Assistance Required

Visiting Grace

TW cursing, mention of abandonment, mention of self-harm

Sat Feb 13

Virgil gripped his painting as Janus pulled into the parking lot. He was kind of excited to give the painting to Grace, but also kind of nervous. He wasn't even sure if she knew he was bringing it.

"Did you tell her why we're visiting?" Virgil asked.

Janus shook his head.

"I didn't even tell her we were coming."

Virgil stared at him for a minute in shock.

"You didn't?! How do we even know if she's home?!"

"She's home!" Janus laughed. "She's almost always home unless she's at work. But she doesn't work weekends. She always made sure to get weekends off because I didn't have school then. She was always busy during the week. She worked two jobs and I went to school. But on the weekend she made sure it was just us. It was kind of our little ritual or something. We'd watch movies and sometimes bake or whatever. Now she spends her weekends alone relaxing. She'll call me at night, but I know she misses our weekends."

"So you just wanted to surprise her?"

Janus nodded.

"Yeah, just wait until you see her face."

Janus hopped out of the car. Virgil followed suit and the two walked into the building. Janus knocked on the door and waited. Virgil heard a muffled voice yell "I'm coming! I'm coming!" before the door was opened a minute later. Grace took a moment to process the sight before her before breaking into a giant grin.

"Oh! Look what the cat dragged in!" She said as she pulled Janus into a hug. "I knew you couldn't stay away from me for too long!" She released Janus and pulled Virgil into a hug. "My goodness! You are nothing but bones, Boy! Come inside let me feed you!"

"Oh, I'm-" Virgil didn't have time to finish his thought before being dragged inside. Janus laughed behind him as he closed the door.

The two boys sat down at the table while Grace ran around the kitchen muttering to herself.

"How long are you boys staying?" she asked as she opened the fridge.

"Well, Virgil has work at five. So, we'd need to be back by around four so he can get ready."

Grace nodded as she pulled some stuff out of the fridge and set it on the counter.

"That should be enough time for a good meal. Did you boys want to watch a movie?"

"I think we'll have time," Virgil said as he checked the time on his phone.

"Why don't you two pick something while I get started on this?"

Virgil opened his mouth to argue but Janus shook his head and dragged him into the living room.

"You lived with us a month. You should know by now that once she decides to feed you, there's no getting out of it. Mama never lets anyone leave hungry," Janus whispered.

"I'm really not that hungry right now, though."

Janus glared at him for a second.

"You haven't had breakfast yet, right?"

"Um... n-no."

"If you eat what she gives you, I won't tell her you skipped breakfast."

Virgil stared at Janus for a minute. Janus looked to be serious. He knew he wasn't going to get out of this either way so it would probably be better if he ate at least something. It's not like he didn't want to eat, he just didn't feel like it at the moment. He sighed as he gave up and agreed to Janus' offer. It's not like it would be too bad.