Prompt: Virgil getting used to castle life.

It had been several weeks since Virgil had been reunited with his parents and had begun to live in the castle, and he was very happy, but there had been a couple of mishaps here and there.

————————

Virgil heard a shriek bellow him and turned to look down and saw a maid holding a basket of freshly washed linens standing there and staring up at him in shock.

"You're majesty!" She said as she dropped her basket. "Wait right there and I'll get a guard to come and help you! Don't move!" She said, before quickly rushing away.

"Wait!-"  Virgil called after her, but she was already gone.

Virgil sighed and leaned back against the wall as he rubbed his face and closed his eyes.

He had been singing to himself quietly as he drew in a sketchbook, and apparently the maid had heard him and looked up.

You see Virgil, not used to being in such a crowded castle, had been looking or somewhere alone to sit and draw, and had found refuge up in the rafters of the main hall.

The wood of the rafters was thick and sturdy, about a two feet wide at least, giving Virgil enough room to sit up there and tuck himself into a corner.

But apparently it wasn't very common to have people up in the rafters, if the maids reaction had anything to say about it.

To be fair, it was pretty high up, and a fall from this highly could do quite a bit of harm and even possibly kill him.

But Virgil didn't really mind, it was kind of calming in a way, to be up high, sitting somewhere he wasn't supposed to sit.

Apparently the rest of the castle didn't see things that way.

He heard rushing footsteps and looked back down at the ground, seeing the nurse with two guards quickly following after her.

"You're majesty!" One of them said in surprise as they both looked up at him. "How did you get up there?"

"I climbed." Virgil said with a shrug, before carefully standing up on the beam and walking across it back to the wall.

"Prince Virgil, please stay where you are! We'll get you down as soon as we can." The other guard said.

"No need." And with that Virgil reached out and grabbed a small ledge on the wall before stepping off of the beam.

He then inched his hands across the ledge until he was above one of the tall almost floor to ceiling windows. He stopped for a few seconds before wrapping his legs around one of the curtains and let go of the wall, quickly latching onto the curtain with his arms before sliding down it like a rope and to the ground.

The two guards and the maid just stared at him in shock as he dusted himself off.

"I'm sorry for worrying you," he began. "But I'm pretty good at climbing, so there's no need to be so concerned." He added with a small smile before walking away.

Apparently the three of them, concerned for his safety, told the king and Queen about it, and then they told them again when hey found Virgil sitting on the ledge of an open window on one of the upper floors with his legs hanging out, and they told them again when they found him climbing up the rafters before jumping up and latching onto the ledge of one of the skylights before crawling out of it and onto the roof, nearly giving one of the other servants a heart attack when they saw him jump.

It became a regular occurrence that a servant or guard would come in to tell the king and Queen about Virgil going into high up and dangerous places, happening almost four or five times a week, and that's just when they caught him, he could be doing it much more than just those times.

It got to the point that the two parents decided to intervene have a talk with Virgil about it before he either hurt himself or gave someone else a literal heart attack, and eventually caught him while he was in the gardens with his friends.
(cough cough -boyfriends, but they don't know yet- cough cough).

Virgil was leaning against Roman's shoulder while gently carding his fingers through Patton's hair as the smaller male rested his head in his lap, and Logan sat next to Virgil with a book in hand and the rest of Patton's body curled up in his lap..

They had found a relatively hidden spot in the gardens, a large tree and a flowering bush blocking the spot from view of the palace windows or the path the guards patrolled.

Virgil opened his eyes when he heard footsteps, and the four of them glanced at each other before quickly moving into less cuddly positions before whoever was coming could see them.

The four of them had decided to keep their relationship secret, not wanting to spring more on Virgil's parents right after they found out he was alive and all. They weren't going to keep it a secret forever, they were just waiting for the time to let his parents know. And in order to do that, they had to keep the pda to the low level of nonexistent.

Which didn't really make any of them happy, seeing as Virgil was always being rushed around to learn history or something, and practice how to properly dance, and needed to learn how to fight from afternoon to dinner on most days, along with needling to learn everything else he hadn't had the chance to learn for the past 18 years that he needed to know as prince and heir to the throne.

The other three were occasionally whisked about to do things as well, but Virgil was by far the most busy. The only time they really had together where they could just relax, cuddle and kiss was at night, despite how tired they, especially Virgil, were. But even then it was still difficult because now they were in separate rooms, no longer able to use their previous excuse to share a room, and had to sneak about or make excuses if they wanted to cuddle at night or something.

They still loved each other though and made it work as best they could.

Virgil looked up and watched as his parents turned around a hedge and walked towards them, smiling brightly when they saw him, causing him to smile back.

"Virgil," his father said. "Would we be able to steal you away from you friends and have a little chat? Just for a moment." He asked.

Virgil glanced over at Roman before nodding and standing up.

"Sure," he said as he brushed himself off.

He didn't really want to go, knowing he only had roughly thirty minutes before he needed to head to sword practice and wanted to spend his free time with the other three, but he couldn't really say no and just decided to hope it wouldn't take too long.

His parents lead him away from the other three and through the gardens.

"So," his mother began. "You're father and I have been getting several reports from the staff that you have been climbing quite a bit." She said as she ran her finger tips over a couple of flowering bushes as they walked.

Virgil bit his lip nervously. "Uh, w-well I have been climbing a bit I suppose." He said shyly.

"You've been giving the staff quiet a scare, especially that one poor servant who watch you jump off a rafter and cling to the ledge of one of the skylights, you scared the life out of him." His father said.

Virgil winced at that.

"Sorry," He began. "I'll try to find a safer way up there next time, but I was sure I could make the jump." He said.

"That's not what we're getting at here Virgil." His mother said as she turned to look at him and stopped walking, prompting the other two to stop as well. "What we're trying to say, is that we'd like you to stop climbing." She said. "While we do appreciate you saying you'll try to be safer next time, we don't want there to be a next time." She said.

"I- um, sorry, but I just c-can't help it." He stuttered as he gripped the hem of his shirt nervously, looking anywhere except at his parents.

"I-I climbed a lot when I was in my tower, and now i-its kind of a comfort to me, in a way... it makes me feel-"

"I'm sorry Virgil," his mother said, interrupting him. "But climbing up the walls like some kind of wild animal is not what a prince does," she said. "What will nobles think if the heir to the thrown is climbing up the walls like some kind of exotic monkey."

Virgil looked down at his feet as his cheeks flushed, his lip beginning to bleed from his nervous chewing.

"And another thing," she added. "You'll need to start wearing shoes as well." She said.

"I don't know how the man that raised you let you run around with no shoes on, but it is improper for a young man such as yourself to go about the kingdom without shoes, we'll set you up an appointment later this evening with a shoemaker to make you a good pair of shoes or two." She said.

"But-"

"No buts Virgil," she said firmly before her gaze softened and she reached forward to cup his chin, turning his face to look up at her.

"Look, Virgil," she said softly as she looked into his beautiful amethyst eyes. "I know it's a lot to get used to, suddenly being a prince in a castle," she began. "But you don't live in that tower anymore, and you need to start acting like the prince we both know you are." She said softly. "I know it's a lot, but can you try for us?" She asked.

Virgil was silent for a few seconds before nodding, breaking eye contact to look away from her.

"No more climbing?" She said, looking at him expectedly.

"No more climbing," He parroted softly.

"And you'll start wearing shoes?" She asked, getting a confirming nod from him.

She smiled and slowly dropped her hand from his face.

"Thank you dear," she said. "I know this is a lot to get used to, but you have to try."

Virgil nodded and went back to looking at his feet, shifting awkwardly as the three of them stood their in silence.

"Can I go back to my...friends now?" Virgil asked hesitantly after a few beats of silence.

"You may," His father said. "But remember that you have sword practice in fifteen or so minutes." He reminded him.

Virgil nodded before quickly walking back the way they'd come, saying quiet goodbyes before turning around the corner and out of view.

———

Roman looked up as he heard footsteps approaching, and saw Virgil walking towards them. He smiled at him, and gained a shaky smile in return from the other boy.

The three of them had gotten comfortable again as they'd waited for Virgil to come back. With Patton now curled up against Logan's side, who was sitting next to Roman, the two of them holding hands.

Virgil carefully climbed into Romans lap, tucking his head under the older males chin as he buried his face in his neck, sighing softly as he sagged against him.

"Did you have a nice talk?" Roman asked as he pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Virgil's head, shifting slightly and holding him closer.

Virgil groaned softly and shook his head, curling up even more as he did.

"Wanna talk about it?" Patton asked as he shifted so he was looking at Virgil while still snuggled into Logan's side.

"Later," Virgil mumbled. "I have like, ten minutes before I need to go and I just want to relax." He said as he snuggled closer to Roman.

The older male let go of Logan's hand and moved both of his hands up to begin massaging Virgil's back and shoulders, and smiled as he felt him melt against his chest, humming softly as all the tension and stress drained out of him.

The other three accepted his answer and just sat there quietly, relaxing together in content silence.

It felt to soon when Virgil said he needed to go, and Roman pouted, holding him tightly as he tried to sit up.

"Roman, I can't be late or he'll have me doing drills until my fingers bleed despite the callouses I already have." Virgil said as he tried to sit up. "Plus, I have ballroom dance lessons tonight an hour after dinner and I don't want to be super sore when I do that." He added.

"Can't they schedule you to have that in the mornings or something?" Roman said with a pout.

"Nope, I have cultural studies in the morning, followed by history of the kingdom, and then I have to go practice my table etiquette for one I attend my first ball or something, apparently they have more than one spoon and they each have specific purposes.

"Are we going to be able to see you between dinner and dance lessons?" Patton asked.

"No, my parents have another thing scheduled, although I'd much rather skip that and come be with you guys."

"Then skip," Roman said. "You can skip just once, can't you?" He asked with a pout.

"No I can't, sorry" Virgil said. "And I really need to go now or I'll be late." He said, and began to move again before being stopped by Roman yet again.

Roman pouted at him before pulling Virgil into a kiss that lasted for a few seconds before allowing him to pull away.

"Goodbye love." He said softly with a sigh as he then let Virgil get up and out of his lap.

Virgil smiled as he blushed softly, and exchanged quick kisses and goodbyes with Patton and Logan before quickly leaving, rushing off towards the training grounds.

"You've been awfully quiet specs," Roman said as he turned to the other male after a beat of silence. "Got something on your mind?" He asked.

"I've simply been thinking." Logan said.

"About what?" Patton asked.

"About Virgil," Logan said. "I think he's being a bit over worked." He said.

"A bit?" Roman asked with a raised eyebrow. "I think you mean a lot, he barely has any time to catch his breath between lessons, let alone take an actual break." He said with a frustrated huff.

"Maybe one of these days we can take him out to relax or something." Patton said.

"Yeah right, like he'll ever get a whole day free to himself." Roman said with a pout as he curled up against Logan's other side, humming as the other male wrapped his arm around him and pulled him, along with Patton, closer to him.

"I'm sure we'll be able to steal him away eventually." Logan said. "As ex-thieves I should hope we're at least able to steal him a day all to himself."

—————————————

Virgil was just about ready to collapse as he made his way into his room after sword and hand to hand combat practice. He was covered in dirt and his entire body ached and all he wanted to do was relax, but dinner was in twenty minutes and he knew if he tried to take a short nap he'd end up sleeping through dinner.

He undressed when he got to his room and quickly walked over to an attached room, a bathroom.

The tub was already full of warm water, the maids, bless every last one of them, had known Virgil would need this when he got back from training.

He carefully stepped into the bath and relaxed into the water with a hum as the warmth enveloping him coaxed him into slumping backwards as his body practically melted, the stressed knots inside of him unraveling the longer he stayed in the tub.

He must have dozed off, because it seemed that only seconds later was there a servant knocking on the door and telling him dinner was in five minutes.

Virgil jerked up and clambered out of the tub, almost slipping as he rushed to dry himself and get dressed into the clothes that had been set out for him, a kind of scratchy and frilly off-white shirt and a dark purple vest with tight dark purple trousers and more shiny golden buttons then were even remotely necessary.

He quickly pulled the clothes on, his skin still a little damp, before rushing out of the room, and into the hall as he quickly made his way to dinner.

Only to have an arm snap out and snag his waist before dragging him behind a suit of armor.

"Quick before dinner kiss?" Roman, the one who had grabbed him, asked hopefully.

Virgil rolled his eyes with a fond smile as he wrapped his arms around Roma's neck.

"Really quick." Virgil said, and not even a second later Roman was kissing him, cupping his cheeks as he gently pushed Virgil up against the wall, humming softly before carefully pulling away a few moments later.

"You smell like vanilla and honey." He said with a hum as he buried his face in the crook of Virgil's neck, making the other male blush.

"It's the soap I've been using, do you like it?" He asked.

"Like it? It makes me want to eat you up right here and now." He said with a smirk as he pressed a kiss to Virgil's neck, making him flush beet red and tilt his head back with a small hum.

"Hey, remember, no marks." Virgil warned, earning a pout from Roman, who pressed one more kiss to his neck before pulling away.

"I know, I know..." He mumbled softly.

Virgil laughed softly and kissed him again before leading him out from behind the armor.

"Come on, or we'll be late for dinner."

———

They managed to get to dinner on time, even a few minutes before his parents go there actually, so the two of them, plus Logan and Patton who were already there, had time to chatter amongst themselves, along with inconspicuous way, since there were guards stationed outside the room.

His parents walked into the room a few minutes later, and signaled for a few servants to come in with the food and begin serving them.

"So, Virgil." His mother began. "The shoemaker will be here between dinner and your dance lessons, so please go to the meeting room on the first floor when you're done eating to meet up with him." She said.

Virgil chewed on his already sore lip and nodded.

"Alright." He said as he began to play around with the food on his plate.

"Good," She said. "How has your day been so far dear, doing good in all your lessons?" She asked.

Virgil nodded again. "I think I am," he said. "And my day has been going decently well."

"The head guard has told me that you still won't use an actual sword yet." His father said. "Any particular reason for that?"

Virgil blushed slight. "W-well, it just makes me nervous, I suppose, I could hurt my self, or someone else, or break something, or break the sword..."

"I highly doubt you'll break the sword Virgil." His father said with a fond smile.

"You need to practice with a real sword, what if you get challenged to a duel?" His mother asked.

"Just give him a frying pan." Roman said from his spot next to Virgil. "I've seen him fight with a frying pan and he can take out a couple of guys pretty quickly all on his own with it." He said, making Virgil blush and smile at him.

"A frying pan isn't a weapon-"

"Anything can be a weapon actually," Logan said calmly, not looking up from his food. "A candle stick, a fire poker, a cattle prod, even a butter knife." He said as he held said utensil up.
"A frying pan is quiet the weapon when used right." he added.

His mother huffed slightly.

"Fine, I frying pan is a weapon, but you should still learn how to use a sword." She said.

"Dear, we can discuss this another time, let's just eat dinner for now." Her husband said, hoping that they could just go back to eating now.

She eventually agreed and the six of them went back to eating their food, chattering a little bit here and there amongst themselves, but remaining quiet for the most part.

Dinner seemed to take forever to finish, but it eventually ended and his parents got up.

"Remember Virgil, go meet with the shoemaker now, I'm sure he's already waiting." His mother said.

Virgil nodded. "Alright." He said, before waving goodbye as they left the room.

"Why do you need to see a shoemaker?" Patton asked.

"Cause apparently princes don't run around barefoot." Virgil said as he stood up.

"Oh that's just lame." Roman said as he stood up next to him. "Who cares if you don't wear shoes, it's not like it's a crime or something."

"True, but apparently it'd be embarrassing for a noble to see me without shoes on, so I'll need to star wearing them." He said.

"I need to go now, but maybe I'll see you guys after dance lessons?" He asked hopefully.

"If we can sneak into your room or make up an excuse to go in, then you will most definitely see us tonight." Logan said.

"We'll be there and ready to cuddle with you if we do managed to get in." Patton said with a bright smile.

Virgil smiled back at him. "I'd like that." He said softly.

"Well, goodbye, I need to go meet up with the shoemaker now." He said.

"Don't go yet," Roman said as he gently grabbed on to Virgil's wrist.

"Do you have any free time tomorrow?" He asked softly as he gently cupped Virgil's cheek and ran his thumb over the dark bags under his eyes.

Virgil leaned into the touch with a sigh.

"I think I might have an hour or something in the evening free tomorrow." He said softly with a shrug.

"Good," Roman said. "Meet us back in your room when you do have free time and we'll help you relax a bit." He said. "with cuddles, maybe a massage, and extra blankets and pillows if we can get them." He said. "We'll let you sleep and just have an actual break." He said as he gently kissed him on the forehead.

Virgil smiled and tilted his head to press a kiss to Roman's palm in return.

"I'd really like that." He said softly before reluctantly pulling away now.

"I do need to go though, I'll see you guys later." He said before quickly rushing out of the room, the other three leaving not long after him.

———

Virgil all but collapsed onto his bed later that night, kicking his god awful shoes off as he did.

He'd met up with the shoemaker, who had brought a couple of sizes of shoes for Virgil to wear while he waited for his custom ones to be made, and oh gosh did Virgil hate them.

They pinched at his feet and made the flat sole of his foot bend uncomfortably with the arch of the shoe, and he was sure he had a decently big blister forming on his Achilles' tendon where the edge of the shoe constantly rubbed against his skin.

It was even worse that he had to go to his ballroom dancing lesson in the shoes, which made the class even more tiring then it already was.

He didn't care he was still wearing his dance uniform, a pair of lose but not super baggy harem pants and a stretchy sleeveless shirt, he was to tired to care and just wanted to go to sleep.

None of the other three were in there, but the two guards stationed outside his room probably stopped them from coming in.

He hadn't bother to deal with the lights, not even registering if they were even on or off as he curled up under his blanket and buried his face in one of his pillows, holding it against his chest with a hum.

He quickly fell asleep, his mind shutting off as he fell into the world of dreams.
———
Logan quietly slipped in through Virgil's window, stepping into the room silently before brushing himself off.

He looked at the bed and smiled softly when he saw Virgil sleeping soundly, one of his pillows clutched to his chest.

He went around the room and put each of the lights out, the room slowly growing darker until the only light was from the half moon outside.

He then sat on the edge of Virgil's bed and brushed some of his hair out of his face before kissing his forehead gently.

"Goodnight Virgil." He said softly, before slowly getting up and sneaking out of his window and heading to his own room.