5:57pm
"Look at what you've done— are you proud?"
"...yes"
Au
—
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Logan asked with a concerned eyebrow raise, his arms crossed over his chest, lab coat showing him off to be someone who worked there while Virgil? Well, he looked somewhat like he worked there. He wore a lab coat too but with his usual clothes on underneath, with the coat and jacket he was extremely hot but one; he knew he'd be taking off the coat soon and two; his jacket was his life.
Due to being friends with his very nerdy friend Logan he was able to get a glimpse into what life was like at the lab, most of which is hidden from the public eye. He and Logan had been friends since they were born it felt like (because Virgil's mother and Logan's father were best friends too) so they spent a lot of time together growing up.
They both liked to think of each other as life long friends who told each other secrets. Technically these secrets in the lab weren't Logan's to tell which is why he wouldn't say everything but one night they were both a little tipsy and he might've let some information he shouldn't have loose. Ever since Virgil didn't let it go - he needed to see it in person.
"I'm sure, it doesn't attack unless provoked, right?" Virgil shrugged off his lab coat, handing it to Logan who sighed, glancing at the metal door they stood beside. "I suppose not. The camera's will only be disabled for a few more minutes, once you enter you will have to stay inside until I say so. Do not worry, it can't reach you if you stand by the door" Virgil nodded and turned to the door, he knew he had to enter now, of course he was extremely anxious but he could only imagine what this lab might do to whatever was on the other side so he needed to do something.
"See you in Hell" Virgil breathed out, letting Logan open the door for him to slip into, flinching when it shut heavily behind him, locking too. He swallowed thickly, the room itself had only one light hanging down from the ceiling, a single, small bulb giving off a soft orange glow that barely lit up anything.
Virgil's eyes surveyed the room, it was empty apart from a bundle of blankets in the far right corner.
When he stared long enough he pressed into the wall behind him when he noticed two red piercing eyes gazing at him intently, unmoving, waiting for him to do something.
Virgil swallowed again and steeled his nerves, remembering what Logan told him, repeating it like a mantra. 'It won't attack unless provoked'
"Uh-...hello?" He called into the room, clutching onto his sleeves tight.
In response he heard a low growl. "I'm-I'm not here to hurt you" Virgil tried again, he couldn't be scared, Logan told him before, being scared will get him killed for he looked weak, vulnerable, easy to kill for a quick meal.
Taking a breath he stood up taller, taking his hands from his pockets, rolling up his sleeves. "I have something for you" Virgil stated, strengthening his voice to avoid it wavering, from his back pocket he pulled out a bag of blood - Logan had studied the creature the most and understood it drained any carcass they would throw inside before eating the meat afterwards.
"Here" Virgil slowly lifted his arm, holding the bag in it's direction.
The creature didn't move for awhile, eyes never shifting from Virgil, just watching, waiting for him to try and trick him, make him come out only to attack. Realising this wasn't going anywhere Virgil bent down and gently tossed it into the creature's direction, Virgil saw the blanket shift back and he assumed he flinched further away from the stranger, aka himself.
Ever so slowly Virgil watched the blanket move, the eyes coming out of the darkness until it's head was visible and Virgil gasped quietly. He didn't expect the creature to look so...human. Logan had told him so but he didn't expect this, he would think it was human if it weren't for the way it's teeth suddenly elongated and snatched the bag, his body sliding back under the blanket swiftly but Virgil could see the way it sunk it's teeth into the bag, gulping up the blood, draining it as if it were nothing.
The bag was tossed at his feet, eyes still staring but now Virgil could see parts of it's face.
"Another?" Virgil asked for he had brought two, one for each back pocket. The creature didn't move much but Virgil saw the way it's head lifted up slightly. Bending down he slowly knelt onto the cold stone ground, holding the bag in his hand this time, wondering if the creature would take it from him.
Of course it didn't move for a bit, just sniffed at the air while shifting it's head, eyes snapping from Virgil to the bag and back again.
"Take it" Virgil urged quietly.
And the creature slowly emerged, moving one inch at a time, letting out a low growl as a warning that Virgil better not try anything. Now it was out for longer Virgil could get a better look of it, like it's eyes it's hair was a dark red, the tips brighter than the roots. It's skin was pale and his teeth looked extremely sharp.
It moved up to Virgil like an animal, on it's arms and legs, sniffing the air every few seconds, eyes never leaving Virgil who didn't move a muscle, he didn't want to provoke it in any sort of way in case he lost an arm. Logan told him it can move extremely quick.
In a flash the bag was snatched from Virgil's hand and the creature was back in it's blanket den in a second flat, gulping down the blood just as quick as the first one. Throwing the bag back at Virgil the creature was now more out of it's blankets, head and shoulders visible now. His body wasn't covered with much apart from cloth around it's waist.
"I'm Virgil" he tried, not really knowing if the creature understood English, or even the concept of names. Logan and his co-workers haven't been able to get much information from him.
The creature's head tilted to the side slightly as he said this, eyes drifting across Virgil's body, analysing him. At least that was what it looked like. He was sitting on his legs on the floor, Virgil wondered if he was close enough to be attacked but then remembered he couldn't be scared.
Then a sudden thought popped into his mind, in fact he watched 'How To Train Your Dragon' specifically for this moment last night.
Slowly he held up his hand, wondering if this was a stupid idea for this creature wasn't a dragon but then again how did Hiccup knew it would work?
The creature's lips pulled back to reveal it's teeth for a moment, letting out a low growl but when Virgil didn't do anything more it silenced itself, instead licking it's lips and sitting up further, watching Virgil closely, curiously. Virgil kept very still, hand hovering in the air in it's direction, wondering if by the end of this he'll leave with two hands.
The creature slowly moved, the chain attacked to his neck dragging along the ground as it moved, making it the less than stealthy creature it usually was in the wild. Moving across the ground the creature paused in front of the human, lifting one hand up but putting it back down again, head tilting from side to side, flickering his eyes from the hand and up to Virgil's face.
Finally it looked back down at it's body, wetting it's lips again before looking down at it's legs, which were bent as it rested on it's feet. Slowly it began to copy Virgil, pressing it's legs against the ground awkwardly, trying to kneel but it hadn't really had much practice. Virgil watched in wonder as the creature did this, copying his position until it was sitting on it's legs, looking up at Virgil once it was done.
"...hey" Virgil whispered, the creature's ears flickered, lips parting to let out a sort of hiss.
Virgil smiled, "look, hand" he pointed at his hand slowly, no sudden movements. "Hand?" He then pointed at the creature who stared at Virgil's hand, then down at his own, lifting it from the ground and holding it in the air. Virgil nodded. "Yes, hand"
The creature cocked it's head, "sss..." it hissed, pressing it's hand into Virgil's. The contact made the creature flinch back a bit, growling at Virgil's hand, bending down and looking at it closer, inches away from his palm. It sniffed at it, then pressed it's nose into it which made it hiss again, leaning back while Virgil watched in awe.
The creature poked the hand, hissed, but poked it again, and again, poke, poke, poke.
Then it opened it's hand and pressed it completely against Virgil's, leaning close to sniff and gaze at the way their skin touched.
Virgil moves his fingers and the creature hissed at the hand specifically, retracting away from it for a moment before pressing against it again, letting out a longer hiss when Virgil moved his fingers again and the man couldn't help but chuckle lightly.
The creature stared at Virgil when he made the noise but was too infatuated by the hand to care, pressing it's hand against the palm again. Virgil slowly moved his hand, the creature's eyes narrowed but it instead watched as Virgil's fingers slipped between the gaps in it's own, bending until they held it's hand.
The creature's eyes were now blown out in curiosity, leaning close and watching how their hands seemed to connect together. It sniffed at it, then wriggled it's own fingers, copying Virgil's movements until their hands intertwined midair.
The creature averted it's eyes to Virgil who smiled, after a moment the creature's lips quivered and Virgil watched in awe as the creature tried to copy Virgil's smile, it was awkward and toothy but Virgil adored it either way.
Everything was okay until a sudden noise made the creature lose it's smile, ears twitching and eyes narrowing. Growling it snatched it's hand away from Virgil, darting across the room and back under the blanket pile. Virgil didn't have much time to move before the door opened and Logan was calling him out quickly.
"You need to go" Logan explained quietly, Virgil took one more look at the creature before standing up and leaving the room, Logan pulling the door closed behind them. "You can come back tomorrow-I saw what happened through the cameras, it's never acted like that to one of us before. At least no one has ever tried it. It held your hand" Logan seemed so amazed and was currently geeking out but kept himself composed knowing Virgil could get into serious trouble if he was caught here.
"We shall come back tomorrow night, no one is here and only higher ups - like me - can come in, then we can spend all night with the creature. Well, you can" Logan corrected, urging him to put on his lab coat while he locked the creature's door.
"Will it...he be okay?" Virgil looked at Logan who nodded, "it'll be fine" he answered and Virgil felt reassured that Logan would care for it.
The next day Virgil was fidgety throughout the entirety of it, unable to get the creature off of his mind. He and Logan shared an apartment, while Logan was at the lab all day Virgil was home working online, he could barely get anything done however from how much his mind wandered to the creature - he just hoped he's okay down there in that room.
Evening came way too slow in Virgil's opinion, waiting outside for Logan's car to pull up. When it did Virgil jumped up from where he sat on the front steps, running over before Logan could even turn off the car.
"You seem eager" Logan commented when he climbed in, closing the door quick behind him. "Whatever - how is he?" He changed the subject and Logan smirked, rolling his eyes fondly while pulling out the carpark.
"It's fine, we didn't do many tests on it today, just fed it the usual and let it be" Virgil nodded and stared out the window as they drove, the world around them dark, sun having set hours ago.
When they arrived Virgil put on his borrowed lab coat and the two entered once Logan opened up the doors using his keycard, the building was quieter than yesterday and Virgil didn't have to duck his head to avoid anyone for there wasn't anyone here. "Usually only a few people stay behind but they do not work in this section" Logan explained to calm down his friend, taking him down two flights of stories like yesterday, down the hallway and in front of a room with a metal door.
"Remember what I told you" Logan advised before opening the door, Virgil losing the lab coat before he stepped in, the door shutting behind him but this time he didn't notice.
The creature's eyes came into view quick, he was quiet and still for a moment but Virgil could hear him sniffing the air. When he realised it was the same person as yesterday he poked his head out from his blanket den, watching Virgil closely who sat on the ground, closer to the creature this time.
"I have food again" Virgil called, pulling out a bag from his pocket. The creature was out his den faster today, taking the bag from Virgil using his teeth, sitting atop his blankets to suck up the blood he seemed to love so much. Virgil watched with a fond gleam in his eye, this time he threw the bag in a different direction, turning to face Virgil curiously.
Virgil grinned and brought out a second bag which made the creature come back to him, kneeling down before him and taking the bag quick, gulping down half of the blood this time.
Virgil watched, confused, as he took the bag from his mouth using his hands, pushing it in Virgil's direction.
"You full?" Virgil asked, taking the bag and going to set it to the side but the creature growled, Virgil tensed, realising he wanted him to hold the bag. Okay, he could do that, but now what?-oh... did he want Virgil to drink this? As a peace offering? Oh no.
He lifted it to his lips and all was answered when the creature seemed to sit up, happier at the sight of Virgil drinking the blood. Crap Virgil thought with a sigh, sucking some into his mouth and cringing so hard he felt his whole body shudder, but he swallowed it anyway, smiling awkwardly.
"Yum" he forced, slowly putting the bag behind him.
The creature shuffled on the spot, sitting like Virgil on his knees but they were spread apart, between them his hands resting on the floor.
His eyes gazed at one of Virgil's hand and he quickly understood, lifting it up for the creature to do the same, sniffing Virgil's hand before pressing them together again, waiting for Virgil to bend his fingers down which he did with a smile, the creature copying.
"Can you speak?" Virgil asked, the creature stared at him, head tilted to the side.
"Sss..." he hissed, eyes narrowed in concentration. "Sss...ssp...speeee" and Virgil laughed lightly, he couldn't help it, it was funny to listen to! And kinda cute, too.
"Ssssspeeeak" the creature finally did it and Virgil nodded. "Yes! Speak! You can speak"
The creature sensed Virgil's excitement which made him excited too, becoming jittery. "Ssspeeeak! Sssspeeeak!" He repeated and Virgil grinned widely.
"Can you say...my name? Virgil?" And the creature looked confused, Virgil guessed too many words at once.
"Virgil" he pointed to himself, "I'm Virgil"
The creature lifted his other hand, pressing it to Virgil's chest. "V..V...Vir...Virge"
He nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, me, Virgil" he gestured to himself and the creature seemed to become more excited with every passing second, Virgil was sure if he had a tail it would be wagging like mad. "Vir..Virge...l" the creature managed, "Vir...gil!" He said louder and Virgil nodded.
"Vir-gil" he pronounced the syllables harsher than needed but Virgil didn't care for this creature just said his name!
"Vir-gil" the creature pointed to him and he nodded, "I'm Virgil, me Virgil" he pointed to himself too and the creature wriggled on the spot, "Vir-gil, Vir-gil" the creature repeated, then paused, then did his awkward, toothy, lip quivering smile which made Virgil sit up in delight, the two still holding hands.
"Me, Virgil" he repeated, then pointed to the creature, "you...?" He drifted, wondering if he might possibly have a name. The creature tilted it's head to the side, shuffling again, unable to stop shuffling on his legs, he was still quite worked up from moments prior. "Virgil" he pointed to himself, then to the creature.
He seemed to understand, pointing a hand in his own direction. "C-cre...ture"
Creature? He thought his name was creature? Virgil's smile quickly faded into a frown.
"Vir-gil" he pointed at his new friend, "crea-ture" he then pointed to himself.
Virgil shook his head, "no, no, you're not creature"
He tilted his head confused, tapping his chest. "Crea-ture?"
Again, Virgil shook his head. "No, no creature" he didn't like thinking that's what he thought his name was, it wasn't the nicest of words in the first place. "Not crea-ture?" He asked and Virgil nodded, "not creature" he reassured then tried to think of a name.
He remembered back to his school days, Logan was really his only friend, he never indulged in a true friendship with anyone else due to his social anxiety and general dislike towards the population, but he did remember one specific boy, Rowan, used to be really nice to him whenever they spoke, especially on the days Logan wasn't in, he even calmed Virgil down from a panic attack, and decided that yes, he'd call this creature Rowan. It's a simple enough name to pronounce.
Virgil pointed at him, "Rowan"
The creature cocked his head, waiting for Virgil to repeat. "You" he gently tapped his chest, "Rowan"
"Ro..." the creature drifted, "Ro...man"
Virgil drew his eyebrows together, "No, Ro-"
"Ro-man, Ro-man!" He once again pronounced the letters a little too harshly but he seemed so excited Virgil didn't want to confuse him. Roman was close enough.
"Yes, me Virgil" he gestured to himself then to Roman. "You, Roman"
"Vir-gil" he copied, "Ro-man"
Virgil nodded enthusiastically and Roman began to bounce up and down again excitedly, "Ro-man! Ro-man!" He repeated in a happier tone.
Roman then lowered down, leaning up to Virgil and sniffling him lightly, using his hand to touch the skin on his arm, quickly retreating it with a frown. He whined a little then backed towards his den, tugging Virgil along as he still held onto his hand. "You want me to follow?" Virgil asked, "me with you?" he gestured to himself then at the den, Roman nodding hurriedly, still pulling him along so Virgil complied, allowing Roman to sit him down into the den, using his hands and head to messily push the blankets overtop of Virgil.
He felt his arms and saw why he was doing this, because he felt cold. "Roman, it's okay, I'm okay" he reassured, pushing the blankets away from encasing him. Roman whined, sitting beside him while gazing at him closely. "Look, see? This jacket keeps me warm" Virgil pulled up the jacket, pulling it closer to his body.
"Warm" he repeated, Roman tilted his head.
"W-waarmm" he repeated, "waarrmm"
"Yes, warm" he pointed to the den, "warm"
"Waarm" Roman grabbed the blankets, pushing it towards Virgil. "Warm" he repeated, "I'm warm" Virgil chuckled, then reached for Roman's spare hand, pulling it close to feel the inside of his jacket. When he did Roman's eyes widened. "Warm" he murmured.
"Yeah, warm"
Roman then began to grab at the jacket so Virgil took it off, letting Roman take it and gaze at it intently, glancing at Virgil for a second before pulling it over his shoulders, Virgil helping him pull it closer to his body. "Warm?" He asked, smiling when Roman began to snuggle against the material. "Warm" he agreed, not sticking his arm through the holes but Virgil guessed he didn't need to, besides he didn't want him to feel trapped.
Virgil watched him curl up into a ball around the jacket, eyes closed, is breathing fast, very fast but he noticed that from the start so assumed it was a normal thing for him. While watching he slowly lifted his hand and went to touch his hair but Roman sensed him, eyes opening, growling at his hand. Virgil quickly retracted it, shuffling back a little.
Roman quietened, lifting out from the jacket. He moved closer, jacket falling from his body as he lifted his own hand, placing it onto Virgil's head, watching curiously at his hair, rubbing the strands between his fingers and carding his hand through it a few times too.
While he did so Virgil tried to reach for his hair again, softly playing with his red strands. Roman first growled but it lasted a moment before he was silence, his own hand stopping. He gazed at Virgil until he hissed, ducking his head away, staring at his hand and sniffing it. Then he pressed the top of his head against it, waiting until Virgil played with his hair before moving away again. Virgil guessed he wasn't used to the feeling.
This repeated a few times, Roman hissing every now and then, letting Virgil play with his hair for longer each time until he was sitting down on his haunches, held tilted down to let Virgil run his hand through his hair, quickly realising it was okay and it felt really nice.
"Like that, huh?" Virgil asked, gently running his hand through his locks. Roman hummed, leaning up into his touch like a cat, eyes closed to focus entirely on what he felt.
"Roman" Virgil smiled with a soft chuckle.
"You sure are something, huh?"
—
Part dos?
12:00am