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It's empty. Nobody is here. No people, the lights are off. It's late out, so it makes sense - sometime super early in the morning.
Nobody is here? ...Sorry, that's not entirely true.
Vilicus glided across the ice rink, humming songs to himself as he did so. He skated with ease - he's done this many times now. However, Vilicus wasn't necessarily being flashy with his skating. His clothes weren't flashy, either: a hoodie that wasn't his own, gloves, cuffed sweatpants. His ginger hair was tied up in a low ponytail, save for a few strands that weren't long enough to tie back.
Vilicus kept skating, spinning occasionally. The rink's front door opened, and while Vilicus heard, he didn't bother checking who was there. He already knows. Who else would it be if not them?
He heard the squeaking of a chair being sat in, and he realized he was going to be watched. Vilicus smiled faintly. *Now* he feels like showing off.
Vilicus started skating less leisurely and more fancy, gliding to the song playing in his head. A spin here, jump, spin again. Vilicus briefly looked to the seats to see them staring at him. Not their phone, not looking around - him. Granted, he's the only real source of movement in the building currently. But being stared at with such adoration and mesmerization didn't make him feel any less special, and he isn't even one for attention.
Vilicus focused back to skating again - he didn't want to fall, he would never hear the end of it if he did - and he jumped then spun once more, now gliding backward. He continued to for a bit before inevitably spinning again to fix direction.
This went on for a little while. Swerve, dip low, jump high - really, he was showing off as much as he could. It seemed to be working, because Vilicus could sense eyes on him the entire time.
Eventually, though, he has to stop. Vilicus skated to the center, and did a final spin, spinning and spinning, until he suddenly ended in a bow, body facing his audience of one person.
For a minute, there was silence. Vilicus stayed low, staring down at the ice below him, waiting for *something.* He was about to just sigh and stand up correctly, but then there was clapping. Not slow, mocking clapping - actual clapping, as if they genuinely enjoyed the show.
Vilicus glanced up now, and as the clapping slowed to a stop, he fixed his posture. His audience stood up, too, and nade their way to the gate of the rink. Vilicus skated over. As they both reached the ice rink's gate, they stared at each other for a good few seconds.
Vilicus took a deep breath in. "So? Did I impress you?"
"...I thought you could tell from my applause that I enjoyed watching," Caleb replied, leaning against the side of the railing, crossing their arms.
"I could," Vilicus nodded once, giving a tiny smile. "Just making sure."
Another wave of silence came upon the two. Vilicus took in Caleb's appearance here: their brown hair was styled half up-half down, and they wore their usual compression tank and cargo pants. Always dressed nicely, Vilicus notes to himself. Not like he didn't know that, but taking into account Caleb is wearing more jewelry and overall accessories than usual - layered necklaces, bracelets, rings, arm bands... and Caleb is also wearing highlighter gloss... there must be a reason.
Vilicus caught himself staring, and it seems Caleb did, too, if their playful smirk was anything to go by. He's never been one to back down, so Vilicus just smiles back. Caleb gets even more smug, tilting their head to the side, opening up their wings more.
Vilicus can see their wings more clearly now, and they look *pretty,* he has to admit. They look bright. Clean. ...His hands suddenly feel clammy, and Caleb noticing him staring at their wings, stretching them out, doesn't help him. Caleb's showing off, isn't he?
Caleb puts some of their hair behind their ear, staring at Vilicus. Vilicus realizes they're waiting for him to do or say something.
"Full of yourself, aren't you?" Vilicus breaks the silence.
Caleb doesn't look offended - they look amused. "You're the one staring."
Vilicus huffs. "What else am I to look at?"
Caleb looks around, deciding to follow along. They turned their eyes back to vilicus, humming. "Dunno. Not complaining, though. I like you staring at me."
"You like anyone staring at you," Vilicus flatly replies.
Caleb shrugs. "Mm, yeah. But you especially." Their gaze flickered to Vilicus's hoodie, but they didn't comment on it. Instead, they pulled on it, causing Vilicus ro stumble - to which Vilicus grabbed Caleb's hips for stability. Caleb moved his hands to Vilicus's shoulders, keeping eye contact. Vilicus tensed a little. Caleb smiled innocently.
Caleb messed with the strands in front of Vilicus's face, brushing them back, then holding his face with their hand. Caleb moved their thumb back and forth in a soothing motion, and Vilicus leaned into it, untensing.
"...You should be honored I'm dirtying my hands for you, you slimey dragon," Caleb muttered.
Vilicus let out a long breath. "'M not slimey. Not honored, either. You stink."
Caleb raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah? Do I? Why're you holding me like this, then? As if I'm something dear, or someone you lo-" Caleb suddenly stops as Vilicus pushes them against the rink's wall.
"Will you stop being such a tease?" Vilicus grits out.
Caleb grabs his shoulders and pulls him closer, sharing the air now.
"You're pretty when you're mad, Vil," Caleb whispers, slightly breathless from being forcibly pushed against a wall.
Vilicus squints his eyes. "Do you ever shut up?"
Caleb wets their lips on instinct, Vilicus's eyes dropping down before snapping back up to Caleb's own. "Not really. I have a lot to say, y'know?"
"Maybe you should find other ways to express those things than talking out your ass," Vilicus snapped.
"What're you gonna do about it?" Caleb snarkily replied, tilting their head again.
Vilicus looked stern as he stares at the other. Caleb took his silence as another opportunity to talk. "Nothing, it seems. You're such a cowa- mmph–"
Vilicus leaned forward, closing the gap, effectively shutting Caleb up by kissing them. He leaned back just a second later, and smirked at Caleb's eyes showing their confusion and surprise.
"Don't hace much to say now, do y-" Caleb pulled Vilicus in again, and Vilicus put one of his arms on the wall by Caleb's head for stability. They break apart then - not far, they might as well still be kissing due to their proximity - taking a moment to breathe.
"Brave, aren't you?" Caleb muttered, teasing.
Vilicus sighed. "Oh, don't start."
Caleb stiffled a laugh. "Suppose you'll have to do something about it again, hm?"
Vilicus lifted Caleb's face up by the chin and leaned in again, causing Caleb to laugh into the kiss. Vilicus squeezed Caleb's hip and Caleb put a hand behind Vilicus's head, making Vilicus hum.
...Okay, maybe showing off isn't that bad.