The Sanders Sides

6 - Deceits Secret

Fury choked Roman's voice. "Even Virgil knows?! And you all thought I couldn't handle it? What kind of friends are you?" His voice cracked with barely contained hurt and anger. "Tell me. Now. Or this... this is all over."

Patton, his face etched with worry, reached for a lighter on the dresser, a silent promise to lighten the mood. He flicked it, a small flame flickering to life as he brought it to a nearby candle.

The sudden appearance of fire sent a jolt through Roman. His heart hammered against his ribs, his breath hitching in his throat. The scent of smoke, the flickering orange light – it was all too reminiscent of the burning building, the explosion...

Panic tightened its icy grip around him. His vision blurred, the room shimmering and warping around him. He felt himself falling, the world dissolving into a nightmarish kaleidoscope of orange and black.

Before he could hit the floor, strong arms caught him. "Roman!" Logan's voice cut through the roaring in his ears.

The world went dark.

Logan lowered Roman gently onto the bed, his brow furrowed in concern. Patton, the flame forgotten in his trembling hand, rushed to his side.

"Roman, can you hear me?" Logan said, his voice calm despite the surge of worry coursing through him.

Roman's breath came in ragged gasps, his eyes squeezed shut. His mind was a battlefield, replaying the horrific scene at the warehouse over and over. The screams, the heat, the blinding flash that had ripped him from his world.

"It's okay, Roman," Patton soothed, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're safe. You're home."

Slowly, the edges of the panic began to recede. The room solidified, the distorted images replaced by the familiar sight of his bedroom. With a trembling gasp, Roman opened his eyes, relief washing over him as he realized he was safe.

He looked up at Logan and Patton, their faces etched with concern. Shame burned in his gut. "I..." He choked back a sob. "I'm sorry. I let it get to me."

Logan squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "It's okay, Roman. You had a PTSD episode. It's normal after a traumatic experience."

Patton, tears welling in his eyes, pulled Roman into a hug. "You're not alone," he whispered. "We're here for you."

Roman's breath hitched. Shame and worry clawed at him as he looked at Deceit. The anger that had fueled his outburst earlier evaporated, replaced by a cold dread. He had let his fear get the better of him, pushing away his friends when they needed him most.

"Deceit," he started, his voice shaky. "Tell me what's going on. Please." He hated feeling left out, but now he understood why they were hesitant. He hadn't been thinking clearly, consumed by his own trauma. Deceit studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, with a sigh, he spoke.

"To put it plainly," he said, his voice laced with a weariness that surprised Roman, "I was abducted."

Roman's jaw clenched. "Abducted? What do you mean?" He couldn't believe it. Who would abduct Deceit of all people?

Deceit closed his eyes for a moment, a flicker of something like fear crossing his face. "It's... a long story," he said, his voice strained.

Roman nodded, forcing himself to sit back down on the bed. "We have time," he said, his voice calmer now.

Deceit seemed to hesitate for a moment longer, then drew in a deep breath. "Alright," he said, a grim resolve settling in his voice. "Let's start from the beginning."

A flicker of a memory played behind Deceit's eyes, a vision of a cold, sterile room, harsh lights blinding him. He winced, a shiver running down his spine. "I woke up," he began, his voice low, "tied to a chair in a room that reeked of stale coffee and something...metallic."