Trigger Warnings: Emotional Manipulation, Self-Harm

Dee was leaning against the theater wall. He watched and waited as Lewis walked Roman to the sidewalk, forcing a kiss onto the taller man's check. It was a disgusting display of affection but Roman smiled weakly at it before walking away. Lewis turned towards the parking lot, finally seeing Dee there. "Lewis, wasn't it?" He pushed himself off the wall.

"Yes, Dee right?" There was a look of skepticism in his eye.

"You can call me Dee if you want, but my real name is Declan." He lied, holding out his hand, "I think we started off on the wrong foot."

"Is that so?" Lewis shook Dee's hand. "And you wanted to apologize so much that you waited alone, in a dark part of town, to talk to me. I feel like I'm being threatened."

"Sorry, I just didn't know anything about your schedule other than play practice, and figured you didn't want me around your boyfriend." He raised his hands in defense.

Lewis narrowed his eyes. "Okay, but that still puts someone like you in a bit of danger." Said the Five-one short stake to the five-eight skinny bean. Who did this guy think he was? "say I believed you did come to apologize, why not wait inside. What are you playing at?"

He began walking and Dee followed slowly. The fact that he had asked a question was an invitation. "Like I said, I figured you didn't want me around your boyfriend, and unlike some people, I respect that. I'm a bit overprotective of my brother, and he is currently living with three other people. It's not safe for him, so if your intention is to date and take away one of them, I'm all for helping you." Dee slid his hands in his pockets. "I understand wanting to protect what's yours."

"You are lying."

"Why would I?"

"You walked Roman away from me,"

"You seemed like you needed to talk to Patton." The two walked in silence for a while, "Look, you don't have to believe me. I just wanted to apologize. I know I came off as a bit harsh, and that wasn't my intention." Act submissive, make him feel like he has power. "I just felt really bad. I could tell I made you angry."

Lewis smirked, "Well, I appreciate the apology, and if you could convince Patton to stay away for a while that would be helpful, maybe get him and your brother to miss the play." He wanted Logan there though.

"Just those two? There is another roommate. Should I find a way to keep him away?" He kept his voice gentle. He didn't want it to seem like he was insinuating anything.

"No!" Lewis said a bit too quickly. That was interesting. There was something about Logan. Lewis knew about him, was this the ex that Virgil was talking about. That would explain why Lewis didn't want Virgil around. He had to dig deeper, but he had to be careful.

"Okay, I will try to find a way to get Patton and Virgil to not come, but I will make sure Logan is there."

Dee watched as his shoulders relaxed. "Good, I think we could be good friends Declan." Logan definitely made him have a reaction.

"Maybe I will play it off like a date." He said softly. "Logan is rather handsome."

Lewis' shoulders tensed. "I don't think that is a good idea. I've heard rumor. He isn't good boyfriend material."

"Is that what you've heard? Well maybe not then." Dee knew that Lewis had a connection to Logan. If he was both Logan's ex and Roman's current problem, he really could take care of two birds with one stone. Now there was an idea. No, he had promised Virgil he would be safe and careful. Lewis waved Dee off. Their conversation was done, and Lewis didn't want Dee following him home.

Dee turned to leave. He had a picture half-formed. Dee just needed to make sure that Logan was indeed Lewis' ex-boyfriend. If he was, and if Dee's theory was correct, then he had a foothold. He had a way to forcefully break Roman away. It wasn't going to be pretty, but it was going to be effective.

He clicked his tongue as he fished the keys out of his pocket. Logan would be a tougher nut to crack. He was a man of logic, his emotions locked tightly with a key. A key his brother seemed to have, but Dee wasn't sure he was ready to use Virgil to manipulate Logan. How did you break someone like that without actually breaking them? He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. He had never liked working with glass people.

~~~~~

Once again Logan was up much later than he should be. Sleep seemed to evade him, and it was just past midnight, if he took one of his sleeping pills now, he wouldn't wake up in time for his 7 am shift. His mind would not calm. Recently, sweet words from a friend could help break him out of his own thoughts, if only for a few minutes. Virgil had been a great help these past few weeks, but Virgil was asleep. Logan had also been getting along with Patton a bit better as well, but Patton was also asleep. His shoulders relaxed with the comforting sound of the door opening. Roman was home. Though, these past few months, Roman was working at an exhaustive level. Maybe they could have a short conversation, something to relax both of them.

"Good evening Roman." He said softly, trying to keep a gentle smile on his face. He did not like expressing emotions but considering his tenuous relationship with Roman, he wanted to show his intentions were purely kind.

"What are you doing up so late nerd?" His voice sounded harsh and broken. Was this even the Roman he knew?

"I was having some difficulties sleeping and made myself a cup of tea. I believe the water is still warm if you would like me to make you one."

"No..." his voice sounded less like a statement and more like a question.

"Roman, are you feeling well? I am aware you have been working hard, but something seems off."

Even in the darkness of the night he could see Roman's face contort into several different emotions, though Logan could not identify half of them. "Even the robot noticed," Roman swore under his breath and Logan would be lying if he said the words didn't hurt.

"Apologies if I said something out of line Roman. I am..." He took in a deep breath, he hated admitting this, but he was trying to improve. "I still do not excel at this-"

"Of course not," Roman said in an angry whisper, "Because you can't do anything right, oh broken brother of Mufasa." Maybe he was projecting a little bit. "Now if you kindly will leave me alone. I am exhausted and I have work in the morning." Roman quickly went to his room, closing the door behind him louder than he should have. Thankfully Patton was a deep sleeper and Virgil still had his music on. How had Logan noticed? Logan of all people! Roman collapsed in his bed, once again too tired to change. Tears slid down his face despite his protests.

He really shouldn't have yelled at Logan like that but he was so tired of people pointing out how much of a failure he was. Didn't they realize he already knew that? Didn't they realize that he knew he was broken? He didn't need them to point it out.

"Broken brother..." Scar. Logan's already troubled mind flooded with reasons of why Roman would call him that. Did Roman know about his cutting? Did Roman think he was evil? Was it because Scar was intelligent and manipulative? Did Roman think Logan was just trying to manipulate him? Logan's hand went to the scar on his shoulder, covered by the Nasa T-shirt he wore as a nightshirt. This was why Logan didn't like emotions. They were of no use to him. His nails sunk into the fabric. He was sliding again. What was he supposed to do when he was sliding? What were the logical steps to take next? His therapist had told him. Why was his memory failing? Why did Roman hate him? Had he done something wrong again? Lewis' voice echoed in his mind.

'Noone will ever love you like I do, you are broken.' No, this wasn't love.

Logan was shaking. He needed a release. He needed something real to focus his thoughts. He needed to drain the emotions. Logan stood, setting his cup of tea on the coffee table as he walked to the bathroom. It felt surreal. He was being led by a force he couldn't control. His hand reached towards the medicine cabinet. Just one.

He just needed one cut.

AN: I am not sure if I have said this before, but if you ever feel like this, please seek help. Life does get better. There are happy endings, even if it's hard to see them. Please, find someone who can help you, even if you are afraid to go to a professional, find someone you trust to talk to. I can tell you, there are people who care about you!

Hurt People, hurt people. Hopefully, our boys will be able to make up in the future. If I have time I'm actually hoping to post another chapter tomorrow, but we will see.