Kidnapped ~A Prinxiety Story~

Chapter 18: Logan's Advice

Warnings: crying, breakdown, mention of trauma, yelling

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Virgil was asleep next to Roman, but woke up quickly after a bad dream; one he's had more than a few times since Roman found him. A dream relating to his parents.
Roman was still asleep, so Virgil got up as quietly as he could, though more than a bit shaky. He went downstairs to get a glass of water, but his mind kept flashing to the nightmare. He kept having it, he's afraid.

‘why can't I stop dreaming about them.. Why can't.. I'm safe now..’ Virgil thought, leaning on the counter and staring down, teary eyed.
"Virgil? It's 3 in the morning, why are you awake?" Logan asks from behind him. "I could ask you the same.." Virgil mumbles back. "I'm a light sleeper, I heard your footsteps. Are you alright?" Logan asks.

"Am I alright? Have I ever been alright? All my life, my parents used me like some sort of rag doll for their entertainment, and even after living here for almost a year now, I still can't stop thinking about them. Dreaming about them. Wondering if this isn't real. They haunt me every day of my god damn life, I'm terrified of them even though they're gone! I just want to forget them! I want to forget what they did to me!!" Virgil snapped, crying afterwards and sitting down by the counter.

Logan looks at him for a moment before taking a breath. "As little as I know about your past, Virgil, it sounds to me that you are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD. It can be caused by many things, including war, toxic relationships, and abusive households. And I do believe the last applies to you.

"PTSD, especially when caused at a young age, can cause the person to also suffer from severe depression, anxiety, and/or anger issues. When triggered, or reminded of their trauma, the person may react with sadness, trembling, anger, or avoid it all together. The healthier ways to cope with it would be talking about it with someone you trust, find something to do that would be relaxing, and spending time with positive people. Those copes will help you better manage your trauma in case of a future breakdown, or focus on the present rather than the past." Logan says.

Virgil hugged his knees, but had stopped crying somewhere during Logan's speech. "Y-you seem t-to know a l-lot for..." he trails off.
"For someone who has been alive for more than one lifetime? Yes, well, I do visit the library often, and read up on things I may not know much about. It's quite useful to know." Logan says.

Virgil nods a little, looking at the floor with a small whimper. Logan frowns. "Why didn't you just tell Prince Roman..? I'm sure he would have tried to help, immediately." he asks.
"H-he's asleep.." Virgil mumbles. "I was." Roman says, having heard the shouting from before and walked downstairs.

"Come here.." he says, picking Virgil up carefully. Virgil curled into him, tearing up again. "Y-you should s-still be s-sleeping..." he says. "I feel better, love. You're the one who should sleep..." Roman replied.
"I-i can't, I don't want to dream about them again.. I-i know I'm safe, I know y-you're here, y-you're real but I-i'm.." Virgil said, starting to cry a little.

"You're scared, I know.. I understand. I would imagine something like that would be very hard to forget, but it'll be okay. I'll be right here, okay?" Roman says, brushing Virgil's hair out of his face.
"I-i can't sleep n-now.." Virgil mumbles, wiping his eyes. "If that's the case, pardon my interruption, but I would suggest calming music or ingesting anything with melatonin. Both are known to help a person fall asleep." Logan says.

"Mel-..  Mela-what..?" Virgil asks, frowning a little in confusion. "Melatonin. It's the chemical released from the brain that causes us to be sleepy. A lack or low level of melatonin would cause insomnia or troubles falling asleep at night. Hence why there is medications and even tea that has melatonin." Logan explained.

"Do we even own either of those?" Roman asks. "Yes. I believe we have both the tea and lozenges. Occasionally, Patton would complain that he couldn't sleep, or that he wasn't tired. So, I'd give him one of the two, and it puts him right to sleep." Logan responds.

Virgil giggles softly. "That's cute, he goes right to you.." he mumbles. Roman smiles at Virgil's giggle. "Would you like to try one of them, love?" he asks, swaying him a little. "Sure.." Virgil mumbles, nuzzling him.
"Which one?" Roman asks, petting him gently. "Cough drop I guess, I'nno.." Virgil responds. Roman looked a little confused. "I know what he means, one moment." Logan says, grabbing a cough drop from the bag and giving it to Virgil.

"Is it gross..?" Virgil mumbles as he opens it. Logan smiles slightly. "I wouldn't know personally, but Patton doesn't seem to mind them. And you know how picky he is, right?" Virgil nods a little. "You're so in love with each other.." he mumbles, smirking very slightly before putting the cough drop in his mouth.

Logan blushes a little. ".. Well, if that's all, I'm going back to bed. Oh, one more thing, it should only take about 15 minutes for it to take effect, maybe less." he says, nodding before going back to his room.

"Would you like to go back upstairs, my love?" Roman asks softly. Virgil nods a little. "Alright." Roman says, carrying Virgil back to his room.
Once they get there, he closes the door and sits down on the bed, holding Virgil close to him. "I wouldn't have minded if you woke me up, my love." he murmurs, rubbing Virgil's back gently.

"Sorry.." Virgil mumbles. "No, it's alright. I'm just letting you know for future reference, okay?" Roman says. "M'kay.." Virgil whispered.

They stayed like that for a while, with Roman holding onto him gently and rubbing his back.
"Are you getting tired, love?" Roman asks quietly. "Mhm..." Virgil responds. "Do you want to sleep?" Roman asked.

"Mm.." was Virgil's response before falling asleep, still cuddled up with Roman. Roman smiles, keeping him close. "My sweet baby.." he murmurs, kissing the top of Virgil's head gently.