"How do you feel?" Logic asked.

"Fan-tab-maze-ulous!' The Fusion said as he scooped Logic into a wide spin. Logic stumbled out of his grasp, adjusting his glasses. The Fusion bowed low, then let out an adorable squeal, waved his hands, and pulled Logic into another hug. This one had less spinning. "It's so nice to meet you!"

Logic felt warm pressed against his chest. Before they could fuse - wouldn't that be fun?- Logic pulled away, face red.

Logic cleared his throat and took a step back. "I'm surprised you two were able to fuse so easily."

"Why wouldn't we?" The Fusion asked, a loose, easy smile on his lips. Logic was looking at him while he spoke. Curiosity had the Fusion wandering over to the mirror that hung on the wall. He has four eyes, all the same shade of honey brown. He noticed Patton's freckles had faded this time, hidden behind Roman's tan. Their hair styles combined to be a brown fluffy mess. Disheveled but charming. He winked at his reflection, "Fusion is fun!"

The Fusion carefully peeled Patton's glasses off his face and folded them up. He turned back to Logic, who held out his hand, and the glasses were passed over.

"Yes, but you two had no hesitation or concern for the outcome of your merge." Logic said. But as the words passed his lips, Logic shook his head, like he knew they would have no reason to hesitate. Patton and Roman were the least likely to create something harmful. Even without Roman's results back yet, that was clear. They were both too energetic.

"Is that what you are?" Logic asked, "Energetic?"

The Fusion blinked, all four eyes fluttering at once. Logic shifted on his feet, the corners of his lips twitching up. He grinned, "That sounds fun!"

Logic shook his head, focusing on his body once more. Logic stared at his four eyes, and his four arms. His gaze lingered on his chest, a tad larger due to his extra arms. He could see Logic getting lost in his thoughts, his gaze growing unfocused.

Logic frowned. His shoulders slumped lower. The Fusion frowned too. What was upsetting Logan? It could be anything, really. It was getting colder. Finals week is coming up in school. Logic probably had a lot of homework to do.

"Hey." The Fusion grabbed Logic. Two on his shoulders and another two on his arms. He stared into Logic's eyes with sudden seriousness. He said firmly, "It's going to be okay."

Logic blinked in surprise. "What?"

"It'll be alright, Logan." He smiled, wide and toothy. "Don't worry!"

Logic relaxed. He studied the Fusions expression a moment longer, then asked, "Did I look worried?"

"Yeah, you always get this cute little scrunch in your face when you're irritated. Or gassy."

Logic frowned.

"Yeah! Like that!"

And then, without a care in the world, the Fusion leaned forward and kissed between his eyebrows. The frown cleared away with Logic's surprise. Shaking his head, Logic said, "What's your name?"

The Fusion shrugged and said, "Haven't figured that out yet."

"What have you figured out?" Logic asked.

"That we'll figure it out!" The Fusion cheered. He applauded, then crossed his arms and applauded again so all combinations of hands could cheer. "And that it'll be a good time!"

Logic rubbed his neck, "Well, you can prepare-"

The Fusion gasped, cupping his own cheeks in his hands. His second pair of hands waved excitedly. "That's it! That's it! That's it!"

"What?" Logic felt lost.

"That's our name! We should be a good time Charlie!" The Fusion cheered.

"Okay." Logic exhaled slowly. He could work with this. "Charlie, what do you consider a 'good time'?"

Logic used his fingers to make air quotes. Charlie giggled at the cute gesture. Logic was so small and adorable and grumpy. He wanted to swallow him up in a big, never ending hug.

"Most things." Charlie said, twisting back and forth distractedly. He let his arms hang at his sides and swing as he moved. Playful? Innocent? "I like hanging out with you."

"Thank you," Logic tilted his head, "But Logics are not typically described as fun, so-"

"Hey, that's not fair! What other people think is fun doesn't matter. You have fun doing your own things, and I have fun when you have fun." Charlie gestured from himself to Logic and back again. "Your fun is my fun."

Logic's lips quirked up again in a cute almost smile. Charlie could do it, he could make Logan smile if he tried a little harder.

"Very well. What do you anticipate will happen tomorrow?" Logic asked.

Charlie nodded, "Oh, good question. Tomorrow will probably be a good day. I bet we'll all have to go to work and school, but that will be fine, because then we get to see all our friends!"

Logic crossed his arms. The little frown appeared again, but this time less angry and more focused. Charlie still wanted to kiss it away, but he waited for Logic's next question. Logic asked, "True. What do you want when we're Established?"

Charlie thought for a minute. "Well, I guess I would be happy no matter where we find ourselves."

"Are you perhaps a Joy?" Logic asked. Nothing sparked in his chest at the word, so Charlie shook his head. Logic thought to himself, "It's not possible to be diagnosed as Happy, but Fusions follow their own diagnosis regulations."

"What makes you happy?" Charlie interrupted. "And how can I make the rest of us happy too?"

Logic appeared interested, fully facing him now. "So you are focused on our collective happiness."

It wasn't a question, but Charlie nodded anyway. He said, "I know we will have a good future. We deserve good things to happen to us, and so they will."

Logic hesitated, before slowly shaking his head, "That's not exactly how the world works, I'm afraid."

"Well, I'm not afraid." Charlie said, puffing out his chest a little. "Good things will happen!"

"Eventually, I suppose." Logic agreed with a small shrug. "Charlie, how do you feel about the word Hope?"

Charlie shook his head. "Hoping is different. I know things will go well for us."

Logic thought while Charlie continued his point.

"Just look at us! Look at you!" Charlie gestured to each of them, then to the photos on the wall. "Look at what we have! With the three of us, we could accomplish anything! Don't you see it?"

Logic placed a hand under his chin, tilting his head to the side, still observing him. Charlie said, feeling the first trickling of doubt wiggle its way into his chest. "We could protect our boys, maybe fix the world…"

"Sorry?" Logic asked, stepping closer, "What was that?"

Charlie hesitated. He didn't like the feeling in his chest anymore. "Well, it's just. You know." He bit his lip, "With everything going on in the world right now, it's kind of hard to stay…"

Logic finished the sentence for him. "Optimistic?"

"Yeah." Optimism's voice cracked. "That's it."

"Optimism," Logic said, taking two of his hands and giving them a warm squeeze. Charlie felt himself brighten, mentally pushing away the troubling thoughts. Then, Logic smiled. Full, bright, and genuine. Charlie could burst from the sudden happiness the sight brought him. Logic said through his joy, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Charlie's face grew warm. Shyly, he smiled back, "You can call me Timmy."

Logic's smile widened just slightly, and Charlie wished he could stay in this moment of happiness forever. There wasn't much better than being with a Side that appreciated you. Charlie liked who he was and who he was with and who he was talking to. Everything was amazing and perfect and there was absolutely nothing that could ruin this moment.

A sudden SLAM startled both of them. Jumping apart, they looked at the front door. Standing in the doorway, chest heaving, Janus held Virgil in his arms. From their viewpoint across the room, Optimism could see how pale Virgil's face was. Janus, who always tried his hardest to hide his emotions, was about to cry. The wind picked up outside behind them. Janus' knees shook. Virgil's eyes were closed, head rolled back.

Optimism said, voice hoarse, "That's not good."

He unfused instantly.