3 What's Happening?

WARNING: More domestic violence/abuse

The weeks had passed quickly, it had now been about five weeks since Deceit had come for help, and there had been no further contact between the Sides, so Patton supposed he was fine.

It was a few days before his birthday, so Virgil, Roman and Logan had left the house to do who-knows-what, as Roman had shut the door with a call of "It's a surprise!"

So Patton sat contentedly on the couch, flicking through Netflix.

Again, like he had last time, Deceit rose up, looking even worse than before.

He was missing half his cape, it looked like it had been burnt off, his face was covered in burns, and he was coughing profusely. One of his sleeves had been ripped entirely off above the elbow, exposing an arm covered in cuts and bruises.

The moment he had risen up he sank to the floor in a fit of coughing.

"Deceit?" Patton launched himself off the couch, landing on his knees and skidding slightly, coming to rest next to Deceit. "What happened? Is it Remus again?"

Deceit couldn't seem to formulate words at the moment, he just nodded and continued coughing.

Patton ran and got Deceit a cup of water, before gripping both his arm and his shoulder and guiding him to the couch.

Deceit slowly drained the glass, coughing subsiding.

"It.." Patton was shocked at how croaky his voice sounded. "It was Re- Remus ag-gain. He.. He said I wasn't doing what I was t-told and he u-used f-fire on me..."

Patton instinctively hugged him. He couldn't handle it.

"Ow," whispered Deceit. "Burns. Sh-shoulder. Ouch."

"Sorry, Deceit!" said Patton, letting go immediately. "Is there anything I can do to help? Maybe let you stay here, or..?"

Deceit thought for a moment before deciding. "Would you.. Would just c-come and t-talk to Remus? He- he might listen to you, I would but I'm scared he'll h-hurt me ag-gain.."

Patton was eager to help in any way he could. "Of course Deceit. I'll talk to him, but.. Can you show me where to find him? I've never been to the Dark Side's corner before."

Deceit smiled weakly. "Sure, Patton. I can show you where to g-go.."

Deceit held out a hand and Patton held it tightly, and together the pair sank down into the Dark.

It was a lot darker than Patton had expected, a pitch-black void stretching endlessly every way he could see, every way he turned. They were standing on a shining yellow path, leading into the gloom, and in the far distance Patton could see a door at the end of the path. He looked to Deceit.

"This way," he said. He sounded much better than he had a few moments ago, standing up straighter, like he had never been hurt in the first place. Patton shook off the feeling. He had promised to help, so he was going to help.

Patton followed Deceit in the direction of the door, getting increasingly scared.

Deceit seemed to be walking faster and faster, if he didn't slow down Patton might lose him. Patton sped up too, saying gently, "Kiddo, can you slow down a bit? Just you're going a bit fast.."

Deceit turned his head back, yellow eye shining, before slowing his pace infinitesimally to allow Patton to catch up. "Thanks kiddo.."

Patton looked around, his fear growing even more as they grew closer to the door. If he looked closely, the door seemed to be... Glitching? Patton was terrified.

"Just a bit further!" said Deceit, his voice now normal, not the quivering mess Patton had heard not five minutes ago.

Patton looked uncertainly at Deceit. "Are you sure?"

Deceit looked back at him, instantly shrinking a tiny bit, starting to shake slightly. "Y-Yeah, he'll b-be around here.."

Patton heard Deceit's now once again scared voice and shook his head slightly. "Get yourself together," he muttered to himself. "You said you would help, so now you're going to help."

Patton followed him down the path as the air around him seemed to come alive.

It buzzed and jumped and sparked, scaring Patton at every moment.

The buzzing grew louder and louder, the door glitching harder and harder, and as Patton turned to Deceit, he saw that he was glitching too.

What was happening?

Patton hurried after Deceit.

They were so close to the door, the entire world was jumping and buzzing and sparking and glitching.

"Deceit?" Patton's voice was clearly full of fear. "What's happening?"

Deceit looked at him, still looking like he was terrified of what was through the door. And yet there was a kind of satisfaction behind it. "Just th-through here.." Deceit held out his hand, and it shook slightly as Patton took it and allowed himself to be pulled through the door.

And then...

Cold.

Dark.

Silent.

Empty.