*Discontinued* Shifter

15

"N-..." Virgil burst up in bed, a scream lodging in his throat before it could ever make a sound. It was of those nights again. Nightmares... God, he hated them. Always showing him things that he's been through or worse things that still are bound to happen. He groaned at the pain in his gut from the sudden movement. Why did he have to wake up? Why did he have to... Why did he have to fight those heroes? He knew Rez hated him. It's only a matter of time before that damned hero just ups and kills him. 

His eyes narrowed as he finally noticed the paper on his nightstand. He grunted in pain as he reached over to grab it only to smile seeing the message. He was half tempted to call out. Knowing Roman would have stayed just as his message had said. Part of him wanted to see if he really would hear him if he called for him but... Part of him also wanted to see what he was doing when he thought Virgil was asleep. He trusted Roman more than he trusted anyone else... but that didn't mean he wasn't weary.

He slowly picked himself up off the bed trying hard not to make a sound, in case Roman wasn't exaggerating about his hearing being that good. He didn't exactly know WHAT Roman's powers were after all. Just that the whole pressure thing felt really familiar... and that he is able to explode cups. Virgil had thought Roman had some sort of super-strength but he had dropped that notion long ago. It isn't uncommon to find two or more people with similar or exact powers. They just won't ever have the same 'set' as they're called. Someone with super strength and super hearing can be the same as another but they'd have something like super strength and telepathy. They'll share abilities but it's never 100% the same.

Unless you're a shifter of course... who rarely if ever has more then one power.

Virgil quietly stumbled his way down the steps, making his way to the living room until... He froze solid. The room was... cleaner? Not spotless. It wasn't as if Roman had gone neat freak on him or anything but... Virgil could tell Roman had picked things up and cleaned a bit to help so that Virgil didn't have to later on. It was clean but it wasn't a sort of stifling clean. It was a healthy homey type clean Virgil had never cared to experience before. Though that wasn't really what made him stop short. No, what made him freeze up was the body laying on the couch with his jacket draped over him as he slept soundlessly with a soft and small smile on his face. 

So many questions tumbled about his mind. Was Roman really that trusting of him that he would be able to fall asleep on his couch having never been at his house before? Was Roman that worried about him that when he was started to get tired he couldn't make himself actually go home to rest but instead laid down on his couch? Was Roman that worried about him that he had tired himself out just waiting for him? Did he care that much that he couldn't just wake him up instead of letting his sleep? Why...

Why did that actually make Virgil smile?

Virgil carefully made his way over and brushed Roman's hair back, giving him an excuse not only to feel for a fever but also to check him out. Yes, it was stupid to check for a fever when he wasn't clearly sick or anything but with all the man nerves Virgil just wanted to make sure. But who was he kidding... He was mainly just checking him out. His soft natural red hair that fell from where he had brushed it back, falling over his eyes... The slight subtle blush to his cheeks as he laid there mouth parted and breathing softly. Virgil's eyes softened as he smiled all the more at the sight. He really did care deeply about Roman. He had pushed so hard for them to stay at a distance because he didn't want to make some sort of a connection... that he would ultimately lose the second they found out what he was. He's been there before.

He's in the black... and shifters there just don't get relationships... even if they want them.

Virgil sighed as he forced himself to leave, letting his friend sleep, as he went to make himself some coffee. To be honest, he really only wanted something hot. He didn't care what it was that he drank but coffee was the first thing that came to mind so... here he was at 5:46 in the afternoon making himself some coffee. Maybe he should make dinner? What should he make? What would Roman like? Would Roman even want dinner? Was Roman staying? Should he offer? 

"God, I'm pathetic." He mumbled to himself as he shook his head. "Freaking out of a guest, who the fuck cares. It's just dinner." It's not like it would be a date or anything. Roman was here because he was worried about Virgil's health. That's all it was. Why was it that the idea of offering dinner to Roman so..."

"I could cook." Virgil jumped at the sudden voice making him whimper in pain. Suddenly he had arms wrapped around him gently leading him to the chair. As he sat down he saw the apologetic look in Roman's eyes but... He couldn't help but laugh. He had forgotten the note. "Sorry. I just... I heard you talking... it woke me up."

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't be. I didn't mean to fall asleep." Virgil nodded as he let the older look him over. He could tell Roman was concerned. It was obvious by how his hands were subtly shaking but neither had brought any attention to it. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm ok." Virgil responded quickly only to get a soft reassuring look in return. He knew he wasn't going to just cut Roman out. It was impossible... but Virgil realized a while ago he didn't really want to anymore. "Really, I am ok. It's not as bad as it was earlier. I think it hurt so much because of the initial shock of it all. I'm just really sore."

"Ok, as long as you're sure."

"I am. Though..." Roman's eyes narrowed as Virgil sighed and leaned into him slightly to try and relax. "That being said... it does it... really hurt."

"Aw." Roman chuckled softly, not in a way that was demining or insulting, as Virgil knew Roman care too much to laugh at him over his pain. He felt the heat rise to his cheeks and he groaned in annoyance over that man's softness. "Why don't we get you laying down o the couch then? It will help to keep your body in a more stable position that like this."

"And how do you know?" Roman paled slightly as Virgil shot him this curious look.

"I uh..." Roman sighed as he held his hands out for Virgil to hold. "I get hurt a lot." That made Virgil hesitate. His eyes met with Romans who looked away almost instantly making all his nerve crash at once. 

"Why do you get hurt a lot?" Roman only shook his head, not wanting to lie but not being able to be truthful. "What are you doing?" Virgil asked as Roman gave up waiting and looped his arms around the smaller. 

"I'm carrying you to the couch. Don't worry. It won't hurt."

"You can't carry me. Ro..." Virgil felt this sudden weightlessness overcome him as Roman cradled him in close to his chest. "R-Ro? Weird... I-I feel weird."

"Oh... Sorry, Virge." Roman smiled softly seeing the panic in the smaller's eyes. "It's just me. I promise. I should have asked... I'm sorry. This is the third time I've done this to you." Roman gently started for the couch while Virgil just clung to him tightly. He felt as if he would float away if he wasn't being held. "It's just my power. I thought if I eased the force that's on you while making it so your body wouldn't move all that much... I'd prevent to much pain while we moved."

"Your... Your power?" Roman smiled sadly as he nodded and carefully set Virgil down who panicking thinking the second Roman let go he would fly off. "No. No..."

"It's ok, Virgil. You're ok. I'm going to ease it back to normal now." Virgil nodded as he felt his weight slowly come back. He grimaced slightly at the pain before just relaxing into the couch. "I'm sorry for scaring you."

"I just... I didn't know what was going on."

"Gravity Manipulation." Virgil's blood turned to ice as Roman chuckled anxiously. "I uh... I'm sorry. Like I said. I didn't mean to scare you. And uh... about before... a-about what you were talking to yourself about? I wouldn't mind staying for dinner. I wouldn't mind staying at all. I want to make sure you're ok. I was offering to cook so you can still rest."

"Huh?" Roman frowned as Virgil finally looked him in the eyes seeming to finally shake himself from his thoughts. "Oh. Uh. Right... Dinner. Uh... Yeah. I don't mind. You go right ahead. I'm drained anyway."