Chapter 13: The Teenage Phase
Deceit hummed happily in his bed hugging his snake plushie close to him. His room was delightfully warm now that he had a bigger heating lamp hanging over his bed. It was Deceits schedule day off from chores and he planned on not leaving his room; even though he barely did that already, with their part of the brain being in the dark and too cold. Besides he deserved this day off. He made sure everyone was working like they were suppose to. He kept Thomas safe and made sure the teen got to do what he wanted. He kept Remus from intruding and suggesting his ideas to Thomas, and he helped Virgil keep calm. And as for managing their side of the brain, Deceit made sure that the other two didn't hurt each other. Which usually meant that he had to keep Remus from setting Virgil off, by making sure Virgil didn't go into fight mode and attempt to hurt the Creative Side and that meant to stop Remus from engaging in said fight which was hard, but manageable. So when they were creating the chore sheet, Deceit made sure to put a day in there where he didn't have to leave his room to handle the headache of being the only mature one in the Dark side of the brain. His door was locked. He had his plushie. He had some calming music playing and he began playing the little yellow orb-like dots of light he seemed to be able to make manifest. He didn't know why he could create them, but they seemed to manifest easier whenever he was in his room.
"REMUS!" Virgil's shriek sound from outside his door. "What do you think you're doing?!" Deceit only lifted his head slightly when he heard two pairs of feet running by his door.
"The chores. Now out of my way!" Came Remus's muffled answer.
"Nu-uh! You're not allowed in my room!" Deceit yawned and let his head drop back on his pillow. As long as they were doing the chores and Remus wasn't destroying the place, he wasn't going to leave his room.
"Out of the Emo, or I'll make you!" Remus manic voice cackled, probably already thinking of several things he could do from scaring the anxious side away, to grossing him out too.
"Don't threaten me, I'll tell Deceit!" Virgil growled, and Deceit rolled his eyes in a silent prayer, that they would leave him out of it. It was his day off. A day he had a reason to not leave his nice and warm room for once. His tongue flicked out contently, at the thought of not leaving the warmth in his room.
"You so much as call him, and I'll feed you your tongue for dinner." Remus growled back, although the Snake Halfling even in his room could hear the glee at the thought. "I'll rip it out and fry it in a pan in front of you and force you to eat it. I might take a few bites myself." The Duke cackled, the sound bouncing through the walls.
Deceit smirked a little imagining Virgil's face at the menacingly and gross ramble. Something Deceit had learned over the years, was something Remus did almost as compulsively as Deceits own lying. Although he wholeheartedly believed that the Duke would go through with his threat. Ever since the split Deceit has yet to feel the Creative Side lie.
"Gross!, Stay Out!" Virgil shouted, followed by the walls vibrating, from what the Snake could only guess was the two having a scuffle outside of Virgil's door. A loud frighten shriek had Deceit sitting up in his bed, as more crashing sounds were made, and the frighten shrieks suddenly died off.
"Now! Back to work!" Remus's chipper manic voice said, as he walked past Deceits door again, humming a random tune. Not sensing nothing off in the brain, Deceit wondered if he should be worried about the sudden silence from Virgil. The silence being broken by a distinct banging sound that he could only guess was Remus kicking Virgil's door open. A few moments later Remus could be heard walking by his door again and back downstairs whistling merrily as he did.
Deceit thought about laying back down and not ruin his own day by stepping foot out of his warm room and into the cold hallway. Surely he could trust Remus not to seriously hurt Virgil; Right? He stayed completely still as he listened for any signs of the Anxious Side. Just as he was about to shrug off Virgil's sudden silence and go back to relaxing in the warmth of his heating lamps, Remus came knocking on his door, pulling an irritated groan from the Snake side. "Hey, Dee, I know you told us not to bother you today but I have a question."
"What?" He asked, already getting back comfortable. No way was he going to leave his room. Those two could handle their chores without him for one day.
"Just wanted to know if you ever known one of us dying before? Like how much damage can we take? Losing one of us shouldn't effect Thomas, right? Also, how mad will you be if I just maybe, accidentally, kind of, and probably killed Virgey?" The Duke asked, sound pleased as well as a little worried. Although Deceit had a feeling it wasn't for Virgil's sake.
Deceit found himself instantly out of his room, not even bothering to use the door, but popping out into the cold hallway and running for Virgil's room. Remus immediately following behind him. He jogged into Virgil's room, finding the door kicked in and everything cleaned up including the spiderwebs, the bed was made and clothes folded, if not a too haphazardly, but an effort had been made, and the walls had a new paint job, mostly splattered with pink and mint green paint. But there was no Virgil in sight. "Where is he? " Deceit asked, immediately going for the bathroom attached to the Anxious Sides room and finding it empty.
"Not in there." Remus said, looking proud of himself.
Deceit hissed annoyed and grabbed at the Dukes shirt, and pulled the taller side closer. "Where is Anxiety?! You know Thomas needs him!" He demanded.
"Oh, calm your scaly butt cheek, sweet cheeks. I left him with a babysitter so I could do my side of the chores." He gestured dramatically to Virgil's room. "See?" And with Deceit still holding tightly and threateningly to his shirt popped them to the common area, showing it cleaned and almost as nice looking as the Light Sides. "See?" He said again. The Lying Side narrowed his eyes and went to turn to the kitchen, only for Remus to pop them back in front of Virgil's room with a mischievous grin on his face. "All clean!" Remus finished.
Deceit looked up at the ceiling for a moment to push his frustration aside and looked back at Remus with a sickly sweet smile. "Yes. You did a very good job Remus. Now where is Virgil? What did you do to him?"
Remus spun in a circle arms up in victory. "I put him up too. Bad boy Anxy was trying to stand in my way, but I showed him!" The Duke said, snapping his finger and the floor beneath their feet disappeared, dropping the two sides in a dimly lit room, that Deceit didn't really know where it was located and he wasn't going to ask.
Muffled screaming had the Lying side lifting his head up to find a body sized cocoon with a giant spider standing over it still wrapping; what Deceit could only assume was Virgil, up in its web. "Remus!?"
"Yeah I was thinking, he likes webs and spiders for some reason so I gave him to Charlotte to watch." Remus smiled, blowing a kiss up to the giant spider as it stopped its work and started moving quickly toward Deceit.
"Remus!" Deceit demanded calmly, glaring at the Duke, while pushing aside his fear the he was going to join Virgil very soon, if Remus did not listen.
The Duke, looked inquiring at the Lying Side and immediately started pouting. "Fine." And with a wave of his hand the spider disappeared and the web and cocoon smothering Virgil did as well, dropping the Anxious Side to the ground. Deceit immediately went to the fallen side, barely noticing the Remus had also took them back to the hallway in front Virgil's door.
The Shadowling immediately started taking deep gulps of air now that he was free. "You!" He growled out. "I'm gonna kill you!"
Remus immediately perked up. "Fists and teeth! I get your spleen when I win!"
Deceit let his four other arms come out to use all six to hold the two other teens away from each other, placing himself in the middle. "I will not tolerate you two fighting each other in this house. If you insist on killing each other, I will be happy to oblige and stick you both in your room and never let you leave." He snapped. Virgil and Remus both stop struggling against his hold.
He carefully released his grip on the two and retracted his four extra arms, letting them meld into his back. Remus stuck his tongue out at Virgil who flipped the Duke the bird.
"Good." Deceit said, dusting his gloved hands off and fixing them a little. "Now, I am not going to go back to my room. Do try and not kill other." He huffed going back to his room and locking the door. He hadn't even made it to his bed that was being warmed by the overhead heat lamp when.
"Remus! What did you do to my room?!" Virgil shrieked. A loud cackled from the Duke could be heard as it vanished down the stairs. "I knew this was going to happen! Everything's Pink and Green!" Virgil's stomping footsteps echoed through their home searching for the Duke. Although they were downstairs, the muffled sounds of fighting could still be heard. But as long as they weren't killing each other Deceit was not going to leave his warm room again. He wasn't their mother, his only job required him to keep them hidden from Thomas. Deceit decided to ignore all the noise as he got lost in one of his favorite books.
(A few days later)
"No, no, no!" Virgil said, kneeling in front of their television, looking through Thomas's eyes as they were picking out new school clothes and materials.
"I know, right? I mean, seriously, are we not going to pick something that at least would help hide a weapon. I mean the backpack could work but that just so obvious." Remus agreed.
"No! Look at what their letting him buy! He's going to get picked on and then beaten up! Put that back Thomas!" Virgil shouted at the screen.
Thomas hesitated for a moment, but did not heed Virgil's plea. Deceit sat at the end of the couch further from the television, sitting silently and watched as Remus and Virgil tried to influence Thomas. He didn't need to remind them that here, their influence was minimal. Thomas would not feel them as strong. Virgil sat back on his heels after a couple of more tries, looking dejected, worried, and angry. "Valiant effort Virgil. Do keep trying." Deceit said, softly. Cause while Thomas would never know of them and their influence not that strong, they were still a part of Thomas.
"I barely get through." Virgil sulked, skulking his way into the kitchen, tempest tongue vanishing. "What good am I if I can't be heard?" He asked, looking for something to snack on.
"Just do what I do and haunt Thomas in his sleep. Dee's hold slips a little at night." Remus piped up, letting himself flop back on the couch, his head landing on Deceits lap.
"Informative. Remind me to sleep more then." Deceit hummed, disinterested and not letting himself melt into the living heater now on his lap. Remus seemed to knock the chill off him whenever he touched the Snake Side. "You know why your influence is stronger at night." He added arching a brow.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm creativity, intrusive thoughts and morbid curiosity, religious language, blah, blah, blah. Its more fun my way, than Roman's anyway." Remus said, with a random flourish of his hand, fingertips flicking at brim of Deceits hat, much to the annoyance of the Snake Side. "As long as I have snakeskin pillow to keep me comfortable and feeling cared for I am content with the way we live. Right Snake Daddy?" He asked making kissie noises up at the Lying Side.
Deceit rolled his eyes and pushed Remus off his lap so he could stand up and started his way up the stairs. Effectively pushing the Duke off the couch and on the floor."I don't care either way. But Virgil is not right about one thing. He isn't doing Thomas any good here. We should try not talking to the Core Sides. Remus will be sure your somewhere unsafe." He said, looking back at the two.
"I don't understand why its got to be so hard for us." Virgil sighed. "I mean are we that bad?" He asked looking at his hands. "Who gave them the right to choose to put us here?"
Deceit shook his head. Trying to figure out how to explain to Virgil why things were the way they were. That that right came from Thomas, but he didn't want to bad mouth Thomas either. After all Deceit himself was the one that was charged with keeping that, that wasn't wanted in the light, hidden in the dark. "Their the Core Sides. They don't see that we are all essential and apart of Thomas, including you and me."
"So, they pushed and shove us out of sight." Remus piped up.
"We're kept in the dark, so they can continue guiding Thomas down the straight and narrow path of life. Whispering words that inspire goodness." Deceit continued, trying to ignore Remus's add on.
"Til' Thomas crack from the pressure." Remus piped up again, with a feral grin.
Deceit couldn't help the smirk that graced his lips. "Its hilarious really."
"And such a waste!" Remus added, coming up and nudging Virgil in the ribs, with a wink.
"They struggle to see the truth." Deceit continued, paying no mind to the Duke interruptions.
"Yes, but that leave a lot of fun for me and you!" Remus crowed.
And Remus wasn't wrong. They could get away with a lot in the dark. But being a Core Side meant you were listened to more. "This is true." He conceded. "Although we must come up with a plan. For you two to be heard like your suppose to." He mused.
"So, you want me to go first…." Virgil mumbled, glancing at the Duke, as if hoping Deceit would choose Remus to try being accepted first.
Deceit nodded. "I will get you a foothold in. The Core will allow you to do your job, whether they like it or not."
"Your so sexy when your serious." Remus said, making weird eyebrow movements at Deceit, who pointedly ignored it.
"Remus and you will sneak in so you may suggest a few things to Thomas and help prepare him for highschool." Deceit ordered. "I will handle the other matter at hand." He said, turning to walk to his room.
"Oh, want me to stuff him under the couch, might have to flatten him a little but I can mike it happen." Remus asked jumping to his feet. Virgil sent an alarm look at Deceit.
"Remus, do play nice." He sighed.
"Well, come on Emo, I can drop you in a nice spot no one will notice you. Might have to hang you by your pants though." The Duke shrugged, after receiving a warning look from Deceit. Grabbing said Emo by the front of his black hoodie and running both of them up the stairs past Deceits and dragged Virgil into his bedroom with a cackle. "See you on the other side Double Dee!" He called
Deceit didn't respond, as he walked straight into his room to warm up quickly before he would go see the Light sides. Thomas was starting highschool and Virgil was right. This was the time Thomas was going to need the Anxious side. This was the time Thomas could use both Creative Sides. With a little added Deceit in there to help Thomas avoid unwanted obstacles that could hinder his dreams and safety. For the first time Deceit was going to call a meeting, instead of answering whenever the Core sides called, which around the time Remus and Roman came to be had stopped entirely. This would not only provide a distraction for Remus to help sneak Virgil in so he could work, but also give him the chance to try and persuade the Core Sides to accept at least Virgil and Remus as one of them. Taking a few deep breathes, feeling the heat in his room, make him feel more aware and awake, before letting a harmless smile on his face as he let himself sink from his room and pop in to the Common Area of the Core Sides, at the bottom of the stair case of their identical home.
"Deceit? I don't believe we called for you." Logan said, from his spot in front of the kitchen. Patton and Roman were crowded around the television where they had been throwing suggestions out and therefore muffling anything Remus and Virgil had been trying to suggest.
"I hadn't noticed." He said, fixing his gloves, to give his hands something to do for a few seconds. "I haven't come here to talk about Thomas's transition into a young adult." He said, getting to the point.
"So? You're what calling a meeting?" Roman asked, with a slight scoff at the end.
"Lovely to see you again, Roman. Handsome as ever I see. And no, I don't believe I am." He answered, being sure to through flattery at the Princely side, knowing Roman ego would feed off it and appease him a little.
"Oh, well, thank you." Roman primed, as he and Patton left their position in front of the television, The three Core Sides coming to crowd the Lying Side who stood unmoving at their approach, curious as to what would prompt his presence.
"What's on your mind, kiddo?" Patton asked.
Deceit didn't look directly at the corner of the ceiling that Remus and Virgil had appeared in Remus's torso sticking halfway from the wall, as he held or rather dangled Virgil low enough so the Anxious Side could get a good view of the television, and murmur his suggestion so Thomas would not pick something embarrassing for the new school year, making Thomas secind guess some of his choices that Roman and Patton had influenced him to through in his parents cart and putting somethings back. No, Deceit kept his focus on the Core Sides.
"Is it not the time for us all to come and help Thomas through this transition of his life?" He asked.
"What do you mean?" Patton asked.
"I mean highschool isn't such a rough and important obstacle in our development. Wouldn't it be wise that we all come together?" He tried again, trying to not to slip into lying and relying on his backward talk knowing they would misunderstand him.
"Oh, I think we got that covered." Roman said, as he pointed to each Side in turn. "Morality, Logic, and Creativity. What more could he need to get though this very important stage of his life. Patton will keep him morally on track. Logan will see to it that he learn all he can. And I will oversee that he follows his dream and find love, and protect him from those who threaten his journey to being whoever he wants to be." Roman said, with flourish. Up in the corner, Deceit was acutely aware of Remus sticking his tongue out at his brother and making gagging motions, almost dropping Virgil with his dramatic actions. Where as Virgil, merely rolled his eyes with a shake of his head, before continuing his job. "Which will be becoming famous and meet the love of his life." Roman finished, looking pleased with himself.
Deceit resisted the urge to call Roman an idiot.
"Despite that rather brash description, I do believe we have everything cover Deceit." Logan nodded. "Unless you are bringing this up because of that other Side? The one you been keeping a secret all this time?" Logan asked.
And oh, how Deceit enjoyed how perspective Logan could be sometimes. "And if I do?" He asked, the question aimed at the Logical side. He was aware of Virgil tensing in at the mentioning of him, immediately shaking his head and making abort mission hand signs. Deceit ignore him and ventured forward.
"Do you believe he would be essential to Thomas during this time in his life?" Logan asked.
"Would I be here otherwise?" Deceit asked smile widening.
Roman made a disbelieving noise, but said nothing to interrupt Deceit.
"Well, what does he do?" Patton asked. He had Logic and Morality interested, and that was more than Deceit could have hoped for. If he could get them to accept Virgil. Then maybe they would give Remus another chance. Roman seemed to still need convincing.
"He is...Vigilance, and caution." Deceit said, he was aware of both Remus and Virgil freezing from their spot up in the corner of the ceiling, and staring at him. Virgil with more fear in his eyes than anything. Deceit knew it was a stretch, but it was most likely to win over the Core Sides should Deceit get them to say yes with that knowledge alone.
"Vigilance and Caution?" Roman repeated, making a face.
"He would be useful in your quest to keeping Thomas safe as he follows his dreams." Deceit nodded.
A smile started to spread across Patton's face. "Of course he can help us watch over Thomas!" He said, excitedly.
"Hold it!" Roman cautioned, dashing whatever kind of victory cheer was forming in Deceits head. "He's been hiding this guy for a long time. Even that one time, when you tried to talk to him he ran off. Why are you willing to show him off now?" Roman demanded, taking an intimidating step toward the Snake Side.
Deceit didn't budge, and slyly moved his eyes to take in Roman intimidation tactic. Up in the ceiling corner, Remus switched to holding Virgil by the back of his hoodie with one hand, while the other hand was used to continue to push himself from the wall so he could drop tot he floor and bash his stupid brother upside the head, for daring to try and mess with his Snake. Deceit seeing this from his peripheral did a slight movement with his own hand and immediately Remus was starting sink back into the wall, his hands coming up and covering his mouth to shut him up from making any kind of noise as he was forcibly sent back to his room, where he would stay until Deceit let him out. Virgil was dropped in the process onto the Core Sides couch below him, his own hand coming up to muffle any sound he let out. The Anxious Side wasted no time in scurrying behind the couch before the Core Sides were aware of his presence, only peeking his up so he could still see the television and continue his job. The shadows coming to him as his eyes glowed purple, to try and help hide him better.
"He nothing if a bit shy." Deceit answered, not skipping a beat. "He even respected your wished and has not returned to the Imagination at all. He is will help you keep Thomas safe from the unknown dangers of highschool, and the journey into adulthood. A good voice of reason to have around when it comes to identifying certain obstacles." He added, hoping that would at least peak Logan's and Roman's interest a bit more. Patton he wasn't so worried about, Deceit was confident that once Patton could see and talk to Virgil properly the self proclaimed Dad side would practically adopt him.
"I must say that does sound beneficial." Logan mused.
"He sounds amazing!" Patton said, clapping his hands excitedly.
"Indeed, but I think we can all agree I am more than capable of keeping Thomas safe as he journey's toward his dream." Roman said, looking only half convinced.
"Yes, but doesn't every brave knight have a squire to assist him?" Deceit countered.
Roman gave a short laugh. "I don't need an assistant. I can do my job just fine on my own."
"Actually, a squire was a teenage boy in the middle ages that would not only assist a knight but was also in training to be a knight one day. So logically speaking, you yourself Roman would be considered a knight's squire in the middle ages." Logan corrected.
"Excuse you, but I am a Prince as well as a knight. I am no simple untrained squire." Roman argued offended, at being called an untrained knight.
"Which is why I would like you to take him on as your squire." Deceit said, trying to appeal to Roman's ego.
"Oh, don't listen to them of course someone dedicated to keeping Thomas safe is welcomed to join us!" Patton cheered, a note of finality in it.
Deceit felt a victory smirk slide onto his face. Patton had more pull than the others. "While we're on the subject of acceptance. Let us talk about Remus." He said casually. Immediately, the Core Sides, expressions changed.
"What about me brother?" Roman asked, with narrowed eyes. "Surely you're not about to suggest that he join us and make Thomas make a fool of himself." He demanded.
Well, maybe he was going to have to fight a little more for Remus to get his place with the Core Sides. But he had gotten Virgil an opening, he had to get Remus one too. "I can assure you he will be beneficial to Thomas's highschool experience." Deceit stated calmly.
Virgil who was still hiding and now panicking because not only did Deceit manage for the Core Sides to say yes to Virgil's influence, but Thomas who was still in the store was separated from his parents, because he wanted to stop and look at a some shirts that he might want to where for this school year, and the shirts were similar to Virgil aesthetic that he and let him but now Thomas's parents were gone and the store was huge and was that a stranger following Thomas?! Thomas was going to get kidnap and he would never see his family again! "Look out, look out!" he whispered, unable to control his tempest tongue slipping a little as he tried to be quiet. He didn't want to ruin Deceit's effort of getting the Core Sides to accept their influence. That stranger was getting closer. "Drop everything and run!" He blurted out, no wanting to risk Thomas never seeing his parents again.
Deceit and the Core Sides all turned to look at the corner of the couch that was covered in shadows and Virgil slapped his own hand over his mouth, realizing what he just did. Eyes flicking hurriedly over the other Sides not really registering who they were personally, until he spotted Deceit, who had a frown on his face and was looking worriedly at the Core Side reactions, before meeting Virgil's eyes. He panicked even more when the Core Sides, started moving toward him. Morality jogging over the fastest with Logic close behind. Roman had stayed near Deceit. "I see! You were just tricking us this whole time!" Roman was shouting.
"I did nothing of the sort." Deceit denied, not taking his eyes off of Virgil.
"Look what he just did to Thomas! Vigilance and Caution, those were lies weren't they?!" Roman declared. And sure enough everyone looked to the television where Thomas was currently running out of the store and to his parents vehicle, breaths heavy and eye blurry with tears.
Deceit took everyone's distraction to sink out and to his room, hoping Virgil would soon follow.
Virgil tried calming his own breathing down, when he noticed Deceit leaving him with the Core Sides. Morality was the first one to turn his attention back to him. "Oh, kiddo, are you okay? What happened?"
"Its a panic attack." Logic answered, and Virgil was happy he did, he didn't think he could answer questions right now.
"He ruined our shopping trip is what he did!" Roman growled. "How can someone like this help Thomas toward his dream if he causes him to run from a shopping trip?"
"There was a stranger….Going to kidnap him..." He tried to explain. Not liking that Morality and Logic flinched at his tempest tongue.
"And he's paranoid. The Snake didn't mention nothing about that!" Roman stated. Virgil sent a glare over at the Prince his once thought came straight from Disney. Now only seeing him as nothing but an idiot who liked the sound of his own voice. And who pushed Thomas to act strange and loud and sometimes dressed in a way that put him in the center of attention. An utter annoyance. A handsome and loud annoyance that didn't care as long as attention was on him and Thomas.
Logic was thinking tapping his chin as he looked from Thomas's reaction on the television to mysterious Side that Deceit had called; Vigilance. Putting everything together from he first met him in the imagination a few years ago, to what had transpired today. "You wouldn't happen to represent Paranoia would you?" He asked bluntly.
Morality and Roman both gasped. The Princely side summoning his sword. "Paranoia. Thomas doesn't need someone to make him paranoid if he's going to become famous."
Virgil eyes fixated on the sword in Roman's hand and decided it was time to go. "Oh no! Kiddo, wait! You don't have to-" Patton said, his voice getting cut off as Virgil popped into his room. The shadow vanishing as soon as he took a relieved breath now that he was safe in his room. Deceit was there waiting for him and was quick to pull the Anxious Side into a hug.
"I'm sorry!" He said, gripping the back of Deceit capelet that the Snake Side was starting to grow into.
"You have everything to be sorry for." Deceit comforted.
Virgil let himself relax in the hug. "Did I ruin everything?" He asked.
"Yes. You will not start our job on the day Thomas goes to school. You are not important. Remember that, okay." Deceit soothed, leading Virgil to his bed. "I do not want to rest up. You are not about to be a very busy Side soon. I'll not bring you up something to eat." Deceit promised, as he left Virgil's room. Virgil nodded, as he slipped his headphones on his ears.
Deceit shook off a shiver that ran through him as he left Virgil and walked to Remus's room. He had not really expect that to happen with the Core Sides, but as long as he had one foot in the door for at least on of them that was all he could ask for. Now he had to face Remus, who he had forcibly removed. He let his head drop and rubbed at his scales, as he looked at the beaten up green door, that lead into Remus's room. Surprisingly, the Duke was not pounding at the door, rearing to get out. Deceit took that as a bad sign. Not delaying any longer, he reached for the door handle and could hear the lock release at his touch.
Upon entering, Deceit was greet with a messy and chaotic dungeon like room, with Remus laying on his back on the bed, with his head hanging off the foot and the king sized bed and his dirty boots on the pillows. "Well, look who came to visit!" Remus smirked. "Have fun with my brother? Is a spoiled Prince your type now?" The Duke asked, piercing the Lying Side with glowing green eyes.
"Of course because I just love someone who can't stop talking about themselves." Deceit scoffed.
A loud thunk sound with a quick flick of the Dukes wrist. Deceit looked down to see a throwing knife, an inch away from The Snakes person, trapping a piece of his capelet to the green door behind him. He looked back at the Duke calmly, but sternly. "Very mature, Remus. You know why I sent you back. I couldn't very well, let you attack Roman, if I was going to advocate for you and Virgil. We have to think about image."
Remus rolled onto his stomach as Deceit talked. "I don't like Roman talking to you like that." He confessed. "I want to torture him whenever I see him near you. And not the torture I put him through when we battle. Sever and unlimited pain. Where I would cut him open and rearrange his organ, and put them in a gift basket, where I would gift them to you!" He rambled and he waved his hand the knife pinning Deceit to the green door vanished, along with the tear that had come from it.
"How chivalrous of you. But I can assure you I am very much capable of taking care of myself." Deceit let a confident smile spread across his face.
Remus tilted his head with interest and evil like look flicking across his face, his finger coming up to twirl the little tuffs of hair above his lip that the Duke had been trying to grow out into an actual mustache. "You don't say." In a blink of an eye, Deceit found the Duke up in his personal space pushing him into the door behind him with Remus's arm pressed against his throat, but not cutting off any air. "Then you should be able to get out of this. Right?" He smiled, his nose mere inches from Deceits.
"I don't want to hurt you Remus. I'm not even sure how it will affect another side." Deceit stated calmly.
"Are you saying you were lying, Deedee?" Remus challenged, his unnaturally sharp teeth coming closer to the Lying Sides face, and his arm pressing a little on Deceits throat, but not to hurt yet.
The Snake side scoffed at that, and showed the Duke his teeth, letting his fangs show.
"Oh, so there are more snake parts to you than the scales. Does this mean you are poisonous? Can you slither on the floor like an actual snake? I wonder what will happen if I pull out your fangs? Will they grow back? Can I wear them as necklace?- Ouch!" Remus drew his arm back once Deceit bit him on the hand just to cut off his rambling. The Duke glanced at his arm where the puncture marks stood out, along with the yellow veining that was now spreading. A few inches around the wound. "That really hurt Dee." He pouted, moving away from Deceit, who licked at his teeth, not liking that metallic taste that was left in his mouth.
"I did not warn you. You cannot tell a lie with my venom. If you do it spreads. And I know full well what happens when it reaches your heart." He said.
"Cool! Wanna find out?" Remus asked.
"Yes! Just don't tell the truth." Deceit said, shaking his head, not in a hurry to find out something else that could possibly make him even more dangerous looking to the other sides.
"Too bad, I'm going to lie and lie and lie some more. Which means you better stay with me to make sure nothing happens, less it hurt Thomas when you murder me." The Duke grinned, grabbing Deceit by the arms and throwing him over onto his bed, and jumping on top of him.
"Remus!" Deceit snapped, flicking his hand into a fist.
"This isn't-Mphhh!" Remus's hands came up and silenced what was no doubt going to be a lie. And Deceit did not want to encourage Remus to start lying to him. The Duke grunted in annoyance trying to rip his own hand away from his mouth.
"Remus. I don't believe I have to say how disappointed I wouldn't be if you finished that sentence." He said, staring up at the Dukes wild brown eyes.
Remus shook his head.
"Promise." Deceit demanded, letting the Duke move his hand from his face.
"I promise on Roman's ego." Remus grin.
Deceit nodded his head. That was good enough he guessed. The twin might not get along well, but they still cared for each other. "Now do not get and let me up." He said, ready to go back to his room. Although it was tempting to just hug the Creative Side closer and use him as his own personal living heater, but he had an image he had to keep, so he started pushing the side away.
"No! Has cool as fangs and poison is Double Dee Daddy-o, that isn't' enough to convince me." Remus grinned, two of his tentacles coming out and lifting Deceit hat off his head. Deceit hissed and freed one of his arms to swat at the tentacles, and snatch his hat back. "Plus I'm still angry about being force to leave." Remus chuckled darkly touching their foreheads together. This caused Deceit to freeze entirely. "I didn't even get to have any fun."
Deceit couldn't understand the look that accompanied Remus's normally wild and bright brown eyes, but it made him feel weird and he didn't have the time to deal with that. Not when he had to watch all everyone and make sure everyone was working and keeping Thomas mentally healthy. He did not want to fail at the one thing that made him feel useful to Thomas and the others. With that in mind, he hissed at the Duke one more time, before letting his extra arms out, with two grabbing the two tentacle on Remus's back and the other four to help him throw the Duke off him and the bed.
Remus tumbled off the bed, with the combined strength that came with those extra arms Deceit had and watched as the Snake Side, gracefully rolled off the bed and walked as calm and unbothered as ever to the green door. Remus went to follow and trap the Lying Side again. After all it wasn't often he could get Dee to enter his room, not after the day the Dragonwitch had been created. He could barely get the other two sides to even join him in the imagination anymore. He mostly blamed Roman for saying that they were banished from it. But Remus wasn't anything if not persistent. However, just as he leaped toward the Snake Side, Deceit had whipped around and out of no what a very long hooked cane, the hook end catching the Duke around the throat and with a spin from Deceit had the Creative Side pushed back into his room near the bed. "Do test me Remus." Deceit scolded, the cane vanishing, as he left.
"Hmph!" Remus grunted with a grin on his face. He loved watching Deceit assert himself and show them who was in charge. But he had never actually seen Deceit take an offensive position and it really had anger Remus when Roman had tried to intimidate the Snake Side, and then to be forced to leave. "He's getting harder and harder to resist." He cackled to himself, as he rubbed at where the hook and the cane had caught him.
(Virgil: First day of Highschool)
To say Virgil was nervous was just an understatement. Today was the day he was going to go the Core Sides and actually work with them to get Thomas through the first day of highschool. He had already made note of what could happen on the way to the school, and when they entered the school, and what to do and not to do when it came to lunchtime. It was all so unknown of what Thomas should expect he didn't get any sleep the night before and that meant Thomas didn't get much sleep either. Sending Thomas to school with bags under his eyes was almost enough for Virgil to vote that Thomas should just stay home, because they did not want Thomas to be caught sleeping on the first day of school, and then the teachers would think that Thomas was a slacker. Well, there was no turning back now. Thomas was already on his way to school.
He tried popping into the Core Sides common room, opting to skipping breakfast with Deceit and Remus. He didn't think he could stomach anything anyway. However, instead of appearing in the Core Sides Common room, he found himself in a room that seemed identical to that of a classroom, including desks. There was even a large television screen taking up most of the wall so they would be able to see and hear everything Thomas did. The Core Sides were already there and with notebooks and pencils, and lunchboxes. Virgil hadn't thought about bringing any of that with him.
"What are you doing here?" Roman demanded, being the first to spot him.
Virgil reminded himself not to be intimidated. He was here to do a job. "What's it look like Princey?" He scoffed.
"Like your interfering with us as we try to guide Thomas through this very important day." Roman answered, crossing his arms.
"I was told that it was okay for me to make myself heard when Thomas started school. Besides someone has to stop him when you push him to make a fool of himself." Virgil snarked, internally he was aware that it probably wasn't a good idea to get in a fight with a Core Side after he had just arrived.
"We did say that he was welcomed to help us guide Thomas through today. It is too late to shut, uh- I am afraid we still don't know who you are." Logan said, stepping in between Roman and Virgil.
"Yeah, Logan thought you might be paranoia, but I told him he was way off the mark." Patton smiled, shoving past Logan and Roman, coming to a stop just in front of Virgil who flinched away from his sudden closeness.
Virgil thought about lying and say he was caution, and while that wasn't an outright lie, it would still only half of the truth and a small part of what he represented. And maybe he would gain a few brownie points if he was honest with them. But what if they hate him for his job? What if it blew up in his face? "I'm-uh, I represent Thomas's Anxiety." He mumbled, refusing to look at the Core Sides and counted it down in his head from three.
"I knew it!" Roman bellowed. "That Snake lied!"
"Anxiety? Is that bad or something?" Patton asked.
"Actually, I believe we were given only half of a truth." Logan stated. "While Anxiety is a normal and healthy emotion if a person regularly feels a disproportionate level of anxiety, it has the potential to become a medical disorder. Which can lead to excessive amount of nervousness, stress, paranoia, fear, apprehension, and worry that are strong enough that they it can interfere with ones daily activities." Logan recited as if reading from an invisible book.
Virgil hunched his shoulders a little at the worry glances that the Core Sides were now giving him. What was he going to say to that, everything Logan had stated was the truth. So, instead of standing around and in the center of attention, he walked past the other sides and to the desks that were lined side by side. It didn't escape his notice that there were only three. So he took a seat in the one closest to him.
"And what do you think you're doing?" Roman demanded. It seemed like that was the only thing he did whenever he seen Virgil or Remus and Deceit.
"Sitting. You know Thomas is going to have a hard time and make my job that much more busier if his Creativity can't comprehend something so simple." He smirked, seeing Roman's face turn red. "Logic, you're going to have your hands full today."
"Why you little-"Roman growled.
"Hey!" Patton jumped in pushing Roman back. "Its okay Roman, you can just make another desk. Right? I mean we were going to have to get another one anyway, since we didn't prepare one for him."
"But, but, but he's-" Roman scoffed.
"Can't return since we opened our door to him. Thomas is already walking through the doors." Logan interjected. Producing an extra notebook and pencil from his room, into his hands as he handed them to Virgil, who looked at them with disdain. He hadn't been told he was actually going to have to work.
"So what do we call you?" Patton asked, still with a friendly smile as he took a seat in the desk next to Virgil.
"I told you. I'm Anxiety." Virgil grunted, already starting to doodle in the notebook given to him, to try and take his mind off the tension that was surrounding the room. They didn't want him there.
"Oh. Okay." Patton's smile slipped only just a little.
"Pay attention everyone. Class is about to start." Logan announced taking a seat next to Patton, while Roman took the desk that was on the other side of Virgil, giving the Anxious Side one last side glance before his attention went to the television.
"Let's have Thomas sit in the front row, so he is able to see the lesson more clearly." Logan suggested.
And already Virgil knew it was going to be a long day. "Don't do it Thomas. You'll get called on more often and everyone's attention will be on you. You don't want to be labeled a teachers pet." And just like that with the help of his Tempest Tongue, Thomas hesitated and moved away from the front row. Following Virgil's suggestion at overrode Logan's.
The Core Sides all glanced at him and Virgil didn't miss Roman's hand reach out and Patton's desk moving slightly away from Virgil, as the Prince himself scooted his own desk away. Logan merely looked slightly dejected. "Would the second row suffice then, Anxiety?" He asked, fixing his glasses.
Virgil didn't look up as he lifted his hood up on his head. He hadn't meant for his tempest tongue to come out, it just happened. It was an important choice, when you chose where you were going to sit for the rest of the year. Last thing he wanted was for Thomas to be labeled as a teachers pet, and then to be called on just because he sat where the teachers eyes would always land on him.
"The fourth row then." Patton asked, scooting his desk back to its original spot.
Virgil shrugged and continue to doodle.
"Ugh! This is going to be a long day!" Roman groaned, echoing Virgil's earlier thoughts.
TBC