(no subject)
It had been almost a week since the body had appeared, but life on the island had gone back to normal fairly quickly. In fact, everything had passed by so smoothly, it was almost as if it had never happened... Though just because he wasn't staring at the inside of a cell didn't mean Logan was okay. Something had changed that morning on the beach, and ever since Logan had been just a little quieter- just a little more out of the way and anti-social. And really, who could blame him? He'd spent three years doing his best to leave Neptune behind, only to have his troubles wash back up on the shore, year after year.
All the feelings he'd been so sure he'd dealt with had made their way back to the surface, and as a result he'd found himself pulling away again. Avoiding people and bottling everything up while he wasted his days surfing and sleeping, rather than dealing or talking to the people he called friends. Even Jack had been cut off a little, their conversations cut short when Logan made an excuse to leave, and their nights a little colder as Logan pulled away once they had both gotten what they needed, his arms wrapped around his pillow rather than Jack as he stared at the wall.
Of course, he could only avoid people for so long, and somewhere between coffee and a shower he'd found himself face to face with Anne. One thing had led to another, and though he wasn't sure how she'd done it, he'd found himself with Matthew in his arms as he offered to look after the child while she got a few things done around the kitchen- or maybe it was the garden. Logan wasn't sure. He'd been too busy trying to puzzle out just why he'd agreed to look after Matthew to listen.
He loved Matthew though, and though he still wasn't sure what he was doing looking after Anne's son when it was clear he couldn't even look after himself, he couldn't help but smile as he sat with him in the middle of the rec room floor.
There had been some colouring, some snacks, and even an attempt at getting Matthew to nap, but in the end Logan had entertained the young child by building a rather large castle out of cardboard children's books from the bookshelf. Constructed much like one might build a house out of cards, it probably wasn't the safest game to be playing. After all, if it all tumbled down and landed on Matthew, Logan doubted Anne would be happy... But it wasn't wobbling yet, and Matthew seemed to be loving it, clapping now and then as he supervised Logan's work.
Still, like all young children, it was clear Matthew was just itching to knock it down, and before he could put the finishing touch on, Logan watched as half an hour's worth of hard work crumpled to the floor, all thanks to Matthew's chubby little fingers.
The child looked gleeful, and instantly held out one of the books in offering. Clearly Logan was supposed to start again.
Looking down at the smiling child, Logan couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever looked at anyone the way Matthew was looking at him. Even when he'd been s small and so innocent, Logan was sure he'd never been that way. Aaron had scared that out of him long before he could even talk. No, Logan probably would have been punished for daring to have too much fun. Aaron would have scolded him for knocking it down too soon, and then-
Without thinking he scooped Matthew up and held him close, hugging him as he found himself overwhelmed by how important it was to him that Anne's son never felt that way. Confused, and clearly not in the mood for cuddling, Matthew began to fuss before whacking Logan's arm in protest. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I know you just want to play," he said, reluctantly putting the child down and rubbing his face as if that might chase away everything he was thinking and feeling.
Matthew held out the book again, and Logan laughed. "No more building," he grinned, scooping the child up again, but this time flopping onto his back as he lifted him high in the air. "I think it's time to fly, little superman," he grinned, watching as Matthew giggled and squealed with delight.
(Open to all, lt/st very welcome.)
All the feelings he'd been so sure he'd dealt with had made their way back to the surface, and as a result he'd found himself pulling away again. Avoiding people and bottling everything up while he wasted his days surfing and sleeping, rather than dealing or talking to the people he called friends. Even Jack had been cut off a little, their conversations cut short when Logan made an excuse to leave, and their nights a little colder as Logan pulled away once they had both gotten what they needed, his arms wrapped around his pillow rather than Jack as he stared at the wall.
Of course, he could only avoid people for so long, and somewhere between coffee and a shower he'd found himself face to face with Anne. One thing had led to another, and though he wasn't sure how she'd done it, he'd found himself with Matthew in his arms as he offered to look after the child while she got a few things done around the kitchen- or maybe it was the garden. Logan wasn't sure. He'd been too busy trying to puzzle out just why he'd agreed to look after Matthew to listen.
He loved Matthew though, and though he still wasn't sure what he was doing looking after Anne's son when it was clear he couldn't even look after himself, he couldn't help but smile as he sat with him in the middle of the rec room floor.
There had been some colouring, some snacks, and even an attempt at getting Matthew to nap, but in the end Logan had entertained the young child by building a rather large castle out of cardboard children's books from the bookshelf. Constructed much like one might build a house out of cards, it probably wasn't the safest game to be playing. After all, if it all tumbled down and landed on Matthew, Logan doubted Anne would be happy... But it wasn't wobbling yet, and Matthew seemed to be loving it, clapping now and then as he supervised Logan's work.
Still, like all young children, it was clear Matthew was just itching to knock it down, and before he could put the finishing touch on, Logan watched as half an hour's worth of hard work crumpled to the floor, all thanks to Matthew's chubby little fingers.
The child looked gleeful, and instantly held out one of the books in offering. Clearly Logan was supposed to start again.
Looking down at the smiling child, Logan couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever looked at anyone the way Matthew was looking at him. Even when he'd been s small and so innocent, Logan was sure he'd never been that way. Aaron had scared that out of him long before he could even talk. No, Logan probably would have been punished for daring to have too much fun. Aaron would have scolded him for knocking it down too soon, and then-
Without thinking he scooped Matthew up and held him close, hugging him as he found himself overwhelmed by how important it was to him that Anne's son never felt that way. Confused, and clearly not in the mood for cuddling, Matthew began to fuss before whacking Logan's arm in protest. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I know you just want to play," he said, reluctantly putting the child down and rubbing his face as if that might chase away everything he was thinking and feeling.
Matthew held out the book again, and Logan laughed. "No more building," he grinned, scooping the child up again, but this time flopping onto his back as he lifted him high in the air. "I think it's time to fly, little superman," he grinned, watching as Matthew giggled and squealed with delight.
(Open to all, lt/st very welcome.)