The Logical Exception

{ Chapter 20 - Caught Between Sides }

"Roman, it's me. It's your mom."

No, that couldn't be, his mother could never be some villainess set on nefarious purposes. Roman believed in virtue and heroism, he wasn't the spawn of a villain. "How do I know you aren't lying?"

She seemed hurt by his words, but he stood his ground, eyes darting around the room to take in his surroundings. It was a small office, there was a desk with a laptop, two chairs, and pictures all over the walls. Some of the pictures were of a happy family, two parents, three kids, but a lot of the pictures were just of the two youngest kids playing together. They were obviously twins, and Roman knew it looked at least a little bit like him and his brother. The only exit was the same entrance he had come in, but his mind wasn't thinking tactically right now.

"I... I don't really have a good answer for that." Her voice fell, "I never really thought about needing to convince you, I thought you were dead... you and Remus both. Is he also alive? Are both of you safe?"

Roman wasn't sure what possessed him to nod, but he did, hands still gripped tightly on his sword. This woman seemed so sincere, the concern in her voice was so real, but he just couldn't believe his mother was a villain. Roman wanted this, he wanted a mother who loved him and cared about him, but this wasn't right.

"Oh thank goodness. I've always known you were the stronger one. You would always protect your brother. I... I'm not sure if you remember this, but you were actually the first one to use your powers. Remus got so jealous of us praising you that he manifested his right after." Her smile turned warm and fond, her arms out just a bit, as if she was hoping for a hug but wasn't ready to ask for it yet. "I'm happy to see you alive."

"If you are my mother, why did you give me away? Why did you give us away?"

"No, no darling, that's not what happened. Let me explain." She pulled out one of the chairs, "do you want to take a seat?"

He didn't move.

"I understand, I do." She sighed and took the other seat, "Seventeen years ago, your older brother, that computer virus," she spat the words out like venom, "was practicing his powers, and your father and I thought he had killed you. We saw the bodies, we had funerals, we mourned your deaths. It seems like he was just jealous of all of the attention you two were getting. He must have tricked us and taken you away." She sighed, "It's my fault really, I should have been a better mother, I should have seen the signs, but I was just so happy that you and Remus shared my powers." She waved her hand over the desk, black smoke coming from her hands, forming into a wind-up toy soldier.

Roman couldn't deny it, the powers were the same, the pictures made sense and the timeline of her story matched up with when he was at the orphanage.

"How did you not realize the bodies weren't us?"

"I don't know honey, I really am sorry." She said, looking up at him, "He is just so smart, I guess, smarter than I gave him credit for. That doesn't matter, we can start over, we can be a family again."

Normally, Roman would deny it, normally, he would insist that he would never be family with criminals, but this situation wasn't normal. Right in front of him was the loving mother that Roman had always wanted, a family that he had always desired to be a part of. His body shook with indecision.

"Unless... unless you don't want to be a part of our family. It would make sense, you have your own life now, you've grown up to be such a fine boy-"

"I need to think." He shouted, gripping his sword tighter. His knuckles were white on the hilt and it took all of his strength to steady himself. "This is confusing and I don't trust you. I need to think!"

"Of course, I would never want to force you into a decision. You are my son, I would never hurt you." Again she gave him that smile, it was warm, and caring, and everything Roman thought he needed. "Let me leave, unharmed, with my companions. I... I will think about all of this."

She hesitated but nodded slowly, pulling a phone out of her desk. "Here, take this with you. Anytime you want me, anytime you need me, just call, and I will be right there. You are so grown up now, but you are still my baby boy." Roman hesitated but reached out and grabbed the phone, slipping it into his pocket.

"And I will be able to leave here, no problems?"

"Of course, I would never think of harming you, Roman." He nodded, slowly backing out of the office. The weight of the phone sat heavy in his pocket, but he ignored it. Quickly, Roman turned on his heel and ran down the corridor, dismissing the sword out of his hands. He only had a few minutes before they were supposed to leave.

As Roman reached the main door, he almost ran into Logic. If Mother Necessity was his mom, then Logic was the brother who gave him away. Once again, the anger flared up inside of him. It was made even worse when he saw the person behind Logic carrying an unconscious Virgil.

"Logic!"

"Don't worry, he is an ally." Logan's voice was heavy, and he seemed to be having a hard time carrying himself, but Roman's immediate concern was on Virgil. Sure they fought, but they were still friends. Logan was the reason Roman had lost his family, if Logan also became the reason he lost a friend, there would be hell to pay. He stalked closer, fingers itching to manifest a sword and run Logic straight through.

"What did you do?" He growled, grabbing Logan by the collar. "What did you do to Virgil?"

"Chill babes, I don't think now is the time for that."

He slammed Logan against the wall, "What did you do?"

The Logical man winced before his eyes lit up. "Now is not the fucking time Roman!" He yelled, the doors flying open from Logan's powers. To his surprise, Roman let go, leaving the injured man to get to his feet.

"Once everyone is safe, you are explaining yourself."

"Where are Deceit and Patton?"

"Already in the car, I had business to take care of." That thought worried Logan, but he didn't have time to think about it as they made their way towards the car. Everyone was alive, which meant the mission was successful, so why was Roman so angry about this development?

Roman didn't pay attention as Deceit hugged the stranger. He didn't pay attention when Logan climbed in the back with the two who were unconscious. Roman's mind was in another place, his hand curling around the phone in his pocket. If Logan's intention was to destroy him, he would make the nerd say it out loud.

AN: This is probably my favorite story that I am writing right now. There are so many things that are going to be going down in the next few chapters, we have to deal with Roman's hatred of Logan, we have to deal with Remus' fear over losing Patton. Then there is the whole sleep issue and the cellphone. What's your biggest question at this point that you want to be answered?