Misinformation Can Be Deadly

Chapter 30: Great, Now Remus Needs to do Roman's Job

CW: bullying, self deprecating thoughts

Virgil stayed home the first day, not wanting to leave Roman's side. Remus had put an illusion over Roman in case normal humans could see him.

It was torture. Every waking second he spent in that room with the unconscious demon hurt him with worry. He wanted him to wake up, needed him to wake up. He couldn't focus on anything else, he just laid next to Roman the whole time.

However, he did go to school the next day. He didn't want to miss any more school work and... he needed a distraction. He had thought that if he wasn't in the same house as Roman, that he wouldn't think and worry about him.

He was wrong. He couldn't focus in his classes, and had almost fallen asleep several times since he could barely fall asleep the night before. He had stayed in bed next to Roman the whole time, and what little food he had eaten he only had because he didn't want Roman worrying over him when he woke up.

Before the first class even finished, he wanted to go back to the orphanage. Which was how he had felt before he had met Roman, and before the demon had enrolled into his school. He wasn't safe from bullies and he wasn't safe from school work that had put too much pressure on him and took all his energy.

Though to be honest, he would rather go through all of that again as long Roman was awake and okay again. If being kicked in the stomach or punched in the face meant he was okay, Virgil would rather face it. Though, that wouldn't happen, it wouldn't make Roman better, it would only make him worry if he was awake. Why did he worry about someone as worthless as him?

Virgil walked slowly as he went to lunch, not entirely sure he even wanted to go to the cafeteria. Roman wasn't going to be there for them to talk with, and sure Remus and Janus were there but it would feel awkward. Those two have known each other for so long, and have gotten so close, that it would feel like Virgil was intruding.

The hallways were almost empty, except for a few groups of kids that were walking slowly together. Some were heading to classrooms to eat lunch, since some teachers let them do that, but for the most part Virgil didn't really see or hear anyone.

Until he heard laughter from behind him. With a sinking feeling he realized that he had recognized it, that he had heard it an uncountable amount of times. Usually while he was on the ground, doing his best not to cry and horribly failing.

He tried to ignore them, pretending he didn't hear them or care. His pace quickened, as awkward as lunch will be at least he won't have that problem to deal with. Remus was right, the less Roman had to worry about when he woke up the better.

Of course he heard one of them say loudly, "Hey it's Virgin!"

He looked back to see them speed up and froze like a deer in headlights. One of them grabbed his arm and pushed him against the locker. Well that was fast, guess they didn't want to give him a chance to run.

"Hey, where's your friend?" the one holding him against the wall asked.

"What, did he finally realize what a weak piece of shit you are?" another teased.

"Of course he did! Why would anyone want to be friends with a worthless loser? Probably left him for a better friend to hang out with."

Virgil bit his tongue, keeping his mouth shut. It was a lie, Roman didn't leave him. He was hurt, that was it. He would never leave him, he wouldn't... He couldn't leave him. Even if he wanted to... Even if he should... Virgil was stuck to him like gum to the bottom of the shoe that just wouldn't scrub off.

"Oh what, you're going to be silent today? That's fine, let's see how much longer you can be quiet." The one holding him down lifted his fist into the air and Virgil shut his eyes tight, bracing for it.

It never came though, instead Virgil was pulled forward before the kids grip on him loosened and was pulled off of him. For half a second, Virgil begged to see Roman as he opened his eyes. But instead he saw Remus holding the bully up by his shirt.

"Hey! I can push people against lockers too!" He harshly shoved the kid against the locker on the other side of the room. "It's kinda fun!"

"Hey!" the other kid shouted, about to step towards the demon but a book slipped under his foot, making him trip.

"Whoops," Janus said, walking next to Virgil. "I dropped my book for English. Mind giving it back?"

"Or better yet," Remus said, throwing the kid he was holding to the ground. "Scram. Unless you wanna see the bottom of my boot."

The one Janus had tripped grabbed his friend by the arm, pulling him up before they both ran away. Remus smiled as he waved at them before turning to Virgil.

"You alright?" he asked.

Virgil shrugged, hugging himself. "They didn't hurt me."

The witch sighed, "Look, I get you're upset over what happened to Roman but getting beat up again isn't going to do anything."

"I know, they grabbed me! What was I supposed to do?"

"Run? Fight back?"

"Yeah, like that'll work."

Janus picked up his book, snapping his fingers to clean the dirt off and fix the bent pages. "Well, at least we were here."

"What are you guys even doing here? Shouldn't you be at lunch?"

Remus wrapped his arm around Virgil's shoulder and started walking. "Figured that since your guard dog wasn't here, that we should find you before those kids found you. Guess we were a bit too late."

"Roman's not my guard dog," Virgil growled.

"Sorry, guard demon."

"Let's just head to the cafeteria, I'm hungry," Janus said.

"Virgil's clearly hangry. Do humans still use that word?"

Janus shrugged with a small hum. "Sometimes."

"I'm not hungry," Virgil said, pulling away from Remus's touch. "And you would be angry too if you were a weak human that almost got beat up."

"Not possible, if I were human I would get stronger to do the beating. Maybe that's what you should do, start working out," Remus suggested. "But you need food in your stomach before you do that, or at least some kind of protein."

"I'm not going to work out, it would make no difference."

"Well if you got into another fight with Roman by your side again, he won't be the only one fighting, and that would help no doubt."

Virgil stayed quiet, considering this. That did make sense, and he didn't want Roman to take reckless risks again. But...

"I don't have my knife anymore."

Janus frowned. "You lost it?"

"When-when we fought with the cultists. I don't know what happened to it."

The witch looked over to Remus, and the two shared a look. "Okay, I'll make you another one. Only if you take care of yourself while Roman is resting. And afterwards too so that no one has to worry about you eating or getting hurt."

Virgil sighed before agreeing, "Okay."