Author Note: sympathetic Remus uses he/him and they/them pronouns.Â
romantic patton/dee/virgil
platonic Dee and RemusÂ
brotherly analogical
Remus wanted to be the first one to do something for Deeâs Birthday. So they snuck into his best friendâs room and waited by their bed as the clock ticked down to midnight, the glowing neon green numbers illuminating the dark room. The second the numbers flashed 12:00, they jumped up, screaming at the top of his lungs. Nothing intelligible, just pure shrieking as they threw handfuls of torn-up paper over his once sleeping friend.Â
Their friend, who is now wide awake, clutching at their chest as they tried to collect themself. They were ready to be angry. But when they looked up at Remus standing there giggling behind his hands and bouncing in place, how could they be mad?
So what really is there to do but hold up the blankets and pull their bouncing friend into bed with them? That way, they could at least get some sleep tonight. As it stood it took Remus a full hour to calm down from the excitement enough to cuddle into Deeâs side and settle into sleep.Â
Patton, being one of Deeâs boyfriends, was in a race with their other partner to get to be the first to do something wonderful for Dee. He let himself quietly into his partnerâs apartment with enough breakfast in tow to feed the entire neighborhood. Which should be just enough to feed them even after Deeâs roommate, and best friend, tore through more than half of it.Â
Patton took his time setting the table for four, knowing his boyfriend would be along any minute. Just as Patton was setting the fresh bouquet of sunflowers in the center of the table, he heard the door open, and his lips quirked up. He was right on time.Â
Virgil knew Patton was already here before he could even get the door open to smell his boyfriends cooking. Pattonâs cooking was truly one of the worldâs greatest wonders. But Virgil just knew he would win this year anyway. Virgil kept walking right past the kitchen and into the small living room, where he carefully let out the mother of all gifts. Virgil grinned at how beautiful she was.Â
âWhat-what, whatâs that?!â Patton asked suddenly behind Virgil, making him jump. Virgil spun, standing to face Patton.Â
âShhhh, youâre gonna ruin the surprise!â Virgil stage whispered.Â
âThatâs, Virgil, thatâs aâŠâÂ
âSnake! Yeah! Itâs Deeâs favorite snake! Isnât she pretty?â Virgil was grinning, obviously proud of himself, and Patton had to admit it was the perfect gift for their partner. So Patton pushed aside his fear of this particular species in favor of encouraging his boyfriend.Â
âDeeâs gonna love her Vee,â Pattonâs heart melted at the way Virgil grinned.Â
âYou really think so?â He asked, leaning against Patton, who as the shortest of the two had to somewhat brace himself to hold them both up.Â
âI know so,â Patton kissed the top of Virgilâs head. âYou know what else I know?âÂ
âHmm?â Virgil hummed in question.Â
âI got here first!â Patton said, breaking away from the hug, albeit reluctantly, before sprinting down the hallway.Â
âHey!â Virgil called, taking a moment to regain his balance before bounding after him, making up the distance easily with his long legs. He caught up to Patton in less than three steps, quickly wrapping his arms around Pattonâs waist, lifting him up and out of his way. He slipped through the bedroom door a fraction of a second sooner than Patton, his boyfriend right behind him as they snuck in, trying to swallow their giggles. Once inside, they saw their partner fast asleep, half-wrapped around their roommate, both of them covered in what looked like scraps of paper.Â
âAwwww!â Patton couldnât help cooing at the adorable sight.Â
âPat,â Virgil whispered, âYouâre gonna wake them up.âÂ
âMmm too late,â Deeâs sleepy voice filled the room.Â
âWe made you breakfast,â Patton said, all thoughts of the competition between him and Virgil disappearing.Â
âAnd got you a present,â Virgil added, the both of them brimming with excitement.Â
Dee couldnât help but feel content, sliding out of their warm bed and crossing the room to take both their boyfriends by their hands.Â
Remus hadnât stirred once as Dee got out of bed, but now that the bed was empty, they huffed in his sleep and rolled over, causing the three partners to grin at each other before heading back to the living room.Â
âSee, I told you heâd like it,â Patton whispered, Virgilâs arms wrapped around him as they leaned against the doorway together watching as Dee sat cross-legged on the living room floor. Their attention was entirely focused on the snake slithering into their lap. The goal was breakfast, but the moment they passed the living room, Dee noticed the snakeâs enclosure sitting in the living room with a huge yellow bow taped to the side of the tank.Â
It was about then when they were joined by an excited Remus.Â
âAwwww, Dede, why didnât you tell me the boys were here already!!!! Did I miss breakfast??? You know I love it when Patty cooks!!â Remus whined, causing everyone to roll their eyes lovingly at him.
âAw well, donât you worry honeycakes, breakfast is still on the table.âÂ
Remus grinned and bounced over to Patton, kissing him right on the cheek before heading to the kitchen.Â
âPfft, we better join him, or we wonât have any left,â Virgil said around a chuckle, âDee? Breakfast?â Virgil called, gaining his partnerâs attention. âPat made your favorite.âÂ
Dee looked over their shoulder at their boyfriends, they could hear Remus in the kitchen, undoubtedly making a mess. There was a snake in their lap and there was maybe only one thing left that would make this day any better. They got up and slid into their boyfriendsâ arms again.Â
âHappy birthday,â Patton and Virgil both saidÂ
âMm, I love you,â Dee said in response.Â
âSo,â Virgil said after theyâd all sufficiently stuffed themselves and moved into the living room to give Dee more room to get to know their snake better, âI guess Remus won?âÂ
âYou bet I did!â Remus announced bouncing in place, giddy all over again.Â
âOh? The super-secret competition to see who could give me a birthday gift first?â Dee asked from their spot on the floor. They looked over to see their boyfriends shocked into silence, of course, they werenât exactly supposed to know about that little tradition of theirs.
 âActually,â Dee continued, not giving anyone time to jump in with questions, âI won.âÂ
âHow can you surprise yourself for your birthday?â Virgil asked, confused.Â
âWell, I wasnât trying to surprise myself, rather I was aiming to surprise you,â Dee said, looking right at Virgil.Â
âWhat, what do you mean, you didnât surprise me? itâs not my birthday?â The smallest hint of anxiety was starting to crawl up Virgilâs spine.Â
âThey called me,â a new voice said from the doorway. Virgil looked up quickly, turning to see his brother standing in the doorway, who he hadnât seen in many years since their parents split them up as kids.Â
âLo.. Logan?â Virgil asked, voice stripped.Â
"Hello, little brother.â Logan, for all he tried to seem put together, was shaking on the inside.Â
After a few seconds of frozen shock, Virgil was climbing over the back of the couch, throwing himself at his brother, not bothering to hold back tears.Â
âI never thought Iâd see you again!â Virgil cried into Loganâs shoulder as logans arms circled around him.Â
âI never stopped looking for you,â Logan whispered into Virgilâs hair as they held each other.Â
Patton moved to stand next to Dee, wrapping his arms around them. Patton was easily touched by the smallest of things, and this was nothing small so he didnât even bother trying to hold back tears seeing one of his partners reunited with a long lost brother heâd been looking for for the past six years.Â
âYou know,â Patton said, wiping his face and nose on his too-long sleeve, âgenerally, itâs the birthday person who gets the surprise."Â
Dee laughed, a low rumbling sound in their chest that made Patton giggle too.Â
"This is the best birthday present I could ever ask for,â Dee said after a moment. And it was, watching Virgil get something heâd been wanting for as long as heâd known him, holding Patton in his arms. It was everything they would ever or could ever want. It was the perfect birthday present.Â
Behind them faint sniffling could be heard. Dee and Patton glanced over their shoulders to see Remus sitting on the floor, the snake wrapped loosely up their left arm and trying to wipe his face of tears with his right arm.Â
âYou okay, honeycakes?â Patton asked.Â
âItâs just so sweet!â Remus howled before beginning to bawl.Â
âCome here, love,â Dee said, holding out an arm to their best friend who rushed to join the group hug, hiding their face in Deeâs shoulder.Â
It really was the perfect birthday.