Like Patchwork

Chapter 13

Trigger warning: Please check the end notes for details

I spent S O  L O N G working on the first part of this chapter so be prepared for a brutal, emotionally taxing, gut wrenching chapter :)

Wednesday, June 20th, 2018: 6:48 PM

It was raining, pouring hard and fast, and it had been all day. Virgil thought it was fitting. He walked the almost mile to Remus's house despite the rain, completely soaked by the time he had made it. Virgil didn't even process feeling cold. There were bigger things to worry about.

Virgil hopped the fence and made his way over to the large oak tree that was beneath Remus's window. Virgil picked up a few pebbles and started tossing them at Remus's window. That was how Virgil got to Remus anytime he wanted to hang out. It was normal. It was routine. Except it wasn't: after tonight there would be no more eating junk food at 3 am, no making fun of teachers behind their backs, no getting drunk in the woods behind Remus's house. Because after tonight, Virgil was never going to see Remus again.

Finally, the window slid open, and Remus popped his head out. Virgil almost laughed because, in the grand scheme of things, Remus looked so ridiculous. His hair was tangled, his stupid mustache that could barely be considered a mustache was a mess, and Virgil could guarantee he was wearing those dumb little shorts he liked to sleep in. And Virgil? Virgil loved Remus for all of it. Virgil loved him.

"Are we gonna dance in the rain?" was Remus's first question and Virgil couldn't tell if the sound he let out was a laugh or a sob.

"No, you dumbass. Can I come up?"

"I guess, you weirdo," that meant yes. Virgil knew Remus: his quirks, his hopes, his fears. And Virgil also knew that he'd never be able to forget them, no matter how hard he tried.

Virgil pulled himself up the tree, just like he always did. Just like he would never do again.

Remus grabbed his hand to help pull him through the window. They weren't that far apart. Remus was wearing the shorts. Virgil almost smiled. When Remus tried to move away from the window, Virgil remained, gripping both of Remus's hands.

"Are you sure you don't wanna go dance in the rain," Remus questioned excitedly, looking out the window. He always seemed to have so much energy. Virgil just shook his head, having suddenly lost his words.

"You're being weird," Remus said, wrinkling his nose.

"You love it," Virgil whispered. Remus wiggled his eyebrows and Virgil laughed, maybe a bit more than normal.

"So what do you wanna do?" Remus questioned.

"Nothing," Virgil answered.

"Nothing?" Remus repeated.

"Nothing,"

"So you just wanna stand in my room in your wet clothes? Or, I mean, you could take them off, since, ya know, they're wet," Remus smirked.

"You're so gross," Virgil said in faux annoyance, shoving Remus a little. Remus stuck his tongue out, "So I wanna kiss you," Virgil blurted out. Instantly, he slapped a hand over his mouth and took a step backward, "Shit," he whispered, the hand that was covering his mouth falling, "Fuck, I didn't mean to– I didn't mean–"

"You didn't?" Remus asked. He looked confused and angry.

"No! I mean yes!" Virgil stammered, twisting his fingers together anxiously, "I meant it but I didn't mean to just... say it out of nowhere," Virgil sighed, "Fuck, this is not how this was supposed to go,"