Patton sat on the couch with his head in his hands. He knew he should be cooking dinner or preparing for work tomorrow or even just resting. But none of that sounded right to Patton. His mind had been all over the place since he unfused with Virgil. He wanted to sleep more, but then felt like he was wasting his time when he was able to nap. He never felt fully rested after he woke up, either, so there wasn't even a point in sleeping in the first place. Patton wanted to cry; he hated this sense of never being able to win. He missed cuddling with his Sides, and Logic allowed him to sleep in his bed some nights, but it wasn't enough. Patton wanted to be on the bottom of a puppy pile; squished back into feeling normal.

What was wrong with him?

Roman's heavy footsteps startled Patton into looking up. He was grinning as he buttoned up a red shirt. His hair was tousled in an un-put-together way that he made look natural and adorable. Patton wanted to reach up and flatten his hair out.

Roman slowed his step as he approached, tilting his head slightly. "Are you okay, Patty?"

Patton sniffed and said, "What?"

Only then did he realize how watery and distressed his voice sounded. Roman's eyes widened and he dropped to his knees before Patton. He clutched Patton's hand in his own and said, "What happened? Who made you cry?"

Patton giggled, wiping his eye with his free hand, "No- no one. I'm alright."

Roman regarded him suspiciously and said, "I'll fight whoever made you upset. You know that, right?"

Patton shook his head, smiling, "I don't want anyone to fight for me. And I'm kind of just upset at myself, so you probably don't want to fight me."

Roman thought for a moment, then said, "You're right. I'd totally lose."
That made Patton laugh, startling himself. He covered his mouth with his hand. He felt Roman squeeze his other hand before he let it go.

"Need some cheering up?" Roman asked. At Patton's small nod, Roman said, "Good, me too. Let's go shopping!"

"Shopping?" Patton asked, "But we already have our groceries for the week."

Roman snorted, standing up. "No, silly. We're going antiquing."

"Antiquing?" Patton stood up as well. He followed Roman to the front door, where they kept a collection of jackets and shoes.

"Yeah, it's like a bunch of donated old stuff from people's grandparents." Roman said, putting on a red jacket. "You're coming with, right?"

"Of course!" Patton jumped up, all of his exhaustion and woes washing out of him. "I'd love to!"

"Great, Jan will be ready in a second." Roman said, grabbing his keys.

Patton deflated a little. "Oh. Janus is coming?"

"Is that alright?" Roman asked, looking up at him, confused. Patton's throat tightened.

He fidgeted, glancing away, "Well-"

His gaze landed right on Janus, who said as he bounded down the stairs, "Ready to go?"

Patton pressed his teeth together to keep from gasping loudly. It was clear Janus dressed up for the outing - he tended to wear t-shirts and sweatpants around the house. But right now his black jeans clung close to his body. He had a yellow tank top that he wore under a black leather jacket. But most distracting of all: Janus had done his make-up, softening his features. Patton couldn't help but stare at the lipstick he had chosen, a dark red that drew the eye. Patton felt his tummy tumble.

"Is…" Janus glanced between him and Roman. "...everything ok?"

"Yes!" Patton said quickly, "yes, everything is just fine!"

Roman, unaware of the new tension in the room, said, "Awesome, so if everyone is ready then let's go!"

He opened the door and left without a further word. Patton hesitated, looking over to Janus. "Um."

Janus straightened his shoulders and gestured to the door. He said, quietly, "After you."

Shame settled in Patton's chest. He should be better than instantly expecting a fight. That wasn't very kind of him. He shouldn't interrupt Janus' date with Roman.

"No, sorry, I didn't mean to intrude-" Patton held up his hands and tried to back away, but Janus grabbed his wrist and shook his head. Patton felt himself freeze up at such a small contact.

Janus' expression was stern. He said slowly, "Did Roman invite you?"

Patton nodded.

"Then let's not keep him waiting." Janus tugged on his wrist a little, and Patton allowed himself to be pulled forward. He bit his lip as Janus gently pushed him out the door with a hand on the small of his back.
"Okay," Patton squeaked. "Right."

Roman was already in the car when they got there. Patton glanced at Janus before taking the back seat. Just because Janus was alright with Patton's presence, didn't mean he could take all of Roman's attention.

"Oh, my god, I need this." Roman said with a sigh. He said, "I can not sit around all day, thinking about my diagnosis. I mean, just call me already and get it over with. I've only been waiting for twenty-one years, afterall." Roman looked back at Patton, his smile fading into confusion, "Why's your face red? You sick or something?"

Patton felt his cheeks burn as he mumbled, "No, 'm fine."

"Okay." Roman turned back around and started the car. Patton couldn't look up as Janus shifted around. Roman cheered, "To the cheap old shit!"

"I wouldn't exactly call this cheap." Janus said, looking at the price tag of a book that was more dust than paper at this point.

"That's part of the fun." Roman said, leading them further into the large barn-like building. Every surface had a dozen trinkets and tokens on it. Every item, even the bookshelves they sat on, was for sale; leaving Patton in a sense of wonder. He wasn't looking for anything specific, which meant he could look at everything. He stayed close to Roman, watching as he got lost in the joys of retail therapy. He quickly picked out a few skirts that looked like they'd just twirled out of a different decade.

"Could you carry this, babe?" Roman asked, holding the skirts out to Patton.

"Oh! Of course!" Patton said, taking the items.

Janus scoffed loudly, appearing beside him. Patton jumped as Jan took the skirts out of his hand. "Don't force Patton to carry your shit!"

"He didn't complain!" Roman crossed his arms.

"I don't mind!" Patton said, reaching for the clothes back. Janus jerked them out of Patton's reach. "Really, I can-"

"No, don't let people walk all over you like that." Janus said, "You deserve better."

Patton blinked in surprise. "What?"

Janus met his gaze, but quickly looked away. He muttered, "Forget it."

"Uh- oh." Patton bit his lip as Janus stormed off, Roman's skirts in tow. He disappeared behind a stack of books and magazines that were beginning to lean to the left.

Roman rolled his eyes and grumbled, "Yeah, but I'm the Dramatic one."

"Are you two alright?" Patton asked.

Roman sighed, "Yeah. No. I dunno."

He walked off in a different direction than Janus, looking at more clothes. He didn't ask Patton to carry any of his finds again. Patton followed behind him, but he wasn't really looking at any of the items anymore.

"Kyler helped us apologize or whatever, and like, Logic doesn't seem mad at me anymore. But." Roman shook his head, he lowered his voice as he said, "I think I really fucked up with Jan."

Patton frowned. He vaguely remembered that Kyler spoke with the three of them, but he couldn't pinpoint the specifics. Patton looked out at the store, unable to see very far, but imaging Janus pacing the thin aisles by himself. He said, "But … you're Sides."

"Tell me about it." Roman muttered, "Guess that doesn't mean shit anymore."

Patton frowned, looking down at his feet. Roman turned and explored a new direction. Patton chewed his lip. He knew Roman and Janus made each other happy - they were thrilled to be closer physically at least. Patton was starting to get less uncomfy with the idea of that kind of closeness between Sides. He wanted to help fix this.

"Roman, what happened with Janus?" Patton asked, rushing to catch up again.

Roman groaned, "Nothing, I just told him I didn't want a boyfriend and he broke up with me."

Patton frowned, "Oh. Well, then, isn't that what you wanted?"

"No!" Roman threw his hands in the air, "I just didn't want to say it back!"

Patton tilted his head, "Say what back?"

"I love you!" Roman turned around, emotion obvious in his voice. Patton gasped and instantly offered his arms out for a hug. Roman took it; swallowing him up in a warm embrace. Patton rubbed Roman's back and whispered 'shhh' comfortingly as Roman shook.

"It's right." Patton whispered, "It'll be okay."

Roman shook his head, pulling away a little, "I think I broke his heart."

Patton let out a little laugh, "Please, Janus? He's stronger than he looks, and he looks pret-tee strong to me." Roman rubbed his nose on his sleeve and gathered his breathing. Patton said, "He'll be just fine. He's Janus."

Roman shrugged and said, "I guess you're right."

"Besides, if you're worried that he's still mad at you," Patton said, walking them around a corner. The building felt endless, like they could stay inside for years and never see all of it. "Then just do some things that will make him happy."

"What makes him happy?" Roman asked.

Patton frowned. "Um."

He didn't know. He actually didn't know much about Janus at all, except that he was Negative and - apparently - he liked to bake. Maybe Roman could bake with Janus? No, Janus didn't want Virgil to know he made those cookies, he probably wouldn't appreciate Roman learning about that hobby. Patton came up empty; his brain supplying him with nothing. With a start, he realized what he had to do.

"Don't worry." Patton told Roman. "I'll be right back!"

Patton found Janus standing alone, looking at the things on an old, wooden table. Fireworks were going off inside Patton's chest as he approached. He was so excited to help out his friends!

"Hey Jan!" Patton tapped his shoulder. Janus jumped, letting out an adorable squeaking noise. He twisted around to look at Patton with eyes wide. In his fright, he bit down on the hangers of the skirts he was still holding. Patton realized how close they were standing and shuffled back, "Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!"

Janus took the hangers out of his mouth and cleared his throat. "I wasn't scared." He glanced around briefly before he said, "Where's Roman?"

Patton looked around as well and said with a shrug, "Guess I lost him."

"Hm." Janus said. He turned back to the table, his shoulders downcast.

Patton frowned, leaned against the thick wood, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"This stuff." Janus said, flicking a little figure on the table. "It's all junk."

Patton followed his gaze, confusion settling inside him. The figure he knocked over was a little girl in black. There were lots of little wooden people on the table, a part of a set maybe? Several of them were brightly colored, while a few only had black clothing and gray skin. Patton picked up one of the figures, a colorful one.

"Oh. It looks cute, though." He said, showing Janus the wooden statue.

"It's not." Janus said, flicking over another wooden statue. "It's an old way to say you hate Negatives."

"What?" Patton dropped the statue. "No, you don't know that!"

"I do, thanks." Janus said, walking away.

Patton winced at his own fumble. "Shoot!" He ran after him, and tried, "How do you know? I-I mean, they just looked like little guys to me."

"All of the monochrome ones are Negatives. They're all missing a hand." Janus said. Patton looked back to the table. He didn't think - he didn't notice -

"Okay." Patton said, "But that could just be-"

"Sure, yeah. It's only been an artistic representation of Negatives for about 500 years." Janus said, stopping and picking up a weird doll. It had a dirty apron and a frown. Janus lifted the doll's arm to reveal it ended in a round stump. Patton stared down at it. He took the doll from Janus and shook his head. Only now was he remembering a similar doll from his childhood, one that he believed his older cousins had damaged when they were kids. He lifted the doll's arm and suddenly felt sick.

"Five hundred years?" Patton asked, voice hoarse.

"Michelangelo was the first to depict the devil with one hand. To show he couldn't hold enough love for God." Janus wasn't keeping Patton's gaze. "Or whatever."

Patton gasped, dropping the doll. He covered his mouth as he spoke, like he didn't want to believe the truth. "The story of the devil's touch - that's about Negatives?!"

Janus seemed just as shocked as Patton, watching him with a bewildered expression. Then Janus slowly closed his eyes and exhaled out his nose. He kept walking. Patton followed, he said, "I believe - I was told that the devil had one hand because he was a Side that refused to find his pod. And, and if you weren't established you were-"

"A sin?" Janus looked at him again, brows low. "Patton-"

"You're only a sin if you don't become Established." Patton said, looking at Janus for a smidgen too long. He felt his face warm as he picked up the doll and fixed its dress. He set it on one of the tables and said, "But that's not relevant, um. God punished the devil for not fusing with his pod and removed one of his hands. And that was his only good hand? And just his evil hand was left, I guess. So if you were being bad then it was because the devil was touching you with his evil hand and-" Patton's face was so hot. "Stop laughing!"

Janus' little snort turned into a full-on laugh. Patton's embarrassment was squashed out by the sheer beauty and joy Jan's laugh summoned. Patton sputtered, unable to think with such a pretty sound in his ears.

"Sorry!" Janus covered his mouth and hid the laughter away. He cleared his throat and said seriously, "I didn't mean to disrespect your culture. Just…"

He trailed off with a weak smile. Patton didn't know why his face still felt hot, he wasn't embarrassed anymore. He smiled back and said, "I'm sorry we brought you here."

Janus blinked in surprise, hurt flashing across his face for a moment.

Patton quickly corrected, taking Janus' hand and squeezing it, "I just meant-! I'm sorry that there's so much disgusting history here! And that you have to see it."

Janus swallowed loudly, and Patton worried he said something wrong. He stepped back, dropping his hand. He mumbled again, "Sorry."

Janus said, shaking his head "No. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have dropped a history lesson on you like some Logical trait." Janus added, "You don't want to hear about any of that."

"Yes I do!" Patton said. His voice sounded too high-pitched and weird to him, so he tried again, trying to sound rational. "I do. Please, continue."

Janus watched him cautiously for a moment, before he led them further down the aisle. Any kind of collectible or toy could be found in this building. Patton kind of wished "everything" didn't include "all the bad things" too.

Janus gestured to an old painting of a horse drawn carriage. The driver held the reigns in one hand. "After Michelangelo, every artist used one hand to depict Negatives in their work. It was used across the world at different times, and is a widely known symbol now."

"Wait." Patton stopped in his tracks. "You're not lying, right?"

Patton felt himself grow cold at the deep look of sadness Janus gave him. He said as he turned to inspect yet another painting with a one-handed man kneeling before a crowd. "I wish I was."

Patton looked at the skirts Janus was still holding and remembered why he had even come to find him. Patton could've smacked his head, he felt so clueless. "Oh! I forgot! Janus, what kind of dates do you like?"

Janus looked up at him so quick, Patton was worried he'd hurt himself. He said, "W-what?"

"Dates." Patton said, blinking at him. Janus looked a little red. Was he getting sick?

Janus mumbled, "I, uh-"

"There you two are!" Roman shouted, throwing his arms around Patton. Pat giggled as they almost tumbled from the new weight. He caught them and pushed back against Roman to right them. They grinned at each other as Roman detailed himself and said, "What're we talking about? Was it me?"

"Well, I was just asking-" Patton said, gesturing to Janus.

Janus quickly interrupted and said, "What shampoo do you use?"

"Oh! Great question!" Roman ran his hand through his hair, spiking it up even more than it was this morning. Patton giggled and finally reached up to correct it. Roman tilted his head for better access as he spoke, "It's called Formula Nine, Special Boy Edition : For Men! And it's amazing at getting that glossy look without the heavy feel, you know?"

Janus was smiling and nodded at Roman, adding little "mm-hmm"s to keep him going. Patton frowned, watching Janus. He was distracting Roman, at the least. Patton just couldn't piece together what was making Janus so on-edge.

He decided it must be the creepy, ancient dolls that subtlety depicted hatred. That makes complete sense to Patton; Janus wants to leave the racism garage sale.

Feeling determined to help, he took Roman's hand and said, "Do you want to get some ice cream?"

"Yeah, I've found everything I need anyway." Roman looked over to Janus and said, humbled, "Thank you for carrying those. You didn't have to do that."

Janus shrugged and handed the skirts over to Roman, finally freeing his second hand. He said, "It's not a big deal."

Patton grabbed Janus' hand, but wasn't brave enough to keep holding it. Like bitten by an electric eel, he dropped Jan's hand as soon as their fingers touched. He was only able to tug him into walking before he let go; leading them to the register.

"What kind of ice cream would you like?" Patton asked Roman, trying to ignore the feeling of electricity in his elbow.

"I'm a slut for strawberry." Roman said.

Patton giggled. He looked back at Janus and raised his eyebrow. He wasn't able to learn anything about Janus this time. He'd have to work harder so that he could help Roman be happy again.

Janus blinked in surprise, his face flushed again. He must be getting ill. It's probably the change of weather. The chill has started to creep in. Janus finally responded, "I like sorbet."

"You mean sherbert?" Roman asked over his shoulder.

"Kinda." Janus shrugged. At Patton's expectant stare, he continued, "It's like the same, but sorbet is dairy-free."

"But what flavor?" Patton asked.

Janus said, sounding shy, "I like pineapple."

Roman laughed, "Pineapple ice cream! I gotta try that."

"It's not ice cream, it's sorbet!" Janus said, poking him in the back. "I just said it's dairy-free!"

Roman laughed again as Janus poked him once more.

Yes, it was working! Patton could do this. He could help Roman regain Janus' favor. And then his Sides will be happy again!