A Four Sided Story

Energy.

"Well.. judging from hiss lack of presencce... It'ss very likely he iss up to ssomething.." Deceit agreed, lifting an eyebrow.

Roman glanced to him with a slight nod, since the two had talked he had grown more confident in his lurking thoughts; Virgil was doing something to rock the boat, and whatever it was- it wasn't very good.

"I whole-heartedly agree." Roman said. "Virgil has been too quiet lately.. usually when something is bothering him, he gets frustrated and lashes out.. and he hasn't been."

Roman caught Deceits gaze and the dark side nodded to him; ever since their discussion, Roman had felt that the two were now a team of some sorts, trying to figure out the mystery and take down it's villain. It made him feel- exhilarated, needed, and in charge, something he never normally had when speaking with Logan or Virgil; around the others he felt like a nuisance when trying to offer his opinions and ideas, especially when he would get immediately reprimanded by Logan or downcast by Virgil. The only one that truly seemed to take his opinion into account was Patton, but now, the moral side defied him with a frown.

"Roman..! How could you say that?" Patton asked. "We can't just put the blame on Virgil like this..! He's just as innocent as us! It isn't him, he isn't doing any of this." The moral side insisted.

"You seem so sure Patton, care to explain why you know, with full certainty, Virgil isn't to blame?" Roman responded, folding his arms; the prince watched as Patton opened his mouth to say something before he closed it, and glanced away.

"Well?" Logan pressed, seeming to be just as suspicious as Roman. "At least he finally agrees with me..." The creative side thought, rolling his eyes.

"Yess.. please, what makess you sso ssure...?" Deceit looked down at Patton, adjusting his hand on the moral sides shoulder; Patton finally shoved it away and Roman narrowed his eyes as Patton began to nervously fiddle with his cat hoodie.

"Patton." Roman pushed, starting to get annoyed and the blue opposite flinched before sighing in defeat; he held his hands out and an object appeared in them as he summoned it forward.

"I know.. because- he didn't take this from me when I showed it to him.."

Roman looked on in slight confusion until he noticed the faded shield in Pattons hands; Deceit's eyes widened.

"Here.." Patton handed it to Deceit, his gaze downcast.

"He didn't stop me, only warned me.. but I think that just goes to show he isn't totally against us with this whole.. predicament.." Patton looked away.

Roman glanced at Deceit who was staring at the item, the color had seemed to drain from the shield and the dark side seemed- energized..

"Thank you Patton.. I appreciate your honessty..." Deceit put the item aside (De-summoned? unsummoned..?) and it disappeared from his hands.

"You've helped me greatly.." The dark side grinned and snapped his fingers; Roman felt the world slip away.

- - - - - -

Deceit felt a jolt of shock fun down his back when Patton revealed his item.

"I was right..!" He thought, his mind starting to spin in growing excitement. "Those ghosts.. they think they're so smart.. well I'm already two steps ahead.." He stifled a grin and took the shield as it was handed over.

"You tried to tell him to hide it, didn't you Virgil..?" Deceit looked on as he was quickly filled with ever lasting energy- more than he had had in a long time... "But you failed.."

"Thank you Patton.. I appreciate your honessty..." Deceit looked up and smirked, his eye flashing before he made the shield disappear.

"Let's make this more interesting..."

He snapped his fingers and glanced to Roman as the prince stared off for a few seconds before he was rejuvenated; Logan seemed to double over only slightly with a sudden sputter, he covered his mouth as his eyes flashed with slight surprise.

Deceit frowned.

"Damn.. not enough to get to Logan.. there must be another item.. tch.."

- - - -

Logan felt something pulse through him, a wave of sorts and he felt himself lurch; his left hand went to his mouth as he muffled a gasp and his right hand fell to his stomach.

After a brief second, he straightened himself, Patton looked to him, seemingly worried and slightly confused.

"Are you alright..? Logan..?"

The logical side nodded to him.

"Yes- I am, five by five." He replied, clearing his throat and folding his arms behind him.

"Anyway- I am unsure if we can calculate his exact dependability based just on the fact that he didn't take your item, Patton."

"Yes, we all know Virgil has been more or less against Deceit this entire time, except for when he confusedly changed sides.. He's too unpredictable, which only makes him more suspicious." Roman stated firmly, his eyes a hard glare.

Patton shook his head.

"I don't think so Roman.."

"Well I know so." The creative side snapped in response and Logan glanced to him noticing how strangely insistent that had been; especially for a remark being thrown towards Patton. He shook his head and tried to pay attention to the words being thrown back and forth, but his mind seemed suddenly numb.. he attempted offer in his own input, but everything had begun to become blurry and unfocused as the conversation had continued; he couldn't focus and found his logical reasoning was being interrupted.. almost tampered with..

Thomas wasn't drinking..? Was he..?

Logan looked over to the group of friends still talking and having fun; none of them seemed to be drinking any alcoholic beverages.. so.. why was he feeling so.. spaced out..?

As Roman and Patton bickered, Logan tried to regain his thoughts; Deceit seemed to notice and broke the argument.

"Iss everything alright.. Logan?" He asked, his eye glinting.

Logan took a few moments to respond.

"I am not.. 100% certain.. it seemss I am experiencing some ssort of.. relapsse.." his words slurred a bit and Patton came to his side.

"You should rest, we've been awake since 2 am this morning."

"We are figmentss of Thomas' mind.. we can't get tired.. at leasst- I can't get.. tired." Logan leaned against Patton slightly, his eyes narrowing.

"You should do as Patton ssays.. Logan.." Deceit looked on with hardly any emotion. "We all get tired sometimess..."

"Yes..." Logan could feel everything around him start to spin before his surroundings suddenly changed and Patton was helping him to his room, and then laying him down on his couch.

"Patton- thiss is.. unnecessary.." He frowned, confused as to how he had managed to go in and out of consciousness whilst they had walked to his room.

"Nonsense." Patton replied with a huff before he sighed.

"Get some rest Logan, okay? Thomas will be fine, we all will." He offered a smile and Logan shook his head before Patton fell away from sight.

— — - - - - - - - - - - - 

Patton looked worriedly down at Logan, frowning as the logical side soon dozed off. He leaned down, hesitated, then kissed his forehead lightly before tucking the side in. Patton reached for Logan's glasses, and slid them off, folding them and putting them off on a side table.

"We'll be alright Logan,"