Chapter Text
Patton pushed his glasses up and rubbed his eyes. He had stayed up all night working on this project and barely made any progress. There was still a mountain of paperwork in front of him that hadn’t even been touched.
Sunlight had started to filter in through the blinds. Patton knew that he was supposed to go downstairs and get started on breakfast, but he was determined to finish this. Logan had looked so stressed, and Patton had promised he could do it on his own.
That was a promise he was starting to regret. Logan had a tendency to take on big projects, and that had to be stressful for them. Patton wanted to help by taking one off of their plate, but that was proving to be the worst possible idea.
“Pat? Everything ok? I sensed stress." Patton snapped out of his thoughts. Virgil was standing a few feet away, leaning against the wall.
“Virge, what have I said about putting your feet on the wall?” Patton deflected tiredly. Virgil sighed and put his foot down, crossing his ankles instead.
"I repeat, is everything ok," Virgil insisted. It wasn't a question that time.
Patton turned to face his dark, strange son and plastered a smile onto his face. "Of course! Why wouldn't I be?"
"Pat.." Virgil's tone softened. "There are bags under your eyes, I can tell you're fighting back a yawn, and there are stress waves literally radiating off of you. You're not ok.." Virgil glanced at the mountain of paperwork. "Is this about the project you took on for Logan?"
Defeated, Patton nodded. "I just wanted to help!!"
"And that's an amazing train of thought, but you need to know the consequences. How about I go get Logan so they can help you out?"
"No!" Patton exclaimed. "I promised them I would do this on my own, and I'm going to keep my promise!" Then Patton mumbled something.
"Come again?"
"I need to keep it.."
Virgil sighed and walked over to his father figure. Sitting down, he said, "Pat, this isn't healthy."
"I know.. but I just want to help!"
"And I do too." Virgil sighed. "LOGAN!!"
"Virgil don't-!" Patton exclaimed, but was cut off by none other than the logical side entering.
"You called, Virgil?"
“Patton’s overworking himself,” declared Virgil, gesturing towards Patton, who looked like he was trying his hardest not to butt into the conversation. “He wants to complete the project he took on for you, but-”
“No, no!” Patton cut in, waving his hands wildly. “Logan, I promise it isn’t too much for me. I really want to help!”
Logan sighed and adjusted his glasses. “Patton, you left without me instructing you on how to do the assignment. Did you truly expect to be able to complete this without any guidance?”
“I mean, kinda..” The way Logan had spoken didn’t help Patton very much with feeling better. “But I want to help, I really do!”
“I know you do, Patton,” Logan said as they sat down. “But you can’t do anything if you don’t know how to.” I can teach you, if you would like.”
“Yeah, that would be nice..” Patton leaned against Logan’s chest tiredly. “But can I sleep first?”
“Of course,” Logan replied as he pet the other’s hair. Patton fell asleep with a smile on his face.