Call It Home - Prinxiety [COMPLETED]

Chapter Twenty: Hopeful Futures

Roman was walking with purpose through King's Cross Station. He was trying not to break into a grin. He was already catching the eye of muggles as he sped from platform to platform. To be completely honest, he didn't care. Nothing could dampen his mood. 

The Gryffindor had enjoyed his summer vacation. It had been lovely and warm, but now he could feel a crispness beginning to enter the air and he couldn't help the feeling of excitement. Roman couldn't wait to go back to school.

He'd been able to go on a couple dates with Virgil, but his birthday had come up in June and his parents insisted on taking him on a trip out of town. They'd ended up going to Rome for most of the summer which kept him from getting to see his boyfriend in person. Despite the distance, they talked and texted each other all the time. The video calls were nice, but Roman really wanted to see him in person.

Virgil had texted him before he left for the station and said that he'd meet him on the platform. Roman kept this in mind as he skidded to a stop in front of the wall between platforms 9 and 10. He took a deep breath and ran through the wall.

The air on the other side somehow felt fresher and cooler. The platform was filled with students getting ready to get on the train and parents saying goodbye. He watched as tiny first years and their tearful parents hugged. He saw a couple run to meet each other, kissing passionately in spite of being on a crowded train platform.

His heart swelled at the sight and he looked around for his boyfriend, hoping for a similar experience. On the last date they went on before Roman's trip, they had shared their first kiss. Looking back on it, it was a blessing and a curse; the Gryffindor spent the entirety of his trip fantasizing about it. He presumed that Virgil had the similar problem because the emo boy had been reluctant to let him leave that night.

Roman received a tap on the shoulder. He turned to see Patton and Logan standing there and greeting him with smiles. Patton opened his arms wide and pulled him into a tight hug. "It's so good to see you!" 

"It's great to see you too, Pat! How was your summer?" he asked, pulling away. 

As they told him about his summer, he couldn't help feeling impatient. He really wanted to see Virgil. More members of their friend group arrived, including Val, Picani, Remy, and Luis. They all began to catch up with each other while Roman gnawed on his bottom lip. 

"Waiting for someone?" Val asked him, grinning with amusement. 

"Yeah, I mean, we got to go on some dates over the summer but then I went to Rome and we only got to talk through phone calls and texts," Roman explained. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a bracelet. "This is a bracelet made of volcanic rock from the volcano called Mount Vesuvius. It's the volcano that covered Pompeii in ash."

Val smiled wide as he inspected the black beads of rock. "Wow, that's gorgeous! Are you sure he's a jewelry guy though?"

He nodded. "Well, he doesn't love jewelry, but he likes when it has significance and it's simple. That's why I thought he'd like this bracelet. It matches his aesthetic and it has a story behind it... I think he'll like it, at least I hope he does..."

"I'm sure he will!" the taller boy reassured him. 

"Well, how was your summer?" Roman asked with a sigh, wishing Virgil would show up.

Val flushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I kind of... bumped into a kid who goes here, and got talking," he said. He looked really bashful as he smiled. "He's really sweet and I'm hoping that we'll start seeing each other soon."

"Oh! Congratulations!" he replied, smiling genuinely as he patted his shoulder. "Having a boyfriend is really amazing. I hadn't had one in years before Virgil."

"Speaking of which," Val said. He nodded to somewhere behind Roman.

He turned around with wide and hopeful eyes. A few yards away, Virgil was looking around for him. He looked just as beautiful as he remembered and couldn't help it as he started walking toward him without any hesitation. The house-less student looked up and saw him and quickly started walking toward him too.

Their smiles began to grow as their pace picked up until they were pretty much running. As they met, they hugged each other tightly. They seemed to breathe each other in. Roman then pulled away and pressed his lips against Virgil's, cupping the sides of his face. The other boy melted against him and kissed back. There was clapping and whistling coming from behind them where their friends were watching. 

They broke the kiss with grins at the sound. Virgil blushed furiously and hid his face in Roman's chest as their friends continued to cheer. The Gryffindor grinned at them and rolled his eyes.

"It's really good to see you, I freaking missed you," Virgil mumbled, not being able to fight his smile. Roman opened his mouth and gripped the bracelet in his hand, but his boyfriend continued. He pulled out a necklace from his hoodie pocket. The princely boy gasped in surprise. "I got you this for your birthday, but you were in Rome, so I figured I'd give it to you now."

He opened his hand to show a golden chain with a charm at the end. The charm was a single rose. It was small and simple, but elegant and beautiful. 

"I figured- you're uh- you're a romantic guy, and your favorite flower is a rose, so I- uh- I picked this out for you," Virgil managed, looking nervous. "Happy belated Birthday, uh... also you don't have to wear it if you're not a jewelry guy- I get it."

Roman took the necklace from him and immediately put it around his neck. "I love it Virge, thank you so much, you didn't have to."

The boy shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck. Roman recovered, remembering his gift. "Oh! While I was in Rome, I got you this," he said, taking his boyfriend's hand. He slid the black beaded bracelet onto his wrist. "Its beads are made of volcanic rock from Mount Vesuvius, which is the volcano that buried Pompeii. I thought you'd like it!"

Virgil looked speechlessly down at the bracelet and then smiled up at his boyfriend. "You really didn't have to get me anything, it's not like it was my birthday or anything..."

Roman pecked him on the lips once more. "I don't need a reason."

Their friends watched as they talked and caught up from afar, and Val smiled to himself. Patton noticed the change in his expression. "What is it Val? Is this making you uncomfortable? Cause I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you went on the train early."

"No, no, I just realized something, that's all," he said.

"What?" the Hufflepuff asked curiously, looking back at the boys.

Val looked at him. "You know I like Divination, it's kind of a hobby of mine. I never really mentioned this to anyone at the time, but early last year, just after Virgil and Roman started to get friendly with each other, I was practicing reading tea leaves with Virge. When I read his leaves, I noticed the most distinctive reading I've ever witnessed."

"It was a heart," he continued with a knowing smile. "And I knew that whatever that heart symbolized was some kind of special, never-ending love... I just figured out what it was."

Patton back at Roman and Virgil with wide eyes as he comprehended the Gryffindor's words. He smiled widely to himself as well. "Well, I guess that means that come what may, they'll be fine. They're just destined to be together I guess, like soulmates."

Val nodded in agreement. "I can't wait to see how their love grows."

The End.