The coffee shop Logic had chosen to meet at was quiet. It was next to campus, but was considered the "gay" coffee shop. It is known as such due to the fact that the owner is a homosexual man. Regardless, this meant that there was a smaller clientele demographic, and Logic anticipated a peaceful evening.
He had arrived fifteen minutes earlier than the agreed upon time. This allowed Logic plenty of time to order his beverage (a hot green tea; no sugar) and find a suitable spot to watch the door and await his company. Logic glanced at his watch, five minutes until their friendly due date. The bell above the door jingled.
Logic immediately sat up straighter, nodding at the Side who walked in. Structure nodded back, their lip quirking upwards in a quick motion. They gestured to the front, indicating that they'll get their drink before joining him. Logic watched their back as they spoke to the cashier.
He wasn't fully sure what had driven him to invite Structure out on a coffee date of all things last night. At first, he just wanted to ensure that the other had his number, simply sending a "Greetings. This is my contact information. Please memorise it." text, per usual. But then Structure had sent him a rather amusing infographic about tetrapods and, as the phrase goes: "one thing led to asking an acquaintance to a platonic outing".
Logic placed his hands in his lap once Structure sat across from him, carrying a plate with a plain bagel and a cup of black coffee. Logic waited until Structure had set everything down and was situated before he glanced down at his watch: 8:00. Perfectly Punctual. He expected nothing less from a Side referred to as 'Structure and Planning'.
Logic cleared his throat before saying, "Greetings."
"Greetings!" Structure was excited today. They practically were leaning over their bagel, immediately asking, "Well? What had happened after your departure?"
"Ah." Logic realized, "You are inquiring about if I had found a potential Side or not."
Structure nodded, spreading butter on their bagel, "The suspense is killing me." They paused their buttering. "Metaphorically."
Logic hesitated, thinking about the interaction he had with that … dancing individual. "I admit, even I am unsure of what I had experienced yesterday."
"Oh? How so?" Structure took a bite from their bagel, eyes never leaving Logic's face.
Frowning, Logic said, "The man I met seemed like the perfect match, logically speaking. We were nearly identical in facial structure and, aside from a few physical features, bodies. He even sounded like me." Logic chuckled to himself, "It's absurd, hearing 'myself' speak in such irrational ways."
Structure only seemed more curious, "Irrational how? And why are you indicating there was a negative reaction last night?"
Logic only sighed, looking down at his hands in his lap. He had started picking at his nails; a bad habit that he never was smart enough to squash. Slowly, he wrapped his hands around his warm cup, so he couldn't pull at any more hangnails. Structure let out a small gasp.
"There was a negative reaction last night…" They whispered to themself.
Logic scoffed, "It was no 'negative reaction', it was an outright rejection. The man I met - he didn't even give me his name, said that he was already Established. Then he left before I could gather any more information."
Structure chewed on their lip, thinking, "Well, it's certainly possible…"
"Excuse me?" Logic asked, surprised.
Structure gestured to the cashier as an example, "How many Established people are there our age? They're not exactly rare. It's entirely in the realm of probability that the man you met was actually Established."
Logic was already shaking his head before they finished their point. He looked away from the cashier to counter, "No, I can prove he was lying. I just have to do some research on him first."
"If you want to." Structure shrugged, taking a sip of their coffee. "It may lead to a dead end, though. A pretty face does not a fusion make."
That made Logic roll his eyes, muttering, "You realize that insinuates that you think I have a pretty face."
Structure winked at him.
Oh. Oh!
Logic cleared his throat, straightening his tie. He continued his point, ignoring the heat in his cheeks. "There was something peculiar about that man, though. I can't put my finger on it, but he stands out in a way that no one has to me before. That has to mean something, right?"
The other Side thought for a moment, before settling on, "It could be evidence for a championship Where's Waldo streak in elementary school."
"I am exceptional at word searches." Logic said, shooting a grin across the table. Structure snorted, shoving a bite of their bagel into their mouth. Logic forced himself to focus, "Still, I hypothesize there is something that man is not telling me."
"Probably many things." Structure muttered to themself, taking another sip of coffee.
"Furthermore," Logic leans across the table to snatch the other half of Structure's bagel. "I hypothesize this actor is my counterbalance Side and that we will fuse in the foreseeable future."
Structure glanced around, "Is this like, a bet?"
Logic sighed and gave them their bagel back, uninterested in gluten. "You find yourself so amusing."
"I have reason to believe do share the same findings." Structure grinned at him, nudging him under the table.
Logic said in a blank tone, "Oh, yes, allow me to laugh." He took in a deep breath, then, a reasonable, "Ha."
"Fuck you." Despite the language, Structure did not seem upset. It appeared to be another form of banter. The Side was smiling widely. Their cheeks became rosey when they were enthused. It was … cute. Aesthetically speaking. Neither of them had spoken for too long, and now the air had turned, what the kids call, "awkward".
Structure glanced away, tapping their fingers on the table. "Seriously, though, why are you so sure that he's yours?"
Logic glanced up at the tone of his aquantance's voice. It was lacking the light flutter that he had associated with the other. He shifted in his seat a little, choosing his words carefully. "Once I was near him, the buzzing in my head stopped."
That got Structure to pause, focusing entirely on Logic's voice.
Logic licked his lips, gaze shifting to somewhere in the distance. He could remember vividly what it felt like to stand next to the other man. It was something that Logic had never felt before; a sense of warmth. It was entirely baseless, but Logic believed that that empty spot on stage next to that man belonged to him.
"For the past few months, my thoughts have been scrambled." Logic explained in a 'puberty, you know' kind of way. Structure nodded, gesturing for him to continue. "I have intense migraines; sometimes I can't focus. Because of this sound in the back of my head. An alarm of sorts."
"For fusion." Structure mumbled quietly, sitting back in their seat.
Logic nodded, playing with the lid of his cup. "Standing next to him, for those brief moments, it was silent." Logic felt himself smile softly, allowing himself to reminisce about a stranger. "I felt like I was myself again; I could properly think for the first time in months."
Structure let out a small groan. If Logic believed them to be a lesser Side he would've called it a whine. "I need to find my Sides."
Shaking his head, Logic huffed, "It's not preferable. Just look at me, a Logic Side basing a hypothesis on how I feel." He gagged, "Despicable."
Structure shrugged, "Consider it a scientific hunch."
The bell above the door jingled. At first, Logic wasn't going to acknowledge the person who walked in, until the owner called, "Sorry, honey! No fusions inside!"
"¡Ah, mierda!" The fusion said, crossing her four arms. "I thought this place was about love, viejo!"
"Oh my Go- Do we have to do this every time, Monica?" The owner seemed rather upset. He grabbed a megaphone from under the counter and projected: "I DON'T HAVE BIG ENOUGH CHAIRS!"
Structure rubbed their ears gently, scowling, "Was the megaphone necessary?"
"That's her." Logic said, staring at the bickering fusion. "That's the fusion."
Structure turned to look at her, confused, "She doesn't look anything like you. And she's not a man. Probably. And she's a fusion." They turned back to Logic, expectantly, "Who the fuck is that?"
Again, Structure didn't seem upset. On the contrary, they appeared even more interested in Logic's tale. Logic hesitated, watching as the fusion unfused into two grumpy women.
"Furniture is expensive, sisters!" The owner sighed, setting the megaphone down.
"Once more, the oppressive forces keep us apart!" One of the women gushed, grasping onto the other's arm.
The second woman just rolled her eyes, muttering something that Logic couldn't hear. The cashier awkwardly took their order, undoubtedly giving them a discount. Logic distractedly explained, "Their fusion was the dance partner to my potential Side last night."
"They're friends?" Structure asked.
"One can assume." Logic shrugged. The two turned back to watching the women. They had long dark brown hair. He could already tell why the two were fused so often: it was out of convenience. They were already squashed together all the time; they might as well get four arms out of it. Logic nodded to himself, having already made up his mind. "I'm going to talk to them."
"Oh! A lead!" Structure took an over-enthusiastic gulp of their coffee. They had forgotten it was hot and ended up coughing at the sudden burning sensation. Logic handed the other Side napkins, trying not to be too amused nor too grossed out.
"Let's sit over by the twinks, Princess!"
"The what?" Logic needed a moment to double check that he heard that right. Then he had to triple check that that word meant what he thought that word meant. He wasn't going to explain why - but he was mildly offended.
Someone laughed, "¡No digas eso!"
Logic looked up and, yes, in fact, the two women were sitting at the table next to theirs. Well, at least he wouldn't have to walk across the cafe, potentially seeming intimidating. This was a "blessing" in "disguise". Structure was happy to sit back and watch the show up close.
"Pardon me." Logic said, gaining the ladies' attentions.
The shorter woman spoke, "Hey, sorry about my girlfriend. I can't control her."
"I understand; it's the fundamental flaw with all Sides: they have no filters." Logic nodded, ready to carry on with his questions.
The taller woman snorted, mocking, "It's the fundamental flaw!" She burst into giggles before patting Logic's hand (no) and adding, "Sorry, you're hilarious, continue."
"My name is Logic." He said, slowly pulling his hand out from under the woman's.
"Like the rapper?" The taller woman asked.
"No, didn't you hear? He's Established now." The shorter woman said.
"Ohmygodnoway!"
"They announced it yesterday."
Logic turned and shared a defeated look with Structure. Talking to women was more difficult than he originally anticipated. They had yet to make it past the introductions and he had class in an hour. Structure was enjoying themself far too much.
Logic leaned close enough to hiss at them, "Shut up, you just choked on coffee. What? Didn't plan for that?"
Structure stuck their tongue out at him, but was able to lessen the general amusement of their expression 12.3%, so Logic dropped it. When Logic turned back to the women, the shorter one was saying, "How did you not know this, we're literally fused together all the time."
Logic interrupted before they could continue this riveting conversation. "If I may, what are your names?"
"Oh, hello! I'm Thespian," The taller woman said, "I represent all the singing, the dancing, the good stuff." She wiggled her eyebrows at him, holding out her hand. "You can call me anytime."
"I will not." Logic said, gently pushing her hand away.
"She goes by Theo." The shorter woman told him. She seemed far more relaxed than the other Side. She was leaning back in her chair, unconcerned with the vitals of good posture. "My name is Heritage. Llámame Harry." She fingergunned, "¿Qué pasa?"
Logic gestured between the two of them, "And when you two are fused, may I ask your fusion's name?"
"Pop Culture." Theo chirped proudly.
"How's that work out?" Structure asked.
"I'm the Pop!" Thespian shouted.
"And I'm the Culture." Heritage grinned.
The two women fist-pumped, but they weren't nearly as excited as Logic was. He nodded enthusiastically, pointing to the two women, "Yes, that's the name the instructor kept shouting! Pop Cutlure! The man you were dancing with last night, what was his name?"
"Do you mean-" Theo halted her words at just a tap from Harry, who was watching Logic carefully. Logic didn't like the way her gaze flickered across his face, recognizing his features easily.
"Why do you want to know?" Harry asked.
Logic saw no reason in lying, "I believe he may be one of my Sides."
"Roman is Established." Harry crossed her arms.
"His name is Roman." Logic mentally recorded. It was … a name. It didn't sound right; it felt clunky on his tongue. He was expecting something different, he supposed. He was expecting a Side's name.
Harry huffed, ignoring her giggling girlfriend. She stayed persistent, "Regardless, he's already Established and he doesn't want any more of you pretty boys sticking your noses where they don't belong."
"Any more?" Logic asked, "Who else had…" He trailed off, remembering what the man - Roman - had said to him. Roman supposedly knew who his other Sides were. Had he not been the first one of his Sides to harass him? He switched his tactics, asking, "Roman had mentioned that he knew who my other Sides were. Could you give him a message, telling him I would like help finding them."
"Probablemente quiera decir Remy y Missy." Harry said to Theo.
Theo had her chin resting on her hand, her eyes squinted in thought as she said, "Hmmm… si."
Harry rolled her eyes and turned to Logic, "We'll let him know."
Just then, Logic's alarm on his watch went off. He had to get to class soon. Well, he wanted a quiet morning coffee with his new acquaintance, and now he's got a mild headache and the distinct urge to stand outside the auditorium all day. Quickly, he scribbled down his phone number on a napkin. He was going to hand it to Theo, then thought better of it, and gave it to Harry.
"Please give him this."
He said his goodbyes to both the women and Structure before he made his escape. He could only wait for now.
Tell me what you think!
