Meet the Sanders

Roman goes quiet, eyes distant for a moment before he silently stands, dumping his plate in the sink and then stomping off to his and Logan’s room. Though he doesn’t say a word, the strength with which he slams the bedroom door says a lot and, grateful for the excuse to get away from the loud argument continuing between the other two, Virgil follows after him.

Virgil doesn’t bother to knock, Roman would only tell him to go away, walking straight in, being sure to swiftly shut the door behind him again. Roman sits in the middle of his bed, arms wrapped around his legs, softly rocking back and forth. Virge stands awkwardly for a moment as they both listen to the muffled angered shouts beyond the room’s walls.

“Roman?”

Roman doesn’t respond.

Given how loud and pompous Roman is the rest of the time, you’d honestly expect him to shout louder and more aggressive than anyone. Though he’s hardly one to shy away from an argument, Virgil knows that when something is truly upsetting his older brother, he doesn’t shout, or scream, or lash out. No, instead he sits, stewing, and seething, and silent. It almost makes you wish he would shout. Almost.

Virgil perches on the edge of the bed, watching Roman for a few moments before he speaks.

“He’s going to come back.”

Sure it’s not the most confidence anyone ever had, but for Virgil it’s dripping with it, and it finally gets the ass to look at him.

“You don’t know that.” Roman mumbles.

Virgil shrugs. “Well, we can always chase after him and drag him back.”

If this was meant for me, yes i am continuing it. Just a lot on my plate at the moment and like 5 AUs and then real life on top.

Remy

Dylan

The four youngest are all sat at the small dining table, a plate of nice hot food before each of them. Logan stands out of the way, leant against the sideboard, his nose in a book, making good use of the time as he waits for a spot to come free so he can prepare his own evening meal.

Remy has barely stood still all day. Even now, he keeps going back and forth carrying something or other and finding somewhere to put it. They may have had to get rid of a lot of stuff but there’s still a lot to put out. When he passes by the table for the fifth time and sees Roman’s food still untouched, he leans over and firmly taps on the table beside the plate.

“Eat.” he orders firmly before continuing on.

Logan glances up and catches sight of Roman, twisted in his seat, glaring at Remy’s back as he walks away, completely ignoring his meal and having that look Roman always gets when he’s about to say something stupid. Oh lord.

“Roman,” Logan starts, but he’s cut off as there’s a scrape and a clatter and Roman leaps to his feet, jabbing an accusatory finger at the eldest brother.

“HOW CAN YOU LEAVE US!” His angered shout drowns out everyone else, pulling everyone’s attention to him as Remy freezes in place and stares at hi min shock.

“I-”

“Don’ lie!!” Roman barks, “You don’t have a bed! There’s a trunk in your car!! You can’t leave!! We need you!!”

Patton’s hands fly to cover his mouth while Virge flips his hood up and draws it close around him. Dylan seems unbothered but refuses to look at anyone and Logan places his textbook aside  as he steps forward. Remy raises his arms in figurative surrender.

“I barely sleep, having a bed would be pointless.”

“Then what about the trunk?” Dylan mumbles without turning. He’s figured this out a long time ago, and been sitting on his question since thn.

“I’m going out of town for a few days. But I’m coming right back.” he hastily adds as they all react. “It’s just a trip. It’s temporary. I swear I’m not leaving!”

“Then where are you going?”

In that moment, the eldest brother glances between them all. They all look crestfallen and he really wishes he could get away with not telling them. Not because he wants to lie to them, but because it will only complicate things.

Remy sighs in defeat.

Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoy it!

Remy is on his second cup of coffee as he considers the attack plan for the day, glancing over to Dylan who’s now gone through to the living room. He speaks quietly enough that his younger brother shouldn’t be able to hear him.

“I have a few errands. And um….a phonecall, but I’ll wait until the others come home before that.”

Nice and hot, the mug warms Remy’s fingers and he gives a satisfied sigh as he raises it to his lips. The moment is short lived though, as Remy catches sight of the time and slams the cup back on he side again

11am?!?

“Shit!”

Remy rushes out the kitchen, a few loud bangs following him as he throws he bedroom doors wide open. Dylan stays put, calmly slurping down the last of his milk when Remy comes back in, tired eyes glaring right through his younger brother.

“Logan sorted everything out, didn’t he?”

Dylan nods. “Yup.”

“You could have said.”

Five bowls of cereal should be enough and Dylan moves to rinse his bowl in the sink, a smug satisfied grin on his face.

“I thought the adrenaline might help to wake you up.”

“What else shall we watch?” He asks as the credits roll, “Maybe an adventure story?

Before he can continue though, the TV shuts off and Logan, who has the remote, shakes his head.

“I don’t think so.”

Roman pouts, crossing his arms.

“Why not?”

Logan doesn’t say anything, he doesn’t have to. Instead he points to the other end of the couch where Remy’s eyes are closed, his head drooped, mouth open and breathing even. He’s fallen asleep and they all look at him in shock.

Remy has always had trouble sleeping (and no doubt college only made it worse), but throw in the last few weeks, moving home, helping Virgil, he’s probably exhausted and the fact he’s asleep is an actual miracle. Best not to put on another film and risk waking him.

Since there’s still a half-finished bed, Roman and Logan disappear to finish building it, while Dylan clears up the mess their dinner made. Patton and Virgil stay put, quietly talking, Virgil in a position of too high of risk of waking Remy.

Roman’s eyes light up and he sits forward until Deceit hooks his arm around his brother’s shoulder and pulls him back, to sit against the couch

Once the argument has calmed, they all settle into their seats, Logan sat on the floor by the couch, having been ousted by Dylan in order to stop the fighting. Roman sits in the middle seat and Patton sits on the one nearest to the berdroom. After Remy’s made sure everyone has something to drink and enough to eat, he sits on the floor next to Patton, leaning against the arm of the couch. 

Remy’s worried about Patton too. The little guy is always so upbeat, doing his best to see the better side of everything. Today has been the same, Patton carrying things back and forth, getting drinks, organising what he can, watching Virgil and Dylan closely while Remy’s dealt with the boring official bits. Remy hasn’t seen him be sad since he came back, but has seen little slips of Patton’s pep and feels the best thing he can do at this point would be to make sure his little bro knows that Remy is here for him. He’s here for all of them.

“I-it’s better than the pe-peanut butter and apple pizza Roman made once.”

Roman throws his pizza slice down and stands up but Dylan grabs his shoulder and pulls him to sit down again. Remy sits forward and points at both of them.

“Frui-fruit on pizza do-doesn’t make sense.”

Roman makes an offended noise and jabs a finger at Logan, a slice of pizza hanging from his free hand. “Of course you’d say that! You like anchovies!”

Remy rolls his eyes, while Dylan groans. Clearly this is a debate they’ve bore witness to many times before and you have no idea the monster you’ve created with your question.

Virgil is hovering at the doorway to the bedroo, peering around it to watch the film as best he can over Patton’s head. The headphones are now out of the box and hooked around his neck. He seems a good deal calmer now but still a little nervous about leaving the bedroom.

The pizza doesn’t take long to arrive, but Virgil just shuffles a little more to hide behind the bedroom door. It smells good and he actually really wants a piece but all he can think about right now is the fact that this place isn’t their old home and it’s taking every ounce of strength he has right now to hold it together. Until his brain can calm down, it’s better he keeps his distance.

The headphones are still in their box, clutched tightly against his chest. Honestly, he lowkey kind of loves them. He loved his old headphones too and is far from thrilled that they broke but already having a new pair? He’s not ignorant to how big a deal that is.

“Believe me, I have done far stupider on far less.”

Remy folds his arms, leaning back against the counter as Logan places their order with the pizza place over the phone.