Snow Addiction [Vikklan AU]*ON HOLD*

Chapter Three: Vik Hates People

Vik wasn't sure what he was doing. (same)

He sat with the two strangers, both of which he knew less than his clients. They were all sipping their coffee-well, in Vik's case, hot chocolate as he refused caffeine-silently, and it was extremely awkward. What made Vik want to leave more than anything was knowing that one of the strangers knew what he was doing in the alley. The guy-Lachlan, Vik had heard Rob call him-was not as slick as he thought he was, and only someone as dense as Rob could ignore a slip-up like that.

Vik was still relieved he hadn't been turned into the police yet. Though, as they sat there in silence, he could only imagine that they would arrive in minutes. With a sigh, he thought, if I'm going down, I might as well finish my drink. The hot chocolate burned his tongue and left a bitter taste at the back of his throat.

"Hey, I have to go to the bathroom," Rob said, standing up. "Why don't you two chat?"

Vik realized then that Rob actually was an idiot.

The two of them, Vik and Lachlan, sat there in silence. Lachlan was fiddling with his pencil, doing something that looked like his homework, and Vik was staring at his hands that rested on his lap. Vik decided to be the one that spoke first. "You know, coffee is extremely addictive."

"Isn't that interesting?" Lachlan said, staring at Vik as he took another sip of his cup. Vik could tell that the two of them were thinking about the same thing, but neither of them brought it up. The awkward silence returned, and Vik shifted under Lachlan's gaze.

"Staring is considered rude, y'know," he said.

"Shouldn't it be considered flattering, though?" Vik rolled his eyes.

"Sure." He felt a kick on his leg under the table. "What was that for?"

"Being a sassy bastard," Lachlan muttered, smiling. Vik was taken back; the smile wasn't a malicious one, one you'd use when calling someone a "sassy bastard." It was the kind that would be reserved for the closest of friends. It was the kind that made you want to smile back.

Vik didn't.

Instead, he looked away at the entirely glass wall of the cafe. The windows were nearly covered in frost, and it was hard to see outside. Vik could make out the blurry figures as they walked past, decked in the warmest gear and on their way to another part of their perfect lives. Vik envied them, wishing he could have a nice coat and be able to return home with a smile.

"Are you okay?" Lachlan asked. "You look deep in thought."

"Wouldn't it be best to not interrupt someone when they look deep in thought," Vik grumbled. Lachlan looked guilty immediately.

"Sorry."

Vik really wasn't angry that Lachlan had pulled him out of his thoughts. In fact, he was grateful-not that he'll ever admit it. Sometimes, his thoughts were scary. They'd make him forget reality, get lost in a whirlpool of wondering. It was definitely better to be out of his head. Unfortunately for Vik, he was surrounded by silence often with no one around willing to pull him out of his state of thinking. "I'm over it."

"What's your favorite color?"

"What?" Vik blurted out. He wasn't expecting a random question like that.

"What's your favorite color?" Lachlan asked again.

"Why do you ask?"

"I don't know. Rob's been gone for so long, he probably fell in," Vik snorted at that, "and I'm bored. Let's talk."

"If you're bored, do your homework."

Lachlan chuckled. "This isn't homework, though I guess it makes me seem a lot smarter than I am. I'm just scribbling."