You've chosen to go to Patton's apartment! If this isn't the decision you wanted, feel free to return to Chapter 77!
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The story you are about to read was written by Rose, mind_writing

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"No, thank you, Virgil." Logan said weakly, his voice oddly echoing. "I think I would like to just—to just—tell Patton. I don't want them telling him."

"I understand," Virgil replied, not meeting Logan's eye. "It's just—so—" Virgil choked out, covering his face in his hands. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I think I'm just gonna—I'm just gonna head home."

Logan nodded, giving Virgil an awkward pat on the shoulder. He then took a deep breath, got in his car without Roman, even though he'd taken him here, and went to Patton's.

Patton and Roman's. They lived there together.

Logan almost couldn't find his way as he was so lost in thought, but he pulled in to see most of the lights were out. Roman and Patton lived in a nice small house, something more home-like than Logan had ever experienced. He went to the door and knocked, swallowing a lump in his throat.

Patton answered the door, wearing blue fuzzy pajama pants and a shirt that said me-wow adjoined with a kitten. Logan would laugh if he wasn't choking back tears. "Hi-ya, Lo—hey, what's wrong? What happened? Roman said you were seeing his show tonight, was there something about that?" He gestured for Logan to come in, and Logan sat at the kitchen table while Patton made hot coco.

Logan tried to keep his composure. "P—Patton," he cried, "there's, um, there's been an accident. Roman's been shot."

Patton blinked, looking at Logan warily, as if he was telling a joke. "Well, of course he was, that's what happens every night! I don't exactly like it, but—wait. You never tell jokes. Are you being serious?"

Logan nodded, "He's—he's passed away."

Patton dropped his mug and it shattered on the ground, pieces flying everywhere. "No," Patton's eyes appeared almost as hollowed as Roman's as he fell to the ground next to the broken pieces. "No, no, no. You're not serious, Logan. That's not possible."

"I'm afraid I am being s-serious, Patton. Someone shot him while he was performing. We tried everything, but it was too late. I'm sorry, Patton." Logan found his eyes watering, and he looked away, ashamed. He knew he did everything he could in that situation, but he still felt bad about being upset in front of Patton. Then again, he'd feel bad about not being upset; his emotions were so complex as of now, he could hardly wade through them.

"Oh my god," Patton sobbed, his head in his hands. "All I w-wanted...I just...I'm sorry, Logan. We had our whole lives planned together—it can't be over already—"

"Daddy?" A small voice asked, and a little girl of about five with a tangled mop of black hair stepped out of a room down the hall. She wore a purple nightgown and held onto a teddy bear. "Cookie peed in my bed again!" Behind her, a small fuzz-ball of a brown dog followed energetically. She stopped next to the mug. "Daddy, what's wrong?"

"Olivia," Patton breathed out a cry, trying desperately to keep himself composed. He petted her hair, "I'm f-fine, I just...I have to tell you something, sweetheart."

"What is it?" Olivia asked, petting Cookie as he ruffled his fur. "Is Papa back from the show yet?"

"N-no," more tears slipped down Patton's face. "Um, wh-what I have to tell you is really hard to understand, so just—just try to understand, okay? Papa went away for a while, Olivia. He went to a better place. He's going to—he's going to be happier there."

Olivia blinked, confused. "Is that why you're upset? Did he hurt your feelings?"

"No," Patton shook his head and let out a sad laugh, "your father is a very good man, Olivia. He would never hurt—hurt me. If I want you to remember anything, remember that. It just—I'll just miss him, that's all."

"B-but," Olivia began to protest, her face growing red. "What if I want to see him?"

Patton looked as though he wanted to cry more than he already was. "I'm afraid you can't, sweetheart. Not for a while. The place he went to you can't go until you're way older..."

"I'm sick of having to wait until I'm older," Olivia pouted, but she softened when she saw how upset her father was. She wrapped her small arms around his neck, and he pulled her up on his knee. "But I'm sorry you're upset, daddy..."

"Me too, kiddo..." Patton breathed, wiping his face. "I better clean this up..." he went to get the broom.

Olivia looked up at Logan and walked around the broken mug pieces to get in his lap. "Hey, Uncle Logan..." she leaned into him sleepily, yawning.

"Hello, Olivia." Logan replied quietly. He honestly liked children, but he wasn't that good with them. He held her close and petted her hair as he'd seen Patton do until she was fast asleep, then carried her to her bed.

Logan smiled a little at the race car bed; Patton and Roman had always let Olivia choose her own mix of "boys'" and "girls'" toys. He remembered that she said the dog had peed on her bed, though fortunately he only dirtied up the blanket. Logan laid her down and took off that blanket, replacing it with a thinner yet softer green blanket. He tucked her in and kissed her forehead, then went back into the kitchen to see if he could help with cleanup.

"Thanks, Logan..." Patton sighed, his voice hoarse and tired from all the crying. "I got the mug all cleaned up, and Cookie's in his bed. Yesterday, all I would have done now was...wait for Roman..." Patton started to cry again, and he wrapped his arms around Logan, burying his head in his chest. Logan wrapped his arms around him as well, patting his back semi-awkwardly.

"Patton," Logan said quietly, "I plan to do a private investigation as a start of my detective career. I don't mean to sound professional, I only mean to say that the culprit will be brought to justice."

Patton appeared worried, then relieved. "Thank you, Logan. You're smart, you'll find them..."
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Go to Chapter 80