#tw panic attacks

The ED was bustling with activity, everyone running around while yelling out different orders to whoever was available to listen. Dana was doing her best to keep things organized, even if that was proving to be rather useless in that moment. Joy had plopped herself down overtop of the desk for a moment, taking a deep breath before turning back towards the board.

"Jeez, I didn't think today could get any worse," Robby's violent reaction towards Samira's panic attack was running through her mind.

How could someone be so hateful towards one of their own? Especially with something as serious as a panic attack. Sure, it wasn't exactly a heart attack, but unless you could get yourself in control it could become more serious!

"What'd you mean, kid?" Dana focused on Joy, her brow furrowed as she shuffled through the clipboards.

Joy glanced at her, eyes narrowing as she tried to sus her out. "Samira had a panic attack, pretty severe from what I could tell. Robby ended up yelling at her over it, embarrassed her in front of everyone."

Dana's head whipped around, lips parted as if she was going to attempt a reply. Nothing came out as she stared at the young woman, her thoughts racing wildly.

Shit, if word got out of the ED how Robby was beginning to treat the women? There was no way you weren't going to find out what had happened. If there was truly anyone to fear, besides Dana herself, it would be you. The elevator doors opened, the loud ping echoing for a brief second as you stepped out. Your scrub top was stretched over the fabric of your belly, pregnancy giving you a glow that anyone would rival for.

"Hey, I heard there was a little Jane Doe down here?" You were the pediatric attending, only coming downstairs when it was absolutely necessary.

"Yes there is, we've been trying to get in touch with social services but with the whole shutdown," Dana shrugged, reaching over to steer you towards where they'd put the baby for the time being.

She was asleep when you both stepped inside, wrapped tight in one of the, rather shitty, hospital blankets. Your eyes softened as your finger traced over her cheek gently, watching the way she shuffled for a moment before relaxing. Babies, and older children alike had always gravitated towards you, it's why you'd chosen pediatrics. Jack had been all for it, wanting you to be happy with your choice and not end up regretting it down the line.

"Dana? It's Samira," it was Emma this time, her eyes flicking back and forth between the two women.

She cursed under her breath, rushing past Emma to go and see what the hell was going on this time, by the time she reached Robby and Samira it was obvious things had gotten worse. You followed close behind her, concerned with the wellbeing of your close friend.

"You leave that shit at home! This is a hospital!" Robby's words echoed out of the room, the chief attending standing over where Samira was laid on the hospital bed.

You saw nothing but red, hands clenching into fists as you pushed past Dana, praying for a second that she could forgive you as you shoved Robby away from you.

"Robinavitch! What the fuck is wrong with you?!" You were genuinely angry, lips pulled back into a sneer.

His lips parted, ready to tear into you as well before seeming to think better and closing his mouth.

"She is your resident! And here you are treating her like she's a disobedient child, jesus no wonder your patient satisfaction scores are non-existent, you're an asshole!"

You weren't going to keep your mouth closed anymore, too many horror stories had been coming out about him, and you were going to use your own position to your advantage.

"Don't thin for a fucking second that you're better than anyone in this building, especially someone that has more empathy in their pinky than you do in your entire body!" The commotion was gathering attention, two of the newbies standing in the doorway as you yelled at Robby.

"If I get word from Jack that you're talking like this to any of your female residents, I will make your life a living hell in and outside of this hospital. Do I make myself clear?" Your gaze never wavered, staring him down with the intensity of a thousand suns.

"Look, you've gotta understand-,"

"I said! Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear."

Your nails were cutting into your palms from how tight your fists were clenched, ready to pounce at a moments notice.

"Understood doctor."

Robby didn't give you a moment to utter another word, quickly making his way out of the room as everyone watched him leave. Samira sat flabbergasted on the bed, heart racing with an emotion she couldn't quite place. No one had ever really defended her except for Jack downstairs in the ED.

"He needs to get that stick out of his ass before I beat his fucking brakes off," you scoffed, rolling your eyes before turning to face everyone in the room.

"You're incredible," Emma was looking at you with adoration, and maybe a small tinge of fear.

You smiled softly, resting a hand on the top of your belly, letting your eyes scan over everyone else. Samira looked on the verge of tears, whether that was from Robby's disgusting actions, or you defending her in that moment you weren't sure. The door swung open before you could attempt to comfort her, Jack stepping inside with tense shoulders.

"What the hell happened? Why did I just see Robby storming around like a goddamn bull?" Jack's eyes locked on you first, checking to make sure you were all right first before turning towards where Samira was.

"I had a panic attack, felt like I was having a heart attack," her voice was soft, muted.

"Everything's okay, though? No serious damage?" Jack cared about his residents, some more than others but people could be grating.

She shook her head, knees pressing closer to her chest as a way to self soothe, lip curling in to try and hold back tears that desperately wanted to escape. You refused to let her suffer in silence, quickly stepping over and wrapping your arms around her in a comforting embrace. The dam broke within seconds, her sobs echoing through the room as you held her, hands rubbing along her back and sides gently.

"Don't you ever think that you don't deserve for people to worry about you, you did the right thing by checking on yourself first," you pressed her tighter against your chest, ignoring how her tears soaked into your scrubs.

Jack watched with a fascination, a small smile on his face at how you always knew how to comfort someone. He'd been on the receiving end more times than he could count, and knowing your child would never have to suffer? It brought an ease he'd never known before in his life.

You let Samira pull from the embrace first, knowing she probably needed the comfort. Her hands were still tangled in the base of your scrub top, breathing evened out.

"Feel better?" Every time someone asked that question it had a slight condescending tone. Yours was different, like a parent that wanted to make sure their child was okay.

"Yeah, thank you," she smiled, wiping away the remnants of her tears with a soft sigh.

You gave her one final squeeze, letting her know that you would always be in her corner, even if you weren't physically in the hospital. Jack stepped around you, hands gently squeezing your hips before taking over as an attending.

"Alright, everyone get back to work before I sick Dana on all of you," everyone, except for Jack and Samira, rushed out of the room, the door shutting as the last person exited.

You knew Robby was going on his sabbatical after the shift, but he didn't need to ruin any kind of relationships with his residents before. Not to mention you hadn't gotten a chance to meet with the attending taking over while he'd be gone.

"Samira, I'm sure Jack had given you my phone number already, but I want you to call me any time you need someone to talk to, okay?" You had given her your full attention, giving her the peace of mind that she would be heard no matter what.

"Thank you," she looked so small, like a child scolded by a parent for making a simple mistake.

It made you sick to think of the way Robby had been treating her, how happier she'd been during her night shifts over the last few months. Maybe Robby leaving for a few months would do the hospital good.

Maybe the world would keep turning, and he'd finally realize that treating his doctors like shit would only end up with them leaving. Maybe.

So in my AU, Sonic, Miles and Shadow all got their powers from Chaos emeralds. The very essence of chaos is in their blood, and is intertwined with their very heart and soul.

This power is very useful, but can also be rather overwhelming at times. The chaos energy has a tendency to mix with their emotions and greatly enhance them. A lot of the time, the trio will have mental breakdowns or blow ups due almost entirely to their chaos energy mixing with intense emotions.

But Knuckles? He isn't like that at all. Instead of his powers coming from chaos energy, he was instead blessed by the Master Emerald itself.

Knuckles is just as powerful as the others, but his energy is fundamentally different. It acts as a neutralizing force to intense power and emotions, rather then an enhancer. For himself and for those around him.

Becuase of this blessing, Knuckles often reaches out to the trio in their times of need. Using his aura to redirect their chaos energy and settle it when they lose control.

Some examples of this is sparring with Sonic to let him safely let out his anger on someone who can take it. Building a den and hiding with Miles all night until he calms down. Or being a grounding presence for Shadow until he can regain control of himself.

This neutralizing power was also used to calm the rouge mecha Sonics and Omega when their own chaos energy overwhelmed them.

I have yet to decide if this calming power works on people who don't have chaos energy and are just overwhelmed emotionally. Such as Gerald, Maria or the Knuckles tribe.

I see it going two ways.

the kinder route: Sebastian would notice and would put a stop to it. After all, he seeks to be the epitome of a butler. His master's comfort must come first. The boy had asked him to bring him pleasure, to make him feel good, but his health and safety came first. And, beneath his butler facade, the demon does harbor affection for the wretched little thing. He seeks to make the boy comfortable.

Ciel would shake and heave and send himself into a frenzy, and Sebastian would stop fucking him and disengage. Eyes wide and frantic, Ciel would lay prone on the bed sheets, peering up at the demon.

Sebastian is familiar with his little lord's past, after all, and it's not hard to see how the boy could get caught up in his memories with such a large body over him. It must feel much like being trapped all over again. The boy's breathing is shallow and quick, slowing with each stroke of Sebastian's hands. His body sags against the sheets.

But he doesn't tell the demon to stop. He only sighs and melts and gasps, letting Sebastian calm him down. His hands lay limp on the bedsheets. He inhales through his nose and out through his lips, closing his eyes and focusing on Sebastian's hands smoothing delicately over his chest, grounding and soothing.

"Are you alright, young master?" Sebastian would ask, words soft.

"Let me catch my breath," Ciel would murmur, feeling his heartbeat slow in his chest.

"You're pale. Would you like me to fetch some tea?"

"Don't go," Ciel would whine. "Stay there until I tell you to go."

Sebastian would grin fondly. "Of course, my lord."

the more realistic route: Sebastian would notice and instead press on that vulnerability. After all, he seeks to be the epitome of a butler. His master's orders come first. The boy has asked him to bring him pleasure, to make him feel good, not look after his health and safety. And, beneath his butler facade, the demon does hunger for the wretched little thing. He seeks to dampen that innocent soul further.

Ciel would shake and heave and send himself into a frenzy, and Sebastian would squeeze his little waist and move faster. Eyes wide and frantic, Ciel would lay prone on the bed sheets, peering up at the demon.

Sebastian is familiar with his little lord's past, after all, and it's not hard to see how the boy could get caught up in his memories with such a large body over him. It must feel much like being trapped all over again. The boy's breathing is shallow and quick, speeding up with each rock of Sebastian's hips. His body jerks against the sheets.

But he doesn't tell the demon to stop. He only shudders and heaves and spits, letting Sebastian fuck into him harder. His nails claw at the butler's arms. He sucks in sharp breaths through his lips, squeezing his eyes closed and focusing on Sebastian's groans above him falling like daggers on his ears, low and hungry.

"Does that feel good, young master?" Sebastian would sneer, words sharp.

"Don't bloody stop until I say," Ciel would grunt, feeling his heartbeat jackrabbit in his chest.

"You're pale. Is this too much for the poor little lord?"

"Don't stop," Ciel would whine, "Keep going until I order you to go."

Sebastian would grin greedily. "Of course, my lord."

1.

            When Roman found out that he and Virgil shared a common love for Nightmare Before Christmas, Roman wanted to get Virgil a gift. They’ve been close friends for a while and only getting closer with each passing day. The princely side had even once imagined them being something more but pushed the thought aside. Virgil probably didn’t feel the same way about him while Roman himself didn’t want to ruin their friendship that they both worked so hard to build up.

            The thought of just getting Virgil some random piece of merch also makes Roman feel silly. Surely, he could do better than that. After several sleepless nights and a bit too much time on his phone doing some very important research, Roman is sitting on his floor with materials scattered about. As the creative side of Thomas, Roman figured he could, well, create something for Virgil. No conjuring or summoning anything.

            After a glance at the sketch he made earlier this morning, Roman got to work. He doesn’t sew or stitch much but he tries his best even if he keeps pricking his fingers with the sewing needle. He ends up getting lost in his work, no longer aware of the time quickly passing by with every stitch. As Roman’s about to add the finishing touch to his project, a knock on his door startles him out of his focus. He then scrambles to hide the gift behind him under a pile of fabric in case it were Virgil.

“Come in!” Roman calls a moment later.

The door swings open and Virgil himself enters. Great.

“Hey, princey, living room’s free if you want to watch a movie with me.” the anxious side offers. “What’s with all of this?”

“O-Oh, y’know, just creating and making things like I always do…hehehe…” Roman answers, praying he doesn’t accidentally summon Janus.

“Of course, you are. Come take a break with me then. I haven’t seen you all afternoon.”

Roman shifts and nods.

“Why don’t you go ahead and set everything up, storm cloud? I’m just finishing up here. I won’t be long.”

“Sure, but you’re making the extra snacks.” Virgil smirks, lazily saluting before sauntering out.

            As soon as the door swings shut, Roman breathes out a sigh of relief and pulls the project back out. He continues working and adds the last final touches to Virgil’s gift, adding a touch of his own magic to it as well. He then cheats a tiny bit, summoning a nice purple gift box and putting the project inside. Finally, Roman places the lid on top. He really hopes Virgil likes this gift. With an eager grin, Roman stands up and cleans himself up before sinking away with his gift in tow.

            Moments later, Roman sunk up into the common room of the Mindpalace with his gift for Virgil tucked under his arm and that eager grin still on his face. He spots the anxious side setting up the drinks on the table. A steaming bowl of popcorn sits by the two bottles of soda that he had set down. It almost feels like a…Roman shakes his head. He shouldn’t think too much about it. It’s just him and Virgil, doing what they usually do. They’ve always had movie nights together when the living room is free.

“I thought you wanted me to make the snacks?” Roman asks, quickly hiding the gift under a nearby pillow.

Virgil looks up from where he’s arranging the table.

“You were taking too long so I made popcorn. Miraculously somehow.” he answers.

“Well, congratulations on not setting our kitchen on fire today, frightening bug.”

Virgil flusters, grabbing the remote as he sits back on the couch.

“Yeah, yeah. Shut up and make more snacks already.”

Roman huffs a laugh and says nothing more, missing the tint of purple appearing with the dark shade of Virgil’s eyeshadow. He waves his hand and a bag of gummy candies appears by the popcorn along with a small pile of little chocolates. He then takes his seat by Virgil and watches him scroll through the movie streaming list. This is his chance to give Virgil his gift. The prince then sneakily grabs said gift from behind the pillow and hopes the anxious side hasn’t sensed his slight nervousness.

“Man, these are all kinda boring.” Virgil huffs as he goes through the list again. “Wanna rewatch Wicked? It’d be nice to actually be able to watch the movie.”

Roman nods, feeling his stomach flutter. It just feels sort of romantic, watching this with Virgil.

“Sure, Emo-phaba.” he answers.

“Ooh, that’s a new one. You saying I’m an ugly witch?”

“Please, as if anyone could take that title from Janus.”

The two laugh for a moment before settling, Virgil waving his hand to dim the lights.

“Ready to hit play?” the anxious sides asks. “Last chance to get up. I’m not pausing this shit.”

Roman rolls his eyes with a fond smile.

“Very funny.” he then takes a deep breath. “Actually, before we start, I have something for you.”

Virgil blinks in surprise, dropping the remote in his lap.

“W-What? A gift for me? Is it another box of glitter?”

“No, no! It’s…well, something I hope you’ll like. Here.”

Roman then gives Virgil the box he’d been hiding.

“…You’re sure it’s not glitter?”

“Virgil!”

Virgil laughs.

“Okay, okay.”

            Virgil then opens the box and inside is a handmade plushie of Zero from his favorite movie. The fabric is soft to the touch, patterned with purple patches that replicate the ones on Virgil’s hoodie. The plush itself is light in Virgil’s hands and he loves how soft it feels even as he squeezes it. He grins and holds the plush close, the purple under his eyes growing a little more.

“Do you like it?” Roman asks, an eager grin on his face as he watches Virgil nuzzle the new plushie.

The anxious side nods.

“I love it, Ro! He’s so soft!” he answers. “Did you make him?”

Roman nods, watching Virgil’s eyes. It’s too dim for him to notice the purple though.

“I did. And if you press his nose…” he then presses the orange bulb-shaped nose and it, along with the fabric, glows softly like the real Zero.

“Woah…”

“I figured you’d like something to keep you safe in the dark. A familiar friendly face. Even if darkness is your thing.” Roman explains. “And it won’t catch on fire. It’s imbued with my magic.”

Virgil nods, feeling the plush. The bulb hasn’t warmed up at all.

“Huh…thanks, Ro. Really. I don’t know why you’re giving me this but I love it.” He nuzzles the plushie again. “You don’t mind if I keep it on during the movie, right? I like how it glows.”

Roman’s smile softens and he nods.

“Not at all.”

 “Cool.”

            As Virgil plays the movie, Roman’s gaze lingers on Virgil for a moment before he turns away with a sigh. No purple. No sparkles. Nothing. It didn’t work. Virgil seems to love the gift though so there’s that but Roman really wants to see him shine. He’ll have to try to make Virgil even happier. Or as happy as an anxious side can be. For now, Roman leans against Virgil and hums along to the opening music. Not once does he ever notice Virgil’s eyeshadow slowly glowing more and more as the movie plays on.

2.

            When the gift didn’t work, Roman felt he had to try something new. Something bigger. Well, maybe not too big. The goal was to see Virgil sparkle not overwhelm the poor thing. He’s anxious enough as it is. This leads to Roman being on his phone again only to sigh when he finds nothing new to inspire him. He couldn’t give Virgil another gift. It would be very weird to do that twice. Still, Roman finds himself sighing as he sets his phone aside. He’s very determined to see that purple sparkle even just one more time.

            Roman pouts and thinks some more, sprawling out on his bed. Virgil wasn’t the type who liked fancy or grandeur things. The purple side preferred mellowing out after a long day of keeping Thomas alive. He often naps and listens to music as far as Roman’s noticed. The princely side tends to leave him be when he sees him napping. Especially on bad days where Thomas’ anxiety levels are high and Virgil is feeling it too. The poor thing gets worn out by the end of the day and rarely gets to relax.

            Now that he thinks about it, Roman can’t recall the last time Virgil tried to relax. Of course, for someone like him, that’s hard to do. There’s always something to worry about. Roman gets it in a sense. He himself refuses to rest or even settle down until he’s perfected and finish all his ideas for Thomas. For Roman, there’s always flaws to work out. Not that he wants to think about that right now. He’d rather focus on Virgil.

            As he continues thinking, Roman’s tummy rumbles. Oh. He missed breakfast this morning. Again. Now, there’s an idea. Sure, neither he nor Virgil can really cook and Virgil is scared of fire but they have been talking about wanting to be braver for each other. Trying something new together might help them. Especially Virgil. With that, Roman starts thinking of simple recipes as he makes his way to Virgil’s room, eager to spend time in the kitchen with him. Once at the black and purple door, the prince knocks happily with a familiar tune.

“Viirgil! I wish to do something with you!” Roman calls.

There’s the faint sound of huffing and shuffling before the door clicks and swings open.

“Let me guess, princey, you want to build a snowman?” Virgil asks, smiling lazily at him. Such a dorky prince.

Roman laughs and shakes his head.

“Tempting but another time. I was wondering if you’d like to join me in the kitchen.” he grins. “We’ve never cooked together and I’d love to learn with you.”

“You do know me and fire don’t get along, right?” Virgil raises an eyebrow.

“Of course! But fear not! I shall protect you! Pleeasee?”

Roman busts out his special move. The princey pout.

“Just this once, Virgil?”

Virgil blinks. Shit, not that pout.

“Fiine…” he groans, face turning a rosy red and his eyeshadow getting just a bit lighter. “But I’m not going near the stove when it’s on.”

Roman lights up.

“Yay! Come on, we’ll learn a new recipe together!”

            With that, Virgil gets himself dragged downstairs and all the way to the main kitchen. No one else is here so they have the kitchen to themselves. Not that Virgil’s complaining. He then leans against the counter and glances at Roman with a curious hum. Virgil knows the basics of cooking so he can eat other food besides chips and spicy Thai noodle leftovers but he’s never seen Roman cook. This is going to be really interesting and maybe even fun.

“So, what exactly are we cooking, Ro?” Virgil asks as he watches Roman snap himself into an apron and chef’s hat.

Roman hums.

“I was thinking we could do something simple or at least something that isn’t too complicated.” he answers as he smooths out his apron. “Maybe a pizza?”

“Hm, doesn’t sound too hard and we don’t have to be near the fire…yeah, that could work.” Virgil nods. “Mind if I have an apron too?”

“Of course! Every chef needs their sous chef!”

            Roman waves his hand and Virgil is given a purple, cat-themed apron and a matching chef hat. He thanks Roman with a nod and the two wash their hands. Once that’s done, Roman grabs some mixing bowls and measuring spoons. He also conjures a simple recipe for pizza and the ingredients needed for the dough, sauce, and toppings. With everything summoned, Roman grins at his handiwork and nods determinedly.

“Shall we create a masterpiece?” the prince asks, rolling up his sleeves.

Virgil does the same with his sleeves and nods.

“Let’s just try not to burn the kitchen down.”

Roman gasps, feigning offense.

“Excuse me, if you wanted to do that, I would’ve invited Remus.”

“Please don’t. Now pass me a mixing bowl, princey.”

            With a shared laugh, Roman hands Virgil a bowl and spoon then the two get to work on measuring and putting the ingredients together. It’s an awkward and fun dance as they move around the kitchen, passing each other with a little grin. The air fills with their laughter, Roman’s humming, and Virgil’s snark. It takes some time but they eventually manage to make a decent looking dough. Now they just had to stretch it out.

“Ever kneaded some dough before?” Roman asks as he sprinkles flour on the counter.

Virgil watches curiously, perched on the counter.

“Nope. Never even touched dough.” the anxious side replies, poking the dough in the bowl. “Didn’t eat much before I moved here. Noodles and chips were the only edible things in the dark side kitchen.”

“It was that or Janus’ wine, hm?” Roman teases, scooping up the glob of dough and letting it drop onto the counter with a-

THWAP!

“Yeah, no. I’m staying away from that shit. Besides, it’s practically a pacifier for Janus’ mouth.” Virgil answers.

Roman huffs a laugh.

“Oh, I agree. Remind me to keep a baby bottle of that in hand.”

Virgil laughs too, his eyeshadow getting even lighter as the glitter starts to fade in. Roman was too busy with the dough to notice.

“So…” the anxious side then starts once they’ve settled. “I thought you didn’t know how to cook either?”

Virgil tries to think of when he last saw Roman cook but he can only recall the pudding incident a couple of months ago that Janus told him about. The pudding was bittersweet but not bad. Then again, it was four am when Roman made the pudding.

“With all of my focus on Thomas’ ideas and dreams, I don’t really get to cook much.” Roman answers, kneading the dough. “Plus, there’s helping Thomas with his plays, keeping the Imagination in check, cleaning up any of Remus’ mess, my royal duties in the palace, and making sure the villagers have what they need.”

Virgil nods in awe, not realizing just how much heavy work Roman does on his end to keep the Creativity running for Thomas. He feels a little worried, wondering how the prince juggles all of that. His eyeshadow darkens a bit and the glitter becomes faint.

“Damn, not even time to throw something in the microwave? Like those pizza rolls we always share?” he answers, watching Roman’s arms flex with every movement he makes. Nice.

Roman smiles sheepishly.

“Nope. Plus, Logan doesn’t think it counts as cooking. I’d learn properly if Patton and Janus didn’t insist on having cook-offs in the kitchen every day.”

“Yeah…that’s fair. It would’ve been nice to try a dish made by master chef Prince Roman though.”

“Oh? Is that so?” the royal side beams proudly. “I assure you this one will be delicious!”

“If you say so, princey.”

“I do! Now, what toppings do you want on this pizza?”

            Before they know it, the pizza is ready and is put into the oven by Roman. He and Virgil decided to keep it simple, putting cheese and pepperoni on top. As their pie cooks, the smell of mozzarella and marinara wafts in the air along with the scent of fresh bread. After some time, the oven dings and Roman pulls the pizza out. It actually looks…pretty good. After giving it time to cool, Roman slices it and serves himself and Virgil a slice.

            Virgil can’t help but be a little impressed, seeing Roman cook something almost perfectly. He knows Roman’s talented but seeing him actually work makes him feel warm. Or maybe he just liked seeing Roman happy and doing something that makes him happy. The pizza looks good too though. It smells even better. The anxious side almost doesn’t want to eat it.

“I almost feel bad for eating this pizza.” Virgil hums, holding his slice up.

“Oh, you flatter me, storm cloud.” Roman grins cheekily. “Go on. Give it a try. You helped make it too!”

With a nod, Virgil takes a bite and-oh. This is definitely better than ramen or spicy Thai noodles.

“Holy shit. That’s good, Ro! I really wish you cooked more often.”

Roman smiles bashfully, cheeks all rosy from just the small bit of praise.

“I’ll try if I find the time…but I’m glad you like it, Virgil.”

            Virgil says nothing more and eats the rest of his slice. It’s really amazing how he always learns something new about Roman. Who knew the prince could cook too? He honestly felt honored that Roman shared this with him. He’s noticed that the creative side had many talents outside of singing, slaying, dancing, and acting. It’s a shame that the others don’t see any of this. It makes Virgil feel in awe of him. Like he wished he had a special talent to impress Roman too. But who was Virgil kidding? He’d just look like a fool around him.

            Meanwhile, Roman watches fondly as Virgil enjoyed his pizza. He doesn’t care if his own slice with one bite is starting to get cold. It honestly felt good to show off to Virgil, seeing his face light up because of him. He hopes it’s good enough to see him shine. The creative side glances at the anxious side’s eyes, waiting for that dusty black to melt into sparkling lavender. A few moments pass…nothing. Not even a hint of color or sparkle again. Hiding his disappointment, Roman tears his gaze away and munches on his own now very cold pizza.

3.

            After the whole cooking scene together, Roman figured that maybe he could boost Virgil’s mood. Maybe the anxious side just needed to be a little less gloomy. Roman knows he can’t exactly calm the storm that is Virgil. He’ll always be a little ball of doom and gloom. He can’t help it with the weight of his job and how he is. Still, Roman figured Virgil could use a little fun and cheer. Of course, he won’t go up to Patton levels of fun but he figured he’d at least try to get a bigger smile or two out of Virgil rather than the lazy, smug smirk that he usually wears. Though, Roman likes that one too.

             Roman then tries to think of what could cheer Virgil up. Even for just a little bit. The worrywart doesn’t like doing anything grand and he’s not too big on being put on the spot or having the attention on him too much. Virgil isn’t the overly active type either. Roman loves training and exercising to stay toned and fit but his anxious friend seems more content on light walks or lounging about. Mostly lounging about. Roman can’t blame him. Thomas puts the poor guy through a lot each day.

            Still, Roman wanted to get Virgil in a good mood. Virgil’s definition of good mood however is different from Roman. Then again, Roman remembers how Virgil likes listening to music. Roman likes it too. The prince wonders though…does the anxious side ever dance to it? He’s heard Virgil’s music faintly playing before and it sounds dance-worthy in his opinion. Though it’s really, really edgy for Roman’s taste. Typical.

            It gives Roman the perfect idea as he sits up from his bed. He starts to get ready as he plans things in his head. His body sways as he starts imagining himself dancing with Virgil. That’s the plan. Roman just hopes it doesn’t overwhelm his anxious friend. Humming softly, Roman finishes up his hair and makeup before snapping himself into his prince costume. All he needed now was his emo dance partner. With a twirl, Roman glides out of his room and happens to find Virgil just down the hall. Perfect. Roman twirls again towards Virgil, stopping when he starts to get dizzy.

“Well, you’re uh, really twirly today. What’s up?” Virgil greets, leaning against the wall.

Roman beams.

“Oh, I just had the wonderful idea to go dancing but I’m lacking a partner. I can’t waltz on my own.” he explains, throwing an arm over his face dramatically.

“I’m surprised you haven’t created a clone of yourself for that.”

The princely side rolls his eyes.

“I don’t feel like dancing with myself again.”

“That’s a first.” the anxious side raises an eyebrow. “Prince Roman gets tired of his own self. Whatever shall you do?”

Roman pouts cutely.

“Well, maybe I need a new partner.” he huffs, glancing at Virgil.

“Yeah, no. I will literally fall on my ass if I try to dance. Plus, I’m not dancing in front of anyone.”

“Oh, betrayal! I have to dance alone! You wound me, Virgil!”

Virgil rolls his eyes, watching Roman continuing his dramatic show as the prince falls against the wall.

“Come on, princey. You can find a better dance partner than me.” he chuckles.

“No! I mean, I actually want to dance with you.” Roman admits, standing back up.

“M-Me? Are you sure? Did Remus hit your head again?”

Roman laughs and shakes his head.

“I’m fine. I really want to dance with you, storm cloud. I assure you you’ll be a great dancer.”

The anxious side flusters, averting his gaze. He doesn’t know why but his creative friend sure has been asking him to do a lot of things together lately. Not that he minds…

So, Virgil gives in. He just can’t resist that pretty smile.

“Fine. As long as it’s just the two of us. I don’t want anyone seeing me tripping all over the place.”

Roman lights up and Virgil’s almost blinded by that brightness.

“Oh, thank you! Come along, Virgil. I know where we can have our private dance!” he squeals, taking Virgil’s hand.

With that, Virgil flusters as he tries to get his mind out of the gutter and stumbles along with Roman.

            Roman leads Virgil through his room and into the ballroom of his castle. There’s no one in the room today. Just Roman, Virgil, and the suit of armors in the corners. Sunlight streams perfectly through the big glass windows. The beautiful blue sky is dotted with fluffy white clouds. A perfect backdrop for their dance. Roman then waves his hand, shutting the portal and the main doors. He doesn’t want anyone to interrupt them while they’re here.

“So…how do you waltz, princey? I don’t want to step all over your fancy boots.” Virgil stammers, rubbing at the back of his neck.

Roman smiles softly and takes Virgil’s hand, squeezing it gently to ease his anxious companion’s nerves.

“Just keep your eyes on me and follow what I do.” the prince assures him with a soft smile. “Now as for your hands…”

Before Virgil can ask, he squeaks when Roman places one hand on his shoulder, the other being intertwined with Roman’s. It makes Virgil blush. Isn’t this really…intimate for two people who are just friends?

“So close…” Virgil thinks.

“Stay focused, storm cloud.” Roman pulls him out of his thoughts. “Follow me.”

            Roman nods his head and waltz music plays from somewhere. Soft and gentle. Then he counts 1,2,3 as he leads Virgil slowly around the room. He keeps the pace slow and steady, letting his anxious dance partner get the hang of it.

            Virgil, meanwhile, is doing his best to follow along. He stumbles now and then but quickly rights himself. He follows Roman’s counting and movements until soon he’s gliding around the empty ballroom with Roman. In all his years, Virgil never imagined he’d be the one dancing with a prince. Roman was the one who dreamed of finding a prince to dance with. The creative side would babble on and on about happy endings too. The anxious didn’t think he’d be the one in those happy endings. Then again, maybe Virgil shouldn’t think too much about it.

            Deciding to distract himself from his worrisome thoughts, Virgil glances at Roman. He looks beautiful in the sunlight, his bright green eyes sparkling prettily. It makes Virgil feel in awe again. There’s just so many wonderful things about Roman that only he gets to see in private. He’ll never understand why the poor prince hides all of this from everyone else. Virgil lets himself stare just a little longer. Roman’s just so pretty and-

“See something you like?” the creative side’s voice brings him back to reality again.

Virgil then flusters when he realizes he’d been caught staring.

“S-Shut up, princey.” he averts his gaze.

Roman doesn’t notice Virgil’s eyes starting to faintly sparkle.

            The duo continue to dance, Roman swaying as he glides with Virgil around the ballroom. Neither say anything for a moment, gazing at each other and enjoying their presence. It’s not often both of them get to have a moment together let alone just relax. Roman wishes they could dance forever but he knows they can’t. So, Roman cherishes the moment. It’s rare to get Virgil this close to him and he looks pretty, flustered and gazing back at him. There’s no sparkling purple under his eyes though and Roman tries not to be disappointed again.

4.

            Roman sighs as he lays in bed once again. Dancing didn’t work either. Had that been overwhelming like he thought? Virgil didn’t say so but maybe Roman pushed him too much. Maybe he needs to tone it down a little more. After all the activities Roman’s been putting Virgil through, he could probably use some time to mellow out. Though…would it be weird to ask him to just…hang out? It feels weird. Before Roman can decide whether or not to ask Virgil, there’s a knock on his door. Putting his thoughts aside, Roman stands up and stretches as he makes his way to the door. When the prince opens it, he’s greeted by-

“Hey, Ro. Are you busy?” Virgil asks.

Roman blinks in confusion. Virgil came to him?

“Um, no? Did Thomas summon me? I didn’t feel it.”

Virgil huffs a laugh.

“Nah, he’s watching tv. Janus told him to take the day off. So, looks like we’re off too.” he answers.

Oh. An off day and Virgil’s here? How very, very convenient.

Roman smiles.

“I mean, since we have the day off, did you want to hang out with me? I’ve got nothing else to do.” he answers, stepping aside.

“Sure. I need a break from my room for a day.” Virgil lets himself in, beelining for Roman’s bed. “What did you have in mind?”

Roman shrugs as he shuts the door, sitting by Virgil on the bed.

“I don’t know. I’m used to just working away or being in the Imagination.”

“Hmm…I can play music.” Virgil offers. “I don’t have anything else though and I don’t feel like summoning anything.”

“That’s fine, storm cloud. Pick out some music. I’ll look for something for us to do.”

            While Virgil fiddles with his phone and his tangled headphones, Roman looks around the room for something simple and calming. Virgil doesn’t like reading. He prefers audio books. They can’t put movies on since they have music on already. Painting would make Virgil nervous. Virgil doesn’t write either. At least Roman doesn’t think so. Roman then sees his nail polish set on his vanity and he gets an idea. Nail painting has often helped the prince relax himself. Maybe Virgil will like it too. With an eager smile, Roman goes over and picks up the boxed nail polish set.

“How about this? We’ll just pick out a color and paint our nails. Nothing fancy. Except for maybe a bit of glitter if you want.” Roman suggests, holding up the box.

Virgil glances over and sees the box. He’s seen Roman using it before and remembers the prince showing off his shiny red nails to him. He’d been so proud of his work, Roman was beaming like a dork.

“Sure. I could use some way to stop me from biting my nails. Again.” Virgil answers. “Bring them here.”

            It’s going well so far. Roman’s picked out something relaxing for Virgil. With an eager smile, the prince brings it to Virgil and they sit down the floor together. Virgil gives him an earbud now that they’re untangled and Roman takes it. The music starts playing and it’s surprisingly not emo for once. It’s not Disney either. It’s actually classical music. Roman likes it though. It helps him stay focused when he’s working on projects.

“What? I like some classical music too. Helps with the thoughts in my head.” Virgil explains with a flustered face.

“That’s understandable. I like it too.” Roman grins as he opens the box. “So, what color does my storm cloud want? Something dark as his soul?”

“Very funny.” Virgil laughs, blushing a bit. “I’m thinking of trying something lighter. Like that lavender.”  

Roman picks out the nail polish that Virgil’s pointing to. It’s a soft lavender with a bit of glitter. It’s perfect.

“I thought you were trying to be a tough little bat.” he teases as he gives the bottle a little shake.

The anxious side blushes brightly, pouting cutely a little.

“O-Of course I am. I just wanted to try a new color…”

“Oh, of course. You’ll always be my tough little bat.” Roman winks.

“Okay, paint my nails already, dork.”

            Roman laughs and gives the bottle a shake before twisting it open. He then takes Virgil’s hand in his and starts painting his nails. It’s quiet as Roman concentrates on perfecting each nail. As he gets to Virgil’s ring finger, the creative side can’t help but gaze at their hands together. Sure, Virgil is a tough guy and can handle himself but it’s a little cute seeing how small Virgil’s hands are in his. They’re almost dainty. You couldn’t tell that they actually packed a punch.

            Meanwhile, Virgil can’t help but fluster. Roman is much bigger compared to him. Not that he minds. Roman makes a comfy pillow. He’s strong…and powerful…tall…Virgil just feels safer with Roman at his side. He glances at Roman’s hand that’s holding his. That same scarred hand can wield a sword and knows how to comfort. Seeing his own small hand in the hand of a prince makes Virgil blush just a little more. Roman’s holding his hand…

“Alright, time for your other hand, storm cloud.” Roman speaks again, cutting Virgil out his thoughts.

Virgil wills himself to calm down, hoping Roman hadn’t noticed that he had been daydreaming a bit. He looks at his painted nails and hums in approval.

“Not bad, Princey. I love it.” the anxious side hums.

“I’m glad. Make sure to let it dry.” Roman replies, a proud smile tugging at his lips.

            Virgil nods, finding the proud smile on Roman’s face a little cute. He watches as Roman paints his other hand. This feels nice, being close to Roman again and spending time with him. He feels warm inside and as relaxed as an anxious side could be. He gazes at Roman once again and oddly feels fond, seeing the prince just as relaxed. He’s seen the poor thing overly stressed out many times before. Seeing Roman happy again brings back that warm feeling in the anxious side’s tummy.

            Roman, however, doesn’t notice the purple fading in under Virgil’s eyes again. The tip of his tongue pokes out of his lips as he concentrates on finishing up Virgil’s nails. Once the last nail is painted, Roman lets Virgil go and admires the work he’s done. He wonder if Virgil will let him do this again…and maybe hold his hands a little more.

“So, how do you like them, little bat?” the princely side asks after a moment of silence.

Virgil inspects his nails and nods. He usually isn’t into pastels but…Roman made it look good on him.

“It’s perfect, princey. I actually kinda dig it.”

Roman beams and bounces in his spot.

“Of course! You only deserve the best for keeping us safe, stormy knight.”

“Thanks, Ro.” Virgil blushes, feeling a little brave. “Can…Can I do your nails too?”

“I’d be honored! Pick out a color for me?”

“Sure. Sit tight and keep being pretty, yeah?”

Roman grins.

“I can do that!”

            As Virgil turns to pick out a color from the box, Roman leans forward to try and catch a glimpse of the anxious side’s eyeshadow. No purple again. Pushing his disappointment down, Roman decides not to give up. He tells himself that at least he gets to spend more time with Virgil. For now, Roman decides to enjoy the moment and fiddles with Virgil’s phone to pick a new song. The prince doesn’t notice Virgil looking his way and his purple eyeshadow faintly shimmering.

5.

            After spending so much time with Roman and just feeling good, Virgil knew it would come to an end. He had been in a good mood since they’d been spending more and more time together. However, being the embodiment of anxiety also means Virgil can’t always stay relaxed. There’s always something happening with the other sides or Thomas himself. It slowly makes this ball of pressure grow in Virgil’s chest. His lungs feel tight. His throat feels dry and he’s not sure if that’s coming from the anxiety attack he’s having or because he’s just that terrible at hydration. The purple side lives off of Caprisuns after all.

            With his breath hitching, Virgil tries to do the breathing exercises that Logan taught him but he’s too shaky. He can’t focus on anything. His eyeshadow grows darker and darker. The anxious side swallows and sits up in bed, searching for his headphones. Music usually helps him calm down a bit. Shaky hands grab at the messy blanket, tossing it aside as Virgil frantically searches for it. It’s not there. Virgil’s breath hitches again and he searches under his pillow next. His emergency flashlight and an empty chip bag is all he finds. No headphones though.

            Biting his lip, Virgil tries to focus on his breathing again but all this pressure inside and the effects of his room are not helping. The anxious side’s breaths quicken and he falls back down on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind whirls with more and more thoughts about the others and Thomas. As Virgil starts to fall, there’s a knock on the door that the purple side doesn’t hear. The knock comes again a moment later. Then once more right after that and-

“-gil? Virgil? Are you in there? I was thinking we could do something together again. Virgil?”

Virgil tries to catch his breath, swallowing again as his head starts to spin.

Knock knock!

“Are you okay in there, stormy knight? If you’re not, I’m coming in!”

Then it’s quiet for a moment before-

“Okay, you’re not answering so I’m coming in, emo nightmare!”

            A loud bang than startles Virgil and before he knows it, a bright red sash and pristine white jacket is sitting in front of him. He looks up to see Roman’s worried face, the eyeshadow already fading in on his tan skin. The purple side feels his heart pound again and he watches as Roman winces before shaking his head clear. Only an idiot like him would come to his room and stay despite knowing how it is.

“Hi there, little bat. Another one of those days, huh?” Roman speaks, his voice a little muffled to Virgil’s ears.

Virgil manages a nod though.

“That really sucks. You want to come to my room, take a break until yours calms down a bit?” Roman asks next, offering his hand. The polish on his nails from last month still looks pristine.

Virgil then looks up at Roman. The princely side almost looks like a lighthouse in the darkness of this room. It makes Virgil want to follow. He takes Roman’s hand and nods, squeezing it. He almost wants to cry when Roman helps him stand and leads him out of his bedroom, the heavy feeling diminishing as he steps through the threshold. The door then closes behind him. With a sigh, the anxious side lets himself be led to Roman’s room.

Before he knows it, Virgil is sitting down on Roman’s soft, satin sheets. Roman himself sits across from him, still holding his hand. He can feel the callouses and small scars on the prince’s hand, trying to focus on that instead of his still swirling thoughts.

“Feel any better?” Roman asks.

Virgil shrugs, still struggling for words.

“Oh. That bad, huh? Did Logan’s breathing stuff not help?”

Virgil shakes his head, leaning against Roman.

“Do you…wanna talk about it? I can get your journal too if you want.”

Virgil shakes his head once more, grabbing Roman’s hand and squeezing it tightly.

“Alright, alright. I’m not going anywhere, little bat.” Roman chuckles, squeezing back. “You know I’m always here for you. If I could, I’d slay your monsters too.”

It’s quiet for a moment before-

“Oh! I know what might help. They’re not your usual headphones but I have your earbuds. You left them here when we did our nails and I forgot to give them back. They’re on my desk. If you let me go, I can grab them and we can listen to some music. Would that help?”

Virgil thinks for a moment before nodding, hesitantly letting Roman’s hand go.

“I’ll only be a moment, stormy night. Why don’t you count how many stars I have in my room while you wait, hm?” Roman replies before getting up to get Virgil’s earbuds and untangle them again.

The anxious side blinks before starting to count, his breath slowing down bit by bit with each star. Three drawn on Roman’s corkboard. One on one of Roman’s binders on the shelf. Four hanging on Roman’s nightstand though Virgil could’ve sworn there was one more there. Another one on Roman’s bathroom door. It has a little crown on it. Two more on the end of Roman’s sparkly pens. Another three hanging off of a bracelet. One more-

“I’ve got the earbuds, Virgil. Can I see your phone?” Roman appears.

-In front of Virgil.

“Y-Yeah, here. Thanks for the distraction by the way.” Virgil finally speaks, fishing his phone out of his pocket and handing it to the princely side.

“Of course! I know it doesn’t always work but I figured I’d try. After our rocky start, I realized I wasn’t very fair to you.” Roman replies, taking Virgil’s phone. “You carry a heavy weight on your shoulders, being Thomas’ anxiety but I never thought about how it affected you too. Honestly, without you, we all wouldn’t be here today. That’s why I always call you our stormy knight.”

            Virgil finds himself blushing a bit that, the black under his eyes slowly melting away. There’s a hint of purple there that Roman misses again. The purple side can’t help it. Roman always made him feel a little safer. The princely side can’t silence his thoughts forever but he always seemed to quiet them down for the time being. Even his body is starting to settle down a bit, the shaking in his clammy heads now just a few light twitches. Wanting more of that safety, Virgil scoots just a little closer to Roman and leans forward to watch him pick a song.

“I thought you said you couldn’t slay my monsters, princey.” Virgil hums, fidgeting with the strings on his jacket.

“Hm? I can’t. They’re not physical.” Roman replies, blinking in confusion.

The purple side laughs a little.

“They’re not, you dork. But you did anyways. Sometimes these stupid anxious thoughts plague my mind constantly and it’s a bitch to fight them off alone. So, in a way, you did. Someone has to protect the knight, right?”

“Oh. I guess I did. Well, as long as it helped you feel a little less stuck in there, I’m glad I could help!” Roman beams proudly. “Now, did you see any music you wanted to listen to?”

Virgil hums.

“I did. As long as you don’t mind some more classical music.”

“Not at all!”

            With that, Virgil plugs the earbuds in, handing one bud to Roman. He and Roman put them on as the purple side hits play. Classical music then fills both their ears and Virgil leans back against Roman’s large pile of pillows to relax, smiling a bit when Roman dims the lights and lays beside him. Despite having done this together before, Virgil blushes in the dark. He always feels so warm, being close to Roman like this. He glances over and sees Roman, humming under his breath and staring up at the ceiling. The purple side feels his face grow warmer and he turns his gaze elsewhere, shifting awkwardly.

“You okay, little bat?” comes Roman’s voice a moment later.

Virgil blinks and is grateful that the lights are dim now. He’d be really embarrassed if Roman caught him staring like a creep.

“Y-Yeah, just a bit fidgety.” he answers instead.

“Oh! I don’t have any fidget toys but you can use my hand if it’ll help?” the princely side offers, holding it out to the purple side.

“U-Um, sure, thanks. Sorry if I’m a bit sweaty.” Virgil takes Roman’s hand, tugging at each finger and tracing the scars there.

“You’re alright, emo nightmare. You should see how Remus’ hands look after we spar.”

Virgil’s nose wrinkles as he laughs again.

“Gross.”

            Roman laughs along, glad that he could help the anxious side with his monsters. He knows those monsters will be back another day but he’ll always slay them again for Virgil. Smiling softly, Roman watches as Virgil runs his fingers over his palm. They twitch a little from the ticklish feeling but Roman doesn’t mind, feeling just as relaxed. He then glances at the purple side’s face. Oh, it’s too hard to tell if Virgil’s eyeshadow has changed under the dim lights. Roman shoves his disappointment down. At least Virgil’s feeling better now. For now, the princely side decides to take a break from his quest to see that lavender radiance on Virgil’s face.

+1

            After some attempts to get Virgil to shine for him, Roman had forfeited. He didn’t want to overwhelm his anxious friend anymore or make things any weirder than it already was. He didn’t want to seem clingy either. For today, Roman decided on going to the Imagination to give Virgil some space. The anxious side seemed to finally be in a good mood again so there weren’t any big monsters to slay in his head. That was good. Those days are much rarer than the heavy days for Virgil. The princely side didn’t want to take that away from Virgil.

            Smiling to himself, Roman hums as he waltzes around the kitchen. He usually visits the Imagination to slay some beasts, clean whatever mess Remus made for the day, or to do any small royal duties. Sometimes he went in there to get away from his creative duties when his inspiration ran dry or the work energy came to a halt. Other times, Roman ran off to his little realm to just be alone and catch his breath from all the heavy weight on his shoulders. Today, however, Roman just wanted to relax. A rare thing for him to do in the Imagination since it’s usually busy and noisy in there.

            Roman smiles as he packs a picnic basket, grabbing a jar of Crofters out of the fridge. He also grabs some bread from the pantry and wraps it up, adding it to the basket. He hums and checks the snack cabinet next. Surely, Virgil won’t mind if he took one of the smaller bags of chips he had. Roman grabs some sour cream and onion chips, tossing them into the picnic basket. As he continues to pack, he hears someone enter the kitchen.

“Oh, there you are, Ro.”

Roman blinks and turns to see Virgil, smiling when he sees his companion’s smile. The anxious side looks relaxed. That’s good.

“Need something before I go, little bat?” Roman asks, placing some chocolate candies in his basket.

Virgil saunters over, leaning against the counter to watch Roman.

“Wanted to see what you were up to, princey. What’s with the picnic basket?”

“Now that I have some time off and Janus is keeping Remus busy for today, I thought I’d enjoy the afternoon in the Imagination by having a picnic. I’ve always wanted to have one but I can never sit around. I think about work too much.” Roman explains, opening the fridge again.

“That’s fair. I’m honestly glad you’re taking a break, dude.” Virgil then rubs the back of his neck, shifting awkwardly. “I was wondering if…if I could come along too? If that’s not too weird? I don’t want to be stuck in my room all day and spiral again while I’m still in a good mood and- “

Roman laughs, patting Virgil’s arm to ease him.

“I’d love your company. Do you want to bring anything with you for the picnic? I’ve got bread, some jam, chocolate, and some chips I took from your stash. I’m just getting some drinks from the fridge.” he answers.

Virgil blinks then settles down, smiling sheepishly.

“O-Oh, uh, sure. I’ll get some chips too. Can you get me a drink?”

“Of course, stormy knight. But I’m not getting you Caprisun. You need proper hydration.”

“Says the prince of coffee. I still remember you threatening Logan when he finished the coffee before you got to it.

Roman splutters, face turning red.

“H-Hey! I needed my energy juice and Logan was hogging it!”

“Uh-huh. Sure, princey.”

            After more banter and laughing, the picnic basket was finally packed. Roman and Virgil had agreed on mango juice for drinks. They then retreated to Roman’s room where the princely side opened portal and now they’re walking through the Enchanted Forest. It’s peaceful as usual, a gentle breeze keeping them cool while the birds sang them their songs.

            Roman hums along with the birds and leads the way. He feels happy, having Virgil join him today. Sure, he would’ve been content to let Virgil mellow out and relax while he can but it also feels nice to have him here. Though he does tell himself not to try with Virgil’s eyeshadow anymore. He’s probably overwhelmed the poor thing enough. Instead, Roman keeps humming and walking along.

“I’m surprised Remus hasn’t popped up yet or that the Dragon Witch is actually just chilling somewhere.” Virgil breaks the silence a moment later. “It’s…really nice. Then again, I don’t know. Your birds could team up and eat me.”

Roman huffs a laugh.

“The birds are friendly, Virgil. I assure you they won’t peck your pretty face off.” he chuckles, waving to some birds. “As for the dragon witch, she has her days off too and we respect those. As for Remus, I had to bribe Janus to keep him busy so I could enjoy my time off.”

“Huh. Well, I guess that’s assuring.” Virgil hums. “No snakes or rats to bother us.”

“Exactly. Still, I’m glad you’re here, emo nightmare.”

“Y-Yeah, I like it here too. When I’m with you too, of course.” Virgil replies, blushing.

Roman grins at that before perking up.

“Oh, we’re almost there!” he exclaims, walking faster.

“Princey, don’t just run off, you idiot!” the anxious side follows after him.

            Roman leads them through some trees and into a clearing. He brought Virgil here once to help him get away from his room when it was becoming too much and then another time when Roman wanted to get away from his work. They went a few more times when they wanted to hide away for a bit. This clearing had become a special spot for the two of them. The princely side has refused to let anyone else into this place.

            The clearing isn’t too hidden in the forest but to Roman it feels that way. There’s something enchanting about the crystal blue lake in the center and the dragon flies zipping over the surface. There’s a family of ducks swimming by, quacking as they greet Roman. On the banks of the river are a pair of bunnies hopping by. A flock of hummingbirds pass over them and towards the purple flowers in the tall grass patch. A squirrel chatters as it greets Roman too before scurrying up a tree.

“I could never grow tired of this place, Ro. I still feel special, being the only one that’s seen it before.” Virgil hums, following the princely side.

Roman grins, waving to some bluejays that fly up to their tree nearby.

“To be honest, I don’t trust anyone else with this place. It’s not much but it does mean a lot to me.” he answers.

“Yeah, that’s understandable. Even then, it’s cool getting to hang out here with just you.” Virgil nods, flustered as his eyeshadow starts to lighten up. “So, where’s our picnic grounds?”

“Right over here, little bat.”

            Roman then stops in the middle of a small, grassy meadow by the pond. Little daisies and other flowers surrounded them but the middle is just grass, leaving a space where the wildlife wouldn’t be too disturbed by their presence. With a happy hum, Roman waves his hand and summons a large, soft picnic blanket. It’s already spread out and the picnic basket is set down on top of it. The princely side then sits down, mindful of his boots.

“Come on, frightening bug. It’s comfy!” Roman calls, patting the space beside him.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m here.” Virgil roll his eyes as he sits down, mindful of his sneakers too.

Roman smiles then opens up the picnic basket.

“Shall we feast?” he asks, mouth already watering as he eyes the jam jar inside.

“Sure, princey. Give me some bread and jam.”

            With that, Roman and Virgil make some jam sandwiches and split some chocolate candies. Roman hands out the drinks and Virgil gets their chips out. It’s a lovely picnic between the two of them. As they eat and pass the food between each other, Roman told stories of his adventures and some juicy gossip he heard from Janus. Virgil happily listened along and threw in some banter, laughing along with prince.

            Soon, they finish up their snacks and sit together in silence, listening to the chirping birds. Virgil then steals a glance at Roman. The princely side looks almost consent save for that frown on his face. He had noticed it before but never said anything about it. The anxious side knows that Roman has personal things he’s going through. Poor guy.

Virgil nudges Roman’s shoulder out of concern.

“Are you okay, princey? You look bummed out.” the anxious side starts.

Roman tears his gaze away from the ducklings on the pond.

“Oh, it’s…it’s nothing. It’s ridiculous.” the prince shakes his head, sighing.

Virgil blinks and huffs.

“Dude. Do you want to summon Janus here?”

“Um, no?” Roman blinks back.

“Then talk to me, dumbass.”

Roman sighs once more, taking Virgil’s hand in his and squeezing it.

“Alright. It’s just…when we talked to Nico at the mall, you looked so happy accomplishing that. So happy that your eyeshadow was sparkling. Radiant. Beautiful.” he confesses. “I just wanted to see it again, little bat. Because it meant you were truly, truly happy. I thought if I made you shine, I’d also make up for the hurt I caused you back then. That’s why I was asking you to do things with me.”

Virgil is touched, gazing at Roman in awe. He finds himself feeling brave, reaching up and cupping the prince’s face. His heart pounds wildly in his chest.

“Roman…you’re an idiot. You didn’t have to do all of that. I’m flattered but all I needed was you. You make happy.” he admits in return, face flushed as his eyeshadow immediately brightens.

The anxious side then throws caution to the wind.

“I…I’m in love with you, you absolute oaf. I just didn’t want to give it away through my eyeshadow. It’s…It’s embarrassing that it does that when you’re around and it won’t go away for hours!”

Roman blinks and stares at Virgil for a bit before gasping and squealing.

“So, I made you shine after all! A-And you feel the same?!” he grins, “Oh, Virgil! I was so scared of ruining our friendship. I didn’t want you to think I was weird or creepy. Oh, I love you too, Virgil.”

“Heh.”

“W-What? Did I say something wrong?”

Virgil shakes his head, holding up Roman’s hand. Like the rest of the prince’s body, there’s a sparkling golden glow surrounding him.

“Look who’s shining now, shooting star.”

Roman’s eyes widen and he gazes down at his hands, flustering.

“I guess it’s embarrassing for me too. But…I think I don’t mind if it’s just with you.” he admits, admiring his own stardust skin. “Looks like you made me shine, mi brillante estrella~”

Virgil flusters more and pulls Roman close.

“Shut up and kiss me already, princey.”

“With pleasure.”

            With that, Roman pulls Virgil into a kiss as the sun starts to set. Roman’s glow keeps them out of the dark, its light calling the fireflies to come out of hiding. The princely side, however, only cares about the firefly in front of him. His little frightening bug. After all this time, Roman did get to see him shine for him. Just for him. Roman then pulls away to let them both breathe, cupping Virgil’s face to see Virgil shining brighter than ever. Virgil smiles back at him and Roman cherishes it, feeling special knowing only he can bring this out.

“What?”

Roman smiles, caressing Virgil’s cheek.

“Oh, don’t mind me. I’m just…stargazing, mi estrella.”

“Hmm…I guess I am too, shooting star.”