Across The Border {Logicality, Dukeceit, Prinxiety}

~7~

The very next day, Roman did indeed meet up with Anxiety. As well as met up the day after, and the day after that, and the day after tha-

You know what? Let me just sum it all up.

A MONTH.

Yes! You read that right. The Prince and The Emo have been meeting up secretly for a whole frickin month!

Logan and Patton have yet to question Roman's constant absence as they're both pretty much preoccupied with each other (wink wink).

Remus and Janus, however, have picked up on Anxiety's daily outings and have decided to confront him about it the moment he arrived back at the Dark Mindscape.

"Shadowling?" Janus calls out softly from the living room.

"Yeah?" Anxiety answers while entering the room. He had his hands burrowed in his hoodie's pockets, eyes downcast. A clear sign he was nervous about something.

"Come here for a moment, please?" The lying trait pats the seat next to him, Remus having occupied the bean bag next to the couch.

Anxiety did as told, hesitantly sitting down beside Deceit, who shoots him a comforting smile before it turns to one with concern, "Are you alright?"

The anxious trait is surprised by that question. He looks up at his friend with a questioning look, "Uh, yeah? Why wouldn't I be?"

"We noticed your tendency to leave the house a few months ago." Remus chimes in, "We assumed you just wanted some time for yourself... But only a month ago did your disappearances become quite frequent."

Oh shit.

This is it.

The big reveal.

"We won't get mad, I promise." Janus says comfortingly.

"I-..." Anxiety knew he couldn't lie himself out of this one.

Remus could tell the other was on the verge of a panic attack, so he stands up from his seat and kneels in front of him, carefully taking the anxious trait's hands out of his hoodie's pockets so he could hold them in his own to try calming him down, "It's okay if you don't want to tell us... But it would really ease our worries if you do."

And so he finally lets the cat out of the bag.

"I'vebeensecretlymeetingupwithyourbrotherintheImagination!" He blurts out really fast with his eyes shut closed.

When he reopens them, he's met with a very confused Janus and a shocked Remus.

"What did he say?"

"Wanna repeat that again, bud?" The darker creativity asks politely.

Anxiety couldn't tell if he was upset with him or not.

"I've been... secretly meeting up with Remus' brother in the Imagination." He confesses in defeat, shame and guilt clearly seen on his face, "But he wasn't the reason I kept leaving a few months ago... It only started last month when he caught sight of me near the bridge."

Janus stayed silent as he processed the information. Remus had to let go of Anxiety's hands so he could sit himself down on the floor, a distant look in his eyes.

Tears began welling up in the younger Side's eyes at their reactions, "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner... I know you're mad, and I understand if you'll never forgive me."

"Shadowling, no, you- ... Come here." Janus wraps the anxious Side in a warm embrace, letting him cry against his chest, "I'm not mad at you."

"Neither am I, Anxie." Remus assures as he joins the hug, albeit a bit awkwardly as he's still on the floor.

"W-why not?! I kept meeting up with Roman behind your back! You should be mad!" Anxiety cries out.

"But I'm not." The darker Creativity points out, gently lifting the younger Side's chin so he could make eye contact with him, "Look me in the eyes and tell me otherwise."

The anxious trait sniffs and does just that, but the only thing he could see is a fond look on the Duke's face as he wipes a stray tear from his cheek.

"Now, as much as I'd like to ask you about your absences before you met Roman, our dinner's waiting for us in the kitchen." Janus voices out, pulling away from their hug.

"Oh yeah! I'm starving." Remus goes to stand up, but then quickly turns his attention back to the younger Side, "Answer me this, though... Did Roman ask about me?"

Anxiety smiles at that, "He did when we first met."

"Aww... Anything else?"

"He also said he was the more handsome twin."

Remus bursts out laughing and shakes his head, "Yep. That's definitely my brother."