"Logan... where's your heartbeat?"
"My what?"
"Your heartbeat. You know the feeling of your heart moving in your chest."
"I've never felt that. I do not think I have one."
"How? You have to"
"I just do not."
"I'll give you a heartbeat."

And so, Patton made it his goal to get Logan's heart to beat. Just one movement.

"Patton, give up already! I will never have a heartbeat! I have lived without it for all of my life, I highly doubt I need it."
"No, I'm not giving up! I want to know you're alive as the rest of us, to have a point between your death and something less horrible Logan! I want it to know you're safe"
"Give up Patton, it is a waste of time and I hate it."
"Well, I hate you!" Patton yelled. Silence thickened like icing, absent of the sweetness the decoration bears. Logan straightened his tie and walked past Patton, tears clear in his eyes but his composure as strong as ever. Patton was hardly breathing. What had he just done? All of his efforts gone to waste. Patton fell onto the sofa and just sat, tears slipping down his face and sobs forcing his body into jerky movements.

Patton and Logan hadn't spoken all week and Patton was getting physical issues because of it. He wasn't sleeping, eating or even drinking right. Patton made a decision. He needed to apologise.

"L-Logan?"
"Yes?"
"C-can I come in?"
"What is it?" Logan opened the door, clearly dishevelled and uncared for. Patton grabbed Logan and pushed the door open, kissing him hard. Logan gasped but slipped into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Patton's neck. Patton pulled Logan close, one hand on his chest and the other on his hip. Buh-bump. A beat. Buh-bump. A heartbeat. Buh-bump. A rhythm built up. Logan's heart was beating right under Patton's hand. They parted, lips barely brushing.

"Logan you have a... a heartbeat"
"I do?"
"I can feel it! You have a heartbeat!" Patton sat on Logan's bed, pulling Logan into his lap and pressing an ear to Logan's chest. Patton smiled broadly. Buh-bump. Buh-bump. Buh-bump. Logan blushed and curled himself around Patton, who wrapped his arms around Logan in response. The pair lay on their sides and fell asleep, Patton listening to the steady rhythm of Logan's heart and Logan holding Patton close.

"Did you know Virgil?"
"Know what?"
"That Logan is a..."
"Oh, that he's... yeah I knew..."
"I don't want to tell Patton that it's just a simulation..."
"That's where we have to decide... we can lie and they'll both be happy, or we can tell the truth and risk... well, you remember what happened last time Roman"
"I do, and I don't want to see it again."
"So it's agreed. We lie, and keep them safe. Safe from him."
"From them"
"Them?"
"Yes, he has a twin"
"Fuck. You hid it right?"
"Yes."
"Good... I hope it's enough"
"Me too, love, me too..."