8:17pm

Never mind it's not the last ha tricked

—

"They probably think you're annoying"

"Oh, stop looking into things, Mr. Repressed and Depressed! Thomas had fun, can't you leave it at that?"

"Yeah, but did his friends? Was Thomas a good host? Would they ever want to come back again?"

"Awh, Kiddo, you could see that they enjoyed their time! Especially Ruben"

"Patton!"

The arguing voices of five men filled the air, waking up the boy who was laying behind the couch. His eyes blinked rapidly, wincing as his arm aches after laying on it for so long against a hard ground. He wondered where he was for a moment until he remembered he had been over Thomas's for his party.

He couldn't exactly remember much in that moment, he did get a tad tipsy (as did everyone else) and he most likely fell off the back of the couch, down here, and fell asleep. From bringing out his phone, he gasped at the time, it was nearing midnight. That party occurred in the morning! He was out for hours.

He wanted to guess everyone had gone home, but from the voices they obviously hadn't. Maybe they were waiting for him and didn't want to disturb him? Raising his hand, he grabbed the back of the couch and used it to haul himself up, shaking his head to stop the room from moving, and to help his eyes focus on his surroundings.

Once he did, his eyes surveyed the room, and he felt his stomach drop.

Everyone from the party had gone home, alright, because instead of Thomas's friends filling his house, it was...himself. All standing in different parts of his living room. The first to spot him was the one dressed like an emo who stood on the staircase. His eyes widened and he and Ruben stared at each other with wide, unblinking eyes, full of shock and paralysed in fear.

"Virgil? What's the matter, Kiddo?" Another one of 'Thomas' noticed his sudden behaviour change, looking over at the couch after Virgil shakily lifted his hand and pointed it at Ruben. This was when the two other Thomas's looked, too, along with Thomas himself.

Everyone in the room froze up, air leaving their lungs as they realised their secret was out.

Ruben, not really knowing what to do, knew he needed to leave. Without hesitation, he ran from the back of the couch and towards the door.

"No! Ruben, wait!" Thomas called but he was not waiting. He grabbed the door handle, ready to yank open the door when one of the sides, one dressed in white, red and gold slammed it shut, holding it there while Ruben shrank into the corner of the hallway. "Stay away from me! Whatever you are!" He shrieked, trying to find anything to defend himself with, which resulted in him picking up his shoes he took off earlier and left by the door.

He knew, for a fact, Thomas had brothers, but he certainly didn't have four, and they did not look exactly like him, either!

"Roman, go" Thomas ordered, now between him and Ruben. Roman stared at Ruben for a few seconds with an unreadable expression before he sunk into the floor and vanished, which made Ruben panic more and nearly scream in fright.

"Ruben, hey, Ruben, look at me" Thomas tried to calm him down but the boy wasn't having any of it. He removed himself from the corner and locked himself in the bathroom under the stairs, still holding onto his shoe as if that would've saved him.

"Ruben, please, you have to let me explain" Thomas begged, now standing outside the bathroom, panic bubbling inside of him at the prospect of his secret being outed. He didn't know what anyone would do to him, and he would rather not find out.

"Just stay the fuck away from me, Thomas" Ruben demanded back, knocking down the toilet seat to sit atop of it, trying to make sense of it all. He knew those people he saw, the 'Thomas's', they were from his Sander Sides videos on YouTube. Admittedly he had watched all the videos, but the series was a good one, and made him feel brighter in his moments of darkness.

But they were real?

He didn't know what to make of it. He even watched the blooper reel of the series, making it obvious Thomas acted out each side himself (unless they 'shape-shifted' into one of his friends), so why...how...it's impossible, right? How could something like that be real?!

What outraged him the most in this situation was he didn't get to have his own personality aspects come to life. How cool would it be!? Talking to yourself has a whole new level of crazy.

He leaned back and sighed out, gazing at the slanted ceiling. He really didn't know what to do - he knew Thomas and...himself wouldn't hurt him, he'd probably just try and talk to him about it and hope Ruben keeps it a secret. Of course he would, one; because Thomas was his friend and he wouldn't out him like that, two; who would believe him?

Now he had a minute to calm down, he unlocked the door and timidly stepped out, spotting Thomas holding his face in his hands, whispering to himself about what he could do.

"Tom?"

Said boy whipped his head up, taking a few steps close to Ruben who didn't move, but held up a hand. "Ruben, Ruben please, you have to keep this a secret, I-I know it's weird but I-I can't let anyone know" he looked so panicked, so frightened Ruben felt his heart twist with guilt.

"Tom..." he drifted, walking up to him and picking up one of his hands. "I won't tell, I promise, but you have to tell me everything"

Thomas agreed and they sat down on the couch, the former explaining how when he was a kid, he had these imaginary friends - a Prince-like character who saved damsels in distress and did everything he could to keep Thomas feeling confident, a dad who would comfort him in his lowest times, amusing him with puns, and a logic-teacher type character, that helped Thomas calm down from moments of irrational fear and panicked moments.

He couldn't really tell when it happened, but they stopped being imaginary. Into his teenage years they always popped up when he needed company, or a friend, or someone to make him feel better, but as he grew older, a new side appeared, Anxiety. At first he wasn't that at all adored, Patton did try to make him feel apart of the group, but when one day Thomas didn't feel fear, they all deduced what happened, and spent a lot of time with him to apologise and hopefully make him feel better.

"Like the two-parter? Accepting Anxiety?" Ruben asked and Thomas nodded. "I kinda based some of the video ideas on what happened with me and my sides in the past. The video was watered down and kept light-hearted, but in real life it wasn't much like that at all. It took a few weeks for Virgil to trust us, and even longer for him to not feel so useless, but he's really apart of the group now, and I wouldn't want it to change" Thomas smiled lightly at the memory of them all becoming friends, and Ruben smiled, too.

Then Thomas began to explain how when he started Vine he could really start using the Sides as characters. When it was just him and him-selves, the Sides could join in, but when more of his friends became involved, he had to act out the scenes himself. His first video on YouTube were acted by him and his Sides, too, but after Joan and Talyn helped out, they couldn't anymore. After that, Thomas might've gone into a rant about how he appreciated his friends so much for the help, and wouldn't want them to stop.

"And I've kept up the lie that they're not real, but they are...I can't tell anyone, though" he looked down at his lap, lips pulling down into a sad frown.

"It's alright, somethings you just can't tell anyone"

Thomas nodded and gripped the edges of his sleeve, "thanks for understanding. Would you-uh...want to meet them? Properly this time? They've always wanted to interact with someone other than me"

Ruben, now understanding and not fearing for his life, agreed and sat on the couch beside Thomas, watching as little swirls of black mist appeared on the ground, the four sides raising up and entering the world again. "Greetings, Ruben!" The side he knew to be named Roman spoke up first, hurrying over and kissing the back of his hand. Ruben chuckled.

"I am terribly sorry for scaring you earlier, we just couldn't let you leave without an explanation" he spoke with sincerity, and Ruben waved it off. "It's fine, I get it, you guys are cool. Well, you're cool" he looked at Thomas who barked out a laugh, cheeks misting with a dust of pink.

"So, Roman, Patton, Logan and Virgil?" Ruben listed, standing up and pointing to each Side as he said their name. "Correct" Logan responded, pushing us his glasses. Ruben gazed at them all for awhile, wondering what to say, who to speak to. He had questions about the videos; were they all made up? Or were they based on how the Sides feel now? If so he wanted to give them all a hug.

Suddenly, a question he knew he could ask popped up into his head.

"Where's Deceit?"

With the mention of the lying sides name, another mist appeared and he rose up beside Patton who sent him a smile and a wave. "Oh! No! Why do you want him here?!" Thomas exclaimed, Deceit just smirked and admired Ruben who shot him a grin in response, the two silently communicating.

"He's my favourite"

Roman gasped, "Your what!? What about me?!" He whined, blatantly hurt. Ruben laughed, "you're my second, Princey" with him subdued, he winked at Virgil and Logan to show he was joking, Logan let a slight quirk lift his lips while Virgil snorted and eyed Roman.

"I'm your favourite?" Deceit asked, his natural voice lower than the others, but Ruben could detect slight surprise mixed with his words, but it lasted a moment before he regained composure. "Isn't that a surprise" he drawled, trying to hide his true feelings over the matter. Hint; they were good ones.

"Yeah, I mean, you're a cool character, I love snakes, and I like the idea of you having a redemption ark like Virgil. I mean; really, like Virgil, he's just doing his job, which leaves no room to hate..." he glanced over at Thomas, "isn't that right, Tom?"

The host felt his cheeks warm and he nodded. "Yeah, sorry, De! You're just..." he tried to find the right words, but Deceit waved his hand around. "A villainous character? Please, I love being the bad guy" and everyone knew he wasn't lying.

Afterwards, everyone sat on the couch and conversation sprung up again. Ruben sat between Patton and Roman, and while Roman argued with Virgil (more like a pretty debate) he conversed with the dad-like aspect.

"I like your glasses, Pat" he smiled. The Side looked up and grinned, turning to face Ruben and crossing his legs on the couch seat. "Really? Thank you, Rue! I like you!" He grinned for a moment, realised what he said, and spluttered, "your t-shirt! Yeah...your t-shirt.." he drifted. Thomas has had feelings for Ruben for quite some time, and due to him being the heart and all, sometimes he couldn't help but blurt out little comments about Ruben - and now he was talking to him? He could feel his heart filling up with love!

Ruben laughed and brushed it off as an accident, sometimes he messes up on words, too. "Yeah- yours is good, too, especially when you copied Logan's design and pissed him off" Patton laughed joyously at the memory, eyes brightening when he glanced over to the Side. He was in quite a confused state as of recent, as Thomas's emotions he yearned for Ruben, but personally (as personal as a part of Thomas can get) he also longed for Logan.

Ruben noticed his look and glanced at the Side to see him talking to Virgil and Deceit at the same time, the two trying to hide the fact they were bored over whatever facts Logan was spewing. Well, Deceit didn't try to hide it, which almost fuelled Logan on to see how long they would last.

"Well, well, well, if that isn't love in your eyes I don't know what is"

Patton blushed furiously at the implication, shaking his head hurriedly. "Oh, no no! Rue, just admiration, is all! I do see him as my hero, after all"

Ruben rose his eyebrow and Patton slapped a hand over his mouth. "It's alright, Pat, I won't tell. But between you and me, I ship it" he murmured and Patton felt his face heat up, heart beating rapidly at the prospect of him and Logan actually being a...thing.

When Thomas felt his own heart start to warm, he looked around Roman (the one he had to talk to after Virgil began ignoring him) to see Patton smiling so wide it looked as if it would hurt, glancing at Logan every so often and giggling at what Ruben was telling him.

"Roman" Thomas cut him off from whatever he was talking about. Roman huffed in indignation, "rude!"

"Do you...feel anything? Being apart of my...romantic aspects, and all?" Now Roman wasn't paying so much attention to his story, he felt a wave of love hit him and he leaned back a tad, the room was full of it!

"Yes, I do, this is strange! Who's in love?" Thomas gestured to Patton. Roman turned his head and saw him smiling at Logan.

"Oh!" He suddenly yelled, making everyone flinch and turn to stare at him. "Oh! Oh! Oh!" He had to think of something to stop everyone from staring at him as if he were crazy, "good times never seemed so good!" Once everyone realised he was just singing, they all returned to their conversation.

"Saved it" He murmured to Thomas who swatted his arm. "You guys can fall for each other?"

Roman nodded, "oh, of course! The heart wants what the heart wants, Patton's wants Logan's and mine wants-" he slapped a hand over his mouth, feeling horror wash over him when he nearly admitted his crush he had spent so much effort on keeping a secret. So much so sometimes it hurt; he was romance! He needed it in his life to survive! Well, not to survive, but to not feel so...sad all the time.

Thomas didn't push Roman on what he was about to admit, knowing that was the last thing Roman wanted to do in that moment.

"What can we do?" Thomas asked his creative side after he regained himself.

"Well..." he debated it in his head for awhile, ideas tossing around like a ball on a ping-pong table. "We will just have to leave it" he finally admitted, "love evolves and finds a way" he added as a smirk and Thomas found himself smiling in amusement. "So profound"

"Oh, dear host, profound is my middle name!"

A few weeks after Ruben met the Sides, he had come over every time Thomas invited him - he didn't expect everyday to be filled with him, Thomas and him-selves, and honestly didn't mind it just being him and Thomas. He always liked to hang out with the boy, and besides being with Thomas was the same as being with the Sides, too, for they were all just Thomas.

One day, he was staying over for the night, and had just finished changing into his pyjamas for the evening in Thomas's room when he heard the noise of a Side appearing through the ground. Turning around, he smiled at the sight of Virgil who stood awkwardly in front of the door, taking in a steady breath before he sighed and closed his eyes.

"Look" he started, Ruben zipped closed his bag and rested it at the end of Thomas's bed. "I'm just gonna say it before I duck out" he took another breath, eyes clenched shut. "I like Roman"

Well, that was news to Ruben. The boy tilted his head to the side, "oh? You do?" He wanted to confirm, knowing it was a like-like situation going on here. "Yeah...and I just needed to tell someone, I couldn't tell dad because you know he'd tell everyone accidentally, Logan would keep it a secret but not help me at all, Deceit would use it as blackmail and Roman would subconsciously know if Thomas knew, so...here I am" he drifted, cringing awkwardly once finished.

"Alright, well" Ruben began, walking closer to the anxious side. "I'm not Cupid or anything, but I'll be here for you. I know what crushes feel like, and how upsetting they can be sometimes"

"Emotions fucking suck. Why can't I be like Logic?"

"If you want to be like Logan because he has no emotions then you're wrong. If he was barren of feelings and just a robot, he wouldn't get mad at Roman, or passionate about space, he does have them, he just doesn't know how to express them - he doesn't want to, either, because he fears them, which is why he hates them. Logan is Logic, and I'm sure it terrifies him when he can't understand something, I.E, emotions..."

Virgil stared at Ruben with wide eyes and the boy sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I know, Christ, what am I turning into?" He dropped his hands and smirked to show he was kidding around. Virgil found himself returning it.

In the end, the two were laying on Thomas's bed, staring at the ceiling. "So, you like Roman?"

"Yep"

"The over-dramatic, flamboyant, sometimes annoying, sometimes sweet, protective, and arrogant one?"

"Yep"

"Seems right up your alley"

Virgil breathed out a chuckle, "I don't know" he exasperated, "it's just...him...I like the idea of being..." he felt his cheeks warm, but he was here now, so might as well just admit it, huh? "Being held, protected, he knows what to do to help me calm down, knows when I don't want to deal with anyone, knows exactly what to say to stop me feeling so self-conscious...dammit, and he used to hate me! When we were younger...when Thomas was younger" he corrected, "and fuck I hated him, too. We went against each other; clashed with everything we did, how could we have formed a friendship out of that?"

Ruben turned his head to stare at Virgil. "Because you all learned and grew. It's how life goes - everyone is going to argue and contradict themselves in one way or another, when they're teenagers especially, but Thomas aged, and so did you, you two learned how to work with each other, and if that isn't the perfect idea for a romance movie, I don't know what is" Ruben chuckled at the idea, returning to stare at the ceiling.

Virgil was silent for awhile, then slowly, so slowly a dead snail could've crossed the street faster than him, his hand traveled across the bed and met with Rubens. He opened his hand and held onto Virgil's fingers, squeezing them reassuringly.

"Thanks, Rue" Virgil murmured.

Ruben shifted so his head rested against Virgil's shoulder. "Don't mention it, Virge"

They returned back downstairs after their conversation, Virgil sitting back down on the couch with Logan to return to the debate about aliens. Ruben smirked at the sight, wandering into the kitchen where he saw Patton leaning over Thomas's shoulder as he cooked. "Keep stirring, kiddo! It's gonna burn!"

Thomas looked stressed as it was, and he currently did not need any back-seat cooking. Ruben placed a hand on Patton's shoulder, gaining the Sides attention. "Hey, I hear Virgil's been wanting a hug from you"

His eyes bulged at the prospect and he ran out of the room, yanking Virgil from the couch and hugging him tightly. "I love you, Kiddo!" Ruben laughed at Virgil's shocked expression.

"Thanks, Rue" Thomas smiled, exasperated. "Don't mention it" he responded, stirring some of the food for him while he focused on something else. "So, Roman"

Thomas hummed, "what about him?"

"He can like another Side, right?" Thomas nodded, tongue poking out of his mouth as most of his attention focused on getting the food just right. "Why?"

Ruben shrugged, "just wondering. He's been singing a lot of romance songs lately" that wasn't a lie, but it was a good excuse so he wouldn't have to admit what Virgil told him, like he would, ever, anyway. That wasn't his secret to tell.

"I guess" and Ruben didn't talk to him anymore, just helped him cook while he concentrated so hard he looked like he'd create a headache.

The next morning, Ruben awoke up on Thomas's couch. He yawned and stretched, staring at the ceiling for awhile. He then wondered if he could summon a Side he wanted to talk to. Turning his head in the direction of the television, he said; "Roman?"

Nothing.

Frowning, he tried again, "Roman? Princey? I need to talk"

He didn't think it would work, but when a groggy, pyjama-dressed Roman sunk up, rubbing his eyes and groaning, he smirked in excitement. "Morning, Ro, don't you look like hell"

"Oh hush, Thomas-"

Roman then opened his eyes and gazed at Ruben in surprise, "oh" he murmured, "never mind. Hello, Ruben. How can I help you?" Ruben sat up and patted the spot next to him. Roman obliged and walked over, pulling up the quilt and sliding under it, allowing for Ruben to lay his legs over his lap.

"I have a problem" he stated, Roman lit up. "Perfect! I will help destroy it for you!" Ruben chuckled at his eccentrics. "Well, this can't be destroyed. I have a crush on someone"

Roman's eyes widened along with a smile that showed off his perfect white teeth. "You do!? Oh! How I love romance. Please, do tell!"

Ruben smiled, leaning against the back of the couch. "His name his Thomas and somehow has personality aspects that come to life"

Roman nearly choked then and there on air, eyes dilating as his heart pounded almost painfully hard. "You...do?" He whispered and Ruben nodded. "I need help. How do I tell him?" Roman had to control himself before he exploded in happiness - oh, how Thomas has crushed on Ruben for so long! Now he didn't need to try so hard to stop Thomas from being too flirtatious to him!

"Hey, stop smiling dreamily and help" Ruben chuckled, but before Roman did, he turned around to face Ruben. "Can I do something? Please?" He murmured. Ruben rose his eyebrow but nodded anyway. Roman cupped his cheeks and leaned closer, Ruben knew what was happening almost instantly and smiled, reaching up and bringing Roman in from the back of his neck, the two kissing each other with the passionate of a everlasting crush.

Once they leaned back, Ruben began to chuckle. "I didn't think in my life I would end up kissing my crush without kissing my crush" 

Roman threw his head back to laugh at that, letting Ruben go so he could lean against the arm chair behind him once again. "And suddenly I'm not so worried about Thomas not liking me back"

Roman smiled sheepishly and sighed dreamily. "I am sorry about that, I just-Thomas has wanted to do it for so long and I'm his desires and romance and oh! It was killing me!"

Ruben smirked and shrugged, "don't worry about it, hey, now you don't have to focus on me, why don't you peruse your own love life? I hear Patton and Logan are already infatuated by the other, which leaves either Deceit or Virgil for you" then Ruben glanced off to the side, "or in some sick plot twist, you with Thomas..." but Roman didn't hear, to focused on the idea of dating Virgil...his heart palpitated at the connotation.

"Thank you, Ruben. I can't think of a way to tell him, however, he would hate something overly romantic but I truly don't want to mess this up..."

Ruben sat up and rubbed Roman's shoulder, "don't think too much about it. You know him, do what you feels right"

Roman smiled sadly, "and if he doesn't like me back?"

"Then you come straight to me, and we spend the afternoon eating ice cream and watching Disney movies"

Roman couldn't help himself from hugging Ruben, "oh, thank you, Rue. I couldn't be more grateful you and Thomas like each other"

Ruben, savouring the warm hug, smiled and leaned his head on Roman's shoulder. "Neither could I. Now, lay down and cuddle me, just until I can get Thomas" Roman laughed but obliged, laying on the cushion side while Ruben laid beside him, back pressed into Roman's chest, resting his arms on Roman's that were around his waist.

When he felt a kiss being pressed to his neck, he smiled; "stop it, Ro, you have your love and I have mine"

"But technically I am your love" Ruben rolled his eyes and turned his head, Roman lifted his and kissed the boy again. "Sorry, I have no impulse control"

"Who would've guessed?" Ruben smirked and pecked Roman's cheek softly, turning back around to continue the spooning. Roman didn't mind, pressing his face against the back of Ruben's neck, the two cuddling while halfway between sleep and consciousness.

When they heard Thomas coming down the stairs, Roman murmured a soft 'good luck' into his ear before sinking out, leaving Ruben to sit up and smile at Thomas who smiled bashfully in return. "I don't know why; but I feel very light today" Thomas chuckled, walking to the kitchen to make himself some coffee. Ruben followed and leaned on the fridge, watching him.

"I don't know. You look glowing"

Thomas's movements hesitated at the compliment. He shot Ruben a shy smile. "Actually, Thomas? Can I admit something to you?"

The man in question frowned and nodded, Ruben walked closer, so close they were almost touching him being just a few inches shorter. "I like someone, Tom"

He saw disappointment and sadness flash through his eyes in a jumbled mixture, but it didn't last, for they were masked with fake excitement for his friend. "Really?"

Ruben nodded; "I think you know him, his name is Thomas and he has this really big secret about his 'Sides' - from his series, the Sanders Sides one? I would tell you but it's not my secret to t-ell" the last word broke with a laugh when he watched Thomas take a step back, hand coming up to cover his mouth in shock.

"You-what-no-...me?"

Ruben rolled his eyes fondly, "no, the other Thomas who has real personality aspects"

Thomas laughed, still covering his mouth, his face burning, heart beating, brain thinking this wasn't happening. He could feel Virgil panicking like crazy up in there.

"You okay with this?" Ruben asked for confirmation, and Thomas nodded, nodded faster, then dragged Ruben into a tight hug. He hugged back, resting the lower half of his face into his shoulder. "I do have something else to say..." Ruben drifted once they leaned back.

"I might've already kissed...you?" Thomas looked confused, "blame Roman"

Thomas blinked, then sighed, "of course. Roman!" He yelled, they both heard a faint 'sorry, Thomas, but you took too long!' Ruben laughed, leaning back on the fridge and gazing at Thomas lovingly.

"I'm happy, now. Thanks, Tom"

"I'm happy, too. Very happy" Thomas grinned, and Ruben leaned on him while he made his coffee.

Many dates between Ruben and Thomas later, they found themselves cuddled on the couch, the other Sides there, too. After Ruben admittedly became bored of the movie they were watching, he glanced over at Patton and Logan, finding it rather adorable when Logan tensed after Patton rested his head on his shoulder, but relaxed seemingly seconds later when he analysed the situation and found he was okay with it. Patton tried to hide his beam behind his cardigan sleeve but Ruben saw it.

He then looked at Roman and Virgil; he knew the two wanted to at least hold hands, but neither had actually admitted their attractions yet. Roman has tried but backed out last minute with his own anxiety, ironically.

Ruben turned to Thomas and pecked his lips, smiling. The man smiled back, reached up, cupped his cheek and pulled him in for a longer kiss, one Ruben melted into.

Ruben suddenly had an idea. "I'll be back now" he murmured after pulling away, climbing off of Thomas, careful not to hurt him. He then hurried up the staircase and grabbed three blankets from his storage closet, returning to the living room where Thomas and himself watched him curiously. Ruben smirked and grabbed one blanket, throwing it across both Roman and Virgil.

"You'll have to move closer to share" he added, the two stared at him with a look, a look that screamed 'I-know-what-you're-doing-and-you-better-stop'. He just smirked and waited until they moved.

"Oh, fine!" Roman sighed and shifted closer to Virgil who awkwardly did the same, their shoulders almost brushing. Content, he turned to Patton and Logan, throwing a blanket over them. They were already close enough, so he didn't comment on it, but saw patton shifting closer and Logan floundering, not knowing what to do, kinda just existing there.

He returned to Thomas's lap, curling the last blanket around them comfortably. "Just call me Cupid" he murmured to Thomas who laughed quietly and hugged his arms around his boyfriend once again.

Finally, a week later, two of the sides finally got together. Low and behold, it was Logan and Patton. However, they both spoke with Ruben before hand.

He was sitting on the couch, practically living in Thomas's house at that point, working on a project for his job when Patton popped up beside him. "Christ, Pat! Mother of god!" He yelled in alarm, flinching at the sudden presence. The side felt guilt wash across him, "oh, sorry, Rue! I didn't mean to but I really have to talk to you"

Putting down his work, he calmed down his heart and turned to face Patton. "Uh, don't worry about it, what's up?"

"Well, I really like Logan, you see, and it's gotten really strong recently - because I don't have to focus on Thomas and his feelings for you as much - and I sometimes can't control myself when I'm around him and I completely embarrassed myself earlier when he sat beside me for awhile then suggested I lay down I looked so red!" Patton covered his face with his hands and sighed out, "what do I do?"

Ruben rubbed Patton's shoulder, "can I tell you something?"

Patton peaked at him through his fingers, "life is filled with these sorts of things. The best way to go by them is to tell the person you like them, if they like you, it's great, if they don't, well it was never meant to happen, and a relationship with them would be wrong, anyway" Ruben shuffled closer and curled an arm around the side, "I don't know if Logan likes you or not" - a complete lie but again, not his place to say - "however, you like him, and he deserves to know"

Patton smiled at Ruben, pulling him into a hug. "Thanks, Rue"

He kissed his cheek as he leaned back, "don't mention it, no go find your man-side...thing" Patton laughed and sunk out, leaving Ruben alone again to finish his work, but when another Side appeared he flinched the exact same way. "Christ! A warning would be nice!"

"I apologise" Logan shifted his glasses, "would you like to be left alone?"

Ruben could see the crossing emotions in Logan's eyes and he suddenly remembered what he analysed about the side all that time ago; he must be scared to death. Gently, he put aside his work, reached forward and held Logan's hand tightly. He hasn't interacted with Logan much, and felt kinda bad about it. "Not at all; what's bothering you, Sir Intelligence?" Ruben winced, "I need to stop hanging out with Roman"

Logan snorted. "Ah, well, I...have felt weird recently. And I do not know how to..stop it, I know what is causing it, I worked that out after a panic attack, but I-"

"Wait, what?" Logan paused.

"A panic attack?" Ruben repeated, and Logan nodded. "Do not worry, it happened a few weeks ago, anyway-"

"Logan" Ruben cut him off again, "did you tell anyone?"

Logan tightened his tie nervously, "I-well, I didn't need to, I was fine, afterwards. I regained my composure and laid down for awhile - I wouldn't want to bother anyone, anyway. As I was-"

"Logan, no, shut up for a minute" the Side clamped shut his mouth, "you don't have to go through that shit alone, Lo, panic attacks are fucking horrendous and I can't-..." Ruben shook his head, unable to imagine Logan being so frightened, panicked, worried, sitting in his room alone, unable to understand what was happening to him. He held Logan's hand tighter, meeting his gaze again.

"Don't ever think you're bothering someone, we all love you, Logan, and if you are having a panic attack you tell someone, they will help you, I will help you, whoever you are comfortable with-hell, Thomas will! We care for you, dammit, Logic, so don't go through that alone again, okay?" Ruben pulled him into a hug before he could respond, pressing a kiss to his shoulder.

"Okay?" He murmured again and Logan nodded against his neck, hugging him back.

"Thank you, Ruben" Logan cleared his throat after they pulled back, "I suppose I felt I had to do this alone" he managed a slight smile in Ruben's direction, "I know it's scary" Ruben agreed, "emotions can be, terrifyingly so" Ruben saw Logan sit up straighter at the prospect of someone feeling the same way he does and Ruben smiled; how could he not hang out with this lovable goofball?

"However, I know there is one Side in particular who could help you out with that. His name starts with a P" he grinned at Logan who chuckled lightly, "ah yes, the crux of all my emotions. I hope he reciprocates them"

"And hey!" Ruben caught him before he sunk out, "if he doesn't, come find me, I recently got a book about space and would love to read it with you" Logan's entire being lit up at the prospect and Ruben laughed. "That sounds like...fun" he admitted, "well, I shall return later with what he says"

"Alright, good luck, nerd"

With that, Ruben watched him sink out with a permanent smile on his face.

Later that day, after Ruben finished his work and sat down with a sandwich, Patton popped up and fell into Ruben, hugging him tightly. 'HE LIKES ME, KIDDO! OHMYGOSH HE LIKES ME!" He yelled close to Ruben's ear, deafening him momentarily.

"Oh, yeah?" He replied, rubbing his ear. Patton was too excited, bubbly and boisterous to notice. He felt the same when Ruben and Thomas first admitted their feelings for each other.

"Yeah! We found each other in the hallway and we both said 'I need to tell you something' so I let him go first and he said he liKES ME! Me! I hugged him before I could say anything and he asked if I felt the same and I squealed and kissed him! And when we pulled away he asked again and ohsusidnfkggt I LIKE HIM SO MUCH!"

Ruben, confused how he made that nose towards the end of his story, smiled and gave him a side hug. "I'm proud of you, Pat, now why aren't you with your soon-to-be-boyfriend?"

"Well, he said he needed to read up on his space books! He didn't specify why, though"

Ruben smiled affectionately to the distance, even if Logan and Patton were happily together he still wants to learn about space with him. Or at least help him learn.

"Hey, Pat?"

"Yeah, Kiddo?"

Ruben smiled, "you're great, you know that?"

He grinned, "you are too, Rue!" And with that he sunk out.

Another week had passed and it became apparent to Ruben Roman and Virgil still weren't together, so he decided to get involved, knowing they were both in silent torment over this.

After Thomas and Ruben hung out for awhile, the latter allowed him to get on with work to do with YouTube upstairs while he waited around on the couch. Sure Thomas wouldn't get come back down, he called both Roman and Virgil's names. He two showed up pretty quickly, looking away from each other once they noticed they were there.

"What can we do for you, Ruben?"

He smiled and walked up to Roman, straightening out the sash that crossed his chest. "Well" He began, slowly walking to Virgil and fixing his hood around his neck. "Thomas is busy, and you are him, so while he is making scripts and I want cuddles, I'll get them from you, come on!" He then sat on the couch and hit the two spaces either side of them.

Roman instantly obliged and sat on his left, curling an arm around his shoulders and holding him close. Virgil hesitated, but did as Ruben wanted and sat to his right, awkwardly not really knowing what to do. Ruben knew this, so he pulled Virgil into his side, holding onto his hand tightly with a smile.

"Roman, will you do the honours?" Ruben gestured to the television, and with a click of his fingers, Wall-E started playing.

While they watched, Ruben held onto both of their hands, and they held back, but slowly, slowly he removed his hands and down to their wrists. With one quick glance to both of their faces, he could see they were too interested in the movie to care. Smirking, he dragged their hands closer and closer until he let them touch, instantly letting go afterwards. Subconsciously, their fingers intertwined, until they were holding each other's hand like they did to Ruben.

He smiled and waited there a little longer before he brought out his phone and texted Thomas, telling him to call for him to pretend he wanted him. As asked for, Thomas called Ruben's name down the stairs.

"Welp, boss's calling" he shrugged and climbed over the back of the couch to not disrupt their hands, watching them while he climbed the stairs. He saw them both realise what happened, glancing down at their hands and up to their faces. Virgil went to pull back but Roman placed his other hand over his, smiling a soft, genuine smile, none of that charming, flirtatious crap.

Roman then shuffled closer and Virgil timidly rested his head on his shoulder. Ruben felt tingles shoot through his body over how adorable the scene was, and let the two do their thing while he hurried into Thomas's room.

"What was that about?" Thomas asked, referring to the text. Ruben smiled and kissed his head.

"Just me being Cupid" he waved off, and the two left it there.

A few days later, Ruben sat on the couch with Thomas, they were all hanging with their friends. After awhile Ruben glanced to the armrest to see a note that wasn't there before. Curiously he picked it up and opened it to see one side covered with scribbled, child-like writing in blue pen, the other holding two pictured. One was of Roman kissing Virgil's cheek, holding him close, the two looking extremely happy.

The other was of Patton, hugging Logan from behind, head nestled in his neck. Logan had one of those rare smiles on his faces and Ruben could feel his heart swell.

On the backs of each picture was a note; both read 'thank you, Rue'.

The note on the other side read;

'Hey, Rue! Some of Thomas here! We didn't get to say thanks to you for how much you helped all of us, so we hope this makes up for it!! You really made all of us happy, especially Thomas, so thank you, so much, and we're all so glad you ended up falling asleep behind the sofa a few months ago! Haha! We love you, Rue'

'P.S. We thinks your favourite side has an eye for Remy ;)'

- Patton, Logan, Roman, Virgil :D

Ruben closed his eyes for a moment, he had never felt more happy and content before in his life. Closing the note, he returned it to the armchair, turned to Thomas and nestled into him.

"Tom?" He murmured, everyone else caught up in conversation.

"Yeah?"

"I love you"

Thomas tensed up in the best way possible, holding Ruben just that small bit tighter;

"I love you, too"

—

11:49pm