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edupunkn00b · 3 years ago

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Beside Me, Chapter 7: Solve My Riddle to the Music

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Rated PG-13/M - CW: human/vampire AU, vampirism, implied sexual content, religious symbolism/references, hurt/comfort - Word Count 2268 Dukexiety Week Day 7 Prompt: Music

I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre. - Psalms 49:4, New Standard Version Can I be the only hope for you? Because you're the only hope for me And if we can't find where we belong We'll have to make it on our own Face all the pain and take it on Because the only hope for me is you, alone Remember me, remember me, remember me, remember me… - The Only Hope for Me is You, My Chemical Romance Logan’s Piano Playlist ---

Safely back at home, Remus sat on the counter in the kitchen while Virgil and Logan treated the wound on his head and his bruised knuckles. “Is this really necessary? Don’t we have like super-human healing or—” he winced as Virgil dabbed at the cut on the back of his head with an alcohol-soaked gauze pad.

Virgil chuckled, “We bleed less, and heal quickly, but that doesn’t mean we can simply ignore injuries.” Remus flinched as Logan pressed on the joints in his hands. “If it hurts, you treat it.”

“Ow,” Remus said to Logan. “What are you doing? That hurts.”

Logan adjusted his glasses, frowning, but didn’t look up from his ministrations. “Please allow Virgil and me to treat you. If we do not thoroughly check for fractures, you could ‘super-heal’ improperly and then we would have to break and reset the bones. That would be most unpleasant even for an immortal supernatural being such as yourself,” he muttered in response, a small smile softening the nearly palpable sarcasm.

Virgil froze, staring at Logan. After a few more moments, Logan looked up at Virgil, murmuring, “V, I think he’s okay. Should I put some ice on his hand?”

“Y—yes. Yes, th—that would be helpful, L, thank you.” Virgil watched as Logan retrieved an icepack from the freezer and wrapped it in a cloth before returning to his side, placing it on Remus’ hand. Shaking his head, Virgil let out a breath and frowned at Remus. “That was risky of you to take on a Hunter.”

“He was going to hurt you, and he treated Logan like he was less than human.” Remus shook his head. “I couldn’t just let him get away with that.”

---

After they’d all had a chance to shower and rest, and Logan ate, the three had settled into a quiet afternoon. Remus was exploring the sprawling bookcases in the corner of the living room, and Virgil was making some calls to his Hunter friends, seeking the identity of the one who’d accosted them outside of Emile's.

Logan approached the piano, trailing his fingers along the edges. Remus looked up from the book he’d been reading. “Do you or Virgil play?”

Logan nodded, “V plays beautifully.” He sighed, running both hands over the lid of the piano. “I… I used to. I haven’t played in years.”

“What’s stopping you?” Remus asked.

“I—I don’t know. Perhaps… nothing.” Logan pressed his lips tightly together, fingers edging under the polished keyboard cover. “Afraid of doing it wrong, I suppose.”

“I… I wouldn’t mind hearing you play… “ Remus watched as Logan’s fingers danced across the covered keys, as though already playing. “If you wanted to try it again.”

Logan bounced nearly imperceptibly from one foot to the other, looking at the instrument. He bit his lip as a grin fought its way onto his face. “Do you promise you will not laugh if I make a mistake?”

“Absolutely, Logan.” Remus said, his voice serious. “I won’t ever laugh at you.”

Logan licked his lips, whispering, “Okay, if I’m terrible, you can’t say I didn’t warn you. And if V hates it, I’m blaming you.”

Remus grinned, “I don’t think he will, but just in case, I’ll gladly take the fall for you.”

Hesitating one more moment, Logan stared at the bench in front of the piano, before taking a deep breath and sitting down, lifting the cover. He adjusted the height of the bench then held his hands over the keys.

He suddenly froze. “I don’t know what to play.”

“Is there a song you remember that makes you happy?”

Logan looked at the keys for another few seconds, before adjusting his foot on the pedals and began to play a slow, calm melody. He played haltingly at first, as though trying to remember the notes, but after a few bars, he closed his eyes and his fingers danced over the keys.

Remus was enchanted by the music. He watched how Logan seemed to expand as he played, the gentle notes flowing through the room. He put down the book he was reading and got closer to the piano, sitting in a nearby chair, eyes following the movement of Logan’s hands up and down the keys.

After a few minutes, Virgil stepped out of his office, smiling at the sound of the music. He looked a little surprised to see Logan playing, but he quickly joined Remus, sitting on the armrest of Remus’s chair, draping his arm over his shoulders. They listened to Logan play together.

When the piece finished, Remus and Virgil both stood, applauding. Logan blushed, looking down at his hands. “L, that was beautiful,” Virgil breathed, moving closer, stroking Logan’s shoulders and kissing his cheek.

“Will you play more?” Remus asked, “Please?”

Logan nodded, pausing for a moment before starting a new melody, this one a little faster.

Remus watched Virgil tapping his foot to the music, swaying lightly. He stood, reaching a hand toward him. “Do you waltz?” Virgil’s eyes lit up as he took Remus’ hand and let him lead them over to an open area near the piano.

Remus wrapped his arm around his waist and Virgil laughed, smiling as Remus led them through swirls and spins across the floor. Remus felt the music flow through him, the easy rhythm of their movements as they danced together. He felt that now-familiar fluttering in his chest grow and expand until he thought his heart would burst out of his chest.

Logan’s playing began to build to a crescendo and they stilled, watching him play. The moment that piece was over, Logan began another. They resumed their dancing.

Suddenly Logan spoke, still playing, “I believe this instrument may be a bit overdue for a tuning, Virgil, dear.”

Virgil froze in Remus’ arms, eyes wide. Logan was focused on the music, rocking as he moved his foot over the pedals, reaching for a higher octave across the keys. “I believe I can successfully accommodate the slight imperfection. Any dissonance is likely imperceptible even to a trained ear. Well, for those of us without supernaturally powerful hearing, of course,” Logan glanced over at Virgil while he played, raising an eyebrow. “Even so, would it be acceptable to you if I made an appointment with a tuner sometime this week?”

Virgil stared and nodded. “Excellent,” Logan murmured, returning his full attention to the music in front of him. “Your jacket is quite attractive, by the way. You made an excellent choice.”

‘Th-thank you, L.”

Logan blushed, still playing. “I do like that nickname…”

Remus watched their exchange, initially surprised by Logan’s tone but he was more concerned by Virgil’s extreme reaction. Virgil grasped at Remus’ shoulders, chest starting to heave. “Virgil? Virgil, are you alright…” Virgil shook his head, knees wobbly. Remus brought him over to the armchair, helping him sit. Virgil put his hands on his knees squeezing his eyes shut, fighting for breath.

Logan looked up, eyebrows knit together. “Is he alright?” he asked Remus.

“I—I don’t know, I don’t know what happened.” Remus shook his head, “He just… I—I don’t think he can breathe.”

Logan stood, rushing over. As soon as he stopped playing, his eyes filled with tears, “V? V, what’s wrong? Here, breathe for us, V, okay?” He knelt in front of Virgil, holding his hands, tapping on his wrists. Virgil’s breathing slowed and he opened his eyes.

“Thank you, my sweet.” Logan nodded, brushing Virgil's hair out of his eyes.

Logan stared into Virgil’s eyes, “Are you okay, V?” He gripped Virgil’s hands in his own, bringing them both to his lips, speaking around them. “That seemed like a bad one.”

That’s when Remus fully registered the change in Logan’s demeanor. He stared at the piano, and then back at Logan. Virgil was watching him, and when Remus met his eyes, he nodded.

After a few minutes, Virgil’s breathing was fully under control. “L, I’m fine. Truly…” He gently cupped his cheek, smiling. “You were enjoying playing that song, please continue. It was lovely.”

Logan’s brow was furrowed and he frowned. “Are you sure?”

Touching fingers to his lips, “I am quite sure, L. Please go back to your music. I feel much better.”

Logan stood and returned to the piano. He gazed once more at Virgil, who nodded encouragingly. Smiling, Logan resumed his playing, a different song this time.

The change was sudden and marked.

The moment his fingers pressed down on the keys again, Logan sat straighter, a small, contented smile curving up his lips. After a few bars, he glanced toward Virgil and Remus, “Did you know that Holst was a music teacher at the St. Pauls Girls’ School in London when he composed this?”

Virgil sat back as he exchanged a glance with Remus, a sad smile on his face. “No, Logan, I didn’t know that… will tell us more?”

Logan’s eyes lit up and he quickly adjusted his eyeglasses at a brief rest, and continued to play. “Holst taught at St. Pauls for several years near the end of his life. He is most famous for this—” he tilted his head toward the piano as he pounded through a crescendo “—his Planets composition, but he also wrote a number of other pieces including….”

---

Logan played for hours, hands still flying across the keys when he could barely sit upright. Finally, he stood, stretching, and stumbled. Remus was closest to him and he moved faster than he thought possible, catching him before he fell.

“Thank you, Remus,” Logan mumbled, focusing his gaze near his hairline. “I must be more tired than I realized.” Logan’s knees buckled and Remus lifted him, carrying him against his chest.

Virgil stroked his hair, “You’ve been playing for hours, my star. Would you like to sleep?”

Logan sighed, eyes half-closed as he laid his head against Remus’ chest. He gripped Remus’ shirt tightly, fingers bunching up the material in his fists. “Do I have to be alone?” His voice was quiet and laced with tears.

“No, my star, of course not. Would you like to sleep upstairs? Or would you rather we joined you in your room?”

Logan looked up toward Remus, eyes trained on his mustache. Even in his exhaustion he still carefully avoided Remus’ eyes. “Both of you?” he asked, his voice full of hope. “Really?”

Remus glanced at Virgil, who nodded quietly, that damned smirk back on his lips. Remus took a deep breath, “If you’d like that, Logan, I’d be happy to stay, as well.”

Logan smiled, draping his arms around Remus’ neck. “Hmm, yes, I would like that.” He grew so still that Remus thought he’d already fallen asleep. A few moments later, though, he murmured, “V, can we sleep in my room?”

Virgil moved closer, fingers still carding through Logan’s hair, “Of course, my star.” Remus felt Logan sigh against his chest, his body’s gentle warmth soaking into his skin. Remus smiled down at him as he could feel Logan’s muscles in his back and thighs completely relax as he melted in his embrace. Virgil murmured in Remus’ ear, too quiet for Logan’s hearing, “The bed is smaller in his room… he likes to sleep there when he’s feeling vulnerable and needs the closeness.”

Remus looked down at Logan’s face nestled against his shoulder and felt a buzzing through his arms, a desire to shield Logan from whatever he was afraid of. Virgil smiled as he watched them for a moment, peering intently not at Logan, but at Remus, then he led them to Logan’s room.

Remus laid Logan on the bed and Virgil helped him out of his day clothes. He tilted his chin toward a dresser in the corner of the room. “Will you get a nightshirt for him?”

Remus selected a soft, long nightshirt printed with tiny stars from his drawer. After helping Logan into the pajamas, Virgil stripped down to boxers and nodded to Remus, who quickly did the same. Virgil laid down next to Logan and Remus came around to lay next to him. Logan sat up, reaching a hand toward Remus, shaking his head. “There’s more room on this side. Please?”

“If you feel…” Virgil began, peering closely at Remus.

“I’m… actually okay. Last night helped,” Remus looked down at the floor.

Virgil grinned, “Good, it was meant to. There’s no shame in that.”

Logan continued to look toward Remus, waiting. A relieved smile spread on his face as Remus moved to his side of the bed and crawled in under the covers. Logan settled in, letting Virgil spoon him, resting his head on Remus’ shoulder, wrapping an arm around his waist. Logan was asleep in moments.

When Logan’s breathing had grown slow and steady and his body was completely relaxed, Remus finally asked, “What happened out there? He called you Virgil. ” Remus let out a small, joyous laugh, “He lectured us on music history.”

Virgil gently stroked Logan’s hair. “You got to see a tiny taste of the real Logan today.”

“Has he ever done that before?”

Virgil shook his head. “I… last night I thought maybe for a moment, when he was treating your hand, but…” Virgil sighed. “I didn’t know he was still in there.”

“You're right, you know…” Remus whispered.

Virgil looked up, “Well, of course I am,” he chuckled, “About what?”

Remus gazed at Logan’s peaceful expression, “He’s magnificent.”

Smiling, Virgil ran his fingers through Remus’ hair. “You’re starting to love Logan the way I do.”

Remus looked away, opening and closing his mouth a few times before finally whispering, “Not just Logan.”

Virgil leaned closer, pressing a soft kiss against Remus’ mouth. “You’re not the only one.” Remus’ eyes grew wide and a smile bloomed on his face. Virgil kissed him one more time before murmuring, “Good night, my Prince.”

“Good night, Virgil.”

Virgil moved closer to Logan, threading his left arm under his ribs, then reached for Remus, draping his arm over his waist, pulling him closer. He closed his eyes and slept, the whole universe in his arms. ---

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