Relationships: Intrulogical, platonic Prinxiety, platonic Patton & OC side
Content Warnings: Food Mentions, Eating Non-edibles, Characters in Physical Danger, Kissing, Swearing, Original Characters, Bittersweet Ending
Summary: Logan has had enough. Years of being Thomas' logical side have taken their toll and after being ignored by absolutely everyone, he's through being their background exposition character.
Logan is returning to his original purpose and his first family.
But as the remaining dark sides welcome him back with open arms, the core sides are left confused and confronted with the return of the original indigo side.
It's been a very long time since they've had hope or curiosity.
We're back baby! I adopted this story for @tsspromptmonth 's Spring Cleaning event! It was quite a different experience to take on @typically-untypical 's story and give up one of my own 😅
Raven wrote the first five chapters that I'm posting today and drafted the entire story. It's been awesome bringing their ideas to life.
Hi guys!!! I'm so excited to post this fic, I've been working on it for a while, and I'm super excited to share it. I wrote this for the @sandersidesbigbang event, and I have had the chance to work with the most incredible group of betas and artists on this fic! Thank you to @antisocial-xxxpert , @lemme-overthink-this , @kaythegay2022 , @bisexualoftheblade , and @talking4the1 for helping with this fic, I really admire and appreciate all of you so much!
chapter word count: 2911
summary:
Remus Rook is the best witch in the city. People come to him when they need results, and he’s happy to fulfill any murder requests at the right price.
Logan Skye is a student at Thomas University. He’s writing his thesis on magical ethics. Naturally, he goes to the most ethically dubious witch he can find: Remus.
So what happens when a friend of Remus hires him to kill the researcher fast becoming more than a colleague?
read on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/41628708/chapters/104418612
Chapter One: The Apple Falls
Logan followed the directions he’d been given exactly: down the alleyway, up the fire escape, through the window, down the hall, down the stairs, down more stairs. He finally arrived at a heavy wooden door, carved with ornate patterns and sigils.
Logan reached up to trace one with his finger. He didn’t understand the symbols fully, but based on what distorted runes he could make out he thought it might have been for warding. He knocked thrice on the door and waited. It opened a few seconds later, by some invisible force. He walked in.
The room was everything Logan had expected and more. It was long and dark, with a couple of mossy windows at the top of one of the walls letting in green-tinted light. A big metal cabinet sat next to the door, and tiny drawers and shelves lined the rest of the walls. The ceiling was painted with symbols and images Logan couldn’t even begin to decipher, and the wood floor had splatters of paint and some sort of brown-black stains. A counter ran along the wall opposite the windows, covered in bottles and alchemical tools. And in the center of it all, in a crusty office chair with five little swivel wheels, sat the Duke of this wretched kingdom.
Remus Rook, the renowned head of Sanders City’s magical underworld. He was in a white wife beater and black cargo pants covered in patches, safety pins, embroidery, and chains. His brown, curly mullet had a white streak through it, and there was a cocky grin under his mustache. He held a black baseball bat between his legs, a baseball bat that was said to be his wand.
Logan couldn’t take his eyes off him. He was captivating.
“Gonna say something, handsome? Or are you just gonna stand there staring like a decapitated head?” Remus’s grin grew even wider.
Well, that imagery certainly woke Logan up.
“Were you anticipating my arrival? I only told one person that I was coming…” Logan trailed off.
“One person is enough for it to get back to me. I have eyes in the Skye.” His eyes twinkled at the pun.
Logan cleared his throat. “Well. You already know me, I’m Logan Skye. And you’re Remus Rook.”
“Yes, I am.” Remus raised an eyebrow. “What do you want, Logan?”
Logan straightened his glasses. “I’m actually here with a request.”
“Everyone is, what makes you so special?”
“Well.” Logan tried to remember what he’d rehearsed in the mirror. “I’m a student at Thomas University, and I’m working on my thesis right now. It’s on magical ethics, and I was wondering if–”
Remus began laughing. “Because–because I’m a very unethical witch! I get it, I get it! You want to interview me or some shit!”
“Actually, I want to work with you for a few weeks or so.” Logan was beginning to get irritated by Remus’s nonchalance.
“Work with me!” Remus’s laughter died down. “Oh, you’re funny, Logan.” He winked.
“So, are you willing to do it?”
“Am I willing to do it… I’m not sure. Maybe I should test you or something first.”
Logan’s stomach lurched. Test him? What exactly did that entail?
“I’m going to test you.” Remus repeated. “I have to know you won’t just hand me over to the police, don’t I?”
“I suppose so…” Logan was apprehensive about this. He had a feeling Remus’s next words were going to be something illegal.
He was right. “I want you to go with me on a hit. I want you to help with the hit. That way, you can’t turn me in without turning yourself in as well!”
“Remus–I can promise you I don’t want to turn you in. I am here for research purposes alone, that I can promise you.”
“Yes, but how do I know that? When you’re running a magical underworld, you’ve got to be careful, you know.”
“There must be a better way to test my truthfulness than having me help you with a murder.” Logan was getting nervous.
“Hm… let’s see.” Remus tapped his chin. “What if… you run a little errand for me.”
“What kind of errand?”
“No murder, don’t worry. It is a bit… unsavory, though.” Remus’s eyebrows went up as he saw the expression on Logan’s face. “Can’t handle it?”
“I can–I can handle it. What’s your task?”
“Do you know who Roman Prince is?”
“The musician?”
“The musician.”
“Yes, I know who he is.”
“I have a message for my twin brother.” A smile uncoiled across Remus’s face.
“You’re twins?”
“Duh.” Remus looked at Logan like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “We look identical.”
“Well, I’ve never seen you before today, and you don’t have the same surname. Although it is common for those in the entertainment industry to take on new names, so I suppose I shouldn’t have mentioned it. Besides, I don’t follow Roman Prince.”
“You don’t?” Remus’s eyebrows raised in surprise.
“Nope, I’ve never been a huge…music person.”
“I like you already, Logan! Everyone just fawns over him constantly, it drives me insane.” He put on a mocking voice. “‘What a prodigy you are, Roman.’ ‘You’re so talented, Roman.’ Where’s my appreciation, Logan? Who will love Remus Rook?” He put the back of his hand to his forehead, leaning back in the chair.
Logan quirked an eyebrow. So dramatic.
“Anyway!” Remus sat up. “I need you to tell him this: ‘Fuck you, Roman. Also, I painted you. If you want to see it, come to the studio. Love, Remus.’”
“That’s it? How does that ensure that I won’t turn you in?”
“It’s code, dummy. And if we get caught, we can easily tell them that you were also involved.”
“Okay, okay.” Logan sighed. “I’ll deliver your message.”
Remus smiled a huge smile. “Wonderful! I look forward to seeing you tomorrow then.”
“Tomorrow? But Roman has a huge concert tonight, I don’t know if i can get it to him—“
“If you can’t get it to him tonight, I don’t know if I can trust you to do anything for me, can I?” Remus raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t—“
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Logan.” Remus turned his swivel chair back towards the counter and began mixing a few ingredients. It was clear Logan’s audience with the Duke was over.
He sighed and walked out of the room.
How was he going to get this message to Roman in time? Luckily, the concert was in Sanders City, but there was no way Logan would be able to get backstage to see the musician, or even one of his assistants. He would just send a letter or an email, but neither of those options would reach him in time, and they probably would be treated as regular fan mail and would never reach Roman at all. The superstar was known for being somewhat vain, but he surely didn’t read every note a fan wrote him.
Logan sat in his car for a minute, just thinking. He could come up with something. Remus was key to his dissertation, he had to come up with something.
He snapped his fingers as an idea hit him. Press pass. He wrote for Thomas University’s newspaper. It could work.
But would it work so close to the concert? He’d have to see.
He dialed the editor’s number and held it up to his ear. “Hello, Patton.”
“Hiya, Logan! What’s up?”
“I—“ Logan cleared his throat. “I need a favor.”
“A favor? What kind of favor?” Patton sounded amused. Logan assumed he wasn’t used to him asking for things, he usually tried to keep to himself.
“I need to get into Roman Prince’s concert tonight.”
“What for?”
Logan sighed. “It’s a lengthy tale, Patton, and one I can’t legally disclose.”
“Now I’m even more curious!” Patton laughed.
“Do you have any way to get me a press pass?”
“A press pass? Do you need to get backstage?”
“Yes. I have to see Roman Prince himself.”
“Really? That would be incredible, I love him! If I’d thought of it, I’d have gotten a pass for myself!”
Logan’s mouth made a tight grin, even though Patton wasn’t actually there to see it. “Yes, well, I need it as soon as possible. Is there any way you can get ahold of one for me, preferably within the hour? I can lengthen it to two if necessary. I need it soon, is what I’m saying.”
“I think I can do that! I’ve only done a press pass once before, and it was for a much smaller concert, but I’ll call Sanders Arena and see what I can do!”
“Thank you so much, Patton. If there is any way I can repay this favor, please let me know.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it, Logan. I’m always happy to do something for a friend!”
“You are–” Logan cleared his throat. “You are the best, as they say.”
“Aw, thanks! I’ll give you a call back in a few, alright?”
“Alright. Talk to you soon.”
“Talk soon! Bye!”
“Goodbye.” Logan said, sounding a bit stilted and formal, before he hung up.
Now all there was was to wait.
—
Three hours before the concert, Logan began to get nervous. He would need to get in soon if he wanted to see Roman Prince. He didn’t like feeling nervous, it was something he was relatively unfamiliar with. Twice in one day, no less.
He picked up his cell phone and began to type Patton’s number in when the phone began to buzz. As luck would have it, it was Patton.
“Logan! Great news, I managed to get you a pass! I just emailed it to you.”
Logan breathed a sigh. “Thank you Patton, so much.”
“No problem, Logan! Although at some point I want to hear why you needed it so last minute.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to tell you that story, it may implicate you legally.”
Patton laughed. “Whatever you say, L!”
“‘L’?” Logan repeated.
“Just a nickname.”
“A nickname? Logan is my name, although I suppose I could also answer to L.”
“You’re funny, L! I’ll talk to ya later, okay?”
“Alright, goodbye, Patton.”
“Bye, L!” And with that, Patton hung up.
Logan signed into his email and printed off the PDF Patton had sent him, folding it and putting it into his pocket. He hastened (not ran, hastened) to his car. He was more reckless than he usually was. Logan was anxious, and his driving reflected it.
He parked downtown, paying a frankly ridiculous price for a spot. Walking into the venue, he looked at the printout. It instructed him to proceed to the VIP lounge and from there meet one of the venue employees to be led backstage.
He made it backstage with two and a half hours left to the concert. The backstage area was full of folding tables, a rack of clothes stood to one side, and there were cables everywhere. Crew members in black t-shirts walked around, stopping to talk to each other along the walls or in the middle of the room.
“Do you have Roman’s costume change for after Color?”
“That’s the third one, right?”
“Did Alex take that mic?”
“I’m not sure, but where’s the on-site alchemist? One of the sound tech’s throats hurts and he wants something for it.”
Logan just stood there for a second, taking it all in.
“What are you doing?” A voice said to him. Logan turned to see a tall man with sunglasses standing beside him.
Logan didn’t even blink. “I have a press pass.”
The man raised an eyebrow. “A press pass, huh?”
“Yes.” Logan pulled it out of his pocket, showing the credentials to the man.
“Hm. Well, are you here for anything in particular? I don’t see a camera.”
“I’m supposed to get an interview with Roman Prince.” Of course, this wasn’t true, the press pass wasn’t that specific, but Logan figured a little lie wouldn’t hurt. In fact, he was sure Remus would encourage it.
“His dressing room is right in here.”
Logan couldn’t believe his luck.
He walked in and the man closed the door behind him. Sitting in a chair, facing away from him, was a figure in an iridescent silver shirt and what looked to be red leather pants.
And next to him sat someone Logan was not too happy to see.
Logan cleared his throat. “Roman, Remus. I came to deliver a message, but it doesn’t look like that will be necessary any longer.”
Remus turned around, a smile uncoiling across his face. “Logan! You came! We were getting worried you wouldn’t show up!”
“Well, I went to some lengths to get here, but I now see that it was unnecessary.”
“Thank you for coming to see me, I hope you at least got free tickets to the show?” Roman said, smiling dazzlingly at Logan. He looked almost exactly like his brother, very attractive, but sans mustache.
Logan found that he liked the mustache better.
“I got a press pass, I don’t think that includes tickets.”
“You can watch the show from backstage! The sound is better back here anyway!”
Logan stared at him. “How would you know?”
Roman’s smile faltered. “Take my word for it. It really does sound much better.”
Logan turned to Remus. “Are you staying for the show?”
“Not sure! I just wanted to see if you’d actually show up, so I had Roman let me in.”
“Must I still tell Roman your message, or have you already delivered it?”
“You can tell him!” Remus grinned.
Logan sighed. “‘ Fuck you Roman. Also, I painted you. If you want to see it, come down to the studio. Love, Remus.”
“Hm. I… see.” Roman looked deep in thought, almost exaggeratedly so, his thumb and forefinger rubbing his chin.
Logan raised an eyebrow. “You are aware that I sped to get here, correct?”
“You’re worried about a little speeding? Oh, I went at least 15 over the whole way here! If the cops don’t catch you it’s not illegal!” Remus said with a huge smile bordering on manic.
Logan sighed, adjusting his glasses. “Well if we’re done here—“
“Wait!” Remus reached out to grab his arm. “You should stay. We can watch Roman’s show!”
“You’re welcome to stay! I can even do a little pre-show for you!” Roman opened his mouth to begin singing, but Remus clapped his other hand over his mouth.
“No offense, brother, but I don’t think either of us want to hear you sing.”
Roman looked indignant. “Why do you want to stay at the show, then? Riddle me that, brother?”
“I probably shouldn’t.” Logan shook Remus off. “We won’t be able to see anything from back here, anyway.”
“There’s TVs back here, it would be fine.” Remus snapped his fingers. “Or! Roman, dearest brother, is there any way you could snag us VIP tickets?”
Roman sighed. “I suppose I could.”
“Perfect!”
Remus picked up the black baseball bat leaning against the wall, and they walked out of the dressing room. The tall man who’d directed Logan to Roman’s dressing room, whom Logan assumed to be some sort of manager, walked them to the VIP lounge. This turned out to be a balcony directly facing the stage, with a few tables of refreshments and a bar to one side. It was already relatively full, and as Logan looked into the rest of the arena, he could see the seats beginning to fill up.
The people in the lounge mostly avoided them, eyeing Remus’s baseball bat nervously. Remus didn’t seem to mind, putting it over his shoulder and walking to the front row of seats. Logan followed.
They sat down in two of the seats, Remus leaning back and spreading his legs, holding his bat between them. He looked and acted like he owned the place.
Logan, meanwhile, perched on the end of the chair, ready to get up at a moment’s notice. He was a little on edge, for some reason.
Maybe it was the fact that he was at a concert for an artist he didn’t even like, with the leader of an underground group of witches known as The Duke.
But funnily enough, he didn’t mind Remus’s company.
“Relax a bit!” Remus bumped his shoulder, and Logan shifted back a little in his seat. “It’s a concert, not a funeral.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know a single one of the songs Roman Prince is about to sing.”
“Oh, who cares about that! Concerts are fun.”
“I can’t say I’ve ever been to one.”
Remus turned to look at him, eyes going wide. “Fucking what?”
“I’ve never been to a concert.” Logan repeated.
“Oh my god.” Remus said. “Well, I’d really prefer if my brother didn’t take your concert virginity.” He winked. “You know, I can sing.”
Logan could feel his face go red. “Well, I–we already have VIP tickets here, and I do want to see Roman–”
“Calm down, you think too much.” Remus rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. “You need to be less uptight. More impulsive!”
Logan raised his eyebrows. “More impulsive, huh?”
“Yeah! It makes things far more… fun.” There was a twinkle in Remus’s eye.
Logan closed his eyes, sighing for a long moment. “I’m going to get a drink, I’ll be back in a minute.” Before Remus could say anything, he walked off, trying to calm his beating heart.
