The Vigilantes

The Viner

Oooooooooooooooooooh, get ready for it! Are you ready for it? I'm sorry, I thought I'd try something new. Just ignore that first part right there, and enjoy your regularly scheduled chapter.

TW: Mentions of cutting

Of course Logan felt bad. He hadn't meant to suggest that Virgil was dumb or less than a person. He just... understood how debilitating anxiety could really be. He could see the pain engraved in his face when his nightmares came.

Did you see the cuts?

Yes he did. Which scared him more. He had seen the faint cuts on his shoulder. What could push Virgil so far that he'd intentionally hurt himself? He remembered seeing the faint scars, forever a memory of whatever Virgil went through. Of a secret he refused to share. Which also confused him. Hadn't he proved himself to be trustworthy? Hadn't he proven himself to be kind?

Maybe he doesn't feel the same about you?

Well, yes, he supposed that was a thought that did regularly occur in his head. But even if he didn't return those feelings, shouldn't Virgil still consider him a friend? Or Patton? His friendly farther figure?

You could read his mind. Feel what he feels. Look for what he thinks.

That would be an invasion of his privacy. Where were these thoughts coming from? He knew he shouldn't disrupt the very little peace Virgil felt in his own head, yet the thought was seductive, intriguing, and appealing. No. No. He knew it was wrong. On so many levels.

But you need to.

No.

It is only logical.

No.

You need to know.

No.

You need a solution.

No-

"Mr. Lojika?" a voice interrupted his inner debate. Logan looked to see a young man dressed in a red shirt with a giant star, his hand outstretched to shake Logan's. "Ah, yes, you must be Thomas Sanders. You're here because you need help in math?" Logan asked, shaking his hand.

It was the way Thomas' eyes widened; the way his hand tightened around his that alerted him something was wrong. "Thomas?"

"I'm here for a different reason," Thomas said, removing his hands from Logan's. "You... you know Logic, the superhero, right?" Logan froze. Thomas shouldn't have known that, or been able to figure it out.

"Perhaps we should talk outside, Thomas."

Thomas nodded, mumbling a small 'okay' and grabbed his stuff. Logan grabbed his coat, pulling it tight around him. It was the first day of October and it was freezing.  Logan led Thomas outside behind the library and next to a leafless tree.

"What were you saying about Logic?" Logan asked when he had assumed they were secure. "You know him, right? Or are him?"

Thomas looked around anxiously. He wasn't trying to black mail him. Actually, the problem was a bit bigger than that. Much bigger.

"How do you know?" The plan was to be gentle. Logan let his power submerge itself into Thomas' head.

He'll know. How can we trust him? Will he report me? Give me away? I should turn back. Just make up an excuse, just leave.

"Don't leave Thomas," Logan mumbled, pulling his powers out of his head. He was scared. He was frightened by something. By his own power. "What is the matter?"

Thomas had covered his mouth with his gloved hand. Eyes wide and frightened. "I- I can do this thing. And I don't, I don't know how to stop it," his voice shook with fear. Carefully Logan stepped forward.

Thomas took a step back.

"What can you do?"

Thomas gently pulled of his gloves, glancing around to make sure there were no cameras. "I can do this." He placed his bare fingers between the grayish grass.

That's when it happened.

Long purple flowers- Salvias - bloomed gracefully from the ground. It added a certain light that fall had always seemed to miss, especially when it neared so close to winter.

"That is truly remarkable," Logan muttered, stepping closer to the salvias to look at them closer. "The details are spot on," he said gesturing to its bush-like appearance, "And, it's a very vibrant purple."

Thomas stood slowly, yanking his gloves back on. "I can't control it." His brown eyes searched Logan's. "Every time I try to... to live a normal life, to live without giving myself away; to just be normal, I just can't."

Logan nodded along to what Thomas was saying. "You see this more as hindrance than, some would say, blessing?"

"Yes! It's weird, strange, it's... everything I don't want to be." He clawed his hands down his face, "I try so hard to just blend in. Now this, of all things, is happening whenever I get near dirt."

That was surprising. Well, not Thomas' hatred for his power. Logan disliked his own as well, but the way he had phrased as if...

"Did this just develop?" Logan asked. Thomas heaved a heavy sigh. "No. But it was always smaller things. A random little flower here or there. Grass grows just a bit faster if I dare walk without shoes, but nothing that was so obvious. Not until now."

Logan sighed. "Hm."

"Hm? That's all you got? I've spent months looking for you. Looking for someone who can help me," tears fled down his face. "I just want to be normal." It was more a whimper than anything. Logan stepped closer, and when Thomas didn't move back he continued.

"The desire to be normal is not strange and makes you no different than any other college student. I am a mentor, a tutor who helps those in need, so I will help you Thomas. As best I can. You are enrolled in the local college here, yes? Go home and rest and I will see you another time," Logan finished, giving Thomas a side hug.

"How will I contact you?" Thomas asked, wiping his eyes. "Ah, yes, we will need a new system of conversation, won't we?" Logan pulled out his phone. "Do you see this app? Download it on your phone and email me your number so we can communicate."

Thomas nodded. Logan could see the sorrowful expression on his face. "I know you are struggling and wish to control this, so I will help you. And so will my friends, if they are willing."

"You mean The Prince and The Heart?" Thomas asked, his chocolate eyes shining bright. "Yes, them, but for now you need to worry about school and income. So, I suggest, keeping your gloves on for the time being, okay?"

"Yes, sir."

"I believe that is all our time today, but I'll see you soon Thomas. Goodbye."

Thomas watched as Logan walked away, his eyes swelling with tears. Not with sadness or desperation, but with hope.

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Did ya like? I hope it was okay, I know it's a lot of information to fit in. But, yeah, introduced Thomas! I've been planning this for a while, and I was just so excited, I hope y'all liked it.

CYA