The Logical Exception

{ Chapter 18 - Mother Necessity }

Things at the gate had gone exactly as Logan expected. The guards knew that Logan was not supposed to be there, so they reverted to plan B. After knocking out both guards, Deceit transformed into one of the guards and quickly put on the man's clothes. "Time to put your acting skills to the test." Deceit muttered, watching as Roman's creative smoke formed around his own wrists.

"Don't doubt my acting." Deceit grabbed onto Roman's arm and began leading him towards the door, pretending to pull him roughly.

"Oh, I don't doubt anything from you." Roman frowned, faking a struggle as he fought against Deceit's hold. The handcuffs were standard looking, hopefully, none of the guards would be smart enough to realize that not knocking out a hero was exceedingly dangerous.

"Alex, who's that, and where are you taking him?" Who was Alex?

"One of the heroes came snooping around, probably that bastard child spilled some information." Deceit was answering so Alex must have been the guard he was impersonating.

"Well, lock him up with the other one. Mother Nes is going to want to interrogate him soon."

A flicker of something danced through Deceit's eyes before he smirked and nodded, making his way towards the holding cells.

Roman didn't ask about the hint of fear that Deceit was attempting to hide. If Mother Necessity was as bad as all of the rumors insisted, he could understand. "Why do they have such a large area for cells?" Roman whispered once the other guard had walked away. He hadn't missed how Deceit's grip tightened as they got closer, Roman wanted to distract him. Fear was rarely a friend to a mission.

"The cells are used for people the family wants to interrogate or people they are hoping to make into tools."

"So, why isn't your brother here as well? Logic acted like he would be somewhere else."

"He will be, my brother is already being used as a tool. Just like I was, just like Logic was." Roman frowned, not sure what that meant.

"What do you mean Logic was a tool? He was their son, wasn't he?"

"Not my story to tell, besides I only know pieces." That didn't clear the matter up, but he didn't care. They had found Patton.

"We need to get out of here quickly, I think Mother Necessity is here and if she is, we are screwed." Deceit's voice is was steady but not his hands. She really must be terrifying.

"I will fight her," Roman said, dropping the cuffs and allowing his smoke to flow into the keyhole of the cell, concentrating as it began to take form, doing his best to make sure it was exactly what it needed to be.

While he made a key, Deceit went up to the retinal scanner to turn the alarm off. He was the only powered person, that Roman knew, who didn't show his powers through his eyes when he used them. It was interesting, and Roman wanted to ask him about it, but now was not the time.

When the door clicked open, Roman wanted to run in, but he knew the plan was for Deceit to go in first so that they couldn't be double-crossed. He watched as the man, who still looked like a guard, gently put his hand over Patton's face. He was feeling for breath and he seemed satisfied with what he found. Deceit scooped Patton up in his arms, but it looked far too easy to carry him. If Patton didn't recover, Roman would find a way to avenge him.

"How is he?"

"He will be fine."

That was probably a lie and Roman knew that but he believed it anyway. He didn't want to think about the dark consequences of what might happen when Remus saw Patton like this. He was much thinner than he should be, and his face was so pale. The normal glow he usual had was gone, this broken emaciated man did not look like his Patton. Damn, he was such an idiot. He should have seen all the signs sooner.

"This is your fault."

Deceit didn't respond as the two of them began to run down the hallway. Deep down Roman knew it wasn't Deceit's fault, but it was easier to blame Deceit and Logic then it was to face up to his part in this whole disaster. 

They ran, no longer worried about stealth. They had saved Patton, this was now a mission of distraction. The more chaos they caused the quicker Logic and Anxiety could finish what they were planning to do.

"Not everything is black and white, Princey," Deceit finally muttered, but Roman slid to a stop, his ears focused on something else. He heard a voice speaking and it was a haunting voice that he had heard before in his dreams.

"What do you mean he has already made a move to break into this compound? Do you know how dangerous he is? Find him, do not engage, that monster is not a part of this family, he is a cruel traitor."

"What are you doing?" Deceit had already run past him, not hearing the same voice Roman had.

"Go, I'll follow behind. I'm not going to give them a chance to follow." Roman flagged him off, desperately needing to check out this voice.

"That's not the plan."

"Screw the plan, I don't trust Logic anyway, sometimes you have to get a bit creative."

Deceit bit at his lip, "Fine, but if you don't come out alive, I'm not responsible." With that Deceit turned and ran off, trying to make his way through the guards, he had dropped his mask of pretending to be Alex and had shifted into Logic. This way he could still retain a little bit of anonymity and now he wouldn't be left powerless. At least, that's what Roman assumed as he turned away and headed down a side hallway.

The voice was still talking loudly. It sounded so familiar. Slowly he opened the door to what looked like an office. Picture frames lined the wall and it all felt surreal. Something was off. He couldn't put his finger on it. Then she turned around. Roman stared into a face that he only saw in his dreams. She was thin and beautiful, her raven hair in a right bun. She looked very similar to Logan now that he saw her in person.

He was expecting her to attack, expecting to need to defend himself. Instead, she dropped the phone she was holding.

"R...Roman?" Her voice faltered as she stepped around the desk. A tight black skirt and a pair of heels that could be weapons. This was definitely Mother Necessity, but she was wearing such a sad broken smile for him. "Is... is that really you? Oh please, don't tell me I'm dreaming again? Where's Remus?"

She knew his name, she knew both of their names. She took a step closer.

"Who are you, foul witch?" Roman took a step back, causing a sword to form in his hands. He had to play dumb, give his brain time to catch up.

"Oh god, it is you. I would know those powers anywhere." Tears began to slide down her face as she held out her hand. "Roman, it's me. It's your mom."

AN: Do you know how long I have been planning that one line of dialogue?! Okay, I feel better now, it's finally out of my system!