I Think We've Already Begun

Tricks of Love

Virgil had been housebound for three days. He was quite lucky that he was in the beginning stages of designing a project he was working on so he didn't have to leave the building. The man hadn't received a single text from Roman or Logan in that time, which was concerning. Clover was pacing the floor, upset he'd barely ever been let out of the house other than the backyard.

Finally, enough was enough. "Okay, I'm going to go find Roman," Virgil said to himself, getting out of bed on the fourth morning. He put on a ripped purple shirt, black jeans, and a black hoodie with purple patches before heading out the door. "I'll be back soon buddy," he said to his German shepherd, locking the gold handle before stepping out and closing it behind him.

He took the bus to Roman's house- he'd left his car at his father's- which wasn't too far. He'd been there before when Roman wanted to show him a giant painting he'd worked on. It was a person whom Virgil didn't recognize, though it was hard to make out anything since Roman had just begun the project. Virgil smiled bittersweetly at the memory as he swayed on the bus. So much had changed since then.

Finally, the bus reached his stop and Virgil walked the rest of the way to his friend's house. It was a fairly busy morning and Virgil appreciated the breeze that cars flying by provided. It was a hot day.

Once he reached Roman's house, he knocked on the mahogany door. His friend's house was a quaint little white house with two rows of magenta and yellow flowers in front. It felt homely.

After a few moments, he was about to knock again but it swung open. "Virgil, hey!" Roman said, smiling. Strangely, he didn't seem mad at Virgil for leaving his house. However, Virgil was. "Excuse me? What the hell?" Roman tilted his head slightly. There was a cut or two on his upper lip, probably from shaving. "What?" Virgil puffed out an angry laugh. "You tell me to stay inside and then ghost me? Now you're pretending nothing happened?!" Virgil asked, looking at him in exasperation. Roman scratched his neck sheepishly. "Right..." He seemed to be confused and thought for a moment before stepping aside. "Can we talk about this inside?" Virgil huffed but nodded and walked inside. They walked into the living room and sat down at his cozy tan couches.

"So can you please explain why you didn't text me back for three days? You tell me to stay inside for 'safety' but never tell me why, not even over the phone!"

Roman nodded, thinking. Then he sighed. "I just didn't think you were safe... around me."

Virgil's angry attitude dropped. "What do you mean?"

"Listen, Virgil..." Roman bit his lip, looking at the ground. Then he looked up at Virgil. Those chocolate brown eyes... there was something off about them, he couldn't place it. He pushed the thought away and paid close attention as Roman scooted closer and puffed out a steady breath, as if in preparation.

"I'm in love with you."

Virgil's eyebrows shot up and his mouth widened. Roman... he liked him back? Like, loved him?

"I..."

Before he could say anything, Roman went on, looking back at his fireplace. "I stayed away from you because I couldn't risk falling in love with you... but while I was away, I realized I was too late."

Roman's eyes turned to stare into his. "Virgil... do you love me too?"

Yes, yes I do. I love you so much, Roman.

He wanted to say this, but he couldn't. All he could manage was a small nod. Roman glanced down at his lips, then back at Virgil's eyes, conveying a message that made Virgil's blood freeze.

His heart was beating a thousand miles per minute. Was this really happening?

The two leaned in. Virgil looked down, then noticed for the first time that there was a small indent on his right nostril. Since when did Roman get a nose piercing?

They were so close, breath brushing against each other's lips. Virgil's eyes fluttered closed and he focused on their closeness. So close, so close...

Then shit hit the fan.

Suddenly, Virgil was punched in the face and forced to turn around. Then, he was pushed into the couch cushions face first with his forearms pinned against his back. He cried out in pain, then looked behind him in horror. Roman held him down, eyes blazing with insanity and a demonic smile on his face. He fished out a white cloth from his pocket damp with some sort of liquid on it and shoved it against Virgil's mouth and nose. No matter how much he struggled, the cloth remained. Slowly, he began to feel drowsy and weak.

"Oh god, that was terrible," Roman's voice suddenly changed, it was more nasally and high-pitched. "I hate having to talk like that. Also, pretending to actually be in love with you... bleh. Oh well. At least you're in our hands now."

Roman's voice was the last thing he heard before the world went dark.