Prince next door (Prinxiety au)

Chapter 2

AN: Quick warning: I posted chapter 1 only moments ago so be sure to read that first!

Light seeps through badly closed curtains and hits Virgil's face. He blinks his eyes open slowly to adjust to it. His head instantly killing him. He knew drinking that much wasn't going to give him anything but trouble. Yet in the moment it seemed the only way out. Virgil frowns when he can't seem to remember how he got back to his apartment. Last thing he can think of was sitting on the bridge with Roman. A deep sigh escapes his lips when he thinks back to finally being reunited with the one person he once considered to be his best friend. Good thing that's over. Virgil debates rolling over and catching a few more hours of sleep, or getting up to get that awful taste out of his mouth and grab a painkiller. In the end he chooses the latter and throws the covers off of him only to stiffen when he sees they're red and white. Not black like his. Now looking more concentrated at the room, he notices that he's not at all in his own apartment. Let alone his own room. It's similar, but decorated completely different. Virgil's room is rather empty compared to this one. The desk is covered in stuff as well as the windowsill. A little pride flag is hanging on the wall. Pictures of people with smiling faces are covering the dark wooden closet. And in the corner... There's Roman. Sleeping in an uncomfortable looking chair that belongs behind the desk. Virgil bites down on his lip when he realizes what must have happened. He passed out from the booze. Roman must've brought him back to his place and tugged him in in his bed. So it wasn't over yet. Virgil thinks grim to himself. How can he get out of this? How can he pretend to not be the least bit touched by what Roman did for him? Another thought comes into his head and he quickly looks down. Relieved to see he's still wearing the same clothes from yesterday. His shoes beside the bed. The voice tells him to quickly get out. Be gone before Roman wakes up. Avoid any more unwanted awkwardness. But for once his curiosity seems to get the best of him. Slowly to not cause a nauseous wave and quietly to not wake up the other man in the room, he gets out of bed. Eyes automatically going to the pictures on the closet door while strapping his shoes back on. He recognizes Roman's family in some. A few faces take time before he can place them as people he's seen Roman hang out with during high school. Others are complete strangers to him and he guesses they're friends he made here. His eyes then go over a picture of two carelessly smiling boys. One nearly blond and taller. The other with dark brown hair. Both of them wearing swimming shorts as they eat a popsicle in the small pool. Virgil lifts his hand absentmindedly to carefully touch the smaller boy's face with his fingers.
"I've always loved that picture." Virgil startles when Roman's tired voice speaks up. Still low and husky from sleep. The man stretches his stiff limbs and neck before coming closer to look at the picture as well. Virgil looks from him to the picture again.
"Why?" He wonders softly in a whisper. Not understanding why Roman would've kept that picture all these years and hung it here. In his college dorm room.
"I don't know. I guess we just look happy." He shrugs. Virgil can't help but scoff at his hypocrisy. They were happy that day. It was a day years before it all went wrong. It was summer break and it was one of the hottest ones they've had so far. Virgil's parents even bought him a little round, blue pool to cool off in. It was nothing compared with the pool Roman had. Him and his twin brother Remus had a big, white, oval shaped pool that stood in their garden no matter what the season was. It was deep enough so adults could stand underwater. While Virgil's pool only came to his chest as a kid. It didn't really matter to the two boys though. They had fun together no matter where they played. Roman always coming up with a new game to play. The day this picture was taken, Virgil never felt happier. He was having a great time with his best friend while his parents laughed softly from the table they were enjoying a cool drink at. Throw in a Popsicle and his little kid mind couldn't think of anything better.
"What happened, Virge?" Roman speaks up. Tone inviting. Virgil scrunches up his nose at the old nickname.
"Nothing." He replies sharp. A lot. He thinks to himself.
"Yesterday didn't look like nothing." Roman comments. Virgil ignores him as he looks back at the picture.
"Virgil, please. I'm worried sick about you." He adds desperately. Making Virgil's blood boil.
"No, you're not! You don't give a rat's ass about me. You just don't want someone else's death on your conscience." He bites back.
"But don't worry, you've stopped me. And now you can go right back to pretending this-" He points angry at the picture of them together. "never even happened." He finishes. Roman looks at him in shock. Mouth slightly agape as his eyes look at him with hurt and confusion.
"I've tried reconnecting, but you were already bound to lock me out!" He points accusing when he seems to find his words again.
"I wonder why." Virgil mutters.
"I was a kid!" Roman calls out. "Thinking I was already more than that. You can't stay mad at me forever because I turned you down." He adds frustrated by the way the conversation seems to go. Virgil doesn't flinch by his sudden louder tone. He eyes Roman closely. He really thinks he's mad because of that? As if he'd be so butthurt to throw the most treasured friendship he had in the trash just like that.
"I wasn't mad at you. I never was!" He exclaims. Shutting Roman up with a baffled face. "I didn't even know I did something wrong until mom explained to me what being gay means. I was twelve, Roman. Twelve. And you decided to throw our year long friendship in the trash because you couldn't look past it. You were revolted by the idea of me liking you, so you just ran and never came back." He continues. The words now spilling out of his mouth. It feels weird to finally have the conversation they should have had a long time ago.
"I wasn't revolted, I was confused!" Roman replies shocked. "Everyone always made it seem like such a horrible thing to be that I got scared when you asked that question. I realize it wasn't serious because we were just kids, but every time I tried to go back to the way we were, I just kept thinking about it and I couldn't handle that confusion. It was an idiotic move from my part because I really missed our friendship." He declares. Ending his statement with a lower voice. Eyes looking at him like a hurt puppy. Both boys stare at each other for the longest time without saying another word. Virgil let the words sink in. He looks back at the little flag on the wall.
"Well, I guess you're no longer confused." He points with a bitter voice as he slowly turns back to the man in front of him. Roman follows his finger and sighs when he sees the flag.
"No, I'm not. I've known for a couple of years now. It's one of the reasons I tried to befriend you again. I didn't know who to turn to. All I wanted to do was apologize so we could talk again." Roman looks almost desperate and Virgil's anger starts to slowly evaporate. He did turn Roman away on numerous occasions once he had built up his walls. But he can't just expect everything will be fine just because he finally accepted who he is. Not after letting Virgil believe for years that he was disgusting for the exact same thing.
"I-I haven't told anyone from home yet though." Roman continues softly. "Remus knows because he's here as well and because, you know, he'd understand. Being pan and all." He adds. Virgil lets out a humorless chuckle. Everyone knows his brother is attracted to every living thing. Unlike Virgil, who hid himself or Roman who lied to himself, Remus never shied away from who he really is. During high school he was known as the fuck boy to girls, guys and everyone in between. No one seemed to care about his sexuality. So why was it so hard for his twin brother and the boy next door? Roman doesn't react to his laugh. He just looks pleading. Virgil lets out a big sigh.
"Who the fuck do you think I'm going to tell?" He lifts one of his eyebrows unimpressed. He doesn't exactly have Roman's parents on speed dial. Roman shrugs.
"I don't know, I just- it's still new for me. I know I shouldn't be hiding it from my family and friends at home, but it's so much easier here." He tries to explain where he's coming from.
"Funny. I haven't really noticed a difference." Virgil replies dryly. He doesn't believe it'll ever be easy for him. When he sees how Roman's eyes soften in pity, he scoffs again. "Don't even start." He points.
"You just haven't met the right people yet. You can start all over again in college." Roman starts despite his warning. Virgil rolls his eyes and grabs the coat Roman took off last night.
"Right." He mutters as he stalks for the door. Passing Roman to do so.
"Virgil wait!" The older boy calls after him, but Virgil ignores him. Heading down the stairs and out of the apartment in no time. What the fuck was that? Is he on some kind of drugs? Because this cannot be real.
It's drizzling outside and Virgil quickly shivers into his coat as he walks over to his own apartment. Which isn't that far away since all student apartments are build close to each other. He rushes inside and into his room without replying his roommate who calls out to him. Desperately in need to be alone right now. He kicks off his shoes and dives in his bed. Not bothered to change his clothes. He snatches his headphones from the floor and starts listening to his music as he tries to set his thoughts straight. Memories from the first time he met Roman flooding his head and playing in front of his eyes.