You’ve been a dealer on the streets since your early teens. The thing that sets you apart from your competition? You don’t sell drugs, you sell hits of emotion.
Patton had so much emotion, he found himself dealing spare hits to others. He usually had the same customers: Roman, buying hits of pride; Virgil, getting hits of self-confidence to combat his anxiety; Remy, who’d get hits of annoyance so he could sass as much as he could about anything; Emile, buying hits of empathy so he could assist his patients better.
Then, one day, a new customer came along. They obviously didn’t want to be recognised, wearing a black hoodie, with the hood pulled up, and their sapphire eyes which were staring through a pair of glasses looked slightly nervous. When Patton asked what emotion they wanted to buy, they answered with one word,
“Everything.”
Patton’s eyes widened. Did he hear that correctly? He wanted everything?
“A-are you sure, Sir?”
“Yes.”
The near immediate response surprised the dealer. He looked at his shelves full of sadness and anger and happiness and joy and empathy and sympathy and even more.
“Are you sure don’t only want one for now? Like… Inspiration or confidence or something?”
“I am sure. Just, what are your prices? I’ll give you the money and I’ll leave.”
Patton furrowed his eyebrows in concern. This guy was really adamant about this. He sighed and told him the pricing, the cost was pretty expensive for one of each bottle, so Patton gave the mysterious man a discount.
“Thank you,” the man said as he left.
“No problem, sir.”
I wonder who that was…
“Thanks, Pat. With exams coming up, I’m gonna need this more than ever.”
“No problem, Virge!”
The two of them made the exchange. Virgil pocketed the bottle. “Same time next- ?”
“I need more.”
Patton and Virgil both turned to the voice. The same guy in the black hoodie was stood there.
“I need more,” he repeated. “Emotions… they are… amazing. I need to feel them again. Please, I’ll pay anything, I just need them, right now!”
Patton had seen people become addicted before. Roman was addicted to pride, for example. But addictions never came so soon, only after at least three hits of the same emotion. However, this guy was obviously addicted.
“Hey, kiddo, I… um… Are you sure?”
“Never more sure about anything. I need it all.”
“All?” Virgil repeated, looking between the dealer and customer.
The guy turned to Virgil, only just noticing him. He then quickly lowered his head. However, Virgil had already seen his face.
“Logan?”
The guy cursed under his breath before looking up. “Hey… Virgil…”
“You two know each other?” Patton asked, looking between them.
Virgil replied. “Yep. He’s my boyfriend.”
Patton was in shock. Small world, I guess. Logan awkwardly shifted from foot to foot as Virgil stared at him with a worried expression.
“Well, um, which emotions have you used? Uh, are there certain ones that you didn’t like? I know a lot of people don’t exactly like sorrow and anger, they often go for things like happiness and passion, but I think that happiness is running a little low on stock and-“
“I want all of it.”
“Lo, I love you and all, but you don’t need all of that stuff,” Virgil reassured, “Also, it’s expensive and buying too much will drive you into the ground.”
“I need it, Virgil, you don’t understand, I need it!”
“No you don’t!”
“Yes I do!”
“Logan-“
“You don’t understand, Virge! I’m apathetic, I feel nothing! But you deserve someone who can feel, and I didn’t want to lose the one person who truly stands by me, so… I had to find another way to feel. I have to do this, no matter how much it costs.”
He pulled out his wallet, turning to Patton. “Same as last time, please. Only… you didn’t give me love last time. As in romantic love. I’d like some of that, please.”
“Lo-“
“I can’t give you love,” Patton cut over Virgil. “I can only give you platonic.”
“What?! Why?!” Logan demanded.
“I’ve… kinda never been in love with anyone before.”
Logan blinked a few times and huffed, angry at this news. He was an emotions dealer! He was supposed to have emotions!
“I’m sorry, but I can’t help you with that.”
Logan’s eyes filled with mixtures of anger and sorrow, which almost immediately disappeared. A flicker of emotion before it was gone.
“But then…. but then I…”
Virgil turned Logan’s face to face him.
“You can love. You are not apathetic. I have seen you get fired up, debating against people about whatever. I have seen you break down from stress. I have seen the stars in your eyes as you talk about astronomy. You are not a robot.”
“But, Virgil, I-“
Logan was cut off as Virgil pressed their lips together.
Patton didn’t know what to do. Was he supposed to look away? He didn’t know, he didn’t really have many couples around.
When Virgil pulled away, he smiled at Logan’s expression. “You’re blushing…”
“N-no, I’m not…”
“You are.”
“I’m not. I don’t feel anything; how can I blush if I can’t feel?”
Virgil’s face fell. “L, please…”
Patton cut in. “Look, guys, I’m sorry, but I have another customer coming soon. Any chance we could speed this up?”
“Just give me one of everything and we’ll go,” Logan replies. Virgil opened his mouth to oppose, but Logan didn’t let him. “We’ll carry on our discourse at my apartment.”
A sigh left Patton’s lips. Logan was adamant about this. He turned and grabbed a single bottle of something.
“Use this, but not too often.”
Logan knew that this was the most he was going to get, so he took it and paid, sighing in defeat. The two left, both looking vaguely disappointed.
A sad look crossed over Patton’s face. He knew that that jar would probably last him less than a few weeks, but he hoped to find a solution to the predicament that they had earlier. Luckily, Content had a good duration. He’d given it before to addicts of different kinds, successfully cutting them off most of the time. Hopefully this new customer will work out the same way.
His thoughts were interrupted by the jingling of the the bells by the door.
“Ah! Roman! Right on time! The usual I presume?”
There was a long silence between Logan and Virgil as Logan examined the bottle in his hands.
The two were sat in Logan’s apartment, having just gotten back from Patton’s place.
“How long have you been going to Patton?” Virgil asked.
“I’ve only gone once before. This was my my second time,” Logan replied, opening the bottle and going to pour a drop of the Content into his coffee.
“Wait!” Virgil stopped him. “Look, If you really want this, I won’t stop you. But… give it a think through first. You know, just so you know you’re sure.”
Logan glanced between the bottle and Virgil. There was another long silence.
“I want this, Virge. I promise.”
“…Okay, then.”
Logan poured a drop of content into the mug, mixed it in with a spoon, then downed it in one.
A small, content smile made its way onto Logan’s face. A sort of easygoing manner washed over him. He felt good. It was amazing!
Virgil stared on in a sort of disappointment. He kissed Logan’s forehead and went to grab his bag.
“I’ll be back, Lo. Gotta head to classes.”
“Alright, Virgil. Good luck on your exams.”
Logan stood, walking to get something to eat as he continued working on an essay.
By the time Virgil had gotten back, he’d taken three more drops of Content. He was happy that the jar seemed to have so much of it.
He stood up, saving his document, before walking over to Virgil, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
“Hello, Stardust.”
“Woah, what’s gotten into you? Not that I’m saying it’s a bad thing, but it’s something wrong?”
“No, I just wanted to do that.”
Logan’s mind was put at ease with the emotion, and there was less of a dam holding his emotions back. It was almost like he was intoxicated, which he was, just not with alcohol.
“Thanks, Pat.”
“It’s nothing! Hope you have a good day at work, Emile.”
As the therapist left, Virgil came inside, going up to the counter.
“Hey, Virge! The usual?”
“Actually, I’m fine. I just came for Logan. He wants more of that stuff you gave him last time.”
Patton froze where he was stood, Face paling and eyes widening. “H-he’s already ran out…?”
“Yeah, he used the last drop this morning.”
Patton looked even more horrified. “I gave it to him three days ago, right?”
“Yeah…?” Virgil confirmed, wondering where this could be going.
“That was supposed to last two weeks at the least…”
Virgil blinked. “Is that bad?”
“I don’t know… no ones ever overdosed on emotion before. But I’m afraid it likely won’t mean anything good.”
Patton paced in the small shop. This was bad, really bad. He’s never heard of someone overdosing on an emotion, but he still didn’t want to risk it. He grabbed his jacket and a small package from underneath his counter, slipping it into his pocket before Virgil could even guess what it was.
“Let’s go and have this sorted out.”
When they got to Logan’s apartment, Logan came up to meet them.
“Oh, Patton, I didn’t expect you to be here.”
Patton wordlessly nodded, stepping into the house, pulling the package out of his pocket. The contents of the packet were a box, a bottle, and a pair of tweezers.
He started rummaging about the small kitchen, working on whatever was in the box and somehow transfering it into a liquid that he put into his bottle.
Logan and Virgil both peeked over the shoulder of the dealer as he made the strange liquid.
“Here this should help you feel emotions easier. The best part is that they’re your own emotions.”
Logan started at the bottle. “My… own emotions?”
“Yep.”
There was a long silence, Virgil and Patton waiting for Logan to drink from the bottle. After a solid two minutes, Logan picked it up…
Before dropping it to the floor, glass shattering against the kitchen tiles.
Virgil and Patton just stared at Logan, wide eyed. They could hardly form words.
“This isn’t what I asked for. It’s not what I want. My own emotions aren’t… satisfactory. I need what you gave me last time. And I need it right now.”
Logan was too far gone. His addiction had become too strong. It was all Patton’s fault for not cutting him off. He shouldn’t have given him the Content. Now Logan was refusing the one thing that could help him, he had destroyed it.
Virgil was looking at Patton, pleading for help with his eyes, but Patton didn’t know what to do. He’d never faced anything like this before.
“I… I’m sorry.”
He turned and ran.
Patton ran and ran and ran until his legs couldn’t carry him anymore. What de didn’t realize is that he made it to Emile’s building. He entered and sat down in a chair, crying silently.
“Bye, Elliott! See you next time!” Picani called, as the aforementioned patient walked out the door, “Anyone el- Patton?”
Patton lauched himself at the therapist who, shocked and more than a little worried, brought the crying man into his room.
“Patton, what’s up?” The therapist bit back the rest of the phrase, seeing as this was more of a serious conversation.
“I should have cut him off. I should have helped him sooner. I should ha-“
“Pat, you gotta breathe for me, okay?”
Patton nodded taking a shaky breath before continuing.
“So, what’s wrong?”
“You know that kid that came in earlier when you were getting your empathy?”
“Virgil, yeah, he comes here sometimes.”
“His boyfriend got addicted, and I should have helped him sooner. I should have… I don’t know… I made something so that he could feel his own emotions, but…”
“What, did it not work?”
“He destroyed it.”
“Logan, he was trying to help you!”
“What, by trying to make me feel emotions which I have made clear that I don’t have?!”
“You don’t know that! Maybe if you gave yourself a chance you might find you do!”
“What do you want me to do, lap that liquid up from the floor like a dog?!”
“No, I just want you to understand that you don’t need these fake emotions from Patton!”
Logan scoffed. “Says the one who needs those fake emotions to get through most days of his life without having a panic attack. Look, I did this for you. I got these emotions from Patton so you’d be with someone worth loving, and who could love you back. But apparently, that’s not good enough! So, you know, what? Screw it, I want you out of here!”
“What…?”
“Get out, I never want to see you here again!”
Virgil blinked at Logan. There was a moment of silence before Virgil, tears welling in his eyes, turned and left the apartment.
It was like he blacked out for a moment, suddenly finding himself outside of Patton’s place. However, he was absent, the sign reading ‘CLOSED, COME BACK LATER!’
“Closed?! But he’s always here on Saturdays…”
Virgil turned to the voice. He recognised the guy stood there, having seen him around the shop. Roman, Virgil thought his name was.
“Trust me, I think this place may be better closed…” Virgil muttered in response.
When Patton had stopped crying, he thanked the therapist.
“Don’t worry, it’s on the house.”
Patton gave a watery smile and hugged the therapist again.
“Thank you.”
“No prob, Bob.”
Patton giggled a little at the reference. When he left, he slowly made his way to his shop. He opened the door, stepping inside, and breaking down once more.
He hadn’t bothered to flip the sign again, and he didn’t plan to. He just wanted to curl up and cry. It was all his fault.
He made his way to his shelves, pulling off a small jar of happiness. He pulled outthe cork and dropped a little but of it into his mouth.
“We’re closed!”
The knocking continued.
“I said we’re closed!”
Still, it continued. Patton stood from where he was sat at his desk, extracting his extra emotions and putting them in bottles (they seemed to be increasingly negative recently).
He headed to the main shop room and opened the front door. “I don’t know how many times I need to tell you, we’re- “
He froze as arms were wrapped around him. Virgil sobbed into his shoulder. “H-has he b-been here? I-I haven’t s-s-seen him in d-days… I need t-to know if h-he’s okay!”
“Virge? Come on inside…”
The two of them sat on eithers side of the counter, and Virgil explained the events of a few days ago.
“I’ve tried calling him, but he won’t pick up. I went to his apartment, he wouldn’t answer the door… I just don’t what to do. I hoped maybe you knew something.”
“I’m sorry, kiddo. I’ve been closed the last few days, I haven’t seen him,” Patton replied. “I’m really sorry, i-it’s all my f-fault…”
“No, it’s not…” Virgil reassured, taking Patton’s hand comfortingly.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed. He answered the unknown number, listening to the person on the other end. Then, the phone slipped from Virgil’s hand, onto the ground.
“What is it?” Patton asked.
“Logan’s in the hospital.”
Patton made a mad dash to his car, Virgil following behind. He unlocked the door a whiles away and opened the passenger side door, launching himself to the driver’s sideand leaving the door open for Virgil. Virgil hopped in as Patton started the car. Patton drove as fast as he could, driving through traffic, wiping his eyes so that he could see properly.
The two made it in record time, barging into the waiting room. Getting a concerned look from the desk person, they were asked who they were here to see.
“Logan Sanders.”
“What are your relationships to him and what are your names?”
“Patton Foster, I’m his cousin.” Patton hated lying, but he needed to do it in order to see Logan as soon as possible.
“Virgil Storm, I’m his boyfriend.”
Virgil’s voice caught in his throat for a moment before he finally got the words out.
“He is currently in a comatose state. If you want to see him, he is on the second floor, room 243 A.”
“Thank you.”
“What happened?”
Virgil had been wondering for the past ten minutes he’d been sat beside the bed, holding Logan’s cold, pale hand. However, he hadn’t actually found the voice to say it until Patton slipped him a bottle of self-confidence.
“We don’t know,” the Doctor Stokes replied. “Apparently, one of his neighbours became concerned after he hadn’t left his apartment in three days. They used a spare key to go inside, and found him unconscious of the floor. We’re just going to run some blood tests to see if there are unusual substances in his bloodstream. We’ll let you know the results.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Patton nodded as Doctor Stokes left the room.
There was a long silence, the only sound being the beeping of the heart monitor.
“…This is my fault,” Patton muttered. “This was probably caused by withdrawal… I’m really sorry, Virge.”
“It’s okay, Pat,” Virgil reassured. “I shouldn’t have made him think he needed to buy emotions for our relationship to work out. I should’ve been a better boyfriend.”
“Don’t you say that!” Patton replied. “I’m sure you were a great boyfriend.”
“But then why did he break up with me?”
“Addiction and withdrawal… it can do strange things, makes you unable to think straight. I’m sure he didn’t really mean it. He loves you, I know it. Maybe it’s just that, in that moment, he forgot he did.”
Patton hugged the anxious male, holding him close and comforting him.
The doctor came back a while later with a few sheets of paper.
“So, it seems that there are traces of a strange substance that had worn off before he actually gone into comatose. What I see is that he’d taken pain medication and overdosed. I don’t quite know if it was intentional or not.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
“Of course. You can stay, press the call button if you need anything.”
When the doctor had left, the men talked, trying to make sense of things, reassuring each other that this was neither of their faults.
Logan was asleep for about three days. When he did wake up, Virgil was by his side and Patton had gone to the bathroom.
“Where… am I…?”
Virgil looked up, eyes wide and smile wider. He hugged his ex with so much passion that through his shock couldn’t process it.
“Logan, I’m so sorry, I’m so glad you’re awake, I-I-I’m just so happy, oh my god. I was so worried about you and-“
“I-I’m sorry, but, uhh… who exactly are you…?”
When Patton came back into the room, his heart leapt at the sight of Logan sat up, eyes open. However, it soon came crashing down through the floor upon seeing Virgil in tears.
“P-Pl-Please, Lo.. quit fooling around… I-it’s me! Virgil!”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know you. And who’s ‘Lo’?”
“What’s going on?” Patton asked, concern building up inside him.
“I-I d-don’t know…” Virgil replied.
Patton pressed the call button and, a few moments later, Doctor Stokes was back. It didn’t take long for them to make a diagnosis.
“Retrograde amnesia. I’m sorry, but he won’t remember anything from before the incident. We’ll keep him here to see what exactly caused this. I truly am sorry.”
Virgil spent the next two hours desperately trying to remind Logan of who he was, of what happened, all to no avail. Patton just stood by and watched feeling completely helpless and full of guilt. He caused this. He’s the reason Virgil lost the man he loves, having him replaced by an empty shell.
He stepped outside the room and called Emile, asking for regular sessions with the therapist. It would take a lot to finally come to terms with what he’d done.
Logan was extremely confused. Amnesia… like forgetting your memoies? He supposed that was right. He couldn’t remember anything. The man from before seemed distraught at the fact. He tried to rack his brain for anything, but nothing was coming up.
He sighed softly, feeling bad for hurting him even though he wasn’t exactly sure who that person was.
He’d learned that his name was Logan Sanders and the man from before was named Virgil Storm, who was supposedly his boyfriend. That made him feel even worse. The guilt of crushing someone’s heart like that. The other man, supposedly his cousin, was named Patton Foster. Both seemed vaguely familiar, but there were no mental connections.
After a few days, he was allowed to leave, getting a ride to his apartment from one of the doctors (since he didn’t know where he lived). The scent of the place was familiar, everything looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t figure out anything really. He walked through the apartment, trying to remember all of the rooms to no avail.
He sighed and wandered around, having no idea what he did and how everything worked. There were two bedrooms, one had a theme of indigoes while the other was more purples and violets. He assumes the one with indigoes is his own, considering the “L. S.” On the door as opposed to the “V. S.” On the other.
V.S.? Like Virgil Storm? Were they room mates? Maybe then he’ll get to apologize and get answers! Hopefully he does actually come back though…
Virgil had decided it was only right to take the liberty of buy Logan groceries, given the fact it was unlikely he even knew where the grocery store was. He’d made sure to get plenty of jars of Crofters, hoping the taste of Logan’s favourite jam would jog his memory.
He unlocked the door of the apartment to find Logan sat on the couch, piles of books on the coffee table. He was reading his favourite, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, with the same look of wonder as he had had the first time he’d read it.
“Hey,” Virgil got Logan’s attention. “I, um, got you some groceries.”
“Oh, um, thank you,” Logan replied. Virgil headed into the kitchen and started unpacking the food. It didn’t take him long notice Logan staring at him.
“What?”
“Oh, nothing. Sorry,” Logan apologised, awkwardly scratching the back of his head.
“It’s okay,” Virgil reassured. “You want something to eat?”
“Uh, sure.”
Virgil grabbed a jar of blackberry and pomegranate Crofters and a spoon, and brought it over to the nerd on the couch.
“A jar of jam?” Logan asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Trust me, it may seem weird to eat on its own, but I know you’ll like it.”
Logan tentatively took the jar and spoon. He opened it up and ate a spoonful. His eyes practically sparkled.
“Oh my god… This is amazing!”
Virgil smiled as he watched Logan pretty much demolish what remained in the jar. It was like watching a new born puppy, excited to learn about the world, wanting to explore everything, and enjoying even the little things that most people take for granted.
Patton, oh poor Patton. He’d been locked up inthe shop, cryig to himself until there were no tears to cry. He barely ate or drank, all he did was sob dry tears as he blamed himself over and over. He beat himself up for ruining what Virgil had, what Logan had, for not cutting him off early enough.
It’s your fault.
You did this.
You could have saved him.
You could have helped them.
It’s all your fault.
What kind if a man are you?
He cried and held himself, taking jars of happiness for himself. Still running the store because that was his primary source of income. He needed money to keep living, but was it worth it? Should he just close shop and leave? He buried his head into his arms as he dropped a drop of happiness and one of hope into his mouth without any liquids to help him swallow it down.
It was cold and sweet, but it wasn’t unbearable. He perked up his head with newfound energy as a customer came in.
“Hi, Roman! How’re you doing? Today?”
“So… he’s not my cousin?”
“No, he just said that so he could visit you in hospital.”
Virgil held Logan’s hand tightly as they walked down the road. Logan was mesmerised, staring all around them as they walked. It was his first time out of the apartment since he left the hospital. Virgil had told him all about Patton, which is who they were heading to visit now. However, Virgil had purposefully left out Patton’s occupation. He wasn’t letting Logan fall down into the same hole as last time.
They soon arrived at Patton’s place. Logan couldn’t take his eyes off the shelves that were filled with bottles of a variety of colours. “Wow… so many colours… it’s beautiful.”
“Yeah,” Virgil nodded. “Just… don’t touch any of them.” He turned around, looking across the shop floor. “Pat?! Hello! It’s me, Virge!”
There was no response. However, he did hear a shuffling from the back room. Virgil hopped over the counter and entered the door reading ‘EMPLOYEES ONLY’.
“Th-there has to be some left… a-anywhere… a-a-at least o-o-one b-bottle…”
Patton was hunched over two boxes, muttering to himself. One box read ‘Happiness’, the other ‘Hope’. They were both empty.
“Patton…?”
“V-Virge?! O-oh, h-h-hi…”
Virgil’s brows furrowed.
“Patton? Have you been…”
“No!”
Virgil flinched at the loudness and suddenness of the shout. He knelt down to Patton’s level.
“Patton, are you okay?”
“…no…”
Virgil extended his arms for Patton to embrace him. He uncharacteristicly shied away, crying and holding himself.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I-I know-I know I sh-shouldn’t have done it, b-b-but I co-couldn’t- I-I’m so-orry, I-“
“Pat!”
Patton looked up, tears streaming down his face and blurring his vision even more than his crooked glasses.
“Pat, you’re okay. I’m not mad at you. No one is. None of this is your fault everything is okay. We are fine. You don’t need that.”
“B-b-but I-“
“You don’t have to be happy all the time. You can feel like complete and utter crap and everyone will understand.”
Patton tried to calm down and hugged Virgil tightly.
From behind Virgil, Logan cleared his throat.
Patton looked up upon hearing the cough. As his eyes met Logan’s, he found the other man giving him a smile. A real, genuine smile. Not a smile that came from a bottle, but genuine happiness.
“Patton, correct? I’m Logan, pleased to meet you. Though, I probably shouldn’t say that since, apparently, we’ve met before… multiple times… only one of which I remember, though we didn’t exactly hold a proper conversation… I’m rambling, aren’t I? I should probably stop rambling…”
Patton couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. “It’s nice to re-meet you too, Logan.”
“I just thought it would be nice for you two to properly get to know each other and- ” Virgil was cut off by a yell from the main shop floor.
“Patton! Hello! I need my pride for a show tomorrow!”
“Uh, coming, Ro!”
Patton got to his feet, and ran out through the door. Virgil and Logan followed behind.
Roman raised an eyebrow. “Who’re these two? You get some new employees, Pat?”
“Oh, no, they’re just some friends of mine. Roman, meet Virgil and Logan!”
Even without the bottled happiness, Patton could thrown up a cheery facade. A giggle, an upbeat tone, the only difference was that he couldn’t actually feel it, so the moment that Roman had left, Patton deflated. He folded in on himself and Virgil and Logan watched. It was a sorry sight to see.
Patton smiled slightly, looking at Logan. It was so refreshing to see him looking well, looking happy, for real. Hopefully this Logan won’t get addicted like he previously had. Patton hugged Logan and the hug was returned.
“I’m so sorry… I’m sorry…”
“What? For what?”
“I did this to you… It’s my fault.”
“No it’s not, you didn’t do anything, what are you talking about?”
“I-I guess I should tell you, shouldn’t I… Maybe that’ll jog your memory.”
“Wait!” Virgil took Patton by the arm and dragged him into the back room. “I don’t want Logan to know.”
“Huh?”
“I haven’t told him anything about your job or what happened before,” Virgil explained. “I’m just… worried he’ll go back to being addicted again. He seems so much happier now, I don’t want him to lose that.” He paused. “And it wasn’t your fault, Pat. Don’t blame yourself, nobody else does.”
Patton nodded. “I understand. I won’t tell him.”
Suddenly, there was a laugh from the main shop floor. Patton and Virgil poked their heads into the room to see Logan chatting with… a new customer!
A new customer with a very strange tattoo on their face.
“Lo, who is this?” Virgil asked, feeling slightly uneasy.
“Oh, Virge! This is- “
“Damien Ceitful, at your service.”
Patton blinked. Oh, right! He had a job to do.
“Hiya! Um, is there anything you have in mind that you’d like to buy?”
“No, not quite, but I’ll look around if that’s alright with you.”
“Um, sure! Of course!”
Patton looked around nervously, not quite sure why the an made him so uneasy. He walked into the back room, to his work table. He’d managed to find out how to extract feelings and had been doing it since he was young, so it was now sort of a stress reliever. He bottled up his pain and extra happiness, thinking that others could use it more than him.
He made one bottle of Happiness and one of Hope, feeling he’d only felt again after seeing Logan in such great shape.
He brought them out to the main shop area so that the new customer could see the other options.
“So, have you decided yet?”
“Hmm… I think I’ll take this please.” Damien took a bottle from a shelf and took it up to the counter. Patton paled as he saw the label: ‘Content’.
He had debated pulling it from stock after Logan’s…incident. However, he’d been too scared to touch the bottles.
“U-um… okay!”
The two of them made the transaction. However, when Damien lifted the bottle again, instead of leaving, he went up to Logan. “A gift, for the kindest person I’ve met since I moved here.”
“O-oh… thank- “
“NO!” Virgil ran over, snatching the bottle from Logan and throwing it on the ground.
“Virgil!” Logan yelled. “Why did you do that?!”
“No time to explain, it’s just… that stuff’s dangerous, okay?! I don’t want you getting hurt…”
“If it’s dangerous, why does Patton sell it?” Logan asked.
“It’s… complicated. It can be helpful, but… it can be dangerous. It’s safer if you just avoid it,” Patton replied, feeling extremely uncomfortable at the gazes Damien was giving them all, especially Logan.
“It still feels wrong to just deny a gift,” Logan muttered.
“How about I do something else?” Damien offered. “How about… coffee? Tomorrow?“
Virgil paled and felt like he was going to throw up. He watched as his boyfriend was being swept off his feet by someone who’d he’d never met. His eyes watered and he ran towards the back room before he could hear the response. He already lost him before, but he couldn’t bring himself to hold on to what he’d already lost.
He cried quietly, holding a hand over his mouth, crying. He felt jealousy and sorrow weighing heavily in his chest as he cried.
“Virgil?” Patton said through the door, “I’m coming in.”
Virgil scooted away from the door, so that he wouldn’t get hit. He didn’t see Damien anywhere in the shop.
“He left,” Patton said, almost as if he read Virgil’s mind.
Virgil only nodded in response, still silently crying.
Patton sat down next to him, putting a comforting arm around his shoulder and rubbing his back.
“What did he say?”
…
“He said yes…”
“They Both Die at the End… Sounds like a cheerful title.”
Logan looked up from his book, smiling at the sight of Damien. “It’s actually rather good right now. It’s a very nice story. Mateo and Rufus are very cute together.”
“Gay couples are very adorable.” Damien sat across from Logan at the table. “I hope you don’t mind, I took the liberty of getting you a drink.”
Logan checked the label. “Black coffee, no milk or sugar… That’s just how I like it! How did you know?”
Damien just shrugged. “Fate?”
Logan bit his lip. “You know I have a boyfriend, right? Well… kinda…I got amnesia, and my boyfriend from before has been taking care of me… but I don’t know whether he still counts as my boyfriend, because I don’t remember a lot about him and us.”
“Well, if you hardly know him, then surely he shouldn’t be,” Damien replied. “Who knows, maybe he’s not right for you. Or maybe… No, that’s too dark to think about!”
“What?” Logan asked, growing concerned.
“I just thought… if you lost your memory, how can you be sure you ever went out and he’s not just some creep who decided to take advantage of you?”
Logan furrowed his eyebrows. He’d never thought of that. But he was so nice to him… But then again, Patton did lie about being Logan’s cousin…
“I mean, I suppose you’re right…”
“Sorry, did that bother you at all?”
“No, I was just thinking that you had a pretty good point.”
Damien grinned and Logan smiled shyly back. There was a somewhat comforting aura about the two, making the amnesiac feel slightly more at ease. They chatted and drank their beverages, learning new things about each other.
Damien had just recently moved to the city, being a college student. Logan was also one, but he hadn’t been going due to being in the hospital and having amnesia.
When they were done, it was dark out. They parted ways, trading numbers and they were off. Logan felt happy about how it went. Virgil would be less so.
Virgil bit his lip as he stood outside Logan’s door. He’d decided that it was probably time Logan come back to college. He’d informed the school about what had happened, and they were going to offer Logan support.
Though this should have made Virgil happy, because Logan was finally getting back into a normal life, but… Virgil just couldn’t get his mind off Logan and Damien.
He was pulled from his thoughts when the front door opened. “Hey, Lo.”
“Oh, Virge… hi,” Logan replied. Immediately, Virgil could sense something different. Logan didn’t sound as happy; he seemed uneasy. “What brings you here?”
“I, um, thought it was about time you head back to school. I was gonna help you get your stuff ready then drive us up,” Virgil explained. He went to step inside, but Logan stepped so he was taking up the entire doorway.
“I-It’s okay, I, um… I think I wait another couple of days to go back. I have plans today.”
“Plans?” Virgil asked. “What plans?”
“I, um… I’m going out with Damien.”
“Where?” Virgil inquired.
“I-is that really any of your business?” Logan took a step back. “Look, I need to start getting ready…”
“Lo, please, I just want to make sure you’re safe.”
“I can handle myself!” Logan yelled. “Just because you used to be my boyfriend doesn’t mean you can control my actions!” He slammed the door.
Virgil could only think about Logan’s choice of words.
Used to be…?
Logan took a shaky breath as he held his back to the door. He couldn’t believe that he’d done that. He stood up to him. The man that he was now scared of. Damien could have been right with the whole lying thing. Damien was a nice guy, he bought him coffee, was going to get him a gift, and had been nothing but kind and a little flirty since meeting him. He’d have no reason to lie.
And now, he was going on his second date with him. It was just a lunch date, not super fancy, but it was going to be a date nonetheless.
Logan got dressed, grabbing a v-neck tee and faded jeans. He put on his shoes and prepared to head out the door.
As he walked down the road, he thought of everything that he could remember. Virgil Storm is the name of his boyfriend before the “incident”, Patton Foster is a dealer of… some sort of liquid substance, and Damien was his friend and possibly more now.
When Logan had gotten to the restaurant, he found Damien sitting at a table, doing something on his phone.
“Hi, Damien!”
He looked up.
“Oh, Logan. How are you?”
“Great. I… Virgil came round, and I stood up to him!” Logan smiled, taking the seat opposite Damien.
“That’s great, Logan. I’m proud of you,” Damien replied, taking one of Logan’s hands. “Hey, I got you something. Given the fact my last attempt at a gift didn’t end well, I thought I’d get you something to make up for it.” He reached under the table and brought out a gift bag, placing it in front of Logan. “Here.”
Logan, intrigued opened it up. Inside where four items. A box, which when opened, revealed a brand new watch; a soft jumper that was a couple sizes too big for him, so it would be baggy, just how he liked; another item of clothing at made Logan chuckle.
“Is this a dress?”
Damien just shrugged. “I thought you’d look cute in it.”
The final item seemed much more familiar. A bottle, identical to the one Damien had attempted to give to him a few days before. Logan was about to ask what it was when the waiter came up to them.
“Okay, what can I get for… Oh my god! Logan, gurl, I haven’t seen you in, like, forever! How’re things?”
“Um…” Logan wracked his brain, wishing he could remember something; specifically, who this waiter was.
“Wait, hold on…” the waiter looked between Logan and Damien. “Is this a date? Did you break up with Virgil?! No! You two were the OTP!” He turned to Damien. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure you’re a nice guy, but Logan and his ex were, like, the most adorable couple you’ve ever seen.”
Logan was just staring at the waiter. They… they said Virgil and he had been going out… Which means Virgil hadn’t been lying and wasn’t just some creep.
“Anyway, what can I get for- “
“I have to go.”
Logan got up and ran from the restaurant, not even stopping to pick up the bag of gifts from Damien.
He’d made a horrible mistake.
Virgil was destroyed, sitting in Patton’s back room, crying silently. His eyeliner and makeup running down his face in his tears. Patton had previously offered any emotion to help, but he declined the offer.
He was curled up in a corner, crying into his arms, feeling sorry for himself. He knew that he should’ve been happy for Logan, but he couldn’t help it, he was jealous and it felt horrible.
Patton had been trying to take care of him, but Virgil wouldn’t eat or drink or sleep. He would just cry and cry and cry. He grieved over the loss of Logan. And it wasn’t a pretty sight.
He’d heard the bells at Patton’s door ring three or four times, and every time, he silently hoped that it was Logan. But he never came.
–
Logan dashed down the street, trying to remember where he was going. If his body had gone before, hopefully his memory didn’t matter. He made turns and dashed across streets, trying to get to his destination.
There it was, just a few buildings. He opened the door with so much force that the door slammed against the wall. He cringed slightly at the sound, but for the most part, ignored it, panting.
“Oh, Logan! How are you?”
“Patton, where is Virgil?”
Patton’s eyes widened.
“Um, you sure you want to see him right now? I, uh, you sure?”
“Please.”
The helpless, pained look in Logan’s eyes told him how much he needed to do this. The dealer sighed and knocked on the door to the employees only room.
“Virgil, someone’s here to see you.”
Virgil sniffed and lifted his head. His heart skipped a beat when he saw his ex in the doorway.
Logan broke when he saw Virgil curled up in the corner with his tear-stained face and bloodshot eyes. Logan burst into tears, running up to Virgil, falling to his knees and wrapping his arms around the other man.
“I-I’m sorry… I just, I…. I’m s-s-so s-so-sorry…! I… I was an idiot! I should have known, you have a room in my apartment, for Christ’s sake! I-I’m sorry I d-d-didn’t trust you, I just… There’s no excuse for how I treated you…”
Virgil was frozen where he sat. Logan was actually here. After all his wishing and hoping, it had actually happened. A small smile appeared on his face as he went to wrap his arms around Logan.
“Logan? Logan!”
Damien’s voice echoed from the main shop floor, and Virgil’s smile dropped.
Logan sighed. “I didn’t know he’d followed me…”
“Hello, Patton, have you seen Logan anywhere? He ran off on our… uh, little outing and this was the first place I could think of to find him.”
“Oh, uhh, sorry, I uh, I haven’t seen him all day.”
Virgil listened to the conversation, feeling ever so slightly worse with every passing second. Logan held him close, quietly apologizing over and over again.
“Hey, honey, Lolo, you don’t have to apologize, alright? You didn’t know. It’s okay.”
“But it’s not, I-I… I should have trusted you! You’ve been nothing but kind to me! And you took care of me! And I betrayed you in return…”
Virgil rested his head on he boyfriend’s head, carding a hand in his hair. Logan sighed and leaned into Virgil’s chest.
“I’m sorry, Stardust.”
Virgil’s eyes widened at the nickname.
“Where did that come from?”
“I don’t know. Just… Instinct?”
Virgil chuckled, slightly worried about what could possibly happen based off of this development.
“Damien! You’re not allowed in there!”
And the door cracked open.
There was a long pause as Damien stared at Logan and Virgil, and they stared back.
“L-Logan… what are you doing with… with him?”
Logan bit his lip, but refused to let go of Virgil. “I can trust him, Damien. I know I can. It’s okay, he’s okay.”
Virgil noticed a hint of anger in Damien’s expression and held Logan closer to his chest.
“But, I thought… you and I, we…”
“I-I’m sorry, Damien, but… I love Virgil, with all my heart.”
Virgil looked down at Logan. “I love you too.”
It was like moment in a romantic movie, the two of them looking into each other’s eyes, and then starting to lean closer, their lips about to connect…
When Damien grabbed Logan’s arm and tugged him back. Before Virgil could even comprehend what was happening, he was watching Logan being forced to drink from a bottle.
A bottle of Content.
@punsterterry, @ihateitwhenyourejustvague, @dailypattondoodle
Logan choked and sputtered, coughing up the strange liquid, but still drinking some nonetheless. He pulled away, pushing away from Damien, coughing into his sleeve on the ground.
“What the hell did you do?” Virgil yelled.
A grin bloomed on Damien’s face.
“I only gave him my gift.”
Logan’s eyes glazed over in a state of euphoria as the emotion took effect. A calming feeling washed over him.
“See? He likes it.”
Virgil felt sick at the sight of Logan in a dazed state and Damien smirking over him.
“Logan!”
“Don’t worry, Stardust. I’m fine. What was that? It feels amazing.”
Patton gripped Damien’s collar, pulling him back.
“Get out of my store. You have officially been banned from my store, and if you ever come back here again, I will call the police. You will be arrested.”
Damien scoffed.
“You haven’t seen the last of me.”
Virgil paced the shop, pulling at his hair in frustration. Logan watched as he did so, not knowing why he was so worried. I mean, it’s not like the drink had done anything bad to Logan. In fact, it made him feel amazing!
Patton was just as worried as Virgil. It wasn’t long until Logan found himself sat on the counter with Patton doing a dad lecture on how he must never have that drink again.
While this was going on, Damien had decided not to go home just yet. Instead, he had slipped into Logan’s apartment after picking the lock.
He looked around the apartment, making sure he knew where everything was so he could make sure there was seemingly no difference when he left.
Why was he there? Well, he had a new plan. His first idea to break up Logan and Virgil hadn’t worked, so he had a new one: make Logan as undesirable as possible so Virgil would leave him.
Why did he want to break them up? Well…
A good villain never reveals their motive, not even to the watchers beyond the fourth wall.
Someone’s gotta make this into a chapter fix cause dang I ain’t got the decipline to not reload my page
AlexTheGhost 