The Logical Exception

{ Chapter 27 - Waiting Game }

"Okay, you all teamed up with Logic to help rescue me and now we are in hiding because you seriously pissed off Mother Necessity and Zero Sum. Also, we have three other new people in our little family, Deceit, Sleep, and Emile?" Patton summarized.

"That's about the jist of it." Virgil was still sitting on his bed, not sure how he was able to sit on the bed but not be touched by Patton. He was kind of freaking out, but knew they didn't really have time to address that.

"Well, if that's all, we've faced a lot worse before." Pat's voice was chipper but left no room for argument. He let out a contented sigh before closing his eyes and leaning into Remus.

The room fell into soft stunned silence. This was the worst it had gotten, but Patton's optimism made Virgil chuckle, and then it poured into rolling laughter. "If we have, I don't remember it." Somehow, having Patton back to his optimistic and cheerful self, was a safe harbor in this storm they had found themselves in. Virgil allowed himself to relax as his eyes closed. All of them were together. Patton was probably right, they had faced a lot before, they could probably face this now. He had been distracted by his laughter and hadn't seen Patton coming closer until he felt the warmth and pressure on his shoulder. Immediately, his anxiety skyrocketed, how had Patton done that when a moment ago it had passed right through. As if reacting to that thought, Patton's hand did just that and Virgil was beginning to understand.

"Damn it, are you serious? My powers mutated and now they are controlled by my anxiety?" Part of his shadows had always responded to his anxious thoughts but this was new, and it made him angry. As anger overrode his anxiety, he became more and more solid. "Great, the most anxious person in the group has a power affected by anxiety."

"Isn't that for the best?"

He snapped his head up to look at Patton, trying to gather just what his friend meant by that.

"I mean, you've dealt with anxiety for a while, so you know coping techniques and you know how to manage it. Sure, sometimes your anxiety is too much for you to handle, but nowadays that is becoming more and more rare right? You are the person in our group most suited to being able to handle that because you already know how to."

His anger began to dissipate slowly. Patton had a point, but he was still frustrated. "That doesn't explain how my powers mutated. I know more of the serum was forced into my body, but I shouldn't have survived that process." He attempted to stand, pushing Patton back a little bit so that he had room to steady himself. "We need a house meeting, and I need to talk to Logan."

"I'm so excited to meet everyone!" Of course that would be Patton's biggest concern.

The three walked out of the makeshift infirmary, Remus never letting go of Patton's hand, always trying to pull him closer. It was a short walk to the living room and they were hoping to find people in the common areas. They were not expecting to find Roman staring at a sleeping Logan with a look of concern on his face.

"Ah, Padre, I thought I heard your melodious voice wafting from the depths of our manor, how are you feeling?" He put on a brave face, smiling as he stood and walked over to Patton.

"Right as rain, but I'd feel better with a hug." He said, holding out one of his arms and grabbing at the air, trying to coax Roman to him. The other hand was still held firmly by Remus.

Roman didn't hesitate to pull his friend into a hug, holding him tight. "I don't believe I deserve your love right now Patton, I have done something dramatically un-prince like."

"You never have to deserve my love Roman, I give it freely." He kissed Roman's forehead before turning and kissing Remus' cheek, knowing his boyfriend often got jealous. "But I can feel the pain in this room, and I don't know who it belongs to. Let's sit down and talk kiddos. It's been awhile since we have all been together."

Remus held Patton's hand tighter, earning him another kiss to the cheek as they sat on the couch across from the sleeping, though Patton was beginning to expect unconsciousness, Logic.

{ ~*~ }

Roman had explained everything that happened; Remus was unphased about the news of his long lost brother; Patton was curious and trying to get a handle on the situation, but Virgil, he was furious. He shot out of his seat, pacing back and forth as he bit his lip trying not to say anything. Roman just had to push buttons didn't he.

"What's your damage, Heather?" Roman was trying to act strong, act like he wasn't already a frayed nerve on edge.

"What's my damage? What's my damage?" As his anger rose so did his voice and it shook the house as his shadows once again took form, darker and deeper this time. "Logan came to us, a bleeding broken mess, proceeded to help us rescue Patton and get us somewhere safe." He had to assume the safe house was Logan's no one else could have afforded something like this. "And when you find out that this whole time he was your brother, your knee jerk reaction is to hit him in the back of the head so hard that he falls unconscious! You are attacking our alley, that's my damage!"

Roman rose in anger. He knew he had done something wrong but he was prideful. He wasn't going to bow to Virgil's anger. He opened his mouth, hand in the air but before a word could come out a calm washed over him. He knew this feeling and didn't resist as it took away all of his anger, frustration, and fear. He could see in Virgil's eyes that the same was true for him.

"If it helps both of you," Patton started, "He's not unconscious because of the head wound." They had both sat down, looking at Patton to explain, the freckled man running his fingers gently through Remus' hair. "I've been trying to parcel out everything, it's weird being around so many people again after so long, but Logan, it is Logan, right Virge? He is in a lot of pain, and it's not physical. I think right now, he doesn't want to wake up."

Silence washed over them as Virgil and Roman both took in the words that Patton had said. Virgil didn't see the guilt that set itself into Roman's face, but Patton could feel it.

"Pat, I need to wake him, I need answers, I need..." Virgil's voice trailed off, pulling at the sleeves on his jacket. Anxiety and fear came from Virgil and Patton attempted to increase the call of his calm.

"Kiddo, I'm not saying he will never wake up, he just needs some time. If we could get in there and talk to him we might be able to speed things up. By the looks of it, my calming aura isn't having much effect on him, but considering all of the times we have struggled to chase his emotions, I'm not surprised."

Virgil nodded, knowing that 'Logic' had always been a tough subject for Patton because he seemed to skirt around the empath's abilities. "Fine, so what do we do?"

It was the answer he knew he didn't want, but it was the only answer Patton could give him at this time. "We wait."

AN: Another extra day off work, another extra chapter! You might have gotten this sooner if Animal Crossing weren't such an addictive game! Stay safe everyone!