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

[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."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Logan made a shrill noise at Joe's threat, and started flailing again. "no, I don't want that," he insisted, splashing and flapping wildly.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Are you sure?" Joe asked with a grin, turning backwards so that the water fell on him first. "It looks like it could be kinda fun."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Joe!" Logan whined loudly, looking a little worked up and wound up.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"I thought you wanted to go under it?" Joe asked, stepping back out again, the waterfall at his back. "That's better than jumping off it, at least I can hold onto you while we go under."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"What if I slip?" Logan asked. "What if you drop me. I could die!"

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"I'm not gonna drop you," Joe assured him, tightening his arms around Logan. "You think I'd drop you? Never gonna happen."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"You swear?" Logan asked, voice dripping with youth and innocence.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Promise," Joe said seriously. "I might drop other people, but there's no way in hell I'd drop you. You know that."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Logan said softly. "I trust you, Joe."

[jdick.livejournal.com]

Joe smiled a little at that and kept his arms tight around Logan. "So we're gonna go under? You're gonna have to hold your breath."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"I know, I can do it!" Logan insisted enthusiastically.