First Published: September 16th 2017

Pairing: none

Genre: fluff, human au, dad!pat au

Word Count: 995

Warnings: none

Summary: Patton takes his three kids to collect mulberries.

-

Roman hopped onto the fence and scaled its height to grab the overhead branches. Bending some down, he picked the abundant black berries within his reach and let go, letting the branch spring back into place. The loose mulberries he hadn't managed to collect flung off and hailed downwards, splattering his brother's face with purple from above.

"Hey!" Virgil shouted from the ground, glaring up at him from where he was gathering his own berries.

Roman only stuck his tongue out at him and moved along the fence, balancing precariously as he edged towards a thin branch full of ripe fruit. He stretched his hand out and his fingers brushed it as he leant further and further over the fence. He almost had it, he just needed-

"Roman Sanders, what on earth do you think you're doing?!"

The sudden voice startled him, and then his arms were cartwheeling backwards as he tried to keep balance, but then a gust of wind had him falling, falling, falling-

He fell into Patton's arms, who caught him with a slight stagger. When he dared to open his eyes, Roman saw the stern yet relieved gaze of the father.

"What did I tell you about climbing that fence?" Patton cried as he helped Roman upright.

He could hear Virgil sniggering at his scolding behind him, and Roman was too ashamed to answer his dad. Instead, he stared at his purple-coated feet and distanced himself from the situation by wondering whether wine could be made from squashed mulberries.

All he had been trying to do was to get enough berries for the promised pie Patton was going to make. He and Virgil had a container they were dropping the black fruit into whilst Logan was off doing who knows what, but as they moved from tree to tree Roman realised they could get more if he only climbed the fence running behind the trees. He didn't mean to make his father upset with him. If he kept making mistakes like this, he and his brothers were going to be sent back to the orphanage, surely-

Patton frowned at his son's silence and gently lifted Roman's head and leant down a little until they were eye-to-eye. He was pained to see tears gathered there. "Oh, kiddo," he murmured, then quickly pressed a kiss to Roman's hair as he brought him in for a hug. "You know I could never be mad at you. I was just worried! I told you not to climb the fence as it's unsteady and I'm sorry for scaring you."

"I just wanted to get the ones high up..." Roman muttered, scrubbing his eyes furiously.

"And that's okay! In fact, thank you for putting that much effort into it. However, you need to know that I would prefer it if you didn't take risks like that. I don't want you getting hurt, okay?"

"Okay."

Patton gave him another hug and went off to talk to the youngest of his three sons, Virgil.

"I have to say, I feel like you deserved that," commented Logan, who had snuck up behind Roman.

"Shut up, nerd," he grumbled. "At least I was helping."

Logan rolled his eyes. "It might interest you to know that I was actually doing something far more important."

"And what may that be, Victor Frankenstein?"

Logan brought his enclosed fist into view and Roman tilted his head curiously, but he didn't have to wait long. His brother opened his hand to reveal a handful of-

"Bugs?! What the fuck, Logan?! Get those away from me!" He shrieked and jumped back as Logan smirked and stepped closer.

Patton rushed back over. "Roman, don't swear! And Logan-" He caught sight of the brown insects in Logan's hands and yelped, but composed himself when he realised that they weren't moving. "Roman, don't worry. The bugs are dead." Thank god, he added mentally, not wanting to offend Logan.

"Holy shi- smokes, Logan, I was just kidding about the obsession with dead things." Roman stepped further away. "Seriously, just leave the bugs alone."

"Actually, they're not bugs." Logan adjusted the glasses and cleared his throat. Roman groaned, knowing that his brother was about to go off on one of his infamous educational rambles. Curiously, Virgil wandered over, joining the staring group. "They're cicada exuviae, or more commonly known as cicada exoskeletons. These are what happens when the cicada nymphs leave the ground for the first time and shed their skin, usually attached to a tree trunk or another plant. I found one on the fence, and realised it's about the time of year for the nymphs to come out, so I tried to find as many as possible. I couldn't fit them all in my hand, so I attached some of the exoskeletons to my hat."

He leant down so that Virgil could see. It was true – the broad-brimmed hat was looked almost brown with all the shells. "Cool!" The youngest one commented. Then an evil glint appeared in his eye. "Hey, Logan, do you think I could borrow one?"

"I don't see why not."

Thanking him, Virgil reached up and carefully plucked one from the oldest sibling's hat. He turned to Roman, who was backing away slowly, and then started sprinting for him, cicada held out towards him. Roman's eyes widened in terror and he took off.

Patton watched them fondly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Logan grinning.

"You planned this, didn't you?"

"I have no idea what you mean," his son shrugged innocently. Patton raised an eyebrow at him. "You know what? I think I see another exoskeleton. Sorry, Dad, I have to go, bye!"

And with that, he ran to the other side of the yard too.

Whistling to himself, Patton began cleaning up after his three kids as they chased each other. And if he snuck a few mulberries into his mouth when no one was looking, well, they didn't have to know.