Ill-Fated Reunions [Lovino Vargas]

[Feliciano Vargas]

If Feliciano concentrated hard enough, he could hear the heartbeats of the Arena fighters. Past the loud cheering, past the sickening sounds of battle, even past every panicked inhale; right there, racing faster than he could count.

Th-thumpth-thumpth-thumpth-thumpth-thumpth-thump

He couldn't help but wonder what was going through the contestant's mind, making his--or her, he reminded himself--poor heart work so hard. Was it fear, or was it adrenaline? Was he listening to the winner, or the loser? Or was he eavesdropping on the panic of Bait, like himself? It had already been two years since the Italian was dragged here, kicking and screaming, to this dank, dark, depressing place. Two years and he still wasn't sure whether the guards would keep each mutant alive. He had been lucky so far, saving enough food the few times he was fed to survive the expansive stretches he wasn't, and the matches were always called once they realized he wouldn't fight for them. What if someone did, though? Kept fighting until they either passed out or died--would the guards stop it? He wasn't sure. Maybe he is listening to the sounds of a dead man walking.

Th-thumpth-thumpth-thumpth-thumpth-thumpth-thump

Unseeing amber eyes stared vacantly at the wall; the chill of the air, the damp stone, even the heavy scent of the Underground was forgotten. All that mattered was that racing heartbeat, smothering him beneath the rapid beat of the drum. The other contestant's pulse wasn't near as frantic, so the brunette assumed he had latched onto the losing party. He hoped the guards would show a bit of mercy on the mutant, if he did survive. Winter had hit particularly icy this year. No one's really in shape to fight to their fullest. Then again, he thought to himself with a quiet sigh, there might be food shortages from the bad weather, too. For all he knew, they would all starve, loser or not.

Th-thumpth-thumpth-thumpth-thu--

Feliciano jerked upright, ears straining as his own heart leaped into his throat. The crowd had gone insane, and in the jumble of unexpected noise, he'd lost track of that heartbeat. The quiet, frantic th-thumpth-thump cut off, making his ears ring despite the roaring of the Arena. A few more seconds of searching and the boy sighed in efeat, letting sounds fade and cut out entirely. The world slowly slid back into focus, the Italian taking his time to readjust to the flow of sensation he'd lost. He'd only make himself sick slamming back into reality, even if worry still hung heavy in his chest. All this over a little heartbeat--Feliciano hadn't let himself be this sentimental in weeks, not since they dragged his previous cellmate out and never brought him back. "Ve, I hope that person's okay..." he murmured, letting his weight slump back against the wall. Maybe the guards'll walk by and he can ask what happened. He can only hope he hadn't actually listened to a person's heart stop.

[Lovino Vargas]

He's the meanest little kitty...

He wasn’t sure where he was hurt exactly, anymore.

As the crowds yelled at for the two mutants to fight, Lovino barely pushed himself back up onto his paws. The cushioned pads at the moment felt slippery on the pool of blood, some cold and some still warm, that littered the arena. He huffed out a breath and took a step forward before another unknown force hit him, causing him to squeak in pain and slam into the wall, just as he heard the crowd’s cheers grow louder. Some phrases he heard were, “Get up, I know you aren’t dead yet!!” and “Can’t he do anything else!?”, but Lovino couldn’t argue back. He could only wait for the bell to ring to say the match was over, but that too, didn’t ring until the person in charge was satisfied with the fight himself. When laying in the blood puddle didn’t cause the stupid thing to ring, he trembled, feeling his heart thump violently in his chest in fear. How long were they planning to let this fight go…? Lovino already had troubles seeing straight, his vision being unfocused and blurred with the blood dripping from a large but shallow gash on his head, and his legs refused to cooperate with movements anymore. As the crowd began to get mixed with angered growls and annoyed groans, Lovino forced himself back up once more and hunched over, his fur caked with the crimson liquid.

As Lovino looked up to his opponent once more, he could faintly see the guilt that mixed into the colors of the other’s orbs, but desperation much more. He was just as skinny as Lovino himself, most likely starved to the point he was going to do anything for a bite of dinner for that night. Only the really strong ones that constantly won got the daily meals that satisfied their stomachs, and from what Lovino had seen between bars from time to time of what guards were carrying, got a full meal of wheat, some sort of vegetables and a kind of meat, and every time his mouth watered as he stared off to watch the food be carried off to another cell. Figuring from the body shape his opponent had, he could only guess that he was one of the weaker ones… But with the power he had, it was very unlikely for him to be a bait as well. As another force began making his was once again, Lovino cringed and dug his claws into the slight dents in the arena, failing to keep his ground and flying off into air right after. He felt himself get slammed into the wall once more. The ache in his back filled his tiny body, and as he heard the bell finally ring at last and the crowd roaring, before everything turned pitch black.

---

”Shouldn’t we bandage this up?”

Lovino’s ears twitched slightly as he heard the faint voice. He winced as he felt pressure on the gash, making him hiss weakly, just as he felt himself suddenly shifted in someone’s hold. He opened his green eyes slightly, waking up from his unconscious state to find himself being carried down an aisle of cells, some occupied with glaring mutants, some with mutants that didn’t want to look out the bars, and some even empty. He was being held by the scruff of his neck, most of the blood wiped off his fur except for the dried bits, making his once soft fur hard and matted. Changing back to his human form in the current state was not a good idea, main reason being that if he did so, the humans would have had him in a tight grip on his neck, and he wasn’t willing to risk such dangerous act. So instead, he stayed limp, hanging and swinging to the guard’s movement, narrowing his green orbs when their eyes met.

”Not now. If we want to bandage it properly we would need him to change back, anyway.” Another guard spoke, acting as if the subject they were speaking of wasn’t even there. ”Can’t have fur getting into there. Ah, remember him to toss him into the new assigned cell. Boss wants us to clean out his old one.”

”Will do.”

Lovino glared to the moving ground as he listened, not really caring what cell he was thrown into anyway. They were all the same; a small room, with one wall being all bars and a small door, only having uncomfortable beds, a small sink for water and a toilet inside. He watched as they passed his old cell and lifted his eyes up just as they stopped in front of one. He head the door get unlocked and suddenly he felt himself in the air without any support, having been thrown in, causing him to close his eyes tightly in fear. He landed on his paws but collapsed almost instantly in pain, his legs buckling and still unable to hold him up.

”Here’s your new cell mate. With baits together; this will make things so much easier.” He heard the man chuckle before the door was locked once again, and heard the shoes on the stone floor as he walked away. Lovino trembled in spot until he finally decided to open his eyes, wondering who this ‘bait’ was to be his cellmate. His eyes widened when he saw who it was, and soon he closed his eyes slowly again.

He knew he was here as well. He knew it, but avoided the thought this whole time. Seeing how pathetic his brother looked with his frail body only caused the cat to tense, and he was unable to look directly at the problem himself. All he could master was a weak mewl, which came out to be a faint word.

”…Shit…”

Word Count: 973

Tags: Feliciano

Notes: I hope this is okay... -3-;;

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[Feliciano Vargas]

A flinch tore through his frame at the harsh screech of steel against stone. Feliciano had been hoping the guards would pass by so he could question them about the match, but this wasn't what he expected. Why were they coming in? Hurriedly he pushed himself to his feet, nervous and tense as he shifted to the barred wall. "V-Ve, what--" He cut himself off as the guards tossed something small into the room. The stench of fresh blood assaulted his nose and he recoiled a bit, lifting a hand to his face. Beneath the reek of iron was a familiar smell, which made his stomach roil just as badly.

"Here's your new cell mate," one of the guards sneered, the taunt evident in his voice even as the other man sniggered. "With baits together, this will make things much easier."

Feliciano hardly paid the bullies any mind, already crouching down to hover anxiously near that trembling feline form. His hands hovered over blood-stained, dirty fur uncertainly; he couldn't figure out where the bleeding was coming from. Whether it was safe to touch his brother or not. He bit the inside of his cheek, the sharp clang of the door shutting behind the guards echoing almost absently in his ears. Were it not for the subtle tremble of little kitty limbs and the soft rise and fall of a small chest, the young Italian might've believed they'd tossed his brother's dead body in with him. The amount of blood staining caffè latte fur sent a chill straight to his bones; he didn't have anything here that could properly staunch the bleeding, or bandage those dirt-infested wounds.

Before he could speak up, though, hazy green eyes fluttered open. The tiniest flickers of hope lit itself in his chest. If Lovino was awake, then maybe Feliciano was over-analyzing his injuries. "Lovino..? Fratello?" the brunette murmured, eyebrows furrowing in confusion at the strange way green eyes widened before slipping shut, like he'd seen something shocking. "A-Are you alri--"

The boy's words were cut off at the pathetic meow that escaped the other mutant, and he felt his heart break a little for the weakness of it. He settled on the ground at the cat's side, hesitant fingers stroking over the crown of his brother's head. Despite the dust covering his form, clotting sickeningly with tacky blood, that light brown fur was soft where it remained unstained. The texture stood in sharp contrast with their surroundings and Lovino's own coarse personality, making his lips twitch up, just a little. "Vee, fratello, are you in a lot of pain?" He asked, refusing to raise his voice--Feliciano knew that cats had sensitive hearing, so he could only assume the same with his brother in this form. "I might be able to clean you up a bit if you think you can handle being picked up. I-I'll be careful, promessa."

[Lovino Vargas]

He's the meanest little kitty...

Lovino tried his best to not wince in pain when he felt his brother's fingers run through his fur, finding it soothing if done in places where no cuts or bruises littered the skin underneath, but agonizing when done on the fur and skin as so. He emitted small hisses when it occurred, and sent a small glare to his brother with his emerald green hues. When the hand moved to his head, Lovino almost jerked away as the newest cut was felt upon, his paw quickly reaching up to instinctively attempt to bat the hand away. His ears flattened in an instant and his whiskers pulled back, his breath hitching slightly at the throbbing pain. The softest of purrs almost made their way out his throat when the hand was comforting, but when painful, he wasn't going to hesitate to push it away.

He couldn't believe his brother was still in such place, though. While dealing with the pain, that was the only thing that the elder brother could think of. Were the humans honestly dumb enough for this? It was obvious to him, since childhood, that his brother was able to do so much and more. Though his personality could be naïve (the inability to hold back the urge to pet him only proved it to be still current as well), he was a hard worker and was always able to get people to smile, until Lovino himself jumped in to turn that smile back upside down. Seeing someone as such still down here... He could only lower his head in sorrow only being able to think of the odds he himself had.

The first question reached the cat's ears, as soft as the voice was, and he showed it by twitching his ears quickly in the direction his brother was in. Honestly, it was a stupid question, in the older brother's opinion. Was he in a lot of pain...? He couldn't stand without collapsing; but there was no use fighting now and he knew it. Bickering won't get him anywhere, and Lovino just wanted to sleep. Sleep and never waking up would be the best thing to ever happen to him, but he could only pray for that day to come soon, and hope that Dio would hear his pleas. He responded with another weak mew, before his brother continued talking. Happy that Feliciano knew better than to raise his voice in possible panic, Lovino relaxed his tense body on the floor and tapped the tip of his tail on the hard ground in attempts to soothe himself as well.

Hearing he had a possibility of being cleaned, however, caught his attention, making his eyes open back up curiously to glance up to the younger boy. Hearing his native tongue at the end only caused the adrenaline from the pain to calm, causing a purr to rise from his throat in response to the offer. He stretched out to press a paw against his brother's knee to show he wasn't backing off from the offer and gave out another meow, this one a little stronger than before.

Word Count: 519

Tags: Feliciano

Notes: Forget puppy love; you get kitty love. XD

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[Feliciano Vargas]

Once the 'cat' started hissing, Feliciano let his hand be batted aside without a fight, his frown deepening even as he settled back on his heels. He hadn't mean to make his brother feel worse. If petting him was out of the question, there wasn't much he could do but wait for him to calm down, for the pain to die down a bit. If he'd returned like this, then Lovino was dragged back from a fight, from the Arena. People must've stood there and cheered as the boy-turned cat was kicked around and beaten for their own amusement. Anger and bile rose up in his throat, but he forced it all back because getting angry wouldn't help either of them. Lovino would just get riled up, or upset, and what could he do anyway? All he'd do is make himself feel worse because there was nothing he could do to keep this from happening. Focus on what was possible, rather than get upset over events beyond your control.

When a small patch of warmth settled against his knee, Feliciano took that as a sign that Lovino was okay. It was strange that his brother wasn't talking, but that was fine, too. He could talk enough for the both of them. "V-Ve, if it hurts too much to hold you, you have to tell me, Vino," he murmured, reaching down to run his fingers over his brother's ear in attempts at comfort without accidental pain. Then he carefully scooped the small creature up and into his arms. The action must have hurt, but thankfully his brother didn't squirm too much or claw at him--it would be worse if Feliciano dropped him. The younger Italian would probably burst straight into tears if he hurt Lovino even more. Had the 'cat' been in better condition, Feliciano would've just curled up in the corner and coddled him until he felt a little better, but he couldn't just let dirt and whatever grossness hung out on the stone floors settle in his brother's injuries. The guards would probably let the wounds fester before they bothered helping.

Sacrificing his own towel for the cause, Feliciano cradled his brother close as he doused the cloth with water from the sink--unfortunately cold as the Arctic, since warm water was a rare commodity to the humans this time of year, let alone the mutants trapped underground. All this juggling about was difficult, though. He couldn't waste the water, lest the guards come back and beat them both, but if he shifted Lovino too much he could aggravate one of those bloody cuts. Even if his brother was exhausted and in pain, he'd lash out for sure. Eventually, though, he was curled up around Lovino, carefully wiping away dirt and blood from light brown fur. If his hands trembled, the boy didn't notice. "I'm sorry, fratello," he sighed, biting his lip. "I wish they wouldn't drag you to the Arena like this." He had his own scars from the vicious fights, and it was sad to see the spitfire brunette in such a state.

[Lovino Vargas]

He's the meanest little kitty...

Perhaps it was for the better that he was tossed into the cell with his brother.

Sure, it would be the best if his brother was never in the cell to begin with, or even in the Underground-- Even under the government, but that was all impossible now. He kept his mouth shut out of guilt for making the younger male be placed in this mess to begin with and just closed his eyes, relaxing when he felt the gentle digits from his brother's hand rub at his ear. The simple action comforted him, and he was a bit disappointed without a doubt when the younger boy stopped and instead moved around slightly. The arms had wrapped around his small frame, and Lovino had to make sure his claws were sheathed when he was lifted from the ground. Although careful, the pain still rushed through his body. His eyes shot open in pain and he pressed his paws against his brother slightly. With claws sheathed no damage was done, but the ears were flat against his head again, and his short limbs shook with strain.

It had been a while since he was properly cradled, though. The guards had a thing for holding him by the scruff of his neck, which of course wasn't painful, but was nowhere near comforting. Curling up in the slightest in the warmth of his brother's hold, Lovino kept closed his eyes once more, a small purr coming from his chest.

Every now and then when he got the proper handling, Lovino dozed off to what he could barely remember of his mother. Though he was a defiant child in a sense that didn't like to be cradled back then, it would be a lie to say he didn't miss his family back when he lived in the dark basement. His mother's gentle rubs against his ears and tight hugs were just some things he wished he could go back to, even as a young adult now. It really was a foolish thought, and Lovino never would tell anyone of it. If anyone questioned, he retorted with some answer that allowed him to avoid the topic all together.

Only with his brother, he would let that side of him completely come out without a fight.

His paws began to instinctively knead at his brother's chest as he was carried, being careful not to sink his claws into his brother's shirt and create holes in the fabric. His ears picked up the sound of water, and he gave off a small shiver of nervousness at it, but kept himself busy with trying to get all the warmth he could from his brother, both physically and emotionally.

When he felt the younger Italian curl up around him, Lovino blinked slowly and stared at the wet towel. He gave out a small mewl when it pressed gently against his injury, wincing at the cold and the sting it caused on the cut. Almost instantly his fur fluffed up defensively, but he kept still in the hold, his tail lashing behind him in aggravation. It didn't help that the hand that was steadying the towel was trembling slightly, which made the cat pull back slightly away from the towel when it got too intense for his comfort.

He narrowed his eyes slightly when he heard Feliciano's words. Heh, but what else use did he have? He was useless anyway, so maybe helping other mutants show off was the only reason he was born to begin with. He shivered at his own degrading thought and sighed, before he began to clean himself of the dirt on his forelegs, giving it a few strokes with his tongue, being careful not to trace the rough muscle along an injury.

"...Humans are just disgusting." He finally spoke back, stopping in between his licks. "With all their laws and sick amusement... It makes me want to claw all their eyes out. I swear I will the next one I see."

Word Count: 658

Tags: Feliciano

Notes: No Lovi, no. Calm yourself. BI Don't attack a human, you feral feline...

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[Feliciano Vargas]

While he'd intended to use the small 'towel' to clean Lovino's fur of blood and dirt, Feliciano's hand jerked away as Lovino flinched under his touch. This certainly wasn't the first time he'd tried to doctor up a cellmate, and so long as mutants were treated this way and they were all stuck in the Underground, it certainly wouldn't be the last. With his brother curled up in his arms like this, though, it was like his fingers had forgotten how to hold steady, to cleanse without pain. The one time he could help someone he knew by name, someone who shared his blood, someone he actually cared about on a deeper level than concern for the hurt and sick, and all he seemed to do was make the other cringe and hiss and pull away.

The boy swallowed hard around the growing lump in his throat. His fingers clenched around that damp rag until water flowed along his skin and dripped onto the lumpy mattress beneath them. Lovino had gone from curling against his chest, quietly purring despite the pain he had to be in--or perhaps because, Feliciano remembered reading that cats purr to comfort themselves as well as when they're happy--to shying from his touch, using him as a chair as he tried to clean himself off instead. How his brother could actually do that, lick himself clean of blood and whatever filth laid on the floor of the Arena, the younger Vargas wasn't sure. The sight made his stomach cringe at the thought, while he bit the inside of his cheek because the cat, his brother, felt he was better off taking care of himself than letting Feliciano do it for him. He couldn't even take care of his own brother. All he'd done, so far, was make him hurt. It wasn't intentional, God no, but that didn't exhume of him of the guilt.

What kind of mut--what kind of person couldn't even take care of those he loved?

The Italian didn't dare try to clean Lovino's wounds again, not yet. Maybe once Lovino had calmed a bit more. Maybe once he himself had calmed down enough to not hurt his brother worse. Even if they were superficial pains, they could aggravate the other's injuries enough that the healing process was hampered. Maybe the rag was dirty--too dirty for this task. He'd done his best to keep it clean, but who even knows what kind of germs are down here? Oh God, what if he ended up infecting those gashes with something, and his brother got sick? Or they didn't heal right, or not at all?

Feliciano had to force himself from his own thoughts, his worries; this really wasn't the first time he'd done this, and with worse injuries. This was just preemptive care before the guards returned to take the other to the infirmary. They'd be able to properly treat the wounds, but this was to keep infection from setting in too quickly. It'll be okay so long as he stops freaking out. The brunette sighed quietly at Lovino's words, his free hand reaching up to rub at the cat's ears again. "Veeee, don't do that, fratello," he replied quietly, still worrying at the inside of his cheek. "If you do that, you'll get hurt even worse than this. You won't do any good except make the guards hate you, a-and then you'll get treated badly." Feliciano shook his head again, swallowing once more. "They might even make you fight in more battles as punishment, ve. So please don't attack them."

Even if they might deserve it was the part Feliciano kept to himself. As much as the guards deserved to be punished for hurting people like this, for forcing two or more relatively unwilling combatants to fight one another, for just simply being bad people, it wasn't their place to enforce that punishment. Not when it would only hurt themselves worse in the end. In attempts to distract Lovino from that train of thought, he spoke up once more, anxiously. "D-Do you want me to see if the guards'll take you to the doctor, ve? You're really banged up, a-and I don't want to hurt you again."

[Lovino Vargas]

He's the meanest little kitty...

"..."

Lovino said nothing when he was told to not claw the humans whenever he would get the chance, making him narrow his eyes and pause in between his licks. He gave it a small thought before starting again, working to drag the muscle against his shoulder, wincing slightly and beginning to take his grooming slower and much more carefully. One stroke after another, he felt his mouth get filled with fur and dirt, as well as dried scabs, which he used his fangs to carefully comb off his tongue and spitting it on the ground, not wanting to swallow more than necessary. It didn't take long for one of his legs to regain its original white color from dark marroon that was caused by the dried blood. Though wet, the fur was already much cleaner than what he started with. With an exhausted sigh, the cat began with his other forepaw.

He wasn't sure how he was supposed to interact with his brother. His brother, who was obviously stuck in the same situation as himself, with his body much more frail than what he remembered him to be like before, made Lovino's stomach churn with guilt. Closing his eyes, he dragged his tongue across his paw, revealing the fresh pink pad underneith the black and red. Fighting more fights as a punishment for acting up against the humans was not something new for Lovino. Humans, lazy creatures they were, seemed to not take the training or responsibility to keep the mutants in check for their behaviors. For the stronger ones like he had seen, the humans would try to beat them into submission if they acted up too often, but for someone like Lovino who couldn't do much even if he were to act up, it was easier for the humans to just toss into the arena and hope he'll learn his lesson there instead. If anything, however, Lovino only learned to hate the humans, or guards specifically, even more, which led to more defiant or disobedient behavior that they despised.

That's why when his brother offered to ask a guard for a doctor, Lovino quickly shook his head from side to side, not liking the idea of it one bit. Sure the doctors would make sure he was healed good, but... For what reason? So he could be thrown back into the Arena for the humans' sick amusement? If that was the case, Lovino just wanted to lose a limb or two from the infection so he could no longer fight. With a sigh, he finished up his second foreleg, both now wet but clean white. He spat out what little muk he could, relaxing once more, letting his chin lay on the now-clean legs.

"I'm clean enough." He muttered with a mewl, closing his eyes again. "...Damn it... They're going to skip my meal again, though... I couldn't win..."

Word Count: 481

Tags: Feliciano

Notes: I'mhungry... ;///;

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[Feliciano Vargas]

He couldn't help but wince a bit as Lovino spat that clod of dirt and coagulating blood onto the mattress beneath them--it was hard enough trying to stomach the sight of Lovino licking himself clean without his bed and blanket stained with his brother's blood. Their clothes were swapped out every few days by the guards, but blankets? Only when the cells were cleaned, unless they were so stained that they were just taken away and you had to forego them entirely until the scheduled cleaning day. Feliciano swallowed hard. Then he quickly reached down with his free hand to swipe that clod of gunk onto the floor. Despite his sensitivity, he wasn't ever really bothered by the idea of germs or dirt, or anything "gross" like that, but that made his skin crawl in so many ways. (Mostly because it was his brother's blood he'd just touched--though really, Feliciano knew he needed to stay well off that train of thought because his shirt was damp and if he spent too much time thinking he'd realize that his shirt and pants were going to be stained with the elder Italian's blood as well)

Even then, Lovino looked a bit cleaner as he worked, which was good--and his forelegs weren't being stained further, so his injuries weren't there. Though, to lose so much blood that most of that little furred body was matted down with old blood...Feliciano almost wanted to call the guards and plead to get his brother to the infirmary, despite the elder's rejection. After all, if the bleeding is bad, and neither of them can manage to properly quell it... No, no no no no no. He can't think that way. He simply can't.

With a quiet sigh, the brunette simply cradled Lovino a little closer, dropping that damp cloth onto the mattress at his side. with his hands free, he could rub at tufted ears in hopes of calming the feline down. His fingers had stopped shaking at least, even if the stench of iron still coated his tongue with every breath. His brother, despite his injuries, seemed content to simply lie here for now--which thankfully meant that he couldn't be near as damaged as Feliciano had first thought. Not that he wasn't beaten, bruised, and bloody, but Lovino wasn't going to die from his injuries. (So long as they didn't become infected, anyway) "...Damn it... They're going to skip my meal again," the cat meowed pitifully, tugging at Feliciano's heart-strings. "I couldn't win..."

Wait.

He could actually do something about that.

Feliciano's expression brightened significantly--not that he was happy that Lovino wasn't getting fed, of course not. If he'd had the choice, and the opportunity, he would sneak into the kitchens himself to get his brother a decent meal. Despite the fact that Lovino wasn't getting food from the guards... The Italian sat upright, still supporting his brother's meager weight in his arms. "Ve, I'm going to set you down, okay, fratello?" He said, still gently scratching at his ears. "I need to grab something."

[Lovino Vargas]

He's the meanest little kitty...

Lovino watched as his brother moved the bit of blood off his blanket and flattened his ears slowly, almost guiltily. He shifted his gaze away hesitantly before he felt his brother's limbs cradle him. Instantly his body relaxed, the soft rubs on his ears even emitting the softest of purrs. He noticed that his brother wasn't shaking anymore, which only increased the cat's comfort even further, knowing his brother was at least finally calming down after the initial shock. He was reminded of his brother's reasoning of being in the underground as well, remembering the powers he was posessed with. The ability to increase the power of his senses... Was it? With a small sigh, the cat leaned over and began to lick his matted shoulder carefully again, deciding the least he could do was get the scent of blood off himself, knowing how sensitive his brother could get with it.

When he felt his brother suddenly shift however, Lovino mewled out in surprise, his claws digging into his brother's shirt almost instantly to keep from falling. His ears flat, he stared at his brother wide eyed in slight fear and surprise at the sudden movement, despite the arms still supporting his body against his own. He blinked curiously, unsure how to react, confused with the bright expression that the younger, innocent face wore. It was only after several seconds of figuring his brother wasn't going to drop him that Lovino finally sheathed his claws, letting his paws drop back a bit to reveal his pads, damaged with white scars clear against the baby pinks. He bent his wrists slightly to hide them from his brother, staring up at his brother, tilting his head slightly in question.

How could he be happy when he just said that he wasn't going to be able to eat...? His brother too was clearly not eating enough, so he was certain it was not because he didn't know how it felt to be underfed. Some of the stronger mutants that got constant regular meals perhaps would have snickered and said one missing meal was no big deal, having not known the strain it caused on the starving body as it figured out where to find more nutrients within the body after burning up all the fat.

Hearing his brother's words, Lovino gave a small, hesitant nod, ignoring the blood that poured from his head for that second, opened up slightly after the sudden movement caused by his brother. Only after that did he lick his paw and use it to wipe his head, seeing the red stain his white fur once more. "Si... But... What are you getting...? I don't want water..." Figuring that was the only thing the other could get from this seemingly empty and useless cell, Lovino quickly added before he was placed down, where he watched while staying still in place.

Word Count: 481

Tags: Feliciano

Notes: Lovi cares enough to feel guilty o3o

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[Feliciano Vargas]

The expression on Feliciano's face warped a bit, tense with pain as Lovino's claws suddenly sank through the thin fabric of his shirt and dug into his skin. The pressure wasn't enough to draw blood, thank Dio, but he could definitely feel the sharp points they ended in, pressed tightly against his chest. He must've startled his brother as he sat upright, despite the fact he made sure to keep the small form cradled close. Maybe it was also subtle payment for perking up so quickly after the elder of the two said he wasn't going to eat? A shaky chuckle escaped him at that, making sure not to move until Lovino calmed down. Honestly, the Italian couldn't put it past the other to do that--if Lovino or Ludwig had seemed happy that he wasn't getting fed, he would've been upset, too. However, he had a plan, and it did not involve Lovino going hungry for too long.

The brunette only relaxed once the feline did, though it was only for a moment. Despite Lovino's attempts to hide, amber eyes had caught a glimpse of white scar tissue over otherwise healthy pink and cute little paw pads, and he couldn't help but frown a little, a question in his eyes even as Lovino answered Feliciano's with a little nod. "Si... But... What are you getting..? I don't want water..."

Now wasn't the time to ask Lovino about the old injuries on his paws--what would be his hands if his brother would ever turn back into his human form. With that permission granted, Feliciano carefully pushed himself to his feet, so he could more carefully deposit his brother on the bed. "I'm not getting water, ve--just wait a sec and I'll get it for you," he answered, smiling reassuringly. One hand gently, but quickly, petted over those white-socked fore paws before he turned away--a silent statement to his brother that he had seen those scars. Though, if Lovino didn't want to talk about them once the younger brunette worked up the courage to ask about them...

That was a bridge he'd cross once he came to it. Feliciano had a job. He stood still a moment, trying to discern whether there were any guards nearby, heading towards his cell to either fetch Lovino to the infirmary or drop off bandages so they could take care of the injuries themselves. There wasn't any immediate sound, nothing more than the shufflings and muffles conversations from the cells around them, and he hurried over to the sink. "Ve, I don't know how fast you can eat when you're like that, so if you're hungry it might be best if you change back," he said over his shoulder as he worked. Carefully the brunette forced slim fingers in the tight space between the podium supporting the basin and the wall. (The first time he'd tried this, he's ripped three of his fingernails off in the process; not only making him cry from the pain of it, but he bled everywhere and got a beating from the guards on duty for making a mess in his cell.) As quietly as he could manage, the scrawny Italian dragged the entire sink a few inches from the wall, just enough for him to reach in and drag out a small bundle of frayed cotton--an old shirt, or maybe the remains of one of the blankets strewn over the beds. Making sure the knot was still secured, Feliciano hurriedly tossed it on the bed. "There's bread in there, ve," he grunted, trying to shove the sink back into place. "You can eat as much of it as you want--there's not a lot, but it's better to have a little food than none at all, si?"

[Lovino Vargas]

He's the meanest little kitty...

Lovino watched his brother from the bed, seeing him stand still momentarily after he had placed him down onto the hard mattress. He was thinking of how his brother had lightly grazed his hand over his white paws; no words were needed for the cat mutant to know what his brother was thinking. Ugh, this was going to be bothersome... Had Feliciano ever been bought before? If so, it would be easy to tell tales of how humans were cruel creatures once they bought a mutant and took them home... But if not, starting from how humans were cruel creatures to begin with would be troublesome already. His brother was always the naive idiot in his mind, so it wasn't the best to deal with in terms of dark stories.

As soon as Feliciano got to work to moving the sink out of place, Lovino stared at the scene wide-eyed, never having known that it was even possible to do such a thing. He was finding himself also listening for any guards that may appear nearby suddenly, his ears flicking and twitching forward and in all other directions possible. Shuffling were heard, but Lovino recognized it as his brother just taking something out from the tight space between the sink and wall.

The elder brother couldn't believe his eyes when a bundle of old cloth was tossed onto the bed. He heard his brother's suggestion of changing forms and gave it a hesitant thought, the troubled look showing obviously in his eyes as well. He kneaded his paws on the mattress a few times in thought before finally deciding his brother was right, and closed his eyes slowly. He focused his mind on changing forms, the action quick and easy for him by this time in life. He remembered struggling at first as a child.

The fur immediately disappeared and the muzzle was pushed back against his face. His size grew so much more and the rounded paws stretched out with fingers and toes. In a matter of a second or two, Lovino was already in his human form, though the cat ears and tail bluntly remained visible. He wore the same ragged clothes that were given to everyone in the underground; those that only had the purpose of hiding some skin but not necessarily keeping warmth.

Almost instantly Lovino felt vulnerable. Suddenly just his brother looking at him felt like thousands of eyes stuck on him, staring down every scar, every burn, every bruise. He trembled visibly in spot and grabbed the cloth bundle Feliciano tossed onto the bed for him, struggling at first with the knot but managing to untie it without help.

Lovino blinked at the small pieces of bread. They smelled stale, and he had no doubt some were a few days old, but fresh enough to be served without harm to the body. The cat mutant gave his sibling one glance before he grabbed a piece and began to eat, literally stuffing his mouth and chewing, gulping it down. It felt like stones dropping into his tight stomach, expanding it forcefully and making him gag from time to time. No words were spoken, only noises of shuffling and gasps of desperate swallows echoing in the brothers' cell.

Word Count: 542

Tags: Feliciano Vargas

Notes: Mreow

template made by MISSO for use only by PUCHI

[Feliciano Vargas]

The sounds of harsh swallows and forceful gags grated upon Feliciano's nerves, making his jaw clench and fingers tighten reflexively upon the edge of the podium. Despite the protesting gurgles of the elder Italian's stomach, it was hard to say that Feliciano honestly thought that his brother was this starved of food. It was hard, almost impossible, to judge how much fat and muscle the other had on him in his feline form and how that translated into his human one. That didn't matter, either way, though. The desperate way Lovino shoved that half loaf of bread down his throat showed all the signs of forced starvation. With a shaky exhale, he turned his attention back to the sink before him. He had to shove it back into place before the guards showed up.

It was difficult work, moving the combined weight of the podium and sink basin back into place. The damp, icy floor made it hard for socked feet to get much traction, and he himself had far less weight and muscle than he would like for such a job. (He had less weight and muscle than his body needed, but he couldn't control that any more than he could control how much his brother or any other mutant was fed) Finally, with tendons standing out against his neck and veins beginning to swell at his temple, the heavy appliance began to shift into place. Steel quietly squealed against the floor and he cringed, eyes clamped shut as he tried to ignore the painful sound. It took a little longer than he would've liked, but a minute or two later saw the sink back in place, as if nothing had happened.

Feliciano ignored the inquisitive question coming from the cell across the hall, the mutant trying to peek over and see what he was doing, to shakily flop back on his butt. What had once been a relatively easy job, so long as he took care not to damage his hands, now left his body trembling with quiet pants passing past his lips. After a moment, he glanced over to his brother, who was just scarfing down the last two bites of bread. Lovino had listened to his suggestion, and was sitting upon the mattress as a human, rather than a cat. He'd heard minute sounds of the transformation, the eerie sounds of muscles and bones growing and stretching into their proper place, but to see the brunette as he was for the first time in years...

The sight wasn't as happy a one as he'd like it to be. Now that no fur obscured the brunette's skin, sharp amber eyes could easily take in the scars littering tan skin. They were most prominent over his hands, those scrambling fingers trying so hard to stuff that bread down his throat, and the shaky smile on his face dropped. "...I-I know I said to eat fast, but you shouldn't...shouldn't have eaten it all quite like that," he murmured, eyebrows furrowed into a worried, sad expression. "You might make yourself sick, fratello..."

Maybe it was a testament to Lovino's appeal to keeping himself fed that he would rush like that, though. It was difficult for Feliciano to scrounge up the proper motivation to eat like that. Sure, he was hungry, always hungry, but... It was so common an occurrence now, and had been for so long, that eating more than some bites of bread or some mouthfuls of soup made him physically sick. So maybe that meant his older brother was used to eating more than he had the last days, and that his body was accustomed to having food in his stomach. His gaze slid over from those scarred hands and up to bright green eyes. "I hope that was enough food, at least for a little bit, ve," the boy continued, supporting himself on his hands. "I-I don't have anything else..."

[Lovino Vargas]

He's the meanest little kitty...

The noises created by the movement of the podium and sink was recognized with a flick of the cat ear and a quick glance. The elder brother didn't move to help, figuring he'd let his brother deal with the task on his own. Careful eyes watched as the skinny boy struggled, veins showing under the skin that tightly wrapped around what little muscle he possessed. The noise caused by the action made Lovino flinch and flatten his ears in an instant. He attempted to block out the painful noise as a small hiss emitted from between his gritted fangs. Only once the noise stopped and a small thump was heard as the boy slumped down on his bottom did Lovino relax and return to try to finish his meal as well, as little as it was.

Soft pants mixed into the gulps and gasps from Lovino, the voices echoing. Lovino didn't notice the amber orbs that stayed locked on his frame until he heard the murmur, to which he responded to with a quick flick of his tail. He wolfed down the bread and was able to finish it before long. Feeling the food stretch his shrunken stomach made him feel tight and he took quick few breaths, as if to relax his body to allow the nutrition to spread throughout his bony body.

Quickly tracing his lips with his tongue to get whatever remain he could catch, the cat mutant finally shifted his glance to the fallen smile on his brother's face. When olive green met amber brown, he quickly turned his attention instead to the baggy clothes, trying to calculate the estimate mass the boy had. He could suspect ribs showing on the covered chest just by seeing how thin the arms were, resulting in him hesitantly looking down at his hands and the crumbs on the bed from the bread.

"I hope that was enough food, at least for a little bit, ve. I-I don't have anything else..."

"..."

Lovino didn't respond at first at the voice. The tail that flicked earlier at the recognition of voice slowly wrapped around him, curling at the tip slightly as he sat. It was enough... Indeed it was. But now Lovino had a weird feeling of guilt for the very act of eating the starved boy's food. At first that never crossed his mind; this always happened. He always would eat, then think of what he just did, especially when it wasn't his own meal.

"...Si. I'm full now." Finally with his voice not a mixture of various cat noises, it felt a bit weird to Lovino himself to hear his own voice once more. It only showed himself how long he had refused to be in this form. To try to get used to his own voice again, he lowered the volume for the comfort of his sensitive ears and murmured quietly. "I guess I owe you now... I'll try to get you something when the idiot guards bring the meals by again... You obviously need to eat."

Word Count: 509

Tags: Feliciano Vargas

Notes: Who the hell is that voice omg.

template made by MISSO for use only by PUCHI

[Feliciano Vargas]

Light green eyes roved over Feliciano, judging him it seemed, the younger mutant resisted the urge to curl in on himself. He wasn't sure what to make of that look; in the past it meant bad things, usually. However, in this new scenery--the years they spent apart--Feliciano could only hope things will change for the better. That their relationship could be more than just fighting. He's had enough of fighting. Given the scars spread across Lovino's skin, the way he curled in on himself, his brother had his fair share of fighting without it erupting in the cells as well.

"...Si. I'm full now," Lovino finally spoke, Feliciano relaxing at the words. It wasn't a lot of food, certainly not, but it made the younger Italian happy to know to hear that he could at least help. He smiled, oblivious to his brother's own discomfort. If it bothered him to offer his food to Lovino, he obviously wouldn't have given it up in the first place. He hasn't upset the guards, so he's getting his usual meal and avoiding the vicious beatings offended guards were prone to giving the weaker mutants. Therefore, he didn't mind giving up his food supply for his brother's health. Feliciano was distracted from his thinking, though, when Lovino continued, obviously upset. "I guess I owe you know," the older Italian murmured, the words falling from his lips like it was a terrible concept. "I'll try to get you something when the idiot guards bring the meals by again... You obviously need to eat."

At first, Feliciano wasn't sure what to say. After all, Lovino needed to eat just as much as Feliciano did. Plus, if Lovino had lost his fight and was going to lose his own meal, how could he coerce extra food from the guards for his brother? (Especially when Feliciano was in arguably worse relations than Lovino) After a moment, though, Feliciano smiled and shook his head. "You don't have to get anything for me, fratello," he replied with a little laugh. "I'm still scheduled to get a meal tomorrow, so I'm not going to go hungry."

Now that Lovino's in his human form, maybe... Maybe he could properly clean his wounds, now. With that in mind, Feliciano pushed himself to his feet, waited a few moments for the spinning in his head to stop, and made his way over to the bed. Rather than sit down, though, he reached over to pick up the damp rag on the mattress. "I'm going to rinse this out real quick, va bene? Then I can...at least wipe the blood off, si?" Feliciano's expression turned hopeful. Maybe helping Lovino clean up and tend to his wounds will help his brother feel more comfortable here. God only knows they need somewhere to feel comfortable in a place like this.