TW: mentions of throwing up, panic attacks

Remy had stopped throwing up about four hours earlier, but Virgil was waiting. Waiting to hear the creak of their mattress, waiting for Remy's footsteps to echo through their bedroom as he ran to the bathroom for what felt like the millionth time. 

All he could think about was Remy, how his stomach would probably still be cramping for days to come. How he hadn't been able to eat anything but cheerios for almost 24 hours. 

The chills

The vomit

The pain 

The thoughts mixed together in his mind into one swirling feeling of unease and pain. Even as his fiancé slept soundly beside him. He felt like he was reaching a breaking point. He needed someone, anyone to tell him that Remy was going to be okay. 

That he was going to be okay. 

---

"Verge? Are you okay? God damn, what time is it?"

"I'm sorry to wake you up," Virgil whispered as he crept to the living room, pressing his phone closer to his ear. "I just-"

"Virgil, take a deep breath okay? I literally just woke up and you're talking about a gazillion words per second." Roman yawned and sat up in his bed, reaching for the glasses on his nightstand before glancing at his alarm clock. "Verge, it's four in the morning, what's wrong? Did you get sick again?"

Virgil shook his head as he felt a large lump form in his throat, there was nothing he could do to stop his tears. "I'm not sick."

"Are you crying?" Silence fell between the two brothers as Roman pushed away his comforter and scooted towards the edge of the bed, trying to not wake Emile. 

"No...No no, not yet. I'm trying not to...Again." Roman got up from his bed, sliding on a sweater before heading out into the kitchen. "I just, I feel like a basket case for calling you about this."

"You're not a basket case Verge, I mean not yet. Please tell me you haven't completely lost it."

"I feel like I probably have," Virgil felt like he could breathe a little better with Roman on the phone, "I don't even know how to really explain what I'm feeling to you without sounding completely illogical." He shook his bangs out of his face and plopped onto the couch with a loud sigh. "I haven't felt like this in so long." 

"I'm not trying to interrupt or sound rude Verge, but I have no idea what you're feeling right now. But I'm here for you no matter what, I just want to support you," Roman responded calmly as he dug through his pantry, absentmindedly looking for something to snack on. "Take as much time as you need, I'm just seeing if we have anything to munch on." 

Virgil grimaced, and started picking at a loose string on his t-shirt. "Sorry to wake you up R-"

"No need for sorry. I know you'd do the same for me, and you have. Over and over again." Roman smirked as he pulled out a box of Lucky Charms, "You have done the same for me multiple times. Remember that one time I called you because I couldn't figure out how to change the batteries on my smoke alarm?"

Virgil choked back as laugh and took his first deep breath in hours. "I totally forgot about that to be honest. Didn't I end up driving over to do it for you?"

"Yes," Roman practically shouted, "I just could not  understand what you were saying. My running theory is that the constant beeping actually caused brain damage." Virgil did actually laugh at that. 

"Maybe we're both basket cases Romano."

"You better not ever tell Father the smoke alarm story by the way. That breaks bro code." 

"Your secret is safe. Don't worry." Neither of them spoke for a moment, a from miles apart, Roman felt his stomach sink. It was calls like this that made him realize how much he missed living in the same house as his brother, he had never thought about the fact that they would never live in the same space again when he moved out a couple of years ago. 

"As much as I love re-visiting my stupidity Verge, what's going on," he asked, pushing away the feeling to be discussed at a different time. 

Virgil ran his free hand through his hair and shook his head. "Remy...Remy got sick a couple days after I did."

Roman couldn't help but lower his brows with confusion, "I mean, you two do share the same space. It was kind of inevitable. There's no reason to feel bad if that's what's happening."

"No that's...That's not what's wrong."

"Are you a germaphobe all the sudden?"

"No, that's not it either...I don't know." Virgil moved on the couch so he was laying on his back, and lifted one hand towards the ceiling. "I'm not scared I'm going to get sick again. And I'm not even scared that Remy is sick because I know it's just a day long bug. He's already been vomit free for about," Virgil paused as he pulled his phone away from his ear to check the time, "Four hours and 28 minutes."

"Wow, ok. Tracking the minutes?"

"Yeah...I know." Roman paused his snacking and shook his head. 

"I'm sorry Virgil. I'm not understanding what the problem is if he's feeling better, and you're not scared of getting sick again. You said you're not scared because he's sick either?"

Virgil nodded his head, and then remembered Roman couldn't see him. "I guess I'm just scared because he's suffering." 

"I mean, I understand empathizing with that. But I don't understand what there is to be afraid of?"

"Because I can't," Virgil felt hot tears welling in his eyes again, and wiped them away angrily. Trying to keep it together enough to try and verbalize what he was feeling. "I can't..I-I can't help. I can't help and it's my-my..He's my-I-"

"Virgil," Roman whispered softly, "Please breathe. Everyone is ok. And both of you are safe in this moment." He heard Virgil try to take in a deep breath, but it was sharp and ragged. "Both you and Remy are safe. Where are you?"

"My...Our apartment."

"Name five things you can feel." Virgil ran his hand over the couch covers, a throw pillow, the carpet, a lego set sitting on their coffee table and his hair. "Good job Verge. You're scared you can't help Remy. I understand that. It is horrible seeing the one's you love go through what you know feels horrible. But he is better, it was temporary."

"What do I do," Virgil's voice cracked, hoarse from the on and off tears the past day. "What do I do to help him?"

"I'm sure you did everything you could Virgil. Some things just need time to run their course. And I'm sure he just needed to stay hydrated, fed and rest as much as he could." Virgil nodded and stood up, pacing the living room and focusing on his breathing. "No one is expecting you to be a miracle worker and fix them the second they feel slightly ill."

"I don't want to be a miracle worker, I just." Virgil shook his head and laughed. "I guess I am actually....If I could transfer his pain to myself, I would."

"He wouldn't want that for you. You're right though, you're the only one putting these unrealistic expectations from yourself." Roman closed the bag of cereal and frowned as he placed it back in the pantry. "I don't really know how else to help Verge. Have you thought about talking to Dad?"

"I was going to call him in the morning." 

"I think that would be a good idea....Are you needing to stay on the phone for a while? I can, but it sounds like you've had quite the week. And I think some sleep would help." 

"I think you're right...I'm exhausted."

"You can always call back if you need me again," Roman reassured. 

"I know Romano. Always my knight in shining armor." Roman chuckled, shaking his head at the saying. "Since we were little...."

"I miss you Virgil." 

"I miss you too Roman....Only a couple of weeks until Thanksgiving break. And we'll all be in the same town again." Roman nodded, and felt a tear slip down his cheek. "I'll call you again soon, at a more reasonable time."

"Yeah? I would like that...My normal business hours are 11 am to 9 pm, tonight is going to cost you extra." Virgil gasped dramatically, and threw a hand over his heart. 

"Please no! I'm just a broke college student already drowning in debt. If I have to pay you more, how will I afford my ramen this week?" Roman laughed, and quickly clasped his hand over his mouth when he remembered Emile was fast asleep in their bedroom. 

"I guess this first one can be on the house. But don't come to expect it young one." Virgil also suppressed his laughter, and took a big breath. 

"I feel so much better Romano. Thank you."

"No problem Verge...Tell Remy I hope he continues feeling better."

"I will...I love you princey."

"Love you to basket case." Roman hung up before Virgil could even retaliate.

AN: 

Hello! Thank you for reading this far, I was not planning on making a part 3, but I think I want to make a cute/fluff follow up story with Virgil and Remy. I kind of got carried away in the brotherly love, so part three will be up soon(ish). 

I am trying to be more active on here because I am currently working on an actual novel idea I've had for a while, but I am going to use this as a way to warm-up and practice. So let me know if you have any ideas!! 

Thank you for any and all of your support.

-Talented_trash