylish stuff, definitely more than we needed, but who was going to say no with Papa’s card in hand? And honestly it sells the best fashionable clothes

---

Inside Il Gufo, Alessio immediately started flipping through the racks like he was a professional stylist or something. “Okay, okay, check this out.” He held up a black Spider-Man t-shirt. “Lukey, isn’t this awesome? You’d look so cool in it.”

Luca’s eyes brightened, and he gave a small nod, his fingers reaching out to touch the fabric.

“Great, we’ll get it,” Alessio declared like it was the only option. Then, of course, came the kicker. “Oh, and I’ve got an even better idea. Marco, Luca, and I are all gonna wear matching shirts. We’ll be the best trio!”

Luca’s face lit up with a huge smile, excitement bubbling up as he imagined it. I couldn’t help but smile too. The kid deserved this—something light, something fun.

But still he looked nervous, and a little sad.

I grabbed a pair of pants that matched the shirt and handed them to Luca. “How about these, piccolo? Like ‘em?”

Luca nodded, and we headed to the fitting room to try it all on.

---

Luca stepped out of the fitting room wearing the Spider-Man shirt and pants. It fit him perfectly, but what broke me was seeing the bruises on his arms, the ones he tried to cover up. A long bruise ran down his right arm, with burn marks scattered across his pale skin. And also Luca wears the size of a 5 year old,

He is small for his age, but we will figure that out.

I felt a knot tighten in my chest, but I forced myself to smile.

“You look great, Lukey,” I said, keeping my voice upbeat, not wanting him to sense my sadness.

“D-do I h-have t-to t-try a-all of th-them?” Luca asked, his voice timid.

“Nope, we already know your size,” I reassured him, giving him a playful wink. “You don’t have to try on everything. We’re good to go.”

Alessio, meanwhile, was piling up more clothes. “Alright, let’s move on to the next shop. I’m buying like a ton of stuff for Marco. He’s gonna flip when he sees how good I am at picking out his wardrobe.”

Luca looked a little overwhelmed by all the bags, his eyes wide as he stared at the growing pile. “B-but th-that’s t-too m-much.”

I knelt beside him, ruffling his hair again. “You deserve it, buddy. No need to worry.”

________________________

As we hit the next store, Alessio’s shopping spree continued. Clothes for Luca, clothes for Marco, and I swear he was going to grab something for everyone in the family. We were waiting for Luca to change into his latest outfit when Papa called, saying he and Leonardo were on their way.

Anyways here he is.

"You bought the whole shop right?"

He rolled his eyes and smirked.

"Don't blame me, you gave us your credit card"

Leonardo rolled his eyes.

" where is Luca and Alessio anyway?" He asked

"Alessio and Luca ane trying their clothes in the changing rooms"

"Ofcourse he is" Leonardo muttered and chuckled .

Before we could keep going, Luca came out of the fitting room, holding Alessio’s hand. His face brightened the moment he saw Papa.

Papa immediately crouched down, opening his arms wide. “There’s my bambino!” He hugged Luca tightly, lifting him slightly off the ground. “I missed you, stellina.”

Luca clutched Papa’s arm with one hand, his other hand gripping his crutch tightly. “Y-you c-came.”

“Of course I did,” Papa said, brushing Luca’s hair back gently. “I told you I’d be here, didn’t I? How’s your day been? Are you having fun?”

Luca’s eyes sparkled as he smiled. “Y-yeah! B-bought c-clothes w-with R-Ricardo and... and A-Alessio.”

Papa’s smile widened.

Well honestly I thought luca was sad and nervous today, but I am surprised and relieved that he is happy and that made me Smile wide.

Papa got up after ruffling Luca’s hair and looked at Alessio and rolled his eyes and ruffled his hair while smirking .



_

_________________

We found a table in the food court, surrounded by the usual noise of clattering trays, chatter, and the occasional kid yelling across to their parents. I dropped all our shopping bags onto the chairs, making sure they didn’t spill over. Between the clothes, Funko Pops, and comics, it looked like we’d single-handedly kept the mall afloat today.

“So, what are you guys up for?” Leonardo asked as he sat down, scanning the nearby food options.

“Pizza. No contest,” Alessio declared, leaning back in his chair like this was a life decision. “Who’s with me?”

I smirked. “Well, I’m not gonna say no to pizza.”

Papa was settling Luca into a chair, adjusting his crutch so it rested under his leg. Luca seemed quiet, more than usual, and I could tell something was up, but before I could ask, Papa took over.

“Luca, do you want pizza too? Or we can get you pasta or a burger if you’d prefer,” Papa said softly, crouching down to Luca’s level, keeping his voice calm. But Luca didn’t answer. He just stared at his lap, looking more uncomfortable by the second.

Papa sighed quietly and ruffled Luca’s hair. “Alright, we’ll get pizza for you too. You’ll like it, I promise.”

Luca nodded slightly but didn’t say anything. His usual shyness had turned into something else—a nervousness that was starting to gnaw at me. What’s going on, little man? At home, when it was just us, Luca was quiet but not...this uneasy.

“I’ll take pizza with Luca and Alessio,” I said, breaking the silence. “We’ll bring some for Marco too. And don’t worry, Papa, we’ll use your card,” I added with a wink, slinging my arm around Alessio’s shoulders as we headed toward the pizza place.

---

With pizza boxes in hand, Alessio and I returned to the table. “Where’s Leo?” Alessio asked, looking around as we set the pizzas down.

“He’s grabbing burgers for him and me,” Papa replied, shrugging like it wasn’t a big deal that Leonardo had ditched us for burger land.

Papa opened the smallest pizza box and placed it in front of Luca. “Here you go, buddy. It’s gonna be good,” he said, taking a slice and gently putting it in Luca’s hands.

Luca hesitated at first, staring at the pizza like it was something foreign. But after one bite, his eyes lit up, and I could tell he liked it. Finally, some relief for the kid.

“You like it?” Alessio asked, leaning forward, his voice full of encouragement. Luca nodded shyly, a small smile appearing on his face as he took another bite.

It was a small victory, but man, seeing that smile made the whole day worth it.

Leonardo showed up with two burger bags and sat down, giving Luca a quick pat on the back as he passed by. “You guys couldn’t wait for me?”

“Nah, we were starving,” I said, shrugging with a grin. “Pizza waits for no one.”

---

We ate together, and for a while, it was just us being... well, us. There was light teasing between Leo and Alessio about who ate faster, with Papa watching and smiling as he quietly made sure Luca kept eating. Every time Luca looked up, his face softened more, and the nervousness faded. By the end of the meal, he wasn’t looking at his lap anymore.

“Alright, who’s up for ice cream?” Alessio suddenly announced, throwing his hands in the air like this was some grand idea.

Leonardo raised an eyebrow. “You’ve got room for ice cream after all that pizza?”

“I always have room for ice cream,” Alessio shot back, crossing his arms like it was a matter of personal pride.

“Same,” I chimed in, shooting a smirk Leo’s way. “You know you want one too.”

Leonardo rolled his eyes but couldn’t help a small grin. “Fine. Let’s go get ice cream before you two drag me into another debate.”

Papa stood up, brushing off his hands. “Alright, but this is the last stop. You’ve got school tomorrow,” he pointed at Alessio, who groaned dramatically. “And you haven’t studied a single thing.”

Leonardo chuckled, and Alessio gave him the dirtiest glare he could muster. I had to stifle a laugh because the banter between those two was top-tier entertainment. The way Alessio always tried to act like Leo didn’t get under his skin—when clearly, he did—was just too good.

“Alright, let’s move,” Papa said, motioning for us to gather the bags. I grabbed a couple, and so did Alessio, but, of course, Leonardo stood there with his hands free, smirking.

“I didn’t buy anything, so why should I carry stuff?” he said, raising an eyebrow like he’d made the best argument in the world.

I glared at him. “You know you’re not getting away with that, right? Next time, you’re carrying all the bags.”

Alessio chimed in. “Yeah, just wait ‘til we hit you with all of Marco’s stuff. You’ll be drowning in bags.”

Leo just laughed, completely unfazed. “Sure, sure. Can’t wait.”

---

We made our way over to the ice cream stand, where Papa ordered us our usual favorites. He got Luca a vanilla scoop in a cup—since Luca wasn’t sure what he wanted—and made sure to guide him through the process of picking. Once we all had our cones and cups in hand, we headed toward the parking lot.

This time, Luca rode with Papa and Leo, while Alessio and I loaded into my car with a whole new round of bags. Alessio immediately started rambling about how we were going to prank Leonardo the next time we were all together, planning the most ridiculous, over-the-top ideas. Everything from swapping his clothes to neon green, to putting glitter in his shoes.

“Bro, I swear, if you do the glitter thing, Leo will literally make you regret it,” I warned, but I couldn’t help laughing.

“I’m ready to suffer for my art,” Alessio replied with a wicked grin. “Leo’s too serious. It’s time for him to lighten up.”

The drive home was filled with laughter and plotting, and for the first time that day, I felt a real sense of peace. Luca had smiled. He’d eaten. He’d been happy, even if just for a few moments. And, honestly, that was all I needed.

---

By the time we got home, Luca was sleepy and he could barely walk

"Why don’t you go and sleep, piccolo ?" Papa said and Luca shook his head

"W-wanna s-show M-as-ssy M-my c-clo-lothes " luca whispered softly rubbing his eyes. Papa crouched down next to him "I am sorry, bud but Massimo won't be home now he will be here late in the night why Don't you show him your new clothes in the morning?" Luca looked sad but nodded

Yeah Massimo won't be at home untill like very late, this is how is his days when he goes to the hospital, plus he has many surgeries today.

Papa took from me the bag that had Luca’s clothes and went to luca.

"Come on let's wear you new pyjamas " he took Luca’s hands and walked to his room upstairs

“Well,” I said, tossing one of the bags onto the couch, “looks like today was a win.”

Alessio grinned, flopping down next to me. “Total win. And tomorrow? Operation Prank Leonardo begins.”

I laughed, leaning back.

^______________________^

A chapter without Massimo omg what happened to me???

Hey guys so I am so sorry for not updating i was very busy and like i had exams and i have a championship and actually i didn’t like this chapter to be honest 😅 i should have made it longer should have added another pov but i was very hurried and i hadn't updated i should have made it longer since i hadn't updated in a long time but if i did i will take more time and i will be more busy so i am so sorry, but i will try to make the next chapter better it may be in the next week after my championship 😊 But i will make a better chapter sorry again for the long wait and the bad chapter. Please tell me ehat u think it will really help