One's Love

A Meeting Meal

TW: mentions of abusive/toxic parents and very sudden mood swings. If there is any more things that should be put as a trigger, please tell me!

Emile hummed, fixing his hair before taking a deep breath. He had been working on the house since Logan left, each room taking at least a week to clean and decorate. He had gone with a nice pink, white and grey theme for the house. Buying the new furniture and wallpaper was a hassle, but he managed to pull in a few favours from some old pals and get things sorted. Logan had even helped with some of the designs for the rooms, he was the one to come up with the colour scheme on their first date. In the space of two months, they had gone on exactly seventeen dates, each one more fun and romantic than the last. Emile paused, smiling at the mirror as he thought of the time he had made Logan flustered from just kissing his cheek. He giggled softly at the memory.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, causing him to jump. Logan stood at the doorway with Thomas, having left Janus with a babysitter for the night. The man didn't want to expose two of his brothers to someone he didn't know and trust fully. "Hello Emile." Logan said, giving his boyfriend a small smile. He was acting a bit more reserved than usual, but that was because Thomas was there. If his brother sensed any inking of a relationship, it would not end well. Naturally, Emile wasn't pleased by that. Logan was his sweet, angel boyfriend! He shouldn't be acting like that. It was completely unnatural and unbefitting. He felt his hand curl into a fist, but the sunny expression remained on his face. "Hi Lolo! Hi Mr. Thomas! Come on in, alright?" Thomas nodded curtly as he stepped inside the house, discreetly observing the living room of the house. He kept an eye out for escape routes, anything suspicious, detective stuff like that.

"Your family has a nice house, Emile." Thomas said carefully as he sat down on the soft couch. "Do you mind telling me some things about yourself?" The boy in question smiled brightly, nodding as he sat down next to him.
"Sure, Mr. Sanders! But, please go easy on the family stuff. They're all dead to me." He hissed, glaring at the floor before his smile reappeared. "Sorry about that. I'm happy to answer questions 'bout myself though!" Thomas was rather disturbed at the sudden change in mood, Emile, while nice at first seemed....rather unstable.
"If-if you don't mind me asking, what do you mean dead to you? Did you get emancipated from them?"
"No, I don't mind. Kinda. Anyways, I didn't get emanci- emanci- that. I left that place before they could kick me out, and got a job helping old people. Boom, just about enough cash for food." He said, laughing before going quiet. He shook his head and smiled again, turning to Logan and making grabby hands. "Cuddles?" he asked hopefully. Logan got up to cuddle him but was stopped by his brothers protective arm. "I think I smell something burning." Thomas said, giving Emile a not so subtle glare. "Would you like me to help serve dinner?" He gasped excitedly and nodded.
"That would be awesome! Come on!" Emile exclaimed, grabbing his hand gently and pulling him into the kitchen. Thomas followed, but pulled his arm out of Emile's grip. "What did you cook? It smells delicious." He said, looking around at the kitchen. The detective noticed with trepidation the locks on the drawers and the rings on the tables and walls.
"Well, I tried making lasagne, but i messed up, so I tried making spaghetti bolognaise, but I'm not too good at cooking." he admitted shyly before grabbing some plates. "So I made dinosaur chicken nuggets and curly fries! And cheese! Cheese is the best, Daddy always says so." Emile started humming, dumping quite a bit of cheese on his plate before smiling at the other. Things were not adding up, and Thomas didn't like it at all. Also, dinosaur nuggets, curly fries, and cheese? There wasn't even a salad? Whatever, he'd just have Logan eat some vegetables when they got home.
"I thought you didn't like your parents and you left them." Thomas said, his brow furrowing as he started to uncover the lies. He just giggled softly, shaking his head.
"I don't. You ever find someone who feels like family? Like you needed them all along? I sure did." Emile said with a bright smile.
"I do know that feeling," Thomas's expression softened as he thought of his younger brothers. Technically, they weren't biologically related, but he had known both of them since they were babies and eventually taken them in. This was the first subject he could really relate to. "You want to protect them at all costs, you love them for reasons you never thought possible..." He finished dishing up both his and Logan's food. Emile smiled and patted Thomas' head.
"I think we're gonna be good friends!" He said happily before skipping over to the table and back, grabbing a pink water bottle and two plastic cups.

Annnnnnd the moment had now been ruined. Thomas's mind wasn't made up, but he was sure leaning in the less pleased direction. He called Logan into the kitchen as well so the three of them could eat, at this point all Thomas wanted to do was leave without looking like, for lack of a better word, an asshole.
"Here ya go, Lolo-Bear! Do ya want apple juice, apple juice, or apple juice?" he asked giggling. "Kidding! I've got some secret pepsi somewhere if either of you want some, or ya can have water from the tap." Emile sat down in between the two, smiling brightly as he sipped from his water bottle. Logan glanced at Thomas, as if asking him what beverage he should drink. Thomas nodded, letting Logan know that he could have what he wished. Logan got some apple juice, while Thomas, after frowning that Emile sat in between him and his brother, got some water for himself.
"So...Emile. How long have you been friends with Logan, and where did you meet?" He paused, counting on his fingers before shrugging.
"A couple months. Met at a book club, and I met Virgey, and Patty-Cakes, and Roro too!" He explained, purposely using nicknames to make it seem like he did so for everyone. Thomas was not a fan of the nicknames. He was also not a fan by the fact that Emile seemed to patronize everyone.
"I see." he said, with only a little bit of venom in his tone. "And what do you think of my so-my brother?" The slip-up caused his cheeks to turn a bit red, even though he did consider Logan and Janus his sons he hadn't said that out loud. That would be weird.
"He's the best friend ever! I feel like I can trust him with anything, and he won't laugh. And he's super sweet and kind. He's smart too, not just school. He's kinda smart at life in general." He exclaimed before turning red and giggling. "And, uh, ya know, he's got a nice taste in brothers!" He joked quickly, ducking his head. Emile cursed ("Oh, fudge") in his head. Rookie mistake, showing too much love.
"Mm-hmm." Thomas took a careful bite of his food to hide what he was thinking. He knew something had to be up with everything, and how Emile was acting. But Logan would tell him, soon enough at least. Hopefully.

After a couple hours, the dinner had ended and it was late. "Goodbye, Emile. It was nice meeting you." Thomas said, holding out a hand. Even though he was smiling, it was a fake smile and his eyes were filled with ice.
"I see I made a bad impression.. I'm sorry." He said quietly, gesturing to the others' smiles. "I'd know a fake smile from miles away."
"...This is how I normally smile." Thomas said, the fake smile dropping. Logan hadn't seen any of it, as he was busy putting his shoes on. "Please do not assume anything about me or my smile. It was still nice meeting you though. Let's go, Logan."
"Bye, Emile." Logan said, waving at his bubbly boyfriend.
"Oh.. Bye bye, Lolo-Bear! Have a good day!" He said, hugging the nerd tightly before smiling. "See ya soon, Unicorn! Ooh, maybe tomorrow?" Emile started bouncing up and down in his spot excitedly as he waited for an answer, a silly habit of his.
"I'll have to check with Thomas, and my schedule." Logan said. "But goodbye for now." He and Thomas closed the door behind them as they walked to the car.
"So..how do you like Emile?" Logan asked Thomas.
"If I'm being honest, he's a borderline insane, manipulative child who patronizes everyone around him and who cannot be trusted at all. I do not want you going to his house again, I'd stop you from seeing him but I know you have clubs together and you two are friends." The detective said bluntly. 'Well, that was going to be a problem.' Logan thought. Emile however was dancing around the living room, squealing happily.
"Daddy! Papa! Guess what! I made chicken nuggets by myself and they didn't burn!" He exclaimed happily. "I'm like... a chef."
"Kiddo, that's great!" His papa replied happily. "I know next to nothing about cooking, but your daddy was always the domestic one in the family." At the mention of his name for a second time, the ghost popped up.
"Damn right I am! Never use that language, young man." he added quickly before smiling brightly. "I was the best cook in my whole class. Shame it got burnt down." Emile paused before grinning and shouting,
"Hell! Heck! Damn!"
"Emile! Listen to your daddy!" His papa exclaimed sternly. "You know better than that! Also, you need to look out for that man. What was his name, Thomas? Your love's older brother. He is the main obstacle in your relationship." he huffed and sat on the floor, crossing his arms.
"I know. Sorry, daddy. Shouldn't have used that language." He said before grinning again. "Maudire les mots, maudire les mots!" he exclaimed, getting up and running upstairs with a giggle before pausing. Emile immediately regretted his decision when he heard a knock on his bedroom door.
"Emile, come on now. Be serious, alright? This is about your beautiful future husband, you know." The boy hesitated before opening the door and immediately apologising. He opened his arms hopefully, at least wanting a pretend hug.
"There, there. Don't worry. We'll all be okay." His papa gave him a hug. "Let's all go to bed, and then strategize on how to get rid of that meddling detective in the morning."