#this somehow went from angsty to comeddy

[mimssides]

Okay, so this happened and now you have a 2'000 word scene. I don't know if I continue this so if anyone feels like doing something it, go feral and tag me if you do^^

Fuck. Just a soft and intense fuck.

No, Logan was not one to curse, no he was not one to be dramatic. But this picture, this damned picture. A wedding picture. Of the sweet and caring father who lived in this house, and the suave lawyer who had helped him getting his findings legally recognized and trademarked.

They were younger in the picture, their early twenties maybe. A wide smile spread on Patton's face and a smaller but fond grin decorated Janus's lips. The scene was perfect and gentle and everything Logan was not able to ever give either of them.

And yet… these two weren't together anymore. Patton had said he was a divorcee but dropped the topic immediately after that. Janus had never even mentioned anything about a divorce in the past and Logan believed he would rather find out who burnt the library of Alexandra than learn anything about Janus's past relationships from the man himself.

There were so many questions. Patton had said he adopted the twins shortly after he finished university, so Janus and Patton must have been together still back then, right? Or did they break up soon after the wedding again? It didn't seem likely when he thought about either man's personality. They both wanted to see things through and Patton especially would have done everything to try and keep his family together. These children were his world and letting their father just leave didn't seem like something Patton would let happen.

Also, did this mean that Janus liked kids? That he had helped raise the twins, maybe even Virgil and Lucas*? Did the children know him? Did they miss him? Was that the reason why Remus didn't want Logan to pursue Patton? Was that why Virgil was so cynical about relationships and marriage?

How could such a simple picture throw him into such a loop? He had been supposed to look after the kids for two hours when Patton had to leave for an emergency at the shelter, not have a romantic crisis over his crushes who used to be husbands.

"Fuck," Logan breathed out and ran his fingers through his hair and stepped a few steps back from the photograph.

"Language."

In a whirl, Logan turned around his axis and spotted the youngest Chevalier just four feet away from him. Through his big black glasses, he stared up to him and then to the picture on the dresser.

Logan watched him for a long moment, scanning for surprise or curiosity as the boy looked at the picture but didn't find anything like that in his face. Did that mean he knew Janus? Did he know of their relationship? What was the meaning behind that look?

Before Logan could ask anything, Remus had stormed inside the room and Roman followed just a second after. All three of them looked at each other as if they had been caught red-handed and silence was all that could be heard.

"Logan found out that Papa was married."

Well, Lucas apparently didn't care for dramatic silence.

Remus began to glare daggers at Logan, while Roman's whole demeanour deflated. How could a twelve-year-old show such a level of disappointment without saying a single word? No child had a right to be so expressive.

"Well good. Then he finally gets that Pops isn't this flawless prince he had dreamt of."

Of course, the oldest son had to join now too. With an aloof expression, Virgil stared at the wall between Logan and the photograph, as he leaned against the door frame.

"Papa is great! Just because one relationship failed doesn't mean he can't get his happy end! He deserves to be a prince!" Roman protested stubbornly and stomped his foot on the ground.

Virgil and Roman began to bicker and Logan stared at the brothers for a moment before he shook himself out of his uncertainty and put an end to the fight. Decidedly he stood in between them and fixed both with a stern look before he took another breath and finally began to ask for clarification.

"Please do stop fighting about your father's and my relationship," Logan began calmly and watched all four boys immediately stop. "Your father will inform you early enough when something between us happens, but regarding the new facts I have been presented I might need to rethink my approach."

He paused and threw a last look at the picture before he pointed back to the door towards the living room.

"Let's get back to the living room. I have a few questions. You don't have to answer but I would appreciate it. And if you are not willing to answer I will ask Patton myself and help you with the completion of your homework."

He knew that the mention of homework might encourage the boys to give him some answers so they could put their work off. It wasn't the noblest tactic but right now he couldn't afford to be noble. Not when he needed answers.

The four boys and he sat down around the table and Logan collected himself for another moment before he tapped on the table with a start in mind.

"Before I'm going to ask you anything, I will lay out a few facts; I was aware that Patton is divorced. He told me pretty early on, in fact, so I was not surprised by the fact that he had married. Yet, I was surprised to find out to whom he was married-" Logan paused and looked to Virgil who for once returned the look without blinking - "I know Janus. He has worked for me and since then we have met a few times outside of work as well."

"You know daddy?" Remus whispered and jumped from his chair, toppling it over in the process.

Remus wasn't a quiet child. But even with the thumb of the chair, Logan had never seen him so quiet before. He didn't grin, didn't smirk, didn't make gross faces. He just looked forlorn and longing.

Logan nodded slowly and explained: "Yes, I do. He – He helped represent my idea and get it recognized in court when some other people in the field disregarded my findings. He was recommended to me by a friend since he is an excellent lawyer."

"Yah, and a shitty dad."

Logan was not surprised to see Remus tackle Virgil down from his chair and try to bite his brother's arm. Lucas just watched and Roman tried to pry Remus away from Virgil. Logan sprung to his help and pulled Remus away from the table. Big tears rolled down his face and the anger in his eyes only barely concealed the heartbreak beneath. Firmly Logan held him by the shoulders and knelt down in front of the boy as he still tried to break away and attack Virgil once more.

"Virgil, are you unharmed?" Logan asked without looking away from Remus.

"Yeah..."

"Very well. Please try to phrase those opinions about Janus in a more objective way, so Remus won't get as upset. And Remus-" Logan lifted one hand away from his shoulder and wiped away another tear - "it is okay to feel upset. You are allowed to disagree with Virgil but you can't harm him over a disagreement. In fact, we should never harm people physically or mentally, if we can avoid it. Do you understand?"

Remus didn't react but Logan hadn't expected him to. He was still too agitated to take in his words. He probably would have to find a different approach. Maybe an emotional one? They were Patton's sons, so that might be a better way.

"Would you like a hug?"

This boy was definitely Patton's child. He had barely got the words out when Remus had flung himself against Logan's chest. He felt his shirt getting wet but surprisingly he couldn't hear him cry at all and decided he wouldn't comment on it. Awkwardly he patted his back and got up from the floor as Remus slung his legs around his middle. Logan looked at the three other boys and gulped.

"May I ask how well you know Janus? I understand he is your father too, but I'm unaware of how long ago they had split up. Again, you do not need to answer. I understand this is an emotional topic for you."

Virgil stood and Roman held his hand. They exchanged a look. They turned to Lucas, who was still sitting on his chair and making a neutral expression.

"I think we should tell him," Lucas said eventually and Roman nodded in fierce agreement.

Virgil let out a sigh but half-heartedly answered: "Okay, so they separated 6 years ago a year after they adopted me and Luc. We never got an explanation as to why."

"Why do you say separated?"

"Because J never signed the divorce papers. So, not technically divorced."

Logan almost dropped Remus. Just barely he manages to sit down on a chair.

"Janus hasn't signed the divorce papers?" Logan repeated unbelieving.

He got a nod in response. That made everything much more complicated. So much more complicated.

Remus pulled away from Logan, as the man didn't react or say anything for over a minute. With furrowed brows, he stared up to the chemist.

"Why do you look like someone ripped out your heart and let the blood drain out in front of your eyes?"

Logan blinked. He didn't think that his look had been so expressive that Remus could have guessed that. Also, the boy was twelve, he couldn't possibly understand what kind of complex feelings he was dealing with.

"Oh no!" Roman cried out dramatically and all turned to look at him. "You like them both and now you think you can't get either one because there still might be hope that they care for each other! The tragedy, the unfairness! How could they put you in a love triangle?"

Logan blinked again. Apparently, twelve-year-olds understood a lot more about complex feelings than he thought. But not quite everything.

"I hadn't planned on choosing either of them, really-" Logan began but was promptly interrupted by Virgil.

"You like Janus?! He's-"

Remus slipped off Logan's lap and forcefully said: "You don't know if he's changed since then! Maybe his job isn't the most important thing anymore!"

"Really? He broke Pops heart, he's never coming to visit, he probably doesn't even recognize Lucas on the street, since he's grown so much since the last time he freaking saw him. Sure, he pays money for us and he didn't sign the divorce papers but that might as well be so he didn't have to go through the paperwork. I get that he's been nice to you sometimes but it doesn't change all the shitty things he did. They fought a lot. And you know how much Pops hates fighting. This isn't something that time alone can fix, Emu."

Virgil's words grew softer as he continued and Logan watched as Remus's anger slowly faded away. He really needed to find out what had happened between the two fathers.

"But it might be fixable," Lucas said and tapped his fingers on the table. "They need to talk and work things out."

"They never did so in the past," Virgil contented.

"No, they didn't. But they also didn't have an outside motivation until now. Which they do have now."

Lucas looked over to Logan. His stomach dropped as he saw a sly grin grow on Lucas's lips. This wasn't good. This was the planning face of a nine-year-old if he had ever seen one and he did not like it.

"And what would that motivation be?" Roman asked warily.

Lucas's grin grew and he motioned grandly towards Logan: "Aan  new object of affection."

Several things happened at once. Remus was vibrating with excitement. Roman looked confused. Virgil looked appalled. Logan was pretty sure he was figuratively glowing red.

"How is them fighting over Logan gonna be good? Love rivals aren't what we want them to be, right?" Roman asked cautiously.

Lucas shook his head and explained smugly: "Logan has pointed out that he doesn't want to choose between them, which leads me to the conclusion-" - "You played too much Ace Attorney." - "that he wants a polyamorous relationship with the both of them, which would make them partners, of sorts, in a polycule."

Chatter broke out, where Roman asked frantically what a polycule was and got overly excited when he found out that there was a way for him to have several boyfriends at once, Remus jumped up and down next to him eagerly babbling about how they could lock Patton, Janus and Logan in a room to have them figure things out, Virgil began pacing around frantically and questioning Lucas why he knew what polyamory was, and Logan felt the hair on his head turn grey by the minute.

He had to put an end to this.

"Children," Logan said once but was ignored and repeated it louder, "children! Would you please listen! I have no intention to go behind either one of your parents' backs. I care for both of them quite a bit and would like to have honest conversations about what they want and need from me. Of course, I would love to see Janus fix things with Patton, mostly for your sake. And I promise you, I will talk with him about it and encourage him to clear things up with you. You all deserve closure in this story and I will do my best to assist you in getting it."

Four Chevalier boys were silent for once. They stared at the stuck-up chemist who had by accident ran into Patton two months ago and had been wrapped into helping him ferry a litter of dalmatians through half of the city. He had been awkward at every dinner they had together and wore always a tie. They all had felt differently about him; another man to mess with Patton's life, a new chance for love for Patton, just a boring adult, someone who understood what it meant to never quite fit in.

But after this statement, this explanation Logan had given them, the boys had come to an agreement.

"Let's make our dads fall in love with the chemist!" Remus cheered and stretched his arm into the air.

The three others ran towards him, hands put down in the middle.

"Let's do it!" all four shouted at once and threw their hands up triumphantly.

Four pairs of eyes then landed on Logan and the chemist knew that he was so screwed.

*Lucas is the name @edupunkn00b uses for orange and I'll die on that hill until we get the actual name for him.

People who wanted to be tagged: @imcrazierthanyouloosers, @melodiread, @robertdownerjr, and of course @under-the-blue-moonlight

Just remembered a fic idea I had a while back and thought I’d share:

Basically, Logan is a normal guy living his life when he meets Patton. Patton is a single dad, and he’s a really sweet guy. He owns a cafe, cares a lot about his kids, and is really kind to Logan. Logan quickly finds himself falling for the man.

Logan also meets Janus. He’s a very well-off lawyer. He’s suave, charming, rather flirtatious, and Logan finds himself falling for him too.

Logan is already dealing with how to tell these men he’s in love with them both and wishes to start a polyamorous relationship with them. But then he finds out something that makes it even worse.

One day, when at Patton’s place, he finds a photo. In it, it shows Patton and Janus together.

On their wedding day.

Turns out, Patton and Janus are ex-husbands.