Sanders Sides One Shots

Existence

"People leave a spot for Thomas in traffic."

Roman looked over to Virgil from where he was sat on the couch, playing apps on his phone. Virgil was sitting casually enough on the couch a few feet away from him, but Roman knew Virgil better.

"What?" Roman rose in eyebrow, intrigued.

Virgil looked up, and Roman could see a tiny look of terror in his eyes. "Think about it. Thomas is sitting there in his car, and his car is waiting at a red light. The person behind him stops before hitting his car because they're respecting that he exists."

"Well yeah," Roman agreed. "That's kinda how it works."

"And like, when you sit in a seat in a movie theatre," Virgil continued. "No one takes that spot because they're respecting that that is your spot. You are currently sitting there, and they're respecting your personal space and instead sit in a different spot."

Roman was about to state the obvious about how 'yes, of course. No one wants to have to share a seat with you' but Virgil kept rambling.

"Let's say four people fit at a picnic table, and you're in a group of five people." Virgil was using his hands to gesture being at a table while using his fingers to count. "The group has to split up at two tables. If I wasn't there, the group of people could enjoy all sitting at the same table."

Virgil was looking right at Roman, but it was as if he wasn't paying attention. Roman sighed. "Virgil."

"I'm inconveniencing other people."

"Virgil." Roman called out in sing-song voice.

Virgil wasn't stopping anytime soon. "And like, have you ever thought of a world where everything is exactly the same, but that you don't exist? I know it sorta doesn't make sense because I'm just a trait of a singular person and I don't even really exist in the first place..."

Trailing off in realization, Virgil's eyes widened and he put a hand to his mouth. "Oh my god..."

Roman was seeing what Virgil was getting at and stood up to make his way towards him in an attempt to stop him from spiraling. "Hey, Virge."

"I don't even exist..." Virgil was looking down at the carpet, his words muffled by his hand.

He removed his hand and clasped it together with his other one, legs starting to bounce rapidly. "I don't even exist because I'm just a figment of Thomas' imagination. I'm just a representation of a trait. No one real can even see me because I'm fake. I don't even exist..."

"Virgil!" Roman was standing over Virgil by now, holding onto his shoulders and giving a light shake to snap him out of it. "Stop!"

Head snapping up to meet Roman's worried expression, Virgil stared back and forth between his eyes as if he couldn't decide which one to focus on. "Are you real?"

Roman almost laughed at the question, but he could tell Virgil was serious. Sighing sympathetically, Roman kneeled down to the floor in front of where Virgil sat.

Putting his hands on Virgil's tapping knees, stopping their frantic bouncing, Roman took an exaggeratedly large breath in as he kept his eyes trained on Virgil's. After a few seconds, Virgil attempted to join in at the same pace.

It took a few tries, breath hitching when Virgil's body tried to speed up too fast, but the two of them were eventually breathing in sync for a few reps.

"Yes, Virgil," Roman finally answered, giving his knees a light squeeze. "I am real. You are real, too."

Virgil frowned. "How do you know?"

"Well, we may not be the same type of 'real' as Thomas," Roman conceded. "But we are still real. Everything is relative."

Noticing Virgil's shakiness still residing, Roman slowly leaned in and gave him a firm hug. Despite their normally awkward friendship, Virgil didn't seem to mind the physical contact.

"Does that feel real?" Roman quietly asked him. Virgil was silent for a few seconds, and Roman thought he could hear the other's heartbeat rapidly pounding against his chest.

Virgil reached his hands up and wrapped them around Roman's waist, squeezing lightly as if to decide. He sighed lightly and nearly melted into Roman's embrace. "Yes."

...

This was based off of things I was thinking about.