TW: Allusions to Abuse, sexual innuendo, cursing

As always, the sun rising over the kingdom was beautiful. Logan enjoyed being one of the few people moving about the town at this hour. At one time he might have been frustrated by the fact that this was the only time that he got to himself, but it had become a routine at this point, and a routine that included a certain baker's son.

Clearing his throat, Logan adjusted his tie as he thought about the baker's son. The man had beautiful blue eyes that shone with excitement, the most gorgeous field of curly blond hair, and a smile that Logan was certain could be considered illegal in certain areas. He was rather surprised that Patton had not yet found himself a wife, someone to help him carry on the shop when his father was gone. Patton was not simply handsome but was one of the kindest people that Logan had ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Their first interaction didn't go that well, Logan rarely admitted fault but he knew that day he had been a bit heated. It was never a pleasant experience when the Prince decided he simply must have a specialty item for a ball, but had no forethought or planning to make sure that item could be acquired. Logan had scoured the kingdom trying to find anyone who could make the Prince's special tarts. Patton's shop had been the last he visited and he might have been a bit snippy when speaking to the figurative ball of sunshine.

Patton had taken it all in stride, slowly melting away Logan's stress with his happy demeanor. He had promised he could make the tarts and could make them in the quantity that Logan would need. Logan had been skeptical but Patton assured him that everything would turn out fine and that with a little hard work anything was possible.

Logan had not been disappointed, and when he had tried one of the tarts that he had worked so hard to get, Logan fell. Not literally, of course, there was nothing about the tart that threw off his equilibrium. Rather, if you asked Logan, and he felt inclined to answer, he would state that that was when he fell in love with Patton. He wasn't used to the unabashed kindness, nor was he used to someone who so earnestly put their heart into their job, but there was something about that tart. Logan would never admit it to anyone, but that tart tasted the way that love felt.

After that, visiting Patton became an almost daily occurrence. Logan would seek out the baker in his free time, at first to find some kind of fault with Patton, some reason that he shouldn't love him. Later it was simply because he wanted to spend time with the man. Logan enjoyed seeing his smile every morning; he enjoyed tasting the treats that Patton would make despite their reduced nutritional value, and he enjoyed seeing Patton. It really was as simple as that.

Recently though, something had been off. Patton's smile had been different. Logan had brushed it off to any number of factors that he didn't understand. He, unfortunately, didn't have an insider look into Patton's life.

"Good Morning Patton."

"Oh, Logan, good morning." There it was again, Patton's smile didn't fully reach his eyes like it had once. Instead, his eyes were clouded with something, something Logan could only describe as weariness. "I'm sorry I didn't make you something special today, but I think you will still like this." Patton handed him a cinnamon bun in a bag, and Logan could still feel its warmth.

"I am sure anything you have made will be delicious."

The blush on Patton's face made Logan want to drink in every feature, each curve of his shy smile, each scrunched line of his eyes, but he froze when his eyes fell on a discoloration. Almost hidden underneath his collar was a dark shadow, but it wasn't a shadow.

"May I ask, what is that on your neck?"

The blush from Patton's face faded as he hesitantly reached up to his neck before smiling an unconvincing smile. "Oh this, I just slipped and hit my neck. Thankfully it wasn't too bad."

Prince Roman had told Logan that he was too intrusive at times, pointing out things that people didn't want to be noticed. Logan had tried to get better; he held in his observations. This time, however, was one time when he wouldn't hold back.

"That bruise is very much shaped like a hand. It does not seem like something you would sustain simply from a slip."

He saw it in Patton's eyes, it was a subtle shift but it was something that he understood. Patton didn't want to talk about it. He was too kind though, he didn't push Logan away.

"I'm okay Logan, I promise."

He wanted to push the issue but he heard an angry yell from the back and Patton's body tensed. "Sorry Lo, I have to go. I hope you have a good day."

With that Patton, headed to the back, leaving Logan to piece together the situation.

He returned to the castle in a bit of a daze, only to be snapped out of it by the sound of crashing by his head and the feeling of warm blood trickling down his cheek.

"Remus! Look what you've done!"

"Normally he has better reflexes!" Despite his words, Logan could hear a bit of concern in Remus' voice as the two of them ran over to him.

"Seriously, he is right, scholar. Your reflexes are normally better, you good?"

Logan gently felt the injury on his cheek, it wasn't substantial. "Apologies, your Graces, my mind was otherwise occupied. It seems as if I have sustained minimal injury."

"Don't call us that Logan, we have told you, you can use our names."

"Yeah, I mean, if you are gonna call me any kind of formal title I'd rather you call me daddy, though I could get on board with Sir." Remus wiggled his eyebrow as he got closer to Logan. He was smiling but there was concern in his eyes as well.

"It is my place to address you properly. Now if you don't mind, I must clean this."

"Yeah, yeah, but first, tell us what has that mind buzzing like wasps unleashed on an unsuspecting nudist."

Logan frowned, but he knew that once Remus was on a topic it was impossible to get him off of it. "I am simply concerned about the health of someone I have been seeing."

"Wait," Roman pushed his brother out of the way, "Seeing, like dating? Logan, Logan, Logan! Did you find a date-mate and not tell me?!"

"It is not like that?" Though the blush on his face betrayed him. He honestly thought he had better control over his emotions and his bodies' response. He was going to continue when Remus launched himself at Roman. Apparently, Roman committed a great sin by shoving his brother out of the way and the two began to fight once again. It, at least, allowed Logan to escape and begin his tasks for the day.

Despite the business of his day, Logan couldn't get the bruises out of his mind. He was certain that the bruise on Patton's neck was in the shape of a hand, a larger hand, most likely male but not necessarily. Didn't Patton live with his father?

No, there was no point in jumping to conclusions without proof, but how was he supposed to get proof when he spent all of his time here in the palace?

Logan spent the entire day trying not to worry but working himself into the same spiral. By the time it was time to go to bed, he was exhausted, and more worried than he was willing to admit. Logan sat on his bed, closing his eyes lightly as he rubbed underneath his glasses.

"Hey, Lo."

Logan looked up to see Remus standing in the door frame, his normal look of chaos and excitement smoothed.

"You know we are here for you right?"

"Pardon?"

"Ro and I, we don't care that you're just a political advisor, you are like a brother to us, so we are here for you. If that means that Roman teaches you how to pick up someone, or having me beat someone up, either way." Remus shrugged a bit.

"Thank you, Remus." That meant a lot, it honestly did, "But as of right now there is no one to beat up, and I have seen your brother flirt, he is... what did you refer to it as? A disaster gay?"

Remus burst out laughing, nodding vigorously. "I mean, that is completely true, but still. Keep that in mind. If you need me to cut a bitch, I will."

"Thank you, your grace."

"Nope, don't call me that."

Logan bit his lip before letting out a sigh. "Thank you... asshole."

Remus lit up with a smile. "Anytime." He knocked on the wood twice before running off, probably to brag to Roman about being called an asshole. Logan knew that it wasn't within his right to ask for them to help, but maybe if things got too complicated he could ask the princes to be on his side. Logan had no illusions of being a hero, but he could not see someone who brought so much joy to others, slowly lose their spark.

The next morning, Logan repeated his routine. He left the castle early, enjoying the morning sun, and waiting to see the brightness of Patton's face. He wasn't expecting to see Patton come stumbling out of the bakery, tears streaking down his face. "Father, please, no, please don't do this!" He begged as he pounded on the closed door.

"Patton!" Logan ran to his side, gently putting his hand on Patton's shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"Logan? Oh, Logan, I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry." He cried before flinging himself into Logan's arms.

Logan didn't miss the new bruises on Patton's face and neck. He noticed them almost immediately and if it weren't for the fact that Patton was in his arms, depending on him for strength, Logan would not have been able to control his anger.

"I am here Patton, I will protect you. Do you want to tell me what happened or shall we go somewhere more private?"

"I.... he threw me out."

Logan tensed, pulling Patton in closer. "Why would he do that?"

"I... I..." But Patton shook his head. He couldn't say it.

"That's alright, let me take you back to the palace." He certainly hoped that Remus was serious about what he had said last night because this was not a request he was about to make lightly.

The two of them walked back to the castle and as Logan led him inside he looked around for the princes who were normally arguing already at this point. Somehow he managed to find Remus before Remus found Roman, hopefully, there wouldn't be a fight because Logan couldn't handle that right now.

"Prince Remus, I have a favor to ask." He hurried Patton along with him, still holding him with one arm to provide him comfort. "This is Patton, we spoke about him briefly. He was kicked out of his house this morning and I was wondering if it was possible for him to have employment in the castle."

"Wait, is this the baker that made those bomb-ass tarts?"

Logan nodded and Remus' eyes lit up.

"Oh that, that can be arranged. I can talk to Mom, but here's the only condition, you can't make any tarts for Roman. Oh, that would make him so mad."

"What?" Patton asked.

"Nah, he would be a bitch to deal with if we did that, but maybe just deny him occasionally. You can tell him that Remus ordered you not to. That's fine."

Patton still looked very confused and Logan decided to try to get back onto the topic. "So, do you believe that you will be able to convince your Mother? I know I am asking a lot."

"Oh you certainly are, and your punishment will be he sleeps in your room," Remus smirked, twirling in a circle around him. "I'll go get it arranged. Bye, Bye Logie."

Logan was fighting back a blush because Remus was normally very true to his word, but he had to focus on Patton now.

"Logan?"

"Hey, it's okay Patton, let's get you cleaned up a bit and resting. I'm sorry if I rushed to my own decision."

Patton shook his head, "Thank you, thank you so much."

The soft happiness that hid behind the sadness in his eyes made Logan melt. His arm slid off Patton's shoulder, gently taking his hand instead and giving it a soft squeeze.

"If I had known you were in a bad situation, I would have tried to help sooner."

Patton shook his head. "I didn't want you to know, you already had so much stress on your plate with this job."

"I understand that now may not be the ideal time for this question, but it would help explain our relationship if the Queen were to ask. Would you like to be my boyfriend?"

It was Patton's turn to freeze, still holding tightly to Logan's hand.

"L-Logan... are... are you sure?"

"Extremely so, I was hoping that, if not for these circumstances, I would have gathered the courage to ask you on my own. If you are not interested in me like that it is quite alright. Your comfort and consent are key."

Patton flung himself at Logan, "Yes, please, thank you. I love you, Logan." Logan felt Patton stiffen a little as if he wasn't sure about saying that phrase yet, but Logan brushed past it, gently stroking Patton's hair.

"You do not have to thank me. I also care for you deeply." He whispered, holding Patton tight for a little bit longer. They had a rough road ahead of them, but Logan was almost certain it would be alright.