Unfamiliar

(thir)TEENS

The forest seemed lighter, like some semblance of happiness had returned to it -to Thomas - yet Roman wished it hadn't. He would work overtime for the rest of his life, he would take on the jobs of the others and do everything alone until he died, if it meant that nothing that happened was real, if it meant that he could change the past and make the future better for the others. But it had happened, he couldn't change the past and the future was darker than it had ever been before; it was as dark as the pitch black of night where the stars of hope had been stole from everyone.

And as a prince, as a protector, he was meant to keep everything light and safe... but instead he just stood there, frozen in shock and fear as Virgil walked off with his abuser. And the others stood there with him, unmoving except for Logan...

... Who held him back.

"What the hell? We could've helped him, he didn't.... we didn't have to let him go back there!" Roman screamed as he stormed towards Logan, his fists clenched as he wanted nothing more than to punch the logical side. He didn't though, he knew that would get them nowhere.

"No we couldn't have, and if I didn't hold you back you would've gotten hurt!" Logan yelled back, his voice distorted due to unshed tears. His eyes glistened from the (little amount of) light in the forest yet neither paid it any attention.

"Hey, guys why don't we jus-"

"I don't care. I don't care if I got hurt, at least he wouldn't be back with his fucking abuser," Roman cried, letting out a sob in anger. He was angry - his blood boiled, his skin scorched and his head pounded - yet there was some sort of empty sadness controlling his body, filling his veins with an emotional drug that he wanted rid of yet constantly craved. It s a cycle of fury and nothingness that he longed to climb out of yet he lacked the ability to came himself move so he was stuck letting the emotions crash very him and drag him down further and further until -

"No, he would still be with that fucking monster. The only difference is that both of you would be injured and then you would be no help in finding Anxiety. Depression said that one of us would get hurt if he came willingly, imagine what would've happened if he - or you - put up a fight!" Logan explained, sadness barely masked by his usual monotone voice. "It was better to lose one of you than both. Loosing the both of you would be simply illogical!"

The anger faded, letting the sadness finally hit his exhausted brain in waves of guilt as he slipped to the floor. Leafs crumbled beneath him, torn apart by the change of pressure as Roman looked back on his memories of Anxiety; as he finally, truly, saw how mean he was to the youngest.

"Guys, now that you've stopped arguing, we should go to Thomas. He could summon Anxiety, right?" Patton gently suggested, far too aware of the emotions that hung in the air around them for him to say anything harshly.

"Yes, he should be able to summon Anxiety... assuming he hasn't ducked out or anything." Logan sighed and rubbed his face, far too much was going on and he didn't have an answer for anything. Answers where the one thing Logan was best at, he normally always knew the answers to questions, but this time he was just as clueless as they others and it bothered him. He was logic, he was the very being that came up with answers... so if he couldn't do that then what use was he?

"Don't beat yourself up over it, there's no logical way that we could know what's going on," Patton soothed the other before taking Romans hand in his own. The brave side was unresponsive, so Patton sunk them both down (Logan following close behind) only to find Thomas standing where he usually does when summoning them.

"What's wrong?" The host asked urgently, somehow knowing that something had happened with one of his sides.

"Summon Anxiety," Patton instructed as he carefully lead Roman over to the couch. The younger side was still frozen, trapped inside a torrent of memories, and Logan worked on grounding him as soon as he arrived.

Thomas did as he told, he tired again and again and again.

"It isn't working, he isn't coming!" He screamed in frustration after trying to summon him for the thirtieth time.

"Maybe he's sleep," Roman muttered, speaking up for the first time in hours.

"Yeah! Ro is right, you can't be summoned if asleep," Patton piped in as Logan looked on thoughtfully.

"If he is asleep then it shall be better if wait and summon him every hour, so that he can return home as quickly as possible," Logan said after careful consideration added on a quick, "you should sleep though Thomas. We shall wake you in an hour, okay?"

"Uh... yeah. But you have to promise to wake me up if he turns up when I'm asleep," Thomas demanded with a soft yawn.

"Of course we will, now go to bed. You must be exhausted," Patton said before turning around to look Roman in the eyes, "you too. You need to sleep too, Ro."

"Bu-"

"You will be no use to Anxiety if you work into exhaustion and you are in no shape to stay awake," Logan quickly interrupted as he pushed both Thomas and Roman up the stairs.

Once they heard the bed room door click shut Patton sunk into the couch with a soft sigh.

"You okay?" Logan asked as he sat down beside him.

"It's been a day and he isn't back.... I'm worried."

"Yeah.... so am I."