*Discontinued* Shifter

16

"Are you ok?" Roman asked softly as he handed him a plate after helping him to sit up. "You've been out of it since I told you what my power was."

"Yeah. I'm fine. Sorry. I just..."

"You were thinking about him. The hero?" Virgil tensed as he nodded a bit making Roman laugh. "Yeah, I figured. You had brought him up in our fight."

"It's not uncommon for people to have the same power."

"I... I know that but..." Roman frowned a bit as he sat down beside Virgil who was staring at his food. "I also know you had a comment about my... his... our power and I figured you might have had an issue with it." 

"No issue... just took me by surprise. Like I said, it's not uncommon to find someone with similar or the same power. I just wasn't expecting it. Though... it does explain that whole... pressure thing. I thought it felt familiar." Roman's eyes shot wide as Virgil cringed, slapping a hand over his mouth in shock over having said that. 

"Familiar? As is... to Resonant's... as in you've..."

"I don't want to talk about it." Roman flinched suddenly his own panic bubbling in him as his mind tried to work through any all people he's used his powers on. He was a hero. Surely he'd never... Unless Virgil was a villain. No. Virgil couldn't have been a villain. There just wasn't any possible way. Virgil wasn't that type of man. He was kind. He was sweet. Yes, he was guarded and defensive. Yes, he was mysterious and secretive but... The man I see when finally lets me peek through the curtains... that man is soft and caring. That man is NOT a villain. So why... Why would have experienced Resonant's power?

"I..."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"We won't." Roman forced out making his heart crash as he resigned himself to dealing with his panic on his own. "It's ok. I... I w-won't force you. I just... I'm c-concerned." Virgil frowned a bit in shock as he finally looked over to see just how worried the other was. "Resonant is a hero. For you to have been... I just worry about the situation you might have been in."

"Situation?"

"Well, yeah!" Roman yelled out making Virgil flinch a bit. "I care about you, Virgil. I don't know why you had crossed his path. What if you were the victim of some nasty villain? That could mean you've been in danger... you... You could have gotten hurt. I... I don't... I just..." 

"Wait... No. Nevermind. I don't want to talk about it." Roman nodded as he just took a breath hoping to calm his nerves down. "I'm surprised though. I guess. I just assumed... I don't know."

"It's ok, Virgil. You don't have to talk about it. I just hope one day maybe you will?" Virgil only shook his head. "Virg-..."

"Roman, this isn't something I can ever talk about. Just... I have my walls for a reason."

"I know. Just as you know I won't ever push you." Virgil gripped his plate tightly as Roman sighed. "I just don't like that you feel you must be so guarded. I'd rather this then no relationship at all. So don't ever think I'd get tired and just leave but... I guess... No one should ever feel like they must be guarded. It just isn't right. It isn't fair to them."

"You say that but Shifters are forced into that life a birth." Roman froze the second those words hit. 

"Wait, what?"

"Oh... Shit. Sorry. There I go again." Virgil laughed awkwardly as he forced himself to start eating. "I shouldn't force you to listen my rants now. You didn't come here for that."

"No, I came to check on you but I told you before... I want to learn. What did you mean by that?" Virgil's eyes darkened as he met Roman's eyes who just nodded him on.

"That's just... How they live. How they're forced to live. I told you during that argument Ro. Shifters... They survive by one of two ways. They either live without ever using their powers. Going about their day living the life of a powerless human doing everything in their power to never ever get caught praying they never have an episode or get found out."

"Or..."

"Or what?"

"You said they have two ways to live." Virgil paled as Roman's eyes narrowed a bit in concern. "What was the other way?"

"The black." Virgil's voice came out shaky and unstable only serving to worsen Roman's nerves. "They either live powerless paying they never get caught... or they live in what is called the black. Unfortunately, nearly all the shifters who are in the black are almost always FORCED into it just to survive. You don't choose the black. You choose to live. And yes... Those are the ones who are the criminals. Not the 'supervillains'... There are bad people regardless of power. I won't sit here and say there has never been or will never be an evil shifter just as you can't say someone with your power wouldn't be a villain either. I just... I've personally never met a shifter who WANTED to be the bad guy." They just never had the choice in the matter. Virgil stared off blankly as Roman watched him. The two were in a sort of silence that made the air seem thick and cold. "The black... It's not a fun place to be. You're never able to make connections. You're never able to have a normal life. Some... Some literally can't because their trigger."

"I just don't..." Roman clammed up instantly look away clearly biting his tongue and Virgil sighed, having fully expected this to happen. You can't reteach a person their views without first understanding and combating their past ones. "Forget it. Continue..."

"Just go ahead and say it, Roman. I understand."

"I just don't get why the black exists, to begin with. The parents should teach their kids their morals. Why is it 'normal'? What's the point in hiding anyway? If you're innocent and have done nothing wrong, then why act as if you're on the run. I'm sorry. I just don't get it. If shifters aren't evil... why do they all act as if they are? If they aren't villains then there should be no reason to live like one. If they are criminals that's their own fault. I just can't feel sympathy for someone who chooses to do bad. I just... I don't know how to." When Roman finally stopped his rant he seemed to deflate into the couch. He hadn't intended on going off like that but Virgil didn't seem all that surprised about it.

"Roman, it's for that very reason alone, they all have to hide."