The Cursed Light

14

Virgil shot up the moment he heard someone yell, and he almost sobbed when he saw it was Roman. He felt a jolt of fear strike him when Roman stomped closer to him.
    Virgil stepped back, but his back pressed against the wall. Alarm bells started going off in his head, and he knew it would be safer if he just sank out, but something kept him glued to his feet.
    “You took everything away from me!” Roman screeched, and it was only then Virgil realized that there were unmistakable tear tracks of Roman’s face.
    “Princey wh-”
    “Why? What did I do? I- I know we hate each other but-” Roman wailed, his words shaky and Virgil swore the hole in his heart grew wider at the sound.
    “Ro…” Virgil mumbled, reaching out to comfort Roman, but pulling his hand back just as quick.
    “Don’t- don’t call me that, like you know me,” Roman muttered, his voice deadly quiet. “Is this how you dark sides work? Is this how you got Logan and Patton to fall to your whims? Build someone one up, break them down, and then comfort them in the aftermath you created?”
    Virgil opened and closed his mouth, probably looking like a fool (not that he already didn’t, moping around in their old room).
    “Because you can’t pull the wool over my eyes, not this time. I’m not going to be tricked into security just like that,” Roman whispered.
    Virgil felt his blood run cold when Roman summoned his sword. His eyes darted around desperately, trying to find an escape. He knew there was likely no way that Roman was going to switch out of murder-mode.
    Unless…
    Virgil didn’t have Roman’s summoning powers, but he could be agile when he needed to. The moment Roman swung his sword, Virgil ducked under and ran behind Roman to the chest right next to their old bed. Frantically, he yanked open the drawer and pulled something out.
    Their old make-up bag.
    “Roman, I know you can snap out of it please just-”
    Virgil swerved to the side just in time to watch a silver blade impale the spot where his head used to be.
    “Ro, remember this? Come on, we used to do it all the time. Please!”
    Another swing. This time it barely grazed his cheek.
    Virgil felt the adrenaline surge through his veins as he yanked the bag open, watching its contents clatter to the ground.
    Virgil felt the slightest bit of hope bloom when Roman froze and bent down, picking up the years old mascara. He saw something flicker behind Roman’s eyes.
    But that hope died the moment the prince looked back up at him, hatred and anger in his features.
    “No, it was supposed to work! Why...”
    "Oh, can it, Doom and-"
"Roman, just stop!" Virgil shouted, his arms wrapped around himself.
"I get it, okay? I get that you don't like me, I get that you don't want me around!" Virgil couldn't help it as several tears fell from his eyes.
"Well then, why haven't you left yet?" Roman snarled and God did that hurt.
He hugged himself even tighter, finding a fraction of comfort in running his thumb over the fabric. He stared down at his feet, knowing that if he looked up, he’d have to face Roman’s disgust and fury.
"Because I'm an idiot who can't let go of the past. Because I missed you and your smile and the way you lit up when you were talking about an idea," Virgil mumbled, voice shaking from crying.
“And- dammit, Janus even warned me! I knew- I knew he wasn’t lying then but- fuck.” He angrily scrubbed at his eyes, wishing he could stay composed long enough to save face.
Roman hadn’t said anything yet. Virgil still didn’t bother looking up. Maybe Roman was silent out of pity, or he was so disgusted he couldn’t even vocalize it. Somehow, the silence was worse than the biting remarks, Virgil’s mind coming up with a hundred disastrous scenarios that could play out.
“And I thought that… even if you still hated me after everything, at least I would get to see your smile but… but you don’t even smile like you used to, Roman!” Virgil cried, looking up slightly, not willing to fully face Roman yet.
“The only time I saw you come anywhere close to it was when Thomas got that callback, but even that didn’t last. And I just… I miss you, Roman, so so much…” Virgil sighed.
“You make all of us so much happier, Roman. You make us- you make me better.” Virgil wiped at his eyes again.
“I want my husband back, Ro...” Virgil whispered before he broke into sobs, pulling off his wedding ring and throwing it on the floor between them.
He was so stupid, so stupid to think that anything would change. His heart was already hurt and bruised from when Roman scorned him the first time, but this was so-
Virgil felt arms wrap around him, hugging him tightly.
That was weird. His arms were already clutching his shoulders. Which meant…
Roman was running a hand through his hair. He pulled back from the hug to face Virgil, and his face shone with fresh tears.
“Stormcloud.” Virgil hadn’t heard that nickname in years. “Oh, Stormcloud, I’m here.”
Virgil felt a glimmer of hope. “R-Roman?”
Roman choked on a sob. “My darling, I’m so sorry! I hurt you and-”
Virgil rushed forward and kissed his lips, the taste of tears reaffirming that, no, this wasn’t a dream. This was real.
Roman really, truly remembered. And Virgil felt his heart stitch back together, ever so slightly.