Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Virgil stared at the cabin towering over him, mortified. This was a place for confident teens ready to make friends and let loose, not anxious 16 year olds who survived school during the day with oversized headphones and had panic attacks over conversations that happened 3 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰.

His parents had good intentions when they said they'd signed him up for this as a surprise, and a surprise it was. He didnt want to be here and the string of events leading to this moment gave Virgil a headache just thinking about.

A month ago, Virgil was dragged by his best friend's brother to a party someone was throwing to close off school and introduce summer. Virgil got a little too much liquid courage and kissed some guy he couldn't remember the name of for the life of him. Someone who was taking pictures accidentally caught it in the background and all those pictures ended up on the internet, forcing Virgil to finally come out when his parents saw it. They were supportive, which caught Virgil very off guard as they always made backhanded comments about queer people, but he wasn't complaining. He thought that was it, they knew now, they'd leave it alone.
Oh, he was so wrong.
2 weeks ago, his parents handed him a pamphlet for this place which they said would "be good for him" as if the fact places like this weren't cringey summer daycares for teenagers didn't matter to them at all. Still, they'd already put everything together and were so excited he didn't have the heart to tell them that as much as he appreciated the sentiment he'd rather lose his virginity to a 60 year old woman with 3 unidentified STDs.

So now, here he was, clutching his schedule and cabin key like a lifeline and shaking like a leaf. He was allowed to keep his phone, charger and headphones, but nothing else. Not that he really used his other electronics, he had a drawing tablet but typically preferred doing traditional art anyway and the counselors were more than happy to show him the arts and crafts cabin before his own. They had sketchbooks and pencils in a box in the corner away from the supplies they'd use for actual activities which he was allowed to take but his current sketchbook was only 1/4 full and they apparently got restocked at the end of each week so it didn't matter, he could get one at a later date. They also quickly directed him to the cabin for meals, explaining an official tour would be given the next day so everyone could unpack. Made sense. So once being taken to his cabin and taking a solid 5 minutes to try convince himself this was a nightmare he finally pushed the door open, jaw dropping almost immediately.

"Jan?"

At the mention of his nickname Janus looked up from his book and blinked.
Once. Then twice.
Yep.
Virgil was in fact standing in his cabin doorway.

The two stared at each other, Virgil too surprised by Janus to notice the stranger awkwardly trying to unpack in silence as to not interrupt whatever staring contest his new roommates were having.

"You said you were going to debate camp every year, but you've been here?"

Janus put his hands up, "I went to debate camp the year I told you I did. After that I just said 'camp' and never specified debate."

"....Wait does that mean-"

Suddenly the bathroom door burst open and Virgil's second long time friend entered, a towel being the only thing covering his modesty as he loudly sang into a hairbrush, very off key.

"Remus!"

The "singing" stopped and Virgil was picked off the ground into a crushing hug. "Hey Emo! You staying with us this summer?"

As he wheezed out a yes Virgil finally picked up on the third presence in the room. This was a stranger. To him at least, he was reading one of Janus' books, which Janus only allowed close friends to do so they must've bonded over the summers.

"Ah, right. Virgil, meet Logan, we share a cabin every year and started talking during our second one, he's a completely nerd and likes space and whatnot and he's socially awkward too, so you'll both get along great!"
He smirked at how both faces went a touch pink.
"See! You're already bonding over your inability to respond to teasing!"

"Like you're any better, Jan! Bet if Rem came in here right now you'd be word vomiting like shit!"

Janus went crimson and flipped Remus off, this ordeal made Logan laugh quietly before poorly covering it up by clearing his throat and turning his gaze back to the book in his hands as Remus put Virgil back down.

"So what are you doing here anyway? Thought you didn't want your parents knowing till you're 18?"

Virgil folded his arms, "Well thanks to a party 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 dragged me to. They found out."
Remus grinned, "But you gotta admit, the party was fun! I mean did you see when-"
"Not the point!"

"Well, I mean, you're here, meaning they didn't kick you out. That'd a good thing, right?"

Silence.

"Yeah...Guess it is."

After another moment of no one saying anything Remus suddenly jumped up, "Hey! How about we give Virgil the secret tour tomorrow!?"

Janus rolled his eyes, despite his clear intrigue, "It's not exactly staying secret for long If you yell. Though, I do think he'd like the spots."

"...Secret tour?"

Remus nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah! Jan and I have been finding all these cool places to hang out, and one day we gave Logan a tour of them all! Now we call it the secret tour!"

That did sound nice, Virgil didn't exactly want to spend his time squished into a group of sweaty teens trying to navigate their way around after inevitably losing sight of the counselor.
"Why not."

"Fuck yeah!"

Virgil smiled a bit, maybe summer camp would be only mildly horrible.

"Lights out!"

The head counselor startled everyone, screaming into a megaphone so no one had an excuse they didn't hear the curfew announcement.

"How many kids ya think getting off in the bathrooms right now?' Remus giggled, not phased by the way Janus threw a pillow at him. They'd gotten ready for bed and were now laying in their bunk beds staring at nothing in particular.
"That's something I'd rather not think about, thanks."

"Oh c'mon! Everyone does it! No big deal!"

"Good night, Remus."

Virgil smiled a little, summer definitely wasn't going to be so mind numbingly torturous with these weirdos- and their third roommate was quiet and was clearly used to the shenanigans so maybe Janus was right, they could get along.
Either way, he was here, might as well make the most of it.

Chapter Text

Virgil startled awake to the horrible blow of the head counselors airhorn.
Unlike his friends who slept soundly through it, Remus wasn't a surprise but Janus usually woke up to a pin dropping. Just how much had he missed out on here?

"Good morning."

Turning his gaze to the muffled greeting Virgil nodded in acknowledgement at Logan who was fully dressed and clearly in the middle of brushing his teeth.
He did seem like the type to wake at the crack of dawn.

"Breakfast is usually up to 15 minutes after the wake up call, so I'd suggest getting ready quickly."

Once again, Logan was answered with a wordless nod. The familiar 'You have done something wrong' alarm blared in the back of Virgil's mind, yelling at him for supposedly coming off as rude. Logan never seemed to mind, however, disappearing into the bathroom again only to return without a tooth brush and clear face.
"I typically wait for Janus and Remus at our usual table, I hope you'll be joining us."

And he was gone.
Remus got along with this guy? How.

Virgil wasn't dwelling on that, sliding out of bed and taking the now empty bathroom.

So far, things were okay. He had Janus, he had Remus, he had a pretty cool roommate, he was being given a 'secret tour' of sorts, if anyone did try picking on him they'd get an earful from Janus and a fistful from Remus, the counselors seemed nice and he had unlimited art supply access. Maybe, just maybe, he'd survive.

"Whatcha thinkin' bout?"

The weight of Janus' head in the crook of his neck and Remus' chin resting on his shoulder grounded him, neither of his friends were morning people and still looked sleepy. Any proof that they hadn't changed too much was nice, so there was that at least.

"Whether or not I'll survive here."

Remus snorted at the answer. "Please, as If anyone would want to mess with you, if anything you're like- half the people here's type. If you're still single by the end of summer it'll be a miracle."

"Less miracle, more me not wanting to drag anyone into a relationship with me, they might want to deal with the never ending panic attacks, mood swings, and art supplies laying everywhere."

"Jan, tell your pseudo-son that there is absolutely nothing to worry about and that he should totally get a boyfriend for the summer."

Janus was not awake enough to want to deal with this conversation, but it was that or hear them bicker.
"Remy will probably try set him up with someone, it'll be fine. Now can we go to breakfast?"

As scared as Virgil was to meet Remy, he hurried to finish up and follow his friends out to the large cabin not far from their own. It was expected to be obnoxious and brightly colored, maybe with a rainbow flag sticking out the top or something. Nope, just a big Cabin with a pretty dream catcher hanging on the door.

Quaint.

"They're here!"

A guy in sunglasses waved the three over, seemingly unphased by Virgil's sudden appearance. Then again Logan was sitting there so he likely mentioned something.

He moved over, making room for Janus and Remus on either side of him and Virgil was sat next to Logan, the latter's other side occupied by two more.

"Alright, introductions. Hey, my name's Remy, nice to meet ya."
He held out the hand not nursing a coffee cup and smiled when Virgil took it, albeit slowly.
"Blue polo's Patton, don't be scared if they get really affectionate, they're not crushing on you, I promise. They just love a good hug- also they don't talk much. But they're great company! Promise!"

Patton waved to Virgil who returned the gesture.

"And I'm Emile, do you how do?"

Ah, just from that, this was a cartoon lover, and along with the rest he seemed friendly. They'd get along just fine.

"Virgil. Remus' current only reason for not failing and Janus friend since... 4th grade, I think?"

"Ah, so you're the Virgil I've heard so much about. Logan mentioned we'd have someone joining us but I didn't think it'd be such a legend. I would've worn the good sunglasses."

"All your glasses look the same."
For the first time since they'd arrived, Logan spoke, and Remy didn't appreciate that.

"It's the sentiment, Logan. Now why don't you join our friends to go get breakfast? If your face goes any deeper into that book we'll have to burn it."

Both Janus and Logan shot Remy a threatening look, and that was Remus' cue to drag Virgil away to the buffet.

Fruit, bread and break sticks, and ham and bacon wraps.
Not a big variety, but it wasn't the shitty quality of school food so who was Virgil to complain?

"So, your parents are like- actually chill with you liking it up the ass?"

Probably better ways to phrase that, but it was Remus.

"Well, I'm here and not on the streets or in some weird conservative camp to 'fix me' so."

"Good point, just making sure. Sorry about the uh, premature coming out thing. Just wanted to get you out the house, y'know?"

"Don't worry about it, I'll admit I had fun."

"Cool! Just making sure, now let's hurry or they'll run out of watermelon slices, they actually have the sweet ones!"

Virgil grinned and followed behind Remus who piled up his plate, Janus and Logan did join them eventually and they walked back to the table.
Janus handed his coffee to Remy and Remus gave him the extra juice box he'd picked up.

"So Virgil, you planning on getting a date by the end of summer?"

Virgil had to stop himself from groaning not only at Remy's question, but the smug look of victory on Remus' face.

"No, not really. I'm not the 'go on a million dates' type. They're nerve wracking."

Remy barely deflated, "But when they go well, they're fun."

"Are they? Being tied down is no less terrifying than the dates it took to get there. You have to constantly worry if you're doing things wrong, or if they're happy, or if you're trying too hard or not hard enough. Gives me a headache just thinking about it."

Janus shook his head.
"Don't try convincing him, Rem. This is one battle you aren't winning."

Reluctantly, the topic was dropped and Virgil was given a run down of the plans for the day.
The group had different interests, so Emile and Patton would be doing arts and crafts then theater in the outside stage, Remy and Remus would just loiter and mess with people until lunch, Janus and Logan would retreat to their cabin and the group would meet up at the same table at lunch to go swimming after eating.

There was so much, Virgil genuinely didn't know what to do with himself for the day. Everyone else was occupied.

"Virgil, want to do arts and crafts with us?"

"I wouldn't want to intrude.."

"Silly, the whole point is having fun with friends."

Alright well, Virgil had no reason to deny; Patton and Emile really wanted him there and he'd get to draw until bored.

"Fine."

And the plan was set, Virgil would be with Emile and Patton for the morning and was convinced that if he got bored or overwhelmed he could join Janus and Logan at any time and no one would be offended. Then lunch. Then swim. Cool.

Patton took everyone's empty trays, apparently the group had some sort of routine and it was their turn, and returned. Their arm latched around Emile's and they're off to do crafts.

Virgil decided he would probably like it here.