Finding The Write Words

Chapter 32

-One Year Later-

"Virgil, love, are you almost ready?" Logan called as they leaned close to the bathroom mirror, applying their eyeliner. "We have to head out soon."

"He's in the bedroom," Patton said softly, coming up behind Logan and wrapping his arms around their waist. "Do you need any help, Lo Lo?"

They straightened, leaning back somewhat in Patton's arms, and looked in the mirror at the both of them. Logan had grown out their hair in the past year, and whereas they kept the sides shaved short, the top was long enough now to be pulled back in a bun - as it often was.

They shook their head no before turning and pressing a kiss to the top of Patton's. "Do you know if Virgil's almost ready? If we want to get there in time, we have to head out soon."

"Eyeliner, really, starlight?" Virgil joked from the doorway, a small smile on his face.

Patton released Logan as the two of them turned around to face Virgil. He was absolutely stunning. As always. He'd stuck with the pink hair, redying it every couple months, and had adjusted his wardrobe a bit - at Roman's insistence - to match. His purple hoodie was gone, stuffed in the back of the closet, and had been replaced with a dark pink one. He still stuck with the black aesthetic aside from the hoodie, however. Under their gaze, he shifted slightly, embarrassed, and brushed his pink bangs away from his face, revealing more of the black-lined eyes.

"I can take it off if you'd like, love," they offered, already reaching for the pack of makeup wipes on the sink.

"No, no. It looks good on you. Besides, I don't really mind it all too much. Plays into my whole aesthetic without me having to worry about accidentally smudging it. Are we ready to go now?"

Roman danced around the stage, never missing a note or a step or a cue for his lines. The dance classes he'd picked up again after he was healed last year had really paid off in this role. Virgil, Logan, and Patton sat in the audience with Remus and Damien, who had moved to Columbus together in the last year. Towards the end of the show, as Roman was belting out his final note, the tears in his eyes shining in the spotlight, Virgil turned and whispered something to Damien, who nodded.

He and Remus got up out of their seats and headed out of the theater. Virgil then turned to Logan, whose brows pulled together in confusion.

"I'm not feeling well. Damien is driving me home. Tell Roman I said I'm sorry, and that he did really well."

Logan nodded deftly, though they watched Virgil as he stood up and exited the theater after Damien and Remus. They wondered idly if they should follow after him, to make sure he was alright, but they decided against it.

Virgil got into the back seat of Damien's car, and he turned around to look at him, eyebrows raised on his forehead in a silent question. Virgil nodded, and Damien pulled out of the parking lot.

"Do you need any help, Virgil?" Remus asked when they were halfway back to the apartment.

"No, I think I'll be alright. Thank you."

He shrugged. "Suit yourself."

"How much time do you think you have to get it done?" Damien asked, glancing in the rearview mirror at him when he stopped at a red light.

"No more than fifteen minutes is my best guess."

"Think you'll be able to get it done alone?"

He paused before nodding. "I think so."

When Damien dropped him off at the apartment, he smiled in thanks to the two of them before heading inside. He had to get this done fast.

"Where'd Virgil go?" Roman asked when he emerged from backstage, approaching Logan and Patton. "And Damien and Remus?"

"Virgil wasn't feeling well," Logan explained, stepping forward and wrapping their arms around Roman's waist and pressing a kiss to his forehead. They let him go after a second, though they still held his hand. "Damien and Remus took him back home. He told me to tell you he's sorry and you did really well."

"You really did!" Patton chimed, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Roman grinned, giving a rather dramatic bow before kissing Patton's lips sweetly. "Let's head home."

"You don't want to go to the afterparty?" Patton asked, tilting his head to the side.

He shook his head. "I want to see our stormcloud."

Roman opened the door to the apartment and gasped softly, stepping inside to let Logan and Patton see the sight before them.

Virgil was seated on a stool from the kitchen table in the middle of the living room, and though the lights were off, the room was lit entirely by candles.

Candles on every surface.

The shadows of the flames flickering on the walls.

Fairy lights twinkling on the wall behind him.

He had Roman's guitar resting on his leg, and when he saw them, he started playing.

He didn't meet their eyes for the entirety of the intro, but when he opened his mouth to sing, he met each of their eyes in turn.

"There's so many things that I could say, but I'm sure it would come out all wrong."

His voice was silken honey, his words slipping over his tongue with smooth expertise that told them he had practiced this over and over.

"You got something that I can't explain, still I try and try and let you know."

Patton squeaked in surprise, his cheeks flushing a dark shade of red that Virgil smiled against when it appeared on his cheeks as well.

"That first summer we spent, one could never forget."

Logan fanned their face to fight against the tears that pricked in their eyes.

"Looking for any kind of reason to escape all the mess that we thought is what made us."

Roman pressed his lips tightly together, fighting the urge to grin and squeal happily.

"Ain't it funny now, we can see we're who we're meant to be. You still have all of my..."

Patton bounced on the balls of his feet, his hands flapping a little.

"You still have all of my..."

Logan let their tears fall, streaking down their cheeks, and grinned widely enough to hurt their cheeks.

"You still have all of my heart."

Roman grinned, biting his bottom lip to muffle his squeal of happiness.

When the song ended, Virgil set the guitar on the couch and got up off the stool. He sank down to the floor, down on one knee, and took a deep breath.

Patton gasped sharply, his eyes tearing up.

Logan covered their mouth, sobbing silently.

Roman bounced on the balls of his feet, grabbing onto Patton's arm to hold himself back from rushing to Virgil.

"You three are my everything. I love you all so much. I don't know what I would have done if you weren't in my life," Virgil started, his words hesitant. "I want you to be in my life for the rest of forever. We can't do it legally, but I don't care. I just want you. All of you. Forever. Will you marry me?"

"Yes."