*Discontinued* Shifter

9

"My hand is fine, Virgil." Roman laughed as he held it up to reveal only a slight faded scar. "See? I had a friend who helped fix me up." Of course, Patton also went into overprotective father mode when he had found out about it. "I just have to take it easy since healing takes a lot of energy from the both of us... and he wants to make sure I don't get hurt again."

"Are you sure?" Virgil's voice was shaky and tense. Sure he had kept Roman at arm's length, constantly insisting they were only friends, but that didn't mean that Virgil didn't still learn to care about him. Roman had somehow become a safe haven for him. Knowing he had gotten hurt... He didn't like it. He didn't like it at all. "I still think that maybe we shouldn't..."

"Virgil, I'm ok. Besides... We're just walking." Roman gestured around them as he chuckled lightly. He wasn't lying. They were currently making their way down idling talking about nothing really. Roman just really wanted to see Virgil, and the other... well, he needed to know roman was ok. That scene really sent him spiralling. He had a horrible episode when he got home just over the idea that Roman got hurt. If it had been any worse... and it was just over a glass breaking in his had. Virgil realized the simple fact that he cared a lot for Roman even if he refused to let himself go anywhere... he still... really really... freaking cared about him.

"I... I know. I know that." Roman smiled softly seeing Virgil curled up anxiously the way he was, his white hair hiding his eyes, as he shrugged. "I'm just concerned. I don't want you getting hurt, Ro."

"I'm glad you care but, Virgil, I'm ok. I promise." Roman closed and opened his hand several times moving it about as Virgil just sighed. "See? I'm ok." Virgil could only nod as they just kept walking. It wasn't long though that he spotted a crowd. He knew Roman noticed to by the way the other tensed. Roman's eyes narrowed as he gently took Virgil's arm and stopped them short. He could hear what was going on. His power to manipulate sound and sound waves making it so he also had enhanced hearing. He didn't like what he was picking up. Virgil frowned as he forced his eyes to shift so that he could see what what going on. His heart broke. "Virgil, why don't we... VIRGIL!" 

Virgil took off running unable to stop himself before his mind caught up. This was something he couldn't ignore. Even if it drew a giant target on his back. He was NOT going to just turn away. 

Not when it was one of his kind that needed help.

"HEY!" Virgil yelled out with a growl as he shoved through the crowd to see the poor sight before him. An episode... of course it was an episode. This poor woman was being held back from running off as her hair and skin tone shifted and changed. She was crying out, begging to be released as her voice kept changed making it sound all distorted and unable to stick. 

"Let her go!" Virgil glared the man down as he just smirked.

"She's a shifter! I'm not going to let her go until she's in police custody."

"What did she even do?" Virgil's voice was steadily getting darker and darker as his anger raged in him. This was the problem with society. Shifters were apprehended by literally everyone just for being one, as if being born was crime in of itself. "Is there any ACTUAL reason for this?"

"We as citizens have a moral obligation." The man sneered as he gripped the woman tighter making her whimper. Here skin seemed to rapid-fire shift making Virgil flare in realization. Her trigger was pain. She was in pain. She was having an episode because she was in pain... Virgil energy surged in him as he growled viciously. Why the FUCK was she in enough pain for her to have a damn episode?! "It's my obligation to aprehend this... monster."  Virgil went to step forward only to freeze up as a hand grabbed his shoulder to stop him. His eyes darted back to see Roman standing there with this serious look in his eyes. One that made even his skin crawl at the idea of upsetting him.

"I suggest you release her." The man simply glared at them as the crowd started to dispate noticing the tense aura around four of them. Roman just smirked, giving himself a sense that you really didn't want to mess with him. "Release her."

"I don't think I..." Roman whistled and suddenly the man jerked back to cover his ears, letting the woman fall and curl into herself crying. 

"There. That wasn't that hard was it." Roman's smile fell as he watched the man run off and he just crashed. "Honestly sometimes people really need to just stop and leave it to authorities and heroes considering it's their jo-... Virgil?" Roman turned to see Virgil over with the woman and his heart just dropped. This sense of panic burned in him as he went to pull his friend back but... He didn't. No, the sight of Virgil trying to sooth the woman down made him freeze in his spot.

"It's ok. Hey... Hey, it's ok. No ones going to hurt you." Virgil cooed softly as he brushed the lady's hair back with a sad smile. "It's ok."

"J-Just g-g-get it-t over with." She whimpered only serving to break Virgil's heart more.

"I'm not going to hurt you." She laughed hoarsely flinching as Virgil took her hands from her hair. "Look at me." She tensed but listened, meeting his eyes before just... freezing. Virgil's eyes changed like an ever fluid rainbow before he blinked and it was suddenly back to his natural icy blue. 

"You... You're..." Virgil nodded with a small smile making her go practically lax in relief. Her eyes went to Roman making him tense instantly and she frowned. "He's not..."

"No. But he IS a friend of mine." Roman's eyes narrowed in confusion as Virgil pushed himself up and held his hand out for the lady. "You're episode seems to have died down. Are you ok?" She smiled as she looked at her hands to see it a permanent creamy caramel brown, nodding slightly as she smiled.

"Yea. Thanks... I'm sorry to have been a bother. If you had... then I would've..."

"Don't worry about me. My focus is on you. Is there anyone you trust that you can..."

"Yea. I have a friend." Virgil sighed in relief as his smile only grew. "I'll be ok now. I just... I wasn't expecting... I uh... I was caught off guard."

"As long as you're ok." She took a deep breath forcing herself to her feet, withholding the whimper at the action. Roman's eyes flashed seeing the subtle shift in skin tone at the movement before it turned back to that caramel color. He didn't understand what was going on, but he knew something was up. He was a hero. His first thoughts were to drag Virgil away from her and just take off but... his instincts were telling him she was the one that need the help. That's why he helped Virgil in stopping the guy. Now though... now he was just very confused. Virgil was a VERY gaurded man so why... why was he so calm and protective over her... over a shifter of all people. "Wait... Maybe you should see a doctor?"

"I can't... I'd be out instantly. I have a family. I can't..."

"It's ok. I understand." Virgil eyes were filled with a sadness Roman hated to see. He looked between the two and groaned loudly making both tense up horribly suddenly remembering he was even there. 

"I can help." The girl's eyes shot wide as Virgil's lips pierced. "Well... Not me exactly. But I know someone who can..."

"No. I don't... I... I'm fine. I'm..." She whimpered as she steped back and Roman's blood went cold finally noticing what was going on. Her eyes flashed this time changing the second she let out a small cry of pain. He shot Virgil this questioning look only to see the fear in his friends eyes and he just deflated. "I'm fine. I'm..."

"Hurt." Roman cut in as he quickly grabbed his phone. "You're hurt and that's for some reason effecting your power."

"It's called a trigger, Princey." Virgil growled under his breath making Roman falter a bit but the older didn't make any sign that he had actually hurt. "What are you doing?"

"I'm calling my friend." Roman smiled as he heard the dial tone. Virgil frowned, his anxiety starting to bubble up. "Don't worry. He'll help, no question's asked. He's a healer."