Tumgik
#tlhrfanfic writing
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Note
Dukeceit and its Remus getting into the SFX school of his dreams and Janus being a super supportive boyfriend? pls i will sell you my kneecaps they're worth about twelve dollars
Remus stared down at the envelope in his hand. Janus had just passed it to him and he almost tossed it away before the fancy glossy lettering and slightly cream color of the envelope caught his attention.
"Rem?"
Remus blinked as he looked up at his boyfriend, the other man looking at him with concern. His heterocromic eyes--one hazel, one amber-- looked between Remus and the envelope and Remus could tell that the short man was thinking about taking the envelope back from him.
"I'm okay... this is just... remember that school I applied for that I wanted to go to since forever but was certain I couldn't get in? The one you urged me to apply for and send my portfolio in to anyway?"
The sudden change in his boyfriend's demeanor would have been amusing if Remus wasn't so tense. He had gone tense and his eyes took on an interesting glint that was an amalgamation of concern, hope, and excitement.
"They wouldn't send a letter that fancy if they weren't going to accept you..." Janus started. Remus supposed he had a point. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to open it.
There were a few reasons. For one, the school was in Canada and he currently lived in Gainesville, Florida. Which was no where near Canada. And was where Janus lived too.
"Would you like me to open it and read it for you, Dearheart?"
Remus, unwilling to voice his concerns until he was certain it was necessary, could only nod. Janus took the envelope and hesitated.
"We don't have to read it tonight, if it's too much..."
"Just rip the bandaid off, babe."
Janus snorted at that and Remus felt some of the tension slip away. For now.
The short male opened the letter and glanced at Remus once before he began to read.
"Dear Remus Prince, it is with immense pleasure that I inform you of your acceptance to the illustrious Lost Boys School of Visual Effects. This opportunity comes in recognition of your academic and personal achievements, and I am positive that you would be a valued member of our university."
Janus continued to read the letter though Remus was only partially listening. He somehow heard that he would be receiving his welcome packet with all the pertinent information and instructions but he was lost in a weird mix of emotions.
"Rem?"
Remus looked up at him and tried to force a grin but his boyfriend wasn't having any of it. Suddenly Janus was sitting next to him and taking his hands.
"This is what you wanted right? So why do you look like a kicked puppy?"
"Its in Canada."
"Yes, and it's always been there. Your point?"
Remus gave him a look but answered just the same since that was what Janus expected and he wouldn't move on until Remus did anyway.
"You know very well what I'm getting at, asshole," his tone annoyed but still somehow fond. "We are an item and long distance relationships... well... they rarely work out. And I don't know if you've realized but I kinda fucking love you."
Janus smiled but rolled his eyes. "I hope you love me since we say it to each other often enough. I love you too, idiot. And anyway... who said anything about a long distance relationship?"
Was he saying what Remus thought he was saying?
Remus narrowed his eyes but was afraid to ask for confirmation.
"I hear British Columbia is lovely in the fall."
Remus pulled the other to him and kissed him hard. Before long they began making out, Remus no longer feeling anything other than pure happiness.
97 notes · View notes
mimssides · 2 years
Text
Tumblr media
So, for anyone who reads LoCA, don't worry the story will still end with roceit and intrulogicality, but I'm planing on writing a sequel where these five dorks get together. and I love them. Ask me about them. They will be very sweet and lovely together, okay?
@vexelore
@exhaustedfander
@alexisrealgay
@wolfs-feder
@just-a-neoclassical-painting
@winter-jay-official
@a-ghostlight-for-roman
@mychemically-imbalanced-romance
@whattheremus
@regalredrose
@spellingwillbethedeathofme
@sarenicide
For this fanfiction:
@arodynamic-enby
@espepspes
@bullet-tothefeels
@fukindork
@shadeofadye
@magic-but-its-green
@simonekkt
@tlhrfanfic
2 notes · View notes
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Note
Set in the SvS episode, or just another court session Remus is the judge this time instead of Roman and he's very in love with Patton so he's clearly on his side.
Remus giggled from his spot on the judge's bench. Instead of a black judge's robe, his looked very much like his usual Duke uniform only a robe instead.
The other sides blinked to find themselves suddenly in the courtroom which only made Remus giggle. Janus was the only one who didn't seem very surprised and was leaning against the prosecutor's table, looking quite at ease.
"Remus... what a surprise that you've brought us all here today," he drawled. He would have sounded bored if Remus didn't know him any better. He did know him, however--- very well in fact. He could see the excitement in his mismatched eyes.
"Uh, yeah! It is a surprise," Virgil said from his spot next to Logan in the jury box. Logan nodded his agreement though seemed interested rather than annoyed. "What gives?" the resident emo asked.
"Yeah! What gives? And why am I in the bailiff's position. I'm a prince! I should be up there... even if I don't know why we are here... why are we here again? And why is Patton in the defense's spot again?"
"Yeah! Why am I here? What did I do? Or what did Thomas do? Also why is he not here? What's going on?"
Janus sighed before tsking at the Moral side.
"Oh... you've done a lot, Patton. In fact... you've been very bad indeed..."
Patton looked distraught and Remus almost felt bad. Almost because he had been a little busy simultaneously swooning at the other's courtroom outfit and wondering what he'd look like with none of it on to really feel bad.
"Shall we proceed with the ruling, your honor," Janus said, smirking at Remus.
"Why yes! Let's!" He raised his gavel but was cut off before he could. Of course, this was all going according to plan.
"Objection!" Logan called out. "You have not even read the charges or given Patton a chance to prove his innocence."
"He doesn't even have a lawyer!" Virgil cried out.
Remus snickered.
"Ooooh, you're right. My bad. But he doesn't even need one. This case is cut and dry."
Patton pouted and Remus had the strangest urge to cuddle him. Strange because he was usually more about the naughty things but Patton seemed to bring out the more cutesy side of him.
Gross, he thought, though it was with happiness. He didn't mind it so much when it came to Patton.
"Patton! You are accused of stealing my heart by being so sweet and adorable and all those silly gross things! How do you plea?"
Janus smirked. Virgil scoffed and rolled his eyes. Logan let out a noise of realization. "Ah," he murmured.
Roman's reaction was the most amusing.
"Are you serious?!" It was obvious he was just jealous that he didn't think of using the courtroom to profess his feelings for Janus first.
You snooze, you lose, Ro-Ro.
Remus turned his attention back to Patton, grinning his usual grin. Patton was blushing but no longer looked confused. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat.
"I plea guilty, Remus... I mean, your honor."
Remus grinned and banged the gavel without even giving a ruling. He sunk out of the spot on the judge's bench only to rise up next to the Moral side who was smiling at him even through the blushing.
"You are so silly," he said before throwing his arms around Remus's neck. "And if it pleases the court, I only stole your heart because you stole mine first."
Virgil pretended to throw up. Logan just sighed and sunk out (though there was a hint of a grin on his face). Roman threw up his hands in frustration. Janus just smirked as he watched his best friend kiss the aspect he loved dearly.
"How disgusting," he said fondly before walking up to Roman and taking his boyfriend's hand in his own. Virgil grinned despite his previous response and sunk out as well, leaving Patton and Remus lost in themselves.
(So not quite what you asked for exactly but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless and that is close enough.)
137 notes · View notes
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Text
[Prinxiety] Is It Possible
Title: Is It Possible Ship: Prinxiety Warnings: Uh... just angel and demon mention. Fangs/sharp teeth mention. Words: 2,932 Request: So, this was the second request that I chose:  Prinxiety but they're an angel and demon who just can't stop running into each other, and lowkey don't want to stop? This was also sent in by an anon.
Summary: Virgil is an angel who has become alarmingly close with the one being he has no business being close with. Roman, the demon, on the other hand believes alarmingly close is just what they need to be.
Read on AO3
-----------------------------------------------
Virgil wasn't in existence for The Beginning... but it was close. Never ask an angel how long they've been around. At best, like Virgil, that's way too much math and there are far better things to do. At worst... well, as far as Virgil had been told, those people are never heard from again. While Angels were supposed good and pure and faultless—blah blah blah—he'd dated a couple and knew better. Heh. Boy did he know better. 
 Anyway.
 The point was, Virgil had been around for a very long time and he had never, ever met anyone as exhausting and irritating as Roman.
“Aww, did you miss me, angel?”
 Virgil rolled his eyes, ignoring the heat that rose up the back of his neck. 
 “Right. Me, a lowly angel, missing the Prince of Darkness. I don’t think so.”
 Roman—a demon—actually pouted. 
 Virgil sensed the other behind him but when the demon wrapped his arms—and tail—around him, Virgil just sighed and pressed back into the touch.
 Their...relationship...was a complicated one, to say the very least. 
 “Don’t think you can try to distract me, Roman,” he said, turning around in his arms even as he said it. Unfortunately, as he was supposed to be watching over Remy, ready at a moment’s notice to guide the barista toward goodness, he was not doing a very good job at not being distracted.
 “Darling. I’m a demon. Distraction is inevitable. I’d be happy to give you a demon-stration.”
 Virgil actually snorted at that. He couldn’t help it. Ever since he’d become best friends with the human Patton, one that he had saved from Roman’s temptation, Virgil had become a sucker for puns. Roman seemed proud of himself. 
 Suddenly, his expression became sincere. Soft. 
 “I know we’re supposed to hate each other, kitten, but I don’t—”
 “Roman, stop.”
 “—hate you, Virgil.”
 Virgil grumbled under his breath. Here it came. 
 “I love you, kitten.”
 It wouldn’t be the first, or the last, time he’d said those words to Virgil.
 »»———— ☠ ————««
 Virgil thought back to the first time Roman had said those three little words. 
 He couldn’t recall the year—that was thousands upon thousands of lifetimes ago—but he could remember the day just like it was yesterday. 
 Roman had just beaten Virgil, tempting the human that they were both trying to win for their respectful bosses. 
 “Stop gloating,” Virgil muttered but he allowed a little sort at the victory dance the demon was currently doing. 
 “I’m afraid I cannot do that, Virgil.” He grinned happily, sun glinting off his canines.
 “You are very annoying.”
 “You know that you like me,” Roman teased, his voice sounding melodic as he spoke. Virgil’s eyes widened, his neck growing hotter and hotter. 
 “I do not!”
 “You do too—wait! Are you… are you blushing, angel?”
 Virgil groaned and threw his hands in the air. Of all the lifetimes he had known Roman, he couldn’t understand for the existence of him why he continued to be his friend. 
 Rather close friend, truth be told. 
 “Just… go back to your victory!”
 “What—oh right! Haha! I am the victor!”
 Thank God Roman had a one track mind where victory was concerned. He watched the other and snorted as a soft smile slowly slipped onto his face. Virgil rolled his eyes at the other’s continued antics but the grin did not leave his face. 
 “Aw! Look… what kind of expression is that? Does… does somebody have a crush?”
 He was once again saying the words as if they were a little lighthearted song. Virgil tensed slightly as the other closed the distance between them, watching his every move. Once the demon reached him, however, it was with a sincere and warm gaze that Roman regarded him. 
 Though he had known Roman long enough to know he had moments of sincerity, he couldn’t come up with one good reason why Roman would look at him with such warmth.
 “We’ve been at this for how long now, sweetheart?”
 Virgil didn’t know why but he didn’t have a good feeling about this. 
 “Stop,” he bristled.
 “Stop what, Virgil? I’m only pointing out the facts… Something I learned from Logan—you know, the human I stole from you.”
 Even when he was trying to be sentimental, he still had to go and rub it in. 
 That was so like Roman. 
 What Roman was saying, however, was true. They had been at this odd friendship-rivalry for a very long time.
 He also, maybe, was correct about Virgil having a crush on him. 
 Virgil didn’t have to admit it though!
 Not to himself, and sure as hell not to Roman. 
 “I don’t have a clue what you’re going on about, demon!”
 The blush that was currently inching up the back of his neck was completely ignored in favor of scowling at the demon. 
 “Uh huh,” Roman said, not sounding convinced in the slightest. 
 Virgil couldn’t really blame him but Virgil had always been difficult like that. 
 “Darling, we’ve been rivals, and friends, for thousands of years and for at least a couple of those thousand, we’ve been dancing around this thing between us.”
 “Thing?” Virgil asked incredulously. “We do not have a thing Roman.”
 But… perhaps they did.
 Still. Roman was a demon and Virgil was an angel. 
 It just wouldn’t—couldn’t—work. And Virgil, ever one to guard his heart, was not about to take a chance on something that had no hope of ever working out.
 “Virgil,” Roman began, sounding sad. He moved to stand right in front of him.
 Virgil was sure he should move away but, he was a little ashamed to admit, he just didn’t want to. 
 Looking down at the shorter being, Virgil sighed as he caught the adoration and affection in those golden eyes. 
 “Roman,” Virgil said, his tone defensive. 
 “Virgil… I’m certain I’m in love with you.”
 God damn it.
 “Why?”
 Roman looked confused and perhaps a little affronted. 
 “What do you mean ‘why’?”
 “I mean that exactly, Roman. Why? Why, why, why, why?”
 Virgil moved away from the other as he started to pace back and forth. 
 “You are a demon. I am an angel. Roman—it’s impossible.”
 “I like a challenge…”
 “There is no challenge here. There is no anything! We are supposed to be enemies! Why can you not get that?”
 Roman smiled a soft, sad smile. 
 “You’ll never be an enemy to me, sweetheart.”
 Virgil blushed and gestured wildly with his hands. 
 “Stop!” His pacing interrupted, Virgil put his face into his hands and groaned.
 Roman closed the distance between once more. 
 “Virgil, I am going to embrace you.”
 Roman gave the angel time to move away if he wished before pulling Virgil into his arms. Virgil tensed at first but made no motion to pull away. Eventually, he closed his eyes and leaned into the embrace. 
 “It’s okay, sweetheart. I love you and I’ve got all the time in existence for you to realize that we are simply meant to be.”
 “You simple minded fool…” Virgil grumbled but it was with a shaky breath that he gazed down at the other. 
 “I am far from simple, my dearest angel.”
 That was God’s Honest truth too. Roman was most eccentric. 
 “Yeah, yeah.”
 Roman chuckled deeply before pulling away just enough to take Virgil’s hand and bow over it, kissing the back of his hand as he looked up at him from beneath long dark lashes. Heart thumping heavily against his chest, Virgil quickly pulled his hand away before flailing his hands wildly once more. 
 There were quite a few times after that, but each one was met with Virgil’s dismissal. Confessions brushed off and pretended they didn’t make his heart stir. Denying what he wanted. It just never seemed like the right time. 
 Then again, in Virgil’s mind, no time would ever be right. 
 The next time Virgil could recall in complete detail was nine hundred years, give or take a couple hundred, after the first. 
 Virgil snorted as Roman growled the moment the human they’d both been watching over made the decision to stay on the straight and narrow. His lip curled slightly, showing off twin sharp fangs, making the demon’s displeasure clear as glass.
 “What’s wrong, Roman?” Virgil teased with a smirk. “Can’t take the heat? Get out of hell.” 
 Roman made a face and proceeded to actually stick his tongue out. 
 “Rude.” 
 Roman pouted but comfortable silence soon fell between them as they watched the human. Virgil was enjoying the moment but soon tensed. Companionable silence usually led to one thing. 
 “Virgil…”
 The demon’s voice was soft, warm, and gentle. It warmed him completely and when the other pulled him into a firm embrace, Virgil allowed it. 
 “Roman,” Virgil said after some time, his voice quiet and a little shaky.
 “Yes, dear angel?” 
 “We… we can’t.”
 “Why not?”
 “You are a demon and I am an angel.”
 “Very observant, my dear.”
 “Fool.”
 “Only a fool in love.” 
 “Oh my God, you are so infuriating.”
 Roman pouted at that but sighed and squeezed Virgil a little tighter. The angel gave a start as Roman’s tail curled around his leg but settled into the embrace once more, sighing.
 “All of your flirtation and embraces are not going to change the face that we are an angel and a demon, Roman. Nothing can change that.”
 “Who says anything needs to change? You being an angel is one of the many things I love about you, angel.”
 “Don’t use that word!” Virgil hissed, pressing his face into the other’s neck, blushing deeply. 
 A deep chuckle left the demon, Virgil feeling the rumble of it against his body with how closely Roman held him. 
 “Which word? Change? Angel?”
 Virgil pulled back to glower down at the demon. 
 “You know which word!”
 “Mmm… I don’t think I do. I’ve said so many words. It really could be any one of them.”
 Virgil growled. 
 “Stop saying ‘love’!”
 “Oh! That word!”
 “You knew very well I meant that word.”
 “Maybe… but I wanted to hear you say it.”
 Virgil grumbled again, ignoring the heat flooding his face.
 “You fiend.”
 Roman laughed heartily at that. A moment later, Roman pulled back to reach up, taking Virgil’s face into his hands. 
 “You know what comes next, angel.” He was right. Virgil new damn well what was coming next. 
 God damn him.
 “I love you, Virgil.”
 Virgil sighed heavily. 
 “I really wish you wouldn’t.”
 “Now, that’s not true.”
 It really wasn’t but Roman definitely did not need to be privy to that information.
 “I’m going to kiss you now.”
 Roman didn’t move to kiss him right away. Virgil assumed it was to give him time to move out of his embrace if he did not wish for the demon to kiss him. Yet, though Virgil knew he needed to leave right then, the angel just couldn’t bring himself to do it. 
 Roman smiled, pressing closer to the other as he leaned up, closing his eyes as he covered Virgil’s mouth with his own. Virgil couldn’t deny, even to himself, that he felt the intense spark in that kiss. He could, however, deny, to everyone for all of time that he most definitely kissed the demon back. 
 Especially to himself.
 There were many similar encounters that followed after that day. There were fleeting touches and longing kisses but Virgil could never bring himself to give into Roman’s offer completely. He had come close a handful of times but the closest had been in the Roaring Twenties when the angel and demon had finally gone state-side. 
 “Hello, angel~” A voice purred in his ear.
 Arms wrapped around him and Virgil pressed back into his embrace. 
 “Hello, fiend.” It was said with, perhaps, a little less grumbling than was normal. 
 “Mmm.” 
 Roman nuzzled into Virgil from behind, brushing his nose along the other’s neck and making him shiver. 
 “Nice to not be against each other… for once.”
 “Just because we have different charges, Roman, does not mean we aren’t against each other.”
 “You know what I mean, kitten.”
 Virgil sighed. Roman wasn’t wrong. He knew exactly what Roman meant but everything with him was all so confusing and complicated that he just didn’t want to deal with it.
 So he turned around in the other’s embrace, looking down at him with determination. 
 “Just shut up and kiss me, fiend.”
 If Roman was surprised by his request—okay, order—he didn’t show it. Instead, the demon smiled at him, love and adoration clear in his golden gaze. 
 “Anything for you, angel.”
 Roman reached up and held his face like he had so many times before. Virgil melted into the demon as the other kissed him deeply. If a soft, content sound escaped him as he wrapped his arms around the demon, Virgil would never admit it.
 The most recent time had been a week ago. Both of them had been assigned to the same human—a young barista named Remy—and Virgil had definitely had his work cut out from him. 
 “Oooh~ I’ve got this one in the bag!”
 Virgil rolled his eyes but had nothing to say. Roman was correct. In fact, even though Remy seemed like a good person, he would definitely fit in more with Roman’s crowd. 
 Roman grinned, flashing his sharp canines. 
 Virgil quickly looked away, ignoring the heat rising up the back of his neck and the way his heart began to beat rapidly in his chest. 
 God damned human disguise.
 God damned Roman.
 “What is that look for, angel?”
 Virgil startled slightly to find the demon so much closer suddenly. 
 “You freaking ninja, GOD!”
 Roman laughed at that, flashing his fangs once more. 
 Virgil really wished Roman would stop doing that! In what millennium had he started to find those nasty things adorable?
 “Why the hell don’t you wear a human disguise?”
 Roman blinked. He then grinned slowly. 
 God damn blush. 
 “Because no human form could ever compare to all of this.”
 Then, because he obviously had it out for the angel, Roman proceeded to gesture at all of himself while shimmying. 
 Virgil scoffed but it was weak and the blush coloring his face a pretty magenta told another story. 
 “Aww! So you do agree!”
 “Shut up, you!”
 “Nope!” Roman chirped, popping the end of the word as he flashed his sharp canines once more. 
 Virgil covered his face with his hands and groaned.
 “So cute!”
 “I am not cute!” Virgil growled but allowed the demon to pull him into a hug. 
 “Okay, okay. Put your claws away, kitten.”
 Virgil grumbled but leaned into Roman’s embrace with a content sigh. 
 If only the demon could leave well enough alone for once. This was Roman he was talking about, however, so that was impossible. 
 As if to prove Virgil right, Roman pulled away, causing Virgil to look down at him in surprise. The smile Roman regarded him with was softer and more sincere than Virgil had ever remembered seeing it. He tensed before relaxing once more, knowing what was coming and knowing, by now, there was no way to stop it. 
 Also, there was a part of him—a very small but extremely stubborn part—that didn’t want to stop it.
 “I love you, angel.”
 Virgil sighed heavily, nodding. 
 “Yeah…” he muttered. “I know, fiend. You never give me enough milleniums to forget.”
 Roman chuckled at that before taking his face into both hands and kissing him soundly. 
 Virgil was more than happy to give into his kisses in favor of stopping any further discussions on love. 
 »»———— ☠ ————««
 Which brought them back to the present and Roman, once again, professing his love for the angel. 
 Virgil’s heart was beating rapidly against his chest and warmth settled over him. Roman’s words and actions had had that effect on him for a very long time. 
 There was, however, a small but very significant difference. 
 For the first time since Roman had first confessed his love, Virgil felt that—perhaps—he could take a chance. 
 Then there was the sudden realization that he was wholly and unreservedly in love with Roman. 
 “I… I love you too…” Virgil said slowly, watching the other closely. 
 Roman’s head snapped up so fast Virgil felt bad for his neck. He didn’t have long to pity his neck, however, as golden eyes grew wide with wonder. 
 “Kitten… did you just—”
 “Yes, fiend! I finally said it! I love you! Are you happy now?”
 Roman smiled brightly, his gaze wet and filled with adoration and happiness. 
 “Very, angel. Oh so very!”
 Virgil sighed but smiled warmly at the demon. Shaking slightly out of nerves and the raw intensity of the moment, Virgil reached out to take Roman’s face into his hands. Brushing the other’s cheeks with his thumbs, Virgil held the other’s gaze. As if controlled by some unseen force, Virgil leaned in and kissed Roman softly—tentatively—upon his mouth.
 Roman sighed into the kiss, the sound a little shaky. Virgil quickly pulled back, looking down at the other with concern. 
 “What’s wrong?”
 “Nothing, angel. Just… just so happy.”
 He looked it too, beaming up at him and regarding him with so much love that it was almost disconcerting. 
 “Fiend,” Virgil said softly with affection evident in his tone. Roman chuckled softly. 
 “Angel.” 
 Virgil surged forward, kissing Roman firmly on the mouth. When his demon immediately deepened the kiss, Virgil reciprocated quite happily. 
 It was as the two kissed, the world continuing all around them, that Virgil had an epiphany. 
 Maybe, just maybe, a demon and angel falling in love wasn’t impossible after all.
-----------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Thomas Sanders or Joan, nor the rest of their group. I do not own or make money off of these characters. I only own the story as it is written.
Super uber thanks to my beta reader for this fic @sunshineandteddybears​ and the two that preread my stuff to make sure its up to par: @romantichopelessly & @sunshineandteddybears.
207 notes · View notes
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Note
If your writing the drables and excepting requests, can you please do Roceit with smitten Janus and Roman being an oblivious dumb himbo?
@ Anonymous! Thank you so much for the really cute suggestion. This is what I came up with so I really hope you enjoy. Also just know I'm likely going to do a few more blurbs of this until Roman stops being a complete himbo-doofus.
-------------
Janus couldn't believe he was doing this. Of all the ridiculous things he could do, this had to be the most ridiculous. Then again, it hadn't been his idea.
----
Janus sighed as he watched Roman walk away from their table. He had not lived in Gainesville long and had started at this high school half away through last year and so didn't know anyone very well.
He had become pretty good friends with Patton Hart--a bubbly teenager who had far too much energy than should be legal--and Patton’s best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Virgil Armitage. Through them he had met their other good friend Roman Prince.
Unfortunately, with how charismatic and charming and honest-to-goodness sweet Roman was, Janus had quickly succumbed to Roman's spell that he was probably unaware he'd even casted. And so, Janus had tried to do what he did best--lie to himself. Deny such affection. But the more he tried to deny it, the more it grew.
Now, he was so disgustingly smitten that sometimes he felt like barfing.
"You really like him, don't you, kiddo?"
Janus blinked, looking at Patton. When Patton’s words registered, Janus blushed.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he lied with ease.
"Um... yeah you do, J. You're practically drooling and its gross and I'm trying to eat so..."
Janus sighed. "Is it that obvious?"
Virgil and Patton looked at each other before looking at Janus and nodding.
"To pretty much everyone."
"But Roman," Virgil added.
Patton nodded.
"But Roman. But that could change!"
Janus narrowed his eyes. Patton's eyes were sparkling with a little too much excitement for his liking.
"Meaning?"
Patton gushed.
"You could write him a secret admirer note and give him hints."
Janus raised a brow.
"This isn't a teen drama, Patton."
"Uh, yeah. I'm with Janus on this one. So many things could go wrong with that--"
"It didn't with you and me, Virgil," Patton reminded him, squeezing their joined hands. Virgil smiled softly.
"Yeah, okay. I guess it's not a horrible idea but Roman's still oblivious as hell."
"That's why he includes the hints!"
Janus considered the suggestion and finally decided it totally wasn't the worst idea.
"Okay... I suppose I could give it a shot."
----
He had agreed with it, however, and so there was no backing out now.
Looking over the note, he smiled to himself as he slipped the folded note into the slots on the front of Roman's locker which was only three down from his own.
The bell rung and Janus hurried to open his own locker, knowing Roman would arrive soon. Once he had, Janus ignored the flip-flopping of his insides and the erratic beating of his heart.
Roman reached the locker and opened it. The note fluttered to the ground right in front of him and Janus watched as Roman bent to pick it up.
Janus held his breath as the other straightened and opened it. As Roman's eyes began to look around, Janus quickly looked into his own locker.
"Janus?"
Janus froze. Was he about to ask him about the note or reject him or what?
"You were here before me. Did you see anyone come by my locker?"
Janus shook his head. It was technically true. He didn't actually see himself at Roman's locker.
Roman lifted up the letter which included a little snake drawing along with Janus's vague confession in cursive.
"This was put in my locker and I want to tell whoever they are that I'm flattered but not really interested."
"Is there not a name?" Janus asked though he knew very well there was no name. Roman couldn't know that, however.
"No... it's signed 'secret admirer. Oh, and this cute little snake. Oh yeah, you like snakes, Janus! See! Isn't he cute?"
Roman showed him the snake that he had drawn. Then the smile slid off his face and he sighed.
"Normally this stuff would be right up my alley but... well, there's kinda someone I like right now..."
Janus felt his heart sink. "Oh yeah? Anyone I know?"
He wasn't actually expecting an answer but the other blushed and shook his head.
"No... I don't think so," Roman said but suddenly sounded very nervous.
Interesting.
"Anyway. See you at lunch, Janus!"
With that, the other teen took off and Janus bemoaned not making the hints extra clearer.
He was in love with a certifiable himbo.
God help him.
78 notes · View notes
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Note
Hey so if you’re still accepting fluff requests…may I request for some Logicality either stargazing or watching fireflies? Please and thank you
@theultimatesandwich So this is where my brain and creativity took this prompt. I actually had to get up and write this because the images would not go away until I did. (It was 4am my time when I wrote it but scheduled it to post at 10:30.) I hope you like it!!!
----------------------------
Logan had never understood Roman when he talked of love. He knew well that he cared deeply for the other sides. He wanted to make sure they were well and taken care of. He wanted them to be safe and, well, as content with their existence as personified aspects of one's personality could logically be. Still, never in all his existence had he come to know what Roman and Patton and even Virgil meant when they used the word 'love'.
The logical side had never once used it as far as he could recollect. And he had a pretty foolproof recollection. He was, after all, Thomas's Logic and it only stood to reason that he would have the clearest—and least biased—memory out of all of them, though—he supposed—they all had their own part to play in Thomas's memories.
Throughout his time knowing the other sides, Logan had even come to realize that, while they weren't human or people, Thomas had created them to be almost human-like in their existence and the way they responded to the world, Thomas, and one another. It was due to this that he realized, in time, he rather enjoyed spending time with Patton. Then again, he enjoyed his time with all of the sides, but with Patton... it was different in many ways.
Unfortunately, those were ways in which he just didn't have the vocabulary to describe. He supposed, if he were to come close, he would say that—to him—Patton were most like Crofters in his eyes. That was, however, a bit too flowery and sentimental for Logan's liking, and so, he tried not to focus too much on that.
Roman and Virgil had both come up to him at two separate times, asking if he realized how much time he had been spending with Patton. Logan had considered this and realized that he did not know how much time he was spending, but with his knowledge and how time presented in the mindscape, he could also accurately surmise that it was quite a lot.
Remus had broken his concentration once when he had been watching Patton. He had giggled and shimmied in that strange way of his before cackling something that Logan couldn't make out. It was hard for Logan—who did his very best to annunciate each and every word for the sole purpose of speaking clearly and confidently—to understand what had been said. Whatever it was, however, had made Patton blush and look at him. Logan could only blink before smiling quickly. He found that when Patton took on the micro-expressions of sadness or worry, a smile from one of them—but especially Logan—seemed to help. The blush itself, however, had been a marvel to see.
Janus had passed him once and—with no discernable motive—claimed he was in denial.
"Falsehood," he stated with confidence. "To be in denial one would need to first be lying to themselves. I'm astounded, Janus. You, as Thomas's self-preservation, should know that."
The snake-like side only tutted, shook his head, and smirked before walking off. Logan could make no sense of it and so he put it out of his mind—or as close to out of one's mind as it could possibly be for an aspect.
One night, however, everything changed.
Roman had invited them all to the imagination. Logan, who had no part in such a place, was quick to decline. At least, he would have if Logan hadn't insisted that his presence was required. Logan had argued until Patton stated that he would be sad if Logan wasn't in attendance.
It was after Thomas had gone to bed one Sunday evening. Thomas would not have to be up extremely early and still early enough that their host would give in to the desire to stay up and binge-watch media that he had already watched almost countless times before.
Logan readied himself for the strange sensations the imagination caused for an aspect rooted in logic and absolutes. After a few moments, the sensations subsided and Logan assumed they were not very deep in the imagination. He would have to remember to thank Roman for that at a later time.
"Logan!" Logan looked up as a ball of blue rushed at him. Arms were wrapped tight around him and Logan, instinctually, wrapped his arms back around the other. Logan had quickly learned and practiced what was expected when Patton gave him hugs. He felt his lips tug into a smile and decided not to think too much about it. After all, he found himself enjoying Patton's company more and more. It made sense for him to smile when in company he found pleasant.
Logan was about to greet Patton in kind when Roman cleared his throat.
"Specs! Shut it! Just watch the sunset and the real show begins!"
Logan did as he was told—they were in Roman's domain, after all. Turning his eyes to the pretty colors of the sky as the sunset and the imagination fell to dusk before growing even darker. Just when there was a little light—enough to see one another still, but not with some difficulty—little flickers of light and the faint sounds of buzzing rose in the air before them.
Logan immediately knew them to be fireflies. He found himself curious as to why Roman would add insects to his world. And why these specifically. Unless he was trying to be as close to reality as possible, but that would then not explain the dragons and magic and other nonsensical things he dreamed up in the dreamscape. Deciding not to focus too much on it, Logan smiled down at the slightly shorter side as Patton squeezed his hand.
As Patton moved, the Logical side moved with him. They moved into the gathering of fireflies, watching as they buzzed and beamed around them. Logan felt facts about the insects rise in his throat but silenced them. He really did not wish to get chastised about spouting knowledge when it wasn't requested.
"Aren't they pretty, Logan?"
Logan turned to look at Patton, ready to explain that pretty wasn't something that was quantifiable to Logan, but stopped the moment his eyes fell on the Moral side.
Whatever words he'd been ready to stay died on his tongue and the other sides as well as most of the Imagination around them melted away as Logan watched Patton.
His heart—though purely imaginative—beat steadily, though a little faster than normal, against his non-existent chest. His mouth went dry. His eyes widened.
Patton stood there looking no different than he usually did when taking in something that instilled such wonder and curiosity within him. This was not the first and likely would not be the last time the Logical side saw that very look on his face. However, this was the first time he saw this look bathed in the glow of the fireflies' bioluminescence and the soft light of the stars in the Imagination's sky overhead.
As he stood there, a word came to mind. One he had heard so many times before but had never had the need or desire to use himself. Until now.
Love.
It was in this moment, though it made no sense and was in no way logical, Logan realized that not only did he have what Roman would call 'feelings' for Patton... but that he loved him as well.
72 notes · View notes
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Text
[Analogical ] Chemistry
Title: Chemistry Ship: Analogical Warnings:  Lots of cute and fluff. Words: 5,708 Request: So, this was the next request I chose: an analogical fic where Logan and Virgil are science partners would be vvv cute! if its ok! This was also sent in by an anon.
Summary: Logan is used to the routine of his typical life as a high school teen. When the new student becomes his brand new lab partner, however, changes seem to become the new norm. Logan, surprisingly, doesn't seem to mind.
Read on AO3
-----------------------------------------------
The day was like any other.
 … until it wasn’t. 
 Logan hadn’t changed anything. He had woken up and gotten ready at the same time; he’d taken a shower just like he always did. He had then had breakfast before grabbing his backpack and heading out the door. It was the same ten-minute walk to the high school he’d been attending for the last two years. 
 Same morning chat with his friends, same walk down the Science hallway, and same Chemistry lab.
 Logan settled into his seat before pulling his textbook, notebook, and a pencil out of his backpack.
 “Logan.”
 He looked up, interest in his eyes. It was, after all, common enough for his teachers to ask him for help with little things from time to time.
 The moment his gaze shifted to the unfamiliar teen standing near Mr. Sanders was the moment that everything changed.
A young teen Logan’s age stood with his hands in the pockets of his purple and black plaid hoodie. He had his hood off but it was evident by the way it was scrunched around the back of his neck that it would definitely be on at that very moment if it weren’t for the dress code.
 Logan brought his attention back to the teacher as he started to explain that this teen was a new student. Logan glanced at the teen from time to time as he learned that his name was Virgil and that he would be Logan’s new lab partner. Mr. Sanders then asked if he would mind showing Virgil around. 
 “I would be happy to assist Virgil in any way I am capable, sir.”
 Mr. Sanders beamed at him and left Virgil behind as he left for the teacher’s lounge. 
 “Welcome to the school, Virgil. Are you from out of state?”
 Virgil shook his head. “No… he said softly. Perhaps a little shyly. Logan assumed he wasn’t going to say more but a few moments later Virgil spoke up again. “I was homeschooled up until now…”
 He shrugged, his hands still in the pockets of his hoodie.
 Logan found himself staring at the new guy, wondering why he found him so enchanting. He’d had a handful of crushes in the past but not one of them was as lovely as this one.
 “What?!”
 Logan blinked. He blushed a moment later, heat rising up the back of his neck, as he realized he had been staring at Virgil for a minute at the very least. 
 “I apologize. Now, as Mr. Sanders mentioned, my name is Logan. Logan Wright. We are going to be lab partners in this class, evidently.” A thought suddenly occurred to him. “Do you enjoy Chemistry?”
 Virgil shrugged. 
 “I’m not the best at science since my mom is the one who taught me but it’s got its cool factors, I guess.” He shifted a little nervously. 
 Logan smiled at him gently, nodding. 
 “That’s more than fine, Virgil. I am quite accomplished at Chemistry so we will not see you fail.”
 Virgil blinked before slowly smiling.
 “Well… thanks for that… I uh. I appreciate it.”
 Logan nodded. 
 “It’s my pleasure, Virgil. Feel free to take a seat.” He nodded at the empty stool at his lab table.
 Virgil hesitated before dropping his backpack onto the stool. He pulled out his Chemistry book, a notebook, and a pencil before setting his bag under the table and taking the seat.
 Logan, realizing how close Virgil was, cleared his throat nervously. 
 “After class, I’ll give you the tour. It’s a fairly big high school but you seem intelligent so I think you’ll learn your way around here in no time.”
 He glanced at Virgil who actually smiled. 
 It was small and Logan almost missed it but it had definitely been there. 
 “Thanks,” the emo teen said. 
 “As I said before, it’s my pleasure.”
 The smile grew just a few centimeters more and Logan knew that this specific crush would not go away any time soon. 
»»———— ♞ ————««
 Virgil walked into Chemistry class two days later and set one of two coffee cups in front of his lab partner. He grinned as the bespectacled teen looked first at the cup and then at Virgil, confusion evident on his face. 
 “Salutations, Virgil. What is this and what is it for?”
 “Mornin’ Logan. That is a caramel latte and it’s a thank you… for, you know, showing me around on Monday.”
 Logan smiled and nodded. 
 “As I said then, it was my absolute pleasure. Thank you for the coffee. Really very nice of you.”
 Virgil blushed, bringing a hand up to rub at the back of his neck. 
 “Don’t mention it,” he said, his voice a little quieter. He smiled softly once Logan looked away.
 Taking a seat, Virgil pulled out his things for the class. As he pulled his homework out of his notebook, the emo teen watched Logan from the corner of his eyes. He barely held back a sigh. 
 When his mom had told him that he would be going to public school, Virgil had had a lot of hangups. He had not expected crushing on the very first guy he met to be one of them.
 Then again, Logan wasn’t just some guy. Virgil had only known him for two full days but he already felt as if he knew him pretty well. He was different compared to most guys their age, just like Virgil. 
 “Did you have any trouble with the assignment last night?”
 Virgil jumped in his seat because suddenly Logan’s voice was that much closer. He glanced at the other teen, finding him leaning in some to get a look at Virgil’s assignment sheet. 
 “Oh… uh, yeah. A little but it wasn’t too horrible, I guess.”
 Logan nodded before pointing at one of Virgil’s answers.
 “Understandable why you got this but you forgot to consider the temperature of the heat source.”
 Virgil glanced at the problem and picked up his pencil, erasing before considering the answer once more, now equipped with Logan’s hint. When he had finished, he looked up at Logan with uncertainty.
 Logan’s proud smile at the now correct answer made having to redo the whole question completely worth it. He hesitated before pushing the paper toward his lab partner. 
 “Any others I need to rework?”
 By the time the bell rang, signaling the start of first period, Logan had helped him correct the remaining two problems with incorrect answers.
 “Virgil,” Logan said as Mr. Thomas started the class. Suddenly a cell phone that was definitely not his phone was being pushed into his hand. He didn’t need any explanation, however, because the phone—which he assumed was Logan’s—was open onto a new contact entry. 
 “I’ll text you so you have my number too. This way, should one of us require assistance we can help each other out.”
 Virgil nodded, not trusting himself to speak as he ignored the heat rushing up the back of his neck and into his cheeks. Instead, the emo teen entered his information, saved the contact, and passed the phone back to Logan. 
 True to his word, he texted Virgil, the emo teen’s phone vibrating in his back pocket. He would have saved Logan’s number at that moment but class had begun and the thought of sneaking it out had Virgil’s anxiety rising. 
 Turning to Logan, he mouthed a thank you before turning his attention back to the lesson. 
 »»———— ☠ ————««
 Logan had hoped but honestly, had not expected Virgil to actually utilize his phone number when he gave it to him. It was with delighted surprise that two nights later—coincidentally a Friday night—that Virgil texted him, asking him for help with the assignment from earlier that day. 
 Logan called promptly. Virgil picked up by the second ring and for some inexplicable reason, Logan smiled at that. 
 “Hey, Logan. Thanks for calling.”
 “It’s my pleasure.”
 Virgil chuckled and Logan got the image of Virgil sitting there in class, a little half smile on his face as he shook his head and laughed just like that. It wasn’t a mean laugh. Just amused. Almost… fond, even. 
 Logan blushed. 
 “So… how can I help?”
 Virgil proceeded to point out the problem he was having trouble with and Logan was able to figure out where he’d gone wrong. Unfortunately, it was far easier to explain Chemistry concepts in person. 
 Biting his lip, Logan glanced at his watch and considered the time. It was Friday night and was still fairly early. He and Logan could grab a table at the local cafe and work on the homework. Logan had, after all, promised to help him, and being in person would really make it easier on Virgil. 
 Not to mention, Logan really wanted to spend time with him. 
 “Would you want to meet up with me tonight?”
 Virgil made a noise that Logan surmised was some sort of sputter and hoped it was a sputter of surprise, rather than disgust. He quickly cleared his throat and pushed on.
 “I was just thinking we could grab dinner at the cafe in town and work on this. It really would be much easier to explain and assist you in person.”
 Virgil was silent for a moment. It was just long enough that the intelligent teen was worried Virgil had hung up. 
 “Uh… okay, yeah. Sure. Wanna meet over at mine and walk over?”
 “I don’t know where you live, Virgil…”
 “Oh, right! Well, I know the place you mean and it’s really close so I guess… I guess, I’ll see you there soon?”
 “Sounds good, Virgil. See you soon.”
 “See you soon, Lo.”
 Logan gave a start at that. No one had ever called him that before. If anyone else in his life had, he probably would have had some scathing words to throw their way. But for some reason… it just sounded so nice spoken by Virgil. 
 “Yeah,” he replied only to realize that Virgil had already hung up. Blushing, he grabbed his keys, pocketed them and his phone, and headed out the door.
 »»———— ♞ ————««
 Virgil chewed his lip as he waited. Glancing around at other people, recognizing a few from school as he buried deeper into his hoodie, Virgil wondered if this had really been a good idea. 
 Luckily, before his negative thoughts could even hope to rain on his Black Parade, Logan was suddenly standing before him. And like moths to a flame, his attention shifted to only him.
 “Hey,” he said, smiling a little shyly. He reached up to slide his hood back enough to see Logan fully and allow the other to see him a bit too. 
 “Hey,” Logan said, smiling back. The smile was soft. It did things to Virgil’s insides, but there were too many reasons why it was soft for Virgil to be able to bank on it being a specific one. If it was soft because Logan liked him and wanted to be with him, that would be very good. It could just as easily be Logan liking him as a really good friend or regarding him as family. 
 Since Virgil really, really, really liked Logan… those, while nice, would not be good. 
 They would not be good at all. 
 Silence settled over them. Virgil panicked, fearing that it felt a little awkward. However, he was suddenly unable to use his words because he had to go and think about his crush with said crush standing right there. So, the silence stretched, making him panic more.
 Luckily, Logan was pretty good at reading signs of a potential panic attack. 
 “Virgil.” 
 Suddenly, Virgil’s focus was on Logan. He was still feeling anxious but his focus had shifted enough. Logan was a little like an anchor in that way. 
 “What… uh, sorry.”
 “I was just thinking we should head in. Grab a table, get dinner ordered. We can work on some of the homework while we wait for our food.”
 Virgil beamed at Logan. 
 With such a plan in place, how could Virgil feel anxious? 
 Well, aside from the butterflies he constantly felt around Logan, but that was beside the point.
 “Yeah… that sounds like a plan.”
 Logan held the door open for him and Virgil, ignoring the heat rising up the back of his neck, headed inside.
 »»———— ☠ ————««
 Logan was beside himself getting to Chemistry class that next Monday. He knew he had no logical reason for feeling this way. Even the evidence of their rather enjoyable evening of dinner and homework on Friday, and the fact that they texted the entire weekend outside of school talk, was circumstantial at best. Yet, he still felt uncharacteristically giddy as he settled in his chair and got out his things. That done, his eyes panned to the door rather than to the clock, as they would have in the past. 
 The moment Virgil entered the classroom—exactly two minutes and forty-five seconds until the bell was due to ring—Logan’s heart beat rapidly against his chest.
 Whoever said falling in love was the best thing to ever happen to a person was sorely mistaken. This cannot be good for one’s health.
 Logan took a deep breath as Virgil made his way over, dropping his bag to the ground unceremoniously as he slumped into the chair. Logan took pity on his friend. 
 “I take it you couldn’t fall asleep after we said good night?”
 Virgil, who had his arms on the desk and face pressed into them, turned to look at his friend and shook his head with a frown. Logan resisted the sudden urge to pull the other into a warm embrace. Blushing at the thought, he looked away and flicked open his textbook to the lab they were meant to cover that day. He then got his homework out, watching from the corner of his eye as Virgil did the same. 
 “Sorry, Virge.” Logan resisted the urge to correct himself. Virgil had assured him it was fine if Logan wanted to call him Virgil still, but had been sure to advise Logan that his friends usually called him Virge if they didn’t want to use the whole thing. Logan wanted Virgil to be certain in their friendship and his desire to keep it.
 He also very much wanted Virgil to be certain that if he wanted more then Logan very much desired that as well…
... but how could he make Virgil certain of that without actually confessing his feelings?
 Pushing such thoughts and questions out of his mind, Logan returned to the conversation in time to catch Virgil saying “Insomnia is a bitch, dude.”
 Logan nodded. “Yes, it is a troublesome disorder indeed.” Logan glanced around before lowering his voice. “Medication not helping?”
 Virgil shrugged. “Kinda, I guess. But it doesn’t really help all the time. It’s inconsistent.”
 Logan frowned but nodded. He wished to say more, but it was at that moment Mr. Sanders came in to remind them they were doing a lab that day. 
 Thomas gave a brief demonstration of the lab and asked them to write down the exact measurements for it. Logan took his notes in his own efficient style, often finished before the others. Usually, he would just wait patiently for Mr. Sanders to carry on with the next part of the demonstration but now he found himself glancing at Virgil. 
 He watched, mesmerized, as Virgil made big bold circles around the measurements he’d jotted down. Where Logan’s were neat and tidy, Virgil’s were scattered all over the page but a quick look over told him it was still organized, in it’s own way.
 In a way he understands… fascinating.
 Mr. Sanders finished the demonstration, passed out all the necessary chemicals and safety gear for the lab. Under his supervision, the lab went underway. Virgil watched Logan as he worked for a good part of it. 
 Logan, so lost in his work, hadn’t noticed until Mr. Sanders came up to them. Leaning down, perhaps under the guise of answering a question, the Chemistry teacher lowered his voice.
 “Virgil… don’t you think it’s a little unfair to allow Logan to keep doing the lab himself? Yes, Logan, I am aware you enjoy it and don’t mind, but my point still remains. It’s also not fair to you, Virgil, as you aren’t taking part in the experience.”
 Virgil nodded, his face beet red. Logan frowned, resisting the urge to speak up and not quite sure how to feel about it. Mr. Sanders sighed and crouched down.
 “I apologize for embarrassing you. It wasn’t my intention.”
 “N-no. I know. I didn’t mean to make him do it all… I just kinda got…” He blushed again and looked away, mumbling something that neither Logan or Mr. Sanders could hear. Logan tried his best not to focus on Virgil but rather on Mr. Thomas. He felt a little bad finding blushy red to be quite a fetching color on Virgil, considering the circumstances.
 Thomas looked from Logan to Virgil and for a moment Logan was certain he saw a little smile slip onto his face but when he tried to look more closely, it was gone. Interesting.
 “Well, that’s fine, Virgil. I get it. You guys are talking and you didn’t notice how much he’d done. But now it’s your turn, okay?”
 Virgil nodded. He waited until Mr. Sanders had gone to help someone else before turning to Logan and mouthing ‘what do I do?’.
 Logan laughed to himself, knowing that laughing out loud with Virgil freaking out would not help matters, and reached out a hand to squeeze the other’s shoulder. 
 “It’s okay. You’ve got this. I won’t let you get it wrong,” Logan promised. Virgil smiled and blew his hair out of his eyes. Logan got lost in dark pools of near black for a few moments before his bangs settled once more. He could still see Virgil’s eyes but he suddenly longed to brush his hair back just to look into those eyes once more. 
 Virgil snorted. “My hero.”
 Logan laughed, but smiled. “If that is your wish.”
 Virgil laughed and shoved him playfully. He then took a deep breath and allowed Logan to walk him through the process. He was grabbing one of the chemicals that Logan was passing to him when their hands brushed. 
 It was definitely accidental but they both jumped. Logan laughed softly and Virgil laughed as well. The laughter was different than the normal one they shared, Logan noted. He leaned in a little and offered the chemical bottle once more.
 Virgil took it, their hands not brushing this time. Virgil was still not looking away. Logan would have felt a little insecure under his sharp gaze but he was already looking at Virgil for just as long. He swallowed, unsure of what to do or say.
 Logan knew something was definitely happening here, he just didn’t have a name or a verified set of instructions on how to handle it nor what to do next.
 Virgil leaned in a little closer, his gaze falling to what Logan could only assume was his mouth. Logan swallowed hard again and felt a slight moment of panic. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to kiss Virgil. 
 He wanted that very, very much. He just didn’t want it to be in the middle of Chemistry class surrounded by of a bunch of classmates and Mr. Sanders.
 It had to be his lucky day. 
 A sudden outcry broke whatever spell Virgil was under. He blinked rapidly and blushed completely before laying his arms on his desk and burying his face in his arms. Logan glanced over to see the reason for the commotion. 
 Remus Prince and Janus Noirblanc had, from their story, done everything right and still caused the chemicals to overflow. Mr. Sanders explained once more the importance of writing down the notes rather than doodling during note time, to which Remus and Janus laughed but nodded. 
 The class settled down once more. Logan quickly finished the lab for them, keeping an eye out for Mr. Sanders, before turning to Virgil. 
 “Hey,” he said, tentatively. “Is… is everything okay?”
 Virgil let out a laugh but it definitely didn’t sound happy.
 “I nearly made a fool of myself.”
 “Because kissing me would make a fool of you?”
 Virgil sighed.
 “Well, yeah. You’re just… you and so amazing and great and… ugh, do we have to do this here?”
 Logan glanced at the clock. He raised a brow at the other.
 “Are you going to run from me when the bell rings?” 
 Virgil clears his throat and looks away. “No…”
 “Virgil.”
 “Fine… I won’t… run away…”
 Logan gave a nod of approval. 
 “Then, very well. It can wait.”
 Which made for a very awkward ten minutes but Logan supposed Virgil had a point. Confessing to Virgil in the middle of Chemistry class hadn’t exactly been his own plan either.
 »»———— ♞ ————««
 Virgil was always nervous but that was nothing like how he felt when he followed Logan out of class. He was quiet and making as little sound as possible, hoping Logan might forget he was supposed to be following somewhere. Still, as he had promised his friend, Virgil did not run.
 Logan led them to a little lounge area. Other people were around, unfortunately in a school as big as theirs it was inevitable, but no one was paying any attention to them.
 Virgil sighed as he took the chair next to the one Logan chose. He turned toward him but raised his hood out of habit. Logan looked at him and Virgil couldn’t resist the urge to look up at him. Their eyes met and Virgil blushed but found he could not look away. 
 “Hey,” Logan said softly, a warm sort of smile on his face. Virgil couldn’t help but smile back gently at such a display of beauty. 
 “Hey… so…”
 “It’s okay… take your time.”
 “Dude, it’s like five minutes between classes. We literally have no time.”
 Hands were suddenly offered to him and Virgil took them without thinking. Logan’s hands were slightly larger than his own and he blushed to see how well they held his. He sighed, shaking the nerves off as much as possible. 
 “We have time and I’ll talk to the Principal or whoever I have to if by some chance we are late.”
 “Yeah, okay… fine. So, yeah… I don’t know… back there, in that moment, I just really wanted to kiss you and…”
 “I wanted to kiss you too, Virgil… just not in the middle of Chemistry class…”
 “Heh, yeah.” Virgil blushed at the admission, feeling butterflies in the bottom of his belly. “It was excellent timing on Remus and Janus’s part.”
 “A little too excellent… but yes.”
 Logan and Virgil laughed, the tenseness from earlier slipping away. 
 “Look… you were correct… we are a little pressed for time…”
 “Duh.”
 Logan laughed and Virgil smiled, pleased with himself. 
 “Why don’t… why don’t we walk home together? I’ll walk you home.”
 “Logan… you live like two miles from me…”
 “Yeah. I’m aware.” 
 Virgil let out a whistle at that and sighed when the warning bell went off to advise students to start heading directly to their classes. 
 “Fine. You can walk me home.”
 “Wonderful.” Logan hesitated before leaning in to press a kiss to Virgil’s cheek. He blushed but smiled happily at Virgil, squeezing his hands. With that, he left Virgil in a bit of a daze. It wasn’t until some loud laughter broke through the fog that Virgil remembered he needed to get to class. 
 Taking off, Virgil smiled to himself. 
 »»———— ☠ ————««
 Logan had never looked forward to the end of a school day until that day. He wished all his classes would hurry up. He didn’t bother pacing out his work, instead getting the classwork done and waiting as patiently for possible for the class to end. 
 Lunch would have been a nice reprieve but due to being in a few Pre-Advanced Placement courses, the lunch he took was different from that of his friends and of Virgil. 
 He was grateful that his debate class took some of the edge off. He had been due to debate with Remy Lassus but, as Remy’s parents had called him out sick, Remy’s spot had been taken by none other than Janus. 
 The two weren’t exactly friends. Janus was dating Logan’s best friend Roman and they tolerated each other for the most part. In Debate class? Oh, that was another matter entirely. 
 Janus had been able to keep up with Logan for most of the class but Logan caught a weak point in his argument that unravelled the whole thing. In the end, they shook hands but both knew the rivalry was still going strong. 
 With Debate out of the way, Logan just had his teacher aide lesson and he was home free. 
 Free to see Virgil. 
 Free to kiss Virgil… 
 With such a happy thought in his mind, Logan took off for the last period of the day. 
 »»———— ♞ ————««
 Virgil couldn’t believe he was doing this. Just waiting out at the front of the school for his friend who he had almost kissed in Chemistry. If he were a smart man, he would have headed straight for home after school.
 Well, he’d never told anyone he was smart (but Logan seemed to think he was). For whatever reason, this seemed right, no matter how much his twisting insides seemed to tell him otherwise.
 “Virgil!”
 Virgil’s whole body spun in the direction of Logan’s voice, a smile slipping onto his face as he found the other in the distance, rushing his way.
 “Hey, dork,” Virgil said but his words were soft. His voice was even softer. 
 “Hey, you,” Logan said, wincing at what he had just said. He shook his head as if that would cause his perceived faux pas to disappear. Virgil, however, had found it cute. 
 “So, uh… walking and talking?”
 Logan smiled and nodded. 
 “Thanks for waiting.”
 “Always.”
 Virgil blushed. He’d honestly meant it. Well, as much as a 16 year old boy could mean such things, but the point was, it was true for him. He hadn’t meant to tell Logan as much. He was smiling, however, so maybe him knowing wasn’t such a bad thing after all. 
 “Shall we go?”
 Virgil could only nod as he smiled. They started heading in the direction of Virgil’s house when he suddenly wondered if Logan would want to come in. Then became a little worried that his room was messy. Still, his happiness at walking with Logan—being with Logan—outweighed all the worries in the world.
 “Hey, so… thanks. You know, for earlier… talking after…”
 “It was my pleasure,” Logan said, smiling earnestly down at him. Virgil was surprised, suddenly realizing how close in height they were. Yeah, Logan was taller than him but it wasn’t by as much as Virgil had always thought.
 Would make it easier to kiss him~
 Oh, shut up, you-me-argh, just shut up!
 “About that, and what had almost happened before… let me be completely honest with you when I say that had we actually kissed in Chemistry class, I would not have been upset. Far from it…”
 Virgil looked at Logan just as the other was glancing at him. 
 “Really?”
 Logan nodded as they turned a corner into Virgil’s neighborhood.
 “Without question. I would have been bummed about the location and the lack of some level of privacy for such intimate displays, but I would have been very pleased with the kiss.”
 Virgil looked at Logan with wonder, his butterflies returning.
 “So… uh… you like me too then? I mean, you like me back…”
 Logan laughed at that but there was no malice, only fondness.
 “What is it you say… oh, right… duh,”
 Virgil blushed and shoved Logan playfully.
 “Shut up.”
 “You know… I didn’t say this earlier for obvious reasons but you look so cute when you blush.”
 Virgil’s face heated rapidly. “I do not!”
 “Oh, but you do.”
 “Jerk!”
 “I suppose that is warranted, considering my flirtation through teasing.”
 Virgil just laughed at that, shoving his face into his hands for a moment. Logan reached out to guide Virgil to a stop with him. 
 “Virgil… are you okay?”
 Virgil nodded, face still in his hands.
 “Yeah, just… give me a minute.”
 Logan didn’t say anything and Virgil couldn’t see his expression. Instead, Virgil felt Logan's hand rubbing his shoulders as well as he could around the backpack strap. Gradually, Virgil turned toward him. The other seemed to understand because a moment later, Logan was wrapping his arms around him as much as their backpacks would allow.
 Virgil closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of being pressed against the other. He already knew now that Logan liked him. The butterflies in his tummy now had nothing to do with that.
 Virgil really, really wanted to kiss him. 
 Thank God his house was not far from where they were. 
 Virgil pulled away from the other, though he hadn’t really wanted to ever leave his arms. He smiled at Logan and nodded.
 “I’m good now, thanks.”
 Logan nodded, hesitated, and looked forward in the direction they were headed. After a few moments of what Virgil assumed was deliberation, Logan looked at him with a little pink coloring his cheeks.
 “If you would permit me to, I would very much like to hold hands with you.”
 Virgil could see what Logan meant. He looked quite nice with pink cheeks as well. Of course, such a request got Virgil blushing more. Yet it was with no hesitation that he stuck out his hand closest to Logan for the other to take.
 Logan smiled and laced their fingers before they began walking once more. It was a silent agreement that any further talk could wait until they reached Virgil’s house.
 »»———— ☠ ————««
 Logan marveled at how wonderful it felt, walking with Virgil, the other teen’s hand in his own. Before Virgil, Logan had always wondered at how couples did such things. Now, after Virgil, he wanted all of those things. But with Virgil alone. 
 Virgil was leading them along the route he took home everyday. It was so interesting to experience, especially with the knowledge that Virgil liked him as he liked Virgil. 
 Logan squeezed the other’s hand only for Virgil to squeeze back, looking at him and smiling brightly. A little pink brushed his cheeks and covered the bridge of his nose. 
 How could one person be so mesmerizing?
 “We’re almost there,” Virgil announced. Logan swallowed hard. 
 Almost there. 
 Logan nodded and smiled. The smile felt a little forced, but Virgil smiled back. Logan tried to ignore the sudden nerves he felt and enjoy the walk. 
 Luckily, as soon as they turned the corner, Virgil was pointing out a house two buildings down on the side they were currently on. 
 “There’s my house,” he mumbled and Logan could just smile. 
 “Well, let’s go then.”
 Virgil led him to the house and inside. As soon as he opened the door, a short woman wearing a dress and apron came from what Logan assumed was the kitchen. 
 “My baby’s home!” She looked at Logan. He could see where Virgil got his sharp gaze. He smiled. “And he brought a friend…”
 Virgil cleared his throat.
 “This is Logan… I’ve uh… told you about him… he’s in my Chemistry class… we’re just gonna go up to my room for a bit before Logan goes home… kay now, bye Mom. Love you.”
 “Oh! This is Logan!” Virgil’s mom said, the words finally clicking, but Virgil had already dragged Logan down the hallway and into his room. 
 Closing the door behind him, Virgil sighed. Flicking on the light, he nodded at the bed.
 “Sorry, not a lot of options for seating,” he said with a soft laugh. Logan laughed as well and took the end furthest from the pillows. Virgil soon joined him. 
 “So…”
 “So…” Logan agreed with a little smile. He was silent for a moment more, teasing Virgil just a little, before he continued. “So… let’s go down the list, shall we?”
 Virgil snorted but nodded. Logan offered his hands which Virgil took immediately.
 Smiling, Logan began.
 “We both like each other…”
 “Check.”
 “We both want to kiss each other?”
 “Duh.”
 Logan gave him a look and Virgil rolled his eyes, smiling. 
 “Check.”
 “And am I correct in assuming that we both want… uh… something more? You know…”
 “Are you correct in assuming that we want to be boyfriends?”
 Logan nodded. “That’s better. Yes.”
 “Very check.”
 Logan grinned and Virgil grinned back. 
 Just like it had happened in Chemistry class, Virgil started to shift a little closer. Logan was more than happy to lean in as well. 
 This time, no chemicals overflowed and no one was around. This time, there was no almost.
 Virgil’s lips pressed against Logan’s first but he had definitely not been too far away. Logan hummed happily into the kiss, his eyes closed as he laced his fingers with Virgil’s.
 Logan felt such deep warmth like he had never felt before. He found himself immediately shifting closer to Virgil, as if he were his magnetic opposite. 
 Virgil chuckled into the kiss, soon having to break it. Logan looked at him with confusion and Virgil shook his head. 
 “What’s so funny?” Logan asked, tilting his head. 
 “Sorry, Logan… it’s just. I’m starting to think my mom sent me to public school just to make sure I found happiness… but I don’t really think she expected this. Maybe a favorite class. Maybe a best friend. I doubt a boyfriend was ever on her radar.”
 Logan laughed softly too. 
 “I think she will be happy with whatever happiness you find. And you’ll find many more happinesses… hopefully with me.”
 Virgil smiled. “Well, you haven’t actually asked me out yet.”
 Logan sighed. “Virgil Armitage, will you go out with me?” Though he had sighed, he was smiling by the time he finished.
 Virgil smirked. “Duh.”
 Logan would have groaned but Virgil was kissing him moments after and Logan really didn’t feel the need to stop him as he kissed back.
 A lot had changed in Logan’s life since Virgil entered into it but, as Logan had come to find, sometimes in life there were just some changes that were worth making.
»»———— ♞ ————««
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Thomas Sanders or Joan, nor the rest of their group. I do not own or make money off of these characters. I only own the story as it is written.
Super uber thanks to my beta reader for this fic @sunshineandteddybears​ and the two that preread my stuff to make sure its up to par: @romantichopelessly & @sunshineandteddybears.
123 notes · View notes
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Text
[Late] Thus With a Kiss I Die
Title: Thus With a Kiss I Die Ship: Late (Nate/Procrastination&Logan) Warnings: Idiot Gays, Kissing, Making Out, Disaster Gays, One Brain cell shared. Cuuuute. Words: 12,444 Request: So this was a Kiss AU list request that was requested by @romantichopelessly​ for a present for getting lots of stuff done with her Botwot AU: 36. we can never be together.
Summary: Logan was just cast as Juliet in the school play. He is not thrilled. Then he finds out that his crush Nate is Romeo. He's doomed.
Read on AO3
-----------------------------------------------
Logan couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t that he couldn’t believe that a senior class in an all-boys boarding school was doing a play. No, that was statistically likely, all things considered. 
 What he couldn’t believe, however, was that the school had chosen Romeo and Juliet as the play for the senior class that year. 
 Why?
 They weren’t even changing the genders of the female characters to appear pro-gay or any of the less than moral types of things private institutions did to bring in donators. 
 “Maybe our parents just thought they’d get a kick out of some of their kids dressing up in drag and talking falsetto.” Logan snorted and glanced at his best friend. 
Virgil sighed. 
 “I’m soooo glad I got the nurse. Yes! No one cares about that old hag’s lines. Smooth sailing.”
 Logan glared. 
 Virgil cleared his throat, shoving his hands into the pockets of his hoodie, and shrugged. 
 “Yeah… tough luck you got the lead.”
 Logan laughed at that and shook his head. 
 “Thank you.”
 Virgil raised a brow. “For what?”
 “Most people have been congratulating me.”
 Virgil snorted. “Oh, yeah. Well, any time dude.”
 Logan sighed and nodded. 
 “So uh… have you talked with him yet?”
 Logan, who currently had his face in his hands, could hear the slight smirk in Virgil’s carefully phrased question. He suddenly longed to glare daggers at his friend but, due to all the excitement, was too exhausted to bother. Definitely not his excitement, but it was felt nonetheless. 
 “I don’t have any idea to whom you would be referring to Virgil.”
Logan attempted to silence the other with a look but his gamble failed.
 Virgil’s smirk widened. “Oh you don’t, do you?”
 Logan mustered up the energy to actually glare daggers his way, but there still wasn’t much fire behind it. He sighed. 
 “What am I going to do?” he asked, a slight whine to his words that he generally avoided. 
 Virgil sighed as well. “Why are you asking me?”
 Logan rolled his eyes and adjusted his glasses. 
 “One of us is actually in a romantic relationship and it is not me.”
 Virgil blushed and shrugged.
 “It’s all still very new though so I don’t know what you expect from me here, Lo.”
 “How do I get him to like me?”
 “Dude, you’ve liked that guy since we started high school. If anyone knows how to get him to like you, it’s you.”
 Logan groaned. 
 “Has Patton been having you listen to those self-growth tapes again?”
 Virgil shrugged but smiled softly and, for a moment, Logan smiled as well. He was very pleased to see his friend so happy. “They’re really not so bad.”
 “Good to know.”
 Logan sighed. 
 “Why don’t you just tell him?”
 Logan looked up at Virgil as if he’d grown an extra head. 
 “Right. Tell Nate Lassus, whom most of those students who identify as gay or bisexual and/or pan want, that I’ve had a crush on him for three years? Someone who I should not even want because truly, what do we have in common?”
 “You mean aside from the fact that you guys like each other and want to kiss each other and make out and do I need to keep going?”
 “That does not promote a healthy relationship, Virgil.”
 Virgil rolled his eyes. “Then you get to know him and I am certain there is something you guys have in common.”
 “Also, he does not like me. Don’t think I didn’t hear that.”
 “He does, and I hoped you would.” Virgil stuck out his tongue.
 Logan bit his tongue to keep from snapping at his friend. Virgil had been on this whole theory that Nate liked him as well. Which was absolutely absurd and held no merit whatsoever despite Virgil and Patton’s so-called evidence. 
 “Patton said he looked excited when you were chosen for Juliet. Even looked your way, hoping you were looking at him.”
 Logan looked up at Virgil. For a moment, there was a sliver of hope but reality sunk in. 
 “This is Nate Lassus we are talking about, Virgil. He’s just excited to get to kiss a guy on stage.”
 Virgil groaned but dropped the subject. Logan knew that wouldn’t be the last of it, however, he was happy for the break.
 »»———— ♞ ————««
 Nate watched as his two best friends fooled around with some of the prop swords backstage. He was currently working on some backgrounds, hammering some pre-cut wood boards that would be used as trees or perhaps castle props or any number of things. 
 He didn’t do the whole painting bit, but he could definitely manage hammering support pieces of wood to the backdrops. 
 As he worked, Nate thought back to the assembly when they were informed that a play would be put on and the parts that they would perform. When he had heard his name first, announced along with the name of the play’s male lead, his only thought had been a half-hearted wish. 
 If only Logan could be my Juliet… he’d thought and then—as if his thoughts had actually held any power at all—Logan’s name had been called and Juliet’s had followed. Nate could only glance at Logan, hoping to see what the other’s reaction had been. Unfortunately, it had looked like… well, not disgust, which was good… but definitely shock and dread. Nate had tried to tell himself that the looks were more about the role he’d been given and had nothing to do with himself.
 It felt like a lie, but it made Nate feel better all the same.
 “Take that, heathen,” Janus’s crisp voice broke through his thoughts. He glanced up from his spot on the floor as he shifted to the next set of backdrops and supports. 
 “Never, you scallywag bitch!” Remus cackled and rushed at Janus, the pair’s swords clacked with every strike.
 Where Janus actually had had fencing lessons and moved with finesse and experience, Remus struck down with pure force and nothing else. With Janus’s slight frame—at five-foot-four—it would seem that Remus’s strategy could gain him the upper hand. However, it was the smaller teen’s quick and fluid footwork that secured his victory. 
 As Nate had guessed, Remus’s wood sword was soon sailing across the room, clacking onto the tiled floor. Remus cackled, rather than growing angry, and rushed to get the wooden sword. With the more chaotic of his friends distracted, Janus turned to Nate while continuing to run through different fencing patterns.
 Sharp eyes met Nate’s, one a deep brown and the other a warm gold. He said nothing, knowing that whatever it was his friend wanted to say, he would get to it when he was ready and not a moment sooner. Still, as the moments ticked on, Nate wished he would just get on with it already. 
 “Sooo… Logan Wright is your Juliet… now why does this seem so fitting.… Oh right, because you complete morons are in love with each other. Maybe even the teachers and staff know it and this is the whole damn school’s way of saying ‘Now Kiss’.”
 Nate rolled his eyes. He tried to stay chipper and upbeat but now that it was spoken, he could no longer ignore the siren call of his crush as a topic. 
 “Jan… he didn’t even look at me… what if…”
 “Hopeless…”
 “Jan, I’m serious here.”
 “And so am I, Nate.”
 Remus returned. 
 “How do you know Logan likes him anyway, babe?”
 Janus looked at his boyfriend and shrugged. 
 “I can’t really say how… just trust me on this. My instincts are solid when it comes to people’s love lives.”
 Nate wanted to argue but, since Janus was his best friend from grade school, he already knew it was pointless. Not to mention, Janus had walked into the school freshman year, spotted Remus, and pointed him out to Nate. 
 “That guy is strange and quite possibly deranged. And I’m not sure how I know this, but we are most definitely going to date.”
 Nate had snorted and moved on. Then it had happened in Junior year, long after Janus had forgotten about the fateful statement he had made two years before. So he might have been right back then, but Nate really didn't want to have to wait two years like the other had to find out if his best friend’s prediction today would come true. 
 “You really should tell ol’ Logan how you feel, dude.” Remus shrugged, grinning that almost maniacal grin of his. Nate couldn’t help but grin back. 
 Still, his friends obviously didn’t get it. 
 If Logan had any feelings, he would have looked his way at the assembly when he’d realized it was Nate who he’d be kissing. 
 Oh, fuck. That’s right.
 Not only was it that Logan would be kissing him… 
 Nate would get to kiss Logan. 
 “And this look is Nate now realizing that not only does he get to share the lead with his crush, but he also gets to kiss said crush on stage in front of everybody.” Janus murmured with a side glance at his boyfriend. Remus snickered. 
 Nate threw them the double bird and kicked them out. 
 Getting back to work, Nate put all thoughts of crushes and kisses out of his mind.
 »»———— 🕶️ ————««
 Logan almost didn’t make it to the meeting with Mr. Thomas Sanders, the drama teacher who was putting the show on, and Nate. He was just going to continue on with his normal routine and that would be that. They would realize he just wasn’t going to do it and they would get someone else. 
 Then he realized that part of him wanted to go. Was it curiosity? Or was it the siren call of having a valid reason to spend more time with Nate?
 Logan blinked as he looked around, finding himself already headed in the direction of the theater. 
 It took a lot less time than he hoped to reach the two large oak doors, opening one of them and slipping inside. He was not surprised to see Mr. Sanders’s bright, welcoming smile. He was also not surprised to see that Nate was not there. 
 Nate had a habit of running late… all the time. 
 Something that would annoy him in anyone else, but with Nate, it somehow just worked.
 “Logan! Thank you for being here,” Mr. Sanders said, still smiling brightly. “Nate should be here soon.”
 Logan nodded, ignoring the heat rising up the back of his neck. 
 He jumped a moment later as the oak door opened once more, his head jerking in that direction.
 In walked Nate, looking just as attractive as he always did. It was because he was having what Roman, Patton’s friend, would call a ‘swoon moment’ that Logan didn’t notice it at first, but Nate’s gaze was on him from the moment he walked in the door. 
 Pretending that his blush was not currently seeping into his cheeks, Logan cleared his throat and turned in Nate’s direction. Standing up straight, Logan nodded at the other in greeting. While they weren’t friends, they had shared a number of classes and projects and school trips over the years. They’d talked but only in a capacity regarding those things. 
 None of which were personal or intimate. 
 Logan withheld a sigh, then remembered he should say something. 
 “Salutations, Nathan.”
 “Hey yourself, Logan. Hey, Mr. S.”
 Nate joined them and Mr. Sanders led them to the front row of seats. He had three padded fold out chairs, one in front of the other two. Logan took one of them and Nate took the other. Ignoring how close he was to Nate at that very moment, Logan focused instead on Mr. Sanders. 
 The drama teacher took the chair in front of them and beamed at them both. 
 “Thank you both for coming. I just wanted to take a moment and congratulate you both on getting the roles, even if you may not have wanted them.”
 Mr. Sanders who smiled apologetically. 
 “I had suggested we hold auditions and I was overruled.”
 Logan shrugged, a habit he had picked up from Virgil. 
 “It can’t be helped now and it’s not for any major event. I mean, I may suffer from making an absolute mockery of myself but… I have my own reasons for doing it, I suppose.”
 “Oh really? Do tell,” Nate pressed, flashing an easy grin.
 Logan flushed. He couldn’t believe he had just said what he’d said. He had felt surprisingly calm in the moment though he supposed that was just the effect Mr. Sanders had on people.
 Effective for an instructor teaching performing arts. 
 “It’s just… I’m a team player. We all have to do this. I cannot be selfish. I’d also… well, I’d kind of like to challenge myself too, I suppose.”
 And it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Nate was playing Romeo and Logan would get to kiss him. 
 Logan’s heart rate increased and his eyes fell to Nate’s mouth before quickly looking away.
 “Huh. Well… that’s epic. Good for you, dude.”
 Logan nodded. 
 “Nate’s right. That is very epic!” Mr. Sanders agreed. 
 He clapped his hands.
 “Alright, I know I don’t have to tell you two that Romeo and Juliet are the two most important characters in the play. Obviously, without them, the play would not exist. But, I want you guys to forget about that.”
 Logan’s confusion must have shown on his face because Mr. Sanders elaborated. “You are to think of them as people. Think of them as your friends. Or better yet, yourselves. I want you to get into their minds and think about why they do the things they do in the way they do them.”
 He stood up, pacing back and forth as he explained, glancing at them every so often. He then returned to them, taking the chair once more.
 “By doing that, you open them up in an intimate way that allows you to become them. Does all of that make sense?”
 He looked at Logan first before glancing at Nate. 
 Logan considered the words. He wasn’t an actor. That was Roman. 
 Which reminded him to make a mental note to speak with Roman after this. Unfortunately, while that would help future him, it did not help him now. 
 “I suppose… it’s… well, if we don’t feel what they are feeling…” Logan was grasping at straws. He was hands down the worst choice for the character of Juliet he had ever seen. 
 Nate leaned toward Logan. It was subtle but Logan, constantly aware of his surroundings, noticed. Strangely, it was comforting. 
 “Let me take a stab.”
 “Go ahead, Nate.” Mr. Sanders said with a grin, pleased with the other’s enthusiasm.
 “It’s because we can’t just learn the lines and do what the movements and motions say. Anyone can do that, but in order to sell what we are doing, we have to understand the character’s struggles to better perform them on the stage. By becoming the characters, we help the audience experience what they were feeling and thinking.”
 “Very good Nate! Exactly.”
 Logan glanced at Nate and smiled his appreciation. Nate shrugged.
 And winked.
 Logan blushed and turned his attention back to Mr. Sanders who was rising to head to his bag. He pulled out what appeared to be papers and two boxes and headed back to them. Handing each boy a stapled document, he continued to talk. 
 “These are your scripts. Feel free to highlight, take notes, change directions, and—although anything you change must be approved by me—I am always open to and strongly urge suggestions.” He then handed them each a box of two highlighters. “Rehearsals will start tomorrow after school. They will run for an hour and a half during weekdays for the next four weeks. The three weeks after that will be two and a half hour practices and the week after that is show week.”
 He glanced at them both. 
 “Any questions?”
 Logan, afraid to speak, shook his head. He held his script and highlighters close, ready to bolt at the first opportunity. Nate must have agreed in some fashion because Mr. Sanders continued on. 
 “One last suggestion. You are expected to run your lines outside of rehearsals. It’s the only way to memorize the lines. However, you are not expected to run lines together. I do want to strongly urge that you do. Find a nice quiet place to run the scenes you guys have together. You both already seem pretty comfortable around each other. That will help! Especially when it comes to practicing the kiss.” 
 He glanced at Logan. “You do not have to practice the kiss but you will want to. Trust me. It’s not easy to kiss strangers on stage.” He shuddered and Logan had to wonder at his experience with such things. Perhaps it was better not to ask. 
 He ignored his flaming cheeks and cleared his throat. 
 “Thank you for all the suggestions and insight, Mr. Sanders, but if that is all, I really must go.”
 “Yes, of course. You are both good to go and I look forward to seeing you at rehearsals.”
 Logan took off and didn’t look back. 
  »»———— ♞ ————««
 Nate wasn’t sure how he managed it, but he was able to keep his disappointment and irritation off his face until he thanked Mr. Sanders and left. 
 So… that was it then. 
 Logan didn’t like him and was actually disgusted by the idea of not only kissing him but practicing kissing him too. 
 He sighed as he ignored the urge to hit the wall. Even if it would help him let out his frustration, he’d have a broken hand and that would just do no one any good. 
 Deciding to put the feelings into doing something useful, Nate made his way to the door that led backstage and headed in. Making his way past the dressing rooms and costume closets, Nate reached the main backstage floor, where he found Janus. 
 His friend was busy working, sketching backgrounds onto the backdrops that had already been assembled. Janus didn’t even bother looking up. 
 “Nice of you to join me, Nate.”
 Nate had no idea how he always knew it was him without looking, but at this point, he couldn’t be bothered to ask. Janus would likely take it to his grave anyway. 
 “Hey, dude.” Nate sighed.
 Janus immediately looked up from what he was doing, his eyes narrowing. 
 “What happened?” 
 Nate blinked, a shiver at the dangerous look in those two toned eyes running down his back. Not for the first time, he was extremely happy that Janus was his friend rather than an enemy. 
 “Nothing… exactly?”
 “Darling, it’s my job to be vague and interesting. Yours is to be strong and mmm… a little himbo-esque. Now, I’m going to ask you again. What happened?”
 Nate sighed and explained what had happened in the meeting and Logan’s sudden rush out the doors at the end. Janus kept the same unreadable expression on his face throughout the story and when Nate finished, he sighed. 
 Nate frowned. 
 “What?”
 “Nate… darling… I don’t mean to sound harsh when I say this… who the hell am I kidding, yes I do. Especially since I know you can take it. Think about what you just told me and then think about who it is you’re talking about…”
 “Logan… yeah, so what?”
 Janus tutted. 
 “Okay… I see I am going to have to spell this out for you, hon. In the years that we have attended this school with Logan, have you ever seen him date? Ever see him hold hands with anyone?” He watched Nate closely. Nate, not sure where this was going, just listened. “Ever see him hug anyone… well, I suppose he gets hugs from Patton but that definitely doesn’t count. Everyone gets hugs from Patton. But anyway… ever see him in any scenario like those I mentioned?”
 Nate didn’t really need to think about it. He had liked Logan for so long, it was as if his presence was a magnet for Nate’s gaze. 
 “No… but I don’t really see how…”
 “So gorgeous… so sweet… but so, so dumb.”
 Nate might have felt offended but the other said the insult with such fondness it almost felt like the other compliments he’d offered. 
 “Janus, just get to the point.”
 “Very well. Of course Logan ran out of there at the thought of practicing kissing you… he’s never been kissed, Nate.”
 Oh.
 Oh.
 “Oh.”
 Janus smirked and stood up, coming to stand in front of him. Nate looked down at him and sighed. 
 “I… never even considered… huh… okay… so I should definitely go find him then?”
 “Oh, most definitely.”
 Janus winked. Nate grinned at the other and nodded at the sketch. 
 “Nice trees, by the way. I think that’s what they are—”
 “Fuck you,” Janus said but grinned. 
 “You wish.”
 “Don’t I just.” 
 Nate chuckled and pointed at the hall that led to the exit with his thumb. 
 “I’ve got a cute nerd to find. Catch you later.”
 “Oh, have you learned how to catch things now?”
 Nate, who totally could not catch anything thrown his way, gasped. 
 “Low blow, my friend.”
 “It’s how you know I care. Now, go find Logan. Also, maybe consider telling him how you feel… just a thought. No pressure.”
 “Yeah… we’ll see. Later.”
 “Go get him, darling.”
 Nate snorted but headed out for the dorms.
 »»———— 🕶️ ————««
 Logan reached the dorm room that he shared with Virgil and quickly buried himself in the thing that made him feel safest: homework. 
 He was so lost in his homework that he almost didn’t hear the knock on the door. It wasn’t odd to have someone knock on his door, so Logan didn’t give it much thought. It was likely Patton looking for Virgil or something. Patton often forgot that his cell phone would be a much more efficient solution to finding his boyfriend. 
 Then again, also knowing Patton pretty well by now, it was just as likely he was checking up on Logan. That boy did wear his heart on his sleeve and would want to help if he perceived someone was upset in any way. 
 Therefore, when he went to open his door, it was with great surprise, and uncalled for embarrassment, he found Nate on the other side. 
 “So… hey.”
 “... Hi.”
 Logan did not miss how Nate glanced into his dorm before looking at him once more. 
 “I was wondering if you… uh… if you had a moment.”
 Logan shifted slightly but nodded. When he said nothing, Nate continued. 
 “Do you think we can maybe take this inside?”
 “You wish to be invited into my dorm room?”
 Nate chuckled softly. Logan frowned. It almost sounded fond but that made no sense. Logan was barely a blip on Nate’s radar. There was no reason for him to be fond of anything that had to do with Logan. 
 Deciding it was obviously projections of his own feelings—why did he have them again?—Logan pushed any thoughts and inquiries on fondness from his mind. 
 “Yeah, if that’s alright with you.”
 Logan considered before nodding, opening the door and stepping away to let Nate pass. He closed the door behind him, trying to ignore the twisting of his insides from having his crush in his room. 
 Not sure what to do with himself, Logan returned to his desk and leaned against it, watching Nate and ignoring the heat rising up the back of his neck. 
 “Alright… we’re inside. What did you wish to speak to me about?”
 Nate, who had been checking out the room, seemed to focus on Logan’s side. 
 Interesting. 
 He grinned at Logan now and crossed from the book shelf he had been perusing to stand in front of him. 
 “Yeah, so… I just wanted to talk about the play…”
 Logan sighed. 
 “Obviously. There is no other reason that could have brought you here. I know we don’t talk too much and we aren’t friends so there would be no reason to hang out, but surely, after years of school with me, you would know that I am pretty observant.”
 Nate chuckled that same fond laugh again. The sound had heat slipping into Logan’s cheeks and he cleared his throat. 
 “What about the play, Nathan?”
 Nate sighed. “Janus told me you’ve uh… you’ve never been kissed…”
 Oh.
 Right, the kiss in the play.
 Even though this was obviously about kissing each other in the play, Logan couldn’t get past the fact that he would have to kiss Nate. If it had been anyone else, he was certain he could manage. But with Nate… 
 What if he was horrible? What if Nate told everyone?
 No… Nathan Lasses could be a dick but to most people, he was kind and fair and nice. Besides, in Logan’s humble opinion, Remy—Nate’s twin—was much worse. 
 Nate wouldn’t tell anyone. Knowing Nate, he’d offer to help him practice and—
 Suddenly it clicked. He knew exactly why Nate was there. 
 “Ah. You wish to practice the kiss,” he said simply. 
 Nate’s eyes widened in surprise for a brief moment before the look was replaced with something else. Something softer. 
 Do not even think of that word, Logan, or so help me.
 “Correct, as always, scholar.”
 Logan blinked. Huh, a nickname. 
 As far as Logan had been informed by Patton, nicknames were things people gave to other people they really liked and wanted to be friends with. 
 Logan held back a sigh. 
 Friendship… well, I suppose if that’s what he wants from me… it would be selfish of me to refuse.
 Ignoring the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he forced a smile. 
 “That… that would be okay with me…” Logan said. 
 This was not how he wanted his first kiss—especially not with Nate—but as there was no hope for more, it would be pointless to hold out on the impossibility that there ever would be.
 Besides, it was better this way. He was far too busy for silly things like holding hands, little whispers spoken between kisses, flirting, cuddling. He wasn’t big on those things anyway. Even if he would have liked to try… with Nate.
 “Wait, really? I honestly thought I was going to have to like talk you into it or something.”
 Logan shook his head and held up a hand.
 “Not at all. Janus, though I’d love to know who his source was, is correct. I’ve never kissed or been kissed. This is an adequate solution. Completely logical.”
 Nate frowned and Logan hesitated. 
 “What’s wrong?”
 Nate had a look on his face that was hard for Logan to read. It was reserved but there was something else too. Before Logan could figure out what it could be, Nate was suddenly grinning and clapping. It was as if nothing had happened but there was still a weird charge in the air. 
 Or maybe Logan was reading too much into the situation. 
 “Nothing’s wrong, dude. Let’s get started.”
 Logan’s eyes widened at that. 
 “Now?”
 He was pained to admit to himself that he might have squeaked the word, but if any one else asked, he would take it to his grave. 
 Nate snickered. 
 “Aww, getting shy? Cute.”
 Logan blushed at that and, regretfully, flailed his embarrassment. 
 “I’m not cute!”
 “I mean, of course you don’t find yourself attractive, scholar, but you never know. Some people might.”
 “Oh, yes, and someday Patton will stop hanging out with cats even though he’s pretty severely allergic.”
 “Haha, yeah right.”
 “Exactly.”
 It seemed to hit Nate what Logan had meant and suddenly the taller teen was closing the remaining distance between them.
 “I’m serious, Logan.” He looked it too. His dark brown eyes locked with Logan’s and he smiled the same smile from earlier. The one that Logan was positive he was projecting because it made zero sense for Nate to smile at him like that unless…
 No Logan. You already ran the probability of a guy like him liking a guy like you. He doesn’t like you in the same way you like him.
 “Hey, Logan…” Nate said, voice lower. Softer.
 Logan looked up, unsure of when he looked away. His grey eyes met brown once more and suddenly the atmosphere changed. 
 He could no longer hear the world outside his dorm room and time felt slower. He wasn’t sure what was happening and he wasn’t sure he liked it. Clearing his throat, he swallowed. 
 “Yes, Nathan…” he whispered. 
 Why was he whispering?
 “Can I kiss you?”
 Logan swallowed again but nodded. 
 Nate smiled and Logan was shocked again to find it seemed kind of… disappointed. Sad, even. Then Nate was closing his eyes and Logan, completely out of his element, did the same. 
 The first contact was soft… almost as if it hadn’t been there at all. Logan found himself leaning into it and his lips found Nate’s. He gasped and pulled away, bringing a hand to his mouth. 
 “Very good, for your first kiss,” Nate said, grinning teasingly. Logan blushed. 
 “Shut up.”
 “No, no. None of that. I’m serious. You did good.”
 “Right.” 
 Logan had no reason to believe him, of course, but it was nice to hear. Then again, unlike Logan, Nate had kissed many people. Maybe he knew what he was talking about. He cleared his throat.
 “Should we… keep practicing?”
 Nate seemed surprised by the question but laughed and nodded. 
 “We absolutely should keep practicing. Definitely should. One hundred percent.”
 Logan rolled his eyes but snorted. 
 “Very well. Kiss me again.”
 Nate smirked. 
 “Yes, sir.”
 With that, he placed his hands on Logan’s hips and tugged him against his body, leaning down to kiss him deeply on the mouth.
  »»———— ♞ ————««
 Nate couldn’t help the pleased sound that escaped him as he kissed Logan deeply. His eyes were closed, brows furrowed, lips moving against Logan’s. 
 Never in all his wildest dreams had he ever thought he would get the chance to kiss Logan. Now that he had, however, he felt as if the universe was laughing in his face. 
 Like, yeah you get to kiss him but you ain’t never gonna have him. Not how you so desperately desire.
 Fuck the universe. 
 If he couldn’t find the words to tell Logan…
 If he couldn’t trust himself to say the right things…
 Well, he’d just have to tell him through his kisses. 
 He could do that.
 Logan’s arms wrapped around him and Nate took that as all the permission he needed to hold Logan closer. He moved one hand to the small of Logan’s back as his other hand came up to frame the intelligent teen’s face. 
 Nate was the one who had to pull away, inhaling sharply as he tried to catch his breath and chuckling as Logan chased after his retreating mouth. 
 “So…” Nate asked, the word low and still a little breathless. “How was that?”
 Logan just blinked up at Nate. “H-huh, what, I’m sorry?”
 Nate laughed deeply at that and, before he could talk himself out of it, he quickly leaned down to kiss the other’s forehead. 
 “Cute…” he said, voice low and fond. 
 Logan blushed but said nothing. Silence fell between them, neither knowing what to say or what to do. Logan seemed to want to say something—maybe ask something—but it was clear to Nate that he was nervous. Nate wished he could think of just the right thing to say that would reassure the other that he wasn’t ever going to judge him. 
 If he only knew how much I care…
 Then maybe you should tell him. That voice sounded far more like Janus’s than it did Nate’s.
 Yeah right.
 Nate smiled down at Logan and was about to ask him if it would be okay if they practiced again tomorrow but in the next moment Logan was pressing closer and kissing him. Having absolutely no problem with this change in plans, Nate wrapped both arms tight around Logan, embracing him completely as he kissed back hungrily. 
 It was Logan’s turn to make pleased sorts of sounds, the other teen obviously getting lost in the feelings and sensations. That was all well and good, of course, but the sounds did things to Nate and if he allowed those sounds to keep doing those things to him, well… 
 He wouldn’t need words to tell Logan how he felt because Logan would be able to feel it.
 Pulling away quickly, Nate worked hard to catch his breath. He swallowed hard and cleared his throat. 
 “Okay! So, I think this is a great place to stop. We can totally practice some more tomorrow, if you’re okay with that—”
 “Yes.” Logan said it so quickly he seemed to surprise even himself. 
 Nate’s brows rose as Logan cleared his throat and spoke up again, more reserved. 
 “I mean, that would be agreeable.”
 Nate smirked at that.
 “Great. Same time after classes? Back here?”
 Logan nodded but then stopped. 
 “Yes… but can we go to your room? I just… if Virgil’s here I’m not going to be able to… you know… it’ll be too embarrassing.”
 “You do realize that we are going to be kissing in front of a whole lot more than just one student, right?”
 Logan nodded, pulling off his glasses. He pulled out a little handkerchief, wiping gently at the lenses. 
 “Of course… but that’s a little different. We’ll be on stage and the audience will mostly be in shadow. Not to mention, the audience will be one collective group. I won’t know where my friends are sitting—well, most of them will be in the play but that is beside the point—and so I won’t see them. If it were just Virgil there though… it just seems too…”
 “Intimate,” Nate asked, hopeful. 
 Logan considered the word and finally nodded.
 “Yes, exactly. Too intimate.”
 “Well, I mean I have a roommate too, so I’m not sure I can promise Janus won’t be there.”
 That was a bold face lie. He could and would make sure Janus would not be there. 
 He grinned. “But if that’s cool with you, then I am more than happy to sacrifice my room for our kissing practices.”
 Logan blushed but smiled gently, nodding. 
 “Thank you.”
 Nate nodded. 
 He glanced at the door and then back at Logan. 
 “So… I have to be honest… kissing you is kinda fun…”
 That’s the understatement of the century.
 Still, he didn’t want to come on too strong and scare the other. The blush this pulled from Logan also made the light confession so very worth it.
 “Mind if I take one for the road?”
 Logan’s eyes brightened and Nate watched as the other’s eyes darted to Nate’s mouth and back while licking his lips. He nodded slowly. 
 “I would not be opposed.”
 “Good.”
 Nate moved in close once more, hands on Logan’s hips as he guided him in closer. His brown eyes met gray and he grinned warmly. 
 “Cute,” he said as the other blushed a little deeper.
 Before Logan could argue his point, Nate closed his eyes and kissed Logan hard. Logan gasped into the kiss, perhaps surprised by the sudden intensity. Nate took the opportunity to slip his tongue into Logan’s mouth, exploring it and caressing Logan’s tongue with his own. 
 Logan let out an almost whimpering sound and Nate groaned in response. It was Logan who ended the kiss this time and Nate couldn’t deny that he had definitely chased after his mouth. Logan was panting and pulled out of Nate’s hold, the taller teen letting him. 
 “Wow…” Logan breathed, bringing his fingers to press at kiss swollen lips. 
 “Yeah,” Nate agreed, catching his own breath. Silence fell between them again but it was almost comfortable this time. Nate grinned. 
 “Well, I guess I’ll see you in class and kissing practice after.”
 Logan nodded. When it was clear he wasn’t going to say anything else, Nate moved close once more and kissed the top of his head. 
 “See you tomorrow, scholar.”
 “See you tomorrow, Nathan.”
 Nate had the walk back to his own dorm to consider everything that had just happened. He couldn’t believe how well Logan had taken to kissing him. Then again, Nate had it so bad even if Logan couldn’t kiss, he’d still enjoy it… but there was also the fact that Logan was intelligent and smart and capable and it was no surprise at all that he had picked up kissing just as well as any other subject or skill. 
 But Logan had enjoyed it… and had wanted to keep doing it. 
 Just like that, hope returned in Nate’s heart. 
 Maybe, just maybe, his hopeless crush on Logan Wright wasn’t so hopeless after all. 
 »»———— 🕶️ ————««
 Logan continued to press his fingers against his lips throughout the night. He did it so much that it almost became something of a fixation. He would remember the feeling of Nate’s lips pressed against his own and brush against his own lips, still sore from all the kissing. 
 He would then smile and sigh as his insides fluttered until he reminded himself that the kissing was just Nate being a good friend and one would assume a good actor. Logan was pretty certain that Roman went on often about something he called ‘method acting’. 
 His and Nate’s kissing was simply that. 
 Logan longed for so much more. 
 Still, Nate had obviously enjoyed kissing him so maybe this kissing practice would prove to be a good thing. 
 Logan brought his hand up to his lips once more, smiling softly as he brushed against them idly. 
 It was at that moment the door opened and Virgil shuffled in, tossing his bag by the little couch in the middle of the room. He collapsed onto it, only then glancing Logan’s way. 
 Logan, still lost in the memory of kissing Nate, had registered Virgil’s arrival but said nothing, still sliding his fingers gently across his lips. 
 “Hello~ Earth to Logan? Dude, what’s going on with you?”
 Logan blinked and looked at Virgil.
 “Oh, hey there, Virgil. Did you hang out with Patton?”
 Virgil nodded before shaking his head. 
 “Nope. We’re talking about you… you’re acting very… uh… Roman-y and Patton-y today.”
 Logan blushed because what that meant was that he was being very feelings-y. Logan usually was not a very feelings-y person. His best friend knew this well. 
 There were, however, some things he was not yet aware of. 
 “I kissed Nate today!” Logan said. Then he added, as an afterthought, “a lot.”
 Virgil’s eyes widened almost comically. 
 “You did what? When?”
 “While you were out…”
 “So, what? Did he ask you out? Are you two dating? Do I have to give him the best friend talk where I threaten his life if he hurts you?”
 Logan’s brows rose and he stared at Virgil waiting for him to end his tirade. He didn’t respond until Virgil grinned sheepishly and gestured in a go-right-ahead sort of manner. 
 “Okay, first… you have the wrong impression but, considering I blurted out that I kissed him with no other context, that’s not your fault. He sought me out here and I realized that he was offering to practice with me and well… I accepted.”
 “So…” Virgil bit his lip. “Look, I know when we’re younger and they tell you your first kiss is a big deal and all and it’s best with someone you really like and that likes you too but… it’s not like it is on tv.”
 Logan shrugged and smiled at Virgil. He knew it wasn’t a fully happy smile, but honestly, Virgil was a good friend. He tried his very best to help Logan any time he needed to feel better. 
 “So… even though you have to kiss him in the play when doesn’t like you—which, I’m still positive he does, that’s not the point here—how was it?”
 Logan laughed as he watched Virgil shift to the edge of the couch, leaning forward in Logan’s direction, obviously invested in whatever it was Logan would say next. 
 The intelligent teen blushed but smiled slowly, biting his lip. 
 “It was so much better than I could ever imagine.”
 Virgil chuckled at that and nodded. 
 “Yeah. Yeah, I feel that. Remember when we were younger and we were grossed out by even the thought.”
 Logan nodded. In fact, until that first kiss, Logan had still very much thought that. But now… 
 “I want to kiss him again.”
 Virgil laughed again. 
 “Damn, L.” 
 Logan blushed. “Shut up.”
 Virgil snorted. “Nope. Never. Besides, it's my job to keep you on your toes.”
 Logan shook his head. Idly, he brought his hand up to brush at his lips again. 
 “I’m a little worried though… it’s obvious that you like kissing him so much because of your feelings for him, L.”
 Logan nodded. He too had come to the conclusion. 
 “Okay… maybe don’t have so many practices?”
 Logan considered and nodded. 
 “Yeah… yeah, maybe.”
 Virgil seemed happy to have helped and went off to shuffle in his backpack for his homework. Logan sighed. 
 Virgil had a point. A very valid and logical point. 
 Unfortunately, Logan was not sure how well he would be able to resist now that he’d had just a taste of what could never be.
 Pushing the problem out of his mind, Logan turned his attention back to the problems that were within his ability to solve. 
  »»———— ♞ ————««
 Nate honestly felt like he was floating as he walked through the dorms, heading for his own room. He headed inside, making his way to his bed and tossed himself onto it. As he looked up at the ceiling, he brought a hand to his mouth and slid his fingers against his lower lip. 
 A smile slowly slipped onto his face as he pulled his hand away and bit his lip. He couldn’t believe how readily Logan had agreed to ‘kiss practice’. He had even agreed to continue it. 
 Nate found himself torn. 
 As much as he had so very loved kissing the intelligent teen, he also knew that he was only setting himself up for heartbreak. The play—and so the kissing—would come to an end and things would go back to the way they had been. 
 Still, Nate didn’t see why that meant he couldn’t enjoy it while he had the chance. If it had never been for the powers-that-be choosing himself and Logan for Romeo and Juliet, he would never have gotten the chance to feel what it was like to kiss the boy he had liked for so long. 
 The door opened and Nate, a soft, warm smile on his face and insides toasty, looked up to meet Janus’s gaze. Janus, apparently noting the love-sick look on his face, sighed and tugged Remus in by their linked hands before closing the door. 
 “I take it from the revolting look on your face that you talked to Logan?” Nate noted how eager the other sounded. 
 He cleared his throat. 
 “Oh, yeah… yeah, we talked a bit…”
 Nate looked away as Janus narrowed his eyes. 
 “And…?”
 “Ah, and nothing… I just told him I completely understood he was nervous.”
 “Did you tell him how you feel, Nate?”
 Nate had the decency to look sheepish. 
 “Not… exactly…”
 Janus gave him the look that meant he should continue. 
 “But he was very responsive to my kisses.”
 Janus’s eyes widened and Nate felt a rush of pride at causing such a rare phenomenon. It was not often that one surprised Janus Trompeur. 
 “You kissed him?”
 Nate could hear the excitement in his voice. Not wanting a misunderstanding, Nate cleared his throat. 
 “Yeah… I told him it was understandable he was nervous since he’d never been kissed and he came to the conclusion that I was offering to practice with him and so he agreed and we kissed… a lot… and it was so much better than I could have ever imagined.”
 Janus crossed his arms. “Uh huh.”
 “You should have seen Logan too… I’ve… I’ve never seen him like that before… I can safely guarantee it was enjoyed by both parties. He’s also agreed to continue. We’ll have another practice tomorrow.”
 He glanced up at Janus, hoping he would see where he was going with this. 
 The other sighed and winced. 
 “Oh, Nate… you beautiful, dumb idiot… you’re going to try to kiss him in love with you, aren’t you.”
 Nate flashed a grin. 
 “I’m going to kiss him in love with me, Janus!”
 Janus sighed, bringing a hand up to palm his face before he shook his head. 
 “Oh, darling. That’s not going to work if you don’t tell him how you feel.”
 Nate sighed. 
 “Yeah, you should lick his juicy butthole as well!”
 Janus and Nate both glared at Remus, who just cackled and continued to listen. 
 “Nate…”
 Nate threw up his hands in frustration. 
 “Okay, okay! Damn it, I know, Janus. I know.”
 Janus smiled and nodded. 
 “Very good… and….”
 Nate sighed and rolled his eyes but answered dutifully, as expected. 
 “And I promise I will find some time before the play is over to tell him how I feel.”
 Janus flashed a victory smile. 
 “Good. Now, all this dabbling into your love life has made me hungry. Let’s go get dinner.”
 Nate grinned and nodded. Ignoring the return of the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Nate pulled on his coat and joined the other two for dinner.
 »»———— 🕶️ ————««
 Logan wouldn’t say he had grown used to kissing Nate three days into practice, but he would definitely say he had grown comfortable with it. Unfortunately, as Monday came and classes began once more, Logan realized that today would be the first rehearsal. 
 He would have to kiss Nate… but on stage. 
 “I can’t do this, Nate,” he said, his words a little sharp from nerves. Nate just shrugged and nodded at the audience that was currently made up of the rest of their senior class. Unfortunately, that meant the seats were nearly packed and quite a lot of people would be watching. 
 Unlike their parents and faculty, the other students wouldn’t hold back if he were to make an absolute mockery of himself. 
 Suddenly, hands were on his shoulders and he could feel the tightness deep in his bones melting away as strong fingers rubbed into his muscles. 
 “Sorry… I should have asked first… I can stop, if you want me to…”
 Logan shook his head, letting out a little moan of pleasure as his eyes closed. 
 “No… this is… this is acceptable.”
 Logan sighed as he focused on Nate’s hands and the way his muscles relaxed under his touch. By the time his body was completely relaxed, Logan realized he was pressed into Nate in a very intimate way. Stepping forward, he turned to look at Nate, clearing his throat. 
 “Thank you for the massage. I appreciate it.”
 Nate smiled. 
 “Anytime.”
 Logan, noting how amazing his body felt, nodded. “Noted. I might actually take you up on that offer in the future. Now, let’s run the lines once more before we—”
 “Logan. Nate. You two are up.” Remy called, as if bored out of his mind.
 Logan stiffened but gave a sharp nod. Nate returned his hands to Logan’s shoulders as he nodded to his twin. Remy walked off and Nate turned Logan to look at him. 
 “You’ve got this, Logan. You already have all your lines memorized. Literally. Which by the way, think you can help me with that, because I totally do not…”
 Logan laughed, feeling the worry and stress melting away. 
 He turned to look at Nate and smiled. 
 “I have this theory.”
 Nate grinned. “Oh yeah, what’s that?”
 “That you’re going to do a really good job.”
 Nate’s eyes warmed and his smile went soft. Once again, Logan was projecting onto this poor teenager who had no idea what he did to Logan. 
 “Let’s go break some legs, yeah.”
 “I prefer the phrase ‘fracture a femur’ but yes, let’s.”
 Nate laughed deeply and Logan couldn’t help but grin, a little proud of himself for causing such a reaction. 
 »»———— ♞ ————««
 Nate, in character, made his way to his love, tears lingering on his cheeks. He swallowed hard as he took in his ‘dead’ Juliet, rushing to the ‘concrete’ dias where her body lay. Pulling Logan into his arms, he tried his hardest not to look directly at Logan’s face. He didn’t want to cause the other to crack up or break character. 
 Vowing that he would love Juliet and Juliet alone forever, Nate as Romeo took the colored-water ‘poison’ and began to choke. He shuddered and moved to lay beside his lover on the dias. He choked a few more times for good measure, causing students in the audience to laugh before he collapsed once more on the structure and closed his eyes.
 Nate did his very best to look dead. Considering that Nate was lazy by nature and often lounged around, and he was pretty certain Janus would happily tell him to his face he looked like a dead man walking, that was the easiest part of the play. 
 But what would come mere moments later… 
 Nate felt Logan shuffle on the dias, hearing him let out a yawn, signaling to the audience Juliet had woken from her drugged sleep. Unfortunately, Nate could not see what Logan was doing lest he break character but a moment later, he gasped. 
 Logan called for ‘Romeo’ but when Romeo did not rouse—though it was hard because Nate wanted nothing more than to reassure Logan how well he was doing—Juliet cried for her dead husband. 
 Nate felt a shift on the structure and then soft, gentle hands were taking hold of his face. He bit the part of his lower lip still hidden by his closed mouth to keep from grinning. He heard as Logan professed that he would kiss Romeo so that Juliet may be with him.
 Soft but firm lips pressed against his own. Nate couldn’t deny he definitely smiled into the kiss. He could also feel Logan smiling into it. 
 That was when it happened. 
 Logan cracked up laughing and Nate opened his eyes to chuckle as well. 
 “Well, hey there, Julie, baby.”
 “Oh my god, shut up.” Logan said through his laughing.
 Mr. Sanders joined them and laughed. 
 “That was really good… we’ll need to work on the laughing but otherwise… that practice was amazing, everyone! We’ll keep working on the blocking, but just keep running your lines and memorizing them. I think this is actually going to be really, really awesome!”
 Nate glanced at Logan, who was beaming at Mr. S’s praise. 
 He’s so pretty when he smiles. Janus is right. God, I have it bad.
“Yeah, just wait til half of us have to do it in dresses.”
 Nate snorted as he glanced at Janus, who was playing Rosaline. He had a point. Janus, Logan, and Virgil—not to mention a handful of other senior boys—would be wearing dresses for the show. 
 “And I have every faith that you will all rock them,” Mr. Sanders countered, which earned him a grin from Janus. 
 Janus leaned his arm on Remus’s shoulder and shrugged. 
 “I mean, you’re not wrong, Mr. S,” Janus agreed.
 “I know I’m not. Now, you all get out of here and have a great and relaxing night. Logan, that means you.”
 Nate glanced at Logan to see his crush blushing but grinning. Virgil spoke up. 
 “I’ll hold him to it, Mr. S.” 
 Thomas beamed at that. 
 “Good man, Virgil. Alright, see you all tomorrow.”
 Rehearsal ended for the night, Nate turned to Logan. 
 “So… I’m kinda hungry and I’m assuming we’re still on for kissing practice tonight?”
 Logan glanced at him and nodded. 
 “Then let me at the very least get you some dinner. It’s the least I can do after my dumb ass got exiled and you killed yourself over it.”
 “Nathan… it’s a play.”
 “You’re so right. It’s a total power play. You deserve better.”
 Logan snorted at that and hesitated before bringing up a fist to punch him lightly in the shoulder. 
 Nate feigned bodily injury, grabbing his arm. 
 “Oh. You got me. I’m dead.”
 He then pretended to die on the dias, eyes closed, tongue sticking out. 
 It wasn’t until warmth pressed against his cheek that he opened his eyes to see Logan pulling back, face flushed. It was obvious that Logan had just kissed his cheek and Nate, grinning, sat up to look at Logan. 
 Glancing around, he noticed that everyone else had left—well, mostly everyone. Virgil, Remus, Janus, and Patton were talking at the entrance to the backstage area. None of them were looking their way and so Nate, feeling confident, turned his attention back to Logan. 
 Before he could even open his mouth to ask Logan if he could kiss him, Logan claimed his mouth with his own. Nate’s eyes closed and he quickly returned the favor, a soft, happy sound escaping him. 
 Logan placed a hand on his chest as he slid closer, his other reaching up to grip at the little hairs at the back of Nate’s neck. Nate shivered but gasped, Logan quickly taking advantage of this and slipping his tongue inside. 
 Nate moaned, teasing along Logan’s tongue with his own as he kissed back desperately. 
 “Ooooooh,” Janus teased.
 Nate’s eyes opened wide as he and Logan both jumped from the kiss. He quickly glanced toward the backstage but no one was there and all sound of talking had ceased. He would have assumed that the others—seeing what he and Logan were up to—had left but he also knew Janus very well. 
 “That was…”
 “Satisfactory.”
 Nate laughed at that. “Yes, very, very, very satisfactory.”
 He held the other’s gaze and smiled. 
 “So… dinner?”
 Logan rolled his eyes. 
 “Very well. You’re paying.”
 “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
 »»———— 🕶️ ————««
 Logan fidgeted with his keys in his pocket as he walked with Nate to the cafeteria. The nice thing about the school was that they had little restaurants in the cafeteria, a lot like they did in colleges, instead of what most public schools offered. Unfortunately, as they allowed the students to work there for a wage, Virgil would most definitely be present. 
 He sighed as he realized the long talk Virgil would want to have with him the moment he saw Logan with Nate, already feeling exhausted. 
 “What’s wrong?”
 Logan blinked up at the other. 
 “Huh? Oh, nothing,” Logan lied. It wasn’t a complete lie, per say. Logan was used to Virgil and he never minded talking with his friend. He just didn’t want to hear the ‘I told you so’ from his friend when Virgil realized he hadn’t been limiting the kissing practices as well as he could have. 
 Nate, looking doubtful, frowned. “You sure?”
 Logan laughed softly and nodded. “Yeah… just stressed out about the play but… somehow, I know it’s going to be okay.”
 Nate laughed at that. “That’s the attitude to have, scholar!” 
 Logan smiled, ignoring the slight twinge of guilt he felt at not being completely truthful. Then again, there was no way he could be truthful without informing Nate about how he felt about him, and Logan…
 He just couldn’t bring himself to do it. 
 Maybe it was selfish but, knowing that Nate would suddenly feel awkward and uncomfortable around him once he found out, Logan wanted to enjoy a little more time with him.
 Just the two of them.
 Just like this. 
 They reached the cafeteria and Logan followed Nate to the center of the room. Logan considered the options and was about to go order from where Virgil was working when Nate called out to him. 
 “My treat, so where we eating today?” 
 Logan nodded toward the little taco hut where Virgil stood now, watching them both. Nate, noticing Virgil for the first time, gave a start before grinning. 
 “Oh! Hey, Virgil. What’s up, dude?”
 He moved over to the little taco restaurant and offered his fist, which Virgil bumped but not before snorting and rolling his eyes first. As Logan joined them, Virgil spoke up, not taking his eyes from Logan’s gaze. 
 “Hey, losers. What brings you guys down? Logan, didn’t you say your plan was to do homework tonight?”
 He eyed Logan doggedly, which the intelligent student ignored, instead glancing at the menu though he already knew it by heart. 
 “Oh, that was my fault. After rehearsal I practically begged him to go get dinner with me because I am a sad, lonely guy.”
 Logan watched Virgil closely, surprised at the slight grin slipping onto his face at Nate’s words. 
 “You’re not bad, Lassus. Your brother though… he’s a dick and he still owes me 50 bucks. Now, what can I get you losers to eat?”
 Logan ordered what he always got: the taco plate. Nate, meanwhile, ordered a taco salad. Logan would have been slightly surprised as Nate had never pegged him as a good nutrition aficionado, but then the other asked for double meat and Logan could just sigh fondy and grin. 
 Nate tried to pay but Virgil completely ignored him. Food was placed on two trays and cups added afterward. 
 “On the house,” he said slowly, holding Nate’s gaze as if just trying to goad him into objecting. Nate seemed to realize this because he grinned and held up his hands. 
 “Okay, okay. I got the message.”
 “Finally,” Virgil mumbled but he was grinning ever so slightly. 
 Logan realized that, in his own way, Virgil was approving of Nate. Once Nate took his tray to go find a great table, Logan grinned when his best friend’s eyes met his. 
 “Thank you,” he mouthed. Virgil rolled his eyes but mouthed your welcome before waving in the direction Nate had gone. 
 “He’s not such a total waste of a human, I suppose,” Virgil said finally. “But Logan… if this is something you want… you really need to tell—”
 Logan sighed, cutting off yet another tirade. “I’m aware, V. I promise… I’ll tell him by the last performance.”
 Virgil groaned softly. “You really, really should tell him before that but… fine… look, L. You don’t have to tell him if you don’t want to but… I’m afraid that if you don’t, all of this is going to hurt you a lot more than you realize.”
 Logan wanted to disagree. Unfortunately, he was definitely not an expert on feelings and since Virgil was dating one of the two experts on feelings that they knew, he suspected Virgil likely picked up a few things. 
 “I vow to tell him before the start of our last performance at the latest.”
 “I’ll drink to that compromise… you know, if I had a drink.” He sighed wistfully but Logan knew it was all for the theatrics. Though Virgil would swear up and down that he was not dramatic, Logan—friends with three dramatic people—knew better. He could be just as dramatic as Roman when he wanted to be. 
 Logan grabbed his tray, thanked Virgil once more, and headed for the table on the far side of the large, open room. Virgil called back to him, wishing him good luck, causing Logan to smile softly. 
 Gray eyes sought out his...friend. Logan, ignoring the sudden feeling of sadness, pushed such thoughts out of his head. Sure, Nate would never be his boyfriend, but it was clear he wanted to be friends. Logan would not be the kind of person who couldn’t be friends with someone who did not want to date him. 
 Nate waved his arms wildly, chuckling when Logan’s eyes met his and he corrected his course for Nate’s table. He reached him quickly enough, snorting when Nate tugged him gently to sit next to him, rather than across from him. 
 Logan had expected Nate to talk to him then but, as he quickly learned, Nate was very much an eat-now-talk-after kind of guy. 
 Laughing softly, Logan started to dig in as well. 
 »»———— ♞ ————««
 Nate had eaten about half his food when he turned to Logan. 
 "I don't know about you but kissing sure does work up an appetite." His grin was flirty and eager. 
 Logan blushed and nodded. 
 "Interestingly enough, I have found that as well," Logan said. "I, too, am quite famished."
 He continued to eat as Nate became preoccupied with stuffing his face once more. 
 "Mmmm."
 Nate looked up at the sound of laughter. Logan was watching him eat, amusement in his gray gaze.
 "Adequate to your taste buds?" Logan asked with another laugh. 
 Nate looked at him and answered, a bit of food still in his mouth. 
 "Beyond adequate," he moaned. "Thank Virgil again for me later." 
 Logan laughed. 
 "Will do."
 They fell into companionable silence once more, Nate glancing at Logan every so often. Every other time he glanced, he caught Logan's gaze and both of them blushed before looking away. 
 Huh.
 Wasn't that interesting. 
 Deciding he needed more time to consider the new development, Nate cleared his throat. 
 "So… what new book are you reading? I just picked up this great Agatha Christie novel that I'm sure you've read already but it's so good."
 Logan blinked. He looked confused and even said as much. 
 "How do you know I read Agatha Christie novels?"
 Nate laughed at that. Looking fondly at Logan, he smiled. "Scholar. You've been reading those books since we all started here. I noticed them and started reading a few myself."
 Logan’s brows rose and while he didn't say anything, Nate knew exactly what that look was for. 
 "Yes. I read. Shocker, right?"
 Logan's expression took on an apologetic sort of look and Nate laughed. 
 "No no. You're fine, cutie. I'm used to people being surprised. In their defense and yours, I don't read a lot. But I can and do read."
 Logan nodded, a grin slipping onto his face as he turned to look at him better, leaning in eagerly. 
 "So which book is it that you're reading?"
 "Death on the Nile."
 Logan nodded with a grin. 
 "That one is very good but my favorite will always be—"
 "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd," Nate finished for him with a warm smile. 
 Logan blinked. He stared at Nate for a few moments, questions in those gray eyes. Nate was worried that maybe he had said too much. 
 Maybe Logan realized that Nate really liked him and now it was going to be awkward because Logan didn't feel the same. 
 And then Logan blushed and nodded. A soft smile slipped onto his face.
 "Precisely."
 Nate grinned as the slight charge between them in that moment settled. He didn't know what had happened but it hadn't sent Logan running and he considered that a win on his part. 
 They finished dinner and said their goodbyes to Virgil before heading out of the cafeteria for Nate’s dorm. 
 »»———— 🕶️ ————««
 Logan was quiet on the walk to Nate’s dorm room. He knew that Nate had to be wondering at his silence but he couldn’t bring himself to speak just yet. 
 The reason for his silence...
 There had been a moment while eating with Nate that had opened his eyes to knowledge he hadn’t been aware he had lacked. 
 Logan didn’t know how he knew it but the moment Nate supplied Logan’s favorite Agatha Christie novel as fact and not a guess had been very telling and Logan was almost certain that Nate liked him. A lot. 
 Perhaps even as much as Logan liked Nate. 
 Just tell him! You know he likes you now! Tell him!
 He knew that his more logical side was right. At this point, with such a high probability of his feelings being reciprocated, the logical course of action would be to tell him. 
 And yet, Logan couldn’t. 
 He couldn’t even give a logical explanation as to why, which frustrated him more than anything. It just didn’t feel like the right time. Or the right place. 
 Logan chewed his lip. 
 He really hated relying on his feelings. 
 “Hey… half-dollar for your thoughts?”
 Logan blinked up at the other. He seemed nervous. Logan smiled at him. 
 “I’m certain the expression is ‘penny for your thoughts’.”
 Nate grinned at that, seeming to relax once more. 
 “Yeah, well. Pennies are practically worthless these days and I think more highly of the things that come out of your beautiful brain.”
 Logan blushed at that and cleared his throat. 
 “Just have a lot on my mind.”
 Nate nodded, falling silent once more. 
 Logan bit his lip before moving a little closer to the other. He tapped him with his elbow in a playful manner he’d seen Virgil do with Patton. It seemed to work because Nate grinned down at him like the sun. 
 “Hey.”
 Logan wanted to make up for the silence and since he couldn’t tell him everything… not yet...Logan said the first thing he could think of. 
 “I can’t wait for practice.”
 Then he blushed as he realized the implications of this. Nate looked at him in surprise, a slight flush to his cheeks as he slowly grinned. 
 “Uh oh…”
 Logan raised a brow. He hadn’t expected that reaction. “What?”
 “Looks like someone has an addiction to kisses.”
 Logan blushed but rolled his eyes. 
 “You are what my friend Roman would call ‘an absolute dork’.”
 Nate snorted. 
 “Roman Prince? Not surprised that’s his idea of an insult but, well, you're not wrong.”
 Logan grinned, pleased to feel the air around them grow comfortable once more. 
 “But… I concede that, perhaps, you are not wrong as well.”
 Nate grinned at him. 
 “About what?” he pressed. Logan glared at him. Nate took on a look of innocence. “I merely want to be clear about what part of what I said was not wrong.”
 Logan knew that wasn’t the case. Nate wanted to hear him say it. He decided that since he couldn’t outright tell him how he felt, the least he could do was tell him what he wanted to hear. 
 It was true, after all. 
 “I am… addicted to kisses.”
 He blushed far deeper than he expected to confess that out loud. He stopped and quickly hid his face in his hands. Nate must have glanced back and noticed he had stopped before quickly returning to him. 
 “Awww. No, no… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you… I was just teasing. Can I… can I hug you?”
 Logan nodded but did not remove his hands from his burning face. He felt as strong arms embraced him. He stayed like that, feeling safe and secure in his arms. At some point, he pulled his hands away to press his face into the other’s chest, his own arms wrapping tentatively around the taller teen’s middle. 
 “How’s that? Better, cutie?” 
 Logan nodded, trying to ignore how warm the nickname made him.
 “Do you want to postpone the practice? If you need to, then that’s totally—”
 “No!”
 Nate blinked down at the other in surprise. Logan could see that his reaction had been a bit too passionate considering Nate had no idea how he felt about him.
 “I mean, no… I very much would like to keep on schedule.” 
 Nate slowly grinned. 
 “Then what better time to start… Can I kiss you right here, Logan? Right now?”
 Logan had a feeling Nate was expecting him to laugh and playfully punch him before they continued on their course for his room. 
 That was not what happened. 
 Logan moved his arms from around him. He then threw himself at Nate, wrapping his arms around his neck, as he kissed him. Hard. 
 Nate’s eyes widened but soon fluttered closed as he tightened his hold on the slighter teen, kissing back as desperately as Logan kissed him. 
 When they finally pulled away—it was with some difficulty breathing, Logan couldn’t deny—he swallowed hard and held the other’s gaze. Nate’s gaze was curious.
 “Nate…” Logan said slowly. He saw the slight surprise on the other’s face. Logan had never called him Nate before.
 “Logan…” 
 Logan hesitated. He very much needed to tell Nate or he would always be wondering ‘what if’? As a scientific minded individual, what ifs were only useful if the question was answered. Logan needed some answers.
 “Can we… can we go somewhere quiet… your room is fine… but just somewhere with not a lot of people… please?”
 Nate, obviously confused, nodded.
 “Yeah… we’re almost to my room anyway. Come on.”
 Logan’s insides churned and tumbled as he walked at Nate’s side. He honestly had no idea what had possessed him to almost tell Nate how he felt… outside. 
 That… that definitely was not the place for such intimate talks such as that. No. One should take the person of their affections, ask to speak with them in private, and only for their ears, share what was in their heart. 
 Logan nearly made a face. 
 When had he become so sentimental?
 He glanced up at Nate and slowly, a fond smile slipped over his lips. 
 Oh, yeah. Right.
 They reached Nate’s dorm room soon after, Nate holding up a finger before walking inside, signaling Logan to wait. Logan, considering himself fairly intelligent, was sure Nate wanted to make certain Janus (and by proxy, Remus) was not around. 
 He waited as patiently as he could, rubbing his fingers against his jeans in a comforting manner. Soon enough, though it felt a lot longer to Logan, Nate returned and held the door for him. 
 “Come on in, scholar.”
 Logan did just that, almost jumping at the click of the door as Nate closed it behind them. He then led Logan into the room, making his way to the bed and taking a seat. He patted the space next to him. Logan took a deep breath, crossed the room to the bed, and took the offered seat. 
 He quickly turned to Nate just as Nate turned toward him. 
 “Logan, there’s something I need to tell you,” Nate said at the exact same time Logan said, “Nate, there’s something I wish to tell you.”
 Both of them broke out laughing, their faces flushed, gazes vulnerable. 
 Nate cleared his throat and held out his hands, palms up, to Logan. 
 “May I?” he asked, voice low. Logan nodded, placing his hands into Nate’s.
 Nate, dark eyes locked with Logan’s, bit his lip before smiling. 
 “That’s better… now… I’m sorry for jumping the gun. You… you go first.”
 Logan wanted to refuse or insist Nate go, but he decided that that wasn’t fair to Nate. He had been the one asking to talk. He should go first.
 He nodded. 
 Taking a deep breath, Logan for the first time in his life ignored his mind and spoke from his heart.
 »»———— ♞ ————««
 Nate squeezed Logan’s hands as the other seemed to search for the courage needed to say what he had to. 
 Nate knew what he hoped Logan wanted to say. He hoped more than anything that Logan had come to realize that he liked Nate too. But, that could just as easily not be what Logan wanted to tell him. Maybe he had noticed that Nate liked him and was being respectful, letting him down in private. 
 Maybe he just wanted to be friends. 
 Nate could live with that. It would hurt for a while, but he could deal. 
 As long as it wasn’t Logan never wanting to see him again, Nate could live with whatever it was the other was about to tell him. He sighed inwardly and instead focused on Logan. 
 Logan, who was struggling. 
 Nate squeezed his hands again. 
 “Hey,” he said and waited until Logan’s eyes met his. “Whatever it is, you won’t scare me away.” He paused. “Unless you dress up as a clown on the weekend… then I’d say my loyalty is questionable…”
 Logan laughed at that and it seemed to be the reassurance he needed. He cleared his throat and Nate leaned in subconsciously.
 “... You were correct earlier… when you said I was addicted to kisses… I am very much addicted to kisses…” 
 He glanced down at their hands and seemed to consider what to say next. Nate watched him closely, mesmerized by him. 
 “I am addicted to your kisses, Nate…”
 Nate blushed and a big grin slipped onto his face as it hit him. 
 Logan liked him. And Nate was him. Nate. Logan liked Nate. 
 “Are you saying-?!!”
 Logan laughed at that and nodded, blushing a little himself. 
 “I like you, Nate. I have for a very long time.”
 Nate whistled and shook his head. 
 “Well, that just sucks because I’ve liked you for a very long time too. Since we first met, now that I think about it. It feels like we’ve missed out on so much time.”
 Logan blinked at the remark and nodded a second later when it registered what Nate meant.
 “It does. But we’re here now… together...”
 Nate beamed and his excitement soon morphed into unbridled adoration. 
 “Be my Juliet… but alive… and forever?”
 Logan snorted. “There are so many things wrong with that question, Nate, but I like you, so I forgive you. I will be your boyfriend, though, if that would be agreeable with—”
 “Yes! So freaking agreeable! Totally agreeable!”
 Nate watched in wonder as Logan laughed, not holding back, his gray eyes full of happiness and fondness as he looked upon Nate. He couldn’t keep from surging forward and claiming Logan’s lips with his own. 
 Logan relaxed into the kiss with ease, his arms wrapping around Nate’s neck like they’d never stopped. Nate moaned into the kiss as Logan kissed back eagerly, sounds of enjoyment escaping him as well. 
 When they broke for air, Nate nuzzled into Logan’s hair with his nose before pressing a kiss to his temple. 
 “Boyfriend,” he said, overjoyed to use the title for Logan. 
 Logan rolled his eyes, blushing. “Dork.”
 Nate brought a hand to his heart as if he had been hurt. He then swooned and ‘collapsed’ upon his bed. Logan laughed and then shifted to hover over him. 
 “Let’s keep this between us… just until after the play… Virgil has been trying to get me to tell you forever and I really do not need to deal with any I told you so’s… and maybe, I also would not mind keeping you to myself for a little bit longer.”
 Nate snorted. “Oh. You can always have me to yourself. I don’t mind picking Janus up by the collar and tossing him out if need be… uh, but maybe don’t quote me on that. Still, keeping up a ruse sounds fun. I’m in.”
 Logan smiled down at him and Nate brought a hand up to frame his face, guiding him down to kiss him.
 If they got lost in the kisses and each other, neither minded in the slightest.
-----------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Thomas Sanders or Joan, nor the rest of their group. I do not own or make money off of these characters. I only own the story as it is written.
Super uber thanks to my beta reader for this fic @superweebside​ and the two that preread my stuff to make sure its up to par: @romantichopelessly & @sunshineandteddybears.
51 notes · View notes
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Text
Tumblr media
Baby Janus nomming on best friend/partner in crime, Snakey. This is how I see baby Jay in my head. (Well as well as I could anyway. 😂)
From my Baby of Mine Analogical AU. Janus’s dad's (Virgil and Logan) don't care much for all the hardened slobber during Snakey's wash day but look how happy Jay is right now!
If you wanna be added to the BoM AU tag list be sure to let me know. Also if you ever wanna ask questions about this au (or any of my au's), absolutely feel free!
42 notes · View notes
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Note
In the love hate relationship fic, what are the characters general heights?
Tumblr media
Here you go! :D @knight-shives
25 notes · View notes
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Text
BoM AU (Baby of Mine AU) Info List
Decided to do a little info list about this AU as I will be posting the second installment in the AU soon. Almost finished with it. 
Logan and Virgil are together, married, and adopted a baby boy as an infant.
That baby was Janus. 
Baby of Mine was the first installment and takes place when Janus is four. 
It is decided at the end by Logan and Virgil that they will adopt another child. 
Author’s Note: They will, in fact, adopt two more kiddos. Twins. 
The second installment “Zoo Trip” takes place when Janus is three. 
It is Janus’s first trip to the zoo! 
Logan quickly realizes their son really loves snakes. 
Thomas and Nico are Virgil’s dads.
Patton and Emile and are going to adopt as well.
They decided after seeing Virgil and Logan so happy with their son. 
Virgil never actually wanted kids. Logan wasn’t particularly one way or another. 
They ultimately decided, however, that there were more than enough children in the world without homes and they were stable enough financially to help one. 
Now, neither can imagine life without Janus. 
I will be doing oneshots of parts of their lives from past, present, and future in relation to BoM (the first fic). You will get to see Janus (and the other kids) at all stages of life. :D I think this will be v cool. 
There will not be a lot of heavy angst. Maybe some familial/teenage type drama but all very easily taken care of. This is meant to be mostly domestic and familial bliss because I needed it. I figure you might all too.
I’m sure I’ll add more to this later on but that’s what we have so far. Now, I know quite a number of you asked to be tagged in this but it’s really hard to try and go find them all. If you are interested in this domestic bliss fluff family au, please let me know if you want to be tagged in future fics for this. 
I’ll keep that list on this post for my reference.
Taglist: 
31 notes · View notes
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Note
🌹🌹🌹🌹!
Okay so tech not a wip but since it’s not yet published on here or AO3, Imma say it is. Just for variety :D
“Hello there, handsome,” he said, the sound reminiscent of a cat. Purring. 
For whatever reason, it caused Logan to blush which seemed to amuse Remy as he smirked. Logan, unsure of what to do, cleared his throat. 
“Sorry for running into you, Remy.”
Remy beamed. “No problem at all, Logan. I really can’t say I minded.”
Have some Losleep! :D 
No context given in this one because it amuses me too much to not give it. 
@anonymous
23 notes · View notes
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Note
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
okay you did ten roses. so. Here’s a scene from the nest installment of BoM AU. Well, not a whole scene but 7 lines from the same scene. (tech there are more than 10 lines there but i’m counting line breaks. Anyway, who cares. You get more stuff. lol
“Oh my god!” 
“He’s so cute!”
Logan glanced at the two ladies who had been passing them only to stop and beam at Janus, who was beaming back, eyes shining at the attention. 
“Thank you,” Logan said as Virgil pushed Janus over, a polite smile on his face. Virgil too was smiling, though his eyes were guarded. One with children could never be too careful. 
“Is this your first time to the zoo, little man?”
Janus glanced at Logan and Logan smiled and nodded. Janus nodded at the ladies, showing off his teeth as he grinned really bright. 
“Zwoo!!” He exclaimed, kicking his feet and bouncing in his seat. The ladies ate him up for the next few minutes before heading off to let Logan and Virgil do the same with Janus.
And theeeen... 
Here’s three lines from my hs/theater Late (Logan/Nate) fic that has been finished but has not yet been beta’d. So tech still a WIP. (It’s being beta’d as we speak, actually. Thank you @superweebside Everyone thank Jillian. :D)
“So gorgeous… so sweet… but so, so dumb.”
Nate might have felt offended but the other said the insult with such fondness it almost felt like the other compliments he’d offered. 
“Janus, just get to the point.”
@beyondthestacks
14 notes · View notes
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Note
so i saw that u're considering writing a pt 2 of sorts to the star!logan analogical fic and this came to my mind i'm so sorry 😂
Logan: "Virgil, what are taxes?"
Lololol OMG. XD
Poor Logan learning how unfair this world truly is to the majority of people.
I love that lololol.
@vcherry-kai16
14 notes · View notes
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Note
🌹
“Oh, pet. Usually, I would be in total agreement with you but unfortunately, this book being this book and a first edition and at such a steal… you must think me blind and dumb if you think I’ll be letting this book go without a fight.” - Janus @sunshineandteddybears
Tumblr media
@kittenlove536 @superweebside
*used screenshot to copy the info of the fic. This dang app version only copies paragraph at a time. I wasn't gonna mess with that. Lol.
14 notes · View notes
tlhrfanfic · 3 years
Text
Would any of you be willing to tell me things they like about my writing? Perhaps favorite fics or lines from a fic? Or anything you feel willing to share about it that is positive?
I could really use the positivity right now and I want to write these down or print them off as a reminder that even when I'm hating myself or think I'm untalented or am not liking my work, I have a reminder that is not true.
Please and thank you. You can either shoot me an ask (anon or not), reblog this, or leave a reply.
Thank you 💜
12 notes · View notes