My Knight in Dragon Scales

18. What do I say?

"No. I am not going to set a room up for your boyfriend, just so you can see him every night." Logan crossed his arms and I rolled my eyes.

"Are you kidding me? He lives in a cave."

"And I'm sure that's where he feels safest. We're at war, Roman. At any time something could..."

"That's why I want him here!" Logan stopped and looked away as I brushed a tear away from my eye. "I've barely been able to see him. He's only ever available at night..."

"And why is that? What does he do all morning? What happened to this very dangerous friend of his?"

"ERO ISN'T DANGEROUS!" I snapped making Logan jump. I balled my fists and looked away, noticing the door closing shut. I turned to the table to see Patton asleep still, but Father and Virgils gone. Did Virgil take him somewhere? Did Father ask for something? I'm confused?

"Roman!" I looked back over at Logan to see him pinching the bridge of his nose in confusion and worry. "What makes you so sure? When you spoke of him, you were utterly terrified and now... Nothing! Not even one word about him."

"Ero isn't dangerous. He's sweet and kind and... a big softy considering." Logan looked like he had stopped working. "I took your advice. I got to know him. He isn't something to worry about. You're just projecting. LIKE USUAL!" He narrowed his eyes and dropped his hand.

"Something?"

"What?"

"You just said. He isn't something to worry about. Just who is this Ero."

"He's a friend." Logan and I both froze as he turned to see Patton standing there rubbing his eyes very sleepily. "He's a friend... V-Virg... He... He isn't bad."

"I know Pat. Ero's the sweetest. He's nothing to be afraid of, right?" I could tell he was still sleepy. It almost sounded like he was saying Virgil was the dragon.  Patton started nodding as he walked over, stumbling a little. 

"I love my dark strange son." He said with a big smile on his face. His eyes started to drop and he leaned over into Logan, who tensed up immediately.

"Logan, maybe we should put him into bed. It is pretty late." 

"No, you are not getting out of this so easily, Roman." Logan tensed up a little more as Patton practically nestled into Logan's arm, making me smile a bit. "Y-You haven't a-answered my question."

"Your stuttering, Logan." He narrowed his eyes and I rolled mine. "I don't know what you want me to say. I only ever see Virgil at night. I only ever see Ero during the day. Neither one of them is a threat, so get off my back."

"V-Virgil isn't... bad..." Patton whispered as he yawned into Logan's shirt. "He loves to fly... he loves how the wind feels..." 

"I think Patton is getting confused." I tried to cut Patton off but Logan shot me a look and I clammed up. I mean he is confused he keeps saying Virgil but he's talking about the dragon. Patton yawned again and nearly fell to the floor. Logan instantly held him tighter and frowned.

"Patton, I think we should get you to bed. How does that sound?" Logan whispered softly. It was like he was this whole other person with Patton. Actually, that is exactly how it is. Patton just nodded as he held on to him. It was kind of adorable. Logan just smiled as he started to lead him out. I looked around and frowned at the emptiness.

"Hold on, Lo. I'm coming too." I followed them down the hall until Logan froze at fathers room. He glanced over at me in confusion and I shrugged. I mean I assumed that the two of them were talking or something but it sounds more like yelling. Why would they be...

"I'm just some random man that lives in a damn cave. I'm not special. I'm no prince... I am not..."  

"Virgil?" I quickly jumped behind the wall when I realize Patton had walked in. Don't ask me why but... I just felt like Virgil wouldn't have wanted me to hear that. Or just simply didn't want me there. "Why are you yelling?"

"I didn't realize I was. Why are you up, you're obviously tired?" I closed my eyes listening to everything that was being said but not moving to see. I didn't need to. I could tell Virgil was upset about something. Something he obviously didn't want me to know about. Why else would they have retreated to his room to talk in private? "And feverish, when was the last time you slept."

"'m not sure. 'ights still... I don't know." Now that I think about it, Patton always up with Virgil, at least when I'm there. And he's up with Ero... when I'm there. When does Pat sleep?

"I'm sorry to have to do this but. May I take a rain check on this lovely chat. My friend needs me." It didn't sound so lovely to me. I don't know how to feel about that if i'm being honest. I don't like the idea of him keeping things from me. Not so much the fact that he has secrets. We all have them, but more so that he feels he has to have them. I want him to trust me. To know that if and when he wants to, he can tell me.

I saw Patton and Logan come out and I jumped back into this little closet room thing. I didn't want Virgil knowing I was there. I didn't want his to feel bad or anything. When he finally came out he didn't look too happy.

"So what was that about?" Logan asked when Virgil finally closed the door. I saw Virgil smile and Logan just got confused. "What?"

"Patton..." Patton looked up at him and Virgil smiled wider at the sleepy man." ...your drooling."

"No, I'm..." He wiped his face and his eyes went wide. I had to choke back a laugh at the way he was frantically wiping his mouth. It was adorable and Virgil's laugh... I didn't want it to stop. Patton yawned again, swaying on his feet, and I watched as my brother pulled him in. "Logan?"

"You're not stable on your feet." Pats eyes narrowed and Logan sighed. "I don't want you to get hurt." There you go, Logan. It isn't much. But you're starting to open up a little. Maybe? You just need to talk to people... To let them in. I say that as I am currently hiding out of sight because I don't want Virgil to be mad that he didn't talk to me. I just sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "Virgil? You appear to be stressing out about something."

"I'm good. I heard Patton was going to be staying here for awhile." Patton started to blush again and Logan fixed his glasses trying to avoid eye contact. Those two really need to just... GET BACK TOGETHER! Like seriously... "Logan, his room?"

"Oh right..." I watched as the three of them left making their way down the hall and I sighed. Virgil was in the back, dragging his feet along like he had something on his mind. I knocked on my father's door and walked inside.

"Roman?" 

"Hey dad... Can we talk?"