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It was spring. Which means Spring break. Which means the end of their school year. Which means Vil won’t be seeing his classmates until graduation.
Senior year was approaching, and with Vil’s report card, he was smoothly accepted into a potion research institute. Many of his classmates were surprised to hear that he won’t be returning to showbiz during his senior year internship, but Vil would rather use this chance to escape from the public eye for the very last time. After this, he would go back to being the doll he was, the public figure he crafted for himself so carefully.
Sure, he might not be seeing his classmates and darling dorm mates for a year, (unless they reach out, then maybe he’d take some time out of his schedule), but it would all be worth it.
Which brings us to today, a fine day for relaxing during Spring Break where Vil for once doesn’t have any shoots lined up for him, where Vil for once can finally throw on a beauty mask and relax in bed. But of course he wasn’t.
“Come on, Vil! Don’t be such a killjoy!” Lilia exclaimed, pulling the blonde by the arm excitedly like a child on Christmas Eve.
Vil huffed. “I’m not! I just have to be extra cautious! I’m still a public figure, you know!” He looked around, tugging his mask as he glanced around behind tinted sunglasses. “Why did I agree to this…?”
“Because we’re your beloved classmates and you looooooveee us,” Lilia jokes, a smug smile plastered on his face. “Come on, now! You should be enjoying your youth! Even an old man like me never tried this before! It’ll be fun!”
Vil bit his lips, keeping quiet. Should he do this? What if he gets hurt? Even worse, what if he bruises his face? There were too many variables, the scenarios in his head only gets worse.
“Hey guys! We’re hereee!!” Lilia called out in a sing-song voice. “Vil was a little hard to find, especially when he’s in this get-up.”
Cater waved, holding onto his phone with another draped across Trey. “Heyoo, I really thought you’d dress up for today, Vil. Since this IS a rare event, I even bedazzled myself up!”
Trey laughed, “you’d bedazzle yourself up even if you’re going to the grocery store.”
“True that,” the ginger agreed, “you never know when a cuite’s gonna appear!”
”You say that as if you’re collecting Pokémon.”
Vil sighed, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “I just want to avoid unnecessary paparazzi, especially since I’m with you guys. Seven knows what foolish shenanigans you lot will come up with along the way.”
Lilia feigned hurt, falling dramatically into Vil’s side. “How could you say that! I’m so hurt!”
“Can we go now? Aren’t we all here?” Leona asked, glancing at the group from the bench he claimed the moment he arrived.
Vil raised a brow, just noticing the beastman. “I’m surprised you managed to drag the three supremes into this.”
Lilia winked. “It’s called experience. Something this old man have under his belt.”
Malleus nodded. “I was beyond grateful to be invited to this gathering.”
Idia groaned, typing into his phone as his tablet translated it aloud. “If by experience he means to threaten and provoke, I think he has plenty experience.”
“The fuck you mean Three Supremes, blondie,” Leona growled, now leaning on his knees instead of sprawling over the entire bench.
Vil scoffed. “We have the supreme king, a supreme introvert, and supremely arrogant brat.” He sneered, tutting the lion. “What kind of prince sits like this in public, have you no shame?”
“I sit where I want, princess,” Leona barked back, “if you’re unhappy with standing, you can go ahead and sit on my lap. Oh wait, you don’t have the balls to.”
“All right! I think that sums up the greeting part of our gathering,” Trey intervened, “Lilia, can you lead the way?”
“Awhh, it was just getting to the good part! I had a caption planned out and everything! Beauty and the Beast, how do you like the sound of that?”
“Not the best time, Cater,” Trey chuckled, pulling Vil away and dragging him next to Lila, far far away from Leona who was trailing behind.
~~~
“You use this to shoot, and swipe here to recharge. It’ll take 5 seconds to revive and you each have 3 lives. If you don’t have any questions, you can split into two groups, I will be helping you put on your vest.”
“Ok, in the name of fairness, I’ve already drawn the straws for us. Me, Cater, Trey and Leona would be in the red group. Malleus, Vil and Idia are in green. Are we ok with that?”
The boys nodded.
Lilia smiled, clapping his hands together. “Great! Losers have to pay for lunch!”
“Ok, THAT I don’t agree with. I’m going back straight after this game!”
“Oh, how unfortunate. To think that my gaming buddy don’t want to have a nice meal with me after an intense game of irl 1v1,” Lilia fake sobbed. “But if you insist…”
“I- I mean! It’s not that I can’t! I just–”Idia spluttered, but was cut off by the fae.
“Then it’s settled! May the best team win!”
Trey chuckled, “you guys really need to get used to his tricks.”
Vil sighed, putting on his vest and grabbing his gun, inspecting it carefully. “I hope you two have your wallets ready, it’s obvious we’re going to lose. I’ve never played laser tag, and I doubt Malleus have ever been in a fight where he can’t use magic. You, on another note, you’re going to be spotted in seconds with hair like that.”
Idia picked up his gun and spun it around, angling it at Vil, cocking it to imitate a gunshot. “Nah, I can dim this down if I want. And no way I’m losing. My pride as a Halo legend is on the line here.”
Vil nodded slowly. “Right…”
The employee unlocked two doors, going through the rules one last time. “The game will last 7 minutes. Again, please don’t use magic or break anything inside. The red team will enter through the right, the green team through the left. You have 10 seconds to choose a spot before the game starts. Have fun!”
Heavy breathing. Sweat dripped down his chin. This room was surprisingly stuffy, and the heavy vest was not helping with his situation. It was some miracle that Vil even managed to survive with a single life left.
He fully expected Lilia to be tactful and cunning, especially when he can see clearly in the dark but he didn’t expect Trey to be just as ruthless. His last two lives were both taken by the green-haired baker. He himself only managed to take down Cater twice.
Vil clenched onto his gun, carefully hovering a finger over the trigger.
“Hey princess,” Leona whispered, tapping Vil on the shoulder.
Vil yelped, turning around only to be pinned down against the wall by the older, now unable to freely move his wrists. Thank Sevens he was holding on so tightly to the laser gun.
“As expected, you resort to cheap tricks like this,” Vil sneered, wriggling his hands in an attempt to break free. “Let go!”
“So you’re down on your last life,” Leona ignored, scoffing at the single glowing bar on Vil’s vest. “You suck at this.”
“Ha! As if you’re any better!”
Leona leaned closer, making Vil’s breath hitch.
He took a deep breath next to Vil’s ear, sending shivers down the blonde’s spine. “but I am. I’m on my second life, and you’re about to be on your last.”
“You-!”
BEEEEP!!!
Vil just lost his last life (and his last strand of sanity maybe).
“You’re a bitch,” Vil huffed, groaning as he rolled his eyes. At least the room was dark enough to hide his flushing face. HE WAS FLUSHING FROM ALL THE RUNNING HE HAD TO DO.
“Awh, where did the prim and proper princess go? Have you no shame?” Leona mocks, chuckling. “Can’t wait to empty your pockets, princess.”
** Extra: ft. Idia raging and a sad boy Malleus
“HOW DO YOU DIE IN THE FIRST MINUTE?? ARE YOU DUMB OR STUPID??” Idia raged, his hair burning a fiery red, “EVEN A 5 YEAR OLD PLAY BETTER THAN YOU!”
Malleus genuinely looked regretful. “Apologies, Shroud. I wasn’t too sure how to function the equipment given to me.”
“DID YOU NOT LISTEN TO THE- Actually, you know what, whatever! Whatever! You two noobs are gonna be paying for lunch, I ain’t paying shit!”