A/N: TW: slight manipulation through text.
If I missed any, please tell me. 🖤

Virgil sat on his bed, staring at the wall in boredom. His mother texted, informing him that she'd taken the night shift due to one of her colleagues calling in sick.

Remy was still with Emile, Roman and Patton had to study, and Logan was re reading a random Sherlock book.

Which left Virgil alone on his bed, bored, scrolling through Pinterest for Yuri on Ice memes, when his phone pinged with a text from the group chat he had with Janus, Remus, and Bryce.

Virgil rolled his eyes and clicked on his texting app. He was growing tired of this.

Janus: Virgil..come on. Please? You know it'll be much worse for everyone if I do it myself.

Remus: you know what'll be even worse? If he sends me to do it.

Bryce: The last time Janus sent you to do anything, you killed at least five cats, three turtles, and nine dogs.

Remus: I killed a few lizards too :>

Virgil: ...yeah, no. I'm sorry Janus, but I don't feel like messing with anyone. I don't feel like helping you anymore. I'm getting sick of this.

Janus: Oh please Virgil, I only killed a few people.

Virgil: that isn't my point! The shoplifting, the murders, the killing animals- the manipulation, this all needs to stop!

Remus: look Virgey, all you have to do is get Patton. Lure him in with tears or something. He's emotional and stuff, he loves everyone, he'd do practically anything for anyone.

Bryce: yeah. Just get all of them to trust you. We'll make up a plan to Lure Patton to the abandoned grocery store. Then we'll strike. You'll get to play the victim and run away. We won't blame you for anything. Okay?

Virgil: sorry. I don't believe you. Also, i'm not going to help you kill the nicest person on the freaking earth!

Janus: Oh Virgil..you think we want to kill him?

Virgil: yes..?

Remus: lol I can hear Janus chuckling through the phone.

Bryce: oh boy, Virgil, you're so wrong.

Virgil: what do you want him for, then?!

Janus: will you help us?

Virgil: ...no

Janus: hm. Oh well. You'll find out soon enough, then. Without you in the plan it'll take longer, so at least a few weeks

Virgil: ...umm...okay?!

Janus: and dont think we'll leave you alone.

Virgil locked his phone and closed his eyes, lying down on his bed.

What was he going to do? Obviously what they had planned wasn't good at all.

Virgil knew Janus would try to do way more to convince him to get Patton.

He breathed out a sigh of exhaustion, and opened his eyes.

Virgil tried to convince himself it would all be fine.

'But for how long?' A small voice whispered to him.

Virgil closed his eyes again, moving his hands up to his head.

He tangled his fingers into his hair, pulling and tugging at it.

He started breathing heavier.

What would he do when the blackmail started?

What would he do when Janus eventually got his way?

Virgil took in deep shuddering breaths, trying out a few breathing exercises his mother taught him.

Then, he got Skyped by them.

He panicked, almost declining-but something in him made him answer the call. He wanted, and quite frankly needed to know more about the plan so he could warn Patton. He already had a location, and an approximation of the dates. Now he just needed more details.

Maybe he could pretend to help them to get more information.

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Roman and Patton were studying and having fun.

Two words that should never be used in the same sentence.

Although, studying and fun were only in that sentence because Logan wasn't.

Without Logan, there was no balance or order, studying could surprisingly be fun by making it a game. Patton told jokes and said clever puns based on what they were studying, while Roman either groaned or laughed.

Everything was perfect.

He looked Patton in the eyes, so invested in every expression that crossed his face.

Nothing could ruin this moment.

Then there was a knock on the front door.

"Who could that be?" Patton was pulled from the conversation with Roman as he muttered, slowly walking to the front door.

He checked the time. Eleven pm. Who could be at the door so late? A chill went down his spine. He had a bad feeling.

Patton opened the door, trying to put on a smile, "hello-"

His smile dropped when he saw nobody was there. He looked down and saw a box.

He grabbed it and took it inside. "Roman is this yours?" Patton asked.

Roman looked at the box, confused.

He opened it, and screamed.

"What's wrong?!" Patton asked, panicked.

"THEY PUT ANCHOVIES ON THE PIZZA!" Roman exclaimed, looking as if he would pass out any second.

Patton frowned. "They messed up the order. Oh well."

Roman felt as if his night was ruined, but Patton decided they could make the most out of it. They gave their pizza to a neighbor who had kids who liked anchovies, (who was very thankful because now they had something to eat for lunch the next day that wasn't a left over weird soup that the kids would complain about) and then Patton decided that he and Roman could make their own midnight snack.

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Virgil was horrified when the Skype call ended. He felt so..manipulated. He felt like he had no choice in the matter. He felt numb and empty as he thought about what they'd told him.

It made him want to puke as he also remembered similar situations which had in the past, though Virgil didn't want Patton of all people to feel the pain he knew Janus would inflict on him.

Nobody deserved it.

The plan they came up with was so detailed and disgusting.

Virgil didn't know what to do about it, except go to the police. He had videotaped the entire conversation, and found that to be the best route he could take of all his options.

Maybe the police would believe him for once?

Words: 1035