#child!patton

The coat was a little over-sized—”You’re swimming in that thing,” Remus had complained with a laugh when he’d purchased it. “We can’t hardly see your ass in it!”—but today that was a benefit.

With a small adjustment, he was able to close one side around Patton, banishing the cold. Patton’s little arm slid beneath the coat and he gripped the back of Logan’s suit, smiling. “Is that better?” he asked as Janus tucked the lapel under the toddler’s chin.

Shoulders scrunched and beginning to cry, he shook his head, drawing away from the coat. “Oh, I’m sorry,” Janus said, dropping his hands. “Too close?” he asked.

He kicked at the air—stockinged feet twice striking Logan’s legs—and stared at the coat, simultaneously hiding from it and pushing himself deeper into its warmth.

Janus removed one of his own gloves and touched the coat. “Oh!” he said again. “Too scratchy!” he said and Patton stilled, eyes wide.

“It hurts,” he whispered.

Pulling a bright yellow scarf from under his own coat, Janus offered it to Patton to touch. “Would you like to use this?”

Moving carefully, Patton stroked and pinched the smooth, heavy silk, then smiled. He nodded, watching Janus’ hands as he tucked the scarf between the coat and his neck and shoulders. Janus left the excess close to his hand and Patton grasped it, twisting the material between his fingers.

“Is that acceptable?” Logan asked both of them. Janus didn’t even let him borrow his favorite scarf, let alone Remus who had a track record for spilling ceramic glaze on every textile he got within five feet of.

He'd certainly never lend it to a child.

Patton didn’t answer with words, merely curled closer to Logan, brushing the scarf against his cheek.

“I believe it is more than acceptable,” Janus smiled and pointed north before nodding at Grace, who’d watched the exchange in a stunned fascination. “Our office is two blocks this way.”

“I…” Hurrying to match his pace, she finally found her words. Logan walked behind them down the narrow street. “I didn’t know he could communicate. His file…” She shook her head, looking down at the thick redwell clutched to her chest. “It says he’s pre-verbal. Developmentally delayed.” Glancing over her shoulder, she caught Patton staring right at her and she lowered her voice but not enough that Logan couldn’t hear. “Significantly.”

Janus raised an eyebrow before winking at Patton and Logan as they waited to cross at the corner. “Perhaps no-one was listening to him.”

Janus called Remus on their way, asking him to meet them at their offices with food and whatever weather appropriate clothes he could find for the boy at the Target on his way. “Size?” he said, looking to Grace.

She shrugged helplessly. 

“Ah…” Janus looked closely at the little boy curled against Logan’s chest as they waited for the walk signal. “He’s as tall from shoulder to hip as Lo’s tie,” he said at last. “And skinny.” Remus’ response pulled a low laugh from the back of Janus’ throat and Logan couldn’t help but smile. He was gratified Janus had thought to have Remus join them. Nothing really felt complete without him there. 

“See you soon, love,” Janus said. He paused, glancing at Logan with a smile. “We do, too,” he said, then ended the call. Addressing Grace, he nodded as the light changed. “My husband will meet us shortly.”

~

They waited less than an hour for Remus to appear, tromping into the conference room where Patton had some room to move around without disrupting anyone still working in the offices after hours. A happy whistle—some sort of show tune, if Logan had to guess—announced his presence and Patton looked up just in time to see his mop of bright green hair peering around the corner into the room. "Found you! Reception's gone home already."

"We had every faith in your navigational abilities," Logan chuckled, rubbing Patton's back when he climbed into the chair beside him, peering up at Remus with wide eyes.

Grace looked up from her paperwork. "You got here must faster than I thought you would."

Remus laughed. “I’m just that fast.”

“We all know that,” Janus deadpanned quietly and Logan cleared his throat to disguise his laugh.

“Well I heard there was a hungry little caterpillar here,” Remus grinned, brandishing two giant bags from the Veggie Grill. He set them down the bags on the conference table and began to unpack. The room was soon filled with the rich aroma of french fries and melted cheese, the sweet-sticky scent of their special seared zucchini, and toasted garlic bread. “Wanna come see what looks good to you?” he asked Patton.

Legs criss-crossed in his chair, Patton eyed the packages then looked up at Remus towering over the table.

Head tilted, Remus peered back at him then his smile suddenly grew. Moving to the opposite side of the long table, he took a seat and folded his own lanky frame in the seat, mimicking Patton’s pose. “Watch this,” he said and, holding the edge of the table, pulled himself along the length of it until he was closer to the food.

Giggling, Patton copied him until he was in reach of a stack of wrapped sandwiches.

“Hmm, those do look good,” Remus said, picking one up when Patton selected one. “How ‘bout a drink?”

Remus had brought a half-dozen different kinds of juice boxes and milks. Patton assessed them, touching each and setting them aside before two remained before him. He stared at them both for a long moment when Remus spoke again. “You could have both, if you want.”

Eyes narrowed, Patton watched his expression for a long moment. He reminded Logan of Janus staring down a witness he knew to be lying. Without breaking his gaze, Patton pulled both closer, looking down only when Remus took two matching juice boxes for himself.

“So,” Remus then said, wiggling his fingers and frowning down at his hands. “I like to wash up before I eat. How 'bout you?”

~

A half an hour and four clean hands later, Patton pulled Logan over to sit with him while he ate. Prepared to assist him with his meal, Logan was surprised at Patton’s dexterity with his sandwich wrapping and drink box straw. The only help the toddler needed was a little encouragement to use a napkin instead of his sleeve to wipe up a bit of spilled juice.

Remus and Janus sat across from them and Grace sat adjacently, flipping through Patton’s file as she picked at her own food.

After a few quiet minutes, Grace looked up at Janus, brow furrowed. “How did you guess at—” She stopped, glancing at Patton, then turned the file to show the petition cover sheet.

Janus gestured to the section marked guardian ad litem. “The court-assigned GAL. Devin used to work here," he explained. "We’ve been reassigning his cases. The parent’s name stuck out.”

Reading upside down, Logan scanned the sheet and scowled. “Your client—”

“Oh, she’s not my client,” Grace interrupted, the kind of fire in her eyes Logan had only previously seen when she testified against the worst kind of group home. “Patton is my client,” she said, smiling when the little boy looked up at her, reaching for Logan’s arm. She nodded at him, gaze lingering when, apparently satisfied she wasn’t preparing to take him somewhere, he returned to slowly dipping sweet potato fries in his ketchup. “Given his…” She pursed her lips, brow furrowed as she seemed to reconsider her phrasing. “Some placements are more difficult than others. High support needs. And there are certain… behavioral difficulties. Violent tendencies…”

“You cannot be serious,” Logan began to shake his head but before he could finish his argument, she pointed to the bright red scratches that still adorned the backs of his hands.

He frowned. “That hardly seems fair.”

Grace sighed but shrugged as she finished her drink. “I didn’t say it was fair. It just is.” She sat back in her seat and closed the file. “If he needs a new GAL, maybe you’re right for the job.”

“I can think of no-one who would fight harder,” Janus murmured, then smirked. “Besides me, of course. I am the better lawyer.”

Logan chuckled. “Perhaps in your dreams.”

Making quiet whooshing sounds, Patton had begun to trace swirls of ketchup over his empty sandwich wrapper, loading up the end of a fry like a paintbrush. “Patton,” Grace said sternly. “Don’t play with your food.” She must have caught Logan’s scowl because she quickly added, “Please.”

Not listening or perhaps not hearing, Patton continued, adding a large blob of ketchup in one corner of the dirty wrapper. Remus leaned over the table, watching him.

After a moment, he asked, “Is that the sun?”

Patton beamed but didn’t look up from his work.

Reaching behind him into the ancient messenger bag he brought everywhere, Remus dug around until he came up with a small box of pastels. They weren’t the very first box Logan had bought for him, but neither were they new. “I bet Jannie here knows where we could find some paper if you want to try some different colors.”

Eyes wide, Patton looked up and nodded when Remus opened the box to reveal more than a rainbow’s worth of hues.

Logan pointed to the stack of notepads and printer paper in the corner of the room. “There’s paper right—”

“You are welcome to any blank paper you find in there,” Janus said, gesturing through the glass wall to their shared attorney-in-charge offices before looking pointedly at him.

“Of course,” he agreed, turning to Patton. “Would you like to draw across the hall with Mr. Remus?” They both turned and peered through the open door. “We will clean up here while you do.”

Chewing on his lip, Patton looked at each of them, gaze lingering on Logan’s eyes. Finally, he nodded and clambered out of his chair. He waited for Remus at the door, bouncing on his toes as Remus gathered up his bag and kissed Janus’ cheek. Remus flashed a quick wink at Logan as he rose, mouthing, “Later.”

With her head once again buried in the file, Logan doubted Grace noticed even noticed. He smiled back at Remus as he and Patton left the conference room. Patton walked beside him, eyes down at the thin chains jingling on his boots. He laughed again and copied the sound with each step before plopping down on the office floor, looking up expectantly at Remus.

Finally, Logan turned back to Janus and Grace. Grace was tapping at her phone and Janus… Janus was watching him, a crooked smile pulling up the corner of his mouth. Before he could explain, Grace sat down her phone and sighed.

“The night social worker will be here in a few hours,” she shook her head. “We’ve run out of leads for even an emergency placement for him. He’s too old for Foundling and too young for our contracted respite center. He’s—”

“He can sleep here,” Logan interrupted, momentarily surprised by his own impulsivity. Janus looked back at him, eyebrow cocked. After a beat he nodded.

“He wouldn’t be the first person to sleep here,” Janus said. “Though likely the youngest.”

“I can’t simply leave him here in the care of—”

Daggers shot from Janus’ eyes but Logan spoke before he could. “If his proficiency with children is insufficient as a clue to his qualifications, Remus is a certified respite childcare worker,” he said. “Has been for ten years. Janus and I regularly work with minor clients and have background checks on file with Chidrens' Services."

“Oh,” she said, naked surprise coloring her face. “Of course, I… I see. Well… I will need to confirm his credentials,” she fumbled for her phone but nodded. “That works as a short term solution. I…” Grace looked down at Patton’s file. “But even if his mother bothers to appear in court tomorrow and, given how drunk she sounded over the phone, that’s unlikely.” She shook her head, eyes darting up at the peal of Patton's happy laughter spilling out from their office. “His mother is unlikely to succeed in this petition.”

Logan adjusted his glasses and reached for the paperwork. “What finding, precisely, is the mother petitioning the court to stay?”

Grace sighed again, bowed head accentuating the deep shadows under her eyes. “Termination of parental rights.”

~

One more trip to Target later and they’d equipped Patton with fresh pajamas and underclothes, a toothbrush, and three different flavors of toothpaste to try. Remus had also hefted a second bag and murmured to Logan. “I bought a comb and some detangling spray for his hair, too. I have an idea.”

At some point during their coloring, Patton had noticed Remus’ tattoos and had begun to draw on his own arms with the pastels. Now, while Janus and Grace discussed the case, Logan and Remus worked on Patton’s hair. Blazer and vest shed, Logan sat on the floor with his sleeves rolled up. Patton sat facing him, smearing Crayola markers over his bare skin. He grazed the edge of Logan's braided bracelet with the marker and he froze, hand trembling.

"It is quite alright," Logan said. "They're washable, see?" he added, wiping away the errant mark with one of the hand-wipes Remus had thankfully thought to include. "It's all gone now."

A small laugh bubbled up and Patton resumed his scribbling on Logan's arm.

Remus sat behind Patton, detangling one tiny section of his hair at a time. Spraying the comb first, he then slowly worked it through from end to root, moving up only when the lower strands were free of knots.

Suddenly, Patton hissed, pained, and Remus stopped, dropping the comb. “I’m sorry, Bud, did I pull?”

But Patton was looking down at the scratches he’d left earlier on Logan’s arm, bruises the size of his own little fingertips beginning to bloom in red and purple. Gently, he brushed Logan’s arm and looked up at him with shiny, wet eyes. “You have boo-boos,” he said.

“I do,” Logan nodded. “These will heal quickly. I will be okay,” he said, not sure what else to say to a toddler who’d only just begun to have object permanence. There was little point in reminding the boy just how he'd gotten his 'boo-boos.'

Patton nodded slowly. “I’m sorry,” he whispered and Logan’s eyes flew wide open. Though far from an expert in child development, he certainly hadn’t anticipated it was even possible for a child Patton’s age to connect his earlier tantrum with Logan’s minor wounds.

“I—” Logan frowned when Patton looked up at him with more worry than a child his age should ever know. He took his hand and smiled. “I forgive you,” he said. When Patton’s forehead only creased further Logan added with a small smile, “I am not angry with you.”

Gradually, Patton’s smile matched his and he patted Logan’s hand.

“Can I keep going with your hair, Bud?” Remus asked after a minute. “We’re nearly finished,” he said.

Picking up another marker, Patton nodded and resumed coloring Logan’s arms, careful to avoid the scratches. And his bracelet. Logan looked up, again catching Janus quietly watching them. Their eyes met in silent agreement.

“You know what granny thinks about it. You get too hyperactive and are not able to sleep if you eat any before your bedtime.” Virgil left different containers next to the candies.

Patton hummed, “…is already past my bedtime tho”

Virgil blinked and looked at the clock. Halloween was an exception to bedtime of course, but he didn’t actually expect Patton to find a slip on his mother’s words. He looked back at his son with a half smile, “you know what? I think you’re right.”

Patton gasped and smiled widely, “I am?!”

Virgil placed a finger on his mouth as a silence sign. His parents were asleep and they weren’t supposed to wake them up. “You are, and you can have one after we put them away. Only one, and it’s gonna be our little secret okay?”

Patton nodded excitedly. He copied Virgil’s gesture “a secret,” he giggled.

“Now, you know what to do right? Chocolates, hard candy, soft candy, and the ones you don't like.” Virgil pointed to each container as he spoke. Some of them still had candy so they had to make sure to throw out the expired ones.

Patton nodded and started separating the candies with his father's help. They were done after a couple of minutes.

Patton had moved to sit on his father's lap. Virgil noticed he was quite tired already. The kid leaned against his chest and yawning through the whole categorizing process.

“We’re done!” Patton looked back at Virgil, “can I have one candy now?”

Virgil nodded, “you can. You won’t get more until tomorrow so choose wisely.” He booped the kid’s nose.

Paton giggled and looked at the containers. He reached into the cocolates one and took out a chocolate covered marshmallow. He unwrapped it and started eating it.

Virgil stroked his son’s hair, “great choice buddy.” He kissed his head and took another marshmallow out for himself, “let’s go to our room, and we can watch a movie before sleeping.” He picked Patton up.

The kid rested his head against Virgil’s shoulder and nodded, “can we watch the Alvin Halloween?”

“Of course we can.” A movie was the best way to keep Patton entretained, Virgil could clean the face paint of his costume off and help him get into hos pjs. He turned off the lights on the kitchen and walked downstairs.

Their room was originally a basement where they used to keep old stuff, they moved all of that to Virgil’s old room once Patton was born so they could have the extra space. They were already making plans for when Patton wanted to have his own room, but Virgil hoped it took him a lon long time to decide that.

Virgil set Patton down on the bed and went to put the dvd on. Once the movie was running, he sat down next to Patton with some makeup wipes and started cleaning his face. “You were the cutest werewolf today,” Virgil kissed his cheek once it was clean.

Nor him or his parents were that good with costumes and make up, but Patton was really getting into it so he did the best he could. Of course there were kids who had way more elaborated costumes, and it was most likely the parental instinct kicking in, but Patton would always be the cutest kid.

Virgil helped Patton get changed as the movie went on. They moved from the end of the bed to lay down under the covers. Virgil was holding a half asleep Patton, who was fighting to stay awake to finish the movie, and stroked his hair.

“I--” He swallowed trying again as he adjusted Pattey’s weight on his hip. This wasn’t at all how he’d pictured them meeting again. He wasn’t ready for this. “We really can just leave. He’ll understand.” His son knew all too well about his history with the Prince even if it was just through bedtime stories. “You don’t have to--”

“Shut up, Dragon Witch.” Roman growled, tugging him around a corner. “I don’t want to either. But I’m not heartless.” 

“You’re not.” He agreed. Roman was anything but that. He was good. He’d been the best thing that had happened to him before Patton came into his life, and Janus had taken advantage of that in the worst ways possible, using him and then tossing him away like so much trash without realizing what a treasure Roman actually was. “But you don’t have to force yourself on my--” Janus cut off as a small hand covered his mouth, his son’s bright eyes filled with excitement. 

“Shh, Daddy.” He patted his lips. “You told me if a Prince offers to help you, you let him help! You don’t say no.”

Yes. But he hadn’t meant that to apply to himself! What he’d done--it could be considered unforgivable. No one should be treated how he’d treated Roman--or well, any of his former relationships. It had taken Patton’s birth to get him to...stop. To want to change. To be better. 

Roman had the gall to smirk at him as he stopped in front of a display of cages, letting go of Janus’s wrist so he could fish out a set of keys from his pocket. “Correct, little man. It’s a Prince’s duty to help all those he encounters in distress….even if the fair damsel turns out to be a---.”

“Aaraog!” Patton piped up.

Roman froze, looking nonplussed at the nonsequir. “Aaraog?” 

“You can’t trust them. They’re Evil.” Patton said solemnly before bouncing in Janus’s arms as he stared eagerly into the cages. “Daddy says that even though the Dragon Witch is a jerk, he still occasionally helps the Prince! And so they can’t be meanies to each other all the time like Aaraog sooo if the Prince can help the Dragon Witch then you, Prince--” 

“Roman.” Janus said softly, the name feeling like he was tasting the forbidden fruit as it rolled off his tongue. He looked away as his Ex shot him a dark look. Yah...he didn’t think they were on first name terms anymore, hence why he only ever called the Prince...well Prince. But Pattey had been upset that the Dragon Witch always fought with the Prince and always lost...so he’d told a slightly different story from the usual, using a giant spider as the villain instead. It’d been... a kind of self wish of his. Where he hoped things would eventually...maybe...work out.

“Prince Roman! And my Daddy can be friends today too as you help!”

Ha. That would be the day. He wasn’t a fool enough to believe them rekindling any sort of...friendship...would ever actually happen. Even if he wanted a redo...he was pretty sure he’d burned that bridge and then buried the ashes in a pit a hundred feet deep back in college.

“I--I--don’t think he’s...uh...I’m sure the Dragon Witch can be...nice.” Roman said, rubbing the back of his neck.

And Janus was a platypus. “Liar.” He mumbled. Roman had only ever known his manipulative nice. Not his genuine niceness. How could he? Janus had only learned how to be so after Patton had said his first word. Years after everything had...ended between them. 

“You’re one to talk.” Roman hissed. 

“Yes and?” 

Pattey looked between the two of them, before deciding that comforting his Dad was needed. His little hands squished Janus’s cheeks. “But Daddy isn’t a true Dragon Witch!” He said firmly, maintaining eye contact before he flashed his hundred watt smile, succeeding in melting Janus’s heart once again. “He’s the bestest Daddy in the whole world! Even if he doesn’t think so.” 

Janus flushed. “Liar.” He repeated. He was sure there were plenty of other Dads who were far better than he could ever be.

“Truther!” Patton grinned. “The best best best BEST Daddy!!” 

He shook his head as Roman scoffed, hoping his face wasn’t as red as a tomato--this awkward encounter was only going to get much worse if he didn’t hurry this up. Janus quickly set his son down, pushing him towards the cage his Ex had unlocked. 

“Go pick one you like.” He encouraged, staying crouched to discourage Roman from talking to him even if it did mean his Ex would be hovering over him like the Sword of Damocles. It wasn’t ideal, but it would hopefully keep himself from saying something he would regret and get them kicked out before he could buy a Frogmin for his son.

After all, Roman had to only be helping him on Patton’s behalf. If his kid hadn’t been here he was sure his Ex would have taken one look at him and thrown him right back out, no questions asked. So the sooner they could get out of here the sooner they both could forget this whole encounter. 

Not that Janus would be able to forget. Not when Pattey usually demanded a Prince story for bedtime. 

“Oh!!!” Patton pressed his face against the glass where little multi-colored frog-like humans crouched among the branches inside the cage. “Look at them, Daddy!!! LOOK! FROGMINS!! They’re here! AWWWWWW. Look at their cute little spots!!”

Janus let out a slow breath, the tension in his shoulders easing. Finally. After fifteen stores he could finally make good on his promise to his son.

“Careful. You don’t want to scare them.” Roman said, also kneeling down, keeping Pattey between them as he pointed to the half dozen Frogmins inside. “While they have frog characteristics, it’s easier to think of them as mini people. And some of them can get really scared when a giant face suddenly appears in front of them.”

His son’s eyes went wide. “Noooo. I don’t wanna scare them!” Pattey leaned back, wrapping his arms around himself as he twisted back and forth. “They’re just sooo cool! And so Princely! Cus if you kiss one they can turn large and save the day! Like the stories! But I want mine to remain small, so I’ll be very careful in my kisses. And they can hop and climb walls like--” Patton made a face and Janus had to bite back a smile at his son’s reluctance to say Spiderman. “Like superheros!! And they eat bugs! Like...like!!!....like….spiders.” He shivered. “I don’t like them.” 

Roman tilted his head, amber eyes flashing with understanding. “So you’re looking for a Frogmin to protect you from spiders?” 

Pattey nodded hard enough he looked like a bobble head. “He’ll keep me safe while I sleep!”

Roman chuckled. “A good reason to get a Frogmin. Though not all of them like to eat spiders. Just like some little boys don’t like to eat their vegetables.”

His son grimaced. “But carrots are icky!!”

“And some Frogmins think spiders are icky too.” He said gently, opening a small hatch in the side of the cage where three of the Frogmins had already gathered. “While you can just pick one that you like the look of...you could also come over here and hold out your hands--don’t reach in, but hold out your hands and ask them if any of them would like to come live with you and eat spiders...or well, like to have them as a treat as I’m sure you don’t want to feed them dried ones.” He glanced over to Janus as he spoke.

Ha. No. While he did have some dried spiders waiting at home, there was no way he’d pull out any of the creatures...even dead ones...where his son could see. One meltdown at the first pet store had been enough to convince him why having his Lilypatton see spiders--dead or alive--was a bad idea. 

Janus let out a slow breath as Pattey eagerly moved closer, his small hands held out to the opening. 

“Do you guys like to eat spiders?” He whisper-shouted to the group. “If you do, we have plenty of them at home and I really really REALLY want you to eat ALL of them. Please? Pleeeease.”

And now Roman was going to think they lived in a haunted house or something. Really, it was more of an issue of all the spiders in their backyard instead of inside. 

Janus shook his head, holding up a hand. “I have a variety of other dried insects to choose from at home if the one Pattey picks doesn’t like spiders.” He said, glancing at his Ex before turning his attention back to the cage, watching as more Frogmins crept out of the leaves towards his son. 

Sure, he knew that Pattey wanted the Frogmin mostly for their ability to eat spiders--and their connection to Princes--but he wasn’t a fool to expect that to be the only food source.

Though knowing his luck, whichever one his son picked would be extremely picky and want to eat only the most expensive of the bugs. 

Roman raised an eyebrow. “You already have everything else as well? The cage?” 

Janus rolled his eyes. Nooo he’d just spent months preparing and all day searching for a Frogmin and totally forgot about getting the creature a home to live in. “Yes.”

Roman pursed his lips, an obvious indication that he didn’t like the answer and stood, tilting his head down the aisle to where a variety of cages sat on the shelves. “Show me.”

The shopping trip obviously didn’t last as long as Logan wanted it to as, as soon as Virgil texted that he was on the way home, Logan redirected him somewhere else. He was sent to the bakery to pick up donuts that Logan doesn’t normally eat. Then, a fast food restaurant to pick up subs for dinner.

Once that was done, he didn’t get a new task so returned home. He opened the door with his arms lined with bags of groceries, too stubborn to take multiple trips, and the boxes of donuts in his hands.

“Surprise!” Logan softly exclaimed, flicking on the lights.

Virgil looked around. The entrance way was covered with streamers, balloons hanging from the ceiling. There were decorations everywhere in blue, purple, and black. “Babe, what’s going on?”

Logan sighed, walking over to help with the bags. “Did you really forget our anniversary?”

Virgil wanted to play it cool, to say, ‘No’, but what came out of his mouth instead was, “Yeah . . . Oops?”

Logan just chuckled, leaning up to kiss his soulmate on the cheek. “You and that scatterbrain of yours.”

Virgil laughed. “Excuse me, who’s the scatterbrain? Mr. ‘I forgot my own birthday, I was so focused on my science project’.”

Logan playfully shoved his shoulder as he walked to the fridge. “Hey! That was one time!”

Virgil just pushed him back, equally gentle. “And this was one time! Don’t even try giving the excuse that this was more decorated, love. I decorated for the forgotten birthday too! We even ended up eating the cake the next night because you forgot!”

Logan put the last item in the fridge and closed it, walking over to wrap his arms around Virgil’s waist and kiss his ticklish neck. “Aw, come on, dearest. Light of my life. My beloved. Love. Soulmate. Husband.” He kissed his neck between pet names.

Virgil lasted as long as he could before he broke down, turning to pick Logan up by the waist and set him on the counter. “You minx.” He muttered as he leaned in for a real kiss.

Logan hummed into the kiss, his arms coming up to twine around Virgil’s neck and draw him closer.

“Gross!” They heard from behind Virgil. They broke apart and Virgil turned, leaning his head on Logan’s shoulder so they could look at their eight year old.

Virgil looked serious for all of five seconds before he split into a grin. “Get over here, twerp.” He laughed.

Patton scrambled over, skidding into Virgil’s legs and wrapping his arms around him. Virgil bent down and picked him up, cradling him in his arms as he leaned over his head to kiss Logan’s cheek. Patton squealed.

Logan giggled as he pulled back, putting Patton next to him. “Are there any more groceries?”

Virgil looked at the island. “There’s a few more bags but I can handle them.” He put the rest of the bags away himself while talking with Logan about the scientist’s day and the new lab frustrations.

“I mean, why does Doug not wash his hands after dealing with certain specimens?! Also, I know the geology department is allowed to get away with it, but why do they keep using their specimens to prop the door open?”

Virgil giggled at that. Logan’s hand paused its path through Patton’s hair. “You think that’s funny?”

Virgil shrugged. “I mean, a little bit. Come on, bioscientist, admit it. You’re just jealous you’re not allowed to do that.”

Logan pretended to be offended for about ten seconds before he too dissolved into giggles. “Okay, you’re right, it’s funny.”

One the groceries were put away and the subs were in the fridge, the family moved to the living room. Patton curled up on a beanbag while Logan and Virgil claimed the love seat. They put on the movie the couple had seen on their second date, laughing and making commentary the whole way through.

They ate dinner, saving the donuts for breakfast tomorrow. After dinner, it was one more movie before Patton had to go to bed. Both parents came up to kiss him goodnight and tuck him in before they were back downstairs, cuddling under a blanket and watching a stupidly cheesy rom-com as was tradition.

After the movie ended, they sat there, talking in the darkness, telling each other how much they loved them, how much the other meant to them. Logan knew Virgil got shy easily and preferred the lights off when confessing how much Logan meant to him. Virgil knew Logan loved him more than words could express but it was still nice to hear him say it.

His eyes flickered between the human boy’s and the open world behind him.

The night air was warm against his back, the wind slightly ruffling his hair forward as him and the child stayed in a silent standstill. Roman almost wasn’t sure what he should do. The bedroom window was pushed open just enough to allow in that gentle breeze, causing the flowers scent to flutter in.

Finally deciding that he had wasted enough time, Roman turned again to get out of there only to pause. A sharp breath had been taken in by the kid behind him. He tensed his shoulders, almost as if he was waiting to be grabbed right out of midair, only for nothing of the like to happen. No childish fingers wrapping around his frame and squeezing.

“My name’s Patton!” the boy quickly introduced, as if that would keep Roman around for a little longer.

And it did.

“…and I didn’t mean to upset you about talking about your wings, honest! I‌ just think the red is really pretty.”

Roman ignored the idle chatter afterward. Silently, he remarked that getting a compliment on his wings was the furthest thing from an insult. In fact, Roman prided himself on the gossamer and pristine red, black and gold swirls.

Though, that wasn’t the most shocking part of this encounter. He twisted back around, bright eyes slightly surprised at the fact that the boy had just given Roman his name. His true and real name. Did the kid not understand how powerful one’s name was?

Patton blinked back at him, almost just as surprised as Roman himself.

“Didn’t your father ever warn you about how dangerous it is to give your real name to a fae?” Roman blurted before he had realized. He didn’t care. At least, he shouldn’t. He really shouldn’t be entertaining this, and yet here he was.

“It’s dangerous?”

“It very much can be,” Roman chided him. There were fae out there that would steal children away and whisk them to the beyond without a trace. The village Roman came from didn’t do that sort of thing, since they were more concerned about hiding from humanity. But there were others! There were countless others. “It gives us power over you. I could do whatever I‌ wanted to you now, if I so desired.”

The owlish eyes seemed to understand that. Though, Patton furrowed his brows, looking as if he was trying to puzzle it all together. “But, do you want to?”

Roman rolled his eyes. “How old are you, kid?”

Patton gave him a blinding grin, a few of his front teeth missing. “I just turned seven a couple days ago.”

Seven.

Roman almost felt physically sick knowing what others would do to a kid this age and this naive. Patton was so trusting.

Before either of them could say another thing though, there was the sound of heavy footsteps thudding just outside of Patton’s bedroom door.

“Who are you talking to in there?” The rough voice of a man said.

When the door handle jiggled, Roman felt a spike of anxiety strike him in the chest. He shared a startled look with Patton, before said kid turned to face the door instead.

He dove instantly for the flowerbed and Roman pressed himself up against the side of it, hidden just underneath the windowsill.

“Uh.. no one, Granddad,”‌ Patton called back, though his voice was far more timid.  

Was he frightened of his grandfather? It made an uncomfortable feeling rise in the fae. No child should be afraid of their guardian; the one person they should be able to rely on to take care of them.

“Then get to bed,” his Granddad spat, “I thought you were asleep three hours ago.”

“…okay Granddad.”

When the heavy footsteps thundered away, Roman heard Patton let out a gentle sigh of relief.

“You still there, fairy?”

Roman had half a mind to just stay where he was, hidden away among the flowers. His wings blended in almost perfectly with the smattering of red flowers. In hindsight, he could have just bolted in the first place. However, hearing the slight tremble to the young voice was what coaxed him out after a heartbeat. He hovered, petals tucked against his chest once more.

Patton’s eyes had lost that spark. They didn’t gleam nearly as much in the moonlight and his eyes flickered more.

Roman had heard his grandfather speak a grand total of eighteen words and he already felt a deep loathing in him.

He shouldn’t care.

But he did.

And that was going to drive him insane.

“I‌- I should really be getting to bed,” Patton’s voice was softer now, consciously aware that speaking too loud might draw more than just a frustrated Granddad to his door. Roman didn’t even get the chance to say anything before Patton was sliding off of the window seat before pausing.

He turned to look over his shoulder, eyes shining with glistening tears. Roman could see he was trying to hold them back.

“…you never answered my question.”

Roman shifted, hovering just above the sill. “Which one?”

“I‌f you were one of the bad fairies that wanted to do bad things,” the kid repeated. The gist of it, at least.

He didn’t answer right away. Not wanting Patton to get in more trouble than he already seemed to be, Roman set the petals and leaves down on the sill in a small heap before fluttering into the room.

He could feel the boy’s wide gaze on him the entire time, even as he went and hovered above the bed. He gestured to it pointedly.

Patton, after getting the unsaid hint, crawled onto his bed. He took his glasses off and set them onto the bedside table. He wiped at his eyes with the sleeve of his night shirt, before he got under the comforters and pulled them up to his chin. He looked up at the blurry figure hovering above him.

“If I‌ wanted to do something bad,”‌ Roman said, his hands planted on his waist—looking all the world like an exasperated but fond parent. “I‌ would have done it by now. Get some sleep, before Granddork comes back.”

Patton giggled softly at that, before trying to stifle a wide yawn. His eyes lazily followed Roman’s soft glow back to the window as the fairy retreated to gather his things back into his arms. “Will I ever get to see you again?”

It was such an innocent question. And the answer should have been simple.

No.

You’re never going to see me again.

But Roman hesitated and the words died in his throat. Saying that to a little kid would break his spirits. He glanced over his shoulder before turning to face the night sky completely.

“Who’s to say.”