TW: Brief suicidal thoughts

Logan's car pulled up to Remy's house.

Roman was the first one inside. "Hey, Lo." He greeted as the rest of them piled in after him.

Even though it hadn't been long since Logan dropped them off, he looked like he had gone through a war in the time he'd been gone. Virgil could see how his eyes were red rimmed and puffy, his mouth pulled into a frown.

Logan sighed. "I'm really sorry I ruined your night." He mumbled, voice trembling so subtly, it could've just been Virgil's imagination. "It's just that, when I heard the news—"

"We understand, Lo." Patton quickly nodded. Roman had explained what was going on to Remus and Patton while they waited for Logan to arrive. Meanwhile, Virgil was busy ignoring the shadows that were hidden in the party's crowd. "You don't need to apologize."

Logan's eyes went distant, brow furrowing. "My thoughts just started spiraling. Why would someone do that to Janus?" He shook his head as his hands clenched into fists. "He was a gentle soul, though he put on a lot of bravado. Why would you wanna hurt someone like that?"

Virgil did his best to keep his face neutral, even though it wanted to twist up into a scowl. Janus was not a 'gentle soul'. At least, he never was with Virgil. He was callous and manipulative, one of the worst people Vee had ever met, which was saying something.

Remus sneered. "People can be cruel. Anyone who could hate Janus is a terrible person, in my book." His voice was filled to the brim with venom.

Virgil shifted in his seat, shrinking on himself. He couldn't exactly argue with that. He was a terrible person. The shadow in the rearview manner was enough to tell him that.

Logan grimaced, something sad in his expression. "I didn't think I could handle being alone." He murmured darkly. "I was shocked at first; I still am, really. But I know that shock usually leads to anger when it comes to me. I didn't want to do something I would regret."

Virgil blinked. He could relate to that, shock turning into anger. It's why they were in this whole mess in the first place, why Janus wasn't here instead of him.

"You did the right thing, Lo." Perfect, beautiful, amazing Roman assured him. "We all would've done the same."

Logan started the car, placing his hands on the wheel. "My father told me that the culprit most likely broke into Janus' room while he was sleeping. They found that the window was unlocked. Janus...he didn't like his window open." He shook his head as he began to pull out of Remy's driveway. "There were no fingerprints on there, though. The killer most likely wiped them off."

Patton Libum, delicate as he was, looked like he could cry as he brought his hands up to cup his mouth. "They killed him in his sleep...? That's...horrific..."

Virgil glanced out the window. He didn't think Janus was sleeping. Not with how fast he jumped up and shoved Vee away. He probably had heard him enter through the window, which wasn't unlocked. Not until he stuck his hand in. Honestly, it probably would've been easier on Orm if he had been asleep, less painful.

Logan steeled himself. "If they killed him in his sleep, it was probably premeditated. Janus probably woke up at one point, there's no way he would be able to sleep through a razor piercing his skin."

Virgil hummed. That was true. Scratch what he said about it being less painful, then.

Remus looked vaguely nauseous. "That means there might've been a struggle." He murmured.

Logan nodded as he made a turn. "Exactly. But I doubt it lasted long. Janus probably saw the face of his killer before he died."

That part was true.

"Pryder?!" He harshly whispered. "What are you doing in my house?!"

There was an expression of rising horror plastered on Roman's elegant features. "Who could do something so...terrible...?" He asked. "To plan someone's death...I couldn't even imagine doing such a thing..."

About a month ago, Virgil probably would've said the same. That was before Roman walked into his life, all red hair and pretty smiles. Planning to get rid of the person who wanted to steal him proved to be remarkably easy.

"Someone who obviously had a grudge." Logan growled, glaring at the road. There was a pointed edge to his voice, though Virgil didn't know if he'd imagined it or not. His hands were trembling where they rested on the wheel.

A pit began to settle in his stomach, as he studied Logan Berry's face. "You have someone in mind?" He asked lowly as he crossed his arms, ignoring the phantom sound of laughter that seemed to be playing in the back of his mind.

Logan didn't respond, face pulling into a look of what could only be thinly-veiled fear.

The others exchanged a glance. "...do you have someone in mind, Lo?" Patton asked hesitantly.

Logan looked like he was in physical pain. "I..do. I do." He grit out after a few moments. "It's only a suspicion, though. There's no evidence pointing towards them."

Logan briefly glanced up at the rearview mirror.

His piercing gaze had been pinned directly on Virgil.

It felt like all the air was suddenly stolen from his lungs, and he felt all his muscles go stiff instinctively. The laughing in the back of his head grew louder as his heart began to pound violently in his chest.

"Who do you suspect?" Remus asked, though his voice barely registered in Virgil's ears. When the words processed in his brain, he suddenly found himself desperate to hear the answer to that question.

Logan just shook his head, keeping his eyes carefully fixed on the road. "I shouldn't get into it. Especially when it's just a hunch..." He looked back at the mirror, back at Virgil. "I'm fairly certain my logic is sound, however."

He knows.

HeknowsHeknowsHeknowsHeknows—

No, no, NO!

Logan could ruin everything. He couldn't let the four-eyes poison Roman against him, not after what he'd done to keep them together. He had been so careful. How had he even figured it out?

But Logan was afraid. Afraid of Virgil. He could work with this. Logan saw him as some sort of villain, right? He could play along with that. He could be the bad guy.

Virgil carefully put an expression of concern on his face. "Is that so?" He asked, keeping his voice as steady as he possibly could. "I wouldn't want you to jump to conclusions, Lo. Harboring resentment towards someone for no reason seems...highly unproductive."

A threat. A vague one, but it got his message across.

Logan went pale, before his glare on the road intensified. "I don't know if there's no reason, necessarily." He grumbled. "I have good reason to suspect this person."

Good reason? What good reason? What could possibly have tipped Logan off? "Still, without a proper basis..." He needed Logan to back off. So, he kept pushing. "I mean, Janus harbored resentment towards me for no reason, yes? And you saw what happen—"

"You shut your fucking—" Logan hissed, before cutting himself off and taking a breath. His fists clenched and unclenched on the wheel. "Be that as it may, the person I have in mind has a clear motive."

Ah. Motive. So that's what tipped Logan off. Big, bad Virgil finally getting rid of his biggest nuisance, huh?

Well, that was wrong. Susan was still alive and well.

And Janus hadn't just been a nuisance or a rival or whatever they thought he was to Virgil. Janus had been a threat. Virgil was acting in his own best interest. In Roman's best interest.

Now, it was beginning to look like he had a new threat to take care of.

The laughter in his head was deafening now.

"Your reasoning is pretty shaky, Lo." He shook his head solemnly. "Don't you think you should reconsider?"

Logan plastered an incredibly fake smile on his face. "Virgil?" He asked innocently. "What's your address?"

Virgil bristled. "I'm sorry?" He raised a brow.

Logan's smile brightened even more, unnatural and unsettling, but not as much as the twisted grin he'd become familiar with. "I'm gonna drop you all off. I figured I should start with you." He chirped.

He wanted to get rid of him. Why? So he could spit poison into Roman's ears? Make all of Virgil's hard work for nothing?

Why did everyone try to take Virgil's happiness away?

He huffed, but gave Logan his address.

The rest of the car ride was silent. When he glanced over at Roman, he could almost see the gear's turning in his beautiful mind. Not only had Logan stuck his nose where it didn't belong, but he was actively trying to get Roman to turn against him.

He had thought that Logan Berry was different from Janus, but it turns out they were the same. Two people who were so miserable that they needed to take out their pain on someone else.

And Virgil was the perfect target.

Maybe he would keep playing the bad guy.

Maybe then Logan would know to stop.

Logan pulled the car into Virgil's driveway. "We're here!" He chirped.

He didn't want to leave Roman here with him. Who knew what Logan would say? There was little he could do, though, so he just stepped out of the vehicle.

"I'll call you later, Ro." He told the heavenly boy, giving him a smile. His grin tightened as he turned to Logan. "And Logan, I really think you should drop it. You don't know what might happen if you pursue this."

Virgil knew what would happen.

He would get caught, and he would never see Roman again.

So, he couldn't get caught.

Logan just blinked innocently at him. "What are you implying, Pryder?"

Virgil grit his teeth. "Nothing, nothing." He shook his head. Fine, then. He'd need to find some other way to keep Logan's mouth shut. "Goodnight, everyone."

He turned, and walked into his house.

—

Logan, Logan, Logan...

What was he telling Roman now that Virgil was gone?

"Your boyfriend is a killer, Roman. Didn't we tell you he was bad news?"

"He's always been a poison to those around him, it seems he finally claimed a life."

"Pathetic, isn't he? Just like we told you. He's lashing out like a little brat."

Virgil gripped his hair in his fists. How could Logan do this to him? He'd been there, watching Janus torment him for years. Couldn't he see what this was? He was sticking up for himself for once, getting rid of the one person who seemed to constantly be plotting his downfall.

He should've known. He should've known.

Like it or not, his relationship with Janus had been common knowledge at their school. It was only a matter of time before someone connected the dots, and Logan Berry, the boy who was on track to be valedictorian, would clearly be able to do it.

He'd been so stupid. He should've covered his tracks better. Stupid.

Virgil burst into tears, sobbing as he pulled at his hair painfully. He couldn't lose Roman. He would rather die than be without him. The rest of his life wouldn't be worth living without his red haired angel.

If Roman were to leave him, he'd end it all.

If Roman were to be taken from him, he'd fight through hell just to get him back.

He was in love. This was love, fierce and strong, that kept his chest beating.

The word 'love' wasn't even enough to describe how he felt about Roman. He couldn't be without him. He needed him. Nothing would ever be as important as Roman was. Why could no one see that?

Maybe if he could explain that to Logan, he'd understand.

Virgil pulled out his phone, quickly finding Logan on social media and sending him a quick message.

can we talk?

A/N:

WOOOOOOOO