~ Wings ~ Sanders Sides ~

~ Chapter Two ~ Patton ~

I leap up to join the vlog, bouncing with anticipation. I'm standing a couple feet away from my usual spot, allowing a space for Remy if Thomas lets him come up.

"Well, someone sure is energetic today!" Thomas notes. "What's up, Patton?"

"Oh, nothing, just excited!" I reply.

"May I ask why?"

"Well, we were wondering if you wanted to meet a new side?" Roman asks, a little nervously.

"What." Virgil pops up. "I thought we were done?" He has one eyebrow raised and is almost glaring. I'm slightly confused. Aren't Deceit and Remus the only darksides left?

"Oh, of course you have something to say," Roman mutters, rolling his eyes.

"Roman, let's be nice," I chastise. "Virgil, we're doing sub-sides." My dark son relaxes at that.

"Sub.. sides?" Thomas repeats slowly.

I sigh. "Logan!"

"Present," Logan says as he rises up. "What seems to be the matter?"

"Patton said something about sub-sides?"

"Ah, yes." Logan adjusts his glasses. "Roman, I told you this was a bad idea, did I not?"

"Yeah, but—"

"And I am correct in assuming that you allowed Patton to talk you into this?"

"Well, yes, but—"

"Against his better judgement?" Logan's voice has an edge to it.

"Logan, I didn't call you here to lecture us," I interject. "I called you so you could explain to Thomas the concept of sub-sides."

"Yes, of course." Logan adjusts his glasses before turning to Thomas. "The four of us, as well as Deceit and Remus, are considered 'main sides,' as we all represent multiple aspects of you. Sub-sides only represent one aspect."

"So you guys are technically just fusions of sub-sides?" Thomas asks.

"Yes, I suppose that is accurate."

"I never thought of it like that," Virgil adds in with a soft chuckle, "but it does make sense."

"Anyway, now that you get the concept, are you ready to meet one?" I ask Thomas excitedly.

"Absolutely!" Thomas exclaims in reply. I beam.

"Remy!" I call, and am immediately greeted by the side of sleep rising up between me and Roman, sipping a Starbucks mocha.

"Hey, girls!" he exclaims, nodding at us all. Virgil scowls slightly.

"Thomas, this is Remy," Roman introduces. "He's in charge of sleep."

"He also hates me," Virgil adds, resting his chin on his hand.

"You make my job difficult, hun," Remy explains with a possibly sympathetic shrug.

"So can Roman, and you don't hate him."

Remy is silent for a moment, then sighs. "Honey, I'm trying to grow out of petty rivalries." Virgil's face softens slightly, but immediately hardens again when Remy continues with, "You, on the other hand, are just plain difficult."

"Rem, we're all giving Virgil another chance," I chastise. "Please at least try to forgive him? I know he gave you a hard time before, but I promise he's changed." Remy is silent for a beat and I worry that I've upset him, but then he shrugs.

"It's your prerogative, sis," he says, then turns to Thomas. "Anyways, pleasure to finally meet you, Thomas! Hailey's calling me, so I gotta go, but I can't wait to talk to you again! Bye, Queens!" This last part is addressed to us all, with Remy waving as he sinks out. I chuckle, then step back to where I normally stand.

"See, that wasn't so bad, was it?" I say, talking to both Thomas and Virgil. Thomas nods enthusiastically while Virgil just rolls his eyes, but I don't miss his small smile.

"By the way, who's Hailey?" Thomas asks.

"Your hopeful side and probably the only light side other than Patton who didn't hate my guts," Virgil replies, only half joking. "She would always come check on me, and she wasn't afraid to come to my room and shine a light. It was.. comforting to know that someone loved me, even if they were just a sub-side. It gave me hope." Virgil smirks.

"Back up. I have a female side?"

"Yes, although it is only Hailey who is female," Logan replies. Did Virgil just flinch? "It is simply a product of your neurology."

"Also how we're represented in general," I add. "Any neurological disorders will affect how we develop and change our attributes, sometimes to the point where none of the main attributes match ours." Thomas nods after a beat.

"I mean, I can't exactly contradict you," he says. "You know more than I do and I've never met anyone else's sides."

"Well, it seems the matter is resolved," Logan says, adjusting his glasses. "I shall be in my room if I am needed." With that, the logical side sinks out.

"I'm gonna head out, too, kiddo," I add, suddenly uncomfortable. "Cya!" I sink out to my room as well, where I am immediately greeted by a squealing Remy. "Calm down, Rem," I say with a laugh. "You're going to break something." To my surprise, Remy actually pauses.

"Thanks, Pat," he says, a giant grin on his face. "Today was a dream come true. Imma go tell my baes. Thanks again, sis!" I chuckle.

"Cya, Rem." The side of sleep runs off.

~*——__——*~

Later that night as I'm sitting on the couch, Roman comes into my room, even giddier than he was last night. "Wow, ok, what happened?" I ask the moment I see Roman's face. He runs over and sits next to me.

"Well, I was in my room, trying to figure out what to do next," Roman says slowly, but I can still hear the excitement in his voice. I nod. "And suddenly I had a stream of ideas and they were racing and..." At this point, Roman takes a deep breath and a pair of red wings tipped with gold unfurl from behind him. I gasp in awe. "And then these came out."

"Ro, they're so pretty!!!" I exclaim, my voice going up at least two octaves. Roman smiles softly. I reach out and run my hand along the feathers. "And soft!"

"I'm sure yours were softer," Roman says with a chuckle. I pause.

"Wait, you actually remember that?" I ask incredulously. Roman nods.

"I didn't remember until mine came out, but yeah. Those feather crowns were really fun to braid." I blink in surprise.

"Wait, so if you remember, then does that mean..?" I start, knowing Roman can finish the thought.

"I mean, who's to say?" Roman replies with a shrug. "My memory was triggered, but Logan is a very extensive record keeper. He might even still be doing research on our wings. And as for Hailey, her's are always out, so there's really no way to know. For either of them." The last part seems like an afterthought.

Roman stands back up. "I'm gonna go tell Logan," he says. I nod, then return my attention to the mixtape I was listening to.