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Vil had chosen the hill overlooking the lake for its distance from the crowds and news crews covering the summer fireworks.
It wasn't that he minded being seen—but he was a public figure, and he didn’t want the inevitable paparazzi to interfere with Malleus's first experience with fireworks. He spread the blanket out over the grass and set down a cooler of drinks next to it.
"This spot is acceptable?" Malleus asked, eyes flickering over the area curiously. “Will we be able to see them?”
"It has a better view than the main park, and there will be considerably less people asking for my autograph,” Vil responded dryly. Malleus's mouth twitched in amusement.
“Ah yes, because you are famous among humans.” He settled gracefully onto the blanket, long legs curled beneath him as he settled.
Vil watched him as he sat, curious at his own actions. He’d extended the invitation on impulse, three days ago, after overhearing Malleus mention to Lilia that he had never seen fireworks. The subject had come up because people were talking animatedly about the summer firework displays of their hometowns.
“Would you like to come see them with me?” Had been met with more excitement than Vil had expected, and the smile on Malleus' face had made his stomach flip.
"You seem in good spirits," Vil observed, settling down beside him on the blanket, close enough that their shoulders very nearly brushed. "I don't believe I've seen you smile quite so easily before."
"I am simply anticipating the display," Malleus said, green eyes looking at the sky intently. "Briar Valley does not celebrate summer festivals in quite the same manner. Fireworks are... a novelty of the human realms."
“Well, I hope you aren’t disappointed,” Vil said, reaching over without thinking about it to smooth a stray strand of hair back from Malleus's face. His fingers lingered, surprised by how soft it was.
Malleus didn't seem to notice; he looked instead out over the darkening lake, where the last vestiges of sunset were bleeding gold and violet as twilight fell. Something in Vil resented being ignored, but he told himself he was being silly.
They sat in comfortable quiet as night fell, fireflies beginning to blink lazily in the grass around them. Vil found Malleus's presence unexpectedly soothing. He didn’t prattle about unnecessary things; he made quiet observations, and then enjoyed the soft breeze that blew over the hill.
"May I ask you something, Vil?"
"Of course."
"Why did you invite me tonight?" Malleus's gaze rose to meet Vil’s, green eyes oddly vulnerable.
Vil shifted his weight to sit primly on his knees. "Because I wanted to," Vil said simply. "Because I find I enjoy your company rather more than I anticipated when we began speaking properly. You missed most housewarden meetings.” He studied his nail polish as if trying to find a flaw. “And of course we have a shared experience in common.”
“A shared experience.” There was amusement in the dragon fae’s voice as he spoke. “I shall have to call it that next time I speak with Shroud. It should prove amusing.”
Vil smiled slightly, finding the humor in it. “Why did you accept?” Vil asked. “Or is it because the rumor of you being unable to decline an invitation is true?”
“It is hardly true, though being invited to functions is something I hold dear to my heart.” Malleus frowned, head tilting. “I am not certain I should tell you. Humans find the strangest things offensive.”
“I hardly think I’ll be offended,” Vil leaned towards him, brow furrowed.
“I also enjoy being in your company, Vil. And of course, I find your beauty stunning. I was honored to be invited to accompany you.”
“You almost make it sound like a date,” Vil teased softly, plum colored lips curved into a smile.
“Is it not? You invited me, and only me, to view fireworks with you.”
Vil stiffened; while he had only asked Malleus, he hadn’t considered how the other might take it. But then Malleus continued.
“Child-of-man has informed me that there are friend dates and romantic dates. I am not certain which this is, however.”
Vil’s shoulders shook as he laughed, hand reaching out to trace a finger down Malleus's cheek.
“Which would you like it to be?”
The fae, instead of getting flustered and retracting his words, seemed to consider them. As he took his time, Vil found to his surprise that he was hoping for a specific answer.
Malleus caught Vil's wrist in his and kissed the back of it gently.
“I find I would prefer if this was a romantic date, but if I have misunderstood…”
“I have no objection…”
The first firework exploded before he could say anything else, a burst of brilliant gold unfurling like a flower, its light reflected across the lake's still surface. Vil saw Malleus flinch slightly, belatedly remembering that fae had better hearing than humans. Before the second could burst, Vil shifted to kneel behind Malleus, hands covering his pointed ears firmly. Malleus's breath caught as several fireworks bloomed in the sky, turning it into a riot of sparkling color.
"Oh," Malleus breathed, soft and reverent, and it struck Vil suddenly and forcefully just how young he could look. Malleus tended to act so ancient, and Vil knew he was over a century old, but for the first time Vil wondered what that meant for the fae. He filed that away to think of later as Malleus leaned back against Vil's chest to make it easier for him to cover his ears.
"Beautiful, isn't it," Vil said, though he knew he wouldn’t likely be heard. He found his own gaze drifting toward Malleus's face rather than the sky; toward the way the shifting colors painted soft light across his sharp features, the way his eyes had gone wide and bright, the small, half-smile he didn't seem to notice he was wearing.
"I had no idea they could be so..." Malleus struggled for the word, "Loud, beautiful.”
Malleus turned to look at Vil then; colorful lights reflected in his eyes as Vil stared at how close they were. Another firework burst overhead, a burst of violet. Malleus's hands came up to cover Vil's over his ears, warmer than a human's. He looked searchingly at Vil.
"May I—" Malleus started, then stopped as if searching for the words.
“May you?” Vil said, exaggeratedly mouthing the word since he couldn’t be heard, one brow raising in challenge.
"May I kiss you?"
Vil’s eyes widened, startled as he nodded wordlessly.
Malleus leaned in slowly, giving Vil every opportunity to pull away if he wished, and when their lips finally met, it was soft, unsure. Vil's hand came up to rest against the curve of his jaw as he kissed him back, slowly deepening the contact.
As they pulled apart breathlessly, Malleus brushed his thumb over Vil’s lips, wiping away his smudged lipstick.
“I confess I have been wanting to do that for some time.”
Vil smirked, the words stroking his ego, and leaned in to whisper against his lips. “Then let’s make up for lost time.”
Above them, the finale began; rapid bursts of color bursting and swirling in the sky, booms and whistling filled the air, but on the hilltop the display was lost on two who had found more beauty in each other than the display.