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God knows where the idea came from. Actually, maybe even god doesn't know.
Vanitas is good at picking things up about people then using them to his advantage. But for some reason, he can't figure out, for the life of him, how to irritate Noé in a way that doesn't leave a bitter taste in his mouth.
The first trick was with Jeanne, stealing a kiss from a fair maiden would surely do the trick, no? Nope. Vanitas has come to find out Noé's only love interest was a boy by the name of Louis, a bit older than Noé but looked nearly identical to Dominique. Information was from Dominique, not Noé himself.
Vanitas wasn't stupid enough to ask Noé up front about it, after Noé revealed how Louis died that night at the amusement park. Plus, Noé's type seemed to be especially morally grey.
The second trick was executed poorly. Trying to ignore him for a week ended with Vanitas feeling especially close to a meltdown and Noé being simply unaffected. It's hard to be in love and trying to see if the person you harbor affection for feels the same.
Vanitas lets out another groan into the table, Dante doesn't even flinch. The bartender looks concerned, but doesn't say anything.
Dante is about 4 drinks in before he starts talking. "Dating issues again?" Dante murmurs, Vanitas glares at him. Dante simply rolls his eyes, turning his head to avoid the death glares his friend is giving him.
"I don't get why you're so adamant about getting his attention." Dante murmurs, taking a sip of his 5th drink. Vanitas mocks him before sighing into the table. "I don't know either." Dante snickers into his drink before downing it all in one go.
"Maybe you're in love," Dante teases, Vanitas scoffs, "As if." Dante chuckles, "Well, what's your next idea?" "I'm throwing in the towel." Vanitas concludes.
"Already? I didn't know you were a quitter." Dante picks his words carefully, irking Vanitas would be the best way to prolong both Vanitas's suffering and Dante's amusement. "You got to know when to throw in the towel, baldy. Though I'm sure you don't know when considering that's already your 6th glass." Dante stares at the new drink in his hand, wondering when that got there.
"Well, I'll leave you to it, I guess. See you around." Vanitas stands from his seat and makes his way to the exit. Dante simply waves him farewell with a nice message to boot.
"Ah- Vanitas?" The man turns his head sharply, staring Noé dead in the eye. "What are you doing out here?" Vanitas sighs. Noé chuckles sheepishly, "I.. was looking for you.. and then I got lost." Vanitas stares at him, unimpressed. The older vampire looks like he wants the floor to swallow him whole.
Vanitas releases a pent up sigh, "Well, at least you found me. Let's go back to Chouchou." Noé nods, joining the human for a walk to their temporary home.
"Um.. Did you have fun?" Noé asks, "What?" Vanitas stares in disbelief. "Well, I mean you were at a bar, so I assume you were there for some drinks.. so.." Noé trails off. Vanitas almost wants to tease him, but lets go of the thought. "I didn't drink anything. Dante was the one drinking." "Ah, I see."
The walk goes quiet. Their footsteps are the only things making sound throughout the night. There are a few people out, but most have retired for the day. It was pretty late.
"What did you do today?" Vanitas asks, Noé jolts as if he's been electrocuted. "Huh-? Um… Just a visit to Domi, that's all." Noé responds, uncertainty lacing his voice. Vanitas doesn't bother questioning it. Still particularly sour about his idea going south.
"You.. seem upset." Noé murmurs. "Nothing special, just Dante getting on my nerves." Vanitas responds. Noé is particularly clever with emotions, he'll read that something's wrong easily. Noé lets out a humming noise. "Are you sure it's not my fault?"
Vanitas comes to a stop, nothing abrupt, but nothing expected either. Noé seemed to love throwing curveballs at him. This one was specifically aiming for his face. And Vanitas wasn't able to dodge. Noé stopped as well, turning to face Vanitas with an expectant look.
"It's nothing of importance." Noé frowns, Vanitas simply continues walking as usual. "I thought we agreed to communicate." "It's seriously nothing important. It's just a trick that failed, nothing more."
Vanitas sighs, hoping that's enough to get Noé off his back. "Trick?" "Yeah, a simple trick, that's all." Noé stays quiet and Vanitas praises the gods for making the older vampire shut up.
They enter their room and Vanitas hangs his coat on the coat rack. Noé greets Murr on his bed before tossing his own coat onto the infamous chair of clothes that has mysteriously started to pile up again.
Vanitas blinks away with a sigh, taking his share of clothes to the bathroom, leaving Noé to ponder what Vanitas meant. The human slips out of his usually obnoxious clothes into more comfortable ones. Though, he only takes off the glove on his left arm.
Vanitas exits with his clothes and stuffs them into a laundry basket. Huh, that's also suddenly full. He should wash them tomorrow then.
Noé's changed his own clothes into more comfortable ones as well. Vanitas doesn't dwell on that thought for too long though, mostly because his mind tends to stray into something less appropriate than what you should be thinking of your roommate. Partner?
"Were you trying to make me jealous?" Noé asks suddenly, Vanitas simply looks at him, slightly horrified at how swiftly Noé figured his plan out with such vague clues. "None ya business." He responds, before slipping under his covers.
Noé stifles a laugh, "So that's what you've been trying to do?" Vanitas simply shrinks into his blanket, pretending to sleep. His face burning with embarrassment. "I did get quite jealous, I'll be honest." Noé murmurs quietly, "Goodnight Vanitas," He says before finally slipping under his own covers and falling asleep.
Vanitas can't help but feel a sense of pride within the depths of his embarrassment.