Virgil woke up to the smell of bacon being cooked. His body felt a little sore, but he also felt comfortable at the same time. He was warm, and it felt like a blanket had been placed over him in his sleep. He moved his hand around to find that there was in fact a blanket on him. His eyes slowly fluttered open. He looked around the room without sitting up. Hmm this isn’t his room. He realized with a start that he wasn’t in is room. He was in the living room.

“Huh, I guess Patton put a blanket on.” Virgil mused to himself.

“No actually Patton hasn’t been in the living room yet this morning.” Someone said sitting on the chair nearby. Virgil bolted up from where he was laying and looked at the source. His vision was still blurry from sleep and couldn’t make out who it was.

“Who are you?” Virgil asked in terror.

“You can’t even remember the face of the man whose lap you fell asleep on, and may i just say my legs still hurt from them falling asleep.” The blob said indignantly.

Virgil rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands and blinked hard trying to erase the sleep from them. Finally the blob turned into a very dramatic person. With that the memories of what had happened last night came crashing down on Virgil. Making him blush brightly. “Um, Sorry?” He said more as a question than an actual apology.

Roman shrugged indifferently, “Ehh, no harm done.”

Virgil huffed. “Then why the drama?!”

Roman gave him a lopsided grin, “I enjoy messing with people when there half asleep.” Roman thought back to the manny times he had tormented Logan before he was fully awake.

Virgil was going to say something in response when a cheerful laugh came from the kitchen. Virgil eyebrows knitted together. Wasn’t Patton crying the last time he had seen him. He was happy again. He wanted  see that. He needed to see that. So he dropped the previous conversation and threw off the blanket that had been placed over him and dashed into the kitchen.

Patton was standing in front of the stove humming contently wearing his favorite Kiss The Cook apron, as he stirred some bacon. Upon seeing Patton so content, Virgil let out a sigh of relief. He was back to his normal self. It was like yesterdays meltdown had only been a horrible nightmare.

Patton looked over his shoulder at hearing the small sound and smiled brightly. “Heyya Kiddo! How ya doing?” Patton chirped happily. “You sleep well?:”

Virgil pause thinking on it, “I did actually.” He said surprised. He couldn’t remember the last time, he had slept through a whole night. Most nights he woke up screaming in terror, or he kept himself awake not sleeping at all.  “How are you doing Pat?” Virgil decided to focus on Patton.

“I am doing great. Logan took good care of me! I must have dozed off after…” Patton trailed off. “...after what happened. So Logan here carried me up to my bed. Isn’t that so nice Virgil?” Patton, despite directing the question at Virgil had turned his head to look at Logan, amd smile fondly.

Logan looked indifferent, and shrugged.  “I simply assumed that you wouldn’t be able to sleep properly sitting up, and acted accordingly.” He said matter of factly.

Roman who had followed Virgil into the kitchen snorted. “Ya, sure.”

Patton looked between Logan and Roman looking confused. Virgil was not positive he knew what Roman ment, but he could see Logan spluttering and decided to come to the poor man's rescue. “Hey Patton. Bacon smells good. Careful you don’t burn it.”

Patton quickly turns back around to look at the bacon to see it was in fact getting extra crispy. He squealed and turned off the burner. “Haha, if I had burnt those it would have bacon my heart.” Virgil cringed at the horrible pun. Well, Patton seemed like he was back to normal.

But.

“Patton… um… I hate to ask… but… What happened last night? I am really worried about you.” YOU SHOULD BE. YOU MADE HIM LIKE THAT. Virgil tried to push pass the voice in his head.  “You’ve never just lost it like that.” IT WAS YOUR FAULT. IT IS ALWAYS YOUR FAULT. Virgil waited for Patton to respond. Patton looked around the room at the other three men.
“Roman, perhaps it would be a  good idea if we let these two have this conversation in private.” Logan said observing Patton’s distress.

Roman pouted because he wanted to know what had happened to Patton too, but knew that Logan was right. He nodded and reluctantly followed Logan out of the kitchen.

After they left, Virgil turned back around to Patton looking at him expectantly. Patton shifted uncomfortably. The chipper smile gone from his face. YOU UPSET PATTON AGAIN YOU IDIOT! Virgil all but flinched at the voice screaming at him in his head, but he had to find out what was bothering his friend. “Patton, please. Tell me what’s wrong.”

Patton thought for a minute. Clearly Virgil doesn’t remember the shadow creature that has been tormenting him. Patton had to make the decision on what would be best for Virgil. Should he tell him, and risk him blaming himself in some way for what was happening, or should Patton try to face this beast head on by himself?  Virgil has been through so much torment already. Patton could do this on his own. He can protect his friend. This was just another bully. Patton has dealt with bullies before. He would do anything to keep Virgil safe. “Nothing is wrong Virgil. I am all good.” Patton said pulling his brightest most chipper smile.

“You’re lying to me again. Why are you lying? You wouldn’t cry for no good reason Patton.” Virgil said.

“Really, kiddo I am fine I promise. I was just tired last night, and everyone just needs a good cry now and then...” Patton trailed off scrounging for a good excuse.

He doesn’t trust you. Virgil stalled at the voice in his head that wasn’t his, but being used to hearing voices elected to ignore the change. He is  clearly lying to you. Why would he lie to you unless he doesn’t trust you? What kind of friends don’t trust one another? Not a very good one. Virgil began to panic at this, since Patton wouldn’t lie to his friend.

“Stop lying to me.” Virgil muttered under his breath. Patton couldn’t quite hear what he said.

“What was that kiddo?”

“STOP LYING TO ME!” Virgil yelled. Patton immediately shrunk in on himself at this sudden loudness. “DON’T YOU TRUST ME!”  

“OF COURSE I DO!” Patton yelled his voice raising to meet Virgil’s.

Lies.

“THEN WHY? WHY WERE YOU CRYING?” Virgil demanded.

“I- I…” Patton scrambled for what he should say.

“TELL ME!”

“I CAN’T!” Patton screamed.

Virgil cast his eyes to the floor letting his bangs cover them. See he doesn’t trust you. He isn’t your friend. You are nothing to him. You have burdened him for too long.  He doesn’t want to even tell you anything anymore. He lost it last night because he is sick of you being a burden. Virgil was about to go into a full panic now. He didn’t want to lose Patton. He won’t tell you because he is too kind. Perhaps, Virgil we should repay his kindness. Virgil felt those words wrap around his heart and taking hold of it. Virgil felt warm and cold at the same time. He also felt one emotion. Anger.  

Virgil pulled his head up to look at Patton. Patton could of sworn he saw a yellow glint flash in his brown eyes as he glared at Patton.

“Fine don’t tell me. I couldn’t care less.” Virgil hissed. With that he turned headed for the stairs.

“Virgil?” Patton whimpered.

“What?” Virgil spat, but still didn’t turn around.

“I’m sorry.” Patton cried.

Virgil gave a humorless laugh. “Ya, so am I.” Patton felt hope swell in his heart. He could fix this. “I am sorry I am your friend.” With that Virgil ran away up the stairs disappearing into the darkness upstairs.

Patton felt his stomach drop, and his heart shatter. What had he done? He couldn’t fix this.

_______

Roman followed Logan into the living room and fell dramatically on the couch. “We are getting absolutely nowhere with this. My wings hurt from being strapped all night. I wish we could just be direct and get this over with.” Roman whined.  

Logan rolled his eyes. “Yes, be louder I don’t think they heard you.”

Roman shot up from the couch. “Was that sarcasm?” Roman said happily. “I am so proud.” Roman said clasping his hands under his chin. “Patton clearly has loosened a few of those tightly wound gears Mr. Robot.”

Logan looked at him indignantly, but Roman could see a light blush under the rims of his glasses. “I have no clue as to what you are insinuating.”

“Sure you don’t. Why did you stay upstairs and watch him so intently then?” Roman said cocking an eyebrow.

Logan spluttered. “How did you see that?”

Roman gave a sly smile. “I didn’t.”

Logan blushed realising he had given himself away. “Well, what about you and Virgil. You guys looked pretty cozy when I found you two curled up together this morning as he slept.” Logan tried to counter, but his rebuttal came out stiff and unsure due to his lack in inexperience with taunting. Roman would have laughed at him if he hadn’t been blushing three shade of red.

“He fell asleep on my lap what was I supposed to do?” Roman said defensively. Logan laughed. Roman fell of the couch. “Oh, my god. What sorcery is this. You can laugh?”

Logan scowled “Of course I can laugh.” He said grumpily.  

“STOP LYING TO ME!” Roman and Logan fell into silence as they heard Virgil start yelling. Roman stood up and started to walking towards the kitchen, but Logan placed a hand on his shoulder.

“It is not our place to interfere with their personal lives. We are only here to protect Virgil from the Gatherer.” Logan said grimly.
“But…”

“No, Roman, we cannot go.” Roman turned his head to look at Logan. Logan’s mouth was a thin line. Roman sighed. Cleary Logan wasn’t happy about this either, but he was right. What Roman wanted to do goes against the rules, and they were already breaking enoughs rules. He sighed knowing he couldn’t argue.

They both sat back down on the couch. Neither one talked so they started listening to the yelling.

“TELL ME!”

“I CAN’T!” Patton screamed.

After that the house fell silent. It took a minute before anyone spoke again. They heard Virgil say something but it was so quiet they couldn’t make what was said. A few moments later they heard a door slam upstairs. Then the house fell into silence again. Logan and Roman didn’t even dare breathe.

Suddenly, Patton was standing in the entrance to the living room his face contorted in pain. He stumbled into the room running into things. Knocking stuff off the shelf until he crumpled on the floor in front of Logan sitting on the couch. If Roman and Logan didn’t hear him sobbing they would have thought he had passed out.

“Patton! What’s wrong.” Logan said in shock. Patton lifted his head up and then placed his arms in his lap.

“I messed up. So so bad.” Patton sobbed.

Logan looked at Roman desperately, not sure how to comfort the sobbing man in his lap. Roman tried to step in and help. “What happened.” Roman said gently.

“I should have just told him. We could have figured it out together. I just wanted to keep him safe. I should have told him. I don’t know how to fix this.” Patton rushed out. Gasping for air. He sobbed harder. “I just wanted to keep him safe.”

Roman and Logan looked at eachother, but Roman being more adept at emotions decided he should take the reins with this. “What should you have told him?” Roman asked.
“You wouldn’t believe me, even if I told you guys.” Patton sobbed

“Try us.” Roman said soothingly. At this point Logan had begun to run his fingers gently through Patton’s hair trying to calm the distraught man.

Patton sniffed and nodded. He lifted up his head to look at the two men.

“I-I saw something. A-And it talked to me. B-But it didn’t talk like… like a normal thing. It talked directly into my head.” Patton lifted up his hand to point at his head to illustrate his point. “It told me awful things. It made me feel about two feet tall. But at the same time I felt amazing. It said I should do what he said. It… It…” Patton sobbed trying to bring his thoughts into coherent words. “It made me feel angry. It made me feel like I would do anything to protect what I care about. But I was scared. And it was the thing that been hurting Virgil. So I told it no... I told it no…” Patton trailed off after repeating himself. He stared off into the distance like he was looking at some unseeable thing.

“You did the right thing, telling it no.” Logan said gently.

“NO!” Patton yelled “I didn’t do the right thing! I should have told Virgil. I thought it would be safer if he didn’t know. I lied to him.” He sobbed. “I should have told him! I should have told him” A sad strangled cry escaped him as he crumpled in on himself.

“Shit.” Logan said through gritted teeth. He looked at Roman who was seething.

“It’s going after Patton too!” Roman said furious.

“Roman.” Logan warned. Patton looked in between the two men confused.

“No Logan! Damn the rules! This has gone on for long enough! I will not just sit here and do nothing anymore!”

_______

After running upstairs Virgil slammed the door to his room behind him. “Hey!” Virgil yelled. “Let me see you!” He demanded to the empty room. The room dark room seemed to lose all light as something began to form near his bed. Then that something solidified into a man sitting crossed legged on the bed with a smirk. If you can call it a man. His body seemed solid in some places in others he looked like he was made up of swirling smoke. And his face. Half of it was a fully human face. The other half was black shadows with a glowing yellow orb for an eye.

“You called, Virgil?” He spoke out loud instead of in Virgil’s head.

“Ya… you... you said you can make me stop hurting right?” Virgil asked fiddling with the sleeves of his jacket. “You can make this pain go away.”

“Is that what you want?” The man said tilting his head. “ I can make the pain go away, but once I do you will never feel anything again. There will be no going back. Do you want that?”

“I just want to stop hurting.” Virgil felt tear well up in his eyes.

The man smiled “Ok, Let’s shake on it.” The Man reached forward a hand towards Virgil. Virgil hesitated for a minute and reached forward and took it. “Perfect.”

________

“Roman have you lost all of your senses.” Logan said infuriated.

“Yes I have! But I don’t care!” Roman said as he tried to go up the stairs Logan grabbing his arm to hold him back.

“What’s going on!” Patton demanded his face still wet from tears.

“None of your concern. Clearly Roman has lost it.” Logan said.

“I most certainly have not lost it. I have lost my patience that what I have lost. I will not sit down here another minute as that Gatherer whispers lies into Virgil’s ear.”

“A Gatherer? What is a Gathe…” Patton is cut off by a sudden scream. He looks up to see Roman fall to the ground, clutching his head. His face contorted in pain

“Roman what’s wrong!” Logan asked.

“I DON’T KNOW!” Roman screamed. “Ahhhhhh.” With that scream Roman fell silent. He had fainted.

Logan and Patton looked at eachother. Patton hurried over to Roman and shook his shoulder. “Roman wake up. Wake up.” Patton looked up desperately at Logan. “What do we do.”

“I don’t know.” Logan said lost.

Roman moaned behind them. They quickly turned back to Roman.  Patton darted next to him. “Roman, what happened kiddo?”

“I can’t… I can’t feel Virgil anymore…” Roman looked wide eyed passed Patton at Logan.

“He’s gone.”