Snake Boy

~ Chapter Twenty-Four ~

{Possible trigger warnings: minor swearing

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

Logan could almost hear Roman's teasing when he woke up with his face nuzzled up against Dorrian's collarbone. He told the little thespian in his head to f*ck off and shifted closer.

It stood to reason that his parents knew where Dorrian was, and he briefly wondered if they were allowing it because soon the boy would be leaving. Angry with himself for the thought, Logan shook his head and breathed in Dorrian's scent.

"Good morning." Dorrian mumbled into his hair.

"Is it?" Logan asked, looking up at him. "How was your conversation with Captain Blanche?"

Dorrian shrugged, untangling one of his arms from their cuddle session to half-heartedly sign along with himself as he talked. "I did enjoy it a lot... I felt a connection with her."

"Well she is your aunt."

"I guess." He pulled a face.

Logan raised his eyebrows, feeling a little jump of excitement in his chest. "What is that face for?"

"She asked me to go back to Idaho with her."

He sighed and nodded. "I knew that. She told me she was going to suggest as much... what did you tell her?"

Dorrian shrugged again. "I asked her to let me sleep on it."

"I see." Logan searched his face for an answer, but the scales made it a little harder to read him. He settled for watching Dorrian's eyes as he seemed to do the same thing, looking for a reaction. "I assume you haven't made a final decision then."

"Not yet... but I think I'm getting closer."

Logan smiled, about to comment again on his love of the soft lisp in Dorrian's speech, but his boyfriend's lips met his and cut him off. Not that he was complaining.

"Logan! Dorrian! Breakfast is ready!" Pop called from the top of the stairs. Logan pulled away from Dorrian and looked at him.

"What?"

"Can't get up if you don't."

Dorrian rolled his eyes and grabbed an extra pillow, swatting Logan across the face with it. He laughed and pushed the snake boy lightly.

They took a moment to collect themselves once out of bed, and Logan grabbed his glasses. After a moment of thought he snagged a sweatshirt as well, shivering at the cooler temperature outside of the blankets. Dorrian took his hand and began to pull him up the stairs.

Vanessa Blanche was sitting at the kitchen island, along with Dad. Both were in uniform, and Logan avoided looking at the special forces badge on Vanessa's shoulder as he and Dorrian made plates.

"Sleep well?" Pop asked him, brushing his hair back and kissing his forehead. Logan shrugged.

"I wasn't feeling well last night, so I went to bed earlier. It's hard to tell if I feel like I overslept or if I'm still under the weather."

"I'll take your temperature after breakfast, but you don't feel overly warm to me right now." Pop promised, gently laying his hand on Logan's head. "You're lucky it's a half week for school."

Logan grunted. "I'm far enough ahead in my classes that missing a few extra days wouldn't bother me too much."

"I know." Pop laughed and jerked his head towards the chairs on the other side of the island. "Go eat your food."

Logan and Dorrian took the other two seats, digging into their plates and not looking at the two cops sitting next to them by some nonverbal agreement.

"Did you sleep well, Dan-Dorrian?" Vanessa corrected herself quickly, but Logan felt Dorrian twitch next to him as she began to call him by a name he probably didn't even recognize.

The boy shrugged and signed something Logan didn't see, since he was keeping his eyes on his plate. Vanessa made a noise of agreement, but must have signed back because the room fell silent after that.

"I believe there was a serious discussion yesterday that calls for an answer to Captain Blanche this morning, correct?" Dad asked after a few minutes. He got up from his chair and took his plate around the island to rinse it off and put it in the dishwasher. "Any final decision, Dorrian?"

Logan took Dorrian's hand underneath the counter. His boyfriend squeezed it lightly, then let go to sign.

He couldn't look, stuffing another forkful of scrambled egg into his mouth. Seeing Dorrian say he was leaving would be painful, and Logan didn't want to risk spotting that.

"I see." Dad said quietly. "And you're sure about that?"

More silence. Logan quietly got up to rinse off his plate.

"I can't say I'm not disappointed." Vanessa admitted quietly. Logan nearly screamed in triumph, but bit his lip. "But I understand why you'd decide that, Dorrian. Could we at least keep in contact? Your grandparents might like to meet you one day."

'I don't think I'd want them to see me like this.' Dorrian replied. 'But perhaps.'

"There's nothing wrong with the way you look, mon bijou." Logan said quietly.

'You can't deny that it isn't strange to see, love.'

His heart jumped at the pet name, but he just shrugged. "Maybe, but a lot of people are strange. I've seen Dad's high school and college IDs."

Dad swatted him across the back of the head lightly. "Where the hell did you find those?"

Logan grinned and scampered behind Pop. "I found your keepsake box a couple years ago while I was looking for my social security card. The purple looked really good, y'know. Bet you couldn't pull it off now."

Dad laughed, pointing at him. "Oh you are so grounded now. I'd still have my hair that color if it wasn't against work dress code."

"I think a police officer with purple hair would be awesome."

"That's unprofessional, Logan."

"Says the guy who started a snowball fight with an entire neighborhood of kids two years ago." Logan shot back, ducking behind Pop's shoulder as he laughed.

"That's a little different, Fish, get over here."

Logan yelped and darted around the counter as his dad lunged for him. He tried to get around Dorrian, but his boyfriend snagged him around the waist and held him there until his dad grabbed him.

"Dorrian!"

'I love you.' Dorrian signed with a sh*t-eating grin as Dad began to tickle Logan's sides, sending him into a fit of laughter.

'I love you too, you little sh*t.'

Vanessa snorted loudly, watching the chaos with a smile.

{There's only one more chapter to this you guys... then it's a focus on finishing up MPC and working on Knight Me Another Name so I can start posting that}