#eventual princxiety

[whyiask]

Just a Stupid Dare (ch.9)

Masterpost Ao3 Link tws: u!dark sides (not as much virgil anymore), peer pressure(???) i don’t know, Janus is just generally a Not Good person, some swearing notes:.....hahaha.....long time no see...... so things have been a bit busy lately and I'm almost ready to hop back onto my consistent posting schedule. For now, enjoy this update :) expect more consistent updates starting again soon <3 thank you all for reading (please feel free to drop by my askbox to yell at me about this fic! i would absolutely love it.)

Virgil swallowed nervously. Why wouldn’t he be nervous? What was he even supposed to tell them? ‘Oh, so you know how I was supposed to befriend Roman so that we could hurt him? Well turns out, I actually like being his friend and now I don’t know what to do.’

Yeah no. He had to think of something better than that.

Janus was staring at him expectantly, coldly. Virgil had to bite back a shiver at the downright murderous glint in his eyes.

Remus pushed past him into the house, pulling out a miniature metal detector and moving towards the pantry. Virgil watched him go, slightly confused but used to the odd behavior. Janus watched him leave impassively.

“What. The fuck. Was that about.”

Virgil opened his mouth to respond but Janus cut him off with a sharp wave of his hand.

“And don’t even think of lying to me.” The words were cold and quiet, and Virgil couldn’t stop the tiny flinch.

His mind raced. What did Janus want from him? To hurt Roman. To bully an innocent peer. Right. He could work with this.

“I- uh-” He cast his mind around, searching for an answer to the question. He himself didn’t know what the honest answer would be. What even were they anymore? Were they, dare he say it, friends?

No. He couldn’t get his hopes up. It’s too late for that. He was already neck deep in this mess, and it would be unfair to Roman to start being genuine now, ignoring his past malicious intent.

“Time,” he blurted out, panicking at the sight of Janus’s eyebrow slowly creeping up his face. “I just need more time.”

“Time to do what, exactly?” Janus’s stare was piercing and Virgil forced himself to commit to the lie.

“Time to befriend him. He doesn’t fully trust me yet. Today was a big step, he finally felt comfortable enough to come over, but you two showing up might’ve thrown that back a little bit.”

The lies tasted bitter on his tongue. There was no way he could carry through with the plan, he couldn’t. He couldn’t hurt Roman, when all Roman had been was kind and charming and ridiculously endearing and-

Janus’s entire demeanor changed in an instant. It was like someone had flicked on a light switch. His eyes cleared of their hard anger and distrust, and his lips twitched into a semi-smirk.

“That’s… actually not a horrible plan. I didn’t think you’d be sticking to this so much.” His tone was mildly impressed, and Virgil felt his heart swell a little in pride, before shaking himself. No. This was the guy who wanted to hurt Roman. (When had Roman become such an influence in his decisions? He didn’t know, he would never know.)

“Yeah, well, you know what they say about me.” Virgil shrugged awkwardly. Janus barked out a laugh and Virgil felt his muscles relax a millimeter.

“Oh, do humor me. What do they say?” Janus’s tone was teasing and Virgil hummed a reply. This felt so natural, so easy. He could almost forget about how scared he had been not a minute earlier.

“I never do anything half-assed. BS’ing my way through a project? I’ll go all out. Anxiety? Better go all out and make it severe anxiety. Befriending a nobody to ultimately backstab them? Well, never let it be said that I don’t try my absolute hardest to get it right.”

Virgil was almost ashamed of how easily the slander rolled off his tongue. This wasn’t right, he shouldn’t be talking about Roman as if he were just some random kid. Janus laughed again.

“Let’s say… a week, then,” said Janus, eyes glinting with mischief and glee.

Virgil was jolted out of his thoughts. “A week for what?”

“A week to befriend him, utterly and completely. If you flake out, I won’t blame you. I bet it’s pretty hard to pretend to like that absolute loser. I bet $20 that you’ll drop out before the week is over. Prove me wrong, Virgil Summers. Prove me wrong.”

The last words were barely above a whisper and Virgil gave Janus a mini mock salute.

“Maybe I will.”

Remus popped out of the pantry, effectively ruining the moment.

“He trusts so easily, honestly. The wimp tried to befriend me at first, but I showed him what’s it’s really like to be a Stone. He gets so attached and so so emotional. Like waah waah, I don’t want to be your friend, you fuckin naked mole rat.”

Janus laughed and Virgil forced out a laugh too. Remus ranted for a few more minutes about his step brother, before finally moving on. The Dark Sides stayed over for a few hours, and Virgil felt himself relax into an easy state around them again. It was only after they left that he allowed himself to think.

Virgil turned away from the door and something caught his eye. Roman’s jacket still hung from his coat rack. He lifted it off gently and held it gently. Looking at it closer, he nearly snorted with laughter. It was knee-length and dramatic and so unbelievably Roman. He could not imagine a single other person pulling off such a fashion statement, but with Roman, the long trenchcoat and round, tinted red glasses worked.

Roman could probably pull off anything, no matter how dramatic of a statement, if he was being honest. But like usual, Virgil’s main hobby included lying to himself and everyone around him.

Lies… weren’t his favorite thing. They were much more Jan’s thing, what with manipulation and the works. He preferred to work behind the shadows, where no one could see and question him, where he wouldn’t be put on the spot and forced to sound convincing enough to alter someone’s perception of reality. Sure, he might be fairly good at stretching the truth, but that was just that. Based on truth. Based on a solid foundation to work with.

He was getting away with so many lies, and that scared him. He didn’t want to be a liar, not to his closest friends. Janus and Remus and Roman- when had Roman made it onto that list?

As much as he hated to admit it, Roman was one of his favorite people, ever. He had one week. One week to figure out what to do. Who to pick. One week.

It was altogether way too much time and not nearly enough.

He looked down at the ridiculous coat in his arms. One week was all he had.

After that… who knew what would happen. It would be over. He wasn’t quite sure what was going to end, but in his heart, he knew something would never be the same again.

One week.

He didn’t have a fucking clue on what to do.

Only one week.

He took a deep breath. He would enjoy this, as much as he could. He would treasure this time with Roman and he wouldn’t think too hard about what was to come.

He’d burn that bridge when he got to it.

[deadanddeactivated]

A Wolf in the Woods

Fandom: Sanders Sides Pairing: Dukceit, Princxiety Characters: Thomas, Logan, Remus, Deceit, Roman, Virgil, Patton Notes: Day 16 for @tsshipmonth2020​ - dukceit.  Yes I know this is super late.  It also took like 3 attempts and now isn’t even super dukceit-y but i’m proud of it. Summary:  Don’t go into the woods.  Parents whisper the plea to their children late at night when wondering eyes looking for adventure stray to a clear path through the trees.  There’s a wolf in the woods, and he holds a grudge.  They warn.

AO3

--

Don’t go into the woods. ��Parents whisper the plea to their children late at night when wondering eyes looking for adventure stray to a clear path through the trees.  There’s a wolf in the woods, and he holds a grudge.  They warn.

This town played a terrible game and lost.  The town librarian tells the curious children, the ones who find frustration in their parents insistence in brushing off questions.  But it is not the wolf that holds a grudge, it is the witch in the red riding hood.

“There isn’t a witch in a red coat!”  A boy claims, unaware how lucky he is that he alone has come to the man today.  “Only a witch in a green riding hood.”

“There is a witch in a green riding hood.”  The man agrees, humming.  “The town tried to hurt him dearly, but it is not him that holds the grudge.”  He doesn’t continue and the boy can only huff in frustration as he leaves.  He’s never seen a witch in a red coat but he is curious and he is unafraid.  He’s seen the wolf and the witch, they don’t scare him.  The witch has even said hi to him!

The other kids always whisper when he says things like that.  They turn away from him and they’d tell their parents if they didn’t know they’d also get in trouble for talking about the woods.  But that’s fine.  He doesn’t need them to like him, and this way no one tries to stop him when he sneaks onto the forest path.

The path has always led somewhere different.  Today it leads to a clearing with a glass case resting in it’s center.  The case looks as though someone has slept in it and the boy thinks that would be nice, because the top is a glass dome that would let you stare up into the stars as you drifted off.  

“Perhaps it would have been nice,” the librarian hums when the boy reports back the next day, “in better circumstances.”

What do you mean?  The boy asks, frowning.  

“The person who slept in that glass case could not wake of his own free will, that would quite distract from the view of the stars.”  The man explains.  He shelved two more books as the boy took in his words.

“Was it the red witch?”  The boy asks.  “Is that why he holds a grudge?”

“It was indeed the red witch.”  The librarian confirms, a proud tilt to his lips that the boy had figured it out.  “But that’s not why he holds a grudge, he knows it was an accident.”

“How could it be an accident?”  The boy sighs.  The librarian hums a moment more before taking a book from the shelf, a book the boy has never seen.  A book he doesn’t think his parents would like to see.

“Perhaps this will help.  Though I would suggest you keep it hidden.” 

The boy reads the book through the night, tucked away under his blankets.  The book is on witchcraft, on the nature of spells and of breaking them.  Intent, it says, intent is the most important part of casting a spell.  But breaking a spell is not so easy.  

When morning comes the boy has a lot of pieces but no idea how they fit together.  He returns to the library with a frown, book hidden in his bag.

“Did that help?”  The librarian asks.

“Is there a history book?  An old one, about the town?”  The boy returns, not answering the question.  The librarian is surprised a moment before turning to look over his shelves.  Eventually, with an ‘aha’ he pulls a book out.  It doesn’t look like a history.

“There is.”  He says.  “Not an honest one.  But maybe this will help.”

“What is it?”  The boy asks as he takes the book.  If it even had a title it has long since been worn away by time.

“It’s about the wolf.”  The librarian answers.  

Not wanting to wait until night to read, certainly not wanting to get caught reading, the boy once more follows the path into the forest.  This time it leads to a river, at which he sits and reads all day.

The book is indeed about a wolf, but not a real wolf.  He’s something else that’s been cursed with bloodlust that rises like the moon.  The story tugs at his memory until the boy refers back to the first book the librarian gave him.  There’s a creature in there, a powerful magical creature, that can be bound.  

The town couldn’t’ve bound a creature, at least the boy doesn’t think so.  But it could have made the creature bloodthristy.

“Was it the green witch?”  He asks nervously the next town, clutching the books like a lifeline.  “Did he help the town curse the wolf?  And the red witch?”

“Not at all.”  The librarian assures, face softening a little when the boys shoulders slump with release.  “The wolf’s binding was an accident by a third witch, the town took advantage of that.  The third witch was trying to help but ultimately it was the green witch that broke the curse.”

“Did he break the red witch’s curse too?”  The boy hopes.

“Not at all.”  The librarian shook his head.  “There’s only one way to broke curses like those, and the green witch could only do that for the wolf.”

“What way?”  The boy presses.

“Well, you’ve read plenty of books.  You should know.”  The boy frowns at the answer.  He didn’t see anything about breaking those curses in the books the librarian had given him.  But then, he had read plenty of books that had curses and they were all broken the same way.

“True love’s kiss?”  He guesses.

“Precisely.”  The librarian nods.  “The green witch was the wolf's true love.  His brother, the red witch, had his own true love, who woke him.”  

“So it all worked out?”  The boy says.

“It did.”  The librarian confirms.

“Then why does the red witch hold a grudge?”  The boy asks.  “If the sleeping spell was an accident and everything worked out…”

“There’s still something you’re missing.”  The librarian says then, after a pause, he continues.  “Why was the green witch in the forest in the first place?”  The boy opens his mouth to answer and then stops.

Why was the green witch in the forest?  All the growns up only talk about the wolf, it’s just the librarian that mentions the witches.  The librarian’s always said that’s because the wolf has been around longer.  So why would the green witch enter the forest, before the wolf’s blood lust had been cured.  Wouldn’t he be risking death?

“Why is there a wolf in the woods?”  The boy asks his parents that night, still puzzling over the librarian’s words.  His parents share a gaze, the one they often share.  They think their child is too curious, too dangerous.  They think he hasn’t noticed these gazes.  Eventually his mother sighs and speaks.

“The wolf used to protect the town from witches and demons.”  She says.  “But only if the town stayed out of it’s woods.  Now there aren’t any more witches or demons for the wolf to eat, and so it eats children instead.”  She claims.

“When was the last time it ate a child?”  The boy asks, frowning slightly.  The wolf’s bloodlust had been cured, why would it still be hurting people?  His parents share another look.

“That’s enough questions.”  His father huffs.  “Finish your dinner and then straight to bed with you.”  So he hasn’t eaten any children, the boy presumes.  He doesn’t say that, he knows better. 

The next day he tries to find the librarian but the man isn’t in his library.  Walking around town, the boy eventually finds him sitting on the edge of the forest, reading a book.

“Hello.”  He greets, not looking up as the boy approaches.  No one else is around.

“The town wanted the wolf to kill the green witch, didn’t they?”  He says.  “They made him go into the forest.  The red witch holds a grudge because the town tried to kill his brother.”

“Almost.”  The librarian smiles.  He pats the spot next to him and the boy sat down, looking at the book as the librarian moves it to share.  There’s a crude drawing of two boys, one in a red riding hood and the other a green hood with a white streak through his hair.  “The town wanted to kill the red witch.”  The librarian explains.  “But the green witch took his place.”  The next page has the same boys but this time their hoods have been switched.

“He made the red witch sleep so he won’t get in the way.”  The boy guesses.

“The spell was too powerful.”  The librarian says, turning the next page to show the brother without a streak laying in his bed.  “The green witch had figured it was his last spell, his magic reacted and cast a serious curse.  It would only be broken with the green witch’s death, or true loves kiss.”

“But the green witch didn’t die.”  The boy says.  

“No, the wolf did everything he could to lead the green witch to the safe house.”  The librarian says.  The next page had the green witch sitting in front of a nice cabin surrounded by trees.  In those trees the wolf was hiding.  “They became friends rather quick.”

“And that’s when the green witch broke the spell?”

“No, it would be quite some time before that.”  The librarian smiles.  He turns the page to show the red witch laying in the glass coffin.  “The town thought he was under a spell but by his evil brother, and they thought he was bad luck, so they dragged him to the forest.  Of course the wolf found him.”

“When did his true love show up?”  

“I’m getting there.”  The librarian assures.  “The red witch and the wolf had been friends for years, unbeknownst to the green witch, so the wolf already knew the red witch’s true love.  But he was away with another witch, saving a young boy who was trapped in a tower.  They would have to wait for the true love to get back.”  The next page shows the green witch sitting beside the red witch’s case, clutching the red cloak tight.  The wolf sits with him.

“Over the weeks the green witch and wolf grew closer and the green witch started to truly learn his powers, and he started to learn of the wolf’s curse.”  He turns the page, showing the green witch sitting in the cabin surrounded by books.  “But the wolf said nothing could be done, and he didn’t want to talk about it.”  The next page shows the wolf and green witch, appearing as though they’d been arguing.

“Finally the true love returned, with the tower boy and the first witch in tow.”  The page shows the three knew arrivals, drawn in purple, dark blue, and light blue respectively.  “He took one look at the green witch and knew something was wrong.  It took some time to convince him he was the red witch’s true love, but when he finally kissed the red witch, the curse was broken.”  The next page shows the red witch sitting up in the case with the true love close by.

“What about the wolf?”  The boy presses.

“You’re rather impatient all of a sudden.”  The librarian sighs.  “The green witch and the first witch spent every moment trying to find a way to break the wolf’s curse.”  The two of them were surrounded by books in the main room, with the tower boy sitting nearby also reading.  “The only cure they could find was true love's kiss, and the tower boy immediately told the green witch to kiss the wolf then, because they were obviously in love.”  

“The green witch didn’t need anymore convincing, he immediately marched up to the wolf and before the wolf could say hello, they were kissing.”  The page shows the two together and the next page shows the wolf, only without his eyes.  The boy cheers.

“But why did they stay?”  He asks.  “If the wolf wasn’t bound to the forest anymore, wouldn’t he want to explore?”

“The wolf never minded being bound to the forest, they’re his home.  So he and the green witch settled here, and the first witch settled in his cabin.  The red witch and his true love travel often, but always come to visit.”  The librarian explains.

“And the tower boy?”  

“He comes and goes, but he never goes far.”  The librarian assures.  “He tries to ensure people don’t fear his family.”

“A little bit of fear seems to be okay.”  The boy says.  “That way no one bothers them.”

“I suppose.”  The librarian agrees.  

“I wish I could find a cabin in the woods like they did.  Minus all the curses, I guess.  It sounds much better than this town.”  The boy sighs.  

“For people like us, a cabin in the woods is a much nicer life indeed.”  The librarian hums.  “Perhaps,” he starts, “you’d like to meet them?”

“Really?”  The boy jumps up instantly and the librarian can’t help a chuckle.  They walk into the forest, falling the path that today leads to a homely cabin.

“You’re home!  Finally!”  A man in purple says, pushing the door open.  “I have been worried sick!”  

“The true love.”  The boy whispers, staring eyes wide.  

“I found someone who wanted to meet you all.”  The librarian smiles.

“Oh a young witch!”  A new voice smiles, this man dressed in blue.  “Come in, come in.  My name is Patton.”  He greets.

“Patton!”  The True Love scolds.

“Oh stop being such a worry wart.  If he’s to stay with us, he should know our names.”  The witch in red steps into view from the side of the house.  “I’m Roman.”

“Stay?”  The boy repeats, confused.  

“Only if you’d like.”  The librarian says.  “I assure you, you’ll find much more love here than in town.  And you can leave whenever you’d like.  Take as long as you need to decide.”

“I’d like to stay!”  The boy decides instantly, grinning.

“In that case, you may call me Logan.”  The librarian smiles.

“Fine, fine.”  The true love gives in.  “My name is Virgil, welcome to the family kid.”  He says, the hint of a smile on his face.

“New family?!”  Someone calls and then, before the boy can realize what’s happening, he’s scooped into a hug by someone in a green riding hood.  “It’s the little witch!  Hello kiddo!  I’m Remus, I’m going to be your new uncle, it’ll be great!”  The man announces, making the boy laugh.

“Put him down Remus.”  A final voice calls, the voice of the wolf.  Remus doesn’t put him down, but he doesn’t stop swaying so that the boy can see the final person.  “Hello little one, you can call me Dante.”  He greets.

“Hi!”  The boy says, looking to everyone and smiling wide.  “I’m Thomas!” 

Don’t go into the woods.  Parents will whisper the plea to their children late at night when wondering eyes looking for adventure stray to a clear path through the trees.  There’s a wolf in the woods, and he holds a grudge.  He stole the Thomas boy just last week. That’s what they’ll say, unaware of a growing witch whose finally found the place he belongs.

[sanders-specs]

Heart-Bound: Logan

Summary: Logan and Patton live two different lives. Logan has two loving parents, a best friend and his best friend's loving parents. Patton comes from a broken home, with a father who resents Patton for being like his mother, and a mother who left when he was a baby. The one thing they have in common, though, is the mark over their chests, connecting them by the heart. Their soul-marks. After years of both of them going through hardships and grief, they find each other. They tell their stories. However, there are yet more obstacles for them to go through, this time, though, they have to figure them out together.

A/N: So this is my soulmate AU that I’ve been talking about! It is inspired by @ipizzalover2003s  prompt  which is amazing and i love it and just had to write it, even though it took literal months. I played around with a different way of writing, so hopefully it flows. I hope you guys enjoy! big thanks to @honeyglazedchicken for being my editor on this. thanks for putting up with me! Love ya 

Parings: Logicality, Princxiety 

Warnings: mentions of death, mentions of injury, loneliness, hints of abuse, bullying (let me know if I need to tag anything else) 

Also on Ao3

Tag list:  @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch @dan-yuna @tripleaaaqueer @lilbeanblr @helloisthisusernametaken @justanotherpurplebutterfly @alwaysmy-lilith

Soulmates are a rare thing.

For two people to be born at the exact time on the exact day that are the exact match for each other was almost a myth. There was no indicator of when a person would be born with a soul-mark—a mark set over the person’s heart, a mark that matched with their soulmate. It wasn’t genetic. It wasn’t anything anyone could control. The chances of a soulmate meeting another person with a soul-mark that was not their own was slim to none, though not unheard of.

It was up to fate, most people said. When, where, and how two soulmates meet was not something that could be predicted or planned. It just...happened.

As for soul-marks, well, they could be anything. Most speculate that they reflect the pair of soulmates. Sometimes they were simple, like a star or a flower. Other times, though, they were intricate and specific, like a fountain pen dripping ink in the shape of a heart.

Logan was born with a small mark on his chest. It could have easily been mistaken for a strange birthmark. Too many times, though, had Logan cried as if he were hungry even if he’d just been fed more than enough just a few moments prior. He’d wince as if in pain, even if he’d only been lying sleepily in his mother’s arms.

It scared his parents at first. After multiple trips to the hospital, the doctors and his parents came to the conclusion that Logan did indeed have a soulmate. They had been told that the only way to help Logan’s soulmate was to keep Logan as healthy as possible.

Logan's parents did everything they could. They made sure Logan was always careful, fed him food that was supposed to be good for his heart, held him when he cried from confusion due to emotions that he didn’t understand.

Logan was five when his parents explained to him what a soulmate was.

He’d been teased and picked on at school for crying without reason, his elbows and knees suddenly screaming with pain. His mother had come pick him up early, letting Logan cry as much as he’d needed to. That night, his parents sandwiched him on his bed, like they did every night when they were going to tell a story.

“Have you ever wondered what this little mark over your heart is?” his mother asked, pointing to Logan’s heart.

Logan pulled down the collar of his space themed shirt to reveal the pen and heart that had been on his chest his whole life. “Virgil says that it’s a birthmark,” Logan said. “He’s got one too. His looks like a rose with thorns on it.”

His parents exchanged a look. That was news, but it was something to be talked about later. “You’re almost right,” his father said. “It is a mark that you’ve had since you were born, but it means so much more.”

“You see, starling,” his mother said, “there is something called soulmates. They are a pair of people who were born on the same day at the same time and who have a very special bond. It’s called a heart bond, where two people share the same heart.”

Logan’s brows furrowed. “How does that work?”

His parents chuckled. His mother took his hand and put it over his heart. “Do you feel your heart beating?” she asked. Logan nodded. “Somewhere out there, someone with the exact same mark has a heart that is beating at the exact same time as yours. Every beat you feel is in time with someone else’s.”

Logan’s eyes widened. “That’s so cool!” he exclaimed. “Who is the other person?”

“We don’t know,” his father said.

Logan pouted at that, and his parents laughed. “Don’t worry, little star,” his mother said, and ruffled his hair. “You’ve got a lifetime to find them.”

Logan nodded, but frowned. “Is that why I feel owies when I don’t do anything wrong?”

“Yes,” his father said. “You see, the heart bond is so close, so personal, you can feel when your heart-bound, too, is hurting. You can feel their pain and they can feel yours.”

Logan eyes widened even more at that before they started to tear up again. “Why are they always hurting?” he asked. “I don’t get hurt as much as they do during the day.”

“Oh honey,” his mother pulled him into her arms, and his father wrapped his arms around both of them. “We don’t know,” she said. “We wish we could stop the pain. For both of you.”

“The best thing we can do,” his father said, reaching up to brush away Logan’s tears, “is to take care of you. That’s why you have to be careful and eat healthy, and when you do feel pain, try not to do anything that might make it worse. Never be afraid to ask Mommy or me for help.”

Logan nodded, sniffling. His mother brushed his hair back and kissed his forehead. “And remember to take care of your heart, starling,” she said, tucking him back into bed. “That is the most important thing.”

Logan nodded, smiling a little as his parents kiss his cheeks and turn his light out. He snuggled into bed as they turned to leave, but sat up again when a thought occurred to him. “Mommy, Daddy?”

His parents stopped and turned to him. “Yes, starling?”

“If my soulmate has the same heart as me, does that mean you love them like you do me?”

His parents were silent for a moment, but they smiled from the doorway. “Yes, Logan,” his father said. “We love them like we love you.”

“Good,” Logan said settling down again, putting his hand over his heart, his eyes slipping closed as he yawned, “because he deserves alllll the love in the world…”

When Logan was six, his parents decided to move.

After months and months of Logan and Virgil getting teased and bullied by peers that didn't understand, their parents got together to discuss moving. The boys had been friends since they were born, and their parents knew that separating them wasn’t a good idea. Besides, it would be better for them to have someone around who understood. Someone who could help the other out in a way their parents couldn’t.

Throughout the conversation, Logan and Virgil sat on the staircase in Logan’s house, listening in. Virgil felt terrible, Logan knew. Virgil blamed himself for making his parents move, but Logan had to reassure him, somehow.

“We’ll still be going to school together, though,” Logan whispered to him. “That’s good right?”

Virgil just nodded. “And we’ll be at a new place, so the kids won’t know us. They won’t pick on us,” Logan went on. Again, Virgil only nodded. This time, though, he grabbed Logan’s hand and squeezed it. Logan let him, knowing that it was a form of comfort for him, and Logan wanted to do as much as he could to keep Virgil calm. They stayed like that when their parents eventually called them down to tell them the news.

They moved far enough away that it would be a fresh start for all of them. Logan and Virgil were put into a class together at a new school and they made a silent agreement to never saying anything about their soul-marks. It wasn’t something anyone but them needed to know, their parents had told them. Most kids would just be jealous, anyway.

It was better. Not perfect, but better.

By the time Logan was eleven, he’d learned to deal with the pain. He knew how to hide when it happened, slowly being able to tell when it was just bruises that he could ice later, or if it was something dire. It only ever happened during school, so he had to learn to push back the pain. He forced himself to focus entirely on his school work. It was easier than having to think about what kind of hell his soulmate was going through.

That was the year, though, when Logan learned just what happens when one heart-bound is in more than just a little pain.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Logan asked when his parents came to say goodnight. “That if my soulmate dies, I die too?”

His parents exchanged a look. “We didn’t want to risk it scaring you,” his mother said. “We wanted you to live your life like you wanted to, Lo. Not at the expense of your heart-bound.”

And remember, starling, take care of your heart. That is the most important thing.

Logan sighed, shaking his head. “I suppose you expect me to marry my soulmate too.” That had been another conversation at school; about how every pair of soulmates is expected to marry. It was like it hadn’t even occurred to anyone that they would do anything else. Logan was glad that Virgil had been absent for that particular conversation. He was already anxious about having a soulmate, not to mention how often his soulmate seemed to get injured (in more severe ways than Logan’s at least).

“Logan,” his father said gently, yet firmly, “We want you live your life. If that means you don’t want to get married, then we’ll support you. There is nothing wrong with that.”

“Just because everyone else has these ideas that all soulmates are meant to be in love with each other doesn’t mean it has to be true for you, starling,” his mother said. “It’s your life to lead. Your heart-bound is meant to be your companion through it all, if you so choose them to be. Marriage…that has nothing to do with it.”

Logan just nodded and relaxed. His parents always had a way of easing his worries. They always knew the right thing to say.

Logan sat on his bed, absentmindedly tracing over his soul-mark as he stared up at the ceiling. He’d given up on sleep a long time ago. He’d felt a deep, unending sadness inside of him that he somehow knew didn’t belong to him. He didn’t know, what, exactly made his soulmate so upset, but he longed to be able to comfort them. He did so the only way he ever knew how; by touching their soul-mark.

Over the years they’d found that the they could only feel each other when they touched their soul-mark. They could feel each other’s extreme emotions—pain being the most common one—but otherwise they seemed to be only distantly able to feel one another. Touching their soul-mark felt almost like touching them.

It became a form of comfort. Whenever one was in pain, the other would gently trace the soul-mark. Whenever one of them was sad, not unlike that night, the other would trace the soul-mark as a reminder that, no matter what, they were still out there.

Logan felt pressure over his heart and he sat back, closing his eyes. He pressed his own palm against his heart, letting a few tears slip out of his eyes. He only ever cried in the comfort of his own room anymore. He couldn’t explain to anyone other than those closest to him why he was crying, so there was no use in letting someone else see him so vulnerable. Even then…how could he explain this deep sadness and loneliness his soulmate felt?

He’d made a big deal about it earlier, but truth be told he knew he loved his soulmate. He didn’t know in what way, exactly, but he knew he cared for them. He knew that once they eventually found each other, no matter what, Logan wouldn’t let them out of his life without a fight.

Logan was fourteen when his life was turned upside down.

He’d been over at Virgil’s house, working on a project. For once, it seemed that both of their soulmates were content. Logan, at least, had felt a comfortable happiness that he wasn’t exactly used to feeling concerning his soulmate, but he didn’t argue with it. Every now and then he’d feel the light pressure over his heart and he would return it, which would make that happiness flare.

On Virgil’s part…well his soulmate wasn’t breaking any bones or getting any head injuries, so Virgil counted it as a win.

They’d been in the middle of setting up their World War I model when there was a knock on the door.

“Yes?” Virgil called.

The door opened and both of Virgil’s parents walked in. Logan and Virgil had taken one look at their faces and knew that there was something wrong. Logan felt his heart skip a beat before starting to race, and almost immediately there was that pressure. He returned it, looking up at Mr. and Mrs. Sanders.

“What’s wrong?” Virgil asked, processing their troubled looks at the same time Logan did.

“Uh, well, Logan,” Mrs. Sanders said, slowly, looking at Logan like she didn’t want to have to say it. “There’s been an accident.”

Logan's eyes widened. “What do you mean?” Blood pounded in his ear.

“Your parents they…” Mrs. Sanders stopped, seeming to choke back tears. Her husband wrapped an arm around her and motioned the boys to get up.

“Your parents were in a car accident, Logan,” Mr. Sanders said “They’re at the hospital now.”

Logan could only stare at them. He dropped his hand, even as the pressure increased slightly.

The four of them rushed to the hospital. They sat there for hours, waiting for any sort of news. Logan could only hold his hand over his soul-mark, the pressure being the only form of comfort he had. It was the only thing that kept him from losing it completely.

They were okay they were okay they had to be okay.

It was when the doctor came in and, gently, told him that neither of his parents had made it did Logan drop his hand and let rage fill him. He yelled at the doctor, yelled at Virgil and his family, yelled at all the nurses that tried to calm him down. His parents couldn’t be gone. Those amazing, loving people who had read him bedtime stories and told him all about space and soulmates and love. They couldn’t just be...

Gone.

Virgil had been the one who pinned him down, held him, until Logan’s screams had been reduced to sobs. He clung to his friend in that hospital waiting room, feeling more alone than ever.

Remember to protect your heart, starling, his mother had told him. That’s the most important thing.

They’d raised him to eat all the right foods. To exercise and be cautious. To protect his heart from any kind if illness or physical harm.

But what about this? Logan wanted to scream. He’d never knew pain like this. Through all of the scrapes and bumps he’d endured, through all of the phantom bruises and scratches and even a few fractured bones he’d sat through with his soulmate, he’d never hurt this badly. Nothing was able to break through it. Not the pressure over his heart, not the consoling words of his friend. Nothing.

Logan was sixteen when Roman came into their lives.  

He’d been a transfer student at their school. After a messy two years after his parents death—with adopting Logan, settling anything Logan’s parents had yet to settle, and generally dealing with a grieving Logan and Virgil, not to mention their own—they’d decided to move, hoping that it would help both Logan and Virgil, in any way it could.

The addition of Roman, however, was a relief, because it meant that the two of them were no longer the new kids no one knew what to do with. Or so they’d thought. Where Logan and Virgil had struggled to settle in, Roman had immediately taken over the school. He was funny and kind and so good looking…blah blah blah. Logan heard it all. He wouldn’t have ever paid attention to his new classmate if Virgil wasn’t completely smitten with him.

Of course, with Virgil being Virgil, he’d denied such accusations from Logan. Logan suspected that his friend felt a bit guilty having a crush on someone when his heart-bound was out there somewhere. Virgil refused to admit this, but Logan saw it in his eyes. He knew his friend too well at that point.

It turned out that Roman had at least two classes with them that year. He happened to sit near Virgil in both, and it became increasingly clear that there was no way either of them could have a conversation without bickering one way or the other. They bickered and argued so much that the teacher had had to separate them, though that had hardly stopped it.

When Logan asked Virgil about it one night, Virgil had told him that there was just something about Roman that got under his skin. Logan could see the crush growing though. It seemed that the only way for Virgil to feel comfortable with talking to the other boy was through half-hearted insults and nicknames.

It didn’t help that Roman’s flirting was so blatantly obvious that Virgil defaulted to making fun of the pickup lines. This, of course, irked Roman even more.

It was a warm summer night when Virgil approached Logan and his parents and told them that he’d found his heart-bound.

Virgil’s parents had been elated. Logan shocked, though he got over that as soon as Virgil said that it was Roman.

Well. That certainly made things much clearer.

After agreeing on a date for Roman’s and Virgil’s for the two families to meet, Virgil pulled Logan aside.

“Are you mad?” Virgil asked, biting his lip, uncertainty in his eyes.

“Why would I be mad?” Logan asked.

Virgil shrugged. “I…I don’t know. For finding my soulmate first?”

Logan rolled his eyes and patted his friend’s shoulder. “I am glad that you have managed to find your heart-bound so early in your life. Perhaps now you can keep an eye on him to prevent him from hurting both of you.”

Virgil snorted and shook his head. “Somehow I doubt that’ll happen.”

After that, things changed. Suddenly it wasn’t just Logan and Virgil anymore. There was Roman, who seemed to draw a crowd wherever he went. The two had decided to keep their marks a secret from others, if only because they felt that it was too personal a thing to share. Still, though, their relationship was out for everyone to see.

Many nights Roman was over at their house or Virgil over at his. Many holidays were spent with the two families together. Logan honestly wasn’t sure how he felt about all of this change, but he didn’t complain. Not where there was a light in Virgil’s eyes that he’d never seen before. Logan had overheard Virgil’s parents say that this was the perfect timing, as having Roman around was the exact thing Virgil needed. The death of Logan’s parents had been hard on both of them, and it seemed that now Virgil was starting to come to terms with it.

Logan had to agree. Virgil was much happier now, and Logan had to be happy for him. Even if he did miss the nights the two of them had spent simply enjoying the company that Virgil now spent with Roman. Even if now, Logan felt so much more alone.

He just pushed those feelings away like he did everything else. This time, though, he took a bit of comfort when his own heart-bound reached out to him.

Logan was eighteen when he went off to college.

He’d gotten a full scholarship, been valedictorian, and had a perfect GPA by graduation. No one had expected anything less. Logan, Virgil, and his parents were taking a road trip to Logan’s college, which meant that Logan said goodbye to Roman first.

“Good luck out there, calculator watch!” Roman exclaimed on the night before they were meant to leave.

Logan suppressed a small smile and nodded. “Thank you, Roman.” He glanced over at where Virgil sat on the couch, his headphones on and music blaring and his smile faded. “Please take care of him.”

Roman looked over at Virgil, his face softening the way it only ever did when he was looking at or talking about Virgil. “Of course,” he vowed, turning back to Logan. “Is this the first time you two have been apart? I mean, for more than a few nights?”

Logan nodded, still watching his brother. “Yes. We have been close since childhood. He is a brother in every sense to me. I do not think my leaving will be easy on either of us.”

Roman nodded, looking as serious as Logan had ever seen him. “I’ll be with him,” he promised. He clapped Logan on the shoulder, breaking out into his usual grin. “Besides, you might get lucky and find your own soulmate!”

Logan gave a tight smile. Roman had found out about Logan’s soul-mark after being with Virgil for a few months. Logan had told him, knowing that Virgil wouldn’t feel right keeping it a secret. Besides, Roman knew the comfort on secrecy regarding their soul-marks. Sure enough, he’d kept quiet about these past few years.

“Thank you, Roman,” Logan said. “You have…been very good for Virgil. I am glad he has you.”

Roman looked slightly surprised by that. It was rare for Logan to be so sincere.

Logan’s first week at college was a lonely one, not that Logan had expected anything less. Still, though, he found himself aching for his old room, for the familiar sounds of Virgil’s music sounding through the walls.

The only familiar thing was his heart-bound. Every now and again Logan would press his hand to his chest, and a warm pressure would meet his own. He’d let out a breath, feeling a little bit of the achiness fade away. They were the one person who knew just how nervous Logan was for this. For being on his own for the first time. Many times, when Logan’s heart had been racing, he’d felt the pressure over his chest. His heart-bound trying to soothe him.

It didn’t take long for Logan to fall into a routine. When he didn’t have classes, he studied. When he wasn’t studying, he was in class. Every now and then he’d partake in a school event, usually at the request of is roommate, Thomas, who prompted him to come see the shows that he was in. Logan had gained a sort of appreciation for plays and theater because of Roman, even if he didn’t fully understand them. So he went when he had the time, if only to give himself something to do.

On weekends he usually video chatted with Virgil and sometimes Roman. It seemed that his brother was faring well enough, though there were some nights when Logan could see that something was bothering Virgil. No matter what Logan said, though, Virgil pretended that everything was okay.

Logan didn’t push it. When talking with Roman, the other boy promised that he had things under control. He trusted Roman, and it was obvious that if Virgil wanted Logan to know, then he’d tell him.

Besides Logan had his own thoughts to worry about.

Most mornings, Logan went to a cafe just off of campus. Since it was away from the school, he usually avoided any unwanted interactions or just a bit of peacefulness before the morning rush, if he was early enough.

Though, Logan had to admit that the peace and quiet wasn’t the only reason Logan always went there.  He couldn’t quite explain it, but one of the baristas—who almost always worked the morning shifts—always seemed to grab Logan’s attention. They would say little to each other, but Logan was always greeted and sent off with a wide, bright smile and they’d exchange small smiles throughout Logan’s visit.

For a while that was all it was. Logan hardly ever had a real conversation with the other man, though he would admit that he liked admiring how the other worked. His smile never seemed to falter, he never lost his cool even with angry customers. He joked around with older customers and made even the most sour looking person smile. Logan enjoyed studying him when others weren’t looking, and sometimes he’d be caught, but the other boy wouldn’t be mad. He’d just smile.

Logan supposed that he should’ve felt some kind of remorse. He did have a heart-bound after all. However he couldn’t help but think back to his mother and father, and how they’d told him that his heart-bound wasn’t destined to be his lover, but a partner. Surely that should mean that he was allowed to date people who were not his heart-bound, right?

The moment the thought had entered his mind, Logan cast it aside. He had no time for dating. School came first, and he could not risk lose his scholarship.

Still, though, every morning he went to the coffee shop.

It wasn’t until one day when Logan was having his usual coffee and studying for an exam that he ever spoke properly to the barista. Or rather, the barista spoke to him. He’d come over and sat at Logan’s table, demanding to know just what, exactly, Logan was studying.

It was such an unexpected question that Logan had stuttered over his words for a moment, the other man trying and failing to hold back a smile. Logan had answered with astronomy, which, to his surprise, made the other light up. He’d grabbed Logan’s notes and started quizzing him, telling Logan to explain certain words and lessons to him.

After that it became a routine. Logan would come in with his homework or notes and the barista would help him study whenever he got off. Logan didn’t know why the thought of seeing his new friend made him so happy, almost giddy. Or why his heart raced every time he was given that wide smile. Sometimes at night he’d feel something like fear, which he could not explain, which meant that the emotion belonged to his heart-bound. He spent those nights with his hand over his heart, feeling slightly guilty, but mostly glad that he was able to help at all.

One day, though, while they were sitting together, Logan accidentally spilled his coffee all over the lap of his new friend. He started to apologize, but before he could say anything he felt the pain. He winced at the same time that the other did, both of them shooting to their feet. The barista looked up at Logan with wide, confused eyes. It wasn’t until Logan slowly lifted his hand to his heart—he’d done it without thinking, without even considering where they were—to his soul-mark that understanding flooded the other’s face. Understanding, shock, and something like fear.  

Logan was nineteen when he met Patton. His heart-bound.

Patton part 1

[whyiask]

Just a Stupid Dare (ch.3)

Masterpost

Ao3 Link

tws: bullying mention, past bullying, u!dark sides, manipulation

note: Okayyyy so. That was a really short chapter, b u t. That's only because the next chapter is turning out to be pretty long and I wanted to post something.

The next day at lunch, Virgil didn’t even head towards the Dark Sides table, giving a wink to Janus as he passed by and heading straight towards Roman’s table. His step faltered as he noticed Swift and the other student sitting there. But he had committed to this. He wasn’t going to back out of this dare.

“Hey, Roman,” he called out with a wave, sliding in next to Swift. Logan stiffened next to him and the kid across from him stifled a gasp.

“What do you want?” Swift asked coolly, shifting away from Virgil a tad.

Virgil shot what he hoped looked like an innocent smile at Logan. “Hi there, Sw-uh, Logan,” he said. He tried to convey all of the apologetic thoughts he could muster into his expression, and it wasn’t too hard, because he was sorry, to some extent.

Logan wasn’t phased. Virgil turned to Roman. “Did you not tell your friends about our conversation yesterday?”

Roman looked at his friends helplessly. “I- didn’t know how to bring it up?” he said.

Logan looked at him, face set in a dark expression. Maybe he would’ve made a good dark side, Virgil thought absent-mindedly. He certainly had the right dynamic.

“And you didn’t think it important to inform us that you communicated with a dark side?” he hissed at Roman.

Roman’s face looked strangled, trying to form the right words to soothe Logan. Eventually he just hung his head and fiddled with his hands. “Yeah, you’re right,” he said miserably. “I’m sorry, if anyone deserved to know, it’s you.”

Logan’s face immediately softened. “I’m sorry too Roman, it’s not that big of a deal. Just tell us next time, we can help.”

The person seated on the other side of Roman nodded enthusiastically, speaking up for the first time. “Yeah, we’re always here for you to talk.”

“Now, I think it’s time for you to leave,” Logan said, turning his hard stare back onto Virgil.

“I just got here though,” Virgil protested. “Roman promised he’d give me a chance.”

Things weren’t going well. Virgil didn’t want to have to draw a line through the group, but if Logan kept getting in the way, he would fail and Virgil Summers never failed.

“Is this true?”

“I-” Roman faltered, and Virgil almost felt bad for putting him in this situation.

Almost.

“I didn’t know what else to say,” he admitted quietly, looking down.

“I see,” Logan said, pinching his lips together tightly. “Well, in that case, you don’t want to go back on your word, so you can eat with the Dark Side today. Patton, come on, let’s head to the library.”

The blond kid, Patton, presumably, bounced up. He squeezed Roman’s shoulder and murmured something in his ear, before following Logan out of the cafeteria.

“Nice friends you’ve got,” Virgil said, donning a slightly unsettled smile.

Roman looked up, startled, and his eyes widened. “No, no, no,” he said passionately, flapping his arms. “Lo just hates the Dark Sides, and for good reason too, surely you know that.”

Virgil did know that. He knew exactly how many times Remus had filled his locker with insects or zipped a live beehive into his backpack. Virgil knew how Janus’s followers on social media had gone after Swift with a passion, harassing him off of his account. Virgil knew how he and Janus had spray-painted mean messages about Logan in the school bathrooms, and he remembered exactly the number of times he had started a rumor about Logan or convinced everyone to humiliate him.

Virgil knew how he and his friends had ruined Swift’s life.

He forced a smile and held up his hands in a placating gesture. Never insult Roman’s friends, he thought to himself. Noted.

“Yeah, I know,” Virgil said, chuckling uncomfortably. “But I don’t want to be a Dark Side? If I left, I would get so much hate though, that’s the only reason I stay with them,” he said, lying through his teeth.

Roman offered him a small smile. “Yes, but Logan doesn’t know that. He still thinks you’re a dark side through and through.”

And Swift isn’t wrong.

But he wasn’t about to tell Roman that.

[whyiask]

Just a Stupid Dare (ch.8)

Masterpost Ao3 Link tws: u!dark sides, a tiny bit of physical violence but not really notes: okay wow, shortest chapter ever, but shh. anyways, apparently I just accidentally made Roman short and Virgil tall in this fic, so now we’ve got that lovely confirmed height difference. I am absolutely going to exploit this in later chapters.

Virgil’s plan, he decided, absolutely sucked. Roman’s foot slipped again on a precarious foothold. He didn’t know why Virgil had thought it a good idea for him to climb down the side of his house, and he especially didn’t know why he had let himself be talked into it.

He let out a quiet string of curses as his foot slipped again, and pulled himself back up, foot prodding the wall in search of a suitable place that could hold his weight.

He had made it over the roof fairly quickly, crouching low to the ground and walking quickly. Luckily, it wasn’t a very steep roof, so he hadn’t been at much risk of slipping. Climbing down the side of the house was a different story.

Virgil had insisted on him going down a side of the house that wasn’t visible from the street, and so that’s how Roman found himself descending into Virgil’s backyard. How long had it been? Five, ten minutes perhaps. It didn’t matter too much.

Roman jumped down the last few feet, letting out a soft hiss of air at the impact. He straightened and shook out his tense limbs, preparing for the final step of the plan. Soon, in a few minutes, he would be long gone and Janus would never be any the wiser. Roman walked up to the fence surrounding Virgil’s backyard and examined it. Virgil had promised it would be easy to climb.

Roman snorted. Maybe for a giant like him.

It was okay though. Who was he if not a problem solver? Roman braced his foot against the fence and tried to push himself up high enough to grab the top. After a few unsuccessful attempts, he managed to get a grip on the top of the fence. He pulled himself up as high as possible, swinging his legs over the fence and landing with a soft thump.

Something was wrong. It was… quiet all of a sudden. He hadn’t fully realized there was some noise until it was gone and- was that a car in Virgil’s driveway?

He blanched. He recognized that car. It belonged to none other than his step-brother. Slowly, fearfully, he looked up towards Virgil’s front door, where Remus was standing, eyebrows furrowed and mouth slightly ajar.

Shit.

His brother stormed over and Roman hopped up quickly, not in the mood to be shoved around.

“What the fuck?!?” he yelled as soon as he was within spitting distance.

Roman raised a hand awkwardly. “Hi…?”

Remus grabbed his arm roughly and twisted it slightly, dragging Roman towards the door. He tried not to wince at the pressure.

Shit shit shit, this wasn’t part of the plan.

Remus started pounding on the door like a madman and Roman had to resist rolling his eyes in irritation at his step brother’s antics. The door swung open and Virgil stood before him again. He could see the purple haired boy attempting to keep a shocked expression on his face.

“What-” Virgil started, and if Roman hadn’t known better, he would’ve believed that Virgil was genuinely surprised.

Janus appeared over Virgil’s shoulder, a scarily neutral expression on his face. “Roman Stone,” he said mildly. It sent chills down his back. Janus was infinitely more dangerous when he was calm. “I’d love to say it’s a pleasure to see you here, but it’s not, it’s truly not.” He turned to Remus. “Is there any reason you brought your useless brother along?”

Roman grit his teeth and he felt Remus’s grip on his arm tighten.

“He’s not my brother,” Remus growled.

“Oh right, pardon me,” Janus said lazily, and Roman could tell he didn’t really mean his apology. Janus Flynn never apologized to anyone.

“And I did not bring him,” Remus added. “I saw him crawling out of Virgey’s backyard like an octopus.”

“An octopus?” Roman muttered. He was ignored.

Janus titled his head to look at Virgil out of the corner of his eye.

“I see,” he said.

Virgil fidgeted and Roman felt bad for putting him in this situation. If only I had been more careful.

“Care to explain?” It wasn’t a request.

“I-” Virgil stuttered for a minute, before Roman caught his eye. He paused and quickly made a slight jerking motion with his head towards the door. Roman glanced behind him then back at Virgil in confusion.

‘Run,’ Virgil mouthed in between half explanations directed at Janus.

Roman nodded at sucked in a deep breath. He could do this.

It happened in the blink of an eye. Roman stomped on his step brother’s foot, making the other boy release his arm in a hissed curse. He elbowed Remus in the stomach and shoved him into Janus, before taking off down the street. Virgil watched impassively from the doorway, but when Roman looked back, he could see the glint of a small smile. He kept running and turned the corner, Virgil’s house out of sight.

He would be back, he knew it. A gut feeling told him it wouldn’t be the last time he spent at his friend’s home. Hopefully without interruptions next time.

Once he had gone several blocks, his legs were burning and the adrenaline had worn out, leaving him panting and doubled over, trying to catch his breath, only then did he allow himself to look back.

[whyiask]

Just a Stupid Dare (ch.7)

Masterpost Ao3 Link tws: uh- i don’t really think there are any? u!dark sides, lmk if there are any others notes:  alright, I expected this to be some epic spy heist stuff, but no. I guess this is what happened. Because I think realistically, Roman doesn't have very much experience with defenestration and probably isn't going to be doing extreme parkour. so just. yeah. sorry bout that. also it’s lowkey short and with another slight cliffhanger so take my deepest apologies.

Virgil swung the door open to reveal Janus’s scowling face.

“What took you so long?” he demanded shoving his way inside.

“Sorry,” Virgil said, almost automatically. “I had to take care of some stuff.”

Janus raised an eyebrow but didn’t question it. He strolled into the living room and stretched out over Virgil’s couch, hands behind his head.

“So how are you doing today?” Janus asked.

Virgil forced a smile. “Great, I’m doing great.”

A long scratching sound echoed down the stairs. Virgil heard it before it even started and frantically raised his voice.

“Of course, you’re the first person I’ve seen today, so obviously I’m doing excellently,” he nearly screamed, drowning out the sounds from upstairs and internally cursing Roman for being so loud.

Janus studied him with half closed eyes. “Why are you being so weird?”

“Me? Weird? Pffft-” Virgil waved a hand down in dismissal. “What do you mean I’m acting weird? This is how I always act!”

A small thud resounded from upstairs. Virgil swiped a pair of scissors from the side table and dropped them to the ground.

“Oh whoops- sorry!” He said hurriedly. Janus had shot up and started walking towards the staircase, but turned back at Virgil’s words.

“Ah, silly me,” he said, picking up the scissors and waving them around. “I’m so clumsy.”

Janus’s face was of pure confusion as he looked from Virgil to the scissors in his hand. Then, in a completely monotone voice, he uttered a single “what”.

~~~

Roman was doing great, truly. He tugged at the window fruitlessly again, trying to stay quiet enough to avoid suspicion. He heard Virgil open the door and Janus’s voice carried through the whole house. Janus had a voice like that- a commanding presence wherever he went. It was unnerving.

Cursing in a whisper, Roman heaved upwards with all his strength, pushing his shoulder into the glass. With a mighty groan and an furious screech, the window slid open and Roman almost toppled out at the sudden lack of pressure.

He took a deep breath and calmed himself. Now was not the time for second thoughts. He checked that his shoes were tied and his possessions were secure, before pulling himself out onto the window ledge. The roof was a few feet and up and to the left of Virgil’s bedroom window. Roman stood up shakily, keeping his feet planted and a tight grip on the windowsill.

No time for second thoughts.

Roman pushed off of the window ledge, both hands extended towards the roof. He was going to make it- obviously- it wasn’t like he was going to fall. They had planned this route carefully, for optimal safety. Yet still, there was a moment- a heart dropping moment- when he wasn’t holding onto anything. His feet were in the air and he wasn’t hanging on by anything, and it was terrifying.

His fingers closed around the edge of the roof and he swung his legs up immediately, scrambling onto the roof and calming his racing heartbeat.

Step 1: complete. All he needed now was Virgil to buy him a little more time.

~~~

Virgil floundered for words for about a minute, trying to speak loudly enough that it masked any rustling sounds from his room, before Janus cut him off with an irritated wave of his hand.

“I don’t-” he tried again.

“Don’t lie to me, Virgil,” Janus said coldly. Virgil felt a chill run down his back. He had nearly forgotten how awful Janus’s anger was when it was directed at you.

He swallowed down his nerves. Janus was his friend! Nothing bad could happen, right?

“What was that noise?” Janus spoke softly, dangerously.

“I-” Virgil gestured aimlessly. “It was the scissors? Clearly.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

Virgil had to stop himself from flinching away.

“I’m not lying,” he protested, feigning way more confidence than he had.

“You dropped a pair of scissors and then a thud came from upstairs. Please explain to me how this could’ve been possible.” Janus spoke as if he were a teacher posing a math problem to a student. It was impossible to come up with the right answer, because he knew that whatever he said wouldn’t be correct, Janus would always expect more, something different. It was impossible to satisfy.

“Are you okay?” he asked, trying to sound sincere. “You- should you be getting more sleep? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Janus rolled his eyes into his skull. “Wow, Summers, aren’t you just the best at coming up with excuses. Just fantastic.” He clapped sarcastically, a sadistic smirk twisting onto his face.

Virgil opened his mouth to respond- with what, he didn’t know- but his ears perked up at the sound of an approaching car. He normally wouldn’t have paid it any heed, but he could hear, from where he stood, the blaring music coming from Remus’s speakers. It was unmistakable.

“Is- is Remus here?” Virgil asked, fully knowing the answer, at the same time Janus said,

“Finally.”

Virgil held his breath. Surely, surely Roman would’ve heard the music and hid? Or at least be gone by now? Realistically, Virgil knew he hadn’t had enough time to escape yet, but he couldn’t help but hope.

What if he could’ve been gone by now but had slipped and injured himself? What if there was some other factor that Virgil hadn’t counted on- well, there was. That factor- that loose cannon- was Remus Stone.

The music turned off abruptly and Virgil’s heart stopped with it. Remus never, never paused his music. There could only be one reason.

Virgil’s worst suspicions were confirmed by a yell and a loud, “What the fuck?!?” in Remus’s unmistakable voice.

No no no no this can’t be happening-

But it was. It was happening. And there was nothing Virgil could do.

A rapid pounding started on the door.

Remus Stone had arrived.