Matteo’s work shift at LUX had come and gone without any real issue. There had been a few handsy clients like there normally was. Maybe some a bit more bold since Nico wasn’t sitting at the bar tonight. Away on a job, but such as it was. He couldn’t have him all to himself all the time. No matter how much he wished to keep him from leaving. The times when the Puttanesca was away were the longest and most boring parts of his unlife. But he was always happy upon his return. Extremely happy.
After clocking out, the blond grabbed his belongings and slipped his coat on. Giving himself one last little once over in the full length mirror of the staff lounge before he slipped out the back door and headed down the alleyway. Waving his goodbyes to some of the other hosts who were there on their breakz it didn’t take long for him to hit the open street and make his way onto the sidewalk. But he didn’t head towards te family mansion or even the little safe house that he and Nico had been sharing for a time. No, his feet took him in a direction different from any he had really walked before. There was nothing for him at either place and there was still a bit of night left before he had to scamper back before the sun rose.
The streets were virtually empty. Businesses the lined them were dark save for a few that were obviously run by vampires themselves. Sometimes those stores were fronts for something a bit more….nefarious and the Neonate kept himself well away from those places. He could just hear Nico’s voice. ‘Don’t go into that place, it's trouble you might get hurt.’ Ah, but it was nice that he cared enough to look out for him at least. Though it wasn’t like he was a child, maybe a bit naive, sure. But Matteo trusted Nico’s word, he had never lied to him or steered him wrong before. And he knew he was just looking out for him because he cared about his well being.
It was more than just the physical between them. They faced a lot of adversity from their families but had promised one another that they would never let that tear them apart. And Matteo was not in the habit of breaking promises. Especially ones to Nico.
His mind wandered a bit as the Della Passaglia continued to wander the streets. Beginning to whistle a happy little tune to himself as he took in the sight of the mostly deserted street. There were a few others shuffling about, likely others like him. Forced to exist during the night time hours unless they wanted final death. No thanks. That was so…..permanent.
Suddenly, as he passed by another shop the muffled sound of a tiny bark caught his attention. Matteo stopped mid step, a questioning tweet in his whistle as honey brown eyes slid to the side and he pivoted on his heel. Approaching the shop who’s lights were turned off. Signaling that it was closed. But it had a large picture window in which he could peer into.
As he drew close something small flung itself at the window with another little bark. Matteo flinched back, startled by the sudden beast that had lunged at him only to remember that there was glass between him and it. Big brown eyes stared out at him. Golden fuzz covering the gangly little body as a little tail wagged back and forth quickly with excitement. Another bark and little paws pressed against the glass. It had tiny little pink paw pad and a small black nose.
To say that his undead heart melted was an understatement. “Oh. My. Gosh. You are…SO. Cuuuuuuutttttteeeeee.” The vampire pressed his hands and his face against the glass, staring at the little puppy with so much love in those brown eyes as he stared in the window with longing. He just wanted to hold it, to let it’s soft fur and poke it’s cute little nose. Take it home so that it could sleep on his bed or maybe in its own little bed next to his.
It was an instant feeling. This small, furry creature had captured his heart.
It barked again, pawing at his hand pressed against the glass before it crouched down as pounced at the window. Wiggling it’s body furiously. Matteo laughed and moved back and forth along the glass as if playing a game of chase. Crouching down so that he was out of sight. When the puppy couldn’t see him anymore it whines and his head popped up with a look of concern before the puppy lunged at the window again.
This went on for a time. Anyone who might have passed by might think he had lost his damn mind but he didn’t care. All his focus was on that puppy in the window that had captured his heart. But alas, he knew it was not meant to be. Matteo had a job and he couldn’t leave a puppy all alone for hours on end while he worked. And while it might have been nice to have something else there when Nico was away he wasn’t even sure they were at that stage in their relationship to talk about puppies. But oh how he wanted one. So very very bad.
He frowned. Heaving a small sigh as he placed his hand on the glass window once more. The sun would be rising soon and he needed to get home before he got stuck out here. But h, it was so hard to pull away from that window. Was he lonely? Sure. Maybe. Going back to the safe house when no one else was there was damn sure lonely. But he could look forward to Nico’s return any day now so that was a plus.
With one last look of longing at the little puppy he waved to it before turning to head in the direction he needed to take to get back. A tiny little howl followed him all the way home. But he could take splice in the fact that that puppy would one day find a loving family that would love and care for him the way all puppies should be. And that was the only way he was able to walk away. Knowing that.
