A/N: I love all the ships. ALL OF THEM
Deceit is named Dylan here.
...........

Patton had been... the greatest support Virgil ever had.

Through even the toughest of times, the cheerful optimist always made Virgil crack a smile.

So It made sense they were glued at the hip quite heavily.

Even when Virgil tried to date, it never really quite worked out. When Patton was in the picture, he always came first and his dates didn't quite like that.

Virgil couldn't exactly explain why Patton was so high on his priority list, though his brother and brother in law seemed to know. Not like they'd tell.

But that's how it was, even into college they were joined together. Roommates even.

"Pat! You ready?"

The man in question smiled at his reflection on the mirror, all ready for a night out, "I'm ready!"

"You wear the same thing," Virgil began, "why does it take you twice the time to get ready?"

"So I'm in a positive state of mind!"

Virgil just shook his head and headed towards their dorm door, opening it for Patton.

"Aren't you just the gentleman?"

"Pat, I'm this close to staying here instead," Virgil complained, almost touching two fingers together to show his frustration.

Patton pouted, "all right V, I just want to enjoy a night out with my best friend!"

Virgil's heart was basically goo, "I want that too, but couldn't we not go to Roman's side job?"

"V-"

"Alright, Alright."

Roman was Virgil's brother and honestly, seeing his over the top brother was not how he normally envisioned fun. But hey, what Patton wants, Virgil gives.

If the little puffball called for mass genocide, Virgil would be happy to fulfill his friends wishes.

Yes, friend.

Both boys never really seemed to acknowledge the very obvious signs between them. They were more than friends, if either chose to acknowledge it.

Roman's side job was at a local restaurant. He was a cook there and seeing as it was a weekend where Roman wasn't actually working, he invited the others to come so they could all hang out. That included Roman's husband and his husband's brother and then Patton's cousin and younger brother. A family reunion of familiar faces.

Ugh. Virgil never really liked the get together. Everyone was weird in their own right. Well, at least his brother-in-laws family was chill.

"I'm so sorry about him," Virgil and Logan said together when Roman was being dramatic to the waiter.

"Ah, brothers?"

"I'm married to the idiot." Logan said.

"And the idiots my brother so yes, we're in laws."

The waiter nodded in understanding, knowing Roman only a bit, leaving to table to put in the groups order.

Patton and Virgil were sat next to each other at the round table. To Virgil's right was Logan. To Patton's left, there was his younger brother Thomas, who seemed entertained by the frenzy. Besides Logan was Roman. Besides Roman was Logan's brother Remy, who had his eyes trained on Dylan, who was sat besides both Remy and Thomas. Dylan was Patton and Thomas' cousin.

"Most people know us, so I'm assuming they're new?" Logan questioned.

Roman nodded, smiling warmly at his husband, "they're a temp. Filling in for Joan. Poor thing is in the hospital for quite a few broken bones."

"Aw, Joan? They're so nice," Patton blurted.

There was a very small pause before Logan nodded in agreement, "it is most unfortunate. They always make visits interesting."

"You two are way to much alike it's creepy. But you're cuter," Roman said with a warm hum. Pink burned on Logan's cheeks as he gently smacked Roman.

They worked well together, surprisingly. No one had expected them to, especially when they were forever at odds. They just started getting along all the sudden, then bam! They were a gaged and then married.

"Anyway," Logan said, "how has everyone been? It's been awhile since we all met up to talk."

Dylan shrugged, "nothing interesting really. I got arrested on a false charge, but that was cleared up."

"Hey did anyone think you had crack?" Thomas asked.

He shrugged again, "I don't know, I didn't say I had any."

"Girl, you might've accidentally implied it," Remy suggested, scrolling through his phone.

"Do you ever get off that thing?" Logan sighed.

Remy just smirked at that, "I'll stop when I can get laid."

"Why-"

"What about you Virgil? How's my brother doing?" Roman asked.

Virgil shrugged himself, and shook his head, "nothing really. Same old same old."

"Oh V!" Patton exclaimed, "you're published now, isn't that exciting?"

A light pink floated its way onto Virgil's cheeks, "they're just sci-fi, and it's not like they're very popular."

"Don't sell yourself short!"

Virgil smiles awkwardly at that, their family looking at them in disgust. Not bad disgust, but when a couple is being mushy in front of you disgust.

"You two dating?" Remy asked shortly, "there's chemistry there that you'd have to be blind not to see."

"I-!" Patton went bear red, "no, no we're not dating. We're best friends."

"We're just close."

Everyone else at the table rolled their eyes at the pair, even Thomas, who was generally unfazed by what anyone said.

"What's worth he eye rolls?" Virgil snorted.

"Well," Logan started, "you're much closer than most best friends, and you prioritize each other over even family at times. Virgil, your plus one to the wedding was Patton, even when he was already invited himself. When you dated in the past, Patton took priority. You'd help him hide a body if he asked. If just... makes sense."

"E-excuse me." Patton got up and left the table, heading to the nearby bathroom. This left them all, a bit speechless.

"Come on guys, you know better. Patton doesn't like-"

"No, you know." Thomas said quietly. "You know him better than anyone is the family does. I'm sure that your brother Wailuku say Patton knows you better than they do?"

"Virgil, why are you holding yourself back from acknowledging what's in your heart?" Roman said softly.

This made Virgil think.

If he was into Patton... what negative things could come from it?

Patton wouldn't like him anymore

He might be wrong about his feelings

He could fuck up their friendship

He-

Did he like Patton?

Patton was kind and warm and always a constant in Virgil's life. More than his brother at times. Everything with Patton felt as natural as breathing, while his past relationships were constructing and not Virgil.

Patton made Virgil laugh, and the man was beautifully adorable. His freckles, his sea blue eyes and featherlight pink/blond hair... he was a dream.

Fuck..

"I'm going to check on him."

Virgil got up and headed to the bathroom. It was empty, besides Patton, who was looking in the mirror, inspecting himself, cheeks still a bit pink. He heard the door open, surprised yet not at all surprised to see Virgil there.

"You okay there Patton?"

The man sighed and nodded, "I just didn't expect everyone to gang up on us."

"They just need to understand that there is nothing between-"

"That would be a lie then..." Patton interrupted, looking down at the ground.

"What?"

Patton flicked his eyes up, fear in his eyes, fear at what Virgil might say. "They're not wrong. I'd have to be an idiot not to love you after all this time! There's no one in this world who makes me feel the way you do!"

"Patton-"

"I love you Virgil."

There was a second of doubt, regret, fear before Virgil closed the gap between them and pulled Patton into a hug, burying his head in Patton's shoulder. He lifted his face only to briefly say, "I love you too."

The two heard the door start to open and quickly split apart. That caused them to awkwardly head back to the table where the others had started to eat.

Apparently food had been delivered.

No one mentioned anything the rest of the dinner.

No one said a word when Patton and Virgil split from them after dinner so they could not.

They didn't even mention how they saw the pair out the window, talking and smiling and Patton eventually leaning in and kissing Virgil, who was happy to reciprocate.

They didn't say a word.

..............

A/N: hope y'all enjoyed!