Pride (A Sanders Sides Story)(COMPLETED)

Chapter Nine

"Wait whaaaaaaaat?- Who are-"

"Thomas, let the grownup talk, please," Romulus sneered as he crossed his arms, looking a bit bored. Thomas shut his mouth in a bit of fear.

"Now. This callback will be the most important thing you ever do in your pathetic little life. Yes, you've done a lot of other things, but your main focus now is this callback...you are going to be out in that movie because you are going to kill it at your audition. No one else can compare to your talent that I've helped you achieve. You're welcome, by the way. Anyway, you practically have this audition in the bag, so don't let the others push your ego down any more than they have... let it inflate. Let ME take charge from now on...and you for sure will be in the movie..."

Thomad just blinked in response, not knowing at all what to say. "R-Romulus...? I don't... this is... n-no..."

Romulus gave Thomas an exasperated look. "Look. You don't need the others for this; All Logic will do is make you think of every possible outcome of this callback, and possibly talk you out of it, saying you have much more important things to do. Morality will make you feel bad for all the others who tried out, but didn't make it. That will stop you for sure... Anxiety will make you mess up on your song. Purposefully or accidental. Janus is no help in this whatsoever, and Remus- well- you don't need to think about butts, now do you? No. You need Pride. As much of it as you can get."

"But...Pride can make me egotistical...and a...jerk... I don't want that..."

Romulus rolled his eyes, starting to get annoyed. "Look. Having a little more pride in yourself is a good thing. I am a good thing to have, whether you like it or not," he paused. "And I'm not leaving any time soon, so you might as well get used to me now..."

"Thomas, don't listen to him!" Logan said popping back up in his spot, next to the stairs. "He's trying to give you false confidence. Do. Not. Listen. To. Him."

"Since when did Thomas ever listen to Logic?" Romulus asked smoothly. "Last time I checked, you weren't needed. The others don't care about you."

"Now that's a falsehood if I've ever heard one," Virgil said, appearing with a slight smirk. "Logan's our family. We need him just as much as Thomas does."

Logan stared at Virgil for a moment, in silent shock. "Wait...really...?"

"Yeah Specs. Really."

"LOOOOGAN WE LOVE YOU. I. LOVE. YOU. YOU. AMAZING. AMAZING. PERSON. LOVE. YOURSELF." Patton said rather loudly, rising up. He seemed more energetic already.

"Ow- that totally didn't hurt my ears-" Janus said, popping up with Remus. "But Virgil is right, Logan. We all need you..."

"YOU'RE ALL DORKS BUT I SHALL YEET LOVE AT YOU ALL- EXCEPT ROMULUS CUZ HE'S A MEGA DORK-" Remus shouted- louder than Patton had.

Romulus glared at all of them. Thomas wasn't listening to him... He had to think of something... And he did... He looked at Thomas, acting hurt by all of this. "Thomas...I thought I was your hero... Don't you need me? You aren't listening to a word I say...how do you think that makes me feel?" And then for a split second, Roman appears next to Romulus, looking mentally scarred by this. "Am I not enough for you?!" And then, Roman disappeared, leaving Romulus alone again. He balled his fists slightly, hanging his head.

Thomas's heart- shattered. His head- spinning. Hotel- Trivago.

"Romulus, I...-"

Romulus smirked the tiniest bit. "You know what? Why don't you and I have a little chat? Alone..." He snapped his fingers, and then disappeared, taking Thomas with him.

"THOMAS!" Everyone shouted, eyes all wide. 

"WHERE DID JEKYLL AND PRIDE GO?!?!?!" Janus yelled, frantic now.

"WHERE DID HE TAKE THOMAS?!?!" Patton yelled, fearful now.

"He probably took him to the Imagination..." Virgil said.

"Well that's not so bad-" Logan started.

"No... Not Roman's or Remus's side of the Imagination..."

"What do you mean...?" Patton asked.

Then Remus knew what Virgil meant. "Oh, you mean...Romulus's side..."

"Yeah..."

"But neither Roman or I have been on that side in years..."

"Well, we're about to go now," Janus replied, rubbing his temples.

Virgil pulled his hoodie tighter around him. "God, I hope Thomas will be okay..."