"Vincent... It's really you." Lovely gasped. He watched their eyes - once a beautiful blue, but now a cold, icy silver - widen in shock.
He moved to close the distance, inching another step closer and reaching out his hand. He was still half-convinced that this was a sick dream his mind had conjured up from being delirious over missing them. It must be.
But the presence of that small static he felt in his core - Lovely's magic - was undeniable. But it was so weak, so small. What used to be an energising thundercloud of potential magic was now nothing but a glow stick.
He was about to ask them about what happened when he was interrupted.
"Finally decided to join us?" A voice spat. Lovely turned around, and Vincent couldn't help but notice the way they closed off when the Rebane King arrived. "So, this is the Solaire Prince I've heard so much about?"
The mention of Prince caught Lovely off guard. Their gaze shot up, meeting Vincent's in disbelief. For a moment, Lovely looked at him as if he were a stranger, and Vincent felt his stomach drop.
"You're the Solaire prince?" They hissed under their breath.
"Yes, he is. My proud progeny." William approached from behind, stopping Vincent with a hand on his shoulder. His grip had a weight to it, as if he was reminding Vincent of the responsibility on his shoulders that came with his status. "Hello, Rebanes. How are you finding the refreshments?"
The King scoffed, "Decent, at best. And that's an improvement from last year. You've outdone yourself, William."
“My, what praise! I’m flattered.” William smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. Before he could say any more, Rebane placed a hand on Lovely’s lower back and steered them away.
“Come, Little One, don’t concern yourself with them. We have much more important things to discuss.”
Lovely hesitated. They turned back, eyes meeting Vincent’s for a moment.
“I hope you found yourself.” They muttered. Vincent didn’t know if they wanted him to hear it, but he did.
Their words haunted him for the rest of the night.
They didn’t have a chance to talk for the rest of the night - Lovely was mostly at their King’s side, as was Vincent at William’s. His eyes kept drifting in their direction though, the sight of them in the flowing blue fabric that draped over them like water was breathtaking. Deep down, he wished that they wore it for him. On a date, perhaps. Like old times.
They both have forever now. But somehow it feels impossible to bridge the gap that grew between them.
The circumstances that promise them limitless time together are also what separates them.
“You’re on guard duty for tonight, by the way. We can’t let our guard down just because it’s the summit.”
Vincent overheard Rebane’s orders to Lovely, bless his heightened Vampric hearing.
He knows he shouldn’t, that the first time was already bad enough. But he can’t ignore the longing in his heart that yearns to see their face, to finally get some time to talk.
So he broke into their front door.
More specifically, he stepped into Rebane territory. Officially an intruder.
Vincent looked around, eyes peeled and searching for the familiar figure he knew like the back of his hand.
He didn’t even try to be subtle, stepping purposefully on the sticks on the ground, the snap echoing loudly throughout the forest. Like a doorbell, except there’s no need for it when he’s already inside their territory.
And sure enough, a blur comes rushing in, the speed of them enough to blow his hair back and ruin whatever styling he tried to do before. He’s pushed to the ground in the blink of an eye, the figure straddling him, holding a hand to his throat. He looks up to see their eyes narrowed at first, but then soften before turning into shock and confusion. He’s not focused on that though, his mind is reeling over finally seeing them, feeling them.
Those beautiful eyes. The eyes that finally hold his reflection. Oh how he missed them.
Of course it is. He knows it’s them. He came here to see them. Stupid mouth.
“Vincent!? Why are you- what are you doing here?”
“I… I wanted to see you.” He smiled sheepishly, like a child admitting they ate the ice cream in the fridge. He didn’t care that he was in enemy territory, his hands reached up and gently wrapped around their wrists. He didn’t try to pry them away from his throat - even that physical contact was more than he could ask for. Especially when he thought he’d never be able to feel them again.
But alas, Lovely let go, shifting off him to give him room to sit up. His hand reached back out and gripped their wrist, with more desperation this time. Something told him that he’ll lose them for good if he let go. And he’d rather die than let that happen.
After a beat of silence, he couldn’t help but let the question that occupied his mind the whole night spill from his lips.
Lovely’s eyes widened, and Vincent noticed the way they seemed to become glassy and soften. They relaxed, sitting cross-legged across from him, tense shoulders now slumped. They always held stress in their shoulders. He wished nothing more than to hold them and massage it out.
“…a lot. It’s a long story. I mean I’m sure it’s the same with you too.”
Lovely laughed, bitterness seeping in.
“Not out to explore the world anymore?”
Vincent’s breath caught in his chest, the reminder of his mistake hitting him like a hammer.
“I’m sorry. I- I was wrong and I should have listened to you.”
“No. No… you weren’t wrong.” They sighed, hand running through their hair. “I’m just being petty. I don’t hold it against you. I mean - we were both young, there’s no way we know what’s best for us. Just look at where we ended up.”
He hates seeing the sadness and regret in their eyes. He wanted desperately to hug them, to protect them from the world with his arms. To make them smile again. Anything to make them smile again.
But was scared of crossing the line. Not because he didn’t want to be close to them, gods that couldn’t be further from the truth. But he wasn’t sure if they wanted him. Time separates people, he knows this. He also doesn’t want to force them into anything.
“I… I had just got third place at the E&E games. It was amazing- I never thought I’d be able to go this far with my magic. But I did. And then the world said fuck you and unleashed a bunch of shades into the arena. I died thinking I was so strong and powerful but then the world proved me wrong.” Lovely propped their legs up, hugging their knees and curling in on themself. Their eyes shone with unshed tears, gaze far away as if they were reliving the past again.
Hesitating slightly, Vincent put a hand to their back, hovering at first. When they didn’t pull away, he rubbed their back in soothing up and down motions - something he always did to help them relax. His heart leaped when they leaned into him, resting their head gently on his shoulder. Shuffling closer, his arm reached over and held their waist, the touch so familiar, it felt like he was alive again.
“I was the same too.” He started, hand continuing their motions on their back. He leaned his head on top of theirs and looked up at the stars while he spoke. “I went to Wonderworld for my birthday with some friends. It was frankly the first time since we broke up that I genuinely had fun. Remember how I used to talk about The Surge? That roller coaster?”
Lovely nodded against him.
“It broke halfway, and then I blacked out. When I came to, William found me and I got fangs.”
Lovely nuzzled into him a little.
Vincent chuckled. “I’d say the same for you too.”
If dying meant he got a second chance with them, then maybe it was all worth it. He swore he could feel his heart beating again - like he was alive. If he could, he’d stay this way forever. Just him and Lovely, holding each other, looking up at the stars. Like nothing had changed.
But dreams only last so long.
“I… I should probably get going. I can’t let him see me slacking off.”
Before he could think, Vincent shot his hand out and gripped their wrist again, this time pulling them towards him just that little bit.
That was enough to send them tripping over their feet and falling towards him. He caught them, hands holding their waist and holding them towards his chest.
Gods they fit perfectly against him.
He leaned down, one hand letting go of their waist to tilt their chin up, gazing into those eyes he missed terribly.
His gaze flitted from their eyes to their lips, asking for permission.
And sure enough, Lovely nodded, just slightly. That was all it took.
He kissed them, lips melting with theirs. Everything felt right again. The little tremble of their lower lip when they melt into his kiss, the cute noises they make when he kisses them deep. This is how it was meant to be.
Just for a moment, the world fell away. He forgot about the fact that he was - that they were both vampires now. He forgot about the fact that they technically belonged to separate houses. He forgot the fact that they’ve been apart for decades.
“I missed you.” He whispered against their lips, parting for only a second before kissing them once more. “I missed you so fucking much.”
“Me too. Oh Vincent, me too.” Their arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer.
Maybe Vincent could keep his eyes closed and dream a little more.
Tags: the original prompter 🫶🏻 @pandoraroid
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