"Virgil, wait," Roman called, chasing after the borrower after dinner. "You've been quiet all day, what's wrong?"
"Oh gee, I wonder," Virgil growled at him, finally looking at him. "Why don't we try to figure that one out?"
"Is this about last night?" The prince tried to put his hand on Virgil's shoulder, but the borrower took a step away from him with a glare. The message was clear, don't touch him.
"Last night and this morning. Why did you suddenly want to train with us?"
"To get stronger." Not a complete lie, but not the whole truth.
"After what happened last night? That whole 'I wish you weren't my guard' thing?"
"Is it so bad that I want to learn how to fight like you?"
"How do I know you won't try to get me fired?" Virgil hugged himself, his instincts told him to look away from Roman but he continued to glare at him anyway.
"Is that what you think I'm going to do?"
"You clearly don't like that I'm your guard."
"Virgil, I wouldn't get you fired. The most I can do is ask... that you maybe quit?"
"Really, do you think now is the best time to ask that? You're unbelievable!"
"Virgil, I don't want you to get hurt!"
"I'm not going to get hurt!"
"Someone just tried to kill you!" Roman reminded him, his wings fluttered with anxious energy.
"Oh what else is new?! What does that have to do with me being your guard!"
"I don't want you to get hurt while fighting my battles."
"What battles?! So far the only things I've saved you from were natural predators! If you can even count the spider as our predator."
"And both times you almost got hurt!"
"Did I? No, because I can protect myself! Even if I wasn't your guard I would still protect you. Why are you so against me being your guard?"
"I've never liked having guards, it's always annoyed me how they were constantly around and breathing down my neck! But-"
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize I annoyed you!"
"No, that's not what I-"
"Why don't you just go to your room and I'll leave you alone for the rest of the night." Virgil turned away from him and started to walk off.
"Virgil, wait-" Roman flinched when the door that led outside was slammed shut.
The prince stood in the quiet hallway that was filled to the brim with shame and regret. He shouldn't have said that.
"Well, that couldn't have gone worse," Remus said, opening the door to his own room.
"How long have you been standing there?" Roman sighed, having little energy to be angry.
"The whole time. You really screwed things up with your little mouse."
"Thank you, captain obvious!"
"You're welcome. Uh-buh-bye!" Remus bowed before closing his door again, disappearing back into his room.
~~~
Virgil sighed, shivering slightly at the cold winter air. He had climbed up as high as he safely could and pulled his hood over his head, it was dark now. A lot of what Roman had said was circling around in his head. He wanted space? Then fine, Virgil will give him space.
"I'd be careful if I were you," a voice startled Virgil out of his thoughts, causing the borrower to almost fall out of the tree.
"Remus! What the hell?!" he shouted at the fairy who was fluttering behind him.
The prince shrugged. "I was just warning you. It's a pretty high drop, and it would not feel comfortable hitting the ground from here. You'd probably shatter every bone in your body."
"What are you doing here?" Virgil didn't even bother to hide the growl in his voice.
"I overheard your fight with Roman. So, you two breaking up?"
"We're not dating."
"Dang, you guys didn't even make it to your one month anniversary."
"We never dated! And you had no business in eavesdropping on our conversation!"
"Uh, yeah I did. I love listening to Roman's epic fails and his worst mistakes."
Virgil growled, looking away from the prince and curling up. "Just go away."
Remus landed on the branch next to him, feeling it bend under his weight. The branches were thin up there.
"I'm not going away until I get the full story."
"You just love gossip, don't you?"
"Yes, I do. However, I want to know the whole story so I can help. Dating or not, you make Roman happy."
"I clearly don't since he hates that I'm with him all the time."
"First off, you didn't let him finish what he was saying. Second off, you both misunderstood the situation."
"How did he misunderstand the situation?! I was very clear!"
"He didn't realize what he was saying was upsetting you and-"
"How the hell did he not?!"
"You have a bad habit of interrupting people."
"You have a bad habit of angering me with every word that falls out of your mouth."
"That's not a habit, that's a gift!"
Virgil stood up. "Forget it, I'm done."
"Hold up, big ears." Remus's eyes flashed as he raised his hand and the wood from the tree twisted around Virgil, keeping him in place.
"Hey! Let me go!"
"Nope! Honestly this whole situation has been nothing but sad so you just listen up. My brother cares about you, a lot. You being poisoned scared him badly, I've never seen him so afraid! Right now, everything he's been doing is to protect you."
"He doesn't need to protect me, why doesn't he trust that I'm strong?"
Remus's eyes softened. "It's not that he doesn't trust you, or think that you're not strong. He's just scared, shaken up badly. He's just stupid and doesn't know when to shut up. Why does being his guard mean so much to you?"
Virgil sighed, "I'm not worthless, I don't want to be worthless. Being his guard- having this job makes me feel useful. Like I matter, that I can help. Back at home I was called so many things, worthless, troublesome, a rat... no one liked me. So when your mom asked me to be Roman's guard... It meant a lot to me. Finally I could be someone."
"Okay then, just tell Roman that!"
"What, I can't-"
"Come on!" Remus picked Virgil up, breaking the ends of the wood so he could carry the tied up borrower.
"Wait, untie me! Remus! I swear to-" Virgil was cut off as the wood circled around his mouth.
"We can't have you waking up the whole colony, you gotta be quiet! Now, let's get you to Roman!"
YOU ARE READING
The Borrower and the Fairy Prince
Fanfiction*Completed* Virgil has never had it easy, not since he was kicked out of his home by his own father. He's struggled to survive, and has fought for food. He sees what should have been an easy meal, some berries on a tree hanging over the river. It sh...
