Snake Boy

~ Chapter Sixteen ~

{Possible trigger warnings: swearing, stress, argument, minor fighting (kind of)

If I miss something, I apologize and please let me know}

It had been going so well, but the world seemed to unravel in the next few days. Logan made no progress in finding out more about Dorrian's past and his possible family, and Roman shot him sympathetic looks all day at school. 

He was going insane with annoyance, and he was pretty sure Roman had snitched because Patton was being even nicer than usual too. All in all, Logan wanted to slam his head against the nearest wall by the end of each school day.

"How is he?" Mr. Sanders was asking under his breath every couple of days. "Is he still staying in your room?"

"Have you done something about the reptile kid yet?" Remus was looking more and more punchable with every comment.

"Logan, are you okay? You seem stressed out."

"I'm f*cking fine! Just leave me the hell alone!"

Logan froze, realizing too late that he was talking to his English teacher. He lowered his head for a moment and then got up without being told, gathering his things and leaving the room.

"Mr. Emory? Shouldn't you be in class?" The receptionist in the main office asked when he walked in.

"I swore at Mrs. Cecile and I assume she will be filing a disciplinary notice. I am going to be absent for the rest of the day." Logan got his phone out and called his Pop to see if he could pick him up.

The ride home was silent, but when they stopped in front of the house Pop turned to look at him.

"Logan, do you want to tell me what happened?"

Logan looked down at his hands, thinking about it. "I... I raised my voice and swore at a teacher."

Pop was frowning when he looked up.

"Sweetheart, please tell me what's wrong. You've been so distant lately, and you never seem to tell your dad and I about anything anymore. Is something bothering you?"

"I'm fine." The lie rolled off his lips. "I've just been more stressed about the classes I'm taking. I'm working on getting it under control, and it will all be better once I have that done."

Pop sighed and nodded, brushing Logan's hair back a little. "Well why don't you go inside and take some time to calm down, then try to work on a plan to help yourself through it all. Your dad and I can help if you need it."

Logan got out of the car and grabbed his backpack. "I will ask if I need to. Thank you, Pops."

"I'll see you after work." Pops nodded and Logan shut the door.

He let himself into the house and wandered downstairs, dumping his backpack against the side of his desk without acknowledging Dorrian and dropping face-down on the bed.

After a few moments of silence, Logan felt something shift on the side of his bed. He rolled onto his side and looked up to see his very confused and concerned roommate sitting next to him.

"I had a bad day at school."

Dorrian frowned. 'I'm sorry.'

Logan sighed. "There's nothing you could have done, don't worry about it. I'll figure it out."

He expected Dorrian to go back to the papasan, but he scooted a little closer and laid down on the bed, facing Logan.

"Hi?"

Dorrian smiled, then put his hand on top of Logan's and closed his eyes. Logan stared at him for a few moments, confused, then decided he didn't mind and closed his own eyes.

~~~ Four Hours Later ~~~

Logan woke up to the sound of a door opening. He had about a second to register that Dorrian was no longer asleep next to him (even though his chest was warm like something had been lying against it) before there was a slamming sound from near the closet.

"Holy sh*t-"

He shot up in bed as he heard his dad's voice, realizing what was happening.

"Dorrian, no!"

Logan's dad, still in uniform, had fallen against the door to the stairs with Dorrian standing over him and snarling. Logan scrambled to his feet and ran forward, grabbing the other boy and pulling him backwards a few paces. Making sure he was between Dorrian and Dad, Logan took his friend's hands.

"It's just my dad, it's okay. We're okay, take a deep breath with me."

Dorrian seemed to be having trouble focusing on him, eyes flicking over Logan's shoulder repeatedly. Logan gently took hold of his chin and made him look away.

"Dorrian. One deep breath."

Slowly the fight left his roommate. Logan nodded. "That's better."

"Logan, what is going on?"

Oh sh*t.

He spun around to face his dad, consciously putting one arm out to his side as if to shield Dorrian from him.

"Please don't tell Pop."

Dad frowned at him. He was on his feet now, and his hand was hovering near his utility belt. Logan shifted to put himself in front of Dorrian more.

"Dad. Please. I'm not letting that place take him back."

"Why is the missing snake boy in our basement, Logan?"

Logan squared his shoulders. There were many hills he had chosen not to die on, but this would be one that he defended until his last breath.

"Because I broke him out. I couldn't just stand there and let them treat a regular person like he was lesser, like he was an attraction! It's not his fault, someone did that to him and they took advantage of it."

Dad frowned, crossing his arms. "Logan, I didn't think I raised you that way."

"You raised me not to let people in need go un-helped. You used to tell me all the things you did in high school, you were way worse than me! I'm not going to stand aside while a circus tortures an innocent boy, I don't feel like having that blood on my hands."

He felt Dorrian's hands on his back, and his roommate's forehead thumped gently against his shoulderblade. Logan stared his dad down silently.

"You're going to tell your father." Dad told him. "By dinner. We can talk this out calmly, but I want you to open the discussion."

Logan clenched his jaw, but nodded. His dad nodded back and then walked up the stairs, rubbing his shoulder as he went.

"God this isn't going to be good."