*Discontinued* Shifter

32

*Song above is the one Roman played! (Yes it is Disney hahaha)*

"Roman, what are you doing?" Roman smiled as he cradled his violin case close to his chest the second Virgil walked into the living room and laughed. "Hun?"

"I just thought..." Roman hummed slightly as he gestured to the case making Virgil's eyes go wide. "With everything going on lately, maybe I'd play you something."

"You don't have to do that. You've already cleaned the house AND bought groceries, even though I told you you didn't have to." Roman chuckled awkwardly as he placed the case on the table.

"I've been practically living here for the past two weeks. If I ate your food... I'm going to replenish it." Roman popped the latches as Virgil sighed and slowly walked over clearly intrigued even if he was trying to hide it. "Besides, I told you I would play for you." Roman slowly opened the case and crashed as he stared at his white and gold violin. Almost instantly he could almost hear his father's voice telling him to practice more. That practice made perfect. That perfect was mandatory... that there was no other option. 

"Roman?" Roman choked slightly as he laughed at himself closing the case enough to try and work through his thought.

"I-I'm sorry. Just... give me a minute." Virgil frowned as Roman swallowed his fear, taking shaky breaths. The sound of music blurring around his mind as the feeling of liquid trickling down his ears and neck until the sound slowly died out. Roman jumped in shock as Virgil placed a hand on his shoulder. 

"Roman, if you can't do this..." Roman's eyes narrowed slightly in confusion as Virgil stopped talking noticing the sudden expression. "Roman?"

"Uh... I uh... Sorry." Roman shook his head before taking a deep breath and forcing the case to open again. "I'm ok. I just... It's not just you, Virgil. If I'm being honest anyway. Remus reminded me about something and I realized I hold so many bad memories with this instrument... I want to make more good ones."

"If you sure, I won't stop you but... take your time, Roman." Virgil smiled softly as Roman looked over at him. "Don't force yourself. Take it slow and stop when you need to. Please?" 

"Of course. Just as long as your here with me. Right?" Virgil nodded as he sat down on the couch watching as Roman hesitantly took the stunning instrument out of the black case. Roman sighed as he just held it at first, tears already forming in his eyes. "You know... I have this distinct memory of playing at my first recital. My mother was in awe. She had tears in her eyes as she cheered me on silently from her seat. Remus was actually sitting there listening even though he told me he was going to scream throughout the whole thing. It was nice. I loved it." Roman's eyes narrowed as he sat down beside his love with sad look in his eyes. "My father wasn't there. He said the violin was a tool. I was a weapon. The recital was a distraction and he wasn't going to condone such nonsense. I loved playing so much but he never accepted that. He..."

"He isn't here now." Roman's eyes shot up as Virgil nodded to him. "It's just us."

"Yeah. Yeah, it is." Roman smiled as he gently brushed his fingers over the strings. "He was wrong anyway. Music isn't stupid. Having a passion isn't wrong. I love music. I love playing. He... He could have..." Roman's eyes dulled as that vision of the past once again passed his mind and he had to force himself back to the present. "I nearly lost it all because of him. I think it's about time I stop letting him control everything."

"That's my boy." Virgil teased softly making Roman laugh quietly beside him. He was shaky but he managed to pluck a string and hear the tune play. it wasn't right, having been in the case for so long. It needed to be tuned but just the act of playing it, even if it was something as simple as plucking the string was a big step for Roman. His eyes lit up in awe as he melted into the feel of pride he had for himself. 

"Virgil, I... I actually..." Roman laughed as he plucked another string giggling happily as he blushed with pride. "Tune it." Roman told himself as he moved to do just that. "I need to tune it."

"Have you thought about what you want to try?" Roman nodded slightly before laughing and shaking his head as Virgil sighed softly. "Roman..."

"I want to play you a song. That's about as much as I planned for." Roman used his power to help tune the violin as he sat there going through the motions until he finally looked up and smiled brightly at his love. "Pick a song. Any song. If I can play it I will."

"No, Roman." Roman faltered as Virgil took his hand in his. "This is the first time you've played in so long. You're still uneasy about it. Pick something you'll feel comfortable playing. Something you enjoy or even helps to calm you. Whatever you play I'm sure I'll enjoy it." 

"Are you sure? I wanted to play YOU something. Not just for you to hear me." Virgil nodded as Roman smiled all the more. "I love you so much. How about something... Disney?"

"Of course it would be Disney." Virgil laughed as Roman hesitated once again. Virgil watched patiently as Roman cautiously put himself into position. Roman was clearly shakey as he took his time to think things through. "Don't force it. If you aren't ready to play a full song then don't. I will be happy with whatever you manage. Just the fact that your holding it is already a big step."

"It is?" Roman's voice was shaky as Virgil nodded and smiled.

"I'm already very proud of you Roman. Just getting to this point alone is amazing." 

"Thank you." Roman took one last deep breath before holding his bow up with a much MUCH less tense hold. "I just had to remember who it was I was playing for." Roman met Virgil's eyes with a fond and heartfelt expression. "I'm playing for you, my love. Not him. I'm playing for you."

"I love you too, Roman." Roman beamed as he turned back to his violin and for the first time in so long, let music fill the air around him. It wasn't a song at first. No, he was just trying to get accustomed to it all after the years of not playing. Virgil sat there and listened to every small little thing until Roman's eyes shined with such pride. That was when Virgil noticed it. Roman had switched from small random warm-ups to How far will I go from Moana. "Where I long to be..." Roman's eyes lit up as Virgil hummed gently with him. "One day I'll  know..." Virgil couldn't hold back the laugh he got as he listened closely to every note. "I can lead with pride I can make us strong. I'll be satisfied if play along."

"But the voice inside sings a different song. What is wrong with me?" Roman harmonized easily blushing lightly as Virgil melted beside him. The two completely fell into the music as Roman continued to play. Song after song, his mind latched totally on the awed expression Virgil had forgetting completely about the pain he felt whenever he'd think about his violin. Right now... Right now he wasn't thinking about the weapon his father tried to make him with it. No. Right now, all he could think about was how he was making his love smile with the music he was playing.

He had never love d his violin more than he did in that very moment.