A/N Heeey...!
Sorry it's been a while. Hope y'all enjoy this small, fluffy chapter ;)

11.)

If he was being completely honest, Logan much preferred the colder seasons of the year.

The sunniness of summer was simply unbearable and the springtime was a field day for allergies. But autumn and winter were filled with a serene beauty that could not be replicated at any other time. A cozy atmosphere surrounded every moment.

At least, it would. Had it not been for his brother blasting music down the hall, Logan was sure he would be having a perfectly relaxing after noon.

He sat in his black wingback armchair, which took up a whole corner of his room, trying to read as a flurry of snow fell outside his window. But even through his closed door, the piercingly loud sound of Gerard Way's voice pushed all hope of de stressing into the figurative garbage.

Logan finally shut his book with a huff and stood, following the noise to his brother's room. He stopped in the doorway and glared at Virgil who was sprawled out on a beanbag with his phone in hand.

"Couldn't you wear headphones? Or must you condemn me to listen to your scream-filled music as well?" Logan shouted, making his brother glance up and notice his presence.

Virgil rolled his eyes and reached over to turn down the music so he could speak. "Hey, you play Vivaldi at full volume in the evenings and I never complain."

"That's different and I definitely recall you complaining." Logan said flatly, crossing his arms. "Frequently."

"Okay, yeah. But you know what else?" Virgil said, grinning with his hand still on the volume button.

Logan frowned. "What?"

"You never listened." Virgil answered and then promptly turned the music all the way back up.

The younger man's glare intensified, "Virgil!"

"Fair's fair, Lo!" Virgil yelled, his eyes back on his phone screen.

Logan growled in frustration and turned on his heel. He marched back to his room and snatched up his book, stuffing it in the leather satchel Janus had gotten him for Christmas. If Virgil was going to be extra unbearable, he would find somewhere else to relax.

"I'm going out, enjoy your depressive nest of deafening, angst-filled choruses!"Logan called, walking past Virgil's room on his way to the door. He received a simple thumbs-up in return and fought the urge to throw something at his brother.

Instead, he left the apartment and ran down the stairs until he stood on the sidewalk in front of their building. The music couldn't be heard there, only the constant bustle of city streets.

It was only then that Logan realized he had not planned where exactly he was going to go.

His satchel contained everything he might need, including a decent amount of money and his cellular device in case of emergency. So really, the possibilities were barely limited.

Logan considered this for a moment before pulling out his phone and opening messages. A single text remained unread, a purposeful move on his part. He stared at it, pursing his lips just like he'd done so many times since he'd received it the day after Christmas.

Patton 2:47pm

Hey, Lo! It was fun seeing you yesterday, we should hang out again some time :)

It didn't make any sense. Why did Patton suddenly want to be friends again? Was it because of what had happened at the dance?

Or was it something that was a long time coming?

Logan furrowed his eyebrows and watched the text for another full minute before actually clicking on it and pulling up his and Patton's conversation. He started typing and sent the message he had written before he could change his mind.

Logan Moretti 12:13pm

Good afternoon, Patton. I find myself with some unexpected free time outside the apartment. Would meeting up today work for you?

He quickly shut his phone. But he hadn't even tucked it in his pocket when it buzzed, alerting him of Patton's response.

Patton 12:13pm

That works perfectly! Let's meet up here [Maps Link] I've been wanting to go for a while now. I'm so excited!!!!! :DDD

Without meaning to, Logan smiled at his phone screen before quickly correcting himself. They were friends. Family friends. If even that.

The boy put away his phone and shook his head to clear it. Then, without giving himself another moment to consider the warmth of his own face, he began his commute to the bus stop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Logan, you made it!"

Patton ran down the main hall of the ice skating rink to greet his friend, throwing his arms around him as soon as he stepped inside the door.

As always, Logan reacted by stiffening, though he was used to the enthusiastic greetings by now. "Of course. Hello Patton."

The other boy giggled, pulling away. He looked the same as he had a week ago on Christmas, except without the reindeer face paint.

He was bundled up in an oversized, blue winter coat and a pink and white scarf. His gray snow boots had pompoms on the ends of the laces and there was a floppy knit cap atop his unruly curls.

Compared to Logan's own black pea coat and navy blue scarf he contrasted like a string of holiday lights among everyday bulbs. Logan couldn't help but smile at that. They were different, even opposites.

So why did they keep seeking each other out?

"I see you chose ice skating as our afternoon activity." Logan observed, adjusting his glasses as he glanced around the main lobby. "I'll admit it's unorthodox, but the idea is not entirely unpleasant."

Patton smiled at him, taking his hand and pulling him towards the skate rentals. "Aw, glad you think so, Lo! I've been wanting to try this out for forever!"

"Why didn't you? This isn't too far from your apartment." Logan observed, taking out his wallet to pay the bored cashier.

In contrast, Patton pulled a few crumpled bills out of his pocket. The light in his eyes had dimmed slightly at the question. "Oh...well, my friends aren't much for trying new things. And I don't think it would be as fun alone."

Logan frowned at the mention of Patton's 'friends'. He'd never known how to feel about them, they were too superficial and pompous for his liking. They didn't deserve Patton's relentless kindness and understanding.

But he had barely just rekindled this friendship with Patton. How would it be received if he spoke his mind on the matter now?

He cleared his throat and answered simply. "I see."

"Yeah." Patton said, taking the skates he was handed and making his way over to the benches with Logan following closely behind. He looked a little nervous, but relived that Logan hadn't tried to pry. "It's alright, though. Because we're here now and it's gonna be even funner with you, Logie!"

Logan blushed at the nickname but quickly hid it with a grimace. "'Funner' isn't a word, Patton."

"You know what I mean."

The two shared a glance but quickly looked away when their eyes met. Neither noticed the other's smile as they began to lace up their skates in comfortable silence.

Logan finished first, frowning in concentration as he managed to stand on the thin metal blades and walk a few steps on the thick carpet. "It doesn't seem too difficult now, but I'm sure it's different on the ice."

"Probably, but I think we'll be fine." Patton said optimistically, standing as well and walking over to where Logan stood at the rink's entrance. He smiled up at the taller boy. "What could possibly go wrong?"

Logan scoffed. "Everything. I am horrendous at every sport I have attempted."

"Not true!" Patton argued, furrowing his eyebrows. "You were amazing at soccer when you played it!"

"That was years ago, you didn't even know me then." Logan said, exasperated. "I'm surprised you even remember that I told you that."

"Of course I remember! You were the best best friend I've every had." Patton blurted.

The other boy paused, looking over at Patton with an expression of shock. The earnest admission had caught him completely off guard.

Eventually, Logan cleared his throat and looked back at the ice. "Er, shall we begin then?"

Patton beamed and nodded excitedly, "We shall!"

He looked at the rink with determination and took one solid step forward. But almost immediately, his feet slid in any which way and he fell backwards, "Woah!"

"Patton!"

Logan rushed forward to stop him from hitting the ground but slipped on the ice and ended up barreling straight into the other boy's back, sending them both tumbling to the ground.

Logan groaned after a moment of lying on the cold ice, Patton sprawled vertically over his torso. "Well, that was a complete mess."

"Yeah." Patton replied frankly.

Then, after a pause, he started laughing.

"What?" Logan demanded as the other boy rolled off of him and onto the ice beside him. "What's so funny?"

"I-I don't know." Patton said through laughter. He looked over at Logan, grinning brightly in a way that made his heart flutter. "We're just so bad at this, we didn't even make it o-one step!"

He started laughing again and Logan felt the corner of his mouth twitch up into a subtle smirk. "I suppose the situation is quite ridiculous."

"Completely ridiculous!" Patton exclaimed and Logan's smirk grew.

The other boy looked over, his brown eyes warm and joyful. Lying there on the ice, their heads were close together, almost touching."But you know what?"

"...What?" Logan said, almost breathlessly.

"It was really fun." Patton said, his tone so honest that Logan actually believed him. And agreed.

"Would you like to try again?" He suggested, sitting up before the heat of his face caused the ice to melt. Patton followed his example. "We could hold onto the wall to start with. Somehow I feel that will make things much easier."

Patton nodded and laughed. "You're probably right. Looks like neither of us will ever qualify for the Winter Olympics."

"And what a shame that is. After all, we're both so fond of sports." Logan replied smoothly. The other boy's jaw dropped as he started to push himself up using the wall.

"Was that a joke, Lo?!" Patton exclaimed, beaming.

"I have the right to remain silent."

"It WAS!"

Logan couldn't help but smile, his back to the other boy. Oddly enough, he was actually enjoying himself. The was something about Patton that just made it a thousand times easier to be himself. Whoever that was.

He quickly controlled his smile and turned, leaning against the wall with one hand and extending the other to Patton who was still seated in the floor. "I never said that, now come on."

Patton's beam stayed the same as he reached out and accepted his hand, pushing off the ground. Logan must have pulled a little too hard because a second later they were almost nose to nose.

Both of them froze and then scrambled apart, Patton nearly falling again from the action.

"A-ah, sorry." He stuttered, blushing. "I didn't mean to get in your personal bubble like that."

"No! No, it's alright." Logan said hastily. His face was warm again. Why did that keep happening? "It was may fault, I-I apologize."

Patton didn't answer, simply smiling before holding out his hand, almost shyly.

"Let's try this again."

Logan paused, the question held a certain weight that hadn't been there before. He looked at Patton's expression and felt something inside him shift.

Then he reached out, and took his hand. "...alright."

Somehow, it didn't feel like he was talking about ice skating.

At least, not to Logan.

A/N sorry this was so short, guys. I got really stumped and busy and haven't been able to post as much (or at all lol). Hopefully my schedule will clear up soon.
Until then,

DON'T DIE

~Prongs💙