Assistance Required

The Visit

TW cursing, arguing, homophobia

Virgil stood outside next to Patton and Logan. Patton was always good for moral support and if anyone could keep a level head, it'd be Logan, right? Virgil watched his dad's beat-up truck pass by and park. Virgil tightened his grip on his crutches. He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He looked for the source of the contact and found Patton. He gave him a gentle smile and gestured for Virgil to breathe. Virgil took a deep breath and smiled weakly at Patton. He turned back and watched his father walk up.

"Damn," he said.

Patton tightened his grip on Virgil's shoulder.

"H-hey, Dad," Virgil said.

"Who are these two?"

"This is Patton," Virgil gestured to his left, "and Logan." He gestured to his right.

Logan gave a small nod at the mention of his name, but Patton just stared at the man before them.

"Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to speak to my son in private for a moment."

Neither of them moved.

"I'm sure you do," Logan said coldly.

His dad narrowed his eyes at Logan.

"Is there some sort of issue?"

"You asked to see him. Whatever you have to say to him you can say in front of us," Patton said.

"Now you listen here," his father took a step towards Patton. Logan stepped forward to stand between them. "I don't know how your parents raised you, but around here you show respect to those older than you. Now, I asked to speak to my son alone."

Virgil bit his lip.

"I-it's okay guys," he said softly.

Patton turned to look at him.

"Are you sure?"

Virgil nodded slowly. They glanced between each other.

"We won't go far," Logan said before taking Patton's arm and leading him away.

They were just out of earshot but kept a close eye on Virgil and his father. Virgil gulped before turning to face his father.

"You asked to see me... I'm here," Virgil said.

"Quite some people you've gotten yourself mixed with."

"Yeah, well... they let me stay with them. They've been taking care of me."

His father raised an eyebrow.

"Have they now? You aren't... dating any of them are you?"

Virgil scoffed.

"No, Dad! We're all just friends."

"Good. It just isn't natural."

Virgil looked at them. He met their gaze and Patton took a step forward. Logan stopped him from going any further. Virgil turned back to his father.

"Is that why you wanted to see me? To lecture me on my sexual orientation?"

"No... I... I don't like it. But, maybe there's something we can do to fix it? I don't like you living away from home anymore. Not if you're falling asleep behind the wheel."

"I-"

"I want you home where I can keep an eye on you. Where you won't be doing anything stupid. I can take you to and from school."

Virgil bit his lip and glanced at his friends again. He liked them a lot and he liked staying with them. But he didn't want to burden them any more than he already had. Then again, they didn't really want him to go.

"Okay," Virgil said slowly before he could stop himself, "I'll move back in with you. But on one condition. You have to stop drinking."

His father narrowed his eyes on him.

"What?"

"I d-don't like it when y-you... you drink. And my friends would never-"

He gasped as his dad grabbed his jacket.

"How dare you! You think just because you have friends now you get to make demands?!"

A hand came out of nowhere pushing the two apart. Suddenly, Patton and Logan were standing between them.

"Who do you think you are?!" Patton yelled. "Just because you're his dad you think you can push him around and make him do whatever you want?! You kicked him out! You don't get to just walk into his life again and push him around! He's his own person! He was in an accident! We were the ones who cared for him before the accident and are going to help him recover! We are the ones he went to when you abandoned him! He doesn't have to do anything you say! He doesn't have to live with you! We've shown more love for him than you ever have and we've only known him for two weeks!"

Virgil stood in shock. First, at Patton's outrage. He didn't even know Patton was capable of being angry. Let alone calling his dad out! And second, at how much they really seemed to care. Logan straightened his tie and stood up tall.

"I suggest you leave. Before we call security," Logan said coldly.

Virgil watched his father shake with rage.

"You think I'm going to let a bunch of bratty kids talk to me like that?!"

"You think it's okay to drink your life away and beat up defenseless children?" Logan asked.

His father stood in shock for a second as the words hit him and Logan took the opportunity to lead the others inside. They heard his father shouting behind them as they closed the door. Logan walked up to the front desk while Patton led him back to the others. Virgil stopped walking and Patton turned to look at him.

"Um..." Virgil tapped his fingers against the crutches, "Thanks... for what you said."

Patton smiled and patted his arm.

"Of course, Kiddo! I just can't stand seeing my friends get hurt like that. Why did he even grab you like that?"

"Oh," Virgil looked away to stare at the floor, "I uh... I told him if he wanted me to live with him again, he had to stop drinking."

Patton processed the words for a minute before gently pulling Virgil into a hug.

"That was really brave of you," he said. "I'm proud of you, Kiddo!"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"I mean it!" Patton said as he pulled away. "You stood your ground! Even if it was only on one foot! Now come on, let's join the others."

They sat down with the others who immediately started asking questions. They were explaining what happened when Logan rejoined them. He had apparently talked to the staff and security just in case his father decided to stick around.

The day's events had left Virgil exhausted, but he still had one class left that day. At least it was an easy class. It didn't require any focusing or concentration. All he had to do was sit for two hours and draw. Then, he could go to sleep in a bed. An actual bed! Since his supplies were already in the room, he didn't take anything with him except his phone. After class, he got to walk back to the dorms where his friends were waiting and sleep in a bed without the fear of someone drunk barging into his room or hurting him.

He had friends. And he was safe with them.