AN: thank you @Isabel3710 for this idea. i'm also combining it with Blue_Spider_Offical idea and i hope that's ok. alright, hope y'all enjoy.
Virgil & Roman-10
Remus-14

TW: two cuss words, mentions of panic and intrusive thoughts, mentions of drugs

"Virgil, are you sure you wanna do this?" Patton asked as he turned around and looked at the three boys in the backseat. Remus and Roman of course were hand in hand. Roman refused to leave his brothers side whenever Remus had visitations.

"Of course he does! He doesn't want to be a wimp now, does he," Remus taunted, an annoying edge in his tone. Virgil looked up at Patton and smiled, he was used to Remus being borderline rude. He knew it was supposed to be a joke when Roman and Remus had dared him to get his ear pierced, but that didn't mean he was going to pass up the opportunity to show them that he could be brave when he wanted to be.

"Yeah Dad. I wanna do this." Patton smiled and and turned off the car with a small laugh.

"Alrighty Vee. If this is what you want, you're old enough and I support you all the way." The three boys unbuckled and climbed out of the backseat, closing the doors behind themselves.

"Are you going to get one Romano," Remus asked as he looked into the car window and smudged his purple eye shadow even more than it already was. "I know I am." Patton locked the car and turned to face Remus with a concerned smile. He had known Remus long enough to know that this wasn't going to be your run of the mill ear piercing.

"Oh, are you sure the parents you're staying with right now would appr-"

"They're not my actual parents," Remus spat as he grabbed Roman's hand again. "They're only keeping me to look good and for the paycheck. No one wants to actually adopt me." Patton sighed in defeat and looked down at the teenager.

"Remus, I-"

"I understand that you guys can't take another child in at the moment Mr. Sanders, don't get your panties in a twist." Patton nodded and wondered how such a chaotic child could also be so wise.

"I just don't want Linda and James to be upset." Remus let out an almost maniacal laugh and looked over at Roman who seemed sad and uncomfortable.

"Like they actually care."

"They probably do Remus."

"I'm just a paycheck to them.." Remus's face finally showed how he truly felt, but he quickly shook it off and shrugged with a small smirk. "But whatever am I right? Let's go have some fun Verge." The three boys started walking away, and Roman seemed more comfortable again now that Remus seemed to be in a better mood and more calm at the same time.

"Hey R-Remus," Virgil whispered as he scooted closer to the older boy. When Remus wasn't being completely crazy Virgil actually looked up to him a lot.

"Yes my dear pal?"

"I uh, I kinda understand what you're going through. And I'm so sorry." Remus looked down at the shorter child and felt tears come to his eyes.

"Aw Vee, you're gonna make me mess up my makeup." Remus held out his free hand to Virgil and the boy gladly took it as they headed into the mall. "But thanks kid, it means a lot."

///

"Y-You're not even a little scared," Virgil questioned as he climbed into the seat next to Remus's. Remus had already shown Virgil a picture of what his two piercings would look like. One on his bottom lip, and one in his left eyebrow. Patton hadn't approved of the eyebrow one, but knew better than to start a debate in public with the rambunctious teen.

"No way, why be scared? Just live in the moment and look forward to how badass-"

"Language Remus!"

"Sorry Mr. Sanders. Why be scared when you can look forward to how cool you're gonna look." Roman looked up from the pamphlet he was looking at and smirked.

"You're both gonna look like you work at Hot Topic."

"Is that supposed to be an insult princey," Remus joined in as he closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair.

"It's only an insult if you're offended by it Dukey." Remus started laughing so hard his whole face was red and tears were forming in his eyes.

"Dukey," Roman also laughed as loudly and soon Patton peaked away from the conversation he was having with the lady who was going to do the piercings and smiled fondly. He wished Remus was always like this. Happy, sane and sober.

"Alright boys," the lady said as she followed Patton's gaze. "Are we ready?"

///

"Damn-"

"Language!"

"Sorry! Dang we look fly as heck Vee." Remy took a smart phone out of his back pocket and turned the camera on. As they both stared at the reflections in the screen, Virgil almost laughed.

"We do look like we work at hot topic." Remus snorted and snapped the picture while they both had natural smiles on their faces.

"Well, I gotta go to work dudes." Remus pocketed his phone and messed with the ring in his eyebrow.

"Work," Virgil questioned as he ran his hand through his long bangs. "I uh..Didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did get fired, but that was the other job and my boss was an as-" Remus glanced over into the kitchen at Patton and smiled. "Asset that society did not need. So I went out and got a different one." Roman came into the dining room and frowned.

"You're..You have to leave?" Remus sighed ans stood up.

"Romano, I have to go kid. You know I'll be back soon though."

"Why can't you just stay with us," Roman sobbed as ha latched onto Remus. "You're more than a paycheck here. We all love you." Remus felt tears in his own eyes, but pushed them away. He knew repressing his emotions now would probably lead to an episode at work, but Roman needed him to be strong.

"Listen to me kid," he whispered before kneeling down and cupping Roman's cheek in his hand. "Right now, your parents can't afford another kid..Especially not..Especially not someone like me."

"I don't care!"

"Roman..I have to go back and I have to go to work." Roman sobbed again and clung to Remus's shirt as if he could make him stay. "Virgil?" The small child who was still close by hummed and gently pulled Roman away, embracing him the whole time. "Take care of him for me...You're a good kid and a good brother Vee." Virgil's eyes also filled with tears as Remus ruffled his hair. "Be what I can't be for him, okay?"

"I-I'll try." Remus nodded and gave Patton a small goodbye before heading out the door and starting the long walk to a local fast food joint. The second he was out the door he could feel panic and negativity storming in the back of his mind. Why did he even go to work? Things wouldn't get better and the money was just going towards his addiction anyways. He stopped in the middle of the road, his thought screaming what if someone just hit you right now?! Wouldn't that be funny?! He looked back at the house he had just come from and almost considered going back to get Patton. But he couldn't do that to the two younger children. So instead he moved farther down the road until he was almost in town and sat down in a dark park, he was too tired to swim through his thoughts. So for the first time in a couple of nights, he let his thoughts win.