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How to describe nostalgia? The reminiscing that left the person longing for what once was. Maybe the feeling itself that the heart grabbed onto or missing that stability, that consistency that was once there.
To cut to the chase, Patton was feeling sentimental over Steven Universe again.
This happened a lot, anything could trigger a string of memories together in Patton’s head that lead him down a lengthy path. The deep rabbit holes of all of Thomas’ past interests were full of wonderment, curiosity, and a bit of cringe- no one wants to remember the emo phase.
But, wow, did this video game Thomas was all about recently sure did remind him about Logan’s rambles about the Nintendo Switch hardware capabilities. They were apparently a little on the lesser side. Ha, Sanders sides. But that sure didn’t mean that the switch games were worse in comparison to other consoles! No sir. There were plenty of good games out there! From those ol’ platformers like Mario to RPGs! Oh he remembered Thomas really enjoying that RPG, called uh- er what was it?
“Steven Universe: Save the Light!”
Patton shot up from the couch with an excited grin plastered across his face.
Janus, hardly phased by the Moral side’s animated outbursts, commented “Dear, we were just having a conversation about why you loved apple juice so much due to a connection with Thomas’ grandmother. Then you decided to phase out of reality and stare at the wall while your gears turned somehow towards Steven universe.” He sipped on his peppermint tea before sitting it down on the coffee table.
This was a typical Patton occurrence, something Roman did a lot as well so it wasn’t new.
“Do you wanna explain yourself then? As much as I totally adored the apple juice debate- orange juice is so clearly better.” Janus twirled his wrist around.
Patton turned his head around to look at Janus and sat back down, his legs bounced up and down. “You remember Steven Universe right?”
The Deceitful side blinked in response, “No.”
“Ok good!” He beamed. “I was just thinking, oh gosh don’t you remember when-”
“I recall a lot of things, yes,”
Patton kept going, not even acknowledging Janus’ sarcastic comment. “Thomas was all hyperfixated on the concept of fusion between gems?” He held up two fingers, and bonked them together.
“Sadly, I do.” Janus groaned loudly. “It was all he thought about for weeks, like sure, you and Roman can indulge him all you want but that fixation got so into his head it started affecting me. Respectfully, Dear, when you’re trying to craft together a disguise but all you can ponder is fusion dances, it’s annoying as hell.”
“Yes, yes. Fusion dances. Exactly! Look at us! So in sync!”
“I-” He shook his head, “Was just technically complaining about them but yes, go on.”
Patton grabbed the other’s hands and dragged him to the middle of the living room. His grip was tight with enthusiasm but loose enough if Janus wanted to escape, “Do you think- maybe, uh we could try fusing? Just this once?”
Let’s be real, with a smile as sugary sweet as that one, who was truly capable of telling him no?
“Are you really pulling out the puppy dog eyes on me?” Janus raised an eyebrow, not pulling away from Patton's grasp however.
He paused, “Er- Is it working?”
Janus let out a chuckle, “Using your looks to get what you want? My, my, who knew I corrupted our Darling Morality.” He let out a soft sigh, he supposed this could be a fun experience all things considered. “Sure, Pat. We can try.”
The next hour was spent with the two trying various different styles of dance in order to attempt to fuse. Janus’ personal favorite was ballroom dancing, the elegance and sophistication were to die for.
But, now he watched in confusion as Patton did the Macarena.
“Patton, I don’t get how this is supposed to even remotely work.”
“It’s fun!”
“WE WON’T EVEN BE TOUCHING? IT’S A ONE PERSON DANCE-“
Janus laid exhausted back down on the couch, they were getting absolutely nowhere with this routine. Sure, Patton hadn’t given up hope. Good for him, that’s in character for his perky attitude! However, Janus was exhausted and in need of a heat lamp or something, whatever sleepy snakes do.
“Come on, Jan! Just a couple more tries?”
“I-,“ He stretched his arms above his head. “Am starting to get tired, can we try this another day?”
Patton pouted, “Maybe we just aren’t believing hard enough!”
“Yes yes, and surely if we clap our hands enough Tinkerbell will come back to life.”
The Moral side’s face dropped completely, “I guess you have a point.” He spoke softly, feeling defeated.
Janus’ arm reached out to Patton, “As per usual, nothing new. Come here disappointed dad and I’ll cuddle you, seeing as I'm feeling cold and totally not because you're sad or anything.” He attempted to comfort the other.
He chuckled a bit at that, and smiled fondly. Patton stepped over towards the embrace when his legs accidentally collided with the table.
“Oh my goodness gracious-“
What followed was both their eyes going wide as Patton fell right onto Janus with an “oof.” A sudden burst of light and a new feeling of change exploded in the living room.
“Of course, just like him to be so clumsy but apparently so lucky that despite us dancing for so long he manages to trip over a flippin’ table and not over his own two feet.” He rubbed his temples with his fingers.
He paused.
“A frickin’ table.”
He paused a second time.
“Why can’t I say fork?” He said with slight annoyance.
He lifted up his hands that were hidden underneath his long cape to his eyes and stared down at them, they didn’t feel like his own hands yet were familiar somehow. There weren’t any scales littered across his fingers, which felt both right and wrong at the same time.
“I don’t have scales on my hands, why am I searching for them?”
The body felt both right, comfortable yet also confusingly new. Too tall, too short. Vision was clear, but blurry. Both rough and soft. It was an intriguing emotion to experience, when something was so plainly different.
“What were we… what was I doing again?”
Apple juice, orange juice, nostalgia, video games, steven universe, ballroom dancing, the macarena, exhaustion, cuddles, and clumsiness- he listed.
Oh yeah, he had tripped, there was light, and there was love? He was- they were?
A mirror! He needed a mirror this instant. A baby-blue compact mirror that perfectly fit in the palm of his left hand popped into existence. Ok, sure, this was cute but it was way too small to have any use. But, he was sure the small device was trying its best so no need to be so harsh-
It’s an inanimate object. Why was he giving it sympathy?
A medium-sized, yellow hand mirror appeared in his right hand.
“Ah, perfect.”
Cat ears perked themselves onto the mirror’s top lining.
“Yes. Purrfect I get it, very funny.” He spoke sarcastically but gave off a genuine chuckle.
He squinted his eyes to get a look at his reflection. A resemblance of Thomas, that much was to be expected. Round clear glasses hid away his eyes, the color still being noticeable however. They weren’t brown, nor that typical shade of green Janus was used to. It was a softer shade, mint green perhaps?
His chestnut hair seemed the same as usual, swooped to the side. A similar shade of green bowler hat with a gray ribbon around its bottom was present on top of his head.
He reached a hand to the right side of his face, there was no texture besides that of his skin. No bumps, no roughness, it was just smooth. Sure there were bunches of freckles across his cheeks, his nose. Yet no-
“I always loved those most about you, why did I hide them?”
He dragged his hand down and noticed a dampness around his- oh gosh, he was crying. A dark rose red blush had heated up his face. He lifted the mirror slowly down, and put it on the table. He put his hands together, his thumb rubbed up and down on his palm. A comforting gesture, it was nice.
It wasn’t that he was crying out of embarrassment, shame, or anger. Nothing of that nature, it couldn’t possibly be a negative emotion. He felt a tightness in his chest, but it was warm. That butterflies in the stomach feeling, but doubled.
“You think I’m beautiful and I regard you the same.”
So, he did fuse, they were able to fuse!
Oh he couldn’t help but spring up a bit, just a couple of jumps of joy. Totally didn’t feel silly at all-
“What. The. Actual. Fuck?!”
Seems that he was so lost in himself that he didn’t notice an enraged emo practically jumping over the stair banister in shock and terror.
“Language-” He said softly.
Virgil stomped his way down the steps, over to the fusion and pointing an accusing finger at him. “Can’t a guy just get some 3 pm coffee in his own home- or gay man’s head- look either way! I want an explanation for this you… you… whoever the hell you are!”
The fusion stepped back a bit over the sudden reaction, looking up and down Virgil’s pissed off expression.
Just like Anxiety to being over dramatic as usual, it’s not like he was Remus threatening a butcher knife over Roman’s head. Oh, but come on! You know how Virgil is- he’s probably just being protective, or anxious over a strangers’ presence! If anyone or anything was a stranger, it would be that strange makeup job under his eyes-
“Hey!” He snapped, “I asked you a question, who are you?”
"Oh, I..." He fumbled over his words.
The fusion needed to think of something quick, and clever. He didn't owe Virgil an explanation, this is their business after all. He would just-
"Uh, meow?"
A sonic movie reference? Perfect, yes, what a smart decision. He was in love with an idiot.
Virgil squinted his eyes in suspicion, before something seemingly clicked in his head. He rolled his eyes with annoyance, “Oh my god- I wanna say I’m surprised but I’m really not. Great Gerward Way you nearly gave me a panic attack.”
He strolled over to the kitchen, plucked a glass from one of the cabinets and stood in front of the coffee maker. “So what brought on the sudden outfit change from you, Pat?” He poured his drink into his cup and lifted it towards his mouth, “Decide to try a new color theme and steal Janus’ aesthetic? That isn’t like you.” He chuckled and took a sip of the coffee.
Ok perfect, phew.. Virgil believed he was just Patton. This way he could make up some lie about why Patton randomly wanted to mix things up, after that he could excuse himself upstairs and he could get back to figuring himself out in peace. Easy as pie. Oh, goodness he could go for some sweets right now. Anyways, back to what he was-
“Yes- this is Patton totally not Janus too-” The fusion sputtered out.
God, he was a terrible liar.
Virgil’s glass dropped and shattered on the floor.
Damn him, he really needed to start speaking up quicker. Patton’s impulsivity when it comes to talking will be the death of him, or him, or them-
“He- You- Hello?!” The Anxious side screamed out.
“Whoopsie doodles?”