Deceit looked over at Logan lying down on the couch. He wasn't concerned about hiding from Logan, nor was Logan concerned about what Deceit saw. That's the thing about Logan not seeing anything as strictly good or strictly evil: just like how a couple in an extramarital affair doesn't care what the front desk worker of a hotel knows, Logan didn't care what Deceit saw or knew, as long as it wasn't necessarily addressed. What was it that Deceit saw that Logan didn't bother to hide?

He was listening to an audiobook while petting a poodle puppy that was close to his chest. At first, he dismissed playing with dogs as too much of a distraction, but he was able to relax, and find the texture of poodle fur enjoyable when he actually gave it a shot. Deceit smiled as he saw Logan lying down with the poodle on his torso, and from his observations, knew he snuggles with a different poodle every week. He could've used it as an opportunity for blackmail, but he couldn't bring himself to break their silent agreement. What he really wanted was to snuggle with the nerd, but the snake man, though in a gray area, was stuck in a dark gray area, so he didn't think Logan would like snuggling with him in particular. He was determined to make it possible without bringing harm to Logan or the poodles.

That evening, Deceit was looking in the mirror trying to shapeshift to his liking. He managed to turn into a snake, or many people the Sides or Thomas knew of, but he wasn't even able to turn into a default puppy, let alone a poodle. The snake boy looked at his phone, and felt nervous as he was getting ready to text an expert.

'Hey, Patton, what do you know about shapeshifting into puppies?' he sent with a picture of himself with brown eyes.

The next thing he knew, Patton appeared behind Deceit, and he could only tell by the reflection.

"Hey, you having trouble shapeshifting, Deceit?" Patton asked.

"Oh, I'm fine shapeshifting into anything that isn't a snake or another person," he answered with his signature yellow eyes.

Patton looked at Deceit and smiled at him.

"What kind of puppy do you want to become?" the paternal figure asked.

"Well, a poodle wouldn't exactly hurt," the snake answered honestly.

Patton prepared Deceit and looked around before turning him into a cute poodle puppy. Deceit looked in the mirror and barked with joy.

"Much thanks, Patton," Deceit told him.

"Of course. Is there anything else you need help with?" Patton asked.

"Well, I just need to turn into a poodle all days this week before 4:15, so I'm going to need your help by then. I think I can turn back into me just fine," Deceit explained.

"Any reason you want to be a poodle at that time?" the animal lover asked, while resisting the urge to hug the poodle.

"I just wanted to feel cute. If Virgil can make and wear a flower crown of deadly nightshade flowers to feel cute, I should have my own method of doing so," Deceit defended.

Patton could tell he was hiding something, but he didn't want to push it in case Deceit found it embarrassing. It was a new week, so the brown poodle rushed to the living room, so Logan would see him. Logan was surprised that he didn't have to conjure a poodle that time, but he couldn't complain as he picked up Deceit, and held him to his chest before lying down on the couch. Deceit found it pleasant finally being able to snuggle with Logan, and having his fur being stroked by the teacher.

That's how it went throughout the week; Patton would come by to Deceit's room to change him into a poodle, Deceit would approach Logan, and the two would snuggle. Deceit would always avoid sleeping against Logan, since he would end up turning back to normal due to letting his guard down. Every evening, when Logan was done with snuggling the poodle, Deceit would return to his room, and turned himself back to normal while expressing a happiness within him that was similar to that of a fander sharing a hug with Thomas.

On the last day of the week, Patton stopped by Deceit's room to see a sad snake boy sitting on the edge of his bed. Patton sat next to Deceit and held him close.

"Doesn't feel the same when it's not Logan," he muttered as a reaction.

"It's the end of the week," Patton said with understanding of the situation.

Patton turned Deceit into a poodle again and said "Snuggle him with all your might." Deceit didn't care that Patton knew, since Logan was expecting the poodle at that time.

Logan had a long day of scheduling and helping Thomas, and holding off rest made Logan desperate for poodle snuggles. Deceit was desperate to be close to Logan, so it worked out to an extent.

"You really like this, don't you?" Logan asked the poodle.

Deceit nodded and gave a soft bark.

"You know, I know I'm not supposed to like this person, but if it wasn't so rough to talk to people in a way that doesn't put me into logical rants, I could ask this one guy to snuggle with me," he rambled while tired.

Deceit found himself wishing he was the guy in question. Eventually, Logan falling asleep made Deceit fall asleep no matter how hard he tried to stay awake.

Logan woke up at 11:30 PM and looked around in the dark before acknowledging the weight on his torso that was heavier than a poodle. Logan waved his hand to turn on the light a little bit. He noticed that a sleeping Deceit was on top of him. He was confused at first, but then felt the snake man's hair. Just like the poodle, under the hair, there was texture on the skin that slightly resembled scales.

Deceit squirmed slightly before opening his eyes to look at the nerd, and his own human face in the reflection of Logan's glasses. He was about to get up out of shock and embarrassment, but Logan wouldn't let go of him.

"Please stay," Logan said.

Deceit was surprised, but eventually rested his head on Logan's chest.

"So, you were the poodle?"

"I wanted to snuggle you for so long, and you've only snuggled poodles. Please don't judge me."

Logan could tell Deceit was honest, and he felt a little guilty for giving Deceit the idea he'd only snuggle him if he was a poodle.

"I knew I should've turned to Roman for courage."

"Why? Who did you want to snuggle before I came along?"

"Well, actually, it was you. Is it wrong for me to want something more than silent agreements?"

"I guess that makes two of us that want that."

"I'm going to believe that only because you, somehow, turned into a poodle just to be part of my daily routine in this way."

Logan stroked Deceit's hair, and Deceit smiled from that sense of happiness coming back to him. They both fell asleep together without caring about who would see.