#god these two gay idiots are so fun to write actually im shdfkshdfkh

[vincent-frankenstein]

Bloodbond - Chapter Eight

Part eight of my entry for @ts-storytime !!

Chapter Summary: In the wake of Joan's attack and Roman's revelation, the two find themselves closer than ever. Finally, the Royal Mage — and the freedon he can grant them — are within reach.

Warnings: this one’s actually p lighthearted? tell me if u need anything tagged!

Read on A03

{ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 }

art by @pattykrabbies {here} and @vdkstar {here}!!!

(cover by @vdkstar <3)

The sun shone brightly on the city far below, turning the capital into a mess of glittering reflections and bright lights. Roman sat on the edge of the cliff as he waited for Anxiety to wake, his gaze heavy and pained as he regarded his castle, his home.

It wouldn’t be long now before his father knew everything. What would happen to Anxiety then? What would happen to him? He’d be punished, maybe even banished. He’d never see his home again.

He drew his knees to his chest and rested his arms atop them, letting out a wistful sigh. He knew every inch of that castle and every memory each inch held — the room where Joan had first trained him, where he’d first learned to use magic; the library where he’d first met Logan, the tiny son of the royal librarian; his tower, high above the rest, where the stars felt close enough to touch. Memories flashed through his mind, and his chest ached at each and every one.

He wanted things to return to how they were. He wanted to go back to his castle, back to those memories. He wanted to go home.

“Princey?”

The sudden voice made him jump to his feet, brushing away every bittersweet thought in favor of a raised brow and a mocking smirk. “Welcome back to the world of the living, demon,” he quipped as Anxiety yawned. “I didn’t know it was possible to sleep for so long.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not my fault I had to use up all my magic,” Anxiety retorted, joining him at the cliff’s edge. “With all the danger you keep getting us into, I need my rest.”

“Hah! What’s life without a little danger?” Roman asked, grinning.

“Safe.” Anxiety reached up to pull his hood over his head before remembering that his cloak had been destroyed. He opted to cross his arms instead, expression unreadable as he regarded the kingdom before them. “So… what are we going to do?” he asked.

“The Royal Mage is the only one who can break this curse,” Roman said. “My father won’t be… happy… but I am the prince and they have to listen to me. I’ll just explain what happened and… and then you can go home.”

Roman didn’t miss the way Anxiety winced, his nails digging into his arm as he tensed. “You’re sure this’ll work?”

He wasn’t sure at all. Joan had been all too willing to fight against him; surely, his father would do the same. But Joan was loyal, and King Odin was cruel, and from what he’d heard, the Royal Mage was a kind man, more than willing to help those in need. He was their only hope.

“I’m sure!” he said after a moment’s pause. “You just have to trust me.”

“Because that’s worked out so well for me in the past, right?” Anxiety raised a brow, his tone just light enough to let Roman know he was teasing. He picked at the bandages around his arm. Roman had healed the injury again that morning with as much magic as he could muster, but their arms were still sore, and the scarring would likely never disappear.

Anxiety didn’t meet Roman’s eyes as he wrapped his good arm around him, his open wings shining in the sunlight. He was still weak from his long flight the night before; he could just barely fly them to the forest directly below, forcing them to walk the rest of the way to the capital. But… that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Something had changed between them. Where they’d once traveled silently, their few conversations riddled with hatred, now they’d settled into a sort of awkward familiarity, talking and arguing almost playfully as they made their way through the forest. What had happened the night before had made everything different.

Roman didn’t mind in the slightest.

He knew the forest they were in like the back of his hand, and his heart panged with nostalgia as he passed the stream where he used to study, and the little clearing where he’d practice his magic. So much had changed since the last time he’d visited.

After today, would he ever be able to visit again?

Morning dragged on into a comfortably warm afternoon, and Roman ignored the doubts flooding his mind and focused on the feeling of the sun across his skin, allowing himself a smile. They’d been walking — and talking — for quite a while, and with every word the demon spoke, Roman knew. His father was wrong.

But their conversation came to an abrupt halt the moment the forest ended and the capital city came into view. Roman stopped in his tracks, regarding the town before them, the people milling about in the streets.

He yanked his cape from his shoulders and whispered a quiet incantation, watching as it shifted into a dark red cloak, just big enough to hide Anxiety’s wings. “Stay close to me,” he whispered as Anxiety threw the cloak over his shoulders, his chest clenching with nervousness.

But no one recognized them among the sea of other faces bustling through, and avoiding the few guards out patrolling was child’s play. Confidence began to push aside the panic in his lungs, and he smiled to himself. This was going to work! It had to.

The Royal Mage lived in a big house just on the edge of the castle grounds, open to any who needed help. Roman had never met the man, but he knew of his power, and of his kindness, and he knew that if they made it to him, they’d be okay.

Soon enough, they found themselves standing on the Royal Mage’s doorstep, bathed in the shadow of the castle looming overhead. Roman took a deep breath, pushing away the doubts gnawing at his stomach, and raised his hands to knock.

“Wait!” Anxiety’s voice stopped him in his tracks and he turned, raising an eyebrow. The demon shifted where he stood. “There are… a lot of ways this could go badly. A lot.”

“Yes, I’m well aware,” Roman responded, crossing his arms. Anxiety glared, bristling at the sarcasm in his tone.

“I might not make it out of this, okay? You know what y — they think of people like me.” He pushed a hand through his hair, his hood flopping down, and Roman’s face softened. “So, just in case… a-and I’m trusting you with this, so you’d better not do anything stupid or anything —

“When have I ever done anything stupid?”

“Do you really want me to answer that?” The corners of Anxiety’s mouth twitched as Roman feigned offense. But the smile faded quickly, and he closed his eyes, steeling himself. “My name is Virgil!”

Roman blinked, hesitating as he tried to make sense of the rushed, jumbled sentence. His eyes widened as the severity of the situation hit him; true names, especially those of creatures like demons, were important, incredibly so. For Anxiety to trust him with that…

“Virgil?” he repeated, tone quiet, serious. “That’s your true name?”

Virgil nodded, regarding him warily, his gaze nervous and tense.

“That’s a beautiful name,” Roman said softly, and Virgil relaxed somewhat, his shy almost-smile sending Roman’s heart into a frenzy. “It fits you.”

Virgil’s cheeks darkened, pink spreading across his face. “Yeah, well… ugh. Don’t make this any sappier than it has to be,” he growled, averting his gaze. Roman laughed and he glared, crossing his arms. “Are you gonna get this over with or what?” he asked, nodding to the door.

“Ah, yes, r-right.” Roman turned swiftly, ignoring the way his heart pounded, stewing in a mess of too many emotions to name. “Don’t worry, I… I promise, Virgil, I’ll get you out of this. Alive.”

Virgil snorted. “Just knock on the door, princey.”

Roman took a deep breath. No matter what, no matter which outcome they faced… everything would change once they knocked on this door. His face hardened with resolve. He shared one last look with Virgil, and raised his hand.

Knock. Knock. Knock.