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]

"You sure?" Joe asked, swinging Logan around in the water a little bit. "You're gonna fucking pass out if you don't eat."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"I wont!" Logan insisted, squeaking happily as Joe swung him around.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"I'm gonna make you eat sometime," Joe decided, grinning as he watched him swing back and forth.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Can we have cake?" Logan asked hopefully. "Or ice cream. I like ice cream, Joe."

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"There's not much cake on the island," Joe replied, dipping Logan into the water a little. "But Anne might have some ice cream if we can track her down."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Logan agreed, letting go of Joe's arm and splashing back into the water with a wet 'plop'.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

Joe arched an eyebrow at that, watching Logan in amusement before he swam away just a little bit, giving him more room to move around in the water if he wanted to.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Logan swam and splashed until his arms were tired, and then lazily floated over to Joe. He didn't say anything, he just held out his arms to be lifted, bobbing up and down in the water like a little rubber duck.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"C'mon," Joe said easily, reaching out for Logan, collecting him out of the water and held him up against his hip again. "You about ready to get out?"

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"No," Logan said stubbornly, even though it was obvious he was. His short arms felt about ready to fall off, and he slumped against Joe with all the weight his shrunken body possessed.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

Pushing wet hair back off Logan's forehead, Joe said, "Well, I'm pretty fucking tired now, man. If I don't get out, I might drown. So maybe we should get out, eh?"

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Okay, but just 'cause you're tired," Logan insisted, resting his head against Joe's shoulder.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Exactly," Joe agreed with a firm nod and a grin, maybe almost brushing his lips over Logan's head in a light kiss. He moved toward the edge of the pool, setting Logan down on dry land before he hauled himself out of the water.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"I wish there was pizza here," Logan said, voice filled with a deep longing.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

Dripping all over the place, Joe tried to dry himself off as he thought of what was in the kitchen. "Might be hard to make pizza," he agreed, nodding.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Logan said sadly. "Macaroni and cheese would be hard too, huh?" he asked.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, probably," Joe agreed with a small nod, his hand rubbing over Logan's hair again. "We didn't bring any towels."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Maybe we should lay in the sun for a bit," Logan suggested, deciding that laying around was the best option. Maybe even a little nap... Naps were good.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Tired?" Joe asked with a little grin, sitting down on the ground beside Logan, his legs stretched out in front of him.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"No," Logan lied, yawning softly.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Didn't think so," Joe answered, smiling a little, glancing at Logan. "You should lie down. Just so the sun can dry you off."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Are you gonna lay down too?" Logan asked, deciding he'd only do it if Joe did.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Sure," Joe agreed, stretching out on his back, his arms behind his head. The sun was warm and he had a feeling if he stayed here for too long he'd fall asleep.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Logan said softly, flopping down onto his back beside the older man.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Don't let me fall asleep," Joe instructed Logan, grinning at him. "Make sure I don't."