Chapter Text
Virgil stood on soft green grass, feeling a gentle breeze ruffle his hair. He stepped forward, stopping in front of the massive iron gate separating him from his realm. He waited a moment, saying goodbye to the sweet breeze and warm sun, before raising his hand. He watched the swirling black and purple ribbons of magic wrap themselves around his fist. With a sudden jerking motion of his hand the gate creaked open, responding to his power. The iron bars clanged loudly as they hit the sides of the crumbling stone wall on either side, echoing off the sharp blackened rocks that protruded from the dry earth.
Virgil strode forward, unbothered by the silence or the lack of wind. Gone was the soft grass or warm sun, replaced only by a dry stillness and crumbling world with too many sharp edges. Color seemed to fail here, painting the world in a cold gray scale, ruled by shadow. Virgil ignored the feeling of eyes on him, the sensation of invisible hands grabbing at his feet and his clothes, trying to drag him down into the shadows. He was lord here, this world was his alone to control. Nothing here could hurt him.
...
Except for one thing. The reason he was here, the center of his power. Virgil approached the crumbling ruins in the center of his realm. The area thrummed with energy, bathing the crumbling stones in a purple hue. A large purple crystal floated above a blackened pedestal. The crystal's surface crawled, seemingly alive with energy. It was almost like it was reaching for Virgil, extending its sludgy tendrils of magic towards him. Virgil took a deep breath and extended his hand, touching the surface of the crystal. Almost at once it latched on and exploded with power. He screamed, no matter how many times he did this it burned. It felt like fire in his veins, incinerating every part of his being and rebuilding it slowly, one cell at a time.
He had avoided it for too long, he hadn't had to endure this much energy all at once for a long time. Suddenly the dry air felt electric, he felt like he was being suffocated. His mind filled with fear, logically he knew he would be fine, but in the moment all he could do was panic. His hands shook violently, breath coming in short ragged gasps. If he had felt like he couldn't breathe before, the panic had all but cut his air off completely now. It felt like molten lava in his blood, weighing him down. Virgil fell to his knees, coughing as black sludge and blood splattered onto the rocks below him. Just as the pain hit its peak and Virgil thought he was going to pass out, it vanished, leaving him weak and trembling.
The buzzing in the air had vanished along with the purple light, and Virgil knew from experience that if he were to look up he would find the crystal dead and lifeless. A dull gray with cracks spanning its surface. It would replenish itself slowly as Virgil used his power, reabsorbing the energy he expelled. He trembled on the ground, curled up and nauseous from the pain. His head was pounding and his throat burned. Blood and black sludge stained his chin and shirt, dripping down onto the rocks from his mouth and nose. He must be the world's lamest Villain. Who gets hurt by their own power? How stupid was that? Sure he had an incredibly strong and destructive power, but without the crystal he was useless. He had to recharge his abilities. If he was ever taken captive and drained, he wouldn't be able to fight back at all. He was a joke.
Virgil pushed himself up on shaky arms, head spinning. He staggered to his feet, leaning heavily on the pedestal. Slowly he gathered enough energy to limp out of the ruins and back down the lifeless path to the gate. He didn't yet have the strength to close the gates, so he bit the bullet and used his powers to do so, ignoring the pins and needles tingling it left behind in his fingertips. His powers would be volatile for a day or two, leaving his skin raw and sensitive. He just wanted to sleep, to curl up in his civilian boyfriend's arms and ignore the world for a while.
Virgil made it back to the apartment he shared with his boyfriend under the cover of darkness, able to sneak through an open window and into the bathroom to change and clean up the blood. Roman didn't know about his... Less than ethical means of paying their bills. He thought Virgil worked at some shitty business office with a corrupt boss who made him work ridiculous hours and left him with such severe panic attacks that he was just constantly drained. Bruises were harder to explain, and at this point he was surprised Roman hadn't tried to wrap him up in bubble wrap and tape pillows to his body. He wouldn't be surprised if his lover thought he was the most accident prone idiot on the planet.
Virgil quietly opened the bedroom door, spotting his lover sound asleep in their bed. He relaxed slightly, moving to slip under the covers with him. Roman hummed tiredly, rolling over to face him. "Vi?" He snuggled closer, yawning. "You're home." He nuzzled his face into Virgil's chest. Virgil smiled softly, wrapping his arms around the smaller male. "Hi baby." He kissed Roman's forehead. Roman made a content sound. "G'nite." he mumbled. Virgil chuckled softly and closed his eyes, melting into his soft, soft bed, and the warm body of his partner. "...Goodnight, Ro."