The Borrower and the Fairy Prince

Chapter 16: Remus Actually Helped for Once!

"Oh Roman~" Remus called, kicking his brother's door open. "I got you a present!"

Roman jumped up from his bed, feeling fear fill his veins when he saw Remus had tied up Virgil and slung him over his shoulder. "Remus what did you do?!" he shouted, rushing over to the borrower's side.

"Helping you fix your mistake!" Remus pushed Virgil in Roman's arms, confusing the prince.

"Untie him now!"

"M'kay, hold on!" The green fairy left the room, having the wood grow in the doorway so the other two were trapped in there. The wood fell off of Virgil, and Roman set him down.

"Remus you ass!" Virgil shouted, storming to the door and trying to break the wood in the way. "I swear when I get out of here I'm killing you!"

"You're welcome~ Hurry up and make up already, good bye!" Remus walked away, heading to his own room.

Virgil growled and kicked at the wood, it didn't even budge. Roman's wings fluttered nervously as the borrower refused to acknowledge him.

"Virgil?" he asked.

"Don't. I'm still mad at you. I don't want to hear it."

"I'm sorry." Virgil's ears perked up in curiosity for a moment before they fell back down. Roman sighed and continued, "I said some things that weren't fair. You've been a fantastic guard and I have no right to tell you what to do. I've just been so scared since last night... What if something happened?"

Virgil hugged himself. "I can take care of myself."

"You can only do so much by yourself, you don't even have magic!"

"You don't know how to use yours, or if you even have any. It just hurts that you can't trust me. It hurts that you've been treating me like I'm so fragile. I can take care of myself, I have been doing that for almost eight years now."

"What do you mean?"

"I-" Virgil cut himself off, frowning as he felt tears in his eyes. He was tired of dancing around the topic, but he was scared of how Roman would react. "When I came out to my parents, told them I was gay, my dad threw me out. I was seventeen."

"Oh Virgil..."

"I was able to fend for myself, since no one would offer me a job because of my sexuality. I fought for my food, I endured insults and threats, I've been beaten up more times than I can remember. But I took care of myself the whole time. I was fine."

"No, none of that is fine!" Roman walked over to him, wanting to hold him but he wasn't even sure if he was allowed to touch him. "Virgil, that all sounds horrible."

"I lived. I was okay. I'm used to my life being constantly threatened. I guess I'm not used to someone caring so much. It was overwhelming, annoying. And it didn't help that you don't want me to be your guard! The first job I've ever been given, it makes me feel like I belong! I don't want it taken away from me."

Roman sighed, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize."

"I just don't want to be worthless."

The prince looked at him in surprise. "You're not worthless! Virgil, you mean so much to me, why would you ever think that?"

"I don't fit in. I don't have wings and I have no magic. You said it yourself, having no magic makes you worthless."

"When did I- oh..."

"Yeah... 'oh'..."

"Virgil, I was talking about myself! I hold myself to a different standard than everyone else! Not having magic doesn't make you worthless! I didn't realize you've been upset about that this whole time."

Virgil chuckled sadly. "You really need to watch what you say around other people. But the fact is, you said that and if deep down you didn't believe that it included everyone then you wouldn't have even thought it."

"No- I just... I was just frustrated that nothing had been working for me, that I couldn't find out what my magic was. You are so amazing, Virgil, and the last thing you are is worthless. I'm so sorry that I've made you feel this way. Is there any way I can make it up to you?"

"Stop trying to get me to quit being your guard, because even if that did happen I would still do whatever I could to protect you."

"Okay, no more doing that. I promise."

"And if you want to continue to train, promise me you're not going to do that just so you can take over my job."

"Can I continue to train with you so that we can be partners in fights instead of you just protecting me?"

Virgil sighed, "Yes."

"Yay! Thank you! Hug?" Roman held his arms out.

Virgil put his hand up. "Wait, one other thing."

"Oh no..."

"If we're ever in danger again, promise me your first priority will be your own safety over mine."

"Virgil..."

"Promise me, Roman."

The prince sighed, slumping in defeat. "I promise."

"I will hold you to that. Now we can hug."

Roman gasped in surprise as Virgil hugged him before he quickly hugged the borrower back. He held on tight, feeling Virgil sigh a shuddering breath.

"You okay?" he softly asked.

"I'm still getting used to hugs. It's been so long..."

"Then I'll hug you as much as I can, without overwhelming you of course. It really sucks that your parents did that to you."

"No, just my dad. My mom begged him to let me stay, she still loved me I think."

Roman pulled away from the hug. "Well now you have a bigger family. And I promise you that we don't throw each other out. This is your home now."

"I guess I have you to thank for that." Virgil ended up yawning, making the prince aw out loud since Virgil's ears drooped as he covered his mouth. The borrower glared at him when he was done. "Shut up, princey."

"We should go to bed I suppose." Roman looked up at the doorway to see they were still trapped in the room. "I don't know how you're supposed to get to your room, though."

"Dammit Remus. I really am going to kill him."

"We could share my bed? It's big enough for the both of us."

Virgil groaned, "Fine, but we won't be cuddling. In fact, we'll make a wall of pillows."

"Hey, I'm a great cuddler!"

"Remus wants us to cuddle, and we will not let him win," Virgil explained, walking over to the bed.

"Why would he- you know what I don't want to know."

Virgil climbed into the soft and giant bed, making a wall of pillows with the many that Roman had. Roman got on the other side and they both laid down, pulling the blanket over themselves. They were determined to not let Remus win, because they clearly do not like each other like that and Remus needed to respect that, thank you very much.