To Break A Curse

28

"As long as you're ok..." Virgil smiled as Roman just sat there staring at him. "Your energy's stronger... that's a good thing."

"I feel a lot better actually." Roman nodded as Virgil looked over the map again and sighed. "The wind said we have to go to Gaurdwell." The ink shifted catching Roman's eyes, who gripped Virgil's hands tighter as he looked away with a curious frown.

"Wait, that's the Weapons District. Why do you want us to go there?" The wind rumbled as it ruffled Roman's shirt making him pale. "Oh."

"What?" Roman's frown grew as he shook his head and sighed. 

"Thomas is back at the island he was created on." Virgil nodded urging Roman on who honestly looked really worried. "He also has his creatures and minions with him again."

"So what does this have to do with..."

"I can't protect you if I'm fighting them off." Virgil's eyes went wide as Roman avoided his gaze. "The wind wants you to learn how to fight... to get a weapon of your own."

"Of my own... I'm confused." Roman smirked sadly as he held his hand out to the side summoning a sword out of a beam of light and color. Virgil was left in awe as Roman held it close before holding it out for Virgil to see. "What in the world..."

"It's my weapon. All demi's have a weapon. Just not all of them use it." Virgil tensed as Roman held it out more clearly handing it over. "Go on, Virgil. It's ok."

"But..." Virgil's hand bruised the hilt and it was like this fire in his blood. He flinched slightly as he pulled his hand back in shock of the massive amount of energy that was stored in the thing. Roman only frowned in confusion as Virgil met his eyes. "This is your weapon. Like... It's literally a piece of you. I don't think I should hold it." Roman only laughed as he held it out again making Virgil sigh. "Ro..."

"It's ok, Virgil. Nothing's going to happen to it simply because you held it." Virgil grimaced with anxiety as he took the sword, once again feeling that burn in his blood. His eyes started to glow instantly in response and Roman melted at the sight before him. Virgil held it loosely as his eyes took in every bit of it. It was a beautiful white sword. Even the blade was white. There was gold dust littered about it and the hilt was tied with a red rope. Virgil couldn't help but smile. It was definitely Roman's sword. What got him the most though was what he felt when holding it. Not the fire, no... Something more that though. "Virgil?" Virgil's eyes narrowed as he let himself fall into that swirl of energy he was feeling from it. He could sense Roman's concern as the exgod gently moved his hand to Virgil's knee. "Are you ok?"

"It's' just... a bunch of colors." Roman frowned in confusion as Virgil looked up at him with a smile. "The world... The... The energy." Roman's eyes went wide as tensed up in concern. "It's just a bunch of colors."

"You seem to be enjoying it." Virgil nodded with a slight laugh as he looked around with an almost new set of eyes. "What do you see?"

"Color. Roman... I see color. Bright vibrant... Pastels and Darks... Even colors I didn't know existed. It's like one giant painting." Virgil held his hand up and waved hit slightly through the air as his eyes lit up seeing near rainbow that filled the air as if his hand were a paintbrush. "It's distracting for one." Virgil giggled as he held the sword out for Roman to take back... only to freeze seeing the pain in Roman's eyes. "Roman?"

"I'm glad someone can see it." Virgil's heart broke as Roman smiled sadly taking the sword back and letting it vanish in a thing of light. 

"You don't?" roman shook his head as he shrugged.

"I used to. It was how I saw everything. The world was my canvas. A canvas waiting for just the perfect stroke..." Roman gestured as if he was painting before freezing up hand still in the air. "I don't even really remember it much anymore, just that it was different. I remember standing there with Will in a garden and just... crying. He didn't understand what was wrong. I couldn't tell him that it all looked... dull to me. It was the first time it ever truly hit me what I gave up for that man."

"Roman?" Roman frowned as he looked over to see Virgil holding his hand close. "You don't have to talk about him if you don't want to. I know it hurts you." 

"Surprisingly, Virgil... It actually didn't." Virgil's eyes narrowed in confusion as Roman just smiled. "I mean yeah it's upsetting. I gave up everything for him. My life, my godliness, my home... everything for a man who could not love me... but for the first time in all of my immortal life... I have felt a pain that proceeds that of my first heartbreak." Virgil tensed with immense worry as Roman just laughed. "I found something that hurts far worse than the pain Will ever caused me. And... that made me realize something."

"What?" Roman's eyes literally shined taking Virgil by surprise.

"I never actually loved him." The awkward silence overcame the younger as Roman slowly picked himself up and walked over to the window. He just stared out into the town as he smiled. "I cared about him as he was one of mine. An actor, a playwright... His words moved me and I latched onto them thinking they actually meant something but... He was right. I was a creative idiot. And you know what... That's fine because... I'm a god, Virgil." Roman beamed as he leaned against the window sill with such a bright smile Virgil literally felt his heart burst. "I'm not supposed to know about the small things. My purpose is to give you all color. Art, music... creativity in general... My sole directive is to be the spark that spurs your muse. I was never meant to be with Will. I just couldn't get my head out of the clouds. I let him pull me in and I paid the price for it."

"Will was a moron." Roman laughed as he rolled his eyes a bit.

"No. No, he wasn't a moron. He was actually a genius." Virgil glared over at the other as Roman crossed his arms in thought. "Think about it. Will didn't know a thing about me or who I was yet he knew I was 'special' and did everything he could to keep me wrapped around his finger. The only idiotic thing he did was drop the act. If it wasn't for his change in demeanor towards me chances are I would have stayed by his side until the day he died. I know now I never would have gotten my curse broken but part of me wonders now if... Even if Will did love me... would the curse have actually broken?"

"What do you mean?" Roman frowned as he hugged himself a little tighter.

"What I mean is... 'To break the curse I must get a kiss from the man I love'... I never actually loved William. I know I didn't... at least, I know now." Virgil's eyes darkened as he got up himself as started over to Roman, seeing the man shaking slightly. "I know for a fact I didn't. So... If I never truly loved him... a kiss would never have worked right. True loves kiss... He wasn't it."

"What makes you so sure you didn't love him?" Roman tensed up, eyes shooting up to see Virgil right before him. Roman's heart skipped a beat seeing the concern in those beautiful blue eyes and he smiled sadly. "You gave up everything for him, Roman. You even swore off love entirely because he broke your heart. Why now... Why after all this time are you saying you never actually loved him?"

"Because I know how I felt." Roman's eyes fell as he sighed softly in realization. He knew he felt for Virgil... Just like he knows how it felt back then with Will. What he felt for that man... Feels entirely different than how he feels for demi before him. "Like I said. I just found that the pain Will caused me... It's nothing compared to what I felt... recently."