Intrusive Parenting

21

'Deceit is dying.' No, he's just sick. 'He's dying and it's your fault.' No, Logan said he was just sick. He'll get better. He has to... 'You promised him nothing more would happen. Now he has a fever and what are you doing. Nothing. You're sitting at the table in total denial.' He's going to get better. Logan had told him so. It's going to be fine. He's going to be fine. 'Nothing's fine, Remus. Whatever happened to keeping that mask of yours on? You haven't smiled once since Dee got sick.' It's fine. It's completely fine. 'You're delusional. Dee's not going to be fine. He's sick and you're in denial. Just like the river in Utah.' Remus groaned in annoyance and he narrowed his eyes. The Nile is a river in Egypt not Utah... 'DENIAL!'

Remus was getting tired of this. His brain hasn't let up for one second since Deceit got sick. He's exhausted. Trying so hard not to slip up and say something he shouldn't all the while keeping his nerves in check and watching Deceit to make sure it doesn't get worse... It's draining. 

And the others could tell...

Roman was the first to say something but it was Virgil who decided they had to step in. That's how the light sides found themselves sitting there at the table just staring at the broken and sick looking dark side who was so lost in thought they doubted he even knew he wasn't alone anymore. 

"Remus?" Virgil's voice was soft as he tried to rouse the man from his mind. It didn't work. Remus just sat there staring off at the wall as if the tiny grey dot on the white wall was so interesting. "Remus we need to talk."

"Put a fork in a soc... in... in it, Emo." Remus growled without even bothering to move. "Leaf me alone."

"Ha... ha... leaf... it's a pun." Patton laughed awkwardly as the tension grew.

"Brother, We all need to talk. Please?" Roman took Virgil's hand noticing Remus's eyes move slightly to see everyone sitting there. Everyone but Deceit who was laying in bed.

"Why don't you all explode like a Bee's di... beautiful firework..." Virgil couldn't help but cringe.

"Remus, what you're doing isn't healthy. You're just going to hurt..." Remus cocked his head slightly giving the anxious one a confused look. "Don't play dumb.  Remus, talk to us. Say something anything. I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!"

"What Virgil is trying to say, Kiddo..." Patton quickly cut in as Virgil clung to Roman. "Is that something is clearly bothering you and... as a result your not being yourself."

"He's censoring himself, Pat. That isn't just 'something bothering him'." Virgil's voice shook as Remus just sighed. "He's repressing himself."

"Come on, Bro. You can talk to us... to me..."

"Oh really, Roman?" Remus snapped back quickly effectively silencing the lighter creativity. "I can talk to you. Oh, joy. You  know, cuz it's not like I went for most of my existence being completely pushed down by my literal another half." Roman opened his mouth to say something but Remus just growled making the other freeze and sit in silence. "Go jump off a br... swing."

"I must say that this is all a bit distressing." Logan pushed his glasses up a bit as he tried to make eye contact with Remus who shied away real quick. "We've been over this before Remus. The act of repressing your 'thoughts' will only result in further determent."

"What? Further Deodorant? Yes, please. Wait, no... nevermind." Remus laughed as Logan sighed glancing around only to see everyone's sad expressions.

"What about Deceit?" Remus froze up instantly the moment Patton's voice reached his ears. The darker side shot a sideways glance at the moral one who was fiddling with his fingers. "Don't you think Deceit would..."

"Gonna stop you there, Dor-Dad... Dad. Deceit is currently in bed with a flippen fever. The last thing he's thinking about right now is me. Besides... It's better anyway." Remus looked away as Virgil's eyes widened.

"That's it, isn't it?" Remus groaned in annoyance as Vigril narrowed his eyes at him. "You're doing this because of Roman." The very man mention stared at his brother in shock and confusion. but Virgil wasn't done talking. "Because he told you that you're too mentally unstable."

"He was right. Can you really say that I am a 'parent' type of person? I mean come on Virgil! I am gross and inappropriate. Deceit should have to deal with my madness. NO ONE SHOULD!" Everyone reeled back as Remus's eyes flashed bright green. 

"But you ca..."

"You can't take what I say to heart!" Roman snapped under his guilt. Everything he said while angry... everything he already hated having said was once again coming to bite him in the ass. No... It was biting Remus hard. This isn't about Roman. This is about his brother. "I'm sorry ok? I didn't mean it. I-I never mean it. But Remus, you can't repress yourself. You're only going to get sick."

"I don't think it's just Roman though... is it, Remus?" Logan called out as Remus just rolled his eyes. "It's also the... detachment to your title."

"Wait, what?" Roman could see the pain in his brother's eyes as Logan spoke.

"Remus, what exactly are you?" Everyone got this look of horror as Logan asked his question. "What do you embody?"

"Intrusive thoughts." There was a gasp amongst the sides, for which Roman realized was him. Logan only sighed as he shook his head.

"See... Remus does not see himself as creativity anymore. That coupled with everyone's thoughts on him could have resulted in a desire to change oneself. However, Remus, I feel I must stress that repression is not good. Especially for one with your... issues." 

"Yep, just... just keep on talking... like I'm not even here. Thanks for that Logan." Roman was in shock. His own brother... He... He should've seen it. He should've seen the pain before. He did but... he didn't think it was this. 

"Remus, you are creativity..." Honestly Roman would have given anything to see his brother smile again. His guilt was eating away at him so bad his head was spinning. "You created Emile."

"You would've done better." Remus didn't even look at them anymore. He went right back to just staring at the wall. 

"But only creativity can do that. Brother, you can give Thomas ideas because you are creativity. WE are creativity... why..." Roman broke down seeing the broken look in his brother's eyes. Nothing he said seemed to reach the darker man. Every once in awhile his eyebrows would knit in obvious thought as everyone tried to get him to talk to them. Nothing worked...

"REMUS!" Not even Virgil glitchy voice could get his attention. He was lost to his mind and it wasn't pretty. Mumbling incoherent thoughts to himself as he tried to work through everything... Every sound the others made fell to deaf ears. Well...

Almost every sound.

Deceit started crying out suddenly snapping Remus out of his thoughts instantly. He jumped up not even bothering to say goodbye as he quickly left the room. All it did was make everyone even more worried. They had to do something soon or else, Remus was going to lose it.