Maybe One Day | Logicality - Companion to Why I Run Series

Chapter Seven

P.O.V.: Patton, First Person
Timeline: Present Day

I popped into Thomas's living room, holding my breath.  I actually closed my eyes momentarily before opening them, terrified about what I would see.

If there was anything to see at all.

I hoped not.

But the sinking feeling in my stomach told me otherwise.

I held my breath as I finally took a peek.

"Just breathe, Thomas - in and out," Logan was saying, sitting on the couch next to Thomas.  I stared horrified at the tears rolling down Thomas's cheeks.  Joan was here too, also muttering sweet, comforting words, helping the other through his panic attack.

Logan didn't try to touch Thomas, but continued trying to comfort him.

It was then when I first started shaking - but I merely forced my hands into fists, holding back the Thomas wave of feelings.  I let out a small, intentional whimper and Logan looked up, concerned, but I simply avoided his eyes, fixing my eyes on Thomas.  

Logan finally looked away, assuming he didn't hear anything.

"Am I allowed to touch you?" Joan asked Thomas quietly, holding their arms out for a hug - oblivious to Logan and myself.  Thomas let out a shaky nod, and Joan gently took the larger man into his arms, holding him tightly.  Thomas let out a broken sob and cried into the others shoulder.

Logan stood up at that, frowning as the non-binary pal comforted their friend.

We stayed for the next couple of minutes, with the only sound being Joan's occasional reassurances.

"How about we take a quick break?" they suggested.  "We can get some pizza, watch some Steven Universe... does that sound good?"

Thomas let out a small sniffle - nodding quickly, his nervous energy suddenly switched off, as if by magic. "Yeah, that... that sounds great," he admitted.

"Awesome, I'll call the pizza place," Joan said, smiling, grabbing their phone - but not before giving Thomas's shoulder a quick squeeze of reassurance.

Thomas smiled in response.

Joan picked up the phone and paused before dialing the pizza place, meeting Thomas's growing smile.

"EXTRALARGEBROOKLYNPIZZAHAWAIIANSTYLEHOLDTHEPINEAPPLEHOLDTHEHAMEXTRAPEPPERONIANDCHEESESTUFFEDCRUSTANDTWOSIDESOFMARINARADIPPINGSAUCE," they both shouted in union before bursting into laughter.

I couldn't help smiling at the scene but I also couldn't help the sudden panic that poured over me either.  Not my own panic, but... someone else's...

"Logan?" I asked hesitantly, inwardly wincing when my voice shook.

Logan looked up, first confused before realizing what was happening.  I stood there, hands shaking as I tried over stop the overwhelming waterfall of emotions that were washing over me.

I closed my eyes, focusing on shoving these feelings away from me.  No, no bad feelings.  No.

When I opened my eyes, Logan's concerned eyes were on me, eyebrows wrinkling in worry.  I quickly gave him a quick bright smile and two thumbs up, turning back to Thomas and Joan - who were still deciding on what episodes of Steven Universe to watch while they waited for pizza.

Logan nodded at my smile, turning to face Thomas.

It was only after he turned to Thomas that I let the smile falter, but no one saw it.