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Feli had grown to love his adopted country in the years since he’d arrived on the island. Admittedly, it took some getting used to. Gone was the airy architecture, the warm plaster buildings that lined the canals of his home city. The buildings in England seemed to mirror the people he’d found residing in them, sturdy, heavy, orderly creations. And so much grey… Feliciano had never seen so many incarnations of the color mashed into one space before. And yet… the longer he stayed, the longer he came to admire both the buildings and the citizens of London. There was a sense of strength that seemed to run through the city, infusing everything that lived here with an austere sort of determination. Venice felt ethereal, fleeting, a testament to human frailty, but London was an ode to human perseverance.

Despite Feli’s growing love for London, there was still some aspects that he would always hate. Namely their winters. Londoners seemed to ride out their winters with the same grim humor they used to ride out just about everything else. But for Feli, who was still a citizen of the Mediterranean at heart, the winters felt like torture designed specifically for him. A being who depended so heavily on the sun, the long grey months wore on him, and though he never liked to admit it, it was far harder to keep up a bright smile when everything was just so… monochromatic. It was little wonder the Italian succumbed to the plaque of illnesses that usually came hand in hand with the falling temperatures.

But this one? This one might be the worst that Feli had weathered since he’d moved to London. Far from the sniffles that normally dogged the little Venetian, this bout was debilitating. Feli just couldn’t get warm, making every muscle hurt and every breath a struggle. Worse still, his world just wouldn’t sit still like he wanted, making every movement that wasn’t curling up into the fetal position a nauseating affair. Feli hadn’t wanted to call in tonight, it was one of the nights he got to spend with Luddi and those were becoming few and far between, but his body overruled an fantastic notions of patching himself together enough to see his favorite patron. With vehemence. Feli wasn’t even sure if Beck could understand him as he made the call, curled up on the couch in a cocoon of blankets, he couldn’t think about anything other than the pounding pain behind his eyes and the icy weight on his chest. But whatever he said must have convinced the woman, she certainly sounded concerned as she hung up. Maybe… maybe if he was lucky, she’d drop off some soup after her shift and Feli could enjoy a few minutes of company… even if it meant taking some abuse about the state of his apartment.

It had not been a good month for Feliciano Vargas. After his close call on his latest mission, he had taken a step back from taking on any tasks from the Underground, and the Bunker hadn’t been bringing in the patrons it had been, likely due to the abysmal rain that had dogged the city for weeks. Making rent was a struggle, which meant Feli had to pick some priorities. Food and gas to work his stove was of course the first, with lights and heat falling a distant second. At first it had been fine, Feli had managed to find a great deal on candles and to be honest, he was so rarely home it didn’t really matter if his light switch or thermostat worked. But now that he camped out on the couch, battling the mother of all winter bugs, the cold and the dark was becoming a real problem. Feli yearned for someone, anyone, to sit with him, to stroke his clammy forehead and ease away the pain and the cold.

So when he heard the buzzer to his flat sound off, he felt his spirits lift considerably. Beck! Beck was at the door, with soup and company and— Feli stumbled to the door, still clutching a blanket around his shoulders and hit the button to respond. “Beck—“

But it wasn’t Beck. Feli’s hand slipped from the intercom, a mounting panic rising in his chest. No… No, no, no! Why was Luddi at the door?! Why now?! Feli had always been so careful not to give Ludwig any clues to where he lived. The German wasn’t supposed to see this part of Feliciano’s life… what would he say? Ludwig belonged in Parliament, not trudging through the seedy streets to Feli’s dark flat. Feli had always been able to keep their friendship going by ignoring the very obvious difference in their social status just as he was sure Ludwig did. But now? Now it was unavoidable.
He was tempted just to not to reply, to go back to the couch and pretend that this was all a fever dream. But… but Luddi knew he was here, had heard him pick up on the other line. Feli thought about turning him away, but… the offer of soup and tea… his weary body clamored for something to heat his chilled fingers, to soothe his swollen throat. But more than that… Feli was desperate for contact… even if Luddi yelled at him, it was better than being alone. He’d smooth it over later.

“Ve…” His voice was weak, made harsh by his ragged vocal cords. He coughed slightly and tried again. “L-Luddi came to visit me? On his night off? Y-you didn’t have to do that…” He paused again to catch his breath before continuing. “I’ll let you in… but you shouldn’t stay long… I don’t want to get Luddi sick too…”



made by MISSO for KAT