The Sanders Sides

16 - Truth or Dare

The fairy lights strung across the living room cast a warm glow as Patton bustled around, humming a cheerful tune. Virgil, nestled between Logan and Deceit on the floor, watched with a hint of amusement as Patton fumbled with a lighter.

"Ah, there we go!" Patton declared triumphantly, igniting a single candle in the center of the coffee table. "A little ambiance for game night, don't you think?"

The sudden flicker of flame sent a jolt through Roman. His breath hitched, and a metallic tang filled his mouth. The room seemed to warp, the playful chatter around him fading into a roar of wind and crumpling metal.

He was back there. In the rain-slicked street, the screech of tires echoing in his ears. The mangled car, smoke billowing from its hood. Panic clawed at his throat as he scrambled towards the twisted metal, his vision blurring with a horrifying mixture of rain and tears.

"Virgil!" His voice, raw and desperate, tore through the distorted soundscape. He had to get him out. He had to—

A hand clamped down on his shoulder, grounding him. Virgil's voice, sharp and urgent, cut through the haze. "Roman, breathe. It's okay, you're okay."

Roman blinked, the room snapping back into focus. The game sprawled across the table, the warm glow of the candle, Virgil's concerned face inches from his own. Disoriented, he sucked in a shaky breath. His hand, the one that had reached out to Virgil, trembled violently.

"Roman? What's wrong?" Patton's voice, laced with worry, brought him the rest of the way back. Shame burned in his chest. He couldn't let them see him like this.

"Just... surprised by the candle," he stammered, forcing a smile. "Didn't expect it."

Virgil's gaze narrowed, skepticism etched on his face. Logan, ever observant, noticed the tremor in Roman's hand. "Roman," he began, his voice gentle, "Perhaps you should sit down for a moment."

The suggestion was all it took. Roman sank onto the couch, feeling utterly drained. The playful atmosphere of game night felt miles away.

"I think I'm good to sit this one out," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper.

Patton, bless his optimistic heart, didn't push it. He extinguished the candle with a concerned frown. "Alright, Roman. Take all the time you need. We'll save you a spot."

Silence descended upon the room, broken only by the soft rustle of cards. Roman closed his eyes, focusing on Virgil's steady breathing beside him. The memory of the accident was still raw, but with his friends by his side, he knew he could face it. He just needed a moment.

The warm glow of the living room lamp cast a mellow light on the mismatched furniture that somehow made up their home away from home. Roman, fresh from his successful callback, sat perched on the armrest of the couch, regaling the others with his (slightly embellished) account of his audition prowess.

Patton, curled up on the other end of the couch, listened intently, occasionally throwing in a question or a burst of enthusiastic laughter. Timothy, ever the reliable one, was making popcorn in the kitchen, the rhythmic popping a comforting counterpoint to Roman's animated narration.

Remus, sprawled on the floor with a mischievous glint in his eyes, interrupted Roman's monologue with a sly grin. "Alright, alright, Romeo. Enough about your heroic conquest of the audition stage. Time for some real entertainment."

Virgil, who had been engrossed in a book about black holes (because of course he was), looked up with a raised eyebrow. "Entertainment? What are you suggesting, Remus?"

Remus, never one to miss an opportunity for chaos, slammed his hands together a little too loudly. "Truth or Dare! Classic dorm room bonding activity!"

Logan, who had been studying at the table with a pile of textbooks surrounding him, sighed dramatically. "Remus, must you resort to such... childish games?"