To err is human, to forgive divine

"He isn't here rather he was sent here by his kind-hearted Rosebud.", Vincent chuckled and winked at Xavier who was looking at him with killer eyes. Xavier marched towards his cell and smashed his hands on the iron rods hard making a loud sound.

"Don't you dare speak her name.", he grinded his teeth in rage. Wills was looking at both of them with shocked eyes. Vincent scoffed. He then stood up and dusted his pants.

"Are you here to fight?", he spoke in a mocking tone and crossed his arms. Xavier immediately turned stiff. He realized that he was again losing his temper. Xavier calmed down and lowered his gaze down when he realized the reason for which he had come. Indeed, it was not to fight with him rather than to apologise to him.

Xavier then looked at Wills through his shoulders who stood frozen on his spot.

"Leave."

Wills didn't take a second and instantly scurried away as he didn't want to face the psycho's wrath. Xavier then took a deep breath. He looked back at Vincent who was staring him confused.

"Listen Vincent, let just talk like civil beings. I need to say something to you."

Vincent was taken off guard when he looked in his pleading eyes. To Xavier’s surprise, he didn't stop him this time and simply nodded.

*****

~Time skips

"So? That doesn't make you any less guilty either. Don't you think you got a bit late to confess your crimes?", Vincent scoffed and turned his back towards Xavier who was glaring at the floor with raging eyes.

Xavier finally made a clean breast of his mistakes and for the first time in his life, he apologized to Vincent. Vincent was shell-shocked after hearing the whole truth. He couldn't understand that either he should forgive Xavier for admitting his mistakes or should beat the hell out of him for being so selfish and arrogant.

Vincent placed his hands on the wall and started breathing heavily.

"You, you destroyed my whole life. You should be here instead of me. You are responsible for hurting everyone whoever loved you. That Rosaline is a silly and naive girl. She also fell in your trap. If I had met her earlier, I would have warned her to stay away from you as you just want everyone to love you but you just take it for granted and never return it. Guess, you don’t even know the real meaning of love.", he growled.

Xavier clenched his jaw. Every time Vincent will drag Rosaline in their conversation when he knew it very well how much possessive Xavier was of her.

Xavier closed his eyes and took deep breaths to calm himself down.

"I told you everything and I am really sorry. I know it took me years to admit my faults but I will try my best to mend things. I will talk with CIA to reduce your punishment and don't worry, I will use my entire power to take you out of here as soon as possible.", he said.

"I DON'T WANT YOUR HELP!! I DON'T NEED YOUR SYMPATHY!! I DON'T NEED SOMEONE LIKE YOU TO PITY ME!! YOU SON OF A FILTHY, ROTTEN SCOUNDREL, JUST GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!"

Vincent blared in anger and kept punching the wall with each word thinking as if he was hitting Xavier. His knuckles cut open and blood started oozing from them but still he didn't stop. Xavier gripped the iron rods so tight that his knuckles turned white. He didn't like the way he cursed his dad but he kept his calm and waited for him to simmer down.

After painting the concrete wall with his blood, Vincent finally calmed down. He rested his forehead on the wall and closed his eyes. He was drenched in sweat and was panting heavily. His ears perked up hearing the creaking of the metallic door which meant that someone had entered. A bloodthirsty grin appeared on his lips thinking that it was Xavier. He smiled cynically like a maniac watching his own blood splattered all over the wall.

‘Finally, I will be able to kill this bastard’, Vincent mentally chuckled at his evil thoughts and balled his fingers in a deadly fist.

But he got startled when he felt a soft hand on his shoulder. A drop of sweat came running down his temple as soon as he heard a heavy familiar voice.

"V"

Vincent felt his heart stopped hearing a strangled sob. He immediately turned behind only to stagger back in shock.

There stood Rosaline in front of him with red eyes and cheeks soaked in tears. His throat turned parched as never in a million years he had imagined that she will come here to see him. Vincent immediately looked up but didn't find Xavier.

'Was I hallucinating or was he really here?', he mentally thought.

A shuddering breath escaped his lips when he felt her soft hands on his rough ones. He looked down only to see Rosaline staring at his bruised hands and crying heavily, her tears fell on his hands making his heart twitch.

"Why are you hurting yourself? Why are you giving yourself so much pain? Why are you torturing yourself this badly?", she cried and started wrapping her handkerchief around his bloodied hands. Vincent immediately snatched his hand away from her grip and pushed her back. Rosaline stumbled backwards but somehow maintained her balance.

"Why are you here hmm? What stunt are you both trying to pull now? You wanted to see me in jail, you wanted to see me hurt and broken right? Viola! You got everything now stop with your crocodile tears and just get the hell out of-"

But before he could speak a word, Rosaline rushed to him and hugged him making him shocked.

"Please forget everything Vincent. I know what happened with you is unfair but please, I beg you forgive everyone. Stop hurting yourself. This fire of revenge and hatred will only devour you at the end. For God's sake, if you have ever considered me as your friend, forgive Xavier and move on."; she cried and tightened her grip around his torso. Vincent couldn't keep his emotions at bay anymore and burst into

tears.

He tried to act tough, he tried to hate him, he tried to hide the pain of his sufferings behind that cold masque but he failed. He finally broke down as he was so shattered from inside. Vincent wrapped his arms around Rosaline's shoulders and started crying hard. Her heart squeezed with pain but she didn't say anything further. She let him pour out all his emotions today. She gently patted his back and cried along with him.

"Empty your heart today, Vincent. I won't judge you.", she spoke sweet words in his ears. Vincent hugged her tightly and started crying like a child.

Finally, after pouring all the pain of his heart, Vincent broke the hug. Rosaline looked at him but he quietly moved away from her and sat down on the ground. She watched how he rested his head on the wall and closed his eyes as if he was tired of everything.

Rosaline also crouched down to his level. She took a seat beside him and wiped off the tears of his face with her slender fingers. She then took his hands and again wrapped her handkerchief around it. Vincent didn't push her this time and let her do whatever she wants.

"We both have gone through the same pain V so I can understand how you must be feeling right now. I was also betrayed by the one whom I had love all my life and was tortured by him in the most brutal way that once I thought to give up on my life. I was really all alone but then my friends grabbed my hand and helped me to come out of my miseries. I got a new hope in my life but it didn't last longer as again my heart was broken when I came to know about my friends' betrayal.", Rosaline said and chuckled sadly.

"Sometimes I really think that my life is a joke. My heart is made up of glass house in which anyone enters and leaves by smashing it brutally, not even sparing a glance on my whimpering face. I keep calling them for help while covered in shards of glasses pierced into my skin but no one comes for my rescue. You think that you're the only one who is suffering alone. I also bank on you thinking that you will never break my trust but again I was proved a fool in front of everyone. And here you are screaming and crying? For what?", she said and left his hands. Vincent opened his eyes when he felt her touch fading away. He looked at Rosaline only to see her accusatory gaze glaring him with disgust.

"If Xavier's dad fooled you, you should have opted a legal way to fight him back. But no, you were so eager to take your revenge from him that you chose a wrong path voluntarily when you were well aware that crime doesn't pay. One day you had to bear the consequences of your misdeeds still you are blaming Xavier. Ask yourself Vincent, aren't you responsible for the state in which you are today?", Rosaline spat.

Vincent looked at her for some time. They both stared each other in silence. Vincent was the one to broke the eye contact first and pinned his gaze on the floor. He meekly nodded.

"I know. I just wanted to vent out my anger on you and Xavier. My own family disowned me after hearing the truth when I did all this only for them and to avenge my dad’s reputation and respect."

"You also had an axe to grind V, stop labelling your wrongdoings as justice. This isn't right from any aspect and you also know that.", Rosaline harshly cut him off. Vincent sighed.

Rosaline felt bad for being too harsh with him when he was beleaguered by his own sorrows. She then cupped his face in her hands and wiped the sweat beads from his forehead by her fingers.

"I don't know what you feel about me but I have always considered you as my best friend. You hold a very important place in my heart and I have always seen you with respect. After Xavier, the man who matters the most in my life is you. Listen V, I know it will be tough for you to forget the past but for the sake of your own happiness, I request you to move on. Forgive Xavier too. I know you aren't that cruel which you are trying to pretend rather you are a real gentleman, V. I know that you used me for your own selfishness but I have always felt myself comfortable and safe around you. You never made me uncomfortable nor ever I felt scared by your touch, The amount of trust I had in you always forbade me to doubt you. You were just like my willow and I will be honest today, I never felt this protective even with Xavier.", Rosaline said and smiled. Vincent looked at her. His heart melted with her sweet, genuine words that were filled with love. He smiled with teary-eyes and pulled her in his arms.

"I am sorry Rosa. I did so wrong to you yet you are here for me. I am really so sorry.", he whispered while few tears rolled down his cheeks. Rosaline shook her head in denial.

"Don't be. I didn't come here to make you feel guilty or to hear you apologise. I just want you to move on and forgive. Remember V: to err is human, to forgive divine.", she said and broke the hug.

Vincent looked at her softly. He then leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I know you won't leave me like this. I know you will come. I really got a true friend this time and trust me whenever you'll need me, I will be there for you.", he whispered.

"She doesn't need anyone else. I am enough for her."

A deep husky voice echoed inside the four walls. Vincent smirked and lifted his head up only to see Xavier glaring him. But this time his eyes didn't hold resentment or rage instead they were filled with jealousy and possessiveness. Rosaline chuckled and shook her head. Vincent then grabbed her hand and helped her stand.

"Enough now. Let's go home." Xavier immediately snatched her hand away from him and pulled her towards himself. Vincent rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"You yourself brought her here then why are you behaving like a jerk now, you green eyed monster?", he snorted. Xavier threw him a glare.

"I knew that only Rosebud will be able to put some sense inside your thick skull. Moreover, she also wanted to see you and you know I can't see her upset.", Xavier emphasized the last word and shot him a smug smirk. Vincent grunted.

"Enough. V, never think that you're alone. I will be always there for you and for your punishment-

But before she could continue, Vincent cut her in midway.

"No need Rosa. I admit my mistake and I am ready to pay for my crimes. I will meet you only after completing my entire prison journey. I also deceived my profession and played with the feelings of my agents who respected me a lot. I deserve this and I am ready to repent. You do know baby, I am not like others.", he cocked his brows and looked at Xavier.

"DON'T CALL HER THAT-"

"Alright as you say. Then we will get married once you come back.", Rosaline immediately butt in. Xavier's jaw dropped to the ground after hearing her words.

"W-WHAT DO YOU MEAN? I CAN'T WAIT FOR FUCKING THREEE YEARS!!", He hollered at her. Rosaline narrowed her eyes at him.

"It doesn't matter you marry me or not. We are still living under the same roof as husband and wife. But I want my friend to stay by my side on the most important day of my life. And you better stay out of this matter.", she said sternly making Xavier's eyes widened. Rosaline ignored his burning gaze and looked at Vincent who was smiling at Xavier's red face. He then looked at her and cupped her left cheek in his palm.

"I will be the one to walk you down the aisle when you will marry this jerk.", he said while caressing her cheek. Rosaline's face beamed with happiness after hearing his words. She smiled and nodded with teary-eyes.

"Alright enough of this emotional drama. Let's go."

Xavier spat and slapped his hand away. He then grabbed Rosaline's hands and started leaving.

"I forgive you jerk."

Xavier immediately halted in his steps. Vincent finally said the words which he always longed to hear from his mouth. Rosaline turned around and looked at Vincent only to see him staring at both of them with glassy eyes.

Xavier couldn't make himself to speak anything as he felt heaviness in his throat. He didn't want to cry in front of him so he just nodded and left while Vincent kept staring at their retreating figure with a smile.

~~~💗~~~