Names Have Power -- Polysanders

Chapter 7: First Friends, Now More

(Virgil)

My anger rose as I watched Patton bite back tears. He was obviously trying to hide his pain, but he just couldn't. I looked at Patton. "Pat, I'm so sorry. Maybe he isn't your soulmate. He's just an idiot for saying those things to you," I said softly, trying to calm him down. He looked up at me with wide eyes from inside Roman's arms. Tears sparkled in his eyes, and my heart sunk.

"Yeah. . ." he sniffed, looking down at the pavement. I looked to Roman for help and almost flinched at the anger boiling in his eyes. He let out a string of what I could only assume were Spanish swear words. He held Patton tighter, gently resting Patton's head on his shoulder. 

"It's going to be okay, padre. Forget him. You have me and Virgil and the other soulmates that love you unconditionally. Virgil is probably right; that man isn't one of us." Roman's gentle voice contrasted with the rage he was displaying. I hugged Patton.

"Yeah, listen to Roman," I encouraged, "You are the cutest, sweetest little puffball. And we love you." Patton had closed his eyes and hummed. The faintest smile formed on his lips.

"I love you guys, too," he whispered, snuggling closer to us. I smiled.

"VIRGGGGGGGGE!" A loud voice called out to me. I sighed dramatically, causing Roman to raise an eyebrow and look at the guy running towards us. I turned to face the newcomer.

"VanDuke, dude, it has been too long!" I smirked at him. He laughed hysterically.

"It has, man! I didn't know you would be attending this school, too! Why the hell did you not tell me?!" he demanded. I laughed.

"Maybe I wanted to get away from you," I quipped. He gasped offendedly and placed his hand on his chest. "What?! You almost got me arrested three times last summer!"

"Virgil, dude, their sign said 'gays go to hell'! We had to change it!"

"It didn't have to be with spray paint."

He huffed, "Your way was so boooooooring! Changing the letters around? Come on! Spray paint is more permanent!" I laughed and looked back at Roman and Patton. Patton looked deeply concerned by our conversation, and Roman was holding back laughter.

"Patton, Roman, this is my best friend since diapers, Remus VanDuke." Remus bowed dramatically. "He is a moron," I continued. He frowned at me and punched my shoulder playfully.  

"I am not! Try demented." He shot finger guns at me and winked. Patton giggled a bit, wiping away the last of his tears. I knew he was bottling up his emotions again but pressing him would do no good right now.

"H-hi." Patton hiccupped. He waved a bit. Remus smiled at him and batted his eyelashes.

"Ooh~ You are the most adorable thing on this Earth!" He tapped Patton's nose. "You must be the famous Patton, the boy with his Hart on his sleeve!" Patton's eyes lit up with the obvious pun. Remus switched his attention to Roman. "God, you are gorgeous. Look at your hair! It's so soft!" I snickered, watching Roman blush. Remus winked at him, smiling. He looked around the courtyard and gasped, running away from us.

Roman looked at me, his blush still staining his cheeks. "He is charming."

"I think the word you are looking for is psychotic," I corrected.

"Honey, I put the 'hot' in psychotic," Remus said, returning with another boy. The same boy who had stopped me to demand my name when I first arrived. I frowned a bit. The other boy looked at me unimpressed. "Look who I found! MY BUDDY, JANUS!" Remus announced, doing jazz hands.

"So you are the infamous internet boyfriend." I looked directly at Janus. He met my eye contact, smirking.

"Jealous I got there first, are we?" He looked at Roman and Patton. "Janus Ethel Lyl at your service gentlemen. And Remus." I crossed my arms. Patton tilted his head. 

"Did you get burned?" Janus frowned a bit and touched his cheek. His skin was covered in patches of fair skin on top of warm brown. He shook his head.

"No. I have vitiligo," Janus corrected kindly. Patton's eyes widened. "Don't worry, dearest. It isn't painful." Roman studied him. Remus was excited. I was not. "It is nice to finally meet the rest of my soulmates. Though," he paused, counting, "we are missing one, are we not?"