True Deceit

Chapter 50: Roman

Hello readers! Happy 50th Chapter! Thank you to those who have been enjoying my novel, I could never have gotten here without all of you supporting me! I'm also really proud of myself, this is a huge steppingstone for me producing an original novel. (I think I may have a bit off what I like to call, 'Writer's Fever'.  I've been rereading my work so many times that I can't figure out if this and the previous chapter are bad. I hope their okay, I've been trying.) Thank you! ps. This chapter is most likely the most wholesome so far! 

"Hey Patton!" Roman laughed, twirling elatedly through the kitchen. Patton turned towards the euphoric prince, swiftly raising his brows.

"Good morning, how are you?"

Princey grabbed Morality's shoulders, a grin brighter than the sun spread across his face. "Oh Patton, I don't think I've ever been so happy!" Patton felt wonder warmth his chest as he opened his mouth to reply, but was swiftly interrupted by Logan's regular monotone greeting of salutations.

"Morning Logan!" Roman practicality bounced in response, passing him a hot mug off coffee from the counter. "Did you know that you're really cool?"

Shock flashed across Logan's face. "I, I, thank you Roman," he stuttered with disbelief. Cool, he thinks I'm cool... his heart fluttered.

"Morning Janus!" Roman sang, turning toward Janus as he rose into the kitchen. The snake startled, skimming a glance at Logan before lifting eyes. "You look nervous Slimy Boi, everything's okay." The prince wrapped his arms abruptly around the snake's torso, ignoring his sharp frightened hiss. "Logan's not upset with you, and neither am I. I'm sorry I tried to eavesdrop, it was wrong, and I shouldn't have-"

"-Get away from me!" Janus struggled, shoving him forcefully in the chest before tightly gripping his hat for support. "What the hell, Roman?"

Roman shrugged, seemingly unfazed. "Sorry. Anyway, I can't wait to wake Thomas, I'm so excited!" Roman sang cheerfully to the tune of 'a spoon full of sugar,' from Marry Poppins, exiting the kitchen with a spirited leap.

Patton, Logan and Janus all shared squinted, confused glances, until finally Patton giggled with a clap of his hands. "Oh, now I get it!"

"You mean you can actually explain what that was?" Logan remarked, swallowing a large gulp of coffee.

"Yep! Do you happen to remember one of the first time Roman saw a guy he liked?" 

Logan gave a rare smirk, nodding comprehensively. "Jordan Jay Jones, a high school crush."

Janus let out a spluttering cough. "Seriously? How old was he then?"

"Fifteen," Patton chortled. "Roman was dancing and prancing for weeks, that's how we knew for a fact Thomas was gay."

"So you're suggesting he's in love?" Janus probed slowly, stroking his chin. "With whom?"

"Umm..." Patton hesitated, his stomach knotting. Janus tapped his foot implicitly, awaiting his response. "The truth is, Roman's in love with Virgil."

Janus's eyes widened, a lump forming in his throat. "Hold on, Virgil? That's preposterous, I mean, their clearly not made for each other..."

"And why not?" Logan inquired, meeting his gaze with serious eyes.

Janus straightening his posture, clearing his throat with contemn. "Roman can be categorised as fanciful, irritating and attention seeking, whilst Virgil is reserved, challenging and modest. How on earth would the pair possibly entertain a relationship?"

Patton ran an awkward hand through his hair, releasing a high humming sound. "Well, Janus I'm mean, we get along, and we're not exactly similar in personality. What if it's the same for Virgil and Roman?"

Janus clenched his jaw, his chest aching with questions. Was he and Patton... no, off course not, Patton only pretending he loved him because he's Morality, it's his personality. He let out a short laugh. "No, we don't count, we're talking about Paranoia, he'd never truly come to trust anyone."

"With all due respect, Janus, Virgil prefers to be called Anxiety." Logan corrected, taking another slow sip of coffee. "Furthermore, his paranoia has never presented any real challenges in building healthy long term relationships before, take he and Remus for example."

Janus felt his muscles tense, his tongue rearing to hiss. Instead he pulled back, smiling falsely. "Of course. Anyway, I'd best go check in on Remus."

"Aren't you going to eat breakfast?" Patton asked quietly.

"I'm not hungry," he responded, pulling his coat tightly onto his shoulders. Patton's eyes widened with concern, flecks of worry sprinkled in his pupils. Janus met his gaze, his face falling heavily. "Okay, okay, I'll eat something."

*

Roman knocked rhythmically on Virgil's door, exchanging feet as he jumped from one leg to the other. "Virgil, may I come in?"

Virgil yawned deeply as he widened the entrance. "Princey? What's up?" Roman was virtually gasping for air, his eyes marvelling at the adorable young man dressed in sweet childlike pyjamas, with hair teased into a fuzzy brown mess and his eyes lacking their usual double coat of eye shadow.

"Good morning, I love you!" Roman beamed, passing him a bouquet of purple flowers and a small indigo package laced with violet ribbon.

Virgil felt his cheeks burning as he led the prince into his realm, a surge of frisson causing his fingers to tremble. "Wow, is everything okay? You look a little... frazzled."

"I'm good, no, actually I'm amazing! I wrote you some poetry." Roman fumbled with a slip of paper tucked in his sleeve, clearing his throat as he began to recite, "you're my beautiful cloud, you make the darkness feel warm, I love you with more energy, than a thundering storm-"

"-Princey, Princey, wait," Virgil breathed, placing a hand on Roman's shoulder. The prince froze, panic flooding his chest. Was it to much? "I have a present for you too."

Roman's eyes dilated as Anxiety pressed his lips against his own, more perfect and beautiful than he could ever contour. When he finally pulled away Roman had tears in his eyes. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"