Masterlist!!

can you write something about the cubs seeing each others childhood rooms/homes for the first time?

we kind of got a little with Leo’s home in NOLA and that moment of Logan thinking about walking through the house and “looking for signs of him” was just so freaking precious I NEED MORE

I just imagine in my mind leo had an attic room that was floor to ceiling wall to wall book shelves and Finn just being OBSESSED and them seeing old pictures of each other ugh it would just be so adorable

:)

TW: MCD spoilers in Little Women!

Credits to @lumosinlove

This was all he needed, Logan thought as he watched Leo and Finn unload Leo's Jeep. He roved his eyes over Leo's forearms, starkly tan against the white cooler, even in the porch light. Finn whispered something to him and kissed his cheeks, taking the cooler from him with a smile. Leo looked pleased and content. Something settled in his shoulders, being in NOLA, Logan could tell. He wanted to feel the relaxed muscles and put a hand on Leo's lower back. 

Leo turned to look down at him. “Hi, sweetheart.” He kissed Logan softly on the forehead. “You okay?”

Logan nodded, tucking his nose into Leo's shoulder. “Ouais. Merci, for today.”

“Yeah,” Finn agreed. “Thanks for the boat ride.”

Leo raised his eyebrows. “Just the boat ride?”

Logan felt warm as Finn's cheeks and ears flushed around his freckled grin. “And other things.”

Leo leaned over to kiss his forehead, too. “You're welcome, sweetheart.” He patted Logan's waist. “Bed time, c'mon. I'll clean the cooler while you get in the shower.”

Finn and Logan tried to insist on helping, but Leo waved them off and distractedly put ice packs back in the freezer. They each took one last look at his long, lean legs before quietly creeping up the stairs.

Leo's bedroom was set at the end of the hall, right beside another door. Logan and Finn glanced at it curiously before opening the door to Leo's room. Logan felt something nestle deep in his chest.

The room even smelled like Leo. It was warm and inviting, and meticulously organized, as all his things were. His bed was neatly made, pillows fluffed against the headboard with a stuffed duck resting on them, and there were three books stacked on the night stand beside it. His dresser held other little signs of him: his cologne, his Honors Society cord, some birthday cards, a couple photos. Most of them looked old. There was one of Leo and his parents on the boat when he was little, another of him and his cousins on Leo's draft day. But then there was a photo without a frame, leaning against a tournament trophy. Logan peered closer and smiled softly. “Rouge, ici.”

“Mm?” Finn asked. He looked up from where he was getting their toiletry bags and pajamas. “What is it, baby?”

“Allez, look.”

Finn walked over and rested his chin on Logan's shoulder, arms tight around his waist. Logan leaned back into his body. He felt as Finn smiled against his neck with an amused sound. “He’s just such a sweetheart, isn't he?”

“Ouais,” Logan sighed happily.

He reached to touch the edges of the photo. It was of the three of them at Dumo's cup party just a few weeks previous. Finn was in the middle, a hand tight around each of their waists and a big smile on his face. Logan was leaning against him, expression soft and tired, and maybe a bit tipsy. He and Leo had their arms crossed over Finn's abdomen, Logan's strong hand rubbing Leo's forearm. On Finn's other side, Leo had his head tilted with a wide, happy grin, his blue eyes twinkling and his cheeks a gorgeous shade of blushing red. Logan ran his thumb over it. For such a new photo, the edges were frayed. 

“I forgot we took that,” Finn commented. He kissed Logan’s skin. “I wonder when he printed it.”

As if on cue, they heard Leo's footsteps approaching. The door opened slowly, and Finn and Logan both turned to look. When Leo saw them, he smiled widely. “Hi.” He saw where they were facing and glanced between them and the photo. His cheeks flushed. “Oh. You found it.”

Finn reached a hand out to draw Leo to them. Logan pressed his nose into Leo's chest before looking up at him. “When did you print it?”

Leo's face got even redder. “The day I arrived here in New Orleans.”

Finn bit his lip in amusement and nudged Leo's jaw with his nose. “But the edges are frayed.”

“I just missed you,” Leo whispered, obviously slightly sheepish. “I hold it when I go to bed.”

Logan shifted him and Finn so he was facing Leo directly. He reached up to tangle his hand in Leo's hair, drawing him down for a kiss. “Je t'adore.”

“You're so good, baby,” Finn said. He pressed a hand to Leo's cheek. “What did we do to deserve you?”

Leo just shrugged and kissed his palm. “Good things.”

Finn smiled and brought his hand down to caress Leo's ribs. They stood there in silence for a minute before Finn let out a noise. “Hey, what's the other door out there?”

Leo's grin was all teeth. “Oh! C'mon, I'll show you.” Then he was out the door.

Finn and Logan looked at one another curiously before following. Leo put a finger to his lips then crept up a winding stairwell of the now-open secret door. They ascended slowly, careful to limit the creaking. When they reached the top, Leo flicked on a light. Finn let out a gasp and a laugh. “Oh my God!”

Leo turned to them and smiled proudly. Lined along the walls of the small attic were a couple of bookshelves overflowing with novels. Beside them was a rocking chair and a small ottoman, Winnie the Pooh pillows resting on top of each of them.

Finn took a step forward and touched along the spine of a hardback. He smiled softly. “Peanut, this is amazing.”

Leo looked proud and pleased as he stepped behind Finn to cup his hips. “It's my reading nook.”

Logan walked up to the other bookshelf. There were children's books on the top shelf, but the rest of them were chapter books, a few with French titles. “How long have you had this, mon soleil?”

Leo reached out to wrap and arm around Logan's waist and pull him in. “Since I was about seven. We don't have a lot of extra stuff, and we have the cellar, so Dad and I found some disassembled bookshelves and the rocking chair at yard sales, then fixed them up here. Also got a used AC unit and repaired it, too. That's how I learned to use a drill.”

Finn looked over his shoulder with raised eyebrows. “You can use a drill?”

Leo looked smug. “Sure can.”

“Hot.” Finn went back to flicking through the book he was holding. “I can't believe we've never heard of this place before.”

Leo blushed a little. “I wanted to wait until you came home with me for the first time. To surprise you with it.”

Finn turned in Leo's arms, book clutched to his chest, and kissed him. “Best surprise ever.”

Leo smiled into Finn's next kiss. “I'm glad you like it.” He kissed Finn once more, than Logan's forehead. “C'mon, choose a book. We can read it before bed.”

Finn considered a few before picking up a well-worn paperback with a nod. He looked up at them softly. The warm light made his eyes look almost golden. “Okay. Let's go shower and go to bed.”

Leo nudged him down the steps before turning to Logan. He, too, looked golden in the light. “You coming, sweetheart?”

Logan nodded. “Ouais.” He stepped into Leo's space and leaned up for a kiss. “Je t'aime.”

Leo touched their foreheads together. “I love you. Thanks for letting me take you home.”

“Toujours,” Logan whispered. “Always.”

Then he laced their fingers together and followed Leo down the stairs. 

***

Finn took a deep breath as he glanced up the stairway towards where he knew Logan's bedroom was. The Tremblay family was still wrapped up in welcoming Logan home and welcoming Leo for the first time. Iva had Leo wrapped in a hug, speaking fast French to him and making him laugh. It relieved Finn a bit to see him smiling. This house held a lot of good memories for Finn, but also a lot of strained ones: longing looks at Logan's back in the mornings, yearning desire whenever Logan took off his shirt to help his parents in the garden. He hoped that it would only hold good memories for Leo, touched by nothing bad save for the initial anxiety of entering into a world he hadn't been a part of previously. 

Finn took another breath and settled a hand on Leo's back, who was picking up his duffel bag.

Leo turned to him and stepped closer. His eyes were soft, maybe a little relieved, as they met Finn's own. “You alright, honey?”

Finn nodded. “Yeah. Just love you.”

Leo smiled. “I love you, too.” He glanced up the stairwell briefly, then behind him. Marius and Iva had disappeared into the kitchen, and now it was just Logan and his sisters chatting away in rapid French. Leo leaned in closer. His beautiful blue eyes pinned Finn where he was. “It's okay to be nervous, sweetheart. You both hurt for a long time.”

Finn sighed and closed his eyes. Leo always saw right through him. “I know. I know.” He leaned into the hand Leo settled on his waist and opened his eyes with a soft smile. “But it's okay now. Because he loves me. And I love him.” He swayed into Leo's warm body. “And we both love you, how special is that?”

Leo grinned. “Pretty special.” He nodded towards the stairs. “Let's go put our stuff down. Then Lo said he wanted to take us for a drive.” 

Finn nodded and picked up his and Logan's bags before leading Leo up the stairs. Leo pressed a hand to his lower back as they made their way to the end of the hall where Logan's bedroom was. “I love you,” he whispered into Finn's ear.

Finn turned to blindly kiss his shoulder before slowly opening the door. 

He didn't know what he expected, coming back into Logan's childhood room- most of his stuff was in Gryffindor anyways. But there were still little signs of him. A poster of Lightning McQueen that Finn had chirped him for so hard still hung on the wall; his sisters had given it to him for his sixteenth birthday after they spent the whole day having a Pixar Movie marathon during Christmas break. There was a singular book on his bedside table- the original version of Little Women. Finn had helped him read it his freshman year. Logan had tried to hide it, but he'd cried when Beth had died. Propped up on the pillows, probably done by Iva, was a stuffed moose. Finn forgot the name. He hadn't seen it since college.

He heard Leo laugh quietly from near the dresser. “Look at you both.”

Finn turned abruptly, heart beating a little faster in his chest. Leo was holding a picture frame delicately in his fingers. Finn rested his chin on Leo's shoulder to get a closer look. His breath caught. “Oh.”

It must have been taken Finn's senior year. In the photo, he and Logan were sat on OKN’s old couch, a pile of books and papers on the coffee table in front of them. They each had their Harvard Hockey sweatshirts on, Logan with his hood pulled up over his hair. It was long and slightly curly in the picture. His head was resting against Finn’s shoulder, Finn's temple pressed to his. Finn didn't even know a photo had been taken. All he remembered was one moment they were pulling an all -nighter, and the next he'd woken up slumped awkwardly with an aching neck, Logan awake and making coffee in the kitchen. He hadn't realized Logan had slept beside him. He'd assumed Logan had left him to sleep alone.

As if summoned, there was a rap of knuckles on the door. “Salut.”

Both Leo and Finn turned. Leo was smiling at Logan. Finn didn't know what he looked like, but it must have caused concern, because both his boys immediately furrowed their eyebrows. 

“Rouge,” Logan said, stepping forward to cup Finn's face in his hands. “What's wrong?”

Finn blinked. “I didn't know we slept together.”

Logan's smile was confused. “Quoi?” Leo nudged him and gestured to the photo. Logan blushed, then looked sheepishly back at Finn. “Oh. Percy took that.”

Finn shook his head. “I don't remember that.”

Logan laughed nervously. “You were really asleep.” He took a deep breath, then moved his hands to cup Finn’s neck. He pressed a kiss to his cheek before pulling away. His green eyes were soft and loving.

“I kept that on my bedside table all of senior year,” he said. He shrugged. “I missed you, mon coeur.”

Finn breathed in through his nose and pressed their foreheads together. He closed his eyes. “I missed you, too.” He kissed Logan briefly. “But now you're right in front of me.”

“Ouais,” Logan whispered. “Ici, rouge.”

Finn wrapped his arms around Logan's waist and squeezed, holding him there for a moment. When he pulled away, he found Leo leaning against Logan's bedside table, still looking at the photo. He was biting his lip and stroking his thumb over the edge of the frame. Finn looked at Logan and they both smiled. Finn turned. “Hey sunshine?”

Leo’s eyes were surprised. “Hm?”

“You wanna sleep together?”

They all burst out laughing, their bodies shaking. Leo clutched the photo to his chest and stepped into their space. His blue eyes were happy and twinkly, and Finn and Logan were so, so in love with him. 

“Yeah,” he said softly, lovingly. “You know what, I just might.”

***

“Boys, I'd like everything out of there by five! We've got reservations at the nice new French place at six thirty!”

Leo watched as Alex and Finn simultaneously rolled their eyes at their mother's voice in the exact same way. Leo knew they grumbled at being compared to one another, but they were so similar it was almost scary. 

“And don't roll your eyes at me!”

They both flushed red. Finn glanced towards where his mother's voice had come from in the kitchen, where she was making tea. “How did she-?”

“No fucking clue,” Alex said. He sighed. “Okay, let's do this.” He turned to Kasey and Natalie with a pout. “Help?”

Natalie bounced on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Nope!” she said, heading into the kitchen. “This is man labor. Your mom and I are trying out some new tea from the tea box I got her for her birthday.” 

Alex groaned. “Really?” He turned his head towards the kitchen doorway. “Mom! Is it true your stealing my girlfriend?”

“Oh, yes! Natalie, dear, come here, I've started with the white and peach tea!”

Natalie winked. “Coming!” she called, then was sliding away towards the kitchen.

Alex watched her for a moment then sighed, shoulders sagging. “Damn. Mom’s just robbing us.”

Finn poked him in the side. “Nuh uh, she's not robbing me.”

Alex stuck his tongue out just as Haley’s voice sounded once again through the doorway. “Logan, honey, you come here, too! I found a mint one I think you'll like!”

Finn’s eyes bulged. “How does she even know that?”

Logan just smirked. “That's my cue.” He kissed Finn's cheek, then stood on his toes to press his warm lips to Leo's. “Have fun.” Then he, too, slunk out of the living room.

Finn looked dejectedly at Leo. “You won't leave me, will you?”

Leo glanced at him, then at Alex, who had a similar expression directed at Kasey, and rolled his eyes fondly. “C'mon, O'Hara boys. Time to clean your rooms.”

Alex wrinkled his nose as Kasey brought him under his arm. “You're not my mom.”

Leo snorted. “Don't I know it.”

Alex looked like he was about to protest, but Kasey tugged his hand. “Let's go, Al. We've gotta take care of that mess.”

Alex scowled as Kasey dragged him down the hallway. “It is not!”

Leo watched them go amusedly, then turned back to look at Finn. He looked a little tired from the drive up that morning, the skin under his eyes more purple than normal. Leo rubbed his thumbs over it and kissed his nose. “C'mon, sweetheart. We've gotta move the rest of your stuff out. I'll help.”

Finn nodded and leaned into Leo's hands briefly. “Okay. Okay, let's go.”

Leo didn't really know why Alex and Finn still had lots of stuff left in their childhood brownstone home, especially considering they spent lots of time in the city and had plenty of opportunities to grab stuff- and the fact that they were both in their twenties and had moved out a long time ago. But Haley had declared enough was enough, and here they were, ready to tackle a host of childhood memories and to decide whether to keep or donate them.

Finn led the way down the hallway, past where they could hear Alex and Kasey laughing in Alex's own room, to a brown door. Leo had never been inside the O'Hara's home before, nevermind Finn's room. There wasn't really a need to come when Alex had his apartment and Logan had his. Most of the time, they went out to dinner because there were so many of them, or Leo cooked a nice meal at Logan's place. He wanted to look for all the little signs of Finn, just like he had in Logan's room. 

Finn opened the door carefully and whistled. “Damn, it's been a while.” He stepped aside and swept his arm. “After you, sunshine.”

Leo pressed a hand to his waist in thanks and stepped through the doorway.

It definitely was Finn's room. Not messy, but a little disorganized: trinkets on the dresser, a Rangers poster on the wall, a Harvard flag, a stuffed bulldog with a hockey jersey on the bed, books piled high on every available surface- even a stack on the floor. Leo was surprised Haley hadn't moved them. 

What really caught his eye, however, were the photos on his dresser. 

Most of them looked like they were from college. There was Alex and Finn on Finn’s draft day; Percy and Finn obviously drunk off their asses and hanging off of one another with streamers in their hair; Finn and Will standing together on the ice in their jerseys and smiling, Will with a C on his shoulder and Finn with an A. Leo smiled- he liked putting the pieces of Finn and Logan together, separately and individually. They'd spent so long intertwined, and that's what most of the Harvard stories they told him were about, but it warmed him to think they still had their own friends, their own people, their own experiences. Leo loved them both endlessly in all their multifacetedness. 

The photo on the far right made him stop. It was of Finn and Logan in a backyard somewhere. String lights shone behind them. Finn had his arm tightly over Logan's shoulders, Logan's head resting in the crook of his elbow. They were both smiling widely, obviously a little tipsy. Their jaws were a little less defined, their shoulders less broad, their legs slimmer. They looked so young. 

Two hands came to rest on Leo's hips. “That was the first fall we met,” Finn whispered into Leo’s shoulder. “Even then I was already falling in love with him.”

Leo swallowed around a lump in his throat. It hurt him, to think of them hurting. It hurt, selfishly, to think about the fact he didn't know them then; if they would have even been friends, much less lovers.

Finn seemed to sense the tension lingering in his body, because he wrapped Leo up tighter and pressed their bodies close together. Leo could feel the warmth and solid muscle of Finn, even through their sweatshirts. 

“I love you,” Finn said. “We love you. You make everything worth it, sunshine, because we got you.”

“I know,” Leo replied softly, leaning back against Finn's chest. “Sometimes I just- I imagine I was there. In school, making friends, studying, laying on the grass. Playing hockey, going to parties, laughing. Being young in that way.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “I always imagine it as being fall.”

Finn smiled against Leo's neck. “Fall in New England is pretty.”

Leo tilted his head sideways to rest against Finn's. “Can we go someday? During the fall?”

Finn nodded eagerly and kissed his jaw softly. “Whatever you want, baby. I'll take you everywhere.”

Leo let out a happy sound and turned his head to kiss Finn on the lips. Finn’s mouth was gentle and loving, pinning Leo in place in the way only he and Logan could do. Leo had never been kissed with such care and focus until he'd kissed them.

“Oh.” A voice interrupted them. They smiled against one another's mouths and then turned to look at Logan in the doorway. He looked them up and down carefully before nodding to the tray in his hands. “Haley made you tea.”

Finn squeezed Leo's waist one more time before walking to take the tray from Logan with a kiss. “Thanks, baby.” He set the tray on the bed and picked up a red mug with a fish on it. “What'd she make?”

“Lady Grey for you,” Logan said. He picked up a mug with flowers and walked over to Leo. “And a green and raspberry tea for you, Le.” He stopped when he saw where Leo was looking at. When he saw the photo, he smiled. “Oh.” He turned to look at Finn. “That was a long time ago, non?”

Finn nodded around his sip. “Your freshman year.”

Logan hummed, then leaned into Leo's chest. “Allez,” he said, tilting the mug towards Leo's lips. “Ça va, mon soleil?”

Leo nodded, reaching up to wrap his fingers gently around Logan's wrists. “It's good.” He kissed Logan's forehead and moved one arm down to wrap around his waist. “Thank you.”

“Hey,” Finn said suddenly. “Look here.”

They both turned to find Finn standing there with his phone. The warmth of the mug pressed into Leo's chest where Logan was holding it between them. He pressed his fingers into Logan's lower back to bring him closer and smiled. He felt Logan’s forehead rest against his collarbone. He could imagine his smile: sheepish and content, his green eyes peering out at the camera. 

Finn stayed there for a moment, then brought his phone down. He looked out over his classes at the screen and smiled. “Perfect,” he said. His eyes moved to look at them. His teeth were white against his freckled skin. “I'm printing this when we get home. Gonna blow it up and frame it in the living room for everyone to see.”

Leo laughed. “No you're not.”

Finn raised his eyebrows. “Watch me.” He walked up to them and wrapped an arm around each of their waists. He kissed their cheeks softly. “I love you.”

“Love you,” Logan sighed. He nuzzled into Leo's sweatshirt neck, then tilted his head up. Leo brushed his thick hair back off his forehead so he could gaze at his eyes. Logan grinned softly and leaned up for a kiss. “Allez,” he said against Leo's mouth. “Let's clean.”

One of my favorite little moments from vaincre is when Leo got visibly flustered at the fact that Finn could pick him up during the scene where they were all hanging out at the pool. Just the fact that he probably thinks he’s too tall or heavy to be picked up and him getting so flustered when Finn did it omg

This is ALSO one of my favorite moments. Great minds, I guess.

As a short human, I identify with Logan in the sense that I love to be picked up. I also identify with Finn in the sense that I also like to pick other people up. Tall people deserve to be carried around, too!

Enjoy our sunshine being carried around a bunch!

All credits to @lumosinlove !!

“You picked me up,” Leo said as the door shut behind them. 

“Hm?” Finn asked. He was drying off his hair with a towel. “What’d you say, sunshine?”

“At the pool,” Leo continued. He stripped himself of his swimsuit and pulled on a pair of boxers from his suitcase. “You just- you put me over your shoulder and picked me up.”

Finn finished pulling up his own shorts and grinned at him. “Oh? Did you like that?”

“Well, I’ve never-” Leo started, but was interrupting by a buzzing sound coming from the nightstand. He looked over at where their iPad screen was lit up. “It’s Lo.”

Finn walked over and picked up the tablet, pressing the green button. Logan’s face lit up the screen and Finn smiled. “Hey, gorgeous. How are you?”

“Bien,” Logan replied. “Congrats on the win.”

“Thanks, baby,” Finn said. He sat criss-cross on top of the hotel bed covers. “Did you eat?”

Logan nodded. “Ouais, at Luke’s. We had burgers.” He paused. “Where’s Le?”

Finn gestured with his hand. “Right over here, baby, he’s-” He paused and broke out into a sharp grin. “Are you still thinking about that?”

Leo hadn’t moved since Finn had picked up the phone. His brow was furrowed and his mouth parted in thought as he listened to his boys talk. Logan made a questioning noise through the screen. “Quoi? What’s happening?”

Finn turned to face Logan again, still grinning. “Leo’s all flustered that I picked him up.”

Logan laughed. “Quoi? Soleil?”

Leo shook himself out of his trance and went to sit by Finn. Logan’s face was amused when Leo looked at him. “Sorry, sorry. We just- we went swimming in the hotel pool, and- Sirius and Remus were there.” He jerked his head to Finn. “And then Finn just- he just picked me up and ran and jumped in the pool.”

Logan burst out laughing. “Ouais, that sounds like him. But he picks me up all the time.”

Leo rolled his eyes and could feel his face flushing. “Yeah, but you’re not six-foot-three and two hundred pounds.”

Finn made a noise in the back of his throat. He got on his knees and put his hands on Leo’s thighs to rub gently. His eyes were warm and questioning. “Is that what you’re worried about? Because I can assure you, Logan and I can definitely bench you, sunshine. Throwing you over my shoulder is nothing.”

Logan nodded in agreement. “Ouais, soleil. Next time I see you, I’ll pick you up, too.”

Leo ducked his face shyly. “Well- okay, then.”

“Look at you, all blushing,” Finn cooed. He pressed a burst of kisses to Leo’s cheek. “This is really doing it for you, huh?”

Leo bit his lip around a smile. “Well, I just never thought I’d be with someone who could do that. There aren’t many people who are strong enough to lift someone as big as me.”

“Well, not if they aren’t trying, baby,” Finn said. He knelt his way off the bed and set the iPad further down the bed so Logan could have a wider view. Then, he looked up and beckoned Leo with a hand. “C’mere.”

“What?” Leo asked around a laugh. 

“Just come here.”

Leo stood up and walked over to him. Finn wrapped his arms loosely around Leo’s waist and kissed him softly. When they pulled back from one another, his brown eyes were serious. “I don’t care what anyone else has said to you, or what you thought they would say. You’re body is absolutely gorgeous, and we love it very much.”

“Ouais,” came Logan’s voice. Leo looked behind himself to see his eyes were twinkling and they smiled at one another. “The most gorgeous.”

Finn pressed his mouth to Leo’s ear and spoke quickly. “Plus, the perk of dating two athletes is that we can do this.”

Leo yelped slightly as the arms around his waist tightened again and Finn bent down slightly to throw him over his shoulder. Finn’s arms went around his thighs, one hand coming up to pat his butt lovingly. Leo twisted his head up, his neck straining slightly to see Logan laughing through the iPad. “Fish,” he gasped delightedly.

“Gotcha, butter,” Finn said. His voice was light and happy. He was laughing, too. “Gonna carry you like this through the streets of Gryff.”

“No,” Leo protested, but it wasn’t all that convincing.

“Yon,” Finn retorted. Then Leo’s world spun as Finn turned them around. “How’s he look, Tremblay?”

“Gorgeous,” Logan replied. “Viens ici.”

Finn took a step closer towards the bed. Leo gasped as he was flung down off of his shoulder, falling against the springy mattress. Finn straddled him and planted his hands on either side of Leo’s head. His hair flopped down over his face and his teeth were a bright white against his freckled skin. “Gorgeous, gorgeous, baby. I like tossing you around.”

Leo’s smile and giggles scrunched his face as Finn made a big show of kissing his neck sloppily. He turned his head to look at Logan, who was smiling back. Joy bubbled up through his belly and made him lightheaded as he cupped the back of Finn’s head against him.

“I love you,” he laughed. “I love you so much.”

Both of their answering smiles were blinding. 

***

“Thank you for surprising me,” Logan said. He had come up to put his hands on Leo’s hips as he wiped the counters. They had just finished the breakfast Finn had brought them. “I like waking up with you in my bed.”

“Us too, sweetheart,” Leo said. He turned to rest his arms over Logan’s shoulders. “You feeling ready for the B’s?”

“Mmhm,” Logan nodded. He pressed closer and rested his chin on Leo’s collarbone, a smile making its way across his face. “I have a surprise for you.”

Leo looked at him, confused. “What? But, you didn’t know we were coming how could you-” He gasped suddenly as Logan gripped him under his thighs and in one smooth motion boosted him up to sit on the counter. He let out a breathless laugh. “Lo…”

“I told you,” Logan said through a mischievous grin. “I told you that the next time I saw you I would pick you up.”

Leo wrapped his legs around Logan’s torso. It felt good to do that, to not be the one who did the lifting, to be the one that got to wrap his limbs around someone else instead of the other way around. “Oh yeah?”

Logan leaned up to kiss him. “Ouais.” He smoothed his hands up and down Leo’s legs. “Hold on.”

“What are you- oh my God.”

Logan had, once again in one movement, grabbed Leo’s thighs and pulled him forward until he was off of the counter, hanging on tightly to Logan. It was a bit awkward, and Leo felt his height acutely, but Logan didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he didn’t even look like he was struggling at all.

“Careful, sweetheart, I don’t wanna hurt-”

Logan scoffed. “You’re not hurting me.” He leaned up to bring their faces closer together. “I bench more than you weigh, remember?”

Leo smiled, smitten. “I remember.”

“Good,” Logan said, satisfied. “Now, to the couch.”

Leo laughed as Logan carried him around the counter and to the living room. Finn chose that moment to come out of the bathroom, amused smile plastered on his face. “What have we here?”

“Leo appreciation,” Logan answered. He squeezed Leo around his thighs and plopped him on the couch, immediately straddling his waist. “We aren’t letting his feet touch the ground all day.”

Finn came to kneel on the ground just to the side of them and looked up. “I can get behind that.” He ran his hands up and down Leo’s thighs and pressed kisses just above his knee. Leo felt warm all over. “These beautiful legs aren’t going to have to work a single second.”

Logan pressed his lips to Leo’s jaw and Leo made a happy sound. Logan grinned against his skin, and Leo was so, so in love with the both of them. “Non. Not a single second."

One of ur asks by an anon said something like “Leo’s always the comforter” and I agree but it’s because he’s SO GOOD AT COMFORTING!! He’s so perceptive and caring and SO SO SWEET HE ALWAYS KNOWS WHAT TO SAY!!! so can we get some instances of Leo being the perfect boyfriend/husband to his boys?? They deserve it so much !(just like he deserves them!)

- sincerely the captain of the “LEO KNUT IS A *PERFECT* ANGEL” ship

I am SO glad for this ask, because I've had this idea in my head for a while that Finn LOVES forever, but he doesn't know if his boys are as enthusiastic as him, if that makes sense? Like, he is so obsessed with them, and becomes more obsessed with them each day, like he's stuck in this eternal honeymoon phase, and he's worried that they don't feel as fiercely as he does. He knows they love him, OBVIOUSLY, and that they always will, but he's worried this passion that he feels isn't reciprocated and that his boys won't be satisfied emotionally, physically, and mentally in the way he knows he will always be.

And who better to comfort him than a little (tall) ray of sunshine (Logan is there, too, duh, but he's a sleepy head who hasn't had coffee, so he's not much help for a few minutes, haha!)?

So after a REALLY long introduction, have some conflicted Harzy and a fondly exasperated nutter butter (and a tired grumpy Tremz). :)

TW: mentions of nefarious activities and HEALTHY DISCUSSION about them, but nothing explicit, as per!

Credits to @lumosinlove <3

P.S. Anon, you're SO FUNNY for the "leo is a ____ angel" hashtag shout out, haha! I try and do a different one each post. I think I've done it for all but two or three, and it's so fun to think of them!

“Le, are you bored?”

Leo looked up from his, frankly perfect, hangover breakfast, to look Finn in the eye. “Huh?”

“Like, are you- I don’t know, bored of this?”

Leo took another bit of his pancake and a piece of bacon. “Of what, sweetheart?”

There was a brief silence in which Finn bit the inside of his cheek nervously. “Us?”

“Woah.” Leo’s fork clattered against his plate. He spun in his high top chair to face Finn directly and take his hands. “Woah, honey, no. Where is this coming from?”

Finn let out a nervous breath and looked down into his lap. “When you- yesterday, at the festival, during the Wallows set…” He shrugged. “I don’t know, you just sang that one song really loud? With Regulus?”

“‘Cause it’s a good song honey. And Reg loves that band.”

Finn nodded. “I know. I know, but it just got me thinking…” He looked up at Leo through his lashes with worried brown eyes. “Are you bored? In this relationship?” His breath hitched. “I don’t want you to be bored.”

Despite himself, Leo smiled. “Oh, honey no.” He drew Finn into a hug. “No, Finn, of course I’m not bored. That’s not possible with you around.” He kissed the side of Finn’s head. “Did you think that I was?”

Finn shrugged. “I don’t know. You just sang the song really excitedly.”

Leo laughed. “‘Cause it’s a good song, honey, like I said. I really liked it in high school.” 

“Yeah, but- you’d tell me if you’re bored, right, peanut?”

“Oh, you’re so sweet.” Leo pulled back to hold Finn’s face in his hands. His cheeks were a little wet under Leo’s lips when he kissed them. “Of course I would, baby, but I’m telling you, that’s not gonna happen.” He smiled gently. “You’re really worried about this, aren’t you?”

Finn nodded, his mouth forming a little pout. “Yeah.” He looked at Leo’s face for a moment, his fingers twitching on Leo’s back. “And you don’t- you don’t get bored during sex, do you?”

Leo laughed, tucking Finn’s face into his neck once more. “Oh, baby.”

“It’s not funny!”

“No, no, it’s not, sweetheart, I’m sorry.” Leo bit his lip against a grin as Finn let out another wet sound into his neck. “Finn, baby, I promise I don’t get bored. You’re so good to me.”

“Yeah?”

“Of course.” He squeezed Finn tighter. “You make me feel so good, baby, every time.” He turned his head to whisper in Finn’s ear. “And if something doesn’t feel so good, or we don’t want something, we talk and we change it up. Or we try something new. You know Lo and I are especially partial to that vibrator you got us.”

Finn laughed wetly into his neck and pressed into Leo harder. “Yeah, you are.” He let out a sigh. “It’s just- we haven’t had sex in a while.”

Leo snorted. “Like, five days, sweetheart.”

“But that’s a long time.”

“Eternity.”

Finn pinched his side and sighed. “I just want to make sure everything’s okay.”

Leo felt himself soften. “Yeah, baby, it’s okay. We were just really busy this week, I think, with your students’ exams, and Lo and I starting summer training and deep cleaning the apartment. And then we had the festival the past few days, and now we’re all hungover. It just happens, sometimes.”

“It’s still too long.”

“I agree,” Leo placated, cupping the back of Finn’s head gently. “Way too long.” After a moment of silence, Leo kissed Finn’s shoulder. “Tell you what, sweetheart. Let’s eat and go for a walk, let ourselves work off this hangover, then we’ll spend the next few days just doing nothing but being together, okay? I’ll take you both to that nice steak restaurant you like tonight, then we’ll come back here and see how we feel. And if we want to have sex, we have sex, and if we don’t, we don’t.” He grinned against Finn’s jaw and bit it. “But I have a feeling it’ll be the former.”

Finn laughed and nodded, pulling back to wipe his flushed cheeks. “Yeah, me, too.” He leaned forward and kissed Leo gently, then took his hands and kissed his rings. “Thank you, Le, baby. I’m sorry I was so worried.”

Leo shook his head. “Don’t be, sweetheart, it’s okay. Lo and I are so lucky to have a husband who cares about our pleasure so much.” He squeezed Finn’s fingers and touched their temples together. “But you don’t have to worry, Finn. We’ll be old and gray and still want you.”

Finn kissed him quickly. “Promise?”

“Promise.” Leo kissed him once, twice, three more times before pulling back and turning towards his plate. “Now, eat your breakfast, c’mon. Lo will wake up soon, then we can get ready and go for our walk.”

Finn nodded. “Okay.” He bumped his head against Leo’s shoulder. “I love you.”

Leo kissed the top of his head. “I love you, too.”

From behind them, there were footsteps, and a few seconds later Leo felt two arms come and wrap around his shoulders. A head bumped into the back of his neck with a groan. “Café.”

Leo smiled and turned to kiss Logan’s forehead. “In the coffee maker, sweetheart. I put your plate in the oven to keep it warm.”

“Merci.” Logan came around to kiss Leo slowly, then Finn, slumping into his side with another groan. “Ça va?”

“Yeah.” Finn rested their heads together and wrapped an arm around Logan’s waist. He looked up at Leo. “Love you.”

“Mm, je t’aime.” Logan stretched and went to go pour his coffee and get his plate. “What are we doing today?”

“Each other, hopefully.” Leo jumped when Logan accidentally slammed the oven door shut with a bang then straightened, blinking hard. He laughed at him. “Just kidding. Well, kind of.” Leo settled a hand on Finn’s thigh and rubbed. “It’s just been a while. We were thinking of going for a walk today, then I’ll take you out for dinner at the nice steak place. Sound good?”

“Ouais,” Logan nodded. He was still flicking his eyes between them. “But what about-?”

Leo winked. “That can happen after if you want.”

Logan moved his head more rapidly now. “Ouais, I want.” He sighed and walked around the counter again to set his plate down, then practically fell against Leo’s side. “It’s been forever. I want you.”

Leo shook his head fondly. “You’re so dramatic.” He kissed Logan’s cheek and patted his hip firmly. “C’mon, sweetheart, go sit and eat. We’ve got a long day ahead of us.”

Logan sighed and went to sit on Finn’s other side, moaning when he took a bite of pancake and eggs. “Délicieux.”

Leo smiled at Logan for a moment before looking at Finn. “Good?”

Finn nodded, a small smile on his face. “Good. I’m good.” He considered for a second before kissing Leo’s shoulder. “Are you good?”

Leo nodded. “I’m so good, baby. I’m so good.”

“Good.”

“What is going on?”

Leo and Finn turned to look at Logan, who was shoveling food in his mouth so fast that Leo was certain he wasn’t even chewing. They laughed and Finn nudged him. “We’ll get some food in you first and tell you.”

“Mm, ouais.” Logan swallowed and looked up at them. “Are you sure we can’t have sex before our walk and after dinner?”

Leo grinned mischievously. He looked at Finn, winked, then stood and began to walk towards the bathroom. “You know, I think a shower is just what I need right now.”

There was a curse from them both as they both tried to finish eating. Leo had just pulled his shirt off when forks were clinking and there was the sound of plates being put in the sink. He smiled to himself and turned the shower on. 

“Boys, I’m getting in!” 

And at the sound of thudding footsteps, Leo felt his chest warm and turned his face up to the spray, yearning for the moment where he felt their skin on his.

No, he thought to himself. No, he’d never get bored of this. 

absolutely LIVE for Leo using southern style pet names like: darlin, sugar, honey etc and finn and Logan absolutely loving it

GUESS WHO'S BACK WITH HER COMPUTEEEEERRRRR!!!! This means I can write faster, which is SUCH a relief. I've already banged out a couple of prompts today, and am so excited every time I get new ones!

Have some FinnLo being jealous of fur babies, and Leo being the sweetest sunshine that ever shone. :)

Credits to @lumosinlove :)))))

It all started with a dog and a cat getting more affection than him.

Well, that wasn’t necessarily true. But Logan liked to pretend it was so he could justify the way he narrowed his eyes at the two animals when they were the subject of Leo's affections.

They were in Nice for a few weeks by themselves before guests were supposed to start arriving for their wedding. It hadn't been difficult to pick the location, and they had more than enough money to pay for their non-professional athlete friends and family members to come, but the process was long and stressful and Logan, quite frankly, had had enough by the time the hockey season had ended. A few weeks with just his soon-to-be husbands sounded just perfect to him- sand, sun, and the beautiful French sea.

And it was perfect- until Leo's affections had been diverted elsewhere.

The nice ladies down at the tailors where they bought their sweaters had over the years grown quite fond of Leo. Logan could relate, obviously- it was hard not to love the epitome of sunshine in human form. Leo brought them coffee and pastries a few times a week from the place they all liked and always bought sweaters and shirts to bring back as gifts for birthdays and holidays, which Eloise absolutely loved. But more than the ladies adoring him, the store's beagle, Antoinette, and calico cat, Xavier, had really, truly fallen in love with him. They always rushed to him, sat in his lap, licked at his hands gently. So when Madame Colette had asked if Leo wanted to pet sit while she and her husband were on vacation for a little while, Leo had of course enthusiastically obliged.

Logan never thought he'd be so jealous of four-legged animals. 

“Hi, darlin’, hi!” Leo cooed as Antoinette rushed to greet him at the door. “Sweet girl, how are you?”

She barked happily and hopped on her toes until Leo knelt down to scratch her ears. She tilted her head into his hand, tail happily wagging and making soft, appreciative noises through her nose. Logan scowled- he was the one that normally received head scratches.

There was a meow from the other side of the kitchen, and Logan almost scoffed. Xavier sauntered around to nudge at Leo's other hand until he scratched his head, too. Logan's fingers gripped tightly around his mug of coffee.

“Hi, sugar, how are you? Were you sleeping? You're so pretty, look at you.”

Antoinette barked again, Xavier meowed, and Logan huffed.

At the noise, Leo looked up and smiled. “Good morning, sweetheart.” He held up a bag. “I've got some nice bread and pastries to go with the eggs this morning.”

Logan just petulantly took a sip of coffee.

Leo’s eyebrows furrowed. “What's wrong?” When he saw Logan's eyes dart to the animals still at his feet, he let out a laugh. “Logan, you can't be jealous of a dog and a cat.”

Logan blushed. “I'm not.”

“You are.” Leo scratched each animal one more time before standing and walking around to the other side of the counter. He pressed against Logan's back, large hands cupping his hips, and began to kiss his neck. “I agreed to marry you, remember?”

Despite himself, Logan smiled and leaned into Leo's mouth. “Ouais.”

“I'm going to be your husband, yeah, baby?”

Logan felt his heart kick like it did every time Leo used a pet name. They sounded so good in his accent: the way the ‘o’ in ‘honey’ had an exaggerated ‘u’ sound; the way Logan saw a NOLA sunset every time Leo said ‘sweetheart’; the drawn out ‘a’ sound in ‘baby’, like how all people from New Orleans said it. Logan wanted more and more of those words from Leo's mouth only.

He turned to cup Leo's jaw and kiss him. “Je t'aime.”

Leo smiled against his lips. “I love you.”

Logan kissed him quietly again, content with Leo's warm hands on his hips and his soft hair slipping through his fingers. They maybe got a little too into it, because there was a protesting meow from close by, and they knocked their noses together as they pulled apart.

“Sorry,” Leo whispered, kissing Logan's nose and mouth quickly. They both turned to find Xavier examining them expectantly. Leo smiled. “Don't you worry, darlin’, I didn't forget about you. I bought you your food.” He picked Xavier and the shopping bag up and walked towards the living room where the food bowls were, Antoinette following close at his heels. “C'mere, sweethearts, let's get you some breakfast.”

Logan scowled again as his eyes followed Antoinette’s wagging tail and clacking feet. Another warm presence came up behind him and a kiss was pressed to his shoulder. “What are you so grumpy for?”

Logan turned to face Finn. Their noses were brushing. “Leo loves the cat and dog more than us.”

Finn just stared at him for a second before breaking out into a grin. “No he doesn't.”

“This week he does.”

“No he doesn't,” Finn repeated. He wrapped his arms more firmly around Logan's waist. “He just loves animals. Like our own Disney princess, Snow White or Cinderella or something. Rapunzel, maybe, they've both got good hair.”

Logan leaned back against Finn's chest. “He calls them ‘darling’ and ‘sugar’.”

Finn's eyes were confused. “So? He calls us all sorts of things.” His eyes went soft. “I love the way he says ‘baby’ and ‘sweetheart’. And ‘honey’. A tall glass of Southern lovin’.”

Logan elbowed Finn lightly. “He calls them those names, too.”

Finn blinked. “Huh.” He looked to the archway that led to the living room. They could hear Leo talking softly to Xavier, trying to get him to eat. “Well, that's- I mean…”

“It's not fair.”

“Well, I wouldn't go that far, but-”

They were interrupted by Leo walking back through to the kitchen. Somehow, Antoinette had ended up in his arms. She looked content, head on his shoulder and eyes closed, like a sleeping baby. Logan could feel Finn freeze behind him. 

When Leo saw them both, he smiled. “Hi.” He patted Antoinette's back. “We're gonna sit in the sun for a few minutes, then I'll get started on breakfast.” He leaned across the counter to kiss them each briefly, then sat in the breakfast nook that always caught the morning sun. It lit his hair up in gold and reflected in his bright blue eyes as he settled Antoinette in his lap. She looked up at him with wide eyes, tail wagging as he kissed her forehead. “There you go, darlin’. Lay down, sweetheart, we'll rest for a few minutes.”

Finn let out a breath in Logan's ear as Leo continued to coo at the dog. “You're right,” he whispered. “That's so not fair.”

Logan nodded and kissed his cheek, and they watched as Leo stroked Antoinette’s back gently and closed his eyes against the sun. 

***

The week continued as such. They awoke, and the dog was scratching at the door to be let in and snuggle into Leo's chest, the cat not far behind. Logan narrowed his eyes as his coveted pillow spot was taken. They didn't know enough to appreciate the firmness of Leo’s chest underneath their bodies. 

Finn had taken to running with Antoinette in the mornings, which made them both tired and happy- Leo and Logan had found them both asleep on their backs and starfished on the bed on multiple occasions in the hot summer afternoons. And, despite stealing their fiancé, both Finn and Logan had to admit that Antoinette was cute, Xavier, too. The cat especially liked when Logan sat at the counter with him to watch Leo cook, scratching behind his ears. It was worth it for the fond smiles Leo sent them both.

The pet names, however, were still an issue. 

“Hi, sugar, hi,” Leo said to a jumpy Antoinette. “I know, baby, I know, I'll get your leash.” 

Finn and Logan, who were cuddling on the couch, peeked around the archway to watch as Leo got Antoinette's bright blue leash and clipped it to her collar. 

“I'm taking the dog out!” Leo called as he opened the door. He blew them a kiss with a smile. “Be back in a bit.”

When the door clicked shut, Finn let out a groan and flopped his head onto Finn's chest. “Fuck,” he said. “Fuck, she's stealing our fiancé from us. They both are.”

Logan kissed his head. “He calls them more pet names than us.”

“I know.” Finn let out another groan into Logan's sweatshirt. “And the worst part is, I can't even be mad because he's so gorgeous and sexy, and the names he does call us sound so gorgeous and sexy, and every time he says them my body just melts. Ugh.”

Logan smiled into Finn's hair. “Oui, he's so gorgeous and sexy.”

“Right?” Finn shifted to turn onto his back, drawing Logan's hands to rest on his stomach and playing with his fingers. “Do you think, if we asked, he'd call us those things, too?”

Logan considered this for a moment. “Ouais, I think so. But I think it'd be- mais, allez, not weird, but…”

Finn nodded. “We've been together for so long that it'd be odd to add new names to call each other.”

“Yeah,” Logan sighed. “Are we being crazy?”

Finn hummed. “A little bit, I think, yeah.” 

“I just,” Logan started, then sighed. “Je ne sais pas, I'm not… jealous. I just really like the way he says things.”

“Yeah.” Finn twiddled Logan’s fingers. “We're really lucky. He's so good.”

“Ouais,” Logan whispered. He pressed his nose into Finn's hair and closed his eyes. “You're so good.”

Finn laughed. “And you're sweet.” 

There was a meow from beside them and they both looked to find Xavier looking up at them with demanding eyes.

Finn scoffed. “Oh, don't even get me started on you.” After another meow, Finn rolled his eyes and sat up a bit, reaching for the cat. “All right, all right, c'mere.” He rubbed a hand down Xavier's soft back as he settled down on Finn's stomach. Finn sighed. “Maybe they aren't so bad, after all.”

“Non, they aren't,” Logan agreed, reaching around to caress Xavier's ears. “They're not so bad.”

When Leo came in and found them both snuggling the cat, Antoinette quick to hop on the couch with them, he smiled so wide that it heated Logan from his head to his toes.

***

Logan awoke the next morning to find the bed empty and delicious smells wafting in from the kitchen. Logan could hear soft music, too, as he went to the bathroom. He stretched as he brushed his teeth. Finn was probably out for a run, he supposed, but he'd still go to the gym with Logan and Leo in the afternoon. 

Logan splashed cool water on his face before going back to the bedroom and reaching for one of Leo's sweatshirts. The house was cold with the air conditioning unit his mother had had installed a few years ago. He yawned as he entered the kitchen to find Leo in boxers and a T-shirt. His back was lean through the fabric, and Logan pressed against him to kiss along his shoulder. 

“Morning, sweetheart.”

Logan hummed. “Bon matin. What are you making?”

Leo reached behind to pat his butt lovingly. “Those baked eggs you both like. Just put them in the oven.”

“Merci.” He nudged Leo's hips until he turned around, smiling softly. Logan leaned up to kiss him. “You left me in bed.”

Leo stroked a hand down his cheek with an amused expression. “I'm sorry, honey.” He pressed a lingering kiss to Logan's forehead. “Better?”

Logan nodded and smiled. He wrapped his arms around Leo's neck and fell against him slightly. “Ouais, merci.”

They smiled at each other for a moment before something caught Leo's eye over Logan's shoulder. His eyes brightened. “Oh, hi, sweetheart.”

Logan turned in Leo's arms to find that Xavier had climbed up onto the counter. He felt the coldness on his hips acutely when Leo let go of him to reach around and pick up the cat, who immediately curled into Leo's chest. Logan glared at him.

“Hi, darlin’,” Leo said soothingly. He scratched under Xavier’s chin to make him purr. “Hi, baby, you're so precious.” When he looked up and saw Logan's expression he let out a sigh. He set Xavier down and nudged him towards the living room, then stood and cupped Logan's face. “Okay, what's wrong?”

Logan felt his face heat. He darted his eyes around the room. “Nothing.”

But Leo was already shaking his head. “No. No, something is wrong. You and Finn have been all weird this week.” He ran a hand through Logan's hair. “Tell me, Lo. Please?”

Logan let out a breath through his nose. He forced himself to look into Leo's concerned eyes. “D'accord. It's just… you…”

Leo's eyes were questioning. “I…?”

Logan rolled his eyes at himself. “You call them names.”

“Who?” Leo looked thoroughly confused. 

“Antoinette. And Xavier.”

Leo's confused expression turned into an amused smile. “Are you actually jealous of a cat and a dog?”

Logan bit his lip. “Non, you just call them things. Nice things. Things you don't call us.”

Leo stepped closer into his space. “But I call you nice things, too.” A kiss to his forehead. “Like honey.” A kiss to his cheek. “And sweetheart.” A smile pressed to his mouth. “And baby.” At Logan's shiver, Leo nudged their noses together. “Yeah, you like that one.”

Logan couldn't take it anymore. He captured Leo's lips with his own, allowing himself to be kissed deeply for a moment. Leo’s thumbs were soft on his cheeks, and he smelled like home, and was so warm against Logan's body. Logan got a little lost in the moment, and was surprised when Leo pulled back to look at him. 

“Seriously,” Leo said. “I can stop calling them names, if you want. Whatever makes you happy, Lo.”

But Logan shook his head. “Non, non, it's not that.” He carded his hand through Leo's curls. “Finn and I- we like the names you call them.”

Leo's smile was amused. “You want me to call you ‘darlin’ and ‘sugar'?”

Logan suddenly felt embarrassed. “Ugh,” he groaned, smushing his face into Leo's chest. “Désolé, soleil. I'm sorry.”

“No, Lo, don't be sorry,” Leo laughed, running a hand up and down Logan's back. “I just thought they were too cheesy when we started dating.”

Logan pulled back to look at him. “What?”

Leo shrugged. “I thought they were too stereotypically southern, I guess, I don't know.” He leaned in mischievously. “And you don't exactly call someone ‘sugar’ in bed. Sweetheart, on the other hand…”

Logan kissed his smile. “Non, ‘sugar’ doesn't sound so good in bed. But out of bed…?”

Leo's eyes were sparkling. “Why would we ever leave bed?”

Logan scoffed. “I'd prefer we didn't. Why are we in the kitchen? We're all alone.”

Leo tucked his face down into Logan's neck with a light laugh. “I'll call you and Fish whatever you both want, okay, baby?” He paused. “Darlin’.”

Logan just hummed happily, squeezing Leo's back harder. They held each other, swaying for a moment to Leo's playlist. Logan almost fell asleep, but then the song changed, and the familiar guitar plucking and soothing voice of John Denver reverberated around the room.

“Hey,” Logan whispered, pressing a kiss to Leo's cheek as he pulled back. “This is our wedding song.”

Leo's smile was soft. “It is.” He reached for Logan’s right hand, running his palm down the length of his arm to lace their fingers together. He settled his hand more firmly into the dip of Logan's lower back. “You wanna practice, sweetheart?”

Logan squeezed his hand. “Ouais.”

It started out practiced, swaying and stepping in time in the kitchen. Leo's hand was good in guiding Logan around. He only let go for a brief moment to put the song on repeat. Eventually, they stopped trying to dance so formally and Logan drew Leo closer to press their foreheads and chests together. This soon, too, grew too spacious, and Logan ended up with his head resting on Leo's collarbone, Leo's nose in his hair.

Logan didn't know how long they spent there, dancing in the soft light coming through the window, but it was long enough for the doorknob to turn and for Finn and Antoinette to come tumbling through and into the entryway. Logan watched as Leo's eyes lit up with fond excitement at the sound of Finn's fumbling. He didn't turn, just snuggled into Leo's chest again.

“There you go, girl, go get some water!” A breath. “Well, what have we here?”

Logan felt Leo press a hand to the back of his hair. “We're practicing for the wedding, sugar.”

Logan felt hand grip his hips by Leo's and a hard kiss was pressed into his neck. “Looks like someone had a talk with our sunshine.”

Logan blindly turned his head for a real kiss. Finn's skin was slightly cool. “Ouais, we did.” He turned back into Leo's chest. “But he won't call us ‘sugar’ in bed.”

“Yeah, that's not attractive,” Finn laughed. His warmth left Logan's back and then his face appeared over Leo's shoulder. He kissed Leo's cheek and cupped Leo's hips. “Can I join?”

Leo tilted their temples together. “Are you sweaty?”

“The dog and I took a little dip before coming back.”

Leo turned to face him with a raised eyebrow. “Does that mean Antoinette is dripping puddles on the carpet?”

Finn winced. “Maybe a little. It's just water!”

Leo sighed and closed his eyes. “What are we gonna do with you, baby?”

“You can keep calling me ‘baby’, that's for sure.”

Leo just hummed and leaned into Finn's head, which was now resting on his shoulder. Finn smiled briefly at Logan before closing his eyes, too. He rubbed one hand over Logan's ribs. “We’re getting married!” Finn whisper-yelled.

Logan and Leo each chuckled, Leo turning his face to kiss by Finn's ear. “Yeah, sweetheart.”

“Yay, yay, yay!”

“Rouge,” Logan said, reaching up to trace under Finn's eyes. 

“Yeah?”

“Sh, mon amour, we're dancing.”

“Right,” Finn said softly. “Right, sorry.” He instantly relaxed under their hands, closing his eyes and resting against Leo again. “I love you.”

“We love you, honey,” Leo replied. He kissed Finn's cheek one more time. “Let's dance.”

Logan smiled against the fabric of Leo’s T-shirt, sun-warmed from the light streaming in through the windows. He decided that he didn't care if nobody made it to their wedding, if it was raining, or even if there was a thunderstorm- none of that would stop him from dancing with his husbands. He couldn't wait to feel the coolness of their wedding rings, the soft fabric of their suites, their skin, warm on excitement and adrenaline. Logan had been given the greatest gift he hadn't even thought to look for, and nothing would ever compare to the love he felt every time he touched Finn and Leo’s bodies, or heard their voices, or saw them smile. 

And so, content and swaying to the acoustic guitar of Annie’s Song, Logan settled into the warmth of them and closed his eyes. 

first time sending an ask to anyone I am a simple woman I have but a simple request:

Leo in eyeliner feat. Finnlo’s reaction

PLEASE HIS BABY BLUES WOULD LOOK SO GOODDDDD

Indeed, you are a simple woman with a simple request, and a damn good one. Controversial opinion, maybe, but eyeliner is DEFINITELY the sexiest makeup product. And with Leo's BABY BLUES? I propose to you: silver. White. Gray. Black. Brown. Blue. The options are endless.

Enjoy some FinnLo and their brains absolutely shutting down because they are dating an actual ADONIS of a man, holy smokes. They're obsessed. But, then again, who wouldn't be? ALSO, BONUS 'cause Leo is matching Halloween costumes with Katie, and FinnLo's baby fever hearts go BOOM! And props to Layla for her incredible makeup skills, she's the absolute moment. I just KNOW she rocks an incredible golden wing eyeliner, I JUST KNOW IT!!!!!!

TW: Mentions of nefarious activities, but nothing explicit, as per!

Character credits to @lumosinlove

“Leo, Leo, come on!”

Leo smiled up at Katie, who was waiting for him patiently on the stairway leading up to the second floor bedrooms. “I’m coming, hun.” He turned to Finn, dressed up as a very handsome prince, if he did say so himself, and gave him a kiss on the nose. “Be right back.”

“‘Kay,” Finn said, patting his hip. “Tell Katie thanks a lot for stealing my sunshine from me and forcing him to do matching costumes with her this year.”

“It’s not just with me, it’s with Layla, too,” Leo laughed, kissing him again. “I love you.”

Finn brushed his blonde hair out of his eyes. “Love you.” He gave Leo’s butt a hard tap. “Go get changed.”

Leo sent him a wink over his shoulder and followed Katie up to her bedroom, where Layla was also waiting. Finn watched him for a moment before he felt a hand come around his waist. “Salut.”

He smiled widely. “Hey.” He turned to face Logan, cupping his face excitedly and pressing kisses to his lips. “How’s my sexy knight?”

Logan laughed against his mouth. “Good.”

Finn made another happy sound and kissed Logan’s cheek. “Thank you for driving up, baby. Sorry it’s not a long visit.”

“Non, it’s okay, I like the Halloween parties.” He rested his forehead against Finn’s shoulder and looked up the stairway. “Like it better when we can all match.”

“Right?” Finn tugged on the cape of Logan’s costume to bring their bodies closer. “Silly Katie stealing our sunshine.” He raised his eyebrows teasingly. “If anything, I would have thought she would steal you from us, not Leo.”

Logan pouted. “Me, too.”

Finn kissed him again with a smile. “C’mon. We have to mingle and stuff while we wait for Le or else we’re just gonna be sad and standing here.”

“But he’s so far.”

Finn just smiled against Logan’s temple and guided him into the kitchen.

An eternity later, but what was really probably only twenty minutes, there were footfalls coming down the staircase. Finn had his arms around Logan’s shoulders, laughing and talking with Thomas and Cole, when Cole suddenly stopped trailed off. His eyes widened. “Holy shit.”

Thomas nudged him playfully and made an oo sound. 

Cole just shoved him back. “Shut up.” But he was smiling as he made his way towards Layla. “You look gorgeous,” he said, hands coming down to cup her waist. She did look pretty stunning, Finn thought, in her pirate get-up. 

“Thank you,” she said with a proud smile. “Just wait until you see Leo and Katie.”

Finn felt Logan perk up against his chest, his hands coming up to grip Finn’s forearms excitedly. Finn bent down to whisper by his ear. “Calm down.”

“I’m excited.”

“Me, too, just- breathe for a second, baby, you’re getting all worked up.”

Logan flashed dark eyes at him. “What if I want to?”

Finn just rolled his eyes playfully and kissed his cheek. When he pulled away, he was met with crystal blue eyes that were-

“Whoa,” Finn said, a little breathless. “Huh.”

Leo smiled, then turned down to look at Katie. “You think they like our costumes?”

She nodded assuredly. “Yep! I’m gonna go show maman.” Then she was bouncing off her toes and stealing Layla from Cole, presumably going to look for Celeste. The extra fabric of her bandana flapped behind her as she ran to the living room. 

Leo turned back to Finn and Logan, spinning around with his hands splayed out. “So? What do you think? Layla sewed some of this, can you believe that?”

But Finn wasn’t paying attention to the clothes, though they did look nice. He instead straightened, Logan shifting to press against just his side, and reached out to rub a thumb under Leo’s eye. “Huh,” he said again. “What…?”

Leo blushed. “Katie insisted. She wanted my eyes to look like Jack Sparrow’s, but Layla took a little more creative freedom than that. Said silver would look good with the blue.”

“She was right.” Finn leaned in a little to look closer at the silver around Leo’s eyes. It made his blue irises look piercing. He could feel heat working its way down his lower back. “Jesus.”

Leo bit his lip in amusement. “Your ears are red.” He looked at Logan and laughed, reaching out to brush the back of his fingers over his cheeks. “Oh, honey.” 

Finn looked down at Logan, too, who was partially hiding his face in Finn’s shoulder, green eyes dark and wanting, a flush blooming on the high of his cheeks. The look he was giving Leo was so devastating that Finn had to have a serious mental talk with his body.

“Si beau,” Logan whispered. He reached a hand out and Leo came willingly, allowing Logan, too, to press his thumb to the delicate skin under his eye. Logan let out a groan. “Soleil.”

“You’re okay,” Leo whispered, leaning down to kiss Logan softly. “All okay, sweetheart.”

“Non, je t’aime, let’s go, let’s leave.”

Leo barked out a laugh, straightening. “Absolutely not. I did not get all dressed up for a party to then immediately leave. I haven’t even had a drink yet.”

“Sunshine, I’ll buy you any drink you want if we leave right now,” Finn said. “In fact, I’ll literally lick it off your body, or you can lick it off mine, or Logan’s, I just- come on.”

Leo looked amused at Finn’s tone, which had become a little high at the end of his ramble. “Baby,” he said lowly, which was not helping Finn nor Logan whatsoever. He held up two fingers with a mischievous grin. “Two hours. Long enough to be polite, late enough to justify leaving, and early enough to go back home and have hot sex for as long as you want.”

Both Finn and Logan took a sharp breath in at Leo’s forwardness. Logan’s hands were busy fiddling with Leo’s costume. “Soleil.”

Leo just winked, kissed them both, and turned towards the living room. “I am going to find my other pirates. I love you.” Then he and his crystal clear blue eyes were walking away and leaving Finn and Logan desperate in the entryway.

Logan groaned, bumping his head against Finn’s shoulder. “Oh no.”

“I agree, oh no.” Finn wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Oh, we are so done for.”

“Ouais. He looks so fucking good, I can’t-” Logan cut himself off with another groan and looked up at Finn pleadingly. “Finn.”

Finn ran a hand over his own face. “Okay,” he said. “Okay, game plan.” He counted off on his fingers. “We set a timer, two hours exactly. No later. We make nice and polite chit-chat with all of our friends that we love very dearly to distract ourselves.” He pressed their foreheads together and lowered his voice. “Then when the timer goes off on my watch, we get Leo, drag him and his sexy blue eyes out of here, and I reasonably break the speed limit to get us in bed and get him naked as fast as possible.”

“Not completely naked,” Logan said with a smile. “Not with that eyeliner.”

“Oh, for sure, not completely naked. That stuff is staying on, and I am asking Layla where she got it.”

Logan laughed, then kissed Finn slowly. “D’accord. D’accord, let’s do this.” He let out a heavy sigh. “This will be the longest two hours of our lives.”

“Oh for sure,” Finn agreed, pulling back to fiddle with his watch. “And the timer starts… now.” He straightened and held out his hand for Logan to take. “Now, my knight in shining armor, please escort me to the kitchen. Those ribs smell delicious, and we need lots of sustenance for tonight.” He craned his head and caught sight of golden curls. “And I see our pirate bombshell in there waiting for us. We might not leave for two hours, but that doesn’t mean we’re staying far away from him the whole time. Gotta have our eyes on the prize.”

“Ouais,” Logan said with one of his secret little smiles. He squeezed Finn’s fingers. “Allez, mon prince, let’s get you some sustenance.”

And with a tug of his hand, Finn followed Logan into the kitchen and to the warmth of their sunshine. 

oh my goodness OUCH I didn’t expect you to shoot us in the face with that last fic today

Yikes, sorry, babe. 🤘

this is a big ask but i’ve been thinking about it all week! onutzy hogwarts au??

imo, logan: hufflepuff, finn: gryffindor, leo: ravenclaw

This was one of my FAVORITE things I have written! I'd be so happy to take more asks for this AU!

All credits to @lumosinlove <3

O'Knutzy Household, May 2024

Finn knelt on the floor of their walk-in closet, peering around underneath the bottom shelf. He'd known he could've summoned his wand with an accio, but his brain was so fried after marking exams all day that he could barely do magic with his wand, nevermind without it. He squinted, peering through the darkness to where he'd estimated it had fallen out of his robes as he'd shrugged them off.

“Ah,” he said, spotting the thin piece of wood. It was all the way at the back. He stretched his long arm, grasping for it, when his fingers brushed something else.

Finn furrowed his brow and wrapped his fingers around his wand, murmuring a soft lumos. The light shined brightly in the small, dark space, illuminating a cardboard box. Written on the side were the years 2014-2016. He smiled, reaching his other hand to grab the box, and stood to go into their dining room.

Soon, he was sat with a cup of tea, rifling through the photos he hadn't seen in a while. He guessed that they hadn't bothered to unpack this box when they moved into their house a year ago, after their wedding, which he thought was a shame really.

Some of the photos were unremarkable, some a little goofy. There was one of Logan and Sirius with severely overgrown eyebrows, both glaring off camera where Finn assumed Remus and James were stood laughing. It was a moving photo, but Logan and Sirius had been so still with annoyance that it looked like a Muggle one. Another was of Leo and Regulus brewing a potion together, anxious and stressed expressions on their faces. Regulus was flipping off the camera. Finn hadn't been there for this photo (it was during Leo's last year, the year after Finn and Logan had graduated), but he did remember having a two-way mirror call with an anxious Leo the night before his final potions exam (which he got a perfect score on in the end).

Finn flipped through a few more, smiling at the wave of memories that came back to him. Even though both he and Leo now worked in the same walls they'd gone to school within, being a student at Hogwarts was nothing like being a teacher. It did have some perks (like being able to share a room with Logan and Leo instead of having to sneak into one another's beds), but Finn did miss that youthful, jubilant feeling of being in school with his favorite people around all day, every day.

One photo in particular made him stop and laugh softly. It was of the three of them the day Logan had been signed to the Chudley Cannons. Leo had his arm wrapped tenderly around Logan's waist, smiling sweetly as he always did. Logan looked a little sheepish, but proud, holding his new jersey. Finn, on the other hand, was jostling Logan with an arm around his shoulder, the other holding a sign that said Let's Go Lolo! with a poor drawing of the Hufflepuff badger. In the moving photo he and Leo both leaned in to press a kiss to each of Logan's cheeks at the same time, and Logan's eyes crinkled with his laughter. Finn had been so proud that day he could've bursted.

Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch, April 2015

Finn sat anxiously in the stands, his leg bouncing as he scanned the field for Logan. The prospective players were warming up on the field below, both Logan and James among them, stretching and flying laps around the perimeter. Finn eyed the professional scouts as well, high up in the stands where the teachers normally sat. They were peering down critically, talking amongst one another with notebooks in their hands. Finn sucked in a breath and played with the thick paper in his hand.

“I hope that isn't what I think it is, O'Hara.”

Finn's eyes lit up as Leo climbed the last few stairs to where Finn was, shuffling over to sit next to him. Leo’s eyes were playful, his grin happy and sunshiny and all things good. Finn nudged him with his shoulder. “What can I say? Your dad’s Muggle football obsession has rubbed off on me. Gotta show the world I'm Lo's number one fan.”

Leo quirked an eyebrow and reached out to play with Finn's Gryffindor tie, loose around his neck. “Who says you're his number one fan?”

Finn smiled, leaning in. “We can share that coveted position.” He kissed Leo briefly. “Hi.”

Leo smiled against his mouth. “Hi, cariad. How are you?”

“Good,” Finn said. His leg was still bouncing. “Nervous.”

Leo placed a hand on his thigh. “Did you go for a run this morning? You know how your pent-up energy gets.”

Finn knocked his head against Leo's shoulder. “Yes, I did, nutter butter. It's just a big day.” He rested his chin on Leo's shoulder. “How was the library?”

Leo kissed his forehead. “Good. Finished my Arithmancy assignment. Reg and I are gonna meet with Lily tomorrow to do some Advanced Potions stuff.”

Finn lifted his head and raised his eyebrows. “I thought you were taking that class next year?”

Leo blushed. “Lily offered to teach us some stuff early.”

“Love,” Finn said soothingly, scratching a hand through Leo’s scalp. “You're going to be fine next year, both you and Regulus are. You're so good at Potions, I don't want you to stress yourself if you don't have to.”

Leo considered this for a moment. “But I like to be ahead. The stuff we do now is too easy.” His ears turned a bit red. “Plus, the three of us experiment.”

Finn snorted. “I don't even want to know. Just be careful, please. We don't need the future of the Potions field blowing up in a disaster of their own making.”

Leo rolled his eyes playfully. “I'll be careful, promise.” He sighed, resting his forehead on Finn's shoulder. “I just… I don't know, I want to be good, you know? I want to prove that a Muggle-born can do all the things. Lily, too. And Reg- well.”

Finn laughed. “Wants to prove that he's more than just a disgraced run-away heir and that he actually has a brain behind all that rich boy nonsense?”

Leo smiled into Finn's shoulder. “Yeah.”

Finn wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Le, you're going to be fantastic. You're the smartest person I know.”

“Says you.”

“Yes, says me, so then you know it's on good authority.” He kissed Leo's curls. “Besides, if Potions doesn't work out, you could always play Quidditch.”

Leo snorted. “You know, most people don't have professional Quidditch as their backup plan.”

“You could. You're good enough. Best damn Keeper Ravenclaw's ever seen, with those long limbs of yours.”

Leo lifted his head to look him in the eye. “You're biased.”

“Absolutely.” Finn kissed him soundly. “I love you.”

Leo bit his lip around his smile. “Love you.” He nodded his head. “Look, here they are.”

Finn turned to find their friends walking towards them, the most nervous among them being Sirius, who was wringing his hands and biting his nails.

“Stop that,” Remus scolded. “You're going to make yourself bleed.”

“But Moony, this is the biggest day of my life!”

Remus raised his eyebrows. “Is it really, now?”

Sirius didn't even seem phased by his boyfriend's expression. “Yes.” He turned to Lily. “What if he doesn't make it?”

Lily shook her head nervously. “Don't even talk about that.”

Natalie laughed. “He'll probably never recover.”

“Nat.”

“Noelle thinks they've both got a good chance,” Thomas piped in with a dreamy look on his face. Noelle, Logan's older sister, was the new captain of the Harpies, and Thomas’ girlfriend. “If it helps.”

Sirius and Lily's expressions indicated that it didn't.  

“Hello, party people!” Finn called with a wave. “How we feeling today?” He took one look at Lily’s face and winced. “Yeah, sorry I asked.”

Regulus and Cole, a friend of theirs in their year in Gryffindor, went to sit by Leo, who had laced the fingers of his opposite hand with Finn's. Lily and Sirius sat together, chattering nervously while Remus and Thomas looked on in amusement. Natalie plopped herself by Finn's side. “Hello, Freckle.”

“Hi, Nat,” he said, giving her a sideways hug. “How are things? How's my older brother?”

Natalie looked amused. “I thought you talked all the time.”

Finn rolled his eyes. “No. He spends way more time talking to you.”

“I should hope so.” She sighed, settling onto the bleachers. “He's good, both he and Kase. Been working on rehab with the Common Welsh Green they found injured a couple weeks back, and Kasey's got lots of shifts at Mungo's so they've been busy.” She shrugged with a smile. “But other than that, they've been good.”

“Good,” Finn said. “You know, my parents are still expecting you to come to County Kerry at some point after we graduate in May. They're so excited that my brother found two Scots instead of two English people.”

Natalie laughed. “Shitting on the English sounds like a great bonding experience.”

Finn raised his eyebrows. “Lo's from England.”

Natalie rolled her eyes. “He moved to Sheffield from Nice when he was eleven. He still sounds French when he speaks English. That boy doesn't count.” She narrowed her eyes. “If anything, a Frenchman is better because the English hate them.”

Finn laughed. “That's my Lolo.”

“Speaking of,” Natalie said. She plucked at his sign. “Really?”

Finn shrugged. “Leo's parents are Muggles and introduced Lo and I to football when we went to visit in Beddgelert over Easter. The fans carry signs in the crowd.” He waggled his eyebrows. “His mom also taught me Welsh swear words that people yell during the match.”

“You're a weird one, O'Hara.”

Finn felt a tug on his hand and immediately turned. Both Leo and Logan were shiny topics for Finn, instantly diverting his attention from any other happenings around him. He put on his most dazzling smile. “Yes, pretty sunshine baby?”

Leo rolled his eyes at Regulus’ gagging noises and jerked his head to the pitch. “They're starting.”

Finn sat up straighter, sucking in a breath. Sure enough, the players were all lined up, listening to instructions from a coach. Finn's leg started bouncing again and he squeezed Leo's hand tighter.

“Cariad,” Leo whispered. “It's going to be fine. He was asked to try out, they already think he's good.”

“I know,” Finn whispered, tapping his foot. “I’m still really nervous.”

Leo sighed, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Rwy'n dy garu di. And we love him, too. It's going to be fine, Fish.”

Finn turned to look at him. “Diolch.”

It was worth it to see Leo's smile. “Look at you, catching on.”

“Wait until you hear the stuff your mom taught me.”

Leo snorted. “I don't want to know.”

They both turned back to the pitch to watch as the tryouts began.

O'Knutzy Household, May 2024

“Rouge?” Logan’s voice called out. “I'm home, mon coeur.”

“In the dining room!” Finn replied.

There were footsteps and then two arms came to wrap around his shoulders from behind, a chin resting on his head. “Salut.”

“Hi, baby,” Finn tilted his head and brought a hand up to cup Logan's jaw and give him a kiss. “Good practice?”

“Ouais, it was fine. Le still not home?”

Finn shook his head. “No, he's still proctoring the Advanced Potions exam until six. I just got home from my office, I was grading all day.”

Logan hummed. “Your head okay?”

“My brain feels like it's going to melt, but not too bad.”

Logan made a noise of dissent and scratched a hand through Finn's scalp. “C'est bien?”

Finn nodded, leaning into the touch. “Thanks, love.” He shook the photo. “Hey, look what I found.”

Logan peered down over his shoulder, one arm bracketing Finn's upper body as his hand came to rest on the dining room table. “Is that-?”

Finn kissed his cheek. “Your try-outs and signing day. I found this box in the closet.” He rubbed his thumb over their faces. “Look how young we were.”

Logan smiled into Finn's hair. “That sign was so stupid.”

“Nuh uh,” Finn protested. “You loved it.”

“Ouais, I did.” Logan sat down beside him, taking Finn's face in his hands. Finn leaned forward almost unintentionally, hooked on the way Logan held him. “You're still so beautiful. More than you were then.”

“Hey, I thought you loved eighteen year-old me.”

“Oui.” Logan swiped his thumb under Finn’s eye. “But now you're not so- scranny?”

“Scrawny, love.”

“Ouais, that's the one,” Logan said. He kissed Finn's temple softly. “You're not so scrawny anymore. And you get more beautiful every day.”

“Says the muscle man,” Finn said. He leaned forward and bit Logan’s shoulder. “What are Leo and I supposed to do, huh, with you walking around looking like you do?” He shucked up Logan’s shirt to get a hand on his abs. “This is for our eyes only.”

Logan smiled. “Ouais, all yours.” He looked back down at the photo. “Soleil was so tall, even then.”

“He's taller now, I swear. Sexy, tall sunshine baby.”

Logan laughed. “You're so weird.”

“You married this weirdness, love,” Finn said, waggling his ring finger. “No take backs.”

“Non, no take-backs.” He got a closer look at the photo. “How long ago was this? Almost ten years, non?”

“Nine. Year we graduated, baby, 2015.”

“Wow,” Logan said. “It does not feel that long ago.”

Finn grinned. “You know, that means we've been together almost ten years. This October.”

Logan's eyes crinkled around his smile. “You're right.” He sighed, resting his head against Finn's. “I remember that day.”

“Don't think any of us could forget it.”

Hogwarts Potions Classroom, 2014

Logan was just slightly embarrassed that he needed tutoring in Potions from someone the year below him. He just couldn't seem to make it click, and if he wanted to have any sort of backup plan to professional Quidditch he really needed to do well on his N.E.W.T.S. Potions, it seemed, was the one thing his brain just couldn't quite comprehend, not even some of the more basic brews, and he found himself grasping at straws every class. 

Sirius wasn't much better, really, but he at least had his boyfriend, Remus, to help him through the hard ones (although Remus refused to partner with him in class, citing him as a ‘danger prone to explosives’ and only brewed with Lily). And James and Luke had both really helped him last year, but James had dropped Potions (“like bloody fuck am I following in my dad's footsteps now that he's got Regulus as his apprentice, thank Merlin”), and Luke had graduated. Finn was good at Potions, but not good enough to tutor, and was already busy tutoring kids in Transfiguration. Besides, Logan could barely handle seeing Finn every other free hour of the day without kissing him; extra tutoring might just push him over the edge. Thus, Logan had been left floundering and barely passing. 

When Professor Dumais had suggested that Leo tutor him, Logan had been slightly embarrassed about the whole ordeal. Leo was nice, he liked Leo; he was friends with Sirius’ brother, Regulus, and had always been gentle and sweet and patient. He got along with Finn really well, too, and the three of them would study together, or he and Leo would talk about Quidditch plays while Finn pretended to know what was going on. Normally, Logan could handle that sort of friendly conversation, even if he tended to be shy. But he still spent his Potion sessions with Leo fumbling, red-faced, and a bit nervous.

Although, he guessed that only partially had to to with the embarrassment at having to be tutored. 

“Logan,” Leo sighed exasperatedly. “Counterclockwise, mate.”

“Oh,” Logan said, looking at where his hand was definitely stirring clockwise. “Merde.”

Leo sighed again. “Iawn, let's go over that again. We'll have to dump this out.”

Logan huffed, frustrated. “Désolé, Leo.”

“It's okay. Let's just try it again.”

They remixed the Felix Felices, Logan adding the ingredients under Leo's watchful eye. When it came time to stir again, Logan did stir counter clockwise, but it still wasn't quite right.

“Slower,” Leo said. He watched Logan for a couple more seconds. “Slower. And don't flick your wrist so much, that'll disrupt it.”

“Quoi? I don't understand.”

“Here,” Leo said. He came up beside Logan and took his hand to guide him. “See? Now the ingredients can mix slowly and evenly, like with Muggle baking, yeah?” 

Logan nodded, but he didn't understand. He couldn't even if he tried- he was too distracted. Leo's skin was warm against his own, his shoulder solid through his robes. His voice was so soothing in Logan's ear, chattering and intelligent and so patient, always so patient with him. Logan turned just barely and caught a glimpse of Leo's crystal blue eyes. The metal stirring stick in his hands suddenly felt too hot.

He jerked back, letting go and watching as the stick clattered against the side of the cauldron. A bit of potion spilled out and onto the floor, both of them jumping out of the way just in time.

Leo whirled on him, a slightly frustrated look on his face. “Logan- what? What is going on with you today?”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Leo shook his head. “I don't have to do this you know? Professor Dumais asked Regulus first, but he couldn't, so I offered, because I care about you and I want you to do well!”

“I know,” Logan said timidly. His chest was heaving.

“Then what is going on?” Leo was almost shouting now, and he took a step forward to look at Logan more squarely. “You spend every time, like- like, jumpy and nervous and I don't get it! Is it because…” His voice turned soft, his face suddenly pale. “Is it because I'm…?”

Logan's lips parted, a light breath escaping him. Leo didn't hide the fact he was gay. He'd dated a boy a little while back, Jack, a Slytherin. They'd broken up before the summer. Logan didn't know anything other than what Sirius knew through Regulus. I don't know, mate, Regulus just said he'd been ‘dealt with’. Not too sure I want to know what my little brother did, if I'm honest. But he wasn't too nice to Leo I'm assuming.

“No, Le,” Logan whispered. He had to look up to look Leo in the eye. “It's not cause you're gay.”

“Then what?”

Logan took a shaky breath. “It's because you're- it's because I'm-” Leo's eyebrows raised expectantly. Logan's heart was racing. “It's because you make me feel…”

“I make you feel what, Lo?”

Logan closed his eyes briefly at the way Leo's soft voice said his name. He leaned closer, taking in Leo’s eyes and full, wet lips. “It's because you make me feel-”

The door banged open. “Knock knock!” Finn strode through with his usual lively gate. “How is the potion- oh.” 

Logan and Leo had jerked apart, Leo backing into the table behind him with a white-knuckle grip on the edge. His face was bright red and he was staring hard at the floor, biting his lip. Logan was stood stock-still, eyes flitting nervously between the other two boys. He knew what they had just done- or, almost had just done- was written all over their faces.

“Oh,” Finn said again. He looked shocked and a bit dejected. “I'm so sorry, I'll-” He turned towards the door. “I'll just be going-”

“No!” Leo outbursted. He looked surprised by his own words. “I mean, no, don't go. It- it's okay.”

Finn looked skeptically between them. “But you- you two were…”

“No,” Leo said, then shook his head quickly. “I mean, we didn't- we hadn't-” He let out a frustrated noise, grasping at his own hair. He looked to Logan. “Ffyc,” he said. He looked back to Finn, eyes pleading. “Oh, fucking hell.”

Then he strode across the room, took Finn's surprised face in his hands, and kissed him right on the mouth.

Logan watched as Finn stumbled back a moment, eyes wide. But Leo kept kissing him, a little desperately, and Finn made a soft noise and relaxed into it. One arm wrapped tightly around Leo's waist, the other reached up to grasp at Leo's hair with his fingers. Finn met Leo's urgency for a moment before they both gentled, kissing one another in long draws. Logan could barely breathe.

Eventually, they pulled away. Finn looked a bit shell-shocked, wide brown eyes staring at Leo for a moment before turning to Logan. He swallowed. “I…”

Leo smiled softly and leaned into to give him a barely-there kiss, Finn chasing his mouth for one more. Then, Leo released him and walked over to Logan, back to his shyer self. “Can I kiss you too?”

Logan nodded, not really trusting his words. Leo cupped his jaw in his large hands, leaning down. Logan gripped one of his wrists softly and stood on his tiptoes to meet him.

Their mouths met gently, so gently that Logan almost couldn't feel it. Leo's lips were soft and warm, and Logan heard himself make a noise before kissing Leo a bit harder. Leo kissed him back so purposefully that Logan had to reach out a hand to steady himself on Leo's body. He fell forward into Leo's chest as Leo traced his mouth with his tongue, Logan letting him in eagerly. Leo smiled into their kiss, working Logan's mouth gently with his own, and Logan felt like he was about to buzz out of his skin. He kissed Leo with a bit more pressure, eager to feel every part of him, when Leo abruptly broke away. Logan let out an involuntary whine as Leo kissed down his neck a few times. He gripped Leo's curls. 

“I think someone else wants your attention,” Leo whispered hotly into Logan's ear.

Logan panted, barely having the strength to hold himself up as Leo pulled away. Leo winked at him- which should have been illegal, merde- before jerking his head to gesture beside him.

Logan turned to find Finn had crossed over to stand next to them, hip resting against one of the work benches. His arms were crossed, one of his hands reaching up to touch his thumb to his lip. He looked them both up and down once before making eye contact with Logan. He smiled, then walked over to press his hands to Logan's hips. Logan felt his breath catch. “Finn…”

Finn took that as his cue and bent his head to kiss Logan hard. Logan threaded a hand through those soft red waves and leant back onto the work bench behind him, whimpering when Finn scraped his teeth over Logan's bottom lip. God, both of them kissed so well it made Logan dizzy.

After a few moments, Logan felt a hot mouth on his neck and Leo's breath in his ear. He let out another sound and grasped for something with his free hand, Leo lacing their fingers together. His other hand covered Finn's on Logan's waist, providing leverage to suck on the skin just below Logan's jaw.

Finn smiled into a last kiss, then he, too, began to press his lips to Logan's jaw and neck. Logan lolled his head back, leaning into both of them. 

Suddenly, he felt Leo giggle against his skin and pull away. He opened his eyes to find Leo looking at the two of them, hand pressed to his flushed cheek and smiling widely. Finn pulled away, too, taking one look at Leo and joining him in his laughter, his freckles scrunching up around his cheeks and nose. Logan grinned a bit stupidly, flushed with sheepishness.

“What the fuck?” Finn laughed. He took Leo's face in his hands. “Leo, what the fuck?”

“I don't know,” Leo giggled. It sounded like sunshine. “I don't know, I'm being so honest.”

That set them all off again, and soon Logan's sides hurt from his belly shaking. Finn's laugh was loud and barking, and he slumped against Leo's body. Logan liked how they looked together.

“Holy shit. Holy shit, Le,” Finn said. He looked up. “Where did that come from?”

Leo shrugged, amused. “Was tired of waiting, I guess.” He snorted. “Plus, it seemed like the easiest way to explain the situation without having you running.”

Finn raised an eyebrow. “And how did you know I wouldn't run if you kissed me?”

Leo's looked him up and down, smiling when Finn's ears turned red. “Just a feeling.” He reached a hand out to Logan and pulled him towards them. “You okay, Lo?”

Logan sank into the hand on his waist. “Ouais,” he said. He stood on his toes to kiss Leo's cheek and smiled at the both of them. “I think I'd like to take you on a date.”

Their answering smiles were blinding.

O'Knutzy Household, May 2024

Finn pressed a kiss to Logan's temple. “Le was so brave that day.”

“Ouais,” Logan said. “He's so brave all the time.”

“Mm.” The sound of their door opening reverberated around the room. “Speak of the devil.” He turned his head. “Le! In here!”

Leo's blonde head peeked around the doorway. He smiled. “Hi.” He came and gave each of them a kiss. “How are we?”

“Good,” Logan said against his mouth. “Fish found some photos.”

Leo's eyes were twinkly. He sat down on Finn's other side. “Oh yeah? Let's see, then.”

Finn leaned over to show him. “Lo's try-outs and signing day.”

Leo smiled. “Oh, I remember that.” He caught Logan's eye. “We were so proud of you.”

Logan blushed and looked up at him through his thick eyelashes. “Merci.” He reached around to drape Finn's arm over his shoulders. “We were talking. It's been almost ten years since we got together.”

Leo laughed. “Oh, God.”

Finn scoffed. “What's that tone for?”

Leo waved him off. “Nothing, I just- the memory makes me laugh, is all.”

“Why?”

“I don't know, it just…” Leo rolled his eyes at himself. “I was kind of silly.”

Logan looked amused. “Non, you weren't silly.” He took Leo's hand and kissed it. “You were very brave.”

“Yeah,” Finn agreed. He nuzzled Leo's cheek. “You brave little youngster, you.”

“Ugh, don't remind me.” Leo wiped his hand over his face. “I felt so stupid, being a pining sixteen year-old.”

“Not stupid,” Finn retorted. “And besides, we were the silly-stupid ones.” He bit at Leo's jaw. “We were so whiny that year we spent apart waiting for you to graduate.”

Leo looked amused. “You were?”

“Oui,” Logan said, standing up. He scooted Leo's chair back and flopped down into his lap. He tucked his face into Leo's neck. “We would just count down the minutes until our next mirror call.”

Leo stroked up at down Logan's back. “You're sweet.”

“No, you are,” Finn said with a kiss to Leo's cheek. “We were more excited for you to graduate than you were.”

Hogwarts Grounds, May 2016

Leo checked his watch, magically protected against the wards of Hogwarts, and bit his lip. Ten minutes until the ceremony. He could do this, he could totally do this. He'd already taken his exams, he had already done well- all that there was left to do was to walk across that stage and shake his professors’ hands. 

“You look like you're about to faint.”

Leo turned to look at Regulus, who had an eyebrow raised cooly, Cole beside him. “Huh?”

“I said, you look like you're about to faint.”

“Real helpful of you, cheers.”

“You'll be fine, Leo,” Cole said. He shrugged. “Besides, all you gotta do is walk across the stage.”

“But what if my parents don't arrive okay? Or what if I trip? Oh God, there are Ministry people here, if they see me trip, I'll never get a job-”

“Fucking hell,” Regulus said. He took Leo's shoulders in his hands and looked him squarely in the eye. “Leo, you're the third best in our class.”

“Yeah, behind you. And Layla.”

Regulus shrugged. “Can't beat perfection.” When Leo glared at him, he sighed. “Seriously, Le, you've done really well. Anybody will be happy to take you. And I'm sure your parents got here fine, I asked mum and dad to help them. Monty and Effie are angels, they definitely took good care of them.” He shook Leo gently. “And most importantly, those boyfriends of yours that you can't stop waxing poetic about will be here. If you do fall, Finn will go help you up, and if anybody says anything bad about you Logan will glare at them so hard they'll turn to ash, okay? Fucking guard dog, that one.”

Leo smiled dreamily. “Yeah.”

Regulus flinched and curled his lip. “Oh, God. Bleh. You three are disgusting.”

“I think they're cute,” Cole piped up. 

“Yes, yes, very,” Regulus said drily. He threw an arm around each of their shoulders, all three clad in their nice robes and school ties hanging off their necks. “Let's go hand over the last bit of youthful freedom the world has provided for our aching hearts and harrowed souls.”

“Oh, Christ, not yet,” Cole groaned. “You read way to many philosophical Muggle books.”

“They're the most intellectual of company.”

Leo laughed. “Quit talking like a posho, you Victorian wannabe. Let's go graduate.”

The actual ceremony space wasn't all that extravagant. There was a raised platform with chairs for the graduates on one side, professors on the other, and a lecturn for the speeches. Leo,  Layla, and Regulus, top three in their class, and Cole, Head Boy, Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, winner of the House Cup (much to Leo's chagrin), and future Harpies Beater, were sat all together in the first row. Leo immediately spotted his parents, sat with Effie and Monty. Beside them were Sirius, Remus, Lily, and James, all in attendance to support Regulus. James and Sirius each let out a whoop, which made Regulus’ mouth quirk (though he'd never admit it). Leo smiled, heart beating faster as his eyes moved down the row, looking for-

There. Right at the end of the row of chairs sat Finn and Logan, all fancy-looking in their nice slacks and button down shirts. Ever since Leo's parents had taken them charity shopping, they preferred to wear Muggle clothes instead of wizard robes. Logan pursed his lips and blew Leo a kiss, which surprised a laugh out of him, and Finn sent him a signature wink and a wiggle of his fingers. Leo blushed, wiggled his fingers back, and turned to pay attention to Headmistress McConagall’s opening words. 

There were a few general speeches after that. Regulus, as first in their class, gave one (Leo swore he saw Sirius and the Potters crying), as well as Layla, who was one of the most intelligent people Leo had ever met and Cole’s crush since fourth year (no matter how much he insisted it wasn’t like that). They stood to sing the school song, then each walked across the stage to receive their diplomas and transcripts. Regulus went first, garnering huge cheers from his brother and their friends and family, to which he rolled his eyes, but smiled. Layla went next, also to lots of clapping and cheers (one of the loudest of which from Lily, who she was going to work with at St. Mungo’s), and then Leo went. He shook the Headmistress’ hand, then a few other professors’. The last one he came to was Professor Dumais.

“Congratulations, Leo,” he said in his heavy French accent and with his signature smile. “You’ve done really well. One of the best students I’ve had the pleasure of teaching.”

Leo blushed. “Really?”

Professor Dumais nodded. “Really.” He brought Leo closer to whisper into his ear. “I’m going to be leaving this place in a few years, to spend some more time with Celeste and the kids. The position is yours if you want it, oui? I'll put in a good word.”

Leo pulled back, shocked. “But, sir, I've got to do an apprenticeship, and-”

Professor Dumais winked. “I think you'll find that all sorted. I wrote a recommendation on your behalf.” He winked. “Ms. Meadowes is excited to work with you.”

Leo gulped. Dorcas Meadowes was one of the most renowned Potions Masters in the field. She was young, only a few years older than Leo, incredibly intelligent, and very selective with who she hired. Leo used to dream of working with her.

“Thank you,” he gasped out. “Thank you, sir.”

Professor Dumais patted him on the back and sent him on his way.

After that, there was a farewell speech by the Headmistress, then a congratulations. When they were officially announced as graduates, there was a big yell and a standing ovation. Leo brought Cole and Regulus into an excited hug. He and Cole were both shouting. Regulus even let out an amused laugh, which was basically as excited as he ever got, and so Leo ruffled his hair. 

Finally, they were let off the stage, and Leo soon found himself in a tight hug from his mother. 

“Oh, my boy,” she said in Welsh. “We are so proud of you!”

Leo squeezed her tightly, turning his face into her blonde curls. His dad patted his back, kissing the side of his head. “Well done, Le. Congratulations.”

Leo leaned into his parents again before letting his mother go. “Mum, have you seen-?”

She cupped his face. “They're  around here somewhere, darling. Last I saw, Finn was taking pictures of Regulus and Sirius with that Muggle camera we got him.”

Leo shook his head fondly. “He's obsessed with that thing.”

“Oh, they're both such loves” she said. She patted his cheek. “Off you go, cariad. I'm going to find Effie, she's got a new roast recipe for me.”

Leo waved his parents off with a smile, using his height to peer over the crowd. He found them before they found him, and he took a moment to gaze smittenly. Finn had one hand clasped in Logan's, the other holding a small digital camera Leo's parents had gotten him for Christmas. He admired Logan's shoulders, visibly strong even through his button down, and the way Finn's red waves turned slightly golden in the sun. Logan saw him first, eyes lighting up, and tugged at Finn's hand. Rouge, Leo saw him say.

Leo bit his lip around his smile. Hi, he mouthed.

Logan let go of Finn's hand and was off, walking quickly through the crowd of people. When he broke through the last person, he broke off into a light jog. He and Leo laughed at each other as Logan threw his arms around Leo's neck, jumping to wrap his legs around his waist. Leo held him tight to his body.

“Hi, honey,” he laughed. “Hi.”

He felt Finn crash into them a moment later, and moved one hand to boost Logan under his thigh and used the other to draw Finn to his side. Finn's smile filled his vision right up until he kissed him, hard and a bit sloppy for being in public.

“Hi, sunshine,” Finn said as he pulled away. “Oh, how we missed you. We missed you, baby. Oh-” He broke himself off by kissing Leo again, grinning hard. 

“Missed you, too, cariad,” Leo sighed, letting Finn tuck his face into his neck. “Missed you so much.”

Logan finally pulled back, gripping Leo's hair. He was grinning so hard his nose was scrunching. Leo couldn't believe how green his eyes were. “Soleil.”

“Hi.” Leo nuzzled their noses, then let Logan kiss him deeply. His tongue traced Leo's bottom lip, and Leo made a soft noise before pulling back. “My parents are here, Lo.”

“I don't care,” Logan said, kissing Leo again. He sighed into Leo's mouth. “Je t'aime.”

“I love you,” Leo said. He boosted Logan up and pressed a hand to the side of Finn's head where he was resting it on Leo's shoulder. “I love you both so much.”

“Love you,” Finn said. He breathed in deeply and closed his eyes. “It's so nice to say that to you in person.”

Leo tweaked his ear. “What, you don't love mirror dates?”

“Non,” Logan said defiantly. He'd taken up residence in the crook of Leo's neck again. “Take you on a real date.”

Leo shared a fond look with Finn. “Sounds good to me.” His eyes widended excitedly. “Hey, wait until I tell you what Professor Dumais said.”

O'Knutzy Household, May 2024

“We didn't know what was coming for us, huh?” Leo said. He kissed Logan's shoulder. “You with your Quidditch, Finn and I in our apprenticeships.” He sighed. “Who would've thought, you know?”

Finn rested his head on Leo's unoccupied shoulder. “I don't know. I think our past selves would have liked this life of ours.”

Leo turned to look at him. His eyes were blue and soft in the warm dining room light. “Yeah?”

Finn smiled, tracing Leo's jaw with a finger. “Yeah.” He kissed Leo's forehead gently. “I sure know I would. All that was important to younger me was you two.”

Leo snorted, jostling Logan's body on top of him. “That's not true.”

Finn nuzzled his cheek. “No, it's not. But it was the most important thing out of all the important things.”

“Ouais,” Logan said, finally rousing himself from Leo's neck. He looked a bit sleepy. “The most important thing.”

Leo kissed him lightly. “You look tired, cariad. How about I go heat up some leftover curry, okay? Then we snuggle and go to bed.”

Logan nodded. “Mm hm. Sounds good.”

With a last lingering kiss to Logan's lips, Leo shifted so Logan could climb into Finn's lap. Leo then kissed Finn's forehead and went through to the kitchen, humming softly to himself. Finn rubbed Logan's back. 

“Rouge?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Can we look at more photos in bed?”

Finn smiled into Logan's neck. “Whatever you want, baby.”

“Mm,” Logan hummed. He took a breath. “I'm glad soleil was so brave that day.”

Finn closed his eyes and breathed in. Logan smelled like himself and Leo. Finn wanted to fall asleep to that scent forever. “Me, too, baby. Me too.”

Can we see the cubs being adorable and clingy?(clingy in a good way!!) like after they come out just publicly hanging off of each other and being in their own little world🥹

That night at that one bar, Logan had spent nearly the whole time pressed into Leo’s side just… content. Just at ease. So at ease.- Vaincre Ch. 27, lumosinlove

I read this prompt and IMMEDIATELY thought of this moment in Vaincre. So have my vision of how Tweedle perceived it, along with some implied pining and some O'Hara wisdom.

All credits to @lumosinlove !!

Luke tapped his fingers along the side of his beer glass. His short nails clinked against it lightly, a soft undertone to the loud music and chatter that surrounded him. He was sat in the middle of the room, a place that he didn’t really like to be normally, but there were no other spots available when he arrived. Next to him, Alex O’Hara and Percy Marshall were playing some sort of card game. Luke didn’t know what it was, but it seemed complex and had been going on when he had sat down. That was over an hour ago. 

He stretched his neck, closing his eyes briefly against the feeling. His eyes, when they opened, were staring at the section of the bar where there were high tops. Logan was sat on a stool with a rum and coke in front of him. He looked a bit sleepy and was leaning against someone- Leo, Luke realized.

He observed silently for a moment. Leo was laughing and talking to Will Morgan and his wife, Ray. He was standing, tall, even for a professional hockey player, and his laugh reverberated around the space. Logan pressed closer to him, ducking under Leo’s arm, his own coming to wrap around Leo’s waist. Leo looked down at him with a smile, kissed his forehead, then went back to talking with Will and Ray. Logan didn’t move his gaze from Leo for a second, though, just rested his chin on Leo’s chest to look up at him. Leo gave no obvious indication that he realized Logan was gazing at him, but he did bring his hand up to run a thumb over Logan’s jaw.

Suddenly, as if from thin air, Finn appeared by their sides. He clapped Will’s hand, kissed Ray’s cheek, then went over to his boyfriends. His cheeks and ears were flushed, obviously a bit tipsy, as he bent to kiss Logan’s cheek repeatedly. Logan laughed, scrunching his nose, but he was obviously pleased. Leo looked happy, too, and soft, until Finn leaned over Logan’s head to press those same kisses to his face. Then, he opened up, almost like a flower, curls bouncing with his laughter. Luke got why they called him the sun. 

Logan, in between the two of them, just looked happy, content. He had an arm resting on each of their ribs. When Finn pulled away, he started talking to rapidly, a hand on each of them, mindlessly touching. They didn’t seem aware, nor to care, that Will and Ray were still there. They had watched amusedly, but now were talking to Saint, who was at the high top next to them. Luke’s breath caught. 

“Ugh, they’re so gross,” Alex scoffed from beside Luke, breaking him from his reverie. “It’s like they don’t even realize it.”

Luke just turned to him, eyebrows raised. “I think Finn’s just a little tipsy, too.”

Percy laughed. “Yeah, he kind of goes crazy when that happens.” The cards in his hands slapped against one another as he shuffled them. “It’s nice, though. It was tough, watching him and Logan in college, sometimes. But they figured their shit out- and Leo is good at keeping them honest, too. He’s good for the both of them.”

Alex nodded solemnly. “Yeah, they really needed him. Need him.” He looked contemplatively at his younger brother. “He makes it all easier, I think.”

Luke furrowed his eyebrows. “What?”

Alex shrugged. “He’s part of them allowing themselves to love each other. By loving him, they are okay loving one another, too.” He looked serious. “And I think- well, Leo makes them being public easier, too. From what Finn’s told me, he was always sure of who he was, what they were, even if they, especially Logan, were nervous. Or afraid.”

Luke nodded, biting his lip as he turned back to look across the bar. Leo was now talking to the both of them. He looked like he was telling a story, the light reflecting off his blonde curls as they bobbed with his head. Logan had his head leaning against Leo’s bicep, tucked in close and safe. Finn, seemingly without knowing once again, had Leo’s hand in his own, pressing soft kisses to the back of it and up his forearm. Leo didn’t even look phased. He smiled at Finn, and nicked his cheekbone with his pointer finger, but didn’t stop telling his story. Finn was nodding rapidly along. He replied to something Leo had said, and it must have been snarky, because Logan turned with a wide grin to contribute. In sync, they both looked at Leo. He just shook his head and rolled his eyes fondly at them. 

“Luke?” 

Luke jerked, turning to Alex, who was looking at him strangely. “Yeah?”

Alex ran his tongue over his lips. It was brief, but Luke saw his eyes flash over to where they both knew Saint still was. “You okay?”

Luke swallowed. “Mhm.”

Alex looked him up and down. When his eyes met Luke’s, they were the most serious Luke had ever seen them. “Sometimes you can’t make it easier. Here, out in the world. But you can choose to try.”

Luke just stared at him. His body felt hot, and his chest felt a tug, as if a string was pulling on it. Probably pulling it right across the bar to the other high top table. 

“Uh, Hazard? Tweedle? The fuck is going on?”

The look in Alex’s eyes vanished as quickly as it had come, and he turned that signature O’Hara grin on Percy. “Nothing, Perseus.” He nudged Luke with his elbow. “Just letting Luke here know that it will hurt for you both to lose, but that you can try not to, anyways.”

Percy narrowed his eyes at Alex’s smile, but sighed. “Fine. Fine, that’s not it, but I’ll let it slide.” He flipped his hat backwards. “Game fucking on.”

Alex turned to look at Luke. His smile was still playful, but his eyes were back to serious. “You dealing in, Tweeds?”

Luke took a deep breath. He glanced to Saint, then to Logan, head against Leo’s shoulder and fingers laced with Finn’s, then to Alex and Percy . “Yeah,” he said softly. “I’m dealing in.”

Have another gift that I concocted before the holidays! We love some fluffy family skate!

All credits to @lumosinlove <3

“Allez, Fish!”

Finn looked up at Logan’s yell of his name and the slap of his stick on the ice. Without even thinking, he sent the puck up towards him, feeding Logan slightly ahead of where he was standing to allow him to skate through the pass. Logan spun around Noelle and flicked the puck in a wrist shot, sending it sailing over Leo’s shoulder and into the net.

“Yeah!” Finn shouted. He skated up and crashed Logan into the boards, heart so happy it was going to fly out of his chest. Magic, that’s what it was. They were magic together, and Finn felt so elated to be back with Logan on the ice he was vibrating. He ducked down to talk in Logan’s ear. “Fuck, baby, your spin move is gorgeous.”

Logan was laughing against him. “Merci, rouge. Beautiful pass.”

Finn leaned back to grab Logan’s head and tap their helmets together. “We were meant to find each other, baby. Gorgeous baby.” He kissed Logan’s helmet. “C’mon, back to center ice.”

They skated by Leo, who was shaking his head fondly at them, his goalie mask pushed up over his head to take a drink of water. “Good one, boys.”

Finn smacked him in the butt with his stick. “Can’t beat magic, Knut.” He spun around to find Leo’s eyes following. “Love you.”

Leo rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. “Love you.”

“Allez!” called Sirius from the face off circle. “Let’s go, we gotta win.”

Remus snorted at him from across the dot. “Family skate is for having fun, Captain.”

“Ouais, but it’s not fun if we don’t win,” Sirius replied matter-of-factly. He braced his stick across his knees and looked at his husband challengingly. “And right now you’re still winning. Logan’s goal only brought us one closer, and we need more to win.”

Remus sighed heavily and looked at Finn. “You have fun with him.”

Finn grinned. “Count on it.” He braced himself against Cole. “Let’s go, double-x.”

Cole groaned. “I’m not even close to twenty any more.”

But Finn didn’t have time to respond as Remus won the face off and Cole dashed up the ice for his pass. Finn grunted and skated hard after him.

***

“You still got it, huh, Harz?”

Finn looked up at Thomas with a grin, sat in Logan’s stall and stripping off to take a shower. Their team had won, 3-2, Finn with an assist on each goal, two to Logan, one to Sirius. He’d felt a bit bad scoring on Leo, but they had been pretty goals. Sirius had a beautiful one-timer from the dot and Finn had found Logan on a breakaway, sending the puck up into empty space and leaving Leo without any defense to help him. Logan had faked, spun the puck backwards between his legs, and sent it right underneath Leo’s thighs. Leo had just laughed and accepted Logan’s apologetic kiss to his cheek, like the good sport he was, but Finn could tell that even he was impressed with how the puck got past him. Logan was fiery always, but especially when playing hockey. It was difficult being on the opposing team. Finn, for his part, had just enjoyed being there with him, playing with him. They had hardly needed to even look at one another yet found each other every time. 

Magic, Finn thought again with a smile. Pure magic.

Thomas laughed at him. “You feeling okay there, all-star?”

Finn just turned to look at him. “I’m toasty, Talky.”

Thomas raised his eyebrows. “That does not sound like appropriate locker room talk for family skate.”

Finn just closed his eyes and thumped his head on the back of his stall. “I can’t help the toastiness, Walky Talky.”

“Quoi?” Logan’s voice sounded. Finn opened his eyes to find Logan in front of him. Thomas was now occupied with Noelle, tracing her engagement and wedding bands with his thumb as he laughed at something she was saying. Finn smiled at them, then up at Logan, who was looking at him with those devastating green eyes. “What can’t you help?”

Finn reached out and grabbed at Logan’s hips, pulling him in between his spread thighs. “I can’t help the toastiness.” He leaned forward and pressed kisses on Logan’s bare abs just above his waistband. “You make me all toasty, baby.”

Logan flushed and pulled at Finn’s hair to force him to look up. His eyes were dark and his jaw clenched. “You can’t say things like that here.”

Finn just ignored him. He held Logan’s gaze and continued pressing kisses to his skin. Logan was breathing hard and looked around the almost empty room. Most had gone to the showers or were not paying attention. “Finn,” he whispered. “Stop that.”

“No,” Finn said. “I want you now.”

“Later,” Logan promised. He leaned down to kiss Finn lightly. “Time to shower, rouge. Then food.”

Finn thunked his head against Logan’s toned stomach with a groan. “No, now.”

Logan laughed. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m toasty.”

“You’re something,” Leo said. He came and sat in his own stall beside them, back from his cool down run in shorts and compression leggings. He smiled and kissed the side of Finn’s head. “What’s going on?”

Logan ran a hand through Finn’s hair. “Rouge is toasty.”

Confusion washed over Leo’s face before he broke out into a laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

Finn pouted. “No I am not, you guys. I am in love with two sexy hockey players. Can you really blame me?”

“Non,” Leo said. He kissed Finn’s forehead. “But we’re at family skate. It has to be family appropriate.”

“I guarantee you that Cap and Loops have-”

But Logan covered his mouth before he could finish. “Rouge, non. Non, I don’t want to know what Cap and Loops do.”

Finn just kissed his palm and lightly bit his pointer finger before pulling away. “I love you.”

Logan smiled at him and moved his hand to card through Finn’s hair. “Je t’aime.” He massaged Finn’s scalp. “You know, you still got it. On the ice.”

“Yeah, I do.”

“It’s almost annoying,” Leo scoffed. He leaned his head on Finn’s shoulder. “You’re just too talented.”

“You know, giving me compliments is not really helping the situation.”

Logan just leaned down to kiss him deeply. “Let’s go shower.”

Finn perked up with a toothy grin. “Yes, please.”

“No, honey,” Leo laughed. “Seriously, if you don’t calm down, we’re going to have to wait until everyone’s done so we can shower without you causing a public disturbance.”

“That is kind of my point.”

“Mon Dieu,” Logan sighed. “What is up with you?”

“I’m toasty, baby, I told you.” He took Logan’s hand and kissed over his rings. “You both make me a toasty ghosty.”

Leo snorted. “Let’s go, you pale boy.” He stood and kissed Logan on the forehead. “Shower time.”

Finn looked around the locker room, now empty of anyone accept them, and then at his boys and their retreating forms. He bit his lips and smiled. He followed them, approaching from behind and landing a loving smack to each of their behinds. They both jumped, turning to him with blushing faces; even years later, and they looked at him the same way that they had when they’d been in this locker room playing together, all new feelings and navigating themselves for the first time. He smiled at them and pressed a hard kiss to each of their mouths. 

“Yeah,” Finn whispered. He wrapped an arm around each of their toned waists and ducked their heads closer to his with a content sigh. “Yeah, I still got it.” 

YAY YAY YAY!!!!

New year, old stories to be completed—and three pictures that perfectly sum up this new chapter of Starboys 🏎️ 

Characters belong to @lumosinlove

cw: I'm introducing Vaincre characters from here on, so please read only if you're comfortable with potential spoilers!

Happy New Year 💕

The golden boy, the youngest glory

"Ready, Fish?"

With the back of his hand, Finn wiped the cold bead of water tickling the corner of his mouth. The half-empty bottle slipped from his grip and landed upright on the floor, narrowly missing the plastic box where Finn kept his beat-up tennis balls. 

He blinked hard, trying to shake off the fatigue, and stretched out his back. He dabbed at his dripping forehead with the hem of his sweat-stained Puma tank top and rolled his tense neck with a satisfying pop. 

It was a rare occasion when Finn and Alex were in the same place long enough to spend more than a few hours together, let alone an entire morning just for the two of them. 

Back in New York, before Alex went off to college and Finn was selected to race in Formula 2 for the Scuderia Junior Academy, they had settled into a strict routine that Finn used to complain about all the time and now missed immensely. Weekdays began with a 5 a.m. alarm and a run under the early lights of an awakening city—a specific path around the neighborhood that set the tone for their frenetic lives of school, friends, and responsibilities. A path that always included long talks about anything and everything, and quick stops for coffee on the way home—hot when it was cold outside, to warm their frozen fingers; iced when summer mornings brought the sticky heat. 

After two weeks of work at the factory—rushing between testing the latest upgrades, hard training, and repeating race simulations for the three upcoming Grand Prix—it had been a joy to come back to his brother in a place Finn had slowly come to call home. 

That was until Alex had dragged him out of bed at six on a Saturday morning. They had run to the gym, following Finn's usual itinerary along the breezy promenade. Two hours of torturous exercise later—definitely not payback for the early wake-up call—Finn had asked Alex to help him with his reaction drills.

"Your turn," Finn now said, stealing the two lime-colored balls from his brother's hands. 

Alex was about to protest but Finn cut him off. He positioned himself in front of him, legs spread, a tennis ball in each fist, raised to shoulder height. His dark red eyebrows were arched teasingly. "Come on, you always liked it." 

"Fine," Alex grumbled, mirroring Finn's position and slightly bending his knees. His smile hid a hint of nostalgia. "But after this, you owe me breakfast."

"Bagels?" Finn offered.

"Duh," Alex scoffed and made a whole scene of getting into position for the drill, hands outstretched and ready, hovering over Finn's. "Okay, let's do this. How bad could—"

Finn dropped the first ball from his right hand. It fell fast past Alex's grasping hands and hit the floor with a loud bounce. 

"Hey—"

Finn let go of the other. Alex reached out tentatively, but Finn caught it easily with a deft move, quicker than a blink. 

"All right, Flash," Alex exhaled, rolling his annoyed eyes. "You've made your point. Can we go now?" 

"Nope," Finn laughed. "One more." 

He knew he was foolishly lingering, as impatient and excited as he was probably more than a little worried. But he could wait a little longer, just in case—at least until Alex finally caught the small ball and aimed it threateningly at Finn’s head. 

In moments like this, though, Finn was sure there was nothing to worry about.

They headed back to Finn's apartment, pretending to get in one last jog, but quietly settling for a brisk walk, discussing serious business under the faint October sun. 

What do you mean, Al? Of course the Rangers have the best goalie tandem in the league. 

It was half past ten by the time Alex sat on a stool at the kitchen counter, his hair a damp mess from the shower, and eyed Finn skeptically. "Are you making breakfast?"

Finn didn't look up from where he was carefully halving a sesame bagel. "If I told you where these came from, you wouldn't believe me." 

"Hmm, let me guess," Alex laughed. "Was it Mom's or Dad's idea?"

"Both?" Finn guessed. He went to the fridge for smoked salmon and cream cheese. "I said once that I was craving those bagels from that place down the street…" 

"Oh, no..."

"Uh-huh," Finn chuckled, turning back to the kitchen island. "I mean, it's not like I can cook anything else, but—it was a whole mom’s I’m-just-sending-you-a-few-things sized box, and now the refrigerator is completely stuffed."

Alex hummed quietly in response—too quietly. He leaned over the counter, letting his head collapse into his hand. He picked up a fork and stole an uneven slice of tomato from the cutting board, giving Finn a funny look all the while.

"What is it?" Finn asked cautiously. 

Alex shrugged and took a bite of the tomato. "Just waiting," he mumbled between chews. 

"For?" 

"Breakfast," Alex shot back when he caught Finn's suspicious look. "Oh, and for you to tell me why you're so jumpy today," he said around another bite. 

Finn couldn't hide how desperately he'd hoped Alex would understand. 

"Or, let's say..." At that, Finn was already laughing. "Whose second toothbrush might be in your bathroom, for example."

Busted. Finn smiled brightly. "She told you, didn't she?" 

"Not exactly." Alex's voice wavered between guarded and uncontainable. "She texted me, 'You owe me fifty bucks,' and when I asked her why, she said I should ask you." 

"You're both crazy," Finn snorted, then zeroed in on what Alex had just said. "Wait, you two bet on us? On your own siblings?"

"No—no. I mean," Alex rubbed a hand over the rising blush on his face. "It started as a joke and... you know Noelle. She was dying for me to know, but..." Finn saw Alex, always the journalist, choosing his words carefully. "Is it true though? Has it finally happened?" 

"Finally—" 

"Come on, Fish," Alex grunted.

Finn set the knife aside and sank onto a stool. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a carefree laugh, somehow in disbelief. 

"It's true," he said quietly, watching with a lump in his throat as a sparkle of excitement lit up Alex's eyes. "We finally admitted that we—uh…"

"Are insanely in love with each other? This is shocking news to me—Finn!” Alex cackled as Finn threw a handful of capers at him. He stood up and stretched out his arms. "Come here, you idiot."

Finn stumbled towards him. How was he supposed to tell him how grateful he was? Alex’s hug was comfort, security in uncertainty. To Finn, having his brother by his side, supporting him every step of the way—it meant everything, far more than he could ever begin to say. 

There were sudden, burning tears in his eyes—happy tears. And when Alex pulled back to ruffle his hair, Finn let them fall.

"Al..." his voice dropped to a whisper. "You think..." this is okay? Tell me it's okay. Am I allowed?

"You're okay, bud," Alex looked at him so proudly that Finn suddenly felt ten times lighter. "I'm so happy for you, you have no idea," Alex laughed giddily, voice cracking with emotion. "And I'm here for you, you know? We are, for both of you." He grabbed Finn's shoulders and squeezed them tightly. 

"I'm..." Finn paused hesitantly. His thoughts raced back to Alex and Kasey—the injury, their sudden reunion after a long, odd silence. He had wanted to ask for a while, but hadn't known how. "I'm here for you, too. Okay?" He wiped at his own wet cheeks. "Anytime." 

The frowny smile he got back, the quick nod... Maybe Alex wasn't quite ready. 

"Thanks," was all he managed to say. So Finn padded silently back to his cooking station with what he hoped was a reassuring smile. 

"Capers?" Finn asked then, busying himself again. He had his eyes on the food, but couldn't have missed the relieved look on his brother's face when he shot back a cheerful, "You know it.

The rest of the morning flew by. Around lunchtime, they found themselves sprawled out on the couch, scrolling through social media and the latest motorsports news. A classic. It was an old habit of Alex’s—diving into the gossipy side of sports journalism was actually part of his job. Years ago, they would spend hours like this in one of their bedrooms. Slow weekends, hot chocolate, just sniffing around this much-dreamed-of world that had felt far away at the time—fantasies of one day, maybe. 

Now their names made front pages, and Finn's face graced magazine covers more often than not—cars, watches, fashion advertisements. Alex's signature was quiet beneath his pieces, yet striking, powerful, respected. Sometimes Finn wished he could stay as silent and just be. No more trending hashtags, no more crazy made-up theories about his love life every time he was spotted walking less than two feet from a woman. No more crowds waiting for him outside restaurants—places he knew would be perfect nooks for unforgettable date nights. 

That one small, family-run restaurant in Cap D'Ail, a spot of white, light browns and strings of warm, soft lights floating in the air, gently swaying with the sea breeze that swirled around the terrace. Built on a cliff, intimate, framed by crystal clear water and the infinite hues of the night. The perfect setting for Logan's green eyes to shine and...

"Does Leo know?" Alex piped up. 

Leo. Leo's stunning blue eyes.

Finn's head snapped to Alex. "What?"

"About you and Tremz," he said, slowly pushing himself up against the cushion. He flipped the phone in his hands a few times before adding, "You're always together these days...the three of you," and glancing past Finn, through the picture window. 

The question fell out of the blue, so close to Finn's wandering thoughts that it startled him.

"He doesn't," Finn shook his head—an imperceptible nod, more to himself than anything. Something heavy sank deep into his core. Was it guilt? 

"We—me and Lo, we... haven't talked about it yet. We were just thinking about telling you," he admitted. "You, Noelle, Aubrey, Syd. Our parents..." 

Alex looked at him with curious eyes, a warm mirror reflection. 

"But?" He prompted. Maybe he'd heard the unspoken words Finn was struggling to put together. And when he didn't answer, Alex pushed their elbows together. 

"You can tell me, Fish," he blinked, offering him the safest of smiles. 

Finn's phone buzzed where it lay unlocked on his thigh, giving him an unfairly convenient excuse to catch his breath before what felt like an imminent free fall. 

He got a picture from Logan, a blurry shot of a bookshop window, the one Logan always took him to whenever they set foot in London together. But when a second picture popped up in the chat, Finn's heart did a complicated thing. At the sight of Logan's carefree smile, it fluttered in his chest. At Leo's matching grin, it began to race wildly. Where their cheeks were pressed together under layers of hats, hoods and dark sunglasses, Finn's heart settled peacefully. And then a bitter note of jealousy struck when he realized—did you two just go to Hatchards without me?? he typed frantically. 

Logan's reply was immediate: 

Got lots of books and stuff for you

Wait Leo says not to tell you

It's a surprise

<3

"Oh my God, look at you," Alex laughed loudly next to him—at him. "You're hopeless." 

"Shut up," Finn muttered under his breath, suddenly embarrassed. His nervous fingers went to scratching the heavy stubble on his white-hot cheeks. 

He looked at Alex again, willing himself to say something, anything. But his brother beat him to the word, once again.  

"My next trip is in a month," Alex said. He was worrying the inside of his lips, his eyes unfocused. He was nervous too, Finn realized. "I'll stay here in Monaco for a while. At least while you guys are overseas..." 

Finn stayed still and just listened. 

"I can't let Nat go back and forth for three weeks in a row, and Kasey has rehab and doctor's appointments every other day, so... yeah," he looked back at Finn and gave a sharp nod. "It's been three weeks, but... they've been really, really good." Alex smiled, genuinely and sincerely. "And I tried to get out of the way, you know? I didn't want to... overstay my welcome or, like, intrude or anything..." 

Again, the one thought that kept running through Finn's mind came up. "Have you ever... felt like that?" 

"Never," Alex shook his head. "Not even once, and... I understand if you're worried that Leo might say something—"

It was Finn's time to nod in disagreement. "I trust him," he said. "I know we both do." 

How could they not? 

"Then let him in. Let him choose. Maybe he doesn't want to lose you as much as you don't want to lose him." 

—

Finn's flight was scheduled for the next day at five and, quite surprisingly, his suitcases were already packed and waiting by the front door. He wasn't really looking forward to the long trip, especially now that Kasey, Logan and Leo couldn't be with him. At Silver's request, Logan had to stay in Silverstone and travel with his team, while Finn's new teammate, Kasey's temporary replacement, had flown to Austin early to meet his family.  

After Alex had left, Finn had taken some time to let the day sink in. He'd FaceTimed his parents while he cleaned up the mess he and Alex had left in the kitchen, and then got ready for an early night. But as the sky grew darker and only a faint golden light filled the living room, Finn found himself still on hold, unconsciously waiting for that one call that had kept distance less far, less lonely, for so long. Nights of rambling and rants about busy days, sharing thoughts, opinions and advice about everything that was going on in two so similar, so far apart lives. 

Logan's voice, his carefree laughs at Finn's silly jokes, even in those weeks that always felt like a race against time—those moments had always been a calming anchor. And somehow they had gotten even better lately, when blue eyes and dimpled smiles showed up more often than not on the same blurry screen, between cooking dinner for two, sharing books reviews, and seriously, Harzy, where do you even find the patience with this one? He's so annoying, just to hear Logan's offended gasps next to him.  

Finn waited, socked feet on the coffee table and book in hand, under the warm, yellowish light of the reading lamp by the couch. He sank into chapter after chapter of a fantastical word—a novel Leo had lent him—until the insistent growling of his stomach became too distracting to ignore, calling for a quick take-out.

He scrolled through EatIn for a good five minutes. The notification of a message flashed across the top of the dim phone screen—a text from Kuny in the drivers' group chat, on top of five new emails and a pending software update. No call, no reply to his last text to Logan, left on read a few hours earlier. 

Finally, Finn placed his usual sushi order and went back to reading, tossing the phone and his troublesome thoughts aside, just as the doorbell rang—once, twice, three times. 

"Coming," he called, wondering who the front desk had let through when he wasn't expecting visitors. But any concern was quickly silenced as he swung the door open. 

"Sushi delivery," said a beaming Leo, whose blond curls poked out of a black Silver Racing cap. He held up a handful of bags from Finn's favorite downtown Japanese restaurant. 

"That was quick," Finn blurted out without thinking, gaping at the bags. 

And then a soft snort brought his eyes up to two hilariously perplexed faces. "What?" 

What? "Oh," Finn realized he was still staring, dumbfounded. "Hi—I mean, hi," he laughed at his high-pitched, surprised squeak, and almost leapt at Leo, looping his arms around his neck in a tight hug. 

"Our dinner—" Leo tried to warn him between sweet chuckles, holding the bags out to Logan, who, Finn noticed, was delightfully looking at them with his head tilted to the side. 

"How... what are you doing here?" Finn asked, pulling away from Leo's warm embrace. 

"We brought you dinner, obviously," Leo said with a scoff, as if Finn had just asked something stupid. 

"And presents," Logan lifted an off-white tote bag that seemed quite heavy even in his strong hands. The green embroidered logo on the front read Hatchards Books. 

"As if you hadn't told him already," Leo drawled as he shot Logan a knowing look. 

A devilish, very bite-able grin painted Logan's full lips, a little chapped from the English bitter cold, begging to be kissed better. 

"You're so predictable, Lo," Finn snorted, reluctantly looking away and finally letting them in.

Logan blatantly ignored them, swatting Finn's ass with his bags on the way in. He waited for him as he locked the door and handed Finn the food with a sharp look and a soft whisper. 

"Dinner upstairs?" 

Ten short steps led from the living room balcony to what had once been a bare, spacious roof deck. The moment Finn had signed the papers to buy the attic, his father's keen eye and expert touch had redesigned it into a private sky lounge, a little gem overlooking the beating heart of Monte-Carlo and the features of a boundless coastline. 

Finn turned on the patio heater. Its warmth added to the cozy atmosphere, blending with the light beige color of the lounge chairs and sectional sofa, and the wood accents of a large coffee table where Logan had chaotically placed three sets of chopsticks, along with a bottle of white wine, glasses, and various boxes of delicious-looking treats—all Finn's favorites, it seemed. 

The outdoor lights were dim, allowing a few faint stars to twinkle high above their heads despite the city's harsh reflections. Finn caught Leo standing next to the glass railing with his nose tilted skyward and a star-struck smile lighting up his peaceful face. 

"I'd run for the dumplings," Finn said as he joined him, "if you want a chance with that one around." 

They both turned in time to catch Logan red-handed with half a gyoza dangling from his mouth. 

"Quoi?" he munch-mumbled. "I'm hungry!" 

Their laughter blossomed in unison, louder to Finn's ears than the rumble of the plane passing low overhead, and the hum of traffic below.

Logan's green eyes, dark in the faint light of the night, narrowed on them. 

"So very predictable, indeed," Leo said as Finn gently led him to the table. His hand wavered on the small of Leo's back, tentative—until Logan flashed him a mindful look that sent goosebumps up Finn's arms. 

"Whose team are you on, Knut?" Logan teased, making room for Leo on the sofa as Finn took one of the loungers. 

"I'm afraid I'm legally obligated to say yours." Leo stretched one arm out over the back cushion, putting on a thoughtful expression. "Something about a non-compete clause in my contract, I'm not sure. Besides," he turned to Finn, nose wrinkled around a fine sheen, "my mama would probably disown me if I said otherwise..."

"Ha!" Logan pointed a mocking finger at Finn.  

"...but my dad, on the other hand..."

"Excuse you, I'm right here—" 

"Oh, no, no, no," Leo tutted. "We're not going there, nuh-uh. I hear enough bickering from those two. Feel free to discuss the matter with my parents next weekend."

"Are they coming to the race?" Finn asked.

"Yeah," Leo's smile grew so wide it must have hurt. "Haven't seen them in a while... and the U.S. Grand Prix is sort of a family tradition. Only this time..."

"You won't be on the stands," Logan said softly.

"Pretty special, huh?" Finn felt the hook of Logan's telltale gaze as their eyes met—he’s sweet. 

"Three days Paddock pass-special," Leo nodded, and Logan whistled low under his breath, drawing a contagious laugh from both of them. 

"I really don't know how they're gonna react when they meet you." Leo's ocean blue eyes were lost in the night sky, then suddenly hesitant as he spoke again, "Only if you... um, want to... of course." 

Finn peeked back at Logan, who nodded briefly. There was still so much they could do for him. But for now, Finn was having fun. He crossed his arms and tipped his chin up in a very well practiced offended frown.

"I don't see why," he said in a low voice. "It's not like I'm everyone's favorite around here." 

"Are you kidding—" Leo started just as Logan whispered, "He likes all the attention," loud enough for Finn to hear. 

Leo kicked him in the shin with one of his long legs and snorted a laugh, "Wait till you meet Wyatt Knut. Oh, I know he's gonna lose it." 

With burning cheeks, Finn crossed his legs on the soft cushion and grabbed a pillow for his lap. "Well," he picked up a box from the table and his chopsticks. "Let's hope the rookie doesn't steal my scene then." 

"Oh, right," Logan said, casually stealing a salmon nigiri from Leo's plate. "Who's filling in for Kase?" 

"Oh?" Finn frowned in confusion. "I thought the news was out. The team decided to give our junior driver a chance."

It was almost imperceptible, but Finn was sure Leo lost a little color in his face around a hard swallow. He reached for his glass and took a small sip of the bubbling wine Logan had poured for them.

"Really?" Logan sounded surprised. "Isn't Archer running in F2?" 

"He's twenty-something points off the lead," Finn pointed out. "And his next race is Abu Dhabi. He might as well take a shot at this instead." 

"Sorry, guys," Leo got up from the couch. "I need to use the bathroom. Be right back," he murmured before hurrying to the stairs. 

Finn shifted just in time to see Leo disappear into the house. "Is he okay?" 

"You're such a worrier, mon cœur."

Finn's eyes followed the sound of Logan's soothing voice. "I know..." 

"I missed you," Logan whispered, and warmth spread through Finn's veins, chasing away the brisk cold on his skin. 

"I missed you too, baby. This is the best surprise ever." 

"Couldn't wait until Monday," Logan's jaw twitched around a gentle smile. "And... we both kind of needed a breath of fresh air." 

"Huh? What's going on?" 

Logan shook his head, lips pressed into a hard line. "Silver's dropping the bomb about the Blacks and the partnership deal. Tomorrow. Press is going to be all over it..." 

Finn leaned forward, elbows on his knees. One hand moved up to pinch his lips, to rub his jaw. He sucked in a lungful of air. "'What'd Sirius say?"

"He thinks we can divert any unwanted attention with the reveal of the special livery."

"And what about you two?" 

"Leo should be fine, I think... And I promised not to curse at reporters this time." Logan's faint smile turned mischievous. "And to make it to Sunday without getting fined by the FIA." 

Finn dug his thumb and forefinger into his eyes. "It's going to be one of those weekends, huh?" 

"Ugh," Logan groaned just as desperately. "I really don't want to think about it." He took his glass from the table and tipped it to Finn, eyes growing soft, finally seeming to relax, but still tinged with concern. "At least I got you, non?"

Finn followed suit, raising his own glass in a silent toast. "Always, baby." 

—

The Circuit of the Americas lived up to every driver's expectations. Finn was no stranger to the demanding, yet satisfying feeling of piecing together the perfect lap between steep uphills, tight hairpins and sequences of fast, flowing corners. Nor was he unfamiliar with the energy, the wild atmosphere that usually painted the entire weekend in shades of red, blue and white stars. From the grandstands and garages to the decorated run-offs of the track, everything mirrored the Lone Star flag waving proudly near the crest of the Turn 1 hill.  

That's how Finn found himself walking around the paddock on Thursday morning in a bright red t-shirt and blue jeans, struggling to adjust the cowboy hat perched on top of his misbehaving hair. It was a bit of a cliché, a tradition of the United States Grand Prix that everyone had embraced over the years—including a rather amused Remus Lupin, who was busy chatting with Lily Evans by the team hospitality entrance. 

"Look who finally made it to work," Remus sneered when he saw Finn coming.

"Blah blah blah. I missed you too, Loops," Finn said, sidestepping to hug Lily instead. "What's up, Lils?" 

"Looking good, O'Hara," she said, tipping the wide brim of her velvet camel hat. It matched Remus', sitting perfectly on his sandy blond hair.

"What are you two up to?" 

"Gossiping, mostly," Lily said, beaming with faux innocence. "Oh, and technically looking for my husband. I kind of lost him between breakfast and the five minutes I was in the shower." 

"Sirius left early too," Remus began, stumbling over his words as a faint blush crept to the tips of his ears. "I think—he… uh. He texted me pretty early, yeah." 

"Right," Finn said. He watched unconvinced as Lily failed, rather spectacularly, to hide a wicked grin. "Any sign of Logan? Leo?"

Logan had snuck out of Finn's room at dawn with a thousand kisses and the promise of more cuddles later that night, but no further explanation. 

"Haven't seen them around." Remus shrugged, "But the event starts in..." He checked his watch. "About fifteen minutes. Maybe they're already at the Paddock Club or—"

"Holy—shit," Lily's voice dropped to a breathless whisper, her green eyes wide.

Finn and Remus turned in sync to… quite the view.

"Did you... did you know about this?" Finn thought he heard Remus ask. To whom, he couldn't say.

Now Finn would have answered, if words hadn't deserted him. If the deeply unbuttoned shirt that fit Logan's shoulders under a fringed green vest hadn't been too distracting. Or the denim jacket and light blue bandana tied softly around Leo's neck, perfectly framing his sharp lines—a sliver of sunshine in a bright, cloudless sky. Leather boots, belts, and wide-brimmed brown hats completed the look of the four Silver boys as they casually strutted toward them. 

A wave of searing heat spread from Finn's chest to his hips, slowly burning him from the inside out. 

"Howdy," James greeted in first—washed denim jeans and a bad impression of a Southern accent. He swooped in to pull an awe-struck Lily into a hard kiss. 

Behind him, Sirius, Logan, and Leo were quiet, looking somewhat embarrassed, confident, and resigned at the same time. 

"Well, hello, cowboys," Lily laughed, her eyes flitting curiously between them. "Anyone care to explain?" 

Finn had to glance at Remus then, who was also uncharacteristically silent. Their eyes met briefly and they both pretended they didn't look like someone had just slapped them hard in the face. 

Sirius was the first to speak. Finn dared a closer look at Logan and then at Leo, eyebrows arching in interest at their twin smirks. 

"A special livery requires special attire, doesn't it?" Sirius began tentatively, as if trying to convince himself. He pointed his thumbs at his loose black shirt. 

"And, oh-so-casually," James spun around to show off his outfit, "we have a Hugo Boss collab to rock."

"And press to distract, apparently..." Leo added, crossing his arms and ankles in one elegant motion.

Very, very distracting indeed, thank you.

Logan pasted on his fakest smile. "Oh, and I'm retiring by the end of the season—ow!” he grunted a laugh as Leo flicked the back of his head. "Knutty."

It struck him then, unbidden and consuming. A lightning bolt from the bluest of skies. An electric spike swept over Finn's entire body, this time tightening his chest. It was undeniable how Logan and Leo glowed next to each other. Whether it was on track, with Leo's firm voice listing strict instructions in Logan's ears. At night, sitting at a kitchen table, miles away from Finn, telling him bits and pieces of their days. And here, in the middle of a semi-desert paddock, dressed in glamour for no sensible reason at all—those two shone like the brightest stars in the firmament before Finn's eyes. 

Suddenly, Finn longed to feel how Leo so beautifully coaxed that rare bliss out of Logan, carefree laughs and heart-melting smiles that Finn knew were private, exclusive. Breaths he'd kissed from his mouth, yearned for and cherished. And intriguing tastes that Finn now secretly craved. 

The most perfectly complicated knot of feelings.

"Fish?" Logan's touch was warm on his forearm. 

"Yeah?" 

"See you later?" 

Finn could only nod, blinded by forest green and cornflower blue and the pungent scent of two perfectly layered colognes. 

They all left, Lily in tow, snuggled between James' and Sirius' arms, abandoning Finn and Remus in a deafening silence that grew louder with every stray, passing voice.

"We should..." Remus cleared his throat. 

"Yep, yeah." 

"Okay. Harz," he muttered, his words muffled as he dragged a hand across his face. "You're off to... Sky Sports and Viaplay. Flash interviews. Then we're doing the track walk together." 

"Always so romantic, Loops," Finn casually threw an arm around Remus' shoulders. "Hey, you know who's up for the drivers' press conference?" 

"They want the new guy. You're boring old stuff, my friend."

"Damn," Finn sighed. "Not complaining, but... ouch." 

"It's the circle of life." Remus elbowed him playfully before looking up with a small, knowing smile—subtle. "We're screwed, huh?"

"Oh man," Finn huffed out a loud laugh. "Aren't we?" 

—

"Espresso." 

Natalie's voice broke the early morning quiet of the team's hospitality lounge. 

"Macchiato," she groaned, flopping into an armchair in the coffee area where Finn was busy topping his cappuccino with cinnamon. "And make it double, please, and thank you." 

Finn's free hand snapped to his forehead in an over-the-top salute. "Yes, ma'am." 

"Fucking jet lag."

Finn grabbed a cup and started the coffee machine. "Up all night again?"

"I think I slept... like eight hours in three days."

"Yikes," Finn winced. He let a cloud of foamed milk swirl into the dark, fragrant brew, then sprinkled some cocoa powder on top. "This calls for extra sugar." 

"Definitely," she mumbled.

Finn set the steaming cup on a saucer. He placed it on a small tray along with a teaspoon, a tiny basket of sugar packets, and a couple of warm, buttery mini croissants. 

"There you go." He laid the tray on the glass table in front of her and sank into the nearest armchair. 

"Wow, Freckle," Natalie marveled dozily, her words fading into a drawn-out yawn. "Five-star treatment."

"Seems much needed," Finn scrunched his nose as he reached for his own coffee. 

"You and me both." She pointed between their faces, clearly noting the purple circles under his eyes. "What's keeping you up?" 

"No clue," Finn lied, and Natalie shot him a look. 

"You really think," she paused to take a small sip of coffee, unfazed. "You can hide something from me, of all people?" 

Finn couldn't help the small, wry smile that twitched his lips. "You'd be surprised," he murmured around the rim of his cup.

"What was that?" 

"Nothing," he blurted, unable to escape her inquisitive gaze. "I guess I'm just worried, that's all."

"Hm. And does that have anything to do with a certain hot-tempered brunet? Say, someone throwing threatening death glares at anyone with a microphone within a mile radius?"  

"That's overprotective Logan Tremblay to you."

Finn omitted the details, of course. The past couple of nights spent with Logan curled up in his arms—a bundle of nerves. Jaw clenched, teeth gritted, falling asleep as morning light spilled through the window, voiceless and exhausted, with Finn's fingers still tangled in his hair, a familiar touch to hold on to. 

"Is this about the—" Natalie air quoted, "—Black Gate? The cowboy thing didn't work out?" 

Finn nodded briefly, utterly drained. 

"Damage control for Sirius' sake." He shook his clouded head. "But of course everyone is hungry for more. It's a pretty big deal, the Blacks leaving Silver. Who would believe the sudden 'mutual decision' to end a ten-year partnership?" 

"As if it was anyone else's business." 

"And all forgotten by Monday, as usual. But in the meantime we're stuck with a couple of mad drivers in full guard mode." 

Finn's fingers tapped nervously on the cooling ceramic of the cup, restless. "And then... there's Leo."

Out of his sunny, always catching energy. 

"Leo?" 

"He seems a little... stressed. I don't know."

Tired, maybe. Shadowed by a veil of worry that Finn couldn't chalk up to pressing media attention alone. 

"I just wish there was something I could do to help."

Natalie studied him for a long moment, her brown eyes sweeping across his face. Finn saw the ghost of a wistful smile when she clicked her tongue. "There's something special about you O'Haras, huh?" 

It startled a small laugh out of Finn, warm and incredulous. "I'm not sure where that comes from, but I'll take it as a compliment." 

The front door cracked open. It caught their attention, revealing a bright, fresh face in the doorway. 

"Buongiorno!" Jack Archer chanted in thickly accented Italian. He walked in, proudly wearing his brand new team uniform, complete with a red baseball cap flipped backward over his dark hair.

"Look at you go," Finn held out his arm for a quick fist bump. "Already embracing the team culture."

Natalie simply waved a hand. "Morning, baby rookie."

Archer smiled back at her as he leaned against the counter. "How's Kasey?"

"Oh, he's annoying me, so... way much better." 

"Bet he wanted to come," he quipped. 

"Ha. He tried to talk me into coming once or twice, but..." She took a steadying breath, then looked at Finn with such gentle, guarded fierceness that left him speechless. "I know for sure I left him in very, very good hands."

Jack nodded sympathetically, looking between them. "Glad to hear that."

"How about you?" Finn jumped in. "Ready for today?" 

It was Archer's first ever Formula One qualifying. Finn remembered how emotional that felt—the fervent, uncontainable energy, the anticipation, and the urgency to prove yourself worthy of the privilege of sitting in such a prestigious spot. He could see the same thrill glinting in Jack's blue eyes.

"So ready," he laughed, bouncing a little on his feet. "But hey, I wouldn't mind some good advice."

"Anytime. Actually, we can..." Finn began, pulling the phone out of his pocket. "Okay, I have to be somewhere in... shit, well, ten minutes ago, but," he stood up and patted Archer on the shoulder, already poised to sprint out. "Catch you before FP3?"

"Yeah, totally," Jack's eyes lit up. "Thanks, man."

"O'Hara," Natalie called. Finn had barely taken a step toward the door. "Are you sure you're not forgetting anything?"

"Jesus," Finn did a double take and grabbed the envelope she held out between her manicured fingers. "What would I do without you?"

Natalie rolled her eyes, the outline of a wry smile curling her full lips. "Get out of here."

The paddock was alive, too loud and too hot for mid-fall Saturday morning. Finn had to stop a few times for autographs, pictures and good luck wishes before he finally made it to the Silver Hospitality forecourt. 

Leo spotted him in the distance and waved cheerfully. He looked better than he had all week, his eyes less somber, though still too weary for Finn's liking. But it was a welcome sight that somehow helped Finn calm his nerves. 

Leo was holding a blonde woman close to him, chatting excitedly with a slightly embarrassed Logan. A tall, also blond man stood at their side. The fine features the three of them shared were unmistakable. 

As it turned out, Eloise and Wyatt Knut were exactly as Leo had described them, a force of nature brimming with energy, high spirits and unbelievable kindness—traits Finn had long recognized in their son. 

Leo had his mother's eyes and her same sharp wit. Finn had soon found himself wrapped in a motherly hug, warm and loving, as Eloise thanked him over and over for no particular reason. Though she didn't miss the chance to slip in a cheeky remark about him racing for the wrong team—you should really consider moving to Silver, honey. The three of you would make the best team out there—coloring Leo's light skin several shades of red. 

Wyatt Knut was just as energetic, though a little more reserved. Finn could tell by the way he'd squeezed his hand in his own that he was holding back his excitement, while his well-worn Scuderia cap spoke volumes. 

Finn and Logan had planned to surprise them upon their arrival on Friday, but by the time they had finished debriefing after the free practice, Leo had essentially kidnapped his parents and disappeared. He was glad, though, if Leo's better mood had anything to do with it. 

Now, between conversations, Finn noticed Logan eyeing the envelope in his hands and nodding his head in encouragement. 

"Boys," Eloise said with an angelic smile, "we shouldn't keep you any longer, I'm sure you're quite busy." 

"Actually, Mrs. Knut—"

"Finn, please. It's Eloise for you." 

"Right," Finn chuckled, rubbing a hand over his neck as he sought Logan's eyes for support. "Well, these are for you," he opened the envelope Natalie had secured for him and pulled out two golden VIP passes. 

"Guys..." Leo breathed, his startled gaze bouncing between them. 

"Consider yourselves our guests of honor," Logan said. "For a full race weekend experience. You can do the grid walk on Sunday if you'd like. And watch all the sessions from our garages."

"Both," Finn added playfully, turning to Wyatt. "Whichever you prefer." 

Wyatt clasped Finn's shoulder, then Logan’s—a silent, heartfelt smile tugging at his thin lips. Eloise's grateful embrace carried the same fondness Finn saw in Leo's glazed stare. He shot him a wink just as Logan bumped into his side. 

"You shouldn't have to..." Leo whispered softly.

Finn felt the sudden urge to tell him that he'd do anything to see him this happy, always. He knew from the look on Logan's face, scenically playing the annoyed roll of eyes, that he was tightly holding onto similar thoughts. 

But this was neither the time nor the place. Finn had already spotted a few TV crews creeping around and the last free practice session was about to start. 

Besides, he had no idea what the hell was going on with him. What was he meant to make of any of these thrumming needs?

He accepted the tenth round of thanks, an invitation to dinner at the best steakhouse in town according to Leo, another warm hug from Eloise, and a fierce good luck, son from an ecstatic Wyatt Knut—the silky lanyard of his pass already hanging around his neck.

Before he left, Logan put on one of those wicked smiles that Finn wished he could always bite off his lips. 

"See you on track, O'Hara," he jabbed, making everyone laugh. 

"Yeah," Finn smiled. It was a relief to see that some of the worry had slipped from Logan's scratchy, sleep-deprived voice. 

Finn loved him. God, he loved Logan immensely. But right then he knew he had to focus on himself and his performance, to keep an overload of problems at bay. 

After all, he'd made himself a promise. He had a championship to win, against none other than the man of his dreams—and his race engineer at his side. Two people who somehow managed to make Finn feel so overwhelmingly good. 

And helplessly confused.  

"Good luck, Tremblay." 

The car felt incredible, sharp and consistently balanced even on the hot track. The first two qualifying rounds had flowed as smoothly as water and Finn was confident he could secure a solid pole position, setting himself up for a much needed win tomorrow. 

Now the lights in Finn's box were vivid, as urgent as his need to get back on track and run the car in those milder sunset shades for the last stint of the day. He sat in the cockpit and waited while the mechanics made their final adjustments. 

As he peeled the smudged tear-off from his visor, Remus' voice crackled through the radio. 

"Harz, we're putting on a new set of soft." 

Finn pressed the yellow radio button on the steering wheel. "Sounds good." 

"And—I need you to improve the middle sector." 

"What's the last lap time?" 

"1:37.017," Remus spelled out. "Logan's is tied with James' at .214." 

Good, but not enough, Finn thought. Logan had this innate, annoyingly brilliant ability to set the perfect lap with the clock about to run out. One last flying lap to get those couple of tenths out of nowhere, just when everyone else thought he didn't have the right pace. 

"Archer’s going out first," Remus added. "He's instructed to give you slipstream if you think you'll need it." 

Finn and Kasey had used the tactic countless times, helping each other secure at least one spot on the front rows of the grid.  Jack wasn't new to these tricks, of course, and after a long talk that morning, Finn trusted him to deliver as well. 

Archer hadn't needed advice, exactly—more like reassurance and a nudge to tackle the new challenge with confidence. 

As presumptuous as it might have seemed, though, Finn didn't want Jack's help. He knew he held all the cards to perform at his peak. And maybe—just like the young rookie he'd been a long time ago—Finn desperately needed to prove something to himself once more.   

"Thanks, guys," he simply replied.  

"Let's bring it home, man." 

Amazing speed through the twentieth and final corner for Thomas Walker, but no further improvement. Nadeau, however, crosses the finish line with a fastest third sector and goes sixth to beat his teammate. 

Logan Tremblay takes provisional pole as O'Hara starts his flying lap with the session nearing its end. Here comes Potter across the line to move up to second—and we have a Silver front row for now.  Halla does improve, but remains fourth behind Archer—an amazing Saturday for the rookie, who'll have the chance to start his first Formula One race from second row tomorrow. 

Fastest sector one for Finn O'Hara as he makes his way through some traffic out there. Once again Tremblay vs. O'Hara for pole is our battle. 

Absolutely phenomenal in this car, finding more time down the high speed straight—and it's another purple sector for the American driver. 

More traffic coming in between turns 13 to 15 as most cars in-lap on their way to pit lane, but—whooa, my goodness. That's a close call for O'Hara with his teammate going into Turn 16! 

It was an instinctive reflex. 

Finn hadn't fully registered what had just happened in front of him. He braked, hard enough to tip his car to the left, over the curb and into the run-off, narrowly avoiding contact. His flying lap was completely ruined.

"Remus," he gasped over the radio.

He'd sounded too calm to his own ears, even as blood began to boil in his veins, mixing with a wild rush of adrenaline. Someone had just cost him the pole. Someone had deliberately moved into the middle of his lap and almost caused a massive crash. Not just someone, Finn realized with a flash of clarity, but his own teammate.

Remus' voice was apprehensive. "Yeah, we saw that, Harz..."

"That was fucking—"

"I know, I know," Remus promptly cut him off. He knew better than to let Finn cause a scene that anyone could hear. "Just come back to the box, please. We'll discuss this later."

Not a single word came out of Finn’s mouth as he drove to the Parc Fermé. He jumped out of the car, steering wheel in hand, and quietly followed the other drivers to the pit lane. A cameraman tracked him all the way to his box, probably expecting him to react, or maybe snap like some drivers used to—like Logan sometimes did. Finn just kept his helmet on and the dark visor down. 

He had expected to find Remus there, ready to apologize for a mistake that wasn’t even his fault. Finn knew he would try to explain with his steady, calming manner that there was nothing they could do. Whatever happened between teammates never got penalized by the stewards. It stayed between team walls. 

Instead, standing outside his garage, shoulders hunched and a restless hand tormenting his soft-looking curls, was Leo. 

"Harzy," he almost jumped on his feet when he saw Finn. "Are you okay?" 

"Le?" Despite everything, Finn found himself smiling. He raised the visor to meet Leo's anxious eyes. "What are you doing here?" 

"I..." Leo let out a long sigh of relief. "I'm so sorry, Finn. Are you hurt?" 

"What? No," Finn undid the helmet and slid it off his head, along with the balaclava. "Leo, I'm fine. It was just impeding." 

"I know, I..." he began, and glanced towards the mixed area where Archer was being interviewed. 

So he'd made it to the top three…

When Leo turned his back to Jack, he looked even more freaked out than before. "You... It looked bad—on screen. The bounce on the curb..."

"I'm fine," Finn repeated, reaching out to grab his arm reassuringly. "Are you, though?" 

"Yeah. Yeah, sorry. I just..." Leo swallowed hard. "I wanted to make sure he didn’t—"

"He fucking impeded you?!" Logan's thunderous voice made them both spin around. 

"Lo," Finn shot him a warning look. "Not here." 

"What the fuck?" 

"I know." Finn took a deep breath. "I need to talk to Remus first, but... He's young, guys. Honestly I’ve seen senior drivers doing worse than that."

Logan crossed his arms, an angry frown tightening his lips. "Still."

"Listen," Finn ran a hand over his sweaty hair, his pulse suddenly jumping. The onslaught of feelings he'd experienced in the last forty-eight hours was surreal. He felt defeated, frustration still seething at the edges of his fist, clenched around the chin bar of his helmet. Exhausted for too many reasons at once. 

And yet there stood a glimpse of hope—fierce eyes staring at him… protectively, he realized. 

"You two shouldn't worry about me, okay? I promise, I'm fine. I just need to put an end to this crazy day and get out of my head for a minute." 

Leo nodded understandingly. "We can call off dinner if you'd rather—" 

"Please don't," Finn said. It came out almost like a plea. "Dinner with the Knuts is exactly what I need right now." 

"Ouais," Logan agreed, watchful eyes fixed on Finn's. He was trying to read between the lines, something he'd learned a long time ago—always finding his way to Finn. "Me too." 

A full, bright smile split Leo's lips. "Okay, one more thing. Then I better go before Sirius kills me," he said. He sounded a little giddy. "My parents want to invite you to stay with us next week, just so you know. They were over the moon about the tickets." 

"Really, it was nothing," Logan said, and Finn’s heart melted in his chest. 

"You don't have to say yes," Leo urged. He took a step back towards the pit stall, grinning innocently, "And you definitely didn't hear this from me. But we'd love to have you guys over."

With a soul-crushing wink, Leo walked away. Logan's sharp breath filled the next beat of silence. 

"Rouge."

"Hm?" Finn whispered back. He noticed out of the corner of his eye that Logan was staring after Leo, too.

They turned to each other, keeping a short distance between them—just two drivers confronting each other after a tough qualifying session.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Logan asked.

"I love it when you call me Rouge."

"Finn."

"I told you, I'm fine."

"That wasn't fair."

"It wasn't," Finn admitted. 

"Beginner's luck," Logan grumbled. 

Finn's mouth shifted to the side, one corner lifting slightly. A bead of sweat slid from a rebellious lock of Logan’s dark hair onto his temple. Finn watched, mesmerized, as it traced its way around the crinkle of Logan’s eye, down to the corner of his full mouth, along his jaw, and finally dropped from his flushed face.

"Come on, Tremz. I'll overtake the rookie and chase you down as fast as I can. You have my word."

"Ah," Logan lost some of his fight at that. "Bet you won’t catch me, though."

"Oh-ho," Finn bit his lips. Something about that Logan smile drove him crazy. "Try me. I can give you a head start tonight," he murmured.

"Non," Logan laughed. "We have a race tomorrow, in case you forgot."

"Right," Finn inched closer. Logan didn’t so much as blink.

"A race I'm going to win. And then..."

It wasn’t much of a choice for Finn when it came to it. Had he imagined spending every second of their free time glued to Logan's side? Absolutely. Had Finn already pictured a beaming Leo showing them around his childhood home? Walking them through streets, corners, places he'd grown up in? Maybe.

Besides, they had already been thinking about a nice, short escape before flying to Mexico City—just the three of them. 

"A quick detour to New Orleans?" To Finn, it sounded like the perfect golden mean.

Green eyes glinted at him, almost in awe. The last rays of sun framed Logan's tan skin like gold.

"Parfait, mon amour."