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Nightmares and Lies

((WARNING: SYMPATHETIC DECEIT AHEAD! If that triggers you, I suggest you don't read!))

Deceit had been in Roman's Fantasy Realm before. Sometimes it was to create mischief and to mess with the sides while true were on quests, to be the perfect bad guy, but other times it was just to... relax. And be alone.

He was used to being alone. As someone who was different from the the other Dark Sides but definitely wasn't welcomed by the Light Sides - well, unwelcome by most, Patton was always the exception - he had grown used to being alone a long, long time ago.

He was at his favorite spot. It was a bridge that went over a bubbling creek. It sounded nice and every now and then, some cute critters would scamper by. The fearless ones would look past his scales and enjoy his pets before running off. He liked it here, because it was peaceful, calm. It was also near a bend. If he heard someone coming, he could sink out before they even saw him. The trick had worked several, several times.

But, Deceit either didn't hear them or he was too wrapped up in his own thoughts this night. He was sitting crosslegged on one of the pillars of he bridge, staring out into the dark night and bubbling water, when he heard that godawful voice.

"Hey there, pumpkin pie!"

Deceit nearly jumped out of his skin; but he tried to act as calm as he could while sighing and turning towards the voice. While the sides were technically the same person they all had their own tones of voices, and Deceit most definitely knew that tone.

"Remy," he said, not even trying to hide the distaste in his voice.

Remy, or Sleep, smirked at him widely. He was sipping from a Starbucks dream that was theee fourths of the way full and he looked very pleased about something. His sunglasses were on his face, as they always were, along with his skinny jeans, white shirt( and leather jacket. His dress was iconic and annoying all at the same time.

"Nice to see you too, Sunshine! What're you doing down here?" He asked, biting the straw of his drink afterwards. Deceit sighed.

"That's definitely your business." He said. "If you could not leave me alone, that would not be delightful-"

"Oh, cut the lying, Snake-Eyes." Remy smirked. "It's gotta be annoying." Deceit bristled and growled, glaring forward. He decided to not spur Remy on with a response, but he should've known that that wouldn't have stopped the sassiest side of them all. "So, what's got you awake?"

"Shouldn't you be able to tell?" Remy shrugged and took a loud sip through his straw.

"I prefer it when people just tell me. Otherwises, I have to dive into your subconscious, and pick around your brain-" He waved his hand while rolling his eyes. "It's just not worth it, darling."

Deceit scoffed but didn't respond right away. He could feel Remy staring at him, waiting rather patiently. The snake-hybrid had known the side long enough to know that he didn't give up easily, and if he wanted an answer, he often got it. So he sighed and shifted, suddenly feeling uneasy.

"My bed's too lonely." He finally admitted, and he almost immediately cursed himself for it. What the hell was he thinking? Remy was either gonna laugh at him, or just not even believe him. Even when he was telling the truth, no one believed him-

"Well, why's that?"

Deceit blinked, before he looked at the other side. Remy was leaning against the bridge now, staring up at him as he waited patiently. Deceit stared at him."

"You must be kidding me." He finally growled. Remy snickered at the annoyance dripping from the deceitful side's tone.

"I'm not. Why is it lonely?"

"If you use some common sense-"

"Oh, c'mon. Work with me here."

Deceit stared at him, before he sighed.

"It's lonely, because... Because no one's there for me. No one's there right now, and no one's gonna be there when I wake up. No one's at my room, waiting for me, worrying about me." He growled and looked away. "It's- It's so stupid. "

"No it's not."

"Yes, it is. I shouldn't feel that way. I have no reason to."

"And why is that?"

"What?"

"Why don't you have a reason to feel that way?"

"..."

"Come on, don't clamp up on me now!" Remy teased, but it was flat. Neither were in a playful mood now.

"Because I'm not good!" Deceit suddenly snapped. "I'm not like the others, who bring something good to Thomas's life! I'm not like Patton, whose happy, and fluffy, and keeps Thomas so happy! And I'm not Logan who strives for the pursuit of knowledge and promotes selfcare! I'm not Roman, who comes up with some wonderful and creative ideas, who help the tours get ready- and I'm not even like Virgil, who keeps Thomas from running out into goddamn traffic and stops him from embarrassing himself! I'm-!" His voice choked and he gritted his teeth, fangs gleaming as he bared them.

"I'm... not... wanted."

Silence fell over them as Deceit bowed his head, taking a shaky breath. His heart was pounding from his outburst. It was the longest he'd ever been honest. He covered his mouth with his hand and took a deep breath through his nose.

"You might not be wanted, but you're needed."

Deceit stiffened.

"How many times have you saved Thomas?"

"Saved? What the hell are you-""

"The airport. When that guy shoved Thomas and his cart over in the elevator. Roman was ready to punch his lights out and Virgil was panicking. What did you do?"

"..."

"You told Thomas to say it was okay. It might not have been the most satisfying choice, but it was the safest choice. Thomas wouldn't have won a fight with that guy. You protected him."

"That-"

"And good lord, how many Thanksgiving's did you help him through? With judgemental relatives asking him when he was going to get a girlfriend?" Remy rolled his eyes. "You have the patience sent from a god, tart."

Deceit snorted, more at the nickname then the compliment.

"Dakota." The side stiffened at his real name and he swallowed before he looked at Remy. Remy stared back, his Starbucks placed beside the pillar Deceit sat on. "You don't need validation from the others. Sure, it's nice, and I'm certain that they're gonna come around one day- but, you don't need it. Thomas would be a wreck without you. He would have gotten into fights, into so many dangerous situations, lord only knows if he would've ever survived Thanksgiving." The usually sassy side smirked, but it was sad, almost bitter. He reached up and pulled off his sunglasses, revealing his eyes to Deceit for the very first time.

He had heavy bags underneath them, and they were bloodshot from his lack of sleep. Deceit understood why. While he saw every lie, Remy saw everyone's nightmares. He walked through every bad dream Thomas had, while Roman was lucky enough to only face the good and wacky ones. There was a valid reason behind all of the Starbucks, the late nights, and his snarky attitude. It was simply how he coped. It was how he kept the others from worrying.

They didn't know about Deceit's ability to see every lie, so he wouldn't be surprised if they didn't know a thing about the hell Remy faced every single night.

"You don't get anything out of misery, Dakota." Remy's voice was soft.

"Take it from me."

The unlikely friends parted without much more words. They probably wouldn't see each other again unless they caught each other the bridge, which was unlikely but not nearly as unlikely as them seeing each other in the common room.

They didn't go home together, or confide in their own troubles some more- sides like them weren't made for happy endings.

But Deceit swore that he heard a familiar voice humming as he drifted off to sleep that night, and that was enough for him.