Roman sighs and drops his head onto his steering wheel, gathering his emotions together after yet another session with his favourite therapist Dr. Picani. The man was great, very accepting and nonjudgmental, but sometimes after their sessions Roman felt emotionally raw. Today they talked about his missing brother and the guilt of having gone out that night after they fought. It doesn’t matter that he was getting food for them both so they’d have something to eat for the first time in 3 days, because he fell asleep when he just meant to say hi to a friend, he wasn’t there to help Remus and his big brother paid the price. There’s not a doubt in his mind about their father having killed Remus and hid his body, but he doesn’t have proof. Dad was always harder on Remus because he was a boy and “Atlanta” was a “girl”, it didn’t help that Remus would Always protect him from dad’s ire. Roman is terrified about running into his father, but wonders if the monster would even recognize him as the once “shy little Atlanta”. Thinking on his transition always makes Roman wonder what his brother’s reaction would have been, Remus was always so odd, but he without fail supported Roman in everything he did, even if he didn’t agree.
Roman takes a deep breath and sits up before slowly removing himself from his slightly beat up car and making his way to the front door of the pastel house of his adoptive father. The door is swung open before he even reaches the door step, revealing a soft looking Latino man of average height with silvery hair and a giant grin.
“ROMAN!!” The cheerful man pulls him into a warm hug, “How have you been, Kiddo? It’s so good to see you!”
Roman buries himself into the hug with a soft chuckle, not able to find his usual annoyance over his pathetically short height from malnutrition for once under the weight of his other emotions. “I’ve been alright, Padre. How are you and Thomas doing?”
“We’ve been good. He helped me make cookies when he visited a few days ago and told me about how his YouTube thing with his friends is going.” Was the cheerful reply before Roman was pulled into the residence of one Patton Sanders.
“I heard about that. Because I took your name when you adopted me, I’ve gotten asked by a few of his fans if we’re related.” Roman laughs, glad his adoptive big brother seems to have his life pulled together, even if Roman can’t seem to get his together.
“That’s adorable and awesome! I’ll have to tell Thomas the next time he stops by. Now-” Patton lightly pushes Roman in a kitchen chair before puttering about to make hot chocolate and grab a plate of cookies, “tell me what has you so upset?”
Roman sighs and lays his head on the table, he knew he couldn’t hide anything from the man he allowed to become his father in all ways that matter, “My therapist says that I should visit There to get closure by seeing it as just a place. See some happy family erasing the darkness that lingers in that hell hole.”
“...It might be a good idea. For you to see people being happy in the last place you saw your brother.” Patton is subdued as he mixes a cup of hot chocolate, “It won’t heal everything, it might not help at all, but I think you should at least try. I can come with you, if you like.”
“No, if I’m going to do this, I want to face it alone for now.” He had thought about it on the way there and felt he needed to go alone, “Who knows? Maybe I’ll make some new friends while there and I can show you around.”
Just be careful, kiddo, and call me if you need anything.” Patton sets the cookies and hot chocolates on the table, “I’ll be there as fast as possible if you need me, even if it’s only for a hug.”
“I know, Padre.” Roman sits up with a smile.
Patton beams before getting a teasing smile, “Now Roman, do you have a boyfriend yet~?”
