Patton twirled, watching his dress fan out around him. He was waiting for Logan to arrive as they’d promised to go together. All he could do right then was kill time.
He thought back to growing up, how he’d despised wearing dresses his mother had put him in for formal events. As he’d grown older and understood why he didn’t like being a ‘she’, he finally cast off the dresses and vowed to not wear them again. After a few years, he’d started to miss them. Not for what they meant as a gender identifier for society, but the way they looked and felt. He liked the way they flared out around him, the not having to wear tight fitting pants or a jacket that felt weird. So, he just didn’t wear a formal suit. Instead, he wore dresses in shades of light blue, pink, lavender, light brown the color of soft dirt, yellow the color of sand, grey the shade of doves, and green that’s as light as sunlight through a leaf. He loved the way he felt in them and still wore trousers when he wasn’t feeling fancy.
Today was a specially made dress. He’d heard the Charming twins each had a signature color that they wore -- and would be wearing at the ball. His dress was made to match that. His top, with flowy sleeves that draped from his elbows, was made of a material that faded from a light pink at the top to a dark red in the middle, gathering into a black at his waist. His skirt, a floor length piece that trailed behind him slightly, picked up from the black and faded into a dew-touched-grass green at the hem. He loved it.
Logan’s knock at the door startled him from his consideration of his gown. Patton glided over and opened it, twirling for his brother’s approval. “What do you think? Isn’t it lovely?”
Logan leaned against the doorjamb. “It’s magnificent. I’m sure they both will appreciate it.” He held out a hand. “Are you ready, brother?”
Patton smiled, always getting a thrill when Logan called him that. “Yes!” He took Logan’s hand and let him lead the way to the ballroom.
As they approached, Patton tensed just the slightest bit. He was worried the two people courting him wouldn’t want him anymore when they spent an evening with him. Logan patted his hand. “You’ll be fine, Pat.”
Patton looked at him. “How do you always know what I’m thinking of?”
“You’re my brother, I’ve spent my whole life learning how to read your body language.” Logan gave him a smile that quirked up on one side. “You’ll do great. You’ve nothing to prove. If they don’t like you by the end of the night, that’s their loss.”
They arrived at the ball together, meeting up with their father briefly at the beginning before Logan went to stand by the stairs to wait for the smith he’d shown interest in during their visit to the village. Patton hoped that match worked out well as they seemed suited for each other.
He stood by his father for another while before the king caught the eye of a dignitary Patton knew as Nico Flores and went to talk to him. Patton had to smile as he thought of his father thinking he’d snuck love letters quietly past them.
He wasn’t alone for long as both the Charming twins approached him. Looking around, he locked eyes with his brother right before the Smith arrived, drawing the other’s prince’s attention. They bowed at the same time. Roman put a hand on his decorative sword. “May we have a word?”
Patton nodded and allowed them to lead him to a secluded corner. Patton took a deep breath. “So, how have you two been?”
Remus smiled. “I’d appreciate it if we skipped the small talk for now, my dear. Have you been receiving our letters?”
Roman nodded. “We both write on the weekly but get no response.”
“I’ve been writing almost on the daily and have yet to get a reply from either of you.” Patton responded.
The twins looked at themselves and nodded. “Then it must be the route.” Roman said.
“But there was no sign of bandits when we passed on the way here.” Remus replied.
“We might have to take a different approach to it.”
Patton waved a hand. “Hello? Still here.”
Remus nodded with a smile. “Right. How have you been?”
Patton shrugged, putting on his fake smile. “I’m doing fine! How are you?”
Remus narrowed his eyes and gave him a look that said he’d be asking about that later. “We’re both as fine as we can be.”
“Is there a reason you’ve been avoiding our letters, even when they did arrive?” Roman asked, seemingly oblivious to his brother’s suspicion.
“It’s just-” Patton cut himself off. Both of these men were nice and sweet and he really didn’t want to hurt them.
“Just what?” Remus’ face had softened slightly but his eyes were still analysing Patton’s every move.
Patton leaned back against the wall. “I want to be courted.”
Roman looked stunned. “Courted? Have we not been doing just that for the past year?!”
Patton sighed, a wistful look entering his eyes. “I want moonlight trysts, long walks through castle corridors, naps in meadows and talks that last for hours. I want someone who will fight for me, who will compose poems to my virtues. I want someone to understand so deeply that even just looking at him, I’ll be able to tell what he’s thinking and feeling. I don’t want someone to just tell me of his triumphs in tournaments or what happened during his day. I want to know his thoughts on the matters that concern him.”
He shook his head slightly as he schooled his features. “My thoughts are unrealistic, I know.”
The twin shook his head sadly. “No, they’re not. You deserve to be courted like that. You deserve that and so much more.” He sighed as he put his hand on his twin’s shoulder and pushed him forward. “I’m just not the person to give it to you.”
Roman bowed and took his leave, moving to converse with a foreign dignitary that Patton didn’t recognize. Patton watched him go.
