Generation: laugh
Date: 18. April. 2020
Features: Patton, child!Virgil, Roman, Logan
Word Count: 1,266
AU: Human
Warnings: vaguely mentioned deaths, child!virgil, pat/lo bros, rushed, unedited

👓👑🌩👔🐍🐙

Patton smiled to himself as he watched Virgil curl up on the couch, the five year old's eyes flitting between the Disney film on the screen and the book his uncle had gifted him before their move. Patton was well aware that he was in over his head when it came to being an only parent for a young child, but he fears that this move- the one that made it so that his brother was now over an hour away rather than right next door- might be the key to his downfall.

Honestly though, what was Patton supposed to do? He had just turned 30 at the start of the year, and he was offered a position that was a 10% pay increase over his previous one- unless he stumbled into a miracle, this was the best Patton was going to be getting. He still couldn't quite grasp that Virgil was five. That meant his best friend had been gone for five years already. He was sad that his best friend- and her husband- had been taken so suddenly, but he knew that when it came down to it; he had to continue forward.

For Virgil.

It was now Saturday, they'd been living in their new apartment for almost three  weeks. Patton was on the phone with Logan as he tried to get the groceries and Virgil all into the apartment without incident. Grocery shopping for the two of them to make it the next week was not the easiest. Virgil had so many allergies and finding the best substitutes and work arounds wasn't always simple. Add to that shopping with a curious five year old and only one pair of eyes, you have a recipe for disaster.

Stumbling into the apartment, Patton placed the bags down on the kitchen counter as he responded to Logan's question before turning around to see- no Virgil. Turning every which way, Patton's heart leapt to his throat as he dropped his phone on the counter before panicking in full force. Where was his son? It felt like eons- although reality would suggest that his child was only separated from him for less than 2 minutes- before Patton stumbled to the doorway to see his son looking up at a man with light brown hair that had crouched beside him.

"Well, my little knight, where is mommy? Or daddy?" Patton overheard the man asking, his soft tenor voice seemingly dancing through the air.

It was Virgil's curious head tilt that had Patton responding- nothing more, honestly. Although, the only other person to get this type of response from his son was Patton's brother. "It's just dad, unfortuntely." Virgil jumped up and smiled brightly as he turned and ran at Patton, arms encircling Patton's leg almost instantly, "Thank you for keeping him company while I messed up." The again Patton wanted to say resting on the tip of his tongue. They had been alone for three weeks and Patton just kept messing up, he was aware of that- and so was Logan, his brother being more help than Patton had ever truly realized when they were still in the same building.

"It's no problem at all! Your little knight was just safeguarding the hallway from all the bad people!" The stranger reassured as he stood up, a gentle smile on his lips as he extended his hand. "My name is Roman Kingsley, I live in apartment 425, you must be the new tenant for 424?"

"Patton Sanders," he accepted the handshake with a soft smile before gesturing to his son, "And this is Virgil Li- I meant, Sanders."

The neighbors quickly grew friendly after that. Patton admitting he had taken a position at the local college- teaching the next generation of architects! While Roman informed of his job as a daycare worker- 'I wasn't cut out for actual education, but I can encourage them while they're still young and creative!' Patton sharing a little of his and Virgil's history while simultaneously opening up about how he relied on his brother so heavily before moving; and Roman admitting to becoming a crutch for his brother.

Things got easier for Patton as his neighbor steadily seemed to invade his life without either of them realizing. It seemed almost funny how negligible they both were on the sudden codependency- until Patton got a call from the hospital. Logan had run into a problem at work and had one of his creations backfire. Roman happened to be there when the call came through, and the shift was imminent.

"Your brother needs you."

"My son needs me!"

"Does your brother have anyone else?"

No. The sad truth of the matter was that no, Logan had no one else. Patton had only had Logan and Elizabeth before her death; but Logan never tried to reach out to others. So Patton and Virgil were all that was left in Logan's life.

"Ro, they won't let a kid into the ward; and I can't leave Virgil unattended." Patton also couldn't afford a sitter, but financial matters were a private thing.

"Then let's go."

The world shuttered to a stop- what did Roman just say? He couldn't possibly mean-

"Pat, let's go. I'll come with. We can bring a bag of books and toys, you visit your brother and Virge and I will hang out in the waiting room." Roman offered Patton a small smile, "No one should be alone at the hospital, especially when family is only a drive away."

"It's over an hour drive, Roman-"

"Then we better get moving."

There was no room for argument, it was clear that Roman had made his decision- and Patton was more than grateful. Nearly 90 minutes later, Roman and Virgil were in the waiting room of the hospital as Patton was lead into the ward to see his brother.

The two spoke for a few minutes- Patton calling his brother stupid for neglecting his own health to the point he made such silly mistakes at work- and finally, after what felt like years, Patton laughed. It was a laugh of relief, but it was a laugh regardless. Which brought one question out into the open.

"Hey Pat, where's Virgil?"

Those four words brought out the flood of words and explanations as Patton found it hard to stop explaining. Until suddenly, Logan let out a soft chuckle; stopping Patton midsentence.

"So, little brother, when are you asking him out?"

Oh. That is- not an unwelcome thought. That didn't mean he wouldn't try to backpedal that idea away, "No, I couldn't! I just- I have so much to do for Virgil still-!"

"Patty-cake?" Logan cut him off, his voice still a little raspy but Patton wouldn't be drawing attention to that, "You do so much for Virgil. When was the last time you did something for you?"

That idea was the one thing that stuck with Patton. Even as visiting hours came to a close and Roman drove the three of them back home. Patton looked back at Virgil on occasion to see his son passed out in the back seat of the car, and even then the words echoed in his head. Entering the apartment building, Roman continued to help him get Virgil settled into bed and just before they parted ways, the words seemed louder than ever before.

"Hey, Ro?" The response he was greeted with was a soft hum, "Would you like to go out sometime?"

Roman paused his eyes widening before his smile became brighter than Patton could ever remember seeing, "I would love that, Patton."