Chapter Text
Virgil was, what you could call, a bit of a skeptic when it came to optimism.
It made enough sense, I mean, he was anxiety. So normally he would lean closer to the negative narrative.
However, when it came to Nico, Virgil would make an exception.
Nico was everything Thomas wasn't. He was tall and his hair was curly, he wore round warm glasses, and he was always on schedule. Nico was....for lack of a better term, a good match for Thomas, and a good ego boost for Roman - or so Virgil thought.
See, ever since Thomas had started to get to know Nico more and more, Roman had started to get happier and happier, even treating the other sides nicer for the past few weeks - much to Remus and Patton's confusion and Logan's pleasure - and weirdly treating Virgil nicer than he has in... well ever. Weirdly wanting to hang out with Virgil more than anyone else and giving him strange looks sometimes.
And going on dates with Nico, Virgil and the others have concluded one thing: Nico is a flirt. So much so that it sometimes leads the side in charge of leaving Thomas to a successful date flustered. Janus had even gotten flustered once in an attempt to try and be flirty. (one of the monumental moments Virgil had recorded once)
But as the dates progressed, Virgil had noticed one thing: Roman had gotten more and more hesitant to hang out with Nico. It hasn't gone to the point where Thomas wouldn't want to date Nico, but it did oftentimes leave Virgil being the Captain Kirk of the team.
Virgil hasn't addressed it yet, who knows? maybe it isn't actually Nico and Roman is just acting weird because of his bruised ego - or maybe because Roman has been avoiding Patton now and strangely talking to Virgil more, or maybe it's him, maybe his nerves rubbed off on Roman, or maybe it was-
Just... something else, something Virgil hasn't caught.
He's only noticed this weird behavior after their phone call with Nico a week ago, after that it was just Virgil keeping an eye on him for their other interactions with Nico.
Today is their 4th official date with Nico, Virgil has been quite fidgety with Thomas' outfit so far, but it's been smooth sailing. Currently, they're driving to the date location, which was a Cafe shop downtown - cliché, but chill - and Logan was currently helping Thomas calm down while also drive responsibly.
Virgil was sat with Roman on the couch, the Prince had his head propped up on his chin and he had a distant look on his face. The smell of warm cookies eminated throughout the air which made Virgil just want to drift towards the kitchen, but he was unfortunately on a mission and was also still holding a small grudge on Patton.
"So" Virgil said conversationally. Ugh, small talk. "How you, uh, feeling, Princey? It's our 4th date with Nico now" Virgil shifted in nervousness. Ugh, this is so awkward.
"It's been...great, I guess" Roman said, he looked dejected, distracted. Virgil raised a brow at that.
"No enthusiastic belts of happiness?" Virgil prodded. Roman seemed to snap out of whatever funk he was in, because he immediately shifted his whole persona. Giving Virgil an award winning smile, and if Virgil hadn't just seen how sad Roman looked he would've believed his performance.
"Sorry, I was just in daydream mode! Of course I'm excited for our 4th date! I did say that I wanted a trillion after all, this is just a step to the right direction!" Roman announced. Roman calmed himself down and gave Virgil an easy smile. "How about you? mope-wana"
It wasn't his best but Virgil rolled his eyes nonetheless at the nickname. "Well, current status? freaking out"
Roman tilted his head. "Isn't that just what you are most of the time?" Virgil gave him a lazy finger gun and smiled distressingly.
Roman sighed and gave him another smile that looked forced. Roman then perched his arm on the armstand of the couch, propping his chin again on his hand. "I'm glad at least that things are going.... well" Roman said the last word with distaste, as if he was lying.
Virgil narrowed his eyes at that. No fancy wording? No dreamy eyes while thinking of Nico? No humming of Disney songs?
And why the lies? Roman was the one being so pushy about not wanting to start out with lies, why would he lie about this of all things?
"We're here" Logan said suddenly, Virgil gave Roman one last glance before standing up from the couch and propping himself on Thomas' right.
"Well" Roman started on Thomas' left. "I guess we better go in"
Virgil squinted his eyes as they both debated on what to order. For a pessimist, Virgil could say he was pretty optimistic about their odds so far.
Nico laughed as Thomas tossed out a pun. Virgil glanced around to look for Roman, who wasn't anywhere near Thomas anymore.
He spotted the fanciful side on an empty table for two, near the window, Virgil approached Roman.
"Oh" Roman said upon his greeting. "It's just you"
Virgil shrugged and sat down. "Who else would it be?"
Roman shrugged as well. "I don't know, Logan, up here to tell me why it's inefficient to let Patton feed Thomas jokes for Nico?"
Virgil nodded in understanding. "That is a fair assumption" He watched Nico and Thomas chat from where they were sat and spoke. "What's up, Princey? not on your A-game today?"
"I don't know" Roman said shamefully. "I guess I'm not in my element today"
Virgil could spot the lie from a mile away. Roman knew that he "wasn't in his element" for days now, constantly looking hesitant when Nico was brought up, mostly letting the other sides take charge or just leaving Thomas be. Which, granted, was an alright decision, but if Roman continued to act like this, he was seriously going to jeopardize Thomas' happiness and relationship with Nico.
Virgil raised a brow at Roman. "Are you sure?"
"What do you mean?" Roman snapped, but it lacked venom, more so fear.
Virgil was caught of guard by the obvious fear in his voice. He chose his next words carefully "I'm just saying, Princey. If you have any.... doubts on Thomas' relationship with Nico, feel free to share"
He looked at Roman and watched as his brows furrowed when Nico told a flirty joke at Thomas and how Thomas laughed. Roman opened his mouth and stuttered.
"Oh, nevermind, it's nothing" Roman said after not finding the words.
"Roman-"
"There you two are!"
"Logan!" Roman said with surprise. "You uh, you startled me"
Logan cleared his throat. "Apologies, but I implore you to reconsider Patton taking the lead this time, I understand that as sides we're all entitled to helping Thomas out, but he usually listens to you two and I cannot handle Patton pointedly looking at me while he feeds another pun to Thomas' headspace"
Virgil shrugged. "Nothing I can do there, me and Patton aren't exactly on speaking terms anymore"
Logan looked helpless and looked at Roman. "I know it's mostly hopeless, but please it is incredibly disconcerting"
Roman looked at Logan a second before sighing. He sat up slowly and looked at Logan. "I suppose we could try to and take the reigns again"
Logan looked shocked at the response. "You-you're serious? no jokes or finding me ridiculous? not a single shut down of my suggestion?"
Roman waved a hand at it. "Oh, what's the harm, right? I mean, maybe I should listen to you, Logan. You're the smart one after all"
Logan raised a brow. "Was that sarcasm?"
Roman waved his arms. "I swear, Logan, nothing of the sort. I'll see what I can do." He began to walk forward towards Thomas.
Logan straightened and adjusted his glasses. "Well that was... unexpected"
"Yeah" Virgil responded, feeling slightly confused.
"But I cannot complain" Logan continued. "I'll take my leave now, Virgil" He said with a small smile. "Give Roman my thanks"
Virgil nodded as Logan sinked out. He walked over slowly to where Roman and Thomas was.
"Try to compliment him back, Thomas! Give him a flirty remark!" Roman encouraged.
Thomas stuttered out a response. "Uh, t-thanks Nico," Thomas cleared his throat. "You know...uhm, if you wanted to see more art, you should've just taken a look in the mirror" Thomas cleared his throat again and looked somewhere else.
"Oh my god" Virgil blurted out and watched as Nico chuckled at Thomas' attempt at a flirt.
Roman sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Smooth, Sanders, smooth"
"Aww, you flirt" Nico teased. Virgil felt his and Thomas' face go red from embarrassment.
"Shut up" Thomas said sheepishly. "It was an attempt, okay?"
Nico laughed. "I can see that" Thomas' face went red again. Virgil felt his eyes widen, he let out a small noise that sounded like a squeal and instantly slapped a hand over his mouth. Roman snickered from beside him.
"Shut up" Virgil said and punched him lightly on the shoulder.
Roman smiled at him. "I didn't say anything." He said smugly.
Virgil huffed. "Actions speak louder than words, genius" Roman chuckled. Virgil looked back at Thomas and Nico and tuned back in their conversation.
"You could always Google it" Thomas suggested. Virgil wondered how they managed to switch back to the topic so fast.
Nico smiled wide. "Why would I Google it if you have everything I'm looking for?"
Virgil stared at Roman, he looked conflicted.
Thomas laughed. "How are you this good? should I be concerned?"
Nico waved a hand. "Nah, I memorize all these on the internet"
"Dork" Thomas teased.
"The dork that you're on a date with" Nico pointed out.
"Well that's because you're my dork!" Thomas told him with a smile that reminded Virgil of Patton.
Nico leaned back and let out a chuckle. "Ohh, that one was good"
Their chatter went on the back of Virgil's mind as he looked at Roman again. Roman only took over for a second to coach Thomas, Patton was practically draped all over this conversation. Virgil could hardly blame Patton for wanting to help Thomas though, but did he really have to meddle? Patton knew it was Virgil and Roman's day to help Thomas.
Virgil sighed. There's no time to sulk. He thought, and glanced back at Roman as an afterthought.
Virgil furrowed his brows.
"What a workout!" Patton said. "I could barely keep up with what he said to Thomas! Boy, did Thomas give it his best shot" Logan groaned from the dining table.
"Thomas hardly tried at all, Patton. He hardly has to around Nico" Logan remarked.
"Well I mean, you have a point there, Logan. But the kiddo tried his best! Oh and Nico! Aww, both of them were so adorable, you could say they had-"
"Wait, don't!" Logan said. But it was too late.
"-brewtiful chemistry!" Patton finished with a delighted smile. Logan groaned again and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Padre, was the constant puns really necessary?" Roman asked from the beanbag.
Patton looked at Roman, as if he was caught off from the side speaking to him, but quickly recovered by smiling. "I mean, I haven't really gotten a chance to try and help Thomas" Patton reasoned with a hesitant smile.
"We never told you that it was your turn to help Thomas" Virgil snapped.
Patton looked taken aback and stuttered. "I-well-uhm... I guess... you're right, sorry about that ki-uh, Virgil. I guess I was just getting curious"
Logan cleared his throat. "If I may, Virgil. Patton's intent was never to sabotage the progress of Thomas and Nico, if anything, it might have endeared Nico to Thomas more"
Virgil rolled his eyes as he spoke. "Yeah, well maybe he should have asked" Virgil snapped. Logan narrowed his eyes at Virgil and Patton just looked shameful.
"Woah, relax, Stormy night" Roman said, putting a hand on Virgil shoulder. The anxious side just curled in further into the couch, he didn't shake off Roman's hand though.
"Whatever" Virgil gritted out. He hunched in on himself and took out his phone.
"Well" Roman said. "Since our date is over, and Thomas is already calling a cab, I'll be off into my room"
"You don't want a cookie, Roman? it's choco-latte" Patton smiled at his joke and Logan simply sighed.
Roman waved it off and gave Patton a small smile. "It's alright, Patton. I'm tired anyways" He said and started his ascend up the stairs.
Logan gave a small eyebrow raise, he gave Patton a glance, who gave him a shrug. Patton pointed to the cookies silently then to upstairs. "Give him some time" Logan said quietly. "Perhaps he's exhausted"
"No" Virgil said suddenly, which made Patton and Logan turn their heads in his direction. Virgil kept his gaze on the stairs though. "He's been like this for a couple days now. He's been looking strangely at Nico whenever he compliments or flirts with Thomas. I've been paying attention, it hasn't affected Thomas yet, but it might if we don't ask him about it. Problem is, I don't know how"
Patton groaned. "Oh no, I can't believe Roman's been like this, this whole time and I haven't even asked or payed attention"
"I wouldn't have noticed it either, but Princey hangs out with me the most" Virgil pointed out.
Patton nodded, although a wave of worry was practically worn around him. "You're right, Virgil"
"If I may" Logan piped up. "It could be practical if each of us tried to keep an eye on Roman for the time being. But let's not draw conclusions too quickly-"
"Right" Virgil interrupted. "So how to we do that?"
Patton furrowed his brows at Virgil. "You didn't have to interrupt, Virge"
Virgil looked elsewhere. "Whatever, as if you haven't done that before....sorry, Logan"
Logan gave Virgil a strange look, one the anxious side couldn't decipher. "It's... quite alright Virgil. As I was saying - although, I should probably skip the other stuff, it doesn't really matter anyway-"
"NO!" Patton instantly said. "No, sorry, Logan, please continue, if you've got something to share with us, the floors all yours, friendo" Patton gave a pleading look to Virgil, who scoffed but followed anyways.
"Yeah, we don't... really mind, I was just...scared that if we wasted anymore time we might not be able to help" He admitted quietly. Virgil started to feel himself grow nervous and quickly changed the topic. "Anyways, go ahead Logan"
"Right, so, uhm, as I was saying-it might be best if we all tried to respectively treat Roman as politely as possible, see if his attitude changes then. I've noted down that Roman acts most different depending on what people say or do for him, so perhaps, if we tried doing those methods, it might help" Logan finished, a small smile on his face.
"But how would complimenting or helping him work?" Virgil asked.
"Well" Logan started. "I'm sure we all remember the events that had occurred a month ago" Patton's eyes went downcast at the mention.
Virgil cleared his throat. "What about it?"
"It's clear that after those events, Roman was - not to put it lightly - struck with the realization that perhaps he had not been viewed as high from Thomas as he thought he was, leaving him..." Logan dug through his pocket and pulled out a vocab card. "... DepressedAF"
"Yeah, not the appropriate time for a vocab card right now" Virgil said softly. Logan nodded and pocketed back.
"But I talked to Roman after that! Sure he was a bit sad but he told me he would be fine after that! I even saw him hanging out with Virgil a few days after" Patton claimed.
Logan and Virgil shared a glance and looked at Patton. "Patton" Logan started. "Did you ever consider that perhaps... Roman had told you a falsehood?"
"What?" Patton said shockingly. "Why would he have to lie to me about that? It's not like I'd get mad at him for feeling"
Virgil butted in immediately. "Yeah but you'd probably try to fuss about it, which would make it worse since at that time, I believe, he was feeling undeserving of being a hero and probably felt like a thousand garbage cans" He finished.
Patton absorbed all that for a moment, and when it seemed like he finally received the message, all Patton said was: "Oh, maan" sadly.
"No need to fret, Patton" Logan reassured. "All that matters now is fixing Roman's complex, what's in the past is in the past" Virgil not-so-subtlety looked at Patton.
"You're right, Logan" Patton agreed with a determined look on his face. "So all we need to do is be nice to him?"
Logan nodded. "If his behavior changes in any way, positive or negative, it might be a step in pushing these feelings to light and talking about them as people, if we brought it up to Roman now, in the state that he is, he would most likely brush it off or run away, so, best to get his hopes up"
"Or down" Virgil added. Logan nodded. "Preferably up though, Virgil" Logan said.
"You never know" Virgil said with a shrug and a tired smile.
"Alright" Patton said. "So what should we call ourselves?"
"Oh, I don't think that's necessary-"
"Totally spies" Virgil suggests. Which earned him confused glances from Patton and Logan. He gave them a confused look. "Get it? cause we're, um" Virgil tried to search for the words. "We're kind of spying on Roman and Totally spies is like a Disney reference and Roman likes Disney so-"
"I LOVE THAT IDEA!" Patton says excitedly, but he quickly slaps a hand over his mouth and looks up at the stairs where Roman was in his room. After a few seconds of silence Patton removed his hand. "Whoops, sorry, kiddo-ah-uhm- Virgil, just got a bit excited"
Virgil didn't mention the slip of the nickname. "It's, uh, it's no big deal"
Logan looked at them both. "Are you sure this is really ideal to the plan?"
Virgil shrugged. "I mean, c'mon, Lo" He said and nudged his head in Patton direction.
Logan looked at Patton pleading face and after a moment, he sighed. To which Patton threw his hands in the air and squealed. "Yes!"
Logan quickly adjusted his glasses after Patton's squeal. "Right, yes, so I suppose having a name shouldn't be that big of an... addition" Virgil gave Logan a look.
"Operation: Have Roman Talk About His Feelings' Is a go!" Patton said and perked up when he heard a sound of beeping. "Oh, my cookies!" Patton turned away from the two of them and busied himself with gathering his freshly baked cookies.
Virgil leaned towards Logan and whispered. "So are you just going to tell him we're literally manipulating Roman into telling his feelings to us or-"
"It's not manipulation, Virgil. It's just us testing out a hypothesis I have concluded through series of events" Logan said back.
"Yeaaaah, but it's still kind of us pulling the strings to get Princey to try and combust into a balloon to tell us what he's feeling-"
"I already told you, at this state he'd most likely shy away from us, so that's that" Logan whispered with finality.
Virgil shrugged. "If you say so, Teach" He said, feigning defeat before pointing accusingly at Logan. "But don't think I didn't see the blush you had when Patton got excited just now"
Logan scoffed, he moved his head back and forward to Virgil in a dramatic fashion. "Oh please, Virgil, it was probably me feeling warm from the heat in here-"
"It doesn't warm up in the mindscape, L. You know this" Virgil said accusingly.
Logan paused. "I-"
"What are we whispering about?" Patton whispered loudly, causing both Virgil and Logan to jump back in surprise.
"Ah" Logan said. "Nothing of importance, Patton, just me and Virgil having a chat"
"Yep" Virgil said. "Just two bros, having a fuuun little talk" He finished with a smile.
"Cool!" Patton said and showed them his cookies. "So who wants one?"
With their plan in motion, they begun to carry this out for about a week and a half.
Roman walked in on Logan and Virgil discussing something, when he noticed the looks sent his way he quickly hunched in on himself. "Sorry, you two carry on-"
"Actually, Roman, could you please try to help settle an argument between me and Virgil?" Logan asked.
Roman seemed to be taken back, he quickly cleared his throat and smiled. "Sure, what is it?"
Which, granted, a small portion of it wasn't so bad. But the rest of the time they tried to get Roman to be apart of their conversation or butter him up, Roman just shrinks away, which was not Roman-like, at all and was weird. Not to mention, their timing is terrible.
Roman exited his door and suddenly heard a very creaky sound, alert and alarmed, he conjured his sword and raised it towards the source of the sound.
Said sound was Patton, opening his door. Roman relaxed and lowered his sword. "Oh, hi Patton, sorry for... almost slicing your face off!" Roman laughed nervously.
Patton waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, don't sweat it, kiddo. Say, your sword looked real nice earlier! Did you do anything to it recently?"
Roman eyed Patton weirdly. "... No, but thanks for noticing, Patton! My sword is rather dashing as I and I'm glad you recognize it's uhm" Roman paused a second. "It's talent!"
Patton smiled. "Always, Kiddo, how could I not? you're full of it!"
Roman cringed at the compliment, as if it was a lie. But he smiled nonetheless and replied. "Thanks, Patton"
Virgil cringed from his room as he watched Roman descended the stairs, Patton gave Virgil a shrug from where the anxious side peeked through the tiny crack in his door.
It didn't really work all that well, these schemes just earned them looks of confusion and annoyance. Virgil could see that Roman was suspicious about them, but he didn't bother to voice this. As their plan went on, Thomas kept presenting more ideas to location dates for Nico, which - suspiciously - Roman vehemently neglected to indulge in.
"Oh, OH! We could try Disneyland!" Thomas suggested excitedly.
"Too expensive" Logan raised up and quickly pointed out. Virgil eyes Roman carefully as the fanciful side stayed quiet.
"A... theater?" Virgil tried. Logan gestured a hand at that, as if he was excited about that idea.
"Nah, how are we supposed to talk to each other?" Thomas asked.
"Silent communication maybe" Roman suggested.
"You could just enjoy the entertainment" Logan pointed out.
Thomas considered the options for a moment before giving up. "I don't know, what about you, Roman? you are my creativity, not one location?" Thomas practically pleaded. Roman looked nervous.
"I... I think we should look at more articles on Google" Roman said.
Their plan didn't really do much, it only made Roman avoid the sides more, and embarrassingly, Virgil missed their afternoon talks or hangouts.
It got so bad, to the point where Roman locked himself in his room for 10 hours straight refusing to come out because he was - by his words - "creating".
If it wasn't for Roman's strange behavior towards their nice actions, Virgil would almost believe him, but he didn't. So that was that, it was plainly obvious that Roman was freaked out by their obvious change in attitude towards him and didn't want to talk to them anymore because he probably hated them and he never wanted to speak to them again, which would make sense because they are technically being creeps and-
"You are being highly irrational" Logan pointed out, Virgil scrunched up his nose in disagreement.
"What? it's true! He probably hates us now!" Virgil said, not bothering to read the rest of what was written on the paper.
"Why would he hate us?" Patton asked.
"I can think of one reason" Virgil mumbled while looking at Patton like an angry emo teenager.
"Let's not get into a fight now" Logan said. "Virgil, while it is clear Roman is obviously disturbed by our change in attitude, there would be no plausible reason why he could hate all of us respectively when we've done nothing for the past week but be nice to him" Logan said putting down the paper that Virgil had written his observations on. "Although you may be right, perhaps being overly nice to him is causing him to be troubled, we could try to tone it down a bit for the time being"
Logan spoke again. "Also why did you address yourself in the third person?" He asked Virgil.
"It makes for a good self narrative" Virgil mumbled out, embarrassed.
"Oh, but is it so bad to just sit him down and talk?" Patton asked. "He's clearly stressed and worried, I-I mean" Patton shrugged. "what's the harm in just talking about our feelings?"
Logan responded immediately. "I mean, multiple things could go wrong with that, with the state the person expressing is in, how you approach it, the way both people are feeling as of that period-"
"Not the time, Logan" Virgil said.
Logan nodded. "Of course" He looked at Patton again. "What I mean, Patton, is that.... yes, perhaps we could try to talk to him, but it might result in a negative reaction, Roman - typically - when called out for his insecurities gets defensive and lashes out like a little baby"
"True" Virgil agreed, pointing his hand towards Logan and nodding.
Logan moved his hands around as he talked. "And if something is truly bothering him, and the wound might still be a little fresh, it's best to treat this situation delicately"
Patton gestured to both of then as if to grab their attention. "But-but we can treat it delicately! Just... talking about it might make him feel better than bottling it all up until he bursts"
Logan hummed. "You might have a point there, Patton. Maybe we can reach a compromise, a test, we can try to send in Virgil to talk to Roman about what's bothering him, and if Roman does end up opening up, then we could try to get Virgil to convince Roman to talk to us"
Logan sighed. "It may not be the most efficient solution, but with everything going on right now, I'm afraid that approaching him with the three of us might overwhelm him" He said.
"Yeah, I trust you, Logan!" Patton said encouragingly.
Virgil shook his head. "You don't have to treat him like a fragile egg, you know. Roman's tough, he can handle the three of us talking to him. I mean, it's worked thousands of times before, maybe we should just... I don't know" Virgil sighed. "Stop being little babies and approach him normally, demand what the problem is and eventually chicken out because we didn't do a good enough job!" Virgil finished with a cynical smile.
Logan and Patton stared at him for a moment before Logan spoke. "Okay, well, you can't honestly expect me not to treat Roman like he's not going to lash out when that's all he's ever done whenever we've criticized him!"
"Yeah, but Roman isn't going to appreciate it either if we keep treating him like he's a delicate little flower to protect his feelings!" Virgil protested.
"Are you seriously implying that this whole plan is degrading Roman's image as a side?" Logan demanded. "This whole plan is to try and help Roman. It's to successfully help him express his feelings, if you feel as though my plans aren't sufficient enough, then maybe you should try to come up with a sound plan" Logan finished with an irratated tone.
Virgil remained quiet along with Patton. Logan seemed taken aback by his outburst, and instead sighed, he looked back up at Virgil. "Look, I'm sorry, Virgil. I was behaving....unprofessionally and that wasn't right of me, I-"
"No" Virgil interrupted. "It was me, I'm sorry, Logan. I shouldn't have tried to speak for Roman when I don't even know how he feels. You might have a point about taking into account his feelings and...I was a...jerk for thinking that you were looking down at Roman for that" Virgil looked down in guilt. "I don't even know why I'm so defensive about this" He mumbled.
Logan and Virgil both hung their heads for a moment. The mood turned to somber and Patton sighed from his spot on the couch.
"Maybe we should take a break" Patton said. "I mean, we can't help Roman if we're all a little tired now, can we?" He gave them both a nervous smile.
Logan looked at Patton and nodded. "I suppose that a break would be ideal"
Patton smiled and interlocked his fingers together. "Great! Uh, Virgil?"
Virgil's hands fidgeted inside his pockets. "I guess I'll take a rest too, but only cause I want to" He added.
Patton nodded at Virgil. "Right, wouldn't want anything other than that" Patton tried not to wince as Virgil gave him a side-glance and walked away.
Virgil walked over his room. Patton watched him from his spot near the coffee table. Once Virgil was out of sight Patton sighed, he looked at the paper Virgil left on the coffee table and pocketed it to give it to him later.
Patton slowly began making his way to his kitchen and dug through the cabinets to find the cleaning materials.
"Looking for this?" A voice asked, and Patton popped his head out of the cabinet to spot Logan handing him a rag.
"Ah! Logan" He greeted happily and accepted the rag and spray bottle. "I thought you went to take a break?"
"Well, I was going to grab my notebook. I just happened to notice that you were going through the cabinets. So I suspected you were going to clean, if you were wondering, they were already on the counter" Logan explained.
"Oh, my bad" Patton said a bit sheepishly and shrugged.
"Is everything alright, Patton?" Logan asked abruptly.
"Well, why wouldn't it be?" Patton asked as he wiped the kitchen counter.
"I can think of several reasons - but the simplest answer would probably be because you only clean our living space when you are stressed out by something" Logan pointed out. Patton only shrugged in response and kept on wiping down on the kitchen counter.
"I'll ask again, is everything alright, Patton?" Logan said softly this time.
Patton breathed in deeply. "I-I honestly don't know, Logan" Patton admitted. "I can't get through with Virgil, I can see that he's still mad at me! Even Roman! They're both still mad at me and I don't know how to fix it! I mean, what am I supposed to do?" Patton's brows furrowed as his eyes stung. He started to roughly wipe on the table now, every word he spoke only increased the harsh press of the fabric down on the marble.
"Patton" Logan said, softly. He held Patton's wrist, and only did the other side notice how hard he was cleaning. Patton laughed it off. "Whoops" He said.
"I truly don't think there's much to do except to give them time, Patton" Logan told him softly. Patton looked down in frustration. "Why's it so hard?" Patton asked, bringing his face up to look at Logan.
"I-I want to give them time and make them understand. But it's so hard, Logan. I just want us to all get along again....I just wish I could've seen that something was bothering Roman sooner, I wish it could've been different" Patton's eyes glazed over.
Logan sighed. "You can't think like that, Patton. Thinking about the ways you could've prevented it, the "What if"s,"If only"s - are harmful, what's in the past is in the past." He reminded him softly. "And I know it may take some time to get used to their attitudes, but I'm sure they'll see why you did what you did in time"
Patton smiled up at him. "Thanks, Logan"
Logan smiled back. "Anytime, Patton" He removed his hand from Patton's shoulder and began to walk away, Logan then stopped and looked back at Patton. "If it's any consolation, if you ever wish to express your frustrations or discouragements... I'd be happy to offer you a room for company"
Patton's gaze softened as he looked at Logan this time. "Thanks, Logan. That means a lot. I'm thankful that I get to spend my time with you."
Logan looked taken aback by the compliment. Once he processed it correctly, Logan nodded and adjusted his tie. "Of course, Patton. I...am also grateful that Thomas has a side like you... you are truly essential to his wellbeing as you are to us"
Patton gave him a lopsided smile as he waved Logan goodbye. Feeling lighter than he had in weeks.