'Okay, Deceit,' he thought to himself, standing on Patton's front porch. 'Showtime'.
He knocked on the door and was startled to hear the distinct sound of someone scrambling down the stairs. Then, the scrambling halted. There was a beat. The door swung open, and Deceit was blinded by the pure excitement radiating off of Patton.
"You look," Deceit's gaze pulled away from Patton's shy smile and imploring eyes to glance down at the rest of the babysitter's outfit. He was wearing dark jeans that complemented his tan cardigan. Deceit brushed a hand down his own suit absentmindedly, and settled on, "...cute."
Patton's eyes lit up, his smile cranking up a few watts. "Oh! Gosh, thank you! You look amazing! Am I under-dressed?"
Deceit smoothed out the wrinkle in his eyebrows, putting on his most charming smile, "Oh, darling, no! Anyone would be honored to have a date as handsome as you."
Patton's cheeks flushed dark, his mouth gaping like a fish. Deceit smiled and held a hand out, "Shall we?"
Patton mutely nodded, taking his hand and letting Deceit lead him to his car. It was a sleek, black Mustang with tinted windows. Deceit and the car had been through countless times together. He loved the car. He called it Black Beauty. It was a hand-me-down from his father. When Patton asked about the car, he told him as such. Deceit wasn't afraid to admit his connection to ol' Beauty. Patton started talking then, and Deceit, he was paying a lot of attention.
"So, uh," Patton said after a short silence, "have you ever met one of our Sides before?"
"No, you would be my first." Deceit winked at him, and Patton blinked in confusion, clearly missing the inudo.
He quickly threw in a nervous laugh and admitted, "Yeah, me neither. To be honest, I was surprised you found me. Not that I was hiding!" He laughed, and Deceit played along with a friendly chuckle. Patton continued, awkwardly scratching his neck, "But I had no idea you were even in the same city as me! Imagine the luck!"
Deceit shrugged, "The universe works in ways beyond comprehension, I suppose."
Patton giggled, "Yeah, whatever that means."
No one noticed that Deceit's fingers had tightened their grip on the wheel and remained that way for the rest of the ride.
Once they arrived at the restaurant, Deceit helped Patton out of the car and into the building. Patton gasped and looked around at the exquisite Italian decor. Deceit glanced over the table and read the soonest reservation upside-down, while the hosts were busy.
Patton and the host arrived by his side at the same time. Deceit wrapped an arm around Patton's waist and smiled at the host. "Reservation for Dr. Pando."
The host grabbed two menus, then hesitated, upon better inspection. She squinted at him, "Aren't you two Sides?"
"Well, sure," Deceit said smoothly, stepping around the host table, arm still wrapped around Patton. The host naturally started walking with them, in a strange half-following, half-leading dance. "But there are quite a few things one can do while a Side. Did you hear they're debating if Sides should have the right to vote? Astounding."
They reached their table, and the host set the menus down, clearly thrown off her rhythm. "Uh, yeah. Your waiter will be with you shortly."
They sat down as she walked off. Deceit got situated on the chair, rearranging his soup spoon and his dessert spoon to his liking. He looked up when Patton chirped, "I didn't know they were gonna let Sides vote."
"Hm?" Deceit glanced up from what he was doing, remembering Patton was there. Who's voting? Oh, yes, that thing. He shrugged it off and opened his menu, "Now that you mention it, I may have been thinking of something I read in a novel."
"Oh?" Patton's smile lowered slightly in confusion. "That's alright. Um, have you ever been here before?"
No.
"Yes." Deceit purred, leaning across the table to gesture at the menu, "You simply must have the shrimp alfredo, it's devine!"
Patton smiles down at the menu and then up at Deceit. "Alright, is that your favorite dish?"
"I'm more of a lasagna man, myself." Deceit shrugged, not caring either way. He held his chin in his hand and said, "Get whatever you like, darling, money is no issue."
Patton sputtered, insisting to only order something small. Deceit wasn't surprised; Patton was absolutely the type to be humble. Deceit could almost convince himself it was endearing. When the waiter returned, Deceit ordered for them.
"My dearest soulmate will have the shrimp alfredo, and I'll have the spaghetti and meatballs. We'd also like a side of garlic bread and two glasses of your finest rosé." He waved her off with a flourish, turning to Patton with an 'I'm Interested' face. "So, darling, tell me more about yourself."
Patton was still watching the waiter's retreating form, his gaze slowly sliding over to Deceit's face. "Oh, uh- of course! Well, my name is Patton 'Morality' Side-"
"Stop!" Deceit held up a finger. Patton's words fumbled to a stop, his eyes blinking owlishly. Deceit poked Patton's button nose, earning a hesitant smile. "Tell me about that. When did you get diagnosed?"
"As Morality?" Patton thought for a second. He closed one eye when he thought, like he was some kind of pirate. Deceit thought he look more a buffoon, but the two could be synonymous. "Well, I was just a kiddo, probably around five? My mama said she knew right away."
"Hm, your traits showed?" Deceit asked. The waiter returned then, with the wine glasses. Deceit took his wordlessly, having a thankful taste of the cold beverage. Patton waited until the waiter left, thanking him quietly.
Patton took a small sip of the beverage, unsure if he liked its flavor. He swallowed, set his drink back down, and continued the conversation, "Oh, yeah. That age is when kids first start learning about right and wrong, ya'know?"
"I'm aware." Deceit smiled tightly, his gaze flicking up to look at Patton. He maintained eye contact, slowly pulling his lips into a tantalizing smile. Patton's cheeks flushed and he glanced away.
Patton continued, clearing his throat, "Well, um, I would run around and tell the smaller kids all the rules of the world."
"Oh?" That brought a genuine smile to Deceit's lips. The idea of a tiny human bossing around littler humans was delightful.
"Uh-huh. So Mama and Papa took me to get tested, and the Doc decided I was Morality!" Patton gave a little jazz hands. Then he shifted in his seat and asked, "What about you? I wasn't sure, um, is Destiny your Established name?"
Deceit sat back and placed his hands on his lap. He had a lie right on the tip of his tongue, but what slithered out was a hideous little truth, "No."
He watched as confusion settled on Patton's face once more. Deceit kept his cursing on the inside, like a gentlemen. He smiled through his headache. Stupid, trait pains!
Patton mumbled to himself, "Oh, well, um…"
"I only mean, not legally." Deceit explained in a rush. He took a sip of his wine and was pleased that the waiter returned with the food.
Patton was properly distracted as his meal was set in front of him. The two of them picked up their utensils and happily dug in. The food was so very decent and not at all worth the cost.
Patton let out a soft, happy noise as he chewed his pasta. "This is delicious! Thank you for taking me here!"
"Of course." Deceit smiles, and they fall into silence while they eat. The dinner passes with idle chatter, most of which Deceit forgets instantly. They order dessert and Deceit swipes a piece of Patton's cake, in exchange for some of his ice cream. Patton was both flattered and charmed.
Piece. Of. Cake.
Deceit asks for the check. He placed some lovely, Monopoly twenty bills in the fold. Then threw in an extra fifty for the waiter. He swooped Patton up before the other man could digest his food and they were off again in his Black Beauty.
It was dark out by the time they arrived outside Patton's place. The man in question was leaning against the car window with a sleepy smile on his face and a full belly. Deceit's throat constricted strangely at the sight of his Side in such a peaceful state. Well, anyone would be affected.
Shoo go away gay thoughts, shoo. Deceit cleared his throat and gently nudged Patton's shoulder, "Dearest? We're here."
Patton's eyes fluttered open and he smiled when he saw Deceit. They climbed out of the car and Deceit led them up to Patton's door. He held the other man's hand, like, the entire time. They hovered outside the door, on the paw-print doormat.
"Do you have pets?" Deceit asked, concerned.
"No," Patton shrugged, "I just like them."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"So-"
"I-"
"Oh, sorry, you-"
"No, no, my bad, um-"
The two glanced at each other, then Patton burst into giggles. Deceit couldn't help but watch the other man radiate pure joy and goodness. He couldn't help but feel a small laugh sputter out of his own lips as well.
Deceit reached for Patton's hands, and the two ended up pressed close to one another, noses bumping. Patton's words were enchanted, hushed and pure, "I had a wonderful time tonight."
"I've always dreamed of this moment." Deceit whispers, like a confession, "Of the first night with the first Side I meet. The beginning of the rest of our lives together."
Patton's eyes sparkled in the low light, his cheeks pink. He admitted, "Me too. Destiny, can I tell you something?"
"Of course, darling, you can tell me anything." Deceit responded immediately, batting his eyes for good measure.
Patton nuzzled himself close to Deceit's chest, pressing his face under Deceit's chin. "I'm glad that I met you first."
Deceit felt the gentle brush of lips on the skin of his neck. He felt the hair on his arms stand on end, and the breath be pulled out of his lungs. His grip on Patton tightened, and he knew Patton did the same.
Tighter and tighter-
closer and closer-
Gone.
When Deceit opened his eyes again, he wasn't Deceit anymore.
Tell me what you think!