Chapter Text
“Virgil. Buddy. I know you aren’t too keen on it at first, but come on. Could you stand to lose the support of one of Thomas’ friends?” Patton pleaded as he was shut down time and again by the others in the room.
Virgil considered, “Well, yeah, Thomas’ friends make me feel more at ease, but Thomas lying would make me just as uneasy. And anyone who doesn’t understand that should just shut up.”
As he made this last point he glared at Patton. He’d confessed to Patton and only Patton about what had happened in his past. Why would Patton, even this desperate for whatever reason, try to convince him that lying was good?
“Virgil, it’s me. Aren’t we friends?” His face turned into Patton’s usual sad puppy-eyed look and Virgil felt a pang of guilt, but his heart had also skipped a beat upon finding himself with a sudden realization. This wasn’t Patton.
“I’m not so sure we are,” Virgil replied.
If this was Patton he would never forgive the man or himself for this. But if he was correct… There was much at stake besides just preventing Thomas from losing a friend. Patton turned to Thomas, abandoning trying to reason with the others. He began panicking, saying things Patton would never say.
Calmly Thomas replied, “Patton, No.”
“YES!” Patton said with a scary look in his eyes.
“You’re wrong on this one buddy.” Thomas continued. “I need to tell the truth here. And it might hurt to do that, but, whatever happens, happens.” He concluded.
Patton’s worried face changed as his eyes rolled with sarcastic nature. His eyes took on a dull and uninterested look and the usual smile from his face changed into a single line. Neither a frown of disapproval nor a smile of encouragement.
“Wow. I’m so proud of you Thomas,” he clapped. “You’re so mature.”
“I knew something smelled fishy here,” Virgil said, knowing that by now the other sides could see the issue before them.
“Oh. You mean how he’s clearly…*muffled talking*” Logan tried to explain, as was his nature.
Instead, his hand was controlled by Patton and placed over his mouth to prevent the reveal from taking place. He was in control now. The others were unable to do anything unless Thomas overpowered him. That could only happen if Thomas knew, but with him in control, that wasn’t likely to happen. Virgil felt his throat swell with panic and his heart seemed to pull him to the ground. All he wanted was to curl into a ball and submit.
“You have to give us permission first,” Roman said, thinking on his feet very well and creatively to get Thomas to take control.
If Thomas were to actively think about wanting to understand the truth, Logan would be unmuted. Logic would not be stifled by the Lies.
“There are sides to everyone they’d prefer not to know about,” Virgil said, hoping to help. “But you are the boss, Thomas. Any information you want to know, you can know it. You just… have to be open to hearing it.”
Hopefully, by saying that and reminding Thomas of this fact, he would become in control once again.
“In other words, would you like to learn something new about yourself Thomas?” Roman said, saving Virgil from talking too much and possibly ruining their chances of regaining some freedom.
“I don’t… know…” Thomas said, glancing around the room with confusion.
“Oh, I don’t know either Thomas! You might not like what you find.” Patton said in an exaggerated fashion.
Thomas seemed to be spurred on by those words, the opposite effect of what "Patton" likely wanted.
“Fine tell me!”
Virgil felt himself relax a tiny amount as Logan was finally able to speak.
“Deceit!” He yelled, pointing a finger accusingly.
Patton’s form shifted in the blink of an eye and then HE was visible. The fedora, the cape, the misshapen face. Virgil turned his head and hunched his shoulders, wanting to avoid eye contact with Deceit yet couldn’t help but peer at him from the side. Roman reacted to the new presence a tad differently, expressing how he felt aloud. Deceit slyly complimented him and Roman took it at face value. Logan seemed as though he was going to explain but seemed to decide it wasn’t worth his time.
“And Virgil,” The snake eye and normal one faced him. Virgil felt panic well up in his chest. Deceit had turned his attention to him. “I adore the more intense eyeshadow. It totally doesn’t make you look like a raccoon.”
Virgil took a deep, calming breath and pulled what courage he had in him to quip back.
“Nice gloves. Did you just finish washing some dishes?”
“Yes.” Deceit answered, lying as always.
They both knew why Deceit now wore those gloves. Thomas seemed to take on the panic that Virgil had just shaken off.
“Why didn’t I know about him until now!?”
“He.. had you convinced you’re an honest person,” Virgil explained, careful to look at Thomas and avoiding looking directly at Deceit for fear of being reminded of the past too much.
Logan continued explaining this and statistics regarding lying. Virgil made himself seem invested in the conversation so as to not have to look in the direction of the one who’d broken him. As the plot continued Virgil focused himself on taking deep breaths and finding a way to be calm despite the presence staring holes into his head.
He jumped as Thomas shouted, “Where is Patton!!!”
“HOW DARE YOU STAND WHERE HE STOOD!!” Roman joined.
“You foolish dummy. I am, and always HAVE BEEN, Patton. You have no morality. Sorry to break it to you but-” Virgil felt Thomas’ panic, but tenfold as Deceit continued with his lies. What if he had confessed his pain to the very person that had caused it? What if Patton had been a grand illusion, this whole new life with the others... What if it was only another of his lies!? Suddenly Patton showed up, rising from the ground as all the others usually did.
“Hey!” he exclaimed, laughing with a smile on his adorable face. “Um… you’re in my spot…” he said to Deceit, gesturing for emphasis.
Virgil felt himself light up with hope. He was saved. Patton would take the spot, leaving no room for Deceit’s presence and instead he would give all of them safety. The usual shenanigans between the four of them ensued then a serious turn took part, just before they left.
“Oho… maybe Deceit wasn’t so bad.” Logan said, upon Patton making a pun.
Virgil smiled softly because he knew that wasn’t meant with any sincerity by any of them.
“Kiddo, simply put, Deceit is an inner coach that acts with one intention of self-preservation,” Patton explained, truly enough.
“Well. This time around I’m gonna tune out that inner coach and set things right.” Thomas decided, firmly. "But, before I do… um…one more question. Are there any other Sides that Deceit has hidden away from me?” Thomas asked. Anxiety felt as though a knife had run through him. They couldn’t talk about that so soon after what had just happened…
Hesitantly Patton replied, “Yes…”
“The Dark Sides” Roman said dramatically, using the nickname he’d given them years ago.
Virgil sighed, looking away from Roman and repressing the memory of his time as one of those sides.