Logic stared at the textbook in front of him, idly flicking the corner of the page as the words blurred together. A slight ache had started to form in the back of his head, and his thoughts kept straying away from his studies.

His eyes flicked to the phone, sitting innocently on the desk next to him. He didn't typically get distracted from studying, least of all by his cell phone, of all things. But this morning he had woken up to a text from an unknown number.

After sending a couple of messages back and forth, he had discovered that it was none other than Roman. As in, his hypothetical theatrical Side. The concept had been boggling his mind since breakfast, and he has been unable to untangle these conflicting ideas.

Why would Roman message him? And so casually?

"Are you okay?"

Logic looked up to see Structure staring at him. The two were studying together, hanging out in Structure's dorm room. Their room was neat, but not minimalistic. Along their walls were essays, photos, and maps. Some were linked together by string. Logic had spent half an hour inspecting all of Structure's observations and plans when he had first visited his friend's dorm. They had many interests, and the thought webs on their wall was a puzzle Logic could not ignore.

One day, Logic was pleased to find the start of a small web on the wall near Structure's desk. It was a single sticky note with his name on it. Below his name was a short, bullet-pointed list.

Logic (Logan) Side

- Logic, not Logan (he/him)

- Looking for other sides - found one?

- Chem/Phys double major

- Enjoys jam?

- A friend

Next to his sticky note was a picture of himself. He knew where the other had found it, it was his social media icon. Logic believed that one's internet presence was as important as one's professional presence. Therefore, any and all social media icons he had were the same photo of himself: a professional headshot of him in a black button down and a blue tie. The photo Logic was not smiling. When Logic first saw the picture of himself on Structure's wall, he couldn't help a small, pleased smile.

Now, Logic was sitting at Structure's desk, while they were lounging across their bed. Logic hesitated, he had been spacing out, staring at his thought web. The words 'found one?' flashed behind Logic's eyes when he blinked. Finally, he set his book aside and said, "Yes, I'm fine. I apologize; I'm distracted."

"Thinking about your Side?" Structure closed their own textbook and sat back. They had a teasing smile on their face, like they were pleased by Logic's distress.

Logic nodded and picked up his phone. He pulled up Roman and his conversation and showed it to Structure. "He contacted me last night. We've been communicating all day."

He watched silently as Structure read through the texts. He didn't need to look at them, he had them memorized already.

Unknown Number: How's the Search for the Sides goin? :p

Logic: Relentless, yet, frustratingly fruitless. May I ask who I am speaking to?

Unknown Number: it's roman lol

When Logic had read those words; he was getting ready for the day and, suddenly, all of his relentless, echoing thoughts fell silent. He stared at the screen and he had no idea what to say.

Thankfully, Roman had sent a new message before he could respond. The next message was just as perplexing as the last.

Unknown Number: I can introduce you to your Sides, but only after you pass my trials!

Logan: What type of trials? Am I expected to pass a test before being allowed to meet my soulmates and Sides?

Unknown Number: uh,,,, yee

Logan: Very well.

However, then there was a lull in their conversation. Logic didn't receive another message from the other man until half an hour later, when he was inquiring about Logic's major. He informed Roman that he was a Chemistry and Physics double major with a minor in Astrophysics. Roman told him he was a Theater and Dance major, unprompted.

The information made Logic smile. He had made an educated assumption, but was pleased that it was confirmed. They continued making conversation for the rest of the day, until now. It was well into the afternoon, almost dinner time, and Logic was waiting for Roman to respond to his text about their ongoing Star Wars vs Star Trek debate.

Logic had never expected the other man to be such an excellent conversationalist.

They never did go into further detail about the trials Logic supposedly has to pass. He decided this must mean his responses were being analyzed somehow. Roman was testing him, as they spoke.

But for every time Logic thought a question was going to lead to his inevitable judgement, he would receive a new text, and the conversation would continue. Logic was never much of a "texter", but he was checking his phone every second he could. Whenever he saw Roman's number flash across his screen, his mood lifted slightly.

It was intriguing and terrifying at once. How could one stranger affect him so intensely? He was unsure if his reactions were his biology pointing him in the correct direction; or if it was his own misguided human hope that was causing an anomaly in his data.

"Sweet," Structure said, handing his phone back to him. Logic felt his mind refocus, shifting all his thoughts away to listen to his friend. He felt the weight of his phone in his hand. He looked down at the screen - no new messages. "Sounds like he likes you."

"How did you come to that conclusion?" Logic asked, his tone curious, yet guarded. He watched Structure carefully as they snickered.

"Well, you have spent the entire day talking about absolutely nothing." Structure said with a grin.

Logic frowned, "We didn't discuss nothing, we were conversing on multiple subjects. Did you not read the messages?"

Structure waved their hand dismissively, "It was banter. He's just trying to keep your attention."

Logic looked away as he felt heat rise to his cheeks, "Surely not. He's just … friendly. And he said I must pass a test before he will introduce me to possible other Sides."

"Uh-huh." Structure said, still smiling at him in a way Logic didn't want to dissect. "Do you still think he's lying about being Established?"

Logic nodded, "He may be telling the truth, but it doesn't seem likely. I mean, he said he was born Established. That's simply not possible."

Structure hummed in agreement. They picked up their book and said, "Well, he's either your Side or he knows your Sides. So it's a win-win situation either way."

Logic looked down at the phone in his hands. He wondered when Roman was going to message him again, and what they were going to talk about next. He thought about the possibility that Roman was telling the truth.

If Roman wasn't his Side, would he stop talking to Logic once he was introduced to his other, actual Sides? Would their tentative acquaintanceship fall apart the moment Logic no longer required fusion from Roman?

The thought of Roman never messaging him again made something in his chest ache. He knew it was illogical to get as attached to the other man as instantly as he had. They had, quite literally, only been talking to one another for a day. And already, Logic didn't want to stop.

His phone lit up, Logic silently opened his messaging app and found that Roman had sent him a gif of Han Solo winking, in response to his last text.

Logic smiled.

"What are you going to do if he's not your Side?" Structure asked. Their voice was quiet, they were watching Logic carefully as he fiddled with his phone. He was trying to think of a response. To both his friend and the gif.

"I don't know." Logic said, thinking out loud, "Obviously, if he's not my Side, then the likelihood that these other individuals he knows are my Sides increases. Which would mean I would find two Sides at once."

Structure pulled a face. "That's scary. I would hate to find my other Sides all at once, or if they out number me. I want to find them one at a time."

Logic shook his head, "Why? Then you take longer to reach Establishment."

"Well, if they've already met, that means they already mean something to each other. They know each other, love each other. It feels …" They thought for the right word, before settling on, "messy. To step into all of that."

"It takes coordination on everyone's part. That's why we're Sides." Logic huffed, unable to come up with a witty or smart response to the gif. He thinks about not responding, but he doesn't want Roman to stop messaging him. He sends a text, starting a new conversation.

Logic: When was your Establishment Ceremony? How old were you?

Structure's voice made him look up from his phone. "There is always the statistical probability that none of these people are your Sides."

"That's true." Logic said. There were seven billion people in the world, after all. Any four of them could be Logic's Sides; the odds of them meeting were one in 1,750,000,000. Some would say that searching for your Sides defied reason. He allowed himself to ignore this reality when confronting the topic.

His phone lit up again; Roman had ignored his questions. Suspicious. He made a mental note of the behavior. He read Roman's text, then asked Structure, "What do you think of Roman's trials tactic?"

"I think that these other Sides he keeps talking about don't exist and he's wasting your time until he can get the balls to admit he's not Established." Structure said, taking off their hat and scratching their head. "Or, Theory Number Two; they are real people, and he's trying to protect them, by making sure you're not an asshole."

Logic nodded to himself, and mumbled, "Yes, those were my thoughts as well."

The two Sides fell silent as Structure continued their work and Logic read and reread his most recent message. A chill ran down his spine, and he wasn't sure if it was from thrill or unnerves.

Unknown Number: Alpha Zeta Pi's house - 10pm, your first trial starts then ;)


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