Chapter Text
Patton looked down the hall before closing his door, and sighed before turning to the people waiting for him inside.
"Welcome back, Padre!" Roman said with his usual dramatic flair.
"Indeed" Logan fixed his glasses "We are glad to see you again."
"What took you so long, Dad?" The anxious side asked.
"Oh, just couldn't find the cookies, that's all!" Patton smiled and giggled. He had a container between his hands and sat down on the floor next to the bed.
Everyone took a seat around him. Logan on the bed, Virgil on the table instead of the available chair and Roman next to him on the floor.
"Mmm, I appreciate the new frame for Thomas' middle school collections of A+." Logan commented "I expected you to take the more... emotional metaphorical route and make a scrapbook."
"I knew you would like the frame, Lo!" Patton smiled wider "They are your achievements after all, they deserve to be seen!"
"Yeah, how else would we remember how much of a nerd you are?" Roman exclaimed and Logan frowned at him. Roman retracted but didn't look very guilty. "Not that It's a bad thing."
"Wow, great save." Virgil rolled his eyes at him. "Thanks for the cookies, Patton."
"Aw, no problem, kid. Remember to chew." He warned, seeing how everyone, including Logan, seemed to be set on eating more air than cookies. That happens when Crofter's thumbprints are brought to the table. Or floor.
"How is Janus doing?" Virgil suddenly asked, a cookie half way into his mouth. Patton jumped at the question, Virgil doesn't mention Janus this lightly usually, but quickly relaxed.
"He is fine. He is reading one of his complicated books about snakes." He answered.
Roman hugged Patton from the side and Patton laid his head on his shoulder.
"Put your head on my shoulder" Roman sang. Patton laughed, they both stood up and started a slow dance together. "Whisper in my ear, baby"
"Words I want to hear" With a surprise, Patton heard Logan sing. Virgil got off the desk and hugged Patton's back.
"Tell me, tell me that you love me too" Patton finished singing.
"Patton" Logan sighed. And Patton knew what he would say but didn't want to listen. "You can't keep doing this."
Patton closed his eyes hard and hugged Roman close.
"I know."
"Like I said, nothing beats the real thing." Virgil smiled. It wasn't a very happy smile.
"Please, darling puffball." Roman's breath against Patton's cheek. "I know you miss us. But this is not... good. And I would know, I'm literally the good fantasy guy."
"I'm not ready yet." Patton mumbled.
"Ready for what?" Logan asked patiently.
"To lose you." He answered. "Why can't you stay here?"
Virgil hugged tighter. "We will always be here when you need us. Safe in your room, next to all the memories."
"But we cannot provide the sufficient level of comfort needed for this situation." Logan said, neutral as always but with a touch of... something.
Patton was about to say something, but a knock on his door sent the room to a quiet state.
"Hello. Are you there, Patton?" Logan's voice came through the door. "Who are you talking to?"
Patton panicked, looking at the people in his room who wordlessly took their leave by disappearing through thin air.
"Yeah!" Patton answered "Just talking to myself, you know me, silly ol' dad."
"Okay." He answered. "Janus was looking for you. It seems to be urgent."
Fudge.