Assistance Required

Marcus

TW panic attack, cursing

Virgil looked at his phone. It was two in the morning. He groaned. Why did he have to wake up? He wanted to ignore what his body was telling him and go back to sleep. But when nature calls... He rolled out of "bed" and went to the bathroom. He curled up in the blankets again and tried to get comfortable.

He tossed and turned in his blankets. Right as he thought he was comfortable, something would bother him and he'd have to readjust. He growled in frustration and tossed the blanket aside. He sat up and looked around the room. Roman was snoring quietly and Patton was huddled in a bunch of stuffed animals and pillows. Virgil crawled to the edge of the room and sat against the wall. He turned on his phone. It was almost three. He decided to scroll through Tumblr.

His mind started to wander and the voices started to call out to him.

Weak.

Pathetic.

Useless.

He took a deep shaky breath. He tried to focus on his phone, but the voices wouldn't leave him alone.

They just pity you.

They can't wait to get rid of you.

You're such a burden.

Virgil sighed and stood up. He walked into the hall. He wandered around until he found a water fountain and took a long drink of water. (Remember when we used to be able to do that?)

He heard someone stumble behind him. He turned to see a boy leaning against the wall giggling to himself. The boy looked up and smiled at him.

"Heeeey!" He said slowly. "I think I lost my shoe."

Virgil looked at the guy's feet as he giggled to himself. Sure enough, he wasn't wearing shoes. He wrapped his arm around Virgil and pulled him closer.

"Hey! Were you at the party?" he asked.

Virgil tensed as the smell of alcohol hit him.

"N-n-no," Virgil said trying to break free of his grasp.

The boy leaned on him as he dragged them both towards the rooms.

"Oh, man! You should have been there! That party was lit as fuck!" he spoke slowly and with a slight slur. He was practically yelling.

He wanted to tell him to quiet down. He wanted to tell him to go away. He wanted him to leave him alone. But he was scared. He was afraid he would get angry. At least they were going towards Patton's room. Maybe he could get someone to help him.

Virgil froze when he saw the boy open Logan's door. Oh no. This was Marcus. He left the door open as he stumbled into the room laughing to himself. Virgil could see Logan stirring. If he didn't stop Marcus from making noise then Logan would wake up. But what if Marcus got mad at him? What if he tried to fight him? But if Logan woke up he'd see Virgil and get upset that he didn't do anything.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and jumped. He saw Logan staring at him. Oh no. Oh no. Logan was awake. Virgil didn't do anything to stop him. He didn't even try! Wait. Logan was saying something. What was he saying? He was saying his name.

"Breathe, Virgil."

Logan went through the breathing exercise with him. Virgil hadn't even realized he was spiraling into a panic attack.

"What happened?" Logan asked.

Virgil couldn't read his face. Was he mad or concerned or just tired?

"A-are.. are you.. are you mad?" Virgil asked.

Logan looked confused for a moment.

"At you?"

Virgil nodded.

"Why would I be mad at you?"

"B-because I-I didn't... didn't-"

"Didn't stop Marcus?"

Virgil nodded again. He looked behind Logan and realized he had shut the door so they were alone in the hall.

"Marcus is... an idiot. There's really nothing you could have done. If you don't mind my asking, why are you even awake?"

Virgil pointed down the hall.

"I woke up to use the bathroom and couldn't fall back asleep. I went to get some water and found Marcus- well... he found me."

"And you walked back with him?"

"Well... he kind of dragged me back."

Virgil picked at a hangnail on his finger. He needed to be doing something with his hands.

"So, what caused the panic attack?"

Virgil looked away. How was he supposed to explain it? He could feel Logan's brown eyes on him.

"I-I d-d-didn't know what t-to do."

"You didn't have to do anything. Marcus has done this before and he'll do it again. As much as it frustrates me, I don't expect you to step in, even if you have the opportunity to do so. There wasn't anything you could have done anyway. Trying to quiet him would just lead to him talking more. I've tried it. I appreciate the thought, but if this event ever occurs again, just go back to sleep. Your mental health is more important than whatever issues I have with my roommate."

Virgil took a deep shaky breath and nodded. He tensed at the sound of Marcus stumbling around inside. It reminded him of how his dad walked around at night. Logan glanced at the door behind him before turning back to Virgil.

"Is there something else I'm missing?" Logan asked.

Virgil shook his head causing Logan to raise an eyebrow.

"Virgil, please don't lie to me. If you don't want to talk about it then I won't press the issue any further, but do not lie to me."

Virgil sighed.

"I just... I don't... I don't like... he's..." Virgil chewed on his fingers again.

He heard something crash and jumped. Logan's eye twitched slightly.

"Oh," Logan said after a moment, "Oh! I'm an idiot. He's drunk. You-"

"It's fine, Logan," Virgil said.

"Virgil," Logan said slowly, "Marcus is an idiot. He does a lot of things I don't approve of, but he's never been violent. He isn't going to hurt you. You are safe here. Even with that bumbling idiot walking around."

Virgil smiled at him.

"Th-thanks."

Logan nodded.

"Of course. Now, try to get some rest. I'm going to go murder my roommate."

Virgil nodded and walked back into the room. He laid down and curled up in the blankets.

Safe.

Virgil smiled as he went over the words in his head.

You're safe here.