#istg if the html formatting doesn't show up i will lose it

[brandstifter-sys]

Under Pressure

Chapter 7: Logarithms                                         (Ao3)

Word Count: 1014

Characters: All

Ships: Strong Roceit, hinted Royaliceit

Rating: T

Warnings: Villain!Logan, Dark! Logan, arguing, electrocution (cartoonish), excessive flirting, food mention

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Remus reached the top of the stairs and found the other three standing in front of a large oak door. Patton was trying in vain to open it, pulling on the handle with both hands and a foot on the wall. Roman watched him with Janus, who was still in his arms. 

"It won't budge!" Patton snarled and went limp, bringing his foot to the ground. Roman scoffed, ready to deliver a scathing comment. 

"Darling, don't fret, this set back is a chance for us to get closer," Janus purred and ran his hand down Roman's cheek.

"My dearest—"

"Okay, kids, not in front of the emo!" Remus said and moved past them to the door in question. 

It was one of his but something was off. The handle wasn't the usual tentacle design and there was a faint bump in the wood crossing from the odd handle to the doorframe. He wouldn't put it past the nerd to set a few traps. He conjured a pair of kitchen gloves on his hands and rolled his neck.

"Hey, Papa Roach," he said and shifted the human sloth into his arms, "Hold this for a sec!" Patton squeaked when Remus tossed Virgil into his arms. 

"What the—?" 

Patton's jaw dropped as Remus grabbed the handle and ripped it off with a scream, letting a charge of bright blue electricity bolt and zap from the hole he created up his arm. He lifted off the ground and jolted, showing off his skeleton like some old cartoon before his feet hit the ground.

"Holy shit!" Janus yelped and clung to Roman. Virgil lolled his head and stared at Remus with a blank expression. 

"Bill Kaulitz, shocking," he mumbled while staring at Remus' hair. It was standing on end but in cool spikes. Remus blinked twice and laughed. 

"Even now you're the funny one!" 

"How come you didn't just make the door open or disappear?" Patton asked concernedly, "And why did you electrocute yourself?"

"I electrocute myself all the time! For fun!" Remus shrugged, "and I can't really do much as Creativity right now, neither can Ro." 

"Logan's doing, I assume," Janus hummed. It brought a growl out of Roman that made him shiver. 

"That fiend! When I get my hands on him for whatever he did to cause such a horrible fate—" 

"Dampening device," Virgil cut him off, "it's just like the one he made me for the bad days when I was close to panicking." 

"So it's your fault he has that tech!?" Patton snapped with tears in his eyes. Virgil flinched, expecting the worst. 

"Have you no shame?" Roman scoffed, "Blaming a damsel, another victim, for the crimes another has committed!" 

"I—I—" Patton stammered in horror. 

"Easy Ro. He's pure emotions, he blurts things out without thinking," Remus cut in and took Virgil from Patton before either of them started crying or shrinking into themselves too much.

"I didn't mean it," Patton whimpered and rubbed his eyes. 

"I know," Virgil said and curled into Remus, "I know and it's okay, I'm okay." Patton offered a meek smile while Janus bit back a surge of bile in his throat. 

"Okay!" Remus cheered, "I didn't get zapped just to stand around! Let's go!" 

He kicked the singed door in and trotted into the darkness that would lead to the next room. Roman and Patton followed him, letting him set off any more traps. There weren't any, fortunately. There was only a dark room. And he really did not like that.

"Oh. I wasn't expecting you so soon." A disembodied, robotic voice greeted them as the lights suddenly turned on. 

Virgil hissed and covered his eyes, Remus winced, and Janus hid his face with his hat. Roman and Patton glared at the white, metallic walls, searching for the source of the voice. 

"No matter. There's merit to being ahead of schedule." 

"Schedule?" Roman questioned, "And who's schedule are we forcibly following?" 

"You always did ask stupid questions. Pay attention, because I don't want to explain it more than once." 

"Hey! There's no need to be mean!" Patton huffed and stamped his foot. 

"That was a mere fact. Try not to let your emotions cloud your judgement during testing." 

"How about you tell us what's next on the itinerary instead, Logan," Janus groaned, "You're cutting into my time with my king." 

"How tactful. And by that I mean ‘rude,’" the robo nerd droned, "You will be allowed access to the control center after you undergo a few tests." 

"Is there cake too?" Virgil scoffed to himself, mostly. Remus giggled softly and resisted the urge to high-five the tired emo.  

"We'll only play along for the finest confections," Janus added, completely oblivious to the joke, "None of your Twinkies, such as myself. Not when these boys deserve a proper banquet." 

Virgil and Remus shared a knowing look and cringed as static erupted through the airwaves. 

"Of course there will be cake. Tomorrow is Virgil's birthday." 

Janus' stomach churned.

"No it isn't. Since when do you care about birthdays?!" Patton shouted. He kept up with the date and he was on top of those birthdays! 

"Oh I'm sorry, as the side who manages the calendar and schedule I must be completely out of touch. Keep your emotions in check if you want to return to your primary functions." 

Patton steeled his jaw and growled indignantly. Roman set Janus on his feet and pulled Patton to his side. No one dared insult his friends and expect to get away with it! 

"Now then, if you are prepared for your next test, proceed to the door at the end of the room. And watch your step. The last batch of test subjects lost control of their lower abdominal muscles."

"Who were these last test subjects?" Virgil asked suspiciously. 

"Irrelevant. Proceed to the exit," loga n snapped. Remus shrugged and walked to the door that appeared on the other side of the room. He didn't care if he stepped in poop. He was more concerned about what was on the other side. 

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(Master Post)