Hey guys, I know I haven't been writing much, life and all, but I'm back with an AU. Welcome to "Because I can".

An AU where Virgil made a deal with a Reaper to save a his best friend. As part of the deal he needs to collect an amount of souls for a period of time in order for the reaper to save them.

In comes Roman, a wandering creature of the Light, confused as to why he always sees this 'Shadow' around people that look sad.

When Virgil falls ill to the 'sleep sickness', Roman discovers his secret and decides that it's his duty to follow his mysterious 'Shadow'. Now Virgil has to collect the souls while simultaneously keeping Roman a secret from the Reaper he made the deal with.

Characters: Virgil, Logan, Roman, Patton, Thomas, Remy (Sleep Character), Joan, Talyn, Jamahl, Dominic and Valerie.

Parings: All platonic, though you can think them romantic if you like.

Chapter 1:
The Shadow

It was at midday, hot and sterile.

Roman was standing next to the Old man when he came in.
His shadowy entrance was met with choking sound of a final breath.

"Why did you take?" He asked him, his own white robes billowing in contrast.

"Because I can", the other replied with a haughty snicker. Leaving with the sound of beeping in the background.

---

It was at dusk, fogged and chilly.

Roman was standing near a forlorn teen. She was perched upon the ledge of a bridge. The dark one appeared on a white puffed exhale.
"Why do you take?" asked Roman again, his tongue could form no other words.

"Because I have to", replied the other slouching. This time his voice was a forlorn monotone. He left with the sound of a splash echoing.

The girl was gone too.

---

It was at midnight, silent and ice cold.

Roman was standing near a new mother, her child just coming into the world.
The air was quiet, just like the child the doctors placed in her arms.

The dark one materializes right beside Roman as the scene before him plays in slow motion, this is the closest they've ever been.

Roman observes, the other's form, it's worn and weary.

"Why do you take?" It was only out of pure habit that he asked, a whisper as he turned away from the darker.

He replied after a pause. "Because... it's my job".

The dark one's somber, exhausted tone shocked Romam and he spun around.
But the other was gone without a sound.

In the all too quiet night, only the wails of the mother echoed; and none of the child.

---

It was days, months, years after he'd seen the Dark one. Well as close as this atleast. Ever since that night, with the Mother and her stillborn, Roman had only caught glimpses of the other.

But this time...this time it was different.

He was merely feeding some dear in a forest when a certain shadow appeared in the corner of his eyes.

Had he been anyone else Roman wouldn't follow, but he knew that shadow, so he followed.

It appeared that the Dark one didn't register his presence, not at all, in fact he made his way deeper into the forest without so much as a sound.

That of course, Roman noticed, was usual for the darker but what wasn't was the way his walk began staggering the deeper into the forest he got.

At one point he staggered until he fell, catching himself narrowly by a tree.

Roman was about to run out and help, when another cloaked figure appeared, this one wearing a blessing so dark it almost looked black. Almost.

The dark blue one did not seem happy to see the one in black. As a matter of fact he was yelling at him and calling, the obviously younger one "dispicably lazy". Roman frowned at that but held his thoughts to himself, those two weren't done yet-

"How many have you even collected, hmm?" The older blue shadow growled, causing shivers to go down both the black shadow and the hidden Roman's spines.

"30,660", whispered the shadow shakily

"What? That's...", the Dark blue one paused, seemingly taken aback by the other's reply. His finger curled under his lip and in the strained silence, the wind picked up a stray leaf, carrying it away from the tense situation. "I take it back, it seems I owe you an apology. You're obviously not as lazy as I first presumed. To have collected that much in such a short span of time means you would've had to have walked both day and night"

Roman bit his lip as he watched the two, their conversation obviously private but he just could not help himself, there were two of these mysterious shadows.

The one of black didn't answer verbally, instead, he hunched, a single nod was his only reply.

"For how long?" Asked the dark blue one, concern suddenly lacing his voice.

"Until now" answered the other.

"Until...? It's been three years! By the graces, how are you not ill?! What were you thinking? Rest!"

"What?"

"You heard me, rest. It's a miracle you're even alive, your powers may protect you from the elements but you are not invincible"

The black shadow hunched further in on himself, the elder one sighed and in an odd attempt of comfort, placed a hand on the youth's shoulder.

"I don't want you doing this ever again understand me? Even Reapers need sleep"

The black shadow nodded, the dark blue sighed again. "Your goal was 65,320. You're almost half way there, and in an impressively short amount of time no less. By your second round about you should have more than enough"

"Then will you save him?"

"I gave you my word on the day we met, I'm not one for changing my mind-"

"You just did for me"

"...yes well, rare exceptions. Now rest, it would do you, nor him, any good if you fall ill. You came to me for a break did you not? Then take it and when you're truly rested, then you continue"

"...thank you"

"Don't thank me yet", muttered the dark blue one as he lifted his hand.

Roman, still very much behind the tree, blinked, not at all believing what he was seeing.

The dark one's shadows seem to be pulled into the dark blue one's hand. Disappearing completely as if- as if absorbed.

A small thump caused Roman to look away from the shadows- towards the owner of them in the first place.

The dark one- or should he say the purple one? Lay prone on the ground as his shadows completely faded away.

Moving stealthily, Roman headed to sneak a closer look, what he saw shocked him.

The purple one was human.

----

The 'Purple one' groaned and the Dark blue one left on a whisper of blue smoke.

"You can't just leave people powerless on the forest floor Logan", he shouted at no one.

"I wasn't going to but because you called me that name, I will", the elder shadow's voice rang out on an echo.

Roman jumped, seeing no one and yet hearing their disembodied voice was not something he was used to. Unfortunately for him, when he jumped, he ended up stepping on a twig.

The elder shadow was guaranteed to be gone but the Purple one sprung up from his postion on the forest floor.

Eyes locking with Roman's instantly.

"You! What are you doing here?!"

----