Series/Sequel: TAJMAV
Warning: This story contains some m/m content (kissing and hugging)
Summary: Virgil visits Armaan at the military Academy.
Note: Text with *** on either side are excerpts from Virgil's personal scrolls. Text with ### on either side are recollections from Virgil's memory.

*** I'm so excited. I've never been to a military academy before. I really wish Joxer could have come, but I guess he still needs time to get over the shock of seeing Jett with Auto. He didn't let on that it bothered him, but I could still tell that it did.

I've really missed Armaan since Joxer and I left him at the Academy. I haven't had much chance to get to know people around my own age and it was nice spending time with him. I can't wait to see him again.

You know how it is when you meet someone and you feel like you've known them forever, even though you've just met? That's how it is when I hang out with Armaan. I just hope he doesn't mind my visiting. ***

Virgil approached the doors that towered over whoever passed them by. Pushing down his nervousness, he knocked on the great door.

After several moments, the door opened to reveal a lanky teen with ruffled blond hair. "May I help you?"

"Yeah. My name's Virgil, and I'm here to visit a friend. His name is Armaan."

"Is he expecting you?"

"Well, I'm not sure. He sent me a message saying he had some time off coming and I didn't have enough time to send a message ahead before I left."

The kid's lips tightened. "You'll have to wait here while I get the headmaster."

The door closed and Virgil waited several minutes before it opened again. The teen was now accompanied by an older man, who despite his graying hair was nevertheless in excellent shape. Upon seeing Virgil, the man smiled, remembering him from the last time he and Joxer had been to the Academy.

"Virgil. It's good to see you again. Isn't Joxer with you?"

"He had some other business to attend to, Sir, so I thought I'd come spend some time with Armaan. Of course, that is if it's okay with you."

"Well, as long as you don't cause any trouble."

Virgil grinned. "Of course not Sir."

The man smiled in response and turned to the blond teen. "Larsis, could you please show Virgil the way to Armaan's room?"

"Yes Sir, Jason Sir."

With a final smile at Jason, Virgil rushed to catch up to the hurrying teen. When they reached the room, Larsis was about to knock on the door but was stopped by Virgil. "It's ok. I'll do it. Thank you." He waited until the boy had left earshot before he turned back to the door. Just as he was about to knock, he heard a girl giggling inside.

Had he arrived at a bad time? He didn't want to interrupt if... Ignoring the strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, Virgil turned to leave.

All of a sudden, the door was pulled open.

"...so you can look at it this way. There's no way in Tartarus you could get into as much trouble as your mother did. The stories Joxer told me... Virgil!"

Virgil turned around in time to accept an enthusiastic hug from his friend. "Hello, Armaan. I was, umm, just..." For the first time, Virgil noticed the two youths standing behind his friend.

Armaan turned and saw what had caught Virgil's attention. Smiling, he put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Virgil, let me introduce you to my friends Seska and Magnus. Guys, this is the friend I was telling you about."

The young man immediately held out a hand which Virgil shook. The young woman, however, looked him over with a skeptical eye. Virgil turned back to his friend's beaming face.

"I hope I haven't come at a bad time."

"Hey, there's no better time. We were just about to go out for a drink or two, right guys?" When his friends nodded, Armaan grabbed Virgil's bag of scrolls and, tossing the bag into his room, took his friend by the arm and pulled him down the hallway. "Come on. I'll buy you an ale and you can tell me what you and Jox have been up to."

Seska and Magnus followed them out of the academy. Only Magnus noticed the look Seska threw the young men.

Virgil giggled uncontrollably at the expression on Armaan's face. His giggles soon turned to hiccups, and he downed the last of his sixth mug of ale in an attempt to stop them.

"I can't believe it."

"I know. I was sooo shocked."

"You were shocked? Think of poor Joxer."

"Yeah, he took it kind of hard."

"I mean, Joxer and Iphicles? Come on. There must have been another way to stop Jett."

Virgil paused mid-sip. "That's what shocked you?"

"What did you think, Jett and Auto? Are you blind. They were practically all over each other on Nebula's ship."

Virgil's eyes scrunched up as he tried to remember the way the two men had acted around each other on that long trip. He was pulled out of his thoughts by a hand on his arm.

"It's okay, you'll remember tomorrow."

The two young men continued talking and giggling to each other through their alcoholic haze, oblivious to the eyes glaring at them.

"Come on, Seska, leave it alone. They're old friends catching up."

"Yeah, but it still means he's not paying any attention to me."

"Well, it's not like the two of you are together or anything." She turned her glare on him. "Hey, I'm just telling the truth. It's not my fault if you're too chicken to tell him how you feel about him." She tightened her arms, crossed over her chest. "Come on. If it's bugging you so much, why don't you let me walk you back to the Academy. You're just going to get more jealous."

Her eyes flickered back to the two reunited friends then nodded. She allowed Magnus to walk her out of the tavern, desperately trying to ignore the giggling men at the table.

Virgil and Armaan continued drinking and telling tales until late into the night. Virgil's head all of a sudden popped up from where it had been laying on his arm.

"Oh oh. Ummm, I forgot to get a room somewhere. Damn it!"

"Hey, no problemo. You can stay with me."

"You sure there's enough room?"

"Sure. My room's much bigger than that little room we had on Nebula's ship. And in my room you won't get seasick."

That comment spurred yet another round of giggling. "Yeah, but at least there we had separate hammocks."

They finished their mugs and called over a waitress. "One more round, please," Armaan managed to get out.

"I'm sorry, but the owner's cut you two off for the night."

As she walked away, the young men pouted. "Well," Armaan began, "I didn't want to stay anyway. Come on, let's go back."

Virgil nodded and rose from the table, reaching out a hand to clasp Armaan's shoulder for support. Leaning on each other, they managed the walk from the tavern to the Academy without falling once. The guard at the front door on night shift gave them strange looks, but let them pass anyway. They shushed each other, not wanting to wake up any of the other students, but probably doing so with their incessant shushing.

They finally reached Armaan's room. As Armaan closed the door behind them, Virgil fell face- down on the bed. "Hey, leave some room for me!"

Virgil managed to pull himself further up onto the bed and rolled up against the wall to make room for Armaan. He was about to fall into blissful sleep when he was shaken by a hand that suddenly appeared on his arm. "What?"

"You gonna sleep with your clothes on?"

Virgil cocked his head, mulling over the question for a moment, then began taking his shirt off. He left his pants on and pulled the blanket over his head. The bed shifted as Armaan lay down next to him.

"Good night, Armaan."

The last thing Virgil was conscious of was Armaan's ale-tinged breath on his ear. "Goodnight, Virgil."

Virgil drifted out of sleep, feeling warm and safe. There was something warm and soft pressed up against his back. He snuggled back into the warmth, not yet ready to wake up. He tried to move his hand and realized something held it down on the bed. He tried moving his legs and noticed the same problem. He decided it was time to open his eyes and wake up.

Big mistake.

As his lashes pulled apart, the light stabbed his eyes, piercing through to his brain. The light seemed to activate every nerve until he was one giant never-ending ache. "Ohhhhhhhh," he moaned. The warmth around him seemed to tighten in response. He took a moment to evaluate his condition and thanked the Gods he wasn't nauseous - much. He lay shivering, comforted by the warmth around him, as well as the arm and leg holding him in place.

Arm and leg?

Virgil finally realized that Armaan had wrapped himself around Virgil in his sleep. It was Armaan's leg wrapped around both of his, it was Armaan's arm draped around him, and it was Armaan's fingers entwined with his own.

He debated what he should do next. Hypothetically, he could move off the bed. However, not only did he know he would hurt even worse, but he realized he would miss the feeling of his friend wrapped around him. It felt nice, safe... right.

Unconsciously, he let out a sigh as he closed his eyes and relaxed against his friend. As his mind wandered, a memory sprang up out of nowhere...

###Virgil stood before the door to the guest room feeling very nervous. He knocked once, almost hoping his uncle hadn't heard.

"Come in!"

He opened the door and couldn't help but smile back at his uncle. He held back a giggle at his uncle's unusual appearance „ though it was difficult to not look at the curlers rolled in the man's long hair, nor the long pink silk robe he wore. "Good evening, Uncle Jace."

"Virgil, my favourite nephew, come over here!" The man opened his arms wide to give his nephew a hug, which the teenager eagerly accepted.

"I'm glad you came for another visit."

"I too am glad, muchacho. Now, what is bothering you? You know you cannot hide from your Uncle Jace."

Virgil sighed as Jace led him to sit next to him on the bed. "I know, Uncle. I wanted to talk for a moment." Jace smiled at him comfortingly, sensing his nervousness. "I was wondering, and only answer this if you feel comfortable answering it, but I was wondering when you knew you were... different."

Jace sat back a moment, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth. After several moments, he finally spoke. "I knew since I was a very young muchacho that I was different. I didn't realize how different until I was a little older. If you are asking what I think you are asking, then I can say that I knew when I paid more attention to mi amigos than to mi amigas at a time when your papa was chasing after the amigas." He took a breath before speaking again. "Have you been thinking about your amigos in a different way than your papa does his?"

"I-I don't know. I go around the village with Dad and he points out girls who look at me sometimes, and I think they're pretty and all, but I never really feel anything else, you know? But when I go out with my friends, like the other night when I went to the tavern with Max, I, well, I'd rather be with them."

"There is nothing wrong with enjoying your friends' company more than that of ladies you do not know. What you need to think about is exactly how your amigos make you feel."

"Well, most of them are just good friends. We joke around, go fishing, guy stuff. But it's strange, when I look at Max, I can't stop thinking about how nice he looks, or how nice he is to me."

"Have you ever thought of acting on these feelings, muchacho?"

"All the time, but I won't. All he ever talks about is this girl in the village. He wouldn't be interested." Jace nodded and laid a hand on his nephew's slumped shoulder. "You must take some time to think about how you feel. When you know, I hope you will stay true to who you are, no matter what anyone says. Muchachos like me, we have a difficult life. Sometimes we are not accepted, and often the ones we may wish to love cannot love us in return. But you know what?" Virgil shook his head. "I wouldn't have it any other way. This is how I am, and that is good enough for me."

Virgil leaned over and wrapped his arms around his uncle's waist. "Thank you, Uncle Jace."

"Any time, muchacho."###

Virgil was pulled away from his memories by a muffled groan behind him. "Ooohh, my head." He gasped as he felt Armaan try to bury his face in his friend's neck.

"Something tells me we shouldn't have had so much to drink last night."

Virgil felt Armaan shake slightly with laughter behind him, then suddenly stopping. "Ow. It even hurts to laugh. How are you feeling?"

"Fine, as long as I don't move."

"You been up long?"

"No, just a few minutes."

Virgil felt Armaan lift his head, braving the light of day. "Oh, this really sucks." A pause. "I, umm, I..."

"Armaan?"

"Yeah?"

Virgil was more nervous than he'd ever been in his entire life. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I-I really missed you."

Armaan's limbs tightened, pulling Virgil closer. When he spoke, his breath tickled Virgil's neck. "I missed you too."

Both young men were startled by a pounding on the door. "Hey, guys! When did they finally send you home last night?"

Armaan groaned. "Shut up, Magnus! I've got a headache!"

"I bet you do. You two up for something to eat?"

Armaan looked at Virgil who immediately shook his head and soon regretted it. "I don't think so. You two head off without us."

"'Kay!" With a final bang on the door, Magnus left the two to head out for lunch with Seska.

"I guess we'd better get up."

"I guess."

Armaan was naturally the first to move, reluctantly pulling his arm and leg away from his friend. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and immediately grabbed onto his head. "Ooooooh, I shouldn't have done that."

Virgil, still facing the wall, reached back to lay a hand on Armaan's shoulder and pulled him back down onto the bed. "Rest until the world stops spinning."

"Okay, that's a good idea." Armaan took several deep breaths to try and clear his mind. The silence was broken by another groan from Virgil. "Hey, you sure you're okay?"

"Sure, if okay means every muscle in my body aches as if I'd just gone four rounds with Xena and Hercules."

"Here." Armaan laid his hand on his friend's back and began rubbing it in circles. "Is that a little better?"

"Mmm hmm." Virgil held back a sigh as he reveled in the slight massage which helped to relieve some of the pain he was feeling, not to mention how good it felt to have Armaan's hand against the naked skin of his back.

All of a sudden, the movement on his back stopped. He cautiously rolled onto his back to look up at his friend. Armaan's face was expressionless, yet his eyes were filled with conflicting emotions.

"Is everything all right, Armaan?"

Armaan closed his eyes tightly for a moment, then reopened them. He bit his bottom lip before speaking. "I'm sorry."

Virgil looked on in confusion as Armaan leapt off the bed and left the room, grabbing a shirt on his way out.

Virgil, clothed once again with his shirt, opened the door to the tavern and looked for a familiar face. Thankfully, there was Magnus sitting at one of the tables. He rushed over to the table and sat facing the cadet.

"Magnus, I need your help. Something's got Armaan upset, I don't know what, but he just took off. I don't know the academy or the town very well so I have no idea where he'd go. Can you help me, please?"

Magnus held up a hand. "All right, just take a moment and breathe. Okay?" Virgil nodded. "So you're saying he just up and left without telling you where." Virgil nodded again. Magnus thought a moment. "I don't know where he would be, but I wonder... I was sitting here with Seska and she saw something through the window, then all of a sudden she excused herself and ran out the door. I wouldn't be surprised if she'd seen Armaan and went after him, especially considering..."

"Considering what?"

"Well, I don't know if it's my place to say anything, but she's got real feelings for him. She's been mooning over him since the day they met."

Virgil's gaze fell on the table as his thoughts passed through his mind. Armaan and Seska. No wonder he'd left so suddenly. He'd probably sensed that Virgil's feelings for him went beyond friendship and had wanted to get away from him as soon as possible.

He had to find Armaan, if only to straighten things out and salvage their friendship. He thanked Magnus and slowly made his way out of the tavern. He wandered around the small town, unsure as to where to start his search, when he bumped into another familiar face.

"Seska, hello. I'm sorry..." He was unprepared and couldn't brace himself when her open hand met his cheek. "What was that for?"

"You jerk! I don't know what you did, but it really upset Armaan."

"I'm sorry. I need to find him and make things right. Where is he?"

"He doesn't want to be with anyone right now. He even snapped at me, of all people. Now just go back to wherever you came from and leave all of us alone."

Virgil grabbed onto her arms to stop her from leaving, ignoring the pain in his cheek. "You have nothing to worry about. I'm leaving, but not until after I've had a chance to set things right."

She looked at him, keeping her anger in check. "All right. There's a stream that passes behind the Academy. That's where he is."

Virgil nodded quickly and, letting go of Seska's arms, went in search of his friend.

In his rush, he didn't notice her following him.

Virgil slowed as he finally saw Armaan's figure. His friend was standing up against a tree, throwing stones into the flowing stream. He hesitated, not wanting to disturb his friend any more than he had already, but finally deciding this was for the best.

When he was close enough, he coughed to alert Armaan to his presence.

Upon seeing who it was, Armaan guiltily dropped his head, seemingly interested in the grass he was standing on. "Virgil."

"Armaan. I'm sorry."

Armaan's face lifted, looking confused. "About what? I was the one who was out of line."

"Out of line? Armaan, nothing happened for you to be worried about. I'm the one who can't seem to stop wearing my heart on my sleeve..."

"Nothing happened? You don't have to be nice about this for me, Virgil. I know, we both know what I was doing, what I wanted to do. I know it was wrong..."

It was Virgil's turn to look confused. "What are you talking about? All you did was help me with my hangover. I'm the one who wanted more..."

Armaan's eye opened wide, glinting with something - what was that, hope? "You-you wanted more?"

"Well you're the one who'd figured it out. That's why you took off, wasn't it?"

Armaan shook his head. "I left because I wanted more and I knew that was wrong."

Virgil felt a rush of bravery pass through his system as he took a step closer to Armaan. "Why was it wrong, Armaan?"

"Because you're my friend, and friends aren't supposed to feel that way about each other. At least, that's what I was told growing up."

Virgil was now standing only about a foot away from Armaan. Both men's eyes locked. "But you do, we do. How can that be wrong?"

Without warning, Armaan took hold of Virgil's shoulder and pulled him against his chest, their lips meeting in a savage kiss. Their arms wrapped around each other, they momentarily gave in to the desires they'd been fighting so intensely. Only when they were breathless did they stop for air, their foreheads leaning against each other.

Virgil was the first to break the silence. "What about Seska?"

"What about her?"

"Aren't you two...?"

Armaan shook his head. "No, we're just friends. Anyway, she's not my type."

Their lips met again, this time lighter and more curious. They spent some time exploring each others mouths, then finally their lips broke apart. They simply stood there, holding each other, willing the moment never to end.

Yet, as did every other moment, it did end. Armaan was less tense and very relieved, yet there was still something in his eyes...

"Virgil, I really hope you don't take this a bad way, but I'm going to need some time to think."

"Me too," Virgil replied, nodding. "Maybe I'll head out to Olympia early..."

"You don't have to."

"I know, but I bet Joxer's gotten bored in Corinth and has already left. I don't want him to wait long."

Armaan nodded and led the way back to the Academy. Both men were silent, lost in their thoughts.

As Virgil checked through his bag, making sure he had all his belongings, he and Armaan kept their silence, a silence that was broken by shouting out in the hall.

They opened the door to see Seska running away from Magnus, tears in her eyes. "Magnus, what happened?" Armaan apparently didn't like to see his friends upset.

Magnus looked at the two of them with an unidentifiable expression. "Y'know Armaan, I always told her she should have taken up with me." The young cadet took off down the hall after his friend.

Virgil looked as confused as he felt. "I wonder what just happened?"

Armaan closed the door. "I don't know, but knowing Magnus, he'll be teasing Seska about it forever." He looked at Virgil who stood there with his bag slung over his shoulder. "Well, I guess you're ready to go."

"Yeah, I guess I am. Armaan..."

"No, you don't have to say anything." He opened his arms and Virgil walked into them, wrapping his arms around Armaan's waist.

"I'll miss you."

"I know. I'll miss you too." With a final squeeze, they let go of each other. Once he'd opened the door, Armaan moved to walk Virgil out but was stopped.

"I can find the way out." Virgil smiled, his eyes meeting Armaan's.

They clasped forearms as a final farewell and Virgil turned to head off down the hallway. Armaan looked away and went back into his room.

***Well, this is the bright side as I see it - I've got lots to think about on the road to Olympia. Oh Gods, how could I describe that kiss? It felt as if all the good things in the world had been handed to me on a silver platter. It felt as if that one moment had been created just for us. It felt like, for the first time in my life, I could really be myself - a real sense of freedom. It felt as if I'd found my home...

I've got a lot to think about, especially about the way I feel. I don't even know when I'll get to see Armaan again. I hope it's soon, though. He's almost done at the Academy, and maybe he'll invite me to his graduation.

I can't wait until I see Joxer. I really feel like I need to see my Dad, even though I guess he isn't my Dad anymore. It doesn't matter because he'll always be a dad to me. Maybe I can even convince him to visit Mom-Meg again. Just to hear her voice again, singing me to sleep...

Oh my. I wonder how Joxer's going to take this? He's still not talking about Uncle Jace, and then the incident with Uncle Jett... I just hope he understands, or at least accepts me. Like I need another thing to worry about...

I guess I'll have to wait until I get to Olympia to find out.***

Please take the time to write to Jaime at russia_girl@yahoo.com, and let her know how you liked the story!

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Xena: Warrior Princess, Joxer, Virgil, Armaan, and all other characters who have appeared in the series, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of StudiosUSA and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement of copyrights or trademarks is intended in the writing of this fan fiction. This story is copyright © 2000 by JaimeBlue and is her sole property along with the story idea. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.