Chapter 5
Just a little warning, this chapter has some emotions, which isn't something you see often in Supernatural.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Roman's POV
I didn't mean to rush out like that. I know I made Patton worried. But I just didn't want to cry in front of all of them. Even being on this case was hard enough. I'm reminded of how I couldn't save my family every time I look in the mirror, and now on a case? I'd been trying not to let anyone see how much being here upset me, but as soon as Patton mentioned vampires killing people, I was just brought back to my 19th birthday and I had to leave. So I rushed outside and ran around the side of the building, sat down by the dumpster, and started to sob. I don't cry often, because it ruins your complexion. But I couldn't help it. A bit after I started crying, I heard footsteps coming around the corner.
"I'm sorry, Pat." I said without looking up.
"Wrong person." I heard a very non-Patton voice say. I looked up into a pair of eyes, one green, and one purple. I was a little surprised by the fact that Anxiety came to talk to me. He sat down next to me. He didn't say anything for a while. I wondered if he had forgotten that I was there. But eventually, he sighed and leaned forward, balancing his elbows on his knees.
"I get it." he said. I looked up in surprise.
"What?" I asked. He sighed again and rubbed his face.
"Look, I'm not the best at pep talks. I'm not here to tell you to "push through" whatever it is you're going through. But you obviously lost someone and I'm here to tell you...I get it. I get what it's like to lose someone close to you. We all do. There isn't a single hunter without a tragic backstory. We all know pain. So just do yourself and everyone around you a favor and stop. Just stop. Stop pretending like you're okay. You're not. And the sooner you talk about it, the sooner dealing with the pain gets a little easier. Because it doesn't ever really go away. But you learn to deal with it." he said, voice low. The pain and understanding in his voice was so clear. I was a little shocked at how much this mysterious demon hunter seemed to know about grief and how much he seemed to care. I didn't know what to say, but that didn't matter because Anxiety kept talking.
"You have people that care about you. You have Patton and Logan. They care. And they'll always be there for you to talk to. You guys can help each other. Dealing with pain is so much more difficult when you don't have anyone. Trust me, I know…" his voice broke with emotion, but he pretended that nothing happened. He cleared his throat.
"Anyway-" he started, but was cut off when I suddenly hugged him. I couldn't help it. I come from a family of huggers and one of the biggest ways we express gratitude and appreciation is by hugging. Anxiety seemed a little shocked, but he didn't pull away, which I took as encouragement.
"Thank you." I said, looking into his eyes. One green, one purple. Both beautiful. He must have seen a little bit of what I was thinking in my face, because he blushed beet red and turned away. He muttered a "no problem" and hurried back inside. He rushed around the corner before I could stop him. I waited in the alley for a few seconds to regain my composure before heading back to the diner. Patton immediately came up to me, hugged me, and started apologizing.
"It's okay, Pat. I'm okay. Anxiety came to help me." I said to him. I tried to look at him to convey my thanks, but he seemed to be purposely avoiding my gaze. I suddenly wondered if I had scared him off and made a mental note to apologize to him next time we were alone.
We were driving back to the motel with Specs driving and Pat sitting in the passenger's seat doing a dramatic retelling about our first run-in with a Skinwalker. Anxiety was sitting in the back seat next to me, smiling at Patton's funny story. Patton was just reenacting what happened when I happened to step in a pile of slimy Skinwalker sheddings when Logan suddenly hit the brakes and started backing up.
"Logan? Is everything okay, love?" Patton asked, concerned. When Logan was driving, he normally didn't let anything distract him and even had to be reminded to stop and get food. Logan didn't respond as he parked and got out of the car. Patton immediately followed him to a nearby newspaper stand. Logan picked up the paper before showing me what the headline said.
"3 Teenage Girls Gone Missing-Police Suspect Kidnapping"
All of us were silent, realizing why Logan was showing us the newspaper. All of us were silent as we figured out that all of these girls were probably dead now, or being kept barely alive for the vamps to feed off of. All of us were silent until Anxiety spoke up with a surprising note of anger in his voice.
"We have to find a way to get to these vampires. And when we get to them, I'll tear them limb from limb."
Patton's POV
As soon as we got back to the motel, we started brainstorming. It made me so happy watching all of my boys work together (I've kind of adopted Anxiety at this point...I don't need to know his name all I need to know is that he's my little anxious baby). It was a little like watching an intense, three-way tennis match.
"Should we sneak around the back?"
"No, that's what we did last time, we'd be found for sure. I'm sure they increased security since Roman's last stunt."
"I said I was sorry!"
"Roman, focus. Do you two remember what we did with the brownies in Dakota?"
"But those were different. They were smaller. That won't work this time."
"What if we just blow up the entire place?"
"Oh yeah, that's totally subtle. That won't alert the authorities at all, Emo Nightmare."
"Shut up, Sir Sing-A-Lot. At least I'm trying to help. I don't think you could be helpful even if you tried."
"Enough, both of you! It's like dealing with children. Anxiety, if we blow up the entire building, it will definitely cause alarm to the other residents and the local police force and it may not even kill all of the vampires."
"What if we distracted the vampires?" I cut in. Everyone went quiet.
"What?" Roman asked.
"I'm serious. The vampires probably remember Roman and me. So what if we distracted the vampires while Anxiety and Logan snuck in from the back and took out as many as they could?" I asked. Anxiety looked upset, Roman looked terrified, and Logan…
"Come on Lo, I know you don't like it, but can you really think of another solution? Because if-" I started, but Anxiety cut me off.
"No! Absolutely not! There is so much that could go wrong with that plan! Creating a distraction is one thing, but what you're suggesting is suicide! I don't care if this is the only way, we'll find another solution. This isn't an option." Anxiety shouted. All of us were shocked by his sudden volume. Logan spoke up.
"I don't like it either. But right now, it seems like our only option. If you and I work quick enough, then the vamps will be dead before they even touch Patton or Roman." Logan said. I knew that he would see reason, but I could tell that he really hated this idea.
"Are you serious? The vamps will rip them apart! And I'm not willing to sacrifice anyone! Not again!" Anxiety screamed, his voice cracking with emotion. Logan was about to say something, but shut up.
"Anx, what do you mean 'again'?" Roman asked gently. Anxiety looked up in surprise.
"Did-did I say again? I-I didn't mean..." he said softly. The room went silent. The air was suddenly heavy with a sense of loss that we knew all too well.
"I-I'm sorry." Anxiety said.
"It's quite alright. However, you don't seem alright. Would you like to talk about it?" Logan asked cautiously.
"No!" Anxiety said suddenly, making me jump. He cleared his throat and calmed down a bit.
"No, thanks. I'd rather just focus on the case, if that's okay with you." he said, obviously not comfortable with discussing it at the moment. Logan nodded.
"Anyway, I know you don't like this plan very much, but it seems to be our only option right now." Roman said softly. Anxiety began to protest when I interrupted him.
"What if I call Emile? He said that he's been dying to get back out on the field and he can be there to help us if needed." I offered. Anxiety still didn't look completely on board with the idea.
"Anx, please. This might be the only way to save those girls and figure out what the vampires are up to. I promise we'll be okay." Roman said softly, as if his words were only for Anxiety. Anxiety still shook his head.
"You can't promise anything, Prince. Don't patronize me. But you're right, I think it's our only option. So call Emile and let's figure out the best way to use Patton and Prince as bait for blood-sucking vampires and possibly a demon."