~ Wings ~ Sanders Sides ~

~ Chapter Nine ~ Third person ~

There is a knock at Patton's door. "Pat!" the creative side calls. "You wanna go on an adventure?"

"Sure thing, kiddo!" the moral side calls back. "Just give me a second!"

After a couple minutes, Patton goes downstairs to find Roman bouncing up and down with excitement. "Yes! Come on, let's go!" Roman grabs Patton's hand and drags him to the backyard, also known as the imagination. With a flourish of his hand, the creative side conjures an entire town. Patton shakes his head in wonder, still amazed by Roman's abilities as Creativity.

"So..." Patton starts. "What are we doing, exactly?"

"I was thinking we would do a role play this time," Roman explains, his voice gaining regality as he starts to explain the storyline. "We are simple commoners sent by the king to do a great task: defeat the dragon witch once and for all!"

"You and that dragon-witch, huh?" The moral side chuckles.

"I'm too focused on this to think of anything else," the creative side explains. "We are reluctant cohorts, but eventually become friends, and perhaps even more."

"Wow, you could write a book about this!" Patton exclaims. The creative side chuckles.

"Well, my dear companion, are you ready to begin?"

"Ready!"

~*——__——*~

What do you mean, go up there?!" Patton protests. "You're the one with the wings!"

"Well, you're the one always making me do everything!" Roman counters.

"Not true! I cook!"

"You are not a woman!" Roman sighs. "Look, are you going up there or not?"

"Ugh, fine, I'll do it," Patton replies, then makes his way to the tree trunk and starts climbing. He makes it to the top and picks the apple. He's about to climb back down when all of the sudden—

Jump. The moral side pauses. Go ahead. It'll be quicker and besides, it just might get your wings to come back out.

"Pat?" Roman calls from below. "You coming?"

With a deep breath, the moral side leaps down from the uppermost branch. Upon impact, a sharp pain tears through his ankle and he winces.

"Patton!" Roman exclaims, rushing to Patton's side. "Oh, gods, Patton, are you alright?!"

"F-fine," Patton replies through tears, then flinches again. God, his ankle hurt!

"No you're not.." The creative side's voice softens. "Cmon, we can keep going tomorrow." Roman pulls Patton to his feet. "Do you need to lean on me?"

"No, thanks, kiddo," the moral side replies. "I told you, I'm fine." He begins walking, his right ankle protesting every time he puts pressure on it. Roman notices this and jogs to his side, then wraps an arm under his shoulders. "Ro, what are you—?"

"It's one thing when you lie about being upset, but if you're physically hurt, we need to know." Roman's voice is tender, yet remains firm.

But what if you're the one who's hurting yourself..? "I'll try, kiddo, but no guarantees..."

"All I ask is that you try."

When the pair gets back inside, Logan is the first to notice them. "Back already?" he says, glancing up from his book. The moment he sees that Patton is hurt, he takes full charge.

"Put him on the couch," he orders, not even taking the time to close his book.

"Guys, there's no need to—" Pattons starts, but Roman cuts him off.

"Patton. You're hurt. We want to help." There's an edge to his voice that shuts the moral side up immediately.

Once Patton is situated on the couch, his ankle on a stack of pillows, Logan comes over with an ice pack. Patton shies away from it.

"Patton? What's the matter?"

"Don't touch it," the moral side whispers, on the verge of a breakdown. The logical side senses this.

"Patton, I need you to breathe," he instructs calmly, setting the ice pack on the table. Patton shrinks back, almost seeming to have a panic attack. "Patton!" The moral side squeezes his eyes shut and sinks down into his room.

Logan sighs, then puts the ice pack back into the freezer and heads to his own room, ready to add to his diary.