The World Ticked By
There is something to be said about sweetness that rotted, kindness could fool any man with a heart and eyes that couldn't magically see past deception. With every sacharine word there would always be a gullible fool to follow them.
The twins were so cute, Patton thought, watching the toddlers bumble around and do as toddlers did. Here in there city the world was in a weird state of time, sometimes it went quick and sometimes not at all. Or maybe Patton had simply lost the ability to find time.
Remus was brain and Roman was brawn, there was no question the two were a mischevious pair. Patton preffered brawn over brain truth be told. There was just something unsettling about the way Remus stared at him with eyes that showed he was understanding more then he was saying.
Roman grew big, and strong, an overachiever and a man to pull at your heartstrings. Romancer and actor extraordinaire, he sang serenades to the men he wanted to date and every handwritten song was a beautiful poem written from the heart. Remus grew twisted, interests were scattered but always easy to identify. The dark and scary, the things most children put away in their nightmares and never returned to.
Before they were simply a mischevious duo, but much like Patton people were starting to prefer brawn over brain. Though Patton tried hard to let the others care for Remus continue! "Oh no, he's not bad, he just has.. weird interests! I'm sure he's not going to hurt anyone!" He would say, innocent, caring.
Then why, Remus would wonder, did Roman get Patton's attention more often. No matter what attrocity he committed Patton missed every event, but he was at every show Roman had. And perhaps that wonder is what made it go down the drain.
Roman trusted Patton, more then their own father. Patton hadn't intended for that, of course, he was just a little doting.
"Patton! I got the part!" Roman would exclaim, throwing open Patton's door. Patton's eyes lit up. Roman! Just the man he was looking for.
"Roman.. the knob broke the wall," Patton says, looking at where Roman had thrown open the door. Roman laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Ah.. sorry.."
"But you got the part!" Patton would say. Truth be told Roman was a bit annoying nowadays, always in the spotlight. "I'm so proud of you! C'mere I made pie, have a slice!"
Roman would walk to the kitchen and the door would fall shut behind him. A slice of pie placed in front of him and he dug in with delight.
The world ticked by. Patton watched it continue. The police stopped by his door.
"Roman's missing?! Oh I hope you find him!" Patton was so sweet, "I last saw him going to the theatre! He wanted to see if he got the part! Oh please, please, find him!" Tears streaked down his cheeks in a sacharine display of despair.
A week passed. Two. Three. No one ever found Roman. Life moved on, the world stayed in orbit.
Remus knocks on the door. Patton hadn't seen brain in a bit, honestly he was getting a bit concerned. Remus hadn't taken Roman's disappearance well. He was delighted when Remus reached out. Dusting off his shirt, he opened the door. "Remus!" He says in a soft exclamation, "I haven't seen you in so long.."
Remus entered without a word, he waited for the door to shut. "..Patton.." He says, voice quiet, "I.. I was doing some digging on Roman's disappearance."
"Oh.. honey, I'm so sorry," Patton says gently, "You shouldn't dig into that.. it's been so long.."
"It's been three years," Remus says, "And I- I did a lot of research. I know it was you."
"What? That's ridiculous!" Patton says, "Remus, how could I-"
"I have a folder full of evidence. I first thought it because I had followed Roman to the theatre. His first words when he saw he got the part were I have to tell Patton."
Patton's mouth closes. Remus said he evidence and Patton believed him, Remus had always been the brain to Roman's brawn. Patton's eyes flicked down to the baseball bat by the door. A gift from the neighbours kid, a teen who seemed to live in a patchwork sweater. Silently, he grabbed it.
No one missed Remus. Or, Patton thought no one did. Virgil, the new neighbours kid, he came over asking if Patton had seen Remus. He was cute and awkward, as teens were.
"Hey.. uh, have you seen Remus, sir?" Patton liked him already! So polite.
"I haven't.. I'm so sorry Virgil," his eyes flicked to the grey sky behind him. Virgil seemed to like and hate the rain, Patton caught him staring out of his window into it often. As if reading Patton's thoughts, the downpour started.
"Come in! Oh it's raining I won't let you walk out in that!" Patton says sternly, but kindly. Virgil blushed in awkward embarrassment and comes in.
"Sorry, I don't mean to be a burden," Virgil says. Patton gasps.
"Virgil, my sweet shadow child! You are never a burden. Come have some cookies! I just baked them!"
The world ticked by. Virgil had only known Remus for a month. No one really looked for Remus, anyway, and truth be told Patton knew that. Virgil loved Patton, wwho was always kind to him and baked bat-shaped cookies and packed him a lunch every day since his parents wouldn't.
Virgil's breath came out in heaves as he slammed his fist into the door, knocking in desperation. It was raining and he was drenched. Patton opens the door with wide eyes, seeing Virgil drenched and crying at his door.
"Patton! Patton they kicked me out I don't know what to do and-"
"Virgil, Virgil, it's okay, you can stay here," Patton says, already leading him inside and sitting him down in his favourite chair. He rushed upstairs to grab the towels, and help dry Virgil off.
The world ticked by. Virgil had no friends and his parents had wanted him gone from the first of seventeen years since he'd been spawned. The police had no way of knowing Virgil talked to anyone. He was picked on at school, his parents didn't care.. he was probably just another runaway.
A knock on Patton's door, it's been a year. He's starting to grey now, older, more tired, but he answers the door with a smile nonetheless.
"Patton Heartrude," Logan greets, voice set and firm. "May I enter? I am with the police."
"Its been an awful long time since someones visit, come on in! Funny enough, I have loganberry pie in my kitchen!" Patton says, leading Logan inside. Logan looked quite pleased at that, Patton gave him a slice and sat him down. A classic! He approved of Logan's taste.
"I'm a detective working on a string of missing persons cases," Logan says, "I.. they all have some sort of connection to you, I believe. I simply want more information on them."
Patton smiles. "Okay! I'd be happy to tell you all that I can! I hope you can find at least one.."
The world ticked agonizingly by. Patton was much older, now. His son rarely visitted from college, to busy being out in the world. Meeting a boy named Janus. Patton didn't mind. He was grateful Thomas at least came to stay during his last days. Taking care of him. Patton's eyes closed peacefully and he passed without a regret.
In two months, Thomas would be clearing out the house and he'd find a trapdoor in a closet and descend down into some secret basement.
The world stopped ticking by.