Broken Planchette ~ Prinxiety

65

TW~ Mentions of child abuse and of a lack of food or self-care

Roman sat there staring at his father as he laid there in bed. His hands were shaking as tears fell from his eyes. Here was the only man he'd ever really known laying so broken under the covers. His father... Sure the man scared him. He wasn't kind but it was still his father. He had to help him. His mom taught him to care for every life. To treat everyone equally as all life is important. His mom taught him to be a giving soul... a caring and loyal soul... a protective soul. She taught him to never give up on his morals or his lose his light, not for anyone. 

Now she was gone and all he had left was his Father and his little sister. He knew he was being stupid. He wasn't blind. His father wasn't a good man but he couldn't just let him die if he could save him. It's not in his nature. Despite knowing it put him in danger again, Roman HAD to save him. He was given the opportunity to save someone... No one deserves to die, in Roman's mind. He had the chance to do some good and he took it. 

He just prayed he had the strength to follow with it all. He didn't exactly have much of a choice. He gave his soul up to save a life. His fathers or not... That's how Roman was seeing it. He sold his soul to save a life. 

"Roman?" Roman's eyes darted to the door seeing his little sister now 11 years old standing there in the door. "Roman, you're home?"

"Yea. I'm sorry for not telling you, Ava." Ava scrambled up into his lap as he hugged her close. She took one look at her father and started to shiver. 

"Is he gonna die?"

"No," Roman said with a sure tone as he always did, even if this time there was a reason to back it. "No, Papa isn't going to die."

"When is he going to get better? I don't want you getting sick anymore." Roman's eyes softened as he nuzzled into her with a laugh. They were always like this. Always in each other's arms... Roman had always been very tactile with his mother. That's just how he was brought up. Being as frightened as he always found comfort in his mother's hugs. So that's how he cared for Ava. When she was a baby, he rarely ever kept her out of his sight just to make sure she was safe. As they got older the two cuddled and held each other for comfort, affection, and protection. At this point, the only time they were holding each other in some way was before when their father was up and hurting Roman. The eldest always made sure he was the center of his father's rage. Ava was lucky enough to not have ever been touched. It doesn't mean she wasn't terrified of him though.

"Come on, Hermana." Roman smiled as he brushed his hand through her hair. "Let's go get you something to eat."

"But we don't have any food." Roman tensed up as he remembered the woman and everything that happened just moments before he got home. "Roman?"

"Don't worry, flor pequeña. Tu hermano se encargó de eso." Roman gently picked her up, putting her on her feet as he shot his sleeping father one last look, already seeing so much of the man's color coming back to his skin. His father was going to live. A man was going to live because Roman had done whatever he could to save them. Despite the chill running down his back, Roman was actually happy. He was sure his mother would have been proud of him. "I've got sandwiches." *Little Flower.**Your brother took care of that.*

"How?!" Ava beamed as he bounced on her feet giddy about the thought of eating. Roman couldn't help but melt over his sister's joy. The woman had added to the deal, stating that she couldn't let him die in a hovel where she would never see him. So she made sure they could at least feed themselves and Roman couldn't have been happier. He tried to ask why she was being so generous but the woman's only response to that was Roman's soul was worth any sacrifice. Something about it being pure... light. He even thought he heard 'angel' said once but he knew that was silly. Still, whatever the reason he could actually give his sister a proper meal now and that meant everything. "Roman!" Ava squeaked happily as she watched her older brother pull out a large sandwich wrapped in cloth. "Is that..."

"It's all yours." Ava's eyes shimmered as she gently took it, almost afraid it would disappear on her. She giggled just so happy as she literally plopped on the floor to eat making Roman roll his eyes playfully. "Once Papa gets better we won't be able to do this, so let's enjoy it for now ok, Ava." Roman whispered as he pulled his own, albeit much smaller as to save money even if he didn't have to, and sat down beside her against the counter.  "But don't worry Capullo de la flor. I won't be letting you go hungry anymore." *Flower bud.*

"Please tell me you aren't going to get sick just to feed me." Ava mumbled under her breath sadly as Roman's smile fell a bit. "You worked yourself so hard just to get Papa's medicine. If you ended up hurt because of me..."

"Hey now, Hermana. It's ok. I've got you. You know this right?" Roman quickly cut in brushing his little sister's tears away. "I've got you. I'll take care of you as I always have. You don't have to worry. Ahora come, niña tonta." *Now eat, silly girl.*

Roman blinked as he listened to Remus and Virgil drone on about what everything could mean. He was just melting into the madness as all the memories flooded his mind. He wanted it all to stop. He couldn't take it. He started crying again before he had even realized it.

"Roman?" Virgil was the first to notice, spotting his boyfriend curling up into himself. "Ro? Are you ok?"

"No. No, I'm not. They won't stop." Roman balled his fists in his hands as he practically hit himself in the temple rocking slightly as all his emotions burned through him. "Why won't they stop."

"Roman, it's ok." Virgil was out of his chair the second he could, falling to his knees in front of the breaking side. "Those memories... whatever your seeing, they don't change who you are now. I love you, Roman."

"I-I... I sold my soul Virgil." Roman's eyes were black at this point as struggled to keep himself under control. "I sold myself to save my father. A father that abused the shit out of me. A man that... That... A man that killed me. I saved the man that killed me."

"Ro-..." Roman dazed out completely, losing himself entirely in the flashback as Virgil gently pulled him in against his chest. "Roman, I think we need to go home. Maybe gets some rest, just the two of us." Remus frowned as he slowly closed the book he was reading with a soft sigh.

"I think that would be best too, Virgil. We still haven't really found a way to fix his soul all this emotional shit... I'm worried it's going to do even more damage. If anything happens call me ok?" Virgil nodded as he slowly pulled Roman up out of the chair.

"I don't think you have to worry about me much. Roman marked me again and this time the bonds even stronger between us." Remus nodded in understanding as Virgil wrapped the demon's arm around him only just managing to catch Roman's attention with a muted confused look.

"Take care of him?" Remus whispered softly as Virgil just smiled more.

"Of course. I've got him."