P?ton & Patton (Logicality)

Chapter 3

The door opened on the shop, unusually late. The only people who came at this time worked down the street. Wait. Logan worked down the street! Patton shoved his phone in his pocket and ran out to the counter. Roman was in conversation with Logan at the front. He smiled at Logan over Roman's shoulder.

"Hello, Patton. It is very nice to see you."

"Hey, Logan!! Back for more bread?"

Roman turned around and looked at Patton.

You like this guy?, he mouthed at Patton. Patton nodded.

"Uh, I gotta go...call Virgil! I'll leave you two to it!' Roman ran out, winking at Patton on his way out. Patton sighed and looked at Logan.

"Sorry, he can be a bit much. Anyways, what would you like? Oh wait, don't tell me. Black coffee?"

"How did you know?" asked Logan, genuinely surprised.

Patton obviously wasn't going to tell Logan that he had memorized that and had prepared one every hour in case he came.

"I have a good memory. Do you want anything else?"

"Yes, actually. I will get a blueberry muffin, please."

"Oh darn, we're out. Anything else sound good to you?"

Logan thought for a minute. He looked really cute when he thought.

"What would you recommend? I'm regretfully unfamiliar with your café, although I intend that to change."

Wow, this guy is smooth. Patton's mind went temporarily blank, and he had to concentrate on anything but Logan to remember.

"I like the pumpernickel bread for something more healthy, but if you're okay with sweet things, the puff pastries are great."

"I'll have the pumpernickel bread, one slice, and your number."

Whoa. This was better than what he would have imagined.

He grabbed a slice of pumpernickel, and wrote his number on the coffee cup, and handed them both to Logan. Logan moved to pay him, but Patton smiled and didn't take it.

"Come back tomorrow to chat and we're even."

Logan nodded briskly and walked outside. Patton watched him walk down the street until he couldn't see him anymore.

The door opened and Virgil walked in, unusually alone.

"So. Why are you acting weird, Patton?"

Right to the point. That was what he liked about Virgil.

"Can you not tell Roman? Please? I don't need him to try and 'rescue me'."

"If he asks, I'll tell him you said not to tell him. He respects your privacy."

Patton drew in a deep breath to steady himself, and...immediately burst into tears.

"Holy shit! ...oh fuck. Let's go in the back room, okay Pat?"

Patton was so... some emotion he didn't recognize ... that he didn't chide Virgil for swearing. nodded and kept sobbing. They walked into the back room and sat down, Virgil on the counter and Patton on a chair.

"Are you okay, Patton? If it helps, I can get you a... I don't know how to help... do you want a hug?"

"Y-yeah, thanks Virge."

Virgil put his arms around him and let Patton sob into his shoulder. Patton pulled away after a long three minutes.

"J-Janus... he's... he's back. Remy... saw him with... Emi-emile."

"Oh my... oh my God, Patton. No wonder you're upset."

Patton turned his phone on and showed his messages with Janus to Virgil. Virgil gasped and turned to Patton.

"Why did you text him? Didn't Emile-"

"Emile told me not to..." sighed Patton. "I did anyways."

Virgil hugged him again.

"To leave this on a happy note..." Virgil pulled a ring out of his pocket.

Patton stared blankly at the gold band.

"Look at the engraving on the inside."

Patton picked up the ring, still not understanding. The engraving on the band read, in elegant print, My Prince.

"Oh. My. God."

Virgil smiled slightly.

"You're going to propose?? To Roman?? Squeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!"

Virgil nodded, smiling as big as Patton had ever seen him.

"We're going on an anniversary date, for our two-year. The restaurant is our favorite, Tuttleberry's. Then, after a 'romantic candlelit dinner,'" he imitated Roman's aristocratic accent, which Patton had no idea how Roman had, as they were brothers. "We will go to an old, beautiful theatre where we saw Macbeth together for Halloween. I already talked to the owners, and they will permit our use. I'll have him come on the stage with me, and I'll say a speech I wrote. Then I'll propose."

Patton was speechless with joy. He hugged Virgil again, who flinched at the sudden movement, and then melted into the hug. Virgil pulled away after a few seconds and turned to go.

"Patton. Remember, I love you and I hope that we'll be family soon"