#tiny!patton

Roman sat next to him, “what fuel do you usually use? Do you know what it’s made of?”

Patton looked through his hologram screen for his notes, “uh… I think it’s a mix of old metals and elements the planet gifts you”

“I could get you the metal but, “Roman raised an eyebrow. “Elements the planet gifts you?”

Patton nodded, “you know. The whole ‘don’t take stuff from the planet unless it’s a gift,’ humans don’t do that?”

“Well technically our planet is alive, but we don’t usually treat it like a living being. We just take what we need from it.”

Paton blinked, “that’s horrible! How do you even know when you’re taking too much? You don’t communicate with your planet?”

Roman shook his head, “we don’t.”

Patton hummed and looked around, “I wonder if I could do it…” He stood up and walked over to the small hole on the wall that served as a window, and source of light since Roman couldn’t light a candle for him.

“But you can’t go out, remember? It’s too hot for you and someone could see you.”

Patton went back to the tabe and moved his device closer to Roman. “Not if we go at night, Logan taught me how to track the temperature of a planet to make sure future explorations would be safe.” He swiped through the screen to show Roman the data. “The coldest time of an Earth year is coming in just a couple of hours, and it’s expected lowest peak based on our location is in a couple of days.”

Roman couldn’t really understand what Patton was showing him, but he still listened… mainly because of how hot Patton looked while explaining these stuff. “The kingdom doesn’t get very cold in the winter, it doesn’t even snow. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

“It’s not cold enough for someone the average human size, but it’s a tolerable temperature for olxak size,” Patton picked his ship up. “We just need a way to activate the full reduction progress without changing the ship’s size”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Roman was very confused now, “olxak size? Wasn’t it just your ship the one that shrinks?”

Patton paused for a moment, “oh. I never told you right? Yeah uhm… I’m supposed to fit in there, the size changing system is to blend with the planet’s species and avoid danger.”

Okay, that wasn’t something Roman expected about Patton species. Just imagining a tiny Patton all cute and… yeah stop it now it’s not the moment. “Haven’t you been shrinking the pieces? You can’t do the same with you?”

“Eh, it’s not that simple.” Patton grabbed a metal disk, around the size of a large plate. “This shrinks the pieces down, but it’s not big enough to shrink something my size… nor safe for living beings. Usually I would change with the ship but-”

“We can’t grow it in here, and taking you out at this size would be dangerous,” Roman interrupted him.

Paton nodded, “exactly. The ship has a ray for the same system, but I need to access it from the outside and I don’t know how.”

Roman sighed and placed his hand on Patton’s shoulder, pulling him to sit down. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out, but you need a break.”

“But if I don’t get out of here in the next bimester-”

“The way to your planet will close, I know.” Roman cut him off, “and if you don’t eat something you won’t have enough brain fuel”

Patton snorted, “that’s not a real thing. If one of my brains shuts down the other two work to turn it back on.”

“And what do they use for that?”

“...Energy… okay! You have a fair point.”

Roman chuckled and started unpacking the food, “I asked the chefs to keep the soup out so it wouldn’t be as hot as last time. And I got some fruit and water for you.”

Patton took the food and felt it, chirping with curiosity. “It should do, I just have to eat slowly, “ he smiled. “You don’t have to do so much for me.”

“I promised I would get you back home didn’t I? That includes not letting you starve to death”

Patton giggled and his ears moved again. They were never this fluttery before… only with Roman, good thing he didn’t know what it meant.

Roman watched Patton as he took the spoon and scooped up a bit of soup, noticing the nervousness on his face. “Go ahead, you know I don't mind.”

“Yeah… but you were very frightened the first time, it’s hard to forget.”

“I know and I’m sorry. It was unexpected, maybe a little bit scary but I’m used to it now.” Roman nodded, “but I could cover my eyes if you want.”

Patton smiled softly, “if you’re sure it’s okay.” He took a deep breath and opened his second mouth. It was located where a human’s chin would be, and it looked like he was pulling his head back.

Roman felt awkward just staring at Patton… he understood it was normal for him but he still needed more time to really don’t mind it. He didn't want to be rude though.

They ate and hung out, and would have continued if Roman didn't have to go back. Someone could go into his room any time and notice he was missing after all.

It took a lot of work, and a somewhat successful try of communicating with Logan for Paton to figure out how to shrink himself back to normal. Just in time for the coldest day of the year.

Roman had Patton’s ship and a bunch of old armor in a bag, Patton himself firmly secured in his hand. Getting out of the castle without being noticed wasn’t a problem, Roman was an expert at it. The problem was that their little trip coincided with the town’s festival… which Roman needed to attend as their prince, plus, his family would be there looking for him. They had to be very careful blending in the crowd to get to the forest.

Patton wasn’t used to being handheld, it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling, but it was weird. Roman insisted he could get hurt in the bag, so traveling by hand it was. However, Patton hadn’t considered Roman’s body heat for his calculations. It felt nice being this close to Roman, but he knew it would hurt him to stay like that for too long. Patton just hoped Roman got his way out of town as soon as possible.

Roman kept some of his old clothes for situations where he had to blend in town, like this one. The cape he was wearing had enough mends to cover his identity, plus the hood made a very large shadow on his face. Just a little more, he could see the end of the crowd!

And a hand grabbed his cape.

Roman tried to pull back, but froze as he saw who stopped him. “Mom and dad have been looking for you”

The older prince pulled his brother away from the crowd so they wouldn’t be interrupted. “What were you thinking? Sneaking out on a day like this?”

“I know Remy, we have to be there for our people and all, but I’m helping a friend. This is the only day we could do anything!”

Remy raised an eyebrow, “a friend? Another servant from the castle?”

Roman rolled his eyes, tightening his grip around Patton instinctively. “I have friends outside the castle, you know?”

“Really? Then you won’t mind ifI meet this friend of yours right?” Remy crossed his arms.

Roman felt silent. What would Remy do if he saw Patton? Roman had been hiding him from everyone at the castle, mostly for Patton’s safety. What would the kingdom do to an aien?! He had no way of knowing! “What if I say no?”

‘Then you’ll come with me to the festival.”

That was the exact response Roman didn’t want to hear. He looked around, Remy had pulled them far enough from the town’s people, he could make a run for it. “I’m sorry Rem, but this is too important.”

Next thing he knew, Roman was running like he had never run in his life. He hoped it left Remy too shocked to react in time to stop him

Patton clenched onto Roman's shirt, they were running now? Oh this was bad… please, he just wanted to get to the forest.

Remy ran behind his brother, struggling to open his coat and get his wand out. He didn't want to use magic with his brother, but their parents would kill him if he didn't get him back to the festival. Remy had to be the example, a responsible older brother.

Roman knew he had to lose Remy, it wouldn't take much longer for him to be stopped. Just a little longer, he just had to keep running.

Remy was finally able to get a good grip on his wand. Aiming at Roman was the hard part, his brother knew how to avoid magic, and he was very good at doing it.

“We can do it Patt,” Roman whispered. He was trying to reassure both of them to be honest, just a little-

An energy surrounded his body and made him stop. Shit.

Remy finally stopped to take a breath, “damn. Since when are you this good at running?”

“Remy let me go!”

“I can't!” Remy walked closer to his brother, “what could be more important than your ceremony? You’ve been waiting years to be able to use magic and now you run away?” He stood in front of him, “this is not the Roman I know.”

Roman just glared, “maybe you don't know me well enough. What's the point of magic if the favorite prince is going to rule?”

Remy rolled his eyes, “you already knew you weren't going to rule. Is this really about that? It's not my fault that I was born first."

“If you really want to think is about that then fine, call me childish or something but let me go.”

Remy fell silent. “I don't want to force you to walk back there, are you really going to force me to?”

Patton could feel swet starting to roll down his face, he tugged on Roman's shirt. “We have to hurry…”

Roman looked down instinctively, he needed to fight Remy’s magic, but how?

Remy looked down, noticing Roman's hand. “What are you hiding?” He moved the wand around making Roman float in the air and let go of the bag, and Patton.

Patton yelped as he fell to the floor, it took him a lomento to realize what was happening. He looked up until he met Remy’s face and started pushing himself back instinctively.

“What the?” Remy crouched down and reached forward to grab Patton.

Roman could only watch, he had to do something! “Don't hurt him!”

The energy around Roman changed color to match him, and the wand on Remy’s hand was snatched by it. The wand floated towards Roman, who had gained control over his body again. He grabbed it and threw Remy away with a quick movement.

Remy was too shocked to react in time, the magic pushed him all the way to a wall. This left him too weak to do anything.

Roman watched the wand as it changed to match him as well, “woah.” He took the bag and made Patton float back to his hand before he started running again.

Patton could barely even ask what was going on, “I didn't know you could do magic!”

“I couldn't,” Roman kept running until he was sure they got lost in the forest. “It's a royal family thing, I’m old enough for my ceremony but I never expected Remy’s wand to work for me.”

Patton looked around, trying to spot a tree that would be willing to cooperate. “And what kind of stuff can you do now?”

Roman shrugged, “I have no idea. I’m supposed to be trained so I can help my people, but I think I could figure this out on my own.”

Patton gestured for Roman to let him down next to an apple tree.

Roman did and sat next to him, “are you sure you know how to do this?”

“I am, but I hope it works with your planet.” Patton placed his hands on the trunk of the tree, a soft glow started coming out of them. The light expanded to the whole tree and some apples and leaves started falling down.

Roman was amazed by this, and by how all the apples seemed to avoid falling on top of them.

Patton smiled and took his hands away, “thank you.” He stood up and looked over at Roman, “now these are stuff the planet gifts to us.”

Roman smiled and picked Patton up, “that was amazing. I wish we actually asked before taking stuff from the Earth.” He looked up, they were able to see the stars between the tree branches.

“It’s a very nice experience, you connect with nature. Olaxs know a lot about technology, but we never forget where we came from” Patton looked up as well, but not at the stars, at Roman. The star and moonlight really brought out his facial features… he looked beautiful.

Roman looked back at Patton and blushed slightly, “well, maybe you could teach me.” He instinctively petted Patton’s head with his thumb.

Patton leaned on the touch, “we can definitely try.” He giggled softly and his ears flapped rapidly.

Roman stayed silent as he pet and looked at Patton for a while, “I’ve uh, been meaning to ask you. Why do your ears move? Does it mean something? I don't really want to be rude but they’ve done it a couple of times since we met.”

Patton felt his ears flapping even more, he covered them ashamed. “Well n-no you're not rude they uh… I guess it’s an involuntary response, like when you humans get ll red I think.”

“Oh,” Roman’s blush darkened.

“Y-yeah… like that.” Patton chuckled awkwardly, “I mean if my human knowledge is correct then I guess it means I want to mate with you. If not then for us it means some sort of feelings are being generated in us but it’s not quite there yet, like one of the first stages of uh falling in love with someone, others always told me I’m supposed to understand what it means when it happens to me but then you came and you do anything and I feel this that I don't have an explanation for a-and-”

Roman placed his finger on Patton’s mouth, “sorry sorry. I just uh, I get what you mean Patt.”

Patton nodded and gently pushed the finger away, “I think ranting is another side effect…”

Roman chuckled, “that might just be you. My brain kind of takes all my words away and I become the clumsiest person ever… and maybe I should put you down before you fall…”

Patton smiled a bit and stood up, “I have the perfect spot to be then.” He walked through Roman’s arm all the way to his shoulder, then used the hem of his shirt as support to stand in front of his face.

Roman almost had a heart attack once Patton started moving like that, “h-hi…”

“Hey,” Patton glanced briefly at Roman's lips… he couldn't, could he?

Roman noticed and chuckled, “just kiss me already.”

Patton felt like he could take off at any moment with how fast his ears flapped, “y-y-you’re sure?”

Roman left a gentle kiss on Patton’s head, “I mean, maybe we should try it once you're back to my size.”

“Yeah…” Patton felt very hot, but it wasn't a bad heat like before. He didn't know how, but it felt like the coldest day he’s ever experienced, like a bunch of leaves were being blowed all around his body. He couldn't take it any longer and pressed himself against Roman’s under lip.

That definitely caught Roman by surprise, he didn't want to move and get Patton covered with saliva. It definitely felt weird but… it was the best kiss Roman had ever gotten.

“For the last time, Virgil, magic is not real. So will you PLEASE give me back my amethyst?” Logan said, grabbing desperately above his head.

"If magic is real, then what are you gonna lose? Other than your mind at this rate." Virgil smirked, holding the amethyst even higher.

"Virgil, I swear to-" Logan muttered.

"Sorry, I can't hear you from way up here!" Virgil laughed. While he laughed, he missed the glint in Logan's eyes.

"Alright, fine." Logan turned on his heel and headed for the door. He counted the seconds carefully and then turned and jumped at Virgil. Virgil had let his guard down just enough for Logan to be able to reach and pull the amethyst out of his grasp. Logan landed with a stump behind Virgil. "Finally. Come on, Virge, we got school tomorrow and you are already quite behind on sleep." Logan stood and gently brushed off his amethyst. He looked up to see Virgil staring at the ground beneath him in shock.

"Virgil, we do not have all night to stall, you-" Logan stopped mid-sentence. The floor had begun to glow a dark blue under Logan's feet, swirling around on the floor like fish in the water. He had to admit, it was fascinating. He leaned down and touched one of the blue things. Suddenly, they all hurtled to his hand, then vanished. Or it looked as though they vanished. When Logan turned his palm to be able to see it, he found the blue things on his skin. His fascination turned to fear as he felt dizzier by the moment.

"Virgil, I'm not feellinn.." Logan's words slurred together like a drunk man's. His legs began to wobble underneath his weight. Through his blurry field of vision, he barely saw Virgil lunge for him as he collapsed on the floor, unconscious.

Patton sat on his bed and stared blankly out the window. He could still hear the smashing noises from the living room downstairs. He winced at the profanities and focused harder on the fields and the serene atmosphere of the night. He vaguely remembered the old radio saying something about the moon tonight, but to him, it looked the same as always. Maybe the tears threatening to fall were just warping his eyesight.

After a minute in silence, Patton started. He realized that, unlike most nights, he couldn't hear the chirp of crickets or the sounds of life that he had grown accustomed to. He looked carefully to find a source, but nothing obvious showed itself. Patton hesitated and bit his lip. He knew that going out alone into the countryside at night was practically a death sentence by itself, but to investigate something strange? He had seen a horror movie, and it said that was bad news. But the area was his home away from home (if he could consider this house anything close to resembling home) and he did love the wildlife. After another cuss was shouted from downstairs, Patton made up his mind. He quietly opened his window and began to climb towards the ground.

At first, Patton didn't know where to go. He probably didn't have all night, and he did want to actually find something. He scanned the horizon. Something was wrong. This was not the hills' outline he had painted a million times. He couldn't pinpoint it, but it just seemed off. Good a place as any to start, he thought to himself.

The sun had set completely now, and the forest he trekked through had settled into darkness. But his eyes adjust quickly and he's walked the woods a million times. He let his instincts take over and before he knew it, he found himself at his creek. He felt the quiet burbling of the creek call him to stay awhile. He hadn't found anything yet, so it couldn't hurt, he reasoned. As he sat down, a squirrel ran out of the underbrush and bolted to his side.

"Hi there, bud," Patton whispered. The squirrel was still nervous around him, which was to be expected. He only met the squirrel a few days ago. But today, he seemed more on edge than usual. The squirrel squeaked and walked a few steps away from Patton, then turned back to watch him. "Do you want me to follow you?" Patton pulled himself back to his feet. The squirrel continued forward, leading Patton to a place he usually didn't go. Mostly because it was the animals'. He knew many made their homes there and he didn't want to intrude. At night, though, it seemed more foreboding than homely. The squirrel led Patton to a place he had never seen before. A clearing with a small hill in the middle. The moon made the hill glow an eerie blue, making it look unnatural, out of place in the green forest. Patton went towards it, noticing the squirrel would not come any closer. After a moment's hesitation, he touched the hill. He pulled his hand away when he felt the familiar texture of fabric.