#fae patton

Logan fell on his back into the grass, panting and smiling. Patton landed on his rapidly rising and falling chest, folding his translucent wings to his back. His giggle sounded like little bells, and it was like music to Logan’s ears. “Tired already, Lo?” he teased.

“I can... keep going,” he insisted, fighting for air.

“Of course dear, but it’s break time now.” A tiny hand patted his chest and the fairy giggled again. “I like you, so I don’t wanna break you yet.”

“Of… hah… of course.”

“You’re getting better though,” Patton praised. “I like seeing you dance.” Something sparked in his chest, and he was halfway up before he realized it. Patton fluttered in front of him, pushing him back down with one arm. “No, down.” Logan’s back landed on the grass again. “I told you it was break time, didn’t I?”

“You did,” he confirmed, still smiling fondly. “I just...”

He didn’t continue, but Patton giggled nonetheless. “You silly child. You really like dancing with me, don’t you?” Logan nodded, his smile widening. Patton hummed and landed on his chest again. “We can dance more later.”

They lay in silence for a while, looking up at the sky and warming themselves in the sun. The blades of grass tickled against Logan’s arms and legs as they trembled from exertion. His breathing slowly mellowed out until each breath didn’t rasp out his throat anymore. The sun’s warmth became uncomfortable quickly, but he didn’t move. 

After a while, Patton got up, telling him to stay right there. He came back with a blob of water and a moist piece of fabric. Logan obediently opened his mouth when he was told to, closing his eyes in bliss when the cool water quenched his thirst and soothed his throat. Then he took the piece of fabric and dabbed it at his face, trying to clean the dried sweat and tear tracks.

He sat up as Patton landed at his shoulder. His bell-like voice was startlingly close as he giggled. “Oh, my silly little Logan. Look at your leg.” He looked down slowly.

The cuffs of his jeans no longer covered his lower legs, but that wasn’t new. They had cut the bottom part a long time ago, around the same time he lost his shoes and socks and tie. He hurt his legs so often that it was just easier to keep it like this. But he knew Patton wasn’t talking about his clothes, so he looked past the ruffled hem at his bruised shins. His right ankle was swollen and purple, and his knee looked weird too. It was probably dislocated again, but he wasn’t sure. There were blisters and gashes on both his feet, most of them surrounded by dried blood, some of them still bleeding.

Patton tsked. “I keep forgetting how fragile you are. Let’s get you healed up!”

As the fairy worked his magic to mend his torn muscles and broken skin, Logan laid back and closed his eyes. His smile barely wavered as his limbs spasmed during the process. It felt nice when the pain finally ebbed away. He had felt it earlier of course, but he couldn’t just stop dancing because of some pain. And a little pain never hurt anybody, anyways.

His expression twitched into a frown at that thought - he felt like that wasn’t quite right -  but it was quickly smoothed out. Patton often said he thought too deeply about stuff. It was true, but he was getting better. All thanks to Patton.

He was so lucky they met. He could still vaguely remember the dread and fear he’d felt when the fairy read out the name he’d written on the first page in his book - his full, true name - so long ago. It seemed so silly now, although he couldn’t really fault himself. Logan from before just hadn’t known yet that Patton was his friend. He would never hurt him.

Logan didn’t like the him from before much, based on what little he could remember. Logan from before was stressed and distant when he met with Patton, and he’d given him a hard time when all the fairy wanted was to be friends and spend time together. It was a good thing he was better now, and that Patton was so kind and forgiving. It had all worked out in the end.

“There, all done!” Patton grabbed two of his now healed toes and wiggled them, causing Logan to laugh. The muscles in his cheek became sore from keeping his smile in place, but he paid it no mind. The fairy flew a few circles around his head and then stopped in front of his face. “Now how about that dance?”

Logan laughed again and reached out his hand, unsurprised when Patton pulled him up. The small grip on his finger was strong and chilly. Firm and inescapable grounding.

He shook his head to get rid of the thought that felt wrong. He still had those silly thoughts every now and then, but he was getting better at not thinking them.