Ship(s): Romantic Prinxiety
Notes: This is based off this post. And, to be honest, it’s one of my favorite oneshots I’ve done. Lots of lore I wasn’t even able to include here. Possible AU?
Summary: Virgil changes the McDonald’s marquee sign but is surprised to see the response from the store across from his, Sav-Mor. The signs turn into a way of communication until the other man finally approaches Virgil.
Virgil propped up the same ladder he did every time there was a new announcement to be put up on the McDonald's marquee. He climbed it with a sigh, reminding himself that this wasn't the rest of his life. He'd be out of this shitty place soon.
Virgil slid the letters that were already there to the left, knocking them to the ground. Then he did the next row, and then the last one.
He hopped down from one of the lower rungs and gathered up the letters, sorting through them to see which he could salvage for the next message.
Then Virgil sorted the letters he didn't need back into the bin, putting each symbol in its section.
Finally, Virgil pulled out the remaining letters he'd need before climbing the ladder to put all 18 symbols up on the huge yellow sign.
Around ten minutes later, finally satisfied with the layout of the sign, he hopped down and looked up to admire his work.
Virgil slid the lid of the bin closed and picked it up with a grunt. He hummed to himself as he walked inside and set the heavy box down.
"It's done!" he called to his boss, Patton.
"'Kay, can you check the grill?" Patton replied.
Virgil hopped behind the counter, ignoring the customers looking at him. "Yeah, sure."
The next day, Virgil pulled up to work and walked inside, expecting it to be just another day.
But Patton immediately ran over excitedly and pointed at the marquee across the street from them, over at Sav-Mor. "Look, they replied!"
Virgil followed Payton's gaze. The sign across the street read:
And, in smaller text above:
Virgil smirked at the sign. "Oh, you're on," he muttered.
"What's on?" Patton asked.
Virgil blinked. He'd forgotten that Patton was there. "Oh, nothing. I'm just going to go change the marquee real quick, 'kay?"
Patton shrugged. "Have fun, kiddo."
Only fifteen minutes later, Virgil was watching a man come out of the store. He squinted at the sign.
Virgil was fully aware of what the sign said and was hoping for a laugh.
The man looking at the sign broke out into a grin as he closed his eyes and shook his head.
Virgil immediately ducked down into a booth, looking away from the window with a blush.
Did the other man, about Virgil's age, have to be so Goddamn cute?
Virgil dared another peek at the man. He was wearing jeans and a red coat and scarf to protect himself from the cold, but he didn't seem chilly. He radiated warmth and Virgil wanted to be closer to him to feel it, to hold onto him and never let go.
He was too far away for Virgil to see much else, but Virgil already knew he wanted to see more of the man.
He watched as the man changed the sign, all the while trying to guess what the reply would be based off the letters he was putting up.
Soon, part of the message was spelled out:
Not much later, the rest was added.
The man climbed down the ladder and looked up to admire his work before snapping and grabbing some more letters.
He climbed back up and added, above the letters, seemingly as an afterthought:
Virgil laughed at that, sliding back down where the man wouldn't be able to see him if he looked back over. He pulled his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them, and sighed. Hot and funny.
"You good, kiddo?" Patton asked, breaking down the daydream starting to form around Virgil.
Virgil blinked and felt blood rush to his face all over again. "Oh, um... yeah. I'm fine, thanks, Pat. I think I need to change the sign again, though."
Patton frowned. "You just changed it, though."
"Trust me," Virgil said, pushing up from his seat.
Ten minutes later, the marquee read:
Virgil hurried back inside as he saw the other man walk out of Sav-Mor with a box of symbols and letters to change the sign again. He watched with uncharacteristic interest as the man spelled out another message:
Virgil felt himself go bright red as the other man stepped down from the ladder and revealed the words written there.
Surely he meant it as a joke, not as the man liking Virgil?
Either way, it didn't matter, because the man was walking back into Sav-Mor with the box of letters, not explaining a thing.
Virgil sighed, knowing the other man was probably waiting for a reply, and resigned himself to trying to come up with some sort of response.
"Hey, Pat, I'm changing the marquee ag—" Virgil stopped short when he noticed who'd walked into the store. "Um, hey—"
The man gave an awkward wave with a sheepish smile. "I was going to ask if you'd seen the sign, but it seems like you have."
"Oh—um—yeah, I—Yeah, I have." God, Virgil hated gay panicking. But Virgil's impression of him seemed accurate—the man radiated warmth and love. Virgil already wanted to be around him whenever he could, wanted to give him hugs and kisses and cuddles and—
The man took Virgil's hand in his own and kissed his fingers, causing Virgil to practically combust with giddiness. "I'm Roman. Might I get the name of the fine prince I see before me?"
Virgil felt himself go bright red. He could feel Roman's breath on the hand he was holding, eyes cast upwards, gaze on Virgil's face. "Um—yeah. I'm—I'm Virgil."
Roman let go of Virgil's hand, though Virgil hadn't wanted him to. "A name for for a prince of your stature, I see."
Roman laughed, and the dramatic way of speaking disappeared from his infection as he continued. "Anyways, uh... I really enjoyed reading your signs and replying... Then I saw you up there, and oh my goodness you're cute, and I'm embarrassing myself now—"
"No, it's fine..." Virgil interjected.
Roman looked sheepish. "But, uh... What I'm trying to say is I'd love to take you out to dinner sometime, if you were up to it."
Virgil blinked. "Uh... Yeah, sure. I'd prefer a movie or something, though, not too formal... We could go to a theatre or just at one of our houses or something?"
"Of course! What would make you more comfortable?"
"Probably one of our houses."
"Do you have a preference on which? I'm fine with either."
Virgil's mind drifted to his obnoxious roommates. "Probably yours."
"Okay," Roman agreed. "Can I get your number so I can text you my address and stuff?" He quickly unlocked his phone and held it out.
"Yeah, 'course." Virgil took the phone from Roman and found the texts, typing in his own number and texting a gibberish keyboard smash. "Okay, um... See you tonight?"
"How about seven?" Roman suggested as he took the phone back from Virgil, their fingers brushing against each other's for a split second and sending a burst of serotonin through Virgil's brain.
"Y-yeah, that sounds perfect," Virgil agreed.
Roman smiled and Virgil felt it warm him all the way to his toes. Roman turned to walk out the door.
"Hold on," Virgil said, grabbing Roman's arm and pulling him back, then down to Virgil's height. Virgil pressed his lips to Roman's cheek quickly before pulling away and letting go of the other man's arm. "There."
Roman was red now, and Virgil internally laughed but externally just smiled crookedly.
"Thank you," Roman said breathlessly. "See you tonight?"
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