Point of View: Logan, First Person
Timeline: Present Day

Patton was aimlessly stirring the batter for pancakes - hands shaking slightly.  A seemingly normal task for most people to do, but this was Patton.  I knew exactly what he was making.

Patton Pancakes.

I was sitting in living room, re-reading one of my favorite books (The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie, of course).  But when I glanced up to see what Patton was making, I immediately set down my book, sticking the front flap of the cover in my place before closing it - merely waiting for him to stop stirring the batter, as he looked unusually lost in his thoughts.

"Patton?" I finally questioned.

"Hmm?" Patton responded, not looking at me.  He took a moment to push up his glasses before twisting just enough so I couldn't see his face anymore.

"Are you okay?"

"W-What makes you think that I-I'm not okay?" Patton said shakily, avoiding my eyes - eyes locked too intensely on the bowl in front of him.

"You've been stirring the pancake batter for nearly ten minutes."

Patton flushed pink, pulling out the whisk and setting it on a nearby paper towel.  "Whoops, silly me," Patton forced a small laugh but it was too strained, too fake.

"Patton?"

Patton hummed in acknowledgment, but still didn't look at me.  I frowned.  "Patton, would you please look at me for a short moment?" I requested.

Patton hesitated, not looking at me.

I got to my feet, walking  into the kitchen and over to Patton.  "Patton?" I asked, grabbing his shoulder and gently turning him to face me, to see tears rolling down his cheeks.

"I left him," Patton whispered, eyes unfocused.  "I left him, and I wasn't there for him when he -"

I caught on instantly.  Of course, Patton would be upset about Anxiety having a seizure.  Illogical, but it would certainly be Patton to be upset over something that was entirely out of his control.

"Patton - it is completely illogical for you to blame yourself.  You had no way to knowing that Anxiety was going to have a seizure, nor anyway to help him even if you had.  You helped, Thomas, that was enough," I reassured.

"Did I?" Patton muttered, eyes darkening.

I blinked in confusion.  "Pardon?" I asked, adjusting my glasses in confusion, as if adjusting them would make this situation clearer.

"Did I really help Thomas?"

"I am not entirely sure what you mean," I admitted.  "Of course you helped.  What makes you believe that you did not."

"You had things under control," Patton was avoiding my eyes.  "And then I had to go and show up, make him a mess again."

"I'll admit I am still not sure what you mean," I repeated.  "You helped.  Thomas calmed down."

Patton shook his head.  "That wasn't me - that was because poor Anxiety had a seizure and Thomas's anxiety went away.  That wasn't me," Patton's voice cracked.  "I just stood there and had a meltdown."

"Well," I couldn't deny that Patton had gotten quite... emotional, but that was only to be expected.  "Certainly Thomas appreciated you being there," I reasoned.

Patton shook his head, not believing me.  "I only made things worse, Lo! I arrived and he was crying, and I didn't help at all!" Patton cried out, sniffing as he shoved his glasses up and used the other hand to wipe away the tears falling uncontrollably down his cheeks.

I cleared my throat, awkwardly adjusting my tie.  What was I supposed to do with this?!

I hate emotions, I hate seeing what they do to people - I hate seeing Patton crying because for - for no logical reason.  How can I even begin to help him when I don't even understand why he's so upset?

Ugh. Emotions - the bane of my existence.

Well, time for a fail safe.  When in doubt...

"Hey Patton?"

"Hmm?" Patton sniffled, still trying to stop crying.

"Why couldn't the bicycle stand up by itself?"

Patton frowned, head tilting to the side, confused.  He forgot momentarily about being upset and I saw the beginning of a smile twitch at his lips.  "Why...?"

"It was two tired," I finished, already wincing but it was worth it to hear Patton start to giggle uncontrollably and he grabbed me, wrapping his arms around my stomach - burying his face into my shoulder.

I stopped breathing - slowly wrapping my own arms around him.

"Hey, Lo?" Patton asked after a minute or so of this.

"Y-Yes, Patton?"

"... Why is your heart beating so fast?"

Holy Solanum Lycopersicum -

"Um," I said, quickly pulling back - pulling my face starting to turn pink.  "I - I, um, just - uh," I stammered.  "I shall be right back," I said, quickly turning and walking as fast as I could to my room.

I was breathing heavily by the time I reached my room, I rushed inside - closing it quickly behind me.  From there I let out a relieved breath, closing my eyes, feeling a headache starting to build up.

What was I thinking??!! I had to get myself under control.  I couldn't - I couldn't do this to Patton.  I couldn't do this to him, because I know that - that I can't handle this, it was all too much - I couldn't -

Gosh, I was giving myself a major headache.  I guess at least now I had a reason for basically running back to my room so suddenly.  Wow, this headache was coming on fast, ow ow ow -

I groaned, sliding painfully onto my bed - fisting the sheets tightly in pain.  I waved a hand and magically shut the curtains, pitching my room in complete darkness, showing off the projection the atmosphere on my ceiling.  But even now that faint light was too bright and I quickly turned it off, burying my face into my pillow - hardly remembering to take off my glasses before doing so, setting them on top of my nightstand, on top of my dictionary.

I didn't move, I didn't even bother to kick of my shoes. Ow, ow, ow, ow -

A knock came from the other side of the door and I hardly paid it any attention, waving my hand to open the door - not moving my head from the dark, soft comfort of my pillow.

"... Logan?"

I immediately winced.  Patton.  He had followed me?

"I - uh - just wanted to make sure you were okay.  You looked... off, and you left in such a hurry that I just wanted to check up on you.  You've been in your room for hours."

Had I? Oh, I must've fallen asleep, I guess.  But my head still hurt so much... agh...

"Salutations," I said, or rather tried to say since it was muffled by the pillow.  I couldn't even bring myself to flip over and face him.

I felt a small dip in my bed and I realized that Patton was a lot closer than I had assumed.  "You gotta headache, Lo?"

I let out a small grunt in response.

"Come 'ere, Lo."

I winced, not having the will to resist.  I blinked painfully up at him, hands immediately rising to my temples as pain shot through them.  I squinted at him, and even though Patton hadn't turned on any lights my room still seemed unnaturally bright to me.

"Come 'ere," Patton repeated, reaching forward and guiding my head to rest on his lap.  I didn't protest, doing as I was told.

For future reference, Patton is warm and cuddly.

"Where's the pain, Lo?" Patton asked, lightly.

"Like a rubber band is wrapped around my skull," I muttered.  "It's all over."

Moments later, I felt Patton's large - but soft - hands slowly start massaging my pained skull and I couldn't help the way my eyes fluttered shut, the relief instant.

The both of us stayed like that for hours, neither one of us breaking the silence.  We didn't need to say anything, the unwritten contract of silence bouncing between us until we both finally fell asleep.

____________________
hi :3

...

that ended was a little odd.

but eh.

...

bye :3