Warnings: this is an Encanto AU as has all the emotional neglect/abuse and disfunctional family dynamics that come with with it, mentions of death (prophecy), mentions of a stillbirth (prophecy), possibly an incorrect use of Spanish words (idk, I don’t know Spanish), Janus trying his hardest
Janus!centric
~~~START~~~
Janus loved his family, he loved his home, he loved his village. He wanted to be helpful; his family was given a miracle, it was only right that they should share their gifts with the village — they wanted to be able to share their gifts with the village.
Janus tried to be helpful. He really did.
When he saw visions of other people, he told them about it, he wanted to help them.
He wanted to help.
Dot was helpful, people liked her. Dot could cure illness and injury with just an arepa. When she tried to help people, she really helped them, and people adored her for it.
Logan was helpful, people liked him well enough. Logan’s mood controlled the weather, if he had enough control of his emotions, he could end droughts, or keep the sky crystal clear for a party. He could help people, and people liked him.
Janus tried to be helpful. He tried, and he tried, and he tried.
People didn’t like Janus much. They took his prophecies as a curse, his innocent comments as prophecies, and his mere presence as an unsettling omen.
Sometimes Janus could make people feel better. When Dot was getting married, she got nervous, she thought about calling off the wedding. Janus was able to help her; he told her how he saw happiness in her future with Larry. Dot’s wedding was beautiful, she and Larry were so happy together, and Janus had helped with that.
Most of the time Janus only served to make people feel worse. When Logan got married, Janus knew that he and Patton would be happy, but when he saw Logan looking nervous, what came out of his mouth was a joke about how it looked like rain. His comment stressed Logan out to the point where he and Patton ended up saying their vows in the middle of a hurricane.
Janus tried to be helpful.
But he just wasn’t.
Mamá never looked at him with that same soft proud look that she gave to Dot so often, she never gave him a tight hug and a sincere compliment like she did with Logan. No, whenever Janus opened his mouth, she looked nervous, like she knew nothing good would come of whatever he had to say.
Mamá loved him, he was sure she loved him. She just wasn’t proud of him, not in the same way she was proud of Dot and Logan.
Lupita was different from most people in town; she didn’t fear him the way everyone else did, and he loved her for it. She was the only person who got excited when he walked into the room — his family loved him, but they were afraid of his gift. Whenever Janus walked into a room, people got nervous. “What will he say?” they’d wonder apprehensively “what does he know?” Lupita was always eager to hear what Janus had to say, she was always curious about what he knew; she found his power to be amazing and fascinating.
Lupita didn’t tell him that she was pregnant, but she didn’t have to, he knew. He saw visions of himself holding a tiny, perfect little baby, swaddled in a purple blanket. He couldn’t wait to hold that swaddle for real, for his son to be real.
Virgil was mamá’s third grandchild, born a little over a year after Dot had Missy, and a few months after Logan had Remy.
Lupita was tired after Virgil’s birth, so Janus let her sleep while he introduced their son to the family. For the first time in years, mamá looked proud of him. He memorized the look of love and pride on her face as he handed her her neito for the first time; it was a memory he pulled out whenever he was feeling low.
Lupita was tired for a long time; a very long time. Worried, Janus looked into the future. He saw Lupita get better — though never back to full strength. He saw her become pregnant again. He saw complications with the birth. Neither she, nor her second son would make it. Janus saw — as he so often did — death.
He was devastated; Lupita couldn’t die, Janus loved her. So, he took the only solution he could see: he told her.
“If you don’t get pregnant again, you can’t die giving birth,” he reasoned. It would work, they could avoid death this time!
But Lupita wasn’t having it. “I want more children, Janus!” She cried. “I want a whole football team! Please! You must be wrong! Look again!”
He looked, but all he saw was death.
Things changed after that. Lupita no longer looked at him with love, she looked at him with contempt. His visions that she had once loved now drove her away. The way she saw it — the way everyone saw it — her inability to have more children was a result of Janus’s vision, not the cause.
Because it was always Janus’s fault, wasn’t it? Your goldfish didn’t die because it was a goldfish and goldfish die, it died because Janus saw that it would. You didn’t lose your hair because male-pattern-baldness ran in your family, you lost your hair because Janus said you would.
Janus saw it. Janus said it. Janus caused it.
That was how everyone always saw it. Now, that was how Lupita saw it too.
He knew she would leave. He also knew that nothing he could do or say could stop her. Janus had ruined her life; she had every right to leave.
Mamá never looked proud of him again after that.
He saw Lupita find a new home, a woman who made her happy, a life that Janus couldn’t give her. And after that, he stopped looking. She didn’t want him in her life, but knowing that she would be happy again was enough.
Janus spent most of his time with Virgil after that. No one wanted him around, and Virgil loved him unconditionally — he was a baby, he had to.
(He tried not to think about the fact that Virgil would probably leave him too someday. He never looked into Virgil’s future for fear of seeing his own son afraid of him.)
As Virgil and the other grandkids grew older, Janus took to entertaining them with little plays he made up. He donned costumes, and flailed about dramatically as Missy, Remy, and Virgil laughed. And when Logan had Thomas, he laughed too. Janus was helpful, and the kids loved him.
Maybe that was why Janus let his guard down.
After Missy’s gift ceremony, where she gained the ability to create and control plants, she asked him if he could see her future. She’d asked with such wide eyed, trusting innocence that he completely forgot how badly her request could turn out.
In Missy’s future, he saw her powers grow like the plants she created, he saw her marry a kind and caring man from the village and have a large family with him. In her future, he saw happiness, and he told her. She absolutely glowed with joy over the prophecy, and once again, Janus felt helpful.
After her ceremony, Missy started going into the village to help people with the rest of their family after breakfast. Every morning, after breakfast, she gave everyone a flower special for them; to Janus she often gave a sunflower, symbol of good luck, admiration, and familial love. Janus cherished it every day.
Even though Missy no longer had time to play with Janus and the rest of the kids, the show must go on! Now with new audience member: Toby.
Things went a little more lopsided after Remy’s gift ceremony. Remy received the gift of super hearing, and, knowing that Missy got a prophecy after her fifth birthday, they asked Janus for a prophecy.
And Janus gave it to them.
“You’ll pine for a man who will marry another,” Janus told them, oblivious to the way excitement morphed into regret on their face. “You’ll hear him every day, but he will never see you, not in any way that matters.”
It wasn’t until Remy burst into tears and ran off that Janus took a moment to consider that that might not have been the best thing to say, despite it being what he saw.
A few minutes later, a very angry, very pregnant (identical twins due in thirteen days) Logan, with thunderclouds building over his head, came storming around the corner.
“Why in the hell would you say that to my child!?” Logan screamed, completely immune to the torrent of wind and rain he’d created.
“Logan!” Mamá called. “The cloud!”
“I’m sor-”
“It was inappropriate and cruel!” Logan continued, ignoring both of them. “You gave Missy a nice prophecy! Why do you not have the decency to do the same for Remy!? Why do you feel the need to make everyone around you miserable!?”
“Logan,” Janus whispered, desperate, remorseful.
“LOGAN!” Mamá yelled as the wind carried away her shawl.
“Logan!” Patton called, hurrying over to open an umbrella above his husband’s head to protect him from the rain he wasn’t bothered by anyway.
Logan visibly reeled himself in, his face going completely blank. The rain stopped, and the wind died; the clouds remained, dark and ominous overhead.
“Don’t you ever give my kids prophecies again,” he warned flatly. Logan turned to walk away before seeming to recognize Patton’s presence. “Patton, it is incredibly irresponsible to open an umbrella in a thunderstorm.”
“Sorry, mi querido,” Patton said, not looking at all sorry.
The two walked away, and mamá hurried off (likely to ask Logan to get rid of the cloud), but Janus could feel the eyes of everyone else in the house on him. Dot and Larry, Missy, Remy, Thomas.
Virgil.
“Papi?” A quiet voice spoke up behind him.
Janus turned to find Virgil, half-hiding behind a support beam, wide eyed with fear.
“I’m sorry, arañito,” Janus whispered, dropping to his knees and opening his arms. Virgil took the invitation at once, barreling into his padre’s chest. “That was scary, wasn’t it?”
The soon-to-be five-year-old, smearing tears and snot over Janus’s shirt.
“I’m sorry.”
There were no more sunflowers after that, only yellow carnations (rejection, disappointment).
Virgil’s birthday came, and he received the ability to glow purple in the dark, as well as being able to see perfectly no matter how dark it was.
“Papi?” Virgil asked as he took Janus on a tour of his new room. “Why doesn’t anyone want to see my room? Everyone was so excited about Missy and Remy’s rooms.”
“I think they’re afraid of how dark it is in here,” Janus answered honestly. “But that’s their loss, because I think you have the coolest room by far.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely.” It was too dark to actually see Virgil’s room, but he glowed bright enough that Janus could make out a few things as they walked through it. It was a cave with many stalactites and stalagmites, several of which were shaped in such a way that they would make nice chairs or tables. The walls of the cave glittered with gems and crystals when Virgil’s light reached them, and the river that ran through the cave had clear, sparkling water.
It was a beautiful room, and much nicer than Janus’s stair-and-sand-filled tower.
“Papi?” Virgil asked again, several minutes later. “Do I get a prophecy for my birthday?”
Janus stopped short, confusing the niño.
“Papi?”
“Virgito, have I ever told you what happened to your mami?”
Virgil shook his head, eyeing his papi curiously.
“Well, after you were born, I looked into your mami’s future, and I saw something she didn’t like.”
“Like when you looked at Remy’s future?” Virgil asked quietly.
“Yes, exactly like that. Except instead of having tío Logan yelling at me, she left. I’ve never looked into your future because I’m afraid I’ll see you leave too.”
“I’ll never leave you, papi!” Virgil promised, hugging Janus fiercely around the legs. “Never!”
“I’ll never leave you either, arañito,” Janus promised, kneeling down to hug Virgil properly. “And if you really want a prophecy, I’ll do it.”
Virgil shook his head. “No, I don’t need one, not if I’ll always have you.”
“You will.”
“I love you, papi.”
“I love you too, Virgito.”
Janus continued to entertain the little kids during the day while the rest of the family was busy, Thomas was the only one old enough to understand him, but he liked to think that the blank stares he got from Toby, Roman, and Remus were the baby-equivalence of applause. Virgil was usually there too; mamá had apparently decided glowing in the dark wasn’t particularly useful during the day, but the twins in particular seemed to enjoy it.
Thomas’s gift was talking to, and understanding animals. And true to his word, Janus did not offer him a prophecy — he did notice Logan watching him particularly closely, just to make sure. Janus was sure that Thomas could remember that he’d given Remy a prophecy, but clearly, he also remembered what had happened after that.
Life went on, Janus stopped looking at prophecies unless he needed to; unless he was asked to. Mamá continued to not look at him with the pride she gave freely to Dot, and Logan, and Missy, and Remy, and Thomas.
Mamá didn’t look at Virgil with pride either, and Janus couldn’t help but wonder if that was his fault too. Maybe mamá would be prouder of Virgil if he was Logan’s child, or Dot’s…
Toby’s gift was shapeshifting, and though Dot had never explicitly told Janus not to give her children prophecies, he understood that no one wanted him to.
Then the day came that the twins would receive their gifts. It was especially exciting not only because it would be the last gift ceremony for a while (what with there being no younger children in the family), but also because it would be the first time since Janus and his siblings that multiple gifts would be received on the same day. Everyone in town showed up for the party (everyone in town always showed up, but this evening’s events had a certain electricity to them, an extra layer of excitement).
Roman and Remus were both dressed in white, as was traditional, but instead of gold detailing, Roman had red, and Remus had green. Janus watched with the rest of his family as the two excited little boys made their way through the crowd, and up the stairs to their doors, where mamá, Logan, and Patton were waiting.
Mamá said her usual spiel about gifts, responsibility, and strengthening their community, and after both twins had promised to use their gifts to help people, it was time.
As with everything they did, Roman and Remus reached for their doorknobs in perfect sync. As their fingers brushed the knobs, Roman’s door glowed brighter, symbols of strength appearing around his likeness.
Remus’s door, however, dimmed.
Mamá candle — the family miracle — flickered, threatening to go out entirely as Remus’s door disintegrated before everyone’s eyes.
Alarmed murmuring started up in the crowd as mamá looked around helplessly.
Janus felt Dot’s hand slide into his and squeeze. “Do you know anything?” She asked, her voice nearly drowned out by the ruckus around them.
Janus shook his head. He never looked at the gift ceremonies, he barely looked at anything anymore.
Remus started to cry as mamá continued to do nothing to comfort or reassure him. With Remus crying, it didn’t take long for Roman to start crying too, and storm clouds gathered overhead as Logan and Patton rushed past mamá to comfort their sons.
Remy and Thomas rushed up the stairs to join their family. And, without having any other idea of what to do, Janus, Dot, and Larry ushered the crowd of guests out of the house until only the family remained.
Once the initial shock wore off, mamá approached Janus.
“What have you seen?” She demanded, her harsh tone warning enough for everyone other than Janus to make themselves scarce as quickly as possible.
“Nothing, mamá,” Janus answered. “I never look at the gift ceremonies, you know that. I don’t know what happened, I don’t know what will happen.”
“You need to look,” she begged. “Janito, we need to know what this will mean for the family.”
She looked at him so pleadingly, and Janus could never say no to whatever she asked. He could never pass up a chance to make her proud of him, never pass up a chance to help.
So he looked. He looked into Remus’s future to see what it all meant, and what he saw…
He knew how people would take it. He knew how mamá would take it.
He was Janus, he caused bad things to happen. It was always his fault, but usually, it was only his fault.
This one though, this one wouldn’t be his fault and his fault alone. It would be Remus’s fault too, and that was too much to place on a child.
Janus loved his son. He loved his home. He loved his family.
And he tried to be helpful, all he wanted was to be helpful.
But Janus wasn’t helpful. He wasn’t ever helpful. He hurt people, he made people miserable, he pushed people away and ruined their lives.
Janus loved his family, so he decided to finally do the one thing within his power that would really help them.
He left.
~~~END~~~
Do I want to write Encanto fanfiction? Idk, maybe. Might write more of this specific AU
I only have two requests left to fill after this and I should be able to post them tomorrow and Sunday!!
1971 - Newport à Paris - Théâtre National Populaire (Palais de Chaillot)
Ornette Coleman Quartet, Gary Burton, the Kid Thomas Preservation Hall Band, the Giants of Jazz (Dizzy Gillespie, Kai Winding, Sonny Stitt, Thelonious Monk, Al McKibbon, Art Blakey), Duke Ellington Orchestra, Miles Davis Septet (Gary Bartz, Keith Jarrett, Michael Henderson, Ndugu Leon Chancler, Charles Don Alias, James Mtume Foreman)
Mouse AU! @sidespromptblog had a prompt talking abut Mouse!Logan so of COURSE I thought of the Rats of NIMH! I really love that book/movie and I wanted to have a spin on it’s main concepts with a twist!
AU information under the cut! (calmd/dlamp)
We have widowed mouse Logan who goes off in search of medicine because his son Thomas is sick. He bravely speaks to the Owl who tells him that the only medicine is in the human house and Logan needs to get it quickly so Thomas can be ok. Logan leaves Thomas in the hands of Emile, Talyn and Joan who are also mice and Remy, a ferret who likes to bug Emile.
Throughout his search, however, he ends up getting caught in the human house and taken to NIMH where he’ll be used as a medicine tester (he takes on kind of the role of Johnathan as well as Mrs. Brisby in that he has to free the other mice in the cages of the laboratory).
At first the other mice don’t exactly trust the little field mouse because he is doesn’t look like much, but he is dedicated and determined and clever. Patton befriends him first because their cages are next to each other and he hears Roman trying to escape every night by trying to pick the lock with no results.
Logan tries to explain why he needs to leave- Virgil says he doesn’t trust him because how could a field mouse be clever enough to get them out? Patton explains that he had been a pet to a little girl and loved her to bits but she gave him up when she got bored and now he’s stuck here. They bond over missing people they love but they still don’t believe Logan when he says he has a plan to get everyone out once he sees the rat on the table opposite them also trying to get out of his cage.
The resident rat, Deceit, can hear them talking and reveals that he has been observing Logan over the past few days as he navigated the tests with ease. He argues with the mice for a while but ultimately they are silenced as he insists he’s decided to trust him and while the other mice do not trust Deceit as a rat, he insists that Logan needs to understand what they’re doing to them at the lab and that due to the medicines they are being given, their intelligence far beyond normal rodents, giving them the capability of reading human language and understanding human speech, therefore together they should be able to escape if they can get out and use one another’s talents to get to the vents. They have no idea at this point that Logan, already unusually intelligent, has not been given the medicine yet. He doesn’t tell them either because it does not occur to him to do so and he works with them to come up with a plan to escape.
The night of the attempt however, Logan is taken in for testing by a late-night worker. He’s never had the medicine before and when he is given it he does not anticipate what it’s affects are going to be. They return him for study and he seems to be fine other than shock and fear from the pain of the injection and they leave, disappointed. The scientists discuss when they leave how they had hoped for better results considering how intelligent Logan was for initial trials but when they are gone Logan goes into a panic because he can’t handle what he is seeing.
He sees them escaping, sees the mechanics of the lock and he sees himself open them. He sees them scramble t get up and someone knocks over something loud. He sees humans coming in and reaching fr them and sees Patton grabbed. He sees Deceit shriek and lunge and bite at the human, allowing them to escape. He is not with them. He sees them make it, but Deceit is left behind.
The other mice and Deceit try to rouse him from their cages and he wakes with a start, rushing to explain what he saw. They do not believe him at first but Roman shushes them as Logan stumbles to the bars and opens the lock just as he’d Seen.
“Oracle.” Deceit frowned but he hurried to repeat the motion, and helped the others out of their cages. They crowd Logan who is exhausted but he urgently tells them that whatever they do they mustn’t topple what is on the tables or Deceit will be trapped here without them.
With his warning they all make it out together and Logan rushes forward and stalls them as the rain pours down. He sees the cars go by, not understanding the beasts.
“What do we do?” Virgil asks. Logan sways and his vision blurs. He sees them run desperately in the rain, so much rain, and loud gigantic beasts that run along the dark rainy road loud as thunder. Human beasts, scary things that will kill them if they get too close. “A-avoid- avoid monsters- don’t go- don’t go-!”
He leans against Patton as Roman who has dragged a stick to use as a makeshift sword, leads the way with Deceit guarding their rear. They hurry forward only when there is a gap between beasts.
On the other side of the road they are safe for now and Deceit confronts Logan about his visions. Logan admits hat was the first time he had been given the medicine and Deceit expresses that his intelligence was far superior to theirs which means his abilities of future sight are an incredibly precious gift for them now. Logan laments that it is a curse to see death like that but he needs to get the medicine from the house for Thomas.
“We are at your debt Logan.” Roman says. “We will follow you wherever you go.”
“We’re too intelligent for simple lives….” Virgil comments. “We can’t go back to what we were doing; we can’t steal, we can’t scavenge, we… we learned to read, to write, to see….. to remember. We have to DO something with this. So let’s go do something good.”
Sneaky and clever as they are when they return to the house, they get in easily and avoid the traps. Logan warns them of the cat, but he succumbs t another vision. Gentle and protective, Deceit keeps guard of him while the others retrieve the medicine and carries him back out when they are done. He wakes in his arms. “What did you see?” Patton asks.
“I saw a rose bush….” He says softly. “Full of thorns and a tunnel beneath, the path of a long dead serpent. It leads to the roots of a great tree, paradise of sorts. There is where we must go in two days when the humans bring another beast that will tear the land up and destroy everything for their harvest.”
They bring the medicine to Thomas who is so terribly ill. The medicine will help, they all know it, but Logan worries anyways. The second day draws near and Deceit is still worried. Thomas has improved but is still in no condition to be moved. “We have to go Logan. It’s risk his life getting out or everyone dying waiting for sure. Roman has already gone to check the path you saw and he and Remy confirmed it last night. They’ve gone to clear the tunnel We have to go.”
“What if he gets worse?” Logan holds his little one close protectively. “What if I lose him?”
“You won’t.” Deceit replies. “On my word, Logan, I will see to it that you and he and everyone gets to paradise safely.” But before he can say anything more the ground rumbles and Logan gasps.
“It’s too early, I thought it was two days and then the beast!”
“Looks like your visions may not be entirely accurate-” Logan wraps Thomas up and they usher everyone outside to where the huge beast is starting up, the human farmer making frustrated curses.
“He doesn;t know how to use it-” Logan says, drawing Thomas close.
“But he may figure it out sooner than we’d like. Take everything you can!” Deceit orders to Emile and Patton and Virgil just as Roman comes in on Remy’s back.
“The tunnel’s entrance was collapsed but we cleared it! We can go now.”
“And soon babes, that doesn’t sound good and the ground is shaking like a trapped rabbit.”
“Grab all you can in the way of supplies.” Logan calls to them and looks at Deceit who nods. “We’re going now.”
The trek to the rose bush is perilous as it lies close to the beast and the human and it roars to life and starts to move twice, dislodging dirt and weeds and they are almost smothered by it before it dies. Deceit mutters to himself but he shoos them all into the tunnel.
The walk from there is long, several days worth because they can’t go very long before Thomas needs to lay down. “You’ll see the sky again sweetie.” Logan promises and Thomas coughs.
“Promise papa?”
“I promise.” Logan soothes and Deceit sits beside him as Thomas goes back to slleep.
“You are a good dad Logan. And your insight has saved us.”
“I never wanted t see the future…. I just wanted to keep my boy safe.”
“And you have.”
“But what now? When we get to paradise it won’t be paradise yet. It’ll take work and time and effort. We’ll all work our tails off. I am not strong like you and Remy, nor fast like Virgil and Roman and Talyn. I cannot fight like you all can and I am not as efficient at picking up new tasks or cooking or digging like Patton is. I might be clever but I am not as capable as the rest of you. Even Emile and Joan know all sorts of medical things and they are not even enhanced like you are.”
“That taught us to read and to remember and to understand. But it is something that can be taught.” Deceit replies and gently hugs him. “And we don’t just value you for your Sight Logan. Even without it you united us and it was your plan that got us out of NIMH. I might be clever at lying to humans but I know you see right through me. Your perception and judge of character and way with logic is commendable. We need you to help coordinate us and we need you to raise your kid.”
Logan leans against him and sighs. “Thanks Deceit. I’m…. not too good with the feelings thing but you did make me feel better and I appreciate that. You… make me more comfortable than anyone which seems silly because you are a rat.”
“Good.” Deceit squeezes him lightly.
The rest of the journey went without most chaos. There was a snake that did not make the cavern that came and Roman and Deceit and Remy bravely fought it off. Patton and Emile helped tend to them and Logan and Virgil refused to admit their worry. But the longer they went the more they grew closer and then just as promised, the tunnel let out to a large open space beneath the roots of the tree above them. Paths up top could easily be dug and Emile and Patton got to work as Remy and Roman scouted ahead. Virgil stared to help make everything comfortable, making beds from their blankets and finding a nice place to set up their eating area.
Logan helps lie Thomas down, the little one doing much better but tired from the move. He’s recovering steadily though and he’d been playing with Virgil earlier much to the hidden pleasure of the brooding mouse. Sunlight burst through the tunnels the others made and the cross-breeze was lovely. Just as promised, the fields above were covered in flowers and the scent traveled.
“I’m glad to be settled.” Logan admits. “But the journey was worth it. We are going to be safe here.”
“And in all fairness, Joan and Talyn are together and I’m fairly certain so are Remy and Emile…” Deceit mutters. “And also the rest of the mice are kind of an item on their own and they’d kind of like you to be part of this big happy family and I wouldn’t mind that so much but also I really don’t want to let you go…..”
“Are you asking me out? I have a kid.” Logan chuckles. “Responsibilities. And you’re kind of huge.”
“Yes, and?” Deceit smirks. “More to hug.”
“That would sell it for Patton.”
“It did.”
“What sold it for Roman?”
“The fact that I can lift him with ease.”
“And Virgil?”
“Working on it.” Deceit laughs. “Though he’s coming around. Please?”
Logan thinks about it as he runs his hand over Thomas’s soft ears. “Yeah, ok.” They were going to make a life for themselves anyways, they might as well.
This is how you beat writers block - you draw and then find your will to write afterwards.
Characters/relationships: Logan / Virgil (analogical), Patton / Roman (Royality), Kid Thomas
Warnings: none
Words: 1511
Summary: This came about from a post by @fanartfunart and seeing as I’m trying to learn how to draw people better, I decided to challenge myself with a drawing....that drawing then turned into a little fic. FYI, I know there is a lot wrong with Logan’s proportions in the picture (I can see it), but Thomas is cute so whatever.
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"Don't be such a baby, Logan." Virgil huffed, following his partner into the kitchen. "It's a kid, not a freakin' nuclear bomb."
"I know that, but..." Logan kept his back to Virgil as he absentmindedly took ingredients for dinner out of the fridge and cupboards. "I don't know anything about babysitting a child."
Watching the cook’s shoulders slump at the admission, Virgil softened his tone and moved to lean on the counter next to Logan.
"What's to know, Lo? You give him some food, easy for you, and turn on the TV. Job done." Virgil sighed when Logan didn't look away from the bowl in front of him; hands floured as he prepared a pasta dough. "Look, I only need to be in the studio for an hour at most; then I'll come straight home. You can entertain 'til I get back, right?"
"Are you sure you can't stay?"
The tone of Virgil's phone gave him his answer as the other man quickly excused himself to take the call. It wasn't that Logan didn't like children; he just didn't think he was good for children. Honestly, he questioned daily what Virgil saw in him; a pensive, workaholic wasn't that romantic and didn't scream partner material. Patton on the other hand was destined to be a parent; they'd wanted to be one since they were kids.
The pasta dough came into shape as Logan recalled the day Patton video called them to announce they had been approved for adoption now Roman had consistent work. He'd shared in their excitement but never fully understood it. Admittedly, Logan was still hurt that Patton had moved so far away to support Roman's career and their relationship took a hit from the distance.
Setting the finished dough aside to rest, Logan washed his hands and turned to find the dejected Virgil walking back in.
"Virgil? What's wrong?"
"I've gotta go, Lo. Shit's hit the fan with the computers at the studio and Nate's pissed."
"How bad is it?" Logan moved closer, knowing there would be no way out of this now and accepting that he would have to face Patton alone.
"Backups failing bad. I should have gone in earlier when it was just a glitch. It was stupid of me to ignore it and-fuck I'm gonna pay for it n-"
Logan tilted Virgil's chin back and placed a soft kiss on his lips to silence the worrier.
"I apologise for my earlier attitude and clouded judgements. I will be fine this evening. You should go." Taking Virgil's hand, Logan walked him towards the door. "I will be fine until you or Patton return."
"Yeah, you will." he replied with a half-smile, before giving Logan a final kiss goodbye and heading out the door.
The silence of the apartment was crushing as Logan threw himself onto the couch; sliding his glasses up off his face as he massaged his brow. It was all too much at once. First, he was just worried about seeing Patton and Roman again after years of dwindling contact; then they asked the couple to babysit while they went to the award ceremony that brought them to town; and now Logan would have to face it all alone. A knock at the door pulled Logan from his thoughts and he was quick to sit up and correct himself before answering it.
"Hey Specs" Roman smiled from the entry; the pink backpack on his shoulder a harsh contrast to the black suit he wore. "It's great to see you again!"
"It's good to see you too, Roman. You are looking well considering the travel."
"Oh please," With a hand gesture Roman stepped into the apartment and put the apparently heavy bag down. "It would take more than a few hours on a plane to ruin this face."
"Indeed," Logan chuckled, turning just in time to see a pink blur heading towards him.
"Uncle Logan!" Came a cheery voice as a body slammed into Logan and constricted his middle.
"Um...Thomas, I presume."
Logan looked up to see Patton beaming as they walked up the path in a simple blue gown. They looked so happy and lively that Logan forgot all his past grievances; it seemed Patton was happy and that was all that mattered.
"That's my Thomas," Patton giggled.
"It's good to see you again, Patton." Logan pulled a face as he looked down at the figure still holding his arms by his sides. "Your son is very... Huggie."
Roman and Patton both laughed, and Roman snapped a quick picture of the awkward man pinned by his son.
"Oh, I know. I trained him well, don't you think?"
"Indeed, Patton, but...um," Thomas giggled as Logan tried to lift his arms out of the vice grip around him. "How do I un-train him? I do need to work at some point this evening."
"That will do, Thomas; give Uncle Lo some breathing room."
At Roman's word, Thomas let go and moved to his father's side. Logan's moment of reprieve was short lived as Patton replaced their son, pulling their old friend close and whispering in his ear.
"I really missed you, Logan."
"I..." For a moment, he was lost for words before mimicking the tight grip around his friend. "I missed you too."
The group remained in the entry as Patton began rattling off things Thomas could and couldn't do. Though he listened intently, Logan's eyes kept shifting to the young boy in the pink jacket that lent against Roman; holding onto his father’s arms around his neck and smiling up at Logan.
".... And if you need anything, just call me and I'll come right back and-"
"Calm down, Pat." Roman interjected, "We're just going for a few hours. I'm sure Lo and Thomas will be fine."
"Right. You're right."
"I always am."
"That's not true, Dad." Thomas turned to look up at his father in confusion. "We were late to the airport because you got the times wrong, and you brought the wrong chocolate milk last week, and you-"
"Alright, that's enough." Roman was quick to scoop the boy up and headed inside. "Let's get you set up, hey."
A smile crept across Logan's face as he watched them go.
"Is that a genuine smile I see, Logan?" It comforted Patton to see him looking so content, despite his obvious fear of being responsible for Thomas.
"I'm proud of you, Patton." Their eyes widened as Logan turned; his own shining in the sun light. "You made the family you always wanted."
"Almost," they laughed. "It's just missing one thing."
"Hm?" Brows furrowing in confusion, Logan wracked his brain for what Patton was talking about. "What could you possibly be missing?"
"Just an uncle to teach Thomas about computers and another to show him how to cook. Any idea on where I could find them?"
"I think I do, but they live pretty far away."
"That's okay, we're moving anyway."
"What?"
Logan was genuinely shocked by the news, mouth left ajar as Roman came up from behind and place a hand on his shoulder.
"You ready to be a full-time uncle, Logan?"
The question left Logan reeling. Three years ago, Patton left their teaching position to follow Roman's quest for recognition in music and theatre; leaving Logan and Virgil behind in the process. One year ago, they adopted Thomas and their contact became almost non-existent; so to be told they were returning to include him and Virgil in their family...was amazing.
"I suppose I'll have to be."
This time, Logan initiated a group hug; wrapping an arm around each of his friends and briefly forgetting that they had somewhere to be and he had a job to do.
"Jeez Specs, Thomas rubbed off on you quickly." Roman joked; causing Logan to quickly step back and adjust his tie.
"Ah, yes, sorry." Logan stumbled over his words, causing his friends to laugh at his sudden display of affection. "I got a little carried away."
"It's okay, Lo." Patton assured, waving at the little figure that was poking his head over the couch inside. "But we should get going or we'll never leave."
"Right. Yes. Of Course."
Logan watched as Patton blew a kiss to Thomas before heading down the front path with Roman. Once the car had pulled away, he shut the door and turned to the smiling figure kneeling on the couch, waiting patiently. Brown eyes looked expectantly at him and he thought about Patton's wish for uncles for their son.
"So… Thomas. Have you ever made pasta before?" The boy shook his head and slipped off the couch as Logan held his hand out. "Perhaps it's time uncle Logan taught you then."
*************************
When Virgil came home, he was shocked to find the apartment lit only by Steven Universe playing on the TV. Tiptoeing around the couch he was greeted to the scene of Logan fast asleep with Thomas laying on his chest. It didn't look comfortable at all, but Virgil had to admit it was an adorable thing to come home to.
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Tags: @thequeensphinx
What else have I done:
The Shield to your Sword (WIP - A fantasy/magic au - Prinxiety (Royal Roman and orphan Virgil - they’ll admit to their love eventually), Virgil angst, non binary healer Logan, *spoiler* Patton, cursed Deceit and ridiculous Remus)
Libraries are for Meetings (ongoing WIP - Human/University au with Royality and developing Analogical. Slow burn and heavily focused on a grieving group of friends that Virgil slowly becomes a part of to better himself.)
And more....
Writing Master Post
Check out my other blog for random fandom reblogs and stuff @snail-giggles
