Chapter Text
Remus was unpredictable; that was the whole point. They all knew this. Virgil was always quick to point it out after the whole “Thomas finding out about Remus” debacle.
So it was shocking to everyone, Remus included at times, how easily Logan handled him.
Case in point, Remus had just burst into the room with a shriek, shorting out the lights and spinning his head 360°. The action had its intended effect, Virgil jolting and swearing, Patton doing the same but with a family-friendly wordswap, Roman barely shifting his shrill yell to a heroic battle cry while unsheathing his sword, and Janus rolling his eyes at the usual antics.
Only one side seemed unaffected, only glancing up from his book due to the lights being hijacked.
“You’re getting better at that, Remus,” He remarked casually, “Would you mind fixing the lights? I still have a few pages of this chapter left.”
The silence that fell over the room was colored with shock; even Remus froze for a moment before snapping, the lights returning to the gentle glow they usually had.
“Thank you very much,” Logan spared a small smile, returning to the pages quickly to find the line he left off at, “Ah, and I believe a few degrees to the left would centralize your entrance better next time.”
“Oh…uh, thanks?” Remus seemed the most baffled of them all, slowly sinking out, leaving the rest of the sides to simply stare at each other in confusion and no small amount of awe.
“Uh, Logan?” Patton hesitantly started, not wanting to interrupt, but also unable to keep his thoughts to himself.
“Yes?”
“How did you… well-”
“HOW do you just ignore him like that?!” Virgil broke in, looking almost haggard at the sheer thought someone could be so unaffected by Remus.
“I didn’t ignore him. I simply needed the light back, so I asked.” Logan sighed a little, bookmarking the page he was on this time, “You all seem to forget Remus is simply like that. Reacting negatively only gives him more figurative fuel. Acknowledging and redirecting him is simply the most expedient path to a desired result. Like a dog with a bone, if you offer him a steak, the bone will be quickly abandoned.”
“Huh…”
“Indeed, now if you’ll excuse me, I really would like to finish this chapter. Have a pleasant day.” And with nothing more to add, he sank out as well.
A beat passed, then two. Each of the remaining sides glancing from where Logan disappeared to where Remus had, and then back to each other.
“Weird,” Virgil muttered, shaking his head.
“Well, at least we learned something, right?” Patton tried for a smile, still a little stunned.
“Oh, and we’ll all definitely be able to implement that practice. It’s definitely not just a Logan thing.” Janus shook his head, “Good luck with that.”
Out of all of them, Roman seemed the most shocked, having gone completely silent. He’d been so frightened of them all meeting his brother, only for Logan to adapt so quickly. Something wasn’t right… or maybe he was just overthinking it. Logan always did have the easiest time adapting to things, perhaps because of who he was.
At least that was the initial thought, until it kept happening.
Remus would do something. A jumpscare, a weird machine, an odd, off-putting thought voiced aloud—anything and everything, as was his way. And as was their way, the sides would often react in kind.
Everyone but Logan.
“Remus, is there a reason for the animal carcass on the dining table?”
“OOOOO Yes! My new project! I’m thinking I’m going to make him a little skeletal golfing gopher! Wouldn’t that be cute?! Imagine the possibilities! I just need to get all that flesh off first and-”
“An interesting project indeed, but would you mind taking it to your room for now? I’d like to sanitize the table before dinner. But keep me updated, I’d like to see how it turns out.”
“Absolutely Lo-lo!” A snap and everything had been tidied up, “What’s for dinner?”
Or later-
“-and the process is really interesting, turns out chickens can run around without a head for hours! There was once a chicken that lived for 18 months without a head! Imagine!”
“Ah, yes, Mike! I read about that; he survived the beheading due to most of his brain stem remaining intact, and a blood clot prevented him from bleeding to death. Truly a fascinating read.”
And again the day after-
“Logan, have you seen my eye? I got soap in it again and took it out to clean it, but I dropped it, and all I can see is the corner of your shoe!”
“Ah, it’s over in the corner there, by the refrigerator.”
“Thanks, teach!”
Everyone had seen it, and yet no one really understood. Remus was his usual horrifying self, and yet Logan seemed completely at ease, even responding in a similarly horrifying fashion on occasion. No one imagined they’d talk about a beheaded chicken for the better part of an hour, but they did.
Roman didn't understand, couldn’t understand. It made no sense. And the fact that it bothered him also bothered him. What did he care if his brother and the nerdy professor were getting along?
Except… it was bothering Virgil. And he couldn’t let that stand because he was the hero! And heroes fixed problems that bothered others!
Definitely no other reasons.
So it was with determination that Roman summoned Logan to his room.
Logan popped up without much resistance, but instead mild surprise, “Roman? You never summon me independently. Is something wrong?”
“WHAT in the name of Athena are you doing being so buddy-buddy with the duke?!” Roman started, immediately jumping to the point. It had been simmering for so long he couldn’t hold back anymore.
“You mean Remus?”
“YES!!! AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING!!! Since when have you two been on such a good first-name basis?”
Logan sighed at him, AT HIM, and shook his head, “Well, it is his name, Roman. Clever nicknames are not my figurative department. I don’t know what you expect me to call him.”
“You shouldn’t be calling him anything!!!” Roman all but hissed, “You shouldn’t be talking with him at all! He’s… He’s him! Having him around so much can’t be good! He’s not good!”
Logan just stared at Roman for a moment, analyzing. It unnerved Roman, but he wasn’t going to give this up, simply huffing and resting his hands on his hips.
“You’re worried this much interaction with Remus is going to have a negative effect on the others, and therefore Thomas, correct?” Logan spoke neutrally, factually, and it grated on Roman’s nerves that he could pretend to be so above it all.
“YES!! We got along fine, leaving him alone before!”
“No, we didn’t.” Logan shook his head, still calm, “If we had, Virgil and Patton wouldn’t have had such an aggressive reaction to Remus, and Thomas wouldn’t have been on the verge of a mental breakdown.”
“I just-”
“Roman.” Logan’s steady hand gripped his shoulder, focusing his attention. Logan was still calm, but a small smile played along his lips, fondness ever so soft. “I understand you’re trying to protect Thomas, protect us all. But I need you to hear me right now. Take a few breaths.”
Roman nodded and did as he was told. A few deep breaths made the whole situation seem a little less daunting.
“Remus is no threat; he simply is. And if we keep trying to force him out, you know he’s just going to continue getting louder and more… aggressive in his methods. The easiest solution to the problem you’re trying to fight is no fight at all. It’s simply acceptance. Remus is here. He is a part of Thomas’ creativity, just as you are. I wouldn’t demand that Thomas completely ignore you, so we cannot demand that Thomas completely ignore him. I understand he can be distressing to Patton and to Virgil…” Logan leveled a look at Roman that had an embarrassed heat fighting to crawl up his neck, “But they too will get used to him. We all simply must. Because getting used to him is the only way forward.”
“You seem very used to him,” Roman quipped back, and this time Logan looked a little embarrassed, just for a split second, before schooling his expression back into that calm facade.
“It is nice… to have someone as curious as I am about a myriad of topics. I enjoy speaking with you about movie trivia and films. I enjoy talking with Virgil about cryptids and horror. I enjoy conversing with Patton about cooking. Even Janus and I talk about wine. Why is it odd that I would enjoy talking with Remus about things within his domain? I doubt you would be interested in the creative aspects of taxidermy.”
Roman blinked a few times, chuckling a little, “Fair point, I… I suppose that makes sense.”
“Indeed. Now I don’t expect you to be as calm with Remus as I am. You’re very close to the issue, and both you and the rest are a little too swayed by emotions. It is understandable, as that is who you are. Let me handle this the way I am, and I will promise to come to all of you if there is something wrong, so that we may handle it as a group. Is this agreeable to you?”
“Yeah… Yeah, that does help. Thank you, Logan, and I’m sorry for being so… short with you at first.”
“It’s quite all right, Roman, as I said, it’s understandable. Now, I’ll be going back if there’s nothing else. I have to finish organizing Thomas’ filming schedule for next month, so there’s adequate time for everything. Good Evening.”
And as Logan returned to his own room, Roman felt he could finally relax a little. He didn’t enjoy the idea of his brother being around so much, but at least he could rely on Logan to wrangle the unruly side.
“Y’know it's also cause we make out, right?” Remus, mere inches from his ear, had Roman absolutely shrieking in both surprise and horror.
“REMUS, GET OUT OF MY ROOM!”
“Absolutely, bro-bro, whatever you say!”
And as he caught his breath for the millionth time that day, the comment finally sank in.
“Wait WHAT?!”