Halloween Plot

[echolls_cursed]

They'd been spared.

It was Halloween morning, and there wasn't a pair of hooker-boots between them. It was a huge relief, one which they promptly celebrated with a little roughhousing and a lot of kissing. Both of which were going well until Logan backed into one of Neil's shelves, knocking it down and banging his head.

That sort of killed the mood.

After a brief argument about who's fault it had been, Neil had left in hopes of borrowing some nails and a hammer from the building crew, leaving Logan to tidy up and get dressed. He wasn't alone for long though, and when Logan heard the door open behind him, he instantly assumed it was Joe, coming to see just what the hell they'd been doing.

"You know, in some cultures, they have this thing called 'knocking'. Apparently it stops people from walking in on one another while they're getting dressed," Logan quipped, pulling on a t-shirt and turning around.

He really wished he hadn't.

""Nothing I haven't seen before," Aaron replied, his voice laced with that carefully practiced tone of a loving father. "I spent a good six years bathing you after all."

Something told him that Aaron wasn't going to simply vanish this time, and Logan struggled with himself for a moment as he tried to decide how to react. "You mean the Nanny spent six years bathing me," he corrected, forcing himself to stay casual and relaxed. "Rosalita always had a softer touch than you anyway."

Aaron laughed, a forced and cold sound that Logan was all too familiar with. The calm before the storm. "I've missed you, Logan. I'm really looking forward to becoming a family again."

Logan just shook his head. "You're not my family anymore," he said firmly, voice level and calm. "I'm twenty now, and you're not my father. You were never my father. Just the asshole that..."

He was promptly cut off by the back of Aaron's hand as it hit his cheek, snapping his head to the side with a sound that seemed to echo off the hut walls. "Don't be disrespectful," his father said simply. "I don't care how old you are, you are my son, and you'll show me some respect. You're right, you're not a child anymore, and I won't treat you like one if you don't act like one."

Rubbing his cheek, Logan glared, fighting back the feeling of fear that sat deep in his gut. "You're not my father," he said again, looking up at the older man for a long moment, and then trying to push past him so he could leave.

He really should have known better, but after all this time, he didn't want to be the weak child he'd been two years ago. He didn't want to cave and let Aaron shove him around. He'd built a new life here, and if would take more than a slap in the face to get him to give it up. When Aaron grabbed his arm though, fingers digging into his forearm as he shoved him roughly back into the room and onto the bed, Logan couldn't fight the fear any longer. In that moment, he was seven again, and Aaron... Aaron was the most frightening person in the world.

Mouth open slightly, there was an obvious look of panic on Logan's face as he watched Aaron move closer.

"Is this how it has to be?" he father asked. "Twenty years old, and you still need to be taught how to treat someone with respect? It's embarrassing, Logan, I hope you know that. You should be ashamed of this." Fingers moving to his belt, Aaron just shook his head as he slipped it free from the belt loops on his jeans. "We'll do it this way then."

Logan didn't even argue. He knew better than that. In the long run, the belt tended to be the better option. It was usually enough to calm Aaron down, preventing bloody noses or broken bones. That didn't make it any easier to swallow though, and Logan's stomach turned as he got to his feet and pulled off his shirt. He didn't need to be told to face the wall, he just did it, forcing his mind to go blank as he heard Aaron step up behind him.

"You know I only do this because I love you," he heard his father say... right before the first lash fell.

When it was over, Logan's back burned, and he wasted no time pulling his shirt back on. "I need you to leave," he said calmly, glancing at his father. "You can go to the compound... that big building... you can get a room or something. You can't be here though. Alright?"

Aaron just raised a brow. "Don't want to introduce me to your boyfriend then? You're lucky you're mother's not alive to hear about that. It would have killed her."

Logan just frowned, knowing that wasn't true. "Lucky you drove her to suicide you mean," he corrected coldly. And this time... This time he waited to hit the ground.

(Locked to those close to Logan, If you want to tag in and didn't already get an okay from me, just drop me an e-mail.)

Comments

[neptune-sleuth.livejournal.com]

Veronica's morning jog didn't always take her by Logan's place. She varied her routes from day to day, trying to keep things interesting. This, though, was far from what she had meant by that. Hearing Aaron Echolls' voice as she passed by the door was the last thing she expected.

Coming to a halt, she froze on the path, looking around. She had to have been imagining things. If that monster was here, she would have known.

It was the sound of a falling body that stirred her, and she was through the door into the hut without another thought, only to come to a standstill yet again, half-paralyzed by the sight of Aaron. "Well, this puts a damper in my morning," she said finally, voice tight and words crisp. Circling wide of the man, she dropped down beside Logan to make sure he was alright.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Pushing up onto his elbows, Logan wiped away the small trickle of blood from his nose and glanced over at Veronica.

She really did have a talent for being places she shouldn't be.

Aaron, on the other hand, played it off so easily that for a moment Logan was pretty sure his father was actually the greatest actor in the world. Casually, the older man reached out with one hand and tugged Logan too his feet, appearing to be concerned for his son's well being as he attempted to get a better look at his nose.

When Logan brushed him away, Aaron simply laughed and turned his attention to Veronica.

"He's never been the most graceful person, has he?" Aaron asked. "It's good to see you again though, Veronica," he said, offing a smile that didn't even pretend to be friendly.

[neptune-sleuth.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure the pleasure's all yours," Veronica said coldly. Though she took a step closer to Logan as she rose to her feet, her eyes never left Aaron. She wouldn't make Lilly's mistake and drop her guard around him for even a second. It was hard, in the moment, though, to think of all she had learned from Arya and the others over the last couple years. Calm as she was on the surface, underneath she was boiling over. "I guess being dead didn't take."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Seems to be a running theme here," Aaron replied, moving a little closer.

Stepping forward a little, moving so he was between Aaron and Veronica, Logan forced himself not to lash out. "I told you to leave, alright?" he said, finding some sort of courage in his need to protect Veronica. "I don't care where you go, but you're not welcome here. Stay away from me, and stay away from my friends."

Aaron judt smiled, lips curling nastily as he slid his hands into his pockets. "You really think that's how this works Logan?" he asked, not giving his son time to reply as he turned to Veronica next. "I must say, Veronica, I did enjoy your testimony in court. The part about your STD was especially riveting."

[neptune-sleuth.livejournal.com]

"Well, gee, thanks, Mr Echolls," Veronica chirped. "But it was nothing compared to the little act you put on, was it?" She might not have been there to see firsthand, but she had heard enough and she knew what it had to have been like. She wouldn't let it faze her, refused, though she couldn't even muster up a proper smirk now, her expression hard and cold, hands curling into tight fists at her side.

It hadn't even occurred to her that might have come up in court, that it was something her dad would have known, must have known - that he had never mentioned. "It was nothing to the lies you must have told."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Veronica," Logan said quietly, watching the change in his father's expression. "You should go, okay? Just... I'll find you later."

Reaching out, Aaron pushed him out of the way.

"Don't be rude, Logan. Let Veronica say what she wants to say."

[neptune-sleuth.livejournal.com]

"Don't touch him." The words snapped out of her before Veronica knew what she was saying. Even with a moment's thought, she would have said it anyway. He was dangerous, but she was dangerous now, too.

"I'm not leaving you alone with this homicidal maniac," she said, glancing to Logan with an exasperated tilt of her head.

[little_moons]

Something's not right.

After the initial celebration and then Logan stumbling into my bookcase like a lumbering idiot -- okay, partially my fault -- I wasn't really paying too much attention for the first half of the walk to the compound. Then I started to notice things... Like how empty the path was, how eerily quiet the jungle seemed, and how the few people I saw along the way looked like they'd been through hell. Then there's the fact that Max keeps whining, hanging back close at my heels and sniffing frantically at the air.

Something's wrong, but it isn't until I break the tree line and see the utter fucking chaos already building up around the compound that I know it's not just a bad feeling.

I run the whole way back, nearly colliding with at least two people and tripping on a goddamn tree limb just outside The Hamlet. My palms are scrapped up and I feel sorta like an idiot when I turn the corner in the path and see that everything here looks quiet. Standing outside the hut and trying to catch my breath, I run a hand over my hair and reach down to pet Max, but the hut's never been real soundproof so the shouting inside practically echoes 'round the whole clearing. With that sharp sound of skin colliding with skin and a body hitting the floor I'm moving again, calling out Logan's name and bursting through the door, only to freeze right inside.

After months of Logan seeing some fucking ghost hovering around, fucking with his life and mine, and knowing this place, I should've been expecting this. I wasn't.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing in here?" I probably could've approached this with a little more caution, but it's the first thing I can think to say, 'cause he doesn't belong on this island and he sure as hell doesn't belong here.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Pushing himself to his feet, Logan stepped towards Neil instantly, not wanting the other boy to get hurt. "Just go, okay?" he said quietly, trying to will Neil out the door. "Go stay with Joe, alright? I'm handling this."

Aaron simply relaxed into a practiced and casual pose, smiling as he stepped up beside Logan and draped an arm over his shoulder in some sort of fucked-up pantomime of a loving father.

"You aren't going to introduce me to your boyfriend?" he asked, his hand coming to rest on the back of Logan's neck as he gave him a rough squeeze.

[little_moons]

"Are you outta your fucking mind?" I hiss as I step closer, my whole body tensing and my eyes on Logan the whole time.

"Husband," I correct in a low, even voice, radiating 'I'm not afraid of you, asshole' even though maybe I am. Not for my sake, but for Logan's. "I already know you, and I don't have any desire for you to know me."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Letting go of Logan, Aaron just laughed. "Husband, of course, Logan's told me so many times, how could I forget. It's Neil, isn't it?" he asked, moving closer and reaching out to rest a heavy hand on Neil's shoulder, squeezing hard enough to make sure it hurt.

"It's just as well that none of these weddings are legally binding..."

Stepping in, Logan pulled Aaron's hand off Neil. "You don't touch him. You understand me?" he warned.

[little_moons]

I recoil under the touch almost immediately, a wave of something like revulsion swelling up in my gut, teeth gritting against the pain and just barely stopping myself from knocking him right in the jaw. But I know where that'll lead, nowhere good, so I just stand there, ducking out of his grip as soon as it's loosened and inching closer to Logan without taking my eyes off his fucking lying bastard of a father.

"Just get the fuck outta our house, man. No one here's buying any of your shit."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Neil," Logan said, resting a hand on the other boy's back as he tried to calm him down.

He'd seen his father wound up before, he didn't want it happening around Neil.

"Dad... Please," Logan said, his voice quiet as he met Aaron's eyes with his own. "Leave."

He nearly choked as he called Aaron 'dad', the word catching in his throat and making him ill. It was a small price to pay though if it meant keeping Neil safe.

Aaron simply laughed though, shaking his head and looking around the hut. "Alright, maybe I'll go see Veronica instead," he suggested, knowing there was no way Logan would let that happen.

"Guess it depends who means more to you Logan," he smiled. "Him, or her."

[jdick.livejournal.com]

After waking up with his own skeleton in his bed again, but having Dale see it this time, one of Joe's first concerns was of Logan and after he'd assured Dale he'd be fine, that was just walking next door, he'd headed out.

Joe knew exactly what Logan had been seeing while he'd been seeing Bucky and his body and he wasn't ready to let that go. If something really fucking weird had happened here, if Aaron was as real as Bucky, Joe had to make sure Logan was okay.

And maybe kill the fucker while he was at it.

Heading into the hut without knocking, Joe heard the sound of Logan hitting the floor and his jaw set hard as he looked at the man who'd hit him. Without saying a word, he went to Logan, crouching down beside him to check on him.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Pushing himself up into a sitting position, Logan checked to make sure his nose wasn't bleeding before glancing sideways at Joe. He didn't want the older man to see him like this... and he didn't want him getting hurt.

Silently, he tried to will Joe into leaving... even though he knew that would never happen. Not with Aaron around.

Reaching out, Aaron instantly stepped into the role of the concerned father. In one smooth movement, he pulled Logan to his feet and appeared to check his nose out for any sort of breakage. At least until Logan pulled away.

Laughing that cool and practiced laugh, Aaron turned to Joe. "He's lways been very clumsy," he said, draping an arm over Logan's shoulders when he moved to step away. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure I've had the pleasure. You are?"

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Not fucking fooled," Joe replied just as coolly, but there was no mistaking the anger under his words, the absolute fury and hatred. First he had to get Logan away from Aaron. Then he had to kick the shit out of Aaron until he was a bloody fucking pulp. That would make things about even, he figured.

And then? When Aaron was incapacitated, when there was no way in hell he could defend himself, maybe Joe would bash his skull in with something big and hard. "Actually, just came by to show Logan something. So I'm gonna borrow him for a second."

Reaching out, Joe closed his fingers down on Logan's wrist and tugged gently, not enough to hurt Logan, but enough to get him to move closer. If Aaron would let him fucking move.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Watching Joe, Logan knew exactly what the other man was thinking. It left him feeling torn, but in the end he let Joe tug him closer.

"Dad was just leaving," he told Joe quietly, silently hoping Aaron had the sense to do just that.

"Actually," Aaron said, moving closer and looking Joe in the eye. "My son and I were catching up. Why don't you come by later? I'm sure I'd be... honored, to have you as a dinner guest."

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, and I'd be honoured if you disappeared," Joe replied, his hand still on Logan's wrist, trying to push him beside him so that he could get to Aaron. "Actually, I'd be honoured if you fucked right off, man and you're fucking insane if you think I'm leaving you alone here with him."

Then to Logan, he said, "Bucky was there this morning. Real. I came by 'cause... well, this. Fucking figured he'd be here, the stupid fuck."

And he hoped he'd goad Aaron into hitting him, hoped the more names he called him, the more likely he'd be the throw the first punch.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Logan looked concerned at the mention of Bucky, and studied Joe closely in an attempt to figure out if he was okay.

"Joe... I'm okay, you know?" he promised, not wanting to give Aaron the chance to hurt the other man. "We were just... talking," he lied.

Aaron just smirked. "You know what, Logan? It's fine. Why don't you step outside. It would seem we've got a lot to talk about."

[callmeweevil.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what it was made me walk by Logan and Neil's place-- seemed half the island was going to hell in a handbasket anyway, and I'm not so much of an asshole I wanted either of them to end up gettin' eaten by zombies or something.

But I swear to God, the last thing I expected when I passed by the hut was to hear the famous Aaron Echolls' slimy voice comin' from inside-- followed by what sounded like a hell of a punch, no less. Well, part of me's hopin' the sound was Echolls Junior finally givin' his daddy what for, but the wiser part of me thinks that's unlikely. So I run in-- what the hell else am I gonna do? Neil's a good guy but I could break him over my knee, and prob'ly so could Aaron, and I'll be goddamned if I'm gonna let that fucker hurt anyone, even his own asshole kid.

Neil isn't even there, which might be a good thing, 'cus I doubt he wants to see his husband covered in blood and takin' a boot to the ribs from his own father. I barrel into Aaron just as he's windin' up for another one, not even bothering to hit him, just knocking him to the ground with two hundred in pissed-off Mexican landin' on top of him.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

It took Logan a moment to work out what had happened, but when he did, he couldnt help but feel a little sick.

Weevil was not someone he wanted to see him this way.

Aaron hit the floor hard, but he reacted fast, throwing a punch and shoving Weevil roughly.

[callmeweevil.livejournal.com]

I feel my head crack back with the bastard's punch, but I'm up again before I'm even done shakin' it off. My grandma'd say I got my Irish up (don't ever wonder where I get my sense of humor) and she's damn right; feels like I got ten pints of whiskey runnin' through me 'stead of blood, and I'm not inclined to stand down anytime soon. "You even know who I am?" I ask him, jabbing my elbow in his chest as he gets to his feet. "Huh? You even know why this dumb 'spic ran in here to beat the hell outta you?"

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

When Aaron went to swing again, Logan quickly reached out and yanked Weevil back and out of the way by his collar.

"Are you insane?" he hissed out.

[callmeweevil.livejournal.com]

"Fuck off," I tell him, wrenchin' my shoulder back. "I ain't a defenseless girl, he's not gonna shut me up by crackin' me on the head with an ashtray." He had kinda done me a favor though; me not bein' there when Echolls swung at me overbalanced him, and I spun around to put my boot to his ass, shovin' him out the front door.

"Come on, movie star," I taunt, goin' to stand in the doorway. "How come you're always beatin' on the ones who won't fight back? Could it be you're a cowardly piece'a shit?" Part of me wants to go after him and just grind him into the ground, grab a rock and pound him til his head looks like Lilly's did when they found her, blood running down the side of his face with that surprised look... but I don't move, just stand in the doorway with my hands on either side, blockin' Logan from goin' out or Echolls from comin' back in.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

When Aaron was out of sight, Logan shoved Eli hard. "I was handling it!" Logan yelled. "I was keeping him here you idiot! Where do you think he's gonna go, huh? Who do you think he'll go after next?"

There was a panic to Logan;s voice underneath all the anger, and he shoved Weevil again. "I swear to god. If he lays a hand on Veronica or Neil, I'll hold you personally responsible."

Staggering over to the bed, he sat down, wiping his nose and grimacing when he realized he was still bleeding.