Chapter Text
"All aboard the ice cream train!" Patton shouted, as he pulled up at the curb in front of the high school in Dad's minivan. Logan looked up in surprise from his textbook, spotting his brother grinning at him.
"Patton? Did you leave something in your last class?" Logan asked, sliding his textbook into his satchel backpack.
"I didn't, but I did leave my little brother at school!" Patton teased. Logan frowned.
"You only have six classes, whilst I have seven, you didn't leave me, so much as-"
"I'm joking, Lo-lo! Didn't you hear me? Ice cream train! Get in, or we'll miss the discount window!" Patton exclaimed. Logan huffed and began to walk toward the minivan. The middle window slid down and Janus's annoyed expression became clear.
"Get in, old man, you're taking forever," Janus complained. Logan let out a huff of a laugh.
"Where are the twins?" Logan asked. He assumed Virgil was with Mom at the flower shop, since he was still a few months off from being even two years old.
"They're with Dad at home. Apparently, a teacher had to break up another fight between them and another couple of students," Patton explained. "No ice cream for trouble makers, after all!"
Logan slid into the passenger seat, and tried to ignore the urge to lecture Janus on safety precautions when the boy leaned forward and hooked his chin on the seat to be part of their conversation.
"So are we going to Linette's?" Logan asked, with a small smile he normally reserved for his brothers. Patton grinned and pumped his arm like he was yanking on a train whistle.
"Choo-choo! Strap into the Linette's express, boys!" Patton cheered, as he steered the car into the street.
"Both hands on the wheel, Patton," Logan reminded stubbornly, and his older brother smirked and conceded.
"Say it with me boys! Chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga-"
"I am not making inaccurate train sound effects with you," Logan snorted. "I'm a freshman in high school now."
"And I'm a senior," Patton commented. "You're never too old to have a little childlike fun, Logiebear!"
"You're both too old for childlike fun," Janus commented, and Patton gasped dramatically.
"He's lying, Logan, tell me he's lying?" Patton asked dramatically. Janus snickered.
Logan merely adjusted his glasses and smirked. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Patton. To claim Janus is lying would be a falsehood itself, and I don't speak in falsehoods."
Patton gasped dramatically again, and clutched his heart. "I've been betrayed! By my own brother!"
"Brothers before brothers," Janus commented with his trademark snark, and all three brothers burst into laughter.
The rest of the car ride was pleasant enough. At one point, Patton asked Logan what he wanted to do for his birthday, which wasn't for two months, but Patton liked to know ahead of time. He was very good at planning ahead, and was always in charge of planning birthday events. When they finally reached Linette's, Janus practically jumped out of the car while Patton was still parking.
Inside the store, Logan got his usual order. Two scoops of french vanilla, one of chocolate, drizzled with caramel and chocolate syrups, inside a paper cup. Patton got his usual ridiculous pile of toppings on top of two scoops of chocolate ice cream in a paper cup. Janus didn't have a usual, and today he got a waffle cone of orange creme, double scoop.
"Did you want any sprinkles?" The attendant asked.
"I'm allergic to sprinkles," Janus stated.
"Falsehood," Logan corrected on impulse. Janus wrinkled his nose.
"I dislike sprinkles," Janus corrected. Logan refrained from correcting him again. Janus had swamped his vanilla ice cream with sprinkles last time they'd come to Linette's.
Once they were sitting outside with their ice cream, Patton turned to Janus. "You're not supposed to lie, Janus, you made that man feel very stupid."
"He shouldn't feel stupid, he can't predict what someone's allergic to by looking at them," Janus huffed.
"Janus makes a good point," Logan agreed. Patton gave him an admonishing look, and Logan shrugged.
"Just because he shouldn't feel something, doesn't mean he won't. You should consider other people's feelings when you speak, Janus, it might help with the compulsive lying," Patton suggested. Janus frowned.
"Is this about Nancy again?" Janus grumbled.
"You had her convinced you're related to Queen Elizabeth and you go to England for summer break to visit! Yes, this is about Nancy," Patton scolded.
"That was a year ago," Janus grumbled. "I don't tell tall tales anymore."
"No, but you're still lying," Patton said.
"About sprinkles ," Logan reminded, hoping to field any argument about to commence. "That's hardly as bad."
"It's a small thing now, but he's proven to have no qualms about lying about bigger things. Janus, your lying hurts people, okay? I don't mean to scold you, or guilt you, I just want you to be a little more mindful, okay?" Patton asked, stroking Janus's hair. The youngest of the three sighed and nodded.
"I'll try, Pat."
"Hey, I love you, okay?" Patton said, and Janus nodded. Patton grinned. "And I'm always gonna love you. Through thick and thin."
"What's that even mean?" Janus asked.
"I don't know. Logan, do you know?" Patton asked, turning to his younger brother.
Logan smiled. "I can find out, if you'd like?"
Logan dropped his head against his study guide. Dammit, goddammit, shit fucking-
"Logan?" Janus's voice cut through the air, and Logan looked up with narrowed eyes. Janus's scars were almost a year old now, but it still made Logan wince when he saw them. He fixed his gaze specifically on Janus's right shoulder.
"What do you need?" Logan asked. Janus shrugged.
"I'd appreciate it if you looked me in the eye. That'd be nice," Janus commented, and Logan flinched again, finally looking his little brother in the eyes. Janus smirked a little sadly.
"I'm in freshman year now. Ice cream train, right?" Janus asked. Logan blinked.
"Is that what that was for?" Logan asked. Janus huffed out a mixture between a scoff and a laugh.
"Figures he didn't even tell you. Yeah, he said he wanted to do it for all of us. What a joke," Janus scowled.
Logan frowned. "I'm sure I can make time-"
"No, it's fine. I didn't want to go to Linette's anyway," Janus muttered. "You're busy. I'm going to go before Virgil comes looking for me."
"No, it's fine, I- I can make time for Linette's," Logan insisted, standing up. He wasn't getting anywhere in his studies anyway. "We can bring Virgil and the twins along. Make a day of it."
Janus smiled halfheartedly. "You'd really do that for me?"
"Brothers before studies," Logan said. Janus snorted.
"It's supposed to rhyme, Lo. You completely missed the point of the joke," Janus commented, and Logan grinned.
"Apologies. I'll be sure to brush up on my colloquialisms before our next conversation, then," Logan assured. He slung an arm around his brother's shoulders. "At least we're still together, hmm? Through thick and thin."
"Yeah," Janus said, his voice thick with emotion. He leaned his head on Logan's shoulder. "Thick and thin."