Winged and Hurting (AU!Virgil One-shots)

August, Bed and Bars

August, Beds and Bars, Age 8 [5/25-26/2020]

"Mother, I am perfectly able to handle my son on my own." Aeneid's lips formed a hard line, staring the older woman down. "I do not need your money."

"Nonsense, dearie. I should be allowed to spend money on my grandson." She waved her off, flicking her wing as she did so, and turned to Virgil, who was sitting there quietly. "Virgil, sonny, you want a bed right? It'll be better than that old mattress on the floor."

"Is it soft?" Virgil asked, looking up at his Grandmother.

"Of course it's soft!" She laughed. That cementered the offer. No going back now. "I'll call in a favor and have someone bring a bed over now."

Virgil couldn't help but be excited at the aspect of having a bed. If it was half as good as his mother's bed, he would love it! He would often sneak onto her bed when she left him home alone. He stopped that though after he got caught asleep on it.

Virgil tensed up some, feeling a glare on his back. He looked over at his mother and ducked his head. Oh no.

"See! Look at him, he's excited!" Grandmother August pointed at him, glancing at her daughter.

"Yes, mother. I can see that. I am not blind."

"Oh, lighten up." The older woman rolled her eyes. "I swear, you are just like your father. Stubborn and no fun."

"I have fun." Aeneid claimed, shaking her wings out with a huff. "Just not around tiny children and old women."

Grandmother laughed. "Ah, what a sense of humor!" She pulled out her phone and started to text away, ignoring any more protest from her daughter. "Ah, look! I have an old friend in town who can come in and put it together while we catch up. It's been forever. I want to hear all about how you and your family are doing. Where is Maro, anyway?"

"He's at work. He often works late." Aeneid's tone had gotten bitter at the mention of her boyfriend's name.

"That man never takes a break. You've married a hard worker, I'm starting to notice."

She scoffed. "Hard worker. That's one way to put it."

The room fell quiet but that never had a chance to last long. "Aeneid, dear, where are your manners? Go fetch me something to eat."

Aeneid's jaw clenched. She had some choice words but she held her tongue. "What would you like, Mother?"

"Oh, surprise me."

"Virgil, go get the usual from the kitchen. You're old enough to make a platter of cheese and crackers with some grapes."

Virgil quickly got to his feet and made his way to the kitchen. He knew exactly what she wanted for this wasn't the first time she had him make her food. The snack was cheese and crackers with a helping of grapes on the side. It was her favorite thing to snack on, especially when she was exhausted after a busy work day. The least he could do was prepare her food since she was providing for him. He did have a place to stay. There were some kids at his school that lived out of cars! ...It may also help that he ate a few crackers, slices of cheese and grapes when he prepared it. He wasn't allowed to touch the food without permission or being handed it so it was sort of a special thing.

The cheese wasn't sliced up yet so he had to do that part himself. Since he had done it before, it wasn't too difficult to achieve. Normally, he would bring this all to her on a regular plate with less on it but since there was a guest over, he grabbed the slightly more fancy platter and filled it up.

Carefully, he lifted the platter by the handles off of the counter. He stepped cautiously toward the living room, not wanting to drop it or stumble. That would be bad, especially in front of Grandmother. Mother wouldn't be happy.