Whumptober Day 10

Hi! I'm so sorry this is late! I'll hopefully post today's prompt later but I haven't started it yet. Oops!

Warnings: abuse, bruises,

Let me know if I need to tag anything else!

Whumptober list is by la-vie-en-whump so go check them out!

Over the years, Patton's gotten very good at hiding his bruises. Usually said bruises are a result of his clumsiness and he'd only hide it so as not to worry the others but every so often that wasn't the case. Sometimes - now not all the time or even often - one of the 'dark sides' would come along.

Patton, being morality, was the one to consult when they wanted to influence Thomas and when things didn't go their way, lets just say… sometimes they could lose their temper.

Patton usually stuck to warm sweaters and long sleeve shirts after those days, at least until the bruises faded and you couldn't see the hand marks anymore.

It wasn't a big deal and Patton simply didn't want to worry his family, that's all. He wasn't hiding them so he didn't have to see, he wasn't upset that the dark blue and purple splotches on his arms reminded him of bruising holds and abusive fists. None of that mattered because the other sides were safe from the abuse and Patton meant to keep it that way. He had to protect the others and he was prepared to do anything to keep them safe.

One day though, Patton was not feeling the greatest and had disastrous meeting with ███ who got angry after Patton didn't give him the permission he wanted. Patton was now sporting a new fist-shaped bruise on his jaw and decided that today he was going to wear his cat hoodie regularly instead of around his shoulders.

He went out to the kitchen, pulling his hood up over his face and opened the fridge.

"Hey Pat?" Came from behind him.

"Oh!" Patton squeaked, fumbling the egg carton he'd picked up. "Heya there kiddo!" Patton turned to see Virgil watching him with worried curiosity. Unconsciously, Patton pulled his hood further over his face and Virgil gave him a weird look.

"Are… are you okay, Pat?"

"Me? Yeah! I'm purr-fect Virge! I'm your regular old happy, Pappy Patton!" Patton cheered, forcing his face into a wide smile despite his bruise protesting the action. Unfortunately, Virgil didn't look too convinced.

"Patton, could you take your hood off?" Virgil asked calmly, his eyebrows furrowing slightly in worry.

"I- um… it's just that…" Patton couldn't come up with a good enough lie in time and Virgil only looked more concerned.

"Pat, you're really freaking me out. What's going on?"

"It's nothing. Really, Verge. I'm fine." Patton assured, kicking himself for his behaviour. Of course Virgil would notice something, Patton couldn't be acting any more suspicious.

"Take off your hood then." Virgil was watching him carefully, his fingers worrying the cuffs of his own hoodie.

"I…" Patton tried to find another excuse but then let out a heavy sigh. He pulled the hood down and looked to the ground. Virgil didn't gasp or make a noise like Patton thought he would and Patton flinched when Virgil very softly brushed the bruise with his fingertips.

"Who did this?" Virgil hissed lowly, anger burning in his eyes.

"N-nobody! I just bumped into something and I… didn't want to worry you guys! I'm fine, really!" Patton lied, hoping Virgil would buy it but the anxious side frowned.

"Pat…" Virgil began and carefully took Patton's hands in his own. "You don't have to hide this. Who did that to you?"

"███." Patton sighed and a dark look flashed over Virgil's features. "It's fine, I'm used to it, it doesn't actually hurt that much and-"

"Stop that." Virgil growled and Patton went silent, "it's not fine, don't even say it is! I'm going to kill him."

"No! No, Verge, it's fine. I promise!" Virgil pulled Patton softly into a hug, holding him tightly to his chest. Without his permission, tears welled in Patton's eyes and he let out a sob. "I-it's… its… it's fine- I'm- I'm fine Verge. I-"

"Shhh it's okay." Virgil hushed and pulled Patton over to the couch, pulling him into his lap. "It's okay to not be okay."

"They won't hurt you anymore." Virgil said with such certainty that Patton believed him instantly.

Maybe he didn't need to hide his bruises anymore, maybe he didn't need to hide.

oOo

The next day, Patton caught sight of Virgil and Roman confronting ███ and couldn't help but let a smile cross his face.

He sure loved his famILY.

I got the idea that the dark sides consult Patton from ironwoman359 and their story Lies Of Omission! It's amazing, you should go check it out!

post/178842931128/lies-of-omission