The Logical Exception

{ Chapter 7 - A Forced Dialogue }

Virgil's stomach growled as he perched himself on a rooftop, overlooking the city streets. He hated heights, but this was the best way to do quick observations, then he could get closer for pinpointed accuracy. He tried to ignore the protest of his stomach that echoed in his head. "This is why I don't eat large meals when I'm empty." It only made his hunger grow. "Let's finish patrols, then hopefully Pat will have some pastries for us to snack on." He took in a deep breath, making his way down into the alleyways.

Check left, then right, left again before heading right. He couldn't be seen. He needed to blend into the shadows. Virgil pulled his hood further over his face as he stalked through the alleyway, listening for noises, using the shadows to patrol. Everything seemed quiet.

Seemed, being the operative word. The shadows caught a hint of Logic taking pictures of a building, and Virgil knew that couldn't be good. He quickly made his way down one alley and up another until he skidded to a halt in front of the villain. He was just standing there, not even looking in Virgil's direction.

"Good Evening Anxiety, you're late." Finally, he turned to look at Virgil, his eyes the same dark yet electric blue and Virgil realized he might have a thing for guys with blue eyes.

"What are you doing here Logic?"

"No, I don't believe I will be monologuing just yet." He turned. Each step echoing as he stalked towards Virgil.

"Tell me," he heard Virgil's stomach protest the lack of dinner. "When were you going to tell me that hero work didn't pay enough?"

"What's it to you?" Virgil raised his hand, shadows pouring out from the walls, making their way like tendrils to Logic.

"I need you to beat me one day, not today obviously, but one day. Which means I need you to be healthy." That statement made Virgil falter. Why did a villian care? Why did Logic want to be defeated? No, this was probably just a trick, Logic probably had another villain waiting to help him this time? Virgil checked behind him, making sure that they were alone, but it was enough of an opening.

When he looked back in front of him, Logic was gone, Virgil's memory of the past five seconds a bit hazy.

"Using your powers must be exhausting. I know home much energy mine consumes." Something hit the back of Virgil's neck. No, he couldn't get captured. He couldn't let it end like this, but he had no say in the matter. His vision went dark and his body went limp into Logic's arms.

"I really am sorry about this."

Virgil wasn't sure how long he had been unconscious, but when he awoke he expected to be in a cell. What he did not expect was to be sitting in an alleyway, the smell of hamburgers filling his senses.

"Finally awake." Virgil shot up but found he couldn't move very well, his hands bound tightly in metal cuffs.

He raised an eyebrow, looking over at the villain who was now eating in front of him.

"Alright, I'm confused."

"Eat, and I'll explain."

"How do I know this isn't poisoned?"

"If I wanted you dead I would have done so while you were unconscious."

"We are superpowered people, you think I'm not aware that there are poisons that could affect our powers?"

"Again, anything like that would be short term, and I already had you unconscious, what benefit would that bring me?"

"You could still have put something in it that amplifies your powers. I don't know what all you can do."

Logic sighed, moving his hand as the fast-food bag floated over to Virgil and sat itself on his lap. "As with most supers, I have two main powers. The first is telekinesis. I am able to lift objects and move them with my mind, though the second is the one I believe you are more concerned about." He sighed, shifting as he sat down, now on Virgil's level.

"I will monologue, but only as long as you eat. My powers do not expand beyond mental blockades. I am able to put blocks around certain items, events or information. I could, theoretically, cause you to forget your own name, but I have to be able to find the right neurons in your head that access that memory. Long term memories are exceedingly difficult, short term memories are easier."

Virgil hesitantly took a bite of the burger, wondering if he could pick this lock if he kept Logic distracted. "So, you could erase this meeting from my mind?"

"No, that is not correct. I do not erase memories. I place up figurative walls around a memory. With the right 'key' someone can break those walls down and the work that I have put in will mean nothing."

"So your face?"

"That is a little different. You have nothing to tie that specific memory too, nothing except my eyes which I assume I am unable to hide due to how most powers work. Were you to see me when I am not trying to hide my face, with my eyes lit up like this, I suspect you would immediately remember all of the times you have seen my face."

"Interesting." Virgil had finished the burger in just a few bites and ran a hand through his hair, pretending to be thinking as he grabbed a bobby pin. "Wait! You didn't look under my mask did you?"

"Where would the challenge be if I were to do something like that?" Logic stood up. "Besides, it would most likely be safer for both of us if I didn't know."

"Wait, I still have questions."

"Yes, but you are done eating and I believe I said I will monologue, but only as long as you eat. Though, this really was more of a dialogue."

"Just tell me one thing. Why? Why do you care?"

Logic turned to look at him, hand on the fire escape as he began to climb. "All in good time. You should head home, it is getting rather late."

When Logic was up two flights already the cuffs clicked open. In the brief moment, it took Virgil to look down at the cuffs and then back up to Logic, he was gone."

Virgil swore, shoving his hands into the pocket of his sweater. As he did he felt something hard and plastic that he knew hadn't been there before. He quickly pulled it out to see it was a grocery card, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Morality is not going to believe this."