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I sensed the other sides come to stand behind me, and they each froze just as I had.

What shocked us was the sight in front of us.

There, sitting up on the couch and looking around the room with his back towards us, was none other than Virgil.|

TW: Very, very brief mention of suicide

Virgil POV:

After I said that I had to go back, the other me smiled and slowly walked away, leaving me alone in the now dark room.

I closed my eyes and took deep breaths, waiting to go back.

I felt the darkness closing in on me, and, before I could make a sound, the feeling of the couch appeared under me.

Pausing for a few seconds, I took a few more deep breaths to prepare for the world I had to face. Well, I tried to take deep breaths.

I had forgotten that my lungs were filled with petals, and the deep breaths only led to a coughing fit. I rolled onto my side and coughed while petals fluttered out of my mouth and onto the floor.

After a few seconds, the coughing subsided, allowing me to breathe. I sat up on the couch and held immediately got a headrush. Putting my head in my hands, I waited for my vision to clear and my head to stop pounding.

Once the pounding stopped, I lifted my head and looked around the living room. For the most part, it looked the same, except it looked like Logan had brought all his work out here. There was a desk covered in books and papers in the middle of the room, and Logan's tie was draped over the back of the chair.

"Virgil?"

I heard someone say my name, and I turned around to see Deceit standing in the doorway with Patton, Logan, and Roman standing behind him. Deceit gasped and ran over to me, pulling me into a bone-crushing hug.

"De. Can't. Breathe." I managed to get out.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," Deceit said, letting go of me.

I smiled at him while I caught my breath, only to be interrupted by a fit of coughing. Petals escaped my mouth and settled on mine and Deceit's laps.

I heard a gasp from behind me and saw Patton run over to where I was.

"Oh my gosh, kiddo," he said. He placed his hands on my shoulders and looked me over. "Are you okay? Why are you coughing up petals?"

I looked down at my hands and fidgeted with the edge of my bandage.

"Uh..." I stalled, not wanting to tell Patton that I was in love with someone that didn't love me back. I knew that I'd eventually have to tell him, but I wasn't expecting it to be so soon.

Oh well, might as well get it over with.

"I have something called Hanahaki Disease," I started to explain. Roman and Logan had walked over to where I was and sat on the floor next to the couch. "A person gets it when they fall in love with someone and the person doesn't love them in return."

I heard Roman audibly gasp when he heard the part about the unrequited love. Makes sense, since he's the most romantic side of all of us.

"What are the symptoms of this disease?" Logan asked. I looked over to him and saw that he had pulled out a notepad and was writing what I said down.

"Well," I said, looking back down at my hands. "The person's lungs fill up with rose petals and they cough them up."

"Is there a cure?"

I sighed. "There is, I guess, although not many people choose to go through with the cure."

"Why would that be?" Logan asked."

"You see, the longer the person has the disease, the more their lungs fill up with petals. The person can choose to die from suffocating on the petals, or they can get a surgery that removes the petals."

"Wouldn't more people be getting the surgery so they can live?" Logan asked.

I looked up at them and sighed.

"The thing with the surgery is that it also removes that person's ability to love."

I finished speaking and looked down. Roman gasped, Patton put a sympathetic hand on my shoulder, and Logan gave a satisfied little "Hmph."

"Why didn't you tell us about this sooner, kiddo?" Patton asked.

"I didn't want you guys to pity me," I said. It was true. If I knew that they wouldn't feel bad for me, I would have told them the second I coughed up the first petal.

"Aww, kiddo," Patton said, rubbing my shoulder. "We wouldn't pity you. We want to help you."

I gave Patton a thin smile. "Thanks, but I don't need help. I've been just fine taking care of myself for the past three months."

With that I stood up to walk to my room, only to collapse and be caught by Roman. I looked up at him and saw him smirking at me.

"What was this about not needing help?" he teased.

"Put a sock in it Princey," I grumbled, trying not to blush.

Roman chuckled and then looked up at Patton. I heard Patton start to speak and looked over to him.

"Roman, why don't you carry Virgil to his room. I'll go make some soup, and then we can all figure out a schedule for taking care of Virgil," Patton spoke to Roman for most of it, but he turned and spoke to Logan and Deceit as well during the last bit.

When I heard that, I panicked. "Guys, I'm FINE. I don't need you to take care of me."

"Clearly you are not fine," Logan commented. "You are suffocating on rose petals, and, three days ago, you attempted suicide."

"Not you too, Pocket Protector," I complained.

"Virgil, come on," Deceit said quietly. "Let us help you."

I glared at Deceit and crossed my arms. Deceit stared back at me, practically begging me.

I sighed and uncrossed my arms. "Fiiiiiine. You guys can help me."

"YAY!!!!" Patton exclaimed, standing up and running into the kitchen to make soup.

Roman picked me up bridal style, my head resting on his shoulder. I closed my eyes, cherishing the one, and probably only, moment with the person I loved.

We got to my room sooner than I would have liked, and Roman gently placed me on my bed. I noticed that they had washed my sheets. 

Probably to get the giant blood stain out.

Roman pulled the blankets up to my chin and started to walk away. He paused at my door and turned around, looking at the floor.

He drew in a deep breath and spoke.

"I-I read your letter," he said and looked up at me. I inhaled sharply when I saw tears glistening in his eyes. "It made me realize just how much of a conceited jerk I was to you, and I get it if you hate me. Hell, I hate myself."

I opened my mouth to respond, but he turned and left, leaving me to speak to empty space.

"It's okay, Roman. I forgive you."

A/N: 

Hey y'all!!!! I think this is the fastest I've written a chapter. Like, all the other chapters take me until, like, almost midnight on either Saturday or Sunday, and right now it's almost 6 o'clock where I am, and it's STILL FRIDAY!!!!

I'm sorry this is kinda short and crappy. I'm just, like, really hyped for the next few chapters, and I really wanted to get there fast.

On a side note, there's a bit of a story behind this book, and the next chapter's important to why I even had this idea in the first place. Would y'all be interested in hearing said story?

Comment what you think, and if enough people are interested I'll write it in the A/N at the end of chapter 14. 

Until next time, 

Take it easy guys, gals, and non-binary pals!!!

~death_by_fanfic