Learning & Loving
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Virgil sets the glass down and goes to him. Roman shakes his head, keeping his mouth covered. “I’m fine, I’m okay, leave it, Virgil, I’m-”
“You’re not fine.”
Virgil takes a deep breath, and lets instinct guide him. He reaches for Roman’s arms, and gently tugs until his hands are no longer hiding his face. Roman keeps his eyes clenched shut, his cheeks wet with tears. The sight makes Virgil feel sick, but there’s something determined building within him, to find whatever has hurt Roman like this and destroy it.
“Please,” Virgil tries. He’s almost whispering. “Let me help you, Roman.”
Series
- Part 1 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
Sequel to Brave.
~“I have been made- ah- aware of the Giant Jerk Number One situation.”
“You’ve- oh. Have- have you seen Roman today?”
“I have.”
Virgil tries to disguise his shoulders tensing with worry, but he can’t help it. Maybe Roman found things too awkward. Maybe he said something wrong, and Roman had to vent to Logan about it and, oh God-
“Virgil. Relax. We just chatted for a little while. He said you were... very kind.”
Series
- Part 2 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
Continues from 'Breathing Space.'
------------Things continue relatively normally for a few weeks. Although, Virgil keeps on thinking of the way Roman’s face had lit up when he’d woken to the smell of pizza, how he’d exclaimed, “Virgil, you’re the best,” with such sincerity that Virgil’s stomach did a strange little swoop.
Which doesn’t mean anything, Virgil tells himself.
Series
- Part 3 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
Continues from 'Plotting.'
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Virgil enters the kitchen to find Roman dishing up two bowls of chili. When Roman notices him, he grins, brandishing a spoon at him flamboyantly.“You, friendo, have impeccable timing.”
Virgil just snorts, but inside his stomach does that peculiar jolting motion again: the old booming bravado is creeping back into Roman’s voice, and he is stunned at the thought that he might have helped recover it.
Series
- Part 4 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
Continues from 'New Arrangement.'
----------------------------Virgil ducks to avoid a sheaf of papers to the face. “Charming,” he says. He picks up the papers and turns them over to read ‘WICKED: THE MUSICAL’ in black embossed writing. “Oh, I read the script last night.”
He says it casually, and is surprised to see Roman’s face light up with delight.
“Really? The whole thing?”
Series
- Part 5 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
Continues from 'Spinning.'
----------------------------“I could kiss ... ?”
“I could kiss myself.”= unlikely. Also impossible??
“I could kiss Logan.”
“I could kiss Patton.”
^??? I mean... possible but... but. He said my name before right? Virgil, I could kiss... he was talking to me right? RIGHT? So. so maybe it’s... maybe...“I could kiss you.”
^I mean, that sounds... correct? You as in me. So... he was going to say he could kiss me? He could have kissed me. Do I want that- yes. Yes. That was quick. shitfuckshitSeries
- Part 6 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
Continues from 'Distraction'
------------------------------“Hmm...flying...” he mumbles.
Virgil blinks. He waits a few seconds to determine that yes, that did just happen and yes, Roman does sleep-talk.
And it’s adorable.
Series
- Part 7 of Learning & Loving
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Continues from 'Interlude'
-----------------------------“No, wait, shh...” And, after a few moments of concentration, Roman starts playing the song, every note perfect. It still stuns Virgil that Roman can just play things by ear like that.
His awe soon turns to laughter as Roman starts to sing. Except, instead of the actual lyrics, he... improvises: “This is... that song...that I don’t know the words to... but Virgil likes it so...”
Roman glances up and winks, still playing, and Virgil rolls his eyes through his giggles. “Oh, stop.”
Series
- Part 8 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
Virgil sighs again. “What if he’s, you know...” He blushes. “Not interested?”
There’s a great shout of laughter, and Virgil turns around, surprised to see Logan doubled over.
“Oh, please say you are kidding,” he wheezes.
Virgil crosses his arms defensively. “What?”
“Oh, God.” Logan shoves his books aside to slap a hand to his forehead. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people be so willfully dense- er, no offense.”
Series
- Part 9 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
But Virgil has only one goal in mind right now. “Rachel,” he half-begs, while Logan goes into some state of shock next to him. “Can- can I talk to you?”
Her eyebrows raise. “Sure thing.” She beckons him to the side, and he takes a deep breath, reaching into the back pocket of his jeans to bring out the box.
“I just- it’s- it’s a good luck gift for Roman, and I thought you could give it to him before curtain up?”
She looks delighted. “Oh, don’t be silly, you’ve got to give it to him!”
Series
- Part 10 of Learning & Loving
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“Yeah, yeah, sure,” Virgil says distractedly, firing off a text to Roman: We’re in seats C9, 10 and 11. Aren’t you going to get in trouble if you’re still using your phone before the show?
A reply chimes through immediately: You’re only in trouble if you get caught ;)
“Virgil, please...”
Virgil looks up, and his thoughts of Roman leaning close, his thumb on his cheek, fade a little. Logan is perched on his seat, posture rigid with tension, and it’s only then that Virgil notices Patton isn’t there.
“Where’s Pa-”
“Patton went to the bathroom,” Logan says through gritted teeth. “That’s why I said we don’t have much time. Virgil.” He groans, rubbing his temples. “Why would she say that?”
Series
- Part 11 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
Virgil stares and stares down at the envelope. He could open it right now, and read it. There’s nothing stopping him. Nothing save from the pounding of his heart, and his hands, still wrapped tight around the paper. Still shaking. Damn it. It feels like he’s on the edge of a cliff, and opening the envelope will send him tumbling over, down, down- for God’s sake, why does he have to get nervous now? Why can his mind only think of the worst case scenario, rejection, when that doesn’t even make sense, surely-
“Hey, Virge?”
It’s a gentle whisper. Virgil looks up to see Patton leaning over towards him.
“You want me to open that for you? I won’t look, I swear.”
Series
- Part 12 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
And then, As Long as You’re Mine begins. And Virgil realises that, despite his bravado from earlier, the confrontation with Jake must still have shaken Roman, somewhat. His opening notes are still pitched well, but Virgil notices a slight tremor lurking beneath them, and he leans forward instinctively, wanting to help, but not sure how.
“Come on, Roman,” he murmurs and it’s ridiculous to think he could possibly have heard him.
But Roman’s head snaps up to look out into the audience and Virgil, for once, lets himself think and believe it: he’s looking for me.
Series
- Part 13 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
“That was a pun,” Logan sighs. He leans forward, resting his head on the counter. “Do you think Patton would have liked it?”
“Um-”
“But his puns are awful, have you even- one time, when Roman was making pancakes, he said eggcellent. Eggcellent. Like excellent. But eggs.”
“Uh, yeah, Logan, I got-”
“And I... laughed.” Logan lifts his head off the counter and sighs again. “Genuinely. What does that say about me?”
Series
- Part 14 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
He feels like he’s flying, taking the steps two at a time. He glides down the bannister on the last floor just for the hell of it. He forgets that he’s still on the phone.
“Did you-” Roman’s voice comes from far away, tinny, but Virgil can hear the joy in it. “Did you just whoop?”
“No,” Virgil lies.
Series
- Part 15 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
Roman tilts his head in confusion. “Huh?”
Virgil pauses, considering how to best to put it. “Uh, well, long story short- Logan’s wasted.”
Roman looks like he’s just been told Christmas has come early. “No. Shut up, no he isn’t.” Then, before Virgil can say anything else, he asks eagerly, “Did you film it?”
Series
- Part 16 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
Virgil watches as Roman somehow lights up more and more when they enter the party. When they inevitably end up bumping into people from the production, Roman keeps the conversation casual and light, making sure the spotlight is off Virgil. Although, when introducing each other to some backstage crew Virgil’s never met before, Roman does make a point of saying with some pride, “And, this is Virgil. He’s...” Roman pauses, and grins. “He’s pretty great.”
But, Virgil understands what that pause means. And, he thinks back, and actually listens to his own advice: take a chance.
He nods and smiles at the strangers, then reaches out to take Roman’s hand again. “Hi. We’re together, by the way.”
Roman’s eyes sparkle, and he doesn’t let go of Virgil’s hand for any of the remaining conversations. It’s the only introduction they need.
Series
- Part 17 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
Takes place after 'Finale.'
--------------“Ah. Uh, well, we couldn’t exactly get you to your room and we didn’t want to just leave you like-well.” Roman breaks off, and Logan frowns.
“Leave me like wh-” He goes to sit up, and the movement makes his head spin awfully. He is hit with a memory, a hazy image that’s hard to grasp but there all the same, of someone offering him a shot, and he was confused and hurt and so damned angry at himself, and he thought why not and-
Logan groans. “Oh no. Oh no...”
Series
- Part 18 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
Logan remembers the feeling starting slowly and simply. It’s a fleeting, in the moment thing- like trying to capture the sun as it darts behind clouds.
Series
- Part 19 of Learning & Loving
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Summary
Virgil has never really expected to be liked.
Sure, he’d met Roman once at that awkward (dreadful, embarrassing, argh) party at the start of term, but he thought how widely Roman smiled was probably due to alcohol, or him just being polite.
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Beginning of a Prologue to this series, set before 'Brave.'Series
- Part 20 of Learning & Loving