When Riley woke up, he let out a sigh of contentment. For the first time in a long while, he felt no stress about surviving another day, unlike his life back in New York. There were no more burdens, no more crushing responsibilities. After so many months of suicidal thoughts and days where his eyes were too dry to shed tears, those dark days were finally over.
He glanced over at Autumn, smiling softly as she snored, her breath warm against his side. He lay there for ten minutes, simply enjoying the moment. Eventually, he eased himself up, putting on a pair of sunglasses, sandals, and carefully applying sunscreen to his feathers, massaging it deep between the quills.
He let out a soft caw, waking Autumn from her slumber. Groggily, she stretched, her mouse tail unfurling along with her body. "Mmm, morning, Riley," she murmured.
Riley chuckled. "Morning, Autumn."
The two left the hotel and stepped out onto the bustling streets of Rome. It was a stark contrast to the relaxed atmosphere inside. They immediately noticed a group of Pacificatoris—the enforcers of the Nexus Powers—dragging a pure human in chains. The locals didn't even blink; posters plastered the walls, one depicting a giant, ominous eye with the caption: "RISPETTARE LA LEGGE". Another showed a massive boot crushing a bald eagle, boldly captioned: "MARCIA PER LA VITTORIA". Below, smaller text read: "UNISCITI ALL'ESERCITO DEL NEXUS E DIFENDI LA TUA FAMIGLIA CONTRO LA TIRANNIA AMERICANA."
The two shuddered at the display, feeling the oppressive atmosphere. "It's like something out of a dystopian novel," Riley muttered as they made their way to a nearby breakfast buffet.
Inside, the restaurant was packed with customers, and surveillance cameras were everywhere—installed by the Nexus Powers. Riley glanced at Autumn. "This is literally 1984," he joked.
Autumn giggled quietly. "What’s next, a statue of the dictator's dick?" She had a mischievous smirk, one that reminded Riley of Jessica.
"Probably," he replied, stifling a laugh.
An elderly Canis waiter, hunched over with a distinct Italian accent, approached them. "Where can I seat you darlings?" he asked.
"Table for two," Riley responded, swiping his credit card. They were guided to a table and then headed off to fill their plates. Riley helped himself to eggs, cornetto, and sausages, while Autumn grabbed a plate of biscotti with a coffee.
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As they started eating, Autumn took a bite and hummed in delight. "Mmm, this is delicious, amore mio," she said softly.
Riley nodded, still munching on the sausages. "These are really good," he agreed.
Once they finished, Riley left a generous $50 tip before they stepped out into the Roman sun again, making their way toward the Colosseum. The mighty gates stood as a testament to the grandeur of the ancient Imperium Romanum. They took pictures, marveling at the structure, though Riley couldn’t help but notice armed figures lurking in the alleyways—resistance members, perhaps, identifiable by their armbands and submachine guns. But they chose not to get involved; they were on vacation, after all.
The pair made their way to the beach, greeted by a beautiful stretch of sand and bright blue water. Autumn dipped her tail into the surf, her fur getting wet. Riley joined her but quickly stepped back, grimacing. He hated being wet; drying his feathers was always a nightmare. Instead, he settled down on a beach towel, laying back and enjoying the sun's warmth on his feathers. He sipped from a can of Coke, relishing the cold, refreshing taste.
He felt something inside him start to heal—a deep mental scar slowly fading. He closed his eyes in total bliss, letting the sun's rays wash over him as he drifted into a nap.
Two hours later, Riley awoke to the feeling of something warm beside him. He opened his eyes and turned to see Autumn, snuggled up against him. Her fingers gently dug into his feathers, massaging his scalp. Her mouse tail coiled around his tail feathers, holding him close.
"Mmm... keep going," he murmured, his eyes half-lidded as he looked up at her. Her mouse ears twitched with happiness as she used both hands, massaging down to his neck and shoulders. He groaned in satisfaction, nuzzling his beak against her collarbone.
Autumn let out an amused hum, continuing her ministrations. The sun slowly dipped below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the beach. Finally, the two got up and packed their things, heading toward the Pantheon.
They stood in awe before the dome roof, amazed by the architectural prowess of the ancient Romans. After purchasing tickets, they entered the historic building, taking careful steps not to disturb the other visitors. The grandeur of the space left them both speechless.
After exploring for a while, they made their way back to the hotel, where they settled on the bed they shared. The TV blared with what could barely be called news—pure propaganda from the Nexus Powers. Headlines scrolled across the screen, declaring, "Did you know, male Americans have the smallest dicks compared to the world?" and "Did you know that the Nexus Powers are the protectors of freedom?"
Bored, Riley leaned into Autumn’s shoulder and drifted off to sleep. Autumn gently lowered his head to her chest, letting him rest against her. She sighed softly, allowing Riley to hear the steady rhythm of her heartbeat. Slowly, Autumn closed her eyes, joining him in peaceful slumber.