The Logical Exception

Logan crept quietly around the corner, checking each hallway before entering as his mind fell into a rhythm he knew all too well.

'The guard positions will have changed since the last time I was here, but Mother follows a specific pattern and there are parts of her routine she will not want to change. The east corridor should be empty this time of night as she most likely just finished her nightly walk with Father. He should be in his study, two more corridors to go if they aren't already aware of our intrusion.'

He looked around the corner, good, no one there. Now they just needed to make sure not to set off any traps. That was why he had his powers pushed to their maximum abilities. He could feel all of the objects around him, the buzz of the electronics, the shifting of the floor as they moved, and every movement of Remus' muscles as Remus walked behind him. At any moment he could reach out and grab one of those objects to use.

"Y'know you are an awful liar Butt Brother."

"To what are you referring?" Logan kept his voice low but Remus didn't seem to have that same sense of self-preservation. It didn't surprise him in the least.

"Whatever you are feeling guilty about is a super monstrous big deal. The nosy snaky can tell, but thankfully the rest of our group is a bit stupid... well, Patty Cake isn't stupid, he's just super trusting, which is why he has me." Remus jumped forward a bit, hoping to scare Logan but Logan could feel everything right now, Remus' little jump didn't scare him.

"I wanna know what your deal is."

"I said it was nothing important." Why did they all insist on uncovering his secrets now? It was infuriating. He had kept his secrets to himself since he was ten. Then again, he had told Virgil that he would be open and honest, but that was before he had decided to kill his parents. Despite how he acted, Virgil didn't like violence, and Patton would be so broken-hearted if he knew. Roman would label him a villain once again, even if it was for a good cause. Logan was ready to be hated, but he wasn't ready to be stopped.

"And I said you are lying, so why not tell me? Are you having fantasies about little old emo dying? 'Cause that's nauseating but normal."

"No Remus, please drop it."

"Nope, playing the annoying younger brother role. So, not the emo dying, but someone dying... oh, are you worried about me and Ro bro? That's so cute."

"You are a figurative gremlin and I fear nothing will kill you but the act of a deity."

"Well then who are you worried about dying? 'Cuz that part is written all over your face. Wait, wait, wait!" Remus slowed down to a stop, looking at Logan with a sick sense of curiosity.

"You're gonna kill the rents."

"The what?"

"Rents, Parents. You are actually gonna do it aren't you?" He let out a little giddy giggle. "I love my Pattykins but he would never think of something like that. Oh, this is going to be fun."

"That's if he can manage it. Not like he hasn't tried before." A deep voice echoed through the hallway and both men turned to look at the new player.

There he was, in all of his muscled glory, Zero Sum.

"Remus, step away from that virus. He is exceedingly dangerous."

Logan felt the familiar drain of his power and it made him feel even more empty than normal after he had pushed his powers to that extent. There was also a specific hollowness that came with his father's words. They were still playing that gambit, still trying to get Roman and Remus to their side. What if Remus did turn?

"Eh, no, I don't like authority," Remus said, stepping into Zero Sum's line of sight and Logan immediately felt his powers return. The snap almost knocked him backwards as his body attempted to adjust. He would have to be careful, this snap to and from powers was exhausting, and if he wasn't precise with his movements he might exhaust himself before they could finish this.

"Remus, please, I know that you don't know me well, but he is dangerous. He will only betray you." It was strange to hear his father pleading like this. His father never pleaded for what he wanted, he just took it.

"Psh, like he could. I have this boy whipped. Watch this, Logie bear, bark."

For a brief moment, Logan was insulted. Then again, this was just Remus' chaotic nature and he debated if he should play along. Following Remus' instructions would piss off his father and leave him less ammo in his argument, and that was reason enough.

"Bark, Bark," Logan said deadpan, rolling his shoulders as he walked closer to Remus.

The chaotic man began to laugh, almost dropping to the floor.

"We are still working on him taking things too literally, but look, isn't he a good puppy." Remus reached out and tousled Logan's hair.

"Not as good as these puppies though." Remus held out his hand, waiting for his powers to swell around him but nothing happened. "Oh poop." It seemed he was expecting the possibility of his powers being drained. So, he charged.

Logan knew Remus was reckless and often went in without a plan, so he needed to help. He quickly pulled the carpet a bit to make Zero-Sum lose his balance, but they weren't fighting an amateur. Zero let himself fall, placing his foot onto Remus' abdomen as he charged in, using the momentum to flip Remus off and towards the other end of the hallway. Logan could hear Remus scrambling to get up.

Getting involved in this fight wouldn't help anyone. Logan wasn't a fighter. He could in a pinch, but in a physical fight against a normal person, he was at a disadvantage. In a physical fight against his father, he was a goner. Logan reached out his hand, Zero Sum couldn't make eye contact just yet. This meant he couldn't stop Logan from using his powers. Hopefully, they would work just long enough to fling a nearby flower pot at him.

'I just need to restrict his vision. If he can't use his powers then I can proceed to use my powers unhindered. It will be less draining on my body.'

Zero-Sum grunted in pain as the flower pot hit him but he shook it off. Quickly pushing himself up, both men heard the scrambling of Remus' strange creations running towards him, too wide to fit on the carpet runner in the hallway. Zero-Sum turned to look at Remus, the creature disappearing as the two clashed into blows.

It was Logan's job to be cold and calculating. He had to evaluate the situation. As long as Remus could keep Zero-Sum occupied then Logan could use his powers freely, but without his powers, Remus was less of a match against their more classically trained parent. How long would Logan need to distract Zero-Sum in order to kill him?

A terrible thought came to Logan and he pushed his powers to its maximum again. He didn't necessarily have to kill Zero Sum, he just had to prevent him from seeing his targets. He was so focused on this he hadn't noticed the change in the electricity or mechanisms of the house. He was focused on Zero Sum, completely locked in. Logan held his hand out again, but he was shaking. He had never tried this before, he was terrified but logically this would work.

"Focus," He whispered as he watched Zero-Sum fight off something that Remus had created.

"Focus." Logan heard Zero-Sum scream and cover his eye, trying to turn but being stopped by Remus.

"Your focus should be on me geezer!" Remus tackled Zero-Sum down, trapping him to the floor under a rhino. Remus was also beginning to show signs of fatigue. He wasn't immune to the exhausting yo-yo snaps of having your powers drained and given back, but Logan only needed a little more time.

"LOGAN STOP!" Patton's usually soft voice yelled.

He stopped, his hand dropping to his side. He was so drained. He couldn't do it. It was the logical thing to do, but he couldn't do it. They were going to fail because he couldn't be cruel.

AN: You know what the problem with being a Disney Nerd is? When Patton yells STOP, all I can think about is the part of Hunchback of Notredame. Sorry to put that imagine in your head. Not sure you all will be able to get it out now. Good luck!