9:00pm

I can feel the life draining from my body

—

For years, Virgil always saw Patton as his "Father figure" - someone he could go to if he was upset, someone he knew would never judge him, someone he could just...talk to for hours and never get bored. Patton was always there for him, and he loved him like a son would to his Dad. But...it slowly changed.

When Logan admitted his attractions he felt towards Virgil, he felt like that day was the best day of his life, his six month long lasting crush liked him back? For that entire day he felt no anxiety at all, he and Logan cuddled up and stayed like that until they fell asleep in each other's arms, purely happy. Thomas was affected by it in the best way possible, as Virgil eased up, he trusted love like never before, and a month later when Thomas met this certain boy, Virgil let Roman give him the confidence he needed without going overboard, obviously Virgil was still nervous, which in turn made Thomas nervous, but too much confidence might've turned the man away, so Thomas was very grateful for it when he spoke to his sides after their first date.

To this day because of the romance he and Logan shared, Thomas was happy with his boyfriend.

Virgil was happy, too, until Patton started to become apart of his life more and more. It wasn't because of him, it was because of his stupid heart.

It started off small as all things do, they hung out more than usual, smiled and joked around, neither of them really...noticed the feelings that were forming until it was too late.

And by that point, they wanted more, but with Logan, they couldn't do anything.

Virgil still loved Logan, and his feelings compared to Patton weren't as nearly as strong, but on some nights he spent alone, his dreams were filled with Patton joining in on his and Logan's cuddles - of him being there in bed when they all slept together peacefully, him there when they shared short, loving kisses, hugging hands, going on dates - all of it!

He didn't know Patton had the same problem, he truly did like Virgil and Logan!

In fact...he liked Logan before Virgil. But when Logan asked out Virgil, he tried to hide it, he wanted it to die, to fade, to leave him alone! But the jealously he felt whenever he saw Virgil and Logan acting like a couple - it was too much. It was the main reason he spent more time with Virgil, he was scared Virgil would notice the jealously, and wanted the anxious aspect to know Patton still loved him, but he didn't mean for it to go this far.

And now it has, he couldn't control it. Logan was not one for emotions - they all knew that - so the chances of him falling in love with two people were out of the question!

Thinking about it made him upset, and sometimes even cry, which affected Thomas, which was why all of his sides were standing in his living room, confused why he called them up.

"Hey, Kiddo!" Patton smiled, clasping his hands together. "What's up?"

Thomas crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow at his emotional aspect. "Why am I feeling sad?" He questioned, glancing at each of them to get some sort of answer. Even if Patton was his core emotions, if another aspect were feeling upset, he would too.

"You're sad?" Roman scrunched up his face in confusion, hands gesturing to the others as he questioned if they knew why, but they were all as confused as he, apart from Patton but he desperately tried to hide it. If secret gets out now, he would ruin his friendship with both Logan and Virgil, and possibly ruin their perfect relationship!

"Last night I began crying out of nowhere" Thomas further explained, Logan crossing one arm over his chest. "I do not know why you called me here - I have made it clear emotions are not my forte"

"I know, Logan, but you feel them - has something happened between you guys? Any break ups?"

Roman was first to respond, "my relationship is going perfect! I haven't felt sad enough for it to affect you, so it must be someone else" he explained, hand waving through the air gently to gesture to all of the others. He was telling the truth, after saving a certain good looking Prince from the imagination, the two hit it off pretty well, and in under a week began dating, months later they were sill perfectly happy, he had mostly moved into the mind space at this point! Roman was joyous the others liked him as much as he.

"Ours is fine" Virgil shrugged, nodding his head towards Logan who agreed with him. They all silently turned to Patton who plastered on a smile, giggling nervously. "Patton? Is everything okay?" Thomas inquired softly, watching as he glanced at everyone quickly, his smile wavering as he focused back on Thomas.

"Yep! I'm perfectly okay!"

"You're not, otherwise Thomas wouldn't feel so melancholic" Logan replied, noticing how Patton was becoming more agitated the more they all stared at him expectantly. He tried to reassure them he was okay, but they weren't buying it, and were obviously going to keep pestering to him about it until he said something.

So. He snapped.

Under such pressure, with the overpowering sense of emotions he's had recently, anger finally took over, another core emotion he controlled, but couldn't control over himself.

"Why do you believe the others so easily?!" He demanded, glaring at Thomas who flinched back a bit at the sudden loud voice. "Roman could be lying! You haven't even met his boyfriend! How do you know everything's running so smoothly!?" He cried, hand wildly flinging in Roman's direction.

"I would not lie about my relationship status, Patton - if it were rocky, I would tell Thomas" Roman replied a little defensively, but he could understand the anger. He's been put on that spot before, all eyes on him, not believing anything he said. It's hard, and he was surprised Patton hasn't had an outburst like this before, he is Thomas's emotions after all.

"Fine!" He turned to Logan and Virgil shakily. "What about them!? They could be lying!"

"Lying about our relationship would be illogical - why would we want to keep that from you?" Logan shot back, a little protective over his relationship he had with Virgil. Like he said, emotions weren't his forte, but he definitely had a level of protectiveness about it, because to him it's something so valuable that could be broken with his uselessness towards the whole thing, and he wants to keep it running smoothly - so if something were to happen that he didn't understand, he would ask and get as much information as to how to fix it, so he was telling the truth.

Virgil stayed silent during it all, he didn't know what to say, but he also knew this sadness could be coming from him. Patton could be fine, and telling the truth, and the sudden broken-hearted emotions could be from the fact he can't ever be with Patton and Logan at the same time. Technically he could, he wants to be in a three-way relationship, but what about Logan? Would it overstep boundaries? He was a very protective type, and could get jealous quite easily. He doesn't want to ruin their relationship like that.

Patton let out a groan, hugging himself as he began to cry, eyes clenched shut as he sobbed and heaved, running a hand through his hair that quickly became messed up atop his head. The others stared in worry, but if one neared he demanded them to stay back, telling them he didn't want their consoling.

"Just leave me alone, Thomas! I'm fine!" Was his final stance before he sunk out, leaving the living room in complete silence.

The other stared at his spot for a few seconds, slowly turning to one another, wondering that the fuck just happened. Why would Patton freak out like that? He wasn't one to keep secrets, and from his reaction it was blatant something was going on, something he didn't want to talk about, or ever reveal. That hurt each of them, knowing he didn't trust them enough with whatever was going on.

"I..." Roman drifted, clearing his throat. " I think someone should talk to him" Roman carried on, knowing he couldn't do it himself. It was best to let it be the person who Patton's most close with, and currently that's Virgil.

So, they all agreed it to be him, and promised Thomas they will fill him in when they get the information to do so.

Sinking back into his mind, Logan and Roman waited in the living room, Roman's boyfriend already there, instantly opening his arms to go back to cuddling like they were prior to him being summoned.

Virgil stalked off down to Patton's room, knocking on the white wood after some hesitance. He couldn't understand what made Patton do what he did, and cry so desperately. Patton was completely fine earlier that day! Was it the fact no one believed him if he was telling the truth? Virgil didn't know, but he was going to find out.

The door cracked open and Patton stared at Virgil with blurry vision, tears still pouring down his cheeks. Of course he felt guilty for yelling at his friends, and was glad Virgil came to him, he needed to tell him, and he would, today. He already messed up, at this point he's just adding insult to injury.

Silently moving aside to let him in, Virgil did so, watching with concerned eyes as Patton moved back to sit on his bed, head tilted downwards. "Pat? What happened back there?" He asked in a soft voice, taking a seat beside the upset aspect. Sniffling, he used his sleeve to wipe his eyes, finally the tears came to a stop but he had a feeling they would come back when Virgil leaves the room after Patton tells him.

Patton turned to face him, but couldn't bring himself to lift his head, so instead he reached out and gently gripped one of his hands in both of his own, breathing in deeply.

"I like you, Virgil" he whispered pathetically, shoulders deflating. "It's my fault Thomas is s-sad, I-I can't be with you, and-and-and..." he stopped, letting out a sob as he tried to keep himself composed. He couldn't. He just couldn't do it. With the thought of them all hating him attacking him mercilessly he began to cry again, feeling like an idiot, feeling sorry for the others they had to deal with such a baby.

Virgil was frozen in shock at his words, never having that reason of his sudden broken-hearted state pass through his mind. It took him a few moments to even realise it was real. Patton likes him...back?

"And I like Logan too!" He suddenly yelled, facing forward to grip his hair tightly, looking like he just wanted to scream in anguish. This was tearing him apart, he was in love with two people he could never have!

"B-but...I can't be with you" now, he was quiet, vulnerable and weak. It was a heart shattering sight, to see their usual bubbly, happy aspect like this, crying endlessly as he tried to make sense of the feelings that raged in his heart and mind. It must be worse to like two people at the same time who are both in a happy relationship with each other, but in this situation it wasn't entirely bad.

"Pat, just...stay here, okay?" The distraught aspect nodded, staring at his carpet as Virgil rushed out of the room.

So many what ifs swirled his mind, mostly about the fact that no one would like him anymore for being so selfish - but he couldn't help who his heart called for. He liked Logan, and Virgil too, heck, why doesn't he like Roman and his boyfriend while he's at it! And why not Thomas and his boyfriend? Why doesn't he just ruin everyone's relationships!

Maybe he should start liking Deceit for good measure too, who, might he add, is also in a loving relationship with another "bad side" as Roman named them.

Footsteps caught his attention, and he looked up, flinching back as he noticed it was both Logan and Virgil. On the way over, Virgil explained to Logan everything Patton said. The logical aspect was taken back, and became confused when Virgil admitted he liked Patton too. At first, he felt like he hadn't done enough, then he wondered if it was a natural thing, but Virgil explained to him it wasn't entirely natural, but it didn't mean he loved him any less, and if Logan could possibly have feelings for Patton, they could make this work.

"Pat, Logan wants to tell you something" Virgil nodded at Logic after he did, taking a step back as he sat beside Patton who hugged himself tightly, shuffling away as if it would help him be less hurt when Logan tells him to stay away from what's his. Aka, Virgil.

"I am sorry how much this whole situation has upset you"

It's coming, Patton thought, tensing up. The demand for him to fuck off is coming, he knew it.

"Virgil told me of your romantic attractions" he carried on, glancing at Virgil to see if he was doing this correctly. After getting a nod in response, he turned to Patton once more, reaching out to hold his hand. It was unexpected, which was why Patton tensed further, eyes cracking open to stare at his hand that rested on his own.

"And...I am flattered" Virgil chuckled a little, sitting on the other side of Patton, slowly wrapping an arm around his shoulders to ease his worries. "Virgil likes you back, and I must say...I do feel different around you, a good different, of course" Logan quickly added on, watching as Patton slowly lifted his head, staring at Logan with uncertainty.

"I think, if you would want to, we could make this work - a three-way relationship between us"

A slight gasp could be heard from Morality, shrunk down a little in fear. Was he serious? Looking between the two, his eyes were wide with caution, wondering if what was happening was actually...happening. He wanted to believe it was, but a part of him is making him think this is just a sick joke, and they don't actually like him back.

"Really?" His voice sounded the vulnerability he felt at that moment, and Virgil's eyes softened when he heard it. "Of course...we want this, Pat" Sending him a smile, Patton began to cry again, but the warm tears that rolled down his cheeks were now of joy as he quickly reached forward to pull them into a tight hug, sobbing onto their shoulders as they chuckled lightly and hugged back, shifting their position so they were sitting at the head of the bed, Patton between them both, still crying but clinging onto both of them like a lifeline.

He needed to be close to them to know this was real.

Logan and Virgil both had their arms wrapped securely around his body, staring at each other happily for a few seconds. "I love him" Virgil mouthed, gesturing to the aspect in their arms.

Logan smiled, glancing down at him. "He is adorable" he mouthed back, reaching up to push some of his hair from his face, his glasses set aside on the bedside table.

It didn't take long for Logan to fall, and the three were soon in a happy, loving relationship that was going to last forever.

—

12:22am