The Light's Shadow || Sanders Sides(Complete)

Chapter 18

Let the angst begin.

You're going to get mad at Virgil at first, but he's not actually being an asshole. You'll see.

TW: mentions of cutting, mentions of anorexia, hitting, yelling, crying, mentions of nightmares

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A little bit later in the day, Virgil and Logan were sitting in the kitchen when Roman walked in.

"Hey Romano," Virgil said with a smirk.

"Hey guys," Roman said. "I've been thinking lately."

"That's never good," Logan muttered, making Virgil snort.

"I think we should go back to the light sides," Roman stated. "This isn't doing anything. We're just acting childish by doing this."

"Roman we all agreed to this. We agreed that we wouldn't go back until things change," Virgil said, eyes wide in shock.

"But is it actually doing anything? Maybe they'd try more if we go back," Roman argued.

"Actually, most likely everything would go back to how it was," Logan stated.

"But we aren't giving them a chance! They're probably just as hurt about this as us. Maybe we should work towards forgiving them," Roman said.

"Okay, you're the one who said that you'd never forgive them," Virgil said. His eyes were narrowed in suspicion.

"Well I guess I was wrong," Roman said with a shrug.

"Uh huh. Sure. And tell me this, do you think they'll just accept Remus? Because if you do you're delusional," Virgil said coldly.

"They'll come around! If Remus wasn't so morbid all the time maybe keys accept him faster!" Roman snapped. Virgil and Logan both looked at Roman in open mouthed shock.

"You know very well he can't control that," Logan stated. He looked like he could murder Roman at that second.

"Oh I don't know," Virgil drawled. "Roman, show me your arm."

"Why?" Roman asked, confusion evident on his face.

"Just do it, Princey," Virgil said coldly, standing up and moving towards Roman.

"I'm confused why you need to see my arm," Roman said.

"If you're Roman, you'll show me your arm," Virgil said.

"Fine," Roman said. He rolled up his sleeve, revealing his arm. "See? It's like it always is."

What Logan and Roman weren't expecting Virgil to do was slap Roman right across the face. Hard.

Roman's image flickered before finally changing back to Janus, who was holding the side of his face where Virgil had slapped him.

"How did you know?" Logan asked Virgil.

"First thing, he didn't react when I called him Romano. Roman hates that name," Virgil explained. "Also, what he said about Remus. Roman would never say that. And the arm proved me right."

"But his arm is just lien everyone else's, right?" Logan asked, highly confused. When he saw how Virgil avoided his eyes, he got more serious. "Right?"

"It's not my place to tell," Virgil mumbled. "But let's deal with the snake."

"What did you come here for?" Logan asked.

"I wanted you to come back. Patton's been really down without you all," Janus said with a sigh.

"And? That doesn't change that what you did was wrong. And impersonating one of us to try and make us come back won't do anything. That isn't changing. That's manipulation," Virgil snapped. He was beyond angry.

"But-"

"But nothing!" Virgil yelled. "There are no excuses. You didn't have to do this, so don't try and say that. You could've come and asked us, but you didn't. You impersonated Roman. I'm sick of you trying to manipulate everyone into doing what you want just because you like Patton!" Logan and Janus looked very shocked by Virgil's outburst.

"I... I just wanted to have us all together. I never got to experience that. I just wanted Patton to be happy," Janus whispered. "I'll go. You're right."

Virgil and Logan watched as Janus sunk out of the dark side and wen to the light side. Logan finally broke the silence.

"What's different about Roman's arms?"

"I... I can't say. He has to be comfortable with telling you," Virgil said with a sigh.

Roman and Remus walked into the room. They could feel the tension in the air, but neither were sure what it was about.

"You guys okay?" Roman asked.

"How are your arms different than ours?" Logan asked quietly. Roman looked at Virgil, who wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Why do you want to know?" Roman asked defensively.

"Janus came. He pretended to be you. I knew he wasn't when I looked at his arms," Virgil muttered. "Don't tell them unless you're ready."

"It's fine," Roman whispered. He rolled up his sleeves, exposing his scarred skin to Remus and Logan. Remus gasped quietly.

"Why?"

"Because I'm ugly. Because I'll never be good enough. Because everyone hates me. Because all I am is a fake prince," Roman whispered. Virgil moved forward, wrapping Roman in a hug as he started to cry.

"It's okay. We love you," Virgil whispered in his ear.

"I'm also anorexic," Roman mumbled.

"We aren't going to leave you," Remus said. "We still love you."

"So that's why you've been with him constantly?" Logan asked Virgil.

"Yeah. I walked in on him cutting, and then I found out. So I've been making sure he's eating and helping him. Especially with the nightmares," Virgil said.

Remus finally joined Virgil in hugging Roman, and even Logan joined in. At this point Roman was crying silently.

"I'll be okay, Roman. We're all here for you," Virgil murmured.

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