Chapter Summary: December 1st, 2019. Things on Patton’s end are survivable at best. Meanwhile, Logan wakes up from his nap.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17
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“Can you pass the salt?”
“I don’t know, can you stop sleeping with someone half your age?”
Patton all but choked on his food, nervously glancing between his father and brother glaring daggers across the dinner table. Quickly Patton launched across the table, grabbing the salt from in front of Dee and passing it to his father. Mercifully Patton’s phone rang, and he was thankful for the break in tension.
“Oh, I should take this, sorry.” Patton excused himself, hastily retreating to the kitchen. He pulled out his phone, eager for news. Roman hadn’t called all break- was Virgil okay? Had he been fed? Was he injured-?
“Hey, pat-star.”
“Roman!” Patton let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding, grateful to hear a familiar friendly voice. “Are you alright? Are you home yet?”
“Sorry, yes I got home last night, I forgot to call-”
“Is Virgil okay?” Patton interrupted, no longer able to stand it.
“...Virgil?”
Patton could have smacked himself. Had he really forgotten to tell Roman? What else might he have forgotten? “Yes, Virgil, that’s um, well that’s the name of the lil’ guy. Sorry, I meant to tell you that… he also really, really doesn’t like to be touched. You haven’t grabbed him, have you?”
There was a long pause on Roman’s end. “No.”
Patton sighed, rubbing at his temples. “Just- okay, don’t do it again, and apologize, probably. And he likes pancakes.”
“Well, ah, I would, although I sort of doubt he wants to see me at the moment…” Roman explained slowly. “Last time I entered your room I got cussed out.”
“What? Really?” Patton frowned. That didn’t sound like his little scared Virgil. Patton didn’t know if he wanted to hear what Roman could’ve done to earn such a reaction.
Patton jumped, suddenly distracted by a round of loud shouting from the other room.
“MOM MAY BE A BITCH BUT YOU’RE THE FOOL WHO MARRIED HER!”
“THE APPLE DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE!”
Patton bit his lip, trying to decide if he should even bother trying to keep them away from each other’s throats at this point. It seemed he just kept making things worse, always getting accused of taking sides no matter how impartial he stayed.
“...Sounds like things are going great on your end as well.” Roman awkwardly chuckled.
“Yeah, uh, I should probably get back and mediate.” Patton cringed, but he made no move to do so. “So what about your lil’ guy? How’s he doing?”
“He’s doing alright.” Roman explained. “Both of them were very cold when I got back, the heat got shut off.”
“Oh no!” Patton gasped.
“Oh yes.” Roman said mournfully. “But it’s alright, they’re warming up. Virgil seemed no worse for wear; mine’s a bit under the weather, he’s been passed out on my chest all day.”
“Aww.” Patton at least got a happy chuckle at that image. “That sounds so adorable, I wish I was there.” He grimaced as a smashing sound from the other room- he wished he was anywhere but here, actually.
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“Oh, hold on, he’s waking up.”
Logan let out a soft yawn, trying to remember what was happening. He was still exhausted in his bones, but his mind seemed to have decided it was time to be awake. Logan was against this decision, determinedly nestled further into the warm surface beneath him.
Roman covered his mouth, overwhelmed with a sense of awe at how adorably sleepy Logan was as he cuddled into his chest.
“I’ll call you back.” Roman whispered into the phone, hanging up and carefully setting his cell phone to the side to not jostle the tiny. Roman brought his hand up, gently brushing Logan’s back. “Good morning, sleeping beauty.”
Logan groaned, recognizing the teasing tone. He blinked his eyes open, taking in his surroundings. What…why was he out in the living room again? And- Logan felt his cheeks turn a bit pink, realizing that the surface he had been nuzzling into moments ago was Roman himself.
Roman laughed, watching at the tiny frantically pushed himself, looking quite embarrassed. Before Logan could stumble right off Roman reached out, scooping Logan up in his palm and sitting up further.
“I had no idea you were such a little cuddler.” Roman teased, bringing Logan closer to his face. “If I had known, I would have done this sooner.”
Logan growled, pushing Roman’s nose away when it came forwards to nuzzle his chest. What a positively tedious way to wake up, if only because he knew Roman wasn’t going to let this drop anytime soon.
“At least you seem to be looking better.” Roman relented his touching, giving Logan a slight break. His face fell, remembering the image of Logan shivering helplessly at the bottom of the cage. Roman gave a little shiver of his own. “You really scared me back there.”
Logan was of the opinion that it was Roman’s own fault. If he was truly so concerned, he wouldn’t have left Logan alone. Indeed, the borrower had a strange phenomenon occur over his brief period of alone time. He had found himself… missing Roman. Logan attributed that to the fact that when the human was around, Logan was never bored, for better or worse.
Not to mention, Logan wasn’t feeling right in the head.
“You do feel warm though.” Roman murmured, moving his thumb to Logan’s forehead. The tiny squirmed weakly, and the lack of a true protest was just another indicator that Logan was ill. “Alright, let’s get you some tea.”
Logan let out a squeak, startled as he was suddenly placed in Roman’s pocket. He tried to struggle, but Roman just wrapped his hand around and kept him gently contained. Logan gave a tense sigh, trying to relax as he heard Roman moving about. He vaguely remembered being in this pocket before… what happened yesterday? Did Roman take him somewhere?
Roman hummed to himself, carrying out the delicate balancing act that was attempting to craft tea one-handed. What sort of tea would Logan like? Did tiny people even drink tea? Well, there was only one way to find out, seeing as how Logan certainly would not answer him if he asked.
The human prepped the kettle, waiting for it to make a noise that it was ready. The high-pitched shriek seemed to startle Logan, who jumped.
“It’s alright.” Roman assured him, brushing his shoulder with his thumb to remind Logan he was there. “Just the kettle.” He poured some into a little teacup, putting in a bag, some honey and an ice cube for good measure. It wouldn’t do for Logan to burn his tongue.
“Here you are.” Roman set the cup and the tiny person on the table, stirring his own mug. “Please be careful, it’s hot.”
“I can see that.” Logan rolled his eyes. Steam was still rising from the cup at an alarming rate, but slowly it looked more manageable. Still, Logan approached the mug with caution. Ever since coming into Roman’s care he had consumed a variety of warm foods, but never a warm beverage. Once he felt comfortable enough drinking it, the beverage was indeed quite soothing.
Logan looked up, only to see Ro staring at him. “...what?”
“Nothing.” Roman poorly hid a grin behind his own cup. “How are you feeling?”
And then, it suddenly all clicked in Logan’s foggy brain. His breath hitched, realizing what he had just done:
"I think it's here" Virgil opened the door in the walls and held it for the humans to go into the room.
Roman got out from under his desk and looked around "Yes, this is my room"
"The potion should be on the desk's drawer, but how are we going to get there?" Asked Thomas, looking up at the top of the desk.
"The same way got down before" the borrower reached into his bag and got his hook out "stand back" was all the warning he gave to the others before he threw his hook to the top, failing a couple of times before it got stuck "All ready"
"Are you sure it's a good idea?" Asked Roman " mean, going down is one thing, but climbing all the way up... I don't know if I can do it"
Virgil gave the prince a warm smile and grabbed his shoulders "Listen, you escaped a kid, somehow managed to get to me in the town, came back to the castle and escaped again, at this size"
"But it was you doing it for me most of the time..."
"And you know what? I didn't have to, you convinced me to help you, and let me tell you, it's very difficult for me to trust someone" Virgil's smile wend wider "And I'm sure you can do it Roman, your kingdom needs you"
Roman took a deep breath "Okay, let's do it" he walked to the rope and took it, it was right next to one of the desk's legs, so he used it to help him while he climbed, one hand after the other, one foot after the other, Roman kept repeating those words on his head as he followed them, and when he least expected it, he was already at the top.
Thomas and Virgil followed him, the borrower took his hook and used it to open the drawer enough for him to get inside, he pushed it to open it ven more once he was inside "I'll get it out but you have to pull it to the table"
Virgil pulled the bottle until he could pass the top to the humans or them to pull it, once the bottle was in the table, Virgil got out of the drawer "Patton's cup was in there too" he handed it to Thomas.
"Thanks" he walked to the bottle and got the cork of, some of the potion spilled on the table, but Thomas was able to fill the cup with it "I'll go first okay?"
Roman nodded, the teacher got closer to the edge and drank the potion, he left the cup in the desk and jumped down once he was big enough.
The prince turned to Virgil "I guess this is it..."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not going to force you to stay once I'm human sized again, I know what you think about us and if you don't want to be here, I understand"
"No" said Virgil firmly "First of all, I need your help to find Patton, second of all, I might hate humans, but you're my friend now no matter what, and last but not least, we came here together, and we're going to finish it together"
Roman smiled "Whatever you say storm cloud, but, I want to give you something before I grow back" he took his sash off and handed it to Virgil "a little goodbye present"
Virgil took it and held it tight "you don't have to"
"But I want Virgil, is one of my ways to thank you"
The borrower smiled "then take this" he took his hoodie off and put it around Roman's shoulders.
"But this is your confort item" he said looking at the hoodie"
"Well" Virgil said putting te sash on "I might have a new one now"
Roman smiled and put the hoodie on properly before he turned to Thomas, who was back to normal by now and handing him the cup full of potion "You're ready?"
The prince nodded and took the cup, sending one last smile at Virgil before drinking it, he jumped to the floor,being the size of a child when he landed, his growing continued until he was back to normal.
He turned to see the borrower, he had forgotten how small they looked, Roman kneeled in front of the desk and extended his finger to Virgil "It's still me"
Virgil backed away as an instinct, he had never been this close to a human before, he grabbed the sash tightly and took a deep breath before stepping forward and resting his hand on top of Roman's "It's still you"
Roman smiled "Now we need to find Dee" said Thomas.
"Could you pick me up?" Asked Virgil, getting a nod from the prince before being cupped on his hands "Let's go then" and they left the room.
Emile stood still while his suit was given the final details, he had to admit it was a really pretty suit, especially since the tailors made it in such a short time “You are so handsome" his fiancé said walking to him.
"Thanks..." answered Emile.
"Oh, I was talking to myself” said Dee as he looked at himself in the mirror, he turned to see the king and grabbed his hand “but you look really pretty too love” he kissed his had.
Emile got his hand out of Dee’s grip almost immediately after he felt the kiss “Don’t forget Dee, this is a business matter, not a romantic one”
Dee smirked “who says it can’t be both?”
“Daddy! Daddy!” Remus entered running to the room, wearing his recently made formal outfit “How do I look?” Dee crouched down to be at his son’’s eye level “You look like a true prince darling” he ruffled the kids hair “Let’s leave your future father alone for him to finish getting ready alright?”
Remus smiled and took the adult’s hand, who guided him out o the room.
Emile followed them with his sight until the door closed with them outside, he looked at his reflection once more, reminding himself over and over that all of this was for his people.
Logan looked around before continuing walking, he had to make sure nobody saw them “we’re close to Roman’s room now, we’ll figure out what to do once we’re safe there”
Patton nodded, the prince could feel the small movement on his chest, he turned to the hallway where Roman’s room was, the door was on sight now, but the human stopped once he saw someone getting out of it, Thomas, Roman’s teacher, who was soon followed by prince Roman himself”
Both princes made eye contact, neither of them aware of the borrower on the other’s hands, they walked to each other slowly, with everything that had happened in the last few days, their feelings were not clear at all.
Logan had notice the difference on Roman’s behaviour, of course, now he know it was because it was Patton all along, he had ever felt the way he did with the borrower when he was with Roman.
Roman had truly enjoyed Virgil’s company in the last days, he had always been friends with Logan and they were very close, but with Virgil, it was different, they had had instant chemistry, they both trusted most of their lives to each other, he could really be his true self, something that never happened when he had to act polite and nice with Logan.
They both stopped right in front of each other “Hi” said Roman.
“Greetings” said Logan “I thought you ran away”
“I did’t, that was just something Dee made up as part of his evil plan”
Logan smiled slightly “I figured it was something like that” he looked down at his hands “I think there’s someone who wants to see you” he lowered them, revealing Patton.
“Ro!” The borrower smiled widely when he saw his friend “I’m so happy you’re alright!”
Roman smiled back “Thanks for covering me Pat, and I have someone who wants to see you” he lowered his hands to reveal Virgil.
“Patton!” Roman gave Virgil to Logan, who hugged his roommate tightly “I was so worried about you”
Patton hugged back “I’m sorry kiddo! I left without saying anything”
“It’s okay, we’re back together now” Virgil broke the hug and smiled at Patton.
“Even if I hate to end such adorable moment” said Thomas, walking to the others “we have to find and stop Dee before it’s too late, do you have any idea of what is he planning to do?”
“No, I’ve been trying to figure it out, the only possible outcome is for him to try and take the throne, but I am unsure on how he’s planning to do it”
“Of course!” Roman said all of sudden “I forgot about it, he said something about marring my father, convincing him with his gold and then take over the throne”
“You forgot he said that?!” Asked Virgil.
“Well I’m sorry, this has been a really though week!”
“It doesn’t matter” said Thomas “we have a wedding to stop, and hope Dee gets his karma”
It involves Cupid!patton (who’s aro and pan) and archangel Logan (who’s grey-ace) and human deceit (who’s grey-ro and trans) who all end up in a qpr/romantic relationship (but not always? Whatever, they love each other and that’s what matters)
Also Patton wants to use his arrows to make people friends and feel other kinds of love (he wants Emile and his patients to have a loving bond, Roman and Remus to rekindle their brotherhood, Thomas to love himself, ecc ecc) but his higher ups won’t let him
So he starts experimenting and trying to create his own arrows and tries to hide it from his bosses and he makes messes and messes up a bunch of times and makes the wrong peopls fall in love ecc ecc and Logan see’s what’s going on and decides to help him out
So they’d start testing stuff but their bosses find out and they’re banished and sent to earth where they live together and they meet Deceit and so they all end up together and Patton eventually realizes that people can and will find love on their own, that humanity is made to love in every shape or form, so he doesn’t worry anymore and enjoys his life as a mortal
“Hardly.” The doctor set the rod down, bringing subject V back into his fist. “Though a person is just as easily manipulated as a puppet, none is quite so literally fitting of that role as yourself. I don’t know what you are, but it certainly isn’t human. You’re far too malleable.” To illustrate his point. Dee gave subject V a squeeze.
Virgil cried out in pain as Dee squeezed him tight. Patton’s eyes widened. “Stop! You’re hurting him!”
GOD DAMN IT @perspective-series WHEN WILL YOU LEARN TO STOP TORTURING BORROWERS
(side note: cages are not fun to draw I hate straight lines D:<)
Warnings: Fear, panic, and feelings of helplessness.
THIS IS THE THIRD STORY IN A TRILOGY. READ “A Third Perspective” AND “Switched Perspectives” FOR THIS TO MAKE SENSE!
(Check the reblog for the links to the previous chapters and the TWO prequels!)
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“Isn’t there some sort of borrower protocol to prevent this?” Roman asked, looking down at his borrower friends.
The borrowers glanced at each other before they both shook their heads. “No. If we’re found, that’s it. End of story. It’s just, before all of this, we’ve been… ‘lucky’ enough that the few humans that have found borrowers never revealed it to anyone else.” Virgil explained. Their kinds luck was really something. But it looked as if it had finally run out.
“But- it can’t possibly be just luck.” Roman insisted. “This is the twenty-first century, there are cameras everywhere. This cannot be the first time a borrower was caught on tape.”
The two borrowers blinked and looked at each other once again, a silent conversation happening. “You...do make a good point,” Patton admitted, suddenly confused.
“But borrowers have never been revealed, before now.” Virgil winced at that. “It...has to be some sort of luck or something, right?” Now Virgil was starting to doubt. But if not luck, what else could it be?
“Maybe it’s never become big news?” Roman offered. “Thomas, can you try and find any articles about borrowers?”
“I’m trying,” Thomas answered, already on it.
“Or perhaps borrowers have been revealed, but then disappeared and were taken for a myth,” Logan suggested. “Many folk tales are inhabited by tiny humanoid figures.”
Both borrowers were shocked at that. “Wait, there are?” Patton asked, eyebrows furrowed.
“Of course!” Roman nodded. “Fairies, brownies, gnomes, elves...well, the tiny elves anyways. They tend to change size.”
“It’s possible those mystical creatures are based off a rather un-mystical discovery.” Logan reasoned, pulling into the apartment complex.
Virgil hummed in thought. Could those myths be based on his kind? He could never be for sure but it wasn’t a very comforting thought. “So, what? You think this will blow over into some myth or something?” Virgil highly doubted that would happen in this case.
“Oh, no.” Logan’s bluntness instantly dashed all their hopes. “No, this is far more severe than a mere sighting or a bit of film. You have to remember this footage was already distributed to over a dozen scientifically-minded individuals, all with at least a master's degree under their belt, and the original video still belongs to a psychopath who wants to ruin our lives.”
“...great,” Roman said once he was able to stop gaping at Logan’s lack of tact. “Thanks for the rousing speech, Albert Ein-stink.” He hopped out of the car, rolling his eyes.
“What did I say?” Logan’s brow furrowed, hopping out as well.
The borrowers could only sit there in silence, leaning against each other as support. Everything was gonna change now. Borrowers would be caught and discovered...and it would be all their fault.
“What did you say?” Roman half-laughed, glad they were the only ones in the lobby as they began to make their way upstairs to the apartments. “You just crushed all their hopes and dreams in one fell blow! Thanks for ruining the mood, dr. gloom.”
“I was trying to be reasonable!” Logan argued, taking the stairs two at a time to get ahead and unlock the door.
“No, you were trying to be smart.” Roman sneered, walking past Logan and into the living room. “As usual.”
“Roman, don’t,” Patton said quietly. “Please, don’t fight. Not now.”
Virgil nodded. Their humans fighting was the last thing they needed.
Roman glanced down at the borrowers, feeling guilty all of a sudden. “...sorry.” He apologized, setting them down on the coffee table.
“Thank you,” Patton said, giving Roman a small smile. Virgil sighed, looking up to find Thomas as he entered the room.
“Have you found anything yet, Thomas?” Virgil asked, impatient and worried.
“No, nothing yet.” Thomas shook his head, still glued to his phone. “I think I’m gonna head downstairs, see if I get any more success on my laptop.”
“We’ll be here,” Roman said with a shrug, watching Thomas walk right back out the door.
Virgil watched Thomas leave and then sighed as he collapsed on the table and then laid down on his back. “...Our whole kind is screwed.”
Patton couldn’t help but agree with Virgil.
“Well, maybe there is something to that whole myth theory.” Roman hypothesized. “Maybe this will all blow over? Certainly, if nobody finds anything it’ll die out eventually, right?”
“Do you know of any borrowers in the immediate area?” Logan asked, closing the door and kneeling next to Roman.
“No,” Patton answered, seeing as how Virgil was still lying on the table. “Not that we know of. But, then again, we haven’t left this building in about two years. Or have checked the other buildings...there’s really no way for us to know.”
“Is there any way for us to check around?” Roman offered. “We could help you guys scout, maybe warn anybody else.”
“That’s a terrible idea,” Virgil spoke up before Patton could. Virgil sat up so he was sitting. “No one would listen or believe us if we showed up with a pair of humans. Besides, there’s no way we would be able to reach enough of them…”
“I suppose all we can do is hope that their borrower instincts protect them,” Logan admitted. “Though humans may be looking for them, the only true consequence is if they are caught. After all...according to the tape, only the existence of two borrowers can be proven.” Logan gazed thoughtfully down at said two borrowers.
“Unless they try and gas them out,” Virgil said, causing Patton to gasp. “Or tear down the walls to find them.” Virgil’s mind was working overtime at this point. “And if the government were to get involved, with all their technology and things? We’d be screwed for sure.”
“Okay, well, I seriously doubt the government is going to get involved with a simple pest problem.” Roman rolled his eyes. “But glad to know you think so highly of yourself.”
“Look, let’s think about this logically,” Logan advised. “Borrowers often take up residence in human houses, yes? Not places of business?”
“W-Well, usually but there are some instances where-” Patton started but Virgil cut him off, glaring at Roman.
“I’m sorry, did you just call us pests. What the hell, Roman?”
Roman’s eyes widened, quickly backpedaling. “No! I mean, well, I didn’t mean it like that, it’s just... oh come on, what else would you call it? You’re talking as though people are gonna call an exterminator.”
“And they might! But that doesn’t mean you say it like that!” Virgil huffed, calming down a little. “Humans are going to see us in so many different ways. Pests, pets, science experiments. Why wouldn’t the government get involved in the ‘find of the century’.”
“That’s just it, though.” Logan jumped in, stopping Roman from apologizing further. “Borrowers have to actually be found. While it is true that humans could go to drastic measures, the individuals who currently possess the footage do not have the authority to search through every household. They would need to gain permission from every individual homeowner, who would, in turn, have to pay the costs of said extraction methods. It’s highly unlikely that a person would be willing to put so many resources towards a chance discovery. It is equivalent to putting your life’s savings into lottery tickets: foolhardy and uncommon in real life.”
Virgil huffed, looking down. “I don’t doubt that humans will find ways. After all, it didn’t take much for the two of you to find us.”
Patton nodded slowly, agreeing with Virgil. “We’ve both seen humans do...a lot to get what they want.”
“That...does lead to my other realization,” Logan admitted. “The only way anyone of those individuals has a sure chance of discovering borrowers is to get their hands on one of you. It’s the only guaranteed source of information and the only way to determine the validity of the tape. At the very least Dee knows our identities, and I would not be surprised if our faces made an appearance in the tape itself.”
Patton felt himself pale. “You think there will be humans coming after us?” Patton asked, not liking the sound of that.
“Most definitely.” Logan nodded gravely.
“Well, what the heck are we supposed to do with that molotov cocktail?” Roman frowned, looking over at Logan quizzically for answers.
Virgil frowned, looking down and fidgeting with his poncho. “Maybe the two of us should...leave. Go off on our own, that way if they come looking here or with you guys, they won’t find us.”
“But you can’t just leave!” Roman’s eyes widened, looking down at his friends. He didn’t want them to leave so soon after meeting them.
“Me neither!” Patton cried. He ran over to be closer to Roman.
“I don’t either,” Virgil admitted, glancing over at Logan. The two of them had just become friends, after all. “But it might be the safest for us.”
“...we could all move.” Roman murmured, almost so quiet that Logan didn’t hear him.
“Roman, don’t be preposterous.” Logan chided.
“I’m not being preposterous!” Roman exclaimed. “Think about it- you can’t stay here anyways. You’ve managed to anger like every head of your department and they’ll all know of your involvement soon enough.”
“That doesn’t mean I should just leave town,” Logan argued.
“If they have to move, we should move.” Roman insisted. “It’s only fair.”
“Yeah! And then we can all be together still!” Patton exclaimed. Virgil bit his lip, looking at Logan.
“Isn’t moving kind of...expensive for humans?” Virgil asked. Not quite knowing how it worked but knowing it did involve money.
“We can certainly find creative ways to make ends meet.” Roman smiled, clearly indicating his acting talents. “When there’s a will, there’s a way.”
“But would moving cities really work?” Virgil asked, still worried about all this. He did want to stay with his friends but he also feared getting caught by other humans as well.
“It would certainly lower our chance of random encounters, and I doubt many individuals would be so dedicated as to stalk us in the next town over…” Logan began to seriously mull over the possibility.
“Oh my goodness, we could get a house together!” Roman gasped, eyes beginning to sparkle with excitement.
Patton gasped as well. “That would be awesome!” That means they would all be able to hang out together, all the time!
Virgil bit his lip. “...I really do want this to work. I don’t want to leave you guys either.” Virgil said this, mostly directed at Logan.
Logan met Virgil’s gaze, feeling his heart swell slightly.
“I suppose we’re moving then,” Logan said with a slight smile.
“Yes!” Roman pumped the air victoriously with his fist. “Can we get a garden? And a wraparound porch? And one of those porch swings, you know?”
“We’re going for practicality here, Roman.” Logan reminded him gently.
“Yay! This is gonna be great!” Patton exclaimed, right along with Roman. Virgil smiled softly.
“We’re gonna be okay?” Virgil said it in a way that it was almost hard to hear that is was actually a question.
“We’re gonna be okay.” Roman nodded.
“Now, if this is going to work, we will need to get started on preparations right away.” Logan clasped his hands together.
“Is there anything we can do to help?” Patton asked.
“You two should begin packing all of your belongings,” Logan explained. “If there is anything particularly heavy or cumbersome you wish to bring, Roman and I can prepare a box.”
Virgil nodded. “Sounds good. Pat? Wanna get started on that?” Virgil personally didn’t have a lot of stuff he was gonna take but he knew Patton would probably need that box.
Patton nodded. “Yep! Let’s go!” Patton looked at the humans expectantly.
Roman put his hand down, eager to give his friend a ride.
“Roman, you should begin packing as well,” Logan instructed.
“I got it, don’t worry.” Roman waved him off.
Patton climbed onto Roman’s hand with a smile while Virgil instead went closer to Logan. His home was here, in Logan’s apartment, after all. It wouldn’t do well for him to go with Roman and Patton.
“Be back later!” Roman smiled, departing with Patton to go home.
“Care for a ride as well?” Logan raised an eyebrow, offering a hand as Virgil got closer.
“That’d be great,” Virgil said, stepping on. As he settled down, he let out a small chuckle. “Kind of funny all this happened after we made up, huh?”
“Indeed.” Logan agreed as he stood up, walking Virgil back towards the hall. “It seems there’s never going to be a dull moment when the two of us are together.”
“Yeah.” Virgil agreed. Though hopefully, the moments would be more fun once they got away from all this stuff.
“I’ll get to work on house hunting,” Logan said, setting his hand down in the still open hole that was Virgil’s room. “Hopefully by tomorrow morning, I’ll have made some progress.”
“See you tomorrow then,” Virgil said as he hopped down into his home.
Logan nodded in acknowledgment before heading to his bedroom. There was a lot of work to be done.
***
“Thank you all for coming in on such short notice.” Emile Picani said, gazing out on a sea of familiar faces. Every recipient of the email sat before him. Dee sat in the back, a proud smirk almost permanently plastered to his face. Picani frowned at him. “Now, before we begin, has anyone forwarded the email?”
“Only to my son.” One man answered, gesturing to the teen sat behind him.
“‘Sup.” Remy waved a hand in greeting.
“Yes, I am aware of Remy’s involvement.” Picani sighed.
“I don’t understand why I’m here.” Remy pointed out. “You already reported my video or whatever.”
“I did not report your video.” Picani shook his head.
“Fine, someone did.” Remy rolled his eyes, going back to his phone. “I get it, whatever, someone’s pissed that I keep trying to put it on the internet.”
“In the future, perhaps it would be best not to share faculty emails with your children.” Picani’s tone was tired, clearly strained from this whole scenario. “Now, has anyone else shared the email?” There was a chorus of head shaking and Picani breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.”
“Was that video...real?” Remy asked, engaging again briefly.
“...well…” Picani seemed a bit unsure for a moment as many eyes looked back at him expectantly.
“Oh yes,” Dee answered for him, eyes turning to the back of the room. Dee gave them a grin. “That’s why I acquired your assistance in the first place, boy.”
“Wait a moment.” The man from earlier turned around, frowning at Remy. “You’re involved in all this?”
“Well….” Remy pushed his sunglasses further up his face, curling in on himself and looking as though he wanted the chair to swallow him whole. “You see dad-”
Before Remy could blubber his way through an explanation, the door at the front of the room opened and two individuals in suits stepped inside.
“Oh good, we’re right on time.” The one in the beanie said, grinning.
“I’m sorry, this is a private meeting,” Picani explained, furrowing his brows. “Who exactly are you?”
“The name’s Joan, Special Victims Unit Officer.” Joan smiled, shaking Picani’s outstretched hand enthusiastically. “Heard you guys had a run-in with some borrowers!”
“Ah, well, yes, but-” Picani’s eyes widened as a few more suit-clad individuals walked in. The shorter individual with colorful hair that had arrived with Joan was now right in front of him, holding what looked to be a bright white light attached to a rod.
“Alright, sleepy time.” The Agent explained. With a flash of light, Picani blinked, wondering why he was here only briefly before his eyelids fluttered closed.
“Woah, I gotcha.” Joan caught Picani, laying him on the floor. Across the room other agents were doing the same, Remy only putting up a brief fight as his sunglasses had to be removed for the process to work.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Dee hissed, standing up so fast that his chair was flung backwards. Instantly two broad-shouldered Agents restrained him on either side.
“Oh, just your run of the mill memory wipe.” Joan sauntered over to Dee, their partner following. “So, you must be Dee.”
“What, you think you can pick on borrowers just because they’re tiny?” The short individual got up in Dee’s face, looking pissed.
“Easy there, Talyn.” Joan put their arm out to halt Talyn before turning back to Dee. “Heard you’ve been causing a lot of trouble out here. Didn’t anyone tell you the borrower rules? It’s an awfully big secret to keep. But not only did you fail to keep it, you’ve also violated a whole slew of ethics laws as well.”
“I demand to know what’s going on!” Dee roared.
“You’re coming with us because you were a jerk to tinies.” Talyn deadpanned. “Put him in the paddywagon, boys.” The buff Agents gave a nod, dragging a screaming Dee out the door. Talyn noticed that along the way Dee seemed to have dropped his phone. They picked it up, scrolling through the files.
“Alright, got it.” They confirmed, deleting the file. Looking around the room, other agents had just finished doing the same on the other faculty’s devices.
“Man, what a mess.” Joan groaned. “Why can’t people just mind their own business and leave tiny peeps alone?”
“I mean, we would be out of a job.” Talyn shrugged.
“That’s true.” Joan stretched their arms above their head. “Alright, almost done. Ready to go to the source?”
“Yup.” Talyn nodded, already pulling up the address on their phone as the two headed out to their car.
