The morning of the second of January was normal. Roman woke up to an empty air mattress and then went downstairs to find his mother and Virgil talking. Roman was glad they got along, Virgil seemed to like the company and his mom just loved doting on another person who let her. Remus and Roman had refused for a while, Roman figured Remus had accepted it more when he went to Westward.

Other than that it wasn't too bad. Until Remus came home. Roman and Virgil were in his studio, Virgil was drawing in his sketchbook and coloring it in with the colors that Roman chose and Roman was watching. Virgil had started to let him watch him draw because he knew Roman wouldn't do anything unless he asked. And Roman wasn't going to betray that trust.

He heard the doors open upstairs and a bunch of footsteps. Roman reconzied the voices. Pranks and Matt. He hopped that Remus would keep them upstairs. Roman texted Remus to make sure he knew where they were.

"Virgil!" Roman said happily. Virgil jumped and looked over at Roman. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. Let's get our coats and get ice cream or something." Roman said.

Virgil gave him a look and Roman pleaded. Virgil gave in and Roman was happy to get out of the house with Remus' friends in the house. Roman wasn't sure when he started to refer to his friends back at home as just Remus' friends, they were both of theirs. What changed that?

Roman tells him to wait in the dining room while he gets their coats. Virgil already had his shoes on because they were in the studio. Roman took Virgil's coat and put his own over it just in case he saw the trio.

Roman didn't have to wait long before he was out of the house. He stopped by Remus' room and put on his stoic face. "Keys now." Roman said.

Remus smiled and threw him the key. "Going somewhere?" He asked.

"None of your business, you two keep out of my room. I'll know, plus it's locked. Break it and I'll break your legs." Roman said.

"Aw, where you going?" Pranks asked.

"None of your business." Roman answered and closed the door. He slid down the stairs railing and went to see Virgil. He handed them the jacket silently and put on his own. They left the house and got in the car.

"So, where are we going?" Virgil's phone said.

"To be honest, I panicked and didn't want to be bombarded with the two people Remus brought home." Roman answered. Virgil smiled and shook his head. Roman glanced at him. "What?"

"Are you that nervous for me to meet your friends from home? I lived a life before I lived with my uncle. For all you know, my friends were like yours." Roman chuckled.

"Sure, I am pretty sure your friends and you went around tagged buildings to practice spray painting as well as smoked pot, also snuck into college dorms for par-"

"Okay, okay I get it." Virgil interrupted Roman. Roman chuckled and then shrugged. "Roman, do you not want your friends to meet me?"

"I don't want you to meet them." Roman said. If he was honest, he just wanted to keep both sides of himself separated. It was easier to be Roman with Virgil than it was to have the facade with Matt and Pranks.

"Is it me?" Virgil asked. Roman sighed knowing he would have to explain it.

"Let me get to where we are going and I'll explain." Roman said. Virgil nodded. Roman knew Virgil was nervous, he could tell by his leg bouncing. Roman put his hand on Virgil's thigh and used his thumb to rub circles into it. He made sure to keep his hand far enough down that it wasn't awkward but that he had to comfort Virgil somehow.

He pulled into the same diner that he and Remus go to all the time. "Come on, let's get milkshakes." Roman said. Virgil slowly got out of the car and seemed to be checking to see if he had his notepad. Roman realized the irony between when he came here with Remus and when he came here now. Was this where he felt better about having hard conversations?

Roman asked for a table for two. They sat down in a booth and looked at the menu. Roman asked Virgil what he wanted. Virgil had always told Roman that he hated going out to eat because he couldn't talk, Roman said he would order for him if he told him what he wanted.

The waitress came over and asked what they wanted. Roman ordered two vanilla shakes so it wouldn't be too awkward. The waitress nodded and said she would be back with their drinks.

Virgil wrote down what he wanted and handed it to Roman. He also wrote down another note. Are we going to talk about what you meant?

"Yes, we are. But I don't want to be interrupted more than once." Roman was just trying to buy time to try and explain to Virgil why he didn't want Pranks and Matt to meet Virgil. Virgil rolled his eyes and moved lower in his seat.

"We have two vanilla shakes here, and anything else you guys want?" She asked. Roman gave a smile and told her they were all set. The waitress looked kinda uncomfortable because Virgil hadn't spoken a word at all. Roman also figured he looked anxious, tell tale signs of a conversation that could go south and with his reputation he didn't expect a lesser reaction.

"To be honest, I don't want you to meet them because I don't think you'll like them. They are loud, inappropriate, and kind of assholes. Besides I don't think of them as friends anyway." Roman started while Virgil took a sip from his shake.

Won't know until I meet them. I survived meeting Remus. I think I can handle two people. You will be there to answer anything they ask and you know my limits for what they need to know. Virgil slid the notepad over to Roman. Roman sighed and slid it back.

"I am not worried about you. You couldn't do anything, I don't trust them at all. When we all hung out, I barely trusted them but now we have made kind of a family. And I have made myself out to be this image in your head and I know you hate it when I go into the persona I used to use but that's all they know from me. I just don't want to make you uncomfortable." Roman said. Virgil looked like he didn't believe that.

I want to meet them, even if you slip into that stoic person. I'll put up with it for a little bit while I meet them. I am your friend and I wouldn't be sitting here, away from a loving home alone, if I didn't trust you. I don't care if you don't trust them, I want to meet people from your life before me. Roman shook his head, he really didn't want to have this conversation. He just needed Virgil to understand that he didn't want any of them to say anything about Roamn's past.

The arrests and the rumors. He didn't want Virgil to be labeled as another exploit he was having and then they assumed that he was going to throw him away. "Virgil, I just want you to be okay. And there are things about me that you don't know, who knows maybe I'll tell you but I just don't want you to be scared away." Roman said.

It was selfish but Roman was convinced it was to protect Virgil. That's what he did his entire life, first it was Remus and now it was Virgil. With Remus it was a sense of duty he had to fulfill but took pride in doing so. But Virgil was different, he didn't care if they were dating or they were friends but nothing would hurt him. And Roman was going to make sure of that, he wouldn't be able to handle it if Virgil was upset by Pranks and Matt. If he was upset by something he had done after all they had gone through and everything Virgil had trusted him with.

He didn't want to look at Virgil so he instead looked out the window and played with the straw of his shake. He saw something shift over where Virgil was, but kept his gaze on the window. Suddenly, the cup was moved from his hand and he had Virgil on his lap.

Virgil never was one for public affection so to say Roman was confused was an understatement. Virgil was sitting so his feet were hanging in the isle and Roman supported his back with his arm. Virgil seemed to be looking for something in Roman's face.

"Virgil, what are you doing?" Roman tried to ask but Virgil had put a hand over his mouth. Roman got the message and shut up. Virgil took his face in his hands and moved it around. Then he played with his hair. He seemed satisfied and got his notepad and didn't move.

Still the same Roman I know. I don't know what you are going on about but the you I have known and will know is the same you I have seen at home and sitting here. But the words you are saying are lies. You shouldn't listen to that. Because I am comfortable with you. Do I like the fact you hide sometimes? No, because you are so amazing that I can't believe it. I am supposed to be the stressed one here not you. So shut about the stupid reasons, and just be with me. It doesn't matter the person you display to me, it's who you are inside that counts.

Roman watched him write it and then reread it over and over. Roman wrapped his arms around Virgil's waist and hugged him.

"What did I do to deserve you? This was supposed to help you, but it feels like I haven't been doing that." Virgil hit him with the notepad. Roman rubbed his arm. "What was that for?"

You are such a dumbass and so dense. You have helped me so much. When no one could calm me down from a panic attack, you did! I have been trying to figure a good way to tell you this but you treat me so well and unlike anyone else. I am just Virgil. Not a mute younger cousin..or a broken friend who needs to be protected for his own good. Yeah, we get around the whole not talking thing but you see me for me.

Hell, you even call me a brat. No one else has ever done that, which makes the fact you are talking utter nonsense right now insane. You are starting to act like Logan in trying to protect me from anything. Logan sure knows shit about you but won't tell me to not 'scare me away' and you are doing the same thing. So please stop it, be Roman that I know. The Roman who tickles me when I kick him or lets me cuddle him.

Roman shook his head, he couldn't read anymore. "Virgil, no. That person that does those things isn't the person I can be all the time, because that's not who they see." Roman sighed and put his forehead on Virgil's shoulder. He felt his eyes burn a little. He didn't want to cry. "Just please drop it."

He felt Virgil write something on the notepad but didn't want to look. He was afraid that Virgil was going to push further or ask him to leave and never talk to him again. So he kept his head buried. Virgil shook him multiple times but Roman remained where he was with his arms loosely on Virgil so he could get up if he wanted to. But he didn't move.

Virgil wiggled his arms so they were moving Roman to where he wanted them. Roman let him but kept his eyes closed. He didn't want this fight to be real. It couldn't be. Virgil tapped his cheeks. Roman didn't open his eyes.

Roman felt Virgil move. And then there was pain in his shoulder. His eyes flew open and he was looking at Virgil. "Did you just bite me?" Roman asked, Virgil nodded then gave him the notepad. Roman swallowed his fears and looked.

The Roman I know is the Roman you are, and guess what I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't accept all of you. The Roman they know may be an imposter to you, but to me he's another piece of the puzzle. I promise I won't leave if I meet them. In fact we should stop referring to you as two people, you are one person who shouldn't have to go through this alone. You didn't leave me when I had a panic attack and cried in front of you, I am going to give you the same. So let's stop this stupid fight and finish our drinks so I can meet your old friends. I don't even care if you slip into the old Roman, if I get uncomfortable I'll tell Remus to say blue, okay?

"Fine, but the second they make you uncomfortable you have to, promise?" Roman said. "Can you show me what the sign for blue looks like?" Virgil nodded.

He put his right hand out and tucked his thumb to his palm making the letter 'B' and then waved it from side to side. Roman nodded. "Why blue?" Roman asked.

Logan's favorite color. Roman didn't care about why and he moved Vigil next to him in the booth. Virgil got his drink and put one of his legs on Roman's. By now people were staring but Roman didn't care. Virgil was okay and now he had to hope that they weren't at home when they got there.

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Virgil sat in the car with Roman in the driveway. Roman had been putting off coming home since Virgil said that he wanted to leave. Virgil knew Roman would much rather stay cuddled up in the booth until the place closed but he wouldn't let him. He was just meeting a few friends. What was the big deal?

And seriously what could've Roman done that would change his view of him. Roman was loaded for fucks sake, never let that determine how he acted though. "Virgil are you sure?" Roman whined for the tenth time. Virgil rolled his eyes and got out of the car.

He knew that if he didn't do it then Roman wouldn't have left otherwise. Virgil didn't answer as he started to walk up to the driveway. He heard Roman behind him scramble and lock the car. Roman got to Virgil before he got to the door.

"And you say I am the mean one." Roman mumbled as he walked into the house. Virgil smirked and walked in. Virgil took off his shoes at the door and then waited for Roman, he did agree to that. After spending two days in the house he was starting to get comfortable. Gloria was sweet after spending some time with her in the kitchen when Roman wouldn't get up.

She also made him breakfast, she told him she was spoiling him so he couldn't go anywhere. Virgil liked her very much. Then Roman would come down and grumble that Virgil left him alone again. Gloria would try to smack him and tell him to stop complaining. Virgil was always amused, Virgil would also clean the bedroom. It was a habit and he wasn't going to shake it because Roman had a few housekeepers.

Virgil lightly bounced on his feet while he waited. Roman was wasting time on purpose. "Come on." Roman said and they went upstairs. Virgil took off his jacket and Roman hung it up. Virgil found his notepad and remembered that his sketchbook was downstairs in the dining room.

Virgil wrote Roman a note and then briskly walked out of the room. Roman was getting real tired of Virgil just leaving and Virgil was having some fun. He was good at moving quietly, so he barely made any sounds. He had memorized where the creaks on the floors, so he didn't make any when he went down the stairs.

Virgil heard Roman come after him but Virgil was already down the stairs and was smiling. He got his sketchbook, just as he was going to go back upstairs someone came into the room.

"Remus, I don't really see the harm in bothering your- why hello. Who is this?" They said. Virgil froze and prayed for Roman or Remus to interfere. Virgil just kept walking.

The guy stopped him and grabbed his arm. "Hey, I am talking to you." The guy had made eye contact and couldn't even try to communicate.

"Pranks, let go of him." Remus said. Virgil knew that he wouldn't, he started to panic.

"Nah, the dude needs to speak for himself. So, what is this kid even doing in your house? Is he another slut that your brother conned into bed?" The guy, Pranks said.

Virgil was starting to have flashbacks to living in the nightmare that was his father's house, because that's who's house it was. Not his or his mother's or all of them. His father's. The yelling and sounds of things getting thrown, and each fight they had when they thought Virgil had gone to bed. He heard them all anyway, how could he not?

The name calling didn't help because now he just heard everything. Virgil felt like he couldn't breathe. Was he always breathing this quick? Was the room always this small? Where was the buzzing coming from? Was there a buzzing or was he imaging it? Virgil searched for something he could ground himself to, but the hold on his arm wasn't helping. In fact he was pretty sure it was going to bruise. He could've used the fact someone was causing him pain to ground him but he tried and it panicked him further so he tried to find another method but couldn't.

Virgil had no idea how long it had been since he had left Roman's room to get his sketchbook or when Roman was coming down because he did follow him. But where was Roman? Did he just leave him? Was this because Virgil pushed meeting his friends? He should've listened but of course he had to be the brat and fight back. Why did he do that?

Remus was here but he wasn't really helping. He was doing his best in his own way, but he was failing miserably. Virgil had now blocked out any conversation they were having and just trying to get away. He had started pulling his arm which made the guy hold tighter.

"Pranks, I suggest you listen to my brother before I rip your hand off of him myself." Virgil heard the one voice he needed to hear. Roman.

"Oh? You are defending him? Come on he can't be that worth protecting." Pranks said.

"Hey Virgil?" Roman said gently but Virgil looked up and saw a stoic face and emotionless eyes. He was scared for a different reason. "Thanks for the flowers, I like them a lot."

Virgil still was trying to calm down, Roman had started to cross from the door to where Virgil was standing.

"I might be inclined to forgive or oversee this utter and blatant disregard for a friend's safety if you let him go and sit quietly in the living room until I come in." Roman said. Virgil was still scared, he had never seen Roman like this and he had only seen the stoic face for a little bit and it freaked him out. Full emotionless Roman really didn't sit well with him. Not to mention the flood of thoughts that were running through his head wasn't helping that he had fucked up. Or he thought he did.

Pranks had gone pale after Roman mentioned the flowers. Another boy was standing behind Remus that Virgil just now saw was smiling but trying to hide it. "Well?" Roman said forcefully. Pranks dropped Virgil's arm and Remus immediately moved to his side to help him.

Remus recognized a panic attack, after having so many himself. "Living room." Roman said. Virgil still didn't understand what was going on, he still wasn't breathing properly. Virgil felt someone sit him down on a chair.

He could still see and saw Remus, Remus was saying something but it was muffled. He saw Roman kneel down as well but Virgil reacted by latching on to Remus. His hearing leveled out enough to hear a bit of the conversation.

"...You said it yourself that he went through some shit when he was younger. He might just be scared and reacting to keep himself safe, it doesn't mean he's upset with you." Remus said, trying to keep peace.

"But if I-"

"But nothing. Go take care of Pranks and I'll stay here with him.You two can talk later. He most likely will feel bad and try to apologize." Remus was drawing shapes on Virgil's back that grounded him.