Sleight of Hand - Sanders Sides

Chapter Fifteen

Roman never heard a word from Patton for the rest of the previous evening. No text, no call, no answer. The magician was starting to get nervous. Had he ruined everything? He didn't mean to, not in a million years would he ever mean to. He loved Patton's singing voice, but he had already sent the incorrect message.

However, the day was new and Roman was on the bus, heading south towards the circus tent that was the competition. The magician already had his costume on, which was getting him some interesting looks from bystanders on his way.

His blood was still boiling at Dillon. Roman still blamed himself for not being there but he was performing, there wasn't much else he could do. Speaking of performing, the young magician had his act for the day's performance set in his head. He was almost jumping around in his seat with excitement but his nerves about Patton kept him grounded.

As the bus pulled into the tent's stop, Roman noticed the parking lot was rather full. Or at least, fuller than usual. It took the young man by surprise but he had to focus. He had to find Patton. Roman rushed off the bus and walked through the entrance alongside excited families, children, and teens alike.

He pushed past people who recognized him and called his name. When he made it to the backstage, no one else was there. It was rather odd, but he remembered it was only him and that Pennybacker person performing today. Roman began his search, looking absolutely everywhere. His outcome for finding his boyfriend was becoming bleak.

As Roman turned a corner, he ran directly into Anton. Roman buffered but took a few steps back. "Anton, I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there!" Roman rambled. Anton put his hand up to silence him but he was also laughing to himself

"Nothing to worry about. Say, do you...like the little extra element for performing today?" Anton asked slyly. Roman absentmindedly nodded, hardly focusing on the conversation. "Yeah. I wanted to tell you that you were performing in front of a live audience, but obviously, you saw them for yourself!"

"Yeah, I did. Listen, have you seen Patton? I can't find him and I need to talk to him. It's uh...kind of urgent."

"Your techie?" Anton clarified. His eyes suddenly became stern, as if a switch clicked in his brain. "You know, if you don't have a tech person to run your show, you can't perform!" Anton threatened.

"No, no. Sir, I just...he has to be around here. I-I'm just unsure and-"

"I'll tech for him." Said a voice from behind the magician. Roman turned around, stunned with who stood before him.

"Logan? What are you doing here?" Roman asked, wrapping his arms around Logan in a tight embrace. Logan only awkwardly patted the young man's back, waiting for him to let go. When he did, Logan brushed out his clothing before straightening his glasses.

"Did you not know?" Logan asked confused. Roman titled his head.

"Oh yeah, right. I forgot to tell you, Mx. Pennybacker can't perform due to...unknown reasons so Mr. Ceit is going to be your competitor today." Anton spoke. Roman's eyes widened as he let out a loose groan. After finally thinking he had gotten rid of the snake-like creep, now he was competing against him?! Just what Roman wanted to hear. "And, how are you suppose to tech for two people?" Anton directed his presence towards the logical man.

"I worked with Roman for years. I know his acts like the back of my hand. So, if I were you, I'd be more worried about what he does, rather than what I do." Logan joked, earning a playful punch in the arm from Roman.

"As you wish. You're on in 2 minutes, Mr. Sparx. Break a leg." With that, Anton ran on stage to give off some opening announcements. Logan straightened out Roman's costume and flattened his hair with his hand.

"Logan, I hope you know that-"

"I do." Logan cut him off. "I should've never believed Dillon's lies. You were right, why would we have a fallout now after so many years of working together?" Logan adjusted Roman's bright red bow tie, listening to the crowd erupt with cheer as Anton finished his speech. The two boys locked eyes before Logan tilted his head towards the stage. "Break a leg."

Roman's lip spread to a smile as he confidently jumped on stage, baking himself in the crowds' cheers. Roman began with his act. He had planned to do his favorite trick, one that he happened to perfect on tour: his disappearing act.

Roman's hand guided itself to his back pocket where he started to pull out a sheet that seemed to be never-ending. The audience laughed as he kept pulling the sheet from his pocket until it was fully out. Now, he whipped the sheet, getting out a lot of the wrinkles it had attained.

The magician whirled the sheet to be out in front of him, equal height with his chest. His smirk began to widen as he threw up the sheet, letting it mask his entire body, and the trap door beneath him gave out. Roman caught himself on the grounds below the stage, seeing Logan down there with him, working the mechanics. "You're doing great!" Logan encouraged.

Roman nodded his thanks whilst running out from under the stage. He rounded the circus tent, putting himself behind the bleachers of the crowd. He proceeded to grab a handful of popcorn by someone's nearby cup of the buttery stuff and threw it into the air like confetti as he made his grand re-entrance, walking to the middle of the grounds from there.

The audience went crazy as Roman bowed. It had gone perfectly, maybe even better. He looked up to meet his audience's eyes again, to see they were all looking up at something. The stage lights dragged away from Roman and up to the new performance. Confused, Roman followed the audience's eyes to the top of the tent.

His heart dropped and eyes widened. There stood Dillon on the platform end of a tight rope, but that's not what scared him. At the other end, stood Patton, tied up with rope at his wrists and ankles.