#and I hate lying. i hate trying to stay inside this bubble of social politeness and never speak about what's effecting me

[sorcerous-caress]

I hope you are doing well

Did I- Did I make it seem like I'm going crazy or something? Like yes I am okay, I promise.

Well, no. I lied, but I'm not worse than normal. I have always been this deranged. It is not out of the ordinary. Why the concerns now?

But thank you anyways, I hope you're doing well too.

[whumpmatsus]

So. Todomatsu always ACTS like he hates that Karamatsu is so eccentric, but we all know he actually doesn't mind that much. If anyone else made fun of him for that stuff, I can't help but think he wouldn't let it fly. So what about a situation where Karamatsu gets made fun of/bullied/put down by someone OUTSIDE the family for being the way he be and Todomatsu gets an opportunity to go into full protective mode over him??

OH SHIT the youngest of them goes feral

dare I say... RELEASE THE BABY!!!!!

God I love Zaimoku, it’s so good <3

-

If Totty is being completely, utterly, unfailingly honest with himself, his brothers need his help if one of them is going to be going on a date.

Really, he’s the only one who has any clue about how to act on a date! He could hit his big brothers over the head with a Clue-by-four with that shit and they still wouldn’t really get it.

Even so… part of him thinks he shouldn’t really be following Karamatsu to a date. Karamatsu is the one Totty knows is never going to come running to him for advice or assistance, especially with girls; he’s got the undeserved ego of an avocado toast sandwich. Totty isn’t sure he’d be pleased to know his baby brother tagged along not because he has to sort out a schedule thing at work, but because he wants to keep an eye on Karamatsu.

What else is he supposed to do, though? Just let Karamatsu go alone and totally blow it? His usual behavior aside, Totty really wants his big brothers to be happy and have fulfilling relationships. He thinks if he can be there to keep an eye on things, well, maybe it won’t go so bad. Maybe Karamatsu will have a shot with this woman. Maybe he’ll get a girlfriend!

The very idea was enough to make him feel a little better about lying so that his brother will take him along. It eases his conscience, imagining that if he manages to help Karamatsu out to the point that the second eldest ends up in a loving, joyful relationship, (obviously as opposed to the past few horrible ones he’s had), then a little fib isn’t so bad, is it?

After all, if he were the one in need of something like this, he’d be grateful for his brothers’ help however they did it.

Of course, when he sees the look this girl gives Karamatsu, a look like the kind a baby gives after licking a lemon for the first time, Totty can’t help but wince. This isn’t off to a great start. He lingers by the counter, greeting Sacchi and Aida, trying not to look as if he’s watching his big brother’s date.

“Aren’t you off today, Totty?” Sacchi hums as she turns to start making a drink.

He nods. “Yeah, well, I can’t stay away, I guess, haha.”

Aida jerks her head toward the table where Karamatsu and his date are. “That’s one of your brothers, right? Still as painful as ever,” she teases. “Is he… oh, my God, he’s on a date??”

“Shhhh, shh!” Totty waves his hands a little, hoping to get his friends to quiet down a little. The last thing Karamatsu needs is to be drawing attention. “He thinks I tagged along to talk to you guys about my schedule. But, yes, he’s here on a date.”

Sacchi finishes serving her customer, one of the few in the shop at the moment, and then leans against the counter to look over. “Aw, good for him. He’s not either of our types, but he deserves a shot with someone who’s interested.”

He lets out a soft sigh. “Agreed there. I kind of just wanna keep an eye on him, you know? To make sure he doesn’t mess it up too much. He should have let me pick his outfit, ugh… that aside, he’s doing okay so far, though, I think.”

Aida frowns as she slides a cup of coffee toward her coworker. “Um, I hate to burst your bubble, but he’s got his work cut out for him. I’ve been to some mixers with that girl, and she always finds something wrong with every guy she hangs out with.”

“She’s right,” Sacchi adds. “Good thing you came along so you can carry him home, ‘cause that girl’s gonna tear him to pieces. I mean, she went out with Atsushi and the next day he was in here crying and telling me she made him feel two inches tall. Nobody’s good enough for her.”

Aida clicks her tongue. “Your big brother’s in big trouble, Totty.”

It’s Totty’s turn to frown as he looks toward Karamatsu. Unfortunately, Sutabaa is so small and he’s close enough that he doesn’t have to strain too much to hear what’s being said.

The woman is laughing. However… Karamatsu hasn’t even really opened his mouth yet. “Oh, my God! You’re my date, huh? Last time I let my sister set me up. That bitch, haha. Ah, well… wow, your jacket is hurting my eyes. Could you take it off?”

Karamatsu seems to be trying his best to smile. “O-oh, yes, of course.” He moves to tug it off, folding it over the back of his chair. “Please forgive me. Anyway, my name is Karamatsu. And you, my angel?”

“Ahaha, WHAT?” The woman raises an eyebrow at him. “C’mon, dude. Don’t call me that. I’m nobody’s angel.”

Totty feels himself starting to steam. You’ve got that right.

“A-ah… right, my apologies.” Karamatsu just keeps smiling. The expression on his face reads almost like he’s in pain. “Well, should we order?”

She gives a cursory glance toward the menu, then suddenly her eyes are drawn to Karamatsu again. “Oh, my God, hold on… is… is that your face on your shirt?! Holy shit! Are you really that full of yourself?”

Totty’s heart sinks as his brother’s cheeks flush bright red. This is not going well. And while, yes, Karamatsu probably should have picked a different shirt, what’s really wrong with what he’s wearing? Even though he’s a little over-the-top and dramatic, this woman can’t know whether or not he’s ‘full of himself’ when she’s barely letting him get a word in.

Totty is the most socially intelligent of his brothers, and even he doesn’t think Karamatsu’s actually doing anything wrong. He hasn’t drawn anyone else’s attention like he usually does, he hasn’t gone overboard with any poses, and he’s… kind of just being himself, slightly toned down. It’s not like he’s bragging or being a jerk. Hell, it’s just a strange fashion choice; how the hell does she think it has any bearing on what he’s like as a person?

“Damn,” Sacchi cringes. “She’s not wasting any time, is she?”

Aida gives a pout toward her friends. “He didn’t even do anything wrong yet. He’s been a perfect gentleman.”

“Yeah, he’s just a little odd and, like, a tiny bit painful. But he’s acting really nice and polite.” Sacchi sighs as she props her head up on her hand. “There’s no pleasing some people. Aida, why don’t you go take their order? Maybe you can accidentally spill it on that pretentious top of hers when you bring it to them.”

“Pfff, if only. I’m on it, though.”

Totty continues to fume as he watches his poor brother try to impress this girl, pretty much in vain. He gets the feeling that nothing Karamatsu says or does is going to be good enough. For some reason, that really pisses him off. Despite the fact that Karamatsu can be a bit much, that he’s overcompensating for being insecure on the inside, that everyone rolls their eyes at him… Karamatsu isn’t a bad guy. He tries hard to make other people happy and treats them with respect. Even his brothers who don’t always return the favor.

By the point Sacchi and Aida are finished making their order, the youngest is ready to explode at this woman. She never even told Karamatsu her name, but she’s spent the whole time talking him down. When she asked what he did ‘besides be super excruciating’, and he told her he didn’t really have a job, she laughed at him. He tried to save it by saying he occasionally played guitar at coffee shops, and she responded something along the lines of, “What kind of hipster loser does that these days??”

Listening to it just makes him so angry. She doesn’t think Karamatsu is attractive, she’s called him embarrassing more than once, and no matter what he does or says, she’s not happy with it. Why the fuck did she even bother going out with him, then?

Totty was worried that Karamatsu was going to screw this up; so far he’s actually managed to be a decent date. He wasn’t prepared for his brother’s date to be the shitty one.

Sacchi brings him a simple iced coffee while Aida returns with the serving tray, a fake smile on her face from laughing uncomfortably at one of the woman’s comments. “God, she’s exhausting.”

“I don’t even know her and I can’t stand her,” Totty mutterrs before taking a sip of his drink. “Why the hell is she treating him like that? He’s just… being himself!”

Being himself. Karamatsu’s really not doing anything wrong. He’s trying to talk himself up when this woman gives him a chance to, but who doesn’t talk themself up on a first date? He just wants to impress her.

It makes Totty feel a little guilty to realize that, honestly, all Karamatsu really wants is to impress everyone because he wants people to like him… including his brothers. If Karamatsu feels the need to seek love and acceptance from strangers like this girl, to the point that he’s willing to put up with the horrible way she’s treating him, what does that say about his brothers? It’s not the first time he’s sucked it up and dealt with something he shouldn’t have from someone just because he wants that person to love him.

His attention is drawn by the woman giggling a little too loudly. “Fuck, you wanna go out with me again? I mean, how do you think this is going? I’m two seconds away from sneaking out the bathroom window. You’re so obnoxious, you dress like an edgy middle schooler, and who wears sunglasses inside, especially when it’s raining outside? You’re, like, cringe incarnate.”

Completely contradicting every statement she made, she slid her hand across the table to take his, if only for a brief moment. The wicked look in her eyes, more sadistic than even Ichimatsu, made Totty’s stomach twist in anger. “I might keep you around, though. You seem like a guy who’d keep me laughing for a while. Maybe next time I’ll take you out with my friends so everyone can laugh at you.”

Oh, that’s it.

He doesn’t know if Karamatsu is oblivious to what she means because he’s blinded and deafened by the promise of another date, or if he knows exactly what she means but perhaps thinks it’s worth it. His eyes light up… and behind that hopeful spark is the pain she’s already put him through.

Baby of the bunch though he is, Totty isn’t going to sit around and twiddle his thumbs while some bitch takes advantage of his big brother.

“Oh, that is sooooo not happening!” he calls as he approaches the table. Although he feels a little bad about just stepping in like this, he’s not gonna let her get away with treating Karamatsu like that. Laughing at him herself was bad enough; parading him in front of her friends for all of them to laugh at him when there’s nothing wrong with Karamatsu isn’t gonna happen if Totty has something to say about it.

The woman gives him an unimpressed look. “Who the fuck are you?”

“T-Totty!!” Karamatsu,  on the other hand, looks immediately panicked. “I can handle this… please, go back and fix your schedule, and I’ll meet you at home.”

“Wait, you work here?” She tilts her head at him. “Oh, shit, hold up. You’re the asshole who messed up my drink last time I was here.” Her gaze flits between the two of them, and she laughs again.

“― Oh, my God! You had to bring your twin brother along to come on a date? You’re pathetic!” Her hand pulls away from Karamatsu’s. “Oh, you’re definitely coming out with me and my friends.”

Totty hisses and pushes her hand away from Karamatsu’s. He steps in front of his big brother to physically block this woman from him. “Keep your hands off him! You’re not taking him anywhere. He’s never seeing you again, because you treated him like… like, fuck, I wouldn’t treat a rock the way you treated him!”

He hears Karamatsu make a noise of almost-protest behind him; he can just imagine the other man sinking down in his seat and trying to hide his face. “Totty, please…”

“No! No, she doesn’t get to just treat you like dirt, Karamatsu-nii-san! You think my brother’s just some kind of dumbass you can show off to your friends and laugh at and treat him like crap?!” he snarls. “Well, guess what? He may be sort of a dumbass sometimes, and maybe he’s a little painful, and maybe he’s not the perfect guy you’re looking for! But he’s a whole hell of a better person than you are!”

Although Totty could kick himself for not saying anything to Karamatsu before, it might be best it’s coming out now. He doesn’t have a lot of time to really think about it or pretend or rehearse. What he’s saying isn’t practiced, it’s real. “Karamatsu is the kindest person I know, and you wish you had at least half the passion he does for the things he likes! Who cares that he wears a shirt with his own face on it? He was bending over backwards to make you happy, even though everything out of your mouth was word barf about how embarrassing he is! And, by the way, you’re wrong!”

It only takes half a step for him to reach over to grab his coffee from the counter, assisted by Aida who’s smirking as she holds it out for him. “If my choice was between you or him, I’d be way less embarrassed to be seen in public with him than with you! He’s not perfect, but he cares about people, and he’s always there when you need him, and ― and all this stuff you think is embarrassing, who the hell gives a shit?! It’s what he wants to do and it’s not hurting anyone! I’d break my phone before I let my big brother go out with someone like you again! Maybe he keeps striking out with dates, but he’s never going to be that desperate!”

He feels a little bad about what he’s about to do. That feeling is mitigated by the fact that at least his coffee isn’t hot.

“And, you know, I actually am sorry about messing up your drink last time. So here, you can have mine!” Almost before he’s finished speaking, he’s dumped his entire cup over her head.

He doesn’t stick around to deal with the aftermath aside from seeing the look of abject horror on the woman’s face as the coffee makes her bad mascara drip. And even though there’s a little bit of guilt over the fact that he’s leaving his coworkers to deal with her, the fact that Sacchi and Aida are cackling while they gather up napkins eases his mind.

He grabs Karamatsu by the hand and leads him out, tossing his coffee cup on the way. There’s not much choice on Karamatsu’s part, except he doesn’t particularly look as if he minds that.

“You didn’t… have to do that, Totty,” Karamatsu mumbles. When Totty glances over, the second eldest looks more tired than anything. He knows that look; the exhaustion of something not working out, of thinking you had a chance only for it to all go up in smoke.

Totty huffs, marching the two of them in the direction that leads back home. “Of course I did! You weren’t going to do it, so someone had to. God… you’ve gotta stop letting people walk all over you, Karamatsu-nii-chan.”

The shift to the more affectionate honorific suggests to Karamatsu that this is really, truly something Totty cares about. He squeezes his baby brother’s hand with a thoughtful hum. “… If that’s the case, perhaps a romance for me just isn’t in the cards. I… really thought it was going to go somewhere this time.”

At last Totty slows slightly, from an aggressive pace to something a little calmer. He’s still pissed off that someone treated Karamatsu like that, and although he’s a bit upset that Karamatsu sit there and let it happen, he knows what it’s like to want people to like you so much that you’ll put up with nearly anything.

However, that’s also the reason he doesn’t want Karamatsu just putting up with it. He deserves so much better than to have people treat him like dirt. It’s not right to do that to anybody, but… especially not to Totty’s big brother.

“I’m sorry I kind of… tapped into Murder Totty in there,” he sighs. “Did I go overboard?”

Karamatsu shrugs. “Maybe a little. But I wasn’t truly enjoying myself and I didn’t want to go on another date with her. I just… didn’t know how to tell her no. I suppose I really am lucky you were there, too.”

Silence falls between them while they walk, then after a moment, Karamatsu clears his throat. “Totty… did you… mean all those things?”

“Huh? All what things?”

“Those things, you know… you said I was… kind and passionate and reliable.” He lets out a soft laugh. “You… you said you’d rather break your phone than let me go out with her again.”

… Oh. He. Did say that, didn’t he?

He pouts a bit, then squeezes Karamatsu’s hand. “Yeah, I meant it. Of course I meant it.”

Beat.

“But as much as I love you, I’m just glad I don’t have to do that.”

[purrincess-chat]

Will You Be My (Fake) Lover CH4

If you thought last chapter was steamy, I have some news for you about this one. Aka, Adrien can’t stop kissing Marinette, and he’s starting to think there’s something wrong with him.

Read on AO3

Chapter 4

Lila drummed her fingers on her folded arms with a scowl as she watched Marinette’s makeup artist work, the two chatting and smiling casually. It should be her doing that shoot and the interview, and now she was just going to be a side model while Marinette and Adrien got the cover with their stupid fairytale shoot. But they could enjoy this little performance while it lasted because it wouldn’t be long before she exposed them and set their fake relationship up in flames. Those goody-two-shoes couldn’t possibly keep their charade up for long, lying to their friends and family. It was going to eat away at them, and Lila was going to be there the second they cracked.

“You can wait by the fountain, my young principessa. Your Prince Charming is almost done with makeup,” the photographer instructed, pointing to her mark.

“Okay!” She smiled sweetly, and Lila rolled her eyes. Her niceness was so annoying, and her face fell the moment their eyes locked as she passed by.

“You may have everyone else fooled, but I can see right through your phony little relationship,” Lila said with a smirk, and Marinette’s eyes narrowed.

“Jealous?” She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Hardly,” Lila grunted. “Adrien doesn’t love you. He never has. You will always just be a friend to him.”

“Well, that’s more than you can say about him,” Marinette said with a laugh, and Lila felt her temper flare.

“You’re so clumsy, Marinette. It’s a real shame you won’t get your fairytale ending with Adrien after all,” Lila said, and Marinette’s eyes narrowed.

“What are you-” Before she could finish, Lila hooked her foot around Marinette’s ankle and pushed, sending her toppling backwards into the fountain.

“Oh, no! Help! Marinette’s so clumsy, she tripped and fell into the fountain!” Lila cried as Marinette flailed in an attempt to sit up, meeting her triumphant smirk with a glare.

“No, no! Your hair, the makeup! Get her out of there and into a back up dress,” the photographer ordered, but before he could stop him, Adrien darted from his chair and crawled into the fountain after her.

“Adrien, your clothes-” Marinette started as he knelt beside her.

“Are you okay?” He asked, eyebrows knit together worriedly.

“Fine. I-” She glanced up at the photographer and makeup artists crowding the fountain, eyes locking with Lila’s as she stood beside them innocently, and Lila quirked a brow at her as if issuing a challenge. “I tripped and fell in. I’m sorry.”

“Are you hurt?” Adrien asked, looking her over.

“No,” she said, eyes stinging as she tucked wet hair behind her ear then, feeling her earlobe, she gasped, “My earring!”

“Don’t worry. We have back-ups of those too,” her wardrobe specialist assured her, but panic surged through her chest.

“My grandmother gave me these earrings,” she said with a pout, training those desperate eyes on Adrien. Without hesitating, Adrien lowered onto his hands and knees, crawling along the bottom of the fountain despite how the photographer threw his head back with a groan.

“Got it,” he said after a few minutes of searching, holding it up.

Marinette breathed a sigh of relief as he crawled back toward her, gently pushing it through her lobe and brushing her cheek with the back of his hand.

“There, good as new,” he said with a loving smile. “Now let’s get you dried off, princess.”

Before she could protest, Adrien scooped her up into his arms, carrying her out of the fountain and to the tent set up across the courtyard. She clung to him awkwardly like a wet cat until he set her down and draped a towel over her shoulders, rubbing her arms a little to warm her up.

“Thanks,” she said, tugging at the corners.

“I’ve got you, always,” he said, kissing her hand before retreating back out to the sidewalk as Marinette’s team rushed in.

Lila stood off to the side, arms folded over her chest as the crew prepped for her shoot while Adrien and Marinette were indisposed, and Adrien passed her on the way to his tent with a scowl.

“Don’t think I don’t realize what happened just now,” he growled in her ear.

“I don’t know what you’re-”

“You seem a little slow to comprehend, so I’ll say it again. Stay away from, Marinette,” he said sternly.

“I didn’t do anything,” Lila insisted with a coy smile, but Adrien glared through her.

“We both know that’s a lie, but if you do anything to her, I’ll make sure no one listens to you ever again,” he shot back, and Lila rolled her eyes.

“You don’t have the guts,” she said with a laugh.

“Try me.” Lila quirked a brow, shrinking a little under his cold gaze, those green eyes filled with more malice than she’d ever seen.

“Whatever,” she grumbled, averting her gaze. “Even if I don’t do anything, it won’t be long before you two crack. You may have everyone fooled for now, but you’re both too angelic to keep this charade up for long. Just know that I look forward to watching your friends get crushed under the weight of your lies.”

Adrien’s jaw clenched as the photographer called her over for her shoot, hands clenched into fists at his sides. He couldn’t tell if he was shaking from the cool breeze against his wet clothes or from the unbridled rage burning inside him. Either way, he wasn’t going to let Lila off so easily.

***

“I can’t wait for your shoot to release. You look so beautiful,” Alya said the next day in the locker room, staring down at the picture Marinette had uploaded to her Instagram. “You two are so cute together.”

“Thanks. It was really nerve-wracking, but I had fun,” Marinette said, rubbing the back of her neck.

“You did great,” Adrien assured her, and she smiled up at him as he leaned down to touch his nose to hers.

“I’m more interested in this article about you saving Marinette from the fountain,” Nino said, flipping his phone around to show an image of a very soaked Marinette being carried by Adrien.

“You’re such a klutz, girl,” Alya laughed. “But it was super cute of you to jump in after her like that, Adrien.”

“The photographer didn’t think so,” Adrien chuckled with a wince. “But I’d do anything for you, my love.”

“Aww,” Nino and Alya cooed as he planted a soft kiss on her flushed cheeks.

“I have to go get changed for fencing, but Nathalie promised we could hang out afterward while we do homework,” he said. “Provided that we actually work on it.”

“You’ll have to keep your hands to yourself,” Marinette said teasingly.

“It’s not my hands you should be worried about.” He winked, leaning down to kiss her goodbye.

“Oh, Adrien. There you are, I-” Kagami approached with her gym bag, stopping short when she saw them together. “Am I interrupting?”

“Oh, Kagami,” Marinette said, spine stiffening as her brown eyes darted between them.

“Hey, I was just about to get changed,” Adrien said, shouldering his duffle bag.

“You and Marinette are a couple now?” She asked, voice guarded and hesitant as if she were fighting to maintain her composure.

“Yeah. We’ve been together for almost a week now,” Adrien said, and Marinette bit her lip.

“I see,” Kagami said, lowering her gaze. “Congratulations. I hope you two are very happy.”

“I’ll just be a few minutes then we can warm up,” Adrien said before retreating to the bathroom.

“Excuse me. I think I left my jacket in the bathroom,” Kagami said, bowing politely before retreating to the other side of the locker room.

“Kagami, wait!” Marinette called after her.

“Trouble in paradise already.” Alya winced as Marinette gave chase, and Nino quirked a brow.

“What?” He asked, and Alya rolled her eyes.

“Kagami has feelings for Adrien too. She and Marinette were kind of competing to catch his attention,” Alya explained. “And now Marinette’s won, so Kagami must be devastated.”

“Man, being a hot teen model is messy. It doesn’t matter who you end up with. You’re always gonna break some hearts,” Nino said.

“Good thing I don’t have to worry about that with you,” Alya teased, brushing his nose with her finger.

“Hey!” Nino puffed his cheeks, and Alya threw her head back with a laugh. “Do you think they’re all gonna be okay?”

“Knowing Marinette, I’m sure she and Kagami will smooth things over,” Alya said. “I hope anyway. Marinette has had a crush on Adrien since day one, and now they’re finally together. I’d hate for anything to ruin that.”

“Kagami!” Marinette called, but the girl in question didn’t stop as she pushed open the bathroom door. “Please, wait!”

“I appreciate your concern, Marinette, but I’m fine,” Kagami said finally, spinning around to face her, and although she wore a smile, Marinette could see the hurt in her eyes.

“I’m sorry you had to find out this way. I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Marinette said, and Kagami shifted her weight.

“I know, Marinette. It’s not your fault my mother keeps me from things she deems unnecessary like social media and texting. I’m not angry with you or Adrien,” she said, lowering her gaze to her shoes. “My friends are happy, and I should be happy for them.”

“Kagami,” Marinette started with a sigh. “You’re hurt, and I’m not going to try to convince you that you shouldn’t be. I understand if you don’t want to see me right now, but you’re my friend. I’m here for you if you need me.”

“Thank you, Marinette, but I don’t see a point in crying over a boy. They’re rarely worth it,” Kagami said, and Marinette frowned.

“Your feelings are worth it,” Marinette said, and Kagami processed that for a moment before her face fell, tears bubbling in her eyes and shoulders beginning to shake.

Marinette stepped forward, taking Kagami into her arms as she began to weep. She wasn’t sure what to say to make it better. She didn’t even think words existed that could. Pain like this could only be mended with time, with tears, with friendship, but in that moment, Marinette shared her pain because she wasn’t with Adrien anymore than Kagami was. But Marinette couldn’t tell her that, so she held her close until her sobs quieted, and her shaking stopped.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Marinette asked.

“I will be,” Kagami said, wiping at her cheek. “I’m glad that it’s you and not someone else like Lila. Now that I wouldn’t be able to stand.”

They both laughed at that.

“Thank you for checking up on me, Marinette. If anyone else is deserving of Adrien, it’s you, and I truly hope that you two are happy,” Kagami said with a bow.

“I hope that you find someone truly deserving of you too, Kagami. You’re really smart and amazing, ya know,” Marinette said, and Kagami smiled, cheeks flushing.

“I can see why Adrien likes you. You’re very kind, and I’m glad that we’ve become friends,” Kagami said, and this time Marinette was the one blushing. “I accept defeat.”

Marinette watched as she squared her shoulders and held her head high as she paced from the room, her heart twisting in knots. She knew that this arrangement with Adrien would be hard, but she didn’t picture it like this. She only hoped that they didn’t hurt anyone else when all was said and done.

***

“I’m really surprised your dad is letting you come to the party,” Marinette said on the limo ride to Nino’s apartment. “He’s really let up since we got together.”

“A little bit, yeah, but I also might have told him that we’re meeting up to work on a group project,” Adrien said, innocently batting his eyelashes with a smirk.

“You’ve been awfully rebellious lately,” Marinette noted with a grin, and Adrien folded his arms over his chest.

“It’s pay back for his attempt to stick me with Lila.” Adrien shrugged, and Marinette cupped a hand to her lips to stifle a giggle. “I just wanna have fun for once. Is that so wrong?”

“I don’t think so,” Marinette shook her head, and Adrien’s face softened as the limo slowed to a stop.

“Ready?” He offered her a hand.

“Yep.” She placed her hand in his before climbing out, twining their fingers together as they headed up the stairs to Nino’s door.

“Yo, Adrien!” Nino greeted, extending a fist for him to pound. “Giving your pops the slip so you can hang with your best bro and lady? Very sneaky, my dude.”

“I like to have fun every once in a while, ya know,” Adrien chuckled as Nino gestured them in.

Several of their classmates were standing around the living room chatting over drinks and snacks, and Alya waved them over to the couch. Nino draped his arm over her shoulders as they sat, and Adrien awkwardly did the same for Marinette.

“I’m so glad you two could make it,” Alya said, shifting to face Marinette. “We have tons of fun party games for couples, and you two are definitely playing.”

“Yeah, of course.” Adrien nodded, exchanging glances with Marinette.

“Awesome! I’m so glad you two are together now. You guys can go out on dates with us, and we can get ice cream at Andres, and we can go to couples’ events,” she said with increasing excitement. “I really am happy for you, girl. I know you’re perfectly capable and amazing on your own, and in no way do I think that being in a relationship is a necessity for everyone to find happiness, but it’s just kinda nice to have someone.”

“Yeah, no, totally. I get what you mean,” Marinette said with a smile that fell as soon as Alya turned her head.

Somehow, she wasn’t having very much fun at this party. To everyone else it appeared as though she had everything she wanted, but little did they know that she couldn’t be further from it. Adrien’s arm was around her, but it was meaningless, just a gesture to keep up appearances. She had to remind herself of why she was doing this because if she didn’t then it would be just another steppingstone for Lila to get what she wanted and make everyone fall further into her web. Adrien would be miserable, and Lila would lord their relationship over her until it was over. She had no other choice. She had to do this even if it hurt.

“Alya! You and Nino are up next to dance,” Rose said, gesturing over her shoulder to the screen where her partner score with Juleka flashed, and Alya cast Marinette a sly smirk.

“Why don’t we let Adrien and Marinette have a turn?” She suggested, nudging them with her elbow. “We can see how in sync you two are.”

“Uh, that’s oaky. We don’t want to-” Marinette started, but Adrien cut her off.

“Oh, yeah! Now I don’t have to solo or partner with Nino. C’mon, Marinette, this should be fun,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her up.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Marinette asked under her breath as Rose selected a song for them.

“Why not? It’s just dancing. We’ve danced together before.” He shrugged.

“Yeah, but…”

“Don’t worry. You and I will make a great team.” He winked, and she felt her limbs tense as all eyes fixed on them.

While it was true that dancing was easy enough, she couldn’t help but feel awkward as if they were broadcasting to everyone how fake their relationship was, so for the next several minutes she focused on getting the moves right. Adrien didn’t seem that concerned and seemed to be enjoying himself, so Marinette took a deep breath and forced herself to loosen up a bit. It wouldn’t matter if they flubbed one game, and no one was likely to question the authenticity of their relationship even if they did. At least, that’s what she told herself until Nino called out a hearty greeting, and Marinette caught sight of Lila entering as she spun.

The world seemed to move in slow motion as their eyes met, and the pit returned to Marinette’s stomach. Those taunting green eyes seemed to mock her from afar, speaking the worlds Lila didn’t have to.

One wrong move, and everyone will know you’re lying. I’ll make sure of it.

Her heart jumped up to her throat, and in her moment of distraction, she lost her footing, tripping into Adrien and sending them both toppling to the floor. Adrien took most of the impact, cradling her instinctively to protect her, and the moment his back hit the ground, she shot up with a gasp.

“Are you okay?” They said in unison, and Marinette fumbled against his chest.

“I’m sorry!” She said with a wince as they sat up, and Adrien rubbed his back. “Are you hurt?”

“Nah, Kagami has done worse to me in fencing,” he assured her, brushing her cheek with the back of his knuckle. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

“It’s hard to be in sync with someone so clumsy. I feel bad for you, Adrien,” Lila said, crossing one leg over the other as Nathaniel and Kim laughed in agreement, and Marinette lowered her head in shame.

“That’s okay. I think it’s cute that she can’t stop falling for me,” Adrien said, prompting a chorus of ‘awws’ from their friends, and Marinette smiled up at him as he shot her a wink. “I’ll always catch you.”

Marinette felt her cheeks flush, and she leaned into kiss him sweetly, lingering a moment in hopes of expressing her gratitude.

“You two are so perfect together,” Rose cooed, cupping her hands to her cheeks.

“Up,” Adrien offered her his hands, pulling her back to her feet before lifting her hands to his lips. “Will you accompany me to the snack table for a cold drink, m’lady?”

“I’d be honored,” Marinette said, casting a pointed look at Lila as she linked her arm through his.

“Okay, Alya and Nino. You’re up!”

“Sorry about that. I let Lila get in my head,” she mumbled as Adrien dug two drinks from the cooler.

“That’s okay. I think it worked out better in the end anyway,” he said, passing her a can then swiping a macaron.

“Yeah,” Marinette said, glaring back over where Lila was sitting. “She just gets under my skin. I wish I could get back at her somehow.”

“I’m all ears if you have ideas,” he said before taking a swig of his orange soda.

“I know it’s not right to- wait, you want to get back at her too?” Marinette’s eyebrows raised in shock, and Adrien quirked a brow.

“Isn’t that what we’re doing?” Adrien motioned to the theoretical connection between them. “I’ve been ready ever since she got you expelled.”

“Are we taking the low road?” She asked with a smirk, and Adrien bit back one of his own.

“Not entirely, just…a little detour,” he proposed, pursing his lips deviously. “So, what do we wanna do?”

“Hmm…” Marinette hummed, glancing around the room at their assets, gaze lingering briefly on Ivan and Mylene embraced in the corner with locked lips and feeling her pulse accelerate at the thought. “I have an idea, but…”

“What is it?” Adrien asked with a prompting nod.

“It’s nothing. I’ll think of something else.” She waved it away.

“No, tell me,” he insisted, and she bit her lip before stretching up to whisper in his ear.

His eyebrows raised in shock, a grin curling on his lips as Marinette lowered back on her heels and winced.

“Okay,” he said with a laugh as her cheeks darkened, taking her hand and leading her to the chair in the corner.

Adrien sat first, placing his drink on the floor before extending his arms to her, and she awkwardly climbed into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. He smiled at her as she got situated, eyelids hooding before he leaned in to touch his lips to hers.

She was met with that same spark through her veins, drawing her in closer. His breath tasted like orange soda, and she wanted to drink as much of it as she could. It wasn’t real, and she knew that, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy it. That the eager way he hugged her against him, sucking her bottom lip with a contented sigh was genuine instead of an act.

If she thought too much about the true nature of their relationship, she’d never be able to pull this off. So, she pretended, pushing away those thoughts and kissing him deeper which he welcomed, cupping her cheek and letting his tongue slip into her mouth. If she knew one thing, it was that Adrien was going to drive her absolutely mad by the end of it if he always kissed her this way.

“Am I the only one who finds their relationship a bit odd?” Lila was saying across the room to Alya. “I find it hard to believe that they got together so suddenly. It’s like there’s something else going on.”

“What makes you say that?” Alya asked, quirking a brow. “Marinette has had a crush on him for like ever, and everyone knows that Adrien has always admired her a lot.”

“I just find it a little weird that Adrien never showed real interest in Marinette before outside of being friends, and now they’re suddenly so in love,” Lila said with a shrug.

“That’s just because Adrien is really private. There are things even Nino doesn’t know about him, and they’re best friends,” Alya said. “Besides, why would they lie about being in a relationship?”

“I don’t know, but they just seem so awkward and stiff, don’t you think?” Lila added, and Alya chuckled.

“They’ve only been together a couple weeks. You should have seen me and Nino when we started dating. It takes a while to get comfortable,” Alya said with a smirk before she sobered. “Do you have any proof that they’re not really together?”

“Yeah, I don’t think you have to worry about the two of them being genuine,” Nino grunted, pointing across the room where Marinette and Adrien sat tangled in each other’s arms, unabashedly making out without a care in the world.

“Seems pretty genuine to me,” Alya said pointedly to Lila before calling out to them with a whoop. “Oh la la, get a room, you two!”

The two separated just enough to turn to them with impish grins that grew wider when Lila’s jaw clenched.

“Hey, why don’t we play our first couples’ game?” Nino suggested, and Alya stood up with a nod as Nino downed the rest of his soda.

“Alright, it’s time to play 7 minutes in heaven for those participating,” Alya announced, and several classmates crowded into the room excitedly.

“What’s 7 minutes in heaven?” Adrien asked, and everyone shot him knowing smirks.

“It’s a game where you spin a bottle, and whichever couple it lands on has to go into a room for 7 minutes and makeout,” Alya explained.

“Among other things.” Nino waggled his eyebrows.

“Other things?” Adrien cocked his head to the side, and Alya elbowed her boyfriend with a pointed look.

“Just stick to kissing for now, Prince Charming. You’ll get to other stuff later,” Alya said, setting the bottle on the table as all the couples gathered around, and Lila was awkwardly shuffled out of the way, much to her annoyance.

“Okay, first up is…” Nino said as the bottle spun. “Juleka and Rose!”

Rose squeaked excitedly, grabbing Juleka’s hand and tugging her into the closet as Alya set the timer.

“Do you guys play this game often at parties?” Adrien asked as everyone carried on with their conversations.

“Yeah, we play this one, guess your partner where we blind fold you and you have to guess if the person kissing you is your partner or not. The newlywed game, find the mint, never-have-I-ever, all kinds of games,” Mylene said, counting them off on her fingers, and Adrien pursed his lips.

“Find the mint?”

“Oh, I think you two will be good at this one,” Alya said with a smirk, and Nino dug a tin of mints from his pocket. “One of you will hide a mint somewhere in your mouth, and it’s the other persons job to find it.”

“So, it’s just an excuse to make out?” Adrien quirked a brow.

“Pretty much.” Everyone nodded, and Alya shook the tin.

“Wanna play?” She asked, and Adrien glanced over at Marinette, biting his lip.

“It could be fun,” he said with a shrug. “Do you wanna play, my love?”

“As if you need an excuse to kiss me.” She rolled her eyes, holding her hand out to Alya who deposited a tiny mint into her palm, and Adrien looked the other way while she hid it.

“You have two minutes, Agreste,” Alya declared as Nino started another timer on his phone. “Go!”

Adrien bit back a grin, taking Marinette’s face in his hands and diving straight in. He could taste the mint on her tongue as he began his exploration, exchanging giggles as he pressed under her tongue only to come up empty. He could feel her smile as his tongue whipped around her mouth searching for its prize, his heart pounding as he leaned into her more. She wrapped her arms around his neck, trailing her fingers through his hair, and he let out a soft moan.

Kissing her made his pulse quicken and his skin tingle, fueling the burning sensation in his core. Her body was so soft against his own, her lips sweet and buttery to taste. Oh, how he enjoyed kissing those lips, feeling her tongue between his own as they clung to each other. It awakened something primal in him, and he never wanted the sensation to stop once it started. He could have spent hours with her.

He knew it wasn’t right to think such things about a friend, but once the thought entered his mind, he couldn’t get it to leave. Not that he wanted it gone anyway even if it did leave him feeling guilty. Marinette was just so fun and down-to-earth, and now whenever he looked at her, he couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was when she smiled. How cute she looked when deep in thought or when she was focused on something. All of her wonderful qualities were written on her face, and she was one of the most radiant people he’d ever seen. Being a good kisser was just an added bonus.

Whoever ended up with her in the end was gonna be lucky, and he had to admit he envied them a little. He’d give anything to be with someone like Marinette for real, and the longer they pretended, the more often he caught himself thinking that this was real. Everything felt so natural with her, and there was no doubt in his mind that if they loved each other that they would truly be as happy as they pretended to be.

There were times when they were alone that he found himself resisting the urge to reach out and take her hand or hold her close, and he had to remind himself that there was no need for such things with no one around to see. It made his heart sink a little each time, but he kept telling himself over and over that they were just friends. Friends and only friends even if he just wanted to kiss her all the time now.

Marinette flinched as his tongue made contact with the mint between her cheek and her bottom teeth, successfully freeing it from its hiding place and pulling it into his own mouth. He pulled away with a triumphant laugh, showing the mint on his tongue to Alya who stopped the timer with an impressed nod.

“47 seconds to spare,” she said as he curled his tongue back into his mouth and finished off the now mostly dissolved mint.

“Can we play again?” He asked, and Marinette gave him a look.

“Knock yourselves out,” Alya laughed, setting the minds down on the coffee table before joining Nino on the couch.

“You seem really into this,” Marinette said as he picked out another mint, and he paused, feeling his heart jolt.

“Uh, I’m just trying to be convincing,” he said softly, glancing around at all the other couples.

“There is such a thing as too convincing, ya know,” she shot back, quirking a brow, and he shrank a little.

“Sorry,” he said, lowering his gaze like a puppy scolded for tearing up the rug, and Marinette reached out to place a hand over his.

“It’s fine. Just be careful. We are still a new couple, so it makes sense to be a little crazy about all of this, but don’t overdo it,” she said, and he nodded in understanding.

“Yeah, sorry. I know you probably don’t like kissing me so much,” he said, and she pursed her lips to hide her smirk.

“I don’t mind it,” she admitted with a shrug.

“Really?” His eyebrows raised, heart skipping into a sprint in his chest.

“Yeah, it’s kinda fun…from an objective standpoint.” She rubbed the back of her neck.

“I like kissing you too,” he said, and her gaze flicked back to his as a shy smile curled on his lips. “I know I shouldn’t, but…I dunno. I like it.”

Marinette bit her lip, cheeks darkening a few shades as she reached into his palm, taking the mint from his hand and pressing it to his lips. She leaned in to kiss him again, and he wrapped his arms around her as they shared the mint between their tongues. Knowing that she enjoyed kissing just as much as he did made him feel better about all of this. He was already asking so much of her that he’d hate to think that he was bothering her and reaping enjoyment from it. Marinette was so important to him, and he hoped she could tell that from the gentle way he caressed her cheek, meeting her with a tenderness that contrasted his former hungry passion.

He wanted so many things with Marinette. He wanted to touch her so softly and delicately as if she were a porcelain doll, but another part of him wanted to kiss her wildly and feel the heat of her flesh against his own. When all was said and done between them, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to look at her again without wanting to kiss those soft lips of hers or hold her small frame close, and the more he thought about ending things, the heavier his heart grew.

Marinette would make an amazing girlfriend. He cared about her, and he could talk to her for hours. Truthfully, he’d always wanted to get to know her better and learn what things went on in her head when she made that cute thinking face. She’d always been an enigma to him, and he so desperately wanted to figure her out.

As the last traces of the mint dissolved, their lips parted, but Adrien held her face close, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek before nuzzling against it with a sigh. She matched his gentleness by turning to kiss his hand, still cupping her jaw before leaning against his shoulder. He wondered if she could feel his heart pounding in his chest as they remained embraced for several moments until Ondine noticed with an adoring laugh.

“You two are so sweet. Why don’t you ever snuggle with me like that?” She turned to Kim, hugging his arm and resting her chin on his bicep.

“I’ll cuddle with you,” he said, seeming taken aback before wrapping his arms around her and pressing a kiss to her cheek much to her delight.

“There will be plenty of time for you two to cuddle because you’re next,” Alya announced as Juleka and Rose surfaced from the closet with ruffled hair and glassy eyes, walking hand-in-hand back to the beanbag they were sharing earlier.

After Kim and Ondine was Alya and Nino, but on the fourth spin, the bottle landed on Marinette and Adrien.

“You’re turn, girl.” Alya grinned at Marinette who turned to Adrien.

“Come on. I’ll teach you how to play,” she said, taking his hand and leading him down to Nino’s room, being sure to shoot Lila a purposeful glare on the way.

“See you two in 7 minutes,” Alya said with a wink as they closed the door.

“So, now we make out for 7 minutes?” Adrien quirked a brow, a small grin tugging on the corners of his mouth as he leaned down with puckered lips.

“Adrien, there’s no one in here but us. You don’t have to pretend,” Marinette said, and he peeked an eye open before deflating a little.

“Oh, I just thought that…Nevermind, you’re right.” He straightened, clearing his throat and tugging his collar. “So, we’re just gonna sit in here for 7 minutes then?”

“We aren’t going to make out, but…” Marinette reached into her purse to retrieve her lip gloss. “We’re going to make it look like we did.”

Adrien parted his lips as she stretched up, dabbing dots of gloss around the corners of his mouth before smearing them in with her finger. Next, she ruffled his hair, doing her best not to get too preoccupied with how soft it was. She gripped bunches of his shirt until they wrinkled before finally pinching the skin on his neck.

“What’s that for?” He asked.

“Fake hickey,” she said, tilting his jaw and pressing a few kisses to his neck surrounding the mark, leaving glossy impressions in her wake before repeating the process on her self.

“My first hickey,” Adrien said thoughtfully, examining it in the mirror.

“It’s not real,” Marinette said pointedly with a laugh.

“I know, but everyone will think it is,” he said, pursing his lips. “I really appreciate you going through so much effort for me.”

“I know how much you didn’t want to date Lila, and I wouldn’t want you to either. Unless you actually liked her in which case, I’d probably recommend you get your brain scanned,” she said, and Adrien let out a quiet laugh.

“As I’d hope you would if I ever did,” he said, sitting in Nino’s desk chair. “You’re a really great friend.”

When he held out his arms, Marinette crawled into them, laying her head on his shoulder as he brushed her bangs out of her eyes. The softness in his expression made her cheeks warm, especially when he traced her lips with his thumb, looking like he wanted to kiss her momentarily before he let his hand drop. She felt her pulse quicken as she relayed what he’d said earlier.

Adrien liked kissing her. That had to mean something, right? Could it really be that he was starting to fall for her, or was it just wishful thinking on her part?

“How long do you think we’ll have to keep this whole thing up?” She asked, and he drummed his fingers for a moment before shrugging.

“As long as we need to, I guess, or until you get tired of me,” he said. “If there’s someone else that you…I don’t ever want you to risk your happiness for me. I’d rather date Lila than do that to you.”

“There isn’t anyone else really…” She said, gazing out the window with a distant expression.

“That’s good. I was worried that I was keeping you from being with the person you loved,” he said, seeming to relax a little.

“Nah,” she murmured, face falling as her heart sank.

She could have told him right then. Because he was keeping her from being with the one she loved, and in turn, she was sacrificing her own happiness. She could have told him, but she didn’t want this to end. If this was all she was ever going to have then she’d savor every moment. After everything she was giving to him, she could afford a little selfishness, couldn’t she? It wasn’t like she could tell him that he was the very boy she loved with all her heart.

“So, what happens if we have to keep this up for a long time? Are you going to fake marry me too?” She teased to take her mind off things, and he laughed at that.

“If I have to…I wouldn’t mind it actually. I’d be happy with you,” he said, and she felt her heart skip.

“What about the girl you love? Isn’t there someone?” She asked, glancing up at him, and he stared up at the ceiling thoughtfully before a sad smile curled on his lips.

“It’s okay because she doesn’t love me back,” he said. “I’ve told her how I feel several times now, and she always rejects me. I’ve tried to move on a few times, but it’s just really hard when you love someone.”

“Yeah, I know how you feel,” she said, lowering her gaze with a sigh. Especially when you spend a lot of time making out with that very person.

“You remind me of her a little sometimes,” he admitted, glancing down at her with a smile. “You’re both kind and smart and always helping others.”

“She sounds really nice,” Marinette said, and he let out a sigh.

“She is, but I think deep down I know it’s not meant to be. I just…don’t want to accept it, but things are different now I guess since you and I are…doing this,” he said, gesturing to their current position cuddled together.

“Do you ever think you’ll fall in love with me since we’re so similar?” She asked with a smirk, and he let out a breathy laugh.

“You’re a good friend, but I guess…never say never.” He shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe we’ll both fall in love for real during all of this.”

“One minute, you two!” Alya knocked, and Marinette shifted to straddle him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“We should probably be kissing when she opens the door,” Marinette said, and Adrien nodded, pulling her in close and touching his lips to hers.

It was strange how much he’d wanted to. How disappointed he was when they didn’t. Kissing her made him feel so warm and safe, and yet so wired as if an electrical current were running through his veins. He couldn’t really describe it, but he knew he didn’t want it to end.

“Time’s up, you two!” Alya said, one short minute later. “Oh, wow.”

Adrien reluctantly retracted his tongue from her mouth, but not before brushing it against hers purposefully, sucking her lower lip hard before breaking away. They both panted lightly as Alya leaned against the door frame with a smirk.

“Well, looks like someone learned how to play,” she chuckled, and Adrien realized then how suggestive their current position was before Marinette crawled off his lap.

“He’s a fast learner,” she said, pulling him up and guiding him back out into the living room.

“Nino, we’re up again,” Alya said, beckoning him with a grin, and he jumped up from his seat, rushing after her.

Adrien flicked his gaze around at all of their friends chatting as if nothing had changed, but something in him felt different. The room felt too hot, and his heart threatened to beat out of his chest. When his eyes found Marinette again, his condition worsened, and he swallowed back the lump in his throat as that smile of hers returned to her lips as she struck up a conversation with Alix. She’d never looked more beautiful.

He closed his eyes hard to clear his head, breathing a heavy sigh before opening them again. His brain was probably just foggy from all the kissing, but he had to admit, Marinette’s lips were one hell of a drug, and he was starting to get addicted.

[ascreamingstrawberry]

Love Without A Conscience

Summary: Patton, for the first time in his very short life, has decided to take what he wanted. Between this odd little boy and constantly flirting parents, he realizes, maybe he's finally gotten all he wanted. A family. But it doesn't end there.

Chapter Summary : Patton meets a very strange boy by the name of James

Pairings: romantic Logince, future romantic Moxiety, 

Word Count: 1688

Warnings : sympathetic deceit! deceit as a little child he’s so cute, remy, he’s a baby and probably won’t say much but is still mentioned, foster care, mentions of lying

Notes : Leave a like, a reblog, message, and reply! I love hearing your comments.

Contrary to popular opinion, Patton absolutely hated open house days. He didn’t mind the fact that the other kids played with him to make themselves appear friendly. He didn’t mind the plastered smile on his face as couples observed him for a few moments, only to pass him by without a second thought, like a duck in a zoo. And he didn’t mind watching a roommate or another child at the orphanage happily skip into the adoption room, ready to go to a forever home. That wasn’t his problem with open house days.

His problem was that most times things didn’t work like that. Children would ignore him anyways, no matter how friendly he tried to be. The smile would fall from his face each time a couple passed him and he’d only barely just managed it back on when another came by and made it drop again. And every open house night Patton spent cradling the younger ones, reassuring them they’d get adopted one of these days, even though there were kids like himself still here years later who’d all but given up hope.

Yeah, he definitely hated open house days.

And to make it worse he never knew when they were.The three or four social workers would come that morning, standing around in the kitchen chatting while the children were usually bubbling with excitement, or in some cases, fighting off a panic attack. Patton tended not to fit in either category. He was almost twelve now, having been in the orphanage for nearly four years, and it was the age that kids tended to get stuck here. He was long since hopeful for a pair of parents to pluck him out of this place, he just hoped some of the little ones got to go. They needed it most.

He almost wished he could stay inside, curled up on his bed listening to the soft hums from the girl on the other side of the wall Patton’s bed was up against. He’d never bothered to learn her name, then again since most other kids avoided him, she’d never bothered to learn his either. But, he couldn’t. Mrs. Alvarado was standing in the doorway watching all of the children get ready, commenting on different things they did wrong or had forgotten, Patton having already been chastised four times.

Mr. and Mrs. Alvarado ran the orphanage, and on the outside they looked like a warm, happy couple. Mr. Alvarado was a little taller than average, fairly skinny except for a bit of a gut, whereas Mrs. Alvarado was barely five foot, and a little stout. At the current moment, Mr. Alvarado was downstairs with the social workers, and Patton figured it was for the best. The other side of Patton’s and the older boys room shared a wall with the Alvarados bedroom, and based on the fight they had last night, this morning was not going to be a happy one.

Patton and his roommates were the last to descend the stairs tucked away in the left corner of the house, they were the oldest group of children. The one bedroom that was on the second floor with them was a girl’s bedroom, with kids just a year or two younger than Patton. The four bedrooms on the first floor were three bedrooms full of younger orphans, and an empty bedroom that had been for the Alvarado’s daughter. Patton had gotten to meet her his first summer here, the summer before she left for college. She hasn’t returned. After descending the stairs to join with the rest of the children of the house, twenty children including Patton, they were dismissed and allowed to head outside. Prospective parents should be arriving soon.  

“Good morning, Patton.” Mr. Jonathan, Patton’s social worker, smiled as Patton tried to rush past to gain his favorite spot. Patton knew well enough at this point that Jonathan was the man’s first name, but at this point as long as Mr. Jonathan was fine with Patton calling him Mr. Jonathan, Patton didn’t have any mind to change now. “Excited for today?”

“Not really.” Patton shrugged. Mr. Jonathan reached over and tossed Patton an apple, and Patton was able to pull the tiniest smile onto his face as he bit into it. Empire. His favorite.

“If not, we’ve already got a new group home picked out for you, dear.” Mrs. Alvarado said, coming up behind Patton to place her uncomfortably warm hands on his shoulders. He tensed at the touch, wondering what he’d done wrong, and the politely hidden scowl on Mr. Jonathan's face didn’t make him feel any better.

“Well, let’s just keep our chins up for today, eh? You never know.” Mr. Jonathan was a nice enough man. He had a son, Julian, that he talked about far too much and a wife that he seemed to be constantly trying to please, but that’s just cause Patton spent a lot of time with him. “Why don’t you go see if you can catch some of the early ones?”

Patton nodded, faking the vigor he used to quickly run towards the door. He happened to be in his favorite blue polo, with his sweater wrapped around his shoulders, just in case the weather called for it. It was spring, or it was supposed to be now toward the end of April, but the cold weather still lingered come afternoon. Not that Patton minded, he preferred the cold. More sweaters. He adjusted his glasses when the sun rays hit them at just the right angle to cause a glare, and set out toward his favorite spot, underneath the tree in the front lawn.

He saw every couple that came through, and unless they were particularly interested in the prepubescent reading Winnie the Pooh, the only book he had saved enough loose coins for, then they’d leave him alone. He was also able to see them go, a happy child usually following them. Patton kept his head in his book, which he’d gotten used to doing the last few open house days, only looking up at the sound of a voice near his head.

“Winnie the Pooh. Classic.” The man’s voice kind of deep, he had combed back brown hair and dark brown eyes, and was in a red button up and jeans. Parton looked at him he was holding his hand out for a high five. Patton smiled, high fived him, and almost felt kind of sad when he stood up and walked away.

He wasn’t sure how long it had been since that, but this time the voice that interrupted him was younger and higher, child-like. “Mind if I sit here?”

Patton looked up to see a child a little younger than him standing with both of his hands stuffed into the front pocket of his jeans. He looked kind of sheepish, and his arms blocked most of the view of his yellow sweater with the black button up underneath sticking out of the top. His hair was a light brown, his eyes kind of a hazel color, and his mouth was furrowed into a thin line. And who could miss the half of his face being seriously distorted.

“Sure.” Patton shrugged, reaching his hand down to pat the grass next to him. His hand got a little dirt on it, but Patton just wiped it on his khakis. They were an old pair anyway.

“Thanks.” The kid sat down criss cross applesauce, scooting a little closer to Patton as he leaned over to see what he was reading. “Ah, nice my Dad loves that book.”

“So your parents are adopting?” Patton asked, trying not to seem to inquisitive. The kid didn’t seem to mind, in fact he didn’t look like he was even paying Patton any mind as he ran his hand back and forth over the blades of grass.

“Yeah.” The kid shrugged, and then turned to Patton. “I hope you don’t mind me sitting with you, I just didn’t want to sit alone and I don’t want to scare off any of the kids my dads are looking at.”

“Why would you scare them off?” Patton set his book down, not bothering to fold the page that’s been folded eighty times over probably.

“This-” The kid gestured to the side of his face that was distorted. “kinda makes other kids uncomfortable.”

“You haven’t made me uncomfortable, you’re probably just around the wrong kids.” Patton said, quickly biting his lip, it was probably the wrong thing to say, he was judging the kids judge of character-“I think you’re quite nice, actually.”

“Thanks-” The kid’s sentence dropped off, and he made a little circle with his hand before doing a ‘gimme’ motion.

“Oh, Patton.” Patton smiled, reaching up to knock himself in the head. “Sorry, I can be kind of stupid sometimes.”

“Falsehood.” The kid said, holding his hand now over the middle of his chest, like he was declaring something before shrugging and losing the attitude completely. “Sorry, it’s something my Papa says when we have to point out a lie. I lie a lot, I’m James.”

“Nice to meet you James.” Patton’s smile dropped, and he looked down to pick at one of the blades of grass in front of him. “And it wasn’t a lie, the other kids call me it all of the time.”

“You’re probably just around the wrong kids then.” James repeated his words back at him. “You don’t seem stupid at all.”

“How do I know that’s not a lie?” Patton asked, he meant it to be playful or teasing, but he could see the boy’s smile turned sour. Patton frowned, opening his mouth to apologize but James beat him to the punch.

“You have no reason to believe me, even after I’ve said I lie a lot.” James lifted his head, giving Patton another look at the folded and scarred skin around the side of his face, and yet the almost twelve year old found his gaze drifting to James’ cool gray eyes. They looked, hopeful? “I just don’t think you’re stupid.”

“Thanks.” Patton blushed.