Fantasizing a war - A Sanders Sides Trilogy

Day 12

Joan glared up at Prince Virgil, who stared down on them with a smug smile. Virgil snapped Storm's' reigns and the thestral trotted past the knight. Joan looked down at the mud they found themself in - for reasons beyond their knowledge, this small prince had been picking on them constantly. Criticizing their suggestions, walking into them, and being an all-round asshole. Joan stood up, wiping the mud from their armour.

"It's okay, kiddo." Joan jumped to see Patton standing behind them, sympathetically. "Virgil was like this to Roman too."

"You'd never know..." Grumbled Joan, looking up to where the two princes rode side by side, laughing to each other. "They seem to be glued to each other..."

Patton shrugged. "Virge spent more time with Ro than LoLo and I. We still don't know that much about him. Do you know why he got Storm to push you in the mud?"

Joan shook their head as they continued to walk after the prince and the advisor. "No. I was chatting with Prince Roman when the kid comes up behind me and gets his thestral to knock me down to the ground. I mean, I hadn't even said anything! He just comes up and pushes me into the mud!"

Patton smiled sadly at him. "He's probably in a bad mood or something. Last night was a rough one, seeming as we were sleeping out in the open with no shelter." They walked on in silence for a moment. "It was cold too." Added Patton.

Joan snickered slightly, "Yeah, it was. I saw you and Logan were huddled together quite closely..." Joan wiggled their eyebrows and shoulders as they sidled up to Patton, who went bright red.

"It wasn't like that! I mean, maybe? I-I hope..."

Joan raised an eyebrow.

"Okay!" Patton said huffily, "So I may have a crush on him, so what? Virge's already talked me through asking him out, I'm gonna do it when we're alone together." He crossed his arms.

"Virgil?" Joan said in surprise.

"Yeah, he seems to be pretty good with emotions. Most of the time." Shrugged Patton. He then made eye contact with his non-binary friend. "Oh, yeah... About Virgil disliking you-"

"-More like hating me-"

"I'm sure it's not that!" Gasped Patton, before regaining his train of thought. "Anyway, I'm sure it's only temporary! He doesn't seem to trust easily and you did attack him."

"And I apologized!" Joan cried in exasperation.

Patton sighed, going into 'dad-mode'. "Look, all I see is that the two of you are acting very petulant and you both need to sort out your attitude. We'll never complete this heroic quest if you two are at each other's throats the whole time!"

Joan sagged in defeat, "Yeah, you're right, Pat..."

Patton nodded. They walked in silence until Patton turned to them happily. "I used a big word, though didn't I? 'Petulant'! Remember? I used a very professional word."

"You stole Logan's pocket dictionary to find words to impress him, didn't you?"

"... Maybe?"

.:*:.

Roman laughed so hard his lugs hurt as he buried his face into Cloud's' mane. "Vee, that's not funny!"

"If it's not funny, why are you laughing like a three-year-old girl?" Virgil was also laughing too, leaning back.

"Because- Oh, stars, that was good! Ha!" Roman cackled, straightening up as he sorted his hair out. Virgil noticed how soft and perfect the enemy prince's' hair was. Especially with that smile. Was it just him, or were those perfect green eyes shining like emeralds? Beautiful emeralds that caught the light of thousands of shimmering, spectacular stars; emeralds that blossomed with passion and warmth, lighting up Virgil's soul-

 Oh shit, oh shit, Roman had said something! Now he was looking at Virgil expectantly. Oh shit, had he been staring? Oh god, he had been staring. "Uh, what?"

Roman laughed perfectly. "I said 'Have you zoned out on me?', which you obviously have. What were you thinking about?"

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU- "Just what we're gonna do once we averted this war." Virgil turned his eyes back to where he was leading Storm. Oh god, his face was so red, wasn't it? Damn, that's unfair.

"Yeah, that's an odd thought. I hope we still get to see each other."

Virgil looked over in surprise.

"I mean," Roman huffed, "I'd hate to say goodbye to my dark, angsty prince, wouldn't I? Believe it or not, Vee, but you're a cool guy."

"Right..." Damn, that hurt more than expected. "I don't think we should. It'd create more tension on the peace and stuff. And you need to focus on running your Realm when you're coronated."

Roman nodded thoughtfully. "Good point, I guess. Wait a sec," Roman steered Cloud away from Virgil and Storm as he walked over to a beckoning Logan.

Virgil sighed and looked back at his route.