Getting It Together

Don't Jinx It

The restaurant was beautiful. The tables were made of dark wood, each with a small vase with different flowers. Logan recognized their meanings, love, peace, and comfort surrounded them. There was even a small sprig of lavender brought with their plates. Delicious smells of flowers and food drifted throughout the entire building.

Fairy lights surrounded the outside gardens, and there was a small walking path for people that wanted to admire the flowers.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Alejo fiddled with the silverware on his napkin, his leg bouncing restlessly underneath the table. His plate was still full; he had only picked at his pasta.

Logan sat across from him, dressed up slightly in an awkward attempt to impress. Alejo had been easily pleased by the outfit, even though he'd only thrown on a nice coat.

"Alejo." Logan leans over and grabs the shaking man's hands. He holds them tightly, smiling down at them. Freckles dotted the tanned skin, and Alejo had played connect the dots with a sharpie. He'd managed to connect a shape similar to the big dipper, and Orion the hunter. "Pascal has no clue where either you or I live. He doesn't even know that Jasper exists. He'll be fine. He's in capable hands."

The lies slipped easily from his mouth. Logan knew Pascal was around as soon as he found the small bouquet of yellow pansies, red carnations, and yellow marquerile. But he pushed those thoughts aside. They had security everywhere. No matter how Pascal had managed to get those flowers to his door, they would be fine.

"Of a fifteen-year-old." Alejo pales. Logan had privately hoped that the presence of another person at his apartment would scare Pascal off. Surely he could do nothing when they had company.

"Alejo. I promise you Pascal has no way of getting to us here." Logan says softly. "He can't just kidnap someone in a...public space. And if you didn't notice, there are more than enough people that know who we are."

The two awkwardly look over to some of the other tables. People were watching them sympathetically, and some subtly tried to take pictures. The whole restaurant had benefitted from them being there. As soon as someone had recognized them, the place had been packed. There was already a waitlist, but now the restaurant would likely be packed until next Tuesday.

"Jasper couldn't be more safe while we're here. As long as the adoption doesn't go public, things will be fine." Logan whispers the last part, squeezing Alejo's hand worriedly. He hoped Pascal didn't know about Jasper. But Pascal had a way of figuring out things no one wanted him to know.

Alejo frowns, squeezing Logan's hands two times. Logan sighs at the silent signal.

"I just want us to be normal. And go on dates like normal couples." Logan mutters, laying his head in his arms. "Alright. Let's go home."

Standing, Logan guides Alejo over to the door, grabbing his car keys from his pocket.

"Excuse me, miss." Alejo looks over at one of the women he had seen watching them. She had on a fake fur coat and a fancy blue dress. "Can you please walk us out to our car?"

"Of course, darling." She says, pulling a sympathetic face.

The drive back to Logan's apartment was mostly silent.

"See?" Logan asks with a small smile as he looks over at Alejo, pulling into the driveway of his apartment complex. "No new cars."

"Mhm..." Alejo mumbles as they get out and follow Logan into the building.

Logan presses the button for the elevator, and Alejo rests his head on Logan's shoulder.

"Maybe I was overthinking..." They mumble sleepily. "I just want to hold Jasper again..."

"I love you." Logan hums, pressing a kiss to Alejo's forehead as the two step onto the elevator. "I should have listened to you the first time you said you wanted to leave."

"Love you too. And it's okay. I promise we'll go on more dates. Hopefully, the police will catch up with Pascal soon."

The elevator dings, and Logan fishes in his pocket for his keys, unlocking his apartment door and stepping in with a small smile.

His face immediately fell.

Laying on the floor was the babysitter, tied and gagged.

Her orange hair was mused and appeared to have drying blood on it, and tears and cries of pain constantly muffled through the gag. When she saw them her eyes widened, and her pleas became more desperate.

"Jasper!" The babysitter could wait. They had to help their son. Alejo and Logan both run to Logan's bedroom and freeze in their tracks.

Next to Jasper's bassinet was a rocking chair where they would feed him and get him to sleep.

Sitting in that rocking chair was Pascal. He looked like a deranged mess. His clothes were covered in a small spattering of blood, hopefully just from the small injury the babysitter had. He sat strangely quiet, rocking a sleeping Jasper with one arm and pointing a gun at Logan and Alejo with the other.

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