I'm bored. I'm tired. I'm possibly drunk even though I haven't had alcohol. This is a stupid AU. Don't judge me.

AU

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"I've named my death!" Patton grinned, leaning on the table he was sitting at. His friends all turned to him, staring at the childish man questionably. "You named your death?" Roman asked for clarification. Patton nodded, "What about you?"

"Why would I- why would anybody name it?" Logan questioned, shaking his head. "All it is is a black, invisible ghost behind you" Roman shrugged, "Whats it's name?"

"Pan!"

"Pan...great" Logan mumbled, finishing his food.

In this world your "death" is a deep black shadow that always stays behind you - never letting the human see it. It's invisible to anyone else but if you ever looked at it's face you would die instantly. It doesn't have a face - no details at all, it's a 3D shadow but if you looked in the general area, you would die.

Most of the population ignores it, but unfortunately for others they become insane. It's a rare thing, the idea that your "death" is behind you at all times - waiting for you to die could make you lose your mind - it usually happens to females but it's not common, fortunately.

Some people - like Patton - embrace that the death will be with you so they start conversation, your death can't speak but on rare instances the human is able to befriend it, but deaths don't usually do it, as it would be harder for them to take your soul and choose if you go to heaven or hell.

That's their job. Watch your life from start to finish to then choose if you spend eternity in heaven or hell.

Thomas, who was also with Patton, Roman and Logan thought about what Patton had done for the rest of the day. He wasn't surprised, Patton could make friends with anyone, but the idea of befriending your death intrigues him.

It interested him so much he tried it that day as soon as he got home.

Well - that's what he wanted to do but he put it off.

Now he was currently sitting on his bed, resting against the headboard, doing some work that needed to be done yesterday. Stupid procrastination.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw a black wisp but it was gone in an instant. Slowly putting down his book he knitted his eyebrows together, turning his head halfway. Deaths don't usually let you see them, they turn around with you if you try so that's why it surprised Thomas so much when he saw his death, a bit of him anyway.

He gulped. "Hi..." he mumbled, upon hearing his voice his death instantly shot behind him as if he didn't realise his human was looking at his arm.

Thomas frowned, turning to face forward once more. Instead of leaning on the headboard he shuffled down slightly, resting his work on his leg and hunching over it, giving space for his death to sit behind him.

His death watched him, floating in the air, why did he move?

Slowly floating down he sat on the plush cushions, bringing his legs up to his chest.

A few hours later Thomas was so tired he wasn't thinking as he leaned back, closing his eyes. He didn't realise he was leaning on his deaths legs...

His death jumped, flinching back and floating up into the air, Thomas flopped back onto the bed, his eyes flying open. He caught sight of his death floating above him and let out a yelp, covering his eyes.

He brought in a shaky breath, still clenching his eyes shut. "Uh...death?...could you give me a sign? That you're gone?" Thomas thought it wouldn't work but he felt a slight tap on his shoulder, a small smile stretched out on his lips as he reopened his eyes to see his ceiling.

"Sorry if I scared you" Thomas chuckled, sitting up. His death moved behind him again, shaking his head to dismiss his apology.

"Do you have a name?" Thomas pondered, biting his lip. He stared at his blanket, wondering if his death would reply.

A paper landed silently in front of him, in scribbly writing he read the name Virgil.

"Huh...cute" Thomas smiled, his death cocked his head. Cute....? He shouldn't be doing this, talking to his human. But since when were there rules?

Thomas stood up and placed the paper on his bedside table, he brushed his teeth and changed into pyjamas, clambering into his bed. He thought about Virgil and decided to not lay on his back, instead he shuffled close to one side, facing away from the other.

Virgil softly laid down on the bed behind him, resting on top the blanket. He stared at the back of Thomas's head, deep in thought. He was snapped out of it, though, when the front door downstairs opened and slammed shut.

Thomas let out a whimper, knowing who it was.

Virgil unknowingly shuffled closer to Thomas, looking over his shoulder at the bedroom door. The two laid in silence, hearing footsteps climb the stairs, Thomas tensed and held his breath, waiting for him to come in here but calmed down when his walked past to his own room.

Thomas was still terrified, Virgil stared at his shaking body in concern. He knew that man would be bad...but he never knew he would hit thomas - his boyfriend.

Virgil lifted the blanket, sliding under. He hesitated, wondering if this could be a good idea before thinking screw it and wrapping one arm around his human. Thomas tensed, eyes slowly opening to stare down at the pitch black arm.

"Thank you" Thomas whispered, closing his eyes once more, why did he feel so much safer all of a sudden?

This repeated for awhile, Thomas would lay in bed, his boyfriend would come late, drunk as always, Virgil would hold him close for the night and let him go just before he awoke the next morning.

One night, though, the abusive boyfriend decided he wanted to see Thomas...

His bedroom door opened and he stumbled in, Virgil silently gasped, sitting up. Thomas did to and Virgil sat behind him, feeling useless.

"Hey-y" he slurred and hiccuped. "H-hi..Ed" Thomas whispered, shuffling backwards timidly. He felt Virgils legs brush against his side and he paused his movements.

"C'm'here" he nearly fell over but caught himself on Thomas' desk, knocking over a few things in the process.

"You're tired, Ed" Thomas didn't move, terrified of what he would do. "I sssaid come 'ere" Still, Thomas didn't move. Ed lost his patience and grabbed Thomas's arm painfully, ripping him up from the bed.

Thomas yelped, gasping inwardly. "E-Ed please" he begged, trying to loosen the grip. Ed punched his stomach, angrily telling him to shut up. Over the week Virgil had gotten very close to Thomas - before he never helped but just watching him in danger made him snap.

Shooting up from bed Virgil grabbed Thomas, yanking him away from Ed. Ed stumbled, falling to the ground. "What the hell?" He muttered, glaring at Thomas.

"Virgil-" Thomas gasped, feeling himself being lifted into the air. Ed watched, eyes widening. "I drank too much..." he whispered to himself, Virgil didn't know what to do so he flew out of the room with Thomas in his arms, safety placing him in the living room couch.

The house they were in belonged to Thomas and like hell was Virgil going to let Ed take it.

It hurt deaths to be ten feet or more away from their humans but Virgil didn't care. Ignoring the excruciating pain Virgil grabbed Ed by his collar, choking him slightly. Before Ed would vomit all over the ground Virgil flew him down the stairs, kicking open the front door and throwing him on the street.

Quickly he dashed back inside, locking the door and crashing into Thomas. His breathing was heavy and Thomas could hear it, he sounded in pain. "Are you okay?" Thomas asked softly, it was dark downstairs so he felt around until his hand found his leg.

Virgil nodded, sitting up slowly. Thomas shut his eyes and Virgil stared at his face, slowly his eyes averted down to his stomach and he lifted Thomas's top, Thomas gasped but didn't move, feeling Virgils cold hands gently press against the bruise forming.

Bastard Virgil thought, angrily glaring at the ground. A hand landed on his and he looked back up at Thomas who still had his eyes closed, "thank you, so much" Thomas whispered, moving his other hand and placing it on Virgils cheek.

Virgil leaned into the touch, it comforted him. "Hug?" Thomas offered quietly, Virgil nodded even if Thomas couldn't see and wrapped his arms around him tightly, Thomas hugging him back.

Before they pulled back fully Thomas pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, Virgil becoming flustered. Thomas chuckled, "Let's go back to sleep" he mumbled, standing up. Virgil nodded and picked him up, flying him back to his bed.

It became a habit to cuddle Thomas close so that's what he did even if Ed wasn't there.