AU

—

Virgil was sitting at the table, chin resting on his hands, eyes never leaving the glass filled with water right in front of him. The room was silent, he could hear the distant chatter of his parents waking up his siblings.

He didn't need to be woken up, he usually wakes up first but that doesn't mean he has a good sleeping schedule. Usually, he goes to bed after everyone else has because...no one checks on him.

His parents don't even tuck him in and say goodnight...

He understands, having four kids and stressful jobs can be a lot of work but...one goodnight wouldn't hurt.

Five minutes passed and Virgil was still staring at the glass, he could hear his brother, Roman, dramatically clomping down the stairs, singing his favorite Disney songs as he did.

They were all the same age and looked the same because they were quadruplets.

Before Roman walked in Virgil lifted his hand, pushing the glass over. The water spilled over the wooden table while the glass itself rolled onto the floor, shattering across the marble.

Roman heard the noise and poked his head in, looking at the mess his brother made.

"Doofus! What happened?" He asked, walking over with furrowed eyebrows. Virgil brought his legs up to his chest so his feet wouldn't touch the broken glass.

"I don't know" he mumbled, looking up at his brother. "It fell"

The noise alerted his parents who hurried into the room, their Mother checked over Roman while their Dad looked at the broken glass, confused and annoyed.

"Roman, Honey? What happened?"

"The glass fell" he repeated his brothers earlier words. "It couldn't have just fell" their Father huffed, finally noticing Virgil. "Did you do this?"

Virgil opened and closed his mouth, not wanting to lie to his parents. Their Father groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "This is the fifth glass, Virgil" his Mother scolded, picking Virgil up from his seat. He smiled slightly, hugging his Mother back. It didn't last, she placed him down on the counter while she cleaned up.

"Virgil, I'm warning you, another broken glass and I'm using your allowance to by new ones"

"What allowance?" He replied, genuinely confused. He hadn't been given pocket money in over a few months, Roman chuckled, grabbing the cereal box. "Don't be sassy with me, boy" he wagged a finger at Virgil who ducked his head down, hair falling over his eyes. "And get a haircut" he commented, leaving the kitchen.

Roman hummed a song, pouring a bowl of cereal for himself, adding the milk after. "Good morning!" Patton exclaimed, jumping into the room. He was still wearing his dinosaur patterned pajamas, one hand holding his Teddy while the other rubbed his eye. "Morning, Pat" their Mother rushed, dumping the broken glass in the bin.

"Virgil, Grandma will be over soon" she nodded at him, Virgil mumbled an okay, slightly excited to see her but not really, she's nice but...mostly watches tv and doesn't talk much.

Mother went to leave but paused, turning to Virgil once more. "And behave" with that, she was gone. This was a usual morning, Virgil would wake up first and possibly break something, he'd get told off and go to get ready to school along with his brothers but today he had to stay home due to his suspension from school.

Apparently, he shouldn't cut a girls hair, even if they let him.

She asked! He was just being polite.

It's only lasting a few days, but during those days he will be home with his grandma. "Why does Virgil get to stay home?" Roman whined, pouting as he pushed his empty bowl away.

"He was suspended, do you not remember?" Their other brother, Logan, asked, eating his own breakfast.

"That's not fair! I want to stay home" Roman frowned, crossing his arms. "School sucks" he added.

"But today is rehearsal for the play, is it not?" Roman paused, his face lighting up. "Yes! I need to get the leading part!" And with that, he sprinted upstairs to get ready. Logan sighed, thankful his parents told the school Logan didn't want to be apart of the mandatory plays they had in their school.

(By the way they are all a young age - Like, younger than a teenager) 

"Go get dressed, Patton"

"Why can't I wear pyjamas?"

"Because it is not socially acceptable"

"Soc..socially...ac..-"

"Just go get dressed" Patton nodded, chugging down his milk before rushing out of the room. "Patton! Your Teddy!"

The bubbly brother ran back, grabbing his toy before racing off again.

Virgil was still sitting on the counter, staring at his hair. It wasn't that long, just enough to cover his eyes.

Logan placed his bowl in the sink, walking over to Virgil. "Come on" he spoke, arms up. Virgil slid into his embrace, letting Logan carry him upstairs to his bedroom. They were all the same height but Virgil was the skinniest which meant he was light enough for Logan to pick up.

"Grandma will be here soon" he confirmed, glancing at the almost empty bedroom. It was obvious the other three brothers had plenty more toys than Virgil ever had. The quieter brother nodded, nestling under the layers of blankets that stacked on his bed.

"Do not fall asleep, Patton will wait until you wake up to say goodbye" Virgil nodded and Logan gave him a small smile - a rarity from the brother. "You will be fine"

With that, he left.

Patton came in after, kissing Virgils head. He did that to all his brothers. "Goodbye, favourite brother!"

"We are all your favourite brother" Logan commented, grabbing his school bag. Patton giggled, "I know!"

"I'm the best!" Roman called from downstairs, admiring himself in the hall mirror. "Yes. We know" Logan called back, knowing that was the best way to shut him up.

"Have fun with grandma!" Patton grinned, ruffling Virgils hair before leaving the room with Logan. They left his bedroom door open - the way he preferred - listening to his three brothers chatter as they left the house, Logan locking the door behind him.

For the day Virgil didn't leave his room, he realised after while his parents must've forgot to call his grandma but he didn't want to move, hating being home alone, so he stayed in bed, eyes glued to the door.

A little while later he heard his brothers come home from school, Roman declaring how he got the main part and for no one to disturb him as he rehearsed in his room. Patton ran up the stairs and to his room, pulling out the pictures he made from pasta and stuck them to his wall.

Logan peeked in Virgils room, frowning. "Did grandma not come?" Virgil shook his head, reaching out a hand to Logan. The smarter brother sighed, taking his hand. The two went downstairs and Logan made him something to eat.

"Do you remember the plan?" Logan asked Patton when he entered the living room, a smile stuck to his adorable face.

"Plan?" He looked confused for a few seconds, realisation dawning on his face. "Yeah! Leave Virgil in a room alone with our parents!" Logan nodded. This was the first time Virgil heard of this "plan" they had set up, he looked at logan for answers but he only sent him a small smile, holding a finger over his lips.

Later Roman entered, doing his act in front of them all to get some compliments and possibly constructive criticism. 

"That was awesome, Roman!" Patton squealed, hugging his brother tightly. "Thank you! I will live on to be the greatest actor in the world!"

"Do not get ahead of yourself, Roman"

"What did you think of my act?" Logan sighed, thinking.

"Project your voice more, people in the back might not be able to hear...and keep the dramatic gestures to a minimum" Roman nodded, thanking his brother.

"What about you, Virgil?"

Virgil looked up at Roman, shrugging and curling in on himself more. "You uh....did good"

"Thank you!" Roman sat beside Virgil, hugging him close. "I love you, doofus"

"Love you too, dork" he replied, looking up at Roman with a tiny smile. Those brothers had a close bond, the three disliked the way their parents treated Virgil so that's why they had their plan for later this evening.

The brothers watched cartoons, all laughing - apart from Logan who rolled his eyes at the stupidity of it all - and having fun. Virgil was sat in the middle, logan on his left, Roman on his right, and Patton behind him. (He was sitting on Pattons lap) All covered in a warm, fuzzy blanket.

The front door opened and in came their parents. "We're home!" Their Mother smiled, walking in the room. She cooed at her kids, kissing Roman, Logan and Pattons head, completely missing Virgil and earning a frown from each of them. Virgil didn't care, he was used to it.

"Roman, have you thought of trying out football?"

"No, but I got the lead roll in our schools play! I'm truly honoured" he grinned, wiping away a fake tear.

"Inspirational" Virgil muttered quietly, earning a playful, soft, punch from Roman.

Their Father sighed, shaking his head and leaving the room. "Huh" Logan sighed, "four sons and not one is athletic"

"How un-cliche" Patton giggled. "You could say original but I praise you for your knowledge of the word cliché"

"Thank you, big bro!"

"We are the same age-!" He was cut off by a unsuspected hug from said brother, he buried his face in Logan's neck. Due to the angle Virgil fell from his lap and onto Logan's, laying across them.

Roman joined in on the hug, picking Virgil up and squishing him in between. It was moments like these he felt loved...

During dinner Logan decided to initiate the plan.

"Patton?"

The small child looked up, slurping a few noodles into his mouth as he did so. "We should start your homework"

"Homework?"

Logan gave him a pointed look, "Oh, right! The homework! The homework for me. The homework chosen especially to get rid of us from the table. Our homework...that homework?"

"Yes! That homework!"

"Got you covered"

(If you get that reference...marry me)

Logan silently groaned, getting down from the table and dragging Patton away to his room before he gave away their entire plan.

Roman ate a bit more before putting down his napkin. "Well that was absolutely splendid Dear Mother but I must leave to rehearse!" He winked at Virgil and rushed off to his room.

Now it was three. Virgil, his Mother, and Father.

He silently ate, keeping his eyes casted down.

"I wish that boy would forget about acting" his Father finally spoke, scoffing and rolling his eyes.

"Let him have his fun, not everyone can be sporty"

"None of them are! And they're all going to be bullied in high school"

"You don't know that"

"Oh, really? Roman will be called gay, Logan will be called a nerd, and people will use Patton! Seriously, that boys so naive..." he kept on grumbling under his breath, Virgil listening to every word.

"They will be fine, honey" his Mother patted his hand, a soft smile on her face. "What about me?" The voice was so sudden it made his parents jump slightly.

"Oh, Virgil, you're still here..." his Mother spoke, sending a look to her husband. "You didn't hear a word, got it?" His Father spoke in his stern voice, a pointed look on his face Virgil knew all to well...

He will get ten smacks if he ever utters the words that were just spoken.

He nodded quickly, casting his eyes down. "Eat your food" his Father added, he did so quickly, he didn't want to admit it but....he was scared of his Father.

His brothers plan didn't work, they went back to not paying him any attention. He easily slipped away unnoticed, trudging to his room with a frown and sad eyes.

"Did it work? Did you talk?" Patton suddenly appeared in front of him, making him flinch and whip his head up.

Logan and Roman were behind Patton, questioning looks on their faces. Virgil shook his head, his arms moving by his side. They all knew what that meant, he needed a hug.

Patton wrapped his arms around his brother, hugging him close. Virgil hid his face, being young he couldn't hold back the tears that streamed down his cheeks.

"Lets go to my room" Roman suggested, taking Virgils hand gently. Patton broke away from the hug, they all entered Romans room and cuddled on the bed, Virgil in the middle once again.

He didn't mind, he felt safe and loved.

Maybe he doesn't need his parents love

Maybe all he needs is his brothers love.