Chapter Text
Alberto was a young sea monster who as long as he could remember it was only just him and his father Aldo. No matter how much he tried to make his father proud he never could and all he ever did was seem to make just him angry. Even when Alberto had done nothing wrong his father quickly found a way to flip it around to where everything ended up being the young boy's fault. Alberto hated when his father was angry with him because it would mean endless yelling and scolding which made feel even smaller than he already was.
Whenever the young boy would try to explain what had happened Aldo would refuse to listen to anything he had to say.
Afterwards the older sea monster would take off and leaving his small son alone and not return for a couple of days or more, though he was young Alberto quickly became independent and soon was fully capable of gathering his own food among other things that he found interesting.
When his father returned, he completely ignored his son. "Look at all the human stuff I found this time," the young boy said with such excitement in his voice as he held up his latest treasures so his father could see but like all the other times before Aldo just walked right on by without even acknowledging him.
Alberto sighed heavily as he careful placed his items aside and hurried after his dad so he could show him the next big surprise, hopefully this would make his father proud and earn him some praise. Aldo made his way over to the makeshift ladder and began climbing up it, once at the top he saw two new added features inside.
"Isn't it great? I added two hammocks," Alberto said proudly as he climbed in behind his father "you know, one for you and one for me. So we don't have to just sleep on the ground anymore."
Aldo shook his head before turning back towards his son and glaring at him then without saying a single word he pushed right back past him and headed down the ladder again leaving the young boy wondering what he could have possibly done wrong this time. Whatever smile that been on Alberto's face had slowly disappeared as walked towards the window and watched his father walk back towards the sea, he knew it was best to keep his distance from his father when he was in one of these kind of moods. He had learned that the hard way a few times when his dad had gotten so upset with him that he got violent and knocked him around. Alberto had to keep telling himself that maybe if he wasn't such a bad kid his dad would be proud of him, he watched as his father sat down by the water's edge.
Slowly Alberto made his way back down to grab his human things so he could place them safely up in the tower and not upset his father even more than he already had. Once on the ground he noticed that another sea monster had joined his father on the beach, the sea monster did not look that much older than him. He watched from a safe distance as a huge smile suddenly appeared on his father's face and he quickly embraced the older boy in a tight hug. Alberto closed his eyes and placed his own arms around his shoulders giving himself a hug and pretending it was a long-awaited one from his dad.
From the beach the older boy glanced up and saw the younger boy with arms wrapped around himself "What's up with him?" he asked Aldo who just shook his head and replied "Pay no attention to him son."
" Is he the reason mom won't let you come home?" the boy asked continuing to look up younger boy.
"Yes," Aldo admitted "that's why I only get to see you part time."
(Alberto's POV)
"ALBERTO!" I heard my father shout causing me to jump and snap out of my thought, "GET DOWN HERE NOW!"
'Great,' I thought as I slowly made my way down to the beach where my father and the other boy were standing 'what did I do now?' "Yes papa?" I asked hanging head too afraid to look up.
"This is my son Bruno," he said proudly as he patted the other boy proudly on the back.
"I thought I was your son?" I asked a little confused by his statement, was this older boy related to me? I finally brought my eyes up to meet with my father's.
"No," my father scolded shaking his head and laughing a bit "there's a difference, Bruno was planned, and you were just an unfortunate accident."
"Oh," I replied trying the best to hide any sound of hurt in his voice, 'Was I just an accident to him?' I stood in silence knowing that both were staring at me and I heard Bruno snort out a laugh making the hurt I was feeling turn to anger. I watched as the two of them exchanged another hug in front of me, not wanting to see anymore I quickly turned away and started making my way back to my things.
I looked back one last time at how happy my dad looked, I let out a heavy sigh as I began to gather up all my things into my arms. As I made my way towards the tower a strong force from behind me shoved me forward causing me to fall to my knees and dropping my things all over the ground. I turned to around and saw Bruno standing over me with a wide grin plastered on his face, I felt my hands ball into fists and before I could stop myself quickly shoved him away from me.
Bruno only laughed "You know your not just a mistake to him but a burden as well and that he's ashamed of you," the older boy told me knowing that his words were getting to me.
"That's not true!" I blurted out as my hands began to tremble and my heart starting beating faster.
"Yes, it is!" he snapped back "he told me himself." Then using all his of strength he shove me backwards to the ground hard.
My back landed against small rock causing me to become distracted from moment of pain and giving him the perfect advantage of holding me down in place. "Get off of me!" I hissed trying to shove him off of me but with no success. I struggled beneath his weight as he balled his own hands into fists and hit the middle of my face hard. "STOP!" I shouted trying to hold his hands back as tears started stinging my eyes. I tried my best to hold them back, I was not going to cry in front of him. Bruno raised his fist again ready to strike again but this time I managed to stop him from hitting me and I bit down onto his hand.
He yelped out in pain and anger before he hit me a few more times in the face, "What's going on!" my dad demanded yanking me out from under Bruno.
"He bit me," Bruno said holding out his hand showing off the tiny bite mark that I had left.
I could tell my father was upset but clearly, he could see that I had not been the one who started this. "Why did you bite him?" he asked standing up to his full height and towering over me. As I stood there trying to find the words to say to him, I feel some wetness on my face and not the same wetness as being wet from water but of more of a warm sticky kind.
Just as I opened my mouth to say something my dad's hard fist hit me across my already tender cheek sending me to the ground again. I quickly cupped the side of my face and looked up to see my him glaring down at me shaking his hand trying to ease the pain he felt in it from hitting me. I could feel the tears in my eyes ready to spill out, it took everything in me not to cry in front of them.
"JUST GET OUT OF HERE!" he shouted at me raising his hand ready to strike again. I quickly got to my feet and hurried to the backside of the tower. Once there I sat down leaning up against it and I pulled my knees to my chest there I could finally let my tears fall. It did not take long before my tears mixed with the stickiness that was already on my face, bringing my left hand and using the back of it to wipe my face. A mix of crimson and tears now covered the back of my hand, I stayed in that spot until the sun went to sleep and the fish came out.
Not wanting to upset my father anymore than I already had I decided it was best stay where I was the rest of the night. I could hear my dad's voice up in the tower talking about how proud he was of Bruno and what a good kid he was, which I clearly was not. Letting out a heavy sigh I slowly laid down on the ground and tried to fall asleep. I woke up the next to morning to the sight of my father quickly climbing down the ladder and walking over to me.
"I'm leaving Alberto." he said standing over me "You're old enough to be on your own now."
"But..." I started to say but he held up his hand and shook his head then started to walk away from me.
When it registered in my head what he was actually saying I quickly rushed after him and grabbed ahold of his hand "Please don't go," I begged trying my hardest to stop him from leaving me "I'm sorry I'm a such bad kid and I ruin things all the time."
He stopped walking but it was only to pull his hand away from my grasp and to shove me back away from him. Then just like the day before he called me an accident, a mistake and what Bruno had said a burden. Hearing all hurtful words together was very painful and I watched him leave without even looking back me. He would be back I told myself, he always comes back......right?