Misinformation Can Be Deadly

Chapter 88: Yuck, What a Sappy Couple

While looking for a new lamp, Remy had dug out some old crutches for Virgil Apparently when he was younger he had broken his ankle and just kept the crutches ever since. They were adjusted to Virgil's size, so he was able to stand in front of the mirror without much problem.

Roman was hugging him from behind, happy to see him standing again. Though Virgil did need to focus... the demon just didn't want to let him go.

"Can you show me?" Virgil asked. "Cause I don't know if I can change my eye color."

His boyfriend hummed for a moment before letting him go, his appearance shifting until he was an exact copy of Virgil. "Okay, just focus on my magic then," he told him.

"That is... so creepy," Virgil commented, looking back and forth from the mirror to the copy of him.

"Just a bit, I'm sure. Now focus." Roman took Virgil's hand, feeling the god's magic hesitantly wash over him. He smiled before shifting to how Virgil used to look. "And now try it yourself."

Virgil took a deep breath, turning to the mirror. It took a moment to mimic how the magic felt, but his white hair turned brown again and the outside of the iris, the sclera, turned white again. However one iris was still black, and the other was purple, but it was progress. "Dammit," he cursed, looking deep into his iris. "I thought I did everything right."

"The eyes are the hardest part," Roman told him. "Trust me, when I had gained enough power to shapeshift, it took me forever to learn how to."

"I mean, maybe they won't notice? My eyes were black and blue before."

Roman shifted back to his usual form and hugged Virgil again. "Any version of you is so beautiful to me."

The god blushed as he tried and failed to fight down a smile. "Oh shut up." He tried to push him away, but Roman held on tight.

"No, I don't think I ever will." He kissed Virgil's cheek, making him blush harder. "My beautiful god..."

Virgil put a hand to his face. "You're so embarrassing..."

"I don't see what there is to be embarrassed about, no one is here but us."

"You're a jerk."

"For calling you pretty? I'm just stating facts here!" Roman stepped back. "Now focus on changing your eyes, you have to make that purple one blue. I know it's hard, since eyes reflect your true nature, but you need to focus on masking it."

Virgil sighed and turned back to the mirror, looking back into his eyes. He focused on the purple one, doing his best to imagine it as the faded blue it was before. Slowly it started to turn blue, starting from the middle until all the purple was washed out.

"It worked! I did it!" Virgil shouted in joy. "I look human again!"

"I knew you'd do it!" Roman told him. "You're both really smart, and incredibly powerful. Soon you'll be able to shapeshift without looking at your reflection." Roman rested his chin on Virgil's shoulder. "I'm so proud of you."

"Gods you're a sap." Virgil pushed him away, walking back to the bed. "Now we just need to wait for the others to let me see the kids."

"I can't wait, they're gonna be so happy to see you." Roman sat down next to Virgil.

"I will be too." Virgil fell against the bed, and Roman laid down next to him. "I want them to be happy... Did you know that they keep having nightmares?"

Roman's smile fell. "I didn't realize... I've been so focused on you lately that I..."

"It's okay, when they wake up they must find someone since they calm down after that. Feeling fear really has its downsides, but now that I can see them again I can help out. I can keep them calm, and help them feel safe."

"You won't be doing all the work, you're still healing. You're almost finished, but only physically. You should probably talk to Emile, I'm sure he can find a way to help you."

Virgil turned on his side, his back facing Roman. "I don't want to. I'd rather not think of... well any of it. I just want to forget it all. Especially her."

Roman wrapped an arm around Virgil. "I know, but I don't think you can forget any of it. So the best thing you can do is work through it.."

Virgil grabbed Roman's hands as tears stung his eyes. "I hated it. She used my worst fears against me, I still sometimes can't believe that I'm safe. You're the only reason I feel safe now."

"And I'm happy to provide you that comfort, but working through your trauma can help you feel safe even without me." Virgil tightened his grip on Roman's hand and the demon saw him tense up. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to leave you. I'll always be with you, but it's highly unrealistic that I can be with you every second forever."

"Please don't leave me." Virgil could still hear the twisted voices in his head, the ones that had never left him since he was saved. Telling him that he was weak and no one wanted him, that he wasn't safe and never will be again. No one loved him, and why would they?

But when Roman hugged him tighter, the voices disappeared. He didn't know why Roman loved him, but it didn't matter. He loved him, he's proven that time and time again. And even if Virgil didn't feel safe, he was, for now anyway.

"I'm never going to leave you, they'll have to kill me to separate us."

Virgil shifted in Roman's hold to face him. The demon's heart softened when he saw the unshed tears. "I hope that never happens. I love you too much."

"I love you too. Though for some reason, I have a feeling you won't let me die." Roman smiled.

"You're right. I guess I can use my fear powers for one thing, and that's protecting you and anyone else I love."

"I love when you're so protective, it's so sweet." Roman held Virgil closer until their noses were touching.

"You just rubbed off on me, that's all." Virgil leaned in to close the gap between them, and Roman did the same. Virgil couldn't help but smile a little bit as his lips pressed against his boyfriends. It was a small chaste kiss, but it still made them feel like they were floating.

When Virgil pulled back, Roman purred in delight and moved his head so it was against the god's chest. Virgil rested his chin against the demon's head, holding him close. "I love you, Roman."

"I love you too, Virgil. I'll always protect you."