Chapter Text
Chapter 1
The King is Back
King Creativity was back, which meant Remus was no longer a Dark Side. He had been accepted not only by the Light Sides, but by his brother too, causing the two to fuse back together. Deceit was happy for the Dark Creative Side. He should be happy for his one friend. He was happy for his friend. He was happy that King Creativity was back. Given enough time he wouldn’t have to force himself to believe he was happy for Remus finally being accepted.
Deceit even remembered the day that it had happened.
He and Remus was in the Dark Side of the imagination, with a nice view of the acid filled swamp. A nice picnic blanket laid out with several of their favorite food and Remus showing off his newest creations. They were having a marvelous time. Then the Light Side of Creativity showed up; Roman. Running through Remus’s part of the imagination; Trespassing. Calling out Remus’s name. “You have to see what I found! Right in the middle of the Imagination.” Roman had cheered, pulling his brother after him.
“I’ll be right back Double Dee! If you kill something save the juicy bits for me!” Remus had called over his shoulder. Knowing well enough that none of the creatures of the Dark imagination would touch Deceit. Nothing lethal anyway.
Deceit had chuckled as he watched the twins disappear toward the border of the imagination that split Roman’s and Remus’s side. He was content to wait for the Dark Creative side to return, but when a flash of green and red exploded throughout the imagination, Deceit wasted no time in running in the direction the blast had come from. When he neared he had expected to see the twins maybe fighting over whatever was so interesting that Roman had to grab his brother. What he was not ready for was to see King Creativity, stand just off the border of Remus’s side.
Deceit had slid to a stop and hid behind one of the blacken dead trees that litter the Dark Forest of the imagination at the sight of the King. Not wearing Roman’s traditional red sash, or Remus’s green, but a golden sash and red cape and much taller than he remembered. He did remember the King from when they were young, but even then the other sides didn’t really want to be near the Snake Side. Deceit couldn’t help but feel hesitant about approaching the King, he might have Roman’s habit of pointing a sword at him. Besides the Light Sides were already there, surrounding the King with excited chatter; only Virgil seemed to hesitate getting near the newly fused King. “My friends!!” The King had boosted, grabbing them all in one big hug. “I’ve missed you!”
“We’ve got to tell Thomas!” Patton had cheered, pulling the King away.
Watching them disappear, sinking out of the imagination. Deceit had let out the breath he had been holding. He had walked out from his hiding spot to examine what had caused the Kings return. But all that laid on the ground was the red and green sash of the creative twins. The tears had fell from his eyes when it finally hit him that Remus was not going to be coming back. His only friend was gone. Just like that.
The first few days Deceit had managed just fine telling himself that he was happy to finally have some peace and quiet, but by the fourth day, the Lying Side couldn’t deny how much he missed his one and only friend. And as the days passed on, the harder it was to pretend and lie to himself that he was fine. So, here he laid on the couch, Remus’s green satin sash and octopus plushy cradled close to him as he stared blankly at the horror film, playing on the screen, but not really watching it. It had been one of Remus’s favorite movies.Two weeks had passed and during which Deceit had learned the consequences of not have the Dark side around anymore. He had that without Remus to control the Dark side of the imagination the creatures were not so docile, and would now attack Deceit. Proving that Remus’s protection over his realm was gone. So the Snake side now avoided the imagination. The Dark Side of the consciousness was colder too, but Deceit soon found he didn’t really care. Couldn’t even bring himself to find the thermostat and turn on the heat now that Remus was not controlling the temperature anymore.
Part of him wonder if King Creativity even remember the special bond his Dark side and Deceit had, before so rudely taking him away from Deceit. Now he didn’t hate the King, but it was obvious that the King was no Remus.
The King wouldn’t bring him dead animals as presents. The King wouldn’t be there to help Deceit when it was time his snake half to start shedding. The King wouldn’t bombard Deceit with ridiculous questions about how said, scales would taste like if put in a soup. The King wouldn’t be interested in helping Deceit help Thomas. Not like Remus anyway. No, the King was a Light Side. The King wasn’t Remus. And it wasn’t the Kings fault Deceit had let himself get attached to the chaotic creative side.
More days passed and with no energy to push him, Deceit barely left the couch anymore. Always seeming to curl around the green sash and plushy, as a gross and scary movie played on the t.v.. He didn’t even bother with eating, and if he were human, Deceit was sure that he would have died a long time ago. But not eating at all and the constant shivers that seem to run through his body, had left the snake side feeling weak, as well as heartbroken.
A knock on the door, seemed to snap Deceit back from his self pitying. Sitting up and dry his eyes that he hadn’t realized were leaking tears, he stood up and walked slowly to the door, Straightening his clothes to at least keep up the appearance that nothing was wrong, because there was nothing wrong. Everything was fine. Thomas had King Creativity back and that was all that mattered. Remus was now accepted not only by his brother, but by Thomas as well.
“Who is it?” He answered, hand on the doorknob.
“Romulus.” The King’s voice answered. Deceit froze for a moment gaining control of his breathing, before opening the door, only wide enough to peek out.
“What do you want?” He asked, peeking out at the Creative side.
The King, who looked so much like his Remus and the Princely Roman, upon seeing Deceit through the small gape through the door, gave a gentle smile, that Deceit could only assume was false and not really meant for him. After all King Romulus was an actor not just creative thoughts. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“Then talk. What do you want?” Deceit, asked, wanting to get back on the couch, back to holding what was left of his Remus.
“May I come in?” King asked.
Hand already pushing the door open a little more, but met with resistance by Deceit, who was still weighing the pros and cons of letting King in, before giving up. “Fine. He said, letting go of the door. Letting King push it all the way open.
Romulus looked over Deceit shoulder taking in the room behind him. “How have you been?” He asked pushing past Deceit and into the Common Area.
“I’m fine.”
Romulus looked back at Deceit with mismatched red and green eyes. Making Deceit hold back the shivers that threaten to take over his body, schooling his expression so the Creative side would not know how terribly Deceit really was doing. Because this was not the Light sides problem. And there wasn’t anything wrong. Deceit was happy for the creative twins. He was happy King was back. He was happyfor Remus.
Romulus glanced at the kitchen where the dirty dishes were, that had never left the sink the day Remus left. The dust that now was starting to find a home on the table that hadn’t been used in a while. Then to the television that was had been playing nothing but horror and gory films nonstop these days. Then finally his gaze landed back on Deceit, who’s eyes were red from crying. “You don’t seem fine.” He said, stepping closer to the Snake side, who backed away, when he raised his hand, despite how inviting the heat coming off the other felt. “Your scales seem duller and you look like you’ve lost some weight. Is it too cold here for you? I know I-Remus kept the temperature steady down here for you.” King asked, looking around and spotting the thermostat that was never really used. He strode over to it leaving Deceit free to retreat back to the couch to sit down, no longer able to stand anymore.
“The temperature is fine. Its always been cold here.” He defended tiredly.
“Sixty-one degrees?!!” King shouted. “No wonder you don’t look well. Do you know what this can do to you?! I’m surprised your even up!” He said, astonished and immediately began messing with the temperature.
If Deceit was honest, so was he. The Snake side really just wanted to lay down somewhere and never move. But what right did King have to come here and start changing things. “Its fine and I am fine. Stop touching things.” He snapped, hands going to the plushy octopus for comfort.
“Sure you are.” Romulus said with a scoff, striding over to stand in front of the sitting Snake Side. “This is not healthy for you-”
“Why do you care?! You’re a Light Side no- Just get out.”
“Dee Dee….”
“And don’t you dare call me that!” Deceit hissed, jumping to his feet throwing his best glare at the taller Side.
“Deceit. I’m worried about you.” Romulus said. “I just-” His eyes landed on the octopus plushy in the Snake Sides hands then to the green sash on the couch. Deceits noticed and his grip tightened on the plushy like a life line, afraid the King may want it back or something. “Dee?”
“Get. Out. Now.” Deceit hissed, not wanting the King and his hurtful memories around him any longer. “I don’t know if you’ve forgotten but this is the Dark Sides Common Area and Light Sides are not welcomed.”
A look of hurt crossed the Kings face before he did as Deceit commanded and left, closing the door on his way out.
Deceit stood in his spot breathing hard and fighting back tears that were leaking from his eyes. He dropped to his knees and crushed the toy close to his face and started sobbing. If King was still near the door he probably would have heard Deceit at his lowest point. But he couldn’t get the tears to stop. They just kept coming, even when he thought he had no more tears to shed, they would reemerge at full force. Looking around the room, it felt to big. The room was starting to warm up so there was that, but it wasn’t what he wanted. Sniffling, he grabbed the sash off the couch and started making his way upstairs and past his room. He stopped in front of the dirty and crack green door that was once Remus’s room, and stepped inside. The heat that had been filling the common area, was suddenly gone, and Deceit practically lunged for the messy and smelly bed that was Remus’s.
He tangled himself up in the blankets, and hugging both sash and octo. plushy close to his chest. If he closed his eyes here he could imagine that instead of blankets wrapped around him, it was Remus, who was here hugging him. Distracting him from the fact that he didn’t have a chance of being accepted. That Remus would never leave him. But Remus had left him.
But Deceit wasn’t sad.
No he was happy for his friend.
He was happy for Remus.
Shivers began taking over his body again. Remus’s dungeon aesthetic room, didn’t seem to be connected to the heating system of the house, so that meant Remus’s room was the coldest room there. Deceit didn’t mind though. He was fine if he could pretend Remus was there with him, as he drifted off to sleep.
TBC