TRIGGER WARNING: MENTIONS OF SELF-HARMING TICS, ALLUSIONS TO VIOLENCE

My gaze shot up, wide-eyed and panicked.

Broken. Broken. Broken. Your fault. The Voice hissed, but I had bigger problems.

I didn't recognize the woman in front of me, but she was wearing the attire that the rest of the maids I had seen wore, so I assumed she was one of them. She also was not happy. I don't blame her.

Her eyes were ice cold and furious.

"Who are you, little rat? Sneaking around the Accardi's house in the middle of the night? Stealing from them? Breaking things? Just wait until Mr. Accardi hears about this," she hissed, not even giving me time to respond before she yanked me off of the counter.

I bit my lip as my small body fell into the glass shards, but the woman paid no mind. She just continued marching, dragging me behind her through the glass shards. I tucked my face into Hobbes' neck as tears wetted my eyes.

Suddenly, she stopped, "Mr. Accardi! I caught this little rat in your kitchen, raiding the cabinets, and he broke a glass! You should—"

"Fermare." (stop) the voice spoke coldly. I didn't recognize it, but whoever it was sounded mad.

Of course they are, stupid. You broke something and now this lady is mad at you.

I slowly raised my gaze, meeting Marco's eyes. And, let me tell you, I thought the lady looked upset? Her angry gaze paled in comparison to the look in Marco Accardi's eyes right now.

"Let go of him. This instant," he spat, yanking her hand away from my wrist. Losing her grip on me, I fell forward onto my hands and knees, palms landing on the glass shards as a whimper accidentally slipped from my lips.

"Get the hell out before I kick you out," he growled, and I began to move, ignoring the burning sensation in my knees and palms.

"Not you, Luca." Marco grabbed my shoulder, more gently than I thought possible. "Her," he spat, gesturing to the maid who had taken off, speed walking away.

Marco turned to me, acting quickly, and lifted me into the air, away from the glass, so I was sat atop the large island in the middle of the kitchen. I kept my gaze on my lap, too scared to look up.

"Luca," Marco called my name, standing in front of me. I slowly looked up, tears brimming my eyes.

"Cazzo," he swore under his breath, looking away. "What did she do?"

I fiddled with my fingers, wincing when the glass shards in my palms stung. He gently pulled my fingers apart, analyzing the cuts on my palms.

"M-my f-f-fault," I whispered, gesturing to myself. "I b-b-broke it,"

Out of my sight, Marco shot a deadpan look at me.

"And how did that happen?" he drawled, inconspicuously examining my knees as well.

"W-was t-t-trying to g-get w-w-water and s-she s-s-startled m-me," I whispered.

"How did she startle you?"

What was this, interrogation hour?

"She... g-g-grabbed m-me," I whispered, avoiding his gaze.

He just grunted, and then suddenly swept me into his arms, mindful of my knees and palms. My legs dangled around his hips and my arms around his neck as he walked us towards a section of the house I hadn't been to yet.

I panicked as he began walking, watching Hobbes sit, lonely, on the counter. I whimpered, wiggling in his grasp.

"Stop moving," he growled, tightening his grip.

"No. Please," I whispered frantically, tears welling in my eyes, "Hobbes. Please,"

He paused at this. Then, I heard him sigh, and he turned around and walked back to grab him. I made sure to keep him away from the blood once he was back in my grasp. Hobbes didn't like blood.

"Thank you," I whispered as he began walking again. He just hummed and continued.

After opening a suspiciously large door, we were in... an infirmary? Why is there an infirmary in the house? At this point, I was too tired to ask, and my body hurt too much.

He gently set me down on one of the tables and began collecting supplies. Antiseptic, bandages, gauze, balm, what, did I get shot?

He walked back over, looking slightly regretful. "Luca, this is probably going to hurt. I've gotta get all the glass out and bandage your knees and hands. Numbing would take too long." He spoke.

I just nodded, clutching Hobbes in a death grip in the crook of my elbow. There was nothing I could do, and everything hurt so much. I'm so tired.

"What do you like to do in your free time?" He murmured, leaning down to look at my knee.

"I... I dunno." I whispered, whimpering as the first shard was removed. I looked away as he placed the bloodied piece of glass in a metal tray. I tried not to shudder as I heard the clink.

"What? No hobbies, no interests?" this was the most interested any of my brothers had seemed in my personal life since I got here. Ow. Tears welled in my eyes and slowly began to drip down my cheeks.

I know I have a high pain tolerance, but this hurts. He finished with my knees, gently rubbing soothing balm over them before wrapping them in gauze and bandages. He stood up to his full height (which still towered over me sitting on the medical table, mind you) and examined my expression.

Slowly, almost hesitantly, he reached out towards me, and I suppressed my flinch. His fingers gently brushed my cheeks, wiping away the tears, "Don't cry, piccolo," (little one) he murmured.

He worked on my hands for the next half hour, and by the time he was done, I was an exhausted, teary mess. My knees and hands were wrapped, and I was thankful he didn't mention the reopened scars on my palms. Maybe he won't mention it at all?

Doubtful...

I watched him clean up, rubbing my tired, red-rimmed eyes. I sniffled, wiping away tears as they fell. Why can't you stop crying? Stupid. The Voice scolded.

I gently tugged on my hair, unable to clench my fists anymore due to the thick bandages. Eyes closed, I didn't notice Marco's approaching figure. He gently placed his large, calloused hands over mine, removing my entangled fingers from my hair.

"None of that, monkey." He murmured, gently lifting me back into his arms. I immediately curled into his embrace, burying my face into his neck as I sniffled.

He began walking us back, running one hand gently up and down my back, humming lowly. I relaxed quickly, finding it difficult to keep my eyes open as Hobbes hung loosely from my grip.

"You're alright, piccolo. You can rest. Let your mind relax." he murmured softly into my ear, and I finally let my eyes slide closed as I felt him gently swaddle me in my blankets.

"Dormi bene, fratellino," (sleep well, little brother)

꩜꩜꩜

Marco strode down the hallway, the early morning light just beginning to seep in through the windows. Sleep wasn't a concern right now, though. He rapped quickly on Massimo's office door. He was in there. He always was.

"Entrare," (enter) the deep voice spoke, and Marco practically threw the door open. At the harsh entry, Massimo looked up from his paperwork, raising an eyebrow.

"Problem, fratello?" He drawled, marking a few more things before setting down his pen.

"Yes, you could say we have a problem." Marco seethed.

꩜꩜꩜

"I'm sorry! I didn't know! I swear, I would never have—"

"Never have what? Dragged our baby brother through broken glass?" Marco sneered, shooting daggers at the maid, who sat in front of the three eldest brothers, tied to a chair.

As soon as Marco had filled Massimo in, he had the maid tracked down, who, as it turns out, was already trying to flee the country. It was easy to bring her back in. In the meantime, they had filled in Giovanni (who, as a matter of fact, had actually been asleep).

Now, the three eldest Accardi brothers stood around the shaking, sobbing woman in their main warehouse. They had an area for this at home if emergencies came up, but the brothers preferred to keep their work and home separate, especially now that Luca was around.

"I wouldn't, I swear, it's not—"

"Save it." Massimo shut her off coldly, save for her pathetic sobs and sniffles. "You intentionally harmed our boy, our blood, called him a rat," Massimo practically spat out the word, "and now you're going to pay,".

The three brothers shot each other sickening looks before closing in on the woman.

꩜꩜꩜

Guys I cannot write torture scenes for the life of me so hopefully no one's too sad (if you're actually sad then uh... maybe you should talk to someone about that...) jk yall are entitled to whatevs! Let me know what you think! Lots of love

Rosie :)