If y’all haven’t read To Build A Home and To Make A Home by the talented @a-valorous-choice, you should totally check it out, they’re both actually so incredible and well written.
This is just a little oneshot set in their universe about a sick four-year-old Thomas with his brother and dad, (I also wrote another little oneshot called Dreams if you’re interested.)
Word Count: 1,302 (way longer than intended lol)
Warnings: basic cold symptoms, crying, nothing else? tell me if I’m wrong though!
~ ~ ~
“Daddy?”
Patton glanced over his shoulder, “hey kiddos!” He chirped, returning his attention back to the eggs he was making, “you two wanna help me with breakfast?”
He turned around to properly greet his kids, Virgil was holding Thomas on hip, leaning against the wall with an exhausted expression on his sleepy face, “hi Dad,” he muttered, his eyes slipping shut for a moment longer than usual.
Thomas whimpered, “I don’ feel good, Daddy.”
Patton frowned, the four year old looked paler than normal but his cheeks were flushed a concerning shade of red, his messy brown curls were sticking to his face, damp with sweat. His eyes were glossy and starting to fill with tears, “m’ throat’s sore,” he mumbled.
Patton clicked his tongue, “you don’t look too good either, sweetheart, can I feel your head?” He pressed the back of his hand to Thomas’s forehead, “oh kiddo, you’re pretty warm. I don’t think you can go to daycare today, I’ll call in a moment, why don’t you head into the living room and get comfy on the couch, we can stay home and watch lots of movies, alright?”
Thomas nodded sluggishly, he wiped his nose on his sleeve. Patton kissed his cheek, “thanks kiddo. Virgil go get ready for school, I’ll finish these eggs and you can get going.”
Virgil nodded, rubbing the sleep from his eyes with his free hand, “yeah, right,” he tried to put Thomas down but the toddler let out a long high whine, “nooooo!”
“Thomas, honey, Virge has to go to school, you’re staying home with me! We’ll have heaps of fun, it’s okay.”
The tears spilled over and poured down the child’s face, “I don’ wan’ Virge to go!” He insisted.
Virgil gave him one last hug and set him on his feet, “I really can’t stay Thomas, I can’t miss school, I have a math test.”
Thomas let out a choked sob, “you can’t!” he cried, “I want you to stay!”
Virgil winced as he pried Thomas’s hands off his hoodie, “I’m so sorry, Thomas, I’m really really sorry,” he managed to step away from him, “I’m already late, I gotta...”
Patton nodded, crouching down to help his youngest son, “go get dressed, it’s okay.”
Virgil scurried upstairs before Thomas could chase after him, he felt guilty for leaving but he really couldn’t miss school today, Roman would sulk about it later as well, and that was just inconvenient. He didn’t need Roman complaining that his best friend had completely abandoned him in the Demon’s Kingdom, (which is what he had named their high school.)
Thomas wailed on the kitchen floor, Patton knelt next to him, “hey Thomas, it’s okay, c’mon bud, let’s get off this yucky floor, I haven’t cleaned it in way too long.”
Patton scooped the sobbing toddler into his arms and cradled his head, “oh honey, it’s okay.”
Thomas soaked his dad’s shirt with tears, he coughed through his crying and struggled to catch his breath for a moment, Patton kept swaying him gently, “Thomas, I really need you to stop the crying, you’ll make yourself even sicker if you keep sobbing like that.”
Thomas sniffed and wiped his face, covering his sleeve in snot and tears, Patton grabbed a tissue and cleaned his face properly, “c’mon sweetheart, let’s just calm down for a bit, I know you don’t feel too great, I’m sorry.”
Logan walked in at that moment, finding his husband shushing a sniffling toddler, “Thomas? Did I hear you crying?”
Patton adjusted his hold, “mhmm, poor sweetpea got sick, didn’t want his brother to leave.”
Logan opened his mouth to speak but hesitated, sick children never really were his specialty, he stepped over and turned the stove off, he moved the eggs to the back burner so they wouldn’t overcook. Patton gave him a grateful smile and kissed Thomas’s cheek, “can you head into the lounge now, kiddo? I need to finish breakfast and then I’ll come over and keep you company.”
Thomas whimpered and clutched at his dad’s shirt, Logan frowned, “perhaps you could sit with me? Daddy needs to do some things but I’d like to think my cuddles will suffice.”
“What?” Thomas croaked, his throat was still sore and the crying had only made it worse, his voice was thick and shaky but at least he was looking at Logan now.
Patton nodded, “yeah that sounds terrific, go on, cuddle with Papa until I’m ready.”
Thomas looked unsure, he really hated being passed around so much when he was sick, he usually liked to find one person and cling to them for as long as possible. Logan reached out, “come with me, busybee. I’ll keep you safe.”
Thomas reached for him wordlessly, his lower lip was jutted out in a pout and he looked ready to start crying again but Logan pulled him in for a hug anyway, “I’m sorry you don’t feel well, love.”
“really hurts,” Thomas mumbled.
“What hurts, dear?”
“M’ throat.”
“Ah,” Logan sat down on the couch and pulled the toddler into a hug, “well it’s a good thing Daddy is so good at making people feel better, isn’t it.”
“Mhmm,” Thomas nodded, looking over at Patton as he phoned daycare while serving breakfast, the toddler suddenly got teary, “I wan’ Daddy.”
Logan’s eyebrows shot up in panic, not another meltdown, please not another meltdown, “Daddy’s coming in a little while, Thomas. Why don’t we play a game?”
“What game?”
“What’s your favourite colour?” Logan asked.
“Rainbow!” Thomas said, obviously.
“Well then, what’s my favourite colour?”
Thomas hesitated, “blue?”
“Well done, busybee!” Logan praised, “what’s your favourite animal?”
“Zero!”
Patton walked in and grinned, “speaking of our adorable puppy, should I go and get her for you? She can keep us company while we watch movies.”
“Yes please and thank you!”
Patton ruffled his hair, “alright kiddo, be right back.”
Virgil reappeared in the doorway, “hey Pa.”
“Good morning, Virgil.”
Virgil came over to give Thomas a quick hug, “so sorry Thomas, The Prince is picking me up in five minutes, I’ll see you after school though.”
“Have you had breakfast?” Logan asked, a frown pulling at the corner of his mouth.
“What do you think the five minutes is for?” Virgil said, hurrying over to the plates of eggs, he started wolfing one of them down as fast as he could while messaging Remy at the same time.
Logan rolled his eyes and returned to his little game with Thomas, his attempt to take the four year old’s mind off things was successful and the toddler was giggling and smiling in no time.
Patton came back in holding Zero, he set the puppy on the ground, “Lo you’re going to be late.”
Logan glanced at the time, he hastily got to his feet with a mutter, “Thomas, love, I hope you feel better, I’ll see you after work and maybe call you and Daddy at lunchtime, alright? I love you both,” he pressed quick kisses to Thomas and Patton’s cheeks.
Patton hummed, “don’t you dare leave without eating breakfast.”
“I know, honeybee, I will.” Logan chuckled.
Patton sat down and ensured Thomas was comfortable on his lap, Zero hopped up to sit with them on the couch, he rested his face on Patton’s thigh, Thomas petted his head, “hi Zero,” he mumbled through a yawn.
Patton rubbed his back, “are you tired?”
There was a knock at the door and Virgil stumbled over to get it, “bye dads! Bye Thomas!” He called.
Logan soon followed, leaving Patton and Thomas alone with Zero and Sally, who had recently decided that the best place for her to be was on the kitchen bench, curled up a neat ball.
Patton looked down at Thomas, “what movie should we start with, kiddo?”
