Fantasizing a war - A Sanders Sides Trilogy

Day 11

Roman woke up to find Virgil curled up next to him, sleeping lightly. He sat up rigidly, feeling the flush on his cheeks. Looking around, he saw the same sight as last night - he and Virgil had run around the forest all night and came across a cliff that had the most beautiful vision he'd ever seen. Roman smiled as he took in the sight of it again.

The cliff stretched out and curved in on his left, where a peaceful waterfall tumbled into the misty, almost fragrant chasm below. Light green fields and pastures stretched out beneath him towards the horizon, patches of villages and forests almost sewn in gracefully. At the bottom of the skyline laid the black silhouette of Virgil's' home - it clashed so fantastically against the pastel blue sky it could have been designed by the gods. Storm was still flying, his black skeletal figure shimmering marvellously in the morning sun.

Smiling, Roman found himself slowly stroking Virgil's' hair. He snatched his hand away when he realised, then hid his face in it. "Oh, my stars..." He whispered, face glowing.

"Well, that was amusing." Said Virgil, with a snarky smirk.

Roman jumped. "Were you pretending to be asleep?!"

"Maybe. The stroking was soothing."

Roman reached out a hand cheekily.

Virgil blocked him quickly. "Not while you know I'm awake. It feels different."

"Okay, whatever you say, you emo reject." Shrugged Roman.

"Sir Sing-A-Lot."

"My chemically imbalanced romance."

"Spastic daydreamer."

"Raisin oatmeal cookie."

"What?!"

Roman shrugged. "Don't question me, emo. You're a raisin oatmeal cookie."

Virgil just shook his head slowly. "And you're mentally damaged."

"Now, now, that could be offensive to some readers-"

"What?!"

"Uhh... I didn't break the fourth wall- What?"

.:*:.

Patton bit his nails rapidly, shivering. Logan rubbed his back while Joan awkwardly saddled up Roman's' pegasus.

"Roman vanished last night though!" Patton whined, panicked obviously. "Now he, Virgil and Storm are gone!"

"Now, Pat, I'm sure it's all fine... Just calm down. They'll all come back!" Logan soothed him gently, trying to catch the mans' eyes.

Joan cleared their throat awkwardly. "I've saddled up the pegasus. Should we use it to search the skies for Roman?"

Logan shrugged.

The silence that fell was awkward and suffocating. "I don't think you'll need to ride Cloud to find me."

"ROMAN!!!" Patton practically screamed and lunged himself at his friend who had just emerged from the trees.

"Yeah, all you'd need to do is say a small insult about that theatre group he's obsessed with," Virgil said sarcastically, appearing in the middle of the camp. "Disney, right? What is it with their fixation on the lack of consent with sleeping women?"

Logan jumped away from Virgil. "You can teleport?!"

"Turn invisible. And make others turn invisible. It's confusing..." Virgil muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of Joan. "What are they still doing here?"

Storm rippled into view next to  Virgil, causing Logan to jump again, and snorted. Joan raised their hands up in submission. "Hey, hey, please don't kill me, Mr Skeletal Pegasus-!"

"-Storm.-"

"Yes, Storm, please don't kill me!"

Virgil scowled and tilted his head slightly to his thestral, making a purring noise. Storm turned to his master, butting his cold muzzle into his cheek grumpily. "I know, Storm. I hate them too..." Virgil mumbled, petting the thestral affectionately.

Joan bit their lip. "I was hoping we could, uhm, start again?" They stuck out their hand. "I'm Joan, and I'm sorry I tried to kill you."

Virgil looked at him but didn't move to shake his hand. "Virgil, and I won't forgive you because you tried to kill me."

"Well, now I know your name at least." Joan shrugged, returning his hand. "Let's get moving, huh?"

The other three nodded, but Virgil shook his head. "You're not calling any shots here. I'm only listening to two beings and that's Roman and Storm. So," Virgil made eye contact with Roman. "Storm, should we get going?"

Patton giggled at Roman's' offended face, while Storm let Virgil board him. "Well, Storm says we can go. Honestly, what are you people hanging around for? Let's get going!"

Joan shook their head as Virgil and Storm trotted away. "He doesn't like me, does he?"

"Don't worry, Joan," Roman said with a sympathetic smile. "The only people he likes here are Patton and Storm."

"Roman, I've been meaning to ask," Logan perked up suddenly. "Who is Cloud?"

"Why, she's my pegasus! Virgil and I chose it last night!"

Patton grinned cheekily. "And what were you and Virgil doing last night?"

"Well, we-" Roman froze as he registered Patton's' tone and went bright red. "PAT! Who knew you'd be so dirty minded?!"