#inspired by lumosinlove

[marmarifer]

Noots!! For my first day of O’Knutzy week, using the “sunglasses” promt and inspired by yesterday’s amazing tennis au that Hazel wrote, I give you… the Challengers poster but make it ✨CUBS✨

@oknutzy-week-2024 thank you for organizing this awesome fest and @lumosinlove thank you for creating the most amazing characters ever!!

[iluvchick3nz]

A little Cubs engagement fic I wrote inspired by @lumosinlove and their amazing OCs. Haz, thank you for this wonderful universe! Go Lions! (And Bruins) 🦁🐻

Leo let out a groan as he stretched in the mid-morning light coming through their curtains, their bedroom warm and a bit stuffy from the summer heat. He felt Logan’s soft hair on his chest, bobbing a little bit with the movement of him arching his back. Logan’s breath was coming out in soft puffs against his pecs, and Leo heard the hitch that signaled he was waking up. Leo smiled, eyes still closed, and felt a hand scratch through his hair.

“Morning, baby.”

Leo turned to look at Finn, who was propped up against some pillows, book in hand and his glasses perched on the end of his nose. He continued carding Leo’s hair back from his head, and Leo tilted his face to kiss his palm gently. “Hi.”

Finn breathed out a soft laugh, pushed his glasses up, then turned to look down at Logan, moving his hand down to rub at Logan’s back. “Up and at ‘em, Tremblay.”

Logan scrunched his eyes and buried his face further into Leo. “Non,” he grumbled. “Nous sommes en vacances. Vacation.”

Finn just laughed, setting his book aside and scooting down the bed to prop his chin on Logan’s strong back muscles. “Breakfast. Gym time. Training.”

“Non.”

“Yon. Professional athletes. We still gotta work out during the summer.”

Logan just groaned even louder, but sighed happily as Finn began peppering kisses down his back, working his way down to the dip of Logan’s waist where the sheets were pooled. “Ouais, feels good, rouge.”

Finn just looked up at Leo, grinning with a glint in his eye, and bit at the fleshy bit of Logan’s skin just beside his spine. Logan hissed, and finally looked up, turning his green eyes on Leo’s face. Leo just bit his lip, grinning, and reached his hand down to press the pad of his thumb to Logan’s mouth, catching on his full lower lip. “Hi, sweetheart.”

Logan closed his eyes and smiled dreamily for a moment, before wiggling his way out of the sheets and scrambling up to straddle Leo’s lap. Leo laughed, opening his arms and letting Logan all but flop down on top of him, tucking his face into his neck where his dark hair was curling as he grew it out. Logan sighed deeply, pressing his lips to Leo’s neck, then reaching one arm behind him. “Fish, ici.”

Finn scoffed, but complied, straddling Leo’s knees and lower thighs and wrapping his arms around Logan’s waist. “Man oh man, you are a bossy one, aren’t you?”

“Non.”

“Uh huh, yon.”

Leo could feel Logan’s grin against his neck, and looked over Logan’s shoulder to Finn, who had been leaning his head against Logan’s hair. He looked up to meet Leo’s eyes, then smiled at him. Leo only had just enough time to smile back before Finn was leaning in and kissing him softly. “Howdy, nutter butter baby.”

Leo just looked at him. “Love you.”

That made Finn really smile, bright and giddy, and he leaned in to kiss Leo harder, firmer. They were abruptly split apart by Logan moving his head back, twisting his torso around and reaching back with his right hand to cup the back of Finn’s neck. He looked between the two of them briefly, kissing Finn gently, then turning to Leo and kissing him short and hard. “Je vous aime.”

A noise escaped Finn that was a mixture of a laugh and a groan, and he suddenly launched himself forward, crushing Logan into Leo’s chest, causing them all to laugh. “What is this, ‘make Finn cry morning’? Stop looking at me like that, holy moley.”

“Oh?” Leo teased. 

Finn rolled his eyes. “Not really, but think of my poor heart right now, Knut.”

Leo snorted. “Last name. Guess I’m in real trouble.”

Logan peeked out at him from under his eyelashes. “That sounds like fun.”

Finn patted his hip. “It might just be, Tremblay.” He sat up and rolled out of the bed, his long, summer-freckled torso on display as he stretched. Logan and Leo just watched him. “Alright, now it’s really time to seize the day.” He turned to look at them, his face softening. “Seriously, you keep looking at me like that and we aren’t making it to the gym.”

Logan just looked at him while biting just beside Leo’s nipple, making Leo jump a little in shock. “Lo, we gotta go,” he chastised gently.

“Non.”

“Yes, ouais, we do.”

“Ways, babes, let’s go.”

Logan just grumbled at Finn’s French, pushing himself up on his elbows, kissing Leo and rolling out of his bed. “Café.”

Finn slipped his arms around Logan’s waist, giving his butt a firm pat and a squeeze. “You don’t deserve to call your sugar monstrosity coffee, baby, but I love the spirit.”

Logan rolled his eyes so hard they almost went back into his skull, but he reached up and squeezed Finn’s cheeks anyways. “C’est du cafe.”

Finn narrowed his eyes but accepted Logan’s kiss anyways, his forehead relaxing. They pulled apart, and looked back at Leo, Finn extending his hand. “Le, you coming?”

Leo nodded. “Just a sec, gonna put clothes on.”

Logan tilted his head, giving Leo’s body a once-over. “You don’t need clothes for breakfast. Mais tu es déjà magnifique.”

Leo blushed, but stood to go over to their dresser. “Yeah, but you know how I feel about my bare feet on the floors. I’ll be two minutes.”

Logan seemed to decide this was acceptable and grabbed Finn’s hand, walking out to the kitchen. Leo stood there for a minute staring at the drawers, listening to the coffee machine start up and Logan and Finn’s gentle conversation. He bit his bottom lip and rung his hands briefly, opening up his drawer and bypassing all the socks in the front, reaching back for a pair of blue wool socks Logan had bought him last winter from a wool shop in New York. They’d arrived in a package, along with a green pair, a red pair, and a note that had said, "Found these when I went out shopping with Alex. They’re handmade by a woman from Patagonia, she owns the shop. I know how much you love handmade things, and how your feet get cold in the winter. Je t’aime, mon couer." Leo had cried when he received them, in the middle of the hockey season in February, only having seen Logan for a few days over Christmas and New Year’s, and briefly during the All Star break. That was always the worst part of the season, the stretch of months in between holidays and summer, where they didn’t have many spare moments to visit one another. It never got any easier, even after managing it for a few years now. Missing Logan was a constant ache, a piece of him and Finn not very far, technically speaking, but not present all the same. Video calls, phone calls, and packages were all well and good, but it would never compare to the feeling of Logan waking up on his chest, of Finn’s arms reaching across to hold both of their bodies. Leo guessed he could only feel lucky to have such a loving, tender ache- not everybody got that. Sometimes he wanted to cup that feeling and pull it close to his chest, where he could guard it and keep it warm and light.

Unraveling the pair of socks, he let the black ring box tumble out into his hand. He opened the lid, taking out the two rings to examine them. Finn’s- rose-gold that would match his hair, the woman had said at the store- was engraved with stars around the band; Leo could still remember the rush he felt the first time he kissed Finn on the balcony, and looked up at the fake plastic stars that were somehow still stuck to their ceiling; a surprise from Finn a few years ago, about two weeks after they started dating. He had walked into the apartment to find Leo cooking at the stove, Logan standing behind him with his arms around Leo’s waist, and held up the bag with such a big smile that Leo had almost melted right then and there. They’d eaten and then spent probably far too long putting the stars up on the ceiling, Logan insisting that they try to accurately replicate the Leo constellation. That had been one of Leo’s free-fall moments, as he liked to call them: those moments where he knew he was already in love, even if it was far too early to say it yet. 

Shaking himself out of his reverie, he looked back down at the rings, rubbing his thumb over Logan’s. The silver matched his necklace, the fleur-de-lis engravings reflecting his ties to the language he used to love them. In the quietest, most tender moments, even if Finn had no idea what he was saying, he always was gentle when he talked to them in French. Often, when Leo couldn’t sleep, they would both just talk to one another, quietly in the dark. In those tired moments, and in the most difficult ones, it was always harder for Logan to express how he was feeling in English, even though he had been speaking it consistently for years now. Leo cherished that trust, that vulnerability that Logan shared with him more than he could ever put into words, in either language. He would just respond to Logan likewise, kiss his hand, brush his hair back from his face, and get so lost in his deep green eyes he wondered how he would ever get back out- or if he would ever want to. The only shame in getting completely lost in Logan’s eyes would be the fact that, if he did that, he wouldn’t be able to look at Finn’s. He supposed having two pairs of eyes to get lost in forever wasn’t so bad.  

They had plans to go out to dinner the following night, at the really nice vegetarian-vegan place Leo had discovered a few months back. Then he was going to take them back to the apartment, where he would make them strawberry shortcake and get down on one knee- and hopefully make them his forever. Not that they already weren’t, but Leo wanted the ceremony, the vows, he wanted his mama and his dad there- he wanted to kiss them and feel that adrenaline of a life-long promise, regardless of the presence of others, and he wanted to dance with them, and take them to bed after-

He inhaled sharply at the last image, his cheeks heating up as he stuffed the rings back in their box and into the socks, shoving them to the back of the drawer. He then pulled on some ankle socks and grabbed some workout clothes from the closet. Logan would probably pout about the fact that he couldn’t press kisses to Leo’s bare chest over breakfast, but Leo didn’t want them thinking he had spent all this time in here just putting on socks. As if on cue, he heard footsteps coming down the hallway and Finn’s tell-tale rhythmic rap of his knuckles on the doorframe. “Le? You alright?”

Leo turned and looked at him, lean body on display, a bit softer from the summer, but still strong. His hands- which Logan and Leo had both agreed that they could stare at forever- were clutching onto the doorframe, making the veins in his forearms strain slightly. Leo bit his lip and smiled, making Finn smile, which quickly turned to confused surprise as Leo rushed forward and gripped his face hard between his palms, kissing him soundly. Leo felt Finn relax and make a soft noise, arms slipping around his waist as he indulged in Leo’s mouth insistently. 

“Hey!” came Logan’s voice. “Ce qui se passe? Am I missing something?”

Leo grinned as he pulled away from Finn, who still had a look of surprise on his face. “What-”

Leo just silenced him with another hard kiss and passed him on the way to the kitchen. Logan was sat at the stools by their counter, eyes narrowed playfully and hands clutched around his coffee mug. “Quoi?”

Leo approached him and wrapped Logan’s legs around his waist as Logan’s arms went around his neck. “Quoi? Tu veux des bisous?”

“Ouais, mais-”

Leo didn’t wait for him to finish, lifting Logan up from the seat from underneath his thighs, causing him to let out a laugh in surprise, which was quickly quieted by Leo’s mouth. Logan let out a groan, a little more wanting than Finn’s had been, and tangled his fingers in Leo’s hair indulgently as his legs tightened around Leo’s waist. Leo could feel that simmering fire, always present beneath Logan’s skin, making its way to the surface. He broke their kiss before it became too heady, their lips breaking apart with a light sound. Logan just looked at Leo, eyes flitting rapidly around his face before breaking out into a devilish smile, eyebrows raised. 

“Jesus,” came Finn’s voice, a little breathless. “Jesus, Leo. Logan. You two drive me crazy.”

Leo just laughed, depositing Logan back into his chair and scooting around to the fridge to get out ingredients for breakfast. “Come on, y’all, the day awaits us.”

Finn scoffed at Leo’s teasing tone, but went to stand behind Logan with his arms draped over his shoulders, both of them watching Leo’s back as he moved around the kitchen. Leo just smiled to himself where they couldn’t see him, and went about whisking their eggs.

***

Sometimes, Logan would be with Finn and Leo and would wonder if he was actually living in a dream. He would just look at them, at Finn’s bright smile and capable hands that held him the way he liked, at Leo’s soft hair and gentle eyes that always seemed to understand him, and he’d just want to melt. Or fall at their feet, and worship them. Or shatter, overwhelmed by his love for them, their love for him, after so long of feeling like he would never be brave enough to love them the way they deserved. And they deserved everything. If he was dreaming, he decided, he would do everything in his power to stay asleep.

They had talked about getting married before, and their future in general, late at night. The past few years, it had mostly been over FaceTime, Logan feeling like he was oceans away from them in New York, even if it was only just three hours. Still, the hockey season kept them busy, and they clung hard to the few times during the season where they could see each other. More often than not, once or twice a month they found time to see each other for a brief thirty-six hour trip in either New York or Gryffindor, but that got hard in the late winter and spring, when the playoffs were approaching. Those months always, for some reason, sparked more and more conversations about their post-hockey life, about their future as a relationship, as a family. Maybe it was because they felt each other’s absence so distinctly in those moments, or maybe because they thought that, deep down, if they were married, if their relationship was somehow more ‘tied-down’ than it already was, then they could convince the league to not split them up- even though that was highly unlikely. They had pondered it, multiple times, sometimes with tears because it hurt so bad, to love so hard and not be near one another; most of the time though, it was with smiles, Finn describing the perfect garden he would build for Leo, and Leo fantasizing about the large kitchen he wanted and enough guest rooms so that ‘all the Tremblays could stay over at once, and the O’Hara’s and the Knut’s, too’. Logan, more often than not, imagined a dog bed and going to a rescue shelter to find one of those mutts Leo liked to pet in the street, and a swingset, and a big bedroom in a house in the quiet part of town, so Finn could go to bed early undisturbed and Leo maybe wouldn’t have as much trouble sleeping. 

For all the times they had talked about getting married, there were only a few times that they had talked about it within the context of them playing on two different teams. Leo had broached the conversation one night, in Logan’s New York apartment, after a regular season game had gone into overtime. Logan thought Leo always looked so good on the ice, with his piercing blue eyes following Logan’s every move. He had felt Finn breathing down his neck a few times against the boards, and it took everything in him not to groan, throw his helmet off, and kiss Finn then and there, hockey be damned. Those games always got Logan’s adrenaline running harder than anything, and afterwards it was only a matter of time before he was ushering Leo and Finn out of Madison Square Garden, or out of the bar where they were with the Lions or the Rangers, and into his apartment, into his bed. Clothes were stripped off, sometimes fast and aggressive, sometimes slow and teasing if Leo and Finn had their way, but always with that gentle reverence, even in the rougher, more grounding touches that Logan loved so much. And with their skin warm against his, their voices in his ear, Finn’s smirk in his eyeline and Leo’s, frankly dangerous, mouth against his thighs, Logan was able to float away for a few hours, with nothing but them, his boys. And they were all his, there with him to overwhelm him and themselves with pleasure and love so blinding he knew, he knew he would forever be changed because he met them, because he loved them, because he got to keep them forever.

It was after one of those nights, when Logan’s desire had finally been satiated- admittedly long after Finn and Leo’s, who had had to resort to just their mouths and hands to finally satisfy him- that Leo had rolled himself over and tucked his face into Logan’s neck, his body heavy on top of Logan’s, peeking out at the both of him with his devastating blue eyes.

“I think I want to get married before we retire.”

Finn, who had been busy stroking up and down Logan’s chest, whose breathing was still heavy in the intensity of his afterglow, abruptly looked up at Leo. “What do you mean, sunshine?”

Leo didn’t answer right away. Logan and Leo were alike in that way, sometimes- in the heaviest moments, it always took them a moment to collect their thoughts. Leo was always more articulate and insightful than Logan was, though. Both Finn and Logan loved that about him, his ability to think so deeply about the most cherished parts of his life. Logan just pushed his nose into Leo’s golden curls, kissing him once, twice, and a third time, holding his lips there and closing his eyes briefly, then glancing at Finn with his mouth still in Leo’s hair. Finally, Leo took a deep breath.

“I just mean… I don’t want to wait for all of us to retire to get married.” He then whimpered slightly and looked away, nose pushing into Logan’s chest.

Finn looked slightly panicked at Leo’s abrupt distress, and climbed over to lay on his stomach beside him, tucking his chin over Leo’s shoulder. “Wow, hey, Le, it’s okay.” When Leo just let out a shaky breath, Finn shook him gently with an arm thrown over his waist. “Leo, Leo, baby, it’s okay. Don’t cry, it’s okay.” He took a deep breath. “I mean, you’re talking about us getting married, there’s nothing that would make me happier than that, quite frankly.”

Leo snorted a little bit at Finn’s humor, but his nose still sounded blocked up. He lifted his head, and Logan saw his eyes bright with tears, a few tracks running down his cheeks. Logan cupped his face tenderly, leaning down to touch their noses together. “Oh, mon soleil, qu'est-ce qui s’est passé?”

“No, nothing, it’s just… I mean, not nothing, I just…” Leo took a shaky breath, and Finn and Logan wrapped him up tighter. “I mean, I know that, Lo, you’re spoken for in New York for a while longer, and Finn and I are going to be in Gryffindor. And I know that even that could change, and I know that it’d be hard, but…” Leo paused, looking at the two of them carefully, so gently that Logan almost could feel himself drowning in him. “I want to marry you two. And I don’t want to wait for hockey to- to let us do that, you know? I don’t want it to be on the league’s terms, I want it to be on ours, and I want to marry you.” Logan held his breath at the last statement, and he thought Finn did, too, by the way in which his throat was bobbing slowly, mouth closed. “I want to marry you. And it’s not ‘just because’, or because it’s just ‘the next step’,” Leo continued, rolling his eyes slightly at himself. “I want to marry you because I want to make that promise to you both. You’re already mine in all the ways that are important, and that matter, but I want that- that unity that comes with the concept of marriage. And I also-” he paused, chewing his lip. “I want to take something that historically hasn’t been meant for us, and make it for us, you know?”

That last part made Logan freeze. Leo had always been much more open and involved in that way in the community than he and Finn had. It was important, for Leo, to always be thinking of the bigger picture. Over the years since they had come out, he had made every effort to take part in the NHL Pride nights, to try and encourage minority youth in hockey, to go and coach training camps and pay for gear to be provided in under-funded communities. Finn and Logan had, of course, gone with him, but it was Leo who had taken the initiative, who had come crying to them one night after a 12-year-old girl had asked him to sign a puck, telling him he was her favorite player, that she played goalie, too, that her and her older sister had painted her goalie pads rainbow colored after she came out to her family. So it made sense, that Leo, laying on them and crying about how much he wanted them, had a desire to challenge the institution of marriage in a very Leo way- with gentleness, with love. Logan sometimes didn’t know what to do with the way Leo carried himself with so much heart- Finn, too. 

Finn bit his lip, a little tearful, but smiling. Suddenly, he raised himself onto his knees. “Sit up.”

Logan furrowed his eyebrows, and Leo lifted his face and stared, his mouth slightly ajar. “What?”

“You heard me,” Finn continued, grinning even wider now. It did pretty things to Finn’s freckles, when he smiled like that. “Uppity up, up you get, come sit across from me. Lo, you, too.”

“Finn, I-”

“Leonardonius, I swear, just trust me, and sit up.”

Logan and Leo complied, Leo sitting cross-legged, Logan with his legs sprawled, one draping over Finn’s, and leaning into Leo’s side. 

Suddenly, Leo’s eyes widened. “Finn, are you-”

Finn waved his hand. “No, no I’m not proposing… yet.” He gave them each a pointed look. “I just didn’t want you crying over something that, frankly, does not deserve for you to be sad over.” He paused, leaning over to brush his thumbs under Leo’s eyes with a kiss to his nose. “Even though you still look very pretty when you cry.” That got Leo to smile, and his posture relaxed slightly, putting more of his weight on Logan.

Logan shuffled a bit, nudging Finn’s thigh gently with his foot. “Allez, rouge, what is it?”

Finn had a hand on each of them, his palms running up and down Logan’s calf and Leo’s knee. “I’ve thought a lot about us, recently. Getting married, that is.” He tilted his head, smiling at them. “I want us to get married, and I think that, if we want to do it before we all retire, I’d like that. I- I think that, like what Leo said… I want you in that way before we retire. And then after, or after at least one of us does retire…” He paused, sniffling slightly. This time, Leo leaned forward and brushed a thumb under his eye. “Maybe we get a house? And- and a tiny human? Or two? Or three, we could be matching. Three dads, three kids, ya know? And a dog, and maybe even chickens! I bet you’d love the fresh eggs, Le, and Lo, baby, you’d look so sexy raking leaves in our back yard, in overalls and plaid, like our very own lumberjack-”

Logan couldn’t take it anymore; he burst out laughing, leaning forward and tackling Finn onto the bed, kissing all over his face. Finn was laughing, too, arms and legs wrapped around him, and Logan felt a warm palm stroking up and down his back. Leo.

Logan scrambled up, forcing his way into Leo’s lap and kissing all over his face, too, until Finn dragged Leo’s face to his for a deep kiss of his own, ending in a burst of kisses to Leo’s cheek. They were all smiling so hard, those kinds of smiles that hurt their cheeks and scrunched Leo and Finn’s noses in the most adorable way. They were kissing each other, and smiling, and laughing, and Logan thought that if this was how happy they were when they just talked about proposing, and marriage, he couldn’t imagine how happy he would feel when it actually happened. 

That had been March, three months ago, before the playoffs. Logan was almost thankful that they had each gotten knocked out in the second round, so as not to have to play one another, but mostly because Logan, perhaps selfishly, savored these long summers more than he could put into words. After all, he wanted to spend more than one night engaged to them before parting ways to go back to his New York apartment. He wanted to bask in that love for months before the season inevitably pulled them apart again. And he wanted to propose to them in their home. His apartment in the city was nice, sure, but it held nothing on what they had created in Gryffindor: the blanket Leo’s mom had made them slung over the sofa, Finn’s books stacked on every available table surface, Leo’s pan collection hanging in the kitchen, the herb garden by the window that Finn painstakingly took care of. Logan wanted to ask them to marry him where they fell in love, where he kissed Leo for the first time, where he and Finn began their middle-of-the-night whiskey tradition again, where he made love to them for the first time, all together, insatiable and high on how in love they were.

The late afternoon sun shone through slightly dusty, stained-glass windows as they were finishing up at the local book store, after having gone to their weights session and then spent the rest of the day wandering around the city. They had gone to the park, where Finn had sat up against a tree and let Logan lay his head in his lap, Leo sprawled beside him on a blanket, the both of them listening as Finn read to them from his and Leo’s latest novel. After finishing the last chapter, Leo had suggested they go to their favorite second-hand book store, which Finn had readily agreed with. Logan was just happy to follow them and listen to them bicker gently over plots, characters, thematic elements- it didn’t matter what they were talking about, really. Logan just loved to be surrounded by their voices. 

Now, he listened and watched as the light from the stained glass casted a purplish hue on Leo’s golden hair, which captured and reflected the color so well. They both looked so good, Leo with a casual white short-sleeved button down and peach shorts, Logan’s fleur-de-lis against his strong, tan chest; Finn with a green long-sleeved shirt, open at the collar and made from some ultra-light, wicking material he had taken to recently, and denim shorts, which he had definitely had since college. Leo said something to Finn, which made him turn to Leo, that look of slightly surprised amusement on his face appearing like it always did when Leo said something snarky to someone. He was good at catching people off guard, his wit so sharp in contrast to his normally gentle and sweet disposition. It seemed he had caught Finn particularly by surprise this time, because it took Finn a second to process what he had said before bursting out laughing so hard he had to close his eyes. He turned his face into Leo’s neck, snorting, and pressed two hard kisses to his skin, one to his neck and one to his cheek. Leo turned his face so his nose brushed Finn’s ear, giggling in his ear. Logan felt like he could look at them forever, immortalized in this moment with their laughter and their smiles. 

He looked down at himself for a brief moment, at the rust-colored shirt Finn had once told him looked good on him a few years ago, in New York, and at his black shorts Leo had once unzipped with his teeth, claiming that they ‘revealed way too much leg, sweetheart, it’s indecent’. Sometimes, Logan wondered how he even compared with their beauty; yes, he knew he was attractive by conventional standards, but beauty was more than that. He was a bit sullen, quiet and intimidating at first, and stared hard at everyone without realizing it. Finn and Leo were effortlessly beautiful in their mannerisms; Finn walked into a room with a smile so wide it drew people to him, Logan no exception, and there was no other way to describe Leo other than that the sun followed him. Or maybe he was the sun- he was certainly Logan’s. He couldn’t compete with that, would never be able to. It wasn’t so much an insecurity, per se, but more of an awe at the way that his boys carried themselves, how they carried him with them, how their beauty somehow included him in its sphere without singling him out. He existed simultaneously alongside it and within it, and at the center of it all was this infinite amount of love circulating him, drowning him, allowing him to exist in the same plane as them forever and ever. Logan at the same time was overwhelmed by it and knew exactly what to do to keep it close. They gave him their love and their beauty, and he in return gave them his, in his own way. 

Logan hadn’t realized he had been spacing out staring at them until Leo’s face appeared in front of his, brow furrowed. “You okay, sweetheart?”

Logan shook his head briefly. “Ouais, mon couer.” He brought his hand up to Leo’s cheek, and Leo placed his hand over his. “Tu es si beau.” 

That brought a blush to Leo’s cheeks, and he squeezed Logan’s hand and bent down to kiss the top of his head a bit bashfully. Logan reached a hand up to scratch his neck, holding him there for a moment. He then felt another presence at his side, an arm around each him and Leo. Finn.

“Hey, hey, there, baby. My baby, hi.”

Logan smiled at Finn’s rambling, at the kiss he pressed to Logan’s cheek. “Rouge.” 

Finn’s body relaxed like it always did when Logan called him that, his head turning to rest right next to Leo’s on top of Logan’s. Leo still had his nose in Logan’s hair, all three of them still and embracing in the quiet, emptying book store. 

Truth be told, Logan knew that they had all felt the shift since that conversation in Logan’s New York apartment. They held each other with a similar giddy, insatiable grip to the one they had when they first started dating. Now though, it was deeper, more developed, with stronger bones, and somehow more passionate than it had ever been. Logan had thought it had been because the season had finally ended and they were all together again, but now he realized it wasn’t just that. They sometimes loved so fiercely, yet so gently, that it was almost like whiplash. They were unsettled, but not in the way that would knock them off kilter. No, they were unsettled in the way that meant they were ready for more. They were aching for it, and Logan knew that he would have to do something about it. 

Tomorrow, after they had dinner at the new vegetarian-vegan place that Leo loved, he would bring them back to the apartment, their favorite chocolate cake from the local restaurant down the street waiting in the fridge, maybe some wine- and Logan would get down on one knee and ask them to be his.

***

Leo was just finishing putting the finishing touches on their supper when he felt two hands grab at his hips. “You need any help finishing up here, baby?”

Leo turned and pressed a kiss to Finn’s head. “No, sweetheart, but thank you. Just finishing off the steak with some butter and herbs, and the roasted veggies are in the oven staying warm.” He shut off the stove and set the steak on the wooden steak board to rest. He stuck a thermometer in. Perfectly medium rare. He thought for a second, then turned around and draped his arms over Finn’s shoulders. Finn was in an old blue knit sweater of Leo’s, and he looked adorably soft in the cool summer night. “You and Lo set the table for me? There are some nice candles my mama sent us from the market, you could light them, if you wanted?”

Finn wiggled his eyebrows. “You trying to romance us, or something? Trying to take us to bed later?”

Leo snorted. “Something like that.” He jerked his head. “Go on, get Lo, he’s in our room getting a sweatshirt. I’ll just let the steak rest and bring it out.” He pressed a kiss to Finn’s mouth and turned back towards dinner, smiling to himself. God, he could hardly wait for tomorrow. But tonight, he wanted to enjoy this last night of them hanging on this precipice, basking in the anticipation of being engaged, even if neither of his boys knew.

***

Logan could hear both Finn and Leo talking in the kitchen from where he was in the bedroom, pulling Finn’s dark gray, almost black, crewneck sweatshirt over his head. Finn had just been in to grab Leo’s sweater, and had left smelling like a mixture of himself and Leo, combining and making Logan’s head feel dizzy. Now, he knew that he smelled like himself and Finn, and reached for Leo’s cologne on the dresser to spray a little on the neckline of the sweatshirt. Perfect. 

As he set the bottle back down, his sock drawer caught his eye. Buried in the back, wrapped in one of his beanies, was the box with Leo and Finn’s rings. Unable to resist the temptation, he briefly glanced at the kitchen, seeing Finn walk up to put his hands on Leo’s hips, and opened the drawer. God, they were so gorgeous, and they’d look even more so with these rings on their fingers.

Logan opened the box, running his thumb briefly over both of them. Leo’s was pure gold, with a small blue sapphire, slightly deeper than his eyes, embedded in the band, soleil inscribed on the inside. Finn’s was a rose-gold- the lady at the shop said the particular shade would match his hair- and a dark champagne diamond- the lady said it would match his eyes. Rouge was inscripted on the inside of his. Logan peeked out at the kitchen again, and saw Finn, all cozy in Leo’s sweater, and Leo, now in Finn's old Harvard sweatshirt, with his blond curls, kissing each other so gently and smiling so lovingly. Logan ran his thumb over the rings one more time before they could catch him, looked down at them, and then closed the box as he heard Finn summon him to set the table.

***

Supper, Leo had to admit, had been a roaring success. He loved having time in the off season to finally cook how he wanted, to take his full time with recipes. He deserved it, the food deserved it, and his boys certainly did. Afterwards, his boys had batted his hands away as he tried to clear the table, and cleaned the kitchen with light-hearted chatter. Leo, a glass of red wine in front of him, was content to just watch and participate from the sidelines. Especially if it meant that one of his boys would lean over- Finn much more easily than Logan, no matter how much Logan grumbled that he was not that short- and kiss him on the forehead. Eventually, they finished up, Logan coming to sit beside Leo at one of the stools, Finn standing across the counter from them, both with a glass in their hands, looking delicate and breakable compared to their strong fingers. 

Finn looked at him, taking a sip from his glass and peering out over the rim. “Thank you for dinner, nutter butter, it was delicious.” 

Leo smiled, cheeks heating up like they did every time one of them complimented him so blatantly. “Thank you.”

Finn just smiled brighter, and reached across to pinch his cheek. “Aw, look at you, so rosy. You’re so pretty, peanut.”

Logan pressed up against Leo’s other side, placing a wet kiss on this cheek. “Ouais, mon soleil, tres mignon.” He looked across at Finn, reaching across to grab at his hand. “Et toi, mon rouge. Si beau.” Finn just took Logan’s hand and kissed it, gazing up through his eyelashes.

Leo watched in adoration, until suddenly Logan got a strange look on his face. It was nervous, sheepish, but he was also biting his lip in excitement. Leo saw Finn straighten up and squeeze Logan’s hand harder. “Lo?”

Logan stood up and tugged on Finn’s hand. “Viens ici.”

Finn came around the counter, allowing Logan to push him into the seat beside Leo. He took both of their hands, kissed each of them. Leo felt himself getting a little lightheaded, his breathing beginning to pick up.

Logan looked up at them, his eyelashes dark, his eyes wanting and his smile bashful. He squeezed each of their hands once more before stepping back. “Ouais, d’accord.” He felt around in the pockets on his dark shorts, taking something out into his hands… and sinking down on one knee.

Leo heard Finn gasp beside him, and his breathing was really picking up now. Finn’s thigh and shoulder were warm against him, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Finn bring a hand up to cover his mouth, a soft 'oh' escaping him. Leo leaned heavily into his side, but he couldn’t look away from Logan, who was smiling up at them and slowly opening a box, two rings nestled inside. 

Logan took a deep breath before beginning. “Ouais, je… I had a whole speech prepared. I was going to do this tomorrow, after dinner, but you two just looked so beautiful just now, and I had to…” He huffed, obviously frustrated with the English. Leo caught his eye, and nodded, whispering a soft 'bon, continue'. Logan inhaled and exhaled with a shudder, before looking between them resolutely. Finn still hadn’t moved a muscle, really, but Leo could feel him shaking beside him as Logan continued. “I never thought I would have this, this overwhelming kind of love. Not because I didn’t think it was out there, but because I was too afraid to want it for myself.” He looked to Finn. “Rouge, you made me realize for the first time what it is to want someone so fully, so completely. I loved you the second I walked through that doorway my first day of college, and I have spent every moment since loving you and wanting you more than anything.” Tears were forming in his eyes as he smiled, gaining confidence as he spoke. “Je t’aime, mon rouge. I love you so much.” He turned those beautiful eyes to Leo, and Leo felt like he was going to fall off of his chair. “Mon soleil,” Logan said, his eyes going so soft, his head tilting. Leo, in his periphery, saw Finn turn to look at him, too. “You taught me how to be brave. You’re braver than anyone I think I have ever known. You showed me how to want, how to love anyway while still being scared, and how I can be scared and brave at the same time.” He looked back to Finn briefly, eyes darting between them. “I don’t- I don’t think I ever would have been brave enough to love, without you, soleil… to love anyone they way that I want.” He bit his lip. “Je t’aime, mon soleil. I love you, and I want you.” 

Leo didn’t know what to do with himself, and he felt Finn grab his hand as he closed his eyes and let a few tears escape. It was release, relief, and love so profound that he was overflowing. He opened his eyes at Finn’s squeeze of his hand, looking at him. Finn leaned over, pressing a kiss to his forehead, and then they both turned to look at Logan with their temples touching. Logan was smiling up at them, then looked down at the rings. 

“Je veux passer le reste de ma vie avec vous deux. I… I want to spend the rest of my life loving you, deserving you, and caring for you. And I want to love you in the next life, and the next, and every one after it. I don’t ever want to stop loving you, and I hope you want the same. Et alors, s'il vous plaît…” At this, Logan looked up from the ring box, into their eyes. They were both frozen under his gaze. “...épousez-moi, mes amours?” 

Finn took a shuddering breath in, a whimper escaping him as tears escaped from his eyes. And Leo…

Leo looked at Logan, down on one knee, jumping the gun because he couldn’t wait for tomorrow, when Leo was also going to propose. And Leo was so overwhelmed by this, how preposterous and silly and so them this whole situation was, that he let out at breathless laugh.

Logan, still smiling, looked at him, brows furrowed. “Soleil?”

Leo laughed again. “Wait here.”

And he stood up and walked out of the room.

***

Logan watched as Leo stepped into their bedroom, still on one knee, as confused as he had ever been. His brow furrowed, his breathing harsh. He had been so sure that Leo would want this. After all, Leo had been the one to suggest getting married before they retired. He wouldn’t say no, surely. Right?

Finn’s harsh breathing snapped Logan out of his reverie. Normally so talkative, Finn was rendered speechless, his fingers resting lightly over his mouth, face flushed with his tears, eyes wide with… panic? Nerves? Logan didn’t know, but he looked like he would fall over and faint. 

“Rouge…”

“Lo,” Finn responded, breathless and soft, hand coming rest at his collarbone. “I- do you…?” He looked frantically at their bedroom before looking back at Logan. 

Logan shook his head. “Rouge, no, I- I don’t-” He breathed in harshly, a soft noise escaping him as he turned to look at the door to their bedroom, voice tight. “Soleil?”

“Ouais, yeah, sorry. I’m coming.” Leo sounded a bit breathless, and a bit… giddy? 

Logan was so confused. 

After another few moments, Leo came through the door, and came to stand over them. He looked so tall from the floor, Logan thought, so beautiful, like an angel. But he was shaking, red-cheeked and smiling, blue eyes shining and a bit mischievous. Both Logan and Finn looked at him, bewildered, until he opened his palm to reveal a box in the center, and opened it with his thumb. 

Finn made a slight yelping sound, slapping his hand hard over his mouth. Logan’s breath caught in his throat, vision going a bit fuzzy as Leo reached down and gently pulled him up by the hand. Logan let himself by guided by Leo’s warm palm into the seat beside Finn, their positions now swapped. Leo kissed his cheek, then Finn’s… and then sank on one knee in front of them. Unlike Logan, who had taken a moment to collect his thoughts, Leo just started talking, happy and energized and so in love.

“I was also going to do this tomorrow, after dinner,” he started, with a wink at Logan. “I was going to take you out to dinner and bring you back and make strawberry shortcake…” Logan heard himself and Finn each let out tearful chuckles. “...but then you sank down on one knee, Lo, and I just thought… this is so ridiculous. This is so silly, and out of order, and so us that it’s perfect, and I wouldn’t have either of you any other way.” He turned to Finn first, who was shaking so hard against Logan’s side. “Finn, sweetheart, I… I remember the first night you kissed me so vividly. Your gentle eyes and hands and words, always trying so hard to give your all to me, to Logan, even if it was hard. Even if it hurt. And you gave yourself to me so fully, and have continued to do so every day, and I love you. There’s nothing else to say other than I love you. And Logan…” He shifted his gaze, and Logan could do nothing but stare helplessly back into his baby blues. “Oh, Logan, honey, I wanted you so desperately I didn’t know what to do with myself. You burn, for yourself, but especially for us. And you were burning for me, and for Finn, and when you finally let yourself have us, I… I was so warm, sweetheart. You make me feel so warm, and I love you. I love you, I love you both so much.” Leo took a deep breath and settled his shoulders. “I told you I knew you were mine in all the ways that mattered, that you are, but that I want to marry you because I want that unity. And while that’s true, more than anything I just want to marry you because you're home. You’ve been home now, for so long now, and I want a marriage with you to be part of the foundation of that home. I know marriage is sometimes silly, and arbitrary, and- and a piece of paper…” Leo rolled his eyes at himself as he started to cry. “I just- I want it with you anyways. I want to write you vows, I want our families there, I want to show our world how much I love you, how devoted I am to you. I want that official promise because I believe you deserve it, and I want you to have all that you deserve.” He looked down at the rings, up at them, and smiled, crinkling his adorable nose in a way that made Logan’s heart skip a beat in his chest. “I love you, and I want you forever. Marry me. Will you marry me?”

Logan didn’t know what to expect, and he knew Leo didn’t either, from the way he was now holding himself slightly stiffly, but they didn’t expect Finn to outburst with a high-pitch, dramatic sob. “Oh my God!” He fanned his face, then pressed both of his hands over his face, fingertips meeting at the bridge of his nose. “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!”

Immediately, Leo and Logan burst out laughing. It bubbled out of Logan’s chest, taking him by surprise as he gently knelt on the floor in front of Leo. The floor shook as Finn fell down clumsily beside them, causing them to laugh harder. Logan looked at Leo, pressing his fingers to Leo’s wrist where he was still clutching the opened ring box. “Oh, soleil…”

“Marry me,” Leo repeated, looking between the two of them. Finn’s eyes were moving back and forth, from their faces to the ring boxes they were still clutching. 

Logan looked up at Leo, biting his lip. “I asked you first.”

That had Leo laughing a tearful laugh, shaking his whole body. Logan looked at him in the eyes, holding his gaze.

“Veux-tu m’epouser, mon soleil?” He turned to Finn. “Et toi, mon rouge? Marry me, Fish.”

“Oh Jesus,” Finn said, before he was lurching forward and pulling Logan into a kiss. “Yes, oh God, baby, yes.” Finn kissed him sloppily, indulgently, before eventually letting them part.

Logan turned back to Leo, Finn’s hand still at his neck. Leo was nodding, biting his lips in that devastating way. “Oui, sweetheart. Yes.”

Logan heard Finn’s breath hitch as he and Leo leaned in to kiss each other, smiling too much to make it last long. Logan pressed a series of kisses to Leo’s flushed cheeks, then leaned back and took the rings out of the box. Shaking, he put them on each of their fingers, kissing their hands after each one. Leo let out a breath. “Oh, Lo, it’s beautiful.”

Finn, still crying too much for complete sentences, just let out a tearful 'baby' and clutched his hand to his chest, leaning over and pressing his forehead to Logan’s with a groan. After a moment, Logan felt a nudge at his other side. He turned to find Leo still on one knee, holding the ring box out for him. 

“Your turn, Lo,” Leo said gently. He grinned, then looked to Finn. “And your turn again, I guess.” 

Finn let out a choked sob again, and Leo and Logan looked at him and laughed. “Oh my God, oh my God, this is really happening.”

Leo shook his head. “You’ll be fine honey.” He held the box more insistently out to them. “Marry me.”

Logan smiled so hard he shook with it. “Ouais, soleil. Ouais.” 

Leo leaned in and kissed him hard. Logan had a flashback to the first time he had kissed Leo in public, right in New York City, ‘first kiss day’, as Finn had called it. Leo, normally so gentle with them, gripping him and holding so tightly that he felt wound up and gooey all at once. 

They broke apart after a moment, and Leo took Logan’s ring out of the box, showing him the engraving on the inside before slipping it on his finger. Logan admired it on his finger for a moment before his attention was diverted by another sound from Finn. “Oh, mon rouge,” he laughed.

“Sorry, sorry, I’m just- I’m getting proposed to twice today, it’s a lot, okay?” He looked at Leo, who was looking at him with his eyebrows raised in amusement and still holding out Finn’s ring to him. That seemed to sober Finn up, and he whimpered. “Oh. Oh Leo-” 

Leo softened. “Oh, honey, c’mere.” 

Leo leaned in, kissing Finn softly on the lips, thumbs tracing under his eyes where the tear tracks were. He parted after a few moments and took Finn’s hand to slip his second ring on him. 

Leo chuckled. “Well, look at you. Collecting them all.”

Finn wiped under his eyes. “Oh God, I’m going to have to put them on a necklace or something. I don’t know if they’ll all eventually fit, with my-” His eyes widened briefly, before he started crying again. “Oh, my wedding ring, oh God!” 

Leo shushed him gently, pulling him under his arm and kissing his forehead. He opened his other arm for Logan to tuck himself under. Logan went willingly, one arm around Finn and Leo each, clutching them close. Finn was still shaking with his happy tears, although now they were a bit quieter than before. 

Suddenly, Finn looked up. “I for sure thought I was going to propose first. I was going to go to the jeweler next week.”

Logan shrugged. “We beat you, Fish.”

“Twice,” Leo added, jostling them both lightly.

“Hm,” Finn sighed, leaning his head heavily onto Leo’s chest and running his hand up and down Logan’s side. “I love you. I can’t wait to marry you.”

Logan felt himself shiver in excitement. “Moi aussi, mon couer.” 

“Yeah,” Leo said softly. “Gonna marry you forever.”

That set Finn off again. “Peanut, you can’t just say that!”

“I really didn’t think you’d react like this, sweetheart, I’m sorry.”

“I was not planning on getting proposed to twice in one evening!”

Logan rolled his eyes playfully. “Oh, mon rouge.” He looked up at Leo. “Hey, Knut?”

Leo looked down at him, eyebrows raised. “Uh oh. What’s with the last name?”

Logan just bit his lip, glancing at him, then at Finn, who was suddenly rapt with attention and sitting up straighter. “O’Hara.”

“Oh God,” Finn whispered. 

Logan bit at Leo's chest through his shirt, and widened his eyes in a way he knew drove them crazy. “Can I be in trouble?”

Finn groaned and Leo looked down at him, eyes darkening and Logan smiled mischievously. Beside them, Finn cursed. “Fucking gorgeous, both of you. Gonna be in trouble for the rest of our lives.”

That got Leo alert, and he scrambled up, dragging them both with him. Logan laughed as he was ushered into their bedroom and thrown gently on their bedspread. They climbed after him, Finn immediately attacking his mouth, and Leo working a bruise into his neck. Finn pulled back, then looked down at Leo, amused. “Careful there, Knut, or you'll be in trouble, too.” 

Leo laughed, blue eyes shining and a singular dimple appearing, before leaning over and kissing Finn as well. As he watched them, with their smiles, and their mouths on him and each other, Logan thought that there, in that moment, he was the most in love he had ever been. 

***

Finn awoke the next morning to the sound of rain outside of the window, the room cooler than normal due to a drop in temperature. He breathed in heavily and ran a hand over his face, stopping when he felt cool metal brush his nose. Oh. Oh man.

He jerked his hand away, staring at the two rings, identical in color but unique in embellishments, that his boys had slipped on his fingers the night before. He almost got all worked up again, still riding the absolute rollercoaster of emotions of being proposed to not once, but twice in the same night. He hadn't been kidding when he told them it had been a lot: Logan, who at one point he never thought he'd have, kneeling before him and asking to be his forever; Leo, who showed up out of the blue and somehow made everything better, lighter, so brave, just like Logan had said, jumping when he was scared and simultaneously landing in their arms and catching them in his. 

Finn didn't know how he'd got so lucky, squinting across the pillow at Logan and Leo, the latter of which was spooning Logan with an arm around his middle. Logan had one hand on Leo, the other on Finn's bicep, their legs tangled together. Last night had been rolling pleasure, weighed down with so much love that Finn didn't want it to end. They didn't, really, until they physically couldn't anymore. And even then they'd stayed up so long just kissing, evidence of which lingering on all of their necks. Finn reached out and touched a bruise on Logan's neck, making him stir and open his eyes. Leo, perhaps sensing the change in Logan's breathing, also shifted, lifting his head to look at Finn over Logan's back. Finn just stared for a few seconds, until Logan reached the hand with his engagement ring on it out to cup his jaw, Leo tracking the movement with his beautiful eyes. 

“Rouge, ici.”

“Yeah, sweetheart, come here.” 

And so Finn went, pressing his nose into Logan's neck, hand reaching across to grip Leo's torso. He kissed Logan's chest, took Leo's hand from around Logan's waist and kissed that, too, and heard Leo press a kiss to the back of Logan's neck. This, Finn decided, was more valuable than anything else in the world. His boys, in their bed, in the home they created, living the life they shared, with a promise to continue to do so for eternity.

Finn, for one, couldn't think of a happier ending, and so closed his eyes to be lulled back to sleep by the sound of their breathing. 

[thatssomuchlove]

Fic-o-Ween Day 1

For Fic-o-Ween 2024 put on by @noots-fic-fests! All characters by @lumosinlove

The first (and hopefully not only) chapter inspired by the Mafia AU invented on the Hazelnoot discord server:

Sitting on the couch in his apartment living room, Leo was interrupted from struggling not to let his eyes skip lines during a very suspenseful moment in his book when he heard a loud crash from the kitchen. He jumped up and swung around the door jam to see all his nice pans on the floor…again.

His roommate looked up at him with wide eyes from where he stood by the coffee maker, “I swear I didn’t touch it!”

Leo sighed, “It’s not your fault, Finn. That rack keeps falling down because apparently these wall anchors do not hold their advertised weight!” He huffed. The cabinet space in their tiny New York apartment was abysmal, so hanging up his pans like they do in those fancy kitchens with marble counters or copper detailing seemed like the best option.

“Could also be these shitty walls,” Finn chirped and tapped the wall behind him.

“Yeah, that too,” Leo returned Finn’s grin and could tell he was also thinking about how well they can hear the music from the online Zumba class that one of their neighbors attends religiously. “I’m just going to have to get a stud finder at the hardware store. You have a drill, right?” Finn grimaced and shook his head. “Then a drill set, too.”

Finn clapped a hand on his shoulder as he brushed by with his travel mug, “I would offer to go with, but I’m headed into the office.”

“What? Finn, it’s Saturday.”

“A journalist never rests!” And he was out the door.

Leo looked at the small tear through the dry wall from the anchor being ripped out forcefully and sighed again. He stacked his pans on a clear spot on the counter and went to collect what he needed for a walk to the hardware store.

~

The bell on the door jingled overhead as Leo entered the shop. The closest one he could find on maps seemed to be a family-run place without much information on the page at all—just the open hours and a handful of reviews, no website or pictures of the inside. Leo would have to agree with kathybee309, it was surprisingly warm and inviting as soon as he stepped inside. He couldn’t see the check-out counter from the door, but clear, handwritten indices at each aisle directed Leo to the stud finders. He was holding two options in his hands, trying to think of a reason he shouldn’t just get the cheapest one, when a soft voice spoke up to his right.

“Are you finding everything you need?”

Leo noted an accent and looked up quickly only to almost drop what he was holding. The employee that spoke to him was decently shorter than him and had a combination of curly chocolate hair, bright green eyes, and prominent muscles—truly the way his heavy apron cinched around his waist and barely covered the width his denim-wrapped thighs was criminal—that had Leo a bit weak at the knees. “Umm, hi, yeah I think I’m um good,” he stammered. “Just,” a nervous laugh, “trying to decide.” Leo held up the stud finders and tried to make his smile friendly and not as painfully awkward as he currently felt.

The store employee walked closer to him and examined the options in his hands before meeting his eyes again. At this distance Leo could read his nametag: Logan. “What are you working on?”

“Oh, I’m just trying to hang up my pans. The darn wall rack keeps falling out, so I decided to go a little more heavy duty than dry wall anchors.” He held up one of the stud finders and tried to joke, “need some studs.” Logan gave him a smile, small and breathtaking.

“Well, they’ll both work for that, but this simpler one should be sufficient,” Logan tapped his finger on the cheaper one. Yeah, Leo would say that they were working just fine considering the person in front of him. “Is that all?”

“Yep,” Leo nodded, no thoughts in his brain.

“Trés bon, you can follow me back to check out.” Logan jerked his head back the way he had come and started down the aisle. Leo hurriedly put the other stud finder back and trailed after Logan, almost tripping when he noticed the way his ass moved in those tight jeans. He kept his eyes fixed on the back of Logan’s head for the rest of the short walk to the register.

It wasn’t until Leo had closed his apartment door behind him that he realized that he completely forgot about the drill. He leaned against the door and cursed quietly. At least this time he would be prepared for the hardware store hottie and maybe not make quite as big of a fool out of himself.

~

He had decided to give it a day, with the hope that Logan would not be working so that he could avoid further embarrassment. The other half of his brain really wanted to see the hot employee again, convinced that this time he would be able to successfully flirt.

“This is a terrible idea,” Leo murmured under his breath as he rounded the sidewalk and came upon the beautifully carved dark red-brown doors set into the corner of the building.

He beelined to the drill section upon entering and luckily didn’t have as much trouble choosing this time. He came from a Milwaukee household. His eyes bugged out a bit when he saw the prices, “Jesus, that’s expensive.” Good thing his new job paid pretty well.

“We actually have a sale going for those right now.” Leo jumped at the voice behind him and turned to see a familiar, unfairly handsome face.

“Logan, hi,” Leo recovered quickly and came to the conclusion that he would have been far more disappointed to not see Logan today.

“I feel a bit at a disadvantage with you knowing my name when I don’t know yours.”

“Oh lord, where are my manners? My name’s Leo,” and he reached out to shake Logan’s warm, callused hand. He couldn’t squash the urge to explain himself, “I realized yesterday that a stud finder is a little useless without a drill and screws .”

Logan turned to the opposite shelves and scanned them for a second before picking up a box of screws. “These should work well for dry wall and studs.”

Leo offered a winning smile, “What would I do without you?” and took the box from Logan, quite possibly deliberately brushing their fingers together.

Logan looked up at him for a beat too long before stepping back. He cleared his throat, “Just doing my job. Do you need anything else?”

After taking a quick survey of what was in his hands—drill, drill bits, screws—Leo responded, “nope,” and followed Logan to the counter. In effort to keep the conversation going as Logan was ringing him up, he commented, “the front doors are gorgeous.”

“Merci. That was a long project, but one of my favorites. I can’t stand painted front doors.”

Leo chuckled, “Neither can my mama.” He looked behind him in the direction of the front of the store, “I can’t believe you made them,” turning back to look at Logan again, “y- that’s incredible.”

He was rewarded with another small smile, but this one had a tinge of something sad, “Oh I didn’t do them on my own. I was mainly helping my father. This whole store was his passion project.”

“Hell of a successful passion project, I bet I’d be astonished to see what he could accomplish with his day job!”

Logan’s smile twisted confusingly wry, “His day job wasn’t as important to him,” then that same sadness again, “But we’ll never really know what all he could have done, he passed several years ago.”

Trying to temper his shame of talking with Logan about his dead father with the fact that Logan brought him up, Leo erased the shock off his face and brought one hand up to squeeze Logan’s shoulder, “I’m sure he feels at peace knowing you are carrying on the legacy of what he loved.”

“Well, he’s not the only legacy-carrier, are you Lo Bear?” a voice called, and a young woman emerged from the back. Leo dropped his hand. If he hadn’t already guessed that they were related from her statement, he would have known just by looking at her. They could have been twins, but her green eyes were piercing through him where Logan’s were a warm, solid weight.

Logan, with color on his cheeks, huffed, “Leo, this is my sister Noelle.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Noelle.”

“Likewise,” she cocked her head at him. “What brings you here this fine Sunday morning?”

“Oh, just trying to hang stuff up in my kitchen. Not enough cabinet space.”

“An eternal struggle in Gryffindor.”

Leo chuckled, “Yeah, I’m finding that out.”

“Did you move here recently?”

“Yes, actually I moved here only a few months ago.”

“For a job?”

Leo was starting to get slightly unnerved by the accuracy of her guesses but tried not to let it show, “yes ma’am.” Logan had finished putting his things into a bag and pushed it his way while glaring at his sister. He looked between the siblings for a second before politely saying, “well I’ll let y’all get back to work. It was nice to see you again, Logan.”

Logan turned back to him and his gaze softened, “come back any time, Leo.”

~

As soon as Logan heard the sound of the door swinging shut behind Leo, Noelle jumped up and hastily looked around the store, but it was empty. She turned back towards Logan, who furrowed his brows at her.

“Thank god I was here today. You need to be more careful, Lolo.”

“Quoi?” Logan looked around in confusion, “What are you talking about?”

“Are Jackson and Evgeni here?”

“Ouais, of course. What’s going on?” Logan’s eyes started darting around the store and his fingers gravitated towards the handgun strapped to the underside of the counter.

“Nothing right now.” Noelle flashed him a quick smirk, “I thought you were just flirting with a customer and wanted to come out and see, but then I got a good look at him. The tall blond cutie pie is not what he seems, he’s the newest detective on the Gryffindor police force.” At Logan’s wide eyes, she tacked on, “Ouais, the ones who would have us in handcuffs if they even so much as caught a whiff of what’s going on.”

“Merde,” Logan breathed out. While he wouldn’t have pegged Leo as a cop in a million years, he could see how his underlying air of quiet confidence would make him an effective detective. Still, he seemed too genuine to be at the shop secretly sniffing around for a case, and Logan had a good bullshit detector, “I will be more careful, Noelle, but I don’t think that’s why he was here.”

“I trust you, Logan, just don’t let that pretty smile blind you.” Noelle ruffled his hair and stepped back, “I’m gonna head back to Maman’s. I love you.”

“I love you too, Nolly.” Logan waved goodbye and waited until she was out of sight before he sat down with a loud exhale, running a hand through his hair.

He wished that knowing Leo was, in essence, his enemy had halted his fantasies about the man altogether, but it had unfortunately and predictably only intensified his desire. It was unusual for him to feel a connection with someone so quickly, without really knowing them at all, but Leo was special somehow, just like… Logan shook his head.

Why was such a seemingly sweet guy working for such a corrupt system? Why did Logan have the urge to trust him anyway? He opened his laptop and set to find out everything that he could about Leo, the new detective at GPD, for his family’s safety, of course.

[fruitcoops]

Bedsheets and Broomsticks

Day 7: the journey continues! Characters inspired by @lumosinlove's Sweater Weather, header by @noots-fic-fests.

Halloween movie #6: Jennifer's Body (2009), because who wouldn't want to hear Finn drop the "I go both ways" line next?

“It makes no sense.” Lily knelt and laid the map out, smoothing the creases with a few careful passes of her hands. The new angle did nothing. Patterns, clues…mystery, inked in dark lines.

The floor creaked beside her. “I dunno,” Remus said nervously. “Maybe that’s the point.”

The middling green of his shirt made him look sickly in the dank, low light of the house. James was still traipsing about the attic above them, no doubt. She had outright refused to even look at the ramshackle stairs leading up. The living room would be just fine, even if wool and tiny hardwood splinters threatened her knees through her thick stockings. She didn’t want to think about how long it had been since this carpet was cleaned.

The map was some sort of parchment, thin and brittle. Remus crouched beside her; Lily drew the candlestick closer, though she was hesitant to bring it near enough to risk any damage.

“I’m just not seeing it,” she murmured. Defeat was bitter and dry in her mouth. “There has to be something I’m missing.”

“The front door is here.” Remus tapped his index finger on the line-break closest to them. “And we’re here.”

“There’s no basement, just the second floor and the attic.”

“And the attic’s marked on the back,” he confirmed, finally sitting with a huff of breath. His knees and elbows cast spider-shadows on the far wall. The cuffs of his khakis were ragged and stained from trudging through the overgrown yard, where tall grass snuck in through the empty first-floor windows.

Lily chewed the inside of her cheek and pushed her headband back to clear her periphery. “Right. Okay. We’re missing the second floor, then.”

“Mhm.”

“So it’s lost.”

Something shifted. A faint mist of plaster puffed down from the ceiling, too close to be movement from the attic. Remus swallowed thickly. “Or it got taken.”

A shout split the gentle groaning of the house.

Lily flinched herself to standing, already reaching for Remus with both hands by the time the first drop of beeswax hit the map’s east corner and bled over the ink. “James!” Remus called as he backpedaled toward the front door. Footsteps pounded overhead—Lily dove for the map, abandoning the candle to its dead wick and wax oozing into the carpet’s tassels.

“Holy shit!” James’ voice echoed down the stairs. He was coming closer, closer, and Sirius was right behind him paws pattering bodies hitting the old walls they were running, coming full tilt at Lily and Remus.

“What is it?” Lily couldn’t breathe, could hardly speak. They tore through the house in a tumbling pile, through the dining room and kitchen and a parlor that stank of water damage.

“I don’t know!” James answered, equally frantic. “Something—it was white, it was near the stairs!”

“I told you not to go up there!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

His eyes were massive and blown dark behind his glasses. His hair was a mess. Lily let him grip her elbow and pull her down the hall after the others, past closets and the pitch-black sunroom.

The front door was still open. They just had to make it there.

In and around and out and down—she hopped over miniature staircases that she hadn’t even known were there, over thresholds to rooms that blurred into one another until it felt as if they were running in circles. Secret passages that would have fascinated her an hour ago only sent plaguing terror into her belly. She kept ahold of Remus’ knobbly wrist and tore after them, cursing the light heel of her shoes.

“The yard!” Remus hollered over his shoulder. The dark shadow of Sirius bounded ahead in two long strides, shoving a fallen chair out of their path with a scrabble of paws and a push from one massive shoulder.

The dog vanished out the door, cutting a path through the overgrowth with his body. Lily’s pulse muted any other sound but the one-two-one-two-one-two of her feet searching for purchase on the slanting floor of this endless hall.

One-two-one-two-one-two—

One. Two. Onetwoonetwoonetwoonetwo.

Sirius barked. Her heart tripped over itself. Footsteps, growing loud and close.

Lily planted her heel and wheeled around, already reaching out. For what, she didn’t know.

James was right—the thing was white.

And cottony, when she grabbed it by the face and yanked with every ounce of her strength.

The sheet billowed outward with a startled yelp and a burst of dust. Lily wanted to choke on it, but her lungs refused to do anything but suck in desperate gulps of air.

Severus’ grab for the sheet was futile. He froze. Lily stared.

“Lily!” he wheezed. “It was a joke, I’m sorry, I—”

She dropped the fabric and swung.

Severus hit the ground harder and faster than his stupid fucking bedsheet.

Sirius was sitting in the doorway when she turned again, his head cocked to the side and ears pricked up. He was the perfect height for Remus to bury both hands deep in the dark fur around his neck and hang on against his shock-wobbled legs. Lily narrowed her eyes at him. He blinked big silver eyes at her and whined softly. “Aren’t you supposed to be able to smell the difference between a ghost and a human?”

“You’re amazing,” James breathed.

Lily gave him a quick up-and-down look. “Nice costume, Potter. What are you going as? A dusty corner?”

James’ lopsided smile made her chest tight all over again. “Maybe.”

“You have cobwebs in your hair.”

“Sure.”

“And dust on your nose.”

“Whatever you say, Evans.”

He was ridiculous. And warm, when she threw her arms around his neck and let him dip her back for a kiss that stole her breath away more than any false ghost or skipped step. She twisted one hand in the front of his thick white sweater and the other in the orange cloth tied around his neck. He tilted his chin; the kiss deepened. Lily sighed and let herself melt.

--

Far away, curled up in her bed, Lily rolled onto her other side and buried her nose in the soft place of her husband’s jaw. No dreams could hurt her here.

[tea-moon-ster]

Fic-O-Ween: Day Seven

Sequel of "The Prince and his Frogs", Leo's love for the movie inspires Logan and Finn. Halloween is in a week. And they need new costumes.

prompts and card belong to @noots-fic-fests, and characters to @lumosinlove.

raiting: G. read it on ao3 here.

The arrival of Leo’s old stuffed frog Naveen brought a few memorable nights with it. Nights made of intertwined limbs squished on the couch, bowls of snacks balanced poorly on said limbs, and too many blankets to cover cuddles and warm up kisses. Those were the Disney nights. A long series of rewatching the old classics began, with the contribution of Dumo’s Disney Plus account Logan still had from his times in the Dumais’ basement. They could afford their own subscription just fine, but where was the fun in that? They could mess up Dumo’s page, filling it with High School Musical’sand Camp Rock instead of his documentaries.

But Naveen the frog also brought ideas.

It hit Logan and Finn as they rewatched The Princess and the Frog for the third time that month, Leo asleep in between them. Little did he know, Finn and Logan were currently having a silent conversation, insisting eyes darting from the sleeping boy in between them, to the TV, to Naveen the Frog on the armchair.

Halloween was only one week away, and they needed to act quickly.

Leo loved the Lions’ Halloween party. It meant candies, loud laughter, friends, and a sense of vertigo for how precipitously were said friendships turning into family. It wasn’t the kind of fear that was usually associated with Halloween, but the free-fall Leo found himself into after three years with the team came close.

That year, Sirius and Remus would host the party. It would begin in two hours, and that meant that you could find Leo fussing around the kitchen, Finn in the shower and Logan…Leo didn’t know where Logan was. But it wasn’t in the kitchen, where Leo needed him, and that’s all he knew. He let out a frustrated huff, because oh, would you look at that, he was in the kitchen, alone, again, preparing food for a party they were all invited to.

Leo snorted again. He ought to do like Kasey, and resolve the problem of cooking for parties by bringing alcohol and mixers. So easy, man. I don’t even turn on the kitchen lights.

Kasey was smart.

Now, the problem itself wasn’t the food. And it would have been unfair to say that his boys never helped. They offered, at least. What really bugged Leo was that both Logan and Finn had been quite…weird, in the past week. Skittish almost. Hushed conversations in the hallway and random walks in the park right after practice or running to the store because they run out of oranges. Finn hated oranges. Leo had been too tired from practice or busy at home to question it.

The goalie wiped his hands as he looked at the big bowls on the counter, where hot beignets were cooling. Now that he thought of that- why had Finn and Logan insisted on bringing that to the party? Without helping? Leo was beginning to feel amiss, as if he’d done something wrong. Were they mad at him? Were they avoiding him because he was too much?

Leo glanced at the clock. Seven thirty. The food was ready, and it meant he had time for a shower and changing in his Halloween costume.

They had decided to go as the Chipmunks that year. Leo had to admit, it really was a right fit: he’d be Simon, since he was the tallest -and blue really suited him. Logan was going for Theodor (“is it because I’m shorter?” “Of course not, baby, the green really matches your eyes”.) And their redhead was Alvin, of course. The costume itself had been simple to realize: red, blue and green hoodies with some brown pants. Plus, he had fake glasses on while Finn had glued a yellow A on Logan’s red cap. Finn had also insisted for a month that they’d sing something while inhaling helium, but that was out of question.

As he wiped his hand on the apron and slid it off, Leo heard the front door open and close, and keys being dropped in the bowl by the door.

“Mes amours, I’m back!” Logan called.

From where, Leo didn’t ask. He studied the messy table and decided it would be Finn and Logan’s problem. He heard some shuffling of plastics and bags, but before he could inquire, Logan joined him in the kitchen, an innocent smile on his face.

“Hey there, pretty.”

He got on his tiptoes to leave a quick kiss on Leo’s cheek.

“Hey yourself.”

“It’s five thirty, soleil. Hit the shower yet?”

Leo scoffed, crossing his arms. “No, I was busy in the kitchen. Alone.”

At that, Logan’s expression turned into genuine guilt. “Désolé, mon cœur. We’ll make it up to you soon, I promise.”

Well, Leo supposed he could work with that. He usually got away with being extremely demanding when his boys used that phrase with him. He bit back an extremely smug smile as he left a peck in chocolate curls. “Also, Finn’s still in the shower.”

“Has that ever stopped you?”

“Touché.”

They were almost ready. The food was wrapped and waiting on the counter and Leo was now clean and less grumpy thanks to an extremely thoughtful Finn in the shower. There was one last thing to do before hopping in the car.

“Come on now, time to put the costumes on,” Logan grinned, jumping on their bed.

He seemed too excited for putting on a plain green hoodie, Leo noted, and Finn was basically jumping on his feet. They were looking at him with big, expectant smiles, following his every move as he walked to their closet to take the costumes out. Leo narrowed his eyes. Too excited. The moment his hand reached the pile of colorful hoodies, giggling ensured.

“Oh, no, Butter. Our real costumes,” Finn exclaimed with way too much enthusiasm in his voice. Logan disappeared in the hallway with a jog, only to return moments later with two big shopping bags, depositing them proudly on the bed. Both boys stared at him with thrilled anticipation. Cuties, Leo noted as he approached the bags with a raised eyebrow.

“Guys, what’s all this? I thought we were set on the Chipmunks?”

“Just open it,” they said together. He huffed but obliged. The questions he was about to ask died in his throat as he took out a soft, green…frog pajama. Next to it sat a plastic golden crown with pointy spikes.

“What the…”

Finn and Logan wasted no time, and emptied the other bag, full of clothes, straightening them so Leo could take a look. There was a prince suite, all greens, leaf details, matched with a darker shade of green leggings and a light cape. The crown was placed on top of it. Next to it, they disposed a simple, yellow shirt, some brown pants, and a white waist apron. Lastly, Finn gently took from the blonde’s hands the big, soft green onesie with the hood that looked like a frog. Then, they joined him at the end of the bed, where he was staring at the new costumes in awe. Leo felt Logan’s strong arms hugging him from behind, and he instinctively brought a hand to the one resting on his chest. Finn rested his head on the youngest’s shoulder, pointing with a finger to each costume.

“Logan,” the prince suite, “Me,” the frog onesie. For the last one, he let a soft kiss on his cheek. “And our wonderful New Orleanian prince who worked hard for his dreams.”

Leo let out a strangled noise, bringing a hand to his mouth, already feeling the tears stinging his eyes.

“No,” he sobbed, “Y’all didn’t.”

“But wy’all did.” Finn left another soft kiss on his nose.

“Surprise,” Logan murmured against his shoulder.

Leo was speechless. He turned so he could hug his boys properly, sobbing and keeping them tight as they let out happy sighs of relief.

“I’m so glad you like them, Peanut,” Logan said, looking up at the crying boy with a warm smile. Leo had to leave a kiss on his forehead, and one in Finn’s hair for good measure. He received a soft hum for his trouble.

“Honey, they’re…God, they’re perfect. How did you…?”

Logan rolled his eyes. “Believe me, it wasn’t easy. We only decided last week and had little to no time, between practice and keeping it from you.” Leo quickly scanned in his head every evasive answer or excuse he’d received in the last few days, every random time they left the house without him.

“The last part was the hardest,” Finn added. “We don’t like keeping things from you. Secrets. Bleugh.”

Oh.

Two and a half years into their relationship, they easily shared every day and thought, so Leo felt the difference immediately. He should have known that they wouldn’t let him out of things if not for a valid reason behind, and let himself relax in relief against them. With two last kisses, he let the boys go to take a better look at the costumes. He sat at the edge of the bed, holding Logan’s hand, and looked at Finn, who was still bouncing on his feet.

“So, of course you had to be Tiana, that was the whole point. And this,” he pointed the yellow shirt and apron, “Is supposed to be what she wears at the beginning of the movie, yeah? As a waitress? We wanted to get you something more elaborate, because in the movie there are so many dresses, but we didn’t find anything that would take less than two weeks to arrive, and we couldn’t take you to a tailor because it would’ve spoiled the whole thing, so, yeah…”

Leo smiled smittenly at the fast-mumbling Finn had fallen into, and he reached out with a finger to pull his chin down for a kiss. “Sweetheart, this is perfect. Honestly, I’m surprised you managed all this in just a few days!”

At that, Finn beamed. “Yeah! And I’ve always wanted one of those big animal onesies, so I had to be Naveen as a frog. So, look at you, two princes to escort you tonight!”

Leo let out a watery laugh, unable to keep his emotions down. The surprise had been so sudden and unexpected, and most important, they’d changed their whole Halloween plan just for him, and the things he’d told them a few days before. They’d been so ready to make him feel special that he didn’t know what to say.

“Yeah, my two frog princes. God, I love you two so damn much. Okay, let’s put these on.”

Needless to say, the party was a success. Everyone cooed and took pictures of the three of them, and Leo beamed every time someone asked the reason behind their costumes. Logan and Finn just smiled, never taking their eyes off him. And as he spoke and laughed with the team, and Logan ran a thumb on Finn’s hand three times, the redhead thought at the conversation they had exactly a week ago. When Leo had opened more about his love for The Princess and the Frog, explaining why it was so important for him. They talked about it one lazy morning in bed. There was peace, in the intertwined fingers against the pale light coming from the curtains, and a mess of tangled legs under the blankets.

“I think I loved it so much because Tiana was one of the first different protagonists in Disney,” he murmured to his boys, observing their hands playing together in the air. “And I was beginning to feel amiss. Like something was different between me and the other kids. It’s not the same kind of different, but yeah.”

He felt Logan press more into his back, strong arms around his chest. Finn had a little, focused pout as they all stared at the hands playing above their heads.

“I didn’t really know what it was, not yet, but I…I started to think about it.” He smiled. “And I had this big dream. And in my head, it was just…more and more confusing. I thought that there was no one like me in the league. I looked at the stars and wished I could conciliate my dreams -hockey and…yeah, somebody to love. Seemed impossible at the time.”

Logan let out a small, cooing noise, making Leo roll on his back so he could pace the bond’s head on his chest. Leo chuckled, accepting his destiny of becoming a stuffed toy himself. He brought a hand to brown curls as Finn scooted closer, pressing a peck to both his boys’ noses.

“So, you know, big dream, big secret. That movie made me hopeful. Tiana is different, and still, she succeeds.” He shrugged, a corner of his mouth going up. “And I mean, for a while I did want that restaurant to be mine. It was so good.”

He glanced at the stuffed frog, that Finn had insisted on putting on the nightstand, and then at the ceiling, covered in small, sticky stars that glowed in the dark that were yellowing after a few years up there. He smiled contently, snuggling between his boys and closing his eyes.

Leo was now wide awake, and high on the love and the attention his boys had showered him in. Around him, the party was still in full force. People were laughing and dancing to fast music, but a slow, sweet song was coming from the kitchen.

“Hey,” Finn grinned, a hand going around the blond’s waist. “Let’s kiss at midnight.”

“Harzy, it’s Halloween, not New Year’s Eve.”

“Let’s kiss at all the midnights.”

Logan’s hand reached Leo’s other side, wrapping him in between them. He left a soft kiss on his collarbone. “It can be a new tradition. Our tradition.”

And there it was, Leo thought as he smiled and nodded. That’s what he’d wished upon a star as a little kid, his frog Naveen to witness. To build traditions. New, random traditions with someone who loved him.

All he’d wished for. He could have done without the NHL salary, or the rising fame. If there really was just a restaurant, or no restaurant at all. Leo liked to think that they would have found each other in every universe and dimension. Every life, and every era.

[solemilyswear]

Happy fic-o-ween! I’m a couple days late, please forgive me. Here’s a little something inspired by @lumosinlove for @noots-fic-fests using the prompt “your hands are cold” from Day 9.

For the best reading experience, I recommend listening to “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None The Richer.

Major Vaincre Spoilers ahead!

“It’s time for another break of the action, brought to you by Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream…”

After a long summer, it was nice to be back out on the ice, and based on the excitement from the crowd tonight, the fans were glad to be back, too. Music had started playing, showing fans on the Jumbotron to get the crowd going.

Remus skated over to the bench where Sirius, gloves off, was drawing out a play on his hands for James. As he reached them, James nodded and turned to where Finn leaned over the bench, chatting with Leo, on reserve tonight.

“Kiss me out on the bearded barley…” the music had changed, but Remus wasn’t paying much attention to it, more interested in Sirius’ hands, a little red from the cold, the tattoo on his ring finger standing out against the flush as he grabbed a Gatorade bottle to drink from.

“…you wear those shoes and I will wear that dress…”

Remus turned to grab a sip of his own bottle. They had a game to focus on.

“You’re hot tonight.”

Remus couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face at Sirius’ words, then looked back to find a similar grin on his husband’s face. “Really?”

“I was just telling James that if we get a power play, I want you on it.”

Almost as if I’m response to Sirius’ words, the crowd erupted in cheers. Remus looked up in search of the cause and saw himself live, standing next to Sirius—

“…So, kiss me...”

—on the Kiss Cam.

He watched on the screen as Sirius reached for his jersey and pulled him in. He looked away from the Jumbotron and into his favorite pair of eyes, just in time to feel the press of his favorite lips on his.

They usually tried to keep PDA on the ice down to a minimum (with exceptions of cup wins and particularly important goals), but it was the start of the season, and they were married, and they were happy, and they were home. They had the support of the fans, cheering for them, happy for them, and Remus was going to enjoy this moment.

“…Kiss me beneath the milky twilight. Lead me…”

Sirius’ kept one hand gripped in his jersey, but the other had wandered up toward his neck, and Remus pulled away slightly with a sharp inhale. Sirius looked at him questioningly.

“Your hands are cold”

That got him a pout and a second hand on his neck. “Won’t you warm them for me?”

“… so kiss me.”

The music ended and the refs were skating out, signaling it was time for a resume in play.

Remus brought his hands up to take Sirius’ into his own, and held them for a few seconds before bringing them to his mouth to kiss the ink that’s been driving him crazy for weeks now. Then he let go.

“I’ll warm your hands later, right now we have a game to play.”

[itsaash]

O'Knutzy Week! Prompts: Bucket hat & Summer Vacation

I'll be posting parts making up one story each day this week! It's a cubs au where Finn's spending the summer at his parent's house in the Hamptons and Leo is their private chef. yes, inspired by those amazing tiktoks. Logan will be revealed tomorrow 😏

Characters by @lumosinlove, for @oknutzyweek2023

Part 1

It was a day of full July heat, the kind of day that promises a summer full of sunshine, and you can already smell the sunscreen and salty air. Finn and Leo were sitting outside eating dinner, Leo had laid out a large wooden cutting board covered with the fixings to make world class sandwiches. He had arranged the meats, cheese, sourdough bread, fresh rolls, and chopped vegetables in a beautiful rainbow across the tray. It had been entirely too hot to even consider turning on an oven. 

As was their way on these long hot days of summer vacation in the Hamptons, Haley and Ramsey had eaten earlier, and then they spent most evenings at some friend’s or another, returning to the city most weekdays. Finn and Leo tended to eat together a bit later in the evening, so the temperature had blessedly gotten down a few degrees. Nevertheless, they sat in the garden under an umbrella, the shade surrounding them and the smell of the evening flowers beginning to fill the air. Finn always had a book (or ten) to work through editing and he had been spending his days moving with his laptop and piles of manuscripts from one place to another, working in every corner of the property as his attention ebbed and flowed. But on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, mysteriously the best work spots seemed to always be in sight of the kitchen. Those were the days Leo was there. 

Leo had been working for Finn's parents for a few years now, in the city and at the Hamptons house. But Finn had been away at school and he had only met Leo a few weeks ago when he came home for a summer in the Hamptons. Leo was tall, taller than Finn even, his hair a bleached golden blonde and sky blue eyes that reflected the summer sky. Today, despite the shade of the umbrella, Leo also had a bucket hat perched on his head, mostly blue, with designs of nebulas and stars and space decorating it. Just the ends of his blonde hair curled out the bottom of the hat, and Finn’s eyes darted from Leo’s eyes to those teases of hair and back again approximately every minute.

Having Leo around was both a motivation and a distraction for Finn. He lived for the time in the afternoon when Leo would sit down, taking a break after cleaning up lunch and before he needed to start making supper. Knowing that was basically the only time of the day that Leo would stop was quite an effective motivator for Finn. He would make sure that he had done as much as he could in the morning so he could coincidentally have those hours free too. They had gone for walks, sat in the shade and read together, or sometimes Finn pretended to do his work and really covertly watched Leo make his elaborate grocery lists. Because the food Leo made was nothing less than amazing. 

This Sunday night, Finn was finishing his turkey on sourdough, the tang of the bread combining perfectly with some sort of perfect sandwich sauce that Finn suspected Leo had made himself. The flowers were all in bloom and the trees were the bright green that they got after the spring rains. It was glorious. Finn felt a tether between his heart and this place, this property that he had been coming to since he was a kid. But there was something new growing in his heart too … and it seemed to bloom on the weekends. He doesn’t want it to end. They switched to a fruit pie with cream and sure the food was great, but it wasn’t only the call of his taste buds that prompted Finn to jump.

“Hey, um, Leo?”

“Mmm?”

“I know this is kind of weird, of course you can say no, you wouldn’t have to cook at all! But would you want to stay this week? We can just… hang out?”

Leo paused, gazing at the big brown eyes looking up at him so hopefully.

“Oh, um, that’s real nice of you Finn! But my … boyfriend is expecting me back in the city.” 

Finn’s heart skipped about three beats, then raced to catch up. Boyfriend! But, boyfriend.  

“Oh yeah! Of course!” There was a long pause as they took bites of their pie. Finn felt disappointment fill his belly even more than the food did. Of course Leo had a boyfriend, he was funny, and sweet, and so gorgeous. Even as beautiful as the property was, he didn’t relish week after week with nothing but his work to keep him company. 

“He could come too!”

“Really?” Leo looked up, seeming surprised. “That’s a very kind offer, you don’t have to do that.”

“No really, if you like him, he must be great. And it doesn’t have to be anything else. I just love having you around. I don’t like being alone all week and Alex is barely coming up this summer at all. So, next week, do you want to bring him, and you guys can stay? I promise you don’t have to cook a single thing.”

A smile blossomed over Leo’s face as Finn rambled at high speed. 

“Well, he is actually on summer holiday right now. He’s a teacher,” Leo said. 

Finn perked up. “Wow, that’s so amazing, that’s even better! What’s he teach? I’ll cook, I promise I’m not trying to get extra work out of you.”

“Mmmhhmm, and what do you usually eat during the week then, Finn?” Leo asked, and Finn knew he was caught. 

“Well, nothing like you make, obviously. But I couldn’t put you to work here during the week too.” 

Leo smiled. “Well, I’d be cooking for myself and working on new recipes at home anyways. I don’t mind making some for you too. But maybe I’ll let you do the cleaning up.”

Finn felt a prickle of excitement tingle under his skin. “I can clean up! Dishes, sweeping, I know where everything goes, I can do that.” They laughed, Finn glanced away at the line of trees in the distance. He was being too eager. He took a breath.

“Well I’ll have to ask Lo, but I’ll message you tomorrow what he says, OK? It really is such a nice offer. I know Lo would appreciate getting out of the city after a busy semester.” Finn nodded eagerly. Lo and Leo. He wanted to spend the summer out here, but most of his friends were in the city. But next week he could have Leo and Lo in his house. He smiled to himself, trying to keep his excitement in check. They finished their sandwiches as the evening melded into the perfect temperature. Finn showed he could be true to his word by helping Leo clean up, happy for the chance to talk, and to plan and hope for what they could do next weekend.

[oknutzy-week-2024]

O’Knutzy Week 2024 is coming up fast! It is from July 15th - July 21st giving you two days of rest (or to catch up and read like I will be!)

Remember to tag this blog and @lumosinlove when you post your creativity!

Hope y’all are finding some inspiration!

[we-are-swearwolves]

Leo’s Plant Corner

Finn/Leo/Logan: plants and domesticity and social media mishaps (G)

Inspired by me finding new leaves on a fiddle leaf I thought was dead 😌🪴 characters belong to @lumosinlove 💘

It was an understandable mistake, really.

Alex was grounded in the Atlanta airport, texting everyone he fucking knew for hours as he tried to get on a flight back to New York.

Finn had been sending him videos all afternoon. Multiple snapchats with some version of the phrase ‘sucks to suck 💞’, Leo’s straight faced reactions to an awful selection of puns, himself dancing like a lunatic to a new Taylor Swift song (“I finally understand Lo’s secret obsession now, ok I get it, Peanut Butter.”).

Hell, he’d even gone so far as to scroll through the videos he kept on his phone and edit together a compilation of Lo saying ‘Tabarnak’ in various contexts and inflections.

So, you see it was reasonable for Logan to think that Finn was filming a video for Alex.

When Leo had first moved north, he’d had a hard time not seeing the stars, not feeling the heat, and being away from his parents, which were all things that couldn’t be fixed, though goddamnit did Finn and his thermostat try.

One thing Finn could fix though, was the greenery.

Central Gryff wasn’t exactly known for its lush landscape, and once Leo realized that one of the things he was missing was all the green, Finn had gone what might be called ‘apeshit’ at a nearby nursery.

A lot of their plants died on the regular, seeing as they were gone so fucking much, but the majority of them did make it and both Finn and Leo were very proud.

Heartthrob status or no, Finn didn’t go live on Instagram very often, but for a brief period of time at the start of Leo’s rookie season, there were short plant tours and updates every other week or so, mostly to make Leo laugh.

They hadn’t done it in forever, although he got comments requesting “new episodes of Leo’s plant corner? 🥺” semi-regularly.

This particular morning, however, there was such a significant plant development (and Finn had his goddamn phone out anyway) that they thought fuck it.

The number of people who must have had notifications turned on for Finn’s lives must being truly fucking ridiculous for how many viewers they immediately had.

Finn put on a truly ridiculous wrestling announcer voice and began the same way he always had, “Welcome, to Leo Knut’s plant corner!!! Bauw bauw-bauw bauwwww!”

Literally thousands of hearts showed on his screen.

“Alright listen, what y’all have to understand is that I thought this fiddle leaf was over, ok?” Leo’s accent was coming out just a little stronger than usual and it was so fucking cute, “He’s been strugglin’ since we got him, what was that, Harz, almost two years ago? Anyway, no growth at all, dropping leaves all the time, lookin’ kind of pathetic—“

Finn tried to keep the phone steady even though he was quietly losing his shit laughing.

“—shuddup Harzy, it was sad!” And then he looked back to the camera, “Finn was sad for him y’all, I swear. Ok so anyway this morningggg,” Leo stepped to the side and gestured proudly to said pathetic plant, “I come out here, and this lil guy had not one, not two, not three, but FOUR new baby leaves up top!”

Finn zoomed for emphasis, saying, ���Baby leaves,” with what he hoped was enough awe to satisfy Leo.

“Baby leaves! I said what I said! Look at them! They’re so small and they’re new.”

Thousands more virtual hearts, which Finn thought was understandable.

“Baby leaves though?”

Leo liked making Finn laugh just as much as Finn liked making Leo laugh so he pushed on, ridiculous on purpose, hand gestures big and expressive.

“Yes, these are baby leaves, ok? Look at them! I’m so proud of this goddamn plant, I thought he was a goner and here he is with children,” (Finn was laughing so fucking hard now) “For fucks sake, Harzy, this man is a father!”

Finn couldn’t contain the sounds any longer and neither could Leo as they both broke character and just giggled and giggled and giggled.

It was probably for the best that neither of them were paying attention to the thirsty comments the IG viewers were leaving, that they didn’t see just how many people were at that moment offering to make them fathers.

“Merde, what the fuck?”

The sound of their laughter had woken Logan up from where he’d been lightly snoozing just a room away.

Finn threw out a, “Now with special guest… Logannnn Tremblaaay!” To which he got an eyebrow raise that he somehow understood to be in French.

Leo quickly caught Logan up on their new leaf children, Lo’s expression getting softer with each word.

See, it had been so long since Finn and Leo’s last plant show and what with Finn sending Alex videos all day, it really was understandable that Lo would speak freely even knowing he was being recorded.

“Mon dieu, Peanut, if this is the reaction for baby plants, I cannot imagine how you guys will be when we have our family, I mean fuck.”

Finn and Leo both froze.

“What?”

Both their mouths dropped open.

“What? It’s not like we haven’t talked about— Baby, why are you looking at me like that?”

Finn looked dazed and used his free hand to point to his phone somewhat ridiculously.

“Video,” was the only word he could get out though.

“Yeah, no shit, you’ve been sending Alex videos all day.”

Finn stared.

Leo stared.

Logan didn’t know it at the time, but thousands of people at home watching on their phones also stared.

“It’s…” Logan’s eyes got a little bigger then, alarm beginning to work its way into his face, “…it’s for Alex. Right? Finn,” Lo was serious now, “Finn… you’re recording a video for Alex.”

Later, upon reflection, there were a lot of things Logan would wish had gone differently that day (it wasn’t how he imagined they’d come out).

One specific thing, however, was the fact that the fucking face he made when Finn finally managed to say, “Nope,” as Leo said, “Sweetheart, oh my god,” would become a meme that would haunt him for years.

He was a little bit right though, Alex did love that video.

[weeklyreadings]

Week 37

Our Blood, Still Young by templeg

Rated E. 15k. Wolfstar

It's nearly the last day of fifth year, and Sirius really isn't looking forward to the summer.

No Bright Line by @the-grey-lady

Rated E. 106k. Wolfstar

In which Sirius is a famous actor who has stopped believing in authenticity, Remus is a historian with a complex relationship to memory, and Lily is the brilliant filmmaker who brings them together. James and Harry are there too, although they mostly just want to enjoy the beach.

Terrible People by @getawayfox and @wolfpants

Rated E. 53k. Drarry

What happens when Harry and Draco end up on the same Muggle gay cruise? They certainly didn't plan for it to happen (but their friends might have). They're stuck with each other for a week, they might as well make the most of it, right?

Second Spin series by xtinavoice

Rated E. 78k. Wolfstar

In which Sirius gets a lot of second chances.

A canon-inspired look at Sirius’ relationship with Remus (and himself) throughout his lifetime.

The Kitchens by @lumosinlove

Not Rated. 59k. Wolfstar

Sirius and Remus: A king and a commoner from two different worlds who will break all the rules for love.

[rumrumgoose]

My son is forcing me to do a fantasy hockey league, thought I would make a joke no one else gets 😂 thanks @lumosinlove for inspiring my name choice

[marmarifer]

Happy O’Knutzy Week 2023!

Thank you @oknutzyweek2023 for organizing this year and thank you @lumosinlove for your incredible characters and the beautiful story you’ve created for them.

Day one: Costumes! Here’s Leo, Lo and Finn doing grease inspired costumes for Cap’s halloween party this year.

[quillkiller]

5-6-14 i'm especially curious about which one is being made into a film .

5. What’s a fic idea you’ve had that you will never write?

ahshdj i had the idea today that i wanted to write crabbe and goyles relationship althroughout hogwarts and i got so fucking excited. im literally never going to do that tho bc im not really a writer and muli-chapter fics are HARD. i would also love to write a dorcas fic where she’s discovering her butch lesbian identity but i dont think i ever will… i also have a million raven cycle ideas that i’ll never write probably because im too invested in my marauder rare pairs <//3

6. Are there any fics from others you reread all the time?

yes!!!!

1. text talk by merlywhirls

2. the shoebox project by jaida

3. time is a fine invention by bluepeony

4. long live living (if living can be this) by excaliburned

5. coast to coast by lumosinlove

6. a brief history of dragons by eyra

14. If you could see one of your fics adapted into a visual medium, such as comic or film, which fan fic would you pick?

oh…….. listen. as some of u may know by now… im a film major (no i will never stop bragging that i got my bachelor’s degree a few weeks ago) and i have some experience with directing short films..

i’m not really obsessed with my writing in ’doesn’t the night go slow?’ but i think the story is so good….. i would LOVE to see it as film. what inspired me to write it was the film adaption of fried green tomatoes and specifically the line ”i’m as settled as i ever hoped to be” :)))) the story is vastly different lmao its just. that specific line that sparked the fic to life<3

[thatssomuchlove]

Fic-O-Ween Day 10

Characters by the lovely @lumosinlove and fest organized by @noots-fic-fests!!

Prologue for a Stardust AU (a sort of hodge-podge of book and movie) featuring the one and only Ramsey O'Hara:

Ramsey’s scrap of sanity was getting pretty threadbare. He loved his son dearly; he loved his wailing and crying son so dearly, but he was going crazy. He knew that losing his wife in childbirth was just as tough on his baby as it was on him (he hadn’t loved her like the storybooks say, but it was a practical match and they really were very good friends), but god he just hadn’t had a break in over a year. That’s why Ramsey had written to his sister to come stay with him for a little bit. He needed the company, he needed the help, and he desperately needed the pot of tea she was making for them in the kitchen. Alex had quieted down by the time Shannon brought their teacups to the sitting room where Ramsey was bouncing him in his arms. He breathed a quiet word of thanks to his sister before sitting down in his armchair with one arm around Alex where the baby was now sleeping on his chest and the other raising the tea to his lips.

“Ramsey, darling, you look exhausted,” Shannon started.

“Ah, well I can’t imagine why,” Ramsey responded before taking a sip from his teacup. She just gave him a look over the rim of hers.

“How about I take him for a bit? You need some fresh air,” his sister suggested.

Ramsey clutched Alexander a little tighter. The boy may wear him out, but he needed Alex as much as Alex needed him, if not more. His child was the last piece of his wife that he had left, and sometimes letting him go felt impossible.

“I am perfectly capable of putting him down,” Shannon added with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes, all right.” But Ramsey was slow to get up and hand Alex over. He really was such a sweet baby. Those huge brown eyes framed by dark red lashes could bend Ramsey’s will on anything, and he felt their pull even while they were closed peacefully. He grabbed his coat then bid them goodbye with a kiss to his sister’s cheek and his baby’s soft, sweet-smelling head. Right before he was out the door, he turned back to the people that mattered most in his life. “Thank you, Shannon.”

She just smiled and waved him off, and Ramsey stepped out into the cool autumn night air and shut the door softly behind him. He looked up at the stars, fainter in the glow of his porch lamps, and chose a direction. After passing the last house on the lane, he almost stopped dead in his tracks when he felt an urge—the first in a long time—to whistle a tune. Ramsey also felt himself being inexplicably drawn to the wall that inspired the name of his town. It was one of the rare Market Days at the beginning of November. He had rented out one of the rooms in his house to a curious man in a black silk top hat because the inn always filled up very fast, and it was considered rude if the townsfolk did not offer up their homes to the visitors—for acceptable payment of course (though what was considered acceptable varied greatly with this strange lot; Ramsey was currently being paid both in coin and the promise of his and his progenies’ Heart’s Desire). He was only comfortable leaving Shannon alone in the house because he knew that his mysterious tenant always stayed out in the Faerie Market all night. Ramsey had never been to the Market, as he had moved from Ireland less than three years ago. Escaping the growing food scarcity, he started working for sheep farmers in Wall to send money back to his family. He became good friends with the farmer’s eldest daughter; and very quickly, he and Daisy were expected to marry, so they did. They had Alex a year into their marriage, and just like that, she was gone. His in-laws generally took care of Alex while he was working, but he still hadn’t expected to have the time nor the energy to see the Market. However, something about this opportunity that would end tonight and not come again for nine years was suddenly irresistible.

When Ramsey emerged from the tree line to see the wall guarded by none other than Mad-Eye Moody himself, he was surprised to find no one passing through either way. Still, he nodded to Moody and attempted to go through the crumbling gap in the wall before his chest bumped into the cane that Moody had thrust out in front of him.

“You can’t pass through the wall, O’Hara,” Moody said in his rough, gravelly voice.

“Why but it is a Market Day,” Ramsey responded with his eyebrows pinched together.

Moody stared at him hard, “yes, but I only let people through midday to dusk. It is not safe over there after nightfall.”

“Oh,” Ramsey knew that Moody was not someone who could be bargained with. “Well… that sounds rather final. Better just go home then, I suppose.” Ramsey turned around to make it appear that he was heeding Moody’s warning, but that last strand of sanity had finally snapped.

“Good,” Moody started walking back to his seat off to the side of the gap. He wasn’t fast enough to stop Ramsey when the young man suddenly turned back around and sprinted towards the wall, leaping through the gap and not stopping to the shouts of “wait!” and “O’HARA!” that followed him into the forest on the other side of the wall. Ramsey knew that Moody would not leave his post, but he didn’t stop running to catch his breath until he was well into the trees.

The Faerie Market lay outside the town that served as a magical counterpart to Wall. He could hear the hawking of wares and music from instruments he could not identify as he moved closer to the orange glow filtering through the forest. Ramsey did not want to look like a tourist, but he felt like his eyes held the same naïve wonderment as his son’s when he finally entered the Market. Some of the stalls were already closed up as it was past normal hours, but there were still plenty of people selling wild things like parts from animals he had never heard of and bottles of swirling clouds and sweet-smelling food (that he knew very well not to take thanks to his Maimeó). He felt almost in a trance as he wandered the winding rows of stalls until sharp awareness flooded back as he beheld the most beautiful woman he had ever seen standing behind a table of small glass flowers that chimed delicately. She had long curly auburn hair hanging loose over bare shoulders and past the neckline of her blue dress with ruffled skirts. Her violet eyes and pointed ears alerted his brain that she could be dangerous, but his heart told him that it didn’t matter.

She caught him staring, “See anything you like?”

It was then that the man with the black silk top hat passed by, though Ramsey did not notice his presence or whisper of a debt being paid in full.

“Definitely,” Ramsey breathed. He could not stop looking at the woman, and when she smiled in response, he lost all higher brain function. He averted his eyes to the flowers and stammered, “they- they are very lovely,” and he picked up a violet that seemed to sing as he held it, “how much?”

“We don’t take money at this stall.”

Ramsey cocked his head, “what do you take?”

“I could take the pattern of freckles on your cheeks… or your memories of the rain. I could even take your ability to smell fresh baked bread or the spice of autumnal air.”

Ramsey put down the flower, feeling a little out of his depth, but he would give up quite a bit just to keep talking to her.

“What is your name?”

She smiled sadly, “I no longer have a name,” and she held up her skirts just enough to show a silver chain tied around her ankle, “I am a slave, and the name I had was taken from me by the witch-woman who owns this stall.”

Ramsey tried not to let too much of his horror show on his face, “And you are her slave forever?”

“No, not forever. But the conditions in which I gain my freedom are not so easily met. My mistress lured me out of my father’s lands and caught me many years ago. I dream of the day that I can return to them as a free woman.” The young woman, who had been looking out unseeing into the middle distance, returned her gaze to Ramsey, “Will you buy a flower from me, young master?”

“My name is Ramsey,” he told her, having been enraptured by her sad tale and forgetting that one must be careful with names in the land of Faerie. He gave the table another look and picked up a white snowdrop that he knew Alex would like. “And what would this cost me?”

“That one would cost a kiss, just here on my cheek,” and she tapped it coyly.

Ramsey grinned at her, “oh that I will pay gladly,” and he kissed the soft skin of her cheek. He felt the overwhelming desire to linger and continue breathing in the inviting, magical scent of the woman, but he pulled away and searched her unusual violet eyes.

“Will you stay awhile? My mistress will not be back for some time,” she asked.

The quickness with which Ramsey started nodding made him pause, “I feel as if I am under some sort of spell.”

Her laugh was even more wondrous than her smile. “You are under no spell, pretty boy,” and she led him to sit in the grass between the painted caravan and her table of wares.

They both looked up at the stars in the clearing between the trees, and Ramsey could not help but remark on the unidentifiable difference to the ones he saw mere hours ago on his side of the wall, “these stars, they seem like… more.”

The woman beside him (she was so close, but he could feel the inches between them so distinctly) hummed melodically and asked, “What are your stars like?”

She looked at him as he struggled to name the difference, “They are beautiful.” He met her gaze and his breath caught, “But everything feels so much more alive here.”

“What about you? Do you feel more alive?”

He didn’t tell her about the challenges he was facing back home—grief, loneliness, homesickness—but he had a feeling she knew anyway. “I think I do,” he whispered and brought a hand to the cheek that he had kissed. He leaned in, and she brought her mouth to his. The desire that Ramsey had felt from that first kiss on her cheek multiplied tenfold, and it felt only natural when she led him through the small door of the yellow caravan.

~

When Shannon scolded him and told him she was this close to forming a search party at the late hour that he finally returned to his home, Ramsey made up some story to placate her and quickly fell into bed (but not before placing the snowdrop carefully on his bedside table), utterly exhausted and strangely content.

~

Nine months later, Ramsey received a surprise in a basket delivered by Moody to his doorstep after hearing a knock at dinner time. The surprise had a little bit of fuzzy red hair and startlingly familiar chocolate brown eyes when he opened them to peer up at Ramsey curiously.

Moody stated gruffly, “This was left at the wall for you. It says his name is Finn.”

All Ramsey could do was stare at the man, and then at the baby.

“Dada! More, peas,” Ramsey heard from where Alex was seated in his highchair at the dinner table.

“One second, a leanbh,” Ramsey called back to Alex before taking the basket from Moody. He told the man thank you and received a grunt in response before closing the door and heading back into the dining room. He set the baby and basket onto the table and picked up the piece of paper that had “Finn Callahan O’Hara” written in looping cursive. There was also a letter and a small package addressed to Finn tucked into the side of the basket that he did not touch.

“What dat?” Alex asked, trying to peer over the edge of the basket, and while there was no written confirmation, Ramsey knew. He knew that he was going to do this again. But he didn’t feel as alone this time. He had Alex, he had his sister, and he had the people in his community, like Iva and Marius, who were always willing to help.

Ramsey gently lifted Finn into his arms and held him so that Alex could get a good look. “This is your little brother Finn,” Ramsey said to Alex and watched his eyes go wide. He then turned to the baby, who had reached out his hand at the sight of the toddler. “Finn, this is your big brother Alexander.”

At least it was going to be easier to get Alex to believe the stork story now.

[fruitcoops]

Eeeek I am so excited to send in this request bcs I feel like it's one you could really do justice. (if you feel inspired that is. There's absolutely no pressure) but I was wondering if you'd be willing to write coops becoming more comfortable around each other? That's not the right word but just the constant butterflies sort of fading and instead realizing that love isn't all thrill it's sometimes a deep-seated love and being calm and comfy around your loved one? So like one of them doing something that used to cause butterflies and maybe sometimes does still bit it's the realization that you're so attuned to them you're used to it and love it and them?

Sorry this got really long and idk if it makes any sense or not. Anyway I love youuu and your writinggg it's such a source of comfort for me so thank you for doing what you do

Fluff in the wake of Vaincre! I think this is becoming a pattern. Though I, for one, am not complaining. Character credit goes to @lumosinlove, and Hazel, I am suing you for custody of my broken heart.

Sirius is washing the dishes and Remus puts a hand on his lower back without really thinking about it, slipping his palm beneath the hem of a Mickey Mouse t-shirt to rest over the bend of Sirius’ spine. His hand molds to the curve, fingertips on one dimple and heel of his palm on the other, thumb sliding along the lowest notch. Sirius hums and leans his head down to bonk Remus’ in a gentle greeting. They’re all small, thoughtless motions for a small, thoughtless night.

And it hits him.

The kitchen—theirs. The house—theirs. The neighborhood—theirs, where they wander after dinner sometimes or find well-traveled sidewalks to their new favorite shops and diners.

Sirius. His.

They’ve talked about moving, about kids, about after. What happens after hockey? Sirius can get through July now without growing antsy at the absence, but still, it’s taken almost a decade. A smaller house (a warmer house, a house that’s theirs) would be a good change. Not a rushed one, though. It seems there are endless hours to plan and look and comfortably explore.

Water sloshes over the marble countertop. They’ll never have to worry about money; not like Remus’ parents did. They’ll never be restricted by loans or debt or whatever neighborhood falls within budget. He came to Gryffindor marveling at an affordable single-bedroom apartment. It’s a habit he’s been trying to break on those late-night Zillow scrolls. They both love the cabin on the lake, but…

But maybe they’ll need the space.

Remus turns his head to kiss the curve of Sirius’ shoulder and sees him smile, capable hands working soap through a sponge. If they were a regular couple, he thinks—a different couple, he corrects—there might already be a new addition on the way. He can see the longing in Sirius’ eyes when they talk about it and feels the yank in his own chest at the thought. He’s wanted that since he was a child. It only grew more intense when Jules was born. It would make sense for them.

The things he’d do for a baby with Sirius’ eyes and his nose and, god, they can’t stop there, can they? The kid would need a sibling, wouldn’t they? A Regulus, a Julian, a James, a Lily that they could rely on and go headfirst with into the wonder of the world? Someone to lead, or someone to follow. To protect. Remus has never been the type to brainstorm baby names, but the amorphous dream is thrilling on its own.

Sirius makes a small noise in the back of his throat when a bubble pops and spatters Remus’ sleeve with soap. He’d be such a good dad, it’s not even funny. Remus can’t think about it too hard, or else he’ll start scrolling through PetFinder to find another dog to take the edge off.

He bites gently at Sirius’ bicep and feels him laugh, feels him swat at Remus’ hand with no real effort behind it. “Love you.”

“So you bite me?” Sirius snorts. “Weirdo.”

Remus exhales hard through his nose. “I want a baby.”

“Ouais, let me just run to CVS—”

Sirius’ snickering is not dulled by the light pinch to his ribs; Remus hides his grin in another bite. “I’m serious—”

“No, I am.”

“Oh my god,” he groans, turning away.

“Non, non, wait,” Sirius laughs. His arms wind around Remus’ waist and pull him close enough for Sirius to plant a kiss to his temple. It’s adorable, how careful he is to keep his sudsy hands out of the danger zone. He nuzzles into Remus’ cheek before straightening. “A baby. Yes. Absolutely. You know my thoughts on this.”

“I do,” Remus sighs. “And I know why it’s not a good idea right now. Still.”

“Still,” Sirius agrees. He sways them for a moment, then Remus feels a squeeze and the weight along his back is gone. The faucet flicks back on. “I want—” He presses his lips together, mouth twisting as he works it over in his thoughtful way. “I want to be there.”

Remus takes a clean towel from the drawer and begins to dry the plates. “I know.”

“And you’ll probably retire first, which is fine, but I want…” Sirius tips his head back and forth. Remus knows he’s running through their list again. The pros, the cons, the frustrating parts that they so desperately don’t want to deal with but have to anyway. Sirius scrubs at a bit of dried rice and scrunches his nose. “I want you to be there, too. Both of us. From the start.”

“I know.” It sucks. They might not have to scrape and save but time is not a resource hockey will spare them, and Remus is so grateful that Sirius takes that seriously. He meets Sirius where he is in their timeline. “I’ll retire. Take a break. I’ll go back to PT, probably faster than either of us think I will. You’ll decide when your last season is. We’ll put in an application—”

“—and by the time I’m done, we’ll have an idea of any possibility,” Sirius finishes, passing him a clean glass. They’ve repeated it so many times that it’s practically a mantra. Deep down, it gives Remus hope. The planning. It means there’s a chance. It means they’re on the same page all the way through. Sirius lets out a breath. “And then, maybe, we’ll have something concrete.”

Adoption, surrogacy…it doesn’t really matter. Both are such complicated webs of people and events and things entirely out of their control—Remus hates it, and he knows Sirius hates it more. He sets the towel down and moves to rest his forehead between Sirius’ shoulder blades, where his heartbeat keeps time against Remus’ skin. He winds his arms around Sirius’ waist and flattens his hand over Sirius’ belly to feel him breathe.

They have all options in the world, and yet it all feels much too big.

He spreads his feet a little when Sirius leans back. Measured inhales, pulse keeping a constant 60 beats-per-minute.

Remus laughs quietly.

“What?”

He shakes his head, kissing each curve of Sirius’ wingbones beneath his shirt.

“What?” Sirius presses.

“A year ago, if you grabbed me and pulled me back like that, I would have jumped your bones,” he says wryly, burying his grin in the bend of Sirius’ neck. “Listen to us, angsting about the future like a couple of old geezers.”

“Feel free to jump my bones, if you think your arthritic joints can handle it,” Sirius teases.

“I’m just saying—”

“Oh, Christ, I’m turning 29 in a year,” Sirius moans, tapping the water off with a flourish. “I’m dead. I’m dying. I am wasting away. Tell Celeste I love her—”

“We’re standing in the kitchen, washing the dishes, on a Friday night!” Remus protests. “Aren’t we supposed to be…I don’t know, going to a club or something?”

Sirius turns in the circle of his arms with a grave expression. “If we’re going out, I need to go rinse my dentures.”

Remus chooses to ignore that particular comment. “The cubs are probably raising hell and breaking hearts.”

“The cubs are extroverts.” Sirius cocks a brow. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you want to go out and get drunk with a bunch of sweaty strangers.”

He can’t help the wrinkling of his nose; the told-you-so satisfaction on Sirius’ face is fondly irritating enough that he reaches up to cover it with a loose hand. Sirius laughs and dodges him like always, biting a kiss to the side of his palm. “Anyway,” Remus prompts with a squeeze of his narrow hips. “I love you. Which was my whole point.”

“You had a point?”

“I always have a point.”

“That’s a stretch, but alright.”

“Our kitchen,” he says, tilting his chin up. “Our house, our neighborhood, our future.” A smirk pulls at his lips and he rubs his thumbs just beneath Sirius’ shirt. “Mine.”

“Yours,” Sirius murmurs around a smile. They might be getting old and married and boring, and Remus might finally be able to watch Sirius and his capable hands without going weak in the knees, but his kisses will send joy crashing through him forever and always. The future isn’t so big in the safety of a moment.

[tea-moon-ster]

O'Knutzy Week (late) day 4

O'Knutzy Vacation! In Italy!

So, this was meant to be for O'Knutzy Week (which has been over for a week now, but what is time anyway?) It's the first of two parts (pt2 is close behind!) and also a present for sweet Harzy! Happy bday bud. Have some love and be a lit nerd with me. Chraracters credits to the wonderful @lumosinlove, prompt and hosting credits to @oknutzyweek2023.

Prompt: Summer Vacation

“Lo, tell me that I’m a genius.”

“You’re a genius.”

“And that you love me.”

“I love you so, so much.”

“Yeah, you do.”

Logan raised an eyebrow at Leo. He was sitting on the couch with a proud grin on his face, his iPad close to his chest in the way Finn held his books after finishing them. He looked like a kid too excited not to speak, Logan noted. Cute. “You know that I love serenading you, but that grin tells me there’s something else. What is it?”

“So, we’ll be in Nice in August.”

“Ouais.”

“Did you know Nice was part of Italy once?”

Logan’s eyes widened in alarm. “Look, it’s better if it doesn’t come up while we’re there, or with my mother. People don’t like to…”

“No, Lo, I mean. It’s close. Literally so close.”

“Yeah, I went there once or twice as a kid. You…wanna go?”

“Could we?”

Logan went to sit on the armrest of the couch and left a kiss among soft curls. “We can do whatever we want, Peanut.”

Leo’s smile almost blinded him. “Great. Because I found something our Harzy will love.”

Logan let himself slide next to Leo, circling his shoulders with an arm. “Tell me everything.”

“Did he enjoy studying Romanticism in college?”

Logan laughed. “Butter, I distinctly remember him crying over Romanticism in college. More than twice.”

“Perfect."

•••

They spent two weeks in Nice, rediscovering the bliss of taking their time. They started their slow, quiet days with the sun high in the sky, rolling over in bed to find each other despite the heat. Nice was a constant flow of colors, sounds and touches that Finn never wanted to forget. It was the smiles and kisses shared for the pictures, and Logan showing them little villages on the coast and immense lavender fields. It was Leo’s hand dragging them around colorful markets, and it was Logan ordering meals in a quick and slightly different flow of French.

It was everything.

It was…a car?

Finn blinked. And not just some car. It was an old-style, red Chevy that shined under the sun, convertible roof and elegant lines. Finn swore had come out straight of an old movie. Leo and Logan were there, leaning on the car with two pleased, smug smiles plastered on their pretty faces. At their feet, their bags were packed.

“Hop on, sweetheart,” Leo smiled, rolling the slow vowels in his mouth as honey dripping from a spoon. “We’re goin’ on an adventure.”

Finn blinked again. “Guys, what…” The flight home is in a week. That’s not our car. Why are our bags packed? Did I forget something we had planned? Did something happen?

“We,” Logan interrupted his thoughts, opening the backseat’s door for him , “Are taking you on a trip.”

“We are on a trip,” Finn mumbled absently, but he stepped forward. He peeked inside. A pile of books was neatly displayed on the cream leather backseat. He  gasped and launched himself, making the car creak eerily.

“Harz,” Leo laughed. “The car is as old as it looks, hun.”

But Finn didn’t pay him any attention, as unusual as it sounds. He was busy studying the various books. A quick scan of the titles made him frown. The Greatest Romantic Poems. Romanticism in Italy. The Gulf of the Poets: inspiration for immortal verses.

“You guys,” Finn breathed. He passed a reverent hand on the book covers, as if he’d just found a treasure.

Logan squeezed his shoulder lightly. “Allons, mon rouge. We have a reservation for dinner.”

The road was a wonderful, continuous landscape of coasts and alps. Finn remembered it all like a dream the moment you wake up. Confused flashes and big emotions you can’t quite put a finger on. He remembered Leo’s tanned arms on the steering wheel and Logan’s hair dancing wildly in the wind. Hands reaching blindly for his knee and flipping the books’ pages and photos to understand what was happening. At one point he caught Leo’s smiling eyes in the review mirror. We can surprise you, too, Harzy. He guessed he’d turned pretty insistent at some point, too, because they explained him everything.

“There’s this bay with the cutest little villages,” Leo said as he raised the convertible roof and silence replaced the roaring wind. The sun was high in the sky, and Finn had gotten plenty of sun in the last few weeks. “And that’s where some of your favorite poets lived for some time. Shelley, Byron, others. And it was pretty close, you know?”

“So, Leo thought we’d make a little surprise trip. He looked it all up.”

“Well, Logan found the car and the books.”

“And,” Logan smiled, “A cooking class on how to make authentic focaccia, tomorrow night.”

Leo gasped without looking away from the road. His hand found Logan’s and brought it to his lips for a kiss. “Sweetheart, you didn’t.”

“It’s a cooking class with aperitif. We’ll have spritz with an Italian grandma.”

“I love you so much.”

“Yeah, you do.”

They laughed, but Finn just smiled and leaned back in his seat. He didn’t trust himself with words just yet. He focused on the group of colorful, crumpled houses that were getting bigger and bigger instead, wondering how did the stars align so perfectly that he’d ended up with two boyfriends like that. Two people that knew him so well, and cared so much to make all that fuss just for him. He leaned forward to take Logan’s hand and squeeze Leo’s shoulder, and received a squeeze back and a quick kiss to his hand. They must have understood what was going on with him, because they didn’t say a thing. They always knew what Finn was thinking- even when Finn himself had no idea.

They soon reached their destination, a white villa that looked directly on to the sea and stood regally against the deep blue. Next to the big entrance, a marble plaque. Finn squinted to read it, and his eyes widened. He remembered thinking fuck it as he let the grip in his throat, that had kept him on edge since the beginning of the trip, loose into watery sobs.

“Guys, what the fuck,” he cried. Leo hopped down the car and cooed him into a hug as Logan quickly made his way over and took his place under Finn’s chin. They just held him there, in between them, as he stared at the big house. “The Shelley’s villa. Shelley’s. They lived here.”

“It’s a hotel and museum now,” Leo explained, a smile in his voice and against Finn’s forehead. “Couldn’t let it pass.”

Finn held them tighter. “Of course you couldn’t.”

•••

The next few days passed in an enchanted haze. It was the crashing sound of the waves that woke them up, and later rocked them into gripping bedsheets and each other hard. They explored villages lost in time, enjoying their slow rhythms and careless calm. They kept themselves off the beaten path that the area had traced for tourists, and the villa itself was located out of the nearest town. No one would recognize them. Their days on the Italian coast were full of brighty colored houses that spied the sea, and midnights jump into the dark water to escape the heat.

As it turned out, Leo had kept one last surprise to himself just like Logan. Where the steps of the villa met the sea, a white motorboat was waiting for them. Finn let himself be guided onto the passenger seat as Leo took them far from the rocky shores, and Logan pressed smiles and kisses on him.

But it was on the third day that Finn’s own personal catharsis came to a peak.

He was more or less shoved into the car by a too excited Leo and an amused Logan for a short drive to a village close by. It was beautiful and colorful like the many others they’d seen, but it was at the top of a cliff that the magic was revealed. Old walls stood timeless and climbed up to a little church that faced the sea on its own; and behind the walls, a narrow passage on the side of the rocks went down.

Finn squinted in the sun to read the plaque above the passage. ‘“This grotto was the inspiration of Lord Byron. It records the immortal poet and daring swimmer…’” he trailed off, eyes widening. He turned, looking at the other two with an alarmed frown. “You guys are fucking with me. You… you’re just putting on these plaques in random places. To kill me.”

Logan laughed at that, patting his shoulder. “Ouais, Harzy, that’s exactly how things went. You didn’t notice Knutty slipping out of bed this morning while I was riding the life out of you.”

Finn opened and closed his mouth a few times, even more at loss of word. At least he could pretend the redness on his cheeks was sunburn.

“Stop thinking of this morning, Harz,” Logan called. “Allez, it’s Byon’s cave. You love him. This is the core of your Italian adventure.”

Finn studied the plaque a moment longer, before glancing at the passage with a sudden urgency. “So, this…this is where he composed his most important poems.” His voice trembled a bit.

Leo handed him the tote bag he’d been carrying around with a smile. “Inside there’s a notebook and your favorite pen, some music and a towel.”

Finn frowned. “You’re not coming with me? No, you two are my Italian adventure.”

Long fingers squished his cheeks around a kiss. “We thought we might give you some time, and then come and get you.”

“Come on, Rouge,” Logan came at their side. “We know you’re dying to have your poet moment. We’ll be right here.”

Finn stared at them for a second, disbelievingly, then drew them both into a hug, squeezing as hard as he could. “I love you so much. I love you, love you, love you.”

Carefully, he started to go down the steep passage. Only a slim railing kept him from the risk of falling, but Finn found he couldn’t slow down as he jumped from rock to rock, ignoring Leo and Logan telling him to be careful. After a sharp turn, the cave appeared. Finn kept his breath as he wandered inside, nose up to the dark walls and the landscape the grotto framed.

He felt his eyes burn. He remembered reading again and again poems about that place- so much that it felt a bit like coming home. Hell, he’d done it all; he’d read, recited, written essays and annotated every line of those pages. Of those clouds at the horizon. The fact that he remembered everything so vividly was infinitesimal compared to the realization that Logan remembered, too. Quiet nights in their Harward room, only a small light in between them for Finn to read to him. And Leo…oh, Leo. So careful to everything Finn as much as breathed on. It was easy to picture him putting that trip together in silence, without leaving anything to chance.

He took a seat on a rock, taking it all in. The rocky cliffs, covered by the lively green of pines, ended abruptly into the sea. The gentle rocking of the waves arrived at his ankles. Finn understood what the poets were so desperately trying to communicate through their bleeding lines. What they’d been lacking before they found that paradise, and why their lives and poetry would forever be tied to those shores.

But the only thing Finn could think of was them.

Logan’s smile that morning. And every morning before. And every morning forever.

Leo jumping into the crystal blue water, and his smile resurfacing before anything else. He looked like a nymph appearing from the waves. His own personal muse. His hero that would not end in tragedy.

Finn closed his eyes and breathed.

When he exhaled, messy ink had filled pages on his lap, and the sun had lowered a bit.

“Wow.”

Finn turned, to see Leo and Logan staring mesmerized at the sea, holding hands. Leo raised his free one to him, mouth still half open. Finn got up, and squeezed it as he joined them, keeping quiet as if not to disturb the waves.

They breathed together. Finn’s eyes were wide and a little red. He licked his lips. “I wrote some poems for you."

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Notes: this was a pretty self indulgent piece, more fluff will come in pt2! Hope you enjoyed!