To Break A Curse

2.1

Logan stood there in that familiar presidential blue and he sighed. He had prayed he would never have to wear it again, but here he was... wearing it to his son's funeral. He and Roman had both agreed to do something private. It was just the two of them and a few friends. As much as Patton's send-off was perfect... Logan just couldn't bear to do the same for his son. Neither could Roman it seems, who whenever he did make a decision was very adamant about them. Logan didn't mind. He really didn't have it in him to chose a damn thing. Except one... one thing. Virgil was being buried in the suit Roman had made him with the necklace Remus and Deceit had given him in a casket made from the wood of a tree Thomas had grown the day Virgil had joined their family. 

Logan sighed as he finally knocked on Roman's door, letting the other know he was there as he walked in to find Roman just sitting there on his bed staring off at nothing. He was wearing a different suit this time. It was completely black. The shirt, jacket, pants... everything was completely black. The only speck of color was the royal purple lining the inside that you couldn't see unless Roman where to take it off. Logan frowned seeing Roman holding flounder with this blank and broken expression, his eyes devoid of color completely since the day Virgil died.

"Roman... are you ready?" Roman just sat there without a speck of reaction making Logan's eyes darken in understanding. He was there where Roman was no. He had lost his love to... but even worse, Roman was the god of love... who just lost the man that held his heart. "Roman, It's time. You can bring flounder."

"I don't want to say goodbye." Logan's heart broke as Roman just smiled with so much pain. "I can't say goodbye."

"I know, Ro... but if you don't you'll never forgive yourself." Roman laughed as he just limply held his stuffed fish in his lap.

"I already don't forgive myself, Lo. I never forgave threatening him... and I'll never forgive this either." Logan sighed softly as he sat beside the broken god. "Are they here?"

"Who?" Roman frowned as he stared as his flounder with this dead look.

"Thomas." Logan's eyes narrowed as Roman shrugged. "Remus, Dee... Remy and Emile."

"Yeah? Joan's with them just outside. They're all waiting for us to go to Patton's tree." Roman nodded before shaking his head. 

"I don't want to." Logan gently held Roman's arm seeing the tears beginning to form. "I don't want to say goodbye to him, Lo. Why do I have to say goodbye?"

"Because he's not here anymore. If we hold on... he'll never move on." Roman choked out a laugh as his hands went to his hair.

"That's easy for you to say. When a human loses a loved one they can say goodbye because they know at some point... They'll see them again." Logan's eyes went wide as Roman broke down. "You will die one day and you will get to join Patton and Virgil where they are. You three will get to be reunited... I'm a god! I can't die!" 

"Roman..."

"I can't die..." Roman went quiet as his eyes dropped to his stuffed fish again. "Sure I can go and see him. But unlike Hades and Osiris, Pluto and Anubis... I'm not a god of death or the underworld. I can't stay there. I can't be with him. Not even Persephone and stay there all year AND SHE'S LITERALLY HADES WIFE!" Roman fell back with a groan making sure flounder was on his chest as he just closed his eyes. "The last time I went there I managed 5 minutes before I started to get affected. I could see him... but only for 5 minutes. And then what... I'm just supposed to leave? You'll get to be with them again, Lo. When you say goodbye, it isn't forever. For me? It might as well be. I can't see him without getting sick... so I can't see him."

"Roman..."

"I don't want to say goodbye, because for me... It'll be last thing I ever say to him. I don't ever want the last thing he hears from me to be me just giving him up." Logan said nothing. He just waited. He knew the others understood. They all knew Roman. In fact other than Joan, They've all known him longer then he has. "I can't say goodbye."

"Then don't." Roman frowned as he looked over to see the pure support in Logan's eyes. "You don't have to say goodbye. You don't have to do anything, but you should still go. At least see him off?" Roman looked away as Logan slowly got to his feet. "Come on, Ro." Roman sighed as Logan held his hand out with a soft smile.

"Ok." Roman weakly took the other's hand as his free one held flounder tightly. Ever since Virgil died Roman hasn't been able to let the poor stuffed fish go. Every time he tried the pain was just to much. "And your sure the others aren't going to..."

"Roman, they won't care about flounder." Roman smiled thinly as Logan slowly started to lead him out of the house. "They just want you to be ok."

"I don't think I'll ever 'be ok', Logan." Logan hesitated slightly before just nodding as he carefully dragged Roman out of the house and into the small crowd awaiting them. Roman froze instantly seeing all their faces and he just broke down.

"Roman." Remus was the first to rush over and pull his brother into a hug. Roman couldn't even feel the aura anymore, he was already in so much pain it didn't even affect him. "I'm so sorry."

"He's dead, Ray... Virgil... He's dead." Roman sobbed into his brother's shoulder as he clutched the fish tightly. Remus slowly pulled away glancing at Thomas who just nodded.

"Roman, Its time." Thomas spoke quietly as Roman shook. "Are you going to be able to..."

"I won't say goodbye." Thomas frowned as Roman just took a deep breath. "But that doesn't mean I can't see him off. The sooner we get this done... the better I'll feel... hopefully."

"I'm sorry, Roman." Roman just smiled as he met the demon's eyes. He could see just how much guilt Thomas held. "I never wanted this."

"I know, Thomas. I don't blame you. I never did."