Chapter Text
Elia did have a point, at first. Really. Lù couldn't argue that it felt nice to find that his favourite napping spots around the house were available whenever he wanted to rest - no more walking away as soon as he heard his ginger flatmate hiss - and not having to compete with Nico for tasty treats or with Marti for cuddles from Gio. However, it wasn't nice seeing their gentle and playful human companion looking so sad and lonely, worried about how Marti and Nico would fare out there...
"One is a fighter and the other a survivor. I'm sure they will manage." Elì said, when Luca told him what he had heard from Giovanni.
He was underestimating their skills, in a desperate need to see himself as a core figure in their lives... It was something that most of those weird bipeds did, according to Rami - who liked to sit next to him and have a chat, whenever they were witnessing Elia's catastrophic flirting attempts with Sana.
He still refuses to acknowledge that she prefers Malik, a cute and cuddly Abyssinian who seemed to be a permanent fixture of the cat café.
"What does he have that I don't?" His dear friend wonders, every time that he catches them being thick as thieves.
"A more accommodating personality, which brings a lot of customers here? He's good with kids, patient and kind? Old ladies love him and even those grumpy old men that come along end up being charmed by his composure? It's like nothing can faze him, you know… Plus he's got a lot more common sense tha-" Lù is always ready to remind him, eagerly.
"It was a rhetorical question, Luchì…" He groans, rolling his eyes and walking away. “And besides, if he’s so great, why couldn’t he find somewhere else to stay after his human passed away?” Well, Luca had no qualms asking about that to Malik himself - it was much easier now that he hadn’t someone ready to slap him with his paw and drag him away whenever his questions got way too personal - and he had been told that her grandson had promised he would find the perfect home for Malik, since he was allergic and couldn’t take him in.
“I trust Driss to keep his promise. I mean, he could have asked his best friend - whom I’m already quite familiar with, because he was always around to help him take care of Aisha and me - but he wasn’t too impressed with how he has been handling the situation with Nico since he got back…” Staying with Chicco, unfortunately, had to be a temporary solution. Until Luai proved himself to be a worthy owner, or something like that.
Since Rodi was in the middle of moving to a new home with Federica, it would mean that he would have to be around Sana all the time… and really, he was afraid she’d end up hating him if they had to share a flat 24/7.
It probably had something to do with Rocco as well, who was his oldest companion and seemed to gravitate around Chicco. The way he acted around his girlfriend reminded Lù of how Marti tried to deter Eva from hanging out with Gio… until he had come to terms with her being quite cool and more of a cat person than the guy who had raised him.
Marti… Where is he? Is he okay? And what about Nico?
It took less than a fortnight for the novelty to wear off and now Lù is seriously starting to worry. At least he had the chance to say goodbye to Margot when Silvia had to give him up - not her fault if her new stepdad was an asshole who threatened to make both Margot and Lù’s life a living hell, unless she gave one away - and both Silvia and Gio took their time to make sure he would settle in nicely with Marti and Elia.
He misses the way he bonded with Nico over longing to see a loved one again, despite being very fond of Gio and their flatmates - or, as in Nico’s case, being in love with the crankiest and stingiest in the house - and how they would team up to steal food from the fridge, the cabinets, the pantry or right under Gio’s nose while he was cooking it.
He misses the way Marti would come and cuddle with him, when somebody would take advantage of his naivete and laugh behind his back. How he would willingly share his food, if he thought that it would cheer Luca up… The way he was constantly looking out for him and all the others, eagerly participating in their shenanigans - though, for some reason, he tried to pretend he wasn’t having just as much fun as they all did - but making sure they would all be back in one piece. He even misses the way Marti would team up with Elia and jokingly call him “Luchino” because he is the biggest and roundest of them all.
What if the dangers they have come across have proved to be too much for Marti and Nico to handle? What if Marti hadn’t let sleeping dogs lie and got himself into a fight where he was outnumbered and overpowered? His friend tended to be wiser than that, but - just like Elia - he couldn’t stand still and watch anyone being disrespectful to someone he cared about. And if they dared to lay a paw on his friends, on Nico… He would make sure they ended up regretting their awful behaviour.
What if… What’s this sound? Who’s at the door?
“There’s no need to thank me, boy. It’s a shitty world out there for these two, and it’s not much better for us, eh? I wonder what possessed them to go and challenge Renato’s authority at the swimming pool… I had to give him all my precious celery to get him off your cats… And I can’t say they came with me willingly. Especially this ginger guy. He’s a fiery one, isn’t he? Thankfully his friend helped, and eventually I managed to get them checked by a vet. Who told me about you. He wanted to call you and let you know, but I offered to take them back… and here I am.”
They’re here! They pulled through life in a hostile environment! They are soooo cool!
Luca runs to the door, nearly making Gio and their new guest fall in his haste to get to Marti and Nico. Who are still weirdly hovering at the door, afraid they aren’t welcome anymore.
They are pretty banged up, with bite marks on their sides and bandages on their heads and paws… but they are alive, and that’s all that matters.
Marti immediately shields Nico with his body, warning Lù not to come too close with an angry hiss.
“Come on, what are you waiting for? We were all so worried! Do you know that Gio and Luai reached an agreement, and Nico can stay with us for good? I’m pretty sure he’s going to take in Malik soon, anyway...”
“You… aren’t mad about us running away?” Nico asks, nervously.
“Of course we aren’t! We wanted you safe and sound, though... And we just missed you lots... Didn’t we, Elì?”
“Eh… Well, it did get too quiet in here without your incessant meowing and hissing about every little thing… And life was indeed quite boring without my partner in crime.” He reluctantly admits, before he goes back to his meticulous grooming. Unlike Marti and Nico, he doesn’t trust anyone to do it for him. He supposes it’s a nice way to show affection and maybe he will let Filo have a go… Someday.
As for Luca, he hopes to find someone to cherish like that quite soon. Rami, perhaps. He seems so laid-back and friendly... and he's the only one who listens to him ramble without rolling his eyes or try to shut him up.
Martino won't be happy about it, but Marti is happy about very few things - and nearly all include either Nico or Gio - so it doesn't matter that much...
Can it work? Or is he going to be ridiculed?
Well, only time can tell.