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Vil collapsed into a chair in his airline’s VIP lounge. His flight had been delayed for 6 hrs because of the blizzard outside. Under normal circumstances, he’d be annoyed yet understanding. Malleus Draconia was the only person he’d ever met who could control the weather after all. But this was Christmas Eve, and he’d pulled some strings last minute to be able to spend the holiday with his father. They had both been incredibly busy lately. And hadn’t managed to spend any real length of time together in the last 3 years. Now 28 years old, the actor had more work than hours of the day, it felt like.
This year, his present to himself had been coordinating the visit to his childhood home. He’d had it all planned out in his head and had hired people to come over and decorate and wrap presents, since both him and his father wouldn’t have time. Vil wanted it to be just like it was when he was a small child. Wake up to freshly made cinnamon rolls and hot cider.
He loved his life, but he’d been moving so fast for so long that he’d let a lot of things slip through his fingers, and the grey hair he’d seen in a recent video call with his father had made him realize the man wouldn’t be around forever.
6 hrs would be cutting his entire schedule to close, he wouldn’t even really be able to sleep once he got off the plane, arriving around 4 am in Pyroxene. Vil knew that meant he needed to get some rest now, but he was too wound up and didn’t want to risk missing any other announcements.
His phone buzzed, and he pulled it out. He’d messaged his father to let him know he was running behind. Vil looked at the message and let out a deep sigh, that one can only make when they’re tired, anxious, and frustrated. My flight has been delayed too. They’re waiting for the tropical storm to pass. His father had been filming in the southern isles, this time as a director rather than just an actor. It had left the man extremely busy.
“That bad, huh?” Vil nearly jumped as he heard the voice behind him, then he found a figure sitting down beside him, they had long ginger hair sticking out of the stocking cap on their head. A red puffer jacket, and jeans with a pair of red, black, and white sneakers on their feet. A pair of gloves and sunglasses resting on their face left the actor completely clueless about the identity of the man who had just decided to invade his space.
He was already in a bad mood, and didn’t need to deal with some fan who thought they could just walk up and talk to him, just because they had access to the same VIP lounge. He was contemplating walking over to the staff and having them step in to get the man to leave him alone when he took off his hat and sun glasses, shaking his hair loose.
“Cater?” he blinked. 10 years ago, he probably would have continued with his plan to have security for the other to leave him alone, but here and now, he just settled back into his seat.
“In the flesh,” the ginger laughed before removing the rest of his winter gear, “I would ask you how your day is going, but I’m going to guess the same as mine, given you’re stuck here,” he laughed.
“I made plans to meet up with my father, but the weather has other plans apparently.” Vil brought a hand to his forehead. “My flight has been pushed back 6 hrs already.”
“PA152?” Cater asked as he held up his phone with his boarding information. Thought the device was less flashy and more sleek than the one he’d used to carry.
“One in the same,” the actor smiled slightly. “Seems we really are stuck in the same boat. Or plane in this case.”
“Not entirely.” The other slipped their phone into their pocket.
“I’m sorry I didn’t.-” Vil brought a hand to his mouth. “I know you’ve not got a good relationship with your family, and here I am complaining about missing my father.”
“It’s fine, that's not what I meant anyway.” Cater shook his head.
A lot had changed since they graduated. Vil’s own career had taken him where he’d always wanted to go, now his history of playing villains as a child was just a quirky point people referenced when talking about his past. Today, he was known as one of the most wanted leading men in all of the movie industry.
Cater wasn’t the same person either. He had, in fact, pursued interior design as a career. A series of events led to him becoming a celebrity in his own right. The star of a home renovation show, who broke the mold, and told people to learn to love their house, to make it their own, and not worry about what was in trend, but what made their house a home.
It made each show different and interesting, as the ginger worked with each client to discover what they truly wanted in their space. His motto Everyone deserves their own castle- no matter how big or how small.
Vil had contracted his service a year ago, though it hadn’t been featured as an episode on his show. He’d grown tired of coming home to the same lifeless apartment. But he barely had time in his schedule to breathe, let alone redecorate his entire residence. Cater had been known to work miracles, but that still hadn’t prepared Vil for just how seen he felt in his new home when the ginger was done.
The pair had kept in contact since then, though most of it had been text messages here and there.
“Still, something has to be taking you home today. Spending it with friends or…?” Vil had to admit talking to the other was definitely better than sitting here and stewing over something he couldn’t control.
“No.” Cater laughed, shaking his head. “Everyone is spending time with their family, though I did get a lovely picture from Riddle this morning. He and Floyd are settling in with the twins well. I guess Floyd’s parents and Jade made the trip to the surface before the sea froze over so they could help them out and spend the holiday together,” he held up his phone showing off the family. Floyd was smiling so much it was almost terrifying, and while Riddle’s was more subdued, it was clear how happy he was.
“That’s sweet.” Vil brought a hand to his chest. “I’d never have picked either one of them for something so domestic, but it suits them well.”
“Yeah, Riddle’s over the moon. I intend to visit in the spring when they’re ready for more company,” the ginger replied before pocking his phone again. “But nah, I’m working the holiday, you know how it is. The network has a live event they’re putting on all day tomorrow in Fairest City, and guess who got picked to host it?” he laughed, “Not that I mind that much, it means the others have more time with their families.”
“Well,” the actor looked over at the large glass window in the lounge that looked out on all the stationary planes. It looked like the snow had picked up, rather than died down. “If we make it out of here on time. I hope they have a backup.”
“That’s actually what I meant to talk to you about.” Cater winked. “You looked pretty bummed, and I figured you’d got caught up in the storm.” he held a finger in the air, but his voice was low, just above a whisper. “The network is pretty desperate to get me there on time. So they’ve chartered a flight.”
“What? In this weather?” Vil didn’t raise his voice. “Who would be crazy enough to fly in this?”
“I was skeptical myself, but then I looked at who they hired. They are some of the guys from, well, you know where.” Cater dropped his voice even lower. “Apparently, even they won't say no to the right price. It can’t be cheap to run their facility,” the designer explained.
Vil sat there for a moment, trying to figure out who the other meant by ‘you know where.’ Before his eyes went wide, connecting the dots with ‘facility’. “STYX?” he managed to keep his voice low, even with the surprise. “I don’t think you could pay me enough to get on one of their transports again. You’re right, they must be desperate.”
“They’re not exactly putting me in the cargo hold.” Cater snickered. “They’re sending a private jet. It should be here in an hour.”
“Lucky you,” the blond crossed his arms. “And here I thought I might have some company in my misery.”
The ginger could help but laugh more, and despite the actor’s general mood, he just had to smile. “You know, there is a time in my life when I would have died of happiness knowing you wanted to spend more time with me,” he joked. ‘But it can be your lucky day too, if you’re willing to ride with STYX that is.”
Vil looked at him in confusion. “Wait, what?”
“I mean, it's a big plane for one person. And it sounds like you’re in a bind. We’re heading to the same place. Why don’t you join me?” Cater flashed him a smile.
The actor brought a hand to his chest. “You’d let me come with you?”
“Of course. And you can enjoy my company a bit longer,” he batted his eyelashes at Vil. “I’d at least hope it beats sitting around in an airport, hoping for the weather to change.”
Vil had been so frustrated with the situation before that now he was presented with a solution, and he wanted to cry. “Thank you, I don’t know what to say.”
“Yes,” the ginger, “All you have to say is yes.”
“Then yes, I would love to join you, more than you know,” the blonde wanted to melt with relief.
“Consider my present. I hope you enjoy your time with your dad.” Cater smiled, though it was different than before, warmer. Vil felt his heart flutter a bit. He’d always wanted to play the hero as a child, but Cater had just shown up like his knight in shining armor and saved the day.
And 4 hours later, when he stepped off the private plane, in Fairest City, to a city gleaming in white, covered in lights, he’d parted with Cater, with a promise to extend his stay one more day, and hope that maybe next year he could give the other some place to celebrate.