The Logical Exception

{ Chapter 39 - A Hopeless Play }

Roman was barely thinking about strategy, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible. These people had threatened Patton and it left him with a sense of anger that worked its way down to his shaking fingers. He knew he should have been quieter but his footfalls were heavy and he blindly went to turn the corner. He was stopped. Deceit held out his hand, providing a barrier that kept the angry prince from charging into something stupid.

"After listening to Logan's speech on traps, I'm sure the smartest thing to do is to run through this hallway without being cautious." Deceit rolled his eyes, sarcasm dropping off every word.

"Hey, just because I'm handsome doesn't mean I'm stupid."

"I called you neither of those things. I'm simply suggesting that you might be letting your emotions rule your thoughts right now."

"Fine, maybe they are, but I'm still thinking. They don't know what side I'm on yet, if you just turn into a maid or something then we could easily fool them."

"Valid point, but I can't turn into just anyone." Deceit lowered his arm, looking at Roman, "And I don't particularly like turning into new people if I can help it. Eating someone's hair is gross."

Roman had a feeling there was more to it than that but he didn't argue.

"Well, who can you turn into."

"Currently, probably Logic, Zero-Sum, the fluffy on-"

"Wait, you can turn into Zero-Sum."

Deceit nodded, "That is what Logic wanted me to do, but you ran off before I got much of a chance."

"I hate to admit it, but the nerd is right sometimes, and it would be to our advantage if she didn't have access to her powers," Roman took in a deep breath, trying to calm his anger. The problem was, with the anger gone, fear curled its way through his body. Roman would never admit it but going up against his mother scared him. She had created and held a cellphone over a long distance, for days. What else could she do? Was this house actually just a product of her abilities?

"As you wish." Deceit began to shift and form, leaving Roman to stew in his thoughts. They weren't alone for long. Right after Deceit had taken on the form of Zero-Sum they heard another voice down the end of the hallway, a voice that made Roman freeze and think through all of his strategies. This was not an ideal time as Deceit's clothes were stretched against Zero-Sum's larger frame, it was obvious, wasn't it?

"Darling, what are you two doing still up? It's rather late." Mother Necessity's voice was filled with suspicion but it was still light and gentle.

"Showing Roman back."

Roman was ready to jump or pounce, but she smiled lightly. Was she just acting? She had proven herself to be a fine actor.

"Don't worry about that love, I know you need to rest. I'll go ahead and show Roman to his room."

Deceit nodded, stepping to the side. What was he thinking, leaving Roman alone with her? Did she really think that everything was normal? He didn't trust her. Could he trust Deceit?

His mother stepped closer and closer until she wrapped her arm around Roman's shoulder, using him as leverage to kick Deceit in the stomach.

"I have spent over 30 years with this man, you don't think I can't tell when he is being impersonated?" She asked with a cold scowl, holding Roman tightly before whispering, "Get out of here son."

She let go and Roman stood there stunned for a moment. This was all an act, right? She had been truthful to her husband, right? Still, she sounded so concerned. He had to remember she wasn't. She only cared about his powers.

Roman stepped back before creating a morning star, Remus' signature weapon when they fought side by side, and he swung it towards her. He knew the consequences of his actions but he also knew he needed to protect Patton. A sacrifice would have to be made.

He didn't know when he had closed his eyes but when he opened them again his weapon was stuck deep in the drywall and circuitry of the house, his mother staring at him stunned and with growing anger.

"I see you've chosen your side." She rolled her shoulders and twisted her neck as it popped. "That's okay, it won't change anything." She dropped into a fighting stance Roman had never seen before and quirked her eyebrow up. There was a smug smirk on her face that Roman couldn't stand, yet it still sent a shiver down his spine. She knew she could win.

"I won't be defeated by you." He let the morning star disappear, forming his sword instead. He needed to work with his strengths, he couldn't go into this fight with only half an idea. Roman tried to run through all of his training in his head, circling his mother slowly as she watched him with the gaze of a lioness ready to pounce. For a brief moment, her eyes flickered to the wall and he knew he needed to make the first move.

Throwing himself and his sword towards her, Roman was met with only air as she dodged out of the way, jumping back into Deceit's waiting arms, but Deceit couldn't keep ahold of her.

"Tell me, Roman, what do you think you can accomplish?" She twisted away from her captor who stumbled forward, trying to restrain her once again. She was agile and twisted out of his grasping hands.

"Did you think you could take me down? That someone as small and insignificant as you could take over my empire?"

"I'm not here for your power, I'm here for peace!" Roman swung at her again but she again sidestepped him, frowning as she held her hand up to conjure something. It didn't last long though as her eyes flickered from her hand to Roman and then recognition lit up her face. It was just a brief moment where her thought process seemed to change and a sly smile twisted onto her lips.

"Here for peace, yet you brandish a sword. Truly my son. You use peace in the name of your own desires. I'm actually kind of proud."

Roman charged again, the anger welling up in him more. He didn't realize it was baiting, that he was doing exactly what she wanted. Once again he was sidestepped, this time crashing into a wall. He felt it under his arm, a piece of the wall that indented like a button. Deceit screamed out in pain, and Roman turned to look at his companion, now surrounded by some kind of electric cage that forced him back to his normal state. Deceit crumpled to the floor.

"What did you do?"

"What did I do? That was all you, love. Besides, it evened the playing field. Don't you heroes like fighting fair?" She began to form something in her hand and Roman knew he had to be quick.

He charged, swinging recklessly but she avoided each and every swing.

"I have always speculated that our powers are limited based on our definition of things."

How was she not winded? It was like she was toying with him. Roman could already feel the physical drain of the fight.

"For example." She now had a slingshot in her hair, "Per physics definitions, this is a machine." She picked up a piece of the broken drywall, rolling out of the way of Roman's carelessly swung sword. He was back at the wall, trying to press the button to free Deceit but it didn't stop. He would have to finish this fight, but how was he going to win? He was used to wild chaos of Remus, and though he had fought cold and calculating in Logan, this was different, this was more intense.

Mother necessity shot the piece of sheetrock at the wall, just barely missing Roman's head, but he wasn't dumb enough to think she hadn't missed on purpose. The sheetrock ricocheted off the wall and hit a glass vase filled with marbles, causing it to wobble and tip over. As they spilled on the floor Roman slipped and fell on his back. He needed to get up, he needed to stop this.

She strutted forward, her black mist beginning to cover him.

"Now, how does that idiom go?"

He felt the weight of something metal and heavy weighing him down, "Right, there's more than one way to skin a cat."