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Roman didn't register the words at first, focusing on draping himself pathetically across the table as he listens to Patton making breakfast while Virgil shuffles around preparing the coffee and Logan flips the pages of that days newspaper. It's the daily ritual. But when the words seep in, when Roman slowly turns his head, the newspaper is still neatly folded on the table... and Logan's gaze is on him. His mouth dries as he feels all the air abandon his lungs and he doesn't move, his eyes not leaving Logan's, who quirks a brow and waits a beat longer.
"Not interested then." Logan gives one short nod and opens the paper. "My apologies."
A wounded, strangled princey noise of distress sticks in Romans throat as he attempts to figure out what just happened. How can everything look normal, but be completely upside down. It's too early for this.
Patton, smiling, puts breakfast on the table as Virgil sets out everyones carefully crafted cups; Logan's iced black coffee, Romans pumpkin spice, Pattons sugar cookie, and his own hazelnut. He smirks into the steam over the brim of his mug as he watches Logan obliviously flip through his paper and Roman stare at Logan with alternating expressions of confusion, wonder, bafflement, hurt, thoughtfulness, then back to confusion; the both of them occasionally nibbling at toast smothered in crofters. Idiots.
.-.. --- --. .. -. -.-. .
"You know, most people take a less direct approach when attempting to find out if their interest likes them back." Virgil casually pulls up beside Logan, his gait rolling and relaxed and his tone amused.
The company is not unwelcome, but the topic Logan could do without. "We are not people, we are facets of one singular personality; ideas if anything. And as such, I see no point in delaying the obvious rejection of romance to logic. My mind can now be at ease."
"Teach, no, that's not..." Virgil laughs as he follows Logan into his room, not believing he's encouraging someone into a potentially awkward situation after all the times the roles had been in reverse. "That's not how that works. Logic more often rejects romance, for one. And for two, you're still anxious. I'm the last one you can hide that from. Except maybe Deceit. Or yourself."
"Well, yes," Logan starts slowly, absently sorting papers on his desk as he weighs his words. "I suppose I am pondering how this might change our dynamic when working together, but from Thomas' previous experiences with rejection, I gather that over time everything will return to normal."
"He didn't even reject you! You cornered him when the poor bastard was still half asleep after a full night of improv dream building for Thomas. You hadn't even let him have his first cup of coffee, you monster."
"It was the calculated choice. He's less... explosive after dreams like last night."
"... you watched him dream build?"
"Well, yes." Logan adjusts his glasses, smiling slightly. "Thomas was studying constellations last night when Roman came in to take over and so I stayed for a bit. I helped him visualise the making of a star and we built a constellation in dedication to Crofters together."
Virgil plops into Logan's computer chair, stunned. How was it that Logan made the first move? "You improv dream built together... should've asked him to kiss you last night, you idiot! That was a perfect first date for you two."
"Oh." Logan stares blankly ahead for a moment. "I suppose. What's done is done, however, so it does no good to sit around pondering what may have happened had I changed my course of action."
"How are you so dense? Look, just..." How can Logan come back from this? He can't. He'll just have to -"just forge on ahead. Bring him some chocolates and some flowers, roses or some kind that make you think of him, and ask him again. No, no, no;" Virgil swipes his arms across the front of him in a giant X, "strike that. That's not what I meant. Ask him on a date. Build more constellations or have him bring you both to Paris to hold hands or whatever. And for fucks sake don't tell him to kiss you, ask him if you can kiss him. I can't believe you went and did that, you stone faced bastard. Where did you even learn that was okay? And-" The rest of Virgils rant was cut off as Logan was summoned by Thomas for a trivia battle with Joan. Virgil glances around Logan's room, huffs, and leaves, muttering under his breath the whole way to bother Patton for cookies.
.-.. --- --. .. -. -.-. .
A small bouquet of a single red carnation surrounded by white clovers and agapanthis with fiddlehead and regular ferns to fill, held together by the arms of a small stuffed bear. Sitting at his desk, Logan stares silently at the possible offering, crossing and uncrossing his arms occasionally.
He pushes the plush toy aside, pulling his laptop forward and murmuring, "El principe es estupido," before settling into something more productive. There's a knock at the door.
"Logan?" All thought freezes for a moment before Logan turns his chair towards the door as he further nudges the bouquet behind his laptop screen. "It's Roman. Do you have a moment?"
When Logan opens the door Roman looks ready to turn around. "Come on in. I'm always available when you need me. How can I help you tonight, Roman? Did you require assistance in dream building again?"
Roman shook his head, slightly pink cheeked as he steps in. "No, Thomas and Patton were reminiscing after tonight's call with Patrick; he's dreaming about winter break in the third grade. I might go in later to make sure Virgil doesn't tamper the memory with any what ifs, but he tends to avoid Pattons fondest memories."
"I just wanted to ask you about this morning." Logan nods his head, already expecting it. "I'm pretty sure I was still half in the imagination, but I spent all day thinking about what you may or may not have actually said this morning and even if I did imagine it, I think I would like to if you would be willing-" This isn't what he expected. The more Roman says, and the more he blushes, the more Logan feels the smallest amount of hope spark in his mind. When Roman abruptly stops in apparent frustration, he feels it disappear.
"What I mean to say, Logan, is I came to ask," Roman bows, extending his right arm forward to flick his wrist and is suddenly holding an overwhelmingly elaborate bouquet, "would you like to take a walk with me this evening?" Blue and purple dahlias, surrounded by angelica and dripping in bluebells, varying shades of hollyhocks, and ivy. New beginning, royalty/perfection, inspiration, humility, ambition, and fidelity. What does it mean? Does Roman even know floriography? Does it matter? It's clearly not rejection.
Logan goes to answer, but pauses. "One moment please, Roman." He turns around and fetches the hidden bouquet. When he turns back he watches as Romans face goes from stricken to shocked. "Virgil mentioned that after this morning you might prefer it if I gave you a bouquet of flowers that convey my regard of you, but I couldn't find the right ones. I decided to offer you an expression of my own thoughts of you. It's not as grand as yours, but it means -"
"Quiet and chaste love, humble admiration, think of me." Roman breaths. He's suddenly smiling so widely Logan has the irrational urge to shield his eyes.
"Well, yes." Against his will, Logan feels his cheeks flush. "I didn't know you spoke floriography."
"I represent romance, of course I know it if Thomas does." They exchange their respective bundles and Roman plays with the ferns on his. "How is it you can make a flower arrangement filled with so much meaning compact and precise? Even the fiddleheads are more of a statement than whimsical."
"I'm not very good at abstract expression. I'm still attempting to decipher the meaning behind yours." Logan clears his throat and his lips twist in to a small smile. "I understand what each represents, but I'll admit I'm anxious to make a wrong translation."
Playing with the ferns on his bouquet, Roman feels his face burn darker with each word as he explains. "Every bouquet I made didn't work. They explained my feelings, but clashed in looks. I ended up deciding to go with a few core ideas and decorating from there." Glancing up through his lashes to gauge Logan's response, he continues.
"It's almost intimidating how put together you are, specs. I see you and I need you to see me too; to want to work with me, build worlds with me. When I come up with something, I wonder what you will think. Thomas is of course our reason, but you are my drive. I didn't realise to what extent, though, until last night."
Roman reaches tentatively out and grasps Logan's left hand with his right, caressing the back in small circles with his thumb as he speaks. "Holding your hand while we created together, I was nervous and excited. Your approval and hint of a smile when I suggested holding non-dominant hands to build together had put figurative butterflies in my stomach. I spent the whole night wanting to rest my head on your shoulder and watch your animated face as you explained how objects in space are built from the recycled matter of previous stars. And after you retired for the night and left me on my own I regretted doing nothing. So when I came down for breakfast this morning, I was half certain I was still dreambuilding."
Logans thoughts stuttered as Roman grasped his hand, and by the end of the explanation they raced in search of the right answer. What was Roman looking for? Choosing the wrong action at this point could completely ruin how they interact. However, the longer Logan stood there, cheeks flushed, eyes slightly wide, a hesitant look slowly appeared on Romans face.
"Specs? Did I get this wrong? Do I need to back off?" He moves to disengage their hands, but Logan grasps tight.
"No." Logan hurriedly breaths out. "My apologies, Roman, I'm not well versed in these matters. I'm trying to calculate the right move, but this is an unfamiliar area to me." An idea comes forth and he gently tugs at their interlocked hands. "Virgil offered another suggestion I would like to try and then maybe we can go on that walk?"
"An Anxiety approved plan of action?" Roman cocks his head and smiles. "Now you've got to tell me."
With a plan now in mind, Logan carefully takes and places both bundles of flowers on to his desk. That simple task done, he locks eyes and steps forward so that he and Roman are chest to chest. Unwillingly, Roman gives a small startled squeak, brown eyes almost impossibly wide as Logan suddenly fills his senses. He now understands how Scarlett O'Hara felt when Rhett made his move. He glances down to Logans lips, then quickly back up, resisting the urge to lick his own.
"Roman," Logan takes in Romans dilated pupils, catches them flicking to his lips and feels more confident. He doesn't hide his intentions, eyes glancing down to full, slightly parted lips unashamedly before slowly coming back up. "I would very much appreciate it if I could kiss you right now. May I?"
The low tone in which Logan asks makes Romans knees go weak and he has to fight to stand. But the answer is clear. "Teach, I might die from the anticipation if you don't."
And so he does.
.-.. --- --. .. -. -.-. . END .-.. --- --. .. -. -.-. .