Chapter 73: Cecil is a Giant Nerd and Meets His Giant Nerd Hero

                                    

                                          
Since Virgil didn't have any clothes aside from what was on his back when the factory was destroyed, Roman lent him some clothes. Black pants that were a bit too long and had to be rolled up, and a baggy black button up shirt that he stuffed into the pants. He felt much better after a shower and wearing new clothes, even though it was hard to move his right arm too much. It's a good thing he's left handed.
Bleeding Rose's office building was much smaller than the building Black works in. It wasn't a tall tower, that was far too many stories high. This building was still ten stories high, but that seemed to be half the height of Blacks. The height of the building made Virgil wonder why Black's office was only on the third floor. It probably was because he can't fly, and it's high enough to give him time to escape if he needed to.
Roman walked in front of him, leading the way to the lab Virgil will be working at. No matter what he does, it seemed like he was always going to work for a gang. But at least this time, it was a gang that actually did some good. They don't sell drugs or weapons, most of their money comes from ransoms. Usually from other gangs, mostly Wolfsbane though they hardly ever pay. Virgil didn't mind working for them.
Though he was sure that if he simply asked, Roman would let him stop working with Bleeding Rose at any time. But was it even possible to not work with a gang anymore? It's been so long, and ever since the car crash, Virgil's found it hard to find any work anywhere. That was probably part of Black's plan all along.
Roman and Remus greeted the receptionist as they passed before heading to the elevator. Janus and Kayden were walking with them, and Virgil finally remembered seeing Kayden before. It felt like forever ago, before Janus was even dating Remus, when they had met in the store. Kayden was there, with his dad. It was weird imagining Remus as a father. But he didn't seem too bad at it so far.
After they all climbed into the elevator, Virgil watched as the number climbed. The elevator dinged when they reached the fifth level, and they all climbed out.
"For now, Virgil, I don't want you to be working on any prototypes. Not until you're healed, at least a bit more," Roman said. "Anemone and a few others usually brainstorm, and occasionally they make prototypes. But, even though you're not making weapons, don't worry about creating anything."
"I'm not gonna fall apart," Virgil replied. "You guys don't need to worry about me."
"Says the guy that has metal holding his ribs together," Janus commented.
"Says the- pronouns?"
"They/he."
"Says the person we had to save."
"We had to save you too, if we had been any later, you would have been taken back to Black!"
"Wow, you two really are like siblings," Remus commented.
A door ahead of them opened, and Janus saw a familiar angel walk out. It was Sidney, the girl who had been hurt in the attack and stayed with the twins for a bit.
"I know, I'll get something for Rose too," she told someone in the room as she left. She turned and saw them, freezing before she closed the door. "Whoa, is something happening? What are you all doing here?"
"Hey Poppy," Kayden greeted. "Is Anemone here?"
"Yeah. Anemone, your boyfriend is here!" she called back into the room. "Along with pretty much everyone else."
"Rose!" Cecil shouted, rushing out of the room. He ran up to Kayden and hugged him, pulling back and taking his hands. "Good morning!"
Kayden's face heated up and he mumbled, "Morning."