Bad Rumors

10

"So, why the heck are we here?" Roman grumbled as he glared around at everyone. Thomas frowned as he shot Logan a confused look only getting 'pride' mouthed back in response. After Roman's talk with Virgil, it seemed Pride had come out a lot stronger than before and several people were a bit concerned. Well, not Virgil, who just assumed Roman was back to his assy self. "And why is he here? After his last visit with Thomas, I expected him to not be allowed to come back for a while."

"I'm still here."

"I don't care." Roman muttered as he waved Virgil off who just scoffed and crossed his arms. Virgil sighed as he glanced over at Logan before rolling his eyes.

"We're here so I can establish my roll and get the information I need to help Thomas." Roman paused as he shot a confused look over at the younger making Virgil groan. "I am his anxiety. I'm a protector. I'm YOUR partner."

"You're a figurehead to the masses so the darkers don't revolt." Virgil paled as Roman blinked as if realizing what he had just said. "I uh... um... Please, ignore that. I don't know where that came from."

"Sure, Princey." Virgil growled making Roman tense. "I'll ignore that when you finally admit you're just a selfish piece of..."

"Language." Virgil's eyes snapped over to Patton who's eyes had narrowed knowing exactly where Virgil was going with that. "You yourself said cussing at a person negatively was wrong."

"It is." Virgil frowned as he took a deep breath and looked away. "I'm sorry... morality." Roman groaned in frustration as Virgil smirked a bit. "Anyway, I had an idea that... I wanted to bring up with Thomas and since I can't talk with him without ALL of you..."

"Wait, I'm confused. Why do you need them all to be here just to talk with me?" Thomas whispered slightly as everyone shared a similar look.

"Rules." They all responded together making Thomas jump slightly at the weirdness of it.

"Oh... well, then. Anxiety, er... Virgil. What is it you wanted to talk about?" Virgil frowned as he looked away before biting his lip slightly.

"I wanted to establish myself with your fears." The room went absolutely silent as Virgil clenched his fists to ground him. "I'll never truly know what's going on with you or be able to fully protect you if I'm not at the hub of everything. I am your anxiety. I'm part of your fears."

"Precisely, so what exactly are you asking, Virgil?" Logan quirked a brow noticing how the other shifted away. "You being Anxiety, should already make you in tuned to..."

"His general anxiousness, yes but his fears." Logan's eyes narrowed as Virgil shrugged. "I thought that if I was a part of the hub... like all of you guys, I would be better help to him."

"Absolutely not." Roman called out with a dramatic swish of his hair. "Far to dangerous. It's bad enough you're even supposed to be my partner. I refuse to allow you any more power. It would risk Thomas's well being. Besides... How would you even do any of that, to begin with? You're Anxiety, not fear. You can't be who you aren't." Virgil's eyes met with Patton's who paled in understanding. 

"Well, actually he can." Roman's face dropped as Patton choked the words out. "Plus, with anxiety being a form of fear it would be even easier for him... than say... Morality taking over the hub of Emotions?" Patton frowned as he shook his head and gave the youngest a sad look. "Virgil, I don't recommend it. I did it to protect Thomas. His emotions were going crazy with no one to channel them. He was spiraling. I had no choice. I'm still working through my decision."

"Patton, as his emotions... can you honestly tell me his fears are in check?" Patton flinched slightly as he looked around and shook his head. "That's what I thought."

"You only want to do this so you have more power." Roman growled making Virgil visibly crash. He was just done with the prince... beyond done with him. "We can't kick you out if you control a hub."

"I'm doing this for Thomas." Virgil growled angrily as he avoided any and all eye contact save for the hosts. "Basically what my plan was... is to establish myself as your fear by using my influence. As Patton can attest the only way for the mind palace to see you as you are not is to force your influence on it."

"Yes, but there's backlash." Patton called out clearly trying to change the other's mind. "You are what you inspire. Virgil... You already know from experience. We ALL can attest to our... quirks because of who we are to Thomas. Adding more to your plate doesn't JUST give you more power... it affects you too."

"I know that, Morality." Virgil sighed as he tried really hard not to back down. He had to do this. There was a reason. He just had to get Logan, at the very least, to agree. 

"And how exactly would you be... forcing your influence?" Logan asked with a subtle glare that Virgil ignored completely.

"By using it on all of you."

"FU-... HECK NO!" Roman yelled out pointing a finger over at the other in complete rage. "You are NOT using your power against us. Not going to happen!"

"Princey, calm your f-en tits for a moment and listen." Roman flared as Virgil practically bared his fangs, which were really just sharp canines but Roman was going to see him as a vampire regardless. "If I can establish myself as Thomas's fear than I am essentially putting myself in the way of everything scary as fuck from causing him pain. The ONLY way to help Thomas with this is to establish a connection with fear. The fastest sure-fire way to do that is to make all of you afraid. If I can create that link then..."

"You'll be able to read everyone's fears without even trying." Roman's voice was dark and clearly pissed off. "How do you think Patton established himself? I didn't understand it at the time clearly but it makes sense. He knows how we're all feeling. That means you'd have complete knowledge over EVERYONE'S fears. You're looking for leverage." 

"I'm getting an understanding." Virgil's eyes darted over to Logan's seeing his go wide in realization. "If I know what you are all fearing..." Logan met his gaze with a nod. "...Then I can help Thomas with his own."

"I'm with Virgil." Logan called out with a hand raised. "I fully believe we should let him do it."

"If Logan thinks we should..." Patton lulled anxiously with a nod. "...then I'm with ya kiddo."

"Well, I'm not. I refuse to agree to this." Roman grumbled as he rolled his eyes. "And you need my permission to influence me or else its... immoral. Isn't that right, Patton?" Virgil just smirked as he nodded.

"Normally that would be correct and I would have to agree but... I don't need shit if Thomas gives me the ok." Roman's eyes filled with horror as Virgil shot the host a curious look. "So Thom-bone. What's your verdict?" Thomas sighed as he nodded making Roman crash completely.

"If you think it's the right thing to do then... go for it."