Chapter Text
Roman didn’t make it five steps into the house before Patton swept him into a bone crushing hug.
And he didn’t cry, but he was just barely staving off tears because Patton was there, and he was real, and he was so happy that Roman was there when he’d ruined his life. He rested his chin on Patton’s shoulder to keep it from wobbling, watching Thomas’s smug ‘I told you so’ expression soften instantly.
“Gee Pat, it’s almost like you missed me or something.” Patton’s grip became impossibly tighter, how on earth was he not suffocating, and Roman could hear the water in his voice.
“Roman, there wasn’t a day I didn’t wish you were with me.”
Then he let go, instead opting to squeeze Roman’s hands and smile sweetly at him. Roman wanted nothing more than to continue hugging, because at least Patton wasn’t mad and he missed him too and-
“This is a cute moment, but we’re having a party babes! Come in, join the fun!” Remy dragged them both to the living room where Janus, Emile, Logan, and…
And Virgil were sitting. Roman’s stomach flipped uncomfortably, old butterflies waking again suddenly.
He waved, although his hand went too fast and he hadn’t decided whether or not he should try for a smile. Virgil waved back tentatively, looking him over curiously in a way that made his thoughts scatter.
“Alright, now THIS is a party Somnus!” Remus grinned wolfishly at Remy, who shot an impish smile back at him.
“Blame Emi, he’s the inspiration for all this.”
Emile looked at his lap, a bright pink dusting over his cheeks as Remy mentioned him. Janus offered a nod of respect, looking fondly as Patton chatted lightly with Thomas.
“I brought Uno.”
“Thomas, we want this gathering to go well, not burst into flames.”
“Are you scared of a little challenge?” Patton gaped in mock offense, gladly taking the bait as he swiped the game from Thomas’s hands.
“Give me that!”
Then things devolved into chaos, the kind that had warm smiles and half-meant threats in between laughter and gentle teasing. Remus found that no one seemed to mind his crude jokes so much, even Logan stifled a smile. Janus let the tension leave his shoulders, discarding his gloves to show off his card tricks.
The past remained tightly kept in place, and Roman let himself hope that maybe, finally, he could let things fall away. Let himself be happy, even if he might not deserve it.
“Okay, who wants cookies?”
“Can’t wait for them, Pat.” Virgil spoke for the first time that evening, and it sounded like how sunsets would. Patton beamed and walked to the kitchen, Logan trailing quickly behind.
Roman couldn’t stop staring, why couldn’t he stop staring? Right, because Virgil had that small smile he always did when people got excited, and it just had to be perfect because everyone loved to screw Roman over for some reason.
“Oh, that reminds me, I’ve got pizza on the way! I’ll go check on that.”
“Pizza? Count me in.” Thomas and Emile peeled themselves away from the group, stepping outside quickly.
Then Virgil’s eyes were on him, and Roman didn’t breathe. He wasn’t even sure he could, the weight of his stare heavy on Roman’s chest. His face was unreadable, which only made Roman’s heart beat faster.
“Remy, Remus, why don’t y’all keep them company? I need to talk to Roman.” His tone was even, not a hint of malice or warmth to be found.
Remy left immediately, but Remus paused. Arguments or not, Roman was still his brother. The last thing he wanted right now was for him to get hurt even worse, not when everything had been going so well.
But Virgil wasn’t actually asking.
The door clicked behind him, and Virgil and Roman were left entirely, utterly, suffocatingly alone.