The Logical Exception

{ Chapter 3 - Late Night Fights }

"Thank you so much for walking me back to my apartment." The woman stood with her hand on her door, giving Roman a gentle smile. She had yet to put her key in the door and Roman knew it was probably because of his brother standing off to the side looking slightly bloody. Remus was terrifying to people who didn't understand him.

"Of course fair maiden it is important for a prince to be certain that a princess has gotten home safely at the end of a long night. I do hope you are able to get some rest tonight." She nodded, giving him a weak smile as she watched him walk away. Roman wanted to give her space and didn't want to scare the poor damsel further.

"I think we did very good tonight. I was able to rescue a fair princess and you didn't kill the man who accosted her." Roman was proud. He knew that Virgil thought that they couldn't make it on their own, Virgil had always been a Debbie Downer, but Roman was proving him wrong.

"Fancy words from a man afraid to get his hands dirty." Remus licked the blood off of his knuckles and caused his brother to cringe.

"Didn't Virgil tell you not to do that because of disease or something." He gestured dramatically to drive his point home. Someone had to step up and be the responsible one and Roman knew for certain that wasn't going to be Remus.

"Oh, finally able to say his name without getting angry?" Remus retorted back, "And Virgil's not here, so he can't stop me." To prove his point he licked the rest of the blood off of his hand, smacking his lips as if it were a delicious treat.

Roman gagged. "Alright, alright, point taken, just stop doing that. And I'm still mad, I am just attempting to remind myself that allowing lesser beings to get under my skin isn't worth the worry lines. He had no right to say what he did."

"Didn't bother me. We all know I'm one shot away from full villainy." That was a lie, Remus and Roman both blamed Virgil's overly cautious attitude for Patton's slight change in behavior. It wasn't necessarily a bad change but it had caused fractures to grow in their dynamic.

"No one calls my brother a villain. You are just... eccentric."

"What's with you and the big words today? You sound like you ate a dictionary. Also, we both know that wasn't the real reason we left." Roman and Remus looked at each other, not saying a word as they walked towards the direction of their car. There were a lot of wounds they had from leaving that neither wanted to talk about.

They didn't need to talk about it. "I'm just improving my vocabulary because one of us has to be the brains of this operation, and we both know it's not going to be you."

Laughter erupted from Remus, "True. So true. Since I'm just the muscle, fight me!"

"No, not on the streets like this."

"Is the great Roman turning down a challenge? I'm surprised and disappointed by you." He knew how to push Roman's buttons. It wouldn't be hard to manipulate him into a fight.

"Watch it Re, the last time we fought you got your ass handed to you."

"Oh, I'm so scared." He sprinted ahead of Roman before turning around and facing him, walking backward. "Do it, fight me! If you are so superior, prove it."

Roman looked around, no one was around. "The old lot?" There was an empty lot near where they parked their car. It would provide them just enough cover to be able to fight without being caught. At least, that was Roman's thought.

The darker twin's face broke out into a twisted smile as he nodded with a smirk, watching Roman with a predatory look. "You are going down tonight brother."

"Says you, I'm going all out. We have to get home early enough to rest so that we can find proper jobs in the morning, which means I have to take you down quick."

"Easier said than done."

"True, but at least our money hasn't run out yet." Roman knew their money should have been running low, but it wasn't and he had no desire to question why. He would take this gift from his own personal fairy godmother, or father, or parent, there was no reason to assume.

By the time they made it to the lot, Remus was babbling insistently. Roman was listening and nodding along to his brother's stream of consciousness. He supported his brother in any way that he could. They only had each other. The two of them had grown up in an orphanage, and though people had been interested in Roman, Roman would not leave without his brother. A few families had tried to tame the wild beast that was Remus, but eventually, they all gave up.

When they found Patton and Virgil, Roman thought the fates had aligned to bring them a family. Patton had been so kind and understanding. He seemed to actually adore Remus, but things change, people change. Patton was willing to play along with Virgil because Patton didn't like confrontation, and Virgil was his best friend.

Roman couldn't work under those conditions.

That paranoid pariah had ruined a good thing, and Remus had gotten hurt. Even if he wouldn't admit it, Roman knew that Remus still missed Patton, but words were said apologies could not fix a broken heart.

"Come at me foul beast," Roman shouted, turning once they had reached the center of the field. A good fight was just what he needed to clear his mind.

Another maniacal giggled left Remus' lips before he began creating, dark green mists spreading from his feet and taking form. True to Remus' style, an Eldridge horror rose from the mists of his imagination. It wasted no time before trying to strike Roman down.

He didn't miss a beat. Creating a shield and a sword, Roman's preferred weapon of choice, and he began to dodge tentacles. "You have to do better than that Remus, I know how to avoid your Kraken." Right as he said that, he was slammed in the back of his head by what felt like a horse. Roman hit the dirt hard, tucking his knees and rolling. He quickly turned to see his attacker, a horse that had spikes and horns running all down it's back. The glossy black coat shining in the moonlight.

"It's called a distraction." Remus was standing atop the steed and quickly jumped down at Roman who blocked him and tossed him off using his shield. In a swift motion, Roman cut off a tentacle and stabbed the horse. That was what Remus wanted. Roman was distracted.

This gave the darker brother an opportunity to wrap an arm around Roman's neck, attempting to choke him out. Roman dropped his creations, allowing them to fade into mist as he did his best to fight off Remus. Creating took energy, the bigger the creation the more energy needed. Remus was weakened.

Roman slipped his fingers between his throat and Remus' arm, pulling enough to give him breathing room, then he widened his stance, twisting his body and chucking Remus over his body with a shoulder toss. Remus hit the ground with a loud thud, letting out a slight giggle that burst into roaring laughter as he just lay there. Roman once again had his sword in his hand, the tip pointed at Remus' throat. "Really thought I had you this time, Ro."

"Almost Re, you really got me with that horse." He held his hand out to help Remus up, giving his brother a smirk that the other shared.

"It's a horny horse." Remus giggled, patting Roman on the back harder than probably needed. "How is it that I got the cooler power and yet you still beat me?"

"I had to learn to fight in other ways so that I could keep up with you." The two shared a smile before Remus wrapped his arm over Roman's shoulder.

"You're still a bitch."

"Yeah, alright trash man." Their breath was heavy, and without a word, they could each tell they were each debating on whether or not they wanted a round two.

"As much as I think another fight would be fun, once we catch our breath. We do have to pretend to be responsible." Roman stood straight and tall, helping his brother walk.

"Yeah, alright party pooper."

Roman just shook his head, walking Remus back towards the main street. Their car wasn't parked too far away, and once they were in it, Roman knew his brother would be fast asleep until tomorrow morning. All they needed was each other.

AN: The stage has been set, and now the play can truly begin. 

I think I've said this before, but fight scenes are not my forte, so if anyone has pointers or even things you specifically liked, please let me know so that I can continue to work on those in the future!