Snake Boy

~ Chapter Twenty-Three ~

{Possible trigger warnings: minor swearing

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

Logan sat in the kitchen, watching Dorrian and Vanessa sign rapidly back and forth to each other in the living room.

Dad had come back from patrol and Logan had explained to him the situation. He'd taken a good look at Vanessa and agreed to let her come to the house for dinner that night.

He felt his stomach twisting. Dorrian looked so happy, and Vanessa was beaming. They had started out talking slowly, but now they were signing so quickly he could barely keep up from where he was sitting.

His phone buzzed and he picked it up, answering without looking and walking out of the kitchen. "Hello Roman."

"How did you know it was me?"

"You're the only person who ever calls me. What do you want?" Logan went down the stairs to his room and closed the door behind him.

Roman tsked. "Someone's tetchy. What's wrong, Grumpy Gills?"

"Do not quote Finding Nemo to me."

"Oooh!" He giggled. "Good catch on the reference. Seriously though, what's wrong?"

Logan sighed and dropped onto the bed. "There's a woman at the house named Vanessa Blanche. She's Dorrian's aunt."

He heard a long intake of breath.

"Oh no."

Logan nodded, even though he knew Roman couldn't see him. "They're getting along fantastically upstairs. I'm in my room."

"She's not... Oh my god, she's not! Is she?" Roman gasped softly. "Is Dor leaving?"

"I don't know. I walked away." He pinched the bridge of his nose and curled up on his side in a ball. "He looks so... happy."

Roman made a soft noise of sympathy.

"They're definitely related. I can see it in their faces, the way they move when they talk to each other." Logan felt tightness in his throat and swore under his breath.

"Logan, sweetie, take a deep breath for me okay?"

"I'd honestly rather not at this point."

"Logan." The voice changed and he listened as the phone made a few shuffling noises. "Logan, it's Patton."

"Hi Pat." Logan croaked, feeling tears flowing freely now.

"Hi honey. I want you to take a very deep breath with me. I will know if you don't." Patton's voice was a perfect blend of stern and soft, and Logan knew from experience just how much of a dad his friend could be. He wiped tears away uselessly and waited for Patton's count.

"In." There was a long intake of breath on both sides of the phone. "Out." A long exhale.

"Put him on speakerphone once he's chill again." Logan heard Roman say in the background. Patton shushed him.

"Thank you, Patton."

"Let's do it one more time, Lo."

Logan nodded to himself. "Right. Again."

"In." Intake of breath. "Out." Breathe out.

"Thank you. You can put me on speakerphone now, per Roman's request." He rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling.

"How are you feeling, babydoll?" Roman asked a moment later.

"You know I've always hated you calling me that."

Roman snorted. "You hate me calling you most things, I'm not surprised. Seriously though, how do you feel?"

"Like sh*t." Logan answered honestly. "I don't... I don't think I can lose him."

"She'd let him stay if he wanted to, right?" Patton asked, sounding quietly worried.

Logan heard laughter upstairs and chewed at his lip. "I don't know. I'd assume so. I don't think Dad would let her take him if he didn't want to go with her."

"Do you think he wants to go?" Roman asked in the background. Logan heard the sound of flesh hitting flesh lightly. "Ow, Pat!"

"Why would you ask that?" Patton hissed. "He's upset!"

"I'm upset, but not a child." Logan sighed, sitting up and looking in the direction of where Dorrian usually slept when he was downstairs. "I think... if he wants to go, I obviously won't stop him. It's his life, and he's missed a lot of it." 

"You're sure?"

He paused, then nodded. It was more of an assurance to himself, really. "If he wants to, it's his choice. There's always that saying that if you love something, you should let it go. If it loves you it will come back."

Roman 'aww'ed softly and Logan rolled his eyes.

"I think I'm going to just go to bed. I haven't got anything to do and I'm not feeling fantastic, if I'm honest, so I'm sure I'll hear a response sooner or later."

"Sleep well, Logan." Patton said gently. "Don't hesitate to call either of us if you can't sleep or you get news and you're upset. We're gonna watch a couple movies so we'll be up for a bit longer."

"Netflix and Chill, y'know." Roman joked. Again there was the sound of a smack.

"Goodnight." Logan sighed. His friends responded in kind, and he hung up.

For the first time in what was probably years, Logan crawled beneath the sheets without bothering to put his pajamas on. He curled up in a ball, back to the room, and squeezed his eyes shut tightly.

An old song ran through his head, one he remembered hearing a long time ago but didn't remember where he'd heard it.

I said I'd be okay if you left, sweetheart, but I don't think I could take it.

What are you doin' to me now, sweetheart? I'm losing myself, I won't make it.

Love, you make me sing. You're my life and my soul.

Stay with me, never leave. I love you, you make me whole.

F*ck.

~~~ Four Hours Later ~~~

Logan woke up in the middle of the night. He didn't know what had gotten his subconscious attention at first, but suddenly he heard soft footsteps near the door and the creak of the hinges.

The blankets behind him lifted up, and after a few moments the weight on the bed shifted.

"Hi Dorrian." Logan whispered, not moving as the other boy wrapped his arms around his waist.

"Hello." Dorrian nuzzled his face into the back of Logan's neck.

"What did you think of her?"

Dorrian paused, and Logan gently curled his fingers into one of his boyfriend's hands.

"She was nice... she's certainly family... I don't know."

He sighed. "Then let's not talk about it tonight, love. Sleep well."

Dorrian was quiet, but the soft kiss he placed on the back of Logan's neck was more than enough.

{I love how distrusting y'all are of Vanessa's character, it's hilarious to me

Do I really give off that vibe as a writer?}