Vices and Maces

Chapter 19: Aw They're Thinking About Each Other After They Fought

CW: blood, stitching a wound (not in detail), emotional shock

Janus sat Virgil down on his bed when they got to his office. They quickly grabbed a first aid kit that the weredragon kept in his room, supplied with anything he might need. Janus grabbed a gauze, paper towels, an ace bandage, a needle and sutures.

"Okay, where are you hurt?" he asked Virgil, who seemed dazed out. He jumped when Janus asked the question, and Janus swore he could see his mind working.

"O-oh, just my side and wrist," he answered. He moved his left hand from his side, which was covered in blood and already bruising.

"Shit, I should have been faster. Alright, let me see your side." They pushed back Virgil's coat and lifted his shirt, seeing the cut and broken stitches. "How the hell did you do this yourself? Okay, lay down." They eased Virgil onto his side, grabbing the paper towels and holding them there to both clean and stop the blood.

Virgil hissed in pain as Janus put pressure on the cut. The shifter grabbed disinfecting wipes from the first aid kit and did his best to carefully clean the cut, forming another set of arms and hands. Virgil did his best to hide the pain, which he's had practice so it wasn't too hard. So he just laid there, processing what happened.

Holy shit... he could have died! He almost did die! The fae was going to kill him, he was moments away from doing so before Janus saved him. It's been... It's been a while since Virgil cared if he was going to die or not. He's been so used to the constant threat of his life that this was the first time he was worried about someone actually killing him.

And it was from another gang. Bleeding Rose no less! There was a time that Virgil had wished they hired him instead of Wolfsbane, that if he had to work for a gang it would be them. There were rumors that they avoid hurting innocent people, unlike Wolfsbane, and that they smuggle or make expensive medicine, giving them out for a cheap price.

But that fae was about to kill him. Just for protecting his home. Yeah, his 'home' was the weapons factory for one of the most ruthless gangs in the city, but it was still his home. And it wasn't like Virgil hadn't thought before that he deserves to die because of all of the horrible deaths his creations had no doubt brought upon. But... dying scared him for the first time in a while.

So why didn't the fae kill him? He was also a vampire. He had super speed, and super strength. He was one of the strongest creatures in the world! If he wanted, he could have killed Virgil the moment he grabbed his wrist. Why bother wasting time? Why bother with the talk? Was he toying with him? Or was he hesitant to kill him? And if so, why?

Virgil had a million questions, his mind working a mile a minute as he tried to figure things out. It felt like his mind was working so slow and so fast at the same time. 'Why' seemed to be his biggest question right now.

He was broken out of his thoughts when Janus told him, "I'm going to stitch this back up, okay?"

Virgil nodded, bracing himself for the sharp needle. He ignored it as best as he could, trying to focus on something else. He tried to move his wrist, and found that he could. It was sore, and bruised, but not swollen or sprained. That vampire seemed... complex to say the least.

As soon as Janus was done stitching up the injury, he disinfected the area again. "Okay," they sighed. "Let me see your wrist."

Virgil sat up and held out his hand. "It's just bruised, I can move it fine."

"Let's wrap it up anyway, just in case." Janus grabbed the gauze.

"I'm not going to be able to do much work like this."

"You've been needing a break anyway."

"Black won't like that."

"I don't give a shit!" Virgil widened his eyes. "You were attacked, you almost died! But you also protected this stupid factory from being destroyed. Black can deal with you slowing down on work, because he would be out of weapons if you didn't stop them in the first place!"

Virgil sighed, "Good luck with telling Black that."

"I can deal with Black, you just rest." Janus finished wrapping Virgil's wrist and started to pick up any trash and the rest of the stuff from the first aid kit. "Lay down and get some sleep, I'm going to stay for the rest of the night."

"Okay." He was too tired to argue with Janus, so he just did what he was told. It seemed like they both took turns taking care of each other. He just hoped that he can actually get some rest, the gods know he's going to be thinking about that vampire for a while.

~~~

As soon as they were far away enough in their car, Roman had made sure Sal wasn't hurt. Of course she wasn't, and that was backed up by the lack of blood in the air. As much as he hated drinking blood, being able to smell it had its perks. He could always tell if someone had been hurt, luckily Sal didn't even have a bruise.

Roman had briefly wondered how the dragon was hurt, but when it was revealed that he was a weredragon, it all made sense. The person Sal must have fought was the same little dragon that the other four had trouble with. Sal did say she was able to injure the person, and that they didn't seem like a professional fighter. Part of Roman hoped that he didn't hurt him badly, another more logical part reminded him that the weredragon is the enemy.

He was in that room with him, the office with the bed. He probably hid out in dragon form, and stole the bomb when he could. There was paper all over the room, and though he didn't get a good glance, they were probably notes on their latest weapons. Maybe he should have taken some with him, Cecil would have definitely been interested.

The dragon was smart, that much was clear. He pretended to be a pet, and even had Roman fooled for a second. And if he really was the head weapons smith, then of course he had to be smart. Maybe Roman should have kidnapped him for information? No, the shape shifter clearly wouldn't have let him.

Something he said stuck with Roman. The shifter could have tried to kill him, but the weredragon stopped him. "You know how I feel..." that's what he said, feel about what? blood? Murder? If that was the case, then he couldn't be a weapons smith, anyone against killing couldn't possibly create weapons. Especially not on the destructive level of the weapons that Wolfsbane has.

Then why did he stop the shifter from killing him? Why so merciful? He was so devoted to stopping the factory from being destroyed, but seemed to give up the moment Roman moved to kill him. It made Roman feel guilty...

However the dragon seemed strong, if not physically then mentally. For some reason, Roman couldn't get over the fire that was in his eyes. Roman couldn't tell if it was anger or just his pure strength. Maybe he just hated Bleeding Rose? But his comment that no one is above killing... Ugh, this guy was impossible to read! Just who was he?

And why does Roman care so much?