If you’d like to be tagged for updates for this story or any others then please let me know. Alternatively this fic can be read in it’s entirety over on Ao3 or FFNet - creativegirl29
Alan finished moving the man who they had hit with the tranquilliser into the room and made his way over to Scott who had splinted both of Virgil’s legs. “How’s he doing?” Alan asked.
Scott stroked Virgil’s head. “He’s in a lot of pain and I’m worried by how much blood he has lost. He’s been drifting in and out of conciseness and he’s been mumbling a few things.”
Alan sat down on the floor and took Virgil’s hand in his. “What’s he been saying?”
“It’s pretty incoherent.” Scott replied. “He does keep asking for dad though.”
“Should we report in?” Alan questioned.
“We will… I want to get him on Thunderbird 2 first.” Scott looked at his watch. “Damn, what’s taking them so long?”
… …
Meanwhile:
Gordon and John peered over the bush and watched the Hood with the last of his men, which they had yet to take out, walking towards the doorway.
“Do you think we can hit them from here with our tranquilliser guns?” John whispered.
Gordon shook his head. “Too far.”
As soon as the Hood and the other man had entered the building John and Gordon jumped to their feet and ran to the door, and John clicked his communicator on. “Come in Scott.”
“Where the hell are you guys?” Scott snapped.
“Scott, listen,” John cut in. “We’ve just seen the Hood and one of his men.”
Scott swore to himself. “I presume it’s the man who used the whip on Virg?”
“Yes, it is,” Confirmed John.
Scott breathed out trying to calm himself down. “Which way did they come in?”
“They went through the same entrance we were using,” John responded.
Scott jumped to his feet. “Gordon, is there any other way out?”
“Yes, there is… But what about Virgil?” Gordon asked.
“It’s not ideal, but I’ll have to carry him out. Personally, I’d like to get Virg clear of hear before we kick the Hood’s and that other man’s ass… Gordon, can you direct us out any other way?”
“Yes. I can,” Gordon replied.
“Great!” Scott responded. “Then give me a few seconds and I’ll be back with you.”
… …
Scott clicked his communicator off and looked at Alan. “Okay Al, I need you to cover me with the tranquilliser gun, Okay?”
Alan nodded his response, grabbed his and Scott’s medical kits and prepared his weapon.
Scott knelt back down next to Virgil and squeezed his left hand. “Virg, can you hear me?” Virgil forced his eyes open and looked at Scott. “I’m going to have to carry you. Okay?”
Virgil squeezed Scott’s hand, and released a tiny smirk. “Mm… okay… Don’t drop me though.”
“Scott laughed. "It’s good to hear you trying to crack jokes… Now, I’m sorry, but this may hurt.” Scott lifted Virgil gently of the floor and into his arms, causing Virgil to release a whimper. Scott whispered soothing words to him and then turned to Alan who was kneeling on the floor. “Hey, Al, I’m ready… Everything okay?”
Alan stood up and looked at Scott. “Yes, I’m good. I just found this.” Alan held out Virgil’s chain and admired the picture of his mother which was inside. “She was really beautiful!”
Scott smiled. “Yes, she was!”
“He should have it back… I’ll keep it for him, for later.” Alan replied dropping the chain in his pocket.
Scott nodded. “Let’s get him out of here!”
Alan clicked his communicator on. “Hey Gords. Which way are we heading?”
“Back down the hallway until you reach the stairs. You will remember that there were two other corridors leading off the stairwell. You will need to take the one to the right.” Gordon instructed.
“Okay.” Alan replied leading the way, while Scott carried Virgil closely behind. “This way.” Alan mouthed to Scott leading him down the hallway until he reached two doors. Alan glanced back at Scott who had now pulled Virgil closer to him and was continually whispering comforting words to him. Alan clicked his communicator back on. “Which way now Gordon?”
“Right. There will be two doors in front of you.” Gordon responded. “You need to take the one on the left. It will lead to another staircase. Go up six floors and then go through the door, that will lead you to the front entrance, we’ll meet you there with the stretcher.”
“Got it… The Hood’s probably realised now that we have Virgil.”
“Yes, okay. We’ll stay hidden until we see you, but if you’re not out in five minutes then we are coming in!” Gordon stated.
… …
The Hood and the man made their way down to the room which had been Virgil’s prison. They had known something wasn’t quite right when no one had been on guard at the entrance, and when they hadn’t seen anyone else on their way down to the cell, they knew something was wrong. The Hood ordered the man to enter the room first, there was no way he was going in there before him, and putting himself in any potential danger.
The man unlocked the door, walked inside and immediately swore when he saw Virgil was gone. “It’s worse than we thought boss,” he anxiously reported.
The Hood looked over at the man who had been hit with the tranquilliser gun and saw that he was starting to come too. “What happened?” He barked at him.
“Int… International… Rescue.” The man stuttered.
“God Damn International Rescue… Always ruining my plans!” The Hood sneered at the man, pulled a gun from his inner pocket, aimed it at his head and pulled the trigger. “No one fails me!”
The Hoods last standing man looked at him. "Sir, by the looks of it they have left in a hurry. I reckon we just missed them. They have probably been using the same entrance as us, so if they knew we were on our way, they have most likely headed for the front of the building.”
The Hood nodded. “I want you to head to the front and see if you can catch them, I will head for the usual exit, and then we can cut them off from both sides.”
“Yes sir!” The man replied.
… …
Alan continued to lead the way while Scott, who was carrying Virgil, was close behind. They finally reached the top of the stairs and went through the doorway which led to the front entrance. As soon as they saw their brothers leave the building, Gordon and John darted out from behind a nearby tree with the stretcher. Scott laid Virgil down and replaced the oxygen mask over his mouth which he had removed just before leaving the building.
“Okay, let’s get him out of here!” Gordon said, as he and John took control of the stretcher.
“Not so fast.” Came an unknown voice from behind them.
They all turned slowly. “You!” Scott shouted, the anger in his voice rising as he looked upon the man who had been responsible for bringing the whip down on Virgil’s back.
The man held out a gun towards them. “Don’t even think about moving. Now, put down the stretcher and move away from your brother.”
“There is no way that we are going to just hand him over to you!” John stated.
The man laughed “I believe you should rethink your answer.”
“And why’s that?” Alan asked.
“Because otherwise you will need to deal with me!”
The boys looked back in the direction they were about to head in.
They all stopped, their legs frozen in shock as each one of them tried to process the image in front of them. There was Virgil, on his knees, his feet chained, and his hands still raised above his head. His body was covered in cuts, bruises and so much blood. His head was flopped forwards and his eyes were tightly shut.
Scott felt like his whole body was traveling in slow motion as he urged his legs to move forwards. He reached out with his now shaking hand and pressed his fingers against his brother’s neck, desperately searching for a pulse. Tears of relief began forming in Scott’s eyes, when he felt the weak but beating rhythm of Virgil’s pulse. He turned to his other brothers who were standing closely behind him. “He’s alive.” He reassured them. They nodded their heads, the relief on their faces evident to how much their brother truly meant to each of them. Scott wiped his eyes. “Okay, we need to treat any immediate injuries and then we can get him out of here!”
John fixed a brace around Virgil’s neck and placed an oxygen mask over his mouth. He then placed his hand on Virgil’s forehead and chest. “He’s clammy, he feels really cold and his trousers are soaked through from the water that was thrown over him… We need to get him warm and dry as soon as possible!”
“Looking at the bruises to his chest, he most likely has a few cracked ribs. There may also be some internal bleeding.” Gordon said, as he moved around to check Virgil’s back. Gordon winced when he saw his brother’s injuries. “Geez!”
Since I’m going to be reading these to help me continue writing them I thought I’d use them for this weeks Fic Back Friday.
Tagging some who are usually tagged and a few of you who I know enjoy Virgil fics If you’d like to be tagged for this or any other fic updates then please let me know
I will be posting up to chapter 12 today then sharing more next Friday until I’ve caught up with my Ao3/FFNet pace.
Virgil is the main focus of these and is the middle child.
Chapter 1: 15th August
I’ve been here before and I always swear, ‘Never Again!’
But then…
It’s over and for a few seconds, which always feels longer, I hear nothing. Then the sound I’ve been waiting for… That first cry, followed by:
“Congratulations, it’s a boy!”
The relief washes over me, as I look to my husband. The obvious pride flowing from him as our new baby is placed in my arms, and his soulful eyes lock with mine.
“Do you have a name?” Someone asks.
It’s at that moment I know I’ll be here again.
“Yes,” I nod, “his names Virgil… Virgil Tracy.”
**
Chapter 2: Expert
“Grandma,” John sang out, running into her arms as she stepped through the door.
“Hello sweetheart, are you enjoying being a big brother?”
“I better than Scotty!”
“Not!” Scott retorted.
“I make Virgie stop crying!”
“After I showed how… Mommy said I expert!”
“You’re both experts!” Lucille reassured, stepping behind them with a crying Virgil in her arms.
“He’s sad, we make better!” Scott and John chorused.
“No boys, it’s my turn!” Grandma announced.
“Wow!” Scott and John chimed when Virgil instantly went quiet after being placed in his grandmas’ arms.
“That’s right boys…” Grandma smiled, “I’m the original expert!”
**
Chapter 3: He’s A Tracy
“Virgie,” Scott and John called their arms open, while their mother watched.
Virgil attempted to leave the sofa he was holding, but instead fell on his bum and giggled.
“Hello,” Jeff said, smiling at all of them from the doorway.
“Daddy’s home!” Scott and John chorused running to him, while Lucille happily kissed him.
Jeff gazed fondly at Virgil. “Have you missed daddy?”
Virgil released a delightful squeal, and then with no hesitation toddled over to his father.
“He did it!” Scott, John and Lucille chirped.
“Of course, he did,” Jeff replied, scooping Virgil into his arms, “he’s a Tracy!”
**
Chapter 4: Bath Time
“No!” A two-year-old Virgil shrieked, splashing water all over his father as he tried to escape the bathtub.
“Still no luck!” Lucille asked, stepping in the room and kneeling next to Jeff.
Jeff shook his head. “He’s the same as Scott and John were at this age. Everything is a no and he hates the bath.”
“Well, maybe the next one will love the water.”
“Yeah… Wait, the next one?”
Lucille nodded showing Jeff the positive pregnancy test.
Jeff grinned at Virgil. “Well, looks like you’re going to be a big brother!”
“No!” Virgil screamed, splashing his father once more.
More Below The Cut
Chapter 5: Big Brother
Virgil sighed when he saw the bundle in his mother’s arms. He’d just become a big brother, but he really didn’t want to be. All he wanted was to be the youngest again, he’d been good at that.
“Do you want to hold Gordon?” His dad asked.
Virgil nodded his head reluctantly.
Jeff carefully placed Gordon in his arms.
Virgil frowned, he couldn’t understand why everyone was happy. It was just a baby, there was nothing special about it.
Suddenly, Gordon’s eyes opened and locked with his.
“Wow!”
“Happy to be a big brother?” His mother asked.
Virgil grinned. “Yeah!”
**
Chapter 6: Piano
Bright eyes gazed, watching as fingers glided effortlessly across the keys… Ears pricked, listening to magical melodies fill the room…
When the final note ended, Lucille opened her eyes and observed Virgil. She had always presumed he would grow tired of listening, just like his brothers, but he was still very much as captivated now as he had been before.
Lucille picked Virgil up and placed him on her lap.
“Are you ready for your first piano lesson?”
Virgil nodded, reached out, touched the keys, and then gasped with delight.
‘Looks like this is love.’ Lucille chuckled, cuddling her son.
**
Chapter 7: First Day
“Want to go home!” Virgil whimpered, when the large building loomed in front of him.
Lucille bent down so she was level with her son’s eyes. “Oh sweetheart, it’s okay to be scared.”
“Not scared!”
“Scotty was on his first day, but he was brave, and went in anyway. Can you be brave like Scott?”
Virgil nodded, wiping his tears away.
“That’s my boy! Now, I’ll pick you up later and you can show me the paintings you’ve done.”
“Paintings?”
“Yes.” Lucille replied, ruffling Virgil’s hair.
“Bye Mommy!” Virgil grinned, dashing through the school gates and towards his new teacher.
**
Chapter 8: Doctor Virgil
Hearing a scream, Lucille darted into the lounge. “What’s wrong?”
“Gordo… Hurt… Bear…” Virgil sobbed, holding out his beloved toy.
Lucille frowned, the bear’s arm had been torn off, obviously suffering from Gordon’s tantrums. Bending down, she regarded Virgil. “We’ll fix him, but I need your help!”
Minutes later an old toy stethoscope of Scott’s was used for Virgil to wear, while Lucille sowed the bear.
“How’s the patient?” She questioned when finished.
Virgil listened to his bears chest. “Cuddles and bedrest!”
“Good decision Doctor,” she smiled, watching Virgil race off… Bear in one hand, stethoscope still in the other.
**
Chapter 9: Brothers
“Do you have to go?” Virgil wined, clinging onto his big brother’s waist.
Scott nodded, returning the cuddle.
“But, who will chase the monster who lives under my bed away?”
“John’s on monster duty,” Scott informed him, suppressing the amusement at his brother’s imagination.
“Can I come with you?”
“It’s a school trip, so I’m afraid not, but I’ll be back.”
“Promise,” Virgil said.
“Promise on the brotherhood bible!” Scott stated, holding out his finger which Virgil linked with his.
Virgil squeezed his brother once more then let go. “Miss, you!”
“I’ll miss you too, but it’s only one night!
**
Chapter 10: Drawing
“Hello sweetheart,”
Jeff kissed his wife, then placed one on her large pregnant belly. “Where are the boys?”
“Gordon’s sleeping, Scott and John are doing their homework and…”
“I’m here,” Virgil chirped, running over and handing him a picture, “drawing for you daddy… It’s transponder!”
“Transporter?”
Virgil nodded. “So, we can fly to your work and keep company!”
“Thank you, that’s very thoughtful of you Virgil,” Jeff responded hugging his little boy.
Virgil gave his dad a big grin and ran off happily.
Jeff showed the picture to Lucille. “Do you think it’s meant to look like an upside-down frog?”
**
Chapter 11: Swimming
Gordon surveyed his older brother. “Don’t know Virgie, it’s really far!”
Virgil looked over to the other side. “It is… But Scotty and Johnny are waiting, mommy’s watching from the side with Alan, and I’ll be next to you the whole time.”
“You will?”
“I’ll try, although you’re quicker than me, so you might get there first.”
“I’m faster?”
“Yes, you’re good enough to win a medal like the swimmers on tv.”
“Cool!” Gordon grinned, holding out his arms.
Virgil pulled off the inflatable armbands and put them on the side. “Ready?”
Gordon nodded.
“Set…”
Gordon prepared to release.“
"Go!”
**
Chapter 12: Choices
Jeff lovingly held Lucille while she fed a one-year old Alan, while his four other boys huddled on either side. “Whose choice is it?” He finally asked.
“It’s Virgil’s!” Scott and John announced.
“No,” Gordon huffed, “mine!”
“Virgil gave his turn to you last time and we went to see the dolphins!”
Gordon grinned. “Yes, that was fun!”
Lucille looked kindly at Virgil. “Where do you want to go sweetheart?”
“Happy here!”
“There must be somewhere you want to go?” His father questioned.
Virgil nodded, and opened the brochure to a picture of a cabin in the snow. “Here please?”
More Next Friday- or you can read up to C52 over on Ao3 or FFNet: CreativeGirl29. For anyone waiting on chapter 22 of Gone I’ll be posting it here on Monday evening UK time.
Story under the cut - chapter contains whump Also mentions/references to physical and mental torture.
The Hood signalled to someone off screen who then made their way over to Virgil, with a large bucket of water and placed it in front of him, the man then made his way behind the camera. “Now, I know Jeff that one of your sons is a former Olympic Swimming Champion, I’ve seen all the news reports about him… I believe his name is Gordon.” Gordon was now on his feet glaring at the screen. “Now, I know that this boy here isn’t that son… So, I thought it would be interesting to see how well his brother had taught him to survive when being held under water.”
The Hood nodded to the man who was holding Virgil’s arms. The man kept a hold of Virgil’s hands with one hand and then grabbed his hair with the other and pushed Virgil’s head into the bucket of water and held him down.
… …
Virgil tried to recall everything Gordon had ever told him about holding your breath under water, not that he had really listened, he had usually drifted off into his own world when Gordon had started one of his water safety lectures. ‘Right, stay calm… Breathe in… Don’t panic!’ Virgil said to himself as he felt his head being pushed down and held firmly under the water. After two minutes, he was brought back out of the water and he breathed out, trying his best to remain calm. The man pushed Virgil down again into the water and held him there, and once again Virgil managed to keep himself calm enough to last the two minutes he was being held down for. ‘Damn!’ Virgil thought as he was pulled up out of the water again. ‘If I ever get out of here I need to start listening to Gordon… Oh God! I must be delirious…’ The man pushed Virgil down into the water again and after another two minutes Virgil was brought back up and he breathed out.
… …
“That’s it Virg, you can do this… I know you can!” Gordon whispered, when he saw his brother manage the dunking.
“Longer!” The hood yelled at the man who then forced Virgil’s head down into the water again.
The two-minute mark passed by and Gordon looked at the image of his brother. “It’s too long.” He said nervously, as he looked at his dad and his other brothers. “He’s never held his breath much longer than this.”
They all watched in horror as Virgil began struggling desperately against the man’s grip. Eventually the man lifted him back up, he allowed Virgil to cough up the water, and then pushed him back down again. After doing this several times the Hood eventually signalled to the man who then pulled Virgil back out of the water and threw him onto the floor.
… …
Virgil coughed up the water he had swallowed, trying his hardest not to throw up. Glancing up Virgil was gripped with fear as one of the other men picked the bucket of water up and emptied the contents on top of him, causing Virgil to shudder with the shock to his system. Watching the man move away, Virgil quickly looked at his chain and noticed it was now closer to him, he tried to put his hand out to grab it, but he was once again dragged back up on his knees and his hands were wrenched backwards and held behind him. Virgil lifted his head, wondering what his next torment would be. He didn’t have to wait long to find out when the man, who had emptied the water on top of him, returned with the four other men and they quickly began to surround him. Virgil tried to struggle free, but it was hopeless due to the strength of the man holding him, and his already weakened state. He then saw the Hood give a signal to the man who had been holding him, the man dropped Virgil to the floor with a thud and followed through with a sharp kick to his back.
… …
Scott, John, Gordon, Alan and Jeff were all on their feet staring at the screen and screaming for the men to stop as they watched Virgil’s beating unfold. Their cries were silenced when Virgil became still, and the Hood signalled for them to finally stop. They looked on as the Hood signalled for them to move away, he then went and checked Virgil’s pulse. The Hood frowned and glared back at the camera. “Still alive… Well, for now!” The Hood made his way behind the camera, leaving Virgil lying on the floor.
… …
Virgil had tried to keep fighting but he knew it was impossible as he felt the full force of each blow connect with various parts of his body. Hoping that the men would stop if he was unconscious, Virgil decided to stop moving and closed his eyes. He was surprised to find his idea had worked when the beatings stopped, and the men walked away, he then felt the Hood check for his pulse, say that he was still alive and then also move away. He opened his eyes carefully, not wanting the Hood or any of the other men who were in the room to realise that he was still awake. He could feel the pain surging through him and he could feel the darkness calling his name. Nevertheless, he knew what he needed to do. Glancing in front of him, Virgil could see his chain was still on the floor and thankfully it hadn’t been knocked too far away. Virgil looked up at the camera and prayed that his family could see what he was about to try and do.
… …
Jeff sat with his head in his hands, Alan had dropped to the floor and was crying bitterly, and was now being held by a shaking John and Gordon. The rest of the household sat shaking, crying and unable to look at the screen. Scott had been the only one who had continued watching, unable to take his eyes of his brother’s apparent unconsciousness. Scott exhaled with relief when he saw Virgil’s eyes open, causing everyone else to observe what was happening.
… …
Virgil looked at the other men and the Hood, he could see they were involved in a deep conversation, and were unaware of what he was doing. Looking back at the chain, Virgil reached his arm out, and although he could feel an intense pain from doing so, he tried to make his fingers grasp the chain.
… …
Brains had switched the transmission link back on and was watching it intently. Alan, Gordon and John were now back on their feet and standing next to Scott and their father. Each one of them silently hoping and praying that Virgil would be successful.
… …
Virgil felt his fingers clutch the chain as he pulled it towards himself. Grasping it in his hand, Virgil began to try and get the edible transmitter out.
“What are you doing boy?” The Hood screamed at him, bringing his foot down on top of Virgil’s hand.
Virgil yelped with the pain and pulled his hand to his chest, dropping the chain in the process.
“What is it about this chain.” The Hood growled, as he bent down picked up the chain and flung it across the room. “Now, stay still.” The Hood snapped, as he made his way back over to the other men.
Virgil lifted his head and watched the Hood walk away, he then opened his hand revealing the edible transmitter, looking directly into the camera, he dropped the transmitter into his mouth and swallowed it!
Virgil knew he was dreaming, but the nightmare world the Hood had promised him still seemed so real. He and his family hadn’t been here in 15 years, not since that day that had taken their mother from them, and now here he was, experiencing that day again.
The dream began with Virgil standing on the slopes, he was watching the families, who were all oblivious to him, skiing joyfully, without a care in the world. As he continued to glance around Virgil caught sight of three boys, helping their mom and dad teach their two youngest brothers how to ski. Although, the younger two both seemed more satisfied with throwing snow at each other than the actual skiing. The family all looked so content, unaware that tragedy was about to strike.
Virgil looked up at the top of the mountain, he could see someone standing up there, with their eyes transfixed on the young boys playing happily with their parents. Virgil realised immediately who the man was and what was about to happen. He turned towards the family, his family, and yelled at them to run but they couldn’t hear him, no one did. He was merely a spectator, unable to help, unable to stop the tragic events from occurring.
As the avalanche began, Virgil watched in horror as he saw his mother and father look up and see the snow beginning to fall. He saw his dad dart for the youngest two, swooping them into his arms and running for safety. He saw Scott and John heading in the same direction. Then he saw something he had forgotten in the trauma, something he had wiped from his memory, now that memory was being forced back to the surface and he was being made to relive it once more.
He saw his younger self running next to his older brothers, but then he slipped and fell forwards, he then saw his mother and Scott stop, turn and yell his name. He heard his mother tell Scott to keep running, while she ran back towards him and pulled him up into her arms. She started to run once more but it was too late. Virgil saw the look of fear and shock in his dad and his brother’s eyes as the snow hit his mother and his younger self, and the others who had been unfortunate to be caught in the avalanche’s grasp.
Virgil began to feel the fear of his mother, he could feel the snow and the freezing cold ice cutting through her body like a knife. He could feel her body shudder with the coldness as she tried desperately to protect her child’s life.
Virgil felt the tears coming to his eyes as he saw people digging for any survivors. Then he heard a woman shout for help saying that she had found someone. He saw other people rush over and pull his younger self from the snow, he saw someone wrap a blanket around him and then pass him carefully to a waiting medic. He saw his dad and his brothers run over to him in relief that all he had sustained was a concussion and some possible side effects from the cold.
He then saw them turn to their mother, who had been placed on a stretcher, she was being attended to by another medic. Virgil then saw his father rush to his wife’s side and grasp her hand, begging her to keep fighting, begging her to live, and then finally he saw his mother look up into his dad’s eyes before taking her final breath, as she left their world forever.
Virgil backed away from the scene that was unfolding, unable to take the pain anymore. As he moved away everything began spinning around him. He then found himself once again standing on the slopes, the families all around him skiing happily without a care in the world.
“No, no, no, no!” Virgil cried. “Not again!”
He looked up and he could see the Hood looking towards him laughing. Virgil dropped down onto his knees and buried his head in his hands.
“Oh God… Please stop!” The tears were now falling freely down Virgil’s face, as the Hood continued his menacing laugh.
“Scott! Please. Please Scott! Help me!”
“Scott!” Virgil screamed out, suddenly coming to.
Virgil felt the tears flowing down his face. He could feel the sweat from the nightmare on his body and the beating of his heart in his chest. He breathed in and out, desperately trying to calm himself down but to no avail. Noticing that he was once again alone in the room and no longer hooked up to the IV. Virgil, anxious to free himself, struggled against the ropes that still held him tightly to the table but every time he did, just like before, the ropes tightened and dug into his skin. Abandoning his struggle, Virgil looked at the table which had been set up next to him, he could see that the table was now ready for his torture to begin. He glanced straight ahead and saw that a camera had been set up ready to capture his torment. After a short while, Virgil heard some men talking to the Hood as they entered the room. Virgil closed his eyes and listened.
“So, what’s next boss?” He heard one of the men say.
“Now the tape is ready I want you to make sure that the fire marshal at the metals foundry receives it. When they discover that it is a locked message for International Rescue, they will no doubt contact them and then when they have seen it, they will contact us.” Virgil heard the Hood reply.
“Why not contact them directly?” Virgil heard another man ask.
“Because you imbecile, as I mentioned earlier my plan is working much better than I expected. International Rescue have already made an announcement saying they are out of action for the unforeseeable future, it seems that the suspected death of his son over there has hit Jeff Tracy harder than I expected.” The Hood continued, “now, I want you to get that boy ready for when they do contact us and make sure that tape is sent.”
“Yes sir,” the men replied.
Virgil heard the Hood leave the room. He then heard the men starting to walk towards him. Virgil’s eyes shot open as he felt one of the men gagging him. He looked around and saw six men surrounding the table he was on. Four of them held him down while the two other men untied the ropes. Virgil, fought to free himself, but it was hopeless, and the men just tightened their grips. Once he was untied, the men lifted him up, forced his arms up into the air and tied his wrists together, then they bound his wrists to a long restraint that hung from the ceiling. They then forced him painfully onto his knees and chained his ankles to some floor restraints. Laughing at his predicament as they did so. Then finally, to Virgil’s horror one of the men picked up a small knife that had been placed on the torture table and walked up to Virgil’s chest. Virgil gulped trying to keep his obvious fear at bay. The man let out a mocking laugh and grabbed Virgil’s International Rescue top and cut it off him. The man then placed the knife back on the table and signalled to the other men to follow him. They turned from Virgil and left the room, taking his shredded top with them and locking the door behind them.
When the men had finally left, Virgil tried to free himself once more, but found there was no escape. Glancing ahead at the camera and then at the torture table, Virgil felt his body shudder at the now cold room. He felt exhausted, dirty and frightened for his life. Most of all, he felt utter rage, rage at what the Hood had done to his mother, and to his family. At the loss and pain, he knew that his dad and brothers were feeling. At the shock, anger and fear they would all have when the Hood revealed that he was still alive. Then their terror as the Hood tortured him and finally killed him in front of them. He didn’t want his brothers, his dad, his gran, hell, any of them experiencing that.
‘Oh God!’ Virgil thought to himself as he once more felt the tears begin to cascade down his face. ‘Please let this nightmare end!’
A/N: Angst. I mean it this time. It’s short, and you’ll see why. But if I’ve done my job right, this is likely a question answered, but with more to follow right after.
All I can say is: Trust. And I’m sorry. *hugs*
*****
Every part of him burns, the tips of his ears, and most especially his throat, his chest, where his heart is racing, pounding to escape his rib cage. His hands tremble, the skin flushed and stained with the red under his fingernails, blood and A206 Crimson, where he’s splattered the paint tube, scraped his nails along dried acrylic, ripped at stretched canvas, and thrown wood to ground to split at his feet.
Buzzing, so incessant and discordant in his ears, cut only by the throb in his chest.
His hands. Shit, his hands.
He clenches his fist and tightens his jaw, as the detonations of his heart hammer against the breathing stuttering in his breast.
And he can hear himself, taken by anger so hot and heavy, turning him inside out where it’d been coiling, roiling inside him, and finally bursting forth with the fury of a guttural cry. He strikes at the shelving units, throwing the glass jar and all its paint brushes tucked inside against the opposite wall where it shatters. Skates his fingers quickly over book spines and spiral sketchpads and sends them careening with the force of gravity and the warpath of the wrathful.
He falls with them, his legs – stupid, useless legs – collapsing underneath him.
His eyes blaze, even as they blur wetly over the carnage around him, sight and memory and sound all distant and hollow behind the fire that’s overtaken him. A fire that burns at the beautiful, disables foundations, until everything crumbles and there’s nothing left but ashes.
There’s nothing left.
Nothing left of him. Of who he was or who he was going to be. And finally – finally – the world around him mirrors it. Creation devastated, as ravaged as his soul.
Seconds, ticks. A heartbeat that races the time between.
Gordon realizes what he’s done a millisecond before he hears footsteps thundering down the hallway towards the studio.
“Gord-!” Virgil flings himself around the doorway towards him, but the words freeze in his throat as he stops dead in his tracks, the air stolen from his lungs in a choked gasp.
Scott barrels into his back, panicked, his eyes wide. “Virg, what’s— oh, my God.”
Virgil can’t speak.
“I-I-I don’t…” Every word is raw, like knives in his throat, and he’s never felt the kind of quaking as the kind that’s overtaken him.
Virgil has barely moved from the door frame. Gordon watches him stride dazedly toward the broken easel, the painting he’d been working on of the reef. For him. He steps on the broken pieces of glass, pulverizing them under his boots, and Gordon winces with the crack, but his brother hardly notices.
“V-Virgil, I—“
He doesn’t even know what he planned to say.
“Gordon.” Scott’s voice is sharp, but when Gordon swings his neck around to answer his older brother, Scott’s gaze is achingly watching their sibling navigate the massacre of his studio. “You need to get out of here.”
Virgil falls to his knees.
“Now! Gordon,” Scott commands, and Gordon scrambles, as fast as his legs will let him.
Gordon awoke breathless, his eyes pooling and cheeks wet with the scar of Virgil’s haunted stare and devastated weeping.
Of course… right before I need to get back to work I find my inspiration and the motivation to draw again ;) At least that’s a good sign that I am really over Covid (now I only need to get rid of that annoying cough…)
But at least I could seize the remaining time and managed to finish something small for myself. A picture of Virgil Tracy - yes, it’s that time again that I need Thunderbirds escapism and a self-indulging picture of Virg…
Btw… Virigl has horrible hair and I hate to draw it…
The background is a photo of the sky … I was too lazy to come up with an actual background…
Now, I’m doing a campaign of THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO in Japan curry shop. Order the subject merchandise, pull the lottery, but not win a prize. I unfortunately, was losing. And bring the half-ticket lottery to Toys R Us, it has been redeemed so enjoy a DVD on a first come, first served basis.
Package is Virgil.＼(^o^)／ Virgil also DVD of narration in. (Story three 2 pieces out of the narration Virgil) Virgil likes to happy Virgil is. Content was the scene story and Pod mecha of introduction to each of the Thunderbird mecha was active. After that, I had entered a mini story using Tomica and Pula-kis.
Summary: Alan = an idiot Scott = useless as per Virgil = tired of being the only one with common sense
Enjoy!
Alan furiously rubbed his hands over his arms. Couldn’t Scott step on it? He was unavailingly jumping around at the abandoned bus stop he was waiting at. Earlier on, he was walking up and down the street to keep warm. Untimely, the sun had fully set and it was now completely dark outside. The street was entirely empty except for the bus stop and the one street light accompanying it, which formed the only source of light. So when Alan was walking around, he had failed to notice that he had moved closer to the edge of the sidewalk and he had stepped with one foot of it, lost his balance, and fallen on his behind in the freezing snow. After that embarrassing fiasco, he had decided to stay within the light of the lonely streetlight. He rubbed his behind for the 100th time, trying to stimulate the blood flow and warm up a little, but he knew it was pointless.
He exhaled in frustration and watched his breath condensate in the air. He knew it had been only half an hour since he had called Scott to come pick him up but it felt like an eternity. During the phone call, Alan had tried to persuade Scott to come as fast as possible without giving too much away as to why exactly he was slowly turning into a human popsicle. However, Scott was curious about the specifics of Alan’s peril when he had tried to make it clear that Scott had to make haste, and the youngest Tracy had reluctantly admitted that he may be a little underdressed for waiting outside in the cold. When he hung up, he thought he had convinced Scott to hurry up but with not a single car in sight, Alan was reconsidering that conclusion.
The sheer wave of relief that washed over him as he recognised Scott’s car approaching could not be described. He had been standing outside in the cold, in the snow for almost an hour now. The car halted a few metres away from the bus stop. Alan jumped up from the uncomfortable metal bench and shivered once again as he started walking towards the car, still hugging his own body with his arms. The door to the passenger seat opened and Virgil stepped out. Alan halted in his tracks. Shit. He could deal with one older brother scolding him and most likely making fun of him, but two? This was going to be a tough ride home.
Virgil shook his head as Scott stepped out of the car on the driver’s side. He seemed to somewhat enjoy the spectacle that was his frozen sibling. Alan suppressed a grimace since he recognised that Scott’s faint smile indicated that he was going to be teased on the way home. Alan kept his gaze down and continued his walk of shame to the vehicle. Scott had left the motor running and Alan was eager to get inside and warm up. He had hoped to ride shotgun so he could use the seat heating that was not available on the backseat and warm his frozen arse, but with Virgil present he had to let go of that idea.
His plan was to just avoid eye contact with his eldest brothers and quickly jump in the back of the car but Virgil walked up to him before he could reach the car and blocked his path. He did however hold out a thick coat that Alan gratefully accepted and quickly slipped his arms into. He didn’t even bother with taking the jacket he was already wearing off first.
“Scott tried to explain it to me”, Virgil started, “but I still don’t get why the hell we are here picking up your frozen butt.”
Alan sighed and tried to suppress a shiver. The coat was helping but he had been out here for a while and was frozen to the core. He realised he had failed to suppress his shiver when Virgil disapprovingly instructed; “zip that coat up.”
Alan figured it was the easiest to simply obey and his icy numb fingers fumbled with the zipper. He had lost almost all feeling in them and he kept losing his grip on the zipper.
“Fuck’s sake” Virgil grumbled and he grabbed hold of the coat and pulled Alan closer.
“Virg-” Alan started to protest but Virgil simply slapped his hands away from the zipper and swiftly pulled it up.
Scott was softly snickering from the side of the car. His door was still open and he was casually leaning against it.
Alan shot him a pissed look. “Did you bring him on purpose so the two of you could make fun of me?”
“No,” Virgil answered. “He brought me because he was also my ride home.”
“Can we just go?” Alan complained.
“No. I want to know why we had to take a detour and why you are on the verge of hypothermia.” To emphasise his determination to get all the details, Virgil crossed his arms and kept blocking Alan’s way to the car.
“I wouldn’t be hypothermic if Scott had driven a little faster.” Alan said directly to his eldest brother.
“Hey, they didn’t cancel the bus for no reason.” He threw his hands up in the air as an indication that he had nothing to do with the current situation. “Traffic is a nightmare.” Scott defended himself.
“Traffic problems are not what got you here.” Virgil pointed out and directed the conversation back to Alan.
Alan grumbled.“I didn’t know the bus was going to be cancelled due to the snow.”
“Yeah Scott explained that. What I don’t understand is why you are dressed like it’s a nice spring day instead of winter.” The second eldest Tracy sibling gestured to Alan’s snow soaked Converse and light jacket. “Did Dad let you leave the house like that?”
At the mention of Jeff, Alan pulled a sour face. Virgil noticed. “Oh God, what happened this time?”
“It’s not my fault” Alan immediately jumped in to attempt to preserve his dignity. “Dad told me to put a coat on!”
Virgil gaped at him for a few seconds. “How on earth is not listening to dad, not your own fault?!”
Alan crossed his arms and pouted, annoyed that his brother did not see things from his perspective; “You didn’t hear the voice in which he said it. He was practically asking me not to listen to him.”
Virgil groaned as he facepalmed. Scott had to hold on to the car door with both hands to keep himself from falling into the snow. He was laughing so hard he started wheezing.
“I don’t even have the words. Are you ever going to act like the adult you are?”
“Exactly!” Alan aggressively gesticulated with his arms. “I am 18 years old, Dad should stop telling me what to do.”
“He wasn’t telling you what to do.” Virgil tried to mediate. “He was informing you about the weather.”
“I can come up with the idea to put on a coat if it’s cold outside myself. He was telling me what to do.” Alan firmly kept his ground.
“Well apparently he still has to!” Virgil exclaimed as he pointed to Alan.
Alan crossed his arms. “I was going to put a coat on but then he told me to put one on so I didn’t to prove to him that I am an adult that can make my own decisions.”
“Freezing your arse off out of spite is making adult decisions?!”
Scott once again doubled over, clutching the car door.
Virgil turned his head in Scott’s direction. “You know, as the oldest you should be handling this instead of pissing your pants.”
Scott, who had tears streaming down his face, was incapable of answering and vaguely waved his free hand to Virgil.
Virgil rolled his eyes. “Just get in the damn car, I am too tired for this. Dad can deal with this himself.” He gave Alan a little push in the directions of the backseat. Alan huffed and janked open the door to the backseat.
Scott wiped the tears from his face and managed to drag himself back in the driver’s seat. He was still laughing and Alan figured he would continue to do so for most of the ride home.
“You know, you don’t have to tell dad about this.” Alan pointed out as Virgil buckled himself up again.
“Hmmm.” Virgil answered. “I am not going to lie to dad about this but I may not have the energy left to explain this to him when we get home.”
Alan smiled a little. That was the great thing about Virgil, he always had your back. Alan turned to the driver’s seat. “Scott?”
Scott was still grinning. “I don’t know yet. I’ll think about it.”
Alan let himself fall back against the seat disgruntled.
He missed Scott glancing at him in the rearview mirror with a look of sympathy on his face as he put the car in reverse.
Alan just stared out of the window to the darkness outside. Yup, he had once again managed to royally screw things up for himself.
Just reblogging this so I can add the link to AO3 for it.
Summary: Alan = an idiot Scott = useless as per Virgil = tired of being the only one with common sense
Enjoy!
Alan furiously rubbed his hands over his arms. Couldn’t Scott step on it? He was unavailingly jumping around at the abandoned bus stop he was waiting at. Earlier on, he was walking up and down the street to keep warm. Untimely, the sun had fully set and it was now completely dark outside. The street was entirely empty except for the bus stop and the one street light accompanying it, which formed the only source of light. So when Alan was walking around, he had failed to notice that he had moved closer to the edge of the sidewalk and he had stepped with one foot of it, lost his balance, and fallen on his behind in the freezing snow. After that embarrassing fiasco, he had decided to stay within the light of the lonely streetlight. He rubbed his behind for the 100th time, trying to stimulate the blood flow and warm up a little, but he knew it was pointless.
He exhaled in frustration and watched his breath condensate in the air. He knew it had been only half an hour since he had called Scott to come pick him up but it felt like an eternity. During the phone call, Alan had tried to persuade Scott to come as fast as possible without giving too much away as to why exactly he was slowly turning into a human popsicle. However, Scott was curious about the specifics of Alan’s peril when he had tried to make it clear that Scott had to make haste, and the youngest Tracy had reluctantly admitted that he may be a little underdressed for waiting outside in the cold. When he hung up, he thought he had convinced Scott to hurry up but with not a single car in sight, Alan was reconsidering that conclusion.
The sheer wave of relief that washed over him as he recognised Scott’s car approaching could not be described. He had been standing outside in the cold, in the snow for almost an hour now. The car halted a few metres away from the bus stop. Alan jumped up from the uncomfortable metal bench and shivered once again as he started walking towards the car, still hugging his own body with his arms. The door to the passenger seat opened and Virgil stepped out. Alan halted in his tracks. Shit. He could deal with one older brother scolding him and most likely making fun of him, but two? This was going to be a tough ride home.
Virgil shook his head as Scott stepped out of the car on the driver’s side. He seemed to somewhat enjoy the spectacle that was his frozen sibling. Alan suppressed a grimace since he recognised that Scott’s faint smile indicated that he was going to be teased on the way home. Alan kept his gaze down and continued his walk of shame to the vehicle. Scott had left the motor running and Alan was eager to get inside and warm up. He had hoped to ride shotgun so he could use the seat heating that was not available on the backseat and warm his frozen arse, but with Virgil present he had to let go of that idea.
His plan was to just avoid eye contact with his eldest brothers and quickly jump in the back of the car but Virgil walked up to him before he could reach the car and blocked his path. He did however hold out a thick coat that Alan gratefully accepted and quickly slipped his arms into. He didn’t even bother with taking the jacket he was already wearing off first.
“Scott tried to explain it to me”, Virgil started, “but I still don’t get why the hell we are here picking up your frozen butt.”
Alan sighed and tried to suppress a shiver. The coat was helping but he had been out here for a while and was frozen to the core. He realised he had failed to suppress his shiver when Virgil disapprovingly instructed; “zip that coat up.”
Alan figured it was the easiest to simply obey and his icy numb fingers fumbled with the zipper. He had lost almost all feeling in them and he kept losing his grip on the zipper.
“Fuck’s sake” Virgil grumbled and he grabbed hold of the coat and pulled Alan closer.
“Virg-” Alan started to protest but Virgil simply slapped his hands away from the zipper and swiftly pulled it up.
Scott was softly snickering from the side of the car. His door was still open and he was casually leaning against it.
Alan shot him a pissed look. “Did you bring him on purpose so the two of you could make fun of me?”
“No,” Virgil answered. “He brought me because he was also my ride home.”
“Can we just go?” Alan complained.
“No. I want to know why we had to take a detour and why you are on the verge of hypothermia.” To emphasise his determination to get all the details, Virgil crossed his arms and kept blocking Alan’s way to the car.
“I wouldn’t be hypothermic if Scott had driven a little faster.” Alan said directly to his eldest brother.
“Hey, they didn’t cancel the bus for no reason.” He threw his hands up in the air as an indication that he had nothing to do with the current situation. “Traffic is a nightmare.” Scott defended himself.
“Traffic problems are not what got you here.” Virgil pointed out and directed the conversation back to Alan.
Alan grumbled.“I didn’t know the bus was going to be cancelled due to the snow.”
“Yeah Scott explained that. What I don’t understand is why you are dressed like it’s a nice spring day instead of winter.” The second eldest Tracy sibling gestured to Alan’s snow soaked Converse and light jacket. “Did Dad let you leave the house like that?”
At the mention of Jeff, Alan pulled a sour face. Virgil noticed. “Oh God, what happened this time?”
“It’s not my fault” Alan immediately jumped in to attempt to preserve his dignity. “Dad told me to put a coat on!”
Virgil gaped at him for a few seconds. “How on earth is not listening to dad, not your own fault?!”
Alan crossed his arms and pouted, annoyed that his brother did not see things from his perspective; “You didn’t hear the voice in which he said it. He was practically asking me not to listen to him.”
Virgil groaned as he facepalmed. Scott had to hold on to the car door with both hands to keep himself from falling into the snow. He was laughing so hard he started wheezing.
“I don’t even have the words. Are you ever going to act like the adult you are?”
“Exactly!” Alan aggressively gesticulated with his arms. “I am 18 years old, Dad should stop telling me what to do.”
“He wasn’t telling you what to do.” Virgil tried to mediate. “He was informing you about the weather.”
“I can come up with the idea to put on a coat if it’s cold outside myself. He was telling me what to do.” Alan firmly kept his ground.
“Well apparently he still has to!” Virgil exclaimed as he pointed to Alan.
Alan crossed his arms. “I was going to put a coat on but then he told me to put one on so I didn’t to prove to him that I am an adult that can make my own decisions.”
“Freezing your arse off out of spite is making adult decisions?!”
Scott once again doubled over, clutching the car door.
Virgil turned his head in Scott’s direction. “You know, as the oldest you should be handling this instead of pissing your pants.”
Scott, who had tears streaming down his face, was incapable of answering and vaguely waved his free hand to Virgil.
Virgil rolled his eyes. “Just get in the damn car, I am too tired for this. Dad can deal with this himself.” He gave Alan a little push in the directions of the backseat. Alan huffed and janked open the door to the backseat.
Scott wiped the tears from his face and managed to drag himself back in the driver’s seat. He was still laughing and Alan figured he would continue to do so for most of the ride home.
“You know, you don’t have to tell dad about this.” Alan pointed out as Virgil buckled himself up again.
“Hmmm.” Virgil answered. “I am not going to lie to dad about this but I may not have the energy left to explain this to him when we get home.”
Alan smiled a little. That was the great thing about Virgil, he always had your back. Alan turned to the driver’s seat. “Scott?”
Scott was still grinning. “I don’t know yet. I’ll think about it.”
Alan let himself fall back against the seat disgruntled.
He missed Scott glancing at him in the rearview mirror with a look of sympathy on his face as he put the car in reverse.
Alan just stared out of the window to the darkness outside. Yup, he had once again managed to royally screw things up for himself.
*chuckles lightly at the grunt behind the door as slowly opens it to step inside*
“I heard you weren’t feeling well. And a little eye in the sky told me you lost your voice. So I come bearing gifts.”
“I know you prefer coffee. Just drink this. It’s ginger tea. It’ll sooth your throat. And here’s mom’s blanket from when I was injured. It’ll do more for you right now. Oh! And here’s some saltines if you want them. Try to eat something. I’ve heated you soup. ”
“Umm. All right. That’s everything. I can go now. Do you need me to go?”
FINALLY I got this done. I know it’s a day late but it was hard as heck to focus on anything yesterday. So here’s a Virgil for you all, a little bit late because TB2 takes it’s time.
I didn’t go with a full-body pose because i didn’t feel it was really needed, and it saves some time. XD For this picture I got some inspiration from both Extraction and Breakdown because honestly I can’t help feeling that Virgil is very, very good with kids and really gets a lot of enjoyment out of making sure people are safe. I’m kinda sad it took so long to get this done because Virgil’s fun to draw. He’s lots of nice soft shapes. :3
And yes, I’m going to do my DARNDESTto get Scott done tonight too, because I have an image in mind already.
I, as a semi-expert in all things magical, still have not figured out what magic was in use the day my husband was born that made him so freaking GORGEOUS!
It was very odd, Lucy thought, as she watched Virgil sleep.
He’d been up for hours, wailing and refusing to be comforted. He wasn’t wet, he wasn’t feverish, had been doing all the important things babies do when they’re healthy…but still he would not sleep!
As the sun came up, Lucy tucked Virgil into the babywearing sling and shuffled into the kitchen to make herself a much-needed cup of coffee. Jeff would drop Scott off at preschool, and John, her quiet child, would give her no trouble, but she’d need all the moxie she could get to stay awake after this all-nighter.
Then a curious thing happened: The moment the fresh, hot brew sputtered into her cup, Virgil quieted. He blinked a few times, then yawned, and by the time she’d added milk and sugar, he was sound asleep.
Jeff thought she was nuts, but when she demonstrated a few nights later, he had to believe: Virgil, at the ripe old age of two months, loved coffee.
Two years later…
Lucy was nursing Gordon and drowsing in her chair, slowly rocking and humming to her sleepy, milk-drunk newborn. A tiny hand pulled on her pant leg, and she woke to see Virgil standing beside her. “Hello, sweetheart. What can Mommy do for you?”
“Mama coffee,” he said, pulling at her hand.
She chuckled. “Maybe you’re right, love. Maybe Mama does need a little bit.” She gathered Gordon up and rise from her chair, then put him over her shoulder to burp as the coffee brewed. She turned away to retrieve the milk from the fridge—and saw a tip-free tumbler next to her mug. There was Virgil, grinning at her.
“No, coffee is for grown ups, sweetie.” She went back to the fridge. “How about some apple juice?”
He shook his head. “Want coffee!”
She looked at him for a long moment, then said: “okay. Mama will make you your very own ‘coffee.’”
Virgil clapped his hands in delight.
Lucy poured his cup full of milk, added a half teaspoon of sugar, then splashed a small dollop of coffee from her cup into his. She stirred it well, blew on it until it was only lukewarm, snapped on the spill-proof lid, then handed it to him. “Here you are. Try that.”
She fully expected him to make a horrible face and tell her “ew, nasty!” However, Virgil climbed up on the chair next to her and promptly drank from his cup. His brown eyes lit up. “Good!”
“Oh dear God,” she laughed. “What have I done?”
Many years later…
Virgil stumbled into the kitchen, yawning. First things first: Coffee.
“You know,” said Scott, sitting at the table with his own cup, “I can’t remember when you didn’t drink coffee.”
“Oh?” Virgil poured a cup full of the elixir of life. “Hmm. Neither can I.” He gazed into his cup with a fond smile. “I dunno why, but it always reminds me of Mom.”
-End-
Awww, that last line….
Beautiful
Nutty
(Returned from first day back at work…have fallen on face)
::gasps:: This is the most adorable, wholesome thing in the world and I love it I love it I love it!! My new comfort fic!!
Scott grabbed his brother, but as always, he was no match for the anger-fuelled strength of those heavy lifting muscles and Virgil dragged him towards their group of rescuees, heels digging furrows into the dirt. “Goddamnit, Virgil, stop!”
But his brother wasn’t listening.
Scott had no idea what had set him off. Setting Virgil off was rare enough before coffee, on the job…it…birds had more teeth.
“Gordon! Get over here and give me a hand.”
He used his height as leverage to pull the man back, but Virgil snarled and attempted to shake him off.
He almost succeeded.
Gordon appeared, wide-eyed and grabbed at Virgil’s other side.
“Let me go!” His brother tried to throw both of them off and almost succeeded.
It was Scott’s turn to snarl. He flung himself in front of his brother and forcibly brought him to a halt. He had never seen so much anger on the man’s face. “Thunderbird Two!”
Virgil hissed between his teeth, but brown eyes finally latched onto Scott’s and he watched as sanity clicked into place.
Thank god.
“Talk to me, Virgil.”
“I’m sorry, Scott, that was my fault.” John’s voice was unusually tense. “I shouldn’t have told him.”
In Scott’s arms, Virgil suddenly went limp. “Fuck, fuck, fuck! Fucking assholes.” His brother turned and shook both of them off and stormed back towards his ‘bird, cursing the entire way.
Gordon stared at Scott, eyes still wide. “What the hell?” Virgil wasn’t one for profanity most of the time.
“What was that all about, John.”
“I’d rather not say.” John cleared his throat. “I will report at debrief.” And his space brother closed the connection.
“John?” Scott punched his comms. “Thunderbird Five!” But there was no answer.
Scott pressed his lips together and Gordon joined him in packing up the pod they had used to pull the tourist bus off the side of the mountain and trundling it into Two.
There was no sign of Virgil.
When International Rescue took off, it was Two that took the lead, his brother obviously still agitated and accelerating to match.
It wasn’t until all their rockets had been packed away in their hangars and their uniforms replaced by harmless cotton and flannel that John told him exactly who they had saved today and the legislation those people were responsible for and exactly what that legislation meant for young girls, young transpeople and society in general.
Scott’s mind locked up, caught between his core beliefs and reality.
Gordon snarled beside him.
But it was Virgil’s quiet sob as Grandma held him, that brought the truth home.
Everyone was worth saving.
Didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.
-o-o-o-
Oh Virgil… I can’t blame you for that one little bit, but I’m still so sorry it hurt. ::hugs both Virg and Nutty::
Why do I get the impression that EOS might be about to make her feelings known…?
What a completely perfect read on a hot day like today. I love the images you paint of all of them enjoying themselves - floating, fishing, letting their hair down (literally, in Kayo’s case). A gorgeous, relaxing, cheeky and completely wonderful bit of fluff. ❤️
I was speaking to Virgil earlier, you know the little random chats that come out when neither of you are doing anything in particular? It was one of those moments.
Me *watching him paint*: Which medium is your favourite?
Virg: I don’t have one.
Me: You must have, everyone has a favourite with everything.
Virg: I’m not touching that when there are five of us and you have a favourite of the day.
Me: That’s just to keep things fair. Come on, what’s your favourite?
Virg *clearly thinking about it carefully* Oil. *Points to his canvas with his brush*
Me: Oil? That looks really hard though.
Virg *shrugs , adding another careful brush stroke*:It was at first, and pretty scary. All the old masters painted in oil and I never thought I’d ever come close to being as good. I was so afraid of messing up and failing.
Me: Yet you still did it?
Virg: Yep. That’s the thing with oils, there is no such thing as failure. If you make a mistake, you wait for it to dry and paint over it. Everything can be saved, everything can be salvaged. You just have to trust yourself and try. It’s a good lesson for life too, even when something seems daunting and impossible, you should always try.
The voice was familiar, but not. Or rather, it was a familiar voice that was warped by pain, hoarse and hurting.
“Why do you have to push just that little bit more?”
And it was quiet, little more than a whisper in the dark.
Scott shunned it and skittered away. It hurt to hear the hurt in that voice.
“It’s Dad.” The words were barely there and Scott had to strain to hear it. “I know it’s Dad. And sometimes I hate him for it. Because of what he does to you.”
That forced his attention. Hate Dad? How could the voice possibly hate Dad? The voice loved Dad as much as Scott did. So, so much.
“I know you won’t listen. Probably won’t even understand. Deny it if you do.” A sigh. “But you are scaring the shit out of me, Scott. You’re doing all of this for Dad as if he is some goddamned messiah or something. And each time, you’re risking more.” There was a strangled sound. “I’m trying to keep up…god, I am trying…to keep one step ahead of you, but I can only save you so many times and then one day…”
A rustle of fabric.
“Please don’t do this to me.” That was almost a sob and it had Scott clawing at the darkness, desperate to reach his brother and provide the reassurance needed.
But he couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak. His brother needed him, but he couldn’t respond.
The voice stopped after that for a long time. There was sound, but it was just more fabric and muffled breath that was more distress than anything else.
It made Scott struggle harder. What happened? Why couldn’t he move?
What had upset Virgil? Because it was Virgil sitting beside him. Each shaky breath he heard, proved that.
Virgil, please.
“I can’t do this without you, Scott. I don’t want to.” Another wretched breath. “Please…stop. Please.”
Scott realised he had a hand, because suddenly the grip on it was tight. Rough calluses, familiar with warmth, were clinging to him.
He tried to grip in return, but nothing.
What the hell was wrong with him?!
Hair brushed his fingertips. It was soft and slightly damp, a familiar texture lacking the usual hair product. It was enough information for Scott to visualise his brother post-shower, hair drying into the soft curls Virgil hid from the world.
His forehead touched to the back of Scott’s fingers.
Virgil.
Scott realised he must have been injured. Probably a rescue. What rescue was information he could not recall, but the thought did prompt him to locate the rest of his body.
He encountered medicated fog. There was muffled pain in his left leg. Hell, all down his left side.
Virgil was on his right.
Virgil was always on his right.
John on his left.
His younger brothers behind.
He was the eldest. Their leader.
But not right now.
Right now, chances were he was in hospital, injured, and more a source of worry for his family than anything else.
And he still couldn’t move. Couldn’t reach out to his brother to reassure him that everything was going to be okay.
“You know, sometimes I wonder what Dad said or did to you that inspired such loyalty and sacrifice. What set you on this hell-bent mission to be so much like the great Jeff Tracy.” A rough swallow. “He’s Dad, Scott. Our father. He’s not you and you’re not him. You will never be him!” The words were spat out. “I don’t want you to be him! I want you to be you.” An exhaled breath. “I want you to be happy.” An inconsolable sound. “To be safe.”
The fingers wrapped around his twitched a little tighter.
“Mr Tracy!”
Scott startled. But it became immediately obvious that the Tracy being referred to was Virgil as soft shoes hurried over.
“You are not supposed to be up. You put too much weight on that injury and you could do further damage.”
There was a groan from the side of the bed. “I just need to sit with my brother.”
“Your brother is healing and no doubt would not want you injuring yourself further on his behalf.”
“Please…”
The pain in Virgil’s voice had Scott clawing at the darkness.
“Sir, the doctors were adamant, not to mention your grandmother. You are lucky to be alive and they would like to keep you that way. Now back to bed.”
The hands holding Scott’s tightened enough that if it wasn’t for whatever medication was in his system, he’d be feeling that enough to yell. His fingers were rammed up against that forehead again, hair teasing their very tips.
Virgil.
He did his best to return that grip, to let Virgil know he was heard. To reassure a distressed little brother. But nothing…nothing! He wanted to scream. It was his job to look after his brothers and being able to hear but unable to help was the stuff of nightmares.
“Mr Tracy, your brother is very ill, but he is improving. He will get better. Please, look after yourself, if not for you, then for him.”
There was hot breath against the back of Scott’s arm as the smallest of whimpers tickled the hairs on his forearm.
And then his hand was gently placed back on the sheet and let go.
No.
Don’t leave me.
The thought escaped before he could countermand it.
Virgil was obviously injured. The groan at the scrape of a chair and hurried footsteps told him that much. The nurse muttered gentle encouragement as his brother grunted with obvious effort.
A bed creaked.
Virgil was safer in bed.
But Scott was left by himself, unable to move or speak or even open his eyes, and the combination of fear for his brother and fear for himself and the inability to do anything for either of them set his heart racing. Panic began to set in.
“Rest, Mr Tracy. Everything will feel better for sleep.”
Soft footfalls stepped efficiently on linoleum, and came closer to Scott. His heart thudded in his ears.
There was a tug at his left arm and a soft tut-tut from the nurse.
Something cold crawled up his arm and wrapped around his heart and his thoughts, disconnecting them. He lost the feeling in everything and oblivion took him.
-o-o-o-
Oh Virg… God, Nutty.
This is such powerful stuff. Every punch of emotion hitting Scott hit me as well, right in the chest. And it’s such a gorgeous hurt. Thankyou for the wonderful feels.
“I told you it wasn’t safe. I told you not to go in. But no, you know better.”
Oh, yes, he had done it proper. He hadn’t heard Virgil go off the deep end like this since high school and the time Gordon had decided to not be where he was supposed to be at school pick up and the three hours of terror that followed.
Admittedly, Scott had been just as angry at the time. It was a whole new perspective to be on the receiving end.
“Virg-“
“No, Scott. I’ve had it. You obviously don’t trust my judgment. You think you know better. Well, newsflash, hot shot, you don’t!”
Oh, yes, this was going to go on for some time.
So, he kept his mouth shut. It would be worse if Virgil realised that not only had his jet pack run out of fuel, but it had dropped him from quite a height. Without warning…he must speak to Brains about that. Fortunately, he had rolled down a slope and into an underground lake.
Unfortunately, the slope had been jagged and torn up his uniform somewhat. There was likely some bruising.
Fandom:Thunderbirds Rating:Teen Genre:Family/Friendship Characters: Scott, Tracy Family
Look what I found on my hard drive this morning, whoops. I know my muses have currently fandom-hopped, but I do intend on finishing this one day, it just might take a while. This chapter marks the end of the introductory arc, at least. Sorry it took me so long to get it out!
Reminder that there’s now a discord server for all my fics, including this one! If you wanna chat with me or with other readers about stuff I write (or just be social in general), hop on over and say hi!
Other-Virgil suggested heading to the lounge first, and sure enough, the entire family were in there. Scott suspected they’d been waiting, despite the way they were scattered across the room. Other-Alan was with Tin-Tin on the balcony, while Other-Scott and Other-Gordon appeared to have pulled out another chess set from somewhere. Mrs Tracy was knitting by the window, and Not-Dad was on one of the sofas, reading an aviation magazine. Only Other-Brains and Other-Kyrano were absent, not including Other-John presumably still up on Thunderbird Five, and as Scott and Other-Virgil entered the room, all eyes landed on them.
“Say, are they done?” Other-Gordon asked eagerly.
“Yes, they are,” Other-Virgil told the room at large, heading over to the desk. Everyone floated over, chess game, magazine and knitting abandoned in a palatable curiosity. Scott hung back as the four drawings were laid out on the desk, already knowing what they looked like and undeniably curious how this family would react.
“Say,how old is this Alan?” Other-Alan demanded, and Scott mused ruefully that he could probably have predicted that the younger blond would be the first to comment. “He looks like a child!”
“Let me see,” Not-Dad demanded, and Scott watched his sons move around until the older man was standing by the desk. “He does look young. Is he still in school?”
