#background moceit

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Everyone is born with a birthmark, a special symbol of where they’d first be touched by their soulmate. Most people had their birthmark on their hands, or their arms. Some people had it on their faces. Remus, however, was special. He had been born with a birthmark on his dick. 

When he was a small child, he was ashamed of it, felt strange that he didn’t have his birthmark in one of the more common places. But as he grew older, he began to not care, and then he began to be proud of it. 

“My first time touching my soulmate is when I fuck him!” Remus would boast, earning a groan from his best friend, Janus, whose own birthmark on on the side of his face. 

“You can’t possibly believe that the first time your skin will come in contact with his is you two having sex? You won’t touch at all before then?” Janus would ask him every time Remus mentioned it. 

Remus would shake his head, completely convinced that he had figured it out. 

~

Remus walked through the mall, bouncing in front of Janus as he pointed out all the cool stuff. 

Janus walked hand in hand with his soulmate, a small boy named Patton. They had met a few years back. Janus apparently had something in his cheek and Patton had gone to wipe it away, brushing against Janus’ birthmark. Patton’s birthmark was on the tips of his fingers, the same tips that had brushed against Janus’ cheek. They had started dating that exact moment, and had been very happy together. Watching the two of them made Remus want to find his soulmate all the more. 

“Why don’t we get lunch?” Patton suggested. 

“That sounds like a great idea,” Janus said, grabbing Remus by the sleeve and dragging him down towards the food court. They ordered their food and sat at their table, chatting and joking around. 

“I’m going to refill my soda,” Remus said to the other’s standing up to leave. As he walked to the soda fountain, he noticed a cute looking boy with glasses also headed to get some more soda. He wore a dark blue shirt and a necktie, which Remus thought was kind of strange. Remus smiled at him before turning to refill his drink. 

He finished refilling his drink and turned to rejoin his friends when the boy next to him slipped on some melted ice on the ground. Remus went to catch him but missed, and the boy flailed his arms, trying to grab onto something before his head hit the ground. 

The boy wasn’t able to grab something, but as he fell, his hand accidentally brushed Remus’ lower half, right against Remus’ birthmark. Remus noticed the birthmark on the boy’ palm of his hand, the same hand that had just touched Remus. 

The boy hit the ground with a thud, luckily saving his head from hitting too hard. 

“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry!” the boy said, adjusting his glasses. “I didn’t mean to-” the boy trailed off as he looked from his hand to Remus, then back at his hand.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Remus said, groaning a little. “This is not how I expected this to happen!” 

The boy stood up, his shirt and pant wet from the ice and soda on the floor. Janus and Patton came running over, making sure that everything was alright. 

“Do you need a spare pair of clothes?” Patton asked. “We have some in the car. They’re Remus’, he looks a little bigger than you, but I think they’ll work.” 

“That sounds amazing, thank you.” The boy turned to Remus. “I assume that you are Remus. Am I correct?” The boy peered through his glasses, and Remus almost forgot about the birthmark, almost.

“I sure am!” Remus said, leading him to the car for the new clothes.

“Well, I’m Logan. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that we might be soulmates. Is your birthmark, well, is your birthmark...” Logan trailed off, his eyes flicking down towards Remus’ crotch. 

“On my dick? Sure is!” Remus said, unafraid to say it out loud. The boy laughed, making Remus smile. 

“Well, maybe we can exchange numbers? I can give you your clothes back later and maybe we could go out to dinner sometime?” Logan asked. 

“Sounds like a plan!” Remus said. Logan fished his wallet out of his pocket, taking out a business card and turning it over. Then he grabbed a pen out of his wallet, (Remus didn’t know why he had a pen there, but he didn’t mention it), and wrote down a number. 

“Ignore the front of the card, that’s just my work information. On the back is my personal information,” Logan said, handing Remus the business card.  Remus took it and stuffed it in his pocket before opening the trunk of his car and pulling out a plastic bag with a spare pair of clothes in it. He handed the bag to Logan and slammed the trunk close. 

Logan took the bag and thanked Remus. Before he turned to go, the studied Remus for a minute, taking in every detail. Remus felt him step forward, felt Logan’s arms brush against his. 

“May I kiss you?” Logan asked, the words barely a whisper. Remus gently grabbed Logan’s face and pressed his lips against the other’s. Logan made a small satisfied noise before pulling away. 

“I guess I’ll be seeing you soon. Thank you,” Logan said, taking the bag and heading back into the mall. Janus and Patton exited the building as Logan walked away.

“Was he your soulmate?” Patton asked excitedly. Remus nodded, his mind still thinking about Logan.

“You and I were having a conversation about the best way to kill a man without getting caught,” Remus explains casually. Yes, Logan seems to remember that to some extent. They had rattled off the ideas of poisoning as well as the many ways one can frame a murder to appear accidental, “And then you just plopped onto the floor like all of your bones had turned to jelly! When I touched your head I realized you were burning hot and in your fatigue, I guess you passed out cold. Y’know, teach, for someone who argues the importance of wellness as much as you do, you really aren’t practicing what you preach. When was the last time you slept? Or put some food in you?”

Logan had never thought that Remus of all people would be in a position to scold him about his life choices, and yet here he is.

“I – well, I suppose I’m not –.” Remus cocks an eyebrow.

“you’re not sure? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Here, drink some water,” Remus says, handing him a glass, “God, Roman goes on and on about your “extremist water agenda” meanwhile you’re dehydrated as fuck.” Logan drains the glass quickly, bearing the heavy weight of Remus’s stare. As Logan attempts to untangle himself from the bedsheets Remus’s hand settles on his shoulder, pinning him in place.

“Remus –.”

“Not so fast, nerdy wolverine,” Remus says in what could almost be constituted as a scolding tone, “You’ve worked yourself into sickness and now you’re paying the price. Imagine if you’d collapsed in front of one of the others? Pattycake, for example, well he would’ve flipped his lid, I’m sure. Or my brother, for instance, might’ve tried to “rescue you” into recovery. But me, not so much.” Logan lays back down, feeling fairly defeated though he’s rather distracted by the throbbing in his head.

“And you’re the no-nonsense type?” It seems even in sickness, Logan’s dry-wit hasn’t left him. What a miracle.

“Oh, I’m all for nonsense,” Remus says with a gleeful smile before turning back to Logan, “And as much fun as it would be for Thomas to be without his logic for a while – which, believe me, I considered – I’m sure the others would have my head. Oh, isn’t that delightful to think about? My head on a spike oozing blood? And – and my tongue would be sticking out of my tongue like this,” Remus imitates, his tongue growing several inches longer and hanging limp against his chin. “But seriously, knock that shit off. You can’t just go passing out in front of people, you of all sides should be taking your health into consideration.”

“And that’s why you put me to bed?” Logan asks, eyeing Remus as carefully as he can despite the splotches of color that cloud his vision, “Because you were concerned about how the others would react to me being unwell?” For a moment Remus looks almost as flushed as Logan is, which the logical side finds rather odd. Remus isn’t one to become easily embarrassed; sometimes Logan wonders if it’s even capable for him to become as such.

“Think of it as me paying back a favor. I mean, you’ve helped me out too many times to count. Remember when you took that arrow out of my eye?” Remus asks with a laugh, “Ah, good times.”

“And that’s the only reason you’ve decided to help me and uh, dress me?” Logan asks, glancing back down at his clothes that he doesn’t recall changing into.

“Well, dressing you isn’t very hard at all,” Remus says, snapping his fingers and suddenly losing every stitch of clothing. Logan covers his eyes as though it’s anything he hasn’t seen before. “See, undressed,” Remus snaps again, “dressed! Undressed, dressed. Oh, stop covering your eyes, dork, you and I both know this isn’t the first time you’ve seen my dick.”

That’s the thing. If you’d have told Logan he and Remus would someday be sleeping together regularly, he would’ve thought such a thing was preposterous. In fact, even friendship between them was something he hadn’t considered in the cards. And even so, before he understood what was going on he and Remus were cultivating a relationship.

Logan hadn’t thought it at first, but as it turns out, Remus is a very good listener. Yes, he tends to drift from topic to topic on a whim, but Logan’s come to not mind that much at all. He indulges in Logan’s rants about outer space, the depths of the ocean, and the secrets that hide beneath the briny deep, the most peculiar flora and fauna that exist on the planet as well as so many other topics. He does more than put up with Logan’s interests, he encourages them. It’s refreshing, the conversations that he and Remus have.

Remus brings out something strange in Logan, an impulsion he wasn’t aware he was even capable of. Remus is crude and reckless and all over the place, but Logan’s become endeared to him in more ways he’d ever imagined possible. It was out of this impulsion that Remus prompts in him so that Logan kissed the intrusive side several months ago. In the past, he’d never dare to do something so messy and feelings-y, but after spending as much time as he had with Remus as well as the emotions surrounding him, for one of the first times in his existence Logan allowed himself to let loose.

Their relationship was initially driven by lust, but it took very little time for things to deepen. It had been one thing for Logan to enjoy spending time with Remus, but now he looked forward to it every chance he got, his face betraying his stoic nature in a smile every time Remus entered the room. Before long, Remus was using the word boyfriend and Logan was accepting it.

The thought that he’s worried his partner, even in the state of near delusion he’s in, crosses his mind.

“M’ sorry for worrying you,” Logan says, his voice slurring slightly as though he’s intoxicated. Remus sighs, kneeling beside Logan and pushing aside his bangs that are plastered with sweat to his forehead. Remus has only ever seen Logan so disheveled during sex, and he’s certainly never seen him so weak.

“Who says I was worried?” Remus asks as though his tone of voice hasn’t already betrayed it, “Okay, fine. Maybe I was a little worried, fucking sue me.”

“You’re taking care of me,” Logan notes dizzily, leaning into Remus’s touch as he runs a hand through his messy hair, “That’s nice.”

“Shit, Lo, you’re loopier than I thought,” Remus musses, seeing the far-off look in his boyfriend’s eyes, “How’s your head?”

“It hurts.” Remus is fairly sure this is the first time he’s ever heard logic whine, and he’d be a damn liar if he said it isn’t kind of adorable.

“Okay, okay, I’ll get you some medicine,” Remus says, getting up to leave before feeling Logan’s clammy hand clamp down on his wrist.

“Logan?”

“Don’t leave,” Logan’s voice comes out weak and sad, “Please don’t leave.” It’s almost too much to handle, the sentimentality to Logan’s words as well as the almost juvenile desire for him to stay by his side as if something horrible will become of him if Remus leaves. There’s no way Logan’s going to believe any of this transpired once his head is clear again. Remus really should be filming this.

“Aw, Lolo, stop being so cute for a second, okay? I need to go get you some medicine and something to eat.”

“I’m not cute,” Logan pouts, “I’m serious, remember? Necktie…” Remus chuckles.

“Strange, I don’t see a tie on you at the moment.” Logan huffs. “Just stay there for a second, okay? I’ll get you some medicine, it’ll make you feel better.” Remus can’t recall the last time he acted so civilly. “Taking care” of others really isn’t his thing, destruction and utter chaos is. If any of the others were ill, he doesn’t think he’d be acting the way he is, so put together and fucking caring, it almost makes him sick to think about. But Logan isn’t anybody else, he’s his boyfriend who’s overworked himself to the point of delusion and maybe he’s being a tad bit protective, but the idea of someone else taking care of Logan leaves a sour taste in his mouth. Just because he’s Remus doesn’t mean he’s any less capable of doing so, or at least that’s what he’s telling himself.

Remus comes back with the medicine and has to spend several minutes convincing Logan to take it; who knew he was such a bad patient? He sits with him a while listening to Logan spout almost as much nonsense that Remus usually does before Logan drifts off again.

“Don’t worry,” Remus whispers, pressing a kiss to Logan’s temple, “I’ll take care of you, dork.”

It’s a stupidly heartfelt thing to say, especially when Logan is clearly asleep, but it just seems to slip out. Remus slinks out of the room as quietly as he can, shutting the door behind him gently rather than slamming it like he usually does before wandering into the kitchen.

Remus is surprised to find Patton humming tunelessly as he stirs a pot of soup.

“Oh! Hiya Remus,” Patton says when he catches sight of him, looking a little startled in his presence. Even so, Remus has been hanging around the light sides a lot more, especially since Janus got accepted by Thomas, so Patton’s had some time to get a bit more used to him.

“Hi, Pattycake,” Remus greets, “Whatcha making? It smells good.”

“Chicken noodle soup,” he replies matter-of-factly, “It’s for Logan.” Remus quirks an eyebrow. That’s what Remus was about to attempt to make himself, but this smells homemade.

“How’d you know he was sick?”

“Oh, a dad has a way of knowing when his kiddos aren’t doing so hot,” Patton replies cryptically, “I also noticed Logan seemed a little off earlier. How’s he doing?” Remus pulls himself onto the kitchen counter, swinging his legs.

“Not fan-fucking-tastic,” Remus notes the way Patton bites his lip at that, probably about to scold him for his “potty mouth,” “I’ve told that nerd a billion gazillion times that he needs to take better care of himself. I swear he’s so wrapped up in looking after the rest of you I think he forgets about himself.” Patton hums thoughtfully.

“You really care about him, don’t you?” Remus blinks, the back and forth motion of his legs ceasing.

“Huh?” Patton smiles.

“I’ve heard the way Logan talks about you. I don’t even think he realizes how sweet he sounds when he’s saying it, about the conversations you two have and the experiments you do together. You make him awfully happy, you know that?”

Remus wants to play off the shock the statement has provoked. He wants to grin manically and talk about butts, or Jeffrey Dahmer, or anything else other than the warmth that blooms in the cavity in his chest where he believed a heart wasn’t present. But he can’t.

“Logan talks about me?” Patton laughs like Remus has just asked the most absurd question.

“Well of course he does, silly! You’re his boyfriend, aren’t ya?”

“I – uh – yeah. Yeah, I am. I didn’t know you knew that, though?” It comes out as a question. He’s never mentioned it to anyone except Janus, thinking that Logan wouldn’t want to tell the others.

“Yeah, Janus told me about it.” Remus’s jaw slackens. “Oh dear, was I not supposed to know that?”

“I mean, it’s not a secret, I guess. I’m just kind of surprised Double D would tell you.”

“Well, I’m sure I would’ve figured it out, either way, the way you two look at each other is so gosh darn cute! Janny just mentioned it in passing, really.” Remus narrows his eyes at Patton.

“Janny? There’s no way in hell Janus would let anyone call him that.” Patton flushes at that.

“You should hear the other things he lets me call him…” Remus slaps a hand over his mouth.

“Holy balls! Are you and Jan-the-man fucking?” Patton’s blush deepens as he turns the oven off and gets a bowl out of the cupboard.

“Well, looks like the soup’s ready! Better take some to Logan before it gets cold!” Remus hops off the counter with as much grace, taking the bowl from Patton’s hands and eyeing him suspiciously.

“This is not the end of this conversation,” he says, not missing the way Patton’s Adam’s apple bobs in a gulp, “I gotta admit, I’m kinda surprised you’re letting me take care of the nerd. I would think you’d jump at the chance to play nurse.” Patton shrugs.

“Well, I wouldn’t want to encroach on your time with him. I know you and I have had our disagreements,” Remus bites back to urge to say a very Roman-esque ‘UH understatement much!’, “But I also know you care a lot about Logan. And you also-also know that if anything bad ever happened to him that I would be very, very upset with you,” Patton flashes a demented smile clearly meant to intimidate Remus and he can certainly respect that. The smile fades back to his normal cheery nature as quickly as it appeared, “Now, get going and make him feel a Pat-ton better, okay kiddo?” Remus snorts at the silly name pun, taking a spoon from the drawer before taking the bowl down the hall.

“See ya around, Daddio.” Remus decides he’s going to have to kick Janus’s ass for not telling him about him and Patton. More so, though, Remus’s mind is occupied by the fact that Logan has spoken about him fondly and that Patton claimed that their affection for one another was obvious. To some extent, Remus had been under the assumption that Logan wouldn’t want to mention their relationship at all.

Remus opens the door slowly, balancing the bowl in his elbow as he finds Logan blinking awake at him. As much as he’d wanted to let Logan sleep, he isn’t sure the last time he’s had anything to eat.

“Remus?”

“I’m right here,” Remus says setting the bowl down on the bedside table and kneeling beside Logan’s bed, “I brought you some soup.” Logan squints, reaching for his glasses again and putting them back on.

“Huh?”

“Patton made you some, LoLo. Pops said he had a hunch you weren’t doing so hot. He’s a real smart cookie when it comes to taking care of you all, huh?” Logan scrunches up his face.

“I don’t want any.” Remus lets out an exasperated sigh.

“Oh come on, dorkalicious. You need to eat something, and it’ll be good for you.”

“Says the guy who regularly consumes deodorant.”

“Hey, that’s unrelated. I’m not the one who let myself get into such rough shape. Now be a good boy and eat your fucking chicken-noodle-soup.” Logan groans as Remus blows on a spoonful of soup and brings it towards Logan’s mouth. Logan sighs, opening his mouth and sighing around the spoon as he swallows a mouthful.

“Hungry, aren’t you?” Logan fails to reply, sitting up and placing the bowl in his lap. Remus watches as Logan devours the soup at record speed, draining the bowl in a few minutes. Remus chuckles, setting the bowl aside and seeing the way Logan’s eyes begin to droop again.

“You left me,” Logan pouts childishly, earning another laugh from his boyfriend.

“You fell asleep, babe,” Remus chides, “And I needed to get you something to eat. I never thought you’d be such a brat when you’re sick.” Logan sags back into the pillows as Remus pets his hair again.

“M’ not a brat,” Logan mumbles sleepily.

"Oh of course you aren’t. You’re just my difficult little shithead boyfriend. But a brat? You’d never dare be such a thing.” Logan makes a noncommittal noise before muttering something that sounds vaguely like “Come here.”

“What was that?” Logan sighs.

“Come here,” Logan repeats more clearly. “I want you to hold me.” Remus could scratch his own eyes out Logan is being so cute! His boyfriend is always so formal and presentable, which is nothing that Remus particularly minds, but this behavior is so out of character it’s kind of a lot to process. Logan seldom asks for cuddles, even when he wants them, so this direct neediness comes as a surprise.

“Fine, but only because you’re ailing,” Remus says dramatically as if he doesn’t always jump at the chance to cuddle with his boyfriend. Logan relaxes against Remus, throwing his arms around him loosely and snuggling into his shoulder. Logan’s skin is still clearly flushed, but his fever seems to be going down.

“Are you feeling any better?” Remus asks, his voice conveying more worry than he intends to express.

“A bit,” Logan mutters, “Thanks for looking after me.”

“Sure thing, dork. I mean, someone had to do it.”

“Yes, but you didn’t have to. You’re good, Rem. Really good.” Remus smiles, pressing a kiss to Logan’s cheek.

“You’re such a fucking sap when you’re delirious, it’s too cute.” Logan ignores that, his eyes fluttering closed.

“I love you, Remus.” Remus feels his heartrate spike as Logan’s grip around him tightens slightly. Remus knew that he and Logan share some very mushy, gushy feelings, but Logan loves him? Genuinely, truly loves him? For some time now he’s been trying to ignore the true depth of his feelings for Logan, not wanting to endanger a good thing, but now it looks like he doesn’t have to. Granted, Logan’s admitted these feelings in a state of delusion, but Remus doesn’t believe it to be any less true. If Patton says he sees their chemistry and Logan’s been as clingy as he has been, then he’s gonna choose to believe it.

“I love you too,” he says softly, far gentler than he’d ever imagined the admission would be – not that he really thought he’d ever get the opportunity to tell him in the first place. “I’m crazy about you, Lo.”

“Don’t let me go,” Logan says lethargically, half-asleep already, “I don’t wanna wake up to you being gone.”

“Okay, nerd,” Remus says, his heart – yes, he’s concluded that he’s got a heart somewhere in his chest, considering how soft Logan’s made him feel today – overflowing with love, “I’ll stay. I’m not going anywhere.”

“That will be satisfactory,” Logan mumbles before slipping back into unconsciousness.

Remus lies awake in Logan’s arms, thinking of how not long-ago Logan had considered himself completely emotionless and he had thought of himself as void of the capability for affection or love. Remus has never been so glad to be proven wrong.

He tried ducking out originally, copying Virgil since he was the side Remus adored watching the most.That way hopefully someone would notice and come to find him, finally acknowledge the good that Remus does.

Except Logan had already acknowledged the good of his role, and how it impacted the others. He’d even pointed out the causes behind Remus’s growing and shrinking prominence to Thomas.

Virgil was the only one to notice, appearing on his bed and laying down. Remus didn’t react when he felt the other side appear in his room, already entirely focused on ducking out. That was before Virgil started speaking.

“I wonder if you have notebooks in here of everything you’ve watched happening. I know Logan and Roman would do that. Write their observations or grand stories of each day in journals and save them. Probably even reflect over what different actions suggest about the situations.” Virgil was already addressing Remus as though he was there, but was just staring at the ceiling as he carried on musing.

“Somehow that doesn’t seem like your style. You’ve been doing the watching thing for far longer than can be recorded in the books I can see on your shelves, most of which are more likely to be sketchbooks anyway

“Come find me if you want to share anything interesting you watch though. I could help if you need to sound a concern over something.” He hadn’t stayed long, and almost as soon as Remus was about to pull himself back into his role again Virgil was getting up to leave.

There was one last glance at the room before Virgil left with the words, “I’ve grown used to your stares. I hope they aren’t over.”

Being dramatic by ducking out obviously was not easy.

Remus next thought to play along with the religious films he’d been introduced surrounding, dramatically pray for forgiveness in the middle of the common space, wailing and bemoaning all his wrongs and how sorry he was for them.

“Go to a monastery if you’re going to insist on piety, Remus. We’re exercising self-care tonight not self punishment.” Janus dismissed him, glaring through a facemask.

Beside him, Patton had curled up a little more, biting his lip and looking to Janus for guidance apparently. “Surely we can listen to his apologies and let him calm down with us.” He suggested tentatively.

Janus just shook his head. “Remus goes through phases like this every so often. He’ll work through it if you ignore him for long enough.”

“And usually gets one of us the help we need at the same time as that.” Virgil hissed, having gone unnoticed as he came down the stairs since Remus had carried on praying loudly while the pair tried to dismiss or ignore him. “I think this time I’ll listen to him, but since you’re having a selfish night taking over our commons, we’ll talk in the kitchen.”

The suggestion was enough for Remus to latch onto Virgil, clinging to him like a koala as he went into the kitchen, still keeping up the pleas for forgiveness until he was placed on a counter top.

“If I say you’re forgiven is it going to matter?” Virgil smirked a little, glancing back through to where Logan and Roman had popped downstairs to check if everything was okay still.

“Am I going to be the villain forever?” Remus shook his head, asking his own question. He knew that Virgil accepted him now, the times he’d been watching since trying to duck out had revealed that much. That didn’t help him get accepted by everyone though, especially when he was realising more and more that the ‘acceptance’ he’d thought he had from Janus was more like being ignored or dismissed.

He wasn’t expecting Virgil to peer curiously at him before beginning to scheme silently a little.

“No, you’re just trying to play the role of a villain wanting to be redeemed when really that’s not where you’d fit in a fairytale. I’ll see if I can do something to help.” Virgil decided after a while of thinking, offering a one armed hug before he headed out of the kitchen. “Just remember if Roman invites you to something this week, I’d suggest you accept it. Accept it for me?”

Remus just cheers an agreement, exaggerating the joy at having some help. He wasn’t sure his next idea would be very successful in anything other than making him more hated.

The invite from Roman came only a couple of days later, before Remus had decided on carrying out any more attempts to be accepted. He wasn’t sure just how he’d be accepted by the other sides because of a ball, apparently to find a noble prince of the imagination realm a suitor, but if it was what Virgil asked for of course he was going to do it.

Of course he still had to break the rules a little. The invite specifically insisted on formal wear, and Roman had not so graciously said that his usual uniform would be perfectly suitable for it. Just because of those facts he was going to go in the mess clothes he kept for painting or sculpting or well any creatively messy activity he’d encountered so far.

That didn’t stop the creations in the imagination from letting him into the ball, although it did have Roman immediately trying to make a beeline for him upon entrance. He was interested in how that conversation might have gone down actually, but the music turning into an introductory tune and lights being directed towards the balcony opposite the entrance he’d come though stopped everyone to turn to it.

Remus did slide down the bannister to join the crowd waiting as the doors behind the balcony opened, trying to make sure there was plenty of a crowd between him and his brother. Only then did he look back up at the spotlight on the balcony.

There stood Virgil, clearly dressed by Roman if the outfit was anything to go by. To one side of him was an imagination resident, holding a scroll up. “Introducing Prince Virgil of the Thomasphere! The Kingdom greets all our honoured guests and noble subjects to Prince Virgil’s suitor ball.” They proclaimed, bowing and stepping back to the door with a bow.

Virgil meanwhile had been scanning through the crowd, Remus wasn’t quite sure who for, but as soon as Virgil’s eyes met his the other was trying to hold in snickers. “Kind subjects, I will not hold your hopes up for the duration of the evening. I have already decided who I would like to be my suitor, if he will accept.” He announced, and suddenly Remus had to know where each of the other Sides were in the hall, having only located Roman and Virgil so far. He almost missed Virgil adding “I shall go an ask for his hand first before announcing his name to you all.”

It was easy to locate Janus and Patton, both stood near the band that was set up to one side of the people, just below the balcony. Logan was harder to spot, dressed in more blues than he usually would and blending in among the brightly coloured pageantry. Remus finally spotted him near the base of one set of steps from the balcony, and easily traced the staircase up, now expecting Virgil to be heading down them towards Logan.

Instead Virgil wasn’t headed towards any of the others, all located closer to the opposite set of stairs to the one he was coming down. The closest stairscase to Remus actually and that was the first clue to what Virgil hoped to happen that evening he got.

He didn’t have any time to try and figure out further clues though because Virgil was stood in front of him, letting out a breathy laugh. “Do I have to be fairy godmother and prince charming all at once for you?” Virgil asked, looking Remus up and down once more. “You’re much better at manipulating outfits than I am.”

“If you’re saying my outfit isn’t good enough for this event then it’s only fair you’re the one who changes it.” Remus suggested, throwing a wink his way and still bewildered over being Virgil’s choice. “Does this mean I can kiss and bite at your skin? That we’re dating and I can cling on to you as much as I want to?” The questions couldn’t be held back now Remus had started speaking, however much he wanted to hold onto the moment.

Virgil just nodded to all the questions, falling silent as he concentrated on Remus and his outfit. The transformation came gradually, the paint splatters growing along his arms into stripes, stains from clay dust expanding into a jacket and all slowly merging to shades of greens and browns until Remus was stood in the suit of a Tudor farmer. Perhaps the outfit still wasn’t the level of nobility a royal ball would require but Remus adored it.

“Perhaps no biting unless we’re in private, but yes, we can start dating now.” Virgil was the one to break the silence that fell between them while they took in the outfit. “But first you might want to greet my subjects and just look at the expressions of the others.”

The quiet whisper made Remus turn, spotting Roman looking over at them proudly. Janus and Patton were having a hushed conversation between them, starting off with frowns although by the time they met his eyes they were grinning again, nodding in what seemed to be approval. Logan was the most surprising to Remus, he was watching them with a calculating gaze.

Virgil spotted that at the same time as him, beginning to snicker. “You might watch us all the time but Logan always seems to pay little attention until something big happens and then he has to analyse everything leading up to it and try to figure out if he should have predicted a situation would occur.”