The car ride was a silent affair. All of them seemed tired in their own ways. He found himself wanting to pull Corbin closer to him. Wanting to ease his head gently onto his shoulder and encourage him to fall asleep that way, no matter how miniscule the length of the drive. It was a ridiculous thought he ignored. 

Once back at Gior's, Elena said her goodbyes and Gior more or less told the rest of them to go home.

"We'll find a wig tomorrow," he said. He was rifling through his cabinets, an apron tied around his waist that Lucius really wanted to make fun of. He'd thrown on something he might call pajamas but Lucius might personally pass as casual wear, and pulled his hair back in a low ponytail. "I've still gotta find something to eat for dinner. Goodnight, Lucius. Corbin."

"Night!" Lucius said and Corbin hummed behind him.

"I'll walk you home," Lucius offered once they were outside.

Corbin gave him a funny look. "I can walk myself home. I don't live far."

"Yeah, but your sister explicitly asked that I deliver you home at a specific time."

"Deliver me? Am I an object now?"

"A precious one, for sure."

Corbin cocked an eyebrow at that and Lucius laughed. "That didn't even sound like a joke."

"It wasn't."

"Jackass."

"Come on. It's getting colder, and I didn't bring a jacket."

They walked in silence. A heavy but comfortable one. Not unlike the silences he'd been subjected to the past few times he'd visited him.

Corbin hadn't wanted to talk, most days. He'd only lain in bed, still as the dead. Sometimes Corbin had watched him, that way, cheek pressed into his pillow. Other times, Corbin had been fully buried in his covers, face entirely hidden. Some days he talked and others he said nothing at all. Lucius, scared to wake the beast and be torn to shreds— or else to simply be told to leave— let the silence be.

A short walk, it was. Within the next fifteen minutes, they were standing together at his doorstep. Lucius wanted to ask to come inside, but he knew better than to press his luck. Corbin had been better, today. Better than he'd been in what felt like so long. He told himself he needed to stop being so greedy. To be grateful for the small wins just as much as the big. That kind of thing counted a lot with someone like Corbin.

But then Corbin turned, face unmoved and as beautiful as the most sought after portrait, and Lucius's mind wandered. Did Corbin even know how stunning he was? Did he know what someone might do to have him? How lucky they'd be? To have him as a friend was enough to bring him to his knees. What might it feel like to truly have him? To hold him as a lover would and shower him in enough affection to drown the sea?

Unable to help himself, he leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. He wrapped his arms around him immediately after, tucking his face into his neck so he wouldn't have to see the expression on his face. He might have said Corbin had frozen up completely if he couldn't feel the way he shivered against him.

"I missed you," he said. "Really. I'll miss you when I leave."

"I haven't gone anywhere," Corbin whispered. His hands settled, so light it could've been the touch of a ghost, against his back. "Don't be so dramatic."

"Physically, maybe. But I miss you," Lucius said again, begging him to understand. "This... the past few weeks haven't really been you, you know?"

Corbin tensed and Lucius held him tighter, scared to be pushed away.

"Of course it's me," Corbin said. There was an edge to his voice now. "I'm always me. Sorry you don't like all of my versions—"

"I do!" Lucius said quickly. "Maybe I worded it wrong. Of course this is you— a part of you— but you and I both know you have better parts. I know this isn't... easy for you. It's a struggle and a half and I miss when you felt better, is all. You deserve better."

"Lucius."

"Come to the Vice with us," Lucius said. He pushed his face harder into his skin. "It'll be fun. You'll have so much fun, and you'll get to see me all dolled up—"

"Who wants to see that?" Corbin asked, but the words were lighthearted. A rare softness that Lucius wanted to burrow in.

"Please?" Please, because he asked. Not Bellamy or anyone else. "Just a few days. We're gonna get some rooms, party and drink and have so much fun. We're making memories. I want you to be in them."

Hush. The gentle breeze. Bugs chirping. Light buzzing.

"Yeah," Corbin whispered and the air left Lucius's chest in a rush. Corbin's hand settled just a bit more firmly against his back. "Alright."

Lucius shuddered. He let his lips brush Corbin's throat before he finally pulled away. Something like a kiss or an accident, neither of them could tell. He moved his face closer to Corbin's without really deciding to, staring into pretty dark eyes that shone under the moonlight. He might be able to find the stars in them if he looked close enough. 

Their mouths were so close to one another. Their breaths danced between them. Lucius liked to think he was breathing in the air Corbin let out. That it was passing through him as it had for Corbin, and he was being made better that way. More whole.

Corbin's breath fluttered, and Lucius's matched it. A quiver shook them closer to one another, electricity dancing between their lips like magnets.

Corbin put a hand to his chest, pushing him away and taking a step back on his own. 

"Goodnight," he said, and his voice sounded so odd. It tilted differently. Sat on a pitch that wasn't his average. He swallowed and the ball in his throat moved with the motion. "See you, Lucius."

"Let me stay the night," Lucius said, forgetting himself for what felt like the thousandth time.

"No," Corbin frowned, and there it was. That normalcy. The beginning of what had always been. "Go home."

Lucius laughed even though nothing was really funny. He still felt weightless and warm. Trapped on another plane experiencing a high he could get addicted to. 

"Goodnight, Corby," he said. "I'll come around tomorrow."

Corbin nodded, once and jerky. "I'll be waiting."

Lucius smiled. To be anticipated. Wanted, in its own way.

He could get addicted to that, too.

The day arrived in seconds, the sun blanketing a world that was starting to get so cold in a snug warmth. Gior did the rounds, picking up the group of them. Ian and Juliet had tagged along— had actually agreed to weeks beforehand but hadn't spoken a word of it since. Lucius had assumed they wouldn't come. That they'd think better of it. Fear the consequences or else find themselves enjoying it so much and dread the thought of having to make the choice to return.

Corbin, too, had come. Lucius had come by and walked him to Gior's place while they got the last of their things together. He already seemed better, too, if only by increments. He seemed less caged in. Less like a scared animal lurking in the darkest corner of a room. Poised to bite or to run.

He was smiling more, too. Smaller than his normal that was already miniscule itself, but it was there. It was enough to make the morning seem brighter.

If Lucius had it his way, they would have simply made a break for it. Left the Angels behind with zero notice, and begged forgiveness when they got back. Juliet, though, was nervous and twitchy, and Lucius didn't want her to be thinking about it for the entire length of a trip that was meant to lessen stress.

Ultimately, he still hadn't had to actually announce it. Whispers had already started circling apparently, and they were caught red handed and with a suspicious amount of luggage.

"Where are you guys going?" Blue asked, catching them at the edge of Angel territory. Just before the river that swam deep and slow. He was leaned against the bridge, his girlfriend at his side. Lucius didn't think he was imagining the way his eyes narrowed. 

"Velvet Vice," Gior answered before he could, walking up from where he was parked just a little ways off. Making their last few checks. Debating on finding the man that had managed to find them, first. "For a few days."

Blue's eyes raked over the lot of them. Counting heads, most likely. Like possessions instead of people. Things he needed that could be lost. "And none of you thought that was something I should know?"

"You can come, if you want," Lucius offered even as he hoped he wouldn't take him up on the offer. His energy was like the thickest, most oppressive smog. Enough to fill your lungs with poison and vanish in. "It's like you've been walking around with a stick up your ass for the past few weeks, man. You should probably unwind before you blow."

Both of Blue's eyebrows rose at that. He didn't seem shocked, per se. More than anything, he just looked annoyed.

"I'll pass," he said. "And things just haven't been great, recently. As I'm sure you know. I'm certain Corbin understands. I'm shocked to see him with you."

Lucius made a conscious choice to not look over his shoulder at the aforementioned. He hoped Corbin wasn't paying attention. He didn't even know why Blue would bring something like that up. Sometimes, he wondered if Blue preferred it every time Corbin ran off. One less problem.

The thought was a bitter one. Lucius tried and failed to shake it off.

"Exactly," he said. "I wasn't judging you. I was making a point."

His girlfriend, Freed, was watching them now. Thoughtfully, almost. 

"It wouldn't hurt," she said to Blue even as her eyes stayed locked with his own. "Just a few days. Everyone would be better for it."

Blue turned his head to look at her and his eyes softened the second they changed targets. He said something Lucius couldn't hear, leaning down to whisper it in her ear. His hand had moved to grab her by the wrist, too, knuckles straining against his skin.

Freed's lips curved slightly and she scoffed. Whispered something back and then said, louder, "the world's not gonna end this damn fast. Worry about that in a week. They'll be back by then."

Blue frowned, looking so unhappy and young. Lucius found himself sympathizing. Blue really was only a few years older than he was, huh? Lucius couldn't imagine the weight of his responsibilities. Couldn't imagine carrying the weight of all of the terrible things that had happened recently. All the death. 

"Just the six of you, then?" Blue asked. "And no more than three days?"

Lucius nodded. "No more than three days. Promise."

"Corbin," Blue said and Lucius heard him hum somewhere behind him. "Are you alright? I was planning to come by and see you."

"Yeah," Corbin said and at least he managed to sound perfectly normal. "I'm good, thanks."

"I'm sorry," Blue said.

"For what?" Corbin said, tone starting to slip. "I'm fine. Everything's handled."

"I heard," Freed said. She nodded, once. "Nice job."

"I wasn't waiting on your approval."

"You've got it, though."

"So are we good to go?" Lucius asked, trying to steer the conversation back on track. Before the both of them went and ruined weeks of progress with just a few wrong questions. "Please? I'll bring you both back souvenirs."

"I'm not the leader of the Angels," Freed said. She looked amused. "You don't have to kiss my ass."

"Good point," Lucius laughed quietly. "Blue? Please?"

It didn't really matter what his answer was. They'd packed and planned and spent too much money to back down now. It was only a matter of respect. It'd be easier if he just said yes, but he'd go on a 'no'. Maybe Juliet wouldn't and maybe not Ian, but he needed the break. 

For a dreadful, stomach twisting second, it truly looked like refusal was on the tip of Blue's tongue. But then he glanced down at Freed again, and whatever he saw on her face was enough to derail the last of his inhibitions.

"I need you all back by next week," Blue finally said. "No debates. No excuses. Be back by next week, or I'll hunt you all down myself and you'd better pray I'm nice enough to just kill you."

Freed looked at him sharply at his words. At least Lucius wasn't the only one shocked by their intensity, then. Shocked to be so blatantly threatened by someone as commonly mild as Blue. He didn't seem to be joking in the slightest. It set his nerves on fire, but that was all fine. That was the point of this outing.

He'd shake it off. He'd go and have fun, and then he'd come back and everything would be alright.

"Thank you," Lucius said. "We'll be back, I swear."

Blue nodded, though a bit jerkily. "I know. Have fun."

"Wear protection," Freed said and Blue shoved her, playfully, in the arm. Freed smiled at them. "We might need the numbers, but we can get them in better ways."

Lucius gave her a mock salute. 

"Can do!"