Soul Bound

Chapter Six: Broken Beyond Hope

Virgil had just been told that everything was changing. Again. He had to tell Janus.

He knew this would happen. It always did.

He had to keep the pain at bay. He couldn't let himself get hurt. Not again.

He met up with Janus at Coco's Diner, their usual place. This time, however, they didn't go inside.

"Virgil, darling!" Janus greeted with a smile as Virgil approached.

Virgil took a shaky breath. "Do you love me?"

Janus's smile faltered. "O-of course. I love you with all my heart. Is something wrong, love?"

"I just don't know if you really do. I feel like an outcast in my own relationship."

Virgil hated himself for what he was doing, but it was for the best. He was doing this for both of them.

He just couldn't stand how broken and dejected Janus looked.

"I-I'm sorry. How do I make it better?"

"I don't think you can," Virgil said with a crack in his voice. "I... I need a break."

Physics was a drag, but Virgil was expecting that. His next class was fine arts, which he was a bit more excited for. It seemed Coco was also quite excited about it as she ran ahead of Virgil to get there.

"Coco, slow down!" he called, hoping and praying Patton wouldn't end up being there.

That was not the case.

A large buck made its way through the crowd of students and Virgil stopped and groaned in frustration.

Tell me there aren't two of them here, he thought.

"Parker, get back here!" a voice called through the crowd. If Virgil had to take a guess, he'd say that the deer's name was likely Parker.

The buck approached Virgil and grabbed his sleeve. Instinctively he fought back, trying to get his sleeve back.

"Let go of me!" he demanded.

The person who'd been calling to Parker arrived with Coco in his arms, and the buck finally let go.

"I take it this is your Great Prince of the Forest?" Virgil asked, the boy shooting him a smirk.

"Indeed. I appreciate the Disney reference. And is this your Berlioz lookalike?"

Virgil blinked. "If that's another Disney reference, it went way over my head."

The boy laughed at that. "No worries, not many can name the kittens from the Aristocats. Anyway, I'm Roman. We... must be soulmates, right? I recognise your animalis, what's her name?"

"Coco. Yet another Disney reference."

"I'm beginning to like you. Are you heading to fine arts as well?"

"Yep. Till, uh, Parker here decided to attack."

"Nah, Parker's a delight. He only wanted to bring us together. That's animali's job, right? Bringing soulmates together?"

"The thing is, I don't really want soulmates. I'm fed up with the whole concept."

Roman frowned. "Let's get to class, we can talk more there."

They went to class together, Roman still holding Coco, which she didn't seem to mind one bit. They sat side by side at one of the metal tables near the back.