8 Who Are You?

"Insanity?" Patton's voice was barely audible. "What's going to happen to Thomas?"

"I don't know, Patton."

Patton covered his head with his pillow. "Can I be alone for a bit?"

"Patton, I don't think-"

Patton whipped his head around, eyes glowing bright white. "LEAVE!" A second later his eyes returned to normal and he looked horrified with himself. "I'm... I'm sorry Deceit."

Deceit was shocked. "It's okay Patton. That- that was Insanity."

Patton leaned forward and buried his face in Deceit's shoulder.

He began to cry.

But even as he did so he felt it.

He was growing less sad by the second, growing more.. Angry.

"WHY?" Patton launched himself backwards and glared at the ceiling. "Why am I changing, why now?"

"I don't know Patton. But if you'd like, I can help you to better deal with being Insanity."

Patton didn't even look at him. "How?"

Deceit offered Patton his hand. "Come on, follow me."

Patton grabbed it and allowed himself to be pulled up.

Roman paced back and forth in his bedroom.

Four days.

Four days since Patton had disappeared.

He glanced at his clock.

It was 11:30.

He hadn't eaten for hours, he was too worried about Patton.

He went downstairs and was greeted with Virgil holding tears in and Logan resolutely staring at the book in his hands, clearly not really reading.

Roman walked directly to the kitchen and started the coffee machine.

He hadn't been sleeping too well, and it would directly affect Thomas if he didn't stay awake.

Virgil turned to look at Roman as the coffee machine hissed. "Can I have some of that?"

Roman nodded, worried if he opened his mouth he might start crying. He pulled a second cup out of the cupboard.

Roman stood in the kitchen, just staring at the wall as he waited for the machine to finish.

He finally heard the sputters that meant the coffee was finished, and he picked up the now-full cups of coffee, depositing one on the table with a "Virgil, it's over here," before making his way back upstairs as Virgil got up to collect his coffee.

Where else could Pat be?

"And if you saw Virgil, what would you do?"

"Ignore him!"

"If he stopped you and tried to speak to you?"

"Cut him off and say I don't want to talk to him!"

"Good. If you're too attached to them they might get you back, and then they'll just begin being mean again."

Patton and Deceit sat in the library Deceit had conjured, going over what Patton should do when he saw the Light Sides again.

"If you want to talk to them..?"

"I try and be mean!"

"Yes. Now-"

Deceit was cut off by another deafening crack and another scream of pain as another fracture appeared over his temple. Immediately he conjured the cup of medicine that had been Patton's saviour during the Changing.

Patton drained it, trying to ignore the anger rising up inside him. It didn't work.

He hurled the now empty cup at the wall, yelling, "Why is it still happening? I've changed, why won't it STOP?" His eyes glowed bright white, fading after his outburst.

"S-Sorry Dee."

"Remember Pat, when you get angry like that and you don't want to be, you.."

"Take deep breaths and push it down."

Deceit nodded. "Do you want to see the Lights now and see if you can do this?"

Patton thought for a moment.

He nodded.

Roman finished his coffee and picked up his cup, headed toward the living room he now knew to be empty, as Logan and Virgil had both come back upstairs.

Patton was leaning against the wall, waiting. "Hello Roman."

Roman stopped in his tracks. He looked wary. "Who are you?"

Patton didn't think he looked that different, but he must, with the wardrobe change and cracks covering his face. He didn't answer, just grinning at the Side in front of him.

"Uhh... Guys?" Roman called. Logan and Virgil opened their doors, stopping for a moment to stare at the intruder before joining Roman.

"Who are you?" Virgil said bluntly.

Patton grinned wider. "Why, I'm Insanity of course!"

Virgil took a step forward. "Thomas doesn't have an Insanity."

Patton put on a fake face of offence for a moment, before answering, "Virgil, how could you not recognise me? Your own father?"

A mixed look of horror, anger and realisation washed over his face, and a similar one was displayed on the faces of the other two. "Oh my gosh.. Dad, what did that snake do to you?"