Put back together

74. If you'll still have me (I may be a broken pot, but I still hold water)

It was in the middle of the night when they finally took shelter in a barn.

Logan let himself sink onto a hay bale and wrapped his coat tighter around himself.

"Okay," Emile sighed, sitting down on another hay bale. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Let's see. We have a bunch of cult followers with no regard for human life after us, we have no food, water or other supplies with us. I don't think any of us have money either. And we don't have a safe place where we could stay until we figure out what to do about said cult."

He leaned back on his hands.

"Any ideas?"

Logan closed his eyes.

He had nothing.

"My mothers' farm isn't too far from here," Patton spoke up tentatively. "We actually passed it when we came from the mountains. We might be safe there? At least for a little while?"

Logan opened his eyes again.

"Good idea," Remy was playing around with a strand of hay. "Good thing about staying in one place would be that I could put up enchantments to hide and protect us."

Patton cringed visibly.

"They uh... They aren't really big fans of magic. I mean... My mama told me that mages are dangerous when I was younger and that stuff. I don't think she'll be happy about you two already, if you try to put up some enchantments she'll probably... I don't know. I don't think it's a good idea," he explained.

"She doesn't have to know about it," Remy said, flicking the hay around in random patterns.

"Love," Emile admonished.

"Fine," Remy shrugged. "I'll ask."

"What do we do about the no water thing?" Roman asked. His voice sounded hoarse.

"Magic," Remy threw out his hand, shaking them slightly. With a flash of light a bottle appeared in front of him and he caught it before it could shatter against the floor. "Are you fit to summon something or are you too far already?" he turned to Virgil.

"I..." Virgil shrugged, still standing by the door and looking lost. "I'm not sure whether I'm dissociating or drifting off."

"You're probably dissociating but you shouldn't use magic then anyway," Remy pointed with one hand, summoning another bottle.

"Okay," Virgil slowly moved over to Logan and tentatively sat down next to him.

Remy also summoned some breads and apples handing them and the bottles around.

The bread was warm to Logan's suprise. He also noticed that Remy didn't make a sound while summoning the food. He just gestured wildly.

Once they were full, Remy and Emile cuddled up together in one corner of the barn, leaving the four of them on their own.

Patton cuddled up to Logan and Roman sat down next to them.

Logan slowly reached out around Patton and took his hand.

Roman gave him a weak smile.

"Sorry," he said suddenly.

"For what?" Logan asked confused.

"For dragging you into this whole mess. It's my fault you're here. I should never have-"

Logan shook his head.

"Stop that. I'm not mad about that anymore. I could have left back when we reached Terona. But I didn't. And I don't regret staying with you guys."

Patton held him tighter.

"If I'd left I wouldn't have gotten to know you the way I do. This is a mess, I won't lie. And I'm terrified, but I also don't regret being here."

He hesitated.

"I think... I think I've fallen in love with you."

Roman's eyes snapped up to meet his. He swallowed.

"I love you too," Roman breathed into the space between them, as if he were afraid of breaking something if he only spoke too loudly.  "I love you. I love you."

Logan felt Patton shift against his side.

The baker uncurled slightly and reached a hand out for Virgil, in a silent invitation.

Logan turned to look at him.

Virgil glanced between their faces and the extended hand. Hesitantly he took it and let Patton pull him closer.

"We're a mess," Roman said.

"We can fix that," Patton answered. "Together."

"Are you sure?" Virgil traced Patton's knuckles with his thumb.

"It's worth a try, isn't it?"

Virgil leaned his forehead against Logan's shoulder.

"I guess so," he finally whispered.

The thin walls of the barn did little to keep out the chill of the night, but curled up together with Patton, Roman and Virgil in a small glowing pile, Logan didn't feel cold at all.

Outside the wind howled and the king's men were likely already searching for them, but just for the night they could be fine.

Hello! This one's a bit shorter than usual but it felt right to end it here :)
You're getting a bit of fluff for a change.

As always feel free to comment, ask questions or roast me for spelling errors!

Have a nice (gay) day!