A Million Worlds Apart

The First Date

Patton knocked on the doorframe. "Hey, Mom?"

"What is it, Patton?" Demeter said, turning around. "Anything wrong?"

"No, no, nothing wrong," he assured her. "I just have something I'd like to ask you."

"Yes?"

"So, Janus invited me to hang out with him and Remus this weekend," Patton said, trying his best to sound casual and cool. "I double- and triple-checked to make sure that he wasn't going to set me up with some gross god, and he really wants me to come, so... can I go?"

Demeter narrowed her eyes. "Going out with another god? I don't think so."

"Mom, it's Janus," Patton reminded her. "He's the one god who you actually trust around me. And he's going out with Remus, so I'm essentially just being the third wheel on their date."

"Are you sure he's not intending to introduce you to some god who might take you away from me?" Demeter pressed.

Already done, Mom, Patton thought. "Nope."

"Is Roman coming? He and Janus get along, don't they?"

"Roman isn't coming."

"You're absolutely positive?"

"Yes, Mom, I'm absolutely positive," Patton sighed. "Janus will make sure that I don't get abducted, okay? He's pretty protective."

Demeter pursed her lips. "Well... all right. I don't like it, but I suppose even you need a night off."

EEEEEEEE! This is happening! I can go on a date with Logan!

"Thank you so much!" Patton squealed, giving her a hug.

"Don't thank me just yet," Demeter told him. "I'm going to have to have a talk with Janus before anything else. And if anything he says isn't satisfactory, you won't be going."

"Don't worry, Mom," Patton said. "Everything'll be fine."

..............

Patton beamed as Janus wandered out of the study, a dazed look on his face. "So? How'd it go?"

"I've never been more grateful for the fact that my mother lets me do whatever the hell I want," Janus murmured, picking up his caduceus from the wall. "Demeter is insane."

"But how did it go?"

"You can come---"

Patton pumped his fists. "YES!"

"But I can't let you consume any alcohol, you're strictly forbidden from romantically interacting with anyone, I have to drop everything and rescue you if you get into trouble, and we absolutely have to have you back by midnight," Janus finished, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Still yes!" Patton said, grinning. "I get to go out and have fun with you guys!"

"I, personally, would not equate 'not being able to drink or flirt' as 'fun,' but to each his own."

"Well, I think having a night where I can relax is fun enough."

Janus sighed. "If you say so. Come on, let's go pick up our dates."

"Wait, you mean your date, right?" Patton reminded him, winking. "Because I absolutely do not have a date, since I'm not interested in anyone and that's against Mom's rules, right?"

"Oh, yes, how silly of me." Janus extended his elbow to Patton. "Shall we?"

"We shall."

................