Neon cut through the dark,  pulsing with the beat of the heavy bass filling the room. There was a sharpness that danced through the air like electricity— like a spell. For all of the dimness in the room, the dance floor flashed bright. One second there was nothing but shadows, the vague silhouettes of people dancing and grinding together. The next, everything could be seen like perfect vision.

Glinting jewelry that shined under the lights. Flashy dresses and suits. Hair done high or falling low. 

It was just like Lucius had remembered.

Elena split away from the group of them faster than he could even blink, dragging Juliet with her. Gior gestured them to a booth nestled in a darker corner of the club and went off toward a glowing cocktail bar to buy them drinks.

Corbin and Lucius slid in to take a seat. Ian leaned against the table, eyes darting all around them.

"Why can't we have this in Angel territory?" Ian asked. His voice sounded wondrous. "I'm a little pissed actually."

"Study your history," Corbin said. "We did."

"The Divine doesn't count," Lucius said. "The Divine Deities had shit like this. Then they split up, and the Devils took all the fun stuff with them. The Angels got the boring half."

"Aren't half of your family Devils?" Ian asked Corbin. "Now that you mention it, I mean?"

If they weren't separated by the length of the table between them, Lucius seriously might have kicked Ian in the balls for that.

"There are Jethelmonts in the Devils," was Corbin's answer. Neither a yes or no. Purposefully inpersonal.

"Do you know them though?" Ian continued to press. He didn't mean anything by it— Lucius knew that— but it was enough to make him grit his teeth. He was surprised Corbin had yet to blow up about it. "Do you ever talk to them? See them at all?"

"Are you stupid?" Corbin asked, only a little snappy. A warning. "Why would I do that? It's treason. I'm an Angel."

"But—"

"Here," Gior said, having returned and rather talentedly balancing three drinks between his hands. Two of the drinks were clear as water and one bright and sweet-smelling. He pushed the latter toward Lucius and gave him a look. "Take your time drinking that."

"Where's your drink?" Lucius asked him, taking a tentative sip. It was as sweet as it smelled and vaguely tart, completely masking any bitter undertones. Exactly as he liked it. He took a larger gulp. 

"I'm driving," Gior said. He slid into the booth to sit beside Corbin. "And playing babysitter."

"Why?"

"You and Ellie are menaces. That's why."

"Don't be like that," Lucius said with a frown. "We'll be fine. You're supposed to be having fun, too, you know?"

"I don't need to lose my mind to have fun," Gior said, dismissive. "What conversation did I interrupt?"

"A stupid one," Corbin said behind his glass, a furrow between his brows. "Not worth returning to."

"For once, he's not just being a dick," Lucius agreed. He narrowed his eyes at Ian. "It was actually a dumbass conversation. Started by a dumbass."

Ian laughed at that, loudly, as though he'd been joking when he truly wasn't.

"Whatever, fine," he wheezed. "I get it. You start a conversation then, Corbin."

Corbin looked to Gior. "What'd you guys do the first time you came here?"

Gior gestured around them. "Just this, pretty much. Drank and danced."

"Nothing else?"

"I messed around a little," Gior said. "Didn't get far. Had to leave earlier than planned. Lucius started getting way too friendly with people. You remember that?"

He directed the last part at him, and Lucius laughed, nodding quickly. 

"Yeah," he said. "But I wasn't the one being overly friendly. They started being overly friendly with me."

"Overly friendly?" Corbin asked.

"By the time we left, he was missing half of his clothes," Gior said, shaking his head. "And I do mean missing. We never got them back. And I lent you that shirt, too."

"You don't have any embarassing stories, Corby?" Ian asked. "Share one. Your track record's too clean— I'll start to think you aren't human."

"No," Corbin said and left it there. 

"You're such a bitch," Ian said. Lucius watched Corbin sidelong, looking for a reaction. His face hadn't budged in a minute. "I don't buy that. Come on. Just one."

"No," Corbin said again. "You're embarassing enough for the both of us, don't you think?"

Ian rolled his eyes and pushed away from the table. He drained the rest of his drink and then turned away. "Fuck you. I'm gonna go find someone to hump on the dance floor."

"Don't be too discouraged if it takes a long time!" Corbin called after him. Lucius laughed behind his drink.

"You look good," Gior told Corbin. "I don't think I told you so."

"Thanks," Corbin said. Belatedly, he added, "you too."

"I know. Can I ask a personal question?"

"You can ask."

"When you're not in Angel territory, what do you do?"

It was a bold question. Something Lucius had been wondering for years but could never gather the guts to ask. He left so often. Randomly, too, with zero warning. For as much of a hard time as Blue had given them, it seemed he'd decided Corbin was an exception to his 'proper notice' rule. 

He left for weeks sometimes. Other times days. One or twice months. And every time he had come back in silence. With no explanations or stories to tell. He'd just reappear as if he'd never left at all.

It drove Lucius crazy. 

Corbin stared at Gior. "I don't go that far."

"That's not what I asked."

"Not much," Corbin shrugged. "I just walk. Read, most of the time."

"You don't talk to people?"

"I don't like people that much."

"Shocking," Gior drawled. He glanced at Lucius and then looked quickly away. "You never drink? Play around? Have sex?"

Lucius's stomach clenched at that last part. He tried not to look as interested as he was. Surely not. Corbin would tell him something like that, wouldn't he?

"I'm not repeating myself," Corbin said. "Why are you asking?"

"I think you should try it. Isolation is comfortable, but seldom good for you. Get out more. Meet new people."

Lucius frowned at Gior, feeling strangely betrayed. Corbin didn't need to meet new people. He had all of them. He had him, and Lucius was the only person he'd ever really need. He could give him anything he wanted. Sate any of his cravings, primal or otherwise. 

His need to fight and his need to be held. He could do it both. He always had.

"Go babysit Elena," Corbin said, the slightest bite to the words. "I don't need your charity work."

"Sure," Gior said easily and stood. "Neither of you do anything stupid."

Funny, how both Gior and Ian soured Corbin's mood and left him to deal with the fallout. Well.

He figured he might as well lean into it.

"You're not interested in sex?" Lucius asked since Gior had already opened the door to it. 

Corbin didn't answer for a long time. He only sipped at his drink, watching Lucius all the while. He refused to squirm under its intensity.

"I'm interested in sex," he said and didn't elaborate.

"Then what's the hangup?"

"Who said there's a hangup? Who said I'm a virgin?"

His heart twisted in his chest. "Aren't you?"

"None of your business," Corbin said, and the side of his mouth quirked. He held out a hand and, after a baffled moment, Lucius took it. He pulled him up and led him that way to the dance floor. "Since you like dancing so much, Lucy, then lets dance."

They pushed through the crowd somewhere toward the center of the floor. The second they'd found their spot, Corbin let go of his hand and spun around to face him. 

The smile on his face was gentle. Encouraging. "Well?"

The music playing was upbeat but sensual. He realized in that moment that he'd never danced with another person like this. Before— the first time he'd come to the Vice with Gior— he'd just been playing around. He'd been drunk and unafraid and just letting the music take him. The people around him had matched him, and it hadn't been a calculated thing. It hadn't taken any real thought. There'd been no one to impress.

This was difficult. This was stupidly scary, and he was so far out of his element he thought he might shrink in on himself.

"Come here," Corbin said, so quiet Lucius didn't really hear it. He read it in the shape of those perfect lips. He stepped closer, not sure what to expect. Corbin gathered him close, a hand falling to his hips, and he started to sway a little with the music. Lucius matched him. He felt Corbin's lips move against the shell of his ear as he whispered, "good. Relax."

Lucius put his hands on Corbin's shoulders, trying to calm his breathing that was so suddenly getting out of order. "You're telling me to relax?"

It could've been the wrong thing to say. Could've pissed Corbin off and sent him running back to his cage, but Corbin only hummed.

"Says a lot," he said. A kind of agreement. "It's fun to see you so shy."

"I'm not shy!" Lucius argued, indignant.

He was. Just a little. It wasn't often he got this side of Corbin. He wasn't quite used to it.

"You shouldn't be," Corbin said, pulling back to stare him in the eyes. "It's just me."

Just Corbin. Lucius couldn't begin to describe what a ridiculous thought that was.

It was like saying someone was just God. As if he wasn't his entire universe. His main reason for living and breathing.

They fell into a more solid rhythm together, and Lucius's confidence grew. His movements grew bolder and, to his delight, Corbin matched him every step of the way. They followed the beat of the music, transitioning smoothly between songs. Rolling their hips and stepping in sync.

Corbin's hands roamed, first up and down his back. Then lower, past his hips. 

Lucius smirked at him, grabbing his wrist. "Getting familiar."

Corbin smirked back. "Don't act like you don't like it."

"Go ahead," Lucius said, letting him go. He felt warm in the face. Warmer when Corbin's hands finished their journey, holding his ass. Digging his fingers into the flesh. Before he could think better of it, he leaned in to nip the shell of Corbin's ear, shivering at the hitch in his breath. 

"Do whatever you want," Lucius whispered. "I'm not a lady. You don't have to be a gentleman."

Corbin gripped him harder with a harsh breath. Then, he let him go and took a step back.

"Turn," he said. "Put your back against me."

Lucius did as asked, but took his time about it. Slow and teasing. Corbin stared with a burning heat in his eyes.

He practically snatched Lucius back against him, hooking his chin over his shoulder. They fell back into rhythm easily as if they had done this a thousand times. As if this was what they were meant to be doing.

Like fate.