Age-plot (For Joe)

[echolls_cursed]

When Logan woke to find all his limbs a little shorter, his hair a touch longer and blonder, and his body just a touch scrawnier, he had smiled. Turning his head, he'd looked at Neil, noting that he was smaller too. Much smaller. And for a moment he'd been tempted to wake the other boy just to show him.

After all, who didn't like getting to be small again?

But no, in the end he'd simply let the other boy sleep.

Climbing out of bed, he looked down at his race car pyjama bottoms, noting that they looked a lot better than they had the night before. Last night they'd been lame and childish, but today? Today they were awesome. Race cars always were. On top of that, for whatever reason, Logan knew he was five and a half. Nearly six! Maybe simply because children always know those things. However, as he pulled on one of his smaller shirts (now ridiculously over sized), he couldn't help the rush of memories that came flooding back.

Six had been a very bad year for Logan. Six had been when things went from bad too worse.

When he was just a little older than five and a half, Aaron had taken his first real swing at him, knocking him over hard enough that he'd lost a baby tooth. Logan shivered at the memory and cupped a hand over his mouth, trying not to remember the rest. He'd stopped talking after that, just... stopped. He didn't say a word for nearly six months. In fact, it wasn't until Aaron finally lost it, taking action by stubbing a cigar out on his arm, that Logan had started talking again.

Arms folded over his chest, he stared at Neil for a long moment, and then headed out the door, vowing not to say a word unless he had to. He'd be quiet and invisible, and eventually this would all be over. The memories would vanish again and he could forget it all once more.

He stood outside Joe's hut for what felt like an eternity, eventually peeking his head around the door for a look. Joe was alone and still fully grown, sleeping soundly by the looks of it.

Quiet at a mouse, Logan snuck inside, crawling onto the bed and curling up at Joe's side, cuddling the older man stealthily.

At least with Joe he felt safe. Protected. The weekend would be fine as long as he stuck close to Joe.

Comments

[jdick.livejournal.com]

Following along behind him, still holding his pajamas and swim trunks, Joe watched Logan with a faint smile. Of all the shit the island pulled, this still had to be one of those things it did to give something back to them.

"You gotta change first, don't forget that," he called after him.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"I know!" Logan called back, stumbling a little and then falling just before he reached the water.

Pouting, he dusted the dirt off his hands and looked at his knees. He couldn't see any cuts, at least not through the layer of dirt, and after a moment, the waterfall became far more interesting anyway.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"You okay?" Joe asked as he finally caught up with Logan, dropping his swim trunks on his head before he folded the pajama pants and put them down on a nearby rock. "You bleeding?"

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Snatching the trunks off his head, Logan shrugged and got to his feet.

Ducking behind a bush, Logan quickly changed. He returned a moment later wearing his shark trunks, still muddy from his fall.

"You gonna swim too Joe?" he asked.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"If you let me check your knees first," Joe bargained, kicking off his boots even as he spoke. Logan didn't seem to be in pain, so he figured he was probably fine, but it didn't hurt to check. "Remember what I told you last time about gangrene."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"My knees are fine," Logan insisted, pulling the shark shorts up a little to have look. Just in case some gangrene had snuck up on him.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

When Logan pulled up his shorts, Joe checked, but his knees seemed okay and he nodded, looking satisfied. "Then I guess I can come swimming," he decided, tugging his shirt off and leaving it on the rock with Logan's pajamas.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"That's good, 'cause I don't want to swim alone," Logan replied, smiling as he wandered over to the waters edge.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, well, I don't want you swimming alone either," Joe replied, undoing his jeans and putting them down on rock as well. He walked over to the edge of the pool and sat down, glancing at Logan. "Getting in?"

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Seems deeper," Logan said softly.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"C'mon," Joe said, pushing off the edge and sliding into the water, then turning around and holding his arms out to Logan. "It's not so bad."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Logan still looked nerous, but he took a deep breath and jumped. After all, he didn't want Joe to think he was a wuss.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Jesus," Joe said with a surprised laugh, trying to catch Logan under his arms, although he slipped a little. Reaching under the water, he managed to grab him under both his arms and lifted him under his head was out of the water.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Logan flailed happily in Joe's arms and splashed a little, suddenly overjoyed by the water. It was strange what youth did to you, how easy it was to be entertained.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

Trying not to laugh, Joe held Logan where he was for a moment, letting him splash, then pulled him closer, wrapping an arm under his butt and holding him against his hip. "C'mon, I'll take you closer to the waterfall."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Can we go under it? We could jump off it! I was up there once... it was high, but I bet I could do it. You could do it Joe, you're big," Logan babbled.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"We could go under it, but there's no fucking way we're jumping off there, not right now," Joe said with a snort of laughter, wading out toward the waterfall.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"I could do it," Logan insisted, looking up at the waterfall.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"No fucking way," Joe said firmly, still wading toward the waterfall. "No fucking way, Logan. Not happening."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Logan pouted and smacked Joe's shoulder with his palm. "You never let me do anything!" he whined.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"I sure as shit won't let you jump off the damn waterfall, no," Joe agreed with a smirk, brushing Logan's hand away when he slapped his shoulder.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Lip jutting out, Logan sulked as he rested his chin on Joe's shoulder. Letting out a quiet huff, he kicked his fot under the water and wiggled in Joe's arms.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Pout all you want," Joe said to him, trying not to grin, because it was pretty fucking adorable. "That's way too high for you normally. Like this you'd break your fucking face."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Whatever," Logan said, the word coming out with far less teenage angst than usual. In fact, it was almost a whine.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Don't make me stick you under the waterfall," Joe threatened, although he knew Logan would know it was an empty threat. "We could do that instead of letting you jump off."