Saw someone else saying it too so might as well say I still am obsessed with ALiP and I've just finished rereading the first book for the third time and I'm half way through PT and I acc can't, I love them so much! I also have art of it as my phone's wallpaper and widgets đ It's such amazing writing sometimes I have to put down the phone and stare at the wall for a bit even though I knew what was coming đ You're extremely talented! I really hope you continue to write more of it or even just continue writing in general! đ
I'm still so surprised when people say they still read it. I'm glad it still brings you joy and entertainment!
I'm trying to write a bigger chapter and it is in progress! I want to put out chapters like I used to, but then I got sick 3 times in November and then it was the holidays. I could easily post what I have now but there's so much going on in the story I just want to get it out there and out of my head where it's been rattling around for literal years.
I knew how PT was gonna end before I even wrote it and I just want to try to make sure it lives up to some expectations at least.
<<Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Summary: Do you remember what even happened last time?
In the last chapter, Patton confronted his mom(Maggie) with an ultimatum to help him or he'd cut her out of his life. Roman was kidnapped, Virgil was stressed, Roman's mother Liz was there and kinda chillin' and Logan was with Thomas who wanted to learn how to use his powers again.
Word count: 3.2k
Patton stared out the window at each building that passed, keeping note of every turn and every street to their destination. He glanced at his phone to the map he had pulled up, his GPS helping him keep track of where he was. He definitely didnât expect to find himself so deep into the city where the population would be so dense, but he supposed that any building could be hiding a number of secrets. He kept glancing out the window and at his phone, hoping it would calm his nerves. The longer the drive went, the more the silence taunted him. He kept bracing himself for the inevitable. He knew it was going to happen, he just wasnât sure exactly when.
Then he heard his mother sigh. There it isâŠ
âBack at the house,-â
âWeâre not talking about this.â Patton squeezed his phone in his hand as he felt the car roll to a stop.
âI just think itâs a little unfair how you jumped me with all those questions!â
âAnd I think itâs really unfair how youâve been invalidating my feelings my whole life.â
âI have done no such thing!â
Patton huffed and looked over at his mother driving the truck. âThen what do you call what youâre doing right now?â Maggie scrunched up her nose but kept her eyes on the road. He could tell she was thinking of something to retort with. Make her seem like it wasn't that bad. That it wasn't her fault. That it came from a place of love. âI know what you're thinking; you feel like youâve done something wrong, because you have, so youâre getting defensive. But that doesn't mean you can tell me how I feel is wrong because you didn't mean to."
"Now you're just twisting this around to make me look like the bad guy! I'm trying to help you!"
"Pull over."
"What?"
"I said," Patton balled his fists and braced himself, "pull over!"
"You need me to help find Roman!"
"No, I don't!" Patton finally turned and looked at his mother. The shocked expression on her face as she finally glanced away from the road for a split second before turning back was enough for him to know that she was listening. "I don't need you for this. I can find him without you!"
"No! You don't know where he is and I do!"
"And my boyfriend can read minds." Patton glared as he spoke. "I already told you back at the house. This is the last chance you have or you won't see me again. Ever."
The car grew silent with nothing more than the muffled noise from the city around them.
âPatton-â
âIâm not trying to be the bad guy here, mom. But I canât just let you do this to me anymore.â Pattonâs voice grew softer as he spoke. âI canât handle it anymore.â
He heard his mother sigh from the driverâs seat, refusing to look at her. Not wanting to lose his resolve if he saw how upset she was. âYouâre father would miss you.â
Patton immediately tensed in anger. âUsing dad against me wonât work. He already said I could reach out to him and that he would love me no matter what. I donât need you to get to him and we both know you could never take him away from me.âÂ
âI wouldnât-â
âDonât. We both know what you meant by it, so just donât.â
Patton watched as the car pulled into a parking lot and the truck slowly came to a halt. His mother turned the car off and sat in her seat, making no attempt to exit just yet. âDo you still want me to show you where he is?â
Patton glanced at his phone, looking at the GPS app he had opened up to see where downtown he was. Technically, it was enough information to give to Logan and they could probably continue here on their own.Â
He sat up and looked at her. âDepends. Do you think it was unfair? What I did back home?â
Maggie stayed silent for a bit before turning back to him. âI do, but maybe itâs because Iâm being defensive. I just need to think about it and think before I act.â
Patton stared at her, not completely satisfied with her answer. Her emotions were a mess, they were swirling so much and wouldnât settle on one solid feeling. She was emotionally charged right now, enough that he felt it was the truth. He was also an emotional person, itâs probably where he got it from. It probably explained why he started to become a bit of an empath. Possibly. He could bring it up to Logan who would go on and on with theories about how that would be probable.Â
âThatâs a start, I guess.â Patton turned and reached for the door handle before getting out. He closed the door and looked back down at his phone while waiting for his mother to follow.Â
She hopped out of the car and paid the parking for their spot before heading to a nearby building. The streets were already filled with people going about their day in the early morning. She walked a few buildings down before she stopped and looked over her shoulder. Patton looked up at the unassuming building before his mother continued on. People passed by the front desk and headed for the elevators which Patton could only assume were all filled with offices for all different businesses.Â
This is where Roman was? In some office in a giant building? Patton glanced around at the people in business attire going about their day, unaware of what was happening to his best friend inside.Â
âMargaret?â Patton turned as someone approached his mother with a confused expression on his face. âI thought you left a while ago.â The strangerâs gaze slowly looked up at Patton. âAnd who is this?â
Wait a minute.
âThis is my son! He works at the city library. I thought he could help us with our project. Maybe heâll shed some light on the subject.â
Isnât thatâŠ?
The man seemed super friendly. He smiled down at Maggie and shook his head. âThank you for thinking of us but weâre gonna try to keep eyes off of that project for now.âÂ
Patton immediately got the hidden meaning. âWeâre not letting people look at Prince Charging right now.â Why? Why the sudden change? Did they figure out Romanâs identity already? Looking at the older man, Patton immediately knew this wasnât the first time he saw him. He shoved his phone into his pocket.
This is the guy Clyde told me about.
âIâm sorry,â Patton stepped up and placed a hand on his motherâs shoulder. âShe hasnât really told me what this was about. Just something urgent. Is there no way I could help, Mr.-â Patton hesitated for a moment, hoping the man would respond.
He smiled and reached out a hand. âCall me Bruce.âÂ
Patton grabbed his hand and shook it, repeating his name in his head so he didnât forget it. âNice to meet you. Are you sure thereâs nothing I could do to help? I came all this way and Iâm already late for work.â
Bruce let go and seemed apologetic. âNo, Iâm sorry. I put a hold on it for now due to a few things beyond our control. I thank you for wanting to help.â Bruce looked back to Maggie. âThis is your son youâre always talking about, right? You raised a fine young man, Margaret.â
âThank you, Bruce. Are you sure thereâs no way we canât just look?â
Bruce shook his head. âIâm afraid not. Sorry for making you come all this way again.â
âItâs fine,â Patton shrugged. âWhatever it was, if my mom really thinks I can help then we can try again another day.â He patted his mother on the shoulder. âCome on, Iâm already late enough. You can tell me about it another day.â
âBut, Patty-â Patton wrapped his arm around his motherâs shoulder and turned them towards the front door.Â
âIt was nice meeting you, Bruce! Come on, mom, letâs go. Other people are trying to work.âÂ
Patton waited until they were outside before he pulled out his phone and sent Logan a quick text. âMom, what floor do you go to when you come here?â
âOh, um⊠the fifteenth floor, why?â
Patton punched in the address and the floor number before pressing âsendâ. âThat was all the proof I needed.â Patton immediately went into his contacts and started a call. The phone rang a few times before it picked up. âClyde, listen. We need to meet up. I just met Bruce.â
â
âYouâre absolutely sure about this, Thomas?â Logan asked again.Â
âIâm sure.â Thomas nodded. âThereâs a lot going on right now and I want to help.â
Virgil walked back in, a fresh cup of coffee in his hand. âOn one hand, Iâm not sure how much training is gonna get done with everything going on.â Virgil blew on his coffee before taking a sip. âOn the other hand, heâs already learned it before so maybe heâll be faster this time. Besides, not sure how else weâre gonna find Roman so fast. Itâs worth a try, especially since the fan club is helping look.â
âThen maybe you should put down the coffee and get some rest.â Virgil looked over to Elizabeth, Romanâs mother. âMy boy is strong and youâre no help if youâre too tired.â
âTell that to my brain,â Virgil grumbled and took another sip of coffee.Â
âTell me more about these recipes, Liz! Iâve never tried Puerto Rican dishes before.â
âOh, honey. We need to go food shopping together.â Liz seemed excited at the notion. âI know this grocery store that would be perfect to get you stocked up.â
âPerfect! Logan and Virgil can help!âÂ
Virgil almost choked on his coffee as Logan gave Two a confused look. âI apologize if my inquiry seems a bit rude. We are getting brought into this how?â
âWell, Virgil is Romanâs boyfriend and Romanâs your best friend!â Two spoke as if it werenât the most obvious thing in the world.
âWha, wait, Roman is not my best friend!â Two kept smiling at Logan. âHe is not!â Logan stood his ground for a moment before his face fell. âOh, Romanâs my best friend.â
âThatâs rough, buddy,â Virgil patted Logan on the back sympathetically.Â
A strange noise rang out and everyone looked at Logan as he pulled out his phone. He tapped on it a few times and froze.Â
âWhat is it?â Virgil peered over Loganâs shoulder and looked at his phone. His eyes shot open as he reread the screen.Â
Logan looked across the room toward Two. âItâs from Patton. Itâs an address.â
âLogan, hold this for me, thanks,â Logan put up his hands to catch Virgilâs hot cup of coffee, dropping his phone in the process. Virgil was already scrolling on his phone and walking away.Â
Logan blinked before he reached a hand outwards, âWait, Virgil, we should talk about this-â In an instant, Virgil was gone. â-before we do anythingâŠâ Logan finished and let out a sigh.
âHeâs gone,â Liz stared at the spot Virgil vanished from. âHe just disappeared.â
âOh boy, itâs okay!â Two reached over to comfort Romanâs mother. âI guess we have a little more explaining to do.â
â
âPatton, wait,â Maggie cried out as she chased after her son. âI can drive you!â
âGo back home, mom. I need to meet up with the others so we can come up with a plan.â Patton looked around to find the nearest bus stop. He could figure out which line to take him closest to home from there.
âI want to help, sweetie!â
Patton stopped and spun around quickly. âDonât you think youâve done enough to help?â
âWha, but I thought you forgave me! I thought we were getting along again.â
âThis doesnât erase the years of damage youâve done, mom.â Maggie froze and Patton felt a pit in his stomach. âI appreciate you helping me now but as it said, this was a start. I canât forgive you for years of you making me feel bad about who I am just because of one good thing you did.â The bustle of the city drowned them out and no one even gave them a second glance. âSo this is where I ask you to stay out of it and let me know if you get any updates. Otherwise, leave this to me and my friends.â
âWait,â Maggie reached out and grabbed Pattonâs arm. âPlease, just⊠Let me at least take you where you need to go. No questions, no talking. Iâll bring you wherever you need and Iâll leave.â
Patton stared down at his mother and sighed. He felt his anger slipping away immediately though not completely. This was his mother and despite it all, he did still love her. âOkay, you can drive me.â
âGood! Excellent! Letâs get back to my truck.â Maggie kept her grip on her son as they walked arm and arm back to the parking lot. âYou spoke with someone on the phone, right? Where do they live?â
âOh, um, actually, just take me home.â Patton pulled out his phone and immediately dialed a number. They picked up almost immediately. âLogan. Hey. Iâm on my way back home.âÂ
âAlright. Just a warning, Virgilâs already gone.â
âIâm not surprised. He didnât reappear there?â
âNo, we're not quite sure where he is right now.â
âAlright, no problem. I have to make one stop before I come back but Iâll explain everything then, okay?â
âAlright, please stay safe. Weâll see you soon.â
Patton and Maggie walked into the parking lot. Maggie reached to get into her car before she looked over at her son confused. âDo you need me to stop somewhere before I drop you off back home?â
âNo.â
 Maggie stared at her son for a moment before she pulled her door open. âRight, I wonât ask. Back home it is.â
When Margaret pulled up to her sonâs building, she watched as he ran up the stairs of the porch and knocked on his neighborâs door. He turned around and Maggie immediately turned her eyes away from him and back to the road. She pulled away from the curb and gripped her steering wheel as she drove off, wondering just how much she messed up her relationship with her son.
â
Roman was⊠Fine.
Except he was bored. Completely stir-crazy and stuck in an empty office in some random office building. In an empty conference room with no table or anything. The floor was carpeted and there was an outlet and Roman could feel it. He could feel the static from the floor and the charge running to the outlet. He could feel the electricity on his fingertips itching to be used. He wanted SOME sort of stimuli, anything to keep his mind off of the power itching to come out. Any distraction other than the faint pang of pain in his head. Though it was surprisingly feeling a lot better than it was just a few hours ago.Â
Roman knew he could break out but there was a voice in his head that sounded suspiciously like Logan telling him it was a bad idea and he knew it. He had convinced them that his powers werenât real and he was sticking to it. It wasnât worth the risk to everyone else. This was HIS mess and he was gonna think his way out of it.Â
Although hearing that Bruce guy knew someone with powers had him curious. And maybe Roman could have Clyde disguise himself as someone else so none of them REALLY had to reveal themselves. Though getting Clyde to agree would be difficult maybe this guy would understand if they didnât want to meet him.
Roman sat up and groaned, rubbing his head. Okay, now he was pretty sure he was thinking too much and it was making his headache worse. But he didnât know what else to do! And he couldnât really burn off the energy he had, moving on the carpet only made it worse and-
POP
Roman was immediately tackled to the ground which caught him completely off guard. He didnât think he was so distracted that he hadnât heard the door open. He grabbed the person on top of him and looked at the door and, there it was, open and unguarded. Roman pushed with all his might but whoever had him wouldnât loosen their grip around his neck. Roman shoved again, the stench of coffee filling his nose.Â
âLet go of me!â Roman leveraged himself and spun around, pinning the person beneath him, although they still didnât let go. They also werenât fighting either. Roman gripped the old sweater they were wearing, grabbed the hoodie, and pulled. âI said let-â
âShut up you moron!â Virgilâs voice rang out loudly against his ear.Â
Roman froze and glanced around. The sound of nothing but their breathing filled the air. Then Roman pieced it together. The quietness, the pop, Virgil. Time must have stopped.
With a sigh of relief, Roman sat back and Virgl fell into his lap. âYou found me.â
He could breathe. He was fine! In an entire city of people, his friends had found him. In only a few hours to boot! Roman was sure heâd have to plan an escape later tonight.
Roman hugged Virgil closer and felt the stress he had been holding disappear. âIâm so sorry I made you worry.â Roman waited for a response before nudging Virgil a bit. âHey, please. I really am sorry!â Virgilâs arms fell down a bit and Roman nudged him again. âUh, Virge?â Still no answer. âVirgil, are⊠Did you fall asleep?!â
â
âJust you?â Clyde looked at Patton through the screen door. âFine by me. Come on up.â
Patton tugged the door open and made his way to the second-floor apartment Clyde and Leslie shared. âI didnât talk to him for long so I donât have much to say.â
Clyde vaguely motioned to the couch for Patton to sit before he began pacing the floor. âYouâre absolutely sure it was him?â
Patton sat down on the couch and nodded. âYeah, a few more grays in his hair but that was him.â
Clyde stopped pacing and faced Patton. âWhere were you? What were you doing?â
âWell, you remember the APC thing? That club thatâs against Prince Charging?â Clyde nodded. âWell, turns out my mother was a part of it? She sort of revealed it on accident but I got her to bring me there to see him. This guy, Bruce, stopped us at the door.â
âAnd?â Clyde marched over to the couch. âWhat was he like?â
Patton frowned and shrugged. âHe seemed nice?â
Clyde scoffed and rolled his eyes. âYouâre an empath and all you can tell me was he seemed nice?â
âOh,â Patton became a bit stoic. âThat. Well, he strangely seemed a bit,â Patton struggled to find the right word. âHe seemed excited about something.â
Clyde seemed irritated by this news and let out his frustrations. âAuugh of course he was! Still so full of himself! Gosh, I hate him sometimes!â
âClyde, who is this guy? Should we be worried?â
Clyde quickly fell into a sitting position on the floor. âI had hoped that he would have stopped this by now but I guess I was too optimistic.â Clyde huffed out a laugh. âImagine, me? Too optimistic?â
âClyde?â
Clyde shot an annoyed look at Patton. âAs much as I loathe to admit this,â Clyde spat out. âThat jackass is my father.â
You know when there's a fic that you want to read but then again it will take you all night to read and you don't know if you can commit but you really want to read it but you don't know if you can commit and it seems really good and when you were younger you were obsessed with a comic dub of it that hasn't been continued in like 3 years or something
What are some cute things the couples do that you havenât mentioned in the fic?
OK SO some of these were gonna be side chapters Iâve been planning on writing so minor spoilers for that. (Thereâs a lot because I could write a whole sequel of just their dates and cute stuff I omit for plot oops)
Enjoy this massive fluff dump.
When Roman canât sleep (which isnât often), he will seek out Virgil and sort of gently nudge him awake and Virgil will move over so they can share a bed. He then sometimes will sing songs he thinks Virgil will like to help both of them sleep again. (He has a playlist of these songs labeled âVirgilâ)
Logan will try using the cooking skills Patton has taught them and look up recipes within his abilities and make them lunch/dinner just to impress him. Heâs gotten quite good! (He enjoys Binging with Babish/Basics with Babish) He will use his abilities to help him multitask while he watches his phone.
Patton has read many books in his time working at the library so sometimes heâll sit in Loganâs room/his room and read and Logan will join him. If Logan is reading a book Patton has read, Patton perks up at every noise Logan is at and wonders what part heâs just read.
Logan will visit Patton at work and take him to the cafe down the street where they initially met for lunch dates.
Virgil will randomly walk into the room Roman is at and will try to sit on him or coax him into a makeout session if heâs bored. Roman will try to fight it just to bother him.
Logan likes taking pictures of things he sees that he thinks Patton would like. Pretty pictures of sunsets on his way home, a random dog heâs seen, a cute shop he thinks they could visit, etc.
Roman, knowing Virgilâs love for family-owned businesses, will often scope out places for their dates and take Virgil to them if heâs interested.
Virgil knows Roman isnât a huge fan of his new desk job and will (eventually) paint pictures for his desk for him to switch out once in a while.
Patton Pal cuddle puddle with Logan.
Logan will sometimes softly sing to Patton when Patton has a bad dream. He doesnât sing otherwise.
Roman eventually(so much farther in the future) learning to use his electricity to generate heat and becoming a living heater that Virgil latches onto all the time... so Roman gets free snuggle time.
Patton will buy cheap cards at the dollar store and write fun facts (or puns... or both) on the inside.
As Logan laments about the terrible customers at the book store he has to deal with, Patton will cheer him on and give him a high five for keeping his cool.
Virgil will go to every showing Roman performs in using his abilities and brings roses on the first night without fail.
Thereâs more but... thatâs it. A lot of it is things that have to happen in the future because they just started dating but theyâre things that will happen.Â
Who out of the roommates would most likely watch She-Ra and the princesses of power? Roman, Patton, Logan or Virgil?
I feel like saying anything other than âPatton setting up family movie nights to watch it togetherâ is the wrong answer.
Pattonâs turn is having them watch a few episodes of a cartoon. Roman chooses some Disney or musical (like Starkid but Hamilton on Disney+ 3 times in a row for his choice would definitely happen.) Logan picks interesting documentaries that arenât boring. Roman only jokingly complains. Virgil usually passes his turn onto the others if he doesnât have a movie in mind. Logan usually helps him choose.