True Deceit

Chapter 53: Thomas

Hello Readers, sorry about the previous chapter, it wasn't very good 😟. I think this next chapter should be alright hopefully. Enjoy :)

 Thomas entered the aquatic facility, his thongs clopping against the rustic tiles as he staggered towards an array of metal benches.

"Slow down, you might slip," Virgil cautioned. He scanned the large pubic crowd for Joan's familiar face, fiddling anxiously with the hems of his jacket. Thomas smiled as spied his pal from across the room, waving warmly.

"Thomas, how are ya?" Joan grinned, massaging their sleeveless arms. "You're just in time."

"Great! Are we sitting here?"

Joan nodded, flopping onto the nearest seat. "Here, I bought you a soda." They tossed him a cold lemonade can, which slipped clumsily from Thomas's grasp and clanked against the floor.

Virgil wince as the host quickly returned the drink to his hand, releasing a tired thanks before flipping the aluminium lid and taking a long cool sip. The taste was sweet and artificial, with the vague scent of citrus rines bubbling down his throat.

"It's been a while, what have you been up to?" Joan inquired. "I've tried to call you a bunch of times, you never seem to pick up."

"Oh, yeah," Thomas laughed awkwardly, "I've been really busy recently, just trying to sort out some stuff with my family and what not." 

Virgil huffed tensely. Deceit always slithered subconsciously into Thomas's mind.

Roman rose dressed in nothing but a red pair of swimming trunks, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend's torso from behind. "Hey. Is everything okay?" He released his hold and met Virgil's stunned gaze, his own mouth gapping at the shirtless body. "We're going swimming, Grim-sheepish-reaper, what did you expect?"

"Uh, sorry," Virgil blushed, his eye shadow glistening purple. Roman chuckled, scooping him into his arms and gifting him a slow gentle kiss on the lips.

"Family, huh? Right..." Joan spoke suspiciously. "Last time you told me it was because you were working, and the time before that was because you were hung over from a party. This is startling to sound a little fabricated to me. Be serious, are you avoiding me?"

Virgil shot open his eyes, shoving the prince with panicked hast before slurring. "Run Thomas, he's mad at you he will never forgive you he's upset your a bad friend you should leave go go go."

Roman grabbed his wrists, searching his frightened eyes. "Woah, woah,  you'll be okay..."

Thomas took a deep breath. "No! I've just been really stressed. I've been feeling, well, I don't know what I've been feeling..." Joan tilted his head, listening to his words.

"That's alright, I get it. I just don't understand why you've been lying to me, I'm you're friend. If something's wrong I can help..." Thomas smiled weakly, shuffling on the spot. Joan let out a short laugh. "Let me guess, you're anxiety has been through the roof."

"Well, it's not really his fault."

Joan furrowed his brows, his forehead etched with confusion. "What?" 

"Oh, uh, you know, Virgil," Thomas sputtered, his ears reddening slightly.

Joan laughed, patting him heavily on the back. "Good one. Look, they're about to start."

A loud woman's voice boomed through the speakers, clearing her throat before announcing, "Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for being apart of our audience for the young women's diving championships. Each of the competitors has been training at the R.E.F institute for the part year in hopes of being admitted into the state championships, which will only occur if they can succeed tonight in the third, second or first position on the final podium. A special thanks to each of the following coaches...." She proceeded to read out a list of assisting names and information, all whilst Roman was soothing Virgil's heightened fright.

"Thank you," Virgil breathed, observing his strong arms, muscular abdomen and the small collection of white streaks slicing across his ribs. "W-where did you get these scars?"

Roman heard the concerned cracking in Virgil's voice, quickly responding. "It was ages ago, I had a run in with the dragon witch. I think I was about... fourteen?"

"Was Remus with you in the mind palace?" 

Roman nodded, combing his finger's softly through Anxiety's hair. "And Logan, ridiculously."

Virgil punched him harshly in the shoulder. "Seriously? Why hasn't anyone bothered to mention that?"

"Because," Roman exhaled deeply, "I didn't want Patton to find out."