Tomorrow | Sanders Sides

Chapter 2

Bit of a short chapter, sorry,

Patton dreamed.

It wasn't anything cohesive or linear; he dreamed of a snake hissing, the colour yellow and feeling small. When he woke, entangled in a pile of limbs and warmth, he felt inexplicably cold.

"It's about two in the morning, if you were wondering."

Moving slowly, and being careful not to jostle Virgil and Roman too much, Patton rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Why aren't you sleeping then?" He asked Logan, who was sitting on a chair beside the bed rather than sleeping.

Logan flipped a page in the book he was reading. "There are still limits I cannot adjust, habits I have yet to break. Close, physical contact like that makes me uneasy."

If Patton hadn't been so tired, he might have used some tact, but alas he was tired and so just waved a hand and said, "Nonsense, you look exhausted. Just lay down, even if you don't wanna join the pile. It's not like there isn't room." Indeed, the three sides took up only half the bed, entangled as they were, and so Logan would have plenty of space to sleep without feeling uneasy.

"Go back to sleep Patton," Logan said quietly. "I'll be okay."

Patton might have argued, if an unexplainable heaviness hadn't washed over him and he sank back down into the warmth and comfort of his friends. Closing his eyes, he whispered a slurred goodnight. Only minutes later, just as he was dropping back into that pool of darkness, he felt the bed dip slightly as a fourth body laid down.

He smiled, because that chased away the lingering sadness a little bit, and then he let sleep overcome him.

.

When he next woke up, it was because someone was gently pulling themselves away from the pile of bodies. "Roman?" Patton murmured, reaching for him slightly. The royal hushed him gently.

"It's still early," he explained in a whisper, breathing out as Virgil shifted. "Thomas is still asleep but today is supposed to be a creative day. I have to get started."

Patton pouted, but acquiesced and let go of the onside sleeve. "Okay," he sighed, cuddling into Virgil as if to absorb his warmth. (Patton was still freakishly cold even though the room was the perfect temperature).

Roman shuffled about quietly, before striding out, dressed as normal. Patton settled back down, ready to accept Virgil's subconscious affection, but the anxious side let out a sleep snuffle, and rolled away, towards Logan. Unbidden, tears rose to Patton's eyes, and he wicked in a shaky breath at the sudden burst of emotion. It was stupid, this was stupid. It was just one guy he couldn't get over.

"Patton?" Virgil's slurred whisper just caused Patton to bit his lip. "Patton, what's wrong?"

Everything. "Nothing," he said very quietly. "Go back to sleep Virgil, it's early."

There's was movement, and a hand grabbed his wrist and tugged. "Come on," Virgil muttered. "I'm tired, you're tired, and Logan is actually a cuddler, despite his claims. We're gonna make a new pile, and you're gonna sleep, and when we wake up, you'll feel better."

"Does that ever work for you?"

"No, but I'm tired. Come on, humour me."

Patton allowed himself to be tucked into Virgil's side as the anxious trait flopped haphazardly over Logan's torso. The logical side didn't stir. Patton wiped his face, feeling stupid as he clung to Virgil's patchwork-purple onesie. There wasn't even anything to be upset about, he was just sensitive.

...Virgil was really warm.

And Patton was so tired. So he snuggled into Virgil, forced his tears away, and embraced sleep like one would enrage an old friend.

.

Logan had, in fact, been awake. He'd been disturbed by Roman's departure, and had contemplated leaving himself. He had work to do as well. In fact, he should really be up and moving, but Virgil had rolled over, and then Patton's breathing had stuttered, and Logan knew he wasn't going anywhere.

(He totally was not a cuddler, Virgil was a liar.)

He fought to keep his breathing steady as Virgil unceremoniously threw himself across the logical side, but he managed to keep himself quiet because it seemed that this new arrangement had helped calm Patton significantly. He stayed awake until he was sure that Patton had fallen asleep, and then he curled into Virgil, seeking warmth and comfort. He'd move later, before the other two woke up, he just needed the warmth, because they were sleeping on top of the covers like heathens and he was slightly cold.

When he fell asleep, he dreamed of a snake hissing, the colour yellow and feeling small.