If the Shoe Fits (Prinxiety Cinderella AU - Roman x Virgil)

Chapter 3

Exhaustion thrummed in Virgil's mind but he kept scrubbing the counter, despite not seeing a single speck of dirt. No, he had to keep cleaning; if he didn't, he knew what would happen. Finally, he gave up, rubbing his eyes and letting out a yawn.

"Virgil!" two voices rang from down the hall, barely distinguishable from each other.

He tossed his towel over the sink faucet and sighed. He walked down the hallway with his head held high and stood between the doorways of his cousins' bedrooms. "Yes?" he asked, staring straight ahead, not even bothering to look at either of them.

"I'm going out with friends tonight," Hayden said and Virgil could feel his glare. "I have nothing clean to wear; I need you to do laundry."

This made Virgil glanced to the left, seeing clothing strewn about the room. Articles hung out of draws and accumulated in piles in the floor. He cocked an eyebrow. "Really?"

Hayden grabbed clothing from off of the floor and began throwing the piles at Virgil, Jayden quickly joining in.

He hated when his cousins did this--it certainly wasn't the first time--because he got in trouble when he couldn't tell the difference between the twins' clothing. When the two doors slammed shut, a sigh escaped Virgil's lips. Slowly, he picked up the laundry.

The work never ends...

---

Virgil finally sat on his bed, glancing at his phone for the time.

2:12.

He groaned, falling back onto the springy mattress, his eyelids heavy. He plugged in his phone and double-checked his alarm before pulling the string of his lamp.

Closing his eyes felt wonderful--enchanting--magical.

"Virgil!"

Of fucking course. He sat up and turned on the light, not needing to fall on the stairs. He kept his head down as he stepped into the living room. "Yes, sir?" he addressed his uncle.

"What the fuck is this?"

Virgil dared look up far enough to see the man's hand, holding the dirty rag from his kitchen cleaning. "A, um... A towel, sir. I, um, used it to, uh, clean the kitchen today." He wrang his hands behind his back as his heart pounded.

"Why the fuck is it still here?"

His head dropped again. "I forgot to, uh... to clean it up, sir."

Pain split across Virgil's cheek before he'd realized what had happened. His brain attempted to comprehend as he held his cheek and the rag was tossed at his feet.

Footsteps retreated slowly.

He blinked multiple times; his mind was completely blank as he just held his face. Eventually, he leaned down and picked up the towel. He carried it to the basement and placed it gently in the hamper. Laying down, he turned off the light, still holding his cheek.