It took an extra half hour to get all the kiddos settled than usual. But once they were all off doing their own activities around the room, Patton finally got the chance to sit down and chat with Expression about the double date they had over the weekend.
He's excited to hear how Expression's experience with fusion went, especially considering their past thoughts on the topic. Did they like it? Was Vogue anything like Daniel? When Expression sat down next to him, he smiled and said, "I'm proud of you."
"Shut up." Expression snorted, rolling their eyes, even as they smiled. "It was an accident."
"A happy surprise!" Patton said, his smiled widening. "Right?"
They ran a hand through their hair and blew out a long puff of air, "Yeah? I think so?"
Patton rested his chin in his palm. His voice lowered to a quieter volume as he asked, "Tell me about it?"
Expression sighed again. "Ok, well. We only fused in the first place because Spunky-"
"Aw! Spunky!"
"No interruptions!" Expression swatted at him, their cheeks turning pink. "She just said a funny joke! That's all! And she was really cute! So we fused!"
"And how'd that feel?" Patton said, hiding his grin behind his hand.
Expression turned to watch the children as they shrugged and mumbled, "It was alright. Really freaking cool. No big deal."
"Is 'Spunky' as horrible as you thought she'd be?"
They shook their head, "No! And that's the thing! She's so cool!" Expression listed the facts off on their fingers, "She never once has questioned or criticized my trait. She even let Vogue be nonbinary! They're genderfluid! And she's really smart and funny and fuck!"
They hissed the last word, quietly between their teeth; because there were children present. Morality still gave them a small scowl.
Expression let out a long breath, the tension easing from their shoulders. "The best part, is when I'm fused with her, I'm completely fearless. Vogue has so much confidence, and it comes from her. She gives me the strength for us to be something… different and new."
Patton chuckled, pleased with the outcome of their double date. Expression was the one who asked him to come, since they didn't want to be there alone. It was nice to know everything worked out well, and he helped along the way. He asked, "What'd Vogue do after you left?"
"First, they went shopping and spent my money on new clothes. They said that me and Spunk's outfit was, and I quote, 'an offense to everyone with eyes'."
"That's not very nice." Patton said with a small pout. He didn't mind the strange mix of Spunk's red dress and Expression's leather. It suited them.
"No, they were right." Expression waived him off, then continued, "After that, we went back to my place and Vogue started a YouTube channel!"
"What? Why?"
"To be a vlogger! They're a YouTuber now!" Expression shook their head, like they didn't even believe it. "They talk about fashion and hairstyles and make up, but not in an overly feminine way. Their channel is like a constant stream of Queer Eye, but where everyone's trans!"
"Oh! That's lovely!" Patton smiled at that, "So you're having fun?"
"Yeah! I mean, I think so? None of it was really my decision. I'd never make random videos for people's entertainment like that. But while I'm Vogue…" They hesitated, then shrugged and looked Patton in the eye, "People see me."
"I see you all the time." Patton told them.
"I know, Mori. Thank you."
After a second of silence, Expression pulled out their phone to show him Vogue's channel. There were already three videos on it; an introduction video, a short rant about the fashion industry, and a closet tour that featured both Side's closets. Once Vogue has been around for a while, Patton's sure they'll make their own collection of clothes that will double what Spunk and Expression have combined. Despite being a new channel, they already had almost two thousand subscriptions.
"Wow! How'd you guys get so many followers already? Vogue's only been around for two days." Patton shook his head in amazement.
Expression crossed their arms, a smug smile on their face, "That's the power of Vogue, Mori. They're meant to be known."
"Gosh." Patton whispered, shaking his head. He watched the nearest little Side running around. He distractedly said, "Inside feet! Be careful!"
"I didn't expect this but," Expression said, not looking at him. "Ever since we first fused, I've been desperate to get back to Spunk. Like, my body wants to be fused all the time."
He relaxed slightly at the sight of his friend. He used to worry about Expression spending most their time alone. He believed them when they said they were fine then, but now their life is changing. And unlike him, their first fusion encounter was successful. He really was happy for them.
Expression sighed with a small smile, then asked him, "What about you? What did you and that Side do after we left?"
Patton felt his shoulders lower as he thought about that night. He tapped the table rhythmically and said, "Oh, um, I took him back to his apartment. And he went inside, and I went home."
"Why am I not surprised?" Expression said, their tone teasing. "Little Patty, always the gentleman. Leaves them wanting more."
"Well, no, I mean yes-" Patton huffed in embarrassment. "I just want to take things slow. I fused with Deceit the second time I saw him. I barely knew him. And it was a disaster! I can't do that again."
Expression was quiet for a moment, just watching him. They glanced away and muttered, "Well, you're succeeding in that front. You don't even know this new guy's name."
"It starts with a V." Patton said, "Oh… or an A…"
Expression tapped their nails against the table, "Do you remember what they called him at the tattoo parlor? They said his name at one point, didn't they?"
Disappointment spread through Patton's chest. He shook his head, "I forget. There was a lot going on then."
"Well, are you going to see him again?" They asked.
Patton nodded, feeling his spirits slowly lift, "Yeah, he said we can get coffee together tomorrow."
"If he ends up being a dick just give me a call and I'll come rescue you." Expression said confidently.
"Dick!" Curious repeated from his spot a few feet behind Expression. He was coloring and they both thought he wasn't listening. "Dick dick dick-"
"No no no, we don't say that word!" Patton said, standing up and giving Expression a glare. They shrugged, and gave him a guilty look. Patton sighed and walked over to Curious, sitting down next to him. He tried to give the child a talk about bad words, but it didn't seem to stick. Patton sighed; he might get an angry phone call later. Sometimes it feels like his work never ends.
Patton shifted in his seat once more, glancing out the window as he waited. V said he was on his way, but Patton had been waiting for twenty minutes now. He tried to not feel disappointed at being stood up, but it was hard to ignore the weight in his chest. Was he really that unloveable?
He took a sip of his coffee, it had cooled a little since he ordered.
The bell above the door jingled, and his eyes darted to it. There he was! V stepped inside, his shoulders hunched. He didn't seem to ever stand up straight, but that was okay. He looked around quickly, before his gaze locked with Patton's. He gave him a tiny nod and went to order a drink. Patton watched him as he stood in line and paid. He was texting, and he didn't look Patton's way until he had his drink.
Patton sat up straighter when V slid into the seat across from him. He smiled, "Hi V!"
V winced, then muttered, "Hey, uh, sorry I'm late. I was- there was traffic."
"Oh, no worries at all!" Patton smiled wider, pleased that he wasn't being ignored. Quickly, he tried to think of a new conversation topic. "What did you order?"
"Green tea." V said, glancing down at his drink. "I don't really like coffee. It makes me an- uh, jittery."
Patton nodded, taking another sip of his own coffee, "Sure! I don't usually have coffee, but I thought it'd be nice."
Of course, he always orders something full of cream and sugar to the point where it doesn't taste like coffee anymore. He offered V a sip, but he declined. They sat in silence for a few moments, both fiddling with their drinks. Patton glanced out the window again, shifting awkwardly in his seat.
"It's a beautiful day outside."
V blinked in surprise, following his gaze, "Uh, yeah."
"On days like this we like to take the kiddos to the park." Patton tells him, "It's right next to the daycare, so we don't have to walk far."
V shook his head, "I can't imagine being in charge of so many kids. They're too unpredictable."
"Sometimes, but usually they just want to play." Patton said cheerfully, "Or they're hungry. Everything else is just a moment by moment distraction."
"What if they get hurt?" V asked, his brows furrowing.
Patton shrugged, "Then you give them hugs and a bandaid. You tell them it's okay and maybe give them a snack."
V accepted the answer, his thumbs rubbing his cup in long, smooth strokes. "So, do you go to college here?"
Patton only just realized that the coffee shop he selected was next to the local university. It was situated just off campus. He shook his head and admitted, "No, I didn't enroll. After high school, I took the job at the daycare, and I haven't stopped."
"Is that what you want?" V asked.
"I think so." Patton shrugged, "I like working there, and I'm just a Morality Side. College felt a little too intense for me."
"I get that." V said, taking a sip of his tea. He cleared his throat then added, "I didn't go to college, either. I took a couple drawing classes at a local art store; but I'm mostly self-taught. I've always hated school, it didn't feel worth it to continue my education."
Patton relaxed, smiling at that. It didn't happen often, but sometimes people would make fun of him for not being college educated. He didn't think he was dumb, but he knew who he was. He was a Morality Side not a Logical one. School just wasn't meant for him.
"So then how did you meet those other Sides? If it wasn't at school." Patton asked. V hesitated, his eyes widening. Patton quickly backtracked, "You don't have to answer, if you don't want to."
V shook his head, swallowing thickly. He muttered, "No, that's okay. Uh, I first met them at the doctor's office. We were both there for a check up."
Patton tried to lighten the mood, "That's incredible luck."
He shrugged, "Kind of. They didn't end up being my Sides, so I think it would've been better if we never met."
"Aw, but they can still be your friends, right?" Patton asked. V looked so sad, it wasn't fair. Patton didn't know the full story, but he wanted to make him smile again. "Maybe you were meant to be buddies."
V pulled a face, his lips turning down slightly. "Uh, I dunno. They never tried to hang out again once we couldn't fuse."
"Well, have you tried asking them?" Patton said, "You could make the first move."
"I don't think so." V ducked his head, "It's probably better this way."
Patton watched as he awkwardly took another drink, not meeting his gaze. He couldn't tell if this was going well or not. They were talking, which was all Patton really wanted. But he didn't know if V was enjoying himself. Patton tried to take the attention off of him and said, "I wish I won't ever see Deceit again, but I know it's impossible."
"Because you're Sides?" V asked, relaxing once more.
Patton nodded, "If I want to be Established, I'll have to…"
He grew quiet, his voice failing him. He didn't want to think about it; about having to be fused with him again. If only there was a way he could be Established without one of his Sides; but that wasn't possible.
"Well that'll happen in the future." V said, offering him a small smile. "Try not to worry about it right now. Maybe by then he'll be different."
Patton felt his chest lighten at the sight of V's smile. Slowly, his slid his hand across the table and held V's. V froze up at first, but then relaxed into the touch; intertwining their fingers. Patton sighed and said, "It's just sad. He made me feel … like a prince, and it was all a lie."
"Sounds like a movie." V muttered, "Like some Disney crap."
"Right!?" Patton huffed and sat back in his seat, still keeping their hands connected. "It wasn't fair."
V snorted and said, "Let's try not to have a sequel to that. I might make a pretty good villain, though."
Patton shook his head, "I don't think so. You're very nice, V."
Again, he winced, his hand tightening its grip on his fingers. He sighed, then muttered, "My name is …"
Patton leaned forward, unable to hear him. "Sorry, what was that?"
"My name is Virgil! You can … call me Virgil." He said, not looking at him.
"Oh." Patton smiled, his heart skipping a beat. He wasn't sure why, but just knowing Virgil's name made him feel lighter. "Virgil! That's a great name!"
Virgil ducked his head again, the tips of his ears turning pink. "Um, thank- thanks."
Patton wanted to ask what his trait was, but he knew better than to pry. Virgil will tell him when he's ready; he just proved that. Patton fiddled with a napkin and said, "Pleased to meet you Virgil! What do you like to do?"
"Uh…"
That seemed to be too vague of a question for Virgil, so he added, "What do you like to watch?"
Again, Virgil only seemed to shrink further into his seat. He took a sip from his tea and shrugged, "Well, I like, um, anime…"
"Anime? Okay! That's like cartoons, right?" Patton sat forward, his grip on Virgil's hand tightening slightly in excitement. His unbreaking presence soothed Patton's worries. His hand was warm.
With a small snort, Virgil said, "Kind of. They're cartoons from Japan. The animation style is different."
"Well I love cartoons!" Patton said, his smile widening. He leaned forward slightly, the table pressing into his chest as he suggested, "Maybe next time we can watch something together!"
"Y-yeah, okay, yeah." Virgil said in a quick, hushed voice.
Patton thought out loud, "What's a good cartoon that's also an anime? There's got to be some crossover, right?"
"Uh, sure. There's some shows that you've probably heard of." Virgil paused for a second as he thought. Then he shrugged and asked, "You ever heard of Avatar?"
"Oh!" Patton sat straight up, his excitement making him shout slightly. Virgil flinched, and Patton lowered his voice. He smiled apologetically as he said, "Yes! I've seen some of the first season."
Virgil looked away from him. He shifted in his seat and licked his lips, before he said nervously, "Maybe you could come over to my place, and we could watch it together? I don't know - if you want."
Patton gave him his biggest smile, his chest thumping excitedly. He squeezed Virgil's hand and said, "Yay! It's a date!"
Virgil smiled and ducked his head, taking a small sip of his tea. The high curve of his cheekbones started to turn a lovely shade of pink. Patton watched him, sitting in the sunlight from the window. He couldn't help but feel a warmth growing within him at the sight of his Side. It felt familiar to being near Deceit, but so much better.
They continued talking about cartoons and anime until Patton's coffee grew cold. When they inevitably had to leave, he gave the palm of Virgil's hand a soft, parting kiss.
"Until next time, my Virgil."
"...Later, Pat."
Tell me what you think!
