TW: More intrusive thoughts

*Logan POV*

I got too nervous to ask. I needed to ask. I trust Virgil a little more than Janus or Remus, so why did I not ask? It's a simple question!

I go down to the library like I said I was. I have some homework and a little research I want to do.

The hallways seem to be deserted, most likely due to everyone sleeping in. I enter the library, where it seems only one other person is here, the librarian.

"Hello," he says, "Can I help you with anything?"

"Not at the moment," I say.

I sit down in a beanbag chair and immediately get up because its back support is terrible. I go over to a table and sit down there.

I pull out my laptop, which has most of my homework. I decide to get started on the essay I have due for Language Arts.

After about a half-hour, someone comes rushing in. I ignore them as they go to the non-fiction section.

"Hey, Logan?"

I look up and see Janus.

"Salutations, Janus," I say.

"Yeah, hi-" he says, out of breath, "Do- do you know where the books for helping intrusive thoughts or something like that are?"

"No, why don't you just look it up?" I ask.

"I don't want to. They track everything we do on our computers," Janus says.

"Oh. I can help you look for the book," I say.

"Thank you," he says, relieved.

I'm happy to help anyone who likes to research as I do.

We walk over to the non-fiction section and search for the psychology area. I've never gone there myself, but I am good at finding sections in libraries.

"Over here," I say.

Janus speeds over to me and starts scouring the shelves. I quickly glance over them and pull out a few thin books.

"Here," I say.

I hand him the books I found, all of which are on things like anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and mental disorders and their treatment.

"Why would I need a book about anxiety?" Janus asks.

"A lot of bad thoughts can stem from it," I say.

"Oh, I guess. Thanks, Logan," Janus says, leaving the library as quickly as he came.

"Hey! You need to check out those books!" the librarian shouts.

"I can tell you the titles," I say.

"Fine," he grumbles as I walk over to him.

---

At noon I leave the library and go down to the cafeteria.

"Hey, kiddo!" Patton says.

I sit down next to him as Roman looks around nervously.

"Salutations. Is everything alright, Roman?" I ask.

"Yeah, just making sure they aren't here," he says.

'They', or Janus, Virgil, and Remus.

"I think you are overreacting from what you heard last night," I say.

"Oh, am I? Well, how many murder plots are there against you every day? 'Cause I think you're underreacting!" Roman says.

I roll my eyes.

"All I'm saying is that there is a lot of missing contexts. That could have simply been a scary story he was telling. Yesterday was Halloween, after all," I say.

"I hate it when you get logical," Roman grumbles.

I set my book down.

"I am going to eat lunch somewhere else," I say.

"Wait, kiddo, Roman didn't mean that!" Patton says, rushing after me as I get up.

"Oh, I'm sure he did," I say.

"No, really!" Patton says, "He's just really worried about you! He heard our names mentioned and he gets really overprotective of his friends when they're in danger,"

Friends. It doesn't seem like Roman and I are close, but I haven't had any close friends before, so I am inexperienced.

"I see," I say.

"Will you still sit with us? We haven't talked all day," Patton asks.

"I suppose," I say.

I grab my food and go back to the table.

We eat lunch while Patton tries to keep the conversation going. But Roman is too on edge and I am busy thinking about my conversations with Virgil and Janus. They both seemed worried, but I'll attribute Virgil's to the prank and the party last night. And Janus is possibly just trying to help Virgil.

My mind is racing with possibilities, but I'm too nervous to ask for the right one.

"Logan?" Patton asks.

"Yes?" I ask.

"I asked if you could help me with my gas manipulation later," he says.

"Can't Roman help you?" I ask.

I need to talk to Janus, Virgil, and Remus. 

"No, I'm going to be at rehearsal. Have you even been listening?" Roman asks.

"No," I say.

He snorts.

"So can you help me?" Patton asks.

"Yes," I say.

I've quickly gotten the hang of energy manipulation. Roman says it's luck, Patton is just impressed, but I think it's the ten extra assignments the teacher gives me every week. If I wasn't as Roman puts it, 'a total nerd', then I don't think I would be able to keep up.

After lunch passes, Roman leaves for rehearsal while Patton leads me to what he calls 'the training room'. 

"What do you mean, there's a training room?" I ask.

"I mean we have a place to do a bunch of training with our abilities! It's specially made to make it easier to manipulate in there! Like it can be really humid or dry or windy, and there are different areas with singular types of light!" Patton says.

"Just one type? Is that even possible?" I ask.

"Yeah! Mr. Sanders designed it himself!" Patton says.

"Interesting," I say.

*Virgil POV*

Janus rushes back into our dorm.

"Do you have the books? Or anything to help!? Did you get Emile?" I ask.

"I got books, that's it! I went as fast as I could!" Janus says.

Remus whimpers beside me. Janus tosses me a book and opens one of his.

"Ok ok ok, Remus," I say, "Try to breathe and focus on happy thoughts. Safe ones,"

"I- I- make them stop!" he shouts.

"I'm trying! I will literally slap you if you don't want to help yourself," I say.

"Kinky," he mutters.

"Ok, it says to just accept the thoughts and to not push them away, but that's what we've been trying the past few years and it hasn't worked," Janus says.

"No dip, Sherlock!" I say.

"Blowing up an airplane with everyone inside!" Remus shouts suddenly, "Snakes crawling into butts!"

"You know what?" I ask, "I'm going to go get Emile. You keep trying to help him, but we need a professional,"

I get up and storm out. I'm not really mad, just freaking out.

Gonna go rewatch DWIT, totally just for re-education purposes and not because I'm obsessed. I hope you enjoyed reading, feel free to leave any thoughts or feedback in the comments, and have a tremendous day/night you magnificent peep!