Chapter Text
Another morning in another hostel, and as Percy left their dorm room, freshly showered and dressed, knee wrapped and stomach calling out for something hot, he expected this morning to be just like any other, starting with breakfast. He never used to be a ‘breakfast’ person—he was traditionally more of a ‘strictly caffeine in the AM until hunger hit in the PM’ person—but travelling meant moving, a lot, and consequently had influenced his appetite a little.
And this morning was no exception. The group had gone out last night too, meaning that Percy, for the first time in his life, had stayed out late dancing (because Vex’ahlia loved to dance and Percy was anything if not smitten with making her happy, regardless of the consequences on his knee) and then passed out as soon as he’d hit the bed. Needless to say, he was starving.
Percy shut the door behind him, running a hand through damp hair. Coffee would be nice, might help chase away the dregs of a hangover, some protein too. Maybe he should text ahead and ask the group to order him something?
Everyone had already left for breakfast whilst Percy had decided to shower. So he truly hadn’t expected to be stopped in the hallway by an all but naked Vex, clutching a handtowel against her, and looking veritably pissed off.
His mind splintered at the sight of her, body freezing. Had she forgotten to bring fresh clothes to the bathroom? God, she was gorgeous. Why was she hurrying towards their dorm? Where was her towel? Her curves...
Water was dripping off the strands of her messy bun and onto her collarbones, drippling down sunkissed olive skin and drawing Percy's eye. He turned away. “Ah, ach du heilige, Vex’ahlia,” he stammered, feeling the heat rush to his face as he tried to look anywhere but at her, the ceiling and all its cobwebs suddenly very interesting. They might have been… whatever they were, but doing this wasn’t something they had done, or even discussed yet.
And don’t get Percy wrong, he wanted to see Vex naked, but in better circumstances, and when she was willing. And in private, preferably.
“Wonderful morning,” Vex replied, her smiled strained. “Wouldn’t you say, darling?”
Swiftly Percy shed himself of his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders, mentally kicking himself at the delay. “Darf ich mal vorbei!” he squeaked, trying to pass through the hallway, only to be stopped by Vex’s hand on his wrist.
“Percy dear,” she began, clutching the coat closed, “I can’t understand a word you’re saying, and I understand this is a compromising position, but the fuckers we call our friends have stolen my clothes and my bag, and I need your assistance to not make an utter arse of myself to this entire hostel.”
Making a very conscious effort to keep his eyes above the shoulders, Percy searched her face, his cheeks a furnace, and nodded. “Was- what do you need?”
Moments later he found himself back in his dorm room, thankfully empty, seated on his bed and staring at a wall while Vex rummaged through his bag for a pair of clothes. They had already searched the room for her own bag but came up bare, literally, meaning that as soon as Vex was presentable, next order of business would be hunting down her missing luggage.
“Nothing fits my hips!” Vex exclaimed after a moment, before landing drastically on the bed beside Percy. He risked a swift glace towards her and deflated with relief when he saw she was decent enough to look at now, dressed in his largest shirt that came down to her mid-thigh.
“We could steal something of Grog’s?” Percy suggested and Vex raised an eyebrow. The only other luggage in the room with them were Grog’s and Scanlan’s, and the latter was a rather small person.
“We?”
“Well, I am complicit now,” Percy told her with a shrug.
The Spaniard’s smirk was sharp, eyes lidding in a way that was alluring and Percy swallowed. “Yes, I suppose you are.”
They stared at one another for a moment, before Percy cleared his throat and looked away. Heat was swelling all through his body, settling in uncomfortable places.
Right. Bag. Vax and Keyleth had rented a private room for the two of them on the floor below, chances were they had locked Vex’s bag away in there.
He told her as such.
Fingers pinching her chin, Vex hummed in thought, clearly cooking up something in that brilliant mind of hers.
Then she turned back towards him, and her grin had grown wicked. “I have an idea.”
And that’s how Percy found himself outside Vax and Keyleth’s room, mentally preparing excuses in his head in case any of the hostel staff caught them while Vex, now in Grog’s shorts, Percy’s coat and a pair of flip-flops, attempted to pick the lock on their door. Thank goodness there had been a spare lockpicking kit in the Volvo. As to why there was a lockpicking kit in the car in the first place, let alone a spare, was another question entirely.
“I do not mean to hurry you,” Percy began, and Vex sighed through her nose. Even in that utter disaster of an ‘outfit’ she was gorgeous.
“Then don’t.”
“The rest left for breakfast about forty minutes ago,” he finished, looking down the hall with a keen eye. At least Trinket would be the first up to warn them.
Bless that dog.
“Keyleth is hungover and none of them speak German,” Vex told him, eyes glued on the task at hand. “They won’t be as quick as you think.” Percy fell silent, but it didn’t do much to ease his anxiety.
In his pocket, his phone buzzed. Beside him, the door opened with a click.
Vex turned to him with a triumphant smile. It was like staring at the sun, blinding and brilliant, warming him beneath its golden rays. Suddenly he was reminded of that photo of a younger Vex, catching a glimpse of the girl that still breathed somewhere beneath the surface, of the joy in her eyes and the life in her smile.
“Come on,” Vex breathed, ushering him inside. “Quickly.”
The two scurried into the room like thieves, shutting the door behind them.
Percy flicked on a light. The room was nice, cosy, with a double bed, a rickety nightstand, and a worn carpet beneath their feet. To the left was an ensuite, and straight ahead a window which he assumed looked over the internal courtyard. Along the wall to the right sat a double bed, and sitting against the foot of it, was a sky blue bag.
“Ah, there it is, the dickheads,” Vex breathed, striding across the room.
While she began dressing herself, Percy turned, eyes landing on the armchair in the corner, piled with clothing and... things. So, that's what Keyleth and Vax had gotten up to after leaving early. Percy had alway assumed as much. He didn't need the details.
Not wanting to intrude any longer, he busied himself with his phone, finding a couple messages in the group chat, mostly pictures of items on menus that their friends wanted a translation for, followed by a ‘you guys alright?’ from Pike, sent a minute ago.
“They are asking us where we are,” Percy spoke over the rustling of clothing.
“Don’t open the chat,” Vex responded, “but do keep an eye out to see if they alert us when they leave.”
Percy nodded and returned his phone to his pocket. They could figure out the translations on their own. The internet and dictionaries did exist, after all.
“All-right,” Vex breathed after a moment, and Percy spun, finding her now dressed in a pair of jeans, a blue long-sleeve collared top, and a warm jacket, his own coat on the bed beside her. His heart twisted a little at the sight. So he liked seeing Vex in his clothing. Sue him. “Help me with this?”
Percy swallowed and nodded, before moving to help Vex shove their friends clothing and toiletries into their respective bags, picking up items and articles of clothing he wished he could forget he ever saw, let alone have touched.
Judging from Vex’s face, she had learnt too much about her brother’s sex life than she cared to know.
When they were finished, Percy shrugged Vax’s bag over his shoulder and took Keyleth’s with the other hand, watching as Vex secured her own. They moved out the room, ensuring the door was locked behind them, before Vex was turning back towards the dorms and Percy towards the stairs. He paused and stared at the car keys in his hand. This counter-prank just wasn't... enough. They needed to up the ante a little. Hit back harder.
“Percy?” Vex questioned, noting his hesitance. “Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts.”
He had grown up one of seven children. Second thoughts about pulling pranks was not in his nature. Percy turned towards her. “We should hide your bag too.”
Vex blinked at him, a question on her features, before morphing onto one of understanding. “Oh,” she chuckled, “if you’re suggesting what I’m thinking, that is devious, darling.”
Percy simply grinned back at her. She wasn’t the only one who’s inner child had awoken and was now demanding feeding.
So instead of dumping two bags in the Volvo as originally planned, knowing that Vax had the spare key to the car, they took three bags to the laundromat next door, paid the attendants a generous amount, and left them there.
“Breakfast?” Vex asked as they left the building, offering Percy her arm.
“I would love to,” Percy returned, a smile on his face as he took it and together, they started down the street, Vex dressed in his coat once more.
----------
Vox Machina
Not Vex
Haha
Very funny
You got us
Meat Man
????
I didn’t do anything
Not Vex
Not you
Vex
And Percy, I assume
No Mercy
What did I do?
Not Vex
Where are you?
No Mercy
[photo]
Pickle
Cute!
You two sharing clothes now hmmm?
Not Vax
No, you assholes stole mine so I’m borrowing Percys coat
Not Vex
Sure hope you’re wearing something underneath that
Not Vax
Am I?
;)
Not Vex
Don’t wanna know
So if Vex doesn’t have them, where are our bags?
Scanlan?
Meat Man
I’ve been with you all morning!
Not Vex
Then where are you now?
Meat Man
Taken Trinket to the park with Pike and Grog
Being a responsible person here
Jeez
Pickle
[photo]
Only Grog is strong enough to walk Trinket
Kiki
Seriously this isn’t funny, someone broke into our room and took our stuff
Including yours, Vex
We’re so sorry
It wasn’t just supposed to be a prank, we thought your bag would be safe in our room
Please don’t kill us
I’m so so sorry
We didn’t know this would happen!
Pickle
Oh god seriously?
We’re coming back now
Have you check their dorms?
Not Vax
You’re all dead
After I finish enjoying my pastry and coffee
So you all have until we get back to find my shit before I start killing people
Kiki
Yeah already checked
Both of them
Pickle
What about at reception?
Maybe you didn’t book for tonight and they moved your stuff out the room
Not Vex
We’ll talk to the staff
Ah, fuck
My medication
This is bad
Not Vax
I’ve got your emergency supply
Not Vex
But your bag is missing too
Not Vax
Shit
Kiki
Oh god
I’m never pranking people again
This feels like karma
Meat Man
Karma is having your stuff stolen?
Kiki
I don’t know, maybe!
Meat Man
Grog thinks this is hilarious
Just fyi
Keeping him updated
Kiki
Appreciate it, Scanlan
Meat Man
Someone has to
Not Vex
Shit, nothing at reception
We’ve booked the room for tonight
They said none of the cleaning staff have been in
They DID however, see two people walking out with three bags this morning
One with white hair
Meat Man
Hahahaha
No Mercy
That could be anyone
Not Vex
I’m going to kill you both
Keyleth was having a breakdown
Geolocating that photo you sent now
Not Vax
Thanks for the warning
Good luck catching us!
And hermano?
Don’t take my stuff ;)
Not Vex
I don’t even feel the slightest bit bad about what you guys had to see in that room now
Though I was wondering what kind of thief packs up all of the stuff that was scattered around
Meat Man
HAHAHAHAHAH
I want details
Pickle
Seconded!
Kiki
Not in the chat
Please