A/N: I'm baaaaack!!! 

TW: Crying, ambulance, self-negativity

|Previous chapter:

"Is he gonna be okay?" I whispered, scared that this would be what truly killed Virgil.

"At this point, it's hard to tell," Picani murmured back, voice heavy. "But I sure hope so."|

Roman POV:
After much stopping, starting and trying not to hit Virgil against a wall, Picani, Logan, and I managed to maneuver Virgil down the hall and into the Imagination. Once there, we were met by Patton and Remy, who were leading two villagers that were pulling a stretcher. Before I could process what was happening, Virgil was on the stretcher and being loaded into the ambulance while Picani and Patton got in with him.

"Picani," I called out when I fully comprehended what was going on before me, my voice thick with tears that threatened to escape. Picani stopped, poking his head out of the ambulance.

"Yeah, Ro?"

"C-can I come with?" I asked, taking a few steps towards the ambulance.

"I'm sorry, Ro," Picani comforted. "But there's not enough room."

"W-why can't I go instead of Patton?" I asked desperately, trying not to let sobs escape.

"Ro, Patton's like his father," Picani said gently as he started to close the doors. "It wouldn't make sense for him to stay here. I'm sorry."

"No," I sobbed as Picani closed the doors completely.

Suddenly Logan was next to me, placing a hand on my shoulder as we watched the ambulance race towards the village. Tears were streaming down my face, and I couldn't help but feel angry. Angry at myself for not seeing how sick Virgil was, for not treating him better when he first arrived, for not doing more to help him.

Lost in thought, I started walking, following the path the ambulance had taken.

"Roman, wait," Logan said, grabbing my wrist before I could get too far away. Halting, I turned around, trying my best to keep myself together

"Logan, I have to go," I pleaded, trying to tug my arm free from Logan's grasp.

"Roman," Logan said again, and I stopped fighting back. "You look like a hot mess. I'm sure you don't want the people in the village to see you like this."

I sighed, realizing that I probably did look like a hot mess, what with the tears streaming down my face. "Y-you're right, Logan."

Logan nodded, and I saw genuine understanding in his eyes.

"Go back to the Mind Palace," Logan said gently, placing both his hands on my shoulders. "Take a shower, get something to eat, and then come to the hospital. So much has happened today, and you should get some rest."

"Yeah," I said, nodding. "I-I'll go shower and eat."

Logan sent me a soft smile, which I tried my hardest to return. Turning to the door that stood open at the top of the hill, I exited the Imagination, making sure to shut the door behind me. As soon as the door was closed, I leaned against it, sliding down until I was curled in a ball on the floor. Before I knew what was happening, violent sobs started shaking my body.

"Are you not okay, Roman?" A voice farther down the hall surprised me mid-sob, and I looked up, surprised to see Deceit standing a few steps away from me.

"Why are you out of your room?" I asked, concerned for him. "You're in no condition to be up, what with your Hanahaki."

"I couldn't ask you the same, what with you not crying," Deceit retorted, making me chuckle slightly.

"I guess I've just," I paused, taking a breath as I tried to figure out what was going on in my mind. "I guess I've just gone through so much today, what with Virgil's nightmare and finding out about your Hanahaki and Virgil collapsing. I feel like so much of this is my fault." (A/N: Bud, this entire thing is your fault.)

I heard Deceit huff, and I looked up at him. Blinking a few times, I couldn't help but think that Deceit knew something that I didn't; there was a certain glint in his eyes, and was he smirking?

"What?" I asked, confused by his expression.

"Alwaysmind," Deceit said, causing me to pause to figure out what it was that he meant. "Don't take a nap, Roman. You don't need it."

"Yeah..." I murmured, nodding my head slightly before pushing myself to my feet.

"Yeah," I repeated, heading down the hall, not fully aware of what I was doing. "Yeah, I think I'll go take a nap and then shower, then maybe see how Virgil's doing."

A/N:
Whoo, look at me finally posting the next chapter after... exactly a month. 

Anyways, this is super short, but, hey, it's better than nothing, am I right? But, yeah, I've kinda been having writer's block when it comes to trying to write this book. 

Alright, so there's gonna be probably, like, 5 or 6 more chapters???? Idk, it depends on what my brain decides while I'm writing, lol.

Until next time,

Take it easy guys, gals, and non-binary pals!

~death_by_fanfic