Chapter Text
Patton hummed happily as he sketched all over his math homework. Logan always told him to do his homework during his free time at the campus hotline when he had no calls, but he rarely got farther than pulling it out of his baby blue backpack. He had just gotten off the phone with some poor freshman whose biology class had given them a nervous breakdown and needed Patton to talk them through it. It always made him a bit sad to know that people at his college were hurting, but he was always happy to make their day a little brighter.
“Hey, Patton,” said another kid who had the shift after him.
Patton honestly couldn’t remember the kid's name so he said, “Hey, kiddo!”
Patton started packing up his stuff right as the clock on his phone told him it was two in the morning. Just as he bent down to pick up his backpack, one of the phones in the office rang. Technically Patton was off duty, but he scooped up the phone anyway, signaling to the other kid that he got it.
“Hello, this is the campus student hotline. How can I be of service?”
Someone breathed heavily on the other end of the line. “Um, hi,” said a quiet voice. “I, uh, I don’t really know why I called… cause I don’t really know what you can do… Um, sorry.”
“It’s no problem, kiddo,” Patton said, hoping that his encouraging tone of voice would calm the other kid. “Do you want to tell me what the problem is?”
“I...I haven’t really slept much and I have a lot of homework and stuff. I’m at the library and… okay, I know it’s irrational but I can’t get myself to leave the building because I’m worried I’m going to be attacked.” The kid’s voice turned into a rushed mumble by the end of the sentence.
“Have you considered calling the escort service? They can send people right to you.”
“I won’t… I won’t know them or… and I have to talk to them...” they trailed off.
“Okay, would it help if I were to call for you? I have two friends working there tonight, and I can tell you about them so they won’t be completely strange,” Patton offered.
There was silence for a few moments. “Yeah, if… if you could do that…”
“Okay, I’m going to stay on the phone with you and I’m going to call my friends at the same time. Can you give me your name?” Patton asked while he grabbed his cellphone.
“Virgil.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Virgil. My name’s Patton.” Patton dialed Logan’s number.
“Patton, if you are calling about a canine you saw I must ask-”
“It’s not,” Patton cut Logan off. “I have a kiddo who needs an escort from the library but didn’t want to call himself.”
“I shall head over immediately,” Logan said. Patton heard him call to Roman. “Roman, we need to- get down from there! That doesn’t look anything like Pride Rock, so why would you climb on it?! Anyway, Patton, we’ll be over shortly.”
“Okay, good luck.” Patton stifled a giggle as he hung up. He turned his attention back to Virgil. “My two friends have been sent. Logan is a huge nerd, he won’t do much as far as protecting you but he has a kind of calming presence. Roman is athletic and intimidating looking but he’s actually a huge nerd.” Virgil only gave a small squeak in response.
A silence that anyone, except Patton, would have thought as awkward settled over the line.
____
Logan sighed for the millionth time in the five-minute walk from the escort headquarters (an abandoned classroom) to the library. It had started sprinkling and Roman had started singing “Singing in the Rain.” He had long since gotten bored of singing that song on repeat, he had turned to “Little Fall of Rain.”
“Why would one sing instead of getting medical attention. Two of Marius’ friends are medical students,” Logan pointed out, trying to make the singing end.
“That is why theatre is an art and not a science. Drama before accuracy,” Roman said with a flare before returning to his song.
By the time they reached the library, they were both soaked and Logan was about ready to find some chloroform and attack Roman. They headed into the shelter of the nearly abandoned library and nearly ran into a small, darkly dressed underclassman who blended into the shadows.
The boy squeaked and looked at them with wide eyes.
“My apologies, good sir,” Roman said with a grand sweep of his arm. The boy somehow pressed himself further into the stone wall.
“I apologize on his behalf,” Logan said shortly. “Our names are Logan and Roman, and I’m assuming you are Virgil. You previously talked to our friend Patton, correct? What is your destination?”
The other kid, Virgil (Patton had texted them his name last minute), hesitated for a moment before rummaging in his pockets. He pulled out the map that all the freshmen are given and pointed to a section of buildings.
“Right you are. After you good sir.” Roman held open the door for the other two. Virgil muttered a small ‘thanks’ while Logan just rolled his eyes.
They started the walk silently, Roman had traded his singing for just humming, much to Logan’s relief.
“What year are you in, Virgil?” Roman asked. Logan was fairly sure he had given the other boy that information. Perhaps he was making an attempt at conversation.
Virgil hesitated for a second. “Freshman.”
“We’ve all been there,” Roman said with a smile. Virgil’s shoulders relaxed a bit. Interesting.
“What are you studying?” Roman asked.
Virgil’s shoulders tensed up again. “My parents want me to study law,” he muttered bitterly.
“This is your future, Virgil. You can decide what you want to do,” Logan told him.
Virgil looked away and shrugged, apparently unconvinced. The rest of the walk was silent.
As the group approached Virgil’s dorm hall, Logan noticed the sound of music. The blaring sound of some dumb popular song increased with every step. When they were outside of the hall, Logan turned to look at Virgil. The boy was nearly in tears as he stared at the building with a desolate expression, then sniffled and wiped his nose with his sweatshirt sleeve. In the light from the small lamp next to the front door of the worn dorm building, Logan could see large bags under the freshman’s eyes and the tremor in his hands. The older student concluded that Virgil was also experiencing cold sweat due to the shivers of his body and the pale sheen of his face.
Logan looked over to Roman, who stood on the other side of Virgil and was staring at the poor boy with pity and worry. A look of understanding passed between them while the youngest stayed oblivious, too wrapped up in his misery and frustration to notice the silent conversation.
“Virgil,” Logan said slowly. “Would you stay with us for the night? I am worried you will lose conscientiousness any minute.”
The freshman stared at him with a mix of alarm and fatigue for a minute before slowly nodding. The group turned around and slowly walked toward the apartment that Logan, Roman, and Patton all shared. The two older students pretended not to notice Virgil crying tears of relief.