Prinxiety Short Stories.

Still Here

AU: Human
Ship(s): Prinxiety
T/W: Suicide, crying, loss, cursing.
Type: Angst
Notes: Set in the same universe some of the other stories. In order it's Egg, Freckles and Sleepovers, Right Here, Kissing Strangers, What Time Is It There?, The Game, and then this. Please enjoy the pain.

~~~~~

Roman pulled the old hoodie tighter to himself, breathing in the ever-soothing scent of... he couldn't even think the name. It hurt too much. He'd read the note a million times, but he couldn't wrap his head around the fact that he was gone.
Virgil was gone.
What hurt the most was that he didn't even notice. Virgil had been doing so well for so long. He'd been seeing a therapist, he was happier than Roman had ever seen him. They'd been talking about adopting.
Roman stared down at the gold band, a string of black jewels down the center. He smiled sadly as memories, bad and good, flashed through his mind.
"Do you have an extra egg you won't miss?"
"You have freckles."
"I'm sorry, please don't cry. I won't do it again, I promise. I'll talk to you."
       "I can't keep kissing strangers and pretending they're you, Virgil!"
"You're doing a good thing, Roman. You're helping those kids. I can suck it up. I love you, be safe."
"Roman Alexander Prince, will you marry me?"
"I do."
       "What do you think about Levi? For a little boy. And maybe Anne for a girl?"
       Roman hugged himself tighter, pretending it was Virgil's arms around him and not his own.
       Virgil was gone but he was everywhere.
       The framed ticket stumps from all the concerts he'd been to, his makeup still littering the bathroom, the little lavender scented candles he loved on the bed stand... in some ways it hurt. In others, it helped. Roman pressed a kiss to his ring. He decided he wouldn't take that off.
      "You're still here... I mean... obviously you're not, but all these little things remind me that even when we fought, even when we were jealous, or grumpy, we still loved each other. I still love you. I hope you're happy where you are. Goodnight, Virgil. I really do love you, y'know," Roman said to the air. He knew he was speaking to no one, but the reply was so familiar, he could practically hear it.
       "I know you stupid Prince, I love you too."