Lost Boys Pt. 1
Summary: The Peter Pan Au literally nobody asked me for. Or โVirgilโs pretty sure he never had such an interesting dreamโ.
Warnings: implied death (only background characters), mentions of war, mentions of starving, hallucinations (discussed but not actually happening)
Authorโs Note: I know this is most likely not historically accurate but still enjoyable I think. Hope y'all like it. I simply adore Remy btw
The blinking starlight above London couldnโt soften the damage the last air raid had caused. Shattered ruins were shortly illuminated where the moonlight was reflected by bear stone and sank back into darkness as soon as one of the few dark clouds passed in front of the moon. Everything was quiet. Silence wrapped itself around the city as a few hours ago the world stopped falling apart once more.
Virgil Darling sat by his window, just like he had almost every night in the last ten years. He started that habit after his mom first read him the story of a magical realm hidden behind the stars when he was 5 years old and couldnโt keep the nightmares at bay. He later told his two younger brothers these fabulous stories, filled with magic and hope, but the fascination never stuck with them like he had experienced it himself.
His parents at first encouraged his daydreaming but as soon as he turned thirteen, his father wanted him to โgrow upโ. His mother tried her best to tolerate the unusual behavior of her son for years but Virgil could see the worry in her eyes every time she found him asleep at the window, the lock that his father put there skillfully picked and tossed aside.
The window was open too now and a warm breeze that tasted like ash came through and found his way back into the night, not enough walls left to trap him inside the ruin that was once Virgilโs home. Virgil could feel himself grow sleepy, tired from running and sobbing. He felt himself drift off. He knew that once he would wake up in the morning he would have to go, leave this place and probably never come back. None of the soldiers ever did. It was still better than to slowly starve. But tonight he would like to pretend that his mother would come to put him to sleep like she did every time he sat at the window too long. The boy let his eyes fall closed, hoping that for once his dreams would guide him into a gentler world.
Virgil felt himself being awoken by a poking sensation in his face. He frowned, opened his eyes and let out a startled scream as a strange boy had his face only a few centimeters from his own.
โWell, I suppose youโre not dead then.โ His voice was melodic, feeling like a summer lullaby, full of light and laughter.
Virgil looked up at the figure standing over him. He had reddish brown hair and his eyes seemed to sparkle more golden than brown, even in the darkness of the night the sunlight seemed to follow him. His clothes were even stranger, nothing like the baggy army jacket from his father that Virgil wore. The otherโs clothes were worn off, the leather with rough seams presented in earthy tones except for the bright red piece of fabric that was draped across his chest and had to function as some kind of belt since it held a variety of daggers. Virgil felt himself gulp at the sight, once more very aware of his defenseless state. On the other hand, he couldnโt quite bring himself to fear the boy in front of him. Maybe because he lacked shoes. If Virgil would choose to run away the other would have no chance to keep up with him on the littered streets without seriously injuring himself.
โWho are you?โ Virgil asked, still taken aback by the behavior of the other. He had poked him for godโs sake, who in his right mind poked a sleeping stranger in the middle of a war?
The other grinned, showing way too many teeth for Virgilโs taste. Teeth also way too sharp. And did he had pointed ears or had Virgil hit his head? Maybe he was dreaming? Because now that he thought about it that boy looked awfully like-
โWell, you humans know me as Peter Pan. Though everyone calls me Roman.โ
โYouโre mad.โ Virgil didnโt mean to say that out loud and clasped a hand over his mouth quickly. You donโt tell a crazy stranger with knives that heโs mad. Especially not in the middle of a war. Except when you had a death wish. Which, just for the record, he didnโt as much as it might appear otherwise.
Roman narrowed his brows. โThatโs not good, Iโm in a position of power. No madman should be there-โ he turned and shouted through the open window โ-Hey Remy, why didnโt you tell me I was mad?!โ
In a bolt of lightning a little man, barely the size of a hand flew into the room and stopped short of Romanโs nose. โI do every morning at 6 am sharp, you moron! You just never listen!โ His wings began to glow slightly red with annoyment. That Remy was a fairy. A real, in-flesh fairy. Well, as real as hallucinations can be. Maybe he has gone mad, that would be a very sound explanation for everything that happened so far.
โCan we please hurry up a bit. Itโs bloody cold and I seriously crave some nectar.โ Remy stood on Virgilโs knee the next second and the boy had to control the urge to slap his flat hand onto him just like he would do with a fly. Goodness, he didnโt even saw him move.
โThen tell me, my dear friend,โ Peter-, no Roman, directed his smile with definitely very sharp teeth at him again, โwould you like to tell me your name?โ
โV-Virgil. Virgil Darling.โ To be honest he felt a bit dizzy at this point. To dream up his childhood hero and his companion right nowโฆ It was almost like Virgil didnโt have anything else to do. Like wake up from whatever dream this is and get himself anything to eat.
โSoo Virgil,โ Roman looked around, โyou live here?โ
Virgil shrugged. He hadnโt made any plans other than going to join the military but he guessed the ruins of the mansion still belonged to his family.
Roman frowned: โWhy?โ
Virgil stared at him confused. โWhat do you mean why? Itโs not like I got that many options.โ Typically of him to make his hallucinations a bit dumb. He leaned back as the other boy suddenly took a step forward, threw out his arms and announced: โThen if it is your wish, you shall come with me!โ
โOh gosh, here we go again with the drama,โ a very fed up sounding fairy murmured on Virgilโs knee.
โGo with you? Where to?โ
Roman opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by a bright light in his face, a second later identifying it as Remy as he began to speak: โOh, we know that lovely little shop just around the corner and- By the moon, he meant Neverland of course! Heโs freaking Peter Pan, where else would he live, in Whitechapel?!โ
Virgil responded in the most intelligent way possible: โOh.โ Then the otherโs words sunk in and he turned to Roman with shining eyes. โWait, so you can really take me to Neverland?!โ At this point didnโt care anymore if this was a dream or whatever, at least it was a good one.
Romanโs grin turned into a soft smile. โIf youโre willing to follow me.โ He stretched out his hand. Virgil took it without hesitation. Then he was surprisingly forceful pulled up to his feet.
Roman in the meantime was back to grinning as he told Remy to dust them up for the flight. Virgil couldnโt help to mirror the otherโs grin as he realized that he was only mere seconds away from actual flying. And then his feet left the floor. Virgil let out an indeed very dignified squeal and squeezed Romanโs hand tighter. Then he broke into thunderous laughter, for once not caring who could hear him. He stopped when he noticed Roman was looking at him.
โWhat are you looking at?โ
โYou,โ Roman said in a tone that sounded more found than teasing, โI think youโll fit in just fine in Neverland.โ
Virgil felt his grin widen even more until it physically couldnโt grow anymore. โI canโt wait!โ
โSo youโre finally believing this is real?โ
Virgil was surprised: โHow do you-โ
Roman smirked. โDonโt worry, everyone does at first. But as soon as Remy enters they usually change their minds but guess youโre just as stubborn as me then.โ
Before Virgil could respond, Remy yelled: โCan we get going now or do you want to wait until Iโm a handsome ice sculpture? Move your asses or Iโll fly without you!โ
Roman simply laughed at that and again, Virgil felt like he heard silver bells ringing. Then Roman turned to him again. โReady?โ he asked.
Virgil took a deep breath. โDefinitely,โ he said and the trio vanished into the night sky, navigating to the second star from the right and then on until morning.
