Chapter Text
“Ow, Ow, Ow!” yelped Epel who sat in a chair before Vil’s vanity mirror while Rook brushed the tangles out of his hair. The owner of the room himself sitting on the edge of his Queen-sized bed as he glanced at his phone.
“If you took better care of your hair like I told you to it wouldn’t hurt so much.” Vil didn’t bother to look up as he scrolled about on his social media. Checking on what was going on in both the entertainment industry and around their neighborhood. Ever since Rook had informed him about the move-in truck he saw outside of Mr. Crowley’s home that morning he’s been looking into seeing if anyone had information regarding it.
“Please stay still petite pomme, I am almost done.” Rook just had to get the ends and then Epel would be at Vil’s mercy for the next 2 to 3 hours depending on how he acted. The younger boy was not pleased at all to be treated like a doll but remained still and compliant.
“Yea ‘kay, ‘till don’ get why ya’ll care so much about ‘em,” Epel grumbled before yelping again as Rook brushed through a nasty knot.
“Simple, not much happens around here.” The last big thing that happened was the accident which resulted in poor Ortho’s passing. Vil had spent time with Ortho a few times in the past when Idia was busy tinkering on whatever new project he had come up with or Azul and him had their little club going on. Ortho has mentioned that he was allowed to join but he much preferred playing those games for fun rather than competition like his brother and his friend. He also mentioned that he had an interest in movies and theatre. “Nothing good anyway.”
With one last tug, Rook had gotten Epel’s hair like Vil had wanted, tamed and ready to be styled as his queen wanted it. “Il est prêt ma reine.” Rook stepped back and turned to Vil. The taller blonde turned off his phone and put it away in his pocket as he walked over to Epel while Rook gathered the necessary makeup materials.
“I jus’ don’— OW!” Epel yelled as he was pinched by his ear.
“Remember what I told you about speaking like that.” It’s not that Vil disliked Epel’s accent by any means, it’s just that he knew how Epel would be perceived by others not just now but as he grew older as well.
Correcting himself, “I just don’t understand why you picked me out of everyone else here to make into your little project.” Epel knew others would kill to be in his spot. To have the attention of uprising star Vil Schoenheit who was currently on a break from being in front of cameras. Too busy focusing on his schoolwork.
“Well,” Vil would hold Epel’s head between his hands making him face forward at the mirror looking at Epel’s blue eyes with his own light purple ones. “Perhaps you should have picked on someone different at the park that day instead of, oh, what was it you called me? A dainty flower who couldn’t throw a punch to save their life?” He smiled before grabbing the first step of this makeup routine.
“What beauté it was to see you fight in action, points complets!” Rook swooned recalling the event from just three weeks ago, a bit after the accident when Epel boldly approached Vil itching for a fight only to get socked and tossed to the ground. Usually, Vil would only insist they apologize and think about their actions, but when Vil saw the beauty that Epel could possess if he utilized it? A deal was struck.
So here they all were watching as Vil wrangled with Epel applying makeup he believed best fit him.
“We’re almost done Epel and then when we are you can go, but you must remember to watch the makeup and remember the skincare routine steps I gave you before you sleep tonight. I will know if you followed my instructions or not.”
“Ugh, yes Mom!” If that was supposed to irritate Vil, it didn’t.
Once the last step had been done, Vil took a moment, pulling out his phone to snap a picture of Epel to commemorate this occasion before giving him a tap on the shoulder to leave. The younger boy wasted no time in getting up and out of there. Rook watched Epel leave from Vil’s window which faced the front of the house seeing him wave to Vil’s left neighbor Jack who was outside supervising his younger siblings.
Though Rook was looking he listened as Vil’s shoes tapped on the floor and he sat himself back on his bed again staring at his phone.
“Ma reine you are not being hard on yourself are you?” Rook glanced in Vil’s direction. It was one thing when Vil was displeased about his recent performance, especially if said performance was done with Neige. It was another thing when Vil got too deep in his thoughts and started blaming himself for what happened to Ortho which was ridiculous as there were many elements at play that day.
Vil didn’t answer prompting Rook to go on over and sit beside him grabbing his hands. “It is not your fault. The universe simply works in mysterious ways.”
“What fucked up mysterious ways they are.” Vil bit back, getting a laugh out of Rook.
“They are, so instead why don’t we go out and see what this move-in truck is about? Perhaps we could be the first to meet this new addition to Mr. Crowley’s home?”
“Excuse me, new addition?” Vil asked puzzled by Rook’s words but he would get no answer except for Rook getting up and walking over to the door. Vil himself followed as he inquired, “Did Crowley have a baby?” He asked while following Rook down the stairs who simply had a blasé smile on his face getting a grin out of Vil who demanded he answer him.
“Rook!”