Summary: Logan deviates from his routine and, after falling asleep at a coffee shop, meets someone who would change his life.
Word Count: 949
Logan had a strict schedule that he stuck closely to. It kept him on top of all his schoolwork, gave him plenty of time to get to work and do any shopping he needed, and still let him have a decent social life and sleep schedule too. Usually, the schedule was easy to keep and even easier to maintain. The only problems he’d ever had with it were when it was interrupted for some reason.
Like today. He’d stayed up later than usual working on a project who’s due date had snuck up on him. He’d still had to get up at the usual time for classes and had been feeling tired the whole day. So, he’d deviated from his schedule a bit more and entered the coffee shop attached to the bookstore he worked at.
A barista with a rich Southern accent took his order and Logan sat at one of the tables, thinking he’d just do his homework there instead of at the library where he normally did it after work. The barista called his name and he got up to get it, meeting a kind smile with a polite one of his own. The Southern barista tipped an imaginary hat to him before going to take another customer’s order. Logan lingered just long enough to see the barista’s coworker nudge them with a grin.
He sat back down and did most of his homework before dozing off, that sleepless night catching up to him. He’d forgotten that caffeine made him more tired even as it improved his focus. Soon, he was laying his head on his folded arms and closing his eyes briefly.
A bang woke him a few hours later. He shot up, suddenly wide awake. He spluttered as he looked around, trying to find what woke him.
The Southern barista was standing nearby with a chair on the floor and a bashful look on their face. “I’m sorry, that’s my bad. I dropped the chair.” Their accent caused their vowels to sound softer and their voice to come off as more comforting than they probably realized.
Logan rubbed his eyes, feeling an indent on his temple from his skewed glasses. “That’s alright. It’s not a big deal.” He paused as he fixed his glasses and started gathering his things. “If I may ask, why was I not woken earlier? I mean, surely the table would have been needed and, as I wasn’t still a paying customer at that point, it would have been within your right to kick me out. Why let me sleep?”
The barista, a nametag pinned to their apron told Logan their name was ‘Virgil’, shrugged. “We’ve got plenty of other tables that haven't been used. Besides,” they rubbed the back of their neck, “it looked like you could use the sleep, what with how quickly you dozed off.”
Their coworker stopped by, leaning an elbow on Virgil’s shoulder. “Xe thought you were cute, that’s why xe let you sleep.”
Logan chuckled even as he mentally changed out the pronouns he’d been using for Virgil to the proper ones. “Well, thank you, Virgil.” He felt his face heat. “I think you’re rather cute too.”
Xe looked surprised as xe stopped trying to get xyr coworker to go away. “How did you know my name?”
Logan laughed, zipping his bag up and standing, his heeled boots clicking on the café floor. “You’re wearing a name tag.”
Virgil looked down at xyr chest, as if xe had forgotten the apron was there. “So I am.” Xe turned to xyr coworker. “I could have sworn I took that off.”
Xyr coworker just laughed, shoving xyr chest. “Go talk with the cute customer before I ask them for their number.”
Logan laughed. “He has a name, you know.”
Virgil stopped pushing back, causing xem to be sent tumbling toward Logan. Xe landed against the wall and propped xemself up as if xe had meant to do that. “May I know your name, darlin’?”
Logan once again found his face warming at the accent and, this time, the nickname. “I’m Logan. It’s nice to meet you, Virgil.”
Virgil smiled. “It’s nice to meet you too, Logan.”
The coworker sighed and said, “Well, my job is done here,” before leaving. Logan had other things to do and had to leave soon after them.
He was back the next day, having gotten off work a bit early. Virgil saw him and deliberately moved to be at the register when he got there. Xe smiled as xe drawled, “What can I get for you today, darlin’?”
Logan smiled. “I’ll have the same as yesterday, please.” That order would soon become his regular to the point that Virgil started making it as soon as Logan stepped into the café area.
Soon enough, Logan got the courage to ask Virgil out, getting an enthusiastic ‘yes’ in response. Their dating life was simple and sweet, as if their lives were coffee and the other had added creamer. There were a few bitter moments, as if the creamer hadn’t permeated through the whole cup, but they got past them together and were a stronger couple for that. The hard times helped them solidify a bond that went beyond mere words.
Virgil was the one to propose. Xe drew a ring in Logan’s latte at home. Unfortunately, Logan hadn’t gotten the hint and only noticed what was going on when he turned around and found Virgil down on one knee, an open ring box in xyr hand.
The kiss on their wedding day tasted like coffee and Logan couldn’t wait to have that same taste on his lips for the rest of his life.
Virgil (nonbinary) is the sceptic that is a little too easily convinced
Logan is the real sceptic, easily figures out what makes the creepy sounds (trans man)
Patton (trans man) is a terrified believer that is just trying to keep it all together
Roman (genderfluid) is the enthusiastic believer who drags everyone on ghost hunts
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"Roman please, you're going to figuratively pull my arm out of it's socket if you tug any harder," Logan sighed at his enthusiastic friend who was holding very tightly to his hand. Roman, blue 'he/him' pronoun bracelet clearly display, was pulling him to the porch of the presumably haunted house, closely followed by Virgil with their camera and a very nervous Patton.
"You really don't need to clarify, we know I couldn't actually pull your arm out of its socket," Roman rolled his eyes, but eased his grip on Logan's hand, slowing his pace so they could walk side by side.
Virgil aimed a kick at Roman's feet. "So what are we actually doing here? Is it ghosts or demons this time?"
"Both, actually," Roman turned back to swipe at Virgil's head. "There are at least three ghosts, and a demon in the attic."
Patton squeaked. "Uh, hey, um, you didn't say anything about a demon, Ro..."
"Roman, I wish you would stop saying things like they are irrefutable facts. There has been no definitive proof that ghosts or demons exist." Logan rolled his eyes, but Roman was undeterred.
The group had been allowed one night in the supposedly haunted house, and Virgil had been commissioned to film the events that could take place. They were secretly grateful that they didn't have to be in the actual video footage at all if they didn't want to be, but outwardly complained that they would get tired of holding the camera, that this house was stupid anyway, they didn't even believe in this crap.
Roman hesitated at the door, and Virgil smirked. "What, getting scared?" They pointed the camera at their friend. "Big Bad Roman is scared of the front fucking door."
That was enough to get Roman to swing open the door and stroll on in like he was merely popping in to a coffee shop. Logan followed, unbothered. Patton clung to Virgil, and the pair entered together.
The bag Roman slung on the table made a loud thud, and when opened he produced an EMF reader, divining sticks, a ouija board and a few other things that he laid out neatly on the table. Logan raised an eyebrow.
"I'll admit, you do seem to be passionate about this, no matter how idiotic this quest may be." Logan picked up the EMF reader and scrutinised it. "I'm not sure if I can call your methods scientific, however. You do understand this entire night is going to yield results only supported by pseudoscience?"
Patton took the EMF reader from Logan's grasp. "Now now, be nice Lo-Lo, this is something Roman is excited about and we should be supportive. And, if we're- lucky? Or unlucky, I'm kinda hoping we don't find anything- we might hear or see something that is definitive proof of ghosts!" Patton smiled encouragingly at Roman, who grinned back.
Virgil was fiddling around with the camera. "Hey, who did I give the batteries to? This one is empty."
"But-" Roman stared, frozen. "That was a new battery, wasn't it?" He took out a new battery from the front pocket of the bag and handed it over. Virgil shrugged, and simply swapped the batteries over, unwilling to admit that it was indeed a new battery, and that they'd double-checked it just before they arrived at the house.
"W-well, we'd better get started, right?" Patton's voice was higher than normal and he'd detached himself from Virgil only to reattach himself to Logan, finding comfort in the unceasing scepticism.
Roman handed out torches to both Patton and Logan. "Indeed, let us at last embark on a quest to uncover the secrets this house holds, let us walk among the dead and speak to those belonging to days gone by!" He grabbed Virgil and started dragging them upstairs. "Come, my friends, adventure awaits!"
The enthusiasm held by Roman was the driving force for the rest of the group as they followed him all the way up to the attic. Patton gave a nervous laugh as Roman placed the ouija board down and gestured for them all to sit on the floor. "Are we sure about this, Ro? I mean aren't ouija boards supposed to be really... scary?"
Virgil smirked from under their fringe. "That's the point, Pat- they communicate with those beyond the grave." They wiggled the fingers of the hand that wasn't holding the camera at Patton and laughed lowly, darkly. "You never know, maybe the demon will possess one of us."
"Please cease from scaring him, Virgil, my arm is starting to hurt from where he is holding it," Logan glared at Virgil, and Patton guiltily let go, opting to sit next to Roman.
"You'll save me, right Ro?"
Roman put his arm around the slightly smaller man. "Indeed I will. Never fear, my dear friend, for it will take more than a mere demon to frighten me!"
Eventually, all four of them were situated round the board- Virgil was exempt from being involved as they were filming the scene, but the others all had two fingers on the plancette that was placed in the middle of the board.
"...do we introduce ourselves? It would be polite, right?"
"Patton, there is nothing to be polite to- demons do not exist."
"Oh hush, Specs-tre... you get it? Like spectre? Like a ghost?"
Virgil sighed, exasperated. "Can we get on with this, please? My arms are starting to hurt."
They decided on spelling out their names, with only minor mistakes, and waiting to see if there was any kind of response. Roman and Patton were eagerly leaning over the board, while Virgil and Logan exchanged glances.
Very slowly, the planchette began to move. Roman scowled at Logan. "If this is you trying to trick us, I don't appreciate it."
Logan raised an eyebrow. "I am not trying to trick you, I am merely sitting here like you two."
Roman turned his gaze to Virgil, who scowled back. "How can I have anything to do with it, dumbass? I'm not even touching the board."
The planchette had moved from the middle of the board where they had put it after spelling their names to the 'G', and was moving to what seemed to be the 'O'.
Inhaling shakily, Patton looked at the camera. "V, I think it might be saying 'go away'."
Virgil quickly wiped the look of worry off their face- they were supposed to be a sceptic, after all- and nodded. "Yes Patton, the demon is antisocial and wants us all to fuck off." They spun the camera around as if looking for a demon. "Understandable, have a nice day."
"Virgil, will you please deign to keep the camera on the board, I fear Roman is going to start yelling any minute otherwise." Logan's even voice brought all attention back to the board, where the planchette was just moving off the 'A'.
Roman looked like he was about to burst. He let out a breath he'd been holding. "Everyone shut up, this is the most evidence we've ever got!"
"This isn't exactly evidence. The planchette moving is due to what's called the 'ideomotor effect', simply meaning your body talks to itself. It's an example of involuntary, unconcious physical movement." Logan was now the focus of attention. "Patton has planted the idea that the so-called 'demon' is trying to spell 'go away', so it is likely the planchette will react to your unconcious movements to spell out those words."
Sulkily, Roman sat back, leaning on both his hands. "C'mon teach, you can't just... take the magic out of this like that."
Logan looked surprised. "I... I'm sorry Roman, I just thought it would be interesting to know the actual science behind the board, especially since we're filming it." He looked sincerely apologetic. "I apologise for taking the metaphorical 'magic' out of this activity."
Roman sighed, but smiled slightly. "Don't worry about it." He fiddled with the pronoun bracelet, and switched it to a green 'they\them' bracelet. "You know, I don't believe the ghosts are biting tonight. I suggest we leave and perhaps try again another day."
Patton nodded enthusiastically. "Yes please, can we please leave, I keep feeling like we should leave, let's leave-" He scooped up the ouija board, only pausing to move the planchette quickly to 'goodbye', and stuffed it in Roman's bag.
The procession downstairs was slightly less upbeat than the procession upstairs had been, but Roman was determined to not make Logan feel bad. "Besides," they said, arm slung around Logan. "I doubt demons would be very respectful of pronouns." Virgil stifled a laugh.
"Yeah, nobody wants to talk with disrespectful demons." The group reached the door and they turned to look at the house once last time. "Fuck off demon, we don't need your transphobia!"
Patton panicked for a second and clapped his hand over Virgil's mouth. "Virgil! It'll hear you!"
Roman laughed heartily. "Don't worry, Pat, I agree with Casper the Unfriendly Ghost here. Who cares if the transphobic demon hears, I refuse to bother myself with the opinions of demon who can't even talk back to us."
Walking back to the car, Logan was nudged gently by Roman. "Hey, teach, you can't say there's absolutely no way the planchette was moved by a demon or a ghost, can you?"
About to retort that yes, he could say that, Logan looked at Roman's face, their eyes showing just a little bit of hope. "...no, I can't say for certain that the planchette wasn't moved by a supernatural force."
Perhaps it was foolish, but seeing Roman's face light up was worth it.
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i love the sanders sides and i love buzzfeed unsolved so here ya go, have this brain child, hope you enjoy- you're welcome to ask for more!
Chapter One: War and flirting Should Not go together, Virgil!
Summary: Sometimes people develop such close bonds that they are drawn back together, again and again, throughout the ages. Through wars, famines, golden ages and rebellions. As family, friends, lovers, and acquaintances. Throughout it all, their souls want to see each again, if only just to wave as they pass by, as though to say “Hello again, oh dear one!”
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Roman pressed his eyes tightly closed as his enemy’s blade fell towards him, his feet pulling at the mud catching them in one last desperate attempt to defend himself.
Thud
He looked up at the unexpected sound, his eyes struggling to make out the details before him. A warrior stood in front of him, his foe’s blade caught tightly in the grasp of their shield. A growl bubbled up from his savior’s throat just before they moved.
Struggle, push forward, struggle, slam the shield and it’s stolen occupant into its previous wielder’s arm, and push forward and up, wrenching the arm and sending both it and the body attached flying a yard back.
While the sound of the battlefield rang around them, the figure turned back towards Roman, revealing sharp dark eyes and a lithe, muscular frame. “Well?”
Roman blinked, still in shock. “Well what?”
The figure stared at him for a moment in annoyance, before continuing slowly as though he’d been the one struck in the head by that heavy shield instead of his enemy. “Well... Are you... Going to stand… Up? Or… are you... going to lay in the mud…?”
“Oh. Oh! No, I-” He scrambled to his feet, casting his eyes around to ensure there weren’t any more foes around them. He turned his gaze back towards the stranger. “Wait, who are you even? Why did you save me? You don’t appear to be from either side, so why help at all?”
The figure smirked. “First off, you can call me Anxiety, xie/xem. Second off,” here, xie shrugged, starting to turn away as xie spoke. “Because, you’re cute.”
Roman sputtered, trying to come up with a reply to that and pursue this ‘Anxiety’ at the same time, before a loud horn went off. He had to duck his head as a round of arrows was shot at the retreating army of his enemy. When he was able to look again, Anxiety had already left.
Virgil was standing in the doorway to Patton’s room, the light shining from the hallway silhouetting their figure. Patton rolled over sleepily.
“Hmm? Oh, hey Virge.” Virgil could barely make out his mumbled words. “Wha’z happ’nin’?”
Virgil hovered in the doorway, shifting ever-so-slightly from side to side. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”
Patton sat up, and he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. “’T’s fine.” He reached over to his nightstand and flicked on the lamp. The golden light reflected in his glasses as he put them on. “What’s up, kiddo?”
Virgil’s eyes shifted down, looking to the left. “Nothing, really. I shouldn’t have bothered you, I’m sorry. I’m just being stupid.” They began to back away. “Night.”
The corners of Patton’s mouth turned down. “You’re not being stupid.” It was spoken quietly, yet just loud enough for Virgil to still right outside of the doorway. “It’s okay to feel bad, you know.” Patton slid closer to the head of his bed, and patted the space he left behind. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Virgil glanced down the hallway, in the direction of his room. They chewed on their lip. They then looked back up towards Patton, and scrunched their eyebrows together.
“Not really, I just want-” They sighed softly. “I don’t know.”
“Do you want to come sit over here? We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.”
“Sure, yeah, that would be nice.” Virgil shuffled over, and they curled up in the space next to Patton, resting their head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry for waking you up.”
“Kiddo, you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for. You can talk to me anytime, or just come in to cuddle, or to hang out, or whatever you need. I’m here for you.”
“I know, but I still feel bad for waking you up at-” They looked at the clock on the nightstand. “-at two in the morning.” They paused, and their voice took a more serious note. “I dunno, sometimes I just feel like I’m burdening you. God, I can’t believe I woke you up at two in the morning because I felt like I was annoying you. Ironic, huh?” They pressed the heels of their hand into their eyes. “I can’t believe I did that. I’m so so sorry, I-”
“Hey, look at me.” Patton turned to face Virgil, and rested his hand on their shoulder. They lifted their head to meet Patton’s eyes. “You will never, ever, ever, bother me by asking for help.”
“But what if-”
“No exceptions. None. I could not care less what time it is, or how trivial it feels to you. If you need me, I will be there. I will always be there to help you work through whatever problems you may be having. You are not burdening me, and you are not annoying me. Okay? I’m here for you, kiddo.”
One side of Virgil’s mouth lifted up into a small smile. “Thanks, Pat.” A small tear escaped from their eye.
Patton wrapped Virgil into a tight hug.They leaned their head forward onto his shoulder, silently crying. After a minute or two of being enveloped in the warm embrace, Virgil began to stifle a yawn, the tears finally beginning to stop flowing. Patton gently pushed Virgil off of him.
“You ready to sleep now, kiddo?”
Virgil nodded, exhausted after the heavy downpour of emotions. “Could I stay here, Pat?”
“Of course.” He smiled warmly. Virgil laid down on the bed, and Patton turned out the lamp and took off his glasses. As soon as he was in a comfortable position, Virgil had snuggled up next to him. Not long after, they both drifted off into a peaceful slumber.
