Work Text:
Monday
Patton giggled, pushing Roman away. His many bracelets jingled as he did, almost sliding off. "Oh, Roman, come on, that's ridiculous!" Roman laughed, throwing his backpack down on the picnic table. "I mean, maybe but think about it! What if Napoleon and Lafayette did catch Edgar? That would totally change the ending of the movie!" Patton sighed, grinning. "Yeah, but I don't think that means O'Malley wouldn't stay with Dutchess, I mean he was smitten over her!" Roman subsided, stretching. "Fine, fine. Whatever you say, Pat." They chuckled in unison as Patton pulled out his textbook. "We'd better get started on homework, so enough Disney talk." He really didn't understand what was happening in English already, and Roman could be pretty distracting, but maybe they could figure it out together. Virgil was busy until the weekend, but then they could hang out. "Enough Disney talk?" Roman gasped, insulted. "I can't believe you Patton, Disney is amazing." He hauntily turned up his nose and crossed his arms. "Aw, Roman, I just meant cause we'll get distracted. You know I love Disney." A grin peaked out of his friend's face. "Yeah...I guess so." They sat down, trying to get focused on school.
To Patton's pleasant surprise, they actually got most everything done. All that was left was math. He hated math. It wasn't any fun, and it just got harder every year. Roman groaned in agreement. "Math sucks. Are you sure we don't have any other work left to do instead of it?" Patton sighed, resting his head in his hand. "No...I think that's all we got. Why don't we take a break and meet up at your house later. Do you think your parents could help?" Roman shrugged. "Maybe? I don't know. I wish your mom could help, but of course they have to be on vacation right now." Patton looked down. "Yeah...we could always ask for an extension and have Virgil help with it." Roman snorted, slightly smiling. "Nah, you know the teach won't ever give us one. And it's not like our creepy cookie is going to give us the answers." "Hey now," Patton scolded. "He could have some good input that could help." Roman nodded, but didn't seem too enthused. He stared off into the distance, looking around the park.
Patton knew Roman and Virgil's relationship was still kind of rocky, but he tried his best to encourage them to get along. They had a lot of things in common, he just thought they had trouble seeing it. He was really grateful to have them, they were the best friends he could ask for. It's not like anyone else wanted to stick with him. "Uh oh." Roman quickly started to push his stuff back into his backpack, looking panicked. Patton looked too and felt a hole open in his stomach. Uh oh indeed. He followed Roman's example, trying to get away before it was too late. But it was too late. A group of juniors he didn't really know approached them, smirking. Roman pulled his backpack on and pulled Patton up next to him. "What do you want?" He asked, shaking a bit. They looked at each other for a moment, and who Patton guessed was the ringleader stepped forward. "We were uh- just talking about you with some of our friends, and just wanted to know if the rumors were true." Patton tugged on Roman's shoulder, urging him to stop. They could go now and leave without any trouble, but his friend could be stubborn at times.
Clenching his fists, Roman hesitantly asked, "What rumors?" Oh boy. This wouldn't be good. The junior stepped forward. "That you and your uh- friend are...what's the word again? Novios?" Roman shook his head, and was about to give some retort but Patton stopped him. "Um- no, no we're not. We'll be going now, it was nice to see you...uh- bye!" He grabbed Roman and tried to run away, but they were grabbed by some of the others. "I wasn't done talking to you," he growled, lowering his voice. "So how is it," he asked, leaning in close to Patton. "That the only two f-gs are always together, but not dating? You'd think you'd be all over each other since no one else will even come close to you." Patton tried to step back, but was blocked. "We're just friends, okay?" He was panicking now, they had been picked on before, but like this. "We don't like each other like that!" Roman tried to lunge at him, but was shoved to the ground, letting out an "Umph!"
Patton worriedly looked at him, and back at the junior. "Come on, we haven't done anything!" He pleaded, trying to get them to stop. The one holding him let go, but then pushed him as hard as he could. They laughed, and he heard one of them mutter, "Freaks." Patton laid there for a moment trying to catch his breath. Roman moaned and rolled over. "Are you okay?" He slowly picked himself up, looking at Patton with concern. "Yeah," he sighed. "Shaken, I guess." He reached for his glasses, and adjusted them back on his face. "Are you okay?" Roman nodded, helping him stand. They started walking back, and Roman looked down. He bumped Patton's shoulder affectionately. "Things are getting worse, aren't they?" Patton whispered, "Yeah..." and tried not to give up just how bad he was feeling. "Well, we just gotta keep our heads up. Nobody's gonna stand up for ourselves except us." Patton weakly smiled. He was glad Roman was here, he always made Patton feel better. "We just have to keep smiling, huh?" Roman grinned, rubbing some of the dirt off his face. "Yup! Just like you're always saying, we gotta stay positive!"
They walked home, laughing over shows and movies, trying to forget about what happened. "I'm gonna be busy tonight, but maybe tomorrow after dinner I could come over and we could try and figure this stuff out." Patton gave him a thumbs up, and Roman waved goodbye as they split paths. It was a short walk to his porch, and Patton fumbled through his bag, looking for the key. He was scared he lost it, or that it fell out somewhere when those juniors showed up, but there it was, laying at the bottom. "Thank goodness," he whispered with relief. His parents would be surprised to come back from their vacation and found him staying at Roman's the whole week because he lost the key. Once he was in, he set his stuff down and began looking for dinner. The freezer was mostly empty, but the fridge still had some leftovers he could heat up. Patton turned on the TV as he ate, excitedly thinking about what he and Roman could do tomorrow.
Tuesday
Patton sighed as he watched the clock tick by. Today had been a pretty good day. The work wasn't too hard, he and Roman weren't bothered by anyone, and the weather has been pleasant. Now here he was, finished with dinner waiting for his friend. Roman had promised he'd come by. He had promised. But now it seemed like he wasn't going to show. It was likelier than not that Roman had just gotten grounded or had to do something worth his family. He usually called when he couldn't come over though, which was strange, but there were any number of reasons he didn't. Patton wasn't worried, he was just...sad. It just sucked. Roman was his best friend, and not getting to see him wasn't any fun at all. He had had so many activities planned if they finished homework, but it seemed bracelets weren't going to be made after all
Wednesday
He sat in the living room doing his homework, debating if he should call. Roman wasn't in school today, and Patton hadn't heard if anything was going around. Sure, maybe Roman was sick, but how did it happen so quickly? He was fine yesterday. He wanted to call over and just check in, but was worried he might disturb them. Okay, how about this. He would only call if Roman wasn't back tomorrow. It wouldn't be anything huge, just a quick "How are you?", and he'd leave them be. Patton nodded to himself as he nibbled on the eraser. That sounded good, he could do that. He did everything he could regarding school work and then ate the last of the frozen dinners. "Guess I'll have to go get some food tomorrow," he mumbled between bites. It was just a burrito and a soda, but he enjoyed it more than he thought, with all the different flavors bouncing around. The zing got Patton going again, and he realized even though he couldn't see Roman, he could still make him gifts. There was no such thing as too many bracelets after all.
Patton was busy in his room for most of the afternoon making bracelets, but just for Roman but for Virgil too. They were both coming over for certain Saturday, so it'd be a perfect chance to surprise them with a plethora of gifts. He was working on Virgil's third when the phone rang. He popped up happily. Maybe it was Roman! At least now he would know what was up. "Hello?" He twirled the cord around his fingers as he listened. "Oh, hello ma'am! Can I speak to Roman? Or uh- is he grounded?" His fingers stopped twirling when his friend's mom spoke. "...What? Can- can I come see him? Now? Oh my gosh... Yup. Um- okay yeah, I know where that is. I'll- I'll be right there." He rushed out the garage, pulled his bike out from behind some boxes, and hopped on. He was too big for it now, but it was the easiest thing to do. Not caring about the too small bicycle, about the phone left dangling, or even about road safety, Patton pedaled as hard as he could.
The hospital wasn't too far, only a couple extra miles away from the school, and Patton arrived quickly. He rushed through the doors and found Roman's mother waiting for him. Panicked, Patton asked her, "Can I see him? Is he okay now? Where is he?" She directed him to the room where the prince was laying, and soon they were together. Patton grasped his friend's hand in his own. Bruises and cuts covered Roman's face, and based on all the equipment, Patton couldn't even begin to imagine what was under the covers. "Roman..." His eyelids fluttered open, and he attempted a weak grin. "Hey Pat." He coughed. "How's a going?" "Not good! Not good at all! What happened? Are you gonna be alright?" He frantically held onto Roman, scared if he let go he wouldn't get another chance. "I don't think it's gonna be okay this time..." He burst into another bout of coughing, and Patton watched in horror. "Take it easy," he murmured, trying to be gentle. Roman tried to wave it off. He sadly looked at Patton. "They were talking, the doctors, they were talking, and uh- I- I don't think I'm making it. I can feel it."
Patton shook his head. "Don't talk like that! They know what they're doing, you're gonna be okay! We gotta stay positive!" He had never imagined this could happen, he never would've thought he'd be sitting next to his favorite person in the world while they were dying. "Patton, can you promise me something?" Something in his tone made him relent, and he quieted down. He nodded, and Roman spoke softly. "Can you keep smiling for me? Don't force yourself to, but you should remember the good things in life. The stuff we've always enjoyed, okay? Keep smiling, pop star." Patton shook his head miserably. "Roman..." He was at a loss for words. This was happening in front of him. For real. Roman seemed to understand and squeezed Patton's hand. "You'll be okay. I'm going to rest, but you'll be okay." He sighed, but then nodded. "Okay. Sleep well, my prince." He stayed next to Roman, refusing to let go. Eventually, his parents came back in and escorted him out. It felt like a dream. He didn't want to leave him.
Thursday
School swept on by as Patton was lost in a daze. Nothing was in focus, everything seemed blurry. Roman...was gone. No matter how optimistic he was or how many jokes he told, Patton couldn't bring him back. He felt like a ghost, just drifting through the halls until the bell rang. Roman's parents told him he could come over to hang out after school. He would drop off the bracelets he had made and go home. He just couldn't believe it. Nothing was real anymore. All he could see was Roman holding his hand, smiling. "Keep smiling, pop star." At the final bell let them out, and Patton shuffled out the doors, trying not to think. Everything was so much. One of the most wonderful people he had known was gone, lost to a casket, and the world kept moving. Everyone acted like nothing had changed, laughing, smiling, leaving for home, but it had. Patton's world was crushed inside out and then twisted around. What could he do now? Roman told him to smile, to remember the good, and he wanted to, to respect his friend's wishes, but how?
As Patton passed the picnic tables, a pang of grief and disbelief got him in the heart. It had been what? Only the days ago they were laughing here, talking about Disney movies. It felt like months. He could still hear the laughter, and dwelled on it for a moment, then realizing it wasn't a memory he heard. The juniors were back, they had set up their area by some trees. He didn't know if they noticed him or not, but they were chuckling to each other loudly. "Man, did you hear? Can't believe that actually worked!" The leader fistbumped one of the other goons. "Now the world has one less in it." Patton was a ghost. He was invisible, eavesdropping on something he didn't want to hear. He thought his world had been turned upside down before, but this, this he really could not believe. "Did you guys see the look on his face?" No. Everything was wrong. Images floated through Patton's mind as he listened. A tipped over bicycle. A knife. Fists. Roman. Tears started falling down his face, and he took off running home. He didn't think about what had caused Roman's injuries at the time, but now that he knew, his mind was reeling.
Patton collapsed into his home, sobbing. The door swung open from where he had burst in, and now he just laid on the ground. How could anybody be full of so much hate that they purposely killed someone so wonderful? How could they do that to his prince? He didn't do anything to deserve it. He was so amazing, Roman was one of the best people Patton had known, and they took him away. His breathing grew rapid as he thought, gasping for air at an uneven pace. Roman, his Roman, wasn't just gone. He hadn't been injured in an accident. He had been murdered. And it seemed nobody knew it except him and the culprits. He had to do something. He had to do something for Roman. He didn't deserve to have died like that. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right. "Keep smiling..." He breathed, managing to take control of his tears. "Keep smiling..." Patton slowly picked himself up and cleaned off his glasses. Roman didn't deserve die. But he had, and Patton couldn't bring him back. He had felt helpless, like there was nothing he could do. "Keep smiling..." He muttered, washing his face. It was Roman. Roman, the best friend he could ask for. He had to do something for him. "Keep smiling..." He was fixed up now. He would go over to Roman's and drop off the bracelets. Then he could do his part.
Patton staggered over to his room where the bracelets were, and grabbed them. Uneasy thoughts circled his head, but he had to keep smiling, just like his prince wanted. They were shoved in his pocket, ready to be delivered. Patton thought about grabbing his bike, that would be quickest, but after what he had heard, he didn't think he had the energy. Roman's house wasn't too far, it was about a five minute walk from his, so he started heading down the sidewalk, repeating his new mantra. Keep smiling...keep smiling... keep smiling... He arrived shortly with no issues, but when he went to knock there was a note on the door. It was unlocked, it seemed his parents had gone to get some forms for something. The hole in his heart grew. This was just another reminder, another message that said this was real, this was actually happening. He was actually gone. Patton sighed and pushed the door open. Generally, Roman and his family were pretty messy, but now it looked as if rampaging water buffalo had run through.
Trying not to look at the pictures on the wall, Patton trudged straight to Roman's room. He didn't want to intrude on anything personal, so he would be in and out. He fished the bracelets from his pocket and threw them down on a nightstand. They fell next to a picture. It was him and Roman, right after they had gotten their first musical auditions done. "C'mon. Keep smiling." He croaked like a frog with a sore throat from crying. He stared at the picture for such a long time. Patton knew he had to get going, had to be in and out, but it was captivating. It made it all seem a little less real, with this lively, grinning version of the prince he once knew. He was laughing too, during that time. Looking in his reflection, it was quite clear he wasn't doing that anymore. Looking in the reflection, something glimmered from behind Patton's head. He turned around and saw it was Roman's sword mounted on a wall. He remembered how happy he was in the phone, excitedly calling Patton about this awesome thing he had gotten at a yard sale. It was real, and if course he had to promise to not actually use it, but Roman had loved that sword so much. Had loved. Patton had loved him. He still loved him, and Roman was such a loving person. He still just couldn't believe that people could actually hurt each other out of hate. Where was the love? Keep smiling. Who loved Roman? Keep smiling. He did. Patton loved Roman. He had been his best friend. They had held each other up for years and years. Keep smiling. Maybe there was still a way Patton could show Roman how much he loved him. A way where Roman would receive. Keep smiling. Then his prince really would sleep well.
Patton slowly took the sword off the wall and unsheathed it. It was in the same perfect condition from when Princey had bought it. Keep smiling. He didn't exactly know where to go next, but he could make a start. Leaving the house, he thought about all the "popular" spots they had heard people talking about. He and Roman usually stayed in the park or at their houses, but Virgil had shown them around some. He had some idea of where to go. He knew Virgil really liked the record shops, but that didn't seem like it would be a popular spot with who he was looking for. The local diner and perhaps the skate park seemed like best options. By now the sun was beginning to set and dusk took over. He ran back to his house to grab his bike and clumsily got on with the sword. There was no easy way to hold it and pedal at the same time, but he just squished it under his arm for the time being. Keep smiling. "Roman, I'm gonna do this for you. You never deserved anything. What they did was wrong." He rode down the street, heading for the park.
He hadn't actually expected them to be there, but there were the bullies. They were laughing, and one was riding around on his skateboard. Patton didn't want to listen to them talk anymore. Everything that came out of their mouth was either cruel or hurtful. Not like his prince. Keep smiling. Listening to the last advice he was given, Patton put a big grin on his face. For you, Princey. You never got to be the star you wanted, but you'll be able to sleep when I'm done. The sun was almost completely down now, and the darkness was creeping in. Nobody else was out here this late except for them. Now he could give Roman justice.
Friday
Patton laid in his bed, homework thrown in the floor. He was exhausted. The sword sat in the corner of his room, clean just like how Roman wanted it. School was the same as usual, if by the same meant it felt like an even heavier load without his bestie. Virgil was coming over tomorrow to study with him, he had called and double made sure, so that was taken care of. He didn't even know if the news had reached his part of town. He hoped he didn't have to be the one to tell. He wasn't sure he could say it out loud. Roman was gone. The hunger made his grief louder. Patton had an empty stomach and now, an empty heart. The shock had sunk in, but he couldn't get Roman or the bullies out of his head. Sure, lots of people didn't really like them because they liked guys, but that wasn't everything about them. Roman was kind, funny, and passionate. He loved theater and art. He was great at singing and making up rhymes. If only people could get to know more of him, figure out who he truly was. It was terrible. The fact that people would do something like those bullies did, for no good reason other than hatred was stupid. People could be really stupid sometimes.
Patton rolled over to look at his room. Bracelets, beads, and all sorts of craft materials were scattered about. His bookbag was half-heartedly thrown on the ground. A big box in the corner by his dresser stood out the most. It was filled with more supplies, but also pictures of him and Roman. They had been making a scrapbook of the year as tradition went, but things had gotten a little busy with school, so it had been tucked away. Maybe he and Virgil would continue it later on. Maybe not. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. Patton missed his friend. He was going to persevere, to keep smiling, but it would be rough. He supposed Roman was in a better place now, which was a nice thought. He deserved to be somewhere where he could sing and be himself. The idea made him smile and tear up at the same time. His whole world was messed up. It wasn't okay what had happened, and he couldn't fix it, but he was able to do something that would've pleased his prince. That's what mattered.
Saturday
Patton had hurried around all day with anticipation for his friend's visit. He had cleaned up his room so there would space for the two of them, used some of his allowance to restock the cabinets, and cleaned up the fridge. He had woken up to the contents leaking a bit, and trying to keep them secure while not getting everywhere was a challenge. He was excited to see Virgil though, it had been a terrible week. Pleasant company was something he needed. He hadn't said exactly what time he would be coming, so Patton tried to stay in the living room to get to the door quickly all day, but it wasn't until about eleven he heard a couple knocks. "Coming!" He called, almost tripping as he rushed to the door. He was enveloped by a hug the moment the door was open. Virgil wasn't usually the affectionate type, but Patton guessed he had heard. They stood under the frame, holding one another until eventually Virgil let go. His make-up was more intense than usual, and all was his frown. "Hey." "Hey, Virge." He walked inside and dropped his bags in the couch as Patton closed the door and locked it tight.
Saturday
Virgil sat on the edge of the couch, not knowing what to say. The door was closed with a click and Popstar walked over quietly. It had been a shitty week. Worse than most. He had heard the day of the accident, but he never went to see Roman. He felt guilty about it, but doubt had plauged his mind the entire time over whether he would want to be seen or not, and it led to him just not going at all. And then Roman didn't make it. He sighed. He should've visited when he had the chance. "Are you okay?" Patton's quiet voice leeched into his ears. He wasn't, not at all, and if he was being honest with himself, being here wasn't much of an improvement. His friends usually made him feel better, but the death and the guilt and everything weighed on his chest, and he knew Patton could feel that. "I dunno. How are you?" A distraction was a distraction, and his friend was his friend. Even if he missed his shot with Ro, he could try to be better. The least he could do was talk. There was a hesitation, but eventually there was an answer. "I'm okay. I think." His voice was strained, and their hands latched for comfort as he continued.
"I miss him so much. Everything is different. It's so weird. I'm trying to be positive though... I'm trying to keep smiling." Virgil could only nod in agreement. It was good he was trying to get through, at least one of them was. Their weak conversation faded, and the silence grew overwhelming. All it did was bring him back to Wednesday. "Uh- Pat?" He tried to fill the void, so he wouldn't bring down the mood even lower. "Didn't you say you had some new board games?" This seemed to help, as Patton perked up. "Yeah! They're in my room though, and- Oh! I have things for you!" He dragged him into his room, and soon Virgil found himself covered in bracelets. Big, chunky beaded bracelets, small, stringy bracelets, a couple chain bracelets, and on and on. "I've um- been kind of bored, so I made you some more! It's not too many is it?" Too many was definitely the phrase Virgil would've used. His room was already full of the colorful jewelry, and he had a hard time wearing most of them, so yes, this was definitely too many. "No, no, of course not. They're great." He did appreciate the effort Patton put in to them, but sometimes he just wished his friend could figure out when enough was enough.
As Virgil tried to figure out how to situate the bracelets, Patton rummaged around in the closet looking for some games. "I found some!" The shuffling continued though, as he could see they were buried under a mountain of clothes. "... Do you need some help?" He had fit as many as comfortably possible on, and just decided to set the rest down on the soft carpet. "No, it's okay!" A muffled cry came from the closet, and before he could do anything, there was a "pop!" and Patton came tumbling out with a mountain of boxes. Some looked like they hadn't hadn't been touched in years. "Those were more stuck in there than I thought! Which one do you want to play first?" He looked around at the collection, deciding which one to do. He didn't want something to stressful, but not something to boring either. "Um- how about Mousetrap?" Virgil hadn't played it often, but it was fun enough. "Alright!" They got started, clearing the floor so there would be room.
He was right that it would be fun, but it was still hard to focus on what was going on. Every time he tried to push away the regret and emptiness it seemed to grow. He just wanted to focus on today, with Patton. Anything could happen to him tomorrow, or next week, or next month and Virgil might've not been there. Playing video games was great, they let him delve into his feelings without really having to feel. It was shit, but at least Patton was trying to get through it. He was more chipper than he thought was appropriate considering what just happened, but he wasn't going to get onto his friend about it. Everybody had different coping methods. Still, the smiling and giggling got on his nerves. Roman died. And he was acting like everything was okay. It was not okay. "I got a cheese piece!" Virgil sighed. This wouldn't make anything any better. He should just play the game and enjoy the time with his friend.
They went through a couple rounds before switching to Sorry! and then onto a jigsaw puzzle. Instead of focusing on their friend though, they chatted about various topics, not really spending too much time on any one thing. "How's your cat doing?" He asked, connecting the rose pieces together. The flower theme was nice, Virgil thought. "Reagan? She's doing fine. Hasn't gotten possessed yet." "Aww, that's um- good." The Exorcist was a great movie, he was able to convince them to come over and watch it one night, but he thought it scared Patton a lot. "No, but she's good. Have you gotten any closer to convincing your folks to get a puppy?" He shook his head in mock despair, and talked about it for a while why they puzzled. He had just about finished the violets and Patton had handled the daises. If jigsaws were about 300 pieces, they weren't so bad. And this one wasn't new, so he had an idea of what went together.
He was working silently for a while and just being there with Patton, just getting to be there, made him feel better. A couple years ago, he would've tried to console him like an infant. It was good to see him have grown, they had gotten really close because of it. "Oh! Um- before we finish it!" He scrambled up to his dresser and grabbed something off it. Virgil stopped for a moment. His hands instinctively started to pick at the skin around his fingernails. Patton came back with his Polaroid, almost landing on him when he sat down. "We could take a picture of us making it and then scrap it! Or at least put in up!" He grinned behind his glasses, waiting for Virgil's reply. "What?" What was he thinking? "Patton- we came here to hang out and just- just relax really. Why do you want to do this?" His grin had fallen down, but he continued. "The scrapbook was Roman's idea! It's our thing with Roman. We can't do it without him!" He drew a breath and turned away for a moment.
"Why do want to erase him?" He didn't mean for it to come out so accusatory, but he was upset. He didn't get it. Patton had been acting so happy, so sweet, and they mentioned him a little, but briefly. "I don't want to erase him! I just thought it would be nice. I think he would want us to keep doing it. That's all. I love Roman." Virgil laid his head in his arms, thinking. The camera was set down and he took off his glasses, laying them in his lap. "I'm sorry. I don't want to move to fast or make it think I'm forgetting him, it's just...I have to keep smiling. For him. I thought it would be fun." Patton's eyes had started to water, and guilt ran through his veins. He reached out his hand, and brought them closer. It wasn't fair, but that was life. "You don't always have to smile, Popstar." Then the real waterworks began. He was crying, and Virgil was trying hard not to, and it was a mess. "It's fucked up. I'm sorry." Patton nodded in agreement, unable to speak. Soon his breathing slowed, and although his clutch was tight, he got out a whisper before more tears came. "I promised him."
It was evening, after a long afternoon of grief and snacks. Virgil rolled out some blankets once the games were shoved to the side of the room. He had gotten an extra pillow and his friend supplied a plethora of plushies. "Do you want to leave the lights on?" Their faces had dried, but it was clear Patton still wasn't feeling well. That was alright. He didn't feel too good himself. "No, I like it dark. You can keep your window open if you want." "Alright." He walked down the hall to the bathroom to brush his teeth, and Virgil was left alone. He didn't want to lay down just yet, but he sat in the comfortable nest he created, staring at the board games. They had been put up with not much effort, and a small mouse piece stared back at him. The longer they looked at each other, the better it made him feel. Here he was, sitting in his friend's house after they both lost someone, and he was looking at a plastic rodent. It was stupid, but it was funny. He's gone. I wasn't there, and he's gone. And this stupid mouse is cheering me up. What the hell. Some water splashed around, and there was a clinking when the brush clattered back into its container.
His friend trudged back in, tired. He sat down next to Virgil instead of his own bed. "I'm sorry." It came out in a whisper, and he gently rested on his shoulder. He didn't say anything for a moment. Patton had upset him. It hurt for a moment, to think he just tried to forget Roman. But he was just a puffball really, he hadn't meant it like that. He shouldn't be angry. "Nothing to be sorry about. Here." He took his friend's glasses and reached to set them on the nightstand. It was hard. They hadn't done much, but he felt exhausted. The person leaning on him looked about the same. "I'm ready to sleep if you are." He sighed, and then agreed. "Yeah." Patton got up and clambered onto his bed. "Sleep tight. Have good dreams." That was pretty unlikely for Virgil's case, but it was nice to hear. "You too." He rolled around in the nest, stretching, trying to get comfortable. Once everything was in order, he pulled the covers over him, and buried himself underneath all the stuffed animals Pat had supplied.
He dreamed they were in the park, but it wasn't where it usually was. Instead, it was behind his house, although the group was still at their usual picnic table. Roman was leading the conversation as usual, going off on one of his Disney tangents, and Patton was enthusiastically listing his favorite animal sidekicks. Virgil felt like something was off, which made him uneasy, but he was glad to see Roman again. "- and they should totally have a crossover with Lady and The Tramp. I mean, c'mon, it would be so funny to see Jock's reaction to all those puppies!" "Aww, that would be so cute!" Patton sighed dreamily. "I wish I could have puppies. Or one at least, a hundred and one might be overdoing it." They grinned at each other and then their prince looked at him. "What're your thoughts?" "Um-" It was hard getting his thoughts together. The sun shone so brilliantly behind Roman's head, it was hard to see his face. "Virge?" The joy dropped a little bit from their voices. It was so bright. And something was wrong, he could feel it. Something bad was happening. The sun's light pierced his eyes. "Princey?" He sat up quickly, in a mess of blankets and pillows.
The bathroom light was on, it was giving a faint glow down the hallway. He still felt bad, but that just might be the aftertaste of his dream. He looked over at the bed and saw Patton was missing. He was probably in the bathroom and would be back in a second, but Virgil wasn't sure. He stared down at the bathroom light. Should he go check? He could hear something coming from it, but couldn't identify what. It wasn't the sink or the toilet. He glanced around the room again, and noticed something reflective under Patton's bed. The glimmer was barely able to be seen, but it caught his eye anyway. Another glance down towards the bathroom, and shakily he pulled it out to see what it was. Slowly, Roman's old sword revealed itself. He held onto it, tightly. He hadn't expected this, why was this here? What was Patton doing with this? It should be displayed in Roman's room, as usual. That's how it should be, not here, not like this. It wasn't even clean, like how their good friend had liked it. What sort of grime had it picked up? Fear and worry shot through his bloodstream. He had to check on the bathroom, on Patton, but he was afraid. His dream had felt wrong, the light felt wrong, the sword felt wrong, and now he felt wrong.
Virgil closed his eyes and breathed. He was paralyzed, sitting here with Roman's sword. He knew from running to his parent's room after a nightmare when he was younger, the longer he sat here, the worse it would get. It was like ripping off a Band-Aid. Three seconds breath in, five seconds breath out. He set the sword down. He didn't want to put it under the bed again, where it could be forgotten just like memories of his friend. His friend, Roman. Things had started off really bad between the two of them, but with Patton's help they became friends. Not as good friends as he would've liked to admit though. Goddammit. He picked the prized possession back up. Roman was always fairly brave. Maybe he could try and channel that. It sounded like nonsense, but it made him feel better, and that's what he really cared about in this moment. Trying not to shake, Virgil stood up slowly, clutching the sword for comfort. He had to be careful with it. Decoration or not, it was still a weapon. His footsteps creaked on the wooden floors, and one hand was dragged along the wall for support. He hadn't been over at Patton's a lot, and the layout was strange and distorted in the dark.
He reached the bathroom, and saw the door was slightly open, but not enough to really see what was going on. He didn't want to intrude, in case Pat was just trying to be quiet, so he lightly rapped on the door. For a moment, his voice was trapped in his throat, but then it was released. "Hey, Patton? You in there?" There was silence, and he worried he had made him uncomfortable. He wasn't sure what to say, maybe apologizing, but then the door opened up to reveal his friend. He was grinning. At least, that's what it looked like. Something was still wrong. That bad feeling was getting worse. "Are you alright?" He squinted, as Pat stepped out into the hallway next to him. His eyes were slowly adjusting to the dark, and something was off about his face. "I'm okay." "...Okay..." Virgil pushed past him slightly to reach into the bathroom to turn the light back on, it sounded like he was in...pain. He leaned in the bathroom, not too far, and his socks landed on something squishy. Liquid started to seep in, and his own blood ran cold. He flicked the switch on, and dropped the sword in surprise.
Horror filled him. This wasn't a dream, and it wasn't a scary movie. Blood was dripping down the counter, covering the floor. It wasn't that fake, bright red stuff he saw on the television. Bits of flesh had fallen in the sink and onto the floor. It was what he was standing in, in fact. "Oh, shit!" He quickly backed out, bumping into Patton. Tears were slowly dripping down his face, but he was smiling, ear to ear. Even through the permanence, Virgil could tell it was an inside smile too. "I promised Roman. He said it was okay to be sad, but this way I don't ever let him down." He looked into the bathroom mirror, and then back at Virgil. "I'm going to keep smiling. Even without him, I can still smile." This was freaking him out. Patton, Patton of all people. He kept shuffling back, scared. This wasn't right. He didn't know what to say, what to do. All he could focus on was his face. The dripping, the bleeding was so prevalent. It was all he could do to try and listen.
Patton drew his foot back, and then circled it around. "I... you know what happened, right?" It took him a moment to process, but then he understood. It was about Roman. "Yeah, I-I think so." He had been badly hurt, and then died at the hospital. And it didn't surprise him that he wanted to Patton to stay positive, but he didn't think this is what their prince meant. "It wasn't fair. He didn't deserve it." Virgil stopped moving, unsure. "No, he didn't. But, puffball-" "I couldn't do anything." Now his friend was really upset. He was afraid to leave him, but he needed to reach the phone. To call...someone. An ambulance? His parents? He hadn't paid as much attention as he should've when they took first aid, but from the movies he knew the wound should at least be covered with a cloth or something to stop the bleeding. Before he could suggest anything of the sort, Patton turned the light off and bent down.
Virgil didn't like the dark. At least, not in this situation. Any other and he would be enjoying himself, shut away from the bright lights that gave him headaches. But he felt nauseous without light here. With Patton like this. He backed up all the way into the kitchen, scrambling to find a switch or anything that would illuminate the room. His night vision had been reset, thanks to the bathroom. "You loved Roman, right? I wasn't the only one?" His voice stretched between teary and gleeful. Oh, something was wrong. "Uh-um-" His hands frantically searched behind him. He could hear Patton treading closer, and the quiet splats of blood hitting the ground. "Yeah- I mean, he was my friend, of course I loved him. Not like how everyone says, but you know." His fingers found something, and wrapped around it tightly. The fridge door. That would be enough for now. "They said some hurtful things, didn't they?" The question levitated in the air, and with a tug, Virgil popped the door open, casting a bright light. "Then they did some hurtful things. They hurt Roman. They're the reason he's gone." Patton's grin hadn't grown, but his eyes were alight with something he had never seen before.
Ohhh, shit. With the light casting directly at his friend, with the initial shock dying down, he really took in what was happening. This isn't good. "Pat..." There wasn't anywhere to escape to. Not unless he wanted to climb inside the appliance. A slight glance backwards to tease the idea made everything all the more terrible. He just caught a quick look of some gore before turning away. He didn't want to know what it was. Who it was. Patton had stopped approaching, and leaned on the island. "It was all I could do for him." His eyes flitted downwards. Virgil couldn't tell what was going on inside him. Before, he would've thought it was sorrow, or regret, something like that. Now he was unpredictable. "But- buddy," It was hard, trying to get the right words out. "Do you think- do you think maybe Roman... wouldn't... have wanted this? Do- do you think you misinterpreted him?" He hoped he wasn't being too harsh, they had both gone through a lot in the last couple days and he often missed the point of what was actually being said, but this seemed like an extreme reaction.
Fiddling with the sword in his hands, Patton's eyes drifted across the room but eventually returned to Virgil. "He was brave, and he loved being the prince or the knight. You know that." A giggle slipped out between breaths, sending tremors down his spine. "Princes and knights always defeat the bad guys. They slay the dragons. I did what he would've done if he could've." This was bad. He wasn't sure what to do or say anymore. Conversations never went like this, not even in the movies. He had no plan and no idea how to soothe his friend. "Don't you want to do something for him? You miss him too, surely you want to do something for Roman?" Virgil nodded his head, trying not to speak. He had actually been writing some poems, but those weren't for anyone to see. He wasn't sure whether to suggest an idea or not, with the state his friend was in, but he was also nervous for anything he might come up with. "There's uh- the scrapbook. You said you thought he would want us to keep doing it right? Wouldn't that, um- be something fun for his memory?" Words were stumbling out, but whether they made any coherent thought he didn't know.
It seemed to please his now forever grinning friend, but not enough to satiate him. "That's a start!" Another giggle. "Yes, we could absolutely do that!" The glee was fleeting however, and he felt waves of discomfort as Patton's voice dropped and looked at him again. "Virgil?" "Yeah?" He couldn't swallow his fear, he was so, so afraid, but he was frozen. He wanted to get someone else's attention, someone who knew what to do. If Patton had been any horror villain, the phone would've been cut off, but he wasn't, he was Patton. Right now he was scaring him and acting way far off from normal, but Virgil still knew that he acted on impulse a lot, and probably hadn't jeopardized any ways out. "I know being dark and scary is your 'thing', but what if you smiled for him? That way we would both know we loved him, and he would know too! Would you do it, would you smile for him?" This hit him hard in the chest. He had barely started grieving.
Patton stepped closer, curious, with the sword in hand. He couldn't think of anything to say to pause the approach without being upsetting. Keeping the weapon clean crossed his mind, that was something Roman had preached to them whenever they admired it, but it was a weak argument. It could always be cleaned later. "Here." A hand was placed on his shoulder, gently pushing him down. It's easier if you sit. Oh, god. It was awful seeing Patton's face from across the room, but having it right up close was even worse. The poor lighting helped disguise the choppy work some, but not enough. He could feel the droplets sprinkle down onto his clothes as what he had always thought of as a friend hovered over him. He lowered his hand to grab Virgil's, and held it in a comforting way. "Don't worry. We'll smile and smile and smile forever, and it'll all be for our prince. We'll make him proud, okay?" Virgil nodded, staring at the smudged glasses. Shit. I'm sorry Roman. "It won't hurt. Not as much as he did. Just keep smiling, Virge, just keep smiling."