#and of course them just being a couple of astrophiles bc i say so

[oatmealdaydreams]

Stargazing the Stargazer

Happy Logince Week! A lil drabble to start off this wonderful event.

Pairing: Logince, gen

Trigger/Content Warning: none?

Description: Logan and Roman go stargazing in the Imagination.

Extra: written for Day 1: Stars of @loginceweek2024! A lil cliché but still cute to write. Yes, I posted this at 1am on the 21st. Fight me.

[Masterlist] | ao3 link

[read under the cut]

As much as Logan and Roman oppose each other in baseline functions, they share plenty of similarities. They both do their fair share of research for projects- how else would you get representation for a story right- and they always make time in their schedules for brainstorming sessions. They both appreciate poetry in their own ways, if the rap battle they did was any indicator. 

Most importantly, they both love the stars. 

And thus, this specific shared factor spurs Roman to take his nerdy friend on a trip into the Imagination. He stands before Logan’s door, its wood decorated in hues of indigo and adorned with little white painted stars. It’s alike that of a starry night sky in differing shades of blue. Logan’s name hangs on in silver metal lettering, the font being as sharp and concise as he is. Roman knocks in his signature pattern: one short knock, a longer knock, and then another short knock. To most, it’s just a random series of knocks; to Logan, who’s adept in morse code, it’s announcing that it’s Roman at the door. Roman knows Logan’s skills in different languages, which includes a set of codes. Once he learned this- sometime before there was a big shift in Light and Dark- he learned a decent amount of morse code to better connect with Logan. He still remembers a few things from before they broke into their respective cemented roles and opposed each other more harshly. 

Upon hearing the recognizable knock, Logan steps up to his door and opens it. Roman smiles at seeing his hair a little unkempt, and Logan steps aside to welcome Roman into his room. As Roman walks in, Logan smoothes and fixes his hair to be more presentable. It makes Roman’s chest ache a little, thinking back to when the logical Side used to feel comfortable to have messier hair around others. Then again, it’s been so long since then. It shouldn’t be a surprise, but it still aches when the Prince sees how his companion tenses with another person in the room. 

“What is it that you need, Roman?” Logan’s voice is a constant steady noise.

“Well, my dearest nerd, I was wondering if you’d like to accompany me to the Imagination for a surprise?” Roman watches as Logan tenses more at the mention of a surprise.

He never did like surprises.

“Roman, you know I don’t like surprises. Furthermore, I already have things I need to do.”

“I- well, I know that. I wasn’t done yet.”

Logan looks at him with patience, nodding at him to proceed.

“This surprise isn’t an adventure, or anything like that. I wanted to take you to a certain hill and sit with you. That’s it.”

An eyebrow raises and, “Then, how is it a surprise?”

Roman smirks.

“That, dear astrophile, is the reveal you shall see. A mystery to solve.”

Logan’s shoulders slump at the knowledge it won’t be an adventure, but still a mystery to uncover. Roman practically sees gears turning in his nerd’s eyes as he waits, shifting in place. 

“Well… I do like mysteries,” the nerd trails off as he glances at his computer.

“It can always wait if you can’t come right now. I know your work’s important to you, and it looks like I may have interrupted it,” the Prince quickly adds, hoping he’d at least agree to come along at some point. 

Logan pauses, seeing an odd anxiety twist in his fellow Side’s eyes. Roman can be loud and excitable and take up an entire room, but he also notes things most don’t. Like how who and who doesn’t like surprises, how certain Sides like their coffee in the morning, everyone’s varying love languages and they best receive affection from others, and so many more things. It still makes Logan pause, sometimes. He’s not used to being known, to have his little likes and quirks known and acknowledged by someone else. It’s been… a long time since he really felt known by someone. And he can’t say anyone but Roman has made an effort. Perhaps, though he’d never admit it, he welcomes Roman’s company over the Others because of how well he knows him, especially with how well he continues to know him. No matter how much they oppose each other. 

So, though he has work to do, he turns and saves his work as he shuts down his computer. When he turns back, Logan can’t miss the hope and excitement in Roman’s eyes. It makes them twinkle like spotlights. 

“Well, I was about done for the day, anyway. I wouldn’t mind accompanying you, Roman. Besides, who would I be to turn down a mystery?” Logan says, and Roman’s smile matches his eyes. 

“Wonderful! Come with me, Microsoft Nerd, and let the mystery begin,” Roman offers his hand, radiating an excitable energy only ever akin to him. 

The detective blinks at the gesture, humming before he takes his hand and gives a rare warm smirk. A brief look of princely fondness, and Roman pulls him along as they leave the room. 

~~~

After a bit of walking in the Imagination, Logan can’t help but think Roman planned detail into this little trip. 

Sometimes, he forgets how much thought goes into everything Roman creates. The path they walk is dirt, tall oak and vibrant irises line the sides. It’s in the middle of a forest, it seems, and Logan spots birds in treetops watching them as they stroll. It’s dark, but a plethora of fireflies light their way as swarms of them guide them to their destination. Their lights reflect in Logan’s eyes, and Roman finds himself distracted by the constellations he can see in them. He forces himself to look away, to ignore the fact his companion hasn’t taken his hand from his, and looks for the landmark. He smiles when he sees it ahead; a small flower of red, blue, and purple, each blossom its own colour, a flower that’s three flowers in one. It’s very different from the indigo irises around it, a floral creation of Roman’s own. Logan spots it as they walk closer, curiosity blooming like the flowers they pass by. 

“Roman, where are you taking me? We’re still in a forest,” he speaks softly, not wanting to break this peaceful atmosphere with his voice. 

“I told you, I’m taking you to a hill.”

“And yet all I see are trees and no hills.”

“Oh, and so you doubt my abilities, dear nerd? I thought you wanted a mystery.”

Logan rolls his eyes as he examines their surroundings. 

“Well, if we are going to a hill, and the path is through a forest… and it is dark out here…” the logical Side mumbles his thoughts. 

Roman smiles, listening for the inevitable moment when the nerd figures it out. 

“Perhaps… will we see the sky out on the hill?”

“We will,” the Prince feels excitement bubble in his gut as they walk an upward path.

Here, the trees are slowly less and less, but the flowers increase in number. The flora slowly changes from indigo irises into red and blue asters as they continue on. The fireflies slowly leave as well, making it darker and harder to see. Logan almost worries before he spots bright dots through the leaves of treetops, his heart racing at the hope that he gets to see something he really likes. He can see more and more lighting up the inky sky as the treetops become thinner and thinner.

“Roman, are we… the stars?”

Roman turns to Logan, seeing the hope in his eyes and a wonder he hasn’t seen in so long. He can only nod, silenced by his own awe of how beautifully soft and at ease his detective is. His detective’s eyes widen slightly with poorly veiled excitement and joy, his mouth agape. He quickly turns to see ahead of them, spotting a few stars peek out from where the tree line ends. Roman tugs his hand lightly, hurrying to the hilltop where the path becomes grass. 

Once they get there, a soft and plaid blanket awaits them, surrounded by all the odd asters. They sit down, releasing hands. Logan lays down to stare up at the starry night sky, and the Prince lays next to him. They’re quiet in this moment. The astrophile gapes and gazes at the asterisms of stars; the royal stargazes at the stargazer. Logan forgets the oddity of asters being red and blue- they’re only supposed to be white, purple, and pink realistically- captivated by everything he loves about the sky. He points out every constellation he sees. Delphinus, the Big Dipper, and even Ursa Minor as he whispers what they are. He doesn’t notice how Roman nods at him, though still staring fondly at Logan. To him, to the Prince, to this part of Creativity, Logan is the starry sky that’s filled with wondrous and curious things. He cannot look away from him; he cannot look away from his brilliant asterism which lays beside him. 

“Isn't it just astounding, the beauty of the universe and its many mysteries?”

“Yeah, it is,” Roman whispers back, because his beautiful universe is made of logic and starry eyes and indigo and glasses, and he’ll never not be astounded by him. 

As much as Logan and Roman oppose each other in baseline functions, they share plenty of similarities. They both love peaceful walks in the Imagination. They both appreciate each other’s presence, the ease it can bring to be around someone who knows you. Most importantly, they both love the stars. 

Logan loves the constellations and mysteries and wonders the night sky brings. 

Roman loves his own star, his favourite asterism of mystery and wonder, and he’ll always be starstruck by him.