Snake Boy

~ Chapter Twenty ~

{Possible trigger warnings: minor swearing

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

"Hey Pop?" Logan peeked into his parents' room. His pop was sitting on the bed, sorting through some paperwork.

"What's up, kiddo?"

Logan walked in and pushed the door most of the way closed with his foot. "I was hoping to talk to you about Dorrian. Specifically, his schooling."

Pop paused and put the paperwork down. "What about it, kiddo?"

"Well, he wants to go to school and I want to help him do that... but I'm not entirely sure how."

"Oh." Pop nodded. "Well, I think your dad and I would be able to do that, but we'd have to do some negotiation. You can't just throw a boy who's never been taught anything in his life into a school without them questioning things."

"My friends and I have been teaching him some things." Logan offered. "He isn't exactly up to speed with everything, but he's learning quickly."

Pop smiled and got up, walking over to ruffle Logan's hair. "You're a very smart boy, and I'm sure you've helped him along much more than many would hope, but you do have to admit that you can't do everything, kiddo."

Logan sighed. "I know. We did help a lot though."

"I'm sure you did, and if his sign language is any indication he's very quick on the uptake. He may still have to take different classes to get him up to speed." Pop pointed out. "But your father and I can certainly discuss enrolling him in school."

"Thanks, Pop." Logan nodded. "I could help pay for his tuition if you need me to. I'm earning enough money now to be able to assist."

He worked as an intern for a forensics analysis specialist. The internship he'd gotten with his father's help, but his perseverance and dedication had been what got him paid, and he was very proud of that. Right now the money was going into an investment portfolio, but Logan was okay with the idea of putting some of it towards Dorrian's schooling.

"I don't think you need to do that, sweetheart, but I'll talk to your dad." Pop kissed his head. "What do you want for dinner?"

"Dad wanted pizza." Logan suggested with a small smile. "I could dig the recipes out to make sure we have everything."

Pop shook his head, chuckling. "Your father... that sounds like a very good idea. Go ahead, I'm going to finish going through this paperwork."

Logan went out to the kitchen and dug in the cabinet where the recipe box was, knowing it could be buried anywhere. He finally spotted it in the back of the cabinet and reached back, feeling his fingertips brush the edge of the wood.

It always ended up at the back of the cupboard, and then when Logan was looking for it he had to practically climb into the d*mn thing to reach it. He got his feet up on the shelf at the bottom, carefully pushing himself up until half of his torso was inside the cabinet. Only then could he reach the little blue box.

"Gotcha." Logan grinned and grabbed the thing, pulling it out and turning around to set it on the counter.

"Oh, hi Dorrian."

Dorrian offered a closed smile and slid into a seat at the island. 'What are you doing?'

"I'm finding the recipes for pizza. Dad likes making it from scratch rather than buying it, so I want to make sure we have all of the ingredients."

Dorrian tilted his head. 'What's pizza?'

Logan's heart (which he usually chose to ignore) nearly burst from the surge of adoration. He smiled and opened the recipe box.

"It's a sort of flatbread concoction with tomato sauce and cheese on it, and whatever other toppings we would like. Very popular."

'Sounds strange to me.' Dorrian grinned, flashing his fangs this time.

"Perhaps it is." Logan nodded. "I think if you try it you will enjoy it. Dad's is especially good because he makes it all from scratch."

He started with the pizza dough recipe card, wandering around the kitchen and checking what they had. Whenever there was something that was out, he wrote it down on the white board that was tacked up between the windows on the wall of the room. His parents kept the cupboards well stocked, so there wasn't much missing.

'What do you do with the things that are written on the board?' Dorrian asked when Logan glanced in his direction.

"Either Pop will go get them or we will text Dad and let him know that's what we're missing. Or I could run and get them, it depends on the day and who wants to go out in public." Logan shrugged and looked over the dough recipe before swapping it out for the sauce recipe card. Running through what he had already looked at, he ticked a few things off that list and went over to the white board to write the others down.

As he opened the refrigerator to peer inside, Logan heard Dorrian get up off the stool. A few moments later, arms snaked around his torso.

"Feeling cold?" Logan teased as he checked off items on the card with his fingertip.

"Perhaps..." The lisp that curled its way around the edge of Dorrian's words made Logan grin. "You could fix it...."

"Tempting offer, Dorrian, but I'm working on something."

He froze, turning red to the tips of his ears, as he felt Dorrian's lips on the back of his neck. 

"Maybe I could persuade you otherwise?"

Logan cleared his throat, shaking his head. "Like I said... tempting, but... but I am busy."

Dorrian snickered, and again his lips pressed against Logan's skin, sneaking along his neck and up beneath his ear.

"Dorrian." Logan insisted quietly, his resolve wavering a little. "I'm serious."

"Mmmhmm." Dorrian hummed absentmindedly, making no move to step away. Logan shivered and pushed the refrigerator door closed, totally not leaning into the boy behind him at all, not even a little bit.

The front door clattered open down the hall, startling them both. Dorrian pulled away and Logan made a halfhearted attempt to straighten himself out before they heard the voice.

"Logan Emory!"

Logan felt his stomach drop.

Dad was home early. And he was very unhappy.

{We all knew Dorrian was gonna be a little shit sooner or later

Logan's in trouuuubleeeee}