Chapter Text
Virgil was getting sick of being fussed over.
A week after the incident, he was still being constantly coddled by people. It was getting annoying.
...well, he will admit that it might have been.
A little bit cute.
When Roman would pick him up and carry him places.
But that was just Roman.
Ever since their kiss, Virgil had been, well.
As Logan would put it, and he had, Virgil was "Highly infatuated."
Virgil called him a hypocrite.
But anyway. Roman was cute. It wasn't Virgil's fault that Roman would practically get stars in his eyes when he got excited. And the long rants about his newest idea were just so endearing, it wasn't fair.
Sometimes Roman would catch him staring while he did something, painting or drawing or just talking. He would get a pretty flush on his face, and try to draw Virgil's attention away from his blush by deflecting with a, "What are you looking at, hot topic?" Virgil would smirk, reply something along the lines of, "Someone cute", and Roman's flush would get even redder.
And oh, boy, Virgil could look at that blush for days.
He had just recently discovered how often he could get Roman to blush- just an offhand compliment would get that gorgeous bloom of color back on his cheeks.
He had soon realized Roman reacted so much to the compliment because he rarely got them. Virgil… wasn’t quite sure how to feel about that.
Still, he made it a goal to tell him how much he was worth each day.
(And if Virgil got to see that pretty pink again, that was a plus)
---///---
When Virgil had walked into Roman's room, he was not expecting to see this.
Roman was sitting cross-legged on his bed, head in his hands.
Virgil immediately tensed. Was he crying?
A step closer confirmed that he was, in fact, crying.
It also got him a creak on the floorboards.
Roman jolted up so fast Virgil was afraid he'd hit his head on the headboard.
"Hey, Virge." Roman tried for nonchalant, shifting from foot to foot.
"Hey, Ro." Virgil said slowly, trying to figure out what to do.
Should he get Patton? He was so much better with the whole... emotions thing.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Roman shudder again, attempting to hide his sobs.
Fuck it, he decided, gingerly perching on the bed next to him.
"Hey," He said gently, placing a finger under Roman's chin and lifting his face towards him. "You okay?"
Roman looked away, breaking his hold. "I'm fine." He said, obviously not fine.
Virgil frowned. "Are you sure?"
Roman nodded stiffly. "Completely."
Virgil narrowed his eyes at him. “You’ve been crying.”
Roman looked away. “Yeah, but I- I’m fine.”
"Alright then, guess you won't mind if I…" Virgil paused, testing, before calling over his shoulder. "Remus!"
Roman's eyes went wide. "No, wait-"
"But I thought you were fine?" Virgil blinked innocently.
Roman growled. "Fine! Fine, I'm not fine. Can you just…-" He gestured towards the door. "Call him off or something?"
Virgil popped his tongue. "No can do."
Roman stared at him. Virgil stared back. "What?" Roman asked, a little strangled.
Virgil shrugged. "He's either going to a) comfort you, or b) kill the person that made you sad and honestly I'm good with either of those options."
Roman blinked, fiddled with the blanket.
Virgil tilted his head, confused.
"You really think he'd do that for me?" Roman finally asked.
Virgil stared at him. “What?”
Roman fidgeted a bit. “You think he’d do that for- for me?” He said, quieter.
Virgil squinted at him. “Yes? Of course he would do that for you?”
Roman averted his eyes. “Right. Of course.”
Virgil bit his lip. “Hey, do you, um, want to- like uh talk about it?” When he saw Roman’s confused look, he added. “Uh, about- like, whatever you were sad about.”
Roman shrugged, shrinking in on himself. “It’s- it’s no big deal.”
Virgil’s eyebrows drew together. “Well, if you were crying, it obviously is.” Noticing Roman curl even further into himself, he hurriedly added “But you don’t have to! I just uh, thought it might make you feel better?”
Roman seemed to relax a bit. “Yeah, I- guess that makes sense.”
Virgil waited. Roman opened his mouth, closed it. When he opened it again, a soft “I guess I just-” came out- just before Remus came barreling at full speed into the room.
Virgil was going to scream. “Could you have picked any other time?” He growled at Remus.
Remus shrugged. “Hey, you were the one that called for me. Speaking of...” He flopped down next to both of them. “What was that for?”
Virgil ignored Roman’s pleading eyes. “Roman was sad, and just about to tell me why when you came busting in.”
Remus cracked his neck with a loud pop that made Virgil flinch. “So, little bro-” He started, cutting off when he saw the tear tracks running down Roman’s face. His brow creased with worry, and he sat up straight on the bed. Turning to Virgil, he said, “You didn’t tell me he was sad sad.”
Virgil blinked at him, confused. “I… did?”
Remus shook his head. “Whatever. What’s wrong?” He said, turning to Roman.
Roman flinched. “Nothing.”
Remus glared at him. “What’s. Wrong.”
Roman glared back. “Nothing.”
Virgil’s eyes darted between the two. If things kept going this way, this… was going to take a while.
Turns out, it only took thirty more seconds for Roman to break down. Collapsing into his brother, his shoulders shook with sobs.
After a few minutes, Remus deposited Roman into Virgil’s arms. “Here, you take him.” Remus said. “He stinks anyway.” He added, wrinkling his nose.
Roman let out a tiny breath of laughter, and Virgil had never been more grateful for Remus in his life.
He pretended not to notice when Remus sent a look so full of concern he would usually never admit he had at Roman, before walking out of the room.
As the door let out a soft click behind Remus, Virgil turned his attention fully on Roman.
God, was he pretty.
Wait. No. Virgil shook himself. This was not the time for this.
Roman squirmed a little at how intently Virgil was looking at him. “I’m fine now.” He said with such little conviction Virgil simply gave him a raised eyebrow. “I am!” He argued.
Virgil gave him a look. “You‘re still crying.” He said, gently swiping a thumb under Roman’s eye. Roman melted into the touch. “Just at least tell me what’s wrong?” Virgil asked softly, tilting Roman’s head to look up at him.
Roman sighed. Bit his lip. “I just.”
Virgil waited, prompted him when he didn’t continue. “Yes?”
“I just,” Roman looked away. Virgil cradled Roman’s head in both hands, and tilted his head up again so he was looking directly at Virgil.
“I just,” Roman started again. “Don’t think that.” He paused. “I just don’t think that I’m good enough.” He said, the words leaving him in a rush.
Virgil tilted his head. “Why not?” He asked, genuinely confused. Roman was more than good enough, he was wonderful and amazing and endearing and- well, the list went on.
Roman picked at his nails. “I-” He said, voice breaking. “I’m terrible. I’m not even useful, I just- I’m worthless.”
Virgil disagreed vehemently. “You are not.”
Roman shrugged. “I am. Don’t argue,” He added when Virgil opened his mouth again. “I really am.”
Virgil raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Give me a single time when you have ever been worthless.”
Roman looked away. “I didn’t-” He said, voice breaking. “I didn’t get there in time when you were- you were-”
He didn’t have to finish his sentence for Virgil to understand it.
“That was not your fault.” Virgil spat, furious. Roman flinched. He continued, softer. “You were the one that saved me. It’s not your fault.”
Roman opened his mouth to argue. “But I-”
Virgil cut him off. “No. No ‘but’s. It was not. Your. Fault.”
“Still. Even if it wasn’t, I’m worthless in almost every other circumstance.” Roman rubbed his eyes.
“And again I say, you are not worthless.” Virgil argued.
Roman… didn’t argue, surprisingly. Virgil figured it was because he was too tired. He’d had a long day. A long week- or possibly even more, Virgil remembered, guilt churning in his stomach. How much had he not noticed? How many masks had Roman worn?
Virgil sighed. They could talk about that tomorrow. For now, he laid Roman down on the bed, wrapped his arms around him, and slept.