"How are you feeling today, Logan?"

"Fine," Logan said at once. He cringed and looked down as Janus shook his head.

"Liar," he said idly. "Are we going to have a repeat of yesterday?"

Logan squirmed again. "No…"

"You look like you've got worms in your ass," Remus giggled.

"Remus!" Patton exclaimed, his cheeks turning pink.

"What? He does!" Remus exclaimed. "He's done that little wriggle three or four times now. Unless he needs to piss?"

"Ha ha," Logan said. "I am just… uncomfortable being asked the question."

"Mmhm," Janus said. He put the scrambled eggs in his mouth, and his eyes lit up with pleasure. He took another bite. "And you're trying to avoid saying that you beat the $&!# out of me. No point in dodging the issue. Just look at my face."

Logan glanced up and grimaced. "I am sorry about that."

"Mm."

"No, truly I am. What I did yesterday was… base. The opposite of logical."

"Primal," Virgil said quietly.

Logan nodded. "Yes. And I don't know what came over me. Please forgive me. If you can."

Janus stared at him. "Why?"

"Because I wish to make amends with you," Logan began.

"No. Why would I need to forgive you?" Janus asked.

The table was silent, and the Light Sides stared at him, puzzled by the question.

"I don't understand. Are you unwilling to forgive me?" Logan asked.

Janus glanced away, picking at the tablecloth. "I am saying you did nothing wrong, so I don't need to forgive you."

"I'm sorry, but what?" Roman asked.

Janus looked at him. "Do you not speak English?"

"Of course I speak English!" Roman snapped.

"Then I don't know how you missed my meaning."

"Virgil let Logan basically beat your face in, and you don't need to forgive Logan?"

Janus paused mid-chew and gazed at the creative Side then turned his eyes to Virgil, who grimaced and ducked his head. Roman was shooting daggers at him with his eyes, and Janus swallowed.

"You're… blaming Virgil?" he asked blankly. "Not Logan?"

Roman stared at him, startled by the question. "Well… I… No, of course not."

"Liar," Janus said. He sat back, looking stunned and confused. "Let me get this straight, Princey. Logan hits me, and you blame Virgil? Did you not consider that Logan would have simply turned his aggression on Virgil?"

This time it was Roman who squirmed. "Um… Well, I guess I… No. it didn't occur to me."

"And considering his positive relationship with Virgil, wouldn't you think that Logan would have felt much more guilt afterward had he attacked him instead of me?"

"I feel guilty for attacking you," Logan argued.

"As much as I appreciate you finally answering my question, give me a moment, Logan," Janus said. He turned his attention back to Roman. "You decide to blame Virgil for Logan's aggression? How is that fair to Virgil?"

"He could have stopped it!" Roman exclaimed. "We get that he's mad at you, but it isn't, you know, heroic for him to let you get hurt like that!"

Janus's gaze was blank as he gazed at Roman then he turned to Virgil. "Does he do this all the time?"

Virgil ran his fork through his eggs. "Not usually," he answered at last. "At least, not anymore…"

Roman was startled by the words. "Do what?"

"Even after all this time, all the progress, he blames you? For not intervening?" Janus demanded.

The Light Sides sat still, staring between Janus and Virgil. Even Remus had stopped eating, and he looked wary. His eyes were big and he clasped his hands together, biting his lip.

"Please, Jan," Virgil muttered. "Don't. He's just…"

"An #$&hole!" Janus exclaimed, slamming his fist on the table. The dishes shook from the force, and Patton grabbed at his glass to steady it.

"That's a little harsh," Patton said in a small voice; he hated fighting, and the air was charged with something that burned.

"Why, Virgil?" Janus suddenly asked. "Why?"

Virgil pulled his hood up and kept his head down. "Aren't we here for Logan?"

Janus snarled. "Still avoiding the question? Answer me!"

"No."

"Don't want to admit how badly you %#*&ed up?" Janus mocked. "Don't want to give me the satisfaction of knowing I was right about them?"

"If you think you're so right about them, then why did you volunteer to help Logan?" Virgil snapped.

Janus froze then looked around the table. Everybody was staring, waiting for an answer. And Logan's eyes were extremely curious. Once again, Janus's human cheek burned red, and he relaxed into his chair, stabbing at the sausage on his plate.

"You're right," Janus said softly. "We are here for Logan." He turned his head. "How do you feel, Logan?"

The topic change was so abrupt that the Light Sides were reeling. Logan had to scramble for an answer.

"Confused," he finally said.

"Mm. Naturally. But I wasn't referring to what just happened. I meant about your repressed anger and feelings of self-worth."

Logan flinched. "I…" He struggled for words. "I don't know what to say," he finally admitted in a tiny voice.

"You admitted quite a bit yesterday when you were breaking down. Care to elaborate on that?" Janus asked.

"I wouldn't. But I will."

Logan shifted uneasily and took a bite of food. It was strangely difficult to swallow. Patton reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay, Logan. Do you need help?"

Logan flushed and nodded. "Yes, please."

Patton nodded and sat back, considering what Logan had said. "You said you were hurt, right? That we don't listen to you?"

Logan nodded. "Yes." Why was it so hard to speak? "I just… all my contributions don't seem to be taken into consideration. I try so… so hard, and it's not enough."

Patton nodded encouragingly. "Okay. So you feel neglected, is that it?"

"No, of course not."

"Liar," Janus muttered through a mouthful of sausage.

Logan flinched. "Fine. I guess I do. But it's… it's not… I'm not trying to be selfish…"

"You think it's selfish to want time with Thomas?" Patton asked.

Logan shrugged. "I know he's got a new romantic interest, and I support that, but… isn't there a little room for logic in the situation?" He felt something hot on his cheeks, and he automatically reached up to swipe at it. He was alarmed to realize that he was crying again, and he quickly stood up and turned away, ashamed. He could feel their eyes on him. Was this why Virgil was always so reluctant to open up? Even after all this time?

"Why didn't you tell us?" Roman asked.

"I…" Logan hunched his shoulders, feeling trapped by Janus's presence. He couldn't lie.

"You can do it," Virgil said. "I know it's hard."

"Be honest, Logan," Janus said.

"You're like a sprinkler today," Remus added. "But things need water to grow. And people need salt water sometimes."

The encouragement from them touched Logan, and he took a deep breath. "I have so often said that I don't feel, you see. And it's true that I don't have very strong emotions most of the time. But I have been… I have been feeling neglected for some time now, lost amongst the rest of you. Dealing with Remus was the last time I was listened to, and that was so long ago now. And with Nico in his life now, there are so many things he wants to do, but there are also things he should do. And he won't because… because of the rest of you."

Logan could feel them watching him, taking in his words, and still the tears slid down his cheeks. He resisted the urge to wipe them away, to show his weakness again. But then he heard somebody stand up, and a hand was on his shoulder, turning him around. It was Patton, because of course it was. He looked so warm, so concerned, and Logan couldn't bear to meet his eyes. He tried to turn away, to hide his ugly, unwanted feelings, but Patton tugged him into a hug. Just like before, he relaxed into the embrace, craving the warmth and connection.

"It's okay, Logan. It's okay to cry," Patton murmured, rubbing soothing circles on Logan's back.

"Hey, at least it's not blood," Remus said, shrugging.

"Must you?" Roman huffed.

"You know it, bro!"

Logan let out a choked laugh. "Believe it or not, I'd rather be bleeding essence all over the floor than this," he said softly.

"Sounds fun. But we should table that idea for later," Remus said. "This is much more important than fun."

Logan sobbed out another laugh, shocked by what Remus of all people had just said. Patton patted him, still holding him close, making soothing noises and telling him it was okay. Logan still felt ashamed as he cried, but he also felt warm and content. It was such a strange juxtaposition that he hiccuped and burrowed closer to Patton, hiding his face in the light blue shirt.

"I just want to be acknowledged," Logan muttered. "I want my contributions heard. I've expended so much effort conforming to each of you, taking you into account. And it hurts so… so much that you won't extend the same consideration to me."

Roman stood up and joined them. He placed a hand on Logan's shoulder. "You know I can get carried away. And I'm sorry for that, Lo. I really am. But these feelings give me the most wonderful ideas, and I can't help but daydream of all the wonderful things to come."

Remus giggled. "Especially that."

Roman shot him a dirty look, and Remus grinned. Then he turned back to Logan. "Please forgive me for not allowing you to have room to work. Because you're right. The relationship is progressing, and Nico will come over soon. And everything is…"

"It looks like my room," Remus said.

"Good lord, I'm glad it doesn't smell like it, too," Logan muttered.

Remus threw his head back and cackled gleefully. "You should have asked me to close the door sooner."

"I was trying to be polite," Logan said.

"And trying to breathe," Janus said, amused. "But then again, it's almost time for him to clean it again. But, just so you know, it does get worse."

"How?" Logan demanded, looking up from Patton's shoulder. "How could it be worse?"

Remus giggled and Janus flashed a grin. Even Virgil tittered before ducking his head.

"Trust me," Janus said. "It gets worse."

Logan rolled his eyes and scoffed. "I don't believe you."

"Then the day before he has to clean it, you can come down and take a whiff," Janus said.

"I think I'll pass," Logan said. He took a steadying breath and pulled back, reaching up to wipe his cheeks. "Thank you. For listening, I mean."

"Thanks for telling us, kiddo," Patton said. "I know that was hard for you. But we need you to tell us about this kind of thing if it happens again, okay?"

Janus reached up and traced one of the raw cuts on his face. "Repression can be a &!(?#," he said, his eyes glittering.

Logan licked his lips. "I shall try."

"And that's all you can do," Janus replied. Then his eyes flicked away. "But I'm here if you need to punch somebody in the face again."

Logan, Patton, and Roman stared at him.

"Wait. You seriously volunteered for him to beat you up?" Roman asked.

Janus blinked languidly at them. "Mmhm."

"Why?" Logan asked. He could hardly look at Janus's face because of the damage. "Why would you let me do that?"

Janus picked at the fabric of his gloves. "Because you needed it. And the Light Sides couldn't help you like that."

Logan stared at him. "I am sincerely sorry. Even if I don't need to apologize."

Janus shrugged, reaching up to place his hand over his mouth. "I've had a lot worse. You don't hit that hard, to be honest."

Silence. Then Janus blushed yet again and turned away. "Shall we finish this awful breakfast then?"

"It is pretty good," Remus agreed. He turned to Virgil. "No wonder you ditched our table for theirs so often."

Virgil shrugged. "If you think this is good, Patton should cook you dinner. Patton is the best cook in the Mind."

"Sure! Come to dinner tonight! What do you want?" Patton asked.

"Liver and onions!" Remus called.

"No," Janus and Virgil said at the same time.

"How about your famous pasta?" Virgil asked. He glanced at Janus before his eyes flickered away again. "With two kinds of sauce."

"And a healthy side dish," Logan said. "Perhaps a nice salad."

"With creme brûlée for dessert!" Roman proclaimed.

Patton beamed an eager smile at them. "Wow! I guess we're feasting tonight!"

"Seems appropriate to wow our guests with your fantastic culinary skills," Logan said, adjusting his glasses.

"Then it's settled! Oh boy! Roman, come and help me make sure we have everything."

They hurried to the kitchen. Virgil and Janus glanced up at each other then stood up at the same time.

"I'm gonna…" Virgil ducked out of the room, and Janus's lips tightened. But he glanced at Logan then stalked out without a word.

Logan pressed his lips together then looked at Remus. Remus had finished his breakfast and was now piling the remains of everybody else's onto his plate. Logan sat down and cleared his throat.

"Remus? May I ask you something?"

"If you think you're ready for the answer," Remus said cheerfully.

"Is something wrong between Virgil and Janus?"

Remus's happy face disappeared at once, changing into one of hesitation and pain. He set his fork down and looked away.

"Yes," he finally answered. He sounded so uncharacteristically somber that Logan knew he'd hit a nerve.

"I see." Logan considered how to phrase his next question. "Is there anything I or the other Light Sides could do to help?"

"I don't know," Remus murmured. He placed his elbows on the table and put his head in his hands.

"If there is, let me know. I wish for us all to be cordial at the very least."

Remus peeked up at him, looking touched and surprised. "Really? You're including me? And Jan?"

"Of course. You're a part of Thomas as much as we are."

"Hm." A pleased, almost shy smile touched the Duke's mouth, and his eyes flickered away from Logan's. "That's… I like that."

Logan nodded and patted his shoulder. "That's nice. Now, finish consuming breakfast." He paused after standing. "And please only consume the parts that are actually supposed to be eaten."

Remus laughed. "Damn. And that china was looking so good."

Logan snorted and turned away to hide his amused smile. Then he strode to his room to write down his observations about Janus and Virgil's interactions. And about what he'd discovered about Remus and Janus down in the Subconscious. He felt like he had to help the three of them. Virgil's statement about having one problem at a time was prudent. But now Logan's problem was resolved. So it was their turn, and he was determined to help them as much as they had helped him.