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Deceit had felt particularly nostalgic today. He knew exactly why he felt this way. As much as he hated this plan, he had to call him.
”What?” Virgil spat, annoyed at the summoning by Deceit.
”Why hello my stormcloud. How's your day?” Deceit smirked at his use of the name.
”Don't call me that! What do you want, snake?” Virgil hissed. Deceit smiled at the anxious trait.
”Why can't I just want to see my little ball of anxiety?”
”I'm not like you anymore. Thomas likes me. Unlike your snake ass,” Virgil growled.
”Do you think you've changed? You are still just that small kid running down the dark halls,” Deceit said with a smile.
”You have no power over me!” Virgil practically screamed.
”Oh yeah? I'm not going to prove it.” Deceit said as he walked towards Virgil. Virgil tried to back away but Deceit held Virgil by the shoulders. Deceit pulled a memory out from their childhood.
The "Dark Kids" were playing tag. Deceit and Virgil were racing down the hall with Remus chasing them.
"Dee don't let Dukey get me! I don't want to be it!" Virgil panted out as he ran.
"I won't stormcloud. He won't get you as long as I'm here. Nothing will ever hurt you." Deceit responded with a small hiccup. Soon Remus caught up to the other boys. Keeping his word, Deceit jumped in front of Virgil to keep him from getting tagged.
"You're it snake!" Remus giggled as he ran back down the long dark corridor towards his room. Deceit smiled fondly at Remus's nickname for him. Virgil was sitting on the ground when Deceit had reached him.
"Hey, stormcloud?"
"Yeah Dee?"
There was a small pause before Deceit continued, "I told you I wouldn't let him get you."
Virgil smiled and hiccupped. "Yeah, thanks."
"Of course stormcloud. I will never let you get hurt. I will always be by your side."
"I'll always be by your side too Dee." Deceit helped Virgil stand and the two walked to their rooms ready to rest after the game. The memory faded.
Virgil looked at the ground, his face obviously full of emotion yet unreadable to anyone. Deceit looked right at the air where the memory was moments ago. His brain was full of emotions and thoughts. He said he'd never leave your side. But he did. You trusted him and he left you behind. Stinging feelings of sadness, nostalgia, and betrayal filled Deceits head. He snapped out of his thoughts to see Virgil in front of him.
”See, didn't tell you.” Deceit whispered. Virgil felt the whisper shoot down his spine. He hoped Deceit didn't see it. Deceit backed up. Deceit shook his head at Virgil, ”Wow stormcloud-"
”I'm not your stormcloud!” Virgil screamed.
"I thought you said I had no power over you,” Deceit responded slyly, his classic smirk finally returning. Virgil stood frozen for a few moments before he broke into tears and began hyperventilating. Oh shit! Great job stupid snake you made him have a panic attack! You weren't supposed to do that! Shame and regret filled him. ”Shh shh. It's alright, Virgil. Remember, in 4, hold 7, out 8. I'm right here. Dee is here. Stormcloud, Dee is here.” Deceit sweetly said. Deceit ran to Virgil and held him in a right hug. Deceit walked Virgil to the black and yellow bed. Virgil held tightly to Deceit’s cape.
After about a half an hour Virgil's sobs had almost fully diminished. ”Are you alright stormcloud?” Deceit asked concerned. Virgil nodded, still unable to speak. ”Would you like to stay here tonight?” Deceit asked letting Virgil out of their hug.
”Y- yes.” Virgil weakly said. ”Do you want your pillows and pyjamas? I have your old set in the closet.” Deceit asked with a small but genuine smile.
Deceit thought back to the sleepovers he and Virgil used to have. Before Virgil went to the main sides, he used to spend many nights curled up in Deceit’s room. When Virgil started having panic attacks, Deceit comforted him and taught him the ’4, 7, 8’ breathing method. He always hated seeing his little stormcloud in pain. Now, Deceit barely saw Virgil. Well, of course, you don't see him. He's a light side. You heard him. Thomas likes him now. Why would a light side hang with the dark sides? He missed Virgil. He missed the talks, sleepovers, jokes, and adventures they had together. The races in the imagination. The pranks they pulled on Remus. The inside jokes no one else ever understood. The first time Virgil said he loved Deceit. The first time the nickname stormcloud was used. All these small seemingly insignificant moments were the most important to Deceit. Those were his favourite memories of Virgil.
”Y- uh- yes.” Virgil muttered snapping Deceit out of his thoughts.
”Uh, what?” Deceit asked confused what Virgil said yes to.
”Yes, yes I'll take my pillows and pyjamas because I want to stay over here tonight.” Virgil said smiling brightly.
”God, have I missed that smile.” Deceit said walking towards his closet. He retrieved the pair of pyjamas from his closet. Deceit always kept them hung in the front in case Virgil came back. Laying directly under the pyjamas were purple sheets. In the back of the closet, a light grey blanket with a black spider print was folded up. He walked to Virgil and handed him the pyjamas.
”Thanks, Dee” Virgil smiled as he entered the bathroom to change. Deceit grabbed a small, black cat pillow from his office chair and a purple bat pillow from his nightstand. He had always kept Virgil's favourite pillow in his nightstand as a reminder of his best friend. Deceit pulled out the purple and black trundle from under his own bed. He put the purple sheets on the bed. He threw the black spider print blanket over it and tossed the two pillows at the head of the bead. ”You actually kept it all?” Virgil asked walking out of the yellow bathroom.
”Of course, stormcloud. I would never get rid of your favourite things. These are some of my most treasured memories of you. But I must ask, why did you want to stay? You hate me.” Deceit spoke as Virgil sat on his small bed.
”I don't hate you, Dee. I want to, sure. I wish you meant nothing to me but you do. You were my first friend, my first family, my first safety. Dee, no one else calms me down so effortlessly. That memory hit me because I missed our days together. I miss whispering in the night so Remus didn't wake up and start screaming. I miss running down the halls shooting nerf guns at all the other sides. I miss you, Dee.” Virgil starting to cry again.
”No, no, no. Don't cry stormcloud. It's fine. I've missed you too. I miss us going on adventures through the imagination. I miss you.” Deceit sniffled trying to not cry. Virgil and Deceit sat in silence hugging for a few minutes. Virgil finally leaned back.
"As much as I love hugging you, I'm exhausted. Can we sleep and talk more in the morning?” Virgil asked as his eyelids started to droop.
”Yes, stormcloud.” Deceit said to a sleeping Virgil. Deceit lifted Virgil onto his small bed. ”Goodnight stormcloud.” Deceit whispered. Just as Deceit fell asleep he heard a whisper.
”Goodnight Dee. I love you.”