*Discontinued* Shifter

27

"You're ok." Roman hummed softly as he gently dabbed the damp cool cloth against Virgil's sweat-slicked brow. The poor shifter was panting and sick from the loss of blood and energy it took out of him from the sutures. "You're ok, my love."

"You're too s-sweet." Virgil giggled softly as he just laid there in bed, Roman having carried him off the second he could. Roman smiled as he continued to sit there in the chair beside the bed carefully dapping the clothe to help cool his love down. 

"You're ok." Virgil sighed as tried to shift only making Roman snap in quickly to stop him seeing the pure pain in him. "Hun, don't." Roman switched hands with the cloth before trailing his fingers through the younger's hair. "Don't do that. You're too drained."

"I-I'm fine. I-I j-just want t-to..."

"Please don't push yourself." Roman whined as he took Virgil's hand in his and pressed it to his lips. "You're going to be ok. You don't need to stress yourself out right now. Please? Please, don't try to shift."

"I'm sorry I c-can't just..." Virgil winced as he shifted a bit in bed only to frown as Roman helped him to get comfortable. "Downfall to my power. I can't shift my injuries away."

"Given your injuries... right now I wouldn't want you to try." Virgil laughed as he nodded. "It is... a bit refreshing to hear you talk about yourself." Roman's voice shook a bit as he tried to keep himself calm. "Even after I told you that I knew... you don't talk about it or even really show me." Virgil visibly tensed up before Roman gently squeezed his hands reassuringly. "Virgil, you know me. I would never ask you to. I would never expect you to. If you end up never telling me anything about your power than so be it. I don't need to know everything about it or you to know how much I love you. We all have our secrets to bear."

"Even you?" Roman's eyes darkened as he nodded, despite Virgil's eyes being closed.

"Even me." Roman's hand gently brushed his ear as the one vision Roman got of the past filled his mind. The bursts of power as he was forced to play his violin... the blood dripping down his ear... "Especially me. I'll reveal them all in time, believe me... when it comes to you, I might as well be an open book."

"I thought you already were." Virgil teased as Roman's smile turned sad. "Don't worry Ro. I don't care. Trust me. There isn't a lot that would make me change my judgement about people."

"I do want to know more though." Roman mumbled as he carefully crawled his way onto the bed, gently pulling Virgil into his lap as the younger winced but refused to stop him. "More about shifters in general. Why are those jobs of yours so... dangerous?" Virgil frowned as he let his eyes flutter open in thought. 

"People take it upon themselves to take us out. The police see us as a threat. The heroes see us as villains." Roman couldn't help his flinch hearing that. It completely broke his heart to hear that. Mainly because he knew it was true. If it wasn't for his relationship with Virgil his thoughts might not have ever changed. He was no different than the rest of them hating shifters for something they had no control over. He was appalled with his own mind back then. "Civilians they think were criminals. But some... Some really stupid people... to them, we're seen as monsters. Inhuman beings that need to be killed."

"They're wrong." Roman choked out as the tears formed in his eyes. "I know I'm a hypocrite. It wasn't that long ago I thought the same. The difference is... my hatred stemmed mostly from self-hatred and fear. They're just..." Roman shook as he gave out a pained laugh.  "I love you so much. I'd hate to imagine how it would have been if I never met you, Virgil."

"You wouldn't be crying over a man who nearly bled out." Virgil teased as he tried to lighten the mood.

"Virgil for all the ups and downs, my love for you means more to me than anything. I would rather be here, right now with you, than have never met you." Roman pressed a soft kiss to his love's hair as he leaned against him. "I wish you'd let me call Patton, but I understand why you wouldn't want that. I just don't want you getting worse."

"Roman, I'll be..." Virgil faltered as he truthfully took everything in. He paused and breathed as he focused on how he was currently pressed against Roman's chest, roman's head resting on his. The older's arms were wrapped protectively around him as Virgil's legs were strewn over top of his. Virgil had to stop and savor it as he had never been in such a loving embrace... no, that was a lie. He had never been in such a loving embrace with anyone other than Roman. Roman held him as if he was the greatest treasure his heart could ever have. He held him as if to not only protect him but to soothe him... to care for him... to love him. Virgil smiled as he snuggled into Roman more as he just nodded. "Ok." Roman frowned as Virgil laughed, clearly not understanding what was just said. "Ok, Ro."

"What? Ok? Ok to what?" Virgil sighed playfully as he rolled his eyes.

"You can call Patton if you want to. I trust you and... if you trust him then that's good enough for me."

"Oh, thank god!" Roman chocked out a gasp of relief as he held Virgil tighter in his arms. "Thank you."

"I'm the one that's getting healed. I should be thanking you." Roman just shook his head as he pulled away to get his phone.

"I'm thanking you for trusting me with this Virgil." Roman wasted no time in calling Patton up as his love slowly let his eyes close. Virgil was highly exhausted. "You rest up, My love. I'll wake you up when Patton gets here."