Trigger warning: being trapped

Pairing: Platonic Logicality (I'll do romantic some time later)

Category: family-friendly

Note: This is inspired by one of my Sanders Sides full-length story, The Hour, in some aspects. However, it has nothing to do with the original The Hour story, only that the characters were taken based on that story. So, if you notice some similarities, that's cool.

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The library. Such a peaceful place. It's the one place Logan ever truly feels at home, of course with the company of his cup of black coffee and the comfortable weight of a book against his palms. He could stay there from the minute the library opened until the security guards taps on his shoulder for him to leave. Surely, there's no other place he could ever like as much as he does the library. As a college student, he was lucky enough to not live too far from campus, so he could stay at home instead of sharing an apartment or dorm with a stranger.

That day was like any other day for him. With his travel mug filled with coffee for his bright and early reading and research on random topics, he set out to go to the library as he does every weekend. On his walk, he took notice of the dark morning sky taking on a golden shine with the sunrise starting to wake the world around him. He could see traces of dew droplets on the grass in the park he usually passed through.

"Hello, Logan. Fine morning, isn't it?" Mr. Drew greeted him from where he sat on the porch of his small house as Logan passed through.

"Morning, sir. It sure is," Logan replied, looking down on his book. It was one on the topic of flora and fauna he had taken an interest on quite recently. "I better get going now."

"Having a read in the library again?" The middle aged man questioned. Without waiting for Logan's answer, he held up a hand, telling Logan to wait. "Do you mind going to the library with Pat? He told me he was going to the library this morning."

"Uh, sure, I suppose. Do mind that I... would like to go as quickly as possible..." Logan pressed his lips into a thin line as he looked on at Mr. Drew with awkwardness. He really was eager to start reading his book. "I do not mean to rush. I was merely expressing my—"

"Hush, son. Don'cha worry." Mr Drew went over the kitchen window, knocking with his hard knuckles. "Pat, come on out. Logan's here. If you want to go to the library, go now. Give your friend some company."

Patton could hear the voice of his father quite muffled by the window. He looked out and sure enough, there Logan stood by the low wooden fence with a book and a laptop nestled in one arm and a cup in his other hand. He smiled, drying his hands on the piece of cloth hung next to the kitchen sink.

"Gotta go, mom!"

"Alright, dearie. Be back by lunch!"

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The walk to the library was a quiet one. Logan was absorbed by the familiar neighborhood waking up with the morning sun. Patton walked by his side, his usual grey bag slung over one of his shoulders. He waved at little children through the windows. Some giggled and waved back, some shy ones bolted inside the house. Patton shifted his attention to the boy walking next to him. The two had been neighbors since their childhood, but they were never too close to each other. He didn't quite understand Logan with his quiet and brooding way of life and thinking.

"What'cha got there?" Patton nudged Logan's shoulder with his own. "Cover looks pretty."

"Oh, it's about endemic flora and fauna in North America. I borrowed the book from the library yesterday. I haven't had the chance to finish reading it."

"Endemic species? Don't we learn those things in high school?"

"Yes, we do. This is a more in-depth look of the role of these species and what their functions are to the ecosystem and such."

"Huh... I thought you'd be much more into space and stuff," Patton said with a smile as he gazed up to the blue sky speckled with tufts of golden clouds. He remembered when they were children Logan would talk about his interest in space and the stars and planets with great passion to every adult who was willing to listen. "You did seem quite obsessive about it when we were small."

"I do major in astrophysics, so I think I show my interest in that particular field quite obviously."

Not long after, they found their way into the library. After going their separate ways, Logan chose a spot at the back corner where people don't usually go to. It's quiet and peaceful with a big window on one side to provide wonderful lighting. Besides, there were comfortable bean bags scattered around there. He could see the table where Patton sat from the gaps between the shelves. He noticed the blue-tinted metal, framing Patton's round glasses. He never took an interest in that neighbor of his. Logan had always thought Patton was much too loud and cheerful for his liking and he tends to avoid Patton whenever he could.

Logan recalled the day he moved into the neighborhood. There were not many people greeting them, but his parents didn't seem to mind. One particular neighbor who lived four houses down the street was very generous, giving them cookies and inviting them to a barbecue within the week. That was the first time he met Patton. It had been so long since then, Logan could barely remember the lingering memories of that day. He looked back down on his book once again, taking a sip of his still-warm coffee and continued his read.

Sentence by sentence, pages went by. Hours must have passed, because the sun was already high when Logan looked out the window. He saw a shadow moving at the corner of his eyes. Patton plopped himself down on the beanbag opposite Logan, slumping his bag off by his side without a care.

"Welp, that's enough homework done for me today."

Logan took a glance at his watch, noticing they've now been in there for six hours. He looked over at Patton who was looking at him with a small smile.

"Anything I can help you with?"

"Maybe? Do you know where they store documentaries? I tried asking the librarian, but she's not there, so..."

"I would suggest looking on the third floor."

"Okay, but they only have books there, though."

Admittedly, Logan wanted nothing else but to go back to his reading. He would very like for Patton to simply go away and let him be alone. He sighed in defeat. Mr. Drew did say Patton was going with him. He didn't, however, expect Patton to actually need him for anything. "I—well, alright, would you mind if I show you the way?" Logan offered sympathetically, shutting his book.

"Oh thank goodness, cos' I wouldn't know where to look without you. Thanks, bud!"

"Do keep your volume low. We are in a library after all."

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"What documentary are you looking for exactly?" Logan asked while he rifle through countless CDs of documentaries while Patton does the same in the opposite corner of the room. "I would not have guessed for you to be someone who watches many documentaries about anything."

"Well, I'm a veterinary student, so I'm basically studying to be a doctor. Just not for humans." Patton pulled a CD out of a box forcefully from a particularly deep pile, breaking it in half. His eyes blew open in surprise, and he carefully placed the broken CD on the pile, pretending as if he hadn't seen it at all. "This documentary has nothing to do with class, though. I just thought it was cool."

"Alright, but what exactly is it?"

"The second BBC Planet Earth documentary. I think it came out two or three years ago."

"You could have told me that sooner."

"Why?"

"You would not find a newer documentary like that here. I do, however, have the digital copy of that documentary in my laptop. I can send it to you if you'd like."

"Oh my god, really? Thanks, Lo!" Patton walked over to Logan and gave him a big, beaming smile. So bright, his smile rivaled the sun. "Alright, now let's get out of here. I think I saw a spider back there."

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When they went back to the first floor of the library, it was oddly quieter than it had been before. Logan excused himself to go back to his reading while Patton waved him goodbye since he was late for lunch. As Logan went to find his former beanbag, Patton came waddling back over with a nervous chuckle.

"Uh, huh, Logan we might have a little problem," Patton said while rubbing the length of his forearm nervously.

"Is anything amiss?"

"Well, I forgot my mom told me last night the library closes early today... so, we're locked in. I guess they didn't know there were still some people on the upper floors when they close."

"What?! How was I not even aware of this?" Logan carded his hand through his black locks.

"Yeah, well, I don't know. I guess you just come to read books and not read any of the announcements they post on the doors."

"Alright, that was a rhetorical question, but you made a point." Logan ran his hand through his head in slight concern. "Do you bring your phone with you, Patton?"

"I do... but it's dead. Wow, this is awful. What are we gonna do, Lo?"

"Uh, I left my phone at home. Really, I never bring my phone to the library."

The two stared at each other, confused and worried. Patton walked over to the pile of beanbags and flung himself on to the soft pillowy material, letting himself sink down to the floor face first. How did this happen? Well, of course he knew how this happened, but how did he forget the library was closing early? The beanbag dipped right by his head where he could guess Logan sat. He felt a slight tap on his head.

"Patton, are you alright?"

"I promised mom I would come back for lunch, Logan," Patton groaned, voice muffled by fabric.

"That is the least of your worries. What we do have to worry about is how we are going to get out of here."

"Is that your laptop?"

"Wha—yes, it is. Patton, I thought this is quite obvious, why would you—"

"Let's just watch Planet Earth, if you're okay with that. It is about flora and fauna stuff, just like your book. So, you must like it, right?"

"Alright, there really are no other things to do anyway."

And there the two sat side by side with Logan's computer on the floor while they lean against the pile of beanbags and cushions. There are six episodes of the documentary, so they could kill time. After the first episode was a spectacular deep exploration of the plants and animals on islands across the world. The cinematography was incredibly gripping that both Logan and Patton were sucked into a comfortable silence enjoying the documentary.

After three episodes, the sky had turned to a darker hue of blue. Logan could see from the window how the deep purple and streaks of pink clashes together into a kaleidoscope of color show. The golden hues of sunset sent an array of reds and oranges that yanked the blue of the sky away, replacing it with muted tones of pink. And through the glass, the beams of lights colored the—wait... The window! That's it! That's how they were going to get out of the library.

"Patton," Logan shook Patton by the shoulder, pausing the video documentary. "I've got an idea."

"What?"

"Can you put my laptop into your bag, please? Thank you."

"Logan, what are—"

"Look, the windows have locks. Unfortunately, because these windows are about ten feet tall, they have two locks. One at the bottom, which I can open quite easily," Logan flicked open the bottom lock with ease as he explained. "Now, the upper lock is nine feet off the ground... how do you suppose we're going to get up there?"

"How much do you weigh, Logan?"

"Excuse me?"

"No, wait, I'm smaller than you so I can stand on your shoulders."

"Patton, that is a bad idea."

"Looks like it's the only kind of idea we have right now, Lo. It's almost seven in the evening, and I really want something to eat now, so let's go home."

"Alright then."

With that, Logan crouch down by the window to let Patton precariously step onto his shoulders. Slowly, with his hands holding the frame of the window as support and balance, Logan unfolded himself to his full six feet height. It was then Patton's turn to slowly stand on Logan's shoulders, maintaining his balance and finally set his eyes on those pesky locks. After he unlocked the clasps on the window, Logan once again crouched down and Patton jumped off his shoulders.

"Yay! High five!" Patton offered a nervous-looking Logan his palm. "C'mon, buddy! Don't leave me hangin' here."

"Fine," Logan said with a deadpan tone, tapping his hand on Patton's.

Pushing the window, they encountered another problem. 'Oh, brother,' Logan thought, looking down at the height they will have to climb down. There were twenty feet worth of distance from the window to the ground below. Might as well climbing down a steep cliff, although a low one. It made sense the distance to the ground would be so far since the library was built on a low hill that was carved out.

"Now, Patton, do you see the tree branch right over there?" Logan pointed at a thick branch of a tree, not six feet away. "Give your bag to me and jump there. I'll pass the bag over to you."

"What?! No! Nuh'uh, you go first."

"Patton, it's not too big of a distance."

"Yeah? Then you show me how to do it, go first."

The low light of the evening didn't help. The whole building was already completely dark in some areas visible from the window. Logan let out a long sigh, and readied himself. He climbed onto the windowsill, estimating the distance he needed to cover in his jump. Without looking down, he took a leap and latched himself onto the tree branch. It swayed slightly with his sudden weight, but otherwise it was structurally sound.

"Come on, your turn now." Logan was still a little out of breath from the adrenaline pumping in his system. He gave Patton a reassuring look. "Pass me the bag and jump over."

After feeling the weight of the bag in his hands, Patton swayed the bag back and forth aiming to throw. A second later it landed in Logan's—it did land forcefully that Logan almost lost his hold on the tree branch. And now, it was Patton's turn to jump.

He stood on the windowsill, unsure of how he was going to make it. He took a number of big, deep breaths, but he couldn't seem to summon the courage to jump. The library was already pitch black behind him, causing an uncomfortable feeling to settle in. It was eight in the evening, the sun had fully set and the night was creeping in. The slight breeze in the dark caressed the leaves and bushes outside giving a chill to the atmosphere.

"I'm scared..."

"Don't be. It's only five, six feet away. You can make the jump."

Slight noises behind him made Patton turn around facing the library. Something was in the building... or perhaps that was just his mind playing a trick on him. He turned again, eyes locked on Logan's waiting gaze. It was then that Logan had an idea. It was quite a mean idea, but he was sure it could help. So, after soothing his conscience, Logan set out his secret plan.

"Patton focus on me. Don't look at anything else."

"Okay, but I'm still scared."

"Well, I understand," Logan said, eyes wide with fear. "But I should say you should be scared... since there is something standing behind you."

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!" Patton took a big leap, crashing onto the tree with force as his shaking arms held his weight to latch on the tree. "Oh my god, Logan, what are you doing?!"

Logan was laughing. Scratch that, he was practically howling with laughter that shook his body. He couldn't contain his amusement, slapping the tree a few times quite unforgivingly.

"That was so mean!"

"To be fair, it did get you to jump."

The two slowly climbed down the tree safely. As the relief of having steady ground below their feet set in, they once again stared at each other before they both cracked with laughter. There was so much relief in the air; they had to lean on each other lest they fall over. After their laughter died, they started their way back home.

Upon arriving at Patton's home, his mother came rushing out and gave him a frantic hug.

"Oh goodness, what happened? Are you okay? Are you hurt? I told you this morning that you must come back for lunch. Usually, you would have called or tell me if you can't come back and—oh, Logan's here, too. Everyone has been looking for you two."

"Why didn't you call the police, Mrs. Drew?"

"Well, we did, but the police told us we can't file a missing person before twenty-four hours."

"I'm fine, mom. We're fine."

"Why were people looking for me?" Logan questioned, fixing his glasses with nerves. "I usually stay at the library until ten at night."

"When we went to ask your parents if they knew where Patton was—since he was with you the last time, I saw him—your mother told me that you must be in the library. I told her that the library closes early today and tomorrow."

"And... that does not explain why they would go looking for me."

"Your mother told me that if the library closes then you most likely would have returned home, since you never go anywhere else other than the library. Seriously, I didn't believe her when she told me you never went anywhere."

"Yes, that is a fair assumption."

"Yeah, it wasn't our fault that we were locked in the library..." Patton added, making his mother put on an expression of shock.

"You what?! Alright, you two, get inside and have something to eat."

"But my parents—" Logan said, but he was cut off by Mrs. Drew's chatter.

"Don't worry about them! I'll tell them about you," she still muttered under his breath about ridiculous youngsters as she stepped into the house.

Patton and Logan stayed outside, the quiet night accompanied their silence. Patton started walking towards the door when he noticed Logan wasn't following.

"You okay?" Patton looked back, giving Logan a look of question.

"Yes, I'm fine. I just—I am sorry for the trouble I've brought upon you. If only I had paid more attention then I would have noticed the library was closing early, and then perhaps—"

"Hey," Patton interrupted as he waved a dismissive hand. "Don't even worry about that. It's fine."

"If you say so," Logan responded with a smile, finally approaching the doorway. "I suppose this whole thing taught me that a library may not always be the best place to be. Perhaps a coffee shop would be better? Or maybe I shouldn't read all the time and do something else."

"You can hang out with me sometimes if you want. It's never boring, I promise."

"It sure won't be, if this one was an example."

Logan's quiet chuckle and Patton's giggle rang in harmony in the front porch of the Drew residence. They were interrupted with a shout from inside the house.

"Patton! Logan! Come in here and eat! I swear you children are going to give me a headache."

"Coming, mom!"

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Finally, some logicality. This story has actually been written a long time ago. I forgot about this and never published it, so here it is now! Please, send me some requests and I will do my best to write them!