#nonbinary patton

“I wish I could, Pat, but your brother and I have a project we need to work on today.” Patton started to pout and Janus quickly gave faer a pat on the head as compensation. “If we finish quickly we might be able to play a bit later. Or I’ll come over again in a few days, that okay?” Fae continued pouting but nodded.

 “If you pinky promise!”

 “Alright, if you insist.” Just as they linked fingers, Logan appeared behind his sibling.

 “Salutations Janus. I see Patton coaxed you into a pinky promise, I hope fae didn’t ask for anything unreasonable.”

 “Did not!”

 “No, fae didn’t. I just promised to play Mario Kart with fae sometime soon so fae could show me how much fae improved, right?” He grinned down at the child who nodded in agreement.

 “Very well then. Patton please go back to your activities now; Janus and I have work to do.”

 “Okay, but you need to finish quickly so we can play!”

 “I will make no promises.” Apparently Patton had expected as much since fae ran off without another word. Janus laughed quietly.

 “Visiting your house is as delightful as ever.” Logan sighed.

 “I would have preferred to go to yours but my parents are both out and Patton cannot be left alone for such a long time yet.”

 “I understand. Then shall we?”

 “We shall.” Logan led him into the house and up the stairs into his bedroom where he had already prepared enough space to work, materials they could use for their research as well as snacks and drinks. The perfect host like always.

It didn’t take long until they were both seated and comfortably at work. Logan had gone to the library to get them reference books which Janus found a bit unnecessary, they were only supposed to prepare a twenty-minute presentation on self care for health class, citations not needed. But Janus also knew Logan well enough to know that that wouldn’t stop him from doing so and he didn’t mind as long as Logan didn’t force him to read through those books. He preferred online articles.

 They had agreed to work in silence for the first fifteen minutes and then present to each other their findings and after that narrow down the examples they wanted to use and research more. Logan started, talking about how important a healthy diet and drinking a lot of water were, as well as dental hygiene. Janus listened patiently even as Logan’s explanation turned more into a rant that went slightly off topic but if he was being honest, and he didn’t tend to be often he just knew to tone down his sarcasm in front of Logan and his sibling (both often got confused with his way of speaking), he could listen to Logan talk about anything for the rest of the day. His crush on the bookworm was not really a secret but Logan was very dense when it came to romantic relationships. He hadn’t been aware of their friends’ relationship until Roman and Virgil kissed right in front of him and even then he needed to ask for clarification.

 Janus was patient though; he was waiting for an opportunity to make his move and he had a very good feeling about today.

 Logan eventually stopped himself and blushed a bit when he realised how much he’d been talking.

 “My apologies, I didn’t mean to ramble.” Janus waved him off.

 “I don’t mind. You made some fascinating points.” Logan’s face got even more red.

 “Thank you. For listening I mean.”

 Janus good feeling increased ten-fold as a plan formed in his head. He grinned.

 “No problem, Logan, I truly enjoyed myself.” He delighted in seeing Logan’s ears turning red now as well.

 “Would you like to present your findings now?” he asked after clearing his throat. Janus’ grin got a little bit wider. Logan was way too cute; he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from teasing him a bit longer.

 “Of course. I decided to look up how to build a healthy work schedule. It felt appropriate to our current situation and will be beneficial to our classmates.” Logan nodded along, taking notes. He wasn’t as flushed anymore but still a bit red. Janus was looking forward to making him flare up again.

 “One of the main points I found is the importance of taking breaks, to stretch and clear ones head every now and again.” Logan continued to scribble his thoughts down, not picking up on what Janus was hinting at but he hadn’t expected him to. So he slowly reached over, gently grabbing Logan’s hand to get him to stop. The blush intensified again as Logan looked up and met his eyes. Janus smiled at him.

 “We’ve been working for almost half an hour now, I think we deserve to take a break, right?” Seemingly unable to break eye contact, Logan again nodded and allowed Janus to carefully remove his notebook and pen, setting them down on the table.

 “Wonderful. Then let’s try another suggestion I found that might be helpful. It’s about avoiding touch starvation by initiating physical contact with people close to you. So, would you mind coming over here, Logan?” Apparently his friend’s brain had short-circuited because Logan let himself be pulled over and into Janus’ lap, facing him, without any protest though his face was bright red again, including his ears. Janus could look at him like that for hours but there was something else he wanted to do in that moment.

 “Is that comfortable, Logan?” He nodded, still seemingly speechless and unable to look away from Janus’ eyes. Janus smiled fondly, deciding that he’d teased and waited enough.

 “Would you be willing to hear a not-so-well-kept secret of mine?” Logan didn’t answer so Janus took his silence as agreement. “I like you a lot, Logan. You are smart, passionate and very fascinating to observe. And I would love to take you out on a date sometime if you would let me.” By then Logan was the brightest red he’d been all evening, finally breaking eye contact to look down at his hands which were now fiddling with the hem of his shirt.

 “You are not joking?” he eventually asked in a small voice. Janus carefully guided his head up by his chin so he could look him in the eyes as he answered.

 “I would never do something so cruel, Logan. I mean every word.”

The hissing noises alerted Patton, making faer look up. They'd been quietly on their phone for the past few hours, cuddled up in blankets on the couch. Fae stood, walking slowly towards the movement, "Virge?" Xe jumped a little, coughing slightly, "uh- yeah?" "Are you alright?" Patton stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up to their partner, "you look... pale." He chuckled sadly, continuing to make his way down the stairs, "I'm always pale, sweetie." "Paler than usual," they walked up a few steps, offering their arm for support, "what's wrong?" "Don't feel to good, but I'm-" coughing cut him off, taking a shaky breathe after the small fit, "I'm fine." Faers frown grew more, "you don't look fine, love." Patton led him to the couch, gently lying xem down. They kissed his head, walking away from xem.

Virgil whined loudly, "Pattyyy." "I'll be 2 minutes, love!" Fae called, switching the living room lights off and heading to the kitchen. A small "hmph" was heard from the couch, Virgil cuddling close into Leo. Xe took some shaky breaths, trying not to cry purely from just feeling ill. He squeezed xyr eyes shut, sighing into the material of the stuffed dog. Only a few moments passed without Patton, but it truly did feel like an eternity. After no less than five minutes, his partner came back holding a bowl of tomato soup. Fae gently set it on the coffee table, kissing Virgil's head, "hey love." The only reply heard was another whine, looking out from the blankets and stuffie. Xe relaxed slightly when he saw his partner's face, making upset grabby hands towards faer.

"I'm here, love," fae smiled, gently getting under the blanket with xem and wrapping an arm around xem, "I've gotcha." He sniffled, nodding and leaning into faer, "thanks, Patt... I'm sorry." "Hey, it's alright darling," they kissed his nose, reaching over for the soup, "I got your favourite honey." Xyr eyes lit up, taking the bowl and holding it to his chest to warm him. He mumbled appreciation to Patton, sniffling again. "I love you honey," fae smiled, wiping his nose with a tissue and hugging him closely. "Love you," xe mumbled sleepily, his arms to achy to feed himself. Patton chuckled softly, kissing xyr cheek as fae got rid of the tissue. They cleaned their hands with some hand sanitiser quickly, taking a spoonful of soup in faers hand. "You need some help?" Fae was slightly teasing him, but it was a genuine question.

"Please..?" his voice was more obviously weak now, holding Leo closely. The shorter smiled to their partner, humming as they fed xem - Virgil appreciated the hums filling the otherwise silent room. Xe ate happily, the warmth of the soup relaxing xem and making him feel slightly sleepy.

Patton let out a coo at xyr half-closed eyes, "is my love getting sleepy?" Virgil tried to deny it, lazily shaking xyr head - the yawn xe let out revealed the lie. He pouted at his own body, continuing to just eat after the yawn. "I think you are," they teased gently, kissing his nose, "and that's alright. You deserve a nice nap, Vee." "Don't wanna moveeee," xe whined quietly, soup around the edges of xyr lips. He wouldn't usually mind sleeping on the couch, but he knew it would just make xyr achy joints much worse.

"Let me carry you," they cooed, putting the finished soup bowl to the side and kissing xyr hair. "If that's alright?" Xyr face burned red, holding Leo closely, "I- uh- please?" "Of course," they stood, taking Virgil in faers arms with the blanket still wrapped around them gently. "What about the uh, the washing up?" xe asked weakly, nodding towards the soup covered bowl. Fae smiled gently, starting to walk upstairs, "I'll wash it up later. Right now, you're my number one top priority!" A smirk slipped on Virgil's face, looking away from xyr partner, "dork... I love you." "I love you too, darling. Now!" Fae smiled, standing at the top of the stairs, "do you want to cuddle in my room or yours?" Xe leaned into faers shoulder, relaxing in the older's arms, "your's? I like your lights..." Patton owned both fairy lights and LED lights. "Of course," Patton entered their room happily, gently setting Virgil on the bed between their many stuffed animals. Xe wiggled out of his own blanket, getting comfy and nuzzling into the softness of all the materials.

"You're adorable," faers cooed, lying down next to their partner. "Only because I'm ill," xe teased, smirking towards Pattona and holding xyr arms out to them. "Now, gimme cuddles or your homophobic." They chuckled gently, wrapping their arms around xem, "of course, love. But you are always adorable, even when you're being all angsty." Xe chuckled gently, cuddling into their chest, "heh, thanks angel." "Of course stormcloud," they rubbed xyr back, "Nini." "Night," xe mumbled, shutting xyr eyes. Patton put their glasses to the side. They kissed xyr head, smiling, "Love you." "Lovie..." xyr words were slurred and hardly audible.

Patton sighed, staring into the mirror. They had on pale blue swim trunks and a white tank top, and their bag with sunscreen, snacks, water, and towels was by the front door. Logan was the first person they came out to when they realized they were nonbinary, and Logan had supported them through it all; through coming out to their parents, and even by buying them their first nonbinary flag, the one that hung proudly over their bed. 

And now, Patton thought they were ready to finally tell Logan how they felt. They thought that maybe being separated by distance for college would help them get over him, but it had only made them miss and crave the touch of their best friend even more. And so, Patton figured if they told Logan today and it went poorly, then they could finally move on. Even at the risk of losing the most important person in their life. 

When they got to the beach, they set up their towel, applied sunscreen, and laid in the sun for a bit, gazing out at the sparkling sun on the water. Maybe they’d tell Logan how they feel when they were in the water, so if the waves were too loud and Logan couldn’t hear, it would be okay. And they’d be able to move on.

“Hi, Patton,” Logan’s voice was there, and Patton looked up to see him wearing a long-sleeved black rash guard and dark blue swim shorts. Patton leapt to their feet and enveloped their best friend in a big hug, holding him closely.

“Hi, Lo! I missed you so much,” they said, practically clinging to Logan. Logan let out a low laugh, prying Patton off of him, then set his bag and towel down next to Patton’s.

“I missed you too,” he said quietly, adjusting his glasses; Patton noticed the thin sheer of sunscreen over Logan’s skin, and smiled against his shoulder. “Shall we sit for a moment or would you like to go play in the water?”

“Let’s sit for a bit, okay?” Patton stepped back from Logan’s embrace, though a bit hesitantly, and sat on their towel. Logan spread his towel out right next to Patton’s and sat down, one of his legs stretched out in front of him. The pair sat in silence for a few moments, Patton a bit fidgety but so happy that they were sitting beside their best friend. They glanced over to see Logan staring out at the ocean. “Whatcha thinking about?”

“Hm?” Logan blinked, then smiled faintly, still looking straight ahead. “Oh, I read a book about oceans and beaches last night. So I was thinking about some of the facts that I read about. Would you like to hear a few?”

“Oh, sure, Lo!” Patton smiled brightly at him, eyes still focused on the profile of Logan’s face. Patton always loved listening to Logan’s rambles about facts, regardless of the subject. Sometimes they’d listen to Logan’s facts late at night, and they’d fall asleep to the comforting sounds of his voice. Some people think that ocean waves are the most soothing noise, but Patton? Their calming sound of choice would always be Logan’s voice.

“Well… oceans cover a little bit more than 70% of the Earth. And while most sandy beaches are made of silica or mineral quartz, there are all kinds of beaches,” Logan explained, and Patton smiled, leaning back on their hands, still watching Logan intently. “There are beaches with white or yellow sands like this one, but beaches in other parts of the world, especially near volcanoes like in Hawaii, there are black sand beaches that are made of lava.” Logan finally glanced over at Patton, noticing them staring at him. ‘What is it?”

“Oh, um…” Patton flushed bright red, but they decided to be a little bit brave. “I was just thinking that I always thought that the sound of the waves was relaxing, but… your voice is better.” Logan’s ears turned red, and he cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. 

“O-Oh…” Logan didn’t say much other than that, and Patton worried that they’d upset him in some way. The pair sat in silence for a few moments, then Patton got onto their feet, their hands on their hips.

“Come on, Lo. Let’s go stand in the waves for a bit,” they suggested, smiling down at him. Logan nodded and got to his feet as well, and the pair walked down the sand bank until they got to where the waves were coming up. “Lo?” Patton was feeling a bit brave.

“Hmm?”

“Will you hold my hand while we’re in the waves? I don’t want to fall like last time,” they said, and Logan nodded as if he was remembering that moment. It was the previous summer, their last trip to the beach before leaving for school; Patton had gotten knocked over by a wave, and they ended up swallowing a bunch of sea water. Luckily, Logan was able to help them up and onto the shore so that they could regain their breath. Logan was always there for them when they needed him.

“Oh, sure thing,” Logan held his hand out, and Patton wanted to jump for joy, but resigned themselves to just linking their fingers with Logan’s. They stepped forward so that their toes met the cool water.

“Don’t let go, okay?” They whispered, stepping closer to Logan, who squeezed Patton’s hand. “Ever,” they whispered that final word so quietly, hoping that Logan wouldn’t hear. He didn’t make any indication that he heard.

“I won’t, Pat,” Logan responded, and Patton wished that he meant the ever part, too. The pair slowly stepped further into the ocean, their hands linked as if eternally, the cool water slowly rising up past their ankles and to their knees. “You know, in the original version of The Little Mermaid, the mermaid turns into seafoam when she doesn’t meet the sea witch’s demands of killing the prince,” Logan said quietly, reaching his free hand under the waves, trying to catch some of the foam. “She doesn’t end up with the prince.”

“That’s sad,” Patton whispered, their eyes lingering to watch Logan, who gazed out further at the sea, as if in deep thought. “Not much of a fairytale.”

“Hmm, no,” Logan mused, a playful smile on his face. “She doesn’t stay seafoam forever, though. She becomes a daughter of the air, able to watch the man she loves for all of eternity,” he explained. Patton frowned deeper, not liking that option either. But they didn’t have time to discuss it more, as Logan swept his spare hand through the water, splashing Patton’s chest.

“Hey!” Patton giggled, using their free hand to splash Logan back. “You know splashing is against the rules, Lo!”

“What rules? We didn’t agree on any rules prior to stepping foot into the ocean,” Logan smirked a little bit, and Patton thought that they would swoon, the way that they were being looked at by the man they loved. Logan didn’t splash Patton again, though, and the two stood in the waves, moving along, gazing at the sparkles on the surface of the water.

“It’s a beautiful day,” Patton murmured, leaning their head against Logan’s shoulder, their feet sinking into the sand a bit. “Lo?”

“Hmm?” Logan made a noise, indicating that he was paying attention, and Patton figured that then would need to be the right time. They took a deep breath, gazing up at their best friend, the way he was so enthralled with watching the waves come closer and crash behind them. But then they remembered that if Logan didn’t feel the same way, they could lose him forever, and they didn’t want to ruin the beach day, either. 

If Logan didn’t feel the same… there were only three options that they would pay attention to. Option one, Logan felt the same way and the two entered into a happy relationship (Patton didn’t want to think about what would happen if things went poorly). Option two, Logan didn’t feel the same, but still wanted Patton in his life and Patton would finally get over Logan. Option three, Logan doesn’t know how to respond and needs time to process.

That hidden fourth option taunted Patton, but… Patton was an optimist, after all.

“Remember when we went to Disney last year? And we had just gotten off of Space Mountain, and there was this couple in front of us holding hands?” Patton had thought about this moment a lot. It was something they had run in their mind over and over again, trying to dissect it, figure out what Logan meant by all of it. Was it the merch that the couple was wearing? Patton couldn’t remember the situation, just the words. Always the words. “You said that in an alternate reality, that could be us.” Logan inhaled sharply, but said nothing. “Why does that have to be an alternate reality, Lo? What if… what if I want that in this reality?” They sighed, lifting their head from Logan’s shoulder. “I’ve tried so hard to not want it, because you’re my best friend and I… can’t lose you. And I thought that being separated from you would help, but… it’s only made me realize how far I’ve fallen in love with you.” Patton closed their eyes tightly, ready to pull their hand away from Logan’s and run back to shore and go home to hide under the blankets for weeks. But Logan squeezed Patton’s hand.

“I said what I said because I thought…” Logan started, and Patton glanced up, meeting his eyes. “I thought you would never feel that way about me, Patton. I thought that I was going to be resigned to being your best friend forever, and I was okay with that, but… I had to say something. And nothing came from it, so I figured…”

“I was hungry and tired, Lo, I wasn’t thinking straight, I mean, I never am, but especially around you,” Patton was starting to get flustered, their hand slipping out of Logan’s grasp. “I’m awkward and fumbly and when you say stuff like that I don’t know how to respond— wait,” it finally hit them what Logan had said. “You… feel that way about me, too?” Logan sighed exasperatedly, nodding as he tightened his grasp on Patton. 

“Yes, Patton,” he whispered, pulling Patton closer to him. “I have for so long. You know how I am with feelings, though… I don’t understand them as well as you do. Still, I am proud of myself for realizing it as early on as I did,” Logan adjusted his glasses, and Patton laughed a little. They turned to face Logan, ensuring they had stable footing and that there weren’t any large waves coming. They pressed their forehead to Logan’s.

“I’ve dreamt of our first kiss for years, Lo, I just…” Patton breathed out, and Logan inhaled with them. “What if it’s terrible?”

“It’s us, Pat. It won’t be,” Logan said reassuringly, and put it to the test by leaning in and allowing their lips to finally meet, their glasses clashing a bit awkwardly as the waves hit Patton’s back. Patton wrapped their arms around Logan’s neck, pulling him closer to them.

Virgil huddles in the trench, holding an arm around Patton protectively to keep them low and out of sight. 

“Pat, I know fighting’s not your thing, but remember: this is war.”

“Isn’t there another way?” Patton asks, eyes huge behind their glasses.

“They’ve left us no choice,” Janus says, checking their supply of ammo. He adjusts his yellow gloves, both eyes glinting. “It’s only a matter of time before an attack comes. It’s either us, or them.”

Patton sighs and takes some ammo. “Just tell me when.”

 On the opposite side of the battlefield, Roman kneels, staring off into the middle distance with intensity. 

“This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.

He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,

Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,

And rouse him at the name of Crispian!”

Logan looks up from their pile of supplies, hidden well into their trench. “Is this really the time, Roman?”

“If not now, my dear nerd, when?” Roman replies, then launches in anew.

“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

For he to-day that sheds his blood with me

Shall be my brother-”

“I am your only brother here, Woe-man.”

Roman scowls at his twin. “It’s a metaphor, you potato with eyes-”

“I would prefer to not be even a metaphorical sibling to Remus, thanks all the same,” Logan says calmly, doling out piles of ammo. “It would make our dates rather awkward.”

Roman pouts. “Fine, ruin all my attempts at an inspiring speech. Can you at least attack?”

Remus grins, grabbing as much ammo as they can hold. He stands, torso fully clearing the edge of the trench, and starts throwing fast & hard in a steady barrage at the opposing camp. As they throw, he shouts out loud and clear,  “LEEEEROYYYY JENKINSSS!”

 Across the battlefield, Virgil looks to his left and gasps. “Patton, you’re hit!”

Patton smiles bravely. “It’s just a scratch, Virge.” But both their teammates see a wet patch spreading, stark against their light blue coat. 

Janus pulls Patton carefully to just against the trench wall, the safest spot available. He locks eyes with Virgil, who nods with a flinty gaze. As one, they each lob a projectile hurtling over the wall, and another, and another, relying on their intuition to aim, but in perfect sync with each other. 

From the field, they hear a surprised shout. 

Virgil smirks. “Got’em!”

In the distance, in a voice full of reproach, they hear a familiar call, “Bitch, you ruined my hair!”

“If you can’t handle the slush, get out of the snowfort!” Janus snarks, and throws another snowball over the wall.

 Roman brushes ice pieces and damp hair out of his crimson face, pouting even as he grabs more snowballs. “Okay, that’s it. Let’s get them!”

Logan, looking up from his perfectly-arranged pyramid of snowballs, remarks “Once more into the breach, once more?”

“Finally, you get it! Thank you!”

Remus grins at his teammates. “Let’s go!”

They charge over the wall, the twins leading with snowballs in their fists, Logan just behind carrying a stack of pre-made ones as backup. Roman and Remus are yelling incoherently as their arms move like windmills, throwing snowballs as fast as Logan can hand them over.

 Virgil and Janus stay behind their snowfort wall, sniping from around the sides, taking time to aim. Virgil aims for the twins’ faces, while Janus targets Logan, trying to disrupt the supply.

Their teamwork functions well, right up until Remus crashes straight into the fort’s wall, falling through the snow fortifications in a crunch of powder and ice. Patton squeals in surprise and pushes a pile of snow onto their face, surprising laughs out of them both. 

Remus pops up with snow stuck to his hair, mustache, and chin. “Look, Lolo! I’m Satan Claus!”

Logan smiles and dumps his remaining snowballs on top of his head. “You’ve forgotten your hat, Mx. Claus”

Roman continues the fight, and tries to retaliate with a snowball to Virgil’s face. As he tries, though, a weight grabs him at the waist. He falls back, facing the icy blue sky, lying in the snow, with Virgil on top of him, pink-cheeked from the cold and exertion.

His captor smirks. “Surrender, Princey?”

Roman can’t stop himself from grinning widely up at the taller side, even as he bravely responds, “Never!”

From just outside his vision, he hears a drawling voice say, “That’s really too bad, I was going to make my specialty hot chocolate once the battle was done, guess I’ll need to delay it now…”

Roman stills. “The double chocolate recipe?” he asks cautiously.

“That’s the one,” Janus says with a regretful sigh. “I even got the mini marshmallows shaped like snowflakes.”

Roman bites his lip. “Perhaps we could negotiate a ceasefire.”

Virgil chuckles. “Knew that would work, Princey. C’mon.” He stands, brushing off his purple snowsuit, and helps Roman to his feet too.

Roman sniffs. “I want it noted for the record that you two aren’t winning from your prowess in snow battle, but through bribery.”

Janus grabs the shorter man around the shoulder, messing up Roman’s hair even as he brushes the snow out of it. “Better to be lucky than good, my frozen prince. Let’s go round up the others.”

 The other three are sitting in the wreck of the team’s fort. Remus has already decorated the snowy ruins with a dramatic scene of mini snowmen in the middle of a pitched battle, with snow-demons all around the melee. Their hair is sticking in every direction and his tongue is sticking just out of their mouth as he crafts detailed snow-tentacles as the centerpiece. Patton sits beside them, happily building snow puppies around the edges of the snowy battle scene. 

Virgil carefully stops short of the display. “Y’all wanna stay out here, or come in for Janus’ hot chocolate?”

Patton and Remus both look up at the same time, eyes alike as they speak simultaneously. “Chocolate? Chocolate?! CHOCOLATE?!”

Logan stands, brushing off his sensible navy coat and adjusting his glasses. “Emile would be so proud of you two.”

Remus carefully extracts himself from their snowscape, waiting until he’s right next to Roman to shake off the snow like a dog. Ice and water spatter out onto their twin as Roman sputters. “Race you to the kitchen!”

The twins are sprinting headlong towards the doors of the Imagination, both trying to shove each other out of the way and laughing the whole time. The rest of the group walks at a more reasonable pace, still pink-cheeked from the cold. 

“Virgeeyyyy-” Patton wheedles, their eyes huge and pleading behind their glasses.

Virgil looks over with a grin. “I’m surprised you made it this long before asking, Patty-cake.” He stops and kneels, as Patton claps happily and crawls onto his back. Virgil stands, carrying Pat on his back, pressing a soft kiss to the skin of their wrist where it peeks between mitten and jacket.

“I wish someone would carry me,” Janus says wistfully. “I also don’t want to walk.”

Logan snorts. “Keep on wishing, Jan. I’m not getting into another game of chicken just because Virgil sticks his tongue out at you again.”

“Humph. Guess someone wants to be served his hot chocolate last.” 

Logan rolls his eyes. “Oh no, what horr-”

“After the twins have gotten into the marshmallows.”

Logan’s head whips around to look at Janus, then back to the twins’ rapidly-retreating backs. “You wouldn’t dare!”

“L, we all know he absolutely would,” Virgil throws back over his shoulder, making Patton giggle as they sway.

Suddenly, a blur passes them as Logan tears after the twins.

“What a dork,” Virgil says fondly. “He never gets less logical than when his sweet tooth is on the line.”

By the time they’ve all trooped back through the Imagination doors into the mindscape, they can hear the bickering from downstairs. Patton slides off Virgil’s back and snaps away their snow gear. “Let’s go see what the kiddos have gotten up to, shall we?”

Janus rolls his eyes as they discover the scene in the kitchen. Roman and Logan appear to be playing keep-away with the bag of marshmallows, both so intent on the sugary treats that neither has appeared to notice that Remus is currently unattended in the living room, starting a fire.Luckily, he actually conjured a fireplace first, this time. 

Virgil’s eyes light up as he goes to help them, or at least to go place with matches.

Janus and Patton exchange looks and immediately split up. 

 Patton calmly hops up on the island in the kitchen as Logan and Roman scramble for the marshmallows.

“Jan promised me hot chocolate!”

“You don’t need the sugar, your diet is terrible enough as it is.”

“Then why should you get it, all you eat is Crofter’s anyway-”

“The brain needs sugar to function!”

“So does creativity!”

Patton just sits and beams at the other two with all the intensity of their megawatt smile. Slowly, both notice them sitting calmly and go sheepishly quiet.

“Ahem. We just wanted to-” Logan begins

“That is, we were making sure that-” Roman stammers.

Patton tilts their head slightly, still smiling, making a small sound of inquiry.

“Sorry, Patton,” Roman says, hanging his head.

“Apologies, Patton,” Logan says, placing the bag of marshmallows gently on the island and stepping away.

“There’s my good boys!” Patton says cheerily. “Now, can y’all get out everyone’s mugs?”

“Heheheheh snap! Crackle! Pop! Rice crispies!” Remus cackles to himself, throwing another branch of dry pine needles into the flame.

Virgil stares into the light, eyes and smile equally huge as he prods it with the poker. “We should add wax!”

“Or newspaper! I like how it delays when it lights!”

“Newspaper covered in wax?”

“Oh fuck yeah!”

They sniggering and toss more flammable objects into the stove.

Janus leans against the wall and sighs, so softly that it would be inaudible, if both Remus and Virgil hadn’t frozen the moment Janus entered the room.

“Remus,” he says calmly, inspecting his gloves.

“Hey there Janabanana!” Remus responds happily. “It’s contained this time, look!”

“Yes, Remus, it is. Was that what I’d said you should do?”

Virgil pushes kindling behind him, trying to move slow enough as if to avoid attention. 

“Virgil,” Janus continues, icily calm. “You were there last time, correct? What advice did I give Remus?”

“Um, you know, I think you should ask Logan, my memory is crap-”

“You forgot, Virgey? But I thought you had fun last time!!” Remus asked, their eyes huge and his lip wobbling in a pout.

“Now Virgil, look, you’ve made Remus sad,” Janus says, sympathy dripping as heavily as sarcasm. “You know, it’s funny, I seem to remember my advice was actually for both of you last time. What was is it again? Something along the lines of do not start fires in the Thomas’ home?”

“We’re in the Mindscape, not Thomas’ actual home…” Virgil begins, but trails off at Janus’ raised brow. “Can we keep it going in the stove if we stop adding shit to it?”

Janus hums tunelessly. He gazes through lidded eyes at the two pleading faces watching hopefully, two pairs of mismatched eyes trying their best to look precious rather than chaotic.

But sometimes, a little chaos can be precious. 

“Fine, you can keep it, but you two can’t be with it unattended. And I need to make the hot chocolate, so at least one of you is coming to the kitchen.”

Immediately, they both touch their noses, Virgil beating Remus by just a hair of a second. 

“Aw, shitfucker,” Remus says with easy humor. “Okay, Jancake!”

As they rejoin the group in the kitchen, Janus gives Roman and Patton a look. “One you needs to go chaperone your boyfriend. He has matches.”

Roman smiles. “As if he could get any hotter!” He twirls out the room, humming something that sounds suspiciously like “Disco Inferno.”

Remus spots their own boyfriend and immediately shifts his shape, shrinking in size just enough that they can literally clamber up Logan’s body. He wraps their arms around his torso, resting their chin on Logan’s shoulder.

“Ah, am I a climbing tree once more?” “Yes you are, Euca-Lo-ptus!”

Janus moves around them all to the stove, listening with a smile

“I was thinking he was more of a Lo-tus, myself,” Patton says with a giggle.

“That may-ple be true, Pat!”

Logan closes his eyes and takes an exaggeratedly deep breath, but the twitch of his lips gives away his amusement. “Must you two always do this?”

“Why, Lolo, wood you rather we leaf you alone?” Remus says with a shit-eating grin. He presses a kiss to Logan’s cheek with a loud smack of lips.

“You know what they say,” Patton says seriously with a nod. “Where there’s a willow, there’s a way.”

“Hey, hey Lo,” Remus says, wiggling with excitement. “If you come up with your own, I promise there won’t be any syca-more of these.”

Logan looks over at Janus, and they share a fond smile at the dorks they live with. “Hmm,” he thinks aloud. “Here’s one. It doesn’t surprise me that you both enjoy tree puns, given that you’re both quite chest-nuts.”

“Oooh, hello Mr. Sassy-fras!” Patton says with a sly wink. 

Logan narrows his eyes. “I thought you said you’d stop.”

“Technically, that was just me,” Remus says.

“It’s cause under all that bark, Remus is really just a big old sap,” Patton says, grinning in glee as Logan groans. “I’m done now. It’ll all be oak-ay!”

“Patton!”

“Sorry, sorry, I’m done! Promise!”

“Patton, I’m sorry to say you’re banned from the kitchen for that,” Janus says, mixing ingredients over the stove. “Can you bring out the blankets in the living room?”

Logan finishes taking down the mugs and arranges them on the island, Remus clinging to him like an oddly-affectionate backpack. Janus uses his extra arms to heat two saucepans of chocolate at once, and one extra hand to keep the marshmallows at a safe distance away from the other two.

Once he’s poured out equal amounts into everyone’s favorite mugs and distributed an even amount of marshmallows, Logan and Remus help Janus carry the mugs to the living room, where the other three wait in a nest of blankets and pillows near the fireplace. Roman is lying with his head in Virgil’s lap as Patton leans on Virgil’s other shoulder. They all untangle to accept their mugs, shifting to give everyone equal access to the warmth of the cheery glow.

Janus gives Logan a look, and he responds with a lopsided grin. He sits and accepts two mugs of chocolate, saying, “C’mere, Reme, I got us extra marshmallows.”

Remus is immediately distracted from their beeline towards the fire and makes a u-turn into his boyfriend’s side. “Oooooh, are they the gooey ones?”

“Of course, do I look like a man who forgets my own partner’s favorites?”

“Nah, you look like as big a snacc as the marshmallows,” Remus says, flopping into Logan’s lap. Only ease of long practice and anticipation of their behavior allows Logan to avoid spilling all over them both.

Janus chuckles, wrapping himself in a particularly fuzzy blanket that Patton saved for him. “Before you ask, Roman, yes, I brought you extra marshmallows as well.”

“What need have I for extra sweetness when I am allowed to bask in Virgil’s presence?”

“So I should give them to Remus too?”

“Nooo, gimme!”

Virgil snorts. “Oh princey, you’re so predictable.” Before he starts to pout, Virgil bends down to kiss his forehead. “And adorable too, of course.” Visibly mollified, Roman accepts his hot chocolate without taking his eyes off Virgil’s smirk.

Patton reaches across to get their own mug from Janus, using the movement to snuggle more into Virgil’s broad shoulder.

Janus sighs, relaxing into the heat of the blanket nest and the fire. “Did y’all have a good snow day?”

“Practically perfect in every way,” Roman says dreamily.

“Yeah, it was good.”

“It certainly was pretty cool!”

“Patton- yes, Jan, it was quite enjoyable.”

“I liked the part where the snow looked like jizz!”

Roman scoffs. “Reme, do you gotta-”

“It’s okay, Ro. That means they liked it,” Janus says fondly. “I had a good day, too.”

“Love you all,” Patton says sleepily, already getting drowsy despite the sugar.