Not requested.

Ship: Platonic Prinxiety, Romantic Logicality

Category: Angst

Warnings: Bullying, major character death

Additional things: Roman and Virgil are both 9 years old in this.

¶∆¶∆¶∆¶

Roma skipped down the sidewalk, pumpkin bag swinging at his side. Virgil followed beside him, shaking his head at Roman's antics. Roman brandished his sword, grinning, and started to fend off imaginary foes.

"Back, foul beast!" Roman cried, driving his sword into thin air. He straightened and grinned at Virgil. "I saved you!"

"You sure did," Virgil replied, smiling.

As Roman ran ahead to fight some more villains, he didn't see the pair of kids up ahead. Virgil called out a warning, but it was too late. Roman barreled into their midst, knocking the two kids over in his haste.

One of them, dressed a yellow snake, growled at him. "Roman! What the heck was that?"

"Duuuude," the other moaned, rubbing the back of his head. "My Starbucks!"

"Shut it, Remy," Dylan snapped. "Go away, freak." He shoved Roman away.

Unperturbed, and sighting an opportunity, he gestured at Virgil. "This is my friend Virgil! He needs some friends, can you guys be his friend?"

Dylan stared at him for a long moment, multi-colored eyes flicking to Virgil before resuming their glaring at Roman. "Weirdo," Dylan muttered, turning away. "Come on, Remy."

Roman blinked, letting out a breath of disappointment. Virgil's lip curled into a sneer and he started towards Dylan's receding back, intending to make him hurt like Roman, but Roman was already over it, excitedly running over to admire some decorations. Virgil reluctantly abandoned his revenge.

Roman rang the doorbell of a house enthusiastically. The door swung open, and a young man came into view, dressed in casual clothes.

"Trick or treat!" Roman sang.

The man chuckled at him. "I like your costume. What's your name?"

"Roman," Roman chirped.

"I'm Thomas." Thomas dropped several candy pieces in Roman's bag, but not Virgil's.

"Oh, can you give my friend some candy too?" Roman asked, pointing at Virgil, who raised his bag expectantly.

Thomas looked down at him, then back at Roman, chuckling. "Have a good Halloween, kid." The door clicked shut.

Roman frowned, but Virgil just sighed.

"I'm used to it," he assured him. "Don't worry about me."

Each house ended up the same way. A woman with a raging party going on inside could've been excused for the distractions, but the man in the devil costume very clearly ignored Virgil, as did the nurse in the next house. Down the rows they went, Roman collecting more and more candy while Virgil had none.

Finally, they sat atop the large, grassy hill that overlooked the entire town. Roman's bag was completely filled, and Virgil's? Completely empty. Roman scratched his head in confusion.

Roman discreetly dumped some candy into Virgil's bag, and they each took a piece. Leaning over to see Virgil's message, he nearly toppled over. Virgil caught him and showed him the printed words.

You found me.

Again? What were the odds? Roman chuckled.

Roman's read, Let's be friends! He laughed. After a moment more of peaceful quiet, the pair stood and headed down the hill.

As they neared Roman's house, he caught sight of his dads, Patton and Logan, talking to someone professional on the front lawn. The name tag read, Dr. Emile Picani. A clipboard hung at his side, which he gestured at a few times.

"Hi Dad!" Roman said cheerfully. Patton smiled and ruffled his hair, then turned his attention back to the doctor.

Feeling mischievous, Roman lunged forward and snatched the clipboard, then ran. He could hear Patton chasing him as he lifted the clipboard to read it.

Diagnosis: Imaginary Friend.

Roman stopped short. He stared at the words, then up at Patton, who's expression was gentle.

"Kiddo..." Patton said softly, opening his phone and showing Roman the screen. It was the picture from earlier that evening, of Roman with his arm around Virgil. Except... Virgil wasn't there. Roman was holding empty air and smiling.

Patton put his phone away and carefully tugged the clipboard away from Roman. "I'm sorry, kiddo."

"But..." Roman looked over at Virgil, who was very much standing there. He gestured desperately. "He's right there! Virgil's real!""

Patton only shook his head slightly, then walked back over to Logan and Dr. Picani. Roman continued to point at his best friend, voice rising in pitch as he grew more frantic. Virgil caught his arm, shaking his head.

"They won't believe you," Virgil explained quietly.

"No, no," Roman whispered. He spun on his heel and ran, Virgil close behind.

¶∆¶∆¶∆¶

Roman sat atop the large hill, knees drawn up to his chest and eyes trained intently on the grass. Virgil was seated beside him, glancing over at Roman every few seconds. Finally, Roman reached out and touched Virgil's face. He did it again, and again, because Virgil was real, he was here, and Roman could feel him and his skin was cool to the touch so he must be real. Right?

Virgil swatted his hand away, scowling. "Quit touching me, princey." Roman withdrew his hand sheepishly.

After a moment, Virgil got to his feet and walked over to the fence behind them, the one that blocked off the thick forest. Roman twisted around to watch, as Virgil tugged and opened a section of the fence, too small for an adult to fit through. He looked back at Roman, as if daring him to come closer.

Nervous, Roman's gaze shifted to the danger signs lining the linked fence, the blaring yellow warnings. When he looked at Virgil again, meaning to tell him it was dangerous, he balked in surprise when he saw Virgil was already on the other side of the fence. Virgil hesitated briefly, then plunged into the dark forest. Heart pounding, Roman lifted the fence and darted after him, stepping over a fallen sign that read, DANGER: TRAPS.

He raced through the foliage, dodging towering trees and ducking beneath low-hanging branches. Virgil was always just ahead of his line of sight, vanishing like a ghost into the night before Roman could catch up. His head kept swiveling back and forth as he fought to keep his friend in sight.

As he ran, he narrowly missed stepping in a large steel bear trap, blanching and stumbling when it snapped near him. But he couldn't stop, especially when Virgil was just ahead. Several more traps crashed shut, dangerously close to his feet. A branch nicked his cheek, and he hissed at the pain.

Eventually, he emerged in a wide clearing with a single oak tree in the middle. He slowed his gait to a walk when he saw Virgil sitting beneath it. The place was beautiful, the sky grey and the field vibrant with life. Roman plopped down next to Virgil, breathing heavily. Before he could ask any questions, however, Virgil handed him a piece of candy. Obediently, he opened the wrapper and read it.

I found you.

Virgil held his wrapper, smiling wryly.

You found me.

Roman leaned back, a faint smile gracing his face, and his eyes fluttered shut as the day took it's toll.

¶∆¶∆¶∆¶