The Bloody Crown ||Sanders Sides

3. A Safe Haven

I already love writing this story. It's so fun to just get swallowed by my own plot and lose myself in writing it.

I have so many freaking ideas that I can't wait to use and ahhhhhhhhhhhh-

TW: talks about what happening to Remus, Remus, crying, mentions of smuggling people,

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Remus stared at the man in shock, not really believing that the man had even bothered to ask. After all, he was just sitting there collapsed in an alley. That's not someone a normal person would bother talking to, and most people would've just ignored Remus.

"Seriously though, are you okay?" the man asked again, concern lacing his voice. "I saw you run in hear like the devil was after you, and then you just collapsed like you'd given up."

"I don't think I'll ever be okay again," Remus whispered. He sounded broken, which mirrored exactly how he felt. His world was crashing down around him, yet it felt like everything else was fine.

"Well then, you'd better come with me." The man let out a soft sigh, looking over Remus. "It doesn't seem like you're hurt, but you'd still better get out of the open."

"W-who are you?" Remus hated that his voice shook, but he couldn't help it. It made him feel weak and vunerable.

"I guess I should've introduced myself," the man gave a small smile. "I'm Patton Heart, and I run the bakery."

"P-patton?" Remus stared at Patton in shock, surprised that he hadn't recognized him. "Oh my god it's you. Thank god it's you." Remus broke down into tears as Patton helped him up, leading him to where Remus assumed was the bakery.

Patton brought him into the back of the bakery, out of sight from anyone in the main area. The man who had been at counter quickly gave Remus a bagel and shooed them into the back before going back to the counter.

"Who are you?" Patton asked softly. When he saw Remus tense up, he gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about whatever trouble you're in. I can hide you here until you get out of the city. I won't tell anyone or turn you in."

"I..." Remus trailed off, looking at his hands. "I'm kind of surprised you don't recognize me. It's only been what, a month?" Patton's smile faltered, being replaced by a look of shock.

"Remus? Is it actually you?" When Remus gave a small nod, Patton quickly hugged him, letting him cry against him. "What happened? What on earth are you doing out here?"

"R-roman kicked me out," Remus mumbled. "He took away my title as prince and threw me out of the palace. Well, more like let Paranoia follow me with the threat of my death if I didn't leave over my head."

"Oh Remus, I'm so sorry," Patton whispered. "I can't believe he did that to you."

"You know Roman," Remus said with a bitter laugh. "Anything goes as long as he gets what he wants."

"Still," Patton said. "You're his twin. Doesn't he care?"

"I don't think he cares about anything," Remus muttered. "Unless it's being king or getting Paranoia to actually listen to him for once, I don't think he cares."

"Well I'm sorry we don't really have an extra room here," Patton said gently. "If you want I can help get you out of Colia and to someplace safer."

"I'm not leaving," Remus stated. "There's no way I'm going farther away from everything I know."

"I thought you'd say that," Patton said, a soft smile on his lips. "Luckily I have a friend who could possibly take you in."

"Thanks Patton." There was a greatful smile on Remus' face, but the sadness radiating off of him was just as strong. "How did you get into all of this anyway- the hiding away people?" A dark look flashed in Patton's eyes.

"There were people who just wanted a second chance. I took some of them in and hid them- mostly if Paranoia was after them. I've helped countless innocent people escape. More in the past few days than ever before Roman became king. One of them  stayed behind to help me with the bakery, despite how dangerous it is for him here."

"What'd he do?" Remus asked quietly.

"I don't know. All I know is he pissed off Paranoia somehow," Patton said with a shrug. "I don't ask. He'll tell me if he's ready to, and if not, that's okay too. I'm going to get you a change of clothes, and then I'll take you to Logan."

745 words