Patton looked across the library at the young man.

He worked here, the perfect librarian. He greeted everyone with a smile on his face, asking them what they'd like to read. He took complaints, compliments, and Karens without a real reaction.

What the rest of the world did not know is that he is a thief.

He stole Patton's heart.

They never talked, never met, never did anything. Patton had never talked to him, no matter how much he wanted to.

He was perfect, handsome, smart, and kind. He had black hair, blue eyes, and a strong jaw.

What did Patton have? Just arachnophobia, a cat allergy, and a case of being too emotional.

Virgil kept telling Patton to just talk to him, but Patton was scared.

Therefore, Virgil kept checking out books on dogs.

"Patton, I swear, if I get another look from Roman on "Why the heck are you checking out books on dogs when you don't have one?" I will force you to check out your own books."

Patton just nodded. He knew he'd just have to talk to him. Eventually.

He sat down at the table that was partially hidden from view from the checkout and grabbed his books from Virgil.

He started reading, ignoring the world around him.

Including the blue-eyed stranger who was now looking at him.

Logan looked across the library at the young man.

This person puzzled him.

He always came to the library on weekends, with his friend. His friend would only get books on one subject: dogs. The friend would bring the books to him, and leave.

Why did the man ignore him? He'd shoot Logan the occasional glance and then ignore him. 

He tried to remember the friend's name, but luckily, he didn't have to.

"Did you see what Virgil was wearing today? AAAAAAAAAAAAA he's so cute! I swear this man is going to kill me!"

Roman, Logan's loud coworker. Revision, very loud coworker.

"One of these days, I'll finally ask him out! I promise!"

Logan didn't care. His attention was on someone. "Roman, do you know who that man is?"

He pointed at Patton.

Roman looked at him. "He always comes with Virgil, sends him to get dog books, and flirt with me, and then sits here reading, looking at you. Virgil won't answer my questions, and DID YOU SEE WHAT HE WAS WEARING TODAY?"

"What, Roman?"

"He was wearing a pair of cat ears! It was the cutest thing!"

Logan just sighed at him and went back to studying the strange man.

"Hey Lo, want to talk to him?"

Logan sighed. "No, if he wanted to talk to me, he would've."

Roman looked at Logan. He was acting weird.

"Do you want me to talk to him? I'm assuming you want some more 'data' for your nerd brain on his weird behavior."

Logan nodded. "That would be satisfactory."

Patton heard footsteps and looked up. One of the librarians was in front of him. He recognized the librarian as Roman, Virgil's crush.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"So... why are you over here?"

Roman looked panicked for a moment. He appeared to gather himself.

"I was wondering if you'd be willing to give the library a review! I noticed you hanging around here a lot!"

Patton nodded.

Roman grinned. "Follow me!"

He walked towards the desk, flashing a thumbs-up to Logan.

"The reviews are here! Logan, do you mind handing him one?"

Logan handed one to him, and their hands brushed for a second. With red attempting to devour his face, Patton filled it out and handed it to Logan.

"I-I love your library!" He winced as his voice cracked.

Logan nodded. "It's rather peaceful in here."

"It's one of my favorite places!"

Logan smiled. "Me too."

Roman, meanwhile was hardcore fangirling. Logan almost never smiles, and certainly never turns as red as he was right then.

Thankfully, no one noticed Roman trying not to shriek in happiness and clap his hands. That would've raised some questions.

They smiled awkwardly at each other, before Patton said "See you later!" and tried not to die of embarrassment. He walked away, staring at the book about Dobermans that wasn't very interesting anymore.

Roman was literally doing cartwheels in the background, while Logan tried to calm his heart rate. It made no sense. He was perfectly healthy and did not just exercise, so why was his heart rate 13.64%  faster than normal?

He brushed it off, but his mind focused on inconsistencies.

His mind focused on the young man, the one who's name he never got.

The next week, Virgil and Patton headed to the library.

"Virge, he was so perfect! He was so smart, and his hair!"

"Patton, I can't believe you finally talked to him. Seriously, I was expecting to be your busboy forever."

"And we're almost there, and oh god, what if I actually go up there to check out books? What would I say?"

"Patton, chill. You always know what to say."

He nodded but panicked again. "I'm just not going today, I'll just come back... never."

Virgil grabbed him by the arm. "You're not leaving me."

He dragged him inside. "Come on."

Patton turned red, as Virgil tugged him to the desk.

"Patton would like to check out some books. Care to help him, Logan?"

Virgil promptly turned to Roman and started chatting him up.

"H-hey Logan! Nice to see you."

Logan gave him a small smile. "Nice to see you too. What books would you like?"

Patton blushed. "Dogs please."

Logan nodded and looked some up on his computer. 

"I found the address. Come on."

He walked towards the back. Patton followed.

"What kind of dogs do you like?"

"All of them! They have so many good qualities!"

Logan smiled. He was so cheerful, it was hard to not like him.

"Do you have any pets?"

"No. I simply do not have the time to give them the love they deserve."

Patton nodded.

"I wish I could get cats, but I'm really allergic."

Logan smiled. "I am too." What was this feeling? It filled him with strange bubbles, popping, and lightening him. Was this happiness?

Patton grinned. He wasn't alone!

"We're at the dog section. Do you require help in choosing a book?"

Patton nodded. "I can never choose for myself. They're all so cute!"

Logan nodded and knelt down. Patton joined him.

He pulled out an ornate book. "I think this one may be satisfactory."

Patton looked at it and gasped. It was a huge book, full of all the dogs in the world. It was beautiful.

"Thank you so much! I love it!"

Logan turned red. He wasn't used to people's gratitude. (curse you, Karen)

Patton hugged him. Logan turned even redder and felt the weirdest feeling.

It felt like flying, like dancing the dark, like a million things he'd never experienced, and suddenly wanted to.

Patton was mortified. He just hugged the man he had a crush on. He turned red, trying not to melt into the embrace.

He failed. Logan did too.

They clung to each other, each pretending they didn't enjoy it as much as they did.

Patton finally stood up. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to just violate personal space like that." Logan stopped him. 

"It's ok. I... enjoyed it."

They walked back, Patton clutching the book.

They stopped in surprise.

Roman and Virgil were openly making out on the counter.

"Virgil!" Patton called.

They looked up and saw Logan and Patton.

Roman just shrugged. "What?"

"You're making out in a public place!"

Roman smirked. "Don't pretend like you don't want to."

And then they were making out again.

Logan pulled Patton, who was disgusted (and annoyed. They were right) out of the library.

"Sorry for my coworker."

"Sorry for my friend."

They laughed.

"I'm sorry, but I realized I don't know your name."

Patton's eyes widened. "Oh, it's Patton."

Logan mulled over it for a second. "It's unique. I like it."

"Logans not so bad, either."

"Thanks."

"Hey, Patton? If you need anything, you can always talk to me." Logan didn't know what he was saying. He never just jumped into something like this, but there was something about Patton...

"You too! My number's [REDACTED]."

Logan pulled out his phone and typed it in. "Thank you."

He sent Patton a simple text, saying 'Salutations.'

Patton replied 'Hey Logie!'

Logan will never admit it, but he blushed when he saw the nickname.

"I'll make sure to register the book. Do you think we should separate our friends?"

"Yes! Of course!"

They walked inside.

"Virgil, come on!"

"Fiiiiiiiiine dad!"

"Bye Roman."

"Bye, My chemically imbalanced romance."

"Bye Logan!"

"Bye, Pat."

Patton and Virgil left, leaving Logan to Roman's endless teasing. "Pat?"

"Shut up."

"Ooooh, Pat, I love you!"

Logan's face flushed a little.

"Oh, Virrrrrrgil, you're so hot!"

Roman growled. "I know you're messing with me, but he's mine."

The next week, Virgil and Patton came back to the library, even though Patton had not finished his book.

This time, Virgil got a book, Ways to Counter Flirty Remarks.

Patton sat at his table, reading and shooting Logan glances.

Roman eventually got tired, and went up to Virgil, trying to get his number.

"Hey Virgil, I have a pen, and you have a number. Think of the possibilities."

Virgil didn't even look up.

"I have a shoe, and you have a face. Think of the casualties."

Logan looked up, a smirk on his face, and quickly grew red when he saw Patton laughing.

What was wrong with him?

Patton looked over, and seeing Logan's face, sent him a text.

"Hey."

Logan looked up and seeing Patton looking at him, his face grew redder. 

"Hey."

"There's a word I don't understand. Could I have some help?"

"I'm the only one at the counter. I'm sorry, but I cannot come over."

Patton looked up from his phone.

"Hey Roman, can you take over the desk for a few minutes? I need Logan's help."

Roman smirked. "Sure."

He headed over to Logan, and they had a short exchange, before Logan came over, looking flustered.

"What did you require assistance with?"

"What does 'love' mean in a scientific way?"

"An intense feeling of deep affection. Why do you wish to know?"

Patton turns bright red. "N-no reason. Thank you."

Logan flushes pink.

"How's your day been?"

"Ok."

"Patton, are you ok?"

Patton just laughs. "Of course. I'm just sad that I can't get a cat."

Logan smiles affectionately. "Why?"

"They're purrfect!"

Logan just sighs. "I wish I had a cat, too. They're intelligent animals and great companions."

"Yeah..." Patton sighs, looking sad. Logan knows what he needs. He puts his arms out, awkwardly.

Patton all but collapses into his arms, and Logan loves the feeling. They ignore Roman and Virgil squealing, and just hold each other. Logan relishes the feeling. It feels like sleep, like moonlight, like listening to a particularly good song, and like the soft glow of fairy lights.

They just stay there for a few minutes, fading from the world.

All good things must end, though, and after a few minutes, the library closes.

"Hey, Patton?"

"Yes?"

"I'm not convinced you're completely fine. Would you like to get coffee?"

Patton smiled. "Like a date?"

Logan stopped for a second, surprised. Was it? Yes. It was.

"Yes."

"I'd love to!"

They continue to ignore Virgil and Roman high-fiving.