Here you go! Enjoy! {Everything is not as it seems}

Virgil hummed as he rocked on his heels, glancing around the room to see if there was anything left to clean before Patton arrived. Quickly moving to adjust the pillows on the bed Virgil nodded, satisfied with his cleaning job. Virgil perked up when he heard a knock on the door, Patton sticking his head into the room a moment to later.

"Hey kiddo!" He greeted happily, making his way towards Virgil after closing the door. It was then that Virgil noticed he was without food for the first time since they began meeting.

"No food, huh?" Virgil said and Patton shrugged, grin growing.

"Well," he chuckled, "Don't want you getting to chubby now, do we?" Virgil's smile fell a little but he quickly laughed with Patton, ignoring the sting of his words. "Besides," Patton started, "I've got a better idea for tonight."

"Oh?" Virgil said, feeling his anxiety build up, "and what's that?" Patton just smiled before grabbing Virgil's hand. Patton then pulled him towards the bed, pushing Virgil down onto it before moving into his lap and kissing him. Virgil startled, pulling his head back from Patton's, blocking his face when Patton attempted to follow him. "Wait!" Virgil protested breathlessly, "You— you said-"

Patton blew a raspberry, rolling his eyes. His hands moved to grab Virgil's shoulders tightly, "I know what I said but I changed my mind! I really like you, Virgie. Don't you like me too? Don't you want to do this for me? I promise it'll be fun!" Virgil had stopped breathing, only resuming when Patton said, "Well?" One eyebrow raised.

"I— okay," Virgil stammered, gasping when Patton kissed him once more, almost immediately shoving his tongue into Virgil's mouth, deepening the kiss. Virgil tried not to gag.

Patton undid the clasp of Virgil's cloak, pushing it off his shoulders. Virgil didn't react, trying to focus on the kiss (which was so invasive Virgil wanted to cry) instead. Patton quickly pulled off both of their shirts and Virgil could feel himself becoming more distant.

"Tell me Virgie," Patton panted, using his nails to scratch down Virgil's chest, "Have you ever played with fire before?"

——

Patton hummed as he skipped down the hallway, clutching a container of oatmeal raisin cookies to his chest. They were Virgil's favorite! Sure, it was a bit of an odd choice, but Patton was happy to oblige. Even if the thought of oatmeal raisin cookies being someone's favourite sent Roman into a stuttering mess, offended by the choice.

When he reached Virgil's door, Patton knocked, patiently waiting for Virgil to respond. After a few moments had gone by and he had received no answer, Patton knocked again, louder this time, hoping Virgil just hadn't heard him the first time. Still without an answer, Patton knocked once more before announcing that he was going inside.

Patton gasped at the sight before him, dropping the container of cookies in shock. Virgil was curled up in his bed, the sheets pulled up to his neck. He was trembling under the sheets, and tears streamed down his face as he sobbed quietly, shoulders up to his ears.

"Oh, honey," Patton murmured, slowly making his way towards the boy. "Virgil?" He said quietly when he was close enough, kneeling down next to the bed.

Virgil flinched upon hearing his name, curling up even more. "No," he began muttering, avoiding Patton's eyes, "No, no more, please no more."

Patton tilted his head in confusion, "No more what, sweetie?" Virgil just began sobbing harder, squirming on the bed in order to move away from Patton. "Woah, hey," Patton said, hands hovering by the bed, "It's okay, breathe Virge," he reached out to grab Virgil's hand.

"No!" Virgil yelled, beginning to breath harder, sobs racking his body. Patton stilled, unsure of what to do. He always knew what to do. Why didn't he know what to do!

Shakily, Patton got to his feet. "I'm gonna go get Roman and Logan, okay kiddo? I'll be right back!" If Virgil has heard him he gave no indication, simply continuing to sob on the bed.

When Patton returned with Logan and Roman, all three short of breath from running through the halls, Patton found Virgil just as he had left him.

Logan quickly moved towards the bed, announcing his actions to Virgil. Virgil turned in his direction but kept his eyes on Logan's chest.

"Can you breathe with me, V?" Logan asked, setting his hand on the bed near Virgil's, letting Virgil decide if he wanted contact. Virgil slowly set his hand in Logan's, but kept it limp in his hold.

Although Virgil's breathing has gotten better, Logan couldn't help but notice that everyone Virgil would look in Patton's direction, it hitched before beginning to speed up ever so slightly. Logan frowned but didn't dwell on it for the moment.

"Can I help you sit up?" Logan asked, Virgil's hand still pliant in his own. Virgil's eyes flickered to the area around Patton once more before nodding, looking down at his hand, still sitting in Logan's. "I am going to touch the back of your head, is that okay?" Virgil nodded, squeezing Logan's hand as he did so.

As Logan moved Virgil to sit up, the sheet moving to pool around his lower body, the room fell into a shocked silence. Patton's breath hitched as he started crying at the sight before them. Virgil was without a shirt, making it easy to see the hickeys, bruises, and scratches that littered his torso. Along with... "are those burns?" Roman whispered.

Logan swallows hard, hand squeezing Virgil's own. "Roman, I need you to get me a basin of cold water and a clean cloth." Roman nodded, sparring one last glance to Virgil before making his way towards the attached bathroom. "Patton," Logan continued, "I need you to go back to our room and bring me my bag of supplies," Patton didn't move, simply staring at Virgil. "Patton!" Logan said, louder this time, causing Virgil to flinch.

"But, he—" Patton swallows around the lump in his throat, "I need— I need to be here,"

"Patton," Logan said, voice cracking, "I know you want to comfort him but he is in pain and I can remedy that. Please go get my supplies." When Patton realized that Logan was crying, he snapped up straight, nodding before exiting the room quickly.

Logan squeezes Virgil's hand once more, turning to face him, "We're gonna get you cleaned off and feeling better, okay V?"

Virgil's eyes flickered to where Patton had been standing moments before. Logan, making the assumption that Virgil wanted Patton to return, simply said, "Patton will be back momentarily. He is simply getting supplies for me to help you."

"He's—" Virgil started, before cutting himself off with a coughing fit.

"Oh, of course," Logan said, "I will get you some water. Give me just one moment." Logan gave Virgil's hand one last squeeze before making his way to the bathroom, closing the door behind him quietly.

Inside, he found Roman leaning against the counter, one hand over his mouth in order to retain his sobs. "Oh, my prince." Logan murmured. Roman startled at the noise, turning to Logan.

"Oh, Lo!" Roman said, smiling as if you couldn't see the tears still steaming down his face. "I'm sorry, I was just about to bring everything out I just got distracted. I'll—" Logan cut Roman off with a hug. It didn't take long for Roman to continue sobbing, "I'm sorry," Roman said through his tears, "I just wish I could do something, I hate feeling this, this—"

"Useless?" Logan finished, Roman nodding into his shoulder. "We really shouldn't be leaving him alone for this long." Logan said, stepping away from the hug and wiping away Roman's tears, "but he did need a glass of water if you would like to get it for him." Logan smiled slightly when Roman nodded eagerly, letting Roman grab water for Virgil as he grabbed the basin and cloth.

When they returned Logan noticed Virgil playing with his fingers, intertwining them together repeatedly. Logan cleared his throat to get Virgil's attention before they arrived at the bed. He froze for a moment before relaxing some, eyes darting between the items in the two hands.

After a moment of stillness Roman straightened up, slowly walking towards Virgil and presenting him with the water, bowing dramatically. Virgil's lips quirked up in a mix between a smirk and a smile, muttering a small, "thank you," before taking the water and drinking it slowly. Logan, who had deposited the basin he had been carrying onto the floor, smiled at the display, satisfied with the interaction. Still, he had to ask Virgil a question that would no doubt send him spiraling once more.

"V," Logan started, clearing his throat, "Can I ask who did this to you." Like he had anticipated, the room went silent, the small smile Virgil had instantly disappearing.

"He's, I don't—" Virgil's eyes once again began flittering to where Patton had been standing earlier. Logan felt his heart drop into his stomach when he realized what Virgil was trying to say.

"V, did Patton do this to you?"

Logan could feel his heart shatter when Virgil muttered the word, "Yes."

Thanks for reading! Sorry I left it off 9n that cliffhanger, but this chapter took me 3 tries to write so I didn't want to spend any longer stuck on it lol. Thank you for reading!
-Apollo 💕