"Try not to worry about them." Logic said as they watched Virgil storm off, Roman and Janus on his heels. Patton sighed and took Logic's hand. He led the way to the escalator. He didn't want Virgil mad at him. But didn't he see how dangerous it was to hang around Janus?

Patton tried to be understanding this past week, as Virgil was healing. But he was better now, he didn't need Janus' help anymore.

As they stepped on the escalator, Logic continued, "Maybe Virgil is right. They know better now, to not get too close."

Patton hoped he was right. He wondered what he must've done to be given a Fusion so vile. He glanced over at Logic's stuffy expression; his pinched brows and distant eyes. Patton felt a sadness creep into his heart. Logic deserved a better Fusion than Remus. Patton couldn't see how anyone would benefit from having that inside of them.

Patton followed Logic around the mall, walking side by side. He noticed when people noticed them. And, like the lady at the grocery store the other week, most people seemed to think they were a couple. Any time he caught the eye of whomever was watching them, they'd smile and wink at him, or scoff and look away. Here's the weird part - there were more people who seemed to like that Patton and Logic were a couple. A gay, Side couple. Patton had always believed they would be harassed for simply looping arms together. …Why was he expecting that to be the norm?

Logic would know. "Hey, uh." Patton felt his face flush. How could he possibly phrase this? "Logic, I have a question."
"Excellent." Logic brightened as he turned to him. "What is it?"

"Um…" Patton stopped walking and looked around. No one was watching them now, on the relatively empty second floor. Still, he pulled Logic closer and whispered in his ear, "Are gay Sides normal?"

Logic paused, and Patton pulled away to see his expression. He could almost see the wires sparking behind Logic's glasses. Finally, he blinked and said, "Well, yes, I suppose that would be an accurate assessment. Mathematically, there will always be more queer Sides for every queer Established person. Not just for systemic issues preventing queer Establishment, but simply every queer person has five queer Sides. It's very rare for a queer Established person to claim they have more than one straight Side. Did that answer your question?"

"I think." Patton said, glancing over at the nearest Established person. His suspicions were right. Sides could be gay, and maybe have little, innocent relationships, so long as they stopped that before they were Established.

Logic nodded, pleased. He gestured to a bright store playing elevator music. "Let's look here for plates."

"Tell them we need re-plate-ments." Patton said.

"I won't, but you can." Logic said, but he gave Patton a tiny smile. He wanted to swallow it up like a cookie.

As they walked out of the couch store with a receipt and a promise to deliver, Patton began to grow sleepy. He wasn't able to sleep very well without Virgil to cuddle with. He had gotten used to sleeping near another person, and his bed felt too big and lonely without him. He tried to not think about Virgil pressed against Janus, in his bed, naked and exhausted and sweaty and-

"Are you alright?" Logic asked, and only then Patton realized he was gripping Logic's elbow tightly. He loosened his hold and adjusted to be more comfortable.

"Yes! Sorry. I was just-" Patton couldn't tell him he was thinking of what he saw. But his tongue fell heavy at the thought of any sort of lie. He settled on, "Um, thinking about how … Janus was helping Virgil this week."
"He certainly has been working hard." Logic said, not making eye contact anymore. He chewed his lip and said, "I think you ought to talk to him-"

"About staying away from the others, I know." Patton said, rubbing his neck. "I can't decide what to say, like, how to get him to listen to me."

Logic was watching him again. He shook his head slightly, "No, I meant-"

His next words were drowned out by a loud scream. Patton twisted around to see the opening in front of them. He stepped up to the railing and looked down at the clearing a floor below. A water fountain stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by some benches. Logic arrived by his side.

People ran into sight, sprinting past the water fountain and out of sight. Patton shared a worried look with Logic. Glass shattered, more screaming.

"You don't think-?" Patton asked.

Logic was thinking the same thing, his eyes wide, as he said, "No, they wouldn't."

Patton felt Logic grab his hand, the firm weight his only comfort. Patton flinched as a terrible alarm blared from the mall speakers.

" THIS IS NOT A DRILL. A STRESS HAS BEEN SPOTTED IN THE BUILDING."

"Oh my God." Patton whispered, feeling his heart drop down to his toes. Welp. It wasn't Remus.

Patton could hear the nasty sound of nails scraping against the mall's tile floor. He watched as more and more people flooded past the water fountain, screaming and looking behind them.

"Here." Logic's deep voice and sharp tug had him stumbling into a strong embrace. Logic pulled them to hide around one of the many support beams around the balcony. Patton landed on his butt as Logic guided them to kneel behind the structure. Logic kept one hand on Patton's shoulder as he leaned around the beam to watch the floor below.

"Um-" Patton mumbled, staring up at Logic's slender neck. He was practically leaning over Patton, his smell flooding over him. Pat felt his face burn as Logic returned, pressed close to him. "-Uh."

"It's alright." Logic said, "Its down there, and if we can get to the emergency stairs over there-" Logic nodded to basically the other side of the mall.

Patton shook his head. "No, it's too far."

"Patton, there's a chance it could come up here, and we're vulnerable-"

"Please, I- I don't think I could run that far." Patton's legs felt shaky and he wasn't even standing. He would probably just trip and alert the STRESS to where they were.

Logic huffed, but didn't argue further. He looked around the mall, still pressed against Patton, filling his every thought with surprisingly strong arms and a serious expression. He didn't want to cause any further problems, but he really didn't think he could quietly run for his life.

Logic nudged him, somehow shuffling even closer. Pat's face was burning with how much contact they were making. He licked his lips and tried to count backwards from a hundred.

There was a massive crashing noise, and Patton flinched. Logic squeezed his shoulder and spoke calmly as he looked downstairs.

"Don't worry, it just destroyed the fountain." Logic turned and said the next bit quickly. "Here's what we'll do, if it appears to remain downstairs, we'll wait here until the authorities arrest it. The second it tries to come up here, I'm carrying you and we're running."

Patton felt his heart do a little flip at the idea of it. "No, you can't carry me! I'm way too heavy."

"Patton, you're roughly the same weight as Virgil and Janus, I'm carrying you." Logic said in a tone that left no room for argument. Patton bit his tongue as Logic glared down at him. He nodded and ignored the heat in his cheeks.

"Oh… Okay." He squeaked.

Logic's hand squeezed his shoulder again and then rubbed his arm. Patton felt sparkly where they touched. He bit his lip and tried to stay quiet.

"What's it doing?" He whispered when the STRESS roared. It made the most disgusting noises Patton had ever heard; too many voices wailing of pain and frustration. He hated it.

"Looking for its last Side." Logic said, "STRESSes only form when four Sides fuse together. Humans can't stand being that close to Establishment; it causes us-"

"STRESS." Patton gasped in realization.

"Well- yes. I was going to say 'intense agony', but you're right." Logic licked his lips. Patton realized talking about the STRESS was calming him down. He wanted to giggle at how silly Logic was, but he didn't have any giggles left in him at the moment. Logic continued, "It won't stop until it finds its last Side, or someone inside it is strong enough to escape."

"Escape? Like forced Fission?"

"Usually, but it's not exactly the same as other Fusions. There's still a lot about STRESSes we don't-" Logic stopped talking suddenly. His eyes widened and he shook his head. "Oh, no."

"What? What?" Patton tried to sit up to take a look of his own. Logic held him still, his jaw tight.

"It's a group of Activist Sides." Logic said.

"What?" Patton pushed him back enough to peer around the corner. Sure enough, the STRESS was surrounded by a bunch of Sides and Fusions. He had heard of Activist Sides before. "I thought they liked the outdoors?"

"Those are Active Sides, Emotional traits. These are Activists - Ethical traits. They lead many political events and rallies. They're-"

"They're better Moralities." Patton said, unable to keep the pout out of his voice.

"You're both Ethical traits, I hardly doubt there's a competition." Logic said, rolling his eyes. He grew silent again when the Activists raised their hands and stepped closer to the STRESS. He bit his lip and muttered, "Back up, back up."

"What're they doing?" Patton had never seen anyone get voluntarily close to a STRESS before. They were beasts. They were wrong. Didn't these Ethicals know that?

Logic glanced at him briefly. "Many Activists are fighting for STRESS rights."

"STRESS rights?" Patton almost laughed. "What about the rest of us?"

"Side rights as well, but-" Logic gestured to the STRESS down below, "This is the current topic. Many believe STRESSes shouldn't be villainized and, I-I'm not sure, I haven't read much of their rhetoric. But they're clearly delusional about the risk level involved with STRESSes."

Patton shifted closer to Logic, pressing their sides together. "Are- are they going to be okay?"

"Maybe you shouldn't watch." Logic said, gently trying to push him back into his previous sitting position.

"No, wait, the police are here!" Patton gasped in relief. He pointed, poking the glass, at the police speaker. "They'll get everyone out safely."

Logic pushed against him harder, "Patton, I really think-"

He couldn't hear what the police officer said into the megaphone. Time ran in slow motion as the cops moved in sync. They all grabbed something off their hip. Patton only saw a second before Logic's hand covered his eyes. In the darkness, Patton listened as electricity ripped through the Activists' bodies. He heard screaming and a soft buzzing sound. His blood ran cold.

"It's okay." Logic whispered, holding him against the wall again. Patton covered his mouth, his eyes squeezed shut. He couldn't ignore the screaming. "It's okay. They'll be alright."

Patton shook his head, and Logic's hand fell away. He looked up to see Logic's horrified expression, still watching below. Patton whispered, "What will happen to them?"

"They'll get arrested." Logic replied, voice hoarse. "Them and the STRESS."

"Oh, God." Patton felt sick. That wasn't right. They weren't hurting anyone - they were trying to stop the STRESS from getting more upset.

Patton flinched at the sound of the STRESS screaming, the loudest it had yet. He curled smaller into a ball. Fog began to fill his glasses from his tears and shaky breath. Logic rubbed his arm again. Patton hiccuped.

"Shh, don't look. Don't-"

"What's happening?" Patton asked. Logic hesitated. "What is it?"

"They're trying to force Fission." Is all Logic said. The STRESS screamed louder. The buzzing filled Patton's ears.

He covered his mouth again to hide his sob. Logic shushed him, watching the entire event. Patton didn't know how he could do it. He didn't know how the police - how anyone - could do that. Even if it was for a STRESS.

Logic hissed a sharp breath as the screaming stopped. The silence felt even heavier. Patton closed his eyes and tried to keep his crying quiet.

He doesn't know how he got to the mall front entrance with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. All he knew was flashing lights and Logic's hand clasped firmly in his. He listened as he was spoken at, but he didn't retain anything. He stayed by Logic's side, wishing he could simply disappear.

The police attacked them. All of them. The Ethical Sides, Good Ethical Sides, that were trying to help. They got arrested. And that STRESS - God, what happened to that STRESS? Do all STRESSes- is that what happens every time?

"Almost done." Logic's breath against his ear made him jump. He tried his best to focus, to remember what was happening. "We just have to find the others."

"Oh my god- oh my god, the others!" Patton had completely forgotten he had Sides during that mess. He turned back to the mall, horrified.

Logic took him by the shoulders and made him look at him. "Hey, it's alright. The police said the first floor was evacuated. They got out."

Patton swallowed heavily. He pushed forward and hugged Logic, burying his face in his chest. Logic wrapped his arms around him, and Patton tried to calm down. He felt Logic's lips on his temple, and a shiver ran down his spine.

"Maybe we can call them." Logic said. "Let's get out of this commotion."

He led Patton through the maze of police, first responders, and reporters. He weaved between people, desperately holding onto Logic. He let out an exhale as they stepped into the parking lot, where the crowd had lessened. Patton wiped his eyes as Logic pulled out his phone and dialed Janus' number.
It rang twice.

"PATTON!" Someone shouted.
Pat had only a moment to look up before he was bombarded by a black-and-purple jacket. He let out a squeal of delight, immediately recognizing Virgil's touch. He relaxed, pressing himself close to the other.

"Oh my god, I thought-" Patton mumbled.

"I know, I know." Virgil pulled back and cupped Patton's face in his hands. Patton giggled as he peppered tiny kisses around his face. Cheeks, forehead, nose. Patton blushed and swatted him away when his brain started anticipating a kiss on the lips. Virgil stepped back and Patton looked over to Logic.

He was holding both Roman and Janus tightly, the three of them clinging to each other. Janus buried his face in the middle of them, unable to be seen. Roman's hand was in Logic's hair. And he could see from Logic's movement that he was rubbing Roman's back. Janus lifted his head and pulled Logic down into a kiss by his shirt. Patton rested his head on Virgil's shoulder, and for once didn't mind his Sides' physical intimacy.

After they had calmed down, Patton felt a rumbling in his belly. He blushed when it growled loudly. "Oh, gosh. I guess all that excitement made me hungry."

"I'm not particularly feeling up to cooking." Logic said, sounding apologetic.

"Me neither." Patton chewed his lip.

Roman waved them off, "That's alright. I can cook something for us."

Virgil made a gagging noise. Patton elbowed him gently, smiling. "Oh, that's really kind of you, buddy. But, uh."
"Your cooking's lovely." Janus said, grimacing. At Roman's offended expression, Janus took his hand and kissed his palm. Patton blinked in surprise. He wasn't expecting to feel … something at a simple hand-kiss. Janus continued, "Let's eat out."

"I don't know." Virgil hesitated, "We just saw a public STRESS and you want to spend more time in the public?"

Logic shook his head, "The likelihood of there being another STRESS alert, at a different location, is very small."

"Besides, we all escaped safe and sound." Roman said, proudly puffing out his chest. "You can handle another Beast, can't you, Beauty?"

"Alright, fine." Virgil rolled his eyes. Patton poked his pink ear. He got swatted at. Virgil looked to Logic, "But can we pick somewhere, like, five minutes away from home."

"I can do that." Logic nodded. He placed a hand on Roman's shoulder and took Janus' hand. "We deserve a small treat, such as a professionally prepared meal. Don't we?"

"After all that bullshit, and the hell week we've had?" Roman nodded, "Absolutely."
"Great." Janus said, turning to look out at the parking lot. "So where's our car?"

Patton giggled. Janus' gaze snapped to his expression. He really must be tired if Janus was making him laugh. He looked away and hid his smile against Virgil's shoulder. Virgil's hand found his own, their fingers intertwined.

A distraction. That's all it was. He deserved a little distraction after what he just witnessed. Maybe they all do.

Tell me what you think!