Vices and Maces

Chapter 49: Nobody Likes the Aftermath of a Fight (Least of All the Author)

CW: mentions of a panic attack

When Virgil had gotten home the night before, he was too exhausted to process what he had done. He took off his black hoodie, shoving it under the bed to hide it before crashing in bed and falling asleep.

Of course when he woke up the next day, he almost had a panic attack when he remembered everything that had happened. Why did he return to the factory? If anyone recognized him... if there had been any cameras... oh gods Black is literally going to kill him.

And yet he didn't regret it. He couldn't regret it. Janus was hurt, and could have been hurt worse if they didn't save them. Hell, they could have died. But oh gods... why did Virgil return right back into Black's hands.

He must have spent an hour in the shower to get every trace of smoke, alcohol, and blood off of him. He wasn't drenched in anything, but the smells could linger and if even one person became suspicious of him during the day, Black wouldn't hesitate to keep a stronger hold on him.

And if that happened then Virgil won't be able to fulfill his promise to Petals. Sabotaging the factory or giving him information on how to make better weapons would be practically impossible. Well... maybe the latter wouldn't be so impossible...

As soon as he was dressed, Virgil went to his supercomputer. He had set up a messaging system, but hasn't tested it. He just had to hope it'll work, and that Janus hadn't turned off their VPN for any reason.

If this works, and if he could somehow get Petal's number, then he could send instructions for building better weapons. At this point he would do anything to set Wolfsbane back. Virgil has worked so hard these past two years to keep Black happy, to keep loved ones safe... Janus being put in danger scared him bad enough to almost throw all of that away.

The message had to be short because Virgil was either going to have to prepare to fight for his life or pretend he did nothing wrong at all and prepare for another work day. Either way he was going to be sure to be carrying a lot of weapons with him, and he found himself wishing for the taser he had given Janus.

As soon as he sent the message, it being the first thing he wrote on the super computer that wasn't in Amnosa, he shut it down just in case. He didn't have time to see if Janus would respond or not, besides they were probably still in the hospital. As much as Virgil wanted to worry over them, he needed to focus on himself right now.

If he can survive today then he'll have a chance... And if Black finds out somehow... Virgil will have to figure out how to protect more than just himself.

~~~

"Don't pick at the bandages," Patton told Remus as he glanced in the rearview mirror.

"But they're sticky! And besides, the blood's dry, it's just a scrape," Remus complained.

"We can take the bandages off later tonight," Roman told him. "How are your- or... How are the new wings? Do you have feeling in them yet?"

Remus frowned and looked out the window. "They're still numb, but I can feel that they're numb."

"Wow, wings can heal pretty quick," Patton remarked.

"But most damage to them is permanent," Roman added.

Janus stayed quiet the whole ride there. From what they've heard, the twins are staying in a rented house. Remus said it was smaller than their actual home, which they'll have to put up for sale and find a new place to live, but Janus would have their own room. Apparently a four bedroom house is small to them.

Honestly Janus didn't feel like they deserved this. How have they gone from working in Wolfsbane to living in the leaders of Bleeding Rose's home so fast? Hell, they were trying to kill Remus a month or two ago! Has it really been that long already?