Chapter Text
The door to Patton’s chamber closed with a heavy thud, and Patton’s grip on Logan’s arm loosened.
The room itself wasn’t… bad. The walls were a smooth blue color. A white trim decorated the top. The ceiling rose at least two stories, and a chandelier hung from the middle. Wooden cabinets with multiple drawers lined the walls and gave Patton plenty of space to put the few possessions he brought along with him. The window on the far left, which was a set of double doors covered by thick white drapes, lead out to a balcony.
It wasn’t home, but at least it looked cozy.
Patton sighed in and out, and he walked over to the double-doored windows. He unlatched the lock and opened them. The air outside was thick as the night fog.
“I miss the sound of the ocean already,” Patton said with a gentle laugh.
Logan followed and observed the rolling hills before them. He nodded his head.
Patton closed the doors and moved to the large bed in the center of the room. At least six people could sleep on it if they wanted to. He tested the firmness with the palm of his hand, surprised at how low his hand sunk, and sat on the edge.
“At least it’s comfy,” Patton spoke.
“Yes, but are you comfortable?” Logan asked.
Patton’s eyes stayed glued to the bed, and he whispered, “I guess.”
Logan approached Patton and sat beside him. Patton didn’t look up as his body sunk down from Logan’s added weight. Logan put a hand on Patton’s thigh and hoped his prince would look at him.
“Patton, remember, you are in control. Any time you feel the union is unfit, we can leave.”
“I know.”
“Then what seems to be troubling you?”
“I… I heard stories of how other countries treated different sexes. I didn’t really believe them, but now that I’ve seen it- Logan, I don’t know if I can treat people this way.”
“No one said you had to.”
“But they might expect me to. How am I supposed to make someone kneel on the dirty floor just because I walked into the room? How am I supposed to keep my distance from everyone? How am I supposed to-”
“We will figure this out together. I promise you will not go through this alone.” Logan wrapped his fingers around Patton’s hand and kissed the knuckles. “You may still act the same way around me as you always have.”
Patton sighed and nodded his head. “Thanks, kiddo.”
The corner of Logan’s lip quirked into a smile, and he nodded his head.
The two sat in silence for a moment. Patton’s grip on Logan’s hand never slipped. He didn’t know what he’d do without Logan’s constant presence with him. Maybe it would be better if he encouraged Logan stayed with him, at least during the day. At night they could part. Patton had a few stuffed animals to get him through the lonely nights.
Unless, Virgil-
No, it was too soon. They wouldn’t force them to sleep together so soon.
Would they?
A knock sounded at the door, and Patton jumped up from his bed. He hurried to the doors and opened them himself.
“Hello,” he greeted with a smile.
The servant on the other side of the door, the same one who led them to Patton’s room, jumped back with wide eyes.
“Um, Prince Patton! I was not expecting you to open the door,” they said.
“Why wouldn’t I? You knocked,” Patton said and tilted his head.
The servant shifted uncomfortably and cleared their throat. “Let your companion know that-”
“Logan.”
The servant’s head snapped up. “I-I’m sorry?”
“His name is Logan. Please, please, call him Logan.”
“O-of course! I didn’t- I didn’t mean to offend you.”
Patton noticed the servant’s panic and reached out to hold their hands in his. This seemed to stress them out further, and they drew their hands back quicker than Patton could react.
“Um, let your- Logan- let Logan know his room is ready,” the servant spun around and hurried down the hall without looking back.
“Wait, I’m sorry!” Patton yelled, but they had already rounded the corner out of sight. Patton deflated a bit. He whispered, “I didn’t mean to scare them.”
Logan sighed and walked to Patton's side. “Perhaps it's not you that he's worried about. Obviously, this country thrives on personal space.”
Patton hummed. He turned his head to Logan and chirped, “They said your room is ready. Should we go check it out?”
“I’m not exactly sure which direction it’s in,” Logan replied.
Patton nodded his head and clicked his tongue. “They did run off awful quick without telling us. I guess we’re just going to have to look around.”
Patton hurried out the door before Logan could stop him. He practically sprinted down the hallway, giggling as he did so. Logan called out for him several times to slow down. Patton turned his head back to address Logan.
“What’s the matter, Lo, are you too slo-”
Patton crashed into someone. He grunted as he fell forward. The person he crashed into yelped, and two of them tumbled to the floor.
For a moment, the world stilled.
Patton’s head throbbed. He rubbed his temple and mumbled, “That’s what I get for using my head.”
“Get off of me!” a voice yelped below him.
Patton’s eyes widened as the person below him pushed him off. He yelped as he tumbled onto his back.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t look where I was going,” Patton rushed out.
The person Patton crashed into wore pure white with a red sash and golden accents. He narrowed his brown eyes and glared at Patton.
“How dare-”
“Patton, are you alright?” Logan asked as his feet slid to a halt on the polished floor. He glared down at the person who pushed Patton off, his nose curled and ready to bare his teeth if necessary.
“I’m fine,” Patton replied. He turned his attention to the stranger, “Are you okay, um-”
“Prince Roman of Angstrom, second born son,” he said and puffed out his chest.
“Oh! So you must be Virgil’s brother,” Patton chirped.
Roman took a deep breath to answer. He stopped, and he smelled the air again. His annoyed face melted into one of interest, and his grin widened.
“I am. And who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?”
“I’m Patton- um Prince Patton- of Herzensmoral.” He held out his hand to shake. “Nice to meet you!”
Roman stared at Patton’s hand, and his eyebrow raised. A low chuckle escaped his throat.
“I’m not sure how you do things in Herzensmoral, but here, you don’t touch someone if you’re not familiar with them.”
“Oh!” Patton said and drew his hand back. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-”
“It’s fine, no harm done! I’m sure my mothers haven’t revealed any of our customs to you, so you’re practically navigating in the dark. Scenting here is… it’s kind of a big deal.”
“Oh, that’s why they didn’t want Logan to sleep with me.”
Logan leaned down and offered his hand to Patton, who graciously took it. He rubbed his thumb over Patton’s forehead. Patton flinched, and Logan’s lips pulled down into a grimace.
“It appears you have a bump on your forehead from the fall. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“I’m fine, Logan. I promise,” Patton replied and bowed his head.
Logan leaned in and kissed the bruise forming.
Patton giggled. He snuggled his head into Logan’s neck and wrapped him into a hug.
Logan gazed over Patton’s head and caught Roman’s wide eyes. Roman looked ready to say something, his jaw tensed and eyes trained on Logan, but he never said a word. Logan cleared his throat and pulled away from Patton.
“If scenting truly is the way here, perhaps we should be careful about how closely we interact, Patton.”
Patton pouted, and Logan’s shoulders deflated.
“I guess,” Patton responded.
“So, where were the two of you off to in such a hurry?” Roman asked. He stood up and started straightening out his outfit.
“Oh! We were looking for the room Logan is staying in,” Patton answered.
“Well, you’re going the wrong way. All the guest rooms are down the hall in the other direction.” Roman held his head high as he walked past them. “Follow me. I overheard a few servants talking about it. I’ll lead you there.”
“Aww, thanks Roman,” Patton chirped.
The trio walked down the hall toward Logan’s room. The whole time, Patton walked close to Logan but never touched. The two of them kept glancing out of the corner of their eyes at each other as if checking to see if their presence still existed.
Roman stopped at a door a few paces away from Patton’s room and opened the door.
“Here we are!” he called out as he stepped inside.
Patton looked up at Logan, who took a deep breath in and followed Roman.
The room was a quarter of the size Patton had been given. One lone window at the top of the room vented the air. Two candles lit below it danced and cast the room in shadows. A dresser stood tall on the other side of the room, and sandwiched in the middle was a bed barely big enough for Logan’s height.
Patton wrinkled his nose as he stepped inside.
“Logan’s sleeping here?”
“I know it’s not much, but it was rather short notice,” Roman informed. “Besides, I’m sure the only time Logan will be in here is when he’s sleeping, so he won’t need that much space, right?”
Patton opened his mouth to argue, but Logan interrupted.
“It’s fine. I don’t require much living space. Besides, Roman is right. The only reason I’m agreeing to this is so I don’t scent you all night long.”
“Glad to hear you like it,” Roman spoke and clapped his hands together. “Now, if you excuse me, I was in the middle of meeting someone, and as much as I love you all distracting me, he’ll send the whole castle searching for me if I don’t arrive soon. I hope to see you two around more often, especially you, Patton. It’ll be nice to have another male omega to confide in once and a while.”
Patton’s smile twitched. “Of course.”
Roman excused himself and stepped out of the room. Patton peered out the door and waited until Roman was out of earshot before he shut the door. For a moment, he stared at the wood with his hand pressed against the door.
Logan walked over to the bed and sat down. The mattress squeaked below him. He reached over to the nightstand and ran his finger over it, grimacing as it came back with a light trail of dust.
“I’m going to need to clean a little more in here so my asthma-”
“Are you really sure you’re going to be okay in here?”
Logan blinked and popped his head up in Patton’s direction. Patton still hadn’t turned to face him. Logan slowly stood from his spot on the bed.
“Of course. You and I both know that I will most likely spend my time reading or at your side.”
“But this place-” Patton’s fingers curled in- “it feels more like a prison than a bedroom.”
Logan approached Patton; his lips were drawn into a tight line. His hand hovered to touch Patton’s shoulder, and he drew it back. The lack of affection proved more difficult than he thought. He settled for folding his hands together behind his back to try and restain his touch.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Logan replied. He waited for a reply then sucked in a breath. Patton’s shoulder’s shook, and Logan felt his resolve breaking.
Logan continued, “The more concerning question is: will you be fine?”
Patton sniffled. His head thunked against the door and he clenched his teeth. His voice cracked as he spoke.
“I-”
Logan pulled Patton’s back into his chest and wrapped his arms around him. He kissed the top of Patton’s hair before resting his chin on Patton's head.
“Please don’t cry.”
Patton’s dam broke, and he brought his hands up to cover his face.
“I can’t help it! This just feels all so wrong. I do-don’t want to be apart from you. I want you to s-st-stay with me. I don’t know how I’m going to sleep knowing you’re here in a place like this while I’m sleeping in the biggest room I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s too big, Logan. I feel so small in it and I- I’m-”
Patton turned in Logan’s arms and buried his head in the hollow of Logan's neck. His arms constricted Logan’s chest, and he breathed in Logan’s scent.
Logan shushed Patton as he rubbed small circles into Patton’s back. He couldn’t risk looking down. Instead, he rested his cheek against the top of Patton’s head and swallowed his tears back.
For a while, the two of them stood with only Patton’s short sucks of breath for sound. Eventually, Patton calmed. He put his full weight into Logan’s arms and only hiccuped once or twice before Logan eventually rose his head.
“I know you’re scared. However, the two of us do not need to stay here any longer than we feel comfortable. You are not trapped here, Patton, and neither am I. We will be alright.”
Patton let out a long sigh. His eyes stung from his tears and lack of sleep.
“I know.”
“Why don’t I walk you back to your room? They never said I cannot help you get to sleep.”
Patton nodded into Logan’s chest. He tried to pull away, but Logan held him tight. Patton looked up into Logan’s eyes, which were filled with so much reassurance that Patton felt like crying all over again.
“Would you like me to carry you? I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
Patton looked down and nodded his head.
Logan swept Patton into his arms. He opened the door and walked across the hall to Patton’s room. Opening Patton’s door proved a little difficult, but he eventually managed to work it open. He crossed the floor and rested Patton on the bed. Logan pulled the soft feathered blanket from under Patton, sat down, and tucked the two of them under it.
Patton latched onto Logan the first chance he got. Logan snuggled down into the pillow, and Patton followed. Patton pressed his head against Logan’s chest, right over his heart, and breathed a sigh of relief.
At least that sounded the same.
For a while, the two of them laid together in silence. If Patton closed his eyes, he could imagine they were back home. The sound of Logan’s even breathing reminded him of the waves from the ocean. The salt on his cheeks tasted like the water’s edge. He could smell the familiar scent of his room, swimming with Logan’s scent, and laying on the soft mattress below him like the sand on a cool night.
“Hey, Logan?”
“Hmm?”
“You think you could… just for tonight?”
Logan sighed. He rested his head against the pillow behind him.
“Patton, that’s a horrible idea. You and I both know it will not just be one night.”
“Oh, um, I didn’t mean you sleeping with me.”
Logan shifted so he could get a better look at Patton nested against his chest. His head tilted to the right a little in confusion.
Patton looked up into Logan’s eyes and smiled. He lightly laughed.
“I mean, would you sing it to me?”
Logan breathed deeply and stared up at the ceiling. He chewed on his lip.
“Please, kiddo?” Patton pleaded.
“Alright.”
The parted door left no room for the imagination as Logan’s voice drifted into the halls. The sweet soft lullaby wove between the stone and soothed the palace air.
Roman, who stayed in earshot of the two visitors, closed his eyes and listened to Logan’s voice. He may not have been able to understand what Logan and Patton were saying to each other, but their actions spoke louder than their words.
He couldn’t imagine having such a close bond with someone.
After Logan finished, Roman hastened down the hall and towards his own room. He turned corner after corner by memory and opened the door to his room without knocking.
Roman leaned his back into the thick oak door. He inhaled the scent of fresh sandalwood incense and exhaled the nerves in his stomach.
He was being ridiculous. An alpha and an omega could still be close and be friends. For all he knew, Logan could be Patton’s brother. It wasn’t uncommon for litters to be close. Just look at him and Virgil. Well, okay, bad example, but they definitely were at least familiar with each other.
If he and Virgil were on better terms, he was sure he could fall asleep in Virgil’s arms while Virgil sang a lullaby… right?
There was nothing strange or scandalous to Logan and Patton being so close to each other… right?
Patton was here to be with Virgil… right?
Right?
“What’s wrong, pet?” a voice slithered from the quietness of his bed. It stilled Roman’s thoughts and held his breath captive.
A shadow in the night sat up in his large bed, the moonlight illuminating one side of its face. The blankets pooled around its waist. Its bare chest glowed.
Roman’s body shivered. He pressed into the door and chewed on his bottom lip.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m fine,” Roman argued.
The shadow tilted its head to the left. It spoke, “Is that so?”
Before Roman could object, the shadow crossed the room and walked toward him. Instinct told Roman to run, but he stood his ground.
Warm arms snaked around Roman’s hips, and the familiar scent stopped his breath. His back pressed up against the door once again, but this time by force. Golden eyes studied him.
“You’re a horrible liar.”
Roman’s head tilted down. A kiss planted itself on his forehead, and he flinched. Gentle hands pressed Roman’s head into a bare chest.
Not a sound comforted him.
Cautiously, Roman wrapped his own arms around his mate-to-be.
“I know, but I’m just overthinking things, as usual. It’s nothing important.”
He waited for the voice of agreement, he waited for the warmth on his cheek to pull away, to look at him with disdain or annoyance. However, his head tilted up as a hand guided Roman’s gaze toward the half-shadowed face.
“As long as you’re sure,” the sickeningly sweet voice spoke.
“I’m sure, Damian,” Roman spoke harsher than intended. The tone escaped before he thought about the pitch. Roman’s shoulders tensed. He watched Damian’s lips curl into a frown, and a deep breath puffed his chest. Roman swallowed.
To Roman's surprise, Damian replaced the frown with a grin and wrapped his hand around Roman’s shoulders. He guided Roman over to the bed. Two strong arms pulled Roman down and pinned him to a chest chilled by the night air.
“You’re so warm,” Damian hummed in his ear. “Come snuggle with me.”
“You’d be warmer if you wore a shirt.”
“Oh, but Roman, if I did that, your scent would stain my clothes and not me. I want the world to know that you are mine.”
Hands snaked their way under Roman’s shirt, and Roman pressed his hands down on Damian’s forearms, stopping them in his tracks.
“Please, Damian, not tonight. I’m not really in the mood.”
The silence hung so thick in the air one could sever it with a sword.
Roman waited.
Damian’s breathing evened out, and the muscles below Roman’s fingers relaxed.
Roman waited.
Damian’s hands slipped away and instead held Roman’s chest closer to his own, squeezing the air out of Roman’s lungs and burning his ribcage.
Roman waited.
“Okay, pet, I understand. You’ve had an exciting day with Virgil’s new mate arriving in the castle and all. I’m sure you two omegas talked the afternoon away since I smell a strange scent on you. I’m content with just holding you for now.”
Roman relaxed.
Fingers wove in Romans hair and twisted through his thick brown locks. He closed his eyes and became putty in Damian’s hands, as he always did. Always played with. Always manipulated.
“I love you, so much,” Damian whispered.
Roman swallowed.
“I know.”