Bad Rumors

36

Roman was rushing about giggling lightly as he went, picking up things, helping people who were putting things up, handing out fliers, and any other small odd job he could find. His eyes were shining with awe at just how organized it ended up being and all he had to do was bring up the topic at the group meeting. The second he mentioned fundraising for Mel's little brother Aaron everyone was on board.

"Prince Roman?" Roman lit up as he knelt down to see Mel in awe herself. "Why..."

"People shouldn't struggle to get necessities." Roman said without a hint of hesitation as he smiled brightly. "You shouldn't have to worry about medicine."

"W-Why h-help?" Roman sighed as he ruffled the small girl's hair.

"Because I wanted to." Her eyes widened as Roman winked. "Now... L-L-Let's g-go see about th-those flow-wer c-crowns." Roman started to lead her over to where a small group of people were doing crafts only to freeze up completely. His hand instantly went to his heart as tears filled his eyes. It felt like he was drowning, this sudden tug at his chest. He glanced behind him staring blankly out at nothing as the pain only got worse.

"Prince Roman?" Mel frown seeing the look the adult had gotten suddenly only for the prince to shake himself out of his thoughts and smile. "Are you ok?"

"Y-yea. I-I'm ok. Let's get b-b-back-k t-to work-k." 

"BECAUSE IT'S MY FAULT!" Virgil yelled out as he threw his pillow against the wall. Patton just sat there smiling sadly watching as the poor side broke down in front of him. "He's gone because of me. It's my fault."

"Kiddo, it's not forever. Roman wouldn't leave us like this forever..."

"Dad, I hurt him." Patton's eyes shot wide as Virgil whimpered, all curled up and sitting there in a fetal like position. "I hurt him. I hurt him and he left. He left and..." Virgil couldn't stop the way he broke down. He was sobbing endlessly unable to breathe. Patton sat beside him as Virgil shook like mad. "I hurt him, Dad."

"It looks like you've hurt yourself too." Virgil gripped his hair so tight Patton could physically see him pulling out and he sighed. "Kiddo, it's ok. I know it hurts but... You just have to give him time. He'll come back. I just know it."

"Dad, I'm scared." Patton's heart broke, his eyes wide in shock, as Virgil whined sadly. "I'm scared."

"I know. I can feel it." Virgil nodded as Patton carefully wrapped his arm around his shoulders. "I know how bad it hurts... and I am so sorry I can't just take the pain away for you." He slowly leaned the younger into his side as he held him close. "But I can promise this pain won't be forever."

"I don't care if the pain ever ends, Dad." Virgil sniffled as he leaned further into him clutching the elder's shirt as he cried. "If he doesn't come back... I don't deserve it to end." Patton let out a soft breath as the two just sat there in bed falling into the silence. 

"A-Adam-m?" Alex whispered softly as he looked over to see his brother holding back his own tears. The twins had stayed there outside the closed-door listening to everything and their heart broke for the older darker. "A-Anx..."

"I know." Adam nodded, this look of seriousness filling his gaze. "We need Roman."

"We don't know where he is." Alex quickly called back as he chased after his brother who had decided he was tired of everyone being in so much pain. "How are w-we sup-pposed to find him, A-Adam?"

"I don't know, Alex." Adam whined as he grabbed their coats and a backpack. "I just know we have to. Alex... Roman's our brother." Alex frowned as he curled up into himself a little taking the coat his twin had passed him. "Our brother is out there somewhere. And Anx... Virgil's breaking over it. You know how much Ro cares about him. I just... I..."

"Let's go find him, Adam." Before anyone could even realize the twins had walked right out of the castle, determination filling their blood with a fire, as they focused solely on finding their older brother.

"Awe, those lo-l-look s-so good!" Roman beamed as he a flower crown up with this glimmer in his eyes. "Mel! There so ad... ad-a-a... uh... cute!" Roman giggled as he placed it on the girl's hair and just smiled. "Precious."

"Roman, we need some help over here."

"O-O-Ok!" Roman quickly called back as he winked to Mel before running off to join some others. He skidded to halt just staring up at the sign, his head tilting slightly in thought as the man beside him chuckled. 

"What do you think?" Roman's eyes narrowed as he stepped back and just took in the archway in completion. The sign held firm to the metal and Roman smiled.

'Did the little ones help make it?' Roman's eyes shimmered as the man nodded. The prince spotted the little pink ghost with a flower in her hair and he couldn't help but laugh. Noel was in a ghost phase. She must have begged for it to be put on there.

"The daycare took care of the sign completely. While the group focused on everything else... I'm just surprised you managed the location." Roman just nodded as he looked around him. He could see the little tots running around chasing all the cherry petals that fell and floated about the wind. "When you mentioned fundraising, I didn't think it would be on the light side."

'You have more of a chance to reach people here. I want to make sure Mel gets what she needs, Jake.' Jake nodded as Roman glanced over at the sign again. 'Those kids did a good job.'

"I'm glad you think so." Roman chuckled before quickly grabbing a flower garland and jumping up onto a ladder making Jake freak for a second. "Yo, what are you doing." Roman just laughed as he carefully went to the top looping the garland about as it trailed around the sign till you couldn't possibly ignore it. Roman couldn't help but stare in awe. Everything was just... It was perfect. If only Virgil was here...

Roman's smile faltered as he carefully climbed himself down letting Jake go back to his work instead of spotting him so he didn't fall. The prince honestly didn't know what to do now. His hand went to his chest as he grimaced at the pain that hadn't left him for a while. He had tried to tune it out but it wasn't working. Something was wrong, He just didn't know what.

"Adam!" Roman froze completely like ice. He whipped around to see Mel run right into a very familiar face and everything broke down in him. He couldn't move. Tears started to fall instantly with no indication of when it would end. He just stood there... staring at the twins before him. "Adam! Alex!"

"Hey there, Mel." Adam spoke softly far to upset over everything going on to actually speak much. Mel giggled as she hugged him tightly. "What's going on here? Anx never mentioned anything."

"The prince is helping me and Momma get Aarons medicine." Adam's eyes shot up, sharing a look with Alex. "What are you two doing here? Where have you-..."

"We're looking for our brother." Alex cut in with a small smile. 

"Brother?" Mel frowned in confusion as Alex nodded. "But I thought it was just you two. I didn't know you had another brother."

"Adopted brother." Adam replied as his eyes finally met with those green ones. Mel's eyes went wide as Adam's narrowed. "We were adopted by Patton, Mel. We're here to talk to Roman."