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When he had first gotten the text, Virgil read it through and huffed a bit, shaking his head, he vaguely recognized the persons name at the top of the message- someone he went to high school with- but didn't exactly remember who they are.
It was a quick text, one that could easily be seen as spam or some other stuff but it was signed off by that person he knew definitely went to the same school with so he chose to believe it.
It said something about how it'd been five years since they left the hellhole that was their highschool (it didn't say hellhole, Virgil just chose to add that in) and that the school's let them 'rent it out' for the evening to do a Reunion, then it went on saying the times and other needed info.
The text he got from Patton a minute or so later just confirmed that it was real.
Pat, at 13:01 Virge have you gotten the text about the Reunion?????
Pat's the only friend Virgil kept in contact with after high school, his friend lives a few hours away but they still meet ocassionally.
But despite Patton's message and the invitation being open to everyone who attended, Virgil quickly dismissed the invite, sending a quick 'Yep.' back to his friend.
It wasn't long until he got another message as he made himself some coffee.
Pat, at 13:04 You are going aren't you?
Virgil snorted softly, picking his phone up to text back.
Pat, you know parties aren't my thing, plus a reunion? Talk about sad and lonely.
Virgil could just about imagine Patton's little gasp and face of dissapointment- this is where his fight or flight reflex should have kicked in-
He saw the three little dots at the corner of his screen to indicate that Patton was typing out a response.
Pat, at 13:06 Aw come on Virgil, it'll be fun!
Pat, at 13:06 Roman texted me that he's actually a part of the group who's helping to set up the school.
Virgil could think of many ways Pat was incorrect with that first text- one of those being no, it would not be fun, it'd be some barely recognizable young adults either being too loud and getting drunk or regretting their decision to come- or maybe even both.
That didn't sound fun at all.
I get that it sounds fun to you but it sounds like a free ticket to anxious town. Sorry.
He sent that to Patton before setting his phone down again.
His high school years aren't very memorable, nothing too bad happened and nothing too good happened- the only events that seems worth remembering at all are his gay realization and meeting his chaotic friend group, that's it.
Virgil didn't exactly have a real reason not to go except for the point that there'd be everyone from his year group there (so plenty of people) and he only knew a few of them personally- there would be people there that he didn't even speak to, just remember seeing them once or twice in the hallway- he has a good memory of faces.
Pat, at 13:08 Viiiirge, I'll be there with you the whole time- and most of the other guys will be there too! You won't be alone.
Virgil could feel his resolve slipping at the text. He cursed under his breath at being so easy to persuade.
The whole time?
Pat, at 13:10 The whole time, I promise!
And that, is how he ends up getting himself dragged to a High School Reunion.
--
Virgil has gotten through the first two parts, getting dressed in a purple button up and a gray tie tucked into some black jeans and some nice shoes he just threw on, then actually getting to the High School were he met with Patton who actually dragged him into the building.
The second part is him getting pulled around for the first few minutes- it isn't that bad, surprisingly, he gets to see Logan again, the nerd he remembers from their little friendship group who is now a scientist, no surprise there.
He gets to see Roman, and gets to congradulate him on managing to get on Broadway- he's always known that doing that was Princey's dream.
He even gets to see Janus which is not the greatest when he thinks about it but that's because the guy and him used to have a lot of differences back in the day, and now? Janus is not that bad, he's got to at least give that to him.
But eventually, the loud music's too overwhelming, the amount of people is too overwhelming--
The room is too crowded, he decides.
Virgil leaves the party and finds a balcony on the same floor, stepping out and taking a deep breath, the faint sound of music still drifting through the corridors and out to the balcony.
He leans his arms on the railing and breathes slowly, just an excersize he picked up from one of his other friends from this school- huh, now that he thinks about it, that friend was nowhere to be seen when he first entered the school, he'll have to ask Roman about that later-
"Well well, " comes a voice from behind him and he can't tell why but it sounds so very familiar- he has a memory for faces, remember? Not voices.
Virgil looks over his shoulder to see who has come and join him on the balcony- and he has to do a double take-
is that?-
"hey there, nightmare on emo street."
The same guy who Virgil thought wasn't there.
Dressed in a dark blue button up, sleeves rolled up, a deep green waistcoat undone in the middle bit, tie a darker shade of the button up-
"Remus?"
"Damn right it is, didn't think you'd remember me."
Virgil huffs, turning around with his arms crossed, biting back a smile.
"How could I forget a pain in my ass like you?" he asks
"A pain in your ass? Well, I'd gladly take that place~"
"That's nasty." he notes, snorting at Remus' wiggle of his brows and 'thank you'. "Get over here, weirdo."
And Remus does, rushes up to him pratically and pulls Virgil into a bone-crushing hug that he, obviously, accepts willingly.
He's not one for physical contact, not really, he has a personal space bubble he'd like people to respect- for some people it's more than a few feet- but with Remus?
Woo boy, he hasn't spoken to the guy in over five years- he thinks he can make an acception this once.
Neither of them want to pull away but Virgil feels as though his ribs are going to be bruised by the end of this so after at least a minute or so, he gives Remus' back a pat, pulling back but staying close. Closer than needed probably.
"Times served you well." Remus comments, looking him over not so subtly and Virgil, with his cheeks heating up, very vaguely remembers a little detail about highschool that he tried very hard to forget.
"You don't look too bad yourself." he says, actually taking the time to look at Remus who looks honestly great in a tie, he hums "A suit? Never thought I'd see you in one..you clean up nicely."
Remus grins "Well what can I say?" gesturing vaguely to himself as if he isn't handsome- "Someone had to get the good looks from our parents and it obviously wasn't Roman."
Virgil laughs at that one, it's good to see that Remus hasn't lost his sense of humour- or at least the not-crude part of it.
"You do look at least a bit better than Princey."
"A bit better?"
"Only a bit, yeah-"
"Virgil how dare you!" Remus puts his hand over his forehead, falling back and Virgil just has about enough time to catch him in his arms "Betrayed! Betrayed by my bestest friend."
"Calm down- you are obviously more annoying."
"Yes- thank you!"
Virgil smiles brighter than he remembers smiling in a while and it feels good. It feels great being able to talk to Remus again.
They don't go back inside, stay out in the balcony and enjoy the view of the sky above them, kind of nice tonight, actually.
But Remus does bring them refreshments, a fizzy drink in some red solo cups, a real throwback that Virgil snorts at when Remus comes back with them.
"I got us some drinks!" he announces, proud of himself.
Virgil tips his cup towards Remus' who does the same before they take a sip.
"Eugh, oh this definitely tastes like highschool." Virgil mutters, shaking his head with a huff.
"Damn right it does, good ol' fashioned pepsi."
Virgil snorts again. "Better than alcohol that's for sure."
Remus looks to him with that grin of his. "Still don't like liquor huh?"
Virgil grimaces, taking another sip of his pepsi as if the mere thought is disgusting- which it is. "I think that one time we tried it was enough for me."
Remus cackles at this, leaning on the railing of the balcony to support himself. "I'm pretty sure you went on a rant about how your ma was gonna kill you even though you only took one sip."
"That one sip itself was gross."
"Vee it wasn't even anything good, just something I borrowed from my parents cabinet!"
"The fact that you stole it makes it even worse-"
"Hey! Not stealing- borrowing, 'mkay? I do not steal."
"Sure."
--
"Virgil- Virgil!" Remus' annoying voice called from outside as he barreled into his own bedroom, holding a bottle of.. something- Virgil immediately wanted to know what that something was because he didn't want to think about what it could be.
"What?" he hissed.
"I've got some Jack Daniels! You wanna?"
Virgil gaped at him.
"You've got what?"
"Jack Daniels!" Remus responded as if that justified all of the unasked questions Virgil had.
"And why do you have that?"
"We're gonna try some."
Oh absolutely not, Virgil was sixteen- he would not drink any alcohol until he was at least twenty, maybe even passed that because all the stories he'd heard about that whole topic were scary to even think about.
"Come on, don't be a wuss!" Remus was already pouring the drink into two cups and Virgil pulled his knees up to his chest.
"I'm not being a wuss, I'm not gonna break the law."
"Oh fuck the law! It's dumb anyway."
Virgil paused. "Well yeah but do you know how much trouble we could get in if your parents find out?"
Remus had rolled his eyes, that crooked grin of his stretching far and wide on his features. "Chill out, Vee, my parents are cool, remember?"
They were in fact kinda cool, Virgil had to admit, cooler than most and not in the 'do whatever you want' way but in the actually fun but will get serious if needed- but that was besides the point!
"That doesn't help you- my point still stands." Virgil pointed out, laying back on Remus' bed, arms under his head.
"No it doesn't- can't stand if it has a weak support." Remus poked his side and Virgil flinched momentarily, scooting away and sitting up in order to glare at his friend through his bangs.
"You suck."
"I know." Remus handed him the cup and he reluctantly took it, looking at the weird colour of the alcohol.
Virgil hesitated.
"Aw come on, one sip- if you don't like it, I'll have the rest!"
"..promise?"
"Promise."
Virgil sighed and clinked his cup breifly with Remus who grinned encouragingly at him before tipping his head back and taking a sip of the alcohol at the same time his friend did-
Almost immediately, he was met with a burning sensation in his throat and quickly swallowed it, this not turning out to be the smartest idea because he was coughing not even a second later.
"Woah!" Remus patted his back which helped a bit as the coughs soon dissolved into little heavy breaths. "You okay, Vee?"
Virgil grimaced up at Remus, not liking the after taste the alcohol left in his mouth at all.
"That tastes disgusting." he managed, voice sounding croaky.
There was a moment where Remus said nothing, clearly trying to bite back a snort but soon enough, he burst out into a fit of laughter and however much Virgil was telling him to shut it, he couldn't help but laugh himself. Remus' laugh far too contagious to do anything.
--
They giggle quietly as they make their way through the hallways of their old highschool which is something Virgil knows they probably shouldn't be doing but in his defense, Remus ran out of the balcony first.
"Remember Mister Emile?" he asks
Virgil nods breifly, looking around the halls they used to walk just five years ago. "Of course I do, he was the only teacher I liked."
Remus snorts. "Of course you'd like him- he taught us what- art?"
"Yeah that's it, art."
"Pfft, always talking about interpreting art peices- why do you think the artist used such cool tones?"
"Hey! He was a fun teacher, always let you get away with sneaking off."
"I think we have different kinda interpretations of fun."
"You think?" Virgil shakes his head with an amused smile, watching as Remus walks backwards, hands in his pockets. "If you fall, I'll laugh."
"I'll drag you down with me, Vee, don't test my skills." Remus warns and Virgil laughs.
--
Virgil was so very sure he was going to strangle Remus, he was this close to doing it a few hours prior and even closer to doing it now.
"This is a bad idea." he muttered, looking around the gym they were making their way through- a few hours ago, he'd jokingly suggested that they could sneak out of school during their lunch break because he had maths next and what did Remus do? He took it seriously that's what he did.
So now they were going out of the gym, skipping class.
"Remus this is a very bad idea-"
"Calm down, Virge, we'll be out of here before you know it."
"I don't want to be out of here, Rems- sneaking off of school grounds is a stupid idea-"
"Excuse you, it's a great idea- you came up with it"
"I came up with it?- no, I suggested it, never said we should actually do it."
Remus had paused for a breif second, just about to open the fire exit to the outside.
"You didn't?"
Oh for god's sake, this absolute idiot.
Virgil breathed deeply, shaking his head. "Well we might as well go now, we're already at least a few minutes late to class anyway." he said and was rewarded with one of those Remus-y grins of his before his friend was booking it out of the gym, Virgil only a few steps behind.
They had made a run for it and they had to jump the small school fence, giggling to themselves as they did so- Virgil had laughed paticularly hard when Remus had managed to flip himself over it and fell flat on his face.
"So what is the plan?" Virgil asked once they were a little way's away from the school, walking through a park.
"No idea." Remus answered him "Didn't think that far ahead." and for some reason, that made Virgil lose it and he had started laughing once again, this being followed by Remus joining in.
They had gone to Starbucks that day and hung out at the skate park near their houses.
--
"You wanna get out of here?" Remus asks him and Virgil has to take a second to process what's just been said to him.
"Get out of here?" He repeats curiously.
"Yeah, this party's lame as fuck." Remus says "I'd rather watch a bee and a flower have sex rather than stand in the main room and listen to people telling me about their boring lives."
Well that's a fair point, Virgil decides, he doesn't think that Patton would mind that much if he were to leave the party- they've still got a few hours left and he's sure they could make it back before it ends.
"Okay."
Remus smiles. "Okay?"
"Okay." Virgil confirms.
Soon enough, they've snuck past the main room where the party is happening and they're outside, Remus leading them to a motorbike.
"Is this yours?" he asks, a bit taken back.
"Damn right it is, beautiful ain't it?"
"No way- no freaking way, Remus are we about to steal a motorcycle?"
"Wh- no! This is mine, Virge, one thousand percent mine."
Remus pulls out a pair of keys that Virgil assumes is to the bike as if that proves it belongs to him. He guesses that it kinda does.
"And where, " he begins with an incredulous look "are we going?"
Remus grins, untying the motorbike from the pole and says a familiar "No idea. Didn't plan that far ahead."
They take at least five minutes calming down from the laughter on that one before they manage to get their helmets on because Remus keeps two there apparently and set off.
Where? Virgil doesn't know and he doubts Remus does either but it doesn't really matter, he's sure they'll figure it out eventually.
--
Virgil had his arms wrapped around his legs, chin resting atop of his knees as he eyed the street below him, muffled music coming from downstairs in the house.
"Not gonna jump are you?"
He looked around his shoulder and snorted at the sight of Remus clammering out of the window of his roof with little to no grace- this only being proved as his friend swung one leg over in a very messy way, his other one soon following.
"After that, I think I might." he muttered, Remus making an offended noise behind him whilst he scooted over on the roof and atop of the blanket under Virgil.
"What's up?" Remus asked, stretching his legs out in front of him, laces undone- he probably would fall sooner or later.
"The sky."
"Vee, I never knew you were a comedian!" Remus had announced, eyes bright with wonder before that quickly filtered away "Seriously."
"Too loud." He murmured back "The party, I- too many people."
Remus didn't respond verbally, just swung his arm over his shoulder and Virgil let himself lean into Remus just a bit, enjoying the presence of his friend.
"Don't you wanna go back down?" he asked after a while, feeling guilty for keeping Remus away from the party going on downstairs.
"To the party? Nah, I prefer staying here and makin' sure you don't freeze to death, you're basically shivering- you can borrow my hoodie!"
"The one that smells like pringles? No thanks."
"Hey! That one's my favourite."
"Pfft-" Virgil shook his head before glancing over at Remus who was looking at the neighbourhood around them. "hey Rem, "
"Hm?"
"Happy Birthday, buddy."
His friend grinned and gave his shoulders a small squeeze before they both went back to observing their street.
--
Virgil has never been on a motorbike-
that's the excuse he's going to use for hanging onto Remus so tightly during their ride.
They ride through a whole bunch of familiar streets and Virgil can't help but feel just a bit nostalgic, even more when they reach a place that seems just a bit too familiar.
Remus stops infront of a house and takes his helmet off.
"Remus-" Virgil starts, taking his own helmet off and looking at the house infront of them "this-"
"Still live here, yeah."
The answer surprises Virgil and he glances over to Remus who looks right back at him with a smile.
"Well, " he rubs the back of his neck with kind of an embarassed look that Virgil finds really amusing for some reason. "more of a summer house, really- my folks insist on me and Ro coming around and seeing them."
Makes more sense-
"So they're here now?" It's been literal years since Virgil last saw Remus' parents, they were extremely nice- let him stay over as much as he wanted.
"Yeah."
"You could've said so earlier, I haven't seen them in ages-" Virgil hops off the motorbike before he's going to the house, leaving Remus to take care of the helmets and chuckling to himself at the noises of protest his friend makes as he knocks on the door.
--
The first time Virgil had met Mrs and Mister Prince was maybe in the late freshman year, it was also the first time he met Remus- having been hanging out with the popular sophmore, Roman, his friend invited him over to his house alongside their mutual friend, Patton.
Despite himself and due to his mom insisting that he go and hang out and not stay in his room to do whatever, he had agreed on going to said-friend's house.
And he was currently nervous as hell as he hesitantly knocked on the door of a house that was just across the street from his own.
After a few moments of shuffling and a muffled shout from behind, the door opened and out stepped a guy Virgil remembered seeing at school at least a few times.
"We're not buying cookies if you're looking to sell some shit." the guy had said and Virgil had to try hard to not look too shocked at the weird nasally voice he had.
"No- uh- I'm a friend of Roman's-" he sputtered out, pushing some of the bangs from his eyes and wishing he could dig a hole and just bury himself in it because he didn't know Roman would have any other company over.
"A friend?" the guy barked before cackling to himself, Virgil didn't know what was so funny about what he just said- he also didn't know and didn't want to know if the guy's ears hurt from all the peircings dangling off of them.
Before Virgil had another chance to speak, to say that he was Roman's friend but if he wasn't wanted here he could just leave because that option sounded great right about now, the guy looked over his shoulder and yelled a "Hey Ro-bro - you have another friend over!" which resulted in a woman's voice scolding him for being so loud.
Virgil was just about ready to very slowly back away and book it to his own house and into the comfort of his room when the guy with a baggy Gorillaz hoodie looked back at him and made a motion for him to come in to which he obliged easily, stepping inside the big-ass house he remembered Roman said was his.
He was immediately met with Patton greeting him from the couch with an excited wave which he reciprocated, then there was the sound of footsteps coming from somewhere in the house and he saw Roman coming out of a room, looking startled.
"Remus I told you I'd get the door!" he sounded kind of irritated
"You were gonna take forever, don't wanna keep cute guests waiting, eh?"
Virgil decided to pointedly ignore that he may or may not have just been called cute, it was easy enough because Roman huffed and made his way over to him, taking him by the wrist and pulling him over to the couches "Ignore him, Gerard Gay, Remus was just about to go to his room and listen to music weren't you, brother dear?"
There was an incredulous laugh that came from, who Virgil assumed was, Remus as he started making his way up the steps.
"Oh yeah, reeeeaally loud to cover up the screaming from the closet, brother mine!" The room of a heavily drawn on door was slammed and Virgil could hear Patton giggling and Roman sighing beside him.
"What the hell." he said, unsure if he was worried or confused- probably both.
"Virgil, that was my brother, just loves showing up when not invited don't worry about him, now-"
Virgil had drowned out the rest of what Roman was saying, he had a brother? Never heard that one- sure he'd seen..Remus around the school but it never occured to him that maybe they looked so similar because they were brothers.
Apparently Roman, the theatre kid Virgil had bumped into on his first day of school- that Roman, had a brother.
A brother that looked almost identical to him apart from the percings, messy hair and overall style.
The next thing they'd tell him was that Roman and Remus were twins- luckily, that didn't happen, they were a year apart which is what he learned from Roman's mom, a nice lady, treated him with cookies and some delicious dinner so Virgil decided he liked her.
Roman's dad was nice as well, fun to talk to after he managed to even say hi to him.
In general, the whole family seemed nice, Virgil just couldn't figure Remus out because he hadn't come down from his room at all during dinner or anytime later, weird.
He didn't pay that any mind though, he had come here to hang out with Roman and not Remus.
Well, for the first few weeks anyway.
--
Remus' parents are as nice as ever, Mrs Prince pulls Virgil into a hug and kisses both his cheeks and Mister Prince gives him a tight hug as well with a strong pat on his back that almost breaks his back but hey, he's not complaining.
They eventually let him and Remus go upstairs and Virgil can only marvel at how much his friend's room has changed.
He still has posters up on the inside of his door but instead of having them on the wall too he has a large tapestry hanging behind his bed that looks freaking awesome, probably punk-inspired skeleton of some sort, instead of a light on the ceiling, he's got fairy lights hanging around his bed and Virgil is sure that sleepovers with that thing would be so cool.
"I can see you're impressed." Remus muses, sounding very proud of himself as he flops down on the thin matress of his window seat.
"Heck yeah I am, " he admits "I can't believe I'm saying this but this room is edgy."
Remus barks out a laugh, patting the space next to him invitingly which Virgil takes after a second. "Less edgier than it was in Highschool."
"You've clearly developed an actual taste now."
"Says the basic Tumblr emo-"
"Hey! I thought we weren't going to talk about that-" Virgil hits Remus with a pillow and is immediately filled with regret when his friend gathers two other pillows and has that familiar flicker of mischeif in his eyes.
--
To be fair, Virgil expected to see more of Remus when he came over to the Prince's house, Roman inviting him and Patton a lot more. But that wasn't what happened.
He barely saw Remus even though he was in Remus' house.
It was really weird- but then again, he was there to hang out with Roman and Pat, not Roman's brother but he seemed really interesting- mostly because of the vibe he had, an alternative kind.
Virgil had gone to Roman's house at least five times before he had another conversation with Remus.
It was around eleven in the evening and Virgil could not get to sleep, Roman had planned a sleepover with him and Patton over the weekend and Virgil, because of his mom, went.
It wasn't all that bad, surprisingly, they watched movies and played a few games, spending their time in the backgarden because it was huge and had a lot of plants- even a tree.
That aside however, it was eleven and Virgil kept tossing and turning on the couch because it was really uncomfortable, a few seconds passed by and he decided that he wouldn't be sleeping anytime soon and so up he got, with the intention of drinking a glass of water.
He padded over to the kitchen and got himself a glass, just about to pour some water in when he heard the back door being opened and his mind went into panic-mode because what if someone was breaking in?- that didn't seem like a dumb idea at the time because the Prince's were a fairly rich family and a lot of people would definitely want to get their hands on some of the things inside the house.
So what did Virgil do?
He sat himself behind the centre counter of the kitchen, peeking out from there and watching as the door creaked open slowly, ready to do something about the intrusion when he saw who was walking through.
Remus.
Remus who looked like he just run through a bunch of bushes what with all the leaves and dirt on his cheeks.
Remus who spotted him almost instantly and just grinned.
"Not a burglar, don't worry." he said, closing the door behind him as if he hadn't just randomly showed up from the back door of the house.
"You look like hell." Virgil didn't mean to say that, about to apologize for saying that so blunty but he didn't get to when Remus burst into another fit of his unique cackles, quiet however because he must've been aware of how late it was.
"Thanks, that's sort of what I was going for." he responded and Virgil tilted his head curiously, watching as Remus took the glass he had abandoned on the counter and filled that up with water before hopping onto said counter, sitting on it cross-legged.
"So where exactly were you?" Virgil asked, wanting to know where Remus could have gotten that- well, messy.
"Got bored." was Remus' response which only made Virgil even more interested for some reason.
He looked him up and down and noticed that there were holes in his baggy trousers, mud basically covering the knees and even some odd bits of grass stuck to the cuffs of them.
"Went to the woods."
Virgil was really sure that Remus couldn't get any weirder and yet here he was.
"You were bored so you went to the woods?"
"Yep."
"In the evening."
"Mhm."
"Snuck out."
"Sounds about right." This time when Remus looked at him again, his grin widened all the more as he sipped at the water in the glass. "There's not much happening 'round here, everything is boring."
"Your house is boring to you?"
"Hell yeah, it's big and all but when you've been living in it for so long, it just..gets boring." Remus confirmed "I hate boring things- could've gone to the skate park but that's for school nights."
Virgil hummed in interest, taking a seat at one of the spinny chairs by the centre counter. "You sneak out..often?"
"Oh definitely, almost every day, it's fun."
"Don't you worry about your mom and dad finding out?"
"Pfft, no, they never do. However smart they are, they don't seem to get the whole, being a teen thing. Being rebellious."
Remus just gave off pure confidence, in every little thing he did. Virgil admired that, kind of. He didn't wish he were as confident as Remus but he wished he could be just half of what he is.
Confident in his really weird ideas.
"And being rebellious is sneaking out of the house and running through the woods?"
"Damn right it is, you should try it. Hella fun."
The rest was history really, they seemed to take a liking to each other, everyone noticed that Virgil had been speaking more with Remus- Roman even commented on how he acted a bit more sure of himself, maybe sneaking off during the evening when at the Prince's helped.
Soon enough, the two were practically inseperable.
Virgil going to the Prince's house to hang out with Remus more so than Pat and Roman and although he felt just a bit bad about it, he also felt that he and Remus just..got each other.
There was no questioning anything weird the other did. They called at extremely ungodly hours of the morning and night, sometimes even fell asleep on the call. They went to the skating park Remus had mentioned that one night multiple times. Listened to the same genre of music.
Two peas in a pod, Mrs Prince had called them one time, he and Remus had laughed but agreed with her nonetheless.
--
They lay on Remus' window seat, laughing breathlessly because of the very agressive pillow fight they had just a few seconds prior.
"God it feels like we're sixteen again." Virgil mutters almost to himself, he can hear Remus' huff of agreement from beside him.
"What the hell happened to us, huh?"
"No idea." Virgil admits, feeling bad for- for whatever it is that happened between them.
It's a weird thing, he doesn't remember him and Remus fighting before they graduated- they both had a picnic on Remus' roof the night of their graduation. Everything was fine.
"Guess we just..stopped talking." he hears himself say.
They promised to keep in touch and they did, they did until Virgil moved away- well, they still called ocassionally but not as often as Virgil would have liked.
After a while. They just stopped.
"You know. " he starts "I'm kinda glad Patton dragged me to this party."
Remus grins. "And I'm glad I didn't throw Roman off the motorbike on our way there."
Virgil pauses for what feels like the tenth time today and just huff's, giving Remus' shoulder a push. "I'm not even gonna ask."
"It's actually interesting, you see-"
"Nope. Don't wanna hear your plans on killing your brother."
"Tsk, fine. It was going to be fun though."
--
Virgil was regretting even agreeing to stay with Remus for the summer- well, not actually regretting it but he was questioning why he thought it'd be normal.
Remus' parents were gone on a buisness trip and left their sons to take care of the house for the majority of the break, this meaning that they had all the house to themselves- and Roman was there too but he spent the past few days over Patton's house, this leaving both Virgil and Remus alone.
Remus had said it was perfect because they could do anything they wanted and for the most part, Virgil agreed because they had played some video games and slept over the empty house for the beginning of the summer, Virgil's mom letting him do so and just asking for him to give her updates on how he was doing.
So the activities they did were usually normal-ish, as normal as they could get with Remus there, Virgil guessed.
Today however, was a different story.
As Virgil dragged a heavy backpack over his shoulder, he found himself questioning his choices.
"Where are we going again?" he asked for the fifth time maybe to Remus who was a few steps infront of him, the woods they currently were in would've been a bit unsettling if it weren't for the swealtering heat of the sun blearing down on them through the trees. Both of them were dressed down just a bit, Virgil had some shorts on and a baggy shirt while Remus wore some of his ripped shorts and a tank-top, his flannel's sleeves wrapped around his waist.
"You'll see." Remus answered, grinning at Virgil from over his shoulder.
"You've said that for the past ten minutes, Remus- what, are you taking me out here to off me?"
Remus barked out a laugh at that. "Hell no, do you know how much more boring life would be without you here?"
And that made the next ten to fifteen minutes of walking just slightly more bearable, not that Virgil would admit that out loud, like a lot of things.
They soon came to a clearing and Virgil stared in awe for a split second at the pretty lake infront of them glistening in the light of the sun. There was also a rope tied to a nearby tree branch that looked thick enough to hold them with a knot at the end and when Virgil caught Remus' eye, he knew they both had the same idea.
"You brought me out here for a swim?"
"Yeah, why do you think I made you bring some swimming shorts?"
"I just thought I wouldn't ask about yout weird turn-on's."
They both laughed before Remus threw his shirt off and tossed it to Virgil who caught it, putting the heavy bag down on a rock just near the lake which was kinda perfect because they could leap off a higher surface.
Underneath his shorts, Remus already had another pair of shorts, Virgil snorted. "That's why your butt looked bigger." he said, catching Remus' attention.
"D'ya think?" Remus asked, looking over his shoulder at his butt and Virgil shook his head with a laugh, turning around to pull his own shirt off and putting it on the bag so it wouldn't get dirty.
Once he had put his own swimming shorts on, he looked back to Remus who clicked his knuckles and was holding the rope, pulling at it.
"Sturdy enough?"
"Hopefully." Remus shrugged his shoulders, tugging on it once again. "Guess we'll just have to test it and see, wanna go first?"
Virgil huffed as he looked at the end of the rope Remus was offering to him. "And see if it snaps? No thanks, I think you should go first."
Remus made a show of taking a deep breath as he stepped back a few times, enough to get a running start.
"Wish me luck." Remus said, grinning. "If I die, I'm leaving Wormtail to you, my brother can't even take care of him properly."
Virgil chuckled but nodded anyway, he wouldn't mind having Wormtail- Remus' pet rat was a new addition to the Prince's family, got it on his birthday a few months ago- but he knew nothing would actually happen to his friend.
"Good luck, idiot."
Virgil watched as Remus ran with the rope in hand, swinging once he reached the end of it and letting go with a cackle, falling into the water with a satisfying splash that managed to get Virgil even just a bit.
His friend emerged after a few seconds, hair basically stuck to his forehead with how wet it was.
"How was that?"
"You looked like you belly flopped, did it hurt?"
"I did not belly flop, thank you very much! I was graceful!"
Virgil snorted with a "Sure."
"Come on, Vee! The water's nice and warm- I'll pull you in if you don't get in yourself."
Virgil rose his eyebrows as he took hold of the rope, going to the very edge of the rock he was on, the lake was only a few feet below and looked deep enough that he wouldn't slam his head against anything. Hopefully.
"Aw come on, you're not gonna get hurt- I jumped in and see? I'm fine!"
Virgil took a deep breath and took a smaller run up but still managed to jump off, landing into the water warmed only slightly by the sun and getting submerged in it for a moment before he got up with a gasp.
Remus was laughing, patting him on the back as he coughed.
"See? You're good." he swam back with a sigh, tilting his head back and basking in the warmth- not for long though because Virgil splashed him with water, snorting at the look on his friend's face upon being splashed. Virgil could only describe it as mock betrayal and amused at the same time.
Virgil had deeply regretted that decision then because of the massive wave of water splashed over him and he stood in the water, gaping at the sudden coldness as Remus laughed to himself, a full belly-laugh and he couldn't bring himself to be that mad at him at all.
"You're an ass." is all he said, flicking some water at Remus who was still giggling to himself.
"Oh you know you love it."
"Unffortunately."
"Wanna jump again?" his friend asked, nodding his head over to the way they could get back up there and Virgil heard himself agreeing.
Soon, they were back on the high-up rock and Remus grinned one of his crooked smiles at him, offering his hand to Virgil who obviously took it as they counted down from three before running and leaping off the rock, whooping triumphantly as they fell into the water once again.
Maybe a summer with Remus wasn't so bad after all.
--
They don't end up going back to the party for a long while.
They still lay on Remus' window seat even after the sun is just barely visable behind the houses opposite this one, head next to head and their legs propped up on the walls either side as they chat.
Remus' mom checks in on them at least once like she did all those years ago- actually, it doesn't seem to long ago, seems like just yesterday that they were in this room, giggling about something stupid and playing board games or card ones. She brings them some drinks, non-alcoholic of course, and some cheetoes before letting herself out of the room after telling Virgil how glad she is that he's come and visited them.
"Not much has changed in here." he comments after a while, seeing Remus gracefully shoving a handful of crisps into his mouth.
"Not a coincidence, really, I got into a college not long after you did, didn't have time to change anything but the crappy posters. Good choice though."
Virgil huffs "I didn't mean that, idiot, I meant, " he starts "the vibe to this place. Still stinks though."
"Hey!"
Virgil chuckles softly to himself and gives Remus' side a poke "Kidding, doesn't smell as bad as it did back in High school." he says, this earning him a soft scoff from Remus but otherwise, he says nothing, quieter than he's been throughout this whole evening.
"Remus?" he asks, glancing over to him.
"I missed you.. a hell of a lot, you know."
Virgil finds himself unable to speak for a minute, for maybe the fifth time today- "I missed you too, Rem, really- I thought we already said this, what's with this all of a sudden?"
Remus grumbles and rolls over to lay on his stomach, burying his face in his arms rested before him. Not answering and he doesn't seem to plan on answering any time soon.
That's fine, Virgil decides, and instead of saying something about it, he gives Remus' shoulder a light pat, this ending with him not taking his hand off after a while but just keeping it there- he's not as good at comforting as he remembers Remus being, even in the most stressful of times.
--
Virgil didn't like storms
Unlike when it was just raining, light taps of the droplets against the window, storms were loud and bright and he didn't like them at all.
So for him to be at a sleepover in the Prince's house as the rain started getting heavier on the windows and the roof was just a bit unnerving.
Remus threw a small pillow at him and Virgil blinked a few times, zoning back into what was happening.
"Dude, I've been trying to get your attention for like five minutes." Remus said, tilting his head in the way he always did when confused.
"S' nothing, " Virgil heard himself say "all good."
Which already seemed to make Remus suspicious and Virgil wasn't really surprised, they'd known each other for a long enough time that his friend knew almost everything about him. Almost.
One of the things Remus didn't know was that Virgil was scared of storms- more specifically thunder storms.
His friend rose a brow but didn't question it, going back to talking about whatever he was talking about before and while Virgil felt slightly bad about not paying attention, he couldn't exactly focus because of the sudden flash of thunder that came. This, making him startle just a bit and he really hoped that Remus would pass that off as just that.
No luck, it seemed, because Remus stopped talking and his eyes narrowed for a second and Virgil felt himself wanting to bury himself under the blankets they had layed out under them on the floor in the Prince's living room.
"What's shaking?"
"Remus, it's fine, I'm good."
"Virgil."
Virgil recognized that tone and he sighed, not sure why he thought he could get away with lying to his friend- oh. Lying. He felt even worse now.
"You okay buddy?" Remus' voice was now softer, so were his features. Talk to me, his expression said, familiar and comforting.
"It's the stupid storm." Virgil was saying before he could talk himself out of it.
Remus made a small noise of understanding, sure it might have been a snort but Virgil knew what it meant in Remus speak.
"Let's put a movie on, yeah?" he suggested after a moment of thought, standing up and offering Virgil his hand which he took and pulled him up. "We'll make ourselves some popcorn and make fun of bad dumb romcoms, how's that sound?"
Virgil felt himself smile. "Sounds good, Rem."
"Hell yeah it does. Come on!"
Virgil let Remus drag him into the kitchen and if their hands were still intertwined, neither of them complained.
--
Virgil's hand just stays there.
It stays right on Remus' shoulder and he's started subconciously rubbing circles into it for a reason he doesn't know but it doesn't feel awkard.
Comfortable. That's what it feels like.
"You know I'm not gonna leave you again, right?" he says and that's what Remus' original problem was apparently because Virgil feels him tensing under his touch momentarily. "I'll keep in touch this time."
"You said the same thing last time."
"Remus, come on, I had to move away last time, and I was really busy."
"I was also busy, you know. Got into college just a few months after you did but when I called you the next time, you said you were too tired to deal with me and hung up. Didn't call back."
Virgil's throat goes dry in an instant.
So that's what put the final nail in its coffin.
And he doesn't even remember that happening, suddenly, Remus' silence makes a lot more sense.
"I'm sorry." he says and sees Remus nod but he knows his friend most likely doesn't believe him.
"Really." he adds, as if that adds something to his apology. Apparently it does, even a tiny bit, but an awkard kind of silence falls over them and Virgil find himself questioning why on earth he could ever leave Remus alone. Just like that.
--
It wasn't always perfect.
All friendships had their low points and while arguments between Virgil and Remus were not frequent at all, they weren't nonexistent.
Sometimes they were small and other times, such as this one, they left both of them regretting ever saying anything to start the argument.
Right now, Virgil really regretted opening his mouth. Opening the door even.
"Heya, elmo." Remus greeted him, usual grin splayed over his lips but there was an uncertainty in it. "What's shaking?"
Virgil felt his skin crawl with the leftover annoyance from Friday- this slowly creeping into anger but he managed to control himself an not shout at his friend. Not yet anyway.
"I'm good. Just had to explain to my mom why I had a detention on Friday. She's still mad."
Virgil saw Remus wince and that only made him feel more frustrated. Did he really think he could just act like nothing happened last week?
"You good to hang though?" Remus asked and for Virgil- normally kind of composed despite the nerves always getting to him- that was the last straw. "I got a sick new trick on my 'board I wanna show you-"
"Remus- I don't want to talk to you right now." he cut his friend off because he thought that he might just punch Remus if he didn't leave.
Remus had the nerve to look shocked at what he said
"Come on, Virge, it's no big deal, " Remus began, expression turning carefree once again "you got a detention- so what? I-"
"So what? So what?" Virgil was fuming now, full on- he didn't remember when he was last this mad at someone, probably because he'd never been mad at Remus before, well, this mad anyway. "Remus that was the first detention I got- and it was because of you for god's sake."
Remus had pulled him out of lesson that day, he almost never did that- almost, that one time they skipped was when they went to the skate park during lunch- and they'd gotten caught hanging out in the one music room no one ever watched.
His friend had ditched him when he heard someone coming- leaving Virgil on his own and to the mercy of the teacher that found him.
He got a detention very easily that Friday, his mom was really angry when he came back home- trying to explain his situation but she was having none of it, she'd sent him upstairs to his room and told him they'd talk about it later when she calmed down. She kept to that promise definitely and when Virgil explained to her what happened, she told him.. she-
"Look, I'm sorry okay? I just thought you'd be smart enough to leg it as well and not jus' stay there."
"Oh so it's my fault now?"
"Well it sure ain't mine!"
Virgil sighed deeply through his noise- inhale and outhale, inhale and outhale, slowly.
"My mom said you're a bad influence to me." he said, looking at his friend with an indifferent kind of expression. "I understand what she said now."
Virgil almost felt bad when he said that.
He felt extremely bad when Remus's face fell, as if Virgil's impression of him mattered that much to him- but it was too late to take it back and he was helpless to do anything but stand there as his friend parted his lips to speak before deciding against it and scoffing.
"Right, " he said finally.
"Remus-"
"I'm gonna go leave Wormtail's food on Ro's desk now, " Remus announced loudly, beginning to walk backwards with a smile Virgil knew wasn't genuine at all. "he's gonna freak the fuck out- oops, sorry! Didn't mean to swear- I'm such a bad influence!"
Remus stepped a foot on his skateboard after tossing it on the ground, giving Virgil a salute and flashed him an even bigger fake smile. "See ya, Vee! Tell your ma I said hi, yeah?"
And then he skated away, not turning back at all even when he was on the other side of the street, stepping into that big-ass house of his and slamming the door, no doubt getting scolded by one of his parents at how loud he was being.
Virgil felt bad.
He felt bad and he knew he wasn't getting any sleep that night until they made up or he made sure Remus knew he actually didn't think that.
He messed up real bad and he wanted to fix it as soon as it had been done.
--
"Remus." Virgil says and it's firm, making Remus look up to him with a curious sort of look. "I've missed you too much to not contact you again- and if I do end up doing that, I give you the permission to go over to my house and kick my ass."
This comment brings a grin to Remus' face and Virgil feels a flutter in his chest at the reaction.
"Really?"
"Really."
"So you won't be pissed at me for knockin' down your door and kicking you?"
"Better than some of the other things you said you'd do to me."
"Pfft- rip yer eyeballs out and eat them like ice cream."
Virgil rolls his eyes with a groan. "Oh no, not again."
Remus cackles. "Not that bad. Besides, there's plenty other things I'd do to you that are probably bad."
Virgil raises his eyebrow. "I'm concerned?"
"Nothing like that, Vee, pretty sure this is the most normal thing actually."
"And what is that?"
Remus gives him a look that Virgil can't exactly understand fully. It's been a while since him and Remus hung out and he's not had a chance to familiarize himself with the expressions he was normally good at reading. "Trust me, " he says "you don't want to know."
Virgil shifts closer and crosses his arms over his chest "Well now I have to know."
Remus huffs and flips Virgil off right in his face, making him laugh, pushing the hand away and shoving lightly at Remus' shoulder. "Oh come on. You normally overshare this kind of stuff, can't be that bad."
There's a pause when their eyes meet and Virgil sees a small flash of that look, again.
Then Remus kisses him.
He kisses him full on the mouth and with a softness that Virgil would honestly not expect from him.
He doesn't get a chance to kiss back before Remus pulls away and frowns at the expresion on Virgil's face. "Told you." he murmurs but Virgil can't seem to hear anything right now, it feels like his hear is beating thousands of miles per hour and he's probably going to die because that's not exactly normal.
Virgil pulls Remus back in and kisses him again, feeling a slight rush of confidence.
They kiss and it isn't until they both need to breathe properly again that they part.
"Idiot." Virgil says, a bit breathless. "That's not bad."
"You're telling me you..?"
"Mhm."
"We could've been doing this before?"
"Yep."
"Well shit."
Virgil nods with a snort and they look at each other, slowly breaking out into a fit of giggles.
"Successful party, then?"
"Very."
In the end, Virgil no longer regrets going to that party.
He'd been hesitant at first but that can only be understandable.
As he now sits with Remus on the couch, watching some movie, he can say that this day has been successful.