They had a simple, yet delicious dinner at a pizzeria after the performance. During their meal, Roman cheerfully avoided discussing Logic and his friend. Remy and Missy were kind enough to not bring it up, either. So they ate and chatted and laughed.
"Wonderful show, babe. Cried my eyes out." Remy said, reaching for another slice.
Missy told him in a stage whisper. "He was asleep as soon as the lights turned off."
"Babe!"
Roman laughed.
"I actually watched it, and I can confidently say, you did fantastic." Missy placed a hand on her chest and shot Remy a playful glare.
Roman smiled from behind his glass, sharing a wink with her. "Thank you, Missy. At least someone cares."
"I can't help it!" Remy hissed, his face red. "It's a medical condition!"
With full bellies and warm hearts they found their way back to Remy and Missy's apartment. It didn't take long until the three of them were curled around one another in Slap Happy's bed. Roman was between the two, so no accidental fusion could take place. Roman's head was resting on Remy's shoulder, while Missy's arm was looped around his waist. He sighed and finally, finally told them how he felt.
"I'm scared."
Remy shifted slightly, trying to look down at him. Missy smiled at him encouragingly and whispered, "About those Sides?"
Roman nodded. "What if they're not my Sides at all? What if it's this mess all over again?"
Missy mumbled, "Bless this mess," as Remy spoke over her, "Listen, babe. You said you felt all tingly when you touched them, right?"
"Yeah…"
"Then you're totally Sides, m'kay? This isn't gonna happen again." He then looked over Roman's head to Missy and winced, "To you."
Roman remembered then, about the hundreds of texts he'd gotten that week. He turned to see Missy's expression as he said, "So, it's still just you two then?"
Missy sighed, her arm tightening around him. "He was a sweet Side; but he just wasn't ours."
"We can send him your way." Remy told him.
Roman shook his head, "Please don't. I can't handle a third one right now."
Missy sighed and buried her face closer to Roman's shoulder. She picked at his shirt as she said, "Sometimes it feels like we're never going to find our Sides."
"I know what you mean." Roman agreed. A sharp flick to his ear made him whip around to glare at Sleep.
He scowled at him and said, "Actually, babe, you found two of yours. You're one up on us right now, you just don't wanna admit it."
Roman shook his head, "But, I-"
"But what? You can't talk to strangers?" Remy poked him in the side, causing him to squirm and giggle. "Are you a Baby Side? Is your trait being a baby? Were you diagnosed with Big Baby Side Diseas-"
"Remus." Missy interrupted him with a look. Once he quieted, she silently turned her expectant gaze to Roman.
Hesitantly, he admitted, "I get that they're probably mine, but… I don't want them."
He heard Missy release a tiny "Oh." of understanding.
Remy shook his head minutely, squinting at him. "What do you mean?"
"I want you." Roman told him, tilting his head back to look up at him. He saw Remy swallow, and he could feel Missy's grip tighten on him again. He added, "I always have."
"You can't have us, babe." Remy said quietly, breaking eye contact. He cleared his throat, then said, "Already tried that."
"It's not fair!" Roman whined, turning on his side to fully hug Remy. He felt Missy cuddle closer to him from behind. He squeezed Remy's torso and said, "I want to fuse with you!"
"That's just not how this works, Ro." Missy sighed, sounding just as disappointed as he felt.
They stayed like that, quiet for a few moments, until Roman finally rolled to his back again. He took both their hands in his own and stared at the ceiling. There was a stain on the corner near the door, from when Slap Happy tried to open a wine bottle and ended up shooting alcohol into the air. Roman had cried laughing that night. They didn't get to have nights like that anymore.
Roman tried to think about something else. He exhaled out his nose and broke the silence, "It's just- Like, is Logic the most attractive man I've ever met? Absolutely. Does he drive me insane? One hundred per cent."
Missy giggled and shifted to look at him. Remy shook his head, and Roman couldn't see it; but he was sure he was smiling.
"Did you hear what he said to me? When I asked what he wanted?" Roman sat up, fanning himself. "'Just your attention'! Like, oh, my god!"
"There he is." Remy muttered under his breath, an easy smile on his lips.
Missy sat up and teased Roman, "So you do like them!"
"Wha- only a little!" Roman said, placing a hand on his chest. "Only the normal amount one unrelated Side would feel for another unrelated Side."
"Kai told us you went to a party." Remy said, sitting up as well.
Missy grinned, her gaze darkening with mischief. "And when he found you and Logic, it looked like you were gonna kiss him!"
"Um, that's not fair." Roman said, holding up a finger and glancing between the two of them, "Because I was drunk, and we all know I'm a sloppy bitch."
"So are you done playing hard to get?" Remy asked, "Or will we have to get you drunk again?"
Roman flopped backwards, groaning. The two Sides laughed and turned to look at him. He covered his face with his hands and groaned again, louder this time. He peeked between his fingers and asked, "Well, what if they're your Sides?"
"Then we'll scoop them up for ourself." Missy said.
Remy scowled and shook his head, his nose wrinkled, "Ew, no. That one in the hat?" He made a gagging noise, "I'd never."
"What was wrong with Hat-Guy?" Roman asked, propping himself up on his elbows. "Do you know him?"
"No, but he has, like, super bad vibes." Remy shook his head again, "Didn't you feel it? He was gross."
"No?" Roman glanced to Missy, who was nodding. "Really?"
She shrugged and said, "I didn't really notice until we were Slap Happy earlier." After dinner, the two had fused until they returned home. Their fusion always came in short bursts; exciting and loud, but never lasting long. "After we unfused, I got the same kind of feeling thinking about them."
Roman's brows pinched together as he said, "I didn't get that feeling at all. I mean, yeah, they're both really annoying, but not 'gross'."
Remy sighed and said, "They're yours, babe. They gotta be."
"Nooooo…."
Missy nodded, "If we don't like them, and you do? And you almost fused with both! Honey, it's time to text them."
Roman shook his head, staring at the ceiling again. "I just can't. Not yet."
"Soon?" Missy took his hand, rubbing his knuckles with her thumb. "It's not polite to keep people waiting."
Remy nodded, scratching Roman's scalp soothingly. "Give them a chance, babe. You might like them almost as much as you like us."
"Hm, maybe." Roman said, moving to sit on his knees. He gave Missy's cheek a quick peck, then kissed Remy and mumbled, "I gotta go."
"Bye, dear." Missy said, soft and a little sad.
Remy watched him crawl across the bed, and added, "Text us when you get home safe. And go to sleep as soon as you can; you had a long night."
"Aye aye captain." Roman said, putting his shoes on.
"I can't hear you!" Remy shouted.
Roman stood up straight and looked at his friend. He felt a small rush of warmth spread through him as he realized Remy was trying to cheer him up. He ducked his head, but played along, saying louder, "Aye Aye Captain!"
Remy flopped on the large bed, singing, "OOOOOOOOOOOoooooh!"
Missy waved to him as he left, closing the door behind him. He could hear Remy singing the first few lyrics of the theme song. He smiled to himself as he walked out the front door. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, and he reluctantly checked it.
Logic: Good night, Roman.
Roman walked down the street, headed towards his dorm. He stared at his bright screen, the only thing lighting his path. Even his Not-Sides think he should talk to this guy. It was strange and scary, being pushed in a new direction. But what if it ends the same way Slap Happy did; with Roman being left out?
He swallowed his fear with the same effort it took to squash his stage fright. He could do this; he was Roman Side, the Side with no name. He could face the music.
Me: Good night, Logic.
Tell me what you think!
