P.O.V.: Virgil, First Person
Timeline: Flashback (cont.)

Everything has been...

Surprisingly peaceful.

Almost… unnaturally so.

And to be honest, it was kinda freakin’ me out.

I kept waiting for something to happen, something bad – I was constantly tense and jittered.

Something bad was going to happen.

Something.

I slipped my headphones on and I felt a comforting shiver run through my mind.

Something about a chunk of plastic around my head was oddly calming, for some mystical reason.

I wasn’t even playing any music. I don’t really need to, at least… not right now.

I only listen to music when I need to get out of my own head, but… trying to do the opposite of what I am the physical representation of is  something far more complicated than I could even begin to understand, much less explain.

And that didn't make me any less tense, any less wary.

Something was coming.

Something.

So when Prince came flying over the counter, it was no surprise that I screamed, but the fact that he had startled me was not entirely so.

There’s the something, I think.

OR maybe it was just a diversion and the REAL-

You know what?

I am an indecisive MESS.

Prince wasn’t even that close to me, to be completely honest, but I screamed anyway.  My scream was so loud it startled Prince who - startled by my scream - accidently crashed into the round, wooden dining table.

I winced, feeling a little guilty, but I made sure not to let him think so.

“Good gosh! Prince, what were you thinking?!” I yelled, placing a hand over my heart as if that would stop it from racing.

“I - uh - I wasn’t exactly expecting you to - uh - swing around the corner there,” he said, rubbing his head from his spot on the floor, where he landed after he crashed.

“Why were you FLYING over the COUNTER?”

“Why would I walk when I can fly?”

“I dunno… maybe because we’re INSIDE,” I emphasized, rolling my eyes.

“Here,” I said, holding out my hand towards his rather pathetic form on the floor.

Thankfully, Prince no longer walked around shirtless, having adjusted his uniform to adjust to the wings by cutting two long slits in the back of them, but still the brush of the palms of our hands still made my cheeks flare up a slight pink and I hated it. I hated how he was able to make me so flustered so easily.

Prince readily accepted my outstretched hand, both of us grunting as he got to his feet.

“Why, thank you very much, Fair Anxiety,” Prince said, flashing me a grin, dusting off dirt from his pants – not that I saw any.

I guess he was just disgusted with me as a was with myself.

I ignored his smile, continuing on my way to the kitchen.

“Anx?”

Well I couldn't ignore such a direct statement.

“Yeah?”

“I never really got the chance to ask you, but.. how do you know my name?”  Prince asked, voice unnaturally quiet and serious.

I shrugged in response. “I pay attention.”

Prince frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

I sighed. “I MEAN that I know everyone's name - not just yours. But Patton and Logan haven't asked me to call them by their names and I've respected that.”

“You know ALL OUR NAMES? And you DIDN'T TELL US?!”  Prince was standing there spellbound, eyes wide with disbelief.

“Why didn't you just say that you knew? I was only using their titles because I assume that hadn't wanted you to know.”

“They don't,” I restated. “They didn't tell me their names.”

“But you know - what does it matter now?”  Prince asked, baffled by my choice.

“But THEY DIDN'T TELL ME,” I emphasized, trying to focus as much on the fact they didn't trust me with their names.  “If they ever feel compelled to tell me and want me to use their real names… sure - I'll use them. But until then…” I shrugged,stepping in the kitchen, silently debating what I wanted to eat or if I even wanted to eat at all.

I'm not even hungry, really. Just bored.  But a snack wouldn't hurt…

"Well if you know my name, it's only fair that I know yours," Prince said lightly.

I froze, spinning around to face him.  Was he serious right now?

"NO," I snapped. "End of discussion."

If Prince was surprised by my reaction, he didn't say it.  I continued on my way to the kitchen.

“What are you listening to?” Prince asked, curiously, following me.

“Nothing,” I responded, grabbing an oatmeal raisin cookie from one of Patton’s very decorated canisters.

I was pleasantly surprised that Roman didn't press any further.  That was... really nice of him.

“Oh, come on. I thought we we’re friends,” Prince whined, pouting.

“No, I’m literally listening to nothing,” I repeated, pulling them off my head and holding them out to Prince.

He grabbed them and slipped them on his head. He waited for a moment before realizing. 

“Oh, literally nothing.  I see,” Prince realized, slipping them off and handing them back to me.

I slipped them around my neck and wordlessly continued eating a cookie.

“So we haven’t… really talked that much since the, um,” Prince coughed nervously, and pointed to his wings.

I raised my eyebrows at him, but didn’t respond, waiting for him to continue.

“So… I don’t really know that much about you.  What do you like to do for fun?” Prince asked, and I literally choked on a piece of cookie.

I started coughing and slamming my hand against my chest.  Prince stared on wide-eyed looking both surprised and uncertain, unsure if he needed to interfere or not.  I waved him away and I could feel my cheeks become red between lack of oxygen and embarrassment.

Well that was humiliating.

All I wanted was a simple snack raid, without consequences.

Was that really too much to ask?

“You want to… what?” I asked once I had recovered, staring at him – completely thunderstruck. 

What… do I like to do…

For fun?

“Well, I’ve recently discovered that I don’t really know you.  And I think that’s absurd, as you ARE one of the major sides, are you not?”

“Glad you noticed,” I muttered.

“What was that?”

“Yeah I noticed,” I tweaked. “But - uh - what? And why?” I asked, rubbing the back of my neck uncomfortable.

“Why not?”

…

I’m so annoyed that I don't have an argument against that.

“Perfect!” Prince said, beaming in triumph as I glared at him behind my cookie. “ So tell me – what do you like to do?”

I almost argued back… but what was the point? Prince was stubborn, and it’d be easier in the long run to just get it over with.

I grabbed another cookie and pulled myself on the counter, pondering the question. There were… many ways I could answer this.

“Well, I play unhealthy amount of Solitaire,” I admitted, munching away at my cookie as I considered what else I would tell him.  “I spend a lot of time listening to music, but you probably knew that already.  I’m not picky. I’ll listen to just about everything,” I continued. “And I really like anything strategy related. You?” I asked.  “But pick at least two surprising things, not like sword fighting and saving damsels and theater and stuff,” I added.

Prince reached into one of the cookie jars, pulling out a peanut-butter cookie.  He leaned back on the opposite side of the counter, debating his response.  “Well, I very much do love doing all of those things… hmm… Well… I really like to read,” Prince admitted.

“You? Read?” I held back a laugh.

“Well, to an extent - not those boring non-fiction books that Logic is always reading,” Prince rephrased, “but I do enjoy reading fantasy books. I always have.”

“So who’s your favorite author?” I questioned.  I doubt that he’s ever picked up a book.  I mean seriously? He couldn't think of a better lie?

“Rick Riordan,” he said instantly.

I blinked, not prepared for him to come up with an author so fast.

“What? I really like Mythology,” Prince said defensively at my surprised expression. “And he’s got a sense of humor.  Plenty of great heroic deeds too,” he added.

Actually… that does make sense.

“What are some other authors that you like?” Maybe he got away with naming one that just so happened to make sense, but he probably couldn’t name any more.

Prince frowned, finishing his cookie and brushing the crumbs left on his hands into the sink. “J.K Rowling, of course.  And I really do enjoy a lot of James Patterson, Marissa Meyer, Christopher Paolini, Bree Despain.”

“You… read a lot of Young Adult books?” I said, recognizing some, but not all of the names.

Prince shrugged. “Marissa Meyer? She writes a lot of twisted fairytales so OF COURSE I had to read them for myself. Christopher Paolini has a FABULOUS series with dragons. Bree Despain has a series where the main character has MUSICAL POWERS so I simply HAD to look at that.  AND James Patterson has winged creatures in some of their books so I simply HAD to read those - though I have to admit I hadn’t read those books until rather recently, but I’ve read a lot of his other works before.  He’s got tons of books, it’s really quite an impressive list.”

My jaw could not get any closer to the floor.

Prince is… such a geek. Just… so much of a geek.

“Sorry was that a bit much? I get -uh- a little passionate,” Prince said, sheepishly. I guess he was QUITE AWARE of his very geeky habit.

“Uh-huh. So what else?” I asked.

“What else do I like to do?”

“Um… yeah.”

“Well,” Prince ponder the question for a second, opening the fridge and pulling out the milk.  He pondered a bit while he poured a glass.

“I like to color a lot,” Prince said finally.  “Like in coloring books? It helps me when I’m struggling to come up with an idea or when I’m frustrated or upset.”

“Oh,” I said lamely, surprised.
Prince with the curveballs today...

“And then, of course, I do practice a lot of different variations of fighting,” he continued, waving his free hand in a you-already-know gesture.  “With swords – obviously my weapon of choice– but also many others: bow and arrows, knives, and guns. Some more unorthodox weapons like axes, whips, staffs, lances, hammers, unique swords.  And then also different types of fighting techniques and other helpful skills: hand-to-hand combat, acrobats, gymnastics, judo, fencing,” Prince finished, finishing his milk as well.

“You really know your stuff,” I admitted. “Where’d you learn all this?”

“Through trial and error mostly,” Prince admitted, blushing. “ I’ve looked through tons of videos, but it’s a little bit hard to find‘how to use a sledgehammer as proper weapon,’” Prince grinned. “It’s been fun though.”

“So time for me to ask you some of my own questions,” Prince said, and I squirmed uncomfortably.  I’d hoped he had forgotten.

“You mentioned earlier that you enjoyed ‘strategy related’ things. What does that include?” he asked.  “You want any?” he asked, holding the milk jug in questioning.

I shook my head in response and Prince put the milk away. 

“It can include a lot of things,” I answered cryptically.

“Like are we talking video games or battle strategy or like a game of chess against Logic or figuring out a way to get Logic and Morality together type-a strategy… ?”

“Oh you noticed that too?”

“Oh my gosh, do you even see the way they look at each other? They SOOO like each other and neither of them will make a move - it’s so frustrating,” Prince whined.

“Yeah,” I agreed.  “It’s like they’re constantly dancing around their feelings for each other. Honestly, it’s just painful to watch at this point,” I agreed.

“They’re SO meant for each other!” Prince whined. “They just need to get together already!  Like honestly! If neither of them makes a move soon – “Prince stopped shaking his head.

“Like just confess already! Everybody knows that you guys like each other.”

We both sighed.

“Hey – stop avoiding the question. What kind of strategy based games?” Prince asked again.

I shrugged. “Really anything you can think of that requires any type of strategy - I find it fun.”

I slid off the counter, adjusting my hoodie.  I had fulfilled my weekly amount of socializing and couldn't wait to go take a nap in isolation.

“Hey, um,” Prince started, stopping me on my tracks.

“I’ve been looking for a sparring buddy. In combat, like hand-to-hand and such.  Would you be interested?”

I stared, dumbfounded. Why would he ask me?

“I usually practice with Logic, but Mor- Patton and him have been spending so much time cleaning and organizing Morality’s room,” Prince explained, answering my unasked question.  “But if you really like strategy based things… I dunno, could be fun.”

I shifted nervously. “I dunno,” I said, yanking my sleeves over my hands which had gotten rolled up to my wrist.

Prince rose both his hands up to each side of his head in a sort of a ‘surrender’ motion. “No pressure.  Only if you’re interested,” he said, getting ready to leave the kitchen.

I squirmed. I couldn’t help it – I was very much interested. 

“O.K.,” I answered, right before he left. “I’m interested,” I admitted.

Prince turned around surprised. I guess he hadn’t really expected me to say yes.

And then Prince grinned widely.

Whelp. Too late to back out now.

“Fabulous! Meet me here at… does five-o-clock sound decent?” he asked, excitement bouncing off him.

“O.K.”

I couldn’t help smiling as Prince left. I could see him skipping down the hallway to his room – he clearly not realizing I was still watching.  I couldn’t help but let out a small grin. He was such a dork.

A conceited dork… but a dork nonetheless.

I made my way back to my room to recharge before five.

I… I think Prince will be in for quite a surprise…

___________________________
Wdct: 2365
That's like. Twice as long as a normal chapter.
And also my apology for being so so late with this. :)

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Comment:

Just - ugh.
Stop. It's too late in the night for you to be doing this to me.  I HAVE TO FUNCTION TOMMOROW AND I CANT IF I THINK ABOUT THIS

Me: Sowwy... ;)

NEXT CHAPTER IS IN PRESENT DAY!

-Max :)

If you're seeing the double update, it's cause I totally forgot to add this part earlier, as I was a fighting to get this out as fast as I could and some crazy facts have been brought to my attention.
I- I hit 1k reads recently! I have 136 votes (currently)!  More than half of my chapter have over 100 reads! The first couple of them bordering on 200!

That's... That's amazing!!!! That's incredible! It's - It's just so amazing to think that my story has gotten this far. You wouldn't know, but I have all of this all typed in Microsoft Word as well and THIS THING IS 54 FULL TYPED PAGES. LIKE. LIKE. LIKE HHOOOWW???!!!

Thank you all so much. Just... Thank you. Next chapter will be up on Wed - I pinky promise :)