Chapter Text
Virgil opened the door to the bar, scanning the room until he saw Remus. It was Remus’ birthday, and Virgil, being a good friend, had decided to get out of his shell and attend the party. “Virgie!” Remus called, his pupils dilated already from what Virgil guessed was a mix of weed and alcohol as he wrapped his arms around Virgil. Virgil took a breath as he was hugged, and, yup, that was definitely weed. He chuckled, and wrapped his free arm around Remus, his other arm being occupied by Remus’ gift. “Happy Birthday, Re.” Virgil pulled back, and smiled at the man. “I’m guessing Logan finally let you hit your stash?” He asked, referring to Remus’ boyfriend. “Yup! He said it was part of my present!” Remus giggled, leaning close. “The rest he said he was gonna give me tonight!~” The innuendo was clear, and Virgil couldn’t help but make a look of playful disgust. “Keep the birthday sex to yourself, man.” He said, half joking. Remus giggled again, before gasping as another person walked through the door. “Roman!” He ran to the door, wrapping the person in a hug. Virgil shook his head playfully as Remus ran off, before letting his gaze follow. Pausing, Virgil stared. The newcomer, a man who Virgil could only describe as modelesque, pulled back from Remus’ arms, smiling at him. He looked like Remus, evidently the brother Remus had told Virgil about, but he was gorgeous. Virgil considered Remus an attractive man, but his brother in comparison was godly. He had a wide jaw, strong brow and nose, and tan skin, all like Remus, but unlike Remus his hair was all a dark auburn, he was just slightly shorter, and he lacked the mustache that made Remus, well, Remus. The man, Roman as Remus had called him, looked away from Remus, his gaze catching on Virgil. For a moment it felt like the men were frozen in each other’s eyes, Virgil’s honey brown irises meeting Roman’s emerald green ones. Then, Roman smiled at him, and Virgil felt his face go warm. His smile was like sunshine, and Virgil noted he lacked the tooth gap Remus had, but had a prick of dimples on his cheeks.
Virgil was, for lack of a better word, smitten.
“I don’t think we’ve met.” Roman said, giving Virgil a once over, approval in his eyes, He approached Virgil, his stride confident as he reached his free hand out for Virgil to take. “My name is Roman.” Virgil looked down at his hand for just a moment too long before he took it, shaking it. He cleared his throat. “I’m Virgil.” Roman brought Virgil’s hand to his mouth, pressing a kiss to the back of it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Virgil.” He murmured, making Virgil blush. All that Virgil could focus on was Roman’s hand in his, and the spot where Roman’s soft lips had touched his skin. The spell was broken when another giggle erupted from Remus, and Virgil gently pulled his hand away. “Same to you.” He replied, giving an uncharacteristically shy smile. Roman smiled back for a moment before turning to look at his brother. “Where is everyone?” He asked, setting the birthday present he’d been holding on the bar. Virgil followed suit, setting his gift down, then immediately reaching into his jacket pocket for his fidget cube. “In the back I think?” Remus shrugged. Roman nodded, and sat himself at one of the barstools. “I can go check on them.” Virgil offered, waiting until Roman gave a nod to move around the bar and into the back room. He opened the door, and poked his head in. Patton and Janus were grouped around Logan, the likes of which had his back to Virgil. “Should we put the candles in yet?” Patton asked, glancing at what Virgil guessed was a cake. “Not yet.” Logan’s voice sounded, and Virgil saw him turn, picking a wine glass off the table. “Ah, Virgil, it’s good to see you.” He greeted. Virgil entered the room fully. “Logan.” He replied, giving a nod. Virgil checked to make sure the door was closed behind him before he turned to them again. “Ok…why did nobody tell me that Remus has a fucking god for a brother?!” He exclaimed in a hushed tone, just in case the door didn’t do a good enough job soundproofing. Janus chuckled. “I take it you met Roman?” He asked, a smirk on his face as he took a sip out of his own wine glass. “Yes! Have you all seen him?” Virgil watched as the three of them gave noises of confirmation and nods. “So I’m the only one panicking over how cute he is?” He thought they were all extremely underreacting. Janus laughed again, setting his glass on the table. “Don’t worry, I see it, but there’s only so many Disney show tunes you can take before the sex appeal starts to wear off.” That only sounded slightly unappealing to Virgil who had always been a secret enjoyer of Disney show tunes himself. He was already thinking back to Roman’s reveric eyes, and goddamnit, he was already thinking poetically. “All I know,” Virgil started, clasping his hands together. “Is that that man makes me feel a bunch of funny things, and I don’t know what to do!” “You could ask him out.” Logan suggested. “Or invite him to be intimate with you. If he accepts, then hopefully that will help. If it does not, then I’m not quite sure what to say.” Virgil knew that was definitely good advice, but he doubted he’d ever, in a million years, have the courage for that. “But-!” He started, but Logan silenced him with a finger. He took a long drink from his glass, before setting it back down. “It’s your choice. Now, if I may, I have a birthday party to host.”
Virgil watched as Remus blew out the candles to his cake, and he couldn’t help but smile at the infectious look of excitement on his friend’s face. Remus looked over to Logan, who stood on his left, pulled him down by the tie to give him a kiss. He whispered something to Logan which Virgil couldn’t hear, causing the more stoic man to laugh and blush. Virgil’s eyes turned to the right of Remus, where Roman stood, his hand on his brother’s shoulder. Roman was smiling, and his eyes moved up, catching Virgil’s gaze. They watched each other, and Roman’s smile persisted before he looked back to his brother.
Virgil sat on one of the barstools while party music played throughout the room. He had his drink in front of him, a rum mixed with grape soda, which he sipped, trying not to get too tipsy too fast. Out of his peripheral he saw someone sit next to him. Someone who happened to have lovely tanned skin, and a white turtleneck. Virgil tried not to blush as he heard Roman’s melodic voice order a strawberry margarita. “So.” Roman started, to which Virgil looked at him. “It’s nice to get out, isn’t it?” He asked with a smile that made Virgil want to melt. Virgil nodded, letting the side of his lip quirk up. “I haven’t been here in a while.” Roman continued, his gaze turning from Virgil as he took in the bar. The venue for the party was Janus’ family bar, Snake Eyes. It was a place Virgil had been to quite a bit since starting college. “Why not?” Roman looked back to Virgil, and exhaled quickly through his nose in a way that kinda sounded like a laugh. “Well, considering my University is in Barcelona, I don’t get to visit often. Luckily my semester ended before Remus’s birthday.” Virgil nodded again. “What are you studying?” The bartender set Roman’s drink in front of him, and he took a sip before replying. “Architecture, as well as Fashion and Theater.” Virgil was surprised by this. He wasn’t sure what to expect from Roman, but Architecture definitely wasn’t it, but fashion and theater, that made sense. “What about you?” Virgil flushed slightly at having Roman’s eyes on him again. “I study Entomology.” “Entomology is the study of bugs, right?” Roman took another sip of his drink, and Virgil nodded. “Mostly insects but yeah.” Roman hummed. “What’s your favorite kind of bug?” Virgil grinned and pulled his phone out of his pocket, obviously ready for this question. “Spiders. I’ve always loved spiders.” He opened his photo app, before holding out the phone to Roman. “This is my tarantula, Marcus. He’s a Chilean Rose tarantula, which, is kinda basic, but I love him.” Roman looked curiously at the screen and smiled before handing the phone back. “He’s beautiful.” Virgil blushed, looking down at his phone as he took it. “Thank you.” They sat in silence as both men sipped at their drinks. Virgil could feel that familiar tipsy feeling wash over him as he drank, and when he looked back to Roman he could feel his self control begin to fall away. “Do you wanna dance or something?” The words came out before he could process what he was saying and he inwardly kicked himself for being so forward. Roman’s face lit up in a grin. “Only if you can keep up.” He teased, taking another sip of his margarita before standing up. Virgil watched Roman for a moment, a smile forming on his lips. He’d never been the best dancer, but he was determined to try his best. “Deal.” The dance floor was practically empty by the time Roman and Virgil got to it, the only other person there being Remy, who was actively trying to get his boyfriend Emile to dance with him. Die Young by Ke$ha came on the speakers to which Roman let out a cheer. He began to move his hips to the rhythm of the song with his arms up in the air as he sang along. Virgil watched, somewhat awestruck at the sight of Roman. Roman reached out to grab his hand and pulled him closer. “C’mon! Dance like you mean it!” Roman called over the music. Virgil gave a slightly nervous smile but began to move his body along to the music. It took a bit but Virgil soon got into the groove of it. He was still nowhere as good as Roman, who was practically mesmerizing, but he was having fun. After a few songs Virgil was sure he was in love. Either that or the alcohol was starting to really kick in. “You’re like really pretty!” He half-yelled, trying to get his voice to carry over the music. “What?!” Roman brought a hand up to his ear, as if trying to understand what Virgil was saying. Virgil opened his mouth to try again, when suddenly the music stopped and Logan’s voice started over the speakers. “Would everyone gather at the gift table please?”
Watching Remus open his presents was rather fun considering Remus was high and overly enthusiastic about everything. “Oh my gods! It’s an airfryer!!” He held up the bag, showing the contents to the group around him. There was a chorus of laughter, which Remus joined. Once the laughter had died down, Roman pulled forward one of the gifts, a box with sparkling red wrapping paper, and a golden ribbon. “Open mine next!” He urged, his smile bright. Remus eagerly ripped back the paper and pushed the ribbon aside as he worked to open the box. He pulled the lid off to reveal an envelope on top of a tissue paper covered mass. With a surprising amount of care, Remus picked up the envelope, opened it, and pulled out a beautifully hand crafted card. On the front was an illustration of two figures, one dressed in white and dark red with gold details, and the other was dressed in black with neon green with silver details. They seemed to be engaged in combat, the white figure with a sword, and the black figure with morningstar. Remus opened the card, and scanned what Virgil guessed was a hand-written note. He let out a loud cackle and turned to look at his brother. “You’re also a bitch.” Remus grinned, to which Roman rolled his eyes. Remus giggled before setting the card back down, and pulling the tissue paper aside to reveal the main gift. He let out a rather loud gasp, and pulled it out. “Roman! You cheeky dingus, you did it!!!” There was a chatter of positive surprise as the group saw what it actually was. It looked to be a costume, with puffy sleeves, a high collar, and a neon green sash. Roman’s smile grew even wider. “I thought you deserved a better Ren Fair fit, and I had everything on hand.” Virgil felt his mouth fall open a bit. Roman had made that? Remus grinned and set the costume back down to pull his brother into a hug. As soon as they let go, Remus began to pull his shirt off, much to Logan’s very visible dismay. “I’m putting it on!” He called out. After a moment of struggle, and some help from Roman, Remus found his way into the top of the ensemble. He looked good, the sparkle of the costume and sash really matching the shine in his eyes. “I am the Duke!” Remus proclaimed. “And I order you all to get drunk and fuck shit up!”
Fuck shit up they did.
No actual property damage was done, but by the time it was time to head back to their apartments, everyone was fucked up on their own. Remy was still on the dancefloor while Emile tried his best to urge his boyfriend to the car, the latter of which being a designated driver. Patton and Janus were at a table, each at least a bit tipsy by the way they leaned into each other. Logan and Remus were nowhere to be seen, probably at their apartment or one of the back rooms at this point. All the while, Roman and Virgil had returned to the bar, each a bit more drunk than they’d been last time they’d sat there. “You have really pretty eyes.” Roman mumbled after a sip of his probably third or fourth margarita of the night. Virgil had been watching him, a soft, rather embarrassingly affectionate look on his face. “Says you.” He chuckled, his blushed face going even warmer. Roman smiled, shifting to sit closer to Virgil. “I wanna kiss you like really bad right now.” He admitted, and Virgil almost spit out the sip he’d been taking. Virgil turned quickly to face him, giving a wide eyed look. “Really?” Roman nodded excitedly. Virgil thought it over, the action taking a bit of effort in his alcohol fueled mind. “I want to, like, I really want to! But what if we don’t remember?” Virgil took Roman’s hand, and it was the other man’s turn to look wide eyed. “I wanna remember you.” Virgil whispered, smiling softly. Roman practically melted. “Take me home with you?” He asked instead.