Sanders Sides (and more) One Shots

Performance of a Lifetime

Roman loved performing, which is why he signed up for the talent show. Unfortunately for him, his brother, Remus, signed up as well. Every year since elementary school, they signed up to be different acts in the show and Remus ended up being the talk of the school. Granted, it was usually because he pulled off some inappropriate stunt (pole dancing, humping a teddy bear for half an hour, diving into a pool of roaches that he threw to everyone as souvenirs), but any kind of promotion is good promotion for the both of them.
The more gallant of the two brothers wanted to prove that he doesn't have to be scandalous to be the talk of the school, so what did he decide would be a good act? A cheerleading dance number to a motivational song that was underappreciated by the school. Whenever he had time away from Remus, Roman would practice and practice the moves he has seen the other cheerleaders perform and even some moves he came up with himself. Factor in the knowledge that it was his last talent show before graduating high school and the fact that he wanted to impress Patton Hart, who constantly only saw his flirtatious behavior as platonic, and you'd get a better understanding of why Roman made a bigger deal out his act for senior year than any of the years before.
Unfortunately, he'd notice Remus working hard on his own ultimate stunt, which he boldly revealed was bobbing for deodorant without the need to call Poison Control, and wondered if he should stop trying so hard if Remus was just going to get more attention. However, every now and then, he looks ahead of him and sees a beautiful figure with wings, a gown, and a wand approach him. The first day he had his doubts was the first time he had seen this figure in years, but he recognized her as if he was a six-year-old the day before. Around that age, he came up with an imaginary Fairy Godmother who would give him advice, talk to him, and encourage him when he felt low. Ever since his first day of practice, she'd approach him and sit in an empty spot to watch him practice. No words were exchanged between them because, to him, the approving smile on his face was enough to give him the impression he was doing something right.
After several weeks of practicing and Fairy Godmother being his only audience, the talent show came up. Roman watched plenty of the other talents from off-stage as he picked at a suit he decided to wear for the sake of a dramatic reveal. From what he heard from the faculty, Remus wasn't going to be pulling his stunt since his "acts" had only gotten more severe and unpredictable since he started and they had given him the benefit of the doubt for too long, so Roman's act would be sooner than he thought.
As two of the students, Joan Stokes and Logan Tesla, were doing a well-constructed rap duo on word association games, Roman peeked out at the audience. He saw audience members varying in ages, he saw Patton hugging a stuffed puppy while sitting in the second row from the front, but he couldn't see Fairy Godmother anywhere, no matter how hard he focused. He heard the duo's act ending and closed his eyes. As he did, he saw all the effort he put into his act, he saw all that the act meant to him, and he saw the smile on Fairy Godmother's face.
Roman opened his eyes as he heard the applause. When he was announced, he walked onto the stage and snapped his fingers to turn on the music. Just like how he practiced, he waited several seconds before he ripped off his fragile suit to reveal his custom made cheerleading outfit, and pulled his pompoms out from behind his back like they were daggers. He did several flips and leaps to the lyrics of Nickelback, added more moves of his own, and even did cartwheels in the walkways several times. He was confident, he was having fun, and he was aware that he was doing the right thing.
By the time Roman finished his act, the music was coming to a close and he saw that Patton set the stuffed dog on his head and stood up before clapping enthusiastically. Everyone else followed and Roman glowed as he was smiling.
After several more great acts, everyone was starting to reunite with family and friends and get ready to head home. Roman got some hugs from his parents and a surprise slap on the back (well, slap on the butt) from Remus, but his attention drifted away from them as he saw Fairy Godmother in the crowd. He carefully maneuvered his way through the crowd to see her.
"Listen, um, thank you for all you've done," Roman told her after thinking.
"I'm part of your brain, remember? That confidence was all you, honey," she responded.
They both laughed before he looked at her.
"I can't stay for too long, you know."
"Why not?"
"Many reasons: you don't need me anymore, you're growing up too fast, and someone else seems to want your attention."
Fairy Godmother pointed behind Roman and he turned to find a nervous Patton holding his stuffed dog in one hand and a sparkling rose in another.
"Hey, um, Roman, I know everyone has probably already told you, but you were amazing up there...and quite handsome," the teen nervously told him while handing Roman the rose.
Roman carefully took the rose and immediately hugged Patton.
"Did you think I was only being friendly with you because you only saw me in a platonic way?" he decided to ask before he'd lose his chance.
"Wait, so you actually liked me? I saw you as out of my league!" Patton responded.
The two of them looked at each other without moving a muscle as the crowd started to diminish.
"How would you react if I asked you to grab an ice cream with me as a date?" Roman asked while smirking.
"I'd say that I would like to see which flavors our kiss would taste like."