Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

During Logan's next visit to the darkside Janus insisted that the three of them did not engage in anything more intimate than chatting together on the sofa. Remus voiced strong opinions against the notion, but eventually settled down (after various threats of violence and destruction and the consumption of Janus's hat).

Logan was grateful for the break from sexual physicality as he was still processing his first experience of fellatio. It had been most enjoyable, but he found his thoughts drifting back to the memory with a frequency that was adversely effecting his work flow. He did not think another scene so soon would improve matters.

However, when Remus then offered to talk about such matters Logan was intrigued, with a view that the discussion might further educate him. He made no secret that he actively enjoyed the act of acquiring new knowledge.

Even though Remus had habit of being somewhat unpredictable, Logan found himself taken aback at the speed at which Remus suddenly leapt up and transformed the room around them with a click of his fingers.

Grimy walls and scuffed threadbare carpets closed in about them as the room was shifted into what seemed to be a classroom, albeit one long since abandoned and derelict.

Janus tisked that his previous comfortable sofa had been exchanged for a hard-backed chair with desk in front.

His own garb had been thankfully left unaltered, but Remus himself sported a full scholar's robe and an old styled mortarboard hat, in shades of dark grey and various shades of green.

While admittedly Remus tended towards either garish or mouldering hues of his signature colour, Logan was rapidly developing an appreciation for the more muted tones (even if Remus did give them names such as Scummy-Pond-Where-Everything-Dies-Green or Well-Aged Snot ). He could even grant merit for the luminous 'uranium green' on account that Remus used actual (yet still fictional) uranium in the creation of the colour, and Logan approved of the accuracy.

Remus rocked back in his chair at an uncomfortably unstable angle, and gestured to his 'class' of two.

“OK Logan, let me give you a lowdown!”

Logan leaned forwards attentively, happily accepting the role of student.

Remus then stood, causing his chair to clatter to the floor behind him. He started to draw on the green chalkboard behind him with an unerring tendency toward the chalk making screeching sounds.

At his side Janus managed to keep a calm demeanour, but Logan could see the way his shoulders tensed at every squeaking scrape.

“This” Remus announced, “is the dick.”

The board behind him depicted a crudely drawn dick and balls. The proportions were wildly inaccurate, and the slit representing the urethral opening elongated in a incorrect vertical bisection of the head of the penis. From the tip two droplets were added, presumably to indicate ejaculation.

“To perform a blow job you put your mouth on it. Done, class dismissed.”

Remus dusted his hands off, and gestured to the door.

“Remussss” Janus chided, though Logan noted he was struggling to keep from smiling. Unsuccessfully.

That caused Logan a jolt of pride, as in his experience Janus was usual much more guarded about betraying his true emotions. That or Logan was becoming better at reading Janus despite his frequent falsehoods.

Either way, it merited acknowledgement and Logan felt pleased at this development.

“Well,” Remus countered, “that really is all there is too it. Mouth on cock.”

Seemingly satisfied with his 'lecture', Remus started to bat at the tassel hanging from his hat.

“May I request elaboration?” Logan said, after raising his hand, “Please?”

Remus snorted at the politeness, but then did continue with his thoughts on blow jobs;

“A blow job is what the people involved make of it. Some mouths are smaller than others and stretching wide is not fun for them, and some peoples' jaws cannot open wide for long periods of time. Some dicks are sensitive and don't like any kind of rubbing or friction, and some don't find suction or moistness pleasurable. Some folks can't close their lips to make a seal. Gag reflexes are a thing, and while some like to choke on cock, others find the sound of someone gacking off-putting.
“You do what works for you, and what the dick owner likes, and that's a blow job.”

Remus paused, and scratched at his chin (Logan no longer found this off-putting due to Janus's reassurances that Remus received regular fumigations).

“The dick doesn't even have to cum. Some don't, no matter how well they get sucked off.

“What matter is that the people involved are having fun. Other than that, there are no hard, heh, and fast rules.”

It took Logan a moment to understand why Remus had chuckled at the the word 'hard', but he then gathered it to be an amusing zeugma, wherein the word 'hard' could apply to both the difficulty of a situation, and the turgidity of a penis.

He gave a brief smile in recognition for the wordplay. While he normally did not care for such things, he found Remus's quick wit a surprising revelation. Despite his shameless shenanigans, the personification of Dark Creativity held a sharp intellect which Logan had growing appreciation for, now that he had had opportunity to get to know Remus better.

However, the lack of active advice that Remus had delivered was a source of disappointment.
“A pity. I like when there are rules to give guidance.”

“Guidance! Guidance is something I can give! Like a targeted missile guided through a soup kitchen window!”

“So for me, I like any touch on my dick. Slap it, suck it, slurp and slather it, stick it in a door and slam it shut....”

Logan felt an twinge of empathetic discomfort at the idea of having such force applied to such a delicate area, but also had no doubts Remus was speaking truthfully. It solidified the notion that different people (or Sides) would appreciate different approaches.

“Don't be afraid to get creative; use your hands, your lips, your tongue, your teeth, it's all good. Variety is the spice of life, and I like when things get spicy! Smear my dick in chilli oil, tickle my knob with a feather or pluck my nutsack with tweezers. I am game for anything you want to try!”

It took a moment to process the barrage of ideas Remus was generating, but it was also something of a relief. It very much sounded that Remus would enjoy anything Logan did to him, as long as it was an assorted range of interactions.

The idea of hurting Remus did not have immediate appeal, but the fact that if he did inadvertently cause harm through his inexperience, Remus did not seem like he would mind.

“Hmm. You have given me a lot to think about Remus. It is very helpful, I thank you.”

Remus gave a lopsided grin and gestured over to where Janus was trying to extricate himself from the chair-desk combo.

“...But Snakey over there...”

Logan watched Janus's posture stiffen. With a crack of splintering wood Deceit forced the desk away from him, allowing him to stand unimpeded.

“Now Jan-sus, he likes it slow. Long lingering licks, like you are savouring him. Worshipping him through your mouth on his bits.”

Remus paused a beat, and glanced to Janus.

Logan could tell there was something unspoken being alluded to, and that Janus was growing increasingly uneasy.

Choosing to ignore Janus's obvious discomfort, Remus carried on, “And when he gives oral it's amazing. He has this cool trick he does with his tongue and-”

Remus hand suddenly slapped against his own mouth. He made not effort to continue his sentence, but his furrowed eyebrows conveyed that he was not impressed at Janus's means of silencing him.

“There is no tongue trick.” Janus said, only to be followed with Remus using his free hand to mime his nose growing.

Logan could extrapolate that Remus was indicating that Janus was lying through a reference to Pinocchio, but could not discern why Janus would not want to have his skills discussed. Perhaps it was linked with Janus's clear trepidation over the topic of conversation.

Janus had proven uncomfortable with revealing too much of himself such as his scales. This might be another deviation from the norm that he was not yet ready to share.

He pondered a moment, and from what he had seen of Janus and his reptilian features could make an educated guess at what Janus was trying to hide.

“You have a snake tongue.” he said, to clear the air and reassure Janus that there was no need to be embarrassed.

Behind his hand Remus let out a snort of laughter that even though muffled was unmistakable.

“I do not!” Janus protested.

Remus nodded vigorously at Logan, indicating that though Janus refuted it he was correct in his statement. Logan made an additional mental note that though silenced Remus was apparently well versed in communicating through alternative means.

Logan wished he had such skills. As it stood, he did not know whether to press Janus for truth, or reassure him that such oddities did not deter him, or let the conversation move on to more agreeable subject matter.

He would have deferred to Remus, but Remus's hand was still firmly affixed across his mouth.

He decided to go with his own strength which was the application of Logic.

“I can ascertain that this is a topic you do not wish discussed Janus.”

Janus seemed to relax, and Remus's hand released from its placement.

“And yet,” both Janus and Remus tensed, the later presumably fearing further hindrance to his speech, “I feel it important to state that whatever physical differences you might have, I will try my utmost to accept.”

Janus then gave him a long look. Logan did not know what to do under such scrutiny, and so tried to meet his mismatched eyes with sincerity.

It took an unnaturally lengthened moment for Janus to blink (causing Logan to question whether he also had adapted eyelids that negated the need to blink), and then he stuck out his tongue.

It was thin and dark and smooth and forked like a snakes'. It flicked rapidly in the air.

Without cognisant effort, Logan imagined what that fluttering appendage would feel like against his dick, and he let out an involuntary 'uh' sound.

“He gets it!” Remus crowed, as Logan felt heat across his upper cheeks.

It felt... shameful for his inner thoughts to be so easily read, yet, Remus was jubilant and not shy in expressing such, but Janus... Logan thought he might have caught something akin to relief in the way he pulled his tongue back but did not draw away.

“Bet you're wondering why you never noticed before?”

Logan certainly was alerted to the fact he had been less than observant, and he frowned at Remus's near uncanny ability to hone in on the things that could cause a person (or Side) distress.

“He uses shape-shifting to hide it mostly, and if ever called upon for more direct examination-”

Logan interjected, “You showed me his fake tongue! During the Working Through Intrusive Thoughts episode!

Remus nodded while Janus gave exaggerated groan.

“Yessss, I was most pleased to see that made its way into the video. Not like I was trying to keep it secret or anything!”

“Quit griping, Grumpy-Pants-On-Fire. Logan only just figured it out, and he's super smart. Your stupid secret is safe.”

“Indeed. I have no inclination to disclose this to the others.”

There was another glance between Remus and Janus, before they both returned their attention to Logan.

“...Speaking of, how are the Morally-Righteous-but-Not-Right-About-Everything crowd?” Remus's tone was light, but the intensity of his gaze upon Logan betrayed the significance of the question.

“I assume they are well. No-one has mentioned that they are otherwise.” Logan wished he had a better answer for them, since they seemed unusually invested in welfare of the Light Sides.

Janus sighed and stood, reaching an arm round Remus and leaning against him.

“What Remus is trying to ever so subtly ask is have you mentioned us to them? Either your more frequent visits over here, or the nature of such encounters?”

Logan shook his head, “Neither.”

“Great! Maybe don't ever. Not that I'm ashamed of what we get up to-”

“You my Darling Deviant DisGrace, have no shame. I think it might have been surgically removed...”

“Without anaesthetic!” Remus added, laughing. He then continued, “But I like that you come over and cum. And I reckon Pappa Patton would have plenty words against you visiting, and maybe try to stop you, and then I'd want to retaliate and Janus has been most unyielding against the idea of chopping off Patton's head and air-frying it.”

“Alas, I do not think it would benefit Thomas much to have his sense of morality decapitated... or cooked.”

“I concur.” Logan said.

Remus sagged, as if he might have been hoping for Logan's blessing to inflict violence against his fellow Sides.

In truth, Logan did not think it would be much issue since each Side seemed able to repair and reform despite what had been done to them.

Thus it really was of little import who had been knocked out with a morning star, or who got their dramatic reveal interrupted, or who had had their attempts to provide helpful supplemental information skipped as if no more than an irksome pop-up advert for an item entirely unwanted ...

However, (and he was loathe to admit it) even though logically everything returned to its usual state afterwards there were repercussions that the lack of physical damage did not account for.

Feelings, fluctuating and so fragile, often were involved and complicated things.

Whereas an apology (or eight) might have sufficed to develop better camaraderie, pride and hurt and distrust and uncertainty all got in the way of simple resolution.

He wondered if the chasm between the light and dark sides would ever be bridged, with both sides seemingly intend on burning down any progress made.

A loud crack brought Logan from his thoughts, and he turned to see Remus had broken one of his fingers in lieu of snapping it for his attention.

“Penis for your thoughts?”

He could not help but chuckle at Remus's wry replacement of the word penny for penis in the well-known phrase. That he felt confident Remus would take any opportunity to involve his penis in proceedings only added to his mirth.

“I was just thinking that it might be best to not inform the others till they can be better persuaded of your qualities. They are not particularly well disposed to thinking the best of you or your intentions at this present moment.”

“Really?” Janus drawled, the sarcasm dripping from his voice, “I thought we were bestest buddies all round!”

“Ha!” Remus laughed and pointed the broken finger at Janus, “Virgil hates your guts! Yet he never takes me up on offers to help him disembowel you.”

Logan tactfully did not mention that Virgil did not seem to hold much regard for Remus either.

He did not know the root of the animosity between Virgil and Remus and Janus (and Remus did not seem inclined to share) so Logan did not know how best to try and mediate the dispute.

“Even though at present there seems to be a lack of understanding between us, I am hopeful that this …” Logan searched for a polite way to phrase 'apparently allergy to any form of amicable attendance', “... friction can be eased.”

Remus frowned then, apparently giving the matter serious thought.
“Have you tried using more lube?”

He then ceased the façade and broke out into loud laughter, joined by Janus and then (because the notion was just so absurd) Logan.

Chapter Text

Back in the Lightside, while Logan doubted applying lubrication (as per Remus's suggestion) to the situation would improve matters, he was feeling rather positive at the eventual outcomes, and in himself as well.

He had made note that he was more relaxed and in a much improved mood, and thus in a much better frame of mind to handle the constant challenges he was presented with.

A small shake of the head was his only response to Patton's pointless puns, rather than protesting the misuse of words and language and grammar and syntax.

Roman's nicknames, occasionally verging on insulting in their simplistic reduction of his personality and roles did not irk him as past calls of 'Poindexter' or 'Nerd' once had.

He was better able to reason with Virgil and his spirals of panic without lamenting at the time wasted in repetition, instead offering a calm and patient voice to guide him through whatever fears were troubling him on that particular day (particularly informed by Janus at what phrases Virgil responded favourably towards).

He attributed his state of mind to his recent encounters with Janus and Remus, and was grateful for their company, and education in sexual acts.

So it was a surprise that Patton and Roman and Virgil approached his door and when invited inside said that they did not think he should visit the Darkside anymore.

“I do not understand.”

Logan then, because it seemed strange to be seated at his desk and surrounded, rose to stand also.

“It's just.... we noticed you weren't bring back Darkside commentary anymore.”

“So maybe you decided to stop going over there....”

“And you seem much happier now.”

Ah. Logan thought. They have drawn the wrong conclusion from inaccurate data.

Since he had started to talk with Remus and Janus rather than just dropping off ideas for their contributions the flow of their suggestions, corrections and insights had ebbed significantly.

Not that he did not value their opinions (quite the opposite), but it always seemed they had much more to discuss than just what the others were working on. He wanted to hear how Janus was coping with Remus's latest (noisy) artistic endeavour or what exactly Remus intended to accomplish with the multiple tin cans tied with string and a megaphone. And why earwigs were involved.

With great enthusiasm he listened to the wealth of thoughts and hopes and memories and concerns that they cared to share.

Little wonder then that gathering their often dismissed comments had shifted to a lower priority for Logan.

So it followed that what the others had seen was that there were less annotated ideas from the Darkside, and thus Logan's contact was likewise deemed to have decreased. That they assumed he had just been spending the time alone in his room without verifying it with evidence was a little insulting.

“Falsehood.” Logan said as reasonable volume, trying to decide how honest he wanted to be with his friends and fellows.

“I maintain that things would be better if we could all be in the same room and civil. To that end I have been meeting with Janus and Remus on a regular basis. It seemed prudent to build improved relations without the demand for their input.”

He then brightened, he had been awaiting an opportunity to offer his presentation to the Lightsides.

“In fact I have a slide show I have been working on that has evidence to support my theory. I can fetch it now and show you, even though the citations of sources are incomplete--”

Roman reflexively drew back from the mere mention of a slide show, and Virgil adopted a frown so severe that his eye-shadow seemed even more steeped in black than usual.

It was Patton, ever placating Patton, that spoke first.

“Uh... it's great that you are making friends... really great!”

Janus would have scoffed at the blatant lie and Remus would have had something crude to interject but Logan let Patton continue without interruption (and without simply skipping past what he had to say).

“But the Darksides....?”

“Yes. Janus and Remus. The so-called 'Darksides'.”

Patton faltered then, and then moved into Logan's personal space, reaching for him.

While it was not as close as he had been with Janus when reading together on the sofa, and certainly not as intimate as Remus had been when given Logan a blow job, Logan did not like that Patton was so near to him.

He took a small step backwards.

Patton did not press forwards, but did give Logan the same look he gave Roman when he was singing loudly at 4am or at Virgil when he'd skipped another group meal. One that meant he was about to say 'Kiddo....' in a reprimanding tone to try and correct an errant behaviour.

“I just don't think they're very good for Thomas.” Patton said.

Logan noted the absence of the term 'Kiddo' (for which he was grateful, Logan did not care for it) but also the more forceful push from Patton to state his opinion.

“Take it from me, they are the worst.” Virgil added, his voice rumbling with resonance.

“Can't say I'm a fan of you wasting your time with them, or them at all actually. Com'on our Classy Chum, I thought you were supposed to be smart.”

Logan was not so ignorant to accept that what he knew as correct and truth without question, as challenging beliefs was what helped develop ideas and push forwards understanding.

He held one viewpoint; that the Darksides had merit, and yet his fellows held an opposing view, that the Darksides were potentially dangerous. Normally, when faced with three opposing views against one, it would be ill advised to persist when in the minority but yet something did not add up.

There was evidence that Virgil had been a so-called Darkside, but he had proven that he much to offer. Janus and Remus similarly were not easy to deal with, but did offer alternative and important insights.

He himself had amassed several pieces of evidence that would show his fellows that the Darksides were not a force of danger or disaster, but just more sides of Thomas that had yet to be fully explored.

Logan stilled then, realising something important.

Not a one of then seemed willing to view the presentation that he had spent hours working on, and not, he thought bitterly, because of the yet-to-be-finished list of citations.

He had looked into design elements to make the information eye catching for Roman, and included two cat pictures on Patton's behalf. He had even contemplated using Virgil as example that the Darksides were not beyond acceptance, but then dismissed it as he did not feel Virgil would appreciate the attention drawn to himself or his history, no matter how relevant that information would be to reiterate.

A perfect opportunity to learn, from Logic no less, and yet they did not want to heed him or his wisdom on the matter.

Something shifted within him, and he did not feel like the present company was companionable.

He took a moment to clean his glasses, not for sake of his sight, but so the other would be able to clearly see his expression. He frowned at Patton, Virgil and Roman.

“Respectfully, I disagree with your proposal that I should curtail my dealings with the Darksides.” Logan adjusted his glasses, and took a step forwards, forcing his fellows to retreat backwards towards the door.

“Moreso, I think that you ought to reconsider your internalised biases against them.”

Another step, and Patton and Roman and Virgil were stumbling against each other and the door frame.

“I plan to continue visiting them, and will not be swayed from this course of action. I advise that you make peace with it.”

He softened then, rather than slamming the door against the unwanted or unwarranted intrusion.

It would be logical to offer a second chance.

“To aid in understanding of my decision, you may wish to view my prepared slide show?”

Only Virgil remained as Patton and Roman made swift retreat from the threat of a power point presentation.

Logan wished he was more surprised.

Knowing Virgil was more sensitive to expression and tone, he calmed himself and made effort to mask his bitterness. He adopted body language he hoped broadcast that he was grateful that Virgil at least had not fled.

Virgil, for his part, seemed more invested in the 'fight' part of 'flight or fight'. He tensed and gave Logan a wary look, as if seeking some little detail amiss.

Logan tried to seem like himself. He felt like he was doing a poor impression, given that in the past Virgil had mistaken him for Janus in disguise.

He stayed very still, aware that any gesture he might make to convince Virgil might seem 'put on' because it very much would be so.

Virgil reached and pinched Logan's nose suddenly. Logan tried to recoil, but found Virgil grip too strong to pull away from.

He did not like being held in such a manner, but opted that to pull away would both by painful, and circumvent whatever Virgil was trying to accomplish. He opted to wait it out, folding his arms across his chest and waiting for Virgil to reach whatever conclusion he hoped to drawn.

With a puzzled frown, Virgil released him.

“That,” Logan said rubbing his nose, “was unpleasant. Yet I assume you must had had valid rationale for your actions. Care to explain?”

“Janus would have slapped me back.” he muttered. “So it's really you, isn't it?”

“Yes. This is my room.”

virgil sighed, his shoulders sagging with his exhale.

“And you really do have a presentation for us. It wasn't just a ploy to get us to leave you alone.” A statement, not a question.

Logan nodded.

“Of course you do....” he sighed again. Logan took this to mean that Virgil also was not keen on power-point presentations. He would have to adjust the medium for the information he wished to convey if it was to appeal to the others.

With an audible swallow Virgil continued, “I do not trust Janus, and I think Remus is a bad idea personified...” He then lifted his head to meet Logan's eyes in a rare moment of direct eye contact.

“But... it's like Princey said; you're the smart one.” he reached out his arm and Logan saw the hesitation in the gesture. Virgil rarely extended beyond the bubble of his personal space, and to do so twice in such a short space of time was unusual for him.
“And no matter if you are going and seeing them more often.... you do seem happier.”

Virgil laid a hand on Logan's shoulder, and gave a little squeeze

“Thank you Virgil. I appreciate your concern for my well-being.”

Virgil pulled back his hand and jammed it into a pocket, breaking eye contact.

“Yeah well... Just be careful, OK?”

“I shall.”

Pulling his hood up and lowering his eyes to hide his expression, Virgil made a mumbled goodbye and retreated off towards his own room.

Logan's nose still ached from the pinch, and he lifted his glasses off to try and reduce the sensation. He was reminded of the last time Virgil had initiated physical contact, and realised it was when Anxiety had mistaken Logan for Deceit and pushed him.

In contrast the touch to his shoulder was telegraphed and gentle.

If ever there was a sign that the so-called 'Darksides' were being discriminated against due to their nomenclature, this was surely it.

However, Logan did not believe in signs, or portents, or any other method of prediction of the un-knowable future. He believed in facts, and the fact of the matter is that he would rather Remus had not been jesting that all the current situation needed to resolve into a better dynamic was 'more lube'.

If that was all it took, even then he felt the current situation might merit vats of lubrication.

Remus no doubt would be delighted at the resulting mess and chaos.

With a small smile, he shut the door to his room and set the various slides and notes he had aside. He was disappointed that his idea for a slide show had been lacking in appeal, but his efforts were often not to the tastes of his fellows. However, the matter of of import enough that he was determined to find a way to successfully convince Roman and Patton and Virgil of the benefits of bringing together the light and dark sides in a more congenial manner.

Rather than be dissuaded, he sat back at his desk and started to list various alternative options for how to best present his evidence.

Daunting as the task was, Logan wondered if Remus might be of assistance in creating props to make his points more clearly. The dark side of creativity certainly had a way of drawing attention.

As he considered Remus, he found that his thoughts would occasionally circulate around his recent encounters. He was reminded of Remus's 'lecture' and his own experience of oral sex, and eventually Logan started to wonder what it might feel like to perform such an act upon Remus.

Whilst normally opposed to distractions, Logan found that he did not mind so much that his focus was drifting. He leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes, and allowed himself to indulge in thoughts of what he might like to happen when he next visited the Darkside.