Getting It Together

Rings On A Smart Man's Fingers

"Hey, bunny!" Pascal chirps, looking up at the two adults, frozen in place. There was a tiny mischievous glint in his eyes that made Alejo shudder as he stared down at his son. "I missed you! Why didn't you tell me we have a nephew?"

"He-" Alejo cuts off, trembling and holding Logan's hand like a life preserver. He goes quiet, their words stuck in his throat. Jasper looked so small in Pascal's hold, eyes peacefully shut, small little exhales sighing out of his mouth. Alejo's hands twitched, half reaching out for their only child, half too afraid of what Pascal might do.

"Pascal..." Logan continues, his eyes wide behind his glasses as he held a single hand out to the older man. "Can you hand me him? Please?"

"But I want to hold him!" Pascal pouts, standing and taking a step towards Logan. "Honestly, Alejo, you should think of changing your formula brand. The one I saw in the kitchen was not very good. And that crib you had him in, the mattress was much too hard!"

Logan takes a step back, pulling Alejo with him.

"Pascal, please lower the gun." Logan tries again. "Let's just talk."

Pascal raises an eyebrow, herding Logan down the hallway and back into the living room. The babysitter sobs as she sees Pascal, and Logan tightens his grip on Alejo's sleeve.

"Grab her jacket." Pascal orders, looking at Alejo.

Alejo doesn't move a muscle, his eyes darting wildly at everything in the apartment. Logan squeezes his hand tight, and Pascal looks down at their hands.

"I said, grab her jacket!" Pascal raises the gun and the babysitter sobs behind the tape. Jasper squirms, almost waking up.

Logan curses, putting his hand up and slowly letting go of Alejo's hand. Logan grabs the babysitter's jacket off the couch, and Pascal hands him Jasper, grabbing the jacket and putting it on. Logan holds him like a lifeline, rocking the sleeping boy and whispering to him.

Pulling up the hood and raising the gun, Pascal turns Logan around and presses the gun into his back, concealing it with how close he was.

"Both of you start walking. We're going to get on the elevator, okay?" Pascal hums.

Logan reaches out one hand and gently begins pulling Alejo to the door, muttering soft assurances to his frozen partner.

They all too easily get on the elevator, Pascal keeping his head down as they went to the ground floor.

He could easily pass as just a tired teenager getting a ride home after babysitting.

Pascal herds the two outside and over to a pitch-black van.

The van had been parked outside of Logan's apartment for months, meaning someone living in the building was a "friend" of Pascal's.

"Okay Alejo, get in." Pascal peppily instructs, unlocking the car door and gesturing with the gun to the backseat.

Logan pushes Alejo in and carefully hands him Jasper. Alejo clutches tight to him, a flood of silent tears rushing down his face as he held Jasper close. The baby sighs in his sleep, wriggling until he was comfortable in his dad's arms.

Logan moves to get in after him, but Pascal grabs onto his shirt collar and pulls him back.

"Logan?" Pascal hums, his voice sickly sweet.

"Ye-Yes, Pascal?" Logan asks, turning to face him.

"Bunny, where's your wedding ring? Why aren't you wearing it?" Pascal asks scarily.

Logan's heart drops in his chest. As Pascal stares at him, he lets out a quiet plead.

Of course, Pascal had noticed. He had noticed up in the apartment. Pascal quirks up an eyebrow, looking to Alejo, who flinches.

"Husbands are supposed to be faithful, Lolo."

And with that, Pascal brings his gun down harshly on the side of Logan's head, sending him spiraling down into black nothingness.

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