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1. âHold on, weâre coming.â Superhero Analogical
If anyone sees this, âHiâ. It has been flipping years I think since Iâve posted (sure feels like it). No more perfectionism. We are simply replying to prompts. What happens, happens.Â
Relationships/Character: attempted Analogical, Janus style character as villian.
Warnings: injury, death mentioned/implied
Summary: Logan just wants to go on a date with Virgil. One little date and he was sure they could be something more. Unfortunately for Logan, he has a job to do. When an emergency call comes through from a young unregistered hero, Logan must ditch his plans to put a stop to The Puppeteer's plans before anyone else gets hurt.
The diner was a buzz with patrons as afternoon lectures finished and everyone was desperate for $3 special time; half an hour where desperate college students could indulge in a plate fuller than their head, if you could snag a seat. Logan scored a couples table in the far corner and was already munching on a plate of nachos while finalising his notes from the day.
"Excuse me," Logan glanced up at the round-faced girl that called his attention, "Is this seat taken?"
"Unfortunately, it is. I'm waiting for someone."
"Oh, okay. Sorry."
Logan watched the girl slip back through the crowd, desperate for a table, and turned his attention to his phone. He'd been waiting 5 minutes, hardly cause for alarm of being stood up, but still the thought wormed into his mind and played like a mantra.
Perhaps Virgil wasn't being truthful when he said he wanted to go out. Maybe he only said it to avoid upsetting him at the time.
Thoughts continued to swirl until his phone buzzed in his hand with an incoming call from a number listed with only an asterisk. Pressing his finger to the scanner, Logan scooped up his notebook, leaving the nachos unfinished, and pushed his way out of the diner; table quickly consumed by waiting patrons.
 "7827 Starix, listening." His voice was echoed as he whispered into the phone, hearing the other listener add their code.
"6483 Cloak, listening."
"h-h-hel-l-lo?"
"It's okay," Logan assured the terrified caller; hurrying down the path to find an ally clear enough to use.
"Take a breath and tell us what's happening."
"H-h-he took m-m-my friend. S. He took my friends."
"Who did?"
"Pup-puppeteer."
"What's your name?"
"Where are you?"
Logan rolled his eyes; he and Cloak always had a habit of talking over each other.
"Pat-n. I'm Patton. A-a-and I'm at the p-p-power sta-shhh-on. Please, hur-rr-y. It hurts-s."
"Good work, Patton."
"Just hold on, we're coming."
 Logan disconnected the call and opened his messages to text Virgil.
Logan: Sorry Virgil. I need a raincheck. Something came up.
By the time he had stuffed his satchel of notes behind a dumpster, the reply rang through.
Virgil: No worries, Logan. Talk later.
 The young man didn't have time to dwell on his lost date, squeezing his eyes shut and allowing hidden energy to rise to the surface of his body. His body was quickly enveloped by a substance that resembled a space scene, littered with stars that moved with him; glasses no longer visible to the regular eye, glowing white orbs sat where his eyes were instead.
Identity concealed, Starix became weightless, rising into the sky, blasting energy through his feet and hands to propel himself across the city towards the power station on the cityâs outskirts.
  âââ°â´,*â â˛ââăâ°ăâââ˛â *,â´Â°âââ âââ°â´,*â â˛ââăâ°ăâââ˛â *,â´Â°âââ
  Cloak pulled his bike around the corner and spotted sparks flying from the power station just before an explosion took out the west side. Cursing under his breath he urged the bike forward at an unsafe pace, wind whipping through the jet-black cloak that shrouded him.
Skidding to a halt, Cloak leapt from the bike and ran towards the large hole that had been made in the safety fence; black clothing shifting to remove his riding helmet and replace it with a simple mask.
 Laughter echoed from the top of a building before another explosion sent a body flying through the air. Cloak watched helplessly, thankful to hear the familiar whoosh of Starix's approach and see the space hero swoop through before the mystery victim hit the ground. Satisfied that the civilian was safe, he ran towards the building and leapt for the fire escape to reach the top.
 âââ°â´,*â â˛ââăâ°ăâââ˛â *,â´Â°âââ âââ°â´,*â â˛ââăâ°ăâââ˛â *,â´Â°âââ
  Starix gently lowered his passenger to the ground and quickly looked the trembling figure over. Their baby blue fabric mask, and matching outfit, was scorched and dusted in black soot.
"I assume you're not a registered hero, Patton."
"No sir." Patton looked rather sheepish and pulled his pointless mask down his face. "I just wanted to help."
"Are you hurt? That was a nasty explosion."
"I'm fine. Electricity is...well, it's kinda my thing."
Despite their assurance, Starix gave them a give look over before agreeing that their injuries weren't anything for concern.
"I assume your friends are gifted too."
"Well, yes, sir. He-they can summon things. Well, one can imagine it a-a-and the other makes it a reality."
Starix carefully considered their words and made a mental plan of attack; he only had one last thing to learn.
"One more thing, The Puppeteer usually uses manakins and dolls with string; how did the Puppeteer take control of your friends?"
"It was the snakes." Â The younger boy shuddered and cleared his throat of the bile that rose from the memory. "They were wrapped around his wrist and-and-and then they crawled into their shirts, and I knew, I just knew, that he'd taken control of them."
"Thank you, Patton." He rested a comforting hand on their shoulder and squeezed. "You have been most helpful. Stay out of trouble; Cloak and I will help your friends."
When Patton nodded, Starix quickly rose and took off back towards the power station.
  âââ°â´,*â â˛ââăâ°ăâââ˛â *,â´Â°âââ âââ°â´,*â â˛ââăâ°ăâââ˛â *,â´Â°âââ
 Cloak reformed his cloak to make jet black dual swords, starring at the unphased pair in front of him. Every swing of his blades was met with a weapon or shield conjured by the twins. So far Cloak had established that the boy in the red and white jacket was responsible for making the weapons, while the one in green shot an energy beam that brought them into existence. With the pair working together,
 Cloak couldn't get an advantage over them and was already struggling to work out a solo strategy.
There must be a range to their abilities. I need to get them apart if I'm going to get close enough to find the Puppeteers string.
 "You look tired." The boy in red offered, looking over at their twin. "Doesn't he look tired."
"Oh, yes indeed. Maybe we should help him lay down."
A morning star appeared before the green boy and became weighted when he grasped it; swinging it over his shoulder and waiting for the other to conjure a new weapon.
"Let the boys go, Puppeteer." Cloak growled, trying to buy time for Starix to return.
"No can do, hero. We are too much fun."
Sun glinted off the red boyâs fresh sword as he mirrored the others pose, putting Cloak on edge as he prepared to face both weapons.
"Shall we take out the emo nightmare, Remus."
The wicked grin that spread across the green boyâs face affirmed his name and Cloak was glad to have something better to identify him as.
"With pleasure."
 Remus ran forward, Cloak braced himself with raised weapons but didn't face the impact when a blurred force swept the boy away.
"Better late than never!" He called out before turning to the red boy that remained. "Just you and me now. Make it easy on yourself and let the kid go."
"Kid!" He gasped and grasped at his chest, "I'm not a snot nose brat."
"Could've fooled me."
"The name's Roman." He shifted his stance and prepared to move forward. "Best remember it because I'll be the one to kill you."
"Try me."
 With only the one weapon and body to focus on, Cloak was in his element; easily keeping the other at bay. Each swipe he managed to land he ensured his blade shrunk to avoid majorly injuring Roman; his goal was to sever The Puppeteers link and not harm the boy too much in the process.
Each fighter grunted with effort as their weapons became heavier; Cloak trying to encourage Roman to the roofs furthest corner without making his intentions obvious.
 "You plan on running, Tiny Terror?" Roman sneered, bringing his sword down heavily on Cloak's cross block.
"Funny, but no. I'm just waiting."
"Oh? For what? Your death?"
Roman swung his sword again, only this time slipped straight through Cloak's own and left him stumbling slightly at the absence of solid feedback. A deep chuckle had Roman looking up in shock and paling as he realised, he was now without a weapon.
"Still think I'm waiting for my death?" Raising his blade to the boys throat, black stretched from the tip and began wrapping around his neck. "Let the boy go, Puppeteer; it's over."
"Why should I?" Yellow flared in the boys left eye and Cloak clenched his teeth. "You can't do anything without hurting an innocent child."
"Not quite."
Turing his wrist slightly, the black began to tighten around Roman's neck and the boy grasped at the solid substance with one hand while the other fruitlessly swung his imagined sword. Cloak ignored the burn of bile rising in his throat as fear rose in the boyâs eyes the tighter he squeezed.
"Roman may be your puppet, but you still share a connection."
"How'd. You?" Roman gasped out, still straining to relieve the pressure on his throat.
"How do I know?" Cloak laughed to conceal his true feelings; now allowing some of the black to spread further in search of the puppet strings. "Starix is very observant. They picked up on your trend of dropping strings rather quickly after heavy hits and you've just confirmed our theories."
"Sh-i-t."
 An explosion drew Cloak's attention away, darkness still searching Roman's body while his eyes scanned the source of the blast. Smoke rose from below in a grey plume, parting as Remus burst through, immediately sending an energy blast towards Roman's waiting sword.
  âââ°â´,*â â˛ââăâ°ăâââ˛â *,â´Â°âââ âââ°â´,*â â˛ââăâ°ăâââ˛â *,â´Â°âââ
 Starix appreciated his powers, but he also despised them. Shooting a blast of energy from his hand, Remus's weapon was knocked free of his hand and dissipated onto the ground.
"Oh, so sparkles does have tricks other than flying. I was beginning to think you were nothing but CGI."
Blue and purple bloomed on Starix's face in embarrassment but he surged forward to face the boy in hand to hand combat now the weapon was gone.
It was frustrating to be reminded of his limitations mid-fight; a sore spot that even Cloak new not to broach. On paper, Starix was the strongest hero registered in their area; gifted with flight, light blasts, heat blasts and if he was lucky, he could plunge an zone into complete darkness. All fantastic on paper but in reality, his stars had to literally align for him to do anything with power behind it.
 "You hit like a girl." Remus said, rubbing his jaw where Starix's fist had connected. "Do you have lady parts under that space getup?"
"That statement is highly offensive to multiple parties."
"That's the point. I'm not here to compliment you, Star-for-Brains." Remus's eyes glanced sideways and flashed yellow before returning to their natural brown. "I'm here to destroy you!"
 It was almost comedic the way Remus suddenly bolted to his right, cackling at his own ingenious joke. The unexpected action left Starix stunned for a moment before he spotted the semi-transparent weapon Remus was charging for.
He assumed that separating the twins would prevent their creation ability, but it seemed the imaginative twin had stashed some surprises around the area for his brother to find. Sending a light blast forward, Starix was able to knock a flamethrower clear of his reach; not seeing the crowbar blended into the ground until it solidified and came swinging at his head. Â
 Retrieving the flamethrower, Remus took a moment to admire the hero staggering back upright.
"You seeing extra stars there, Princess?"
Starix struggled to focus his vision, just making out Remus as he fiddled with the weapon and threw it over to the transformer.
"I'd love to stay and play but I have a brother to help and you have a date with my Ex-plosion." Remus called out over his shoulder as he took off at a run. "You're going to love her. She's a blast."
  âââ°â´,*â â˛ââăâ°ăâââ˛â *,â´Â°âââ âââ°â´,*â â˛ââăâ°ăâââ˛â *,â´Â°âââ
  Despite his weakening state, Roman's sword still easily pierced Cloak's side. Cloak held firm and continued his demand for The Puppeteer to release the boys, ignoring the weapon now protruding from his side. Failing to nail the landing, Remus stumbled back to his feet and charged at Cloak to plunge the blade completely through, knocking them both away from Roman.
"It's over, Hero."
"Is it?" Cloak groaned as the sword tearing up his insides faded. "Let them go before it's too late Puppeteer."
Remus turned to see Roman still weakly struggling in the black weapons grasp, blue blossoming on his lips as he rushed over to tug at the weapon.
"What happens if one of your puppets dies, huh? Do you want to find out?!"
Yellow flashed and a snake slithered out from the twinsâ shirts before quickly slithering away. Satisfied, Cloak retracted the morphing fabric and was rewarded with the sound of air safely rushing back into Roman's lungs. Fabric quickly clung around his middle to stem the bleeding, and Cloak drank from a metal flask while stumbling to the edge in search Starix.
"You two need to get out of here," he grumbled, searching the smoky floor below. "I'll forget your faces if you stop playin' hero until you're registered."
"Yes, sir," they replied in unison; Remus helping Roman to his feet and heading to the opposite fire escape.
 Carefully scaling nearby framework, Cloak made his way down to the ground. The ground was thick with dust and smoke that even his fabric couldn't fully filter out. Pulling out his phone, he tapped the asterisk to place a call.
"6483 Cloak, calling"
"4357, responding"
"Powerplant case has civilians safely evacuating. Structures weakened. Starix is unaccounted for. Need a medical and engineering."
"Accepted. Medic already en route. ETA 5 minutes. Nearest engineers to be dispatched."
"6483, out."
 Pocketing his phone, Cloak continued ahead into the haze and cursed Starix for having such a dark outfit. Metal scaffolding gave way to his right and Cloak roughly rolled clear, gasping as pain waved up from his side. To his advantage, Cloak had managed to blindly roll directly into Starix.
"Ah, shit. Star? Starix, you good?"
Running his hands over the black form, Cloak search for any signs of injuries but his search was futile thanks to the black coating the others body. Despite his body's protests, Cloak lifted Starix from the armpits and began dragging them clear of the area. Clearer air sent a wave of fear up Cloaks spine as he realised why Starix had been so hard to find. Their body was completely black. No shifting stars. No spray of pinks or glowing white orbs where eyes would be. Nothing but a pitch-black figure.
 "No, no, no, no, no." Emotion gripped Cloaks throat as he felt for any signs of movement in Starix's chest. "Come on, Starix. Don't do this to me. I can't lose another partner. Not again."
  Two buildings over, The Puppeteer gasped for air from his rooftop hide out. Taking control of two powerful beings was tiring enough alone but he also took on the injuries of those he had controlled. Making his way over to the stairway door, he was shocked to feel it pull free from his hands a slam shut with a thud. The descending sun was beginning to cast a blinding light that the man squinted through to look around.
"Who's there?" He demanded to the empty space, leaning heavily on his cane as exhaustion continued to call.
Without warning, the cane was knocked from below and The Puppeteer was sent sprawling across the roof, along with the contents of his pockets. Confused and afraid, he desperately grabbed at his cane to pull himself to his feet. The discarded phone screen illuminated with an asterixis, placing an emergency call to the hero hotline without any further voice confirmation given. Tired and desperate the puppeteer pulled at the door fruitlessly. On another plane, out of sight, Starix leant against the door to seal it in place. The stars had aligned just enough for them to astral project and follow the snakes back to their owner. As a hero approached, Starix typed a code onto the display for the hero to find before leaving in search of their body and Cloak.
 "There are weak signs of life, but they donât respond to my touch," The healer shook his head in confusion. "I'm not sure I am able to help."
Running his hands through dark hair, Cloak paced away in frustration.
"We'll take you both to HQ for now. Starix isâŚnot a normal case. Their base form is less earthly than any heroes on record. We donât know if they are gone yet for sure."
Craning his neck back, Cloak stared up at the rainbow sky of sunset. "I hope you are right."
 Side aching despite the healing, Cloak folded into the medical car beside the bed containing Starix. The doors had just sealed when the gentle light began to spread over their body, stars working their way back across the black canvas. Starix gasping back to life sent Cloak into instant fight mode, cloak turning dagger sharp before he realised what had happened.
âFucking hell, Star. You scared the crap out of me.â
âIf itâs any consolation, I scared me too.â Shuffling off the securing straps with Cloakâs help, Starix moved to sit by his side. âAre you okay?â
âI actually respond to healers, so Iâll be fine.â
The pair shared a chuckle before Starix retold of how the explosion separated their forms which helped arrange for the capture of the Puppeteer.
 After additional medical checks and a debrief of The Puppeteer's capture, Cloak and Starix were cleared to go. Exiting the offices Starix offered to fly Cloak back to his bike, assuring him once again that he was fine and energised by the night. The hour was much later by the time the duo reached the discarded bike.
âNot the evening I was hoping to have, but an interesting one all the same.â Starix mused, starring up at the sky.
âI love that you describe near death as interesting.â
âCloak, I promise you, Iâm fine.â Starix placed a supportive hand on his shoulder and locked eyes. âI know my powers arenât the mostâŚpredictable, but-â
âI really thought I lost you today.â
Walls down, Starix saw Cloakâs emotional side for the first time. It was raw and painful to see.
âIâŚI didnât realise you cared so much for me.â
Cloak took Starixâs hand into his own and gave it a gentle squeeze.
âOf course I do. Youâre my partner.â
âYouâre work partner.â Cloak instantly recoiled at Starixâs words. âWe only know each other through aliases and hidden faces, Cloak. Iâm sensing that you want more, but we are strangers beyond this life.â
Hands dropping away Cloak mounted his bike in silence.
âIâm sorry, Cloak.â
âYou have your heart set on another donât you?â
âI do.â Despite not having a mouth, Cloak could sense the smile on his partners face. âHe is timid around most, but incredibly humorous around good company. I was meant to meet him this afternoon. Before the call came through anyway.â
Cloak perked up at that tidbit. âYou were?â
âI meanâŚIâd hoped to.â Starix fidgeted on the spot nervously as they recalled. âHe was late and didnât reply to my message until after I cancelledâŚperhaps I misjudged our closeness.â
Letting out a heavy sigh, Cloak allowed the bike to take his weight and pulled out his phone to tap out a message.
âOr maybe he was intimidated by the choice of location.â
âThat is a possibility.â Starix analysed Cloaks face carefully, mind ticking over slowly. âI did choose a rather popular location in order to impress him. Perhaps I should have stuck to somewhere simple. A diner for banana chocolate milkshakes perhaps.â
âYou donât need to impress him, Star.â Cloak chuckled and finished sending a text message before starting the bike. âYouâre already impressive enough on your own.â
Taking off on their own, Starfix headed back to the alley they had departed from, changing forms away from watching eyes. Once safely back on the streets, Logan took out his phone to find a message from Virgil.
Sorry I tried to ditch you ⨠want to try again? Milkshake combo at the old diner?
Logan didnât bother replying. He was already running.
***********************************
End Note: Can you tell this was kinda inspired by both Miraculous Ladybug and My Hero Academia? Iâm not promoting my other works anymore. I donât write frequently enough to be reliable. BUT, if you wanna chat auâs and force me to come up with story concepts live, Iâm on Twitch 1_1SnailXD. Old Cosplay videos and stories are on TikTok 1_1SnailXD. And obviously the Ao3 still exists. Go nuts.Â
Art by @the-pastel-peachâ - Please go check out her art, give her a follow, send her some love - No REPOSTING the art (with or without credit). Reblogs of this post are absolutely encouraged though)
Fandom: Sanders Sides
Type: Alternate Universe - University/HumanÂ
Rating: Mature (mainly because of the thinking and character loss)
Characters: Virgil Sparks, Logan Mars, Patton Smiles, Roman Reels, Ellie|Ethan Lyes (Deceit inspired character), original characters (Katie Reels, Jason Reels)Â
Summary: Virgil works as a cleaner in a library after loosing his university scholarship. Heâs homeless, heâs lost, heâs confused and he has to admit he needs help. Cue an unpredictable meeting and suddenly there is someone willing to take him on the path of self discovery and acceptance. Will he accept it, or will he walk away like he normally does.
Warnings: anxiety and panic, negative thinking, deaths (original characters), threats/blackmail, physical abuse/fighting, emotional abuse, homophobia (This is a tale of self discovery and acceptance), homelessness, alcohol abuse,
Hey, umm, if you read Libraries are for Meetings and thought it had been abandoned you are wrong. 2 chapters are being released soon. First 1 might even drop tomorrow once I remember how to upload because it has been so long.
This is what happens when someone messages me about my writing, the urge suddenly returns
Writing request for a fic centred around the Day of the Dead celebrations by @thequeensphinx. Thanks for all your help throughout the writing process. It was a fun one to research.Â
Characters/relationships:Â Roman | Virgil (platonic or romantic prinxiety), Kid Remus, Patton / Logan (logicality)Â
Warnings: death mentioned, crying, panic/sensory overload (let me know if thereâs more)Â
Words:Â ***** (Iâll update the exact number when Iâm not on my iPad, but itâs around the 3000 mark)Â
Summary: Roman asks Virgil to attend the Day of the Dead celebrations with his family. The event proves too much for Virgil as he is crushed by the fact that his own family abandoned him. Or did they?Â
______________________________
Roman stuck his tongue out slightly as he swooped a fine brush over Virgilâs face, crafting a masterpiece of white, black and purple. The sugar skull design was a mirror of the red version he had done on his own face; though Roman felt Virgilâs version was looking much better than his own.
âAre you sure itâs okay I join you for this?â Virgil asked quietly, glancing at the mirror as Roman reloaded his brush. âIsnât the day of the dead just for family members?â
âDonât be silly,â Roman laughed in reply, âDĂa de los Muertos is for celebrating life; of course you are welcome. Besides, as far as I am concerned, you are a part of my family.â
Summary: Logan finally has a chance to confront Virgil and the encounter leaves them both shattered.
Word count:Â 1763
Note: reading on mobile can remove the paragraphing sometimes. Use desktop site or visit my Ao3 page if it bothers you as much as it bothers me.
____________________
It felt like Logan had only just closed his eyes when his phone alarm went off. He assumed he had slept through the night, but his mind and body were still exhausted from the emotional release of the evening. In a chain reaction, they all slowly woke and began cleaning the area in an exhausted but calm silence. Roman, Patton and E were the first to head out, leaving Logan and Katie to finish the cleaning and prepare the library for the day.
âLooks like Tate will be a little late this morning,â Katie commented after hanging up her phone. âThat old car is giving them trouble again.â
With a sigh, she ran a hand through her oily hair and sat up on the desk.
âGo home, Katie.â Logan offered, placing a hand on the older womanâs shoulder. âI can watch the library until Tate arrives. Youâve done more than enough already.â
The rough sleep on the floor hadnât served Katie well and she gladly accepted Loganâs offer with a hug  before leaving.
Hidden from view, Virgil watched Katie lock the backdoor and waited patiently for her to pull away before going to let himself in. His evening on the street had left him cold to his core and the warmth from inside the library was an immediate relief. Wasting no time, he headed straight to the bathroom to clean up; blissfully ignorant of Loganâs presence at the front of the library. It wasnât until he came out and found a coffee sitting in the kitchen that Virgil realised he wasnât alone.
Summary: Logan finally has a chance to confront Virgil and the encounter leaves them both shattered.
Word count:Â 1763
Note: reading on mobile can remove the paragraphing sometimes. Use desktop site or visit my Ao3 page if it bothers you as much as it bothers me.
____________________
It felt like Logan had only just closed his eyes when his phone alarm went off. He assumed he had slept through the night, but his mind and body were still exhausted from the emotional release of the evening. In a chain reaction, they all slowly woke and began cleaning the area in an exhausted but calm silence. Roman, Patton and E were the first to head out, leaving Logan and Katie to finish the cleaning and prepare the library for the day.
 âLooks like Tate will be a little late this morning,â Katie commented after hanging up her phone. âThat old car is giving them trouble again.â
With a sigh, she ran a hand through her oily hair and sat up on the desk.
âGo home, Katie.â Logan offered, placing a hand on the older womanâs shoulder. âI can watch the library until Tate arrives. Youâve done more than enough already.â
The rough sleep on the floor hadnât served Katie well and she gladly accepted Loganâs offer with a hug  before leaving.
 Hidden from view, Virgil watched Katie lock the backdoor and waited patiently for her to pull away before going to let himself in. His evening on the street had left him cold to his core and the warmth from inside the library was an immediate relief. Wasting no time, he headed straight to the bathroom to clean up; blissfully ignorant of Loganâs presence at the front of the library. It wasnât until he came out and found a coffee sitting in the kitchen that Virgil realised he wasnât alone.
âKatie and I cleaned up this morning, Virgil.â Loganâs voice was calm and pleasant, but it immediately put Virgil on edge. âI didnât think you were working today.â
âJust last night.â Keeping his head low, Virgil stepped passed Logan to head to his office. âIf nothing is needed, Iâll just grab some things and head out.â
Logan watched cautiously, sensing something off about the other but unsure of the best way to approach. Benâs message came to mind again as he watched Virgil leave his office with a loaded bag and head toward the back door to leave.
 âDid I do something wrong?â Virgil stopped but didnât turn to face Logan. âI know yesterday didnât go well but-â
âI told you to let it go, Logan.â The harshness in his voice felt wrong, but Virgil wasnât going to let Logan get caught up in his mess.
âIf something is wrong, you can tell me.â Stepping closer cautiously, Logan noticed Virgilâs shoulders growing tense. âI only want to help-â
âI DONâT WANT YOUR FUCKING HELP!â
Logan quickly stepped away, taken aback by the others sudden anger. Â âYou might not want it, but you clearly need it.â
âOh, would you take the hint, you fucking moron.â Virgil kept his face hidden by his hood when he turned around, words burning his throat as if each were acid leaving his mouth. âIâm not interested in your fucked up, gay ass. I got my free food, now leave me alone.â
The words stung Logan, but he kept his face neutral and firm; heart breaking as his mind cruelly brought an old fear back to the surface. Once silenced, the dark thoughts re-entered his mind with a vengeance.
âFor the record, I am not gay.â It felt like Virgilâs heart stopped at Loganâs words. âI prefer to identify as a Panromantic-asexual. If you are going to insult my sexuality, at least do it properly."
âWhatever,â Virgil turned and headed towards the door again. âHave fun with your dead boyfriend, faggot.â
 The air was left sour and heavy with Virgilâs words. Neither man believed the words, but their burn was real enough to have an effect. Virgil carried the last of his belongings away to sell in hopes of spearing everyone from his burden; Logan on the other hand, sat in deathly silence until Tate arrived and mindlessly headed out to get ready for work. The old ghostly fear growing and twisting into a dark shadow, until  a soothing voice urged him to return to an old habit.
********************
Nothing but the clothes on his back, Virgil walked the streets with a measly $50 in his pocket. Each step echoed in his ears and he felt disgusted by every breath he took past his cursed lips. Regret and guilt a heavy stone in his gut as Loganâs face and his words echoed in his mind. Staring down at his phone he had the urge to call Logan and tell him everything; his debt and his past, the heavy weight that held him back.
 âVirgil Sparks?â
The moment Virgil paused and looked up in response to the voice, he regretted it. The men who climbed out of the black van parked beside him were not comfortingly familiar.
âGet in the van, Virgil.â Ben motioned to Virgil from his position in the back; his expression darkened by bruising to his cheek.
âYou said I had till Monday. I havenât got any-â
âGet in.â
A firm hand gripped Virgilâs forearm and he felt all sense of hope finally fade away before climbing inside. There was no running now. The only way out would be messy no matter which way he looked at it. But then againâŚit was what he deserved.
******************
Patton was terrified as he ran down the streets towards his home. He had received Katieâs message 5 minutes prior and turned his calming walk into a complete workout.
 Kit-Kat: are you okay?
Pit-Pat: fine. Just taking a casual walk home.
Kit-Kat: something has happened. Virgilâs office is completely empty, Logan isnât answering his phone and his work said he left early to take care of you. Â
 He should have felt bad leaving Katie on âreadâ but all he could think about was how broken Logan was last night. Even before he had shared Jason's video, heâd seemed more distant than usual, but Patton had been so caught up in his own feelings he hadnât even registered it until now. Worry gripped his chest like a vice while his feet beat roughly against pavement. Air rushed uncomfortably into his lungs with every breath until he finally reached the doorstep and shoved the key into the lock.
 âLogan!â
Patton spotted his roommates bag and shoes roughly discarded in the entry and raced up the stairs; calling again until he reached Loganâs locked bedroom door.
âLogan? Logan, open the door.â He pulled at the door fruitlessly; the silence from the other side feeding his fear with every unresponsive second. âLogie, please, youâre scaring me.â
Hands shaking, Patton eyed the door lock and remembered the same locks on his childhood doors; his mother could always get in when he was sad by using a butterknife to unlock it from the outside. When Logan didnât respond again, he raced downstairs and decided this was just the situation to invade his privacy.
 The knife fell from Pattonâs hands the moment the door unlocked and he rushed into the room. Bottles of spirits were discarded and spilling on the floor; the sight alone made Pattonâs blood run ice cold. Loganâs glasses were shattered by the wardrobe with what had probably been a full bottle of alcohol. Worried eyes darted around until her spotted his friend crumpled at the far end of the room by his bed; eyes open but unseeing through a blur of tears. Patton was thankful for his shoes as he crunched into the room and cradled Loganâs head between his hands.
âBe honest with me, Logan, how much did you drink?â
Blinking, Loganâs features contorted as his fogged brain processed Pattonâs comforting presence and realisation hit like a tidal wave sending sobs through his body again.
âI-I c-nnn-n-tâ
âItâs okay. Youâre okay, sweetie.â Pulling him close, Patton took in the intense scent of alcohol that he had not dealt with since the first months of Jasonâs passing. âIâve got you now. Itâs okay.â
 Though Patton would have loved to simply hold Logan, he knew it wasnât safe to stay in the room as it was. Carefully pulling back, Patton locked Loganâs eyes and kept his tone level and calm.
âItâs not safe here, Logan. Can you stand for me?â With a small nod, Logan carefully rose to his feet with Patton as support. âOkay. Thereâs lots of glass around so I need you to just stand here while I grab you some shoes. Can you do that?â
Using the wall for support, Logan released Patton so he could retrieve a pair of slippers from the back of the wardrobe. Gingerly slipping them on, Patton guided Logan to the bathroom and sat him on the toilet lid while he went to fetch clean clothes.
 When Patton returned, Logan had his face buried in his hands with fresh sobs shaking his shoulders. The dĂŠjĂ vu hit him hard as he felt himself repeating an old routine of helping Logan shower and dress, before shuffling down the hall to set him up in his bed. No one else knew of Loganâs brief struggle with alcohol after Jason. It was a short-lived but intense battle. Night after night of alcohol fuelled sadness and self-loathing was eventually brought under-control thanks to Pattonâs support. Sadly, Patton was now reminded that it was a battle they would apparently have to always be aware of. A lingering shadow in their lives that would remain, even after Logan allowed Patton to coax him into an unsteady sleep.
Katie knocked on the door an hour later and Patton carefully shuffled off the bed; thankful that Logan didnât stir from the movement.
âWhy didnât you tell me about this from the beginning?â Katie asked sadly, moving the wet-vac away so they could scrub the stained carpet further.
âYou were grieving at the time.â Bubbles formed on the carpet as Patton began scrubbing, filling his nose with a scent to drown out the alcohol. âYou didnât need Loganâs added burden and we had it handled. For a while, I guess.â
âHad it handled?â
âHeâs not an alcoholic, Katie.â His voice was defensive, hoping not to regret pulling Katie into their secret. âYou know Lo. He has one drink and thatâs it, but after JasonâŚhe went too far. Heâs been fine this whole time. I swear this is the first time since that heâs done this.â
With a solemn nod, Katie went back to scrubbing. She believed Patton; he had no reason to lie.
âSomething happened with Virgil, Patton. Iâm sure of it.â
âAny idea what?â
âNo. But Iâm going to find out.â
âMe to.â
____________________
End Note
Released at the end of the week, just like I promised.
Tag List (let me know if you want to be removed. It has been so long I understand if you donât wanna hang around)
@notalwaysthebadguyâ Â Â Â @thequeensphinxâ Â Â @ollyollyoxinfreeâ Â @celeste-tyrrellâ Â Â @pumpkinminetteâ Â Â @ahyeahisurehopeit-does
_____________________________
Chapter 13 (coming later) Â â MasterList
What else have I done:
The Perfect Ring (oneshot - analogical proposal)
You Promised (oneshot - prinxiety angst/injury/near death)
Sides of a Hero (Completed Fic - sides are fusions of impulses and aspects of Thomas. Virgil has a depressing past that he is forced to face thanks to Deceit and Rage. Was canon compliant at the time of completion)
The Shield to your Sword (WIP - A fantasy/magic au - Prinxiety (Royal Roman and orphan Virgil - theyâll admit to their love eventually), Virgil angst, non binary, healer Logan, *spoiler* Patton)
Writing Master Post
Check out my other blog for random fandom reblogs and stuff @snail-gigglesâ
Also now doing Cosplay and storylines on TikTok: 1_1snailxd
Art by @the-pastel-peachâ - Please go check out her art, give her a follow, send her some love - No REPOSTING the art (with or without credit). Reblogs of this post are absolutely encouraged though)
Fandom: Sanders Sides
Type: Alternate Universe - University/HumanÂ
Rating: Mature (mainly because of the thinking and character loss)
Characters: Virgil Sparks, Logan Mars, Patton Smiles, Roman Reels, Ellie|Ethan Lyes (Deceit inspired character), original characters (Katie Reels, Jason Reels)Â
Summary: Virgil works as a cleaner in a library after loosing his university scholarship. Heâs homeless, heâs lost, heâs confused and he has to admit he needs help. Cue an unpredictable meeting and suddenly there is someone willing to take him on the path of self discovery and acceptance. Will he accept it, or will he walk away like he normally does.
Warnings: anxiety and panic, negative thinking, deaths (original characters), threats/blackmail, physical abuse/fighting, emotional abuse, homophobia (This is a tale of self discovery and acceptance), homelessness,Â
Summary: A soft mountain of pillows and blankets, plenty of food, boxes of tissues, a few close friends, and plenty of unshed tears. Sounds like a recipe for a lovely evening in the library.Â
Word count:Â 2013
Note: reading on mobile can remove the paragraphing sometimes. Use desktop site or visit my Ao3 page if it bothers you as much as it bothers me.
____________________
 âAre you sure you want to sell all this, kid?â Pete questioned, eyeing the pile of electrical equipment, parts, a handheld gaming system and a chunky, old laptop. âWonât you need most of this for work?â
âI need the money more.â The younger man snapped and pointed aggressively at each object, hood low and concealing his face. âThe parts and tools are versatile, and any techie would be happy to use them. The laptop may be old, but it runs fine and is already wiped. Jesus, I even got the game working even though it only accepts one cartridge. There will be some nostalgic nerd willing to play only PokĂŠmon blue for the rest of that systems little life. This is good stuff, Pete. What can you get me?â
@notalwaysthebadguy I love you too â¤đ§Ąđđđđđâ¤đ§Ąđđđđđâ¤đ§Ąđđđđđâ¤đ§Ąđđđđđâ¤đ§Ąđđđđđâ¤đ§Ąđđđđđ Glad you enjoyed to eventual update đ
Summary: A soft mountain of pillows and blankets, plenty of food, boxes of tissues, a few close friends, and plenty of unshed tears. Sounds like a recipe for a lovely evening in the library.Â
Word count:Â 2013
Note: reading on mobile can remove the paragraphing sometimes. Use desktop site or visit my Ao3 page if it bothers you as much as it bothers me.
____________________
 âAre you sure you want to sell all this, kid?â Pete questioned, eyeing the pile of electrical equipment, parts, a handheld gaming system and a chunky, old laptop. âWonât you need most of this for work?â
âI need the money more.â The younger man snapped and pointed aggressively at each object, hood low and concealing his face. âThe parts and tools are versatile, and any techie would be happy to use them. The laptop may be old, but it runs fine and is already wiped. Jesus, I even got the game working even though it only accepts one cartridge. There will be some nostalgic nerd willing to play only PokĂŠmon blue for the rest of that systems little life. This is good stuff, Pete. What can you get me?â
Summary: A soft mountain of pillows and blankets, plenty of food, boxes of tissues, a few close friends, and plenty of unshed tears. Sounds like a recipe for a lovely evening in the library.Â
Word count:Â 2013
Note: reading on mobile can remove the paragraphing sometimes. Use desktop site or visit my Ao3 page if it bothers you as much as it bothers me.
____________________
 âAre you sure you want to sell all this, kid?â Pete questioned, eyeing the pile of electrical equipment, parts, a handheld gaming system and a chunky, old laptop. âWonât you need most of this for work?â
âI need the money more.â The younger man snapped and pointed aggressively at each object, hood low and concealing his face. âThe parts and tools are versatile, and any techie would be happy to use them. The laptop may be old, but it runs fine and is already wiped. Jesus, I even got the game working even though it only accepts one cartridge. There will be some nostalgic nerd willing to play only PokĂŠmon blue for the rest of that systems little life. This is good stuff, Pete. What can you get me?â
Scratching his chin in thought, Pete tapped at his keyboard absently. In the few months Virgil had been around, he had never seen the man so desperate for money. The parts boxed up before him would certainly be useful for his other workers but would put Virgil out of commission.
âKid, if you need the money, just pawn this stuff and come back la-â
âTake the hint, Pete, Iâm not coming back.â
Glancing down at Virgilâs shaking hands, the older man sighed and opened the till to retrieve a collection of notes.
âIf thatâs the case, and this is farewell, take this.â He placed $500 in cash on the counter and slid it towards Virgil. âYou do good work, kid. Itâs a shame to see you go.â
âAnd itâs a shame youâre such a fucken cheapskate.â
It was meant to be an insult, but Pete saw a tear drip from his chin as he turned and stormed out with the money. It was nothing but an act to spare the kid from the pain of leaving. Grabbing the bag of items, Pete walked them out the back and placed them safely on a pawning shelf; writing a tag with Virgilâs name and only removing the gaming device to add to inventory. Despite what they had said, Pete wasnât about to let Virgil throw everything away. He had been rough on him to teach him about the harshness of the industry, but he wasnât completely heartless. He only hoped Virgil would find the strength to come back.
Â
********************
Â
The once full plates of food were emptier as the group leaned back on beanbags in the library reading area. Patton nestled against Romanâs chest, eyes red from crying after he had spoken about his guilt and thoughts of being a bad omen. The group had listened as Patton finished with the points Roman and Katie had given him the days prior, before Roman pulled him close to his chest.
Logan remained silent. He didnât know how to respond to Pattonâs admissions, all of which were predominantly his fault.
âYou are nothing but a good omen to me.â Roman whispered, planting a kiss on his head and continuing to soothingly stroke his shoulder.
âA-agreed.â Logan added, clearing his throat as his voice broke slightly. âIâm sorry if my actions ever made you feel less than what you are worth, Patton. You know how much you mean to me, right?â
Patton shifted on Romanâs chest and extended his hand out for Logan to take.
âI know, Lo. Iâll try not to let myself forget again.â
Giving their hands a final squeeze, the pair let their hands drop so Patton could return to his comforting position against Romanâs chest.
 âPerhaps, I should speak next,â Roman offered and looked to the others for their nod of approval.
âOkay, little brother. What do you need to get off your chest?â
âNot Patton, for one.â He joked, giving his partner a squeeze before his tone became surprisingly sombre. âWell⌠I think it is time I apologised to youâŚKatie.â
The eldest looked confused as Roman met her eye with a small smile, before he lowered his gaze to focus back on the man on his chest.
âWhat do you have to apologise for?â
âYou said your biggest regret was beingâŚoverbearing and overprotective. That your biggest accomplishment over the last few months was not messaging us every few hours religiously, but⌠Iâm the reason you started that in the first place.â
âRoman-â
âKatie.â Logan warned, fixing her with a stern look. âRemember the rules. We speak openly and without interruption.â
After mumbling an apology, Katie gestured for Roman to continue.
âI was meant to tell you about Sashaâs party, but because I didnât end up going with Jason, I never told you. And, to make matters worse⌠after Jasonâs death, IâŚâ taking a shaky breath, Roman found Pattonâs hand to grip for support. âI acted rashly and caused you more stress. I put myself in unnecessary danger on multiple occasions and if it wasnât for Patton, Iâd probably still be party hopping and getting in car wrecks. It was selfish of me and Iâm sorry it took me so long to get my head out of my ass and treat you like a human.  Youâve been there for me and I should have been there for youâŚI hope I can do better.â
The figurative weight slid off Romanâs chest as he looked up and saw his older sister smiling, a single tear trailing down her cheek.
âThank you, Roman.â Swiping the tear away, Katie chuckled quietly to herself. âIt really means a lot that you see me as a human.â
âYeah, well, youâre not always a dragon witch.â
 Logan felt his mind wandering; beginning to obsess over the message Virgil had sent. There was such an undertone of anger and he started going through what heâd done wrong.  Part of him hoped it was referring to his offers of food and monetary support, which he could easily back away from. Thinking more logically, he figured it was probably his sudden obsession with over sharing and using an acquaintance as a sounding board instead of going to actual therapy. Regardless, he didnât know for certain and it was eating him up inside.
 âLogan?â
Ethanâs voice cut through Loganâs thoughts like a hot knife through butter and he suddenly registered the silence in the room. Everyone else had shared now; their grief and guilt finally aired fully and unapologetically. He was the only one still left to share and it dawned on him just how afraid he was to do as he had planned earlier that afternoon.
 âAre you ready to share?â Patton gave his hand a comforting squeeze before allowing Logan to pull away and begin shuffling through his bag.
âI donât know if Iâm ready but,â he pulled his laptop out and began loading the files Virgil had saved, âit would be selfish of me to avoid this any longer.â
The group had a silent exchanged of concerned glances and then moved closer so they would be able to see the screen after Logan set it down. Only Logan spoke as the images from earlier began scrolling across the laptops screen.
âWe all remember that night before the fire vividly, Iâm sure. Roman was roaming the streets in ignorant bliss; E was enjoying the alcohol Oskar had provided; Katie finally had her feet up; and I was driving a sniffly Patton home. We all know our sides, but Iâve kept one side a secret this whole time, and for thatâŚI am sorry.â
 Hitting play on Jasonâs video, Logan moved aside to ensure everyone had a clear view of the screen. Colour drained from Katie and Romanâs faces as Jasonâs ghostly voice filled their ears and they saw what he had been like in his final moments of life. As the screen froze on Jasonâs face the library was left in silence; tears leaving their traces on cheeks as they soaked into the fabric of clothes and blankets.
 Katieâs cracked voice finally broke the silence; âwhy?â
When Logan didnât respond, Katie tore her eyes away from the screen and looked at him with harsh sadness.
âWhy didnât you tell us?â Moving closer, she placed her hands on Loganâs damp cheeks and forced his eyes to meet her own. âWhat purpose did hiding this serve?â
âNothing.â Loganâs eyes were void orbs, eyes red and strangely dried. âIt only supported my belief that I wasnât good enough for him and I didnât want to be convinced otherwise.â
âYou stupid man.â Fresh tears welled in her eyes as she pulled Logan into a crushing embrace. âStupid, bloody, idiot. You were more than enough for him, you fucking fool.â
 Though he returned the hug, Loganâs eyes remained glassed until more limbs began joining the embrace. Each body of warmth a physical reminder that though he had lost the face on his computer screen, he still had the family surrounding him. Sobs soon shook his whole frame; eyes squeezing shut as raw emotion was set free and all secrets were finally laid out. No more words were needed now. They had each aired their truths and now clung to each other, raw from it all.
 Katie felt Loganâs weight growing as his sobs slowed, and she smiled to herself at the idea of Jason watching over them now. Roman moved back when Patton shifted and wiped his face before gesturing toward the soft spaces they had each been sitting before. Acting on silent instruction, Roman helped change their circle of  beanbags and pillows into one soft pile while the other two continued holding Loganâs quivering form.
âHeâs asleep.â Ethan whispered in shock as the siblings helped guide Logan to a more comfortable position.
âI doubt he has really slept in a while, Ethan.â
Patton accepted the exhausted man from Roman and laid back on the makeshift bed, removing the other manâs glasses before he instinctively snuggled closer. âThatâs it, Logie. Let us take care of you, now.â
âGood job, Patâs.â Removing Pattonâs own glasses, Roman kissed his forehead before settling down behind him.
Ethan watched the scene before him and felt a pang of jealousy at the closeness of the group before Katieâs hand was guiding him over to Loganâs other side. Laying the blankets over everyone, Katie finally took her place on the end; mentally saving the image of the group before relaxing back on the soft cushions. Sleep wouldnât come easy as a sleepy sob escaped one of the others, but eventually the library was silent, and Katie drifted off in relative peace.
*********************
Leaning his aching body against the cold steel of the dumpster was a relief for a moment, but the cold was soon to leave Virgil shivering. Dried blood gripped his clothes, but he couldnât bring himself to sneak into the library until a later hour; certain the meeting would still be going. Tears had blended with the blood on his face, making his skin stiff; the feeling uncomfortable as he grimaced and repositioned.
Virgil cursed his luck when the world spun again; head pounding harder than it had when Ben had shoved him into the wall. The $500 from earlier had done nothing to help his situation; only cemented the fact that he couldnât stay any longer. After a visit to the bank heâd sent $150 to his aunt with an apology for being a burden; $250 had been sent to Ben and the final $100 would have hopefully gotten him through until he got a job in the next town.
âIâm such an idiot.â
Curling in on himself, Virgil sobbed. The memory of Ben and his friends faces haunted his mind as he drifted into a light exhausted sleep.
 âSaw you found a new friend. Would hate for anything to happen to them in your absence.â
âI did work for him. Thatâs all.â
âLike weâd believe a fucken faggot like you.â
âItâs true! Heâs just a clueless science geek with a busted computer.â
âIâll believe it when I see itâŚI want my money by Monday. Got it?â
âThatâs impossible. Iâve given you everythi-â
âIf you enjoy pain, Iâd keep up the excuses. Wouldnât everyone love to know youâre the son of a murderer.â
____________________
End Note
HiâŚItâs meâŚSnail. No, I didnât abandon this fic (even though it was getting pretty close to a year since I updated). Why was I gone so long? SimpleâŚI couldnât keep up the dangerous cycle of sitting at a computer for hours to do work and then following that up with hours of writing and editing. It really turned unhealthy. So, I switched gears a little. I started writing in smaller bursts (actually have up to chapter 14 done) but I held off from posting until I reached a point were I could post within a reasonable time so you werenât left on a major cliff hanger as this fic reaches its designated end (which looks to be at around chapter 16 or 17).
Anyway, I havenât been completely out of the story telling game. I got into Cosplay and telling stories through TikTok (Itâs Emilyâs -stopitanxiety- fault. I loved her writing and saw her TikTokâs and wanted to be part of that world). Itâs a little harder to tell stories using audios and acting out everything, but itâs a lot more on your feet. I actually realised I have the clothes to Cosplay Virgil from this universe and I am considering just vibing as Virge or making it an actual TikTok au story. I dunno yet.
Back on topic, next chapter should be up by the end of the week (just gotta tweak some things that I ended up changing). Warning for the next chapter â alcohol abuse is entering the tags.
Thanks again for reading. Happy timezone, friend đđ
Tag List (let me know if you want to be removed. It has been so long I understand if you donât wanna hang around)
@notalwaysthebadguyâ   @thequeensphinxâ   @ollyollyoxinfreeâ  @celeste-tyrrellâ   @pumpkinminetteâ  @ahyeahisurehopeit-doesÂ
_____________________________
Chapter 12Â Â â MasterList
What else have I done:
The Perfect Ring (oneshot - analogical proposal)
You Promised (oneshot - prinxiety angst/injury/near death)
Sides of a Hero (Completed Fic - sides are fusions of impulses and aspects of Thomas. Virgil has a depressing past that he is forced to face thanks to Deceit and Rage. Was canon compliant at the time of completion)
The Shield to your Sword (WIP - A fantasy/magic au - Prinxiety (Royal Roman and orphan Virgil - theyâll admit to their love eventually), Virgil angst, non binary, healer Logan, *spoiler* Patton)
Writing Master Post
Check out my other blog for random fandom reblogs and stuff @snail-gigglesâ
Also now doing Cosplay and storylines on TikTok: 1_1snailxdÂ