du-bye

[FELIX CICERO TELLER]

2 January 2026

There was a click of a key twisting into a lock, as Felix's front door swung open. He was sat on the couch, clutching a mug of tea that was surprisingly not spiked with whisky. The past thirty six hours had been imprinted on his mind so clearly, and any thought of his girlfriend was swept out of his mind. She'd messaged him earlier to let him know she was on the way to his from the airport, and yet Felix had been unable to get the memory of Bianca's smile, the intensity of her gaze, of the softness of her skin. He was glad for the time off from work, because he was certain he'd be unable to focus.

The rustling in the hallway paused, and Felix forced himself to stand, plastering a smile on his face. He turned the corner and regarded Madeleine, who was investigating the side table in the hallway. She looked up as he approached, and a smile stretched across her lips. "Hey, babe. Where's that photo of us?" asked Madeleine. Without waiting for a response she was upon him, her arms wrapped around his middle. Automatically, Felix returned the embrace, but his mind was stuck in the past. Of when he and Bianca had been so wrapped up on one another, that neither had noticed the frame that shattered. A sliver of guilt slithered down Felix's spine as he kissed the top of Madeleine's head.

Later. Felix would talk to her soon. "It got knocked over," he murmured in response to Madeleine's enquiry, but she wasn't listening anymore. She'd disengaged herself from him and had slinked off to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. "Long flight. Dubai was so lovely, was so nice to be on a beach as opposed to frozen here." Felix glanced up, meeting her eyes. She did seem different - her sun kissed skin glowed, her warm brown eyes alight. Her long blonde hair fell down her back in easy waves, longer than he'd seen it before. However, there was something off about the set of her jaw.

Discarding her too-hot mug of tea, Madeleine rose to her tiptoes and ran her fingers through Felix's mussed hair. He hadn't had the chance to really put himself together, much too lost in thought. Felix leaned into her touch without a thought, and she kissed him. Felix found himself giving into her need, allowing his hands to roam her familiar self. He didn't question when she led him to his bedroom, all the while keeping connected.

Madeleine didn't hesitate in abandoning her jumper, her top and started to work on his jumper. He tilted the angle of his lips to press upon the corner of her jaw. The sunkissed skin was so familiar, but the shock of blonde hair shot sense into him. He had been thinking about a dark haired beauty, one who could keep up with his philosophical commentary instead of dismissing it. Groaning, Felix caught Madeleine's wrists. "Madeleine, stop. Stop, please," he murmured as her delicate fingers stilled. She gazed at him, reading his eyes as she always had been able to do. She sat back on her knees, sighing. "You know," said Madeleine quietly.

"It's just not right," Felix replied. Madeleine nodded. "It always felt too good to last." Another nod. "Yeah. And when I was on holiday, I sort of realised that no matter how much I love you, we're from completely different backgrounds. Compatible for a while, but never for long," said Madeleine. Felix hummed his agreement. He opened his arms and she slithered into them, holding her tightly. "Things will work out. You're a beautiful, caring and lovely girl. Somebody, someday... well, they will make you very happy," said Felix. She nodded, but didn't meet his gaze. She kept her cheek pressed against his bare chest and for a while, they just laid there.

Time passed, and eventually Madeleine and Felix disentangled themselves. Felix pulled his jumper over his head and smiled sadly as Madeleine prepared to leave. He was certain it was the last time he would see her in person. "Good luck, Fee," said Madeleine with a smirk, planting a kiss on his cheek. Felix grimaced, but chuckled. "And you, Mads," he replied, seeing her out before closing the door to the past with his eyes on the future.