[Just for your information: None of this book has ever been planned, I simply came up with an idea of an AU and wrote as I went along, so right now as I write this I have no idea how this chapter will go...but I'm hella excited from the ideas that you guys gave me and we're going out with a bang.]

TW: Abuse/Harm

Virgil sat in his hospital bed, where else would he be? Where else could he be? He was under the age of eighteen...he couldn't be dismissed from the hospital until a legal parental unit showed up and, well, that wasn't happening anytime soon. Virgil was fairly sure he was going to rot and die in this hospital room, what would be the point of his father showing up? He was probably passed out on the couch somewhere.

Virgil let out an audible groan, "Life sucks." He muttered. All he really wanted right now was to be beside Roman, not that he'd ever admit this, but despite that, nothing was changing.

It was 6:03 AM on a Friday night...Friday night- oh no.

The Musical was premiering tonight.

Virgil felt his heart-rate pick up, how did he not think of this anytime sooner? It hadn't been an issue before, he had memorized his lines, he had everything prepared, and then Tom...fucking Tom.

Virgil's breath began to pick up and his heart-rate monitor began to beep at every moment his heart-rate spiked, which was becoming more and more frequent. He tried to think of what would happen...

His understudy would go on...and-

Oh no.

Oh no.

Virgil's understudy was going to kiss Roman.

This made Virgil shutter, Joan was his understudy and- Joan was lovely, but...they hadn't practiced the kiss at all and- Virgil and Roman hadn't practiced the kiss either, grant it, but at least they had kissed before off stage.

Virgil himself had hardly been able to practice in a group and-

Virgil woke up with a gasp, his palms were clammy and there was a doctor beside him with her fingers to his wrist before she looked to Virgil.

"Your heart-monitor was giving us a scare there! Your heart-rate was going through the roof! You alright there?" The nurse looked to Virgil.

"Wh-what day is it?" Virgil looked at the nurse helplessly.

"January first." The nurse nodded.

Virgil immediately relaxed, the show didn't premiere until next Friday.

"Nightmare?" The nurse asked, though they didn't seem very interested seeing as how they were heading for the entrance of the door.

"Yeah..." Virgil sighed out as he dragged the starchy hospital blanket up to his face, it was rough and scratchy, but provided minimal comfort, and that was better than anything at the moment.

Virgil thought about his brief dream...it had been all of his worries bottled up into one sequence, and they were all true. Virgil still needed parental approval to leave the hospital, and his dad had to physically show up for that, which hadn't happened, and the show, while it didn't show tonight, was coming up fast in a week, and he wouldn't be allowed to perform with a broken leg, and sadly, Joan was not his understudy, there were no understudies, as the performance process went, Virgil, Tom, and Roman had been working in a group together and just within the past month before break had they started to come together for group blocking, and while the show did seem ready to go, there was still the fact that Virgil's leg was broken, and with only Tom and Roman knowing his blocking and lines, they were essentially fucked.

Virgil groaned as he squeezed his eyes shut and began to think.

He thought for a good portion of time before his mind landed on an idea and he sat up just barely, leaving the top hem of the crisp white blanket on lap.

Virgil would do just what he had to do.

He would act.

***

Roman sighed as he walked up the hill that led to school, his car was still parked on Tom's street and he had no desire to head over there at the moment, despite wanting to kick the guy in his fucking nads, no, he couldn't simply harm Tom like that, he was going to do what drama kids do best, and be dramatic. For all Tom knew, Roman knew nothing, and for what Roman knew, Tom had a massive crush on him.

Well, it's called crush for a reason.

Roman made his way through the school parking lot until he reached the auditorium at its edge. He had to admit, it wasn't all that fun having to go to school during Winter Break, just for rehearsal...but then again,rehearsal had always been a fun place for Roman, a sanctuary for all; However...for Tom, that sanctuary was going to become a living hell.

This was the last rehearsal the theatre kids had until opening night, and probably the last time they'd see each other until then, unless they had plans sometime between now and showtime during the break, so of course, Roman decided he would, not bury the hatchet, but break the hatchet, at this moment.

Roman picked through the pathways until he reached the door of the auditorium and began to knock to be let in, however, nobody was answering. Roman growled out in frustration and began to kick the door, "Hello?! Let me in!"

Just then Roman heard the sound of car wheels squeal behind him and he whipped around.

"I don't think they'll open the door for you there, but I'm more willing."

Roman began to glare.

Tom smiled as he reached over to open the passenger's side door to his car.

***

Virgil dialed his dad's number for what he figured was the hundredth time, but there was still no answer. He growled as he hung up and began to get ready to throw his phone across the room when it dinged. Virgil scrambled to hold his phone correctly so he could then read the text he had received, however, while he had expected it to be his dad, it was...Roman? Virgil smiled warmly at the name before swiping open his phone and reading the message.

Virgil's eyes widened and began to sit up, fiddling with the sling that elevated his leg until it released it and he was able to swing his legs over the side of the hospital bed, he began to stand up when he winced and just about crumbled to the floor, he was desperate to get out but he knew he needed a plan...one was starting to form in his mind.

***

"Done!" Patton giggled as he finished a braid in Logan's hair.

"I...do not see the point in this." Logan mumbled.

"It's for fun?" Patton cocked his head.

"Oh...is it fun for you?" Logan looked back at Patton.

"Yeah!" Patton bounced up and down on his bed that they were sitting on.

"Then I am having fun." Logan nodded.

"Why do you always say things like they're a fact?" Patton sat beside Logan so their legs touched.

"What do you mean?" Logan blinked.

"Logan, repeat this sentence: Ima go water the plants, 'cause that's ma job."

"That's a bit childish but- okay..." Logan thought for a moment, "I am going to go water the plants because that is my job." Logan nodded surely.

Patton gave an adoring smile, "Oh geez, you're cute."

Logan's face fired up a nice red color, "Oh I- uh- thanks, Patton."

"There!" Patton sat up straight.

Logan shook his head, a bit startled, "What?"

"You said thanks!" Patton nodded frantically.

"Okay?"

"You'd usually say thank you."

"Your point?" Logan frowned.

"You drag out words and sentences longer than you need to." Patton replied.

"How so?"

"Say a sentence." Patton suggested.

"Any sentence?"

"Any sentence."

"I am dating Patton." Logan stated.

Patton grinned before leaning forward to kiss Logan's cheek and then lean back, "Repeat it."

Logan felt his face grow hot where Patton had kissed it, "I'm- d-dating you-"

Patton let out a laugh, "You're adorable!"

Logan fiddled with the hem of his shirt, "Oh um..."

"Show more emotion, Logan, it suits you better." Patton winked.

"...Thanks."

Around a minute passed of silence before Patton's phone rang.

"Oops! It's Virgil, I'd better take this..." Patton sighed with a smile before answering the phone, "Yello?"

"T-Tom's with Roman at the school and- I need you two to get here stat with a car, it's an emergency, got it?" Virgil hissed into the phone.

Patton's eyes widened, "Oh god- y-yes! Yes! We're on our- Wait, how'd you know Logan was here?"

"You two left just before midnight, I assumed you'd take the opportunity to h-"

"OKAY BYE!" Patton hung up before quickly launching himself to his feet, "Showtime!"

***

Virgil felt as if his heart was seeping an eery black substance that was making its way to his lungs and enclosing around them; He wasn't quite sure what Tom would do to Roman- or, quite frankly, what Roman would do to Tom.

It was bad enough that Virgil was hospitalizing, he would love to have Roman stay with him here for as long as possible, but not like this...even Tom...Tom, well, Virgil didn't really care if he fell forwards or backwards on a narrow, mountain-side road, what he did care about though was making sure that the musical actually happened, the show must go on- but overall, Virgil just really needed to make sure Roman was alright, above all and-

"DING-FRICKEN-DONG!" Patton screeched as he practically kicked the hospital door open.

"Patton!" Virgil gasped out, his worries ebbing away just a bit, but hardly completely.

Logan followed quickly after Patton, and while he didn't say anything, the look of fear in his eyes was enough to speak for itself.

"Okay, listen." Virgil sat up, "Here's the plan."

——
Roman kept his eyes glued on Tom's face as if looking at a coiled snake that might jump if he looked away.

"What? Didn't you get the email that rehearsal was canceled?" Tom smiled.

For the first time, Roman noticed a sense of sinister tone that lay under Tom's voice.

Roman clenched his fists, balling them up slowly.

Tom noticed this and cocked an eyebrow, "You really do love rehearsal, don't you?"

Roman narrowed his eyes as his jaws were firmly set together.

Tom looked genuinely confused now, and Roman realized that for all Tom knew, Roman knew nothing about him harming Virgil...

"It's phantom of the opera, not cats." Tom blinked.

Roman furrowed his eyebrows in slight confusion, shaking his head, "What?"

"You know, cat got your tongue?" Tom cracked a grin.

"No...but quite frankly, I would like to rip yours out." Roman hardly realized what he had actually said until after he said it.

Tom looked utterly shocked before his eyes widened, "Excuse me?"

"Yes, and may I add, it would be generous of me if that were the only thing I'd like to do to you." Roman hissed.

"Getting spicy here, are we?" Tom narrowed his eyes, though he looked a bit worried.

"Get out of the damned car." Roman's voice was quiet but as cold as Antarctica.

Tom was silent, but he did as he was told and closed the passenger's side door before heading out his own door and slamming it shut; He went around his car until he was a few feet away from Roman, "Alright, now what?" Tom almost dared.

Roman was silent, and he thought for a moment.

His fist itches to leave a mark on Tom's face but his instincts told him otherwise. The attacker is in more wrong than the defender. All he could do was talk at them moment, to rant, and to talk the shit out of Tom.
This blew.
But he needed to aggravate Tom so he would attack first- this would be difficult seeing as how Tom had a crush on him...but it had to work. Roman needed to let shit like this out anyway.

"You're playing dumb." Roman huffed.

"Playing dumb, eh?" Tom smirked, "How so?"

This further enraged Roman and he took a step closer to Tom, "Break a leg." Roman gritted his teeth.

Tom flinched before resuming a confident stance, "Why, thanks, Roman."

Roman groaned and threw his hands up in the air, circling around before landing back to face Tom, he had too much energy and lust to punch him to be able to stand still, "Do you have the slightest idea as to where Virgil is right now?"

Fear assumed Tom's eyes but he tried to stay unmoved, "No? Why would I know that?"

Roman considered telling Tom that a much worse fait had happened to Virgil, just so that he'd feel bad...but no, he was going to make him hurt from truth alone, "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"You're confusing me?" Tom lifted an unconvincing eyebrow.

"Oh for god's sake-! You know what you did, Thomas!" Roman yelled.

Tom's jolted a little at how firm Roman was being.

"You sent Virgil to the hospital- not even the doctor's- the hospital! And you're standing here like some dumb-ass pretending like you didn't just mentally scar a boy who didn't even stand a chance again you! He's a whole grade younger, Tom-" This sudden realization hit Roman hard, he hardly even noticed the horrified look on Tom's face at the fact that Roman was screaming at him.

"...He's a whole year younger than you..." Roman murmured, partially to himself and partially to Tom before he looked up to meet Tom's eyes, stalking forward as he reached into his pocket and fiddled with something there before stopping.

"R-Ro?"

"RoMAN, you have no right to call me that name and-"

"B-but I-!"

"But you what, Tom?" Roman snarled.

"I love you!" Tom's eyes shone as if this would fix everything.

Roman took another step closer to Tom so that he could feel the nervous heat radiating off the other's face, staying silent as he kept his eyes on Tom.

Tom searched Roman's eyes for some kind of forgiveness before guilt overtook him, "F-fine! I did it- Okay? But-"

"Tom."

"Y-yes?"

"Thomas S. Reece, you were the one who hurt Virgil?" Roman glared.

"Yes- but- I didn't mean to! I promise! I- I was just going to tell him off and- he just...I wanted him gone." Tom looked at the ground.

"Tom." Roman repeated.

Tom didn't look up.

"I don't love you." Roman's words slipped out like icicles, icicles that pierced Tom's heart and hurt like a raw hand in fresh snow.

Tears collected in the corners of Tom's eyes before a voice sounded from across the parking lot.

"ROMAN!"

Roman looked up in alarm to see...Patton?

Patton was racing towards Roman at an alarming rate, though he seemed to be...limping? Wobbling? He continued before yelping as he slipped on the icy ground and landed on his ass, letting out an excruciating sound of pain.

"Patton!" Roman gasped as he began to run forward, though soon tripped over something.

Roman started to shuffle onto his back to see what he'd tripped on when he felt something jab into his side, causing him to scream out in pain as he curled into a tight ball, seeing Tom out of the corner of his eye with pain evident in the creases along his face and the tears in his eyes as he kicked Roman again.

Roman could hear Patton's faint cries from the parking lot and felt his phone slip halfway out of his pocket.

"You BASTARD!" Tom screeched as he continued to kick Roman between sobs.

Roman let out a sob of his own as he closed his eyes tight and jolted with every kick...he was fairly sure this was the end, Tom would beat him into a bloody pulp and that would be it...

That is, until it stopped...

Roman hardly cared why it stopped, probably something broke, such as his nervous-system, and he was dead, Yeah, that was probably it.

Roman laid there for a few minutes as he heard muted screams and cusses...and then- he felt warm hands on his face...

Roman groaned slightly as he squinted to see who's hands they were and saw the silhouette of someone hovering over him, "...An angel?" Roman murmured and heard a muted response with a small sob before the figure's forehead connected with his, causing Roman to feel calm for a moment before opening up his eyes.

Roman looked in confusion as he saw Patton's face with tears streaming down it, and Roman could feel that he was being held in the other's arms before he noticed something odd...that wasn't the color of Patton's eyes- oh my god- oh my god, Virgil. Roman tried to say something but he couldn't hear anything, he raised his hand to his ear and screamed in pain before looking at his hand and seeing blood- Tom had kicked him in the ear.

Roman tried not to freak out any more as he looked around frantically and saw...Logan was beating up Tom? Logan? Roman had underestimated the nerd... Roman whimpered as his head really hurt now, and as if all at once, the pain came back like a truck hitting- well, everything- and Roman passed out.

——

Roman squinted as he saw a sliver of light enter his vision, and soon his eyes were open wide enough to see his surrounding as they got used to the light.

Roman was in a hospital room, alone...there was a window to his left...and a door to his right...and a spiking heart-monitor as Roman called out for a nurse and was unable to hear anything. Tears collected at Roman's eyes as the nurse entered and began talking to him, but he couldn't hear a think.

Roman had no idea what the nurse was saying or asking of him, but all he could say was Virgil's name, over and over, the nurse tried to tell or ask him something but Roman simply continued to say Virgil's name, feeling the vibrations of the name in his jaw.

Roman could see the nurse finally sigh and nod before exiting the room.

Roman sat alone once again...
And then he remembered something...
And he grabbed for his phone, but it wasn't in his pocket, and he mentally cursed, feeling crushed before-

A flicker of movement in the corner of Roman's eye before he felt arms around him a moment later. He blinked in alarm before realizing it was Virgil, his legs wrapped in bandages...from both Tom and slipping.

Virgil began to talk to Roman, looking into his eyes, and Roman felt his heart break and felt a tear run down his face as he was unable to hear the man he loved.

Roman pointed to his ears and Virgil pursed his lips together before nodding slowly, and Roman could tell from lip movement that he was saying I'm sorry.

Roman shook his head before putting his hand shakily to Virgil's face, reminding him of the pain in his side, he placed his hand gently on Virgil's face before smiling and gently pulling the other's face forward to press a kiss to his lips.

Virgil returned the kiss before crawling over to lay beside Roman, then looking as if he remembered something and pulling out two phones from his pocket.

Roman looked confused before he was handed a phone and he realized suddenly that it was his own.

Virgil was started to text him but Roman's mind went immediately to the task at hand and he selected and sent a video to Virgil.

Virgil looked confused before seeing the thumbnail of the video and looking alarmed as he saw it was footage of the fight between Roman and Tom.

Roman began to text Virgil...

Roman: I turned it on before he admitted to hurting you

Virgil: Why? I don't really want to see this...

Roman: Virgil, you're 17, correct?

Virgil: ...Yeah

Roman: Tom is over 18

Virgil: Yeah?

Roman: Virgil, what Tom did was against the law and he's a legal adult.

Virgil was quiet before looking at Roman with wide eyes.

——

Tom is arrested, sentenced to a 5 year jail punishment, and that was the judge going easy on him.

Virgil remains in the hospital, still no word from his father...though his house was searched eventually and no sign of his father was found.

Roman is still unable to hear, permanent damage had been caused to his ears, so it is likely he will never hear again.

Patton was happy to have helped when he had dressed up as Virgil to take his place while Virgil dressed up as Patton so he was able to go see Roman, thus why he looked like Patton.

Logan remains with Patton, their romance going strong as they can continue the school year, as for Roman and Virgil, without any signs of them leaving the hospital any time soon, they will most likely have to take Senior and Junior year over...

And the Musical?

The Musical was canceled, sadly...after hearing the news of Virgil and Tom, nobody pointed too many strong fingers as there was too much sympathy and empathy going around...

Roman and Virgil as a couple...

Well, I suppose we'll have to see how they're doing in the Sequel..
——

Thank you so much to all of you who read this book! I do indeed plan on writing a Sequel, and it will be a Deaf!Roman Prinxiety AU! Which needs a cover at the moment, so if you'd like to make one, please PM me!

The title is yet to be decided so feel free to comment below with title ideas!

I'm not sure when I'll get around to steadily updating the Sequel considering I have a huge project in mind, but if a Sequel were to be written I think the sequel will be half as long as this book and have a lot more of relationship building for Virgil and Roman since we didn't get a lot of that in this book!

Again, thanks to all of you who read this, it means SO!!! SO! Much to me that you did and hopefully you enjoyed it, it's been a pleasure, really it has, I can't wait to continue writing for you guys, until then though,
Take it easy guys, gals, and non-binary pals, peace-out :)

-Jay