Chapter Text
Virgil glanced over at Damien from the TV, at the whimper he heard. Logan and Patton were talking to 911 in a separate room. Roman was refilling the warm water bucket in the kitchen.
Virgil studied Damien’s face. He was paler than normal, his lips blue and chapped. His cheeks and eyes more sunken in. But it was his expression that worried Virgil. He looked in pain. In pain, scared and betrayed.
Another whimper left his mouth and unconsciously Damien slapped a hand over it. Virgil carefully moved Damien’s hand away from his face.
“Damien. Damien wake up.” Virgil lightly ruffled Damien’s hair, making the latter’s eyes snap open and search around wildly.
“Shh, it’s alright. It’s just me, Virgil.” His voice was kept soft and low so he wouldn’t scare Damien.
“What do you want from me.”
Virgil's face creased in concern. “I want nothing from you, Dee. You were having a nightmare.”
“O-oh…” Damien’s face grew red and he averted his eyes. “Sorry…”
“No, don't worry. It's fine.” Virgil looked back at the TV. After a moment or so, he paused it and glanced at Damien. “Why did you come here?”
Damien was immediately alarmed, but he tried to keep his facial expressions under control. “What do you mean…?”
“You know what I mean. Here .” Virgil waved his arms around. “Why did you come to us? Don't you have someone at home to patch you up or something?”
“If I did I wouldn't be here, Virgil.” Damien muttered. “The last person who did that for me was shit, and ended up leaving a in only week.”
“Oh,” he hesitated and opened his mouth to ask about his family, but Damien stopped him before he could start.
“And I can't necessarily go ask for help from a homophobic family who kicked me out almost four years ago.” He curled into a tighter ball under the blanket.
“...Homophobic?”
“I'm gay.” Damien whispered. “They're extremely religeous and don't believe in homosexuality.”
Before Virgil could ask more, Patton and Logan came back into the room. “Dee, how are you feeling? The ambulance will be here soon and we’re gonna go to the hospital where they can fix you better than we can.”
“Mm…” Damien glanced up at Patton. Despite his fever, he felt hot all over. He felt confused, out of place, and…
“Here,” Roman came back from the kitchen with a mug of warm tea. “Drink a little bit of this, it’ll help you feel better.”
Damien closed his eyes and sipped it. The tea tasted like creamy vanilla. It didn't burn his tongue, but is was warm enough to make his insides melt. He hummed in content.
“Thanks.”
“Of course.”
He was slowly slipping asleep when the ambulance arrived. It felt like he was in a dream, a fuzzy, warm, frantic dream. One moment he was on a stretcher, the next he was in a dim, clean room. One person was always at his side. He couldn't tell who, his vision had always been failing, but now it refused to work.
“...”
“This is all my fault.”
~
“This is all my fault.” Virgil whispered. The tears in his eyes were barely held back. “If...If I hadn't left him then-”
“Virgil!” Logan glanced over. “This is not your fault. None of us knew this was going to happen, none of us could prevent it.”
“He has no one , Logan. If I didn't leave, he would've had me .”
“But then we wouldn't have had you, Virgil.” Logan pulled his friend close to him. “This isn't your fault. I'm certain Damien is glad that we all were able to help him.”
Virgil just kept looking down, his head in Logan’s chest.
“He will be alright, I promise.”
~
Damien woke up almost a day later, being able to breath without his ribs screaming in pain. His arm was in a cast and a weird- but good-feeling cream was on his swollen face. What surprised him most, was Virgil on TV.
No wait, not Virgil, Anxiety. Anxiety, as well as Logic.
“Yesterday, one of my friends was attacked at about eleven (11) pm because he looked like the villain everyone knows as Deceit.”
Wait.
Nonono.
Virgil didn't say friend. His ears were still acting up, right?
“Approximately a week ago, Logic’s cousin died because of the exact scenario.” Virgil’s face was stoic, but Damien could still see the pain in his eyes. “Innocent people cannot be beaten to death simply because they share similarities with someone the public doesn't like. We are not asking for this to stop, we are pleading .
“You are not being a hero if you kill an innocent citizen, or even if you somehow kill Deceit himself. Because at the end of the day, everyone is a citizen. No matter their identity.” Logan added, arms crossed and face a blank sheet.
The TV was turned off.
~
“DAMIEN!” Patton bolted through the door and gently but firmly hugged Damien. “Ohmygodyoureokayrighteveryonesokayimsogladyourenotdead-”
“Alright, Patton.” Roman laughed and pulled Patton off Damien. “Let him breathe.”
Roman shot Damien a smile. “I'm so glad you're okay, Dee.”
Damien smiled back weakly. “Th-thanks Roman.”
“Of course.” He sat next to Damien on his bed. “I don't want another friend to die because of that…”
“I…” Damien met Roman’s eyes. “I'm your...friend?”
“Yeah. Of course, Dee.” Patton sat down on Damien’s other side. “Deceit, he’s our enemy in battle. But Damien? He’s our friend.” Patton hugged him again.
Damien stilled and bit his tongue to keep the tears away.
“Virgil was really worried about you.” Roman said. “He kept blaming himself-”
“Wh-why? It wasn't his fault at all!” Damien’s eyes widened slightly. “If anything it should be my fault for walking outside at 11pm.”
“Why were you outside to begin with?”
“I was coming back from dinner.” Damien replied. Patton and Roman seemed to buy it.
“Damien, I want you to know that if you need help or anything, don't hesitate to come to us, okay?” Patton took Damien’s hands and smiled at him. “If you need help with anything .”
“Thank you, Patton.” Damien smiled gratefully at him. A moment later, the door opened and Logan and Virgil ran into the room. A large hug pile was initiated.
“Damien! I'm so glad you're alright!” Virgil’s voice was muffled, but still audible.
“I was so worried that you wouldn't make it through the night.” Logan admitted. “Virgil wouldn't leave your bedside.”
Virgil pulled back. “Had to argue with some of the nurses, but it worked out in the end.” He smirked.
“I thought someone was next to me.” Damien glanced up at Virgil. “Thank you, all of you, so much. I promise I’ll pay you back for everything.”
“WHAT?! No! Don't pay us back for anything!” Patton exclaimed.
“But-”
“No! No buts!”
“Patton is correct, you don't owe us anything, Damien.” Logan said, smiling slightly.
“This ones on us.” Roman put a hand on his hip. “And I will physically shove any money you try to give us back in your bank account.”
Damien’s eyes brimmed with happy tears. Patton dove back into Damien, his face bright and happy.
He could get used to this. He may be their villain, in a different universe. But right here? Right here...
“You're famILY.”