chapter 4

After a half hour of crying from relief, Patton and Roman found themselves having nearly forgotten Virgil was there until he piped up.

"I really hate to say it, but your brother will do just fine as a vampire." Virgil admitted with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Why is that?" Patton asked, face still tear stained.

Virgil looked away from Roman and strode over to the couch, gracelessly falling in a heap onto it, which made Roman wonder if it was possible for there to be a clumsy vampire.

"Because he's an idiot, and sadly, we make the best vampires." Virgil explained with a grin that showed his fangs, "If someone really wanted to do damage, they'd have turned Roman. He's impulsive and easily offended."

"I'm not easily offended!" Roman practically screeched, and Virgil cringed at the loud noise.

"Ro," Patton started softly, though he may have well not bothered lowering his voice, as Virgil could hear just fine anyway, "Play nice, please? He didn't have to come here."

"You know," Virgil drawled as he examined his nails, not bothering to correct Patton in that he had indeed been threatened and therefore forced to help, "You shouldn't have invited me in. Something similar is probably how Boy Wonder over there got turned." He said as he jerked a thumb in Remus's direction, and Roman felt his knees weaken as he saw his all too still brother.

"When will he wake up?" Roman asked, voice shaking.

"Depends. Took me three hours when I was turned, but that was centuries ago."

"I still haven't ruled you off the list of suspects, leech."

"Why would I have come over if I'd done it? I'm an idiot, Roman, but I have some self preservation."

"You're the only vampire in town!" Roman growled, stepping closer to Virgil.

Something inhuman flashed in Virgil's eyes, and then he was standing, baring his fangs as he stood chest to chest with Roman, "You might want to keep your tone down, you moron. Hearing is the first thing to return."

Roman stumbled back, barely catching himself from falling as he continued to glare up at Virgil, who when he wasn't slouching, had a good few inches on Roman.

"Let's all settle down, yeah?" Patton asked softly, "Everyone is worried, and this isn't helping."

“Fine with me.” Virgil grumbled, returning to sitting, “If it had been me, I’d have been able to come in earlier.”

“You could’ve faked.” Roman huffed.

“Yes, because that’s what was on my mind when I was being threatened.” Virgil scoffed, “Have some faith in me, Roman, I’m not half the monster you think I am.”

Just as Roman was prepared to get into another argument, Remus shot up into a sitting position, gasping for air, and Virgil was instantly at his side, checking him over, eyes narrowed slightly in concentration.

“He’s alive!” Patton sobbed, and Roman wrapped an arm around Patton, tugging him into a hug as he began to cry as well, though these tears were much happier than any of the previous ones.

“Am I in hell?” Remus croaked.

“I’m sure being related to Roman is much the same as being in hell.” Virgil shrugged, standing up straight once again, placing a hand on Remus’s shoulder, “Don’t try to move, you’re still out of it.”

“Remus,” Roman said as he moved to sit beside his brother, ignoring Virgil’s protests, “What do you remember?”

“Remember?” Remus repeated, eyes glassy.

“He’s still out of it.” Virgil explained, “He’ll need a half hour or so to adjust to being back. If you wanted to feed him, it’d take less time, but that isn’t your choice to make.”

“Like hell it isn’t!” Roman yelled, “This isn’t your concern!”

Virgil grabbed Roman by his ear, then looked at Patton, “Sit with him while I bitch Roman out.”

Patton instantly obliged, and tugged Remus into a tight hug, causing Remus to shut his eyes and let out a happy squeak at the warmth offered by Patton, since he himself had no body warmth anymore.

Virgil didn’t hesitate to drag Roman outside, slamming him against the wall with a snarl, baring his fangs as he did so, “Listen to me, and make sure you understand what I say: your brother isn’t going to be the same anymore. Anything he was as a human will be amplified, as will emotions. This decision is something a lot of people come to regret, and you can’t just make it for him. You need to be a good brother, get your *** back in there, and reassure him that things are okay, because once he realizes what’s happening to him, you’re never getting the old Remus back.”

Roman swallowed hard, eyes burning with tears, “And what if he chooses to leave us?”

Virgil placed a hand on Roman’s shoulder, “Then you’ll have to learn how to handle it.”

“And if I can’t?” Roman sobbed once.

Virgil sighed, then wrapped an arm around Roman and pulled him into a hug, ignoring how Roman made a noise of surprise at the gesture, “I dunno. But you need to get through today with him, okay? Whatever happens after that will have to be dealt with day by day.”

Roman wrapped his arms around Virgil, burying his face against Virgil’s shoulder as he continued crying. Had someone tried telling him he’d ever be hugging a vampire, Roman would have laughed, but Patton needed Roman, so did Remus, and the only one who was able to offer comfort to Roman was Virgil of all people, and so Roman tried to ignore that this was a vampire, and instead focused on it being the person who was going to help Remus through the next trying hours.

Virgil finally pulled away first, then brushed Roman’s tears away with his finger, “Whatever happens, make sure the next day is good for Remus, okay?” he asked softly, voice gentle for the first time since Roman had met him, “He needs you. A lot. Whichever route he takes, it won’t be easy, and you’re one of the things that will help him hold onto his humanity.”

Virgil’s hand was cold, but against Roman’s fevered skin, it wasn’t uncomfortable, instead welcome, and Roman shut his eyes, “How did you deal with this?”

Virgil wiped away Roman’s remaining tears, then shrugged as he let his hands fall away from Roman’s face, “I didn’t. I spent my first half century as a vampire killing and causing problems. Things changed after that, seeing as the fun of it all wears out once hunters close in, and ever since then, I’ve just spent my time existing as peacefully as I can manage.”

“Do you ever regret turning?”

Virgil managed a small laugh as he looked away, “Yeah, I do.” he admitted, “Rather often, if we’re being honest, but I didn’t have anyone there for me when I turned. I had to figure everything out on my own, but Remus won’t.”

Roman sighed and opened his eyes, “We should get back inside.”

“Humans first.” Virgil smirked, and Roman smacked him on the arm, causing them both to laugh as they stepped back inside.

“Dumb bastard got ahold of me when he came in for rent.” Remus groaned as Virgil and Roman entered, “I feel so dumb for not figuring out that our fucking landlord is a vampire.”

“The landlord??” Roman gaped.

Remus looked up, face pale as he gave a tight-lipped smile, “Yeah. He came by after you guys left.”

Virgil sat on the edge of the couch that Remus and Patton weren’t occupying, slouched as he seemingly thought, “Got a name or address?”

“No, he always came by for the payment.” Patton explained.

“No matter, he’s probably long gone.” Virgil said as he stretched.

“So what now?” Remus asked, holding Roman’s hand as it was offered.

“Now you make a choice.” Virgil yawned, “If you’d like to live as a vampire, I can get some blood for you, but if you don’t, you’ll want to find somewhere quiet and dark to spend your last day.”

Remus swallowed hard, tears gathering in his eyes, “There’s no other option?”

Virgil shook his head with a sad smile, “Afraid not.”

Roman gave Remus’s hand a gentle squeeze, “Hey, don’t worry about us, okay? If you don’t want to be a vampire, you don’t have to.”

“But you two-”

Patton had fresh tears dripping down his cheeks as he shook his head, “None of that, kiddo. This is your choice, and yours alone.”

Remus sniffled softly, “I-I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“You don’t have to.” Virgil piped up, “Blood bags can keep you strong and alive. The daylight thing is a pain in the arse, but you’ll adjust.”

“Hey, if you wanted to turn, we could get you a daylight ring!” Patton said excitedly.

“Easier said than done.” Virgil laughed, “You’d need to know a witch who doesn’t mind helping out vampires.”

Everyone stared blankly at Virgil, and Virgil’s jaw dropped.

“You know a witch who doesn’t hate vampires? Seriously?”

“My best friend.” Remus explained, “He’s been wanting vampire blood anyway, and I could be a steady supply.”

“Eww.”

“Virgil, I saw you drink half a blood bag not five hours ago.” Roman pointed out.

“That’s a survival thing, using vampire blood for spells isn’t.” Virgil countered.

“It was still gross.”

“It isn’t gross, it’s perfectly normal!”

“We’re getting off topic.” Patton said firmly as the beginnings of a fight showed, “This is about Remus choosing to turn, not what you two think of blood.”

Remus was looking down, still holding one of Patton’s hands and one of Roman’s as he thought, and after a minute of silence, he looked up, “I-I want to do it.”

“You’re sure?” Virgil asked softly, “Because if you choose this, your life will be very different.”

Remus swallowed, then nodded once, “I’m sure. I want to become a vampire.”

Virgil stood and rolled his shoulders, “Alright, give me ten minutes to get you some blood and we’ll do this.”

“Couldn’t he take from one of us?” Patton asked.

“Can’t risk that with his first feeding.” Virgil replied, “He could lose control and accidentally hurt you.”

“Alright then, lets do this.” Roman said as he nodded once.

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