Work Text:
Remus took a deep breath, reaching a fist out and knocking against the wood of a door quietly. He hoped it was quietly, anyway, because he really didn’t want to get yelled at again tonight. Curfew wasn’t even that important; it wasn’t like he was even leaving the building anyway. He heard movement on the other side and then there was a line of light shining softly from under the door. The doorknob jiggled and clicked as the lock disengaged. It swung in, away from Remus, and he was greeted by a half-asleep Virgil with messy bedhead. He squinted, obviously regretting turning on even his small lamp.
“Wha...Remus? It’s three in the morning,” he grumbled, voice thick with sleep. “Somethin’ wrong?”
He rubbed at his eyes, looking up and down the hall worriedly.
“No, no,” Remus reassured. “Just, can I...you see, I’ve…”
Virgil shoved a finger in his face, resting it on Remus’s lips.
“Shh...later. ‘m tired. C’mere, or you’re gonna get us both in trouble.”
Virgil grabbed at Remus’s wrist clumsily, pulling him into his room and shutting the door behind him. He muttered out a curse when he ran into the bed frame, but he didn’t seem to be hurt that badly. He sunk down to his bed and lay down, scooting to the half against the wall.
“Lights off an’ lay down,” he slurred, voice muffled by his pillow.
Remus would never say it aloud, but he found Virgil incredibly adorable when half-asleep. He was so much more cuddly, less anxious of everything, and he spoke his mind more freely—when he could get out full, intelligible sentences, anyway. Remus complied, clicking off the lamp and maneuvering back to the bed. He lay down stiffly, because he also knew that when Virgil actually got sleep and was woken up by something that didn’t send him into protective or panic mode immediately, he wasn’t always quite aware of his actions. Remus knew that Virgil probably wouldn’t even remember any of this in the morning.
Remus’s stiffness melted, though, when Virgil flipped the blankets over the both of them and snuggled into Remus’s side.
“Nightmare or-”
Virgil unsuccessfully tried to stifle a yawn.
“-arguments?” he finished.
Remus was silent for a minute as he threaded his fingers through Virgil’s soft hair.
“...arguments. Dad’s being a bitch again.”
“Don’ listen to him. He doesn’ know how-” Virgil yawned again, nuzzling closer. “-great you are, Rem.”
“Thanks...I’m sorry I woke you up, Vee.”
“Huh-uh, Rem. ‘s not a problem. Don’ ‘pologize.”
“Try to go back to sleep, okay? You need it.”
“Mm, okay. You too.”
Remus went back to combing through Virgil’s hair in silence, staring at the ceiling.
“An’ Rem?” Virgil muttered after Remus had thought he’d already drifted off.
“Yeah, Kitty Cat?”
“I love you, Rem. ‘member that, m’kay?”
Remus froze, accidentally jostling Virgil, but he couldn’t help it. Remus had liked Virgil for a while and wanted something more, but his Kitten had yet to let Remus know where they actually were relationship-wise, and while Remus knew he at least cared from his actions, Virgil had certainly never said those three special words before.
Virgil curled back up against Remus’s chest and he could feel Virgil’s breathing even out after several minutes. Remus, too, must have dropped into the world of unconsciousness, for when he was next aware, the thick locks of hair were gone from his fingers and the warmth of Virgil’s form had disappeared.
The motion of the door opening drew Remus’s attention. Virgil slid inside the room, closing the door behind him with his elbow because of the two white ceramic bowls in his hands.
“Hey,” he mumbled, hiding behind his hood.
He handed off one of the bowls of oatmeal before sitting himself on the end of his bed cross-legged.
“Do you remember anything about last night?” Remus asked, staring at the warm bowl in his hands.
“Not really. What time did you come in?”
“Late. You don’t remember anything we talked about?”
Virgil’s eyes widened in a mixture of surprise and fear.
“It wasn’t bad,” Remus assured, vowing at that moment to never tell Virgil what had happened.
Remus didn’t even know if Virgil had meant it, but even if he did, Virgil was sure to be embarrassed and probably wouldn’t talk to Remus for the next couple of days. Remus didn’t know if he could handle that at the moment.
“What did we talk about?” Virgil asked apprehensively.
“Just about my idiot dad.”
Virgil regarded him suspiciously as if he knew Remus wasn’t giving him the whole truth, but he dropped the matter, instead encouraging Remus to eat and making sure he was okay after the fight with his father.
“He’s leaving again soon, right Rem? Then you don’t have to worry about him for at least a month or so. And hey, they say it’s always darkest before the light.”
Remus forced out a weak smile.
“...I guess so.”
Virgil suddenly got up from the bed, determination in his eyes. He went to his bookshelf and pulled out a collection of maps of the city. He laid them out on the bed and instructed Remus to close his eyes and point to a place.
“Cool, we’re going to the theater,” Virgil announced as he gathered up his maps and put them back in their place.
“What? Virge…”
“I’ll see what times they have shows running.”
“Kitty, what if DeeDee or my dad needs us? I mean, I’m all down for spontaneity, but this isn’t you. You like plans. I don’t want to make you anxious.”
Virgil shrugged Remus’s worries off, but he could tell how nervous Virgil already was.
“I’ll make a plan, then. We’ve been there before; it’s safe. Plus, Dee always gives me the schedules of the week so I know what to plan for. We don’t have anything going on and neither of us really go on the urgent trips yet.”
“And my dad?”
Virgil glowered.
“Screw your dad. He doesn’t get to yell at you and belittle you and then have you at his beck and call. Now, we’re going to go have fun and ignore the fact that he even exists for a couple hours. Go get dressed and meet me back here so we can figure out when we’re going.”
Remus gave a little salute, making Virgil laugh. He got to his feet and left the room, following the hallways back to his room with a dopey grip on his face. It was nice to know that someone cared so much about him that they would risk discomfort to make him happy, especially when that person was his Kitten.