The Cursed Prince

8

"Okay wow, this place is big," Virgil commented when Roman opened the doors to the library. There were stairs leading up to a second part of the library that Virgil could see through a hole in the floor, fenced off by a banister.

"Do you like it?" Roman asked nervously.

"Are you joking? It's amazing! Oh Mr. Miller would love this place, he's the librarian back at town. He was like an uncle to me, oh I just realized I didn't get to read the book he gave me."

"We might have to book here, what is it called?"

"I doubt you would have it, it's... it's a gay story."

"Really?!" Virgil jumped when Roman shouted and smiled wide, then he laughed when he saw he was wagging his tail like a puppy.

Roman realized he raised his voice and put his hand over his mouth. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

Virgil laughed harder, "It's okay, you technically didn't yell at me. You just got excited. I'm just happy you aren't homophobic."

Roman frowned. "Never! I'm guessing you met Remus and Janus?" Virgil nodded. "They're actually dating."

"Really? But they bicker whenever I hear them talking."

"That's just their way of flirting, Remus gushes whenever Janus calls him insufferable. He's talked my ears off for hours about him, as if he was a crush instead of his boyfriend."

"Aw, that's sweet."

"And I'm sure if you asked, Patton will tell you all about his old boyfriends. He used to tell me all kinds of stories of how he's hidden his relationships from the public. He used to be a huge flirt."

"Really? Patton? I guess it's hard to imagine since he seems like a father figure."

"Yeah, ask him about it later, I'm sure he'll love to tell you. He says he's made peace with his breakups, and I'm glad."

"What about you?"

Roman grimaced and Virgil felt guilty for asking. "I was young when I was transformed into, well, this, so I never had a chance to date anyone. I dream of the day a boy will sweep me off my feet, but I doubt that will happen now."

"If you get a handle on your temper I'm sure you will. I'm sure there's someone out there who would be into you."

"If they don't try to slay me first, perhaps."

"Yeah, I guess people would be a bit jumpy even if you did have a good first impression with them. I know I was terrified when I saw you, but that was probably because you were yelling."

"I'm sorry about that, I'll work on it."

"You did promise, now do you have any good book suggestions?"

After a few hours of reading together, the two went to the kitchen to find something to eat. They cooked a quick and easy meal with a bit of banter before eating together.

Patton found them later and gave Virgil back his cloak, the wolves had torn it up and Patton found some purple fabric that looked good against the black.

Roman gave him a heavier jacket before taking him outside to the garden before it got too dark.

"You have so many flowers," Virgil looked at them in awe.

"Patton takes care of them, he's had me help a few times whenever I was feeling down," Roman explained.

"They're beautiful." Virgil bent down and picked a red lily. "Here." He reached up and Roman bowed down so he could put a flower on his horn. "There you go, it doesn't look too bad on you."