Chapter 25: I will be You Villain
(6 months later)
"Are you sure about this?" Remus asked, bouncing from foot to foot, as Deceit prepared to leave.
"Of course not. It isn't time for some intervention." The Snake side nodded.
"I just don't understand what stick shoved up their ass. Its just a fib. I mean did you see the dude. If Virgil had quit butting in and distracting Roman, can you imagine the night we would have had! Joan would have understood." The Duke insisted.
"True, Joan wouldn't have understood. And it wasn't just a reading. But the Light Sides are going to bicker him into insanity if he doesn't stop being hard on himself over simple little dilemmas." Deceit's form changed into the of Patton. "How do I look?" He asked.
"Like a goody-little-too-shoes that I want to make cry." Remus smiled.
Deceit smirked. "Another time maybe. Did you grab the creation I targeted for you?" He asked.
"Yup! I threw in some cookies too." Remus beamed, holding up a cute little purple and white panda with a rainbow horn. A small bag of cookies tied to around its neck with a bright red bow. It wasn't hard to see the creature belonged to Roman's side of the Imagination. "I laced them with a light sedative to keep Happy Pappy slow to respond."
"Too much, I hope." Deceit said, giving the Duke a stern look.
"Nah! It'll wear off in fifteen to twenty minutes. And by then the creature will deconstruct with the Hearts feeling spared. Just like you asked." Remus listed holding up a piece of paper the Deceit had given him earlier.
"And now we just hope that Virgil doesn't catch on to what I am doing and Thomas should see the silliness in this dilemma without much trouble." Deceit said, easily slipping into Patton's happy tone. Mirroring the Dad's Side posture and facial expression.
"You are so hot right now." Remus smirked, his eyes moving up and down the disguised Side's form.
"Aww, kiddo, how spicy of you to say." Deceit said, flashing one of Patton's famous smiles. "Well, wish me luck, kiddo." He said, sinking out to enter the fray that was now going on in Light Sides Common room with Thomas.
Remus whistled a happy tune as he ducked into Patton's room with ease and unleashed the cute creature, before sinking out just as fast. The Dad Side didn't even see him, and was immediately trying to catch the adorable bear to cuddle and love, and pet. When the cookies were found it he just couldn't resist to eat one and figure out who had left him such a gift.
(Almost twenty minutes later)
Deceit rose up in his room and dropped into his bed. Remus was waiting, and immediately cuddled up to him. They laid there for a few minutes, Deceit wasn't ready to talk about what had happened. Things had went like he knew it would. Not the way he had wanted things to go. He was shunned away by Thomas. Although he guess telling Thomas, he had no Morality was over doing it. Still once his cover had been blown he couldn't break character. He was good at playing the villain mastermind. He had to be good at pulling strings if he was to do his job. It just stung a little more to hear it straight (ha!) from Thomas's mouth that he seen Deceit as a villain.
"I am a villain, Remus." He mumbled into the Dukes shoulder.
"Then I will be one too." Remus responded.
Deceit pulled away and yanked gently on the mustaches on the Dukes face. "Do be silly. My goal isn't to get you listened to." He said, with a small smile.
"Ow." The Creative side rubbed at his pulled facial hair.
"I am going to open our door quickly for him. So, for the next few months I will not be demanding you absolute cooperation." Janus said, his tone going very serious. "Will you give it to me?"
Remus pulled the Snake Side back down onto the bed and rolled on top of him, pulling a laugh out of the other. "As if you even have to ask. Make me yours, Janny!" The Creative Side cheered, and ran his tongue across some of Deceit neck scales.
"Ew! Don't ssstop that!" Janus said, between a hiss and a laugh.
"Anything for you my Double Dee. I am yours to command and fuck to your hearts desire." The Duke crowed.
"If only you would listen." Janus chuckled. "It will be a long road, but with careful planning, and your help, we will get you accepted."
"Us, accepted Jan, and don't you forget it." Remus corrected.
"Yes, of course. Us." Deceit hummed, pulling the Duke close. Yes, he was going to have his work cut out for him. He was going to have to bide his time for his next appearance. Had to wait for the right circumstance to arise. He was going to start working double time now.
(13 months later)
Remus frowned as he gazed at the yellow door that led to Deceits room, debating if the Snake side would be upset if he actually burned a big giant hole in it to get it open. The Snake Side had been holed up in there for weeks, hardly coming out to eat. Already the Duke was starting to get a little worried with how it seemed that Janus was slipping back into old habits. Even if the Lying side had assured that it was just work that was keeping him very busy. And Remus could understand that. Even his job had escalated over the past few months. He was able to whisper in Thomas's ear now when he was asleep. While all of that was fun and all, it also meant that Janus wasn't trying very hard to muffle him anymore. Even Roman would accidentally give out one of Remus's ideas, if it found its way to him. Nothing too sever, but the ideas did get watered down when Roman would relay them.
"Jan!" He knocked, then put his ear to the door to listen for sounds on the other side. There wasn't any response. Deceit had forbid him from trying to break into his room, but he hadn't forbade from letting something slip in.
Remus grabbed hold of his left hand and twisted it off with a deliciously loud crack. The hand still moved and wiggled, as he took a sledge hammer to flatten it enough in one swing so it would fit under the door. The flattened limb immediately plumping back up once it made it to the other side.
He knew once his hand found its target by the sudden sound of stomping and yelling from Janus. They yellow door swung open with the hand dangling from the door handle. Deceit stood just behind it papers flying around the room from being thrown around, while the Snake side glared at Remus, who was smiling back affectionately. "There you are! Time to eat!" He grinned, as his dismembered hand swung off the door handle and onto the fuming Snake Side shoulder and rubbing up against the human side of his face.
"I wasn't working!" Deceit hissed, grabbing the dismembered hand by the wrist and passing the wiggling limb back to the Duke.
"I know. But you've been spending too much time with work and not enough time with me, myself, and I." Remus said, fixing his hand back on.
"I will be down to eat in a few minutes." Deceit huffed, trying to close his door, while Remus held it open with one hand.
"Then you can come and eat now, if its only a few minutes." The Duke countered. "Don't make me feed you through a tube Jayjay. You know I will." Remus promised, with a menacing look on his face that would probably scare any other Side if they weren't Deceit.
The Snake simply let out a frustrated sigh and massaged the bridge of his nose. "Remus, please. You know things have been high strung lately. Especially since we are all waiting for Thomas to get phone call concerning a call back. I must make sure everyone is prepared." Deceit reasoned.
Remus pulled Janus close to him and pulled him from the entry way of the room so the Side couldn't slink back in. "Yes, yes, and you have been doing a good job letting the others rest while you pick up the slack. I honestly, don't know why you bother sometimes, when you know they don't appreciate what you do." The Duke said, nudging the Snake Side along until they were down the stairs and sitting at the table.
"It isn't my job." Deceit huffed. "Something I shouldn't get back to doing."
"Right! You shouldn't! Look! I even dressed the table!" Remus smiled. Pointing out the mysteriously stained table cloth that had a skull of some creature as the centerpiece accompanied with a vase of wilted thorn roses.
Deceit took a moment to admire the hard work the Duke had put into setting the table. "Horribly done." He complimented. "And what will we be eating?" He asked.
Remus smiled sheepishly. "That's why you're here." A that moment the Dukes stomach let out a monstrous growl.
That got Janus to chuckle, and Remus joined him. "Okay, okay. I get the message. Let's see what we got to eat." He hummed, as he got up to go into the kitchen. Just as he started rummaging through the cabinets the t.v. in the common room flipped on. "Be a dear and see what isn't so important, Remus." Deceit called.
He was quick to start the stove up, placing a pot and pan on the stove top, already throwing chicken into the pan and rice in the boiling water in the pot, when a loud shout of glee erupted from behind him was all the warning he got.. He had just enough time to toss the broccoli and mushrooms into the pan with the chicken and a tentacle wrapped around his waist and lifted him in the air, and pulling his to Remus, who grabbed and danced them around the room, cheering. "He's got it! He got it! Your slimy scaly ass is going to be ravage tonight! Thomas got the callback!" Remus stopped them mid twirl and began kissing Deceit up and down the scaly side of his face.
And Janus preened at the administration given. He had been so busy the last few months, that he had sadly neglected spending enough time with the Duke. It was nice to celebrate with Remus in this moment. He was happy for Thomas and the Creative Sides. Remus and Roman were going to be so excited from here on out. An alarm sounded on the television, drawing their attention. Roman and Thomas celebrating the news of the callback themselves, and then Patton popped up. Coming to join in on the party, that was bring Thomas so much joy and why wouldn't he. He the basis for all of Thomas's feeling and more. So he presence to this happy moment made sense. And the Fatherly side had to open his mouth.
'"April, lucky number thirteen." Thomas announced the date to Morality.
"Ooh..." Patton winced at the name of the date.
Thomas himself paused and turned to Patton. "Ooh? Why are you saying 'Ooh' like that?" He asked.
Roman trying to pick up the hype for the call back try to spoke up to save the celebration. "Fear not, Thomas, I'm certain he means ...'Ooh, yay! So soon!' The Prince said, nodding toward Patton.
"Mm, too soon and not late enough." Patton said, with a shake of his head. "He has a prior engagement...Related to engagement that day." The Moral Side reminded.'
"Fuck sticks. He's going to make him go to the wedding." Remus pouted, physically slouching in Deceits arms.
Deceit watch trapped in Remus's arms as Patton continued to talk at how Thomas and Roman quickly started lose their excitement from earlier. Not only that but Deceit could hear the lies and feel the want from Thomas as he agreed with Morality. And Roman and Remus were going to suffer, the two sides that carries his confidence and ego, if he didn't do something. Thomas needed to do something for himself ad because he wanted too. He wouldn't gain anything going to the wedding. It did nothing for his confidence, his pride, or his ego. Nothing that would benefit him self-wise anyway. And Deceit was starting to feel the pull to fix what was causing Thomas and the Creative Sides distress. To give them what they wanted. "I will go and see what I can do." He said, pulling himself apart from the Duke, who moved to crouch sadly in front of the t.v.
Deceit let his form change into that of Logan and hopefully this time he would get Thomas to do what he wanted to do. Be a little selfish or make up an excuse to go and follow his dream to go to the callback. Straightening the tie around his neck. He got himself into character. And stepped out of the door to their domain and rose up to the Core Sides. Maybe this time he would have a chance, now that Roman and he wanted similar things. Surely, one of them would see reason.
Remus watched from the television. Watched how Deceit rose up in the Core Sides commons disguised as Logan. How fast he was discovered and how rude Virgil entered and immediately lashed out verbally at the Snake Side. His brother seemed on he fence between wanting to go to the callback and Remus had secretly hoped Roman would back Deceit. Deceit even picked Roman to be the judge in their courtroom scene. Which was impressive. The Duke didn't know if Janus was prepared for manipulating the whole mind palace into such a scene pulling the other sides with him. The Snake side had even changed their clothes for them. And Remus was sure that Janus still had those little limp dildos out and about too. But you wouldn't have known it looking at the Side. He was confident and so sure of himself.
But Remus could see. Could hear the pleading that Deceit was doing. The hope that Thomas and the others would see the reason behind the moniker that Janus represented; that the messenger represented. But the Core Sides were blind, which in turn made Thomas blind. Roman did not side with Deceit in the end. Morality won. And Remus had to rush to greet the Snake Side as soon as he departed from the Core Sides commons.
Deceit rose up in his room, Remus coming in at the exact same time. "Noodle." He cooed, wrapping the Side up in a hug. "Let them go. You need rest. You've been working too much." He pleaded.
Deceit shook his head, gripping onto the Dukes shirt for a moment before pushing away and straightening his posture. "I can't ssstop now." He said. "Their going to drive him insane. His mental health will suffer."
"Then let it." Remus said, touching his forehead to Janus's. "Give his mental health to me." He nipped at some of the scales on the other neck. "Let go." The Duke pulled Janus down onto the bed, even though Janus was shaking his head at his words. "You will have to at some point, Janny. Your fighting for something they can't see. But what if we give them what they want."
"You know I can't do that. We must check on your brother. He sacrificed something that he shouldn't have had to today. I imagine he isn't doing well either." Janus finally said.
"Let him suffer then. He deserves it letting the others ganged up on you. And deciding something that not only effects him but me too. Shouldn't I get a say too?" Remus snarled, following Deceit into his own room and to the imagination door.
"That's not how I work Remus, and you know it. We're going to fix this. Now open the door." Janus smiled.
The Duke sighed but did as instructed the door opening up at the edge of the Dark Forest. A dark gloomy fog rested across Roman's domain. "Huh, you think he's in a mood today?" Remus mused, standing closely behind Deceit.
The Snake Side. didn't like this sudden change in the imagination.
"He stole my fog of doom of gloom." The Duke accused, hooking an arm through one of the Deceits, pulling the side along. "He should be this way." He said, walking toward the Dragonwitches home.
And there they found him. Battling the creation with with everything he had. Roman was upset and Deceit felt the pull to right what was hurting both of the Creative Sides, by giving them what they wanted. He didn't know how to remedy this. The decision had been made. "Go play Remus. You need to slay something as well." He instructed, pushing the Duke forward. And proceeded to lean against a giant rock that littered the ground.
Roman seemed surprised to see Remus join in, but immediately his strategy to from fighting solo to with a partner changed up. The twin moved in flawlessly together. It took mere minutes before the Dragonwitch collapsed to the ground defeated. And the battle switched to the twins fighting each other. Deceit got off the rock that was his perch and noticed a swirl of green wrap around him moving him with the twins to an arena somewhere in the imagination. Deceit fond himself moved sitting on a stone bench off to the side in the arena. A multitude of weapons scattered around as well as some shields, but mostly weapons.
The fight was telling even with Remus's chaotic movements. The Duke was angry and desperate. Deceit could only guessed that the anger and desperation was due to the want to be seen, by Thomas and Roman. And angry that Roman decided their creative fates in favor of the wedding. The Duke while a little manic and chaotic was deep down a good person, pure chaotic creativity, but a good person. And that was mainly due to Thomas being a good person. Something the Core Sides did not see. But Deceit did.
Just like he could see the frustration and insecurities that weighed down Roman. Frustration that his ideas were getting shut down and insecure when critiqued harshly and now from being put on hold to go to a wedding instead of the call back. And Deceit was well aware that the Prince had been accidentally receiving some of Remus's ideas through that twin telepathy the two seem to share and so also knew that, that disturb the Prince and so made him fear that he was no different from his brother. Something that was a constant fear as soon as his ideas started being questioned by the other sides. Something Deceit tried to protect, but was obviously failing.
He was failing. Failing in protecting Roman and Remus, in protecting them. Protecting the two that made up the ego. That had to change. But how could it with one part of the ego fighting against him. On instinct developed while living with Remus as a roommate, the Snake Side leaned off to the side a little letting a spear fly past his head and into the wall behind him and then return to his relaxed sitting position. Continued to watch the twins battle out their emotions.
It was when they were battered and exhausted that the twins stood at a stale mate starring down each other. Deceit did a slow clap and got both of their attention. "Bravo!" He cheered slightly. "Truly inspiring to watch." He smile. And despite how it sounded he truly meant it. Their battle was inspiring, so much emotion and creativity. Like a deadly dance performed in two different ways, yet complementing each other in the process.
"Ugh! Why do you always bring him?" Roman groaned, at his brother.
"If Double Dee wants to watch then he can watch. Same goes for you too." Remus smiled, jogging to stand next to Deceit.
"This is my side. Respect my rules for once Remus. And you!" He pointed his sword at Deceit, who leaned out reach of the sharp point.
Remus snarled as he swatted the weapon away from the Snake side. "Watch it!" He warned.
"I mean seriously!" Roman continued. "Haven't you caused enough trouble today?!" The Princely Side demanded. Waving the sword around as he talked.
"Roman, I-" Deceit tried to say.
"No!" Roman snapped, pointing the blade once again at the Deceitful side, against his brothers warnings the first time. "No more lies! Not on my side!" Remus swatted the blade away from Deceit a second time and would have probably started another battle if Deceit hadn't pushed the Duke back slightly with a two of his six arms. Thankfully Roman stalked away before quick turn back to the two. "What do you want?! What devious scheme are you planning that you needed to initiated a battle here with Remus? That's right I saw you watching the whole time! Was the courtroom scene not enough for you?! No one wants you here. So leave me be! You have done enough damage, villain! Now get out!" He shouted, pointing his sword once again at the sitting Snake.
Remus growled as he placed himself in front of the blade the point touching his chest.
"And you, too! I don't know what you two are planning right now, but I don't want any of it happening on this part of the imagination. Or anywhere!" The Princely Side growled out.
Deceit sighed and stood up fixing and fidgeting with his gloves to give his hands something to do. Remus moving slightly to stand at his side. "Anything else, Roman?" He asked.
"As of matter of fact yes! I catch you anywhere near Thomas and the others I will smite you where you stand!"
It was a promise and Deceit knew it. There was no lie there. Roman would not believe anything Remus said and that was mostly due to the Dukes close relationship with Deceit. And Roman would never believe anything Deceit had to say. "Is that what you want Roman? A villain to blame all this on?" He asked.
"Don't try to play with me, you snake in the grass! You are a villain, no use pretending. Everyone already knows." Roman growled out, putting his sword at the two dark sides, but mostly at Deceit.
"Then I guess our stay here is done. Let's go Remus." He motioned, letting Remus leave before him. The Duke looked back when Deceit did not follow, and was motioned from Deceit to keep moving. "I am sorry that you feel that way Roman. Truly I am. I had hoped that after today at least me and you would have been on the same page."
"I will never see eye to eye with you." Roman promised.
Putting on the Villain act that Roman wanted, Deceit put on his best evil smile. "We shall see, Prince Roman." We shall see." The Snake side glanced over at Remus who was looking on from afar. The Duke summoned the imagination door opening it up when the Snake Side came close.
Once Deceit had exited, Remus turned to his brother with an evil manic smile of his own. "Watch your back, brother. I'm going to be coming after it!" He promised, before following Deceit and closing the door.
Deceit let the act slip as soon as he and Remus were back in the Dukes room.
"So, are we actually going to battle Roman? Because I am so in, if we are." Remus asked.
Deceit straightened his posture at the question. Remus like Roman, needed a somewhere to direct all the pent up emotions and creative energy that wasn't being put to use. Remus wanted to play the Villain, and he wanted to play it with Deceit. And if the Creative Sides needed someone to give them what they wanted.
"Then let's give them villains." Remus's smile widened seeing Janus perk up. Misinterpreting the change in Deceits posture. But Deceit had a role to play and no one
"If its a villain they want. Its a villain they get Remus." Deceit agreed, with a smile to mimic Remus's own. "Let's talk about plans, darling. I think you're right." Deceit summoned a calendar, from his room. "I have my shedding season marked. This is your deadline. Your big moment. While we wait for this date. We will play the role we have been given. Our secret weapon is you."
"Me?" Remus repeated.
"Yes. Thomas does not know you exist. And I doubt anyone is going to want to actually look for us. Much less step foot here. That would be putting themselves under my thumb. Our domain. We will let them almost destroy theirs. And when my shed hits I will completely release my hold that keeps you hidden away, during which my lovely Duke. I want you to give them hell." Deceit smiled.
"So does this mean we are going to war?" Remus sounded giddy.
"We will see after you make your introduction. I want you to have fun." Deceit cooed. Pulling Remus down with him on the bed and letting the Duke roll them up in a blanket burrito on the smelly bed that was held the Duke's scent.
"Oh, I will." Remus assured. "But first I got a yellow noodle that requires my attention. You've used up so much energy today, and then adventuring through the imagination today. Don't think I don't know your still keeping your little limp dildo out and about too, you need rest. So shut up and let me take care of you, Janny, before I gag you and make you."
"I can't let Thomas drown. But that doesn't mean I can't let the others struggle." Deceit smiled.
Remus smiled, and buried his face in Deceits neck. "I love you so much Janus. We're going to make the best Villain duo ever!" He cheered.
"Mhmm. Remus shut up and take care of me, and then we can go have a nice dinner together." Deceit hummed.
"You sure I can't just eat you right here?" Remus grinned wide and ran his tongue along his sharp teeth., before taking a nip at Deceit's scaled ear. "We'll dine like villains tonight!" He crowed, tightening his arms around the Deceitful side, happy and content.
Deceit laid there and accepted the warmth given to him. Roman would be happy and Remus would be happy. At least for the time being. This was the role he was meant to play anyway. Nothing mattered but to make sure everyone stay in a healthy balance for Thomas and were in working order. So Deceit would play the true villain if that is what everyone wanted from him. Everyone got what they wanted. And Deceit would be satisfied once Remus got accepted and on equal standing with Roman. And once Thomas got what he wanted. That was his goal.
TBC
A/N: So I am trying to keep this sort of cannon and probably failing. Lol. Also trying to keep the story within the timeline. Anyway I hope you are enjoying the story still and don't forget to let me know your thoughts on the story of chapter so far. I love hearing what you all have to say.
Stay tune till next chapter!