This is me coping with Lucio's absence from Madrid bc like Adele said we could've had it all but life is a bitch and said "no fuck you"
Someone sold me to the idea of Danya from Ziferblat x Lucio, and then I saw his Tiktoks and how sad he seemed because he wasn't there and this was born
Disclaimer - I adore Ziferblat, and their entry, but I don't know much about them, so if they seem a bit OOC, that's why. Forgive me! Also I found many ways to write Danya's name but I stuck with the one I liked the most! That's why you'll find it written in so many ways in the tags!
And if you're Italian (I'm looking at the girlfriend here who is, in fact, Italian and follows me) - don't judge me too hard either.
Content under the cut!!
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Spring. Beautiful spring, full of colors, flowers and the scent of freshly bloomed plants. Despite Ukraine being quite cold, the flowers still grew, and Daniil loved them. He kept dried flowers between book pages as a reminder of the beauty of the world. Even when snow covered the ground, there would always be a spring worth waiting for.
April. Spring in full swing. Spain is beautiful. The crowds are beautiful. It's tiring, the life of a musician, more when you're going to one of the most watched events worldwide and you have the pressure of holding the flag of your country high, knowing they're famous for having a place always secured in the final. But it's all worth it - friendships, kind people, the most beautiful gestures flow in nicely.
Pretty flowers blooming in a garden.
The prettiest of all wears mime makeup.
Lucio Corsi is an enigma Daniil was never able to decipher. Not that figuring out a person solely based by their music and almost inexistent social media presence was easy or accurate, anyway. But today, today's the chance. The chance to share music and talk to each other about old school idols, like Genesis or Peter Gabriel.
And yet, Lucio seemed to be even more beautiful without his makeup, dressed in his vintage clothes. He looked like some sort of rock and roll deity, an angel of music that inhabited old records and came to life after devoted prayers in the form of music. Despite his broken English, he seemed to get by perfectly. And Daniil would try to make things easier, as much as possible anyway.
Between cigarettes and laughs in one of the balconies, the night goes by. Lucio has chosen not to attend the party, and Daniil invents an excuse to stick by him. To sit beside his slender figure and listen to him play the guitar. The way he moves his hands is almost hypnotic. Lucio seems magical. Magnetic, even.
"You have good taste", the heavily Italian and broken English make the phrase sound even better. "And your song... Beautiful. I like. Like a lot."
"I like yours too", Daniil replies. "I think, you have a pretty good chance to win this whole thing."
"You think?" Lucio smiles wide, eyes beaming. "You exaggerating, come on. I come to show my talent. Not know if I can win but if... If... Cazzo, che parola è..." He mutters under his breath, trying to remember. "La gente..."
"People?"
"Uh, yes, thanks", he nods. "If people like what they hear, I'm good. If people like my music, I'm happy."
"You'll be very happy then, because people love your music and your message and all you represent", Daniil smiles too. "And, you know... I was waiting to meet you. Because you're one of my favorite contestants out there."
"Appreciate it. Very much. Thank you."
Daniil doesn't even know when his head ends up resting against Lucio's shoulder, but it seems he doesn't mind it. The both of them look up, at the clear night sky. A bright future is in store. No matter the results in Basel, this night is already a win in their books.
Lucio's got a very distinct smell. Cigarettes, a cologne he can't really identify, but has notes of wood and vanilla, and something else. Something that's indescribable. It feels like being home. And being so close, this mixture is enough to become a replacement for oxygen. A drug. A need. A want.
Would it be okay to want? To long for this?
...
But then Daniil opens his eyes.
And all of a sudden, he remembers where he truly is. A hotel room, empty, and illuminated by a single lamp. It's late, and he doesn't bother to check the time. Why would he? When he got under the sheets, he didn't want to check anyway. He just hoped for a miracle to happen and those don't require a specific timeframe.
But alas, miracles do not involve turning back time. They also don't involve changing everything to accommodate his wishes. And the world wouldn't stop just because one of his wishes didn't come true.
Lucio Corsi was absent.
He had been very excited about this encounter, planned the conversation in his head one and a thousand times, asked around the staff, and waited patiently, and what for? Just for life to have other plans. He hadn't realized just how much this had affected him until now, though, because waking up brought a wave of sadness that hit him in the back of the head strong enough to make him curl in the sheets and want to fall asleep again to pick up the dream right where he left off.
A knock on the door, and his brother enters his room, looking softer than usual when he sits on the bed. Seems like the continuation of the dream isn't happening any soon.
"Up already, Danya?" He asks, a bitter smile on his lips. "Still bummed about it?"
"I... I don't know, I just woke up", Daniil stretches his arms. The half lie slides out so easily it makes him want to be more honest. "Judging by the headache, I'd say I am."
"Man, I know how much you wanted this to happen. You've been talking my ear off about his song and meeting him today. I don't blame you."
"I know, Valya..." The singer looks out the balcony door, at the barely visible moon in the distance. A loud, dramatic sigh escapes his mouth. "Now it's just a waiting game until Basel... But I wonder if we'll even have the time..."
"Hey, anything can happen", his brother nods. "I'm sure things will eventually sort themselves out. But anyway... Do you wanna grab a bite? We have some time to spare."
"Hmm, guess so", Daniil sits up on the bed and stretches his neck, one side at a time. "I wonder... If he'll want to meet me, though..."
"Of course he would, come on", Valentyn pats his shoulder. "You're his number one fan, after all. I bet you were dreaming about him when you napped."
The singer feels blood rush to his cheeks at once. They're twins - there's nothing he can hide from him at this point.
"Ah, come on, Valya..."
"Hah! I'm still the superior twin, I can read your mind", he teased. "Now come on, Danya. You need to switch gears and I'm here to help you with good food. Let's go!"
As Daniil put his shoes on, he couldn't help but think back to his dream. He remembered the warmth, how it felt to lean against Lucio and how comfortable it all was. How would the dream have continued? Would he have mustered the courage to go further? To caress his hands, feel his skin, move closer?
To see if home was within Lucio's lips?
His heart started pounding with force at the thought. Maybe, just maybe, things were more than they seemed in the surface, but he still didn't know about it very well.
For now, all that was left was to hope the bird of pray, carrying his hopes and dreams, could reach Lucio safely in Basel.
That his feelings could wait just a little longer.
