Saving Primary Sanders | A Sander Sides Book

XIX - Preparaperation

This was such a cathartic chapter to write! All my sweet little character arcs and subplots tied up. 

A head's up, not exactly a content warning: Roman and Virgil have some serious talks about their relationship. 

1400 h

"We're back!" trills Roman as he stomps into the kitchen at Sanderville.

Done with a quick late lunch, the rest of The Birds of Gay are gathered around the kitchen table, chatting. They look up and cheer as roman guides Virgil in to the room with a steady hand at the small of his back. Virgil gives a bashful grin, adjusting his eye patch in a rakish angle.

Roman pulls out a chair.

"Ro, you don't have to do everything for me! I can still see! It's the pain killers making me see double – wait I can never see double again. At least I can get drunk without any trouble now!"

The table laughs uneasily; glad that Virgil's sense of humour was gliding them through an otherwise awkward situation.

"Who said the chair was for you?" says Roman with a chuckle. He sits down and pulls Virgil onto his lap. "My boyfriend's hurt, and it's my lawful right to spoil you for a bit." Virgil squawks in protest as Roman squeezes him around the waist. "You were so worried when I lost the tip of my ear, now it's payback time." Roman nuzzles his face in Virgil's hair. Virgil looks mortified, but he can't help blushing like an Irish pirate with sunburn.

Archie gently brushes the tip of his own ear, which Bongo shot off at the bridge last night. Except there was no one to take care of him.

"You okay there, boyo? You look peaky." Remy nudged Archie on the shoulder with his fork, while Thomas and Patton coo over how cute a couple Roman and Virgil make.

Archie nods and suddenly finds the pattern of the tablecloth fascinating.

Logan raps his knuckles on the tablecloth sharply. "Settle down everyone. It's good to have you back, Virgil, but please find your own seat. At least pretend that there's a modicum of professionalism left in this outfit."

Virgil pats Roman's thigh consoling and hops onto the next chair. Roman lets him go as if he is off to a war from which none will return.

Logan coughs. "Now that we are done with that drama..." 

"We're not done with all the drama!" Patton bursts with excitement and showers the room with party streamers and confetti. Metaphorically. "Thomas and Remy are dating!"

"No we're not!" says Thomas and Remy at the same time.

"What? No." cries Roman. "Shipping you is the only reason I survive!"

"Really?" deadpans Virgil. "Forgot all about me, eh?"

"I'm so sorry!" wails Roman and immediately drags Virgil under the table to shower him with affection and get into his... good books. Take your mind out of the gutter.

"But didn't you ask Remy out?" asks Patton, hastily rolling away all the 'Thomas + Remy purrever' posters he made.

"I asked him to be my plus one for the Berry Awards," explains Thomas. "That's all it is, right?" he turns to Remy.

"Yup," says Remy, carelessly rocking back on the back legs of his chair. "Thomas, you're a decent bloke but you're tasty as a plain white piece of bread, no offence. I rate you, but definitely not in the heart fluttery way. I'll be at the Berries with you coz someone's got to make sure you won't lose your berries to the next hot guy who gives you a rose."