Something Entirely New

"You can never be too careful," was all Logan had to say in response to that. Even if Dorian got his man pride all hurt from being forced to take a nap, he needed it, and his health was worth more in the long run. The elections were seriously wearing on him, and he needed everything he could get in term over little recoveries. He could be pouty and resent him for this all he wanted.

The fact that Dorian fell asleep the moment they got in the taxi only proved that. Logan gave the driver directions first, then snuggled in with his boyfriend for the ride. He was woken up briefly when they switched to the bus, then passed out like a light again for that next ride. Logan called home to warn that they'd be coming over. The bus drivers in the countryside were different from the ones in the city, more familiar with the passengers, kind enough to let them off pretty close to the Graham farm so there wouldn't be much of a walk from the street to the house.

It always felt sunnier out here, and the air was cleaner. Logan stretched and pulled Dorian along. The Grahams certainly weren't fancy rich people types, like the Delacroixs, but the property and house was large on account of the work done, the size of the family, and how long they'd been around. A dog promptly approached them, to which Logan reacted to with giggling and pets, even if he couldn't focus on giving the animals attention right then. He had a boyfriend to worry about!

He took Dorian up and knocked on the front door. He had a key, and he knew the house wasn't usually locked in the daytime, but he was still a polite boy, and it was still early enough in knowing these people that he was clumsy in these areas. Clumsy, but enthusiastic.

Logan broke out into a big grin, and didn't stop smiling and blushing while they were being chattered to by Nanna. Pookie! Honestly, his grandma was too much. He gave her a tight hug, allowing the kissing and cheek pinching without a peep of complaint. His heart felt all warm and bubbly, almost to the point where he felt like crying. He didn't. He'd already done that the first time he'd met these people, and it'd only lead to more fussing. Right now, Dorian needed more rest, not to be dragged into that.

Still, he listened intently as she went on and on, not missing a thing. He was always very invested in hearing about his other family's lives, because of having so much to catch up on. "I know, I know. This wasn't what the day was originally going to be spent on. We were planning a lot of shopping, but Dorian showed up only half-awake, and you know, elections season's here. We don't need fancy city dishes! We come here for your food, we could go to a restaurant otherwise. Seafood risotto is yummy, so I look forward to it. At this rate, you might just ruin all the restaurants for me by outdoing them, Nanna."

After his light teasing, Logan nodded firmly. "I won't! The pies are tradition. I've been making some for the campaign, and getting compliments! I'm definitely a proper Graham," he said with nothing but pride, chest puffed out a little.

He waved back to his cousin, offering a sheepish look with it, and decided to check out what she'd been stitching later. "You don't have to do so much for me and Dorian coming over, really. Don't mind us! I don't want to disrupt any work, just want to give him some fresh air and sleep in a softer place, you know? We'll be quiet as mice."

He muffled his laughter at Dorian being mother henned, humming his agreement to the sentiments, then murmured a 'byebye!' and directed his boyfriend up the stairs to his room. Billy's old room, technically, but it wasn't unpleasant or anything. Very quaint and cozy. Not to mention, Logan had started keeping more of his things here than he ever had in his original room back at the manor. That place was bare, rather shameful, not someplace he'd ever want Dorian in. This was different to a surreal extent.

Logan made himself busy and useful locking the door, ridding them of a lot of their clothes, and making the bed into a proper nesting spot before settling down with Dorian in it and curling up, only lazy, gentle sunbeams streaming through the window. He gave the man a kiss and rested his face in the crook of his neck. It would be impossible, with the comfort levels of this bed and room, not to have a sleep close to a careless daydream.

It was times like this, all fluff and sugary sweet, lovely home away from home and family far better than the one that'd been around for his birth, that Logan could almost forget he murdered and ate people for the fun of it. Almost. He could make the excuse that it was the Delacroix household that carved him into what he was, but Billy had grown up with all of this, hadn't he? It was how they both were, their nature with or without the nurture.

He slept well, and felt that, despite the fact that he was doing the same thing his grandparent's estranged son was, he belonged here, and they would never need to know. He had nothing but comfort, cuddling his boyfriend in his dad's old room.

His dreams were odd. Bodily changes and confusing thoughts. Then, he was woken up by the shrieking of young girls-- a familiar and excruciating sound. He groaned a little and rubbed his head at the rude awakening, opening and closing his eyes slowly. He caught the end of his cousin and Dorian's conversation. He mumbled irritably in French, at first, before his brain caught up with his mouth.

Logan squinted at Ninette from under a pile of blankets before nodding. "I'll be dressed in five minutes," he said, dragging himself out of the nest. He went for the closet instead of his more recently abandoned clothes, because he had some fairly simple stuff in there, less date wear and more around the house focused. He changed, then ambled over to Dorian and looped his arms around the man's waist, leaning in to nibble at his ear.

"Want to sleep over, after dinner? There's one day of weekend left tomorrow, so we can just go out then, after a really good breakfast. My excuse for the jailers back at the Delacroix house is that the elections are so crazy I'm crashing at your place or in friend's dorms half the time. It isn't a lie."

That kiss woke Logan right up, despite the sleepyhead nickname. He licked his lips and resisted the urge to try and get a quickie in, because the scent of dinner drifting upstairs was painful to resist, and that'd be far too bratty of him. "Good evening, more like," he said with a laugh. "I don't either. Not when my grandma's making it, anyway."

As soon as they were downstairs, of course, the fussing started back up. He grinned as much as he always did at it. He took everything on the plates with nothing but genuine glee, practically drooling. He saw Dorian's subtle distress, though, and nudged him, lowering his voice. "We can go for a jog around the farm after dinner." He'd been thinking, and decided he was going to need to be more fit, especially with his legs, pretending to be a bouncy rabbit girl. Not to mention, he could definitely use it for his hobbies.

Logan watched Dorian from the corner of his eye, a little smile on his face. It was so nice to actually have family to bring him home to, and get to see him be the perfect boyfriend in front of. Aw. He was so gay. "That's what I'm here for, Nanna," he said, mock swooning.

Grandpa reminded Logan a lot of his dad, so he was always delighted to get praise and pride from him, immediate big round eyes and delighted expressions. This family overall was also where Billy got the way he spoke, so Logan tended to be in endearment overdrive, all squishy inside. "Yes! I'm good. Busy, but good. M-mhm, I want to be Vice President, working with Dorian. Thank you."

When Nanna joined in, Logan just blushed and ducked his head further, giving a burst of flustered giggling. A Graham in student council. Not a Delacroix. They thought of him as one of their own. He hid his heated face by pressing it against Dorian's shoulder.

Logan finished up his food while Dorian was crowded by curious young Grahams. He'd seen all the Instagram pictures before, had done plenty of fanboying over it himself back when they'd first started interacting. And now, he had his own.

He gasped and squished his own cheeks when presented with these absolutely overdone, extravagant pies. He adored them, and picked up a new fork right away to dig in with, tasting and savoring everything possible, stuffing his face. Wonderful vanilla ice cream, strawberries, blueberry, and mixed berry along with perfect, warm fluffy crust. He gave his compliments to both his grandma and Jack.

He lightly bumped shoulders with Ninette in greeting when she sat next to him, then scrubbed at his pink face when she started to hype him up, swatting her a little. "Nini, it isn't that fancy!" He coughed and turned to address Nanna. "I do work hard on the pies, though… I think people would be missing out, otherwise. I haven't shared any recipes, though I have been asked about it before. Promise. Maybe I'll start writing down the praise they get so you can hear about it."

The next topic nearly made him choke on his dessert. Billy's shop. Christ. Fuck. No, that was still in use. He tried to calm his heartbeat, luckily an expert in keeping his composure. He couldn't exactly make note of the reputation being a reason not to open something there, not in front of Dorian, but… "I'd help you, Nanna! It's a good idea. I think it'd be best if you made a new place, just known for the pies. There are some really cute buildings that could be fixed up for it, near neighborhoods that'd bring in really great business." His in-the-know city boy behavior could work for convincing her otherwise, instead.

He glanced at Dorian with a very head over heels look. "Dorian's a really good cook too. Talented as ever. He makes me my favorite French dishes! It's romantic and thoughtful." Perhaps he was gushing too much at that rate, but he was reveling in being able to chatter to family about this in the first place. He wouldn't have been able to so much as give Dorian a platonic, friendly pat on the back in front of Adam.