Vince eyed Cass skeptically, still unsure as to where - exactly - they stood at present. He felt awkward and slightly unfulfilled, despite his plan having come to fruition exactly as he’d predicted. He didn’t, particularly, need the release himself? But he did wish the after-effect wasn’t so prickly, leaving him both emotionally and physically wanting. At least Cass was sensitive enough to hold him and Vince sighed a little as the other’s hand rested on his head. The hint of a smile tickled at Vince’s lips as the other inquired after him and apologized, but he only nodded as Cass pulled back. He’d already forgotten about his split lip.

Lifting a hand to touch it, Vince licked his bottom lip. It did still have a rather metallic zing; grazing his teeth over it repeatedly probably hadn’t helped. He gave Cass a small shrug. Vince wasn’t worried about it, truly. There were bigger issues on his mind.

Cass rubbed a hand over his face then and Vince took a small step back, releasing the other's shirt front. Perhaps he felt stifled, now that reality was dawning. Vincent really, desperately hoped that Cass wouldn’t want to rehash this again. All amusement waned and the little Slytherin teetered on the edge of anxiety, waiting for Cass to speak. At last the other gave his shoulder a small squeeze and relented. A real grin split across Vince’s features as Cass mentioned his quotation and he hummed in his infinite amusement. Vince knew he was pushing his luck but for a moment, the glimmer of an old, easy camaraderie set in and he couldn’t resist: “I must be cruel, only to be kind; thus bad begins and worse remains behind.” Hamlet, Act 3 scene 4.

Vincent snickered, determined to play this off as if it was nothing. They could be alright if he pretended as much. He knew Cass was attempting to do that same and, surely, if they both set their minds to it some semblance of normality could be grasped. He could sense something within Cass was lurking under the surface, waiting to be revealed, but Vince pushed past it, giving the big blonde a small, friendly nudge with his elbow. Everything was… fine.

Humming again as the other suggested they head inside, Vince nodded. “Do you think there’s any dessert left from supper?” he asked, stepping out from Cass’ shadow and grabbing his shoes further along the bank. The water level had risen a touch since they’d arrived. “I wouldn’t rather mind something sweet,” he offered. Least of all to get the taste of you out of my mouth.

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