Mutual Deception

Migrane

I-I-I- I've got a migraine
And my pain will range up from up, down, and sideways
...
Let it be said what the migraine represents
It's me defending in suspense
It's me suspended in a defenseless test
21 Pilots
_________

"Crofters isn't a choice, it's a necessity." Logan continued slicing the bread.

Patton looked at him, taking a break from scraping the eggs. The making of scrambled eggs always seemed strange to Logan. When he thought about it, the process made sense, but it would not be his first instinct.

"Kiddo, I know you have an unhealthy obsession with that jelly-"

"Call Crofters by its name, you figurative heathen." Logan didn't bother to look up, despite Patton's exasperated chuckle.

"...right, Crofters, but I'm making breakfast. I make breakfast every day. I want people to eat it every day." Patton added some pepper, not sure if he wanted to yell at Logan or laugh. "Now kiddo, I'm not making it for nothing."

"I'm not slicing this bread for nothing." He turned to look at Patton, knowing he would start lecturing him.

Logan knew he shouldn't be pushing their relationship. Things had been tense between all of them for a few weeks.

Logan's gut wrenched. He knew why. But he didn't want to talk about it. Not yet.

Patton sighed. So far, Logan figured he was correct. "You can put the bread back in the bag." The tension between them was palpable. Logan's chest tightened further.

But he wouldn't back down.

"And let it dry out and crumble? Besides, you're not making it for nothing. There's Virgil, Roman, Thomas, and yourself."

Logan grabbed the Crofters out of the drawer above him and crossed over to get a butter knife.

He cringed when his arm brushed against Patton's.

Logan figured if Patton knew what he'd been thinking about, he would be disappointed. Luckily, Patton couldn't tell. But that didn't stop Logan being on the less comfortable side of the Yerkes Dodson curve around him.

Meanwhile, Patton kept talking, oblivious. "I made scrambled eggs for five people. Not four. Where would the rest go? All that work for nothing?" He smiled innocently at Logan.

He stared, unimpressed, and wishing he was in his room. "If you're that upset, you can invite Deceit." He closed the Crofters jar.

Patton started stuttering. "I mean- I love all my children equally, but-" he flinched as if he was guilty for his opinion. "Deceit isn't you on any level." Logan sighed and adjusted his tie. While Patton's assumption was debatable, it was also a discussion for another time.

"I assumed that would be your answer, but it's a possible course of action to take. I'm not eating your eggs. I'm eating my Crofters with toast." He turned away. "Thank you for the offer."

Logan fully intended to get into his room as quickly as possible. Ideally, undetected. Roman was sitting at the dinner table, in the same room as the stairwell.

Logan knew if Roman noticed him, he would almost definitely ask him to get Virgil to discuss the prompt for tomorrow's video. If he went fast enough, Roman might not notice him.

Logan grew closer and closer. He went into Roman's viewing range. The stairwell was several paces away-

Roman smiled and waved him over. "Greetings Icebear! How long until Pops finishes food?"