#tiny!sides

All:@liz-a-bell @wolfiegamer2007 @rabbitsartcorner @pokemontrainerfromgallifrey

“I’m not an infant.” Patton huffed, a bit of a lisp forming from all the teeth he had lost.

“Tik tok, Patton.” Roman reminded him.

“Do you visit other children?” Patton leaned forwards. “That was my question.”

“Really?” Roman looked unimpressed. “Yes, of course, it’s my job.”

Patton seemed uneasy with this answer. He twirled the little baby tooth between his fingers, and if he were more of a strict tooth fairy Roman would just dart in and grab it and be done with all this fanfare.

“Even…even the cruel ones?” Patton asked timidly. “That’s not a new question, just an addition, so it doesn’t count. Do you talk to the mean kids as well?”

“oh, that’s what you meant by visit.” Roman said in realization. “No, Patton, believe me, you’re special. I don’t talk to any other children.”

Patton blinked. “You don’t?”

“Certainly not!” Roman assured him. “No, most of the time I just swoop in and steal their teeth. With the really naughty ones, sometimes I don’t even leave more than a penny. I must leave something, of course, but if I had my say those brats wouldn’t get a cent.”

“But what makes me so special?” Patton seemed puzzled by this answer. “And why do you have to leave them something? And what happens-”

“I said one question.” Roman gave him a look, gesturing for Patton to hand over the tooth. He knew, left to his own devices, Patton would just continue going on and on.

“…okay.” Patton sighed, handing over the tooth. “But you’ll be back soon, right?”

“When you lose your next tooth.” Roman put the tooth in his bag before pointing an accusing finger at Patton. “And no more knocking your teeth out on purpose with the doorknob, you’re going to drive your father insane with that behavior.”

Patton pulled his blanket up to his nose, looking timid. “How’d you know about that?”

“I know everything.” Roman said cryptically, not bothering to explain he had overheard earlier on his way to the nursery. “And I’ve also been informed that you’ve been eating too much candy, Mr. sour gums.”

Patton groaned, throwing his blanket fully over his head to try and block out the scolding. “It was just a few pieces.” Patton whined. “All the other kids celebrate Halloween too, you know.” 

“And did all the other kids remember to brush their teeth?” Roman argued with a smirk. “You have to take care of them, especially as your adult molars are coming in so they can stay big and strong. You want your adult teeth to be healthy, don’t you?”

To Roman’s surprise, Patton gave a little shake of his head.

“No?” Roman said in bewilderment. Patton had always been one of the best children, wanting to do exactly as Roman instructed and be on his best behavior. “Why not?”

Patton slowly pulled the blanket down, just enough so his eyes were visible. “Because then you’re gonna leave me.” Patton said softly. “Like you did with dad.”

...oh. 

Roman cleared his throat, uncertain how to phrase this particular part of the conversation. It was always his least favorite truth, of course, the knowledge that he had had to leave Logan Sanders behind.

Logan had grown up fine, evidently. The curious child grew into a competent young man who graduated with a Doctoral Degree in Dental Surgery with a masters in Pediatric Dentistry. A children’s dentist by practice, Logan worked at ‘Floss and Gloss Dental’ and complained near daily to his sympathetic husband about the ridiculous name. Regardless, Logan was one of the best dentists around; despite having grown up, it seemed he never forgot the magic of those moments shared with Roman. He was patient and kind with children, listening to their stories and answering every curious question.

Roman loved watching Logan thrive from afar the few chances he got- which were few and in between. The tooth fairy was only meant to visit a household where tooth business needed to be conducted; and this meant Roman wasn’t able to return to this nursery until Patton had lost his first tooth. Only then had Roman’s fears been addressed, knowing that Logan had found a loving family after all. 

His beautiful son was so much his spitting image that sometimes Roman wondered if Logan had a side business in cloning. Patton was so curious, with those same big doe eyes filled to the brim with wonder. Of course, Roman could see differences as well. Patton was more emotional, and thankfully more polite than Logan initially had behaved. Patton had clearly been given some notice on how these things were meant to run, as on only the second visit he had already been lying awake in bed practically vibrating in excitement.

“You’re real!” Patton had excitedly gasped, the tooth fairy forgetting to disguise himself at all in the familiar nursery. Of course, Roman would never dream of doing such a thing here. He was just as curious to talk to Patton as Patton was to speak with himself.

“So are you!” Roman had gasped, pretending to be just as shocked. Patton had giggled, his laughter spreading through the room with the most pleasant of infectious magics. That was another difference- Patton giggled more. He was not ashamed to be himself, wholeheartedly. Roman was already in love with every aspect of Patton’s bubbly personality; he knew it would hurt just as much to leave Patton behind, and with every visit Roman dreaded that day a little more.

Roman shook his head, focusing on the present rather than the fond nostalgia or the regretful future. He was here, now, with Patton. That was enough.

“I’m not going to leave you.” Roman’s throat felt thick, forcing the words out as he tucked Patton’s hair behind his ear. “Not until you’re ready.” That, at least, was true. Unfortunately, the universe would decide when Patton was ready much sooner than either could hope.

“What if I’m never ready?” Patton asked, his eyes brimming with worried tears. “What if I’m not ready but you leave and I’m all alone?”

“Now come now!” Roman put on his stern princely mask. “Don’t you dare say you’re alone, little princeling. What would your father say? Who loves you so very much that he would never let you be alone? Or your dear uncle Virgil? He’d do anything to make you feel loved. Why I do believe he would threaten to keep me in a night light if he thought it’d make you feel better.”

“Uncle Virgil wouldn’t do that!” Patton gasped, throwing his blankets down to his lap, and his astonished expression made Roman laugh out loud. “Don’t be mean, it’s true- he wouldn’t!”

“Of course he wouldn’t.” Roman chuckled good-naturedly, remembering how Virgil had all but threatened to do exactly that for his brother Logan back in the day. 

“And that wouldn’t make me feel better at all.” Patton pouted, making sure to get his point across. “I want you to stay, but I don’t want you to be sad about it.”

“Oh my dear Pattoncake, I promise you, I would stay if I could.” Roman assured him, placing a gentle kiss on Patton’s forehead. “But my point is that you are surrounded by people who love you, and who won’t be leaving you anytime soon.” 

“...I guess so.” A begrudging Patton agreed, slowly laying down in his bed. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t miss you, too.” 

“Patton, I’ll still be here a while yet.” Roman assured him, pulling up the blankets with a grunt to tuck in the child. “And if you stop eating so many sweets, your baby teeth won’t fall out so much.” Not completely true, but Roman figured he should at least try and convince Patton to stop decaying his teeth so fast, for Logan’s sake.

“No candy?” Patton looked as though Roman had just told him Christmas was cancelled, and as a fellow lover of sweets Roman could feel his pain.

“Less candy.” Roman corrected, always a sucker for puppy dog eyes. He gave Patton another kiss. “Besides, you’re already sweet enough as it is.”

Patton giggled, which turned into a yawn as the late hour began to catch up with Patton. 

“Get some sleep.” Roman suggested gently, Patton’s eyes already drifting closed. Roman hefted the glasses off his nose, laying them to rest on the nightstand. 

“G’night.” Patton murmured sleepily, curling into his pillow. “Love you.”