Prinxiety Short Stories.

Troubled Waters

AU: Siren!Virgil
Ship(s): Prinxiety, Logicality, and Platonic Moxiety
T/W: Injury, slight panic attack
Type: Fluff so sweet it will rot your teeth
Notes: Sorry for the double upload but I had this idea and I had to run with it. So yeah!

~~~~~

     Roman rolled the cuffs of his pants just below his knees and stepped into the chilly waves. This was his routine. Every day he would walk to the beach, wade in the water, and skip rocks until sunset. It cleared his mind. The cries of the seagulls, the gentle lapping of the waves around his legs, the fresh, salty air... He loved it.
     Roman had been here for about an hour. The air had cooled and the sun was just starting to sink under the waves when he heard a low, pained groan. His eyes scanned the waves for the source of the sound.
     "Hello?" Roman called out, his brows knitted together with concern. "Is someone out there?" Another pained noise, this one sounded more like a scream. His searching became more frantic. Finally, Roman spotted a thrashing something amongst the waves. He quickly made his way over to the source of the movement.
     "Hang on! Hang on, I'm coming!" As he made his way closer, the thrashing became more frantic and the noises seemed more frightened than pained. He was scaring it. Roman stopped dead in his tracks.
      "Hey, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to help," He quieted his voice and held his hands up innocently. Roman made small steps forward and, when he was close enough, examined the creature.
     Its spines were crooked and bent, its purple scales were dull (Roman had lived with his father, a marine biologist, to know that was not a good sign), and it was tangled up in nets, digging into its tail and its torso- wait, torso?
    Upon further inspection, Roman knew what kind of creature this was. He was a siren. He'd read about sirens in his stories but it had never occurred to him that they might be real.
     The poor thing looked terrified, tears streaming down his cheeks, dark, frantic eyes barely visible behind a thick curtain of purple hair. Roman's heart fluttered in his chest. The siren was unreasonably attractive. C'mon, Roman, focus! He scolded himself.
     "My name is Roman. My father Logan is a marine biologist. He will know what to do to help you. I promise you're safe," The siren's eyes locked with his, a look of understanding on his face. "Do you have a name?" The siren didn't respond. Roman gingerly picked up the small creature and winced when he yelped.
     "I know, I'm sorry. I promise it won't be long before you're feeling better," The siren's breathing quickened and he started to tremble in Roman's arms. He walked faster, knowing the sooner he could get the creature to his father, the better.

~~~~~

     Roman burst through the door of his house, greeted by his father sitting at the table with his companion, Patton, having a normal, pleasant conversation. Both men turned, eyes wide and mouths ajar when they saw Roman.
     "I found him on the beach. He's hurt, badly. I figured you would know what to do, Father," Roman panted, the trembling siren still held securely in his arms. Logan nodded quickly and stood from his seat. Patton soon followed suit, concern written all over his face.
     "Bring him to the tank," Logan said coolly. Roman nodded, following his father's instructions.

~~~~~

     It had been a week since Roman had found the siren. Once his wounds had mostly been healed, he immediately took a liking to Patton, splashing him playfully whenever he went to the tank. He liked Logan and Roman as well, but because Logan had to keep tabs on his health, the siren was slightly wary of the doctor and around Roman, he was incredibly shy. Often swimming off to a far corner of the tank or ducking under the water. However, Roman was desperate to form a bond with the siren. So every day, he went to the tank, sitting at the edge. He would dangle his feet and read to himself, hoping to show the siren he meant no harm.
     Roman was carrying out his daily routine when he felt something grab his foot. He was so startled he nearly dropped his book in the tank. The siren quickly swam to the opposite end of the tank, turning red from embarrassment. Roman smiled and spoke softly.
      "Hey, it's okay. You didn't upset me. Just startled me a bit, that's all." The siren slowly swam back over, curiously examining his foot. Roman chuckled lightly at his childlike wonder.
     "What... What are these?" The siren's voice was timid and low and Roman's smile only grew. The siren hadn't said a word to anyone since the family had taken him in.
     "They're my feet. They help me get around, like your tail, " The siren smiled, running a black nail over Roman's foot, making him shiver slightly. "So, do you have a name?" The siren looked up at Roman, smiling shyly.
     "Virgil." Now it was Roman's turn to smile. He had been reading Dante's Inferno. He reached for the book, presenting it to Virgil, who eyed it curiously.
     "This is a book. More specifically,
Dante's Inferno."  Virgil looked more confused as he ran his fingers over the cover. "There's a character in here named Virgil. He escorts Dante through the underworld." Virgil's dark eyes twinkled and he purred happily. Roman's smile only grew.
     "Would you like to hear some?" Virgil nodded vigorously his smile growing into a fanged grin. Roman opened the book and began reading expressively to Virgil, who was hanging onto every word that left Roman's lips.

~~~~~

     A few more weeks and Virgil was ready to be released. Roman was not having that.
     "What if he goes back out there and gets hurt again?! Why can't he just stay with us?!" Roman was choking back tears as he argued with his father. He'd grown fond of the siren and he was not ready to say goodbye. Logan sighed, adjusting his glasses.
     "Roman, we cannot keep him forever. He deserves to have a life where he isn't caged in! I know you have a bond with him, but this is to his benefit." A few tears spilled out of Roman's eyes, but he brushed them away quickly.
     "I love him." It was a barely whispered sentiment but it was true. Roman had fallen in love with Virgil. Logan nodded solemnly.
     "So let him live the life he deserves." Roman took a deep breath, pushing past his father and walking off to the tank.
     "Oh, Virgil! Don't you worry! I'm sure he's going to be very touched." Patton's cheery voice rang through the room and Roman decided to stay outside and try and decipher what was happening.
     "But what if he doesn't feel the same way?" That was Virgil's voice. He sounded like he was on the brink of tears and Roman's heart twisted.
     "Then he doesn't know what he's missing." Virgil's light giggles echoed through the room and Roman decided that was his cue. He stepped into the room, striking a dramatic pose.
     "Greetings, all. How are you on this glorious day?" Virgil waved excitedly, flashing a toothy grin.
     "Ro! I have something for you." Virgil was trying to sound calm but it was easy to tell from the look in his eyes and the flush on his cheeks that he was nervous. Roman sat down at the edge of the tank and dangled his feet.
      "What is it, Virge?" Virgil placed his hands on Roman's shins, smiling up at him.
     "Close your eyes." Roman dutifully followed Virgil's instructions and smiled as a small, cool object was pressed into his hand. "Okay, open!" Roman looked down at his hand and started to tear up again. It was one of Virgil's scales.
      "I-It's umm... It's a symbol of love. To give someone one of your scales." The flush on Virgil's cheeks deepened and he avoided Roman's eyes. Roman tilted his chin up so brown eyes met green.
     "I love you too." With that, Roman leaned down and pressed their lips together. It was warm and gentle and Virgil felt like he could stay right here forever. When they finally parted, both boys were smiling brightly.

~~~~~

     Virgil anxiously eyed the walkway headed toward the beach. He perked up when he saw Roman finally walking his way. He smiled and waved frantically. Roman spotted his enthusiastic siren and pressed the scale hanging from his neck to his chest.
     Now, Roman had a new routine. Walk to the beach, roll up his pants, wade in the water, and read to Virgil until he could barely keep his eyes open anymore. He liked this routine much better.