The Logical Exception

{ Chapter 14 - High Tensions }

Virgil had hoped he was going to be able to sleep late considering he got up in the middle of the night, but as Roman nearly kicked the door down at 7:00 am, he knew that wasn't going to happen. "How can you be sleeping at a time like this? Where is Patton?" Roman's voice was loud and commanding.

"Shut it, Gaston, I'm just as worried as you are?" He hadn't been sleeping well, nightmares of what might have happened to Patton plaguing his mind, but he was overwhelmed. There had been too much information he had learned and he didn't know how to start using it.

Roman held a hand to his chest, making a noise of indignation as Virgil compared him to a villain. Virgil really didn't care, Sir-sings-a-lot was too dramatic for his taste anyway.

"I did not expect you to be here this early," hearing Logan's voice from the hallway, Virgil sat up. How did he manage to look so put together when he had slept in those clothes and had to still be in pain. "I'm assuming introductions are in order. My name is Logan, but you may know me by the moniker of Logic. I'm the one who sent you the message earlier this morning."

Before Logan had even finished his sentence, Roman was in a fighting stance and Remus was looking at him, his brown eyes sparkling with curiosity as he slowly moved forward. Remus took a single step but then snapped out of it turning to Virgil. "Where's Patso?" He wasn't as loud as Roman and there was a slight pleading edge to his voice, something Virgil had heard only once before and it dawned on him. Patton never broke up with Remus, Deceit had. Did Remus also come to that realization?

He couldn't think about that now. There were so many other things going on. Roman was screeching about justice; Remus was asking questions Virgil didn't have the answer to; and there was a look in Logan's eye, maybe it was just the pain, but he hadn't seen that look before as the logical man stared down Remus. Patton was missing, Virgil had two villains in his house and the other heroes right now weren't exactly on his side.

"Both of you quiet!" Virgil's voice grew deep as the shadows crawled around him. It was too much, there was too much noise, but he had to calm down. In seven, hold four, out eight. Even if he didn't have a panic attack coming on he knew the breathing exercise helped him focus his thoughts. Virgil began composing himself, trying to pull the shadows back in. "I have not had enough coffee for this and Logan you shouldn't be standing. Let's go to the kitchen and talk." Should he get the imposter up? It probably was a good idea. They needed answers. Logan could do that while he started the coffee.

Roman and Remus were not patient people but thankfully they had the decency to wait for Virgil to get his coffee and for the fake Patton to come out. Logan had explained the situation to Deceit and his reasoning for telling the others. Deceit, wanting to be dramatic about the whole thing, waited until he was in the room before dropping his disguise. For the first time, they were seeing him as he was, or at least for Remus and Roman, it was the first time.

"Virgil so great to see you."

Virgil's hands tightened around his mug. "Don't." His blood was racing. He didn't need his past to be dragged up again.

"What, haven't we become friends over the past two months?"

"I don't think we are." Deceit sat down, pretending that Virgil's words had hurt him, but he really didn't care.

"Where is Patton!" Roman shouted before Logan held up a hand.

"Apologies Roman, Remus, allow me to explain. Two months ago Morality was kidnapped and was replaced by Deceit. He is someone who worked and trained under the Chessmaster family, as did I." His eyes flickered over to Virgil but he didn't say anything. "My assumption is that he was sent here specifically to break you all apart as you are stronger together, and you two were less likely to believe Anxiety about Morality if you had had a falling out previously. This is why I sent the text rather than having Anxiety contact you."

"Get to the point poindexter."

"Of course, I want your help to break into the Chessmaster compound for a rescue mission. Our objective is Morality and one other person."

The room fell silent, three of the group in deep thought while Deceit scrutinized Logan's face.

"Why should we trust you?" Roman asked, looking at Logan first, then turning to Virgil. "Why should my brother and I trust any of you?" His anger was beginning to show as a deep red mist began to pour from his body. "You think you can hurt my brother like that and I'm just going to be willing to trust what you have to say."

"Of course not Roman, now please sit down."

"Also, what gives you the right to use my name? I have not given you permission to call me by my first name, you will call me Prince."

Logan's body tensed up before he began to rub the bridge of his nose. "Do you know where Patton is being held captive?"

"No..."

Logan stood, his voice growing louder. "Do you have a plan once you figure out this location?"

"No, but-"

Slamming his hands on the table. "Do you have any idea what you might possibly be going up against?"

"No! But-"

"Then sit down and let me finish, due to my own hubris and stubbornness I allowed the lynchpin, to your fragile hero family, to be replaced. I am attempting to make amends." His eyes sparked with power, a few items floating. Logan seemed to not be aware of what he was doing and the items were not getting any closer as if he had malicious intent. He simply allowed himself to slip up.

Remus gawked at the floating objects and wanted to irritate Logan further. How far could he push this man before he snapped? This was a serious moment, he couldn't do it now. He would push later. A twisted smile crossed his face before his mind snapped back to the reality of the situation. Patton was still in trouble.

Virgil gently put a hand on Logan's back, causing the other man to flinch. "Why do you care?" Logan sighed and slowly sat back down, closing his eyes as he began to control his emotions again. The items that had been floating set themselves on their respective surfaces and when Logan opened his eyes, they were back to normal.

"I am aware that the Chessmaster family is immoral. They deserve to be taken down and I have been working from the inside to achieve that end. Unfortunately, I was forced to take action recently and I was not fully prepared to do so."

"I still don't trust you," Roman spoke up.

"I'm not asking you to, question me all the way, force me to give you the logic to my thought process, but understand if I wanted to harm any of you or wanted to kill you, I would have done so years ago."

Roman frown, doubting that this nerd could actually take him, but he would argue about that later. "Who is this other person we are going to rescue?"

Logan turned to look at Deceit who sighed, obviously not wanting to give them any information. "They call him Sleep."

AN: All those in favor of rescuing Remy and Patton say, Aye, all those opposed say, nay.