#giant!remus

...

Roman bounded down the bustling street, waving to familiar passerby as he went. He knew he was easy to pick out and very recognizable, in his white knight’s uniform. Despite the early morning, many people were already up and about, setting up for the day, but the street lamps still glowed—a recent installation, they actually ran on electricity! Roman still didn’t quite understand how that worked, but he was proud to see his settlement prospering, and it was fascinating, how much light came from them, just from a few little wires and some glass. Perhaps there was some sort of enchantment involved.

“Good morning, Sir Roman,” a shopkeeper called.

Roman tabled his nerdy thoughts for the time being. He put on a bright smile and approached the shop, where a woman stood sweeping clear the welcome mat. “Good morning to you, Maryanne!”

The woman put aside the broom and dusted her hands off on her apron. “Would you like a pastry? The peaches just arrived from Mellow Valley, and they are simply delightful in a fruit tart.”

Roman hummed consideringly. “Oh, that’s very tempting, but I’m afraid I’m in a rush this morning!”

“Some other time, then. Perhaps you could even bring that handsome young man you’re always with.” She winked.

Roman really hoped he wasn’t blushing. “Of course—you know I love your treats.”

Roman was on his way to his shift guarding the outer wall, an imposing structure built of shining gray stone that protected the citizens of his home from the monsters that roamed the forest beyond. It was an important job, entrusted to the expertise of the knights, and one that Roman loved doing; but it wasn’t always the most exciting prospect. Their settlement, Old Haven, was one of the longest standing, enough so that most of the monsters had known since generations past to stay well away; and between the few times that things truly got exciting... they could be terribly dull.

But, before Roman went to his shift that morning, he had a stop to make, and this he was definitely looking forward to.

The apothecary was located just a couple of blocks from the main square, in a small, warmly colored cedar and stone building with windows filled with neatly arranged bundles of colorful herbs and evenly spaced rows of bottles of medicinal powders and potions. A hand-painted sign read, Please come in, in neat, white letters, in an only slightly decorative script.

Roman reached the shop just as the door opened, the bell overhead chiming. A customer stepped out, dressed in a dark robe with the hood up. At first glance, he seemed to be clothed entirely in black, but on closer inspection, his robe was actually a deep plum color. He clutched a bottle of pomegranate juice in one pale hand and a neatly sealed packet of herbs in the other. Dark bangs poked out from under the hood, but his face was cast in shadow. Roman frowned slightly noticing the dark, grayish veins in his hands as he stepped back to give the man room. He hurried past Roman and disappeared down the street. Roman stepped inside the apothecary once he was gone.

The apothecarist, Logan, stood behind a counter within the shop, wearing an elegant, navy colored coat and his usual pair of spectacles. He was pushing together a pile of coins on the counter. Copper and bronze coins only, Roman noticed. No silver.

“Got a lot of vampire clientele?” Roman asked, leaning (or perhaps posing) against one of the display cabinets.

Logan looked up, the warm lamplight making his deep blue irises glitter in a way that never failed to make Roman’s heart skip a beat. He glanced back down and finished tucking away the money. “Six,” he said honestly. “Seven, most likely, although she has not personally shared that information with me, and if she is, hers appears to be a mild case.”

“Hm.”

“You don’t approve?”

“Ah… they’re a little too similar to monsters, for my taste.”

“It is a monster-derived affliction, that is true, but with modern treatments, most of those afflicted with vampirism can lead nearly normal lives.”

Roman shrugged dismissingly, waving him off. He hadn’t come here to talk about vampires. “I know, I know. Anyway. How’s my favorite nerd this morning?”

“I wish you wouldn’t call me that,” Logan sighed.

“You know you love it.”

Logan did not deny it, Roman noticed with a small smile. Instead, he adjusted a few already perfectly positioned potion bottles on the counter, before saying, “I am well, although rather busy.”

Roman glanced around the room, noticeably empty of customers. “Ah yes, this is a very busy time for your shop, I see.”

“A customer did depart only moments ago,” Logan pointed out. “Although, no, I was not referring to customers. I’m preparing for an outing.”

“An outing?” Roman was interested, now. “Finally taking a little vacation, are you? Good on you. Where are you going? And more importantly—can I come?”

Logan wanted to smile, Roman could tell. But he didn’t. The guy took himself too seriously. “Not that type of outing. I require materials to restock my shop.”

Roman sighed dramatically, making it a full body motion. So much for a vacation. And the hot springs in the hills of northern Old Haven were so nice this time of year. “So? Just put it on the list for the traders. Mellow Valley should have most of your things in season by now. Did you hear the peaches arrived? Maryanne, that baker on Lilac, promised me some of her delightful pastries. We could go get some, when I’m finished with my shift on the South Wall this morning.”

Logan shook his head “Mellow Valley won’t have everything I need; and besides, the costs are considerably lessened when the materials are personally collected.”

Roman furrowed his brow. “Collected where?”

“Outside.”

“You mean outside, like, as in the park, right?”

“In the woods,” Logan sighed, beginning to sound exasperated.

Roman opened his mouth, then closed it again. The woods. The veritable ocean of dense trees beyond the settlement’s walls, filled to the brim with monsters, held back from advancing only by the strength of the guard and broken only by the occasional human stronghold and the heavily protected trails that linked them. Generally, only knights and the traders they accompanied ever ventured beyond the walls—this was, in fact, why Roman had become a knight in the first place, to get to see some of the world that most only saw through pictures and stories. Citizens were allowed to leave—they weren’t prisoners—but it was very rare, and highly discouraged. Many who went unprepared—or even those who did—never returned; and sometimes even those who did return were not the same as when they left—like the vampires who apparently frequented this shop, or at least one or more of their ancestors. Vampirism could be tricky like that. Sometimes it cropped up randomly, somewhere down the line.

Logan had begun sorting through some of his supplies, acting for all the world as if he hadn’t just announced he had a death wish.

Roman shook off his distracted thoughts of vampirism and knightly missions, and focused on the most important thing: “Please tell me you aren’t planning to go out there alone.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Logan sighed. “I will have my dagger, and I will go no further into the woods than required.”

“Oookay, first of all, why am I just now hearing that you’ve been hanging out in the monster-filled woods by yourself?”

“I would hardly call it ‘hanging out’.”

“And second of all, you are absolutely not doing that.”

Logan gave him a dry look. “Yes, I am. My herbs will not pick themselves.”

“Get a garden like a normal person.”

“You know I have a quite extensive garden.” Logan paused, looked confused. He shook his head, going back to counting bundles of tiny black seeds. “Some of these herbs do not naturally grow within human settlements, let alone ours, and my attempts to recreate their preferred environment have in many cases proven thus far unsuccessful. Besides, I cannot ‘get a garden’ to form mineral deposits, several of which are required in even non-specialty potions.”

Roman still didn’t quite see why Logan wouldn’t be able to get all of this stuff using a trader. Knowing Logan, it was less about the money and more about needing to personally ensure that he received the correct materials. Surely, though, even the least-versed in medicinal resources could get him what he needed, if he described them well enough.

Also knowing Logan, though, he would not be dissuaded from going.

Roman pulled himself up to his full height, puffing out his chest and putting one hand on the protective-charm engraved hilt of his sword. “Alright, then, I am coming with you.”

Logan raised an eyebrow. “You’re coming to collect herbs? Can you even tell wormwood from hemlock?”

“I’m not going to find your nerd plants, I’m going to protect you.”

Logan scoffed quietly, clearly believing Roman’s very generous and heroic offer was unnecessary. But he sat down on his stool, finally, and looked at Roman without busying himself with his apothecarist duties. He glanced Roman up and down, apparently trying to decide how serious Roman was. “Alright, then, if you insist.”

“I do!” Roman nodded firmly. He relaxed his posture. “So, when are we going?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes?”

“I—” Roman groaned, looking up towards the wooden beams of the ceiling. “Fine. It’s a little short notice, but fine.” He worked his jaw, then mumbled, “I’ll need to cancel a couple days… maybe Sir Leo can cover? Hm.”

Logan tilted his head slightly, adjusting his spectacles and watching Roman’s dramatics. “I am not forcing you to come.”

You are, though. “Well, I am.”

“Alright.”

“Alright.”

A beat passed in silence, Roman feeling triumphant, before Logan gave the knight a slightly amused look. “I thought you had a shift on the wall?”

“I—right. Yes.” Roman had gotten a little distracted. He took a couple of steps back. “So, you, me, tomorrow, woods. Great.” He turned towards the door, stopped, and turned around. “About those pastries?”

Logan hummed. “I can take a break two hours after noon, which is when your shift ends, if I remember correctly. I suppose I would accept one then.”

“They have fruit in them,” Roman encouraged. “That makes them healthy!”

“I do not believe that is entirely correct.”

It was just one of those days for Remus. His mind was not shutting up as idea after idea came by. Maybe one of them could stick if he went to see everyone else.

Ever sense he got turned into a giant, Remus had to live a little ways away but the others made sure that he was either included in activities or just visited as so he could have fun. He loved playing with Patton and Deceit the most. Patton loved being tossed into the air only to land in his massive hand. Deceit was more for being chased around like a mouse. Like a game of cat and mouse but more like a game of octopus and snake. It was fun. Roman liked to create stories with him like before but more with giants and tiny people now. Virgil would hide away with the giant side to watch some Nightmare Before Christmas and cheesy horror movies. Logan liked asking him questions about how his new size and body were adjusting.

Of course he himself was very happy to get the attention. And -

Chew up Roman and feed his guts to Deceit.

The intrusive thought but(t)ed in like most of his own. But this, this wasn’t good intrusive no no no no no no no no no, this was a bad kind. Thomas’s intrusive thoughts were nothing compared to the detail of Remus’s. Remus made sure to dial Thomas’s as not to scar him. But Remus couldn’t do that, no no no, Remus was stuck with -

Shove a thumb up Logan’s ass and than stamp on him.

What would be like to tear Virgil’s arms off as he gets steamrolled over?

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!

He couldn’t see them now! He wouldn’t see them! His own impulse was worse as he is now and his own strength could any of these thoughts happen!

Before Remus knew it, he was in a small corner of his room with his hands under his arms, head down, knees to his chest. He just….needed to let this pass, like the other times. Stay still, don’t move. Don’t react, don’t think.

A mantra that Remus came up with to help him through these moments. It was wishful thinking that the others could help but again that was wishful. If anything it would make them fearful of him if his impulsiveness kicked in around them. Remus just let the thoughts keep coming, one after another. Just let it pass.

Like the other sides, he had his own anxieties too. His were of himself, especially now. Hands that could flattened humans like pancakes, strength to make another pop like a zit, teeth that could skewer a person. A poke could kill someone if he wasn’t careful. Normally, he wasn’t because it wouldn’t be any of his family on the receiving end.

He was rough, yes, but he did his best to not even use 1/100th of his strength. He was scary, yes, but he never means to scare anyone unless they gave him their consent first. He was huge compared to the other sides. They were like itty bitty figures to him. He was roughly 150 feet tall as measured by Logan. If he squished them, they be nothing but red on the floor and he didn’t like it.

His mind was racing with these thoughts. Thoughts of torturing the other sides with his strength, his hands, his feet, and teeth. Mashing them up and eating them or feeding the dead sides to each other before he takes them all. The worst ones were of Thomas - not him! They always physical hurt Remus when those thoughts came up.

But he kept up his mantra and didn’t give into his impulse. So long as none of them came to him, they would be fine. Time pasted with what seemed to be a crawl. The thoughts hadn’t let up nor had they gotten worse. Luckily, thoughts about Thomas hadn’t appear yet.

“Remus! Hey, bro what - oh dear.” FUCK! Roman walked into the larger twin’s room. Remus forgot to lock his room! Roman stayed away from Remus, his twin had seen him like this but never this huge! Gods he was going scare Roman away again! Unfocused eyes were halfway trained on Roman and halfway trained on nothing. The thoughts shifted to being Roman centric and it wasn’t pleasant for Remus.

“Shit, Remus, you having an episode? Of course he is Roman, don’t be an idiot.” Roman berated himself before coming close to Remus. Remus reacted by squeezing himself inward. He didn’t want anyone close to him. Roman could help but his impulse was screaming for him to bite of a leg of Roman’s! Roman didn’t get closer than 30 feet but that was still too close for Remus. Roman began to speak about different ideas that he had for Thomas’s videos and how Remus could still be in them. It be hard but Roman was more than willing to help his brother out. Roman simply just talked, and talked, and talked, and -

“Kiddos! I am coming in!”

“Oh no!” Roman gasped, Patton would want to comfort Remus with hugs. That could send him into a panic that no one wanted, “Wait Patton!”

“Yes?” Patton had opened the door just a bit and the amazing sent of Patton’s home cooked meal wafted into the darker twin’s room. It smelled like ribs, Remus’s favorite, for how messy it was -

Crunch on Patton’s ribs.

Remus went rigged again, listening but not hearing Roman talking to Patton. Patton’s cry followed by Roman holding him back only made Remus realize that Roman told Patton!

‘Patton please leave! I don’t want you hurt by me!’ Remus internally screamed as Patton struggled against the fanciful side. The struggles only stopped when another voice spoke up,

“What isn’t going on in here?” Deceit, with Logan and Virgil coming through. Deceit’s eyes widened upon seeing Remus’s stated. The half snake cused softly and explained to the other two.

No Thomas, good. No need to traumatize his host with this.

Patton took this opportunity to get out of Roman’s grips and sprint to Remus. Only to be tackled down by Deceit, Deceit held tightly as Patton yelled about ‘needing to tend to his dirty son’.

If anyone was the dirtiest, it was Roman. His room was an organized mess. Remus and Logan were tied for most cleaned and organized rooms.

Remus burly watched as the others talked and began to work their own magic. Logan would give some kind of fact, some random and off the top of his head. Roman would make up a story with the fact some where in there. Patton would add something as Virgil would point out inconsistencies or give a different point of view. Deceit watched Remus, Deceit waited. Deceit was very good at waiting. He would update the others if anything changed with Remus. Virgil made sure that Remus didn’t hyperventilate and Logan and Roman continued to fill the air about nothing and everything.

Remus began to feel confident.

“Remus, you aren’t fine now?” Deceit asked, not moving. He had let go of Patton, only for Patton to be grabbed by Roman.

“Tired…..”

“You know we are scared of you right? We will leave.”

“I know….sorry you guys had to see me like this.”

“We are a family Remus. Family must look out for each other no matter what.” Logan stated, looking up at the giant side. Virgil nodded.

“Remus, you’re my brother, I love you and I won’t stop loving you. No matter what happens!” Roman grinned before letting go of Patton. The fatherly side ran straight to Remus’s feet and hugged his ankles. It felt like a dam had been busted and tears started running down his checks. Remus unfolded himself to pick Patton up. He held the smaller male on his nose as Remus keep crying. Soon he felt more tinies climb his pants up. His family, as tiny as they may be compared to him, they were his.

“You will hurt us Remus, I don’t know that.” Deceit spoke as he and the others got up on his knees, “You shouldn’t give yourself more credit. You don’t have the strength to resist those impulses.”

Logan was always careful, always. He was cautious and refused to get caught or seen. It would be disastrous, not only for himself, but for his family as well. The only thing worse than himself getting caught, was one of the other’s getting caught.

Sadly, that seemed to be the case today. He knew he should have told Dee to stay inside today. He had a gut feeling and ignored it because he believed in his brains and facts telling him everything was gonna be okay. It wasn’t okay, far from it actually.

He watched helplessly as the bean, the green one went to poke and prod at his Dee. He wanted to step in and yell at the wicked one to stop it, leave him alone! But his legs were frozen to the floor and yet so shaky that he almost fell over.

He had never truly been afraid before this. Sure, there were close calls, very, very close calls, but that was it. Just close calls, as in none of them had been seen or caught. That is, until today. Today, on Christmas. Of all days, Of all days.

“Are you sure Dad didn’t get us this shit for Christmas? It’s so little and fucking weird it’s totally something he would get us.”

“I’m sure, and watch your mouth, Remus! You know how Mama hates it when we curse!”

“Fuck it! I’m old enough and I can do what I want. Besides that, they aren’t here right now, Prissy bitch,” the green one, now known as Remus, responded, adding a dramatic eye roll.

“Still Remus! You need to mind your mouth! Now, what are we gonna do with it?”

“Keep it?”

No, No Logan didn’t want that. He felt himself wanting to act and flee all at once. He wanted to cry and scream and beg them to give him back. Give back his family and leave him alone. He told Virgil he would bring Dee back, he promised them. He promised.

“Well duh, why would we let it go? Maybe we could ask Dad when he and Mama get back,” the red one offered, shrugging. “He probably knows what this is if he got it for us.”

“God, you ruin everything Roman. Like, every fucking thing,” Remus huffed, pushing the cage around. Logan could hear Dee screaming and crying from his position on the highest shelf in the room, watching Dee trying to hold onto something so he wouldn’t be thrown around.

Logan felt sick and gross, feeling powerless yet powerful in this situation. He could walk out and save Dee or offer himself in his place, but he was a coward. He could feel his inner thoughts taunting him.

Worthless.

Useless.

Pathetic.

What a horrible big brother you are.

“I do not! You ruin everything you chaotic fuck!” Roman snarled, before his face paled. He went to say something, but Remus cackled loudly. Dee covered his ears, curling up and crying softly. Logan’s little snake had always been sensitive to loud noises, and now he was right next to one of the loudest things alive.

“I’m telling Mom! I’m telling Mom! She is gonna be so ashamed of you! I mean, she already is, but still! At least she will be proud of me for finding this thing! Do you think it’s the same thing that has been stealing bread?”

“Don’t tell her you psycho! And I don’t know, I mean, what would one little thing need with all that food?” Roman asked, opening the top of the cage and petting Dee. He ignored the cries and whimpers getting louder, focusing on Remus. “What would something so small need all that food for?”

“Maybe it was trying to feed and befriend my rats to create a little army!” Remus squealed, shaking the cage. “Were you trying to make an army out of my babies!?” He cried, his green eyes filled with fury.

Dee shook his head quickly, scrambling back and away from both brothers. Logan watched him, wanting to walk out and save him. He felt tears filling his eyes because of the overwhelming emotions filling him.

“Oh gods Remus, leave it alone! It’s terrified and those beasts of yours only take orders from you.”

“Nuh uh! Dad likes to play with Trashheap sometimes! He says that my baby is cute!” Remus whined, stomping his foot. “And I only have three and they are perfect angels!”

“They are menaces to society! How dare you call them precious! They are horrid and smelly and disgusting!” Roman huffed, before he screamed as Remus tackled him.

And they were fighting. Logan resisted the urge to roll his eyes and he realized this was his chance. He started to walk forward, before he heard the door crack open. It was their Dad. He scooted back, looking at the man’s sunglasses that made his annoyed stare look even darker and more ominous.

“Boys, what have I told you about fighting? Especially inside the house.” The dad took a sip of his drink from that weird green lady cup and sighed. “You’re both grounded Remus, go to your room.”\

“But Da-”

“No Buts! Room, now,” the father hissed, causing Remus to stand up and bolt, running past his dad to get to his room. “Roman, go to bed, now.”

“Yes father,” he whispered, quickly climbing into bed and pulling up the covers in a poor attempt to hide from the angry man.

Logan watched the man leave and he took a breath. He slowly climbed down to the lower shelves, thanking the red brat for putting the bookshelf next to the desk. He tried to psych himself up for this, his heart pounding in his chest as he made eye contact with Dee.

He could save him, and he would. He watched the bed as he walked towards the cage, tugging and pulling at the lock to try and unlatch it.

“Hurry Logan,” Dee pleaded, his eyes wide and fearful as he stared at the bed. “Please, Please I’m scared.”

“I am!” Logan huffed softly, pushing against it until the latch gave a soft click and the cage unlocked. “Come on!” Logan snapped, grabbing Dee’s hand and pulling him out of the cage and towards their home in the walls.

“H-Hey! Stop that!” Roman cried out, sitting up. His eyes widened when he saw two tiny people running on is desk and he quickly tried to climb out of bed. He got tangled in his covers and fell to the floor.

Logan kept moving, thanking all high heavens that this bean was stupid. He pushed Dee inside, watching him run into the waiting arms of Virgil, who had started crying. He ran in himself, but he yelped when his leg was caught between massive fingers

He heard someone screaming, “No!” and he wasn’t sure if it was Dee, Virgil, the bean, or himself. He thrashed and scratched the hand to no avail. The bean easily pulled him out, staring in confusion.

“Why did you let him go? He was our gift, you’re not. now I have to go find him,” He mumbled, walking back and locking Logan in the cage. This time he set a massive book in front of the door, trapping Logan inside.

“Where is the other one? What did you do to him?” He asked, tapping on the bars near Logan, who retreated at the fingers trying to touch him.

Logan remained silent, his heart hammering in his chest. He glanced at the hole, hoping and praying Virgil and Dee had ran back into the walls to avoid this bean.

Roman groaned, looking at the tiny as he shook the cage. “Fine then, be that way. I’ll find them myself! You stay here,” he ordered, standing up and leaving the room.

Logan watched him leave and he tried to get the door open from this side to no avail. He whimpered and curled up. He wanted Dee and Virgil to come save them, but he knew that they would be caught the second they stepped out.

‘Just leave me,’ he thought, hoping they would hear him. 'Just leave me and run away, I’ll be okay.’ He curled up, his eyes slowly drifting shut as he did so. Maybe a little sleep wouldn’t hurt, and he slept in worse places than this, way worse.

———————————————————————————————————–

...

Roman and Logan planned to meet at the base of the South Tower, which was one of the four largest towers of the wall, home to both the largest concentrations of knights as well as the main tunnels leading out from the settlement. Other tunnels existed, but they were mainly used for emergencies. It was much easier to know who was in the woods and who had safely returned, or more importantly, who had not, when they all had to leave from one place.

Roman had gathered the supplies he normally took on missions beyond the settlement—his uniform, of course, and his sword, as well as a tent and a few other items that fit neatly in a pack slung across his shoulders. Roman also preferred to bring his own water. There were ways to tell if dark magic had polluted a water source, but Roman preferred to just assume none were safe.

He spotted Logan, with his ever-ridiculously straight posture, just beside the tunnel entrance. He, too, wore a pack over his shoulders, and it looked like he was wearing a pair of black leather gloves.

Roman swallowed his doubts about this ‘outing’ and put on a smile. “Hello!” he called.

“There you are,” Logan said, turning towards him. He waited while Roman jogged closer, pulling a pocket watch from his coat and checking the time. “I was beginning to wonder if you had forgotten.”

Roman put a hand over his heart. “I would never! Are you ready to go?”

“Yes; I have been ready for nearly forty-five minutes.” Logan held up the pocket watch for emphasis.

“Excellent!”

The pair stepped into the tunnel, which was lit by more of those electric lanterns, with torches here and there as well, probably just in case the lanterns failed. Just past the entrance a handful of sentries stood, speaking with a group of traders and knights who appeared to be from one of the eastern settlements, waiting to get through with an armored cart laden with goods. One of the sentries checked off a few final things on his clipboard, nodded to his colleagues, and the group was allowed to pass.

“Ah, Sir Roman, you’re going beyond the wall?” one of them asked while the cart rattled down the passage.

“Good morning, Sir Rose! Yes, I will be accompanying the fine apothecarist here.”

She nodded, turning to a knew page on her clipboard and beginning to write. “How long do you plan to be gone?”

“At least until evening tonight,” Logan supplied. “Possibly until noon tomorrow.”

“I’ll put until tomorrow,” Sir Rose said. Her pen scratched on the paper. “And where will you be going?”

“I am collecting medicinal herbs, minerals, and other ingredients. Where I go will depend on their abundance and distribution.”

“Ah.” She hesitated.

“We won’t leave the southern woods,” Roman assured. “Walking distance, you know.”

The sentry nodded. “Try not to go too far in,” she suggested. “It’s easy to get turned around, and the monsters get more common the deeper you go.”

“Of course,” Logan said. “May we pass?”

“One more thing; I’ll just need an inventory of what you’re bringing out of the settlement. And I trust you both have weapons?”

Roman patted his sword, and Logan pulled aside his coat to show his dagger. Then, after a quick list of what was in their packs, plus an obligatory glance in each bag to confirm, and a signature from each of them, they were allowed to move on.

“I ought to bring you more often,” Logan commented as they made their way through the passage. “Normally it takes more than twice as long to be cleared to leave.”

“Thank you, I know I make an excellent travel partner.”

They continued on for a few seconds, walking over the smooth stone floor, their path lit by flameless lanterns and the opening of the tunnel exit beyond.

“…Hey, Logan?”

“Yes, Roman?”

“How does electricity work?”

…

That first day in the woods, they didn’t have many problems.

They came across a ghoul about a mile into their hike, which Roman quickly dispatched with a swing of his sword. It was satisfying, watching the thing crumble to dust. He even managed not to get any of the mess on his uniform—he loved how dashing it made him look, but it really was a pain to clean, sometimes. They also carefully avoided a pond which, at first glance, appeared perfectly normal, but seemed to glow faintly from within.

“I don’t think that was here last time I came this way,” Logan commented, sounding intrigued. “Although that was in early spring. Perhaps it is a seasonal feature? I would love to collect a sample.”

Roman scrunched up his nose, eyeing the too-inviting pond, and was quick to remind Logan that they were on a time limit. And Logan had to admit that poking around a likely cursed pond when they didn’t have to was probably not a smart idea. So, they avoided the pond.

Around noontime, Roman was pretty sure that he saw a pair of harpies in the distance, flying between the tallest trees near the top of the canopy, but they didn’t come too close. Roman probably wouldn’t have noticed them at all, had one of them not cast a shadow as they passed over a gap in the leaves.

Other times, they heard distant screeches or howls. It was faintly disturbing, but at least they could listen for if any of these signs of life came a little too close. Roman was very glad that they didn’t need to worry about ear protection: banshees stayed much further north at this time of year. It would have been much more difficult to keep watch for any trouble, if they had to stunt one of their senses. Even if it would also block out some of the creepiness.

Logan didn’t seem overly concerned about being in the woods, content to simply collect his potion ingredients; but he did keep his dagger ready. Roman kept post as guard watching the trees for movement. He wasn’t especially interested in the things Logan was collecting, but this mission as protective detail was much more exciting than standing post on the wall all day. And while this part of the woods seemed relatively empty, Roman did not like the idea of Logan out here alone. It only took one monster getting the drop on him. And Logan’s dagger was a far cry from a sword.

As the day wore on and they ventured further into the woods, seeking the specific materials Logan needed, things seemed to grow even quieter. Roman was relieved. Maybe Logan had been in the woods before, and maybe he claimed to be able to deal with monsters, but no one was ever truly safe beyond the wall. The fewer monsters around, the better.

They ended up going rather further in than Roman had intended them to go, but Logan pointed out that it had been hours since they’d last seen any kind of creature, and if they didn’t get everything he needed now, they would simply have to return. Roman couldn’t argue with that, so he followed along, keeping a look out. With how far in they went, Roman knew that they wouldn’t make good time to get back, and he did not want to wander the woods in the dark. It would be all too easy for something to sneak up in the dark, plus it would be incredibly embarrassing if Roman tripped over a root and fell on his face in front of Logan. They did have torches, but drawing less attention was always better this far from home.

Near sundown, they found clearing which had a decently flat floor, and decided to make camp for the night there. It was on the crest of a slight hill, which would give them an advantage if any monsters decided to come sniffing around in the dark. Logan had chosen the spot, although his reluctance at not continuing a little longer was clear. He and Roman both knew that it would be easier and safer to eat and set up their tent while they still had light, though, so he didn’t complain.

Soon, the tent was set up. The lantern within let off a cheery glow, flickering merrily, even if looming shadows still filled large swaths of the space. They only had one bedroll—Logan’s—since they planned to sleep in shifts. As confident in this mission as Logan was, he wasn’t foolhardy enough to let them both be unwary at once. Of course, even if he had been, Roman would not have let that happen.

They ate a quick dinner, of hard, cold, and rather tasteless provisions. Roman knew better than to risk cooking food over a fire, or even bring food that smelled too delicious and might attract company, but would it kill Logan to bring something that didn’t taste like the field rations they gave knights who were going on long-term, far-flung missions?

...Actually, that might have been exactly what this was, Roman thought, looking over the brick of what might be some kind of grain meal before taking another stiff bite. He wasn’t sure where Logan had gotten it. Maybe there was some sort of knight surplus store. Roman had never exactly gone out of his way to get these rations.

Logan finished his meal first, clearing his throat and taking a long drink of water.

“I’ll take first watch,” Roman announced, setting aside what remained of his own rations, and shifting a napkin so it was less obvious how much was left..

“That would be appreciated,” Logan said. He looked tired, for good reason. He had been up and down all day, pulling up plants and digging in rocky cliffs for mineral deposits.

They cleaned up the remains of dinner, brushed their teeth, and got ready for bed, or in Roman’s case, for his watch. Logan sighed as he sat down on the bed roll. He removed the pocket watch and several of the items they had collected that day from his coat (what there hadn’t been room for in his pack, minus what Roman had agreed to carry) and set them to the side. “Please wake me in a few hours for my shift,” he said. “And do keep a vigilant watch.” He reached for the blanket.

“Aren’t you going to remove your coat?” Roman asked, watching. They had brought more than one blanket, and it was summer besides—Logan wasn’t keeping the garment to help with the chill.

“I would like to be prepared,” Logan said. “This is not the first venture I have made, and I am cognizant of the creatures found in these woods.” He patted his coat where his dagger was hidden, then pulled the blanket over himself, moving to lay down.

Roman grinned at him and held up his sword, posing, well aware of how impressive he looked in his stark white uniform. “Not to worry, Logan, for the noble knight Sir Roman will protect you!”

Logan rolled his eyes, but then he smiled, just a little.

Romans heart fluttered.

Logan removed his spectacles and set them to the side, with his other belongings. “Sure, Roman. Good night.” Logan never called him by his title, but Roman didn’t actually mind, not when it was Logan.

“Good night.” Roman slid his sword back in its scabbard and turned to leave the tent. He glanced back over his shoulder to see Logan’s eyes closed, his chest rising and falling gently. It was clear he was already asleep, or nearly so.

Roman bit his lip, allowing himself to watch for just a few seconds, appreciating the moment, under the guise of making sure he had everything (in case Logan wasn’t actually asleep). The coziness of the tent; the warm, tranquil night air; the fact that they got to be here together. Yet his heart ached. He and Logan were best friends, at least if you asked Roman, and that was something wonderful that he wouldn’t trade for the world… but sometimes, he did wish that that they could be more than that.

Some things just weren’t meant to be. Roman knew that. He turned out the lantern and silently left the tent.

The forest beyond their little shelter was dark and still, with densely packed trees stretching in all directions. It was too dark to see the rocky outcrops that occasionally broke up the landscape. There was just enough light to see, from the soft moonlight filtering down through the canopy. They were lucky that the moon was nearly full.

For a while, Roman paced around the edges of the tent, his sword ready, watching for any sign of something amiss. But as the hours ticked by, with no sign of any unwanted visitors, he slowed down. He eventually sheathed his sword, but kept his hand on the handle.

Still, nothing happened. Another hour, and it would be time to wake Logan so that he could take over the watch. Roman found a rock to sit upon, and perched himself there, deciding to just listen to the woods, and scan the trees.

Twenty more minutes dragged by. Roman was holding back yawns—it had been a long day, and a longer night. He blinked hard, trying to clear some of the sleepiness.

Crack.

Roman froze, instantly wide awake.

A twig, breaking. Some distance off. It was small. Potentially insignificant. Yet that one, seemingly innocuous sound filled Roman with a sudden, queasy sense of fear. He slowly stood, unsheathed his sword, and turned towards the sound.

Silence.

Then, after a long pause, came a chuckle. Just a little too loud, for how far away it seemed to be.

The trees moved. A huge, monstrously proportioned creature seemed to melt out of the shadows. Glowing, poisonously green eyes met Roman’s, and a too-wide mouth split into a grin, the filthy, too-large teeth glinting in the moonlight.

It was a giant. Twenty-five feet tall, at least, with thick, thorny, leathery-skinned legs like old tree trunks, enormous hands like boulders, powerful shoulders, and of course, those awful green eyes.

“LOGAN!” Roman shrieked.

There was a commotion from inside the tent, but it was like the shout was exactly what the giant was waiting for. He came running forward, enormous feet pounding across the earth, closing the  distance between them in seconds.

Roman swung his sword, but he barely made a mark in the giant’s thick skin. He tried again, aiming higher, and cut a thin line near the giant’s knee. Not deep enough to cause any real harm. He hardly damaged more than the rags of the giant’s clothes.

Roman was still shouting as the giant’s hands tore the tent to ribbons. As he lifted something—someone—into the open air, struggling wildly.

Roman cut, and slashed, and stabbed, and still it seemed to do nothing against the giant’s armored flesh. He tried pinning the giant’s robes to the forest floor, but the cloth simply ripped free, and the giant didn’t seem to care.

The giant laughed, and laughed. Logan continued to struggle as the giant lifted him higher and higher. Roman knew he was trying to get to his dagger, but the giant was hardly letting him move at all.

“Ooh, so squirmy!” the giant said gleefully.

“Unhand him!” Roman shouted, stabbing again with his sword, putting all of his strength into the blow. He must have hit a weak spot in the tough armor of the giant’s skin, because this time, the sword sank in halfway to its hilt.

The monster let out surprised roar and spun toward Roman. His fists, Logan still gripped in them, swung closer, and Roman caught a glimpse of Logan’s terror-stricken face, his normally neatly combed dark hair flung wildly in his face. He hadn’t even had time to put on his spectacles. Roman had never seen him look so afraid.

The giant batted Roman away, still holding Logan. Roman was sent flying back, but he managed to keep his grip on the sword, which was wrenched free from the giant’s leg by the force.

Roman hit the ground hard and rolled, collecting bumps and bruises that would surely hurt in the morning, but all he felt in that moment was the buzz of adrenaline and an icy pit of fear. He even managed to avoid falling on his own sword in that uncontrolled fall—at least those protective enchantments were good for something.

The knight finally hit a bush and skidded to a stop. He immediately staggered to his feet, breathing hard. He had to get to Logan; there was no time to recover. He adjusted his grip on the sword, spat out a bit of blood, and turned to face the giant. Apparently, the giant’s bleeding leg didn’t hurt him that badly, because he certainly didn’t seem bothered by the injury. The giant was now ignoring Roman, his attention seemingly focused entirely on Logan.

Who he was shaking around like a rag doll.

The giant cackled madly, watching Logan’s limbs bounce like it was the funniest thing he’d ever seen. Logan was clearly trying to curl in on himself, to stop himself from being flung about so much.

“Oh, no you don’t, you party pooper!” the giant cackled.

Roman was running back towards the giant, his sword raised.

The giant gripped one of Logan’s arms in one dirt-encrusted hand, and yanked, trying to force him to straighten his limbs.

As Logan’s body jerked to the side, he cried out—only for the sound to be cut off as his head collided with the heavy metal chain of the bone-studded bracelet on the giant’s wrist with a sickening, solid thunk.

Logan went limp.

Horror cut so deeply into Roman’s soul that is was as if a sword had pierced him clean through. He felt rather than heard himself scream.

He came to such an abrupt halt, it was as if he’d hit an invisible wall. No.

Thomas placed his hands on his knees as he stopped for a breath. It had been Roman's idea to go for a hike with Joan and Talyn. It is a great idea don't worry, but Thomas could've planed ahead better. Joan said something that got Virgil's opinion to pop up. Deceit said something that Logan was able to answer.

"No need to be concerned you two, it is natural for Thomas to be already tired. Well he does eat healthier, he doesn't get the recommended amount of exercise. This will be a good way for Thomas to get that necessary exercise."

"Don't worry guys. I'm okay just winded although I am sure I will be sore tomorrow." Thomas's reassurance helped both of his self-preservation sides. Deceit had yet to tell Thomas his name mostly because Deceit just didn't trust easily which everyone was slowly working on. It was still a mystery for Thomas on Virgil's past with Deceit but unlike in the videos, the two were at least okay with one another for casual conversation.

That was another thing, the videos had more exaggerated versions of the sides. Logan wasn't as in denial of his own emotions as he was in the videos. Patton didn't try and push any of the Dark Sides away from Thomas or think that Thomas was perfect. Roman was somewhat close to his video counterpart but was much nicer when it came to other's feelings.

Virgil was a little more relaxed with the dangers that could get to Thomas but that was mostly because of two separate things. One: Thomas and the other sides would listen to him about his concerns. And two: Thomas had an anxiety medication that also helped Virgil's with own anxieties. It was great to see the purple and plaid covered side to relax more.

Than there was Remus...he was something. He loved chaos as much as his video self but was more in control of the chaos. He also was more aware of when to say more adult related topics but sometimes he'd slip sense he was also impulsive. Very impulsive. So impulsive that he got into some trouble that landed him to be stuck in Thomas's mind. Remus was okay but it made talking with him quite difficult.

"How is Remus doing? You said he got into some trouble?" Joan asked, they and Remus got along because of their similar sense of humor. Roman answered them honestly that yes, Remus was doing fine just super bummed out that he couldn't join them in the physical world. He was in a mountain range so the intrusive Creatwin wasn't bored.

Everyone continued on the hike with Logan and Joan talking about different foliage and any animals that have been spotted. It continued on like this until the group stopped under a cliff to rest. Virgil didn't like the look of the sky which was darking as the day went by.

"We should be heading back. Looks like a storm is coming in." Virgil spoke up which got affirmative nods from the rest. After the break, the group made their way down the mountain but weren't fast enough as the storm came crashing down. As the group makes their way through the storm, none of them noticed the unstable rocks that were starting to be swept up by the rain. None but one person who wasn't even in the physical plane.

"Look out!" Remus yelled as he threw his gigantic body over the group. Talyn screamed than fainted from shock. Joan was staring up at Remus in shock. "Shit!" Remus got the rocks to bullseye him in the back. For the intrusive thoughts representative, it didn't hurt but it forced him on his elbows.

"Remus are you okay?" Thomas yelled up to his giant side. Roman was already making his way up his brother's back to check on the spot that the rocks hit.

"I'm fine. Just not expecting to be moved by those. But...um...Joan and Talyn need help." True to Remus's observation, Talyn was still out for the count with Virgil and Logan looking over them and Joan was still staring at Remus even with Patton trying to get him to talk.

"Hey, Joan, you okay there?" Thomas tried which finally got the other to speak up.

"He's huge!"

"Yeah...he is. He got into some trouble that caused him to become giant like this. The others are trying to help find a way to get back to normal but until than, Remus is stuck like this." Thomas explained as best he could. Honestly, sometimes it was strange to even say such a thing but with how his own imagination was, Thomas wouldn't be surprised if something like this could happen. Joan finally calmed down as Roman came back from on top of his brother.

"Remus! You got some burising where those rocks hit you!" Roman shouted over the rain. Remus nodded though Thomas wouldn't be surprised if Remus didn't feel any pain from said burisings. Talyn was slow to wake up but they slowly awoke. They were told what was going on with the other Creatwin. Remus made slow movements to pick up everyone, even slower with Thomas and his friends.

Remus was big enough to hold everyone in his arms and shield them from the rain. The intrusive Creatwin was also super warm. Like, warm enough for Deceit and Virgil to start nodding off. Thomas wanted to fall asleep too but he couldn't just yet.

"Roman, why haven't you guys gone back to the mind place?"

"Remus is very self conscious about his strength right now. With the rest of us out here with you three, he feels more at ease." Roman whispered to Thomas, Talyn and Joan were talking with Remus as Thomas and the fanciful side talked. Roman gave Thomas a very brief and PG explanation over why.

The sides, if their physical form was killed in any way, could respawn within their rooms. Humans, once they die, they stay dead. And add to the fact that Thomas was his sides' host, if he died, everyone of the sides would die too.

That....made sense. And with how self conscious Remus was about his own strength, it make sense that he was so slow and gentle. Patton, Deceit, and Virgil were past out from the warmth that the larger body radiated. Logan was trying not to fall asleep but it was obvious that he was ready to crash. Remus was happily to talk to the other two humans but even they fell victim to the warmth that was Remus's body heat.

Eventually, everyone was asleep as Remus held them in his arms. Thomas didn't know how long everyone napped there but when they woke up, the stormed had passed and Remus moved to laying on his back. Thomas's face lit up red he realized that he had been sleeping on the other's chest. God, how gay was he when the idea of sleeping on the chest of another guy's chest, let alone one of his sides, was making him blush like crazy. A gentle poke on the head got Thomas to look up to see Remus looking down at him.

"You're thinking too loud, you're going to wake the others up." Remus muttered before he laid his head back down. Thomas looked over at the other sides who were snuggling up with one another. Thomas snickered at Roman as the prince was sprawled acrossed Deceit and Virgil. Thomas got up and started walking over to Remus's shoulders.

"Hey, Remus. Are we going to head home soon?"

"Yeah, just don't want to move. It's like having sleeping cats on you, it's illegal to move." Remus muttered his reply. Logan and Joan groaned as they woke up but they woke up. Logan was unhappy that everyone took a nap in the rain but thanked Remus for making sure no one got sick. Remus's response was to pat Logan on the head much to the annoyance of the Logical side. Joan huffed a laugh as Talyn and Patton woke up.

It didn't take long for Patton to check up on everyone as to make sure no one was feeling ill. Roman didn't want to get up as he clung to Virgil, who also was happily sleeping. Deceit muttered something about how gay could those two get only to have Logan say,

"Ah yes, and it isn't like no one as seen you stare at Roman before." The following result was Deceit hissing in embarrassment and everyone else laughing. Once Roman and Virgil were somewhat awake, Remus collected everyone into his arms again and started to walk down the mountain. Thomas was happy not to have to walk the rest of the way down and Remus seemed very happy to help out some. Remus did stop a little bit from the base of the mountain before sinking out. The others sank out as the three humans made their way to their car.

Everyone was tired so when they got to Thomas's house, everyone just crashed on the couch. Thomas mental left to the imagination and went to look for Remus. Thomas found said side laying down by a lake in nothing but a swimsuit. It looked like the giant side was sunbathing.

"Hey, Remus. Thanks for the help." Thomas thanked the intrusive Creatwin. Remus hummed before turning on to his stomach as to face Thomas.

“Come out, come out wherever you are,” a loud, nasally sing-song voice called out. “I know you’re theeerrrre, little bugs!”

Logan caught a glimpse of the speaker through the trees, and couldn’t help but shudder.

The giant had to be at least four times as tall as a human, his skin thick and rough like leather, his eyes glowing an unnatural green. The nightmarish proportions of the thing made it clear that there was troll blood in his ancestry, possibly some ogre as well. The club it hefted easily over his shoulder was fashioned out of a granite boulder, crudely fastened to a tree trunk by a combination of vines, ropes, and barbed wire. Logan could have designed something better in his sleep. But what it lacked in craftsmanship, the weapon made up for in effectiveness.

One good hit, and… Logan shuddered. He didn’t even want to think about it.

He and his companion, Roman, sneaked away through the trees, and pressed themselves against an outcropping of rock, trying desperately not to be spotted. In this endeavor, they were at a bit of a disadvantage, Logan thought, glancing at Roman’s mostly white attire. At least it had gotten dirtied in their escape. Ash and mud streaked across it, dulling the color. It wasn’t much camouflage, but it was better than him running around like a snowman in summer.

“Come on,” Roman hissed, breaking Logan out of his thoughts. He glanced back to make sure that Logan was following him, then began to creep out. He stayed low, crouching among the plants.

“Come on, don’t be that way,” the sickening, horribly loud voice called, echoing through the trees. “Where are you trying to run off to?” He cackled. “Don’t you know what could happen? You could fall and break your legs! You’ll be completely helpless! And then you’d get eaten by birds! Ooh, do you think they’d peck out your eyes first? Or would you get to watch the whole thing?” There was a disturbing amount of wonder in the giant’s voice.

Logan’s heart was in his throat. Neither he nor Roman, for all his usual dramatic theatrics, was foolish enough to respond.

A huge boom! echoed through the forest, a tree some distance away falling with the creak of wood, the snapping of twigs, and the alarm call of a bird foolish enough to get that near to the giant’s striking range.

“At least we know where he is,” Logan whispered. Roman silently nodded.

They made it to the next outcropping. At the base of it was the unmistakable impression of an enormous footprint in the mud. The giant—Remus, as he’d gleefully told them was his name—had been here recently. Probably not long before he’d first captured Logan and Roman.

They’d been foolish, Logan could now recognize. No rare herbs and minerals, no amount of money they’d get for the fantastical potions Logan could create, was worth this. This deep in the forest, the danger far outweighed the risks. Logan considered himself a smart man; he should have known this. He shouldn’t have made this journey. Not for the money, not for the good work his potions could contribute to. He couldn’t help anyone, especially himself, if he was dead. He regretted ever stepping foot in these deep, dark woods.

More than that, Logan regretted that Roman was here with him. He’d mentioned to the knight—a close acquaintance, the closest thing Logan had to a friend—that he was planning to make this journey. And of course, the confident, chivalrous young man had immediately volunteered to accompany him.

Foolishness.

Logan shouldn’t have let him come. Not that Roman could ever be dissuaded from anything once he’d set his mind to it, but Logan could have tried harder. He should have tried harder.

The two of them had walked right into the woods, right into the danger. Logan had collected his supplies; and despite the sky growing dark, he had decided not only to stay, but to go further into the woods to collect some even rarer specimens. Nothing had happened yet, he had reasoned with himself; and he was clever enough to evade any creatures that happened across them. He’d been naïve. Cocky. Arrogant in his assumptions. He was worse than Roman.

Honestly, it was no wonder that they’d been found, late last night, as Logan lay sleeping. Roman had been on watch, his sword at the ready to face any threats; but even together, even with both of them ready for a fight, they would have been no match for Remus.

…

A shout awakened him, jarring in the calm night, ripping Logan out of his dream. He barely had time to scramble out of his bedding, every nerve in his body electrified, before he was yanked right off of his feet. He was grabbed up in enormous fists, each large enough to swallow his entire arm, struggling as he was lifted into the air. He struggled for the dagger in his coat, but he couldn’t get free enough to reach it.

The giant only laughed, his glowing green eyes boring into him as his pungent smell assaulted Logan’s senses and made his head spin. Logan tried to free himself, looking around frantically. He couldn’t hear Roman anymore, where was Roman—?!

Logan couldn’t for the life of him have said what happened next.  

The next thing he knew, he woke up in a cave. For whatever reason, he hadn’t been restrained. He was just lying crumpled on the limestone floor, his head ringing, a sticky feeling coating one side of his head. He couldn’t hear out of that ear. He hoped it was just clogged.

The giant was there, of course. The foul-smelling, foul-mouthed giant was only about ten feet away, tending a fire. He threw in a large branch as Logan watched. Sparks and embers flew through the air, the giant making no effort to keep them from landing on his ragged, filthy clothes. One spot near his knee began to smolder.

“This would be so much more fun with two of you, but oh well! Oopsie! Sometimes I don’t know my own strength, you know?” he had said in that horrible, almost nasal voice. He seemed to be addressing someone on his other side, opposite from where Logan was.

Logan took a second to process, then understood. The giant must have thought that Logan was already dead. This was obviously untrue, but Logan could use this to his advantage. He listened with revulsion as the giant cackled and went on about all the fun he was going to have with his new toy—Roman, of course—before returning to the subject of Logan. Logan tensed, at first, hurriedly closing his eyes for fear that the giant would look at him, but that didn’t happen.

“It’s okay. It’s fine,” the giant rumbled. “I bet his bones will make great toothpicks. Sticks just don’t last nearly as long. Ooh, or maybe I can put him in a jar. Like a pickled specimen! Scientists do that kind of thing, right? I can be a scientist! A mad scientist!”

The giant paused, glancing down to his other side again, where Logan couldn’t see. Logan cautiously began to move.

“You know, I don’t get company that often,” the giant pouted, his mood suddenly changing as he frowned down at the ground where Roman must have been. “Nobody stays very long.”

Yeah, I bet they don’t, Logan thought. Although he doubted it was because they escaped. He hoped, perhaps vainly, that he and his companion might be an exception. He started to creep backwards, away from the giant. The gears turned in his mind, trying to come up with a plan. All he knew was that he had to get Roman and get them both away from this giant before it was too late.

“I’m Remus, by the way!” The giant said proudly, putting one of his gigantic, soot-covered hands to his chest. A bracelet of bones rattled on his wrist.

Logan was far enough away that he dared to push himself to his feet, hoping against hope that the giant wouldn’t turn around and be startled to find that his body was not, in fact, lying in a lifeless heap where he’d left it.

“I don’t care about your name,” a voice responded, cracking with anger and something else. “You are nothing but a villain, a foul, malodorous, evil villain who serves no purpose to society except providing something to vanquish!”

Logan briefly reflected that he hadn’t known Roman knew the word ‘malodorous’, let alone how to use it in a sentence. He might have been impressed, under different circumstances. But, more importantly—the knight had spoken. This was both good news, as it proved he was still alive, and very bad news, as provoking a giant who had already captured them was not the most advisable plan in Logan’s opinion.

“Aw, don’t be like that.” The giant swatted the air. “Who cares about society? Isn’t it much more fun to just do what you want? Whatever you want?”

Logan began creeping around the edge of the cavern. He’d gotten this far, but what then? How was he meant to get to Roman?

He needed to distract the giant.

“Those of us who aren’t monsters don’t find killing fun.”

Remus laughed. “Maybe you just haven’t tried it. There’s all sorts of fun ways to do a little killing.”

Logan looked around for any ideas, any inspiration. The cave was empty except for the three of them, the fire, and a pile of what passed for bedding in one corner. Seeing nothing that would help, he looked down at himself, at his dark blue coat. His dagger was still hidden there, by some miracle; but it wouldn’t be of much use now. Logan was more relieved to find that some of his supplies were still on him, judging by the weight of his coat pockets. He wished he had his bag, which held the majority of the herbs and minerals he and Roman had spent the last day collecting, but longing for something he didn’t have only wasted time that he couldn’t afford to spend. He hurriedly looked through his pockets, and his eyes widened as he came across a pouch tied with a red string. Perfect.

Emboldened, Logan crept closer to the giant. To the fire. To Roman.

And he threw the pouch, right into the flames.

There was a brief pause. The giant let out a confused sound, poking at the pouch with a stick.

“Maybe the ceiling’s coming down!” he said cheerfully, apparently thinking it was a rock. “We’ll be crushed like bugs!”

“Greeaaat,” Roman said, in a voice that made it clear he did not find this idea ‘great’.

Logan covered his ears, just in time. The fire exploded. The powder combusted almost instantaneously, throwing sparks and sending the flames flaring about ten feet higher. The giant let out a startled shout and clapped his hands to his ears, jumping to his feet and nearly crushing Logan in the process.

Logan hardly noticed. He was already running full tilt towards Roman. The knight was tied up like an insect in a spider’s web, ropes wrapping around him in a cocoon. There was a bruise on his face, but he didn’t seem too badly hurt. His eyes widened, his mouth falling open in shock and joy at seeing the potion maker.

“I thought you were dead,” he said, just a little bit too loud. Logan paid him no mind, glancing over to make sure that the giant was still preoccupied with getting his fire back under control. He kept saying something about burning, but Logan didn’t care to hear more detail. As long as he was distracted, that was all Logan cared about.

Logan tugged at the ropes, then shook his head, snatching his dagger from his coat. He unsheathed it and slashed neatly through ropes, careful not to cut Roman as he did so; and he yanked the other to his feet. They ran.

…

“FEE, FIE, FOE, FUM!” the giant called, slamming his feet down on the ground with each step. “Come on out and let’s have some fun!”

No, thank you, Logan thought. He was very much not interested in this giant’s brand of “fun”.

He and Roman were running through the forest, uncertain and almost uncaring if they were going in the right direction or not. They couldn’t see the sky, blocked by all the trees, and they didn’t have time to find a clearing. Logan didn’t even know what time it was, anyway. Their timepieces were long gone, left at the campsite the Remus had invaded, and Logan wasn’t sure how long he had been unconscious. Logan had his hand fastened in Roman’s coat, not wanting to get separated. Whenever the giant paused to listen, the forest was eerily quiet save for his and Roman’s footsteps and panting. Logan hoped the monstrosity’s hearing wasn’t as magnified as his size.

Logan wondered if the giant was the reason why he and Roman hadn’t encountered any other beasts in this part of the woods. No wolves, bears, or even the more supernatural monsters. It seemed the giant drove them all away simply by existing. Or perhaps he had simply killed them all already.

“Come on, come on,” Roman panted. Not a moment later, the knight’s foot caught on something—whether it was a tree root or a rock, Logan would never know—and they both went down, sent sprawling in the brambles. Logan coughed, his already sore head spinning. He got to his feet, looking down to where Roman lay, rubbing a fresh bruise on his temple, practically on top of the one already there. He looked dazed.

“Aha!!” the giant cried. Logan’s blood turned to ice.

“Let’s go,” Logan said, reaching out a hand. His breath came in short gasps.

Roman blinked slowly, then shook his head to clear it. “Yeah—yeah, let’s go.”

Logan hauled him to his feet, and they were off again. Their feet were clumsy, and Logan distantly realized that his head wound had reopened, leaving a trail of blood droplets in their wake.

If they could just get out of the woods, they would be fine. No supernatural creature dared face the settlement’s protections. The walls and protective enchantments, the sentries with rifles and swords and bows and arrows at the ready, the promise of a swift end to any monster who dared approach, were all effective deterrents to any threat. They just had to get there.

But Logan’s vision was growing fuzzy. The world passed by in a blur, going in and out of focus without his control. His grip slipped on Roman’s jacket, but he fastened it back on with a renewed determination.

Even despite the adrenaline coursing through their veins, their desperation to escape, to live, Roman’s and Logan’s injuries and exhaustion were clearly getting to them. Their pace slowed. It slowed, it slowed, it slowed. Logan tried to keep going, one hand pressed to his head, the other holding on to Roman, but he couldn’t increase his pace no matter how hard he tried. He felt lightheaded, his limbs not listening to the commands his mind screamed at them.

He stumbled, and he fell.

“Logan!”

He was up again, they were hurrying through the trees—were they growing sparser? He couldn’t say for sure—and Logan hardly knew where to run. Roman led him on, an arm around his back.

A snap. A laugh.

The giant appeared, off to their left. His poisonous green eyes took up all of Logan’s fading vision. He swallowed the bile rising in his throat.

“There you are! Oh, there you are! My new friends!”

Logan had never been so disgusted at the idea of being called a “friend”.

“I missed you,” the giant whined, heedless of the fact that Roman and Logan had both stepped back, Roman stumbling slightly even as he helped Logan keep his balance. “But I’m afraid I have to kill you now.” He raised his club, his lips cracking apart into a gray-toothed grin. “Don’t worry! It’ll be exciting! It’ll be so fun; you’ll be like meat pancakes!”

With that grisly thought, the giant brought down the club.

Logan felt himself being yanked backwards and heard a loud crack, but the pain that exploded in his right leg drowned out any coherent thought. He lay on the ground, the wind knocked out of him, crying out in agony as he held onto his leg. Tears of pain sprung up in his eyes.

“Get back!” The voice forced itself into Logan’s awareness, slicing through the fog of pain that hung there.

Roman. That was Roman.

He forced himself to focus on the sight before him. The giant’s club lay on the ground, the boulder separated from the broken tree trunk by the force of it slamming into the earth. Roman stood  between Logan and the giant, wielding a weapon that seemed pathetically small in comparison—Logan’s dagger, when had he gotten that?—and staring down the beast.

The giant laughed and stepped forward. There was a burning smell in the air. Was that from Logan’s concussion, or the giant?

Certainly the giant, he decided, taking in the crumbling black edges of the giant’s robes, the missing patch of hair. Logan’s makeshift bomb had apparently caused more damage than he’d foreseen, but not enough. Not nearly enough.

Roman slashed the giant across the palm, which was about as effective as a deep papercut. Regardless, the giant yelped and stepped back, rubbing at his hand with a wounded look.

“That’s not very nice,” he said. “I was just trying to crush you!”

Logan’s leg was definitely broken. He couldn’t move his foot, could barely bear to look at the leg. Roman glanced back at him for a split second, his face blanched white, making the bruises stand out all the more vividly.

“Oh, you’re alive!” the giant cried, seeming to notice Logan for the first time as he followed Roman’s gaze. “I get to kill you twice! That never happens!”

“And it won’t!” Roman declared.

This was madness. Roman couldn’t save Logan from the giant. He couldn’t even walk! Roman should get out of here!

But he couldn’t, Logan reflected, even alone, unless Logan did something. Roman needed an opportunity to escape with his life, to escape from Logan’s foolhardy decisions. Logan could provide that, as a sort of apology for bringing him on this doomed quest.

Logan looked around. There were a few more outcroppings of rock around, more trees. More of the same. He patted at his pockets, at the meager supplies that had survived their capture and desperate rush through the woods, looking for something, anything that would help. His hands brushed past a bundle of leaves and closed on another packet of powder. This one was nothing special. It wouldn’t cause an explosion, or knock out the giant, or anything like that. But… it might provide another distraction. If used correctly.

Logan swallowed thickly.

“Hey, Re—Remus?” he called out. His voice sounded strange to his own ears. “I have something to show you. You’ll… you’ll like it. It’s… nasty, and gross. Just like you.”

Remus narrowed his eyes warily, sensing a trick, but the promise of seeing something as nasty and gross as himself clearly won him over. He crouched down, getting so close that Logan could feel his rancid breath blow back his hair, drying the blood on his face. “Show me,” he crooned.

“Of course.” Logan threw the packet as hard as he could, and it exploded in the monster’s face. Remus howled, rearing back, clawing dust from his eyes.

Roman took his cue. But—no! Roman was hauling Logan back to his feet, heaving him upright with his hands under his arms. That wasn’t how this was supposed to go!

He was being dragged through the forest, beating against Roman’s arms, crying out that Roman should leave him behind, save himself! He pounded on Roman’s chest, his legs, whatever he could reach, angry that he was too weak to fight the knight off.

“I can’t even walk!” he protested.

“But I can!” Roman said. “I can walk for both of us! Dammit, Logan, I am not leaving you here to die! I—I need you! I can’t do this without you!”

Logan’s protests stuttered to a halt. What on earth could that mean? Why would Roman need him? They were just… just close acquaintances—they talked, they saw each other around quite a lot, he supposed, Roman always needing some kind of poultice or potion for a training injury, or Logan running into the knight on his patrol while he ran errands, but they weren’t friends, let alone anything closer. They didn’t need each other. Did they?

And what exactly couldn’t Roman do without him? He could surely escape without him. The logical thing to do would be to leave Logan behind, allow the giant to capture him, and use the time this gave him to escape. That had been Logan’s plan. Hastily thrown together or not, it should have worked. But Roman clearly didn’t intend to follow it.

Finally realizing that fighting Roman would only result in them both getting killed, the injured potion maker gave in. Roman’s stubbornness wouldn’t let him give up on his decision to save Logan, however rash and reckless. So, Logan did his best to run. His broken leg was completely useless, and his head was spinning, but with him hopping along, and Roman’s support, they made progress.

The giant roared obscenities behind them, crashing erratically through the trees, and proved to be an excellent motivator for them to keep going.

Logan wasn’t sure how long they ran. Time slipped between his fingers, his vision fading and coming back into focus at odd intervals. The only constants were the fear, the feeling of Roman’s arm wrapped around him, and the agony of his leg as it dragged along behind him.

After a while, Logan felt like he was floating, tethered to his body like a kite on a string.

“There it is!” Roman said. “Do you see it? There’s the tree line. We’re almost there, buddy. Just a little further!”

“Almost there, buddy,” Logan echoed, the words slurring.

Maybe he was hallucinating, but Logan thought he saw blue sky up ahead, between the trees. A castle in the distance. He could have sworn he heard a horse whinnying. There weren’t horses in the woods.

Roman was shouting something, but Logan couldn’t understand the words.

Crashes sounded behind them. Angry shouts. Something fell heavily just behind him, shaking the ground and Logan’s fragile hold on reality.

He thought he heard more voices. The screech of metal on metal. Hoofbeats. Maybe even gunfire. Was that real? Or was it just the result of the last misfires of his dying brain trying to make sense of what was happening to it?

Logan’s vision faded to black.

…

Logan peeled open his eyes.  He found himself laying down, facing upwards. A stone ceiling was above him, dust motes spinning in the golden light illuminating the pale gray stones. His sore head throbbed in time with his heartbeat.

Logan turned his head, wincing at the soreness in his neck. The bandages wrapped around his skull made a soft sound as they shifted against his pillow.

There was a gasp. “Does my favorite nerd stir? You’re finally back in the land of the living!”

Roman sat in the bed beside Logan’s, shirtless, a young woman applying a poultice to a pattern of dark bruises across his rib cage. His ankle was propped up on a pillow, wrapped up in bandages. His face was still bruised, his lip scabbed where it had been split; but his green eyes—a soft, moss green, not at all like the sinister glow of the giant’s—were bright.

Logan tried to say something, but the words caught in his throat, and he started coughing. The woman—Valerie, Logan remembered her name was, a doctor who frequented his apothecary—quickly reached for a glass of water on the table between the two beds.

“Careful now,” she said. “Have some water.”

She lifted the glass to Logan’s lips, and he drank, forcing his heavy arms to respond and help hold the drink steady. The cool water felt heavenly on his dry tongue and throat.

“Better?”

Logan nodded. “Thank you,” he managed.

Valerie smiled. “No problem at all.” She asked a few orienting questions, which Logan answered, then glanced towards Roman, who was looking at her meaningfully. “I’ll… leave you two alone for a moment, then, unless you need something?”

“No, thank you, doctor,” Logan said. “I will be fine for a moment.”

“Alright, then. I’ll be back to check on you later.”

Once she was gone, Roman left his bed and limped over to Logan’s to help him sit up. Logan couldn’t help but look down at himself, even though he feared what he would find. His leg was splinted and heavily bandaged. But at least it was still there. And the two of them were still alive.

“They say you’ll probably need a cane,” Roman admitted, following his gaze. “We’ll get you a nice, stylish one. People will think it’s just part of your whole apothecary vibe.”

“How long have I been asleep?” Logan asked, frowning.

“A couple of days. Ever since the giant….” he shuddered. “Anyway. You’ve got a concussion—twinsies—and you lost a lot of blood. But Valerie says that you shouldn’t have any kind of permanent damage, other than the limp. And for now, you get to take some killer pain meds. I’m almost jealous.”

“I’m sorry,” Logan said.

Roman knitted his eyebrows together. “What? Why are you sorry?”

“You’re hurt because of me,” Logan pointed out. “It was my plan to go into the woods. My plan to fetch those supplies, even knowing the risks—”

“You didn’t know about that giant.”

“I knew about the monsters in the woods. I knew that the sentries and the walls and the enchantments were there for a reason. I knew that it was dangerous.”

“Logan.”

“You could have died, because of me—”

“But I didn’t,” Roman said, holding up a hand to stop him. “I am very much still alive.”

Logan sighed. He picked at the thin wool blanket lying across his lap. “And the giant, then, it’s…?”

“Dead,” Roman assured. “As dead as we would have been if you didn’t distract him so we could get out of there. As dead as you would have been if I hadn’t—gods, Logan, why did you want me to leave you behind? Did you really think I’d ever do something like that to you? You’re my—” he cut himself off, the tips of his ears reddening.

Logan watched him for a moment. Then, cautiously, he spoke. “Roman, you asked the doctor for a moment alone with me. May I ask why?”

Roman was silent for a moment. Finally, he looked up at him, staring at him with those soft green eyes. Logan’s breath was short, although he wasn’t quite sure why.

Roman hesitated, looking up at the ceiling. He swallowed, as if to steel his resolve. “Because… we need to talk.”

Logan watched him for a long moment. Roman stared back at him in silence. Something settled in his chest. Something that, perhaps, Logan had been denying for a long time.

Yes, Logan thought. Maybe they did need to talk.