True Deceit

Chapter 57: 11 Years Earlier- Part 2

Remus stroked his brother's lifeless cheek, observing his tightly stitched abdomen with rigour. "Is he going to be okay?"

"Most likely," Logan sighed. He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, his eyelids drooping with exhaustion. "He'll be awake within four hours, I suggest we gain some rest."

Remus nodded pitifully, sinking to his knees with his back pressed against the wall. "Are you going to tell Patton you caught us?"

Logan seated himself to his left. "I know the pair of you have been collaborating for quite some time, but I promise not to figuratively 'spill the beans' as you might say."

"Thank you," Remus murmured, a small smile creeping up his lips. "You've changed a lot since the last time I saw you."

"In what way?"

Remus smirked. "Well for one thing, you're not half as much of a swell-head. Do you know how often you boasted about your intelligence? Like, we get it, you're logic."

Logan's ears pinked, slumping his shoulders sheepishly. "My apologies for my past behaviour. You too have changed, though more notably from physical perspective."

Remus laughed, punching his company in the arm. "Chill out, you don't need to apologies. In the words of the Joker, why so serious?"

Logan clutched his arm, wincing warmly at the sudden impact. "Is that a moustache you're growing? I can hardly see through your blood disguise."

"Indeed, I'm incredibly proud of it!" He swiftly contoured a yellow handkerchief, wiping clear his pale facial regions.

Logan gestured to the duke's left cheek bone. "Is that bruise a segment of your pretence?"

Remus stifled a breath, his eyes darting away. "Oh, I forgot about that..."

"Can you remove it?"

"Well, no..." Remus concealed the injury with his hand, smiling weakly.

"So it's a legitimate lesion. How did you receive it?"

Remus stammered uncertainly, his heart thudding in his chest. "I got...well, i got hit..."

"...hit?"

"No, not like, I got..." Remus swallowed.

Logan registered his discomfort, tilting his head uneasily. "What hit you?"

Remus shook his head, scoffing slightly. "Stop making a big deal out things, it's just a bruise."

Logan's brows furrowed. "Why are you being so defensive? Your hesitation suggests something bad happens to you. Did Deceit-"

"-It wasn't his fault, okay?" Remus spat. "I shouldn't have been naughty."

Sympathy stirred in Logan's stomach, realisation striking him. "So it was corporal punishment?" Remus nodded shyly. "How olds Deceit anyway?"

"Eighteen. Paranoia's my little brother, he's nine. I wish you could see him." Remus grinned, changing the topic with haste. "I think I could contour some pictures, there's this one of him dressed in a purple tutu. It's so cute!"

Logan sighed. "Remus, I know you don't wish to discuss the matter further, but I'm concerned for you're well being. There is a considerable amount of evidence which shows that violence and abuse, especially in childhood, can result in long term mental health issues."

"You're making it sound a whole lot worse than it is." Remus argued stalely.

Logan frowned. "How often does he harm you?"

"Does it really matter?"

"Yes, it does." 

"Fine, fine... maybe once a week?" He shrugged.

"How about Paranoia? How often is he harmed, and is he injured badly? Do you feel safe in the dark side-"

"Logan, stop!" Remus hid his trembling fingers behind his back, swallowing frustratedly. "I don't want to talk about this, I mean it, or I'll tear off your nipples and shove them up your nose."

"Gross." Logan muttered. "I'm only trying to help you."

Remus groaned. "I know, but you don't need to worry about me, I'm fine! The bruise was just an accident, I was mad at Deceit so I dodged his cane and then he accidentally hit me in the face, no big deal."

Logan sighed defeatedly. "I don't agree with his methods... but so long as you truly to do feel safe, I suppose I can't interfere."

                                                                                          *

Roman woke to a throbbing pains in his abdomen, whining tiredly as he lifted his head. At first he was dazed, lost and confused, but as the seconds turned to minutes his memory soon recollected the conditioned events. He ran his hand along his side, feeling the bumpy stitches lining his torso. 

"Remus?" He croaked. There was no response, though he could hear the faint sound of breathing in his vicinity. "Where are you?"

Logan was the first one to stir, opening his eyes with a deep yawn. He slowly crawled to his feet, scanning Roman's figure atop the operating table. "Roman, are you okay?"

"Where's Remus, is he hurt?" He coughed hazily. 

Logan gently ran his finger through Roman's fringe, releasing a heavy sigh of relief. "He's perfectly okay, though he's currently asleep. Would you like me to wake him?" 

Roman tilted his head, observing his brother's dozing body on the ground. "No, it's okay, let him sleep." He flinched as he attempted to take in a deep inhale of air, gasping out in suffering. 

"Hold still, open wide," Logan focussed exhaustedly, slowly contouring a liquid painkiller in a small plastic measuring cup. He tipped the contents down the prince's throat. 

"You look pale, leave the contouring to me, it looks hard for you." Roman noticed. Logan nodded his head in agreement, placing a hand over his forehead dizzily. "You were right, I did wake up."

Logan gave him a small smile, his cheeks blushing. "You're welcome. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have been in the mind palace, it's my fault you got hurt..."

"No, don't say that," Roman replied strongly, "If it weren't for you I would be dead by now. But please Teach, don't tell Patton."

"I won't, I promise."