When Thomas and Virgil returned, there was silence in the Earth King's' hall. The empty air crackled with the tension and Thomas bowed his head, attempting to hide behind Virgil, who tried to shield him as best as he could. In the centre of the room, the shapeshifter was grinning in his rocky prison. Next to him stood Roman, with a shocked face, looking devasted and hurt. His eyes were locked onto Thomas, filled with pain and confusion.

Patton looked calm, but he was tensed and hesitant, as he rested a silvery hand on Logan's' cold grey arm.

"Thomas," Logan said stonily. "Look at me."

"Logan," Virgil growled threateningly.

"King Virgil, I am not sure what Thomas has told you, but we wish him no harm. We just want to talk," Answered Logan, voice blank and cold.

Virgil glared, arching one hand into the shape of a claw while gently ushering Thomas behind him with the other one. "For your information, King Logan," He hissed lowly, "Thomas told me exactly what was going on, including what Remus said about him. And I know he didn't mean to keep it from you that he was-"

"A coward little kitchen boy!" Crowed Remus happily. "Coward little kitchen boy, coward little kitchen boy!"

"Shut up, Remus," Virgil snarled quickly, shooting the shapeshifter a glare. The creature beamed and didn't say another word. "I'm sure Thomas has a reason to not tell you the truth. Thomas?"

All four kings turned to look at him but Thomas was staring up at Virgil with a frown. "I didn't tell you his name..."

There was a moment of silence. "What?" Asked Roman.

"I didn't tell Virgil the shapeshifter's' name," Thomas replied, taking a step back slightly.

"Uh, yes, you did?" Frowned Virgil, tilting his head slightly. "You said that a shapeshifter called Remus told Logan. What are you talking about?" Thomas was about to answer but Virgil cut him off softly. "It doesn't matter, anyway. What matters is knowing why you didn't just tell us the truth."

"Yes," Logan said sharply. "I am far more interested to hear whatever lies you've been feeding us and why."

Thomas still backed up slightly away from Virgil, but he gave in to the demands being made of him. Wringing his hands together, Thomas swallowed and was almost ashamed at the hoarse whisper that came out of his mouth. "I-I was scared to tell Logan th-that I was a kitchen boy when he asked i-if I was a prince."

He glanced up, making eye contact with Logan. "I was going to tell him, b-but he got excited about his prophecy and c-cut me off. Th-Then we were going to see R-Roman and Logan introduced me as... as a prince and I didn't want to c-cause a scene. By the time we had reached Patton's' palace, I was too scared to s-say anything because-" Thomas swallowed again, breaking eye contact once more and staring at the floor. This would be hard to admit. "Because you two were the only people who'd ever been nice to me before."

There was a ringing silence in the morning, worse than before. Even the shapeshifter looked surprised. Thomas panicked, beginning to feel the tears falling down his cheeks as he kept trying to justify himself. "I-I know, I know, i-it was bad b-but no one h-had ever cared about me b-before, and I w-was scared you'd hate me i-if I said anything, s-so I thought maybe I-I wouldn't have to tell you and we c-could all stay friends! I-I'm sorry, I-!" And he burst loudly into tears, sobbing, sniffing and gasping weakly for air.

In an instant, he felt the light embrace of Patton, who rushed forwards and hugged him tightly, squeezing him against him as tight as he could. Seconds later, Roman hugged Thomas too, although he seemed stiffer and tenser then Patton, probably still in shock.

"I..." Logan began, taking a few steps forwards and kneeling before them. "I am so sorry, Thomas. I shouldn't have been so harsh with you, you've had it bad enough. My behaviour was inexcusable and I can only offer my deepest, deepest apologies-"

"Shush and join the group hug," Patton mumbled, offering an arm to Logan. The Earth King hesitated, then gave in, making his way over and wrapping his arms awkwardly around the trio. Virgil only rested his hand on Thomas's' and Roman's' shoulder.

Thomas swallowed. "I'm sorry, Logan," He whispered.

"It's alright," Logan promised. "You've had an awful time since your whole home was destroyed. I can't imagine how being the last human in the world must feel-"

Remus snorted loudly and cackled.

Roman glared. "What is it now, fiend?"

"I've already told you he's no human!" Remus snorted. "Every human is dead, honestly. And I thought you were the smartest of this little foursome."

Virgil cleared his throat, shooting the shapeshifter a meaningful stare. "Shut up, Remus. Whatever you're trying won't work."

"I'm not trying anything," Remus shrugged. "Yet."