#tstb chapter 4

[keyboard-smashed]

The Storm That's Brewing

Summary: they just kinda speak

Warnings: mention of snek

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Chapter 4- The Day Gets Longer

“You’re afraid of snakes.” Virgil said when they got home, flopping onto the leather couch that he hated peeling himself off of. Seriously, why did Roman have to bring a leather couch? Who even owned spare black leather couches?

Across the apartment, Patton was quietly chatting with Logan about their experience at the vet.

“What? I most certainly am not. What ever gave you that idea?” Roman spluttered.

“Its okay if you’re afraid of snakes, Roman.” Virgil said.

“Sure it is, but I’m not. So...” Roman replied, unconvincingly.

“Hey Pat,” Virgil sing-songed, smiling mischievously at Roman, “Can you bring Raman over here?”

Patton looked at Logan, and the pair walked- well Logan walked, Patton pretty much skipped- to meet their other roommates in the lounge.

“Raman?” Patton asked.

The thing with animals is, usually they don’t have names. It’s a very human thing. Some more advanced species, did in fact use names when speaking to each other, like dolphins used unique whistles to identify each other, but Patton was the only one that could pronounce them (Patton could do a very good dolphin whistle, as everyone found out when Patton and Virgil last went to the zoo, that was a very stressful day). So, the first thing Patton did with animals that would be sticking around- like Margaret or Michael or the hundreds others that Patton somehow remembered- was find a suitable name for them that humans could pronounce too.

The animals liked it most of the time. Virgil prayed this was one of those times. The snake wouldn’t bite him with Patton around, surely, anyway. But what if Patton hated it too?

Virgil shrugged, as best as he could while lying down, “Dunno, seemed pretty fitting, ‘cause he looks like a noodle.” And it will drive Roman insane, Virgil thought.

“Aw, I love it!” Patton clapped, Raman looked annoyed at the sound.

Logan sighed sadly, “I don’t think it is wise to get attached to this snake- you said we must take him to the shelter in a week.”

Patton’s face fell, “Well, the shelter said we should but what if-”

“We cannot have pets in the apartment, Patton. Plus we have already spent a lot of money on it-“ Everybody avoided eye contact with Logan, “-and I do not think that you will very happy with the snake’s feeding habits.”

“What do snakes eat...?” Patton frowned.

Logan opened his mouth to answer but Virgil spoke first, “It doesn’t matter Pat. Anyway I was wondering if I could hold Raman?”

Roman glared at Virgil. Patton, on the other hand, seemed delighted, “Of course! I’m sure you two will get along great.”

The snake hissed something. Virgil’s nerves shot up. Patton wouldn’t reply, right? Right. Patton simply nodded subtly and handed the snake over to Virgil, who sat up and offered his arm.

The snake happily (as far as Virgil could tell) coiled around his arm.

Patton leaned in close and whispered quietly to Virgil, “He likes his name.” Virgil smiled softly, then made eye contact with the snake. They regarded each other curiously, but neither attacked, so they were both content.

Their calm moment ended quickly when an idea struck Patton, “Since we’re all here, why don’t we watch a film or something?”

Virgil nodded and adjusted himself so that Roman could sit on his left, next to Raman. Virgil looked innocently up at Roman. He eyed the snake cautiously.

“Sorry Pat, I’ve got to leave for work.” He lied, only checking his phone for the time afterwards. 7:30. He didn’t actually need to leave for another hour, maybe he could go to a coffee shop or something.

Logan fidgeted, “You don’t have to be at work for another ninety minutes.” He stated.

Virgil looked quizzically at Logan. Logan even looked surprised himself. Honestly, not even Virgil knew Roman’s schedule. Perhaps, Virgil considered, Roman’s spy theory had some credit after all. He quickly waved the ridiculous idea out of his head before he could start panicking about what a spy could learn while living with them.

Roman laughed nervously, “Yeah, sometimes I come in early to help set up.”

“Lie.” Logan said. His eyes widened and he brought his hand to his mouth- not quite covering it, but looking like he wanted to. Virgil wondered what was up with Logan today.

Roman looked extremely uncomfortable, “Yeah, uh, well there’s never a bad time to start?” He said, his statement more of a question than anything else.

Everybody visibly relaxed when Patton chimed in, “Oh I think that’s a lovely idea, Roman,” He said, “We could help if you’d like? Or we could just watch you perform. From what I’ve heard around the house, you’re great.”

Roman didn’t particularly want to go and help set up, but flattery sure was the way to his heart, “Sure Pat. Hey, I might even be able to get you guys a discount. My boss is pretty cool.”

“Great! Logan, Virgil?” Patton asked.

“I can’t think of a reason why not.” Logan replied.

Virgil’s day had already been stupidly long and tiring: he’d opened up the shop at nine, then walked all the way to three, then the whole thing with the snake and the vet... Still, he didn’t want to be rude. Well, not properly a rude- a little teasing should be fine he reckoned.

“Listening to Roman sing for a whole three hours? I don’t know if I can deal with it for that long. I already hear the whole show through my wall.” He teased.

"Hey! I'm great! And plus, I only have to sing so loud to compete with your emo music. You know MyChemicalRomance broke up right?" Roman argued.

Virgil pretended to wipe a tear from his eye, "Don't remind me."

Logan coughed in the clear 'Are you two done yet?' way that he did very often. It probably wasn't very good for his throat.

"...But yeah. Okay, fine I'll come." Virgil said, sparing Logan's throat any further pain. He stood up, ready to leave, then remembered the snake on his arm, "Uh... What about Raman?"

Roman took a step back, "He absolutely cannot come to the restaurant."

"Yeah, someone might mistake him for an actual noodle and eat him." Virgil joked.

Patton looked horrified.

"I'm sure he can stay alone in the apartment for a few hours. He may stay in my room as it is the least hazardous, and I will leave the space heater on a low setting so that he is warm but there is low risk of fire." Logan stuck a hand out to take the snake, who simply stated at him. He didn't move until Patton reassured him (in English) that it was fine.

Logan carefully placed the injured snake on his bed, and placed the space heater- as promised- nearby. The snake quickly settled near his pillows (close to the heater). Content with this, Logan left the room, closing the door behind him.

During his short trip to his room, Roman and Virgil had left for the car. Patton waited behind, apartment keys and Logan's favourite Milford coat in hand. Logan loved the coat as it made him feel like his favourite book character: Sherlock Holmes. Patton, who was rather short with dirty blond hair, looked rather like Watson too.

Watson offered Sherlock his coat, which he graciously accepted; despite the trip to and from the car being short, it was still very chilly. Logan assumed it was for that reason that Patton took Logan's hand once they stepped out into the brisk evening air.

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Taglist: teehee

Chapter 1:

Chapter 3:

Chapter 5: