Don't Hit Another Man's Son

Poppy

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Mar 18, 2015
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Fuckin' son of a goddamn... That man had some balls, didn't he?

Nick didn't want to start shit yet. Not yet. But look at where this guy was pushing him. He had no fuckin' choice. He was smart, but he didn't want other people to think laying low was being weak. He was sure the man heard about him when he came back: The butcher's back in town. Didn't he have any fear for him, any respect at all? Logan was his property. He had no right to raise his hand on him like this just because he fed him and sheltered him due to Aurora's own stupidity.

He was going to teach him a lesson. Break one of his, and he'd break one of yours. Nick put on his rooster mask, gloves, and climbed over the gate to where his car was. He smashed the windows in with the pipe. It let out a horrible wailing sound. It was just a matter of time before anyone went downstairs to check, so he did the other things quick. He hit it all over, his magic whirring all around him, slicing and denting the doors, smashing the windows in, popping the tires. He wanted to kill this guy, rip him up until his organs were on the floor and eat them. Nick poured gasoline all over the garage and threw a lit match into it, made his escape as it exploded into flames.

Done. He wanted to do more, but it was done. He made his escape, now several streets away before he could hear the fire trucks. Nick climbed the local Arby's and texted Logan his location, watching the fire grow then extinguished from this distance. It was satisfying, even when it wasn't his style. Don't come back there, he told Logan at the party, and that was a fucking order.

These people shouldn't touch his son anymore.
 

Tom Marvolo Riddle

the dark lord
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Logan wasn't just pushing his luck anymore, it'd gone past that point as soon as he'd shared a heated kiss with Nick in public. This had moved into ripping his life apart territory-- but it'd already been violently tearing at the seams. Logan was very, very tired. Maybe he was tired enough that he'd decided to simply push himself off a cliff, rather than live with the stress of hanging over the ledge, never quite knowing if you were safe or not, holding on with a single, slipping finger.

Poetic nonsense aside, while at the Winter Holidays party, he'd thrown himself at Nick like he could barely stand to keep his hands off of him. And he really couldn't. Being with him so openly and comfortably, talking and giving little touches, it was too much. When he'd headed home, later, he was fully anticipating the consequences of his actions. He'd been beaten near senseless by his stepfather Adam.

It wasn't as scary as Logan had assumed it'd be. In fact, the thought that he might die, this time around, only gave him a special sort of boldness. That of someone with nothing to lose. He didn't want to go down quietly. When Adam had yelled at him, Logan yelled right back, until his voice was hoarse and cracking. For the first time in his whole life, he defended himself.

And it caught Adam off guard enough for Logan to get away from him. He packed his essentials and left, unsure what he was doing with himself. Perhaps he'd just stay away long enough for things to cool down, then crawl back and apologize.

Maybe he'd never come back. It was what he'd always been terrified of, getting disowned by his family, known for what he was to the general population, a filthy, evil person, with filthy evil blood in his veins. But now that it seemed to be at risk of really happening, he couldn't even think straight about it, couldn't register it, couldn't feel anything towards it.

Logan wanted to stop being afraid.

He'd gone back to the party late that night once he got out of his house, looking to find Nick again. When he found him, Logan had clumsily asked to live with him. That'd gone over pleasantly, but then… Nick, Billy, his dad, had found out about the fresh, sensitive bruises covering his skin. Hadn't been happy about it. Logan had assumed he was angry with him, initially, but he wasn't. He'd said he was worried, and then, had lost his temper, storming off to go try and hurt Adam back for what he did to Logan.

And Logan was… in foreign territory. He'd never had a parent worry about him. Or, for that matter, get angry for him rather than simply at him. His real father had never stopped presenting firsts, for Logan. He remained at the party, flustered, unable to make himself try and stop any of this. He was anxious about what might happen if Nick recklessly went after Adam, but he didn't have the heart to go against it. Lord, why would he? How could he possibly dig into himself and bring out the desire to stop Nick from caring about him, even if it was in a dangerous way? That seemed worse than idiotic. It was insane. It was the opposite of what Logan desired.

And he didn't argue with Nick, on the big things. He was the one parent who had earned Logan's loyalty, and he didn't want him to regret that. He wanted to finally be good, for family. A simple, but powerful wish. He'd never gotten the chance, before, only false hope and desperation, but nothing solid. Now, with the Grahams, with Billy, he couldn't screw up. He had to be good to them, just like they'd been good to him.

When he got the text, he held his breath, and rushed from the party. Logan took a cab to the slightly funny location Nick gave him-- an Arby's near his neighborhood. The closer he got, the louder the sirens were, and his held breath felt like it'd been kicked out of him. What had Nick done? There was only one way to find out. Logan exited the cab and climbed up after Nick, up to the Arby's roof.

"Oh," Logan murmured, faint. He sank down, knees wobbly, and sat there beside him. He couldn't tell what was happening, past the fact that it had to be his house on fire in the distance, though it was fading. He couldn't tell if it was mild or not, simply a warning, or if the Delacroixes were burning up. It didn't even matter to him, right then. His heart hammered in his chest, face radiating warmth.

He was more in love with Nick than ever. Logan took a break from watching the fire to look at him with his big, round, smitten eyes.

Damn it all to Hell. His life really was a hot mess.
 

Poppy

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Mar 18, 2015
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While Nick waited, he ordered a meal from the restaurant. He was sipping iced tea when he heard Logan climb up the ladder and beckoned him close, watched as the flames died down because of the fire trucks. He didn't know if it burned the rest of the house, but he was sure neither of them were going to cry about that.

He slid the mozzarella sticks to Logan then licked the sauce of his fingers, rubbing the grease away on his letterman jacket. Shit, he still tasted a bit like gasoline. He looked at him straight in the eyes, felt his face flush a bit when he saw the way Logan was looking at him. He furrowed his eyebrows.

"Didja get your stuff outta there?" He paused for a bit, thinking. "I guess it's fine if you din't. You got clothes and shit in the farm... Point is, you're done with that people, son. If they know what's good for 'em, they won't come after you anymore. The butcher's back in town. They shoulda thought about that before they started on their stupid shit, broke what they weren't supposed to."

They got a lotta nerve, thinking they could get away with this. A lotta nerve indeed. Nick was usually the slumping, fidgety sort, but he stood tall here to assert his authority, placing his hands on his hips. "They ain't got no proof you or I did it, so they can't press charges. If you need a guardian, I'm sure my ma would be thrilled to have you as one o' her own, make you a Graham like you deserve. I can even talk to 'em and force a custody case against Aurora if they wanna keep you, or, fuck, whatever, I'll just cook 'em and eat 'em. I don't like working with the law much." He paused. "Living arrangements first. You said you wanna move in with me, yeah? I don't think I'll have it any other way. We can look for apartments tonight and move in somewhere by morning. Come on. We can go to my dorm tonight."

Nick slid down the ladder and lead Logan away, back to his dorm.
 

Tom Marvolo Riddle

the dark lord
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Logan was burning like it was the hottest summer day of the year, even though it was in the middle of winter, and cold out. He silently chewed a mozzarella stick, eyes glued to Nick, listening to and hanging on every word he said. He couldn't bear to interrupt him, add anything, with what he was saying. He just wanted to let it all sink into his skin, down to his bones, and have it stay there forever. He watched Nick stand up, tall and straighter than he'd ever seen from him, and it made him feel like everything would be okay. This was what a parent was supposed to be, the more questionable aspects of their relationship aside.

The waterworks, predictably, came soon. Tears welling up as Nick talked about Nanna adopting him, that he deserved to be a Graham. "O-oh dear," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes, making a quiet choked sound and gnawing on his lip. A hiccup of a laugh, at Nick mentioned just cooking and eating them, instead of bothering with all the complicated law things. That was more like him, and everything else… offering so much, to do it the right way, to help him in this way… it meant a lot. Nick was speaking more than he usually did, laying things out, taking care of it. Taking care of him. Since when was Nick this responsible? Logan sniffled, vision blurry from crying. His dad was protecting him. It was warm, and safe, and important. He barely knew how to begin communicating his gratitude.

He squeezed his eyes shut and nodded quickly, then opening them and getting to his feet, following Nick back. Logan managed to stay mostly composed on the way, but as soon as they arrived, through the Starlight Academy campus, into the college dorm building and Nick's room, he latched onto Nick and sobbed, hiccuping. He held him tight. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" he slurred, voice thick. "I love you. I love you so much. I-I'm in love with you, a-and I don't really care if that's sick. I won't let you down, not after everything you've d-done for me, I promise. Anything you ever want, I'll do it, be it, for you-- just say the word." He buried his face in pretty blond hair, trying to breath. "I know I'm a crybaby, but thank you for giving me a chance, dad, letting me have a family… I can never thank you enough. Thank you."
 

Poppy

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Mar 18, 2015
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Logan was crying like a pansy. It was out of gratitude, so he couldn't complain much. He didn't even roll his eyes! Look at him, being so courteous. Nick rubbed his back, listening to Logan gush, talk about how 'sick' he was for loving him and he didn't care. Nick, personally, never really had a grasp of morality, so he didn't know what the big deal with that was. Image issues. Who cares?

He sighed. "Geez... Come on, son, stop crying. Look, I'm your dad, alright? I got your back. You don't gotta make it more complicated than that." Nick didn't care for dramatic verbal confessions, or snuggling, or things like that. He wasn't the type. Frankly, it just made him all flustered and unsure how to respond. He did care for Logan, in the grander scheme of things, but it wasn't inspirational or profound the way Logan must see it in his eyes. Nick wasn't a poet, he didn't make big promises, but he was going to stay with him like a dad should. That was what mattered. The bottom line.

He clapped him on the shoulder. "Go wash your face and drink some water. I ain't got class 'til January, so we can go looking for apartments tomorrow." When he got Logan off him, he took off his shirt and jacket and climbed in bed, waiting for Logan to follow him. He pulled out his phone and looked at the apartment listings online. "What are your plans after this, kid? Or did you just run away without one?"
 

Tom Marvolo Riddle

the dark lord
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Logan sniffled and chuckled, amused, once he calmed down a little. He was dramatic, he knew. As long as Nick let him get away with it, he didn't mind how the man reacted. He pet his dad's hair and nodded cheerfully. Stop crying, he said, but Logan had to fight back more tears at hearing I'm your dad, I got your back, stated as a simple, hard fact. "I know," he said, softly. "But even if it's casual for you, it means everything to me. Can't take that away." He shrugged and beamed.

The boy flinched lightly at the clap on the shoulder, reminded of all his bruises again, grumbling under his breath. It was just embarrassing. It was true that Nick had hit him before, but it was because of him fucking up, not because of who he was. He could respect one, but not the other. He couldn't forgive Adam for hurting him before he could even understand why he was being hurt, and then, for things he couldn't truly control.

He went to the bathroom to wash his face and swallow down water, likely dehydrated. The makeup he'd had on was splashed off in the process, and he scowled at the splotches of ugly purple on his cheek, forehead, and jaw. He spat in the sink out of distaste, loathing settling into him for a moment before fading again, letting the cold water soothe him. He gave a tiny sigh, wondering if he really was never going back. He'd already been slowly moving out for a few months now, but having it actually happen was another case entirely. He swallowed. Life, how he wanted to live it. Was that possible? Was it real?

Drama queen. Logan left the bathroom and shrugged off clothing on the way there, then crawled into bed next to Nick, wrapping his long legs around him and resting his cheek on the blond's shoulder, peering at his phone. He supposed it was nicely timed, wrecking his own life right when winter break started, so he didn't have to drag himself to class or wait around for Nick to be free. "Well, I wasn't sure I'd be running away forever," Logan mumbled. "Mostly just didn't want to be murdered. Thought maybe it'd cool down, but… that's stupid, I know. Sorry if I'm awkward about it. Unlearning Catholic brainwashing and overall obedience is hard work."

He kissed the shoulder he'd been resting his cheek on. "I've fantasized about it a lot, though. It all kinda depends on how they first react. I don't know if they'll try to call me and get me to come back, or if Adam will turn his church against me, or if it'll be… radio silence. Hell, I don't even know if he tells mom everything he finds out about me, or my sisters, so they could be pretty clueless and not think I'm gone now at all." He paused. "That aside, my support system is pretty strong. I have a job to support myself. That's good, right?"
 

Poppy

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Mar 18, 2015
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Nick wrapped his arm around Logan when he settled with him on the bed, pressing a casual kiss to his head without looking away from his phone. He glanced at him briefly and frowned. "Jesus, you're in awful shape. Wonder how that stepdad o' yours would react to someone that can punch back for once." Flashes of the meat grinder in his head, spiked traps and puréed meat flashed in his head. He was salivating a little. Not yet. Soon, soon.

"It ain't gonna die down and you know it. Don't bother. If he's smart and he loves his family, he'd take his garage burning as a sign and back off. If he still doesn't get the message, I'd bring him his youngest son's head served on a deli platter. An eye for an eye, and a son for a son." Maybe he'd send him a warning, something along the lines of a dead pug with Adam's son's picture stapled to its head. HOW DO YOU LIKE HURTING THINGS SMALLER THAN YOU? Later in the week, maybe.

"It's us or them. If they don't back off, we kill 'em, eat 'em, and frame someone else for murder. No mercy. You understand what I'm saying here? You're done with those people." Nick tapped his phone screen. $400 for a spacious one-bedroom, one bathroom with a living room, heating and a fire exit. It didn't have much furniture at all, but at least the basics were there. He'd fill it up later. The rent was steep for his usual budget, but perfectly doable if he split it with Logan. "What do you think of this place? It's near the business district and the bus station for the school. If you like it, we can get some shuteye now and move in tomorrow."
 

Tom Marvolo Riddle

the dark lord
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"Yeah," Logan mumbled, huffing and gently running his fingers over his own discolored skin. He perked up, suddenly, and flashed Nick a big grin. "Actually, I uh, did hit him… Only once, but it was enough to freak him out a bit, I think. Then we screamed at each other for a while, and I took off after that." He rubbed his knuckles thoughtfully. "I've never fought back before, and I look really girly, so I don't think he knew I could throw a punch." Sedation powers or not, Logan scoffed at the idea of being a completely out of shape, clueless serial killer.

He nodded shyly. There was no coming back from this, and Nick had told him not to, so he wouldn't try. His eyebrows shot up at the following plans, smile twitching with great amusement. "Gideon's a little snot faced goblin, he'd deserve it! My sisters are tolerable, but he acts like a shit even at school, so I avoid him like the plague." Logan wasn't sure if he'd get more obnoxious, or back off, but he did know he'd celebrate his beheading if it were to happen. It was refreshing, feeling like an only child, with Nick. Three siblings you didn't get along with, yet had to live with and look after, was going way too damn far. Being the spoiled favorite was fun. Logan couldn't go back, and he didn't want to go back.

Logan inhaled sharply. "I understand," he said. "I'm done. I'm done with them. Moving forward. Growing up." And breathed out, sinking into the mattress. He stared, very quietly, at the ceiling until Nick asked him about an apartment. He sat back up, then squished his cheeks, happy. "I do! I do like it, let's take it." He leaned over to kiss Nick's cheek, humming fondly. He was so giddy about moving out, paying for his first apartment, and sharing it with his dad. Logan blushed. He'd probably be saying he was living with his boyfriend, right? And he could spend more actual time with Dorian and Mia now, too. He felt so lucky. Despite the circumstances, a lot of good could come from this.

He decided, bubbly, that he should suck Nick off in the morning. Sore and exhausted now, with big sleepy blinks, but it'd be better in the morning. And he'd be even more lively from waking up with Nick, instead of back in that cold, empty house, where the people and crosses looked down on him. Before they slept, though, something occurred to Logan, a question he couldn't resist not asking. "If we're living together, does that mean I get to see your weird porn?" Logan asked, laughably earnest. "Because I bet you have better stuff than I do!"
 

Poppy

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Alright, it was decided then. They were going to claim the apartment tomorrow, if the apartment was as good as it looked online. He sent a quick text to the seller that they were going to stop by around noon to check it out. After that, he shut his eyes, pulling Logan close and waiting for sleep to take him. "Just buy 'em from from shady Chinese DVD vendors, son," he said, and that was the end of it for tonight.

The two of them woke up late in the morning. Nick checked his phone, squinting at first because of blurry vision. The seller said yes, they could meet around two. After a quick fuck, and another quick fuck in the shower, he got dressed and ready to go. It was a good thing that he still kept some of Logan's clothes from his old apartment because otherwise he'd have to put up with him complaining about his baggy basketball jersey.

Nick hoisted his things over his shoulder. He was still pretty new, so it wasn't much, just some clothes and sports gear. He held Logan's hand from the walk to the bus stop to the city proper. The city was bustling with people enjoying the Holidays. It took all of Nick's willpower not to be snippy at every other asshole that bumped into him in the street.

He checked his phone and the apartment building. This was the place. He pocketed and knocked on the front door, smelling cookies as soon as it opened. The landlords (maybe?) were a middle-aged Chinese couple. The lady was fidgety, hoping to make the sale.

She showed them around. One bedroom, one bathroom, just like the listing said. In the bedroom was a bed frame with a mattress and a window on top, a closet to the side. Kitchen — a counter, a sink, a refrigerator and a fire alarm. Bathroom — a working shower, a sink, a mirror, and a toilet. Living room — a worn-down couch, but not much else. There was a window with the emergency exit to the side. There were vents and centralized heating, which was good. Bare bones. Smaller than expected. Nick glanced at Logan nervously. He was fine with a place like this, couldn't imagine moving in somewhere fancier, but he wasn't sure if Logan would want to take it.

Nick asked them why the place wasn't sold yet. The lady became sheepish while her husband answered truthfully: Lots of crime and minorities in the area. Neither groups could afford a place this nice.

"Alright, we'll take it. We wanna move in as soon as possible," Nick said. They said they wanted a month's advance first, and they'd have to take care of water and electricity charges. Nick pulled out a roll of bills from his pocket and... seven-hundred and twenty flipping dollars. Fuck. He thought he had more than this. He hated — hated — having to depend on other people. That sense of imbalance. Owing something. This was more than half, but shit, he wasn't going to have food, bed sheets, money to pay the bills...

He looked up at Logan with wide eyes.
 

Tom Marvolo Riddle

the dark lord
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Logan giggled. Well, that made sense of it. He'd always looked at porn from online sources, and rather awkwardly, and wasn't one to buy it. He'd lived in the Delacroix house for all his life, up until now. They weren't allowed to lock doors, and the monitoring was heavy handed, to say the least. But, he supposed that now, his horizons were really expanding. Nick probably wouldn't care if he watched porn at breakfast, over some cereal. That was hilarious to think of. Disconcerting, with what he was used to, but hilarious.

With that curiosity out of the way, the teenager hooked a leg around his dad and buried his face against the man's shoulder, passing out instantly and sleeping like a baby. He was a very tuckered out kiddo, bruised and emotionally strained, but felt safe right here, in the arms of a parent that actually wanted to look out for him. This was the place for him. He fit just right.

In the morning, groggy and warm, Logan wiggled down, lazily undoing Nick's pants and nuzzling. He only waited to let him check what the response had been. And when it was positive, that called for celebration, didn't it? Logan had fun, and despite the rush with their schedule, was very giddy about having sex with his new housemate. They were going to live together! Like family. Like lovers. He couldn't help but wonder, after the shower that left heat clinging to his skin, if this meant Nick was his boyfriend. It was a shameful, happy thought.

When Nick held his hand, he only wondered further. While one of them was trying not to be snarky, the other was bright pink and smiling, completely oblivious to anything rude or distracting the world had to offer. It couldn't get to him now.

Despite his background, the comfort in the most refined of settings, Logan displayed nothing but childish curiosity when shown around the apartment. He held onto Nick's sleeve and appeared to be peeking around him in order to investigate things, never taking the lead, somewhat shy but never avoiding the chance to take it all in. A tiny smile stuck relentlessly on his face. Was this really happening? His first apartment! Of course, it wouldn't be the first place for him to stay outside his home, but this time he'd be paying the rent. There was a significant, new and shiny sense of ownership and adult to that. Logan liked playing at being an adult.

It was small, and minimalistic, and the building smelled like cookies. When Nick shot him a nervous glance, Logan only returned it with glittery eyes. He quickly grabbed the older boy's hand again and squeezed it tight.

Logan couldn't say the explanation for why it'd been left alone bothered him, either. He was too pretty for his own good, and carried himself like someone obviously upper class, but had also been slinking around in the Underground for a few months now as a Butcher. Between a seedy neighborhood and his stepfather, Logan had no hesitation with his preferences anymore.

He nodded along to what Nick was saying, bouncing on his heels like an excited puppy, tail flicking. When turning to his dad, he was suddenly taken aback by the expression he was met with. Logan blinked once, twice, as something registered. His cheeks were back to burning red, and he had to swallow thickly for a moment. He grinned, then, digging out the cash to pay the rest of what they needed, and wrapped an arm around Nick's waist, stubbornly holding him. His head was all-- dizzy— haze of strong fondness and attraction giving that weak kneed effect again. It would've been repetitive and annoying, but it couldn't be helped, as it was hitting Logan in all the right places.

He knew Nick wouldn't do this for someone else. Wouldn't put himself out there, wouldn't be vulnerable, wouldn't check in. With any other person, it'd be casual, but Nick just didn't work like other people. Even like this. Logan could see it was a big deal, whether Nick himself would admit it or not, and it left an impression. An impression that flustered him a lot. "Thank you," he whispered, almost a squeak. A simple, but a very pointed acknowledgement. Logan hoped Nick would never think he took things like this for granted, whatever scale they came in. Not with him.
 
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