You Ever Think Abt How Good Leo’s Gaydar Was? He Really Clocked Logan And Finn Being In Love. At The

I know I’m vaincre Finn and Logan seem to already know about Leo’s past with jack archer but I don’t remember him telling them so I MUST ask you, how do you think they found out ? How do you think that conversation went? I LOVE UR WORK THANK U FOR WRITING DONT FEEL PRESSURED TO WRITE THIS

I love when your asks give me writing prompts! I can't promise I will get to all of them right away, but keep them coming!

Enjoy Leo being the town-favorite NOLA sweetheart that he is, Logan falling in love with butterscotch cookies, Finn being, once again, obsessed with his boys, and Eloise Knut being Mom of the Year.

All credits to @lumosinlove !!

Leo ushered Finn and Logan through the front door, all sweaty from their evening, post-dinner run. They were bickering over who won the sprint back to the house, a little out of breath, and Leo pinched each of their hips to remind them to take off their shoes before walking through towards the kitchen. A familiar, sweet smell hung in the air and he followed his nose to find his mother standing near the oven. 

“Hi boys,” Eloise said, smiling. “How was your run?”

“Good, mama,” Leo replied. He kissed her cheek. “You baking?”

But before she could reply, there was a thump and Logan stumbled in from taking his sneakers off, nose tilted up. “What smells so good?”

Finn snorted from behind him. “Nice manners, Tremblay.”

Logan rolled his eyes playfully. “Salut, Eloise. It smells good in here.” 

Eloise just waved him off with a laugh. “Thanks, Logan, honey. Just making some butterscotch cookies. Not an approved post-run meal, but you’re on vacation time, so I figured an exception could be made for one night.”

“Definitely,” Finn said. “Thanks for feeding Logan’s sweet tooth this week- those bulk sour strips are getting expensive.” 

Logan just shoved him gently. “Mais, non. Leo makes me sweet stuff now.” 

Leo would never get tired of the way they looked in his home’s kitchen, laughing and joking with his parents. Eloise eyes were bright as she turned to smile at Leo; she saw right through him always. “Well,” she said. “I taught him well then.” She went over to the fridge. “I must’ve done an exceptional job, too, because he’s not only got one but two lovely boyfriends.”

“Don’t pretend you weren’t already a fan, especially of Tremblay,” Wyatt said as he entered the kitchen and kissed her cheek. “He was always your favorite.”

“Ouch, Eloise,” Finn said, a hand over his heart in a wounded gesture.

“Oh, hush,” Eloise said. She wasn’t even embarrassed, just amused. “Leo, sweetheart, grab the pitcher from the fridge and some glasses? I made some decaf cold-brew. Wyatt, there’s milk in the fridge and I just restocked the sugar bowl.”

“We can help,” Logan said.

Eloise just shooed them away with her hands. “No, you boys go sit out back. Leo and Wyatt have got it.”

Leo and Wyatt both sent her an exasperated, but fond, look, and set about gathering the pitcher and glasses. Leo loved when his mother did this- she was a good hostess always, but he especially loved it in the summer when she would make homemade iced tea and coffee for the ever-rotating guests that would be over in their backyard. Leo and his father always set up and cleaned up so she could just enjoy the company of their friends, and had been for as long as Leo could remember. Sometimes, too, Wyatt would grill some sausages and they’d have late night sandwiches with their neighbours, or just the three of them. Leo didn’t realize how much he’d missed his hometown during his rookie year, especially after getting together with his boys. But this week had been spent going to all his old haunts after his Cup parade: his cove, his old gym, the nice sundae place he and his dad frequented, the market where the blues guitarist played. He had been bringing Mr. Jones baked goods at that market every week for as long as he could remember, and it had felt so good to do so again. Mr. Jones had seen him today, walking up with Finn and Logan and a container of zucchini bread, and had smiled so wide it had almost made Leo cry. 

“My boy,” he had said, hugging Leo briefly over his guitar. “What’ll it be today? Any requests?”

Finn had actually answered, with his signature grin. “Any B.B. King?”

Leo had almost melted right through the ground.

Later, they’d stopped by briefly to visit his old hockey coach, who ran youth summer camps at Leo’s old rink. Mrs. Auclair had let out a loud shout, and then a small gasp at Finn and Logan beside her. “My sweet boy,” she’d said in French. Leo had missed her Cajun accent. “You gotta warn me next time so I don’t get starstruck!”

To Leo’s surprise, Logan had laughed and made a comeback in French, much to her amusement. When she’d asked Finn something in French, he’d hesitated, which in turn made her laugh and switch to English. They’d immediately started a conversation, mindful of the little eyes on the ice that were skating around, and Leo had felt so happy in that moment that the bittersweet feeling of being back home had started to fade and transform into sunshiney, bone-deep warmth.  

Now, he and his dad brought out a plate of cookies and the iced coffee to their glass table outside. Logan and Finn were sitting close on two of the wooden chairs, old and well-loved, Finn running a hand through Logan’s sweaty hair. When they saw Leo, they both looked up and their smiles widened. Leo still didn’t really know what to do with that, only knew that it made him feel better than anything ever had. 

“Hi, nutter-butter,” Finn said as Leo bent and set the tray down. “Need any help?”

Leo shook his head and accepted Finn’s kiss on his forehead. “No, thanks. You want some iced coffee?”

“Ouais,” Logan said. He shifted to sit up straighter. “Merci, mon coeur.”

Leo smiled and poured two glasses of the dark liquid, adding a dash of milk to Finn’s and lots of milk and sugar to Logan’s. He heard a whistle from behind him. “Damn,” Wyatt said. “Is there even any coffee in that?”

Logan flushed and Finn laughed. “I’ve been saying that for years. The sweet tooth is incurable.” Finn held his up. “Mine, however, is perfectly balanced. Not too strong, and not too weak, like Mr. Sugar Bomb’s over here.”

Logan grumbled under his breath and Wyatt winked at Leo with a smile. Leo blushed slightly, but poured some for himself and his parents and sat down as Wyatt placed the tray of cookies on the table. Eloise followed, her blonde curls bouncing on top of her head. “How are we, boys?”

“Good,” Finn said. “Thanks so much, Eloise. These look so good.”

She looked pleased. “Help yourselves, honeys.”

Logan immediately reached for a cookie and moaned when he took a bite. His eyes closed and he nodded repeatedly making Leo chuckle. “Ouais,” he said after swallowing. He looked at Eloise. “These are really good. Can we have the recipe?”

Leo snorted. “You mean can she give me the recipe? You can’t bake, sweetheart.”

Logan patted his thigh, already reaching for another cookie. “Ouais, that’s what I meant.”

Leo rolled his eyes but kissed the top of his head. “I’ll take a picture from mama’s recipe book.” He looked to Eloise. “If that’s okay?”

“Of course, sweetheart,” she said. She took a sip from her iced coffee. “You know, it’s been a while since I made these. I used to make them all the time for your team, remember, sweetheart? The iced coffee, too, and sweet tea. Lord, Wyatt and I used to bring those plastic baseball coolers, didn’t we? The ones with the spouts.”

“Iced tea? At a hockey game?” Finn asked, amused.

“Yeah,” Leo replied with a shrug. “People really loved it. Buses and stuff used to get hot.” He grimaced. “It was awful playing a full game of hockey and then stepping out into the humid air, too.”

“I’m just impressed you had that many kids wanting to play hockey here,” Finn said. He had an arm around Logan in between them and was stroking Leo’s shoulder with his hand. “It just doesn’t seem, like…”

“Like a hockey town?” Wyatt supplied. Finn nodded. “Not really, but in the city you can find everything.” He jerked his head to Leo. “We just got lucky Le had such a good coach and a talented group of kids the years he played.”

Logan turned to look at Leo, swallowing another bite of cookie. “Did any of your other teammates make it to the NHL, Le?”

Leo looked up abruptly from where he had been picking up a cookie. His mother’s eyes were already on him, careful and watching. She was frowning slightly, her lips pursed, but didn’t say anything. He flicked his eyes across to Finn, who had furrowed his brow, and finally landed his gaze on Logan, who looked like he was going to shy away a little. Leo put a hand on his thigh and squeezed before turning to pick up his coffee again. 

“Yeah,” he said. “A couple. But I don’t- we don’t really keep in touch anymore.” He took a bite of cookie and straightened with a small smile. “That’s okay though. I like the Lions better anyway.”

Finn squeezed his shoulder gently, but when Leo turned to look at him he was smiling. “Well, I’d be offended if you didn’t.”

That made them all laugh and Leo listed into Logan’s side a little, feeling the texture of his ribs through his shirt. He felt a little lighter, but when he looked across the table he could see his mother’s eyes still watching him and swallowed. 

***

Later, when he was finishing drying up the dishes, his mother walked in through the back door and gently closed it behind her. Wyatt and his boys were still outside and chatting, laughing. Leo had placed a kiss on Finn and Logan’s foreheads and had come inside to begin cleaning. He just needed a moment, and they seemed to recognize it, following him with their soft gazes as he’d carried the plates, cups, and pitcher inside. 

His mother came up beside him and took a plate from his hands to put in a cabinet. “You alright, sweetheart?” she whispered gently in French. He’d missed the way her voice curved around the vowels, so different from Logan’s and Pascal’s and Sirius’. 

“I’m okay,” he said, but his voice was soft.

She bit her lip. “Do they know about…?”

Leo shook his head. “No. No, I- I haven’t told them yet. Hasn’t come up.”

She grasped onto his biceps to turn him towards her. He was stronger than her, much taller, too, but she had always been good at making him feel held and surrounded. “I think you should, honey.”

Leo nodded and felt his eyes sting. “I know. I know, I should, mama, but- I don’t want to make them feel guilty-”

“Why would they feel guilty?” she asked, brows furrowed.

Leo breathed shakily. “Because… he wanted to hide, and I didn’t. And now, with them, we…”

“You feel like you’re hiding?” Eloise asked gently. When Leo nodded, she tisked her tongue and reached up to bring his down into a hug. He wrapped his arms around her waist. She was warm and strong, as always, and he hoped he always felt this safe in her arms. “Oh, honey.” She stroked his hair. “There is a difference between not coming out to the world because you’re not ready, and hiding from each other.” She pulled back to grab his face between her two palms. “You’re boys don’t hide from you, Leo. Not like him. They’re not like him. So don’t hide from them, honey. They love you so much.”

“Yeah,” Leo said. He was nervous, and a bit sad, but he still smiled when he thought of them. “Yeah, they do.”

“I love you, honey,” his mother said, pulling him into another hard hug. “I love you so much. All I want is for you to be happy, and they make you so happy. That’s all I could ask for my sweet boy. And I know I don’t know… everything about what happened, but they should.” She stroked a hand slowly through his hair and said her next words quietly. “They’ll listen, I know they will. They deserve you sweetheart.” She kissed his cheek. “And when you’re all ready, you can tell people. But it doesn’t mean that you’re hiding right now.”

As if on cue, the back door opened. Leo watched over his mother’s shoulder as Finn and Logan walked in, looking at him with careful eyes. With a last squeeze, his mother pulled away. “I’m going to go join Wyatt out back.” She smiled softly at Leo. “Good night, sweetheart. I love you.”

“Love you, mama,” Leo whispered and leaned down to kiss her cheek. 

She winked at him and turned around, placing a hand on each of his boys and giving their arms a squeeze. “Night, boys.”

“Bonne nuit, Eloise,” Logan said softly.

They both watched her as she closed the back door behind her, then turned to Leo. Finn walked up and took his hand. “Le?”

Leo just squeezed his hand, then reached his other one out for Logan’s. He smiled at them both. “Shower?”

Logan leaned up to kiss him softly. “Ouais.”

Leo tried not to be quiet in the shower, he really did. Finn and Logan didn’t ask any questions, just washed his hair and body gently. Logan tucked himself under Leo’s chin when they wrapped themselves in towels, and Finn gently handed them each a pair of boxers with a kiss to each of their cheeks. Leo stayed in the bathroom a moment longer, combing through his curls with some cream and gathering his breath. To his own surprise, he looked calm on the outside. His mother was right, he supposed. His boys loved him, they listened to him, they never judged- what reason would he have to be nervous? 

He took a deep breath and shook out his hair lightly, squeezing it gently with the microfiber towel his mother had given him a few years ago. He felt arms wrap gently around him, and he looked back to see Logan staring up at him with his devastating green eyes. He pressed a kiss to Leo’s spine. “Ça va?”

Leo nodded. “Yeah, let me finish with my hair. I’ll join you in a minute.”

But Logan didn’t move, still a warm weight against Leo’s back. Leo smiled at himself in the mirror. A barnacle, that one.

When he finished, he turned around to face Logan. “Tired, sweetheart?”

Logan nodded with his face squished into Leo’s chest. “Ouais. The heat makes me sleepy.”

Leo laughed. “Can’t make fun of me for not liking the cold in the winter anymore, can you?”

“Non, I still can,” Logan grumbled, but he was smiling softly. 

He moved his arms to loop around Leo’s neck and looked up at him expectantly. Leo snorted, but grabbed him under his thighs to hoist him up and wrap his legs around his waist. Logan was heavier than he looked, all thick muscle, but Leo supported him easily and ran a hand up and down his back. He bit at Logan’s shoulder. “You’re so strong and sexy. Just want to eat you.”

Logan laughed in his ear. He pulled back slightly to bite at Leo’s shoulder as well. “You, too.”

Leo kissed his neck with a smile and walked into his bedroom. Finn was already sat up in bed with his glasses down his nose, book in his hand. He glanced up at them and smiled as they came to sit next to him. Leo tried to gently set Logan down on the bed, but Logan shook his head and held on tighter. 

Finn snorted. “You’re such a little shit, Tremblay.”

“Non,” Logan said.

Leo sat down on the edge of the bed with a laugh, Logan now in his lap. “Ouais, you are. I love you, though.”

“You do,” Logan said. He leaned into for a kiss then leaned back with a sigh and a smile. “You know, I said that to you three months ago to the day.”

Finn leaned over to scuff the back of his head. “You mean we said that.”

“Ouais, but I said it first.”

“Because you jumped the gun, Logan.” 

“How could I resist?” Logan asked. He kissed Leo’s cheeks hard, and Leo squinted one eye shut with a grin. “Look at him.”

“Look at both of you,” Finn replied. He patted the bed next to him. “C’mon, up here.”

Logan swung a leg over Leo’s lap and crawled next to Finn. He opened his arm for Leo to come and tuck himself into his side, but Leo just sat crisscrossed on the bed and stared at them for a minute. Logan furrowed his brow, but Leo just shook his head and smiled. Finn put his book down, and Leo took each of their hands.

“Thank you,” he said. “Thanks for coming home with me this week.” 

Finn kissed his hand. “Of course, baby.”

“I just mean,” Leo started. “It’s been really nice to bring you home.” He tilted his head. “I’ve always wanted to take someone- or, someones now, I guess- home to meet my parents.”

Logan still looked slightly confused. “Soleil… did you ever-?”

Leo sat up straighter. “Date someone else?”

Logan nodded. “Ouais. I just- I thought about what I said at the table. And I just thought maybe you’d- with someone else on your-” He paused for a moment in that way he did when he was thinking of the English words. “D’accord, I’m sorry. I- did I say something wrong? Out in the garden?”

Leo shook his head. “No, you’re okay. You’re- you’re not wrong.”

Finn also sat up. “Someone on your team?”

Leo nodded and looked down. “Yeah. Yeah.”

Logan made a noise in his throat. He knelt his way over to Leo and straddled his lap, legs extending out towards the end of the bed. His hands began to mindlessly card their way through Leo’s still-damp hair. “What happened?”

Leo ran his hands up and down his waist. “What do you mean?”

“Something happened.”

Leo laughed slightly, but it was rough. “And how do you know?”

Finn answered for Logan. “Because whoever it was put that look on your face.” He also crawled over to sit beside them. Leo could feel his body heat from where he was pressed against his side. “I don’t like that look.”

“Me neither,” Logan said. He kissed Leo’s cheek. “Don’t like you sad.”

Leo rolled his eyes. “I’m not sad.”

“Then what are you?” Finn asked.

Leo shrugged. “I don’t- it’s not really-”

“No, it is important,” Finn pushed. He softened his tone and his eyes were gentle. He was always so gentle with them. “Really, Le, what are you?”

Leo closed his eyes and leaned into Logan’s hands. “Angry I think.”

“Quoi?” Logan asked. He gripped Leo’s hair a bit harder and Leo opened his eyes to look at him. “What did he do to you?” he repeated.

Leo took a deep breath. “His name was Jack. Jack Archer.”

Finn scoffed. “Basic name. Not a fan.”

Leo rolled his eyes bit, but smiled. “You don’t know anything about him yet.”

Finn shrugged. “Don’t need to, your face says it all. And besides, am I wrong?”

Leo shook his head. “Not- not really, no.”

“Allez,” Logan said. He settled his hips further down into Leo’s. “Tell us.”

“Okay,” Leo said. He breathed shakily. “Okay, yeah. He played hockey with me, and is now on Tampa’s farm team, but we also had classes together in high school. We- we were a… ‘thing’ I guess.” His boys looked concerned, but they let him continue. “But he never- he never wanted anyone to know. Which was fine. I didn’t want anyone to know about me, either, for a while. But he also-” Leo felt the tears start in his eyes. “He would- ignore me, I guess, sometimes. In public. Like, one second we’d be joking, and then I’d get too close, I guess, or accidentally touch him, and then he’d- he’d just jerk back. Or tell me to back off, but not in a nice way?”

Finn let out a frustrated huff. “Fucker.”

“No, Finn,” Leo said. “No, he really- I mean, in general he was nice. But he just- I think he was just really scared. I mean, we were in high school.” He kneaded his palms into Logan’s lower back. “And I was fine for a while, keeping it a secret. And I also…” Leo breathed, his cheeks turning a flushed red with shame. “I also just really liked having that attention from someone. Finally, you know? After spending so long hiding it, it felt good to not have to hide it, at least to one person.”

Logan kissed his cheek. “Ouais. Ouais, I understand.”

Leo leaned back to look at him and Finn. “But I also knew that that wasn’t how I deserved to be treated. And so I- when I wanted to tell my family, I broke up with him. I didn’t want to hide anymore. But then the NHL was looking, so I didn’t start anything new, and then I got on the Lions, and, well-” He shrugged with a smile. “You know the rest.”

“Yeah,” Finn whispered. “Yeah, we do.”

“Leo,” Logan said suddenly. He looked a bit scared, a bit sad. “Do we- are you still hiding? Do we make you feel like you’re hiding?” 

Leo shook his head hard. “No. No, you don’t. It’s okay. You- you don’t ignore me in public. We still go on dates, we still hug on the ice.” He stroked Logan’s cheek. “It’s hard. I know it is. But we don’t hide from each other.” Finn cupped his cheek, and Leo kissed his palm. “And I’ll- I’ll wait for you. Whenever you want to, we’ll come out, but I’ll wait for you.”

Logan directed his gaze back to him. His words came out in a rush, so unlike his normal way of speaking. “Désolé. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m not-”

Leo interrupted him with a hard kiss. “Non, no, Logan. It’s my decision, too, and I’m deciding it’s okay to wait.”

“Me, too, baby,” Finn said. He leaned in and kissed Logan. “I’ll wait for you. I love you, I'll wait for you forever.”

Logan's face had a complicated expression. “You- I don't want you to wait forever. Just- just not right now.” He pushed his forehead against Leo's. “I’m still sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Leo said. “You two- you’re nothing like Jack. He didn’t-” Leo felt his eyes tearing up. “He didn’t- God, sometimes he didn’t even look at me, and I wanted him to look so bad, I don’t- sometimes I don’t even recognize who I was back then.”

“Well,” Finn said. “I love you who you are now.” He kissed Leo gently then moved to sit behind Logan. “We love you for who you are now and who you will be, baby.” 

“Ouais,” Logan said. “No more hiding, soleil.” He tucked his head over Leo’s shoulder and Leo wrapped him up tight. “No more.” 

Leo’s tears fell onto Logan’s bare shoulder, but he didn’t seem to mind. “I love you. I love you so much.” He laughed a little and hid his face in Logan’s neck. “You know, he hated my mother’s butterscotch cookies.”

“Quoi?” Logan said, loud in the quiet room. He pulled back with wide eyes. “What, why?”

Leo couldn’t help but laugh. “He said they were too sweet.”

“Non,” Logan retorted. He looked offended. “Pas question, je ne te crois pas.”

“Believe it, sweetheart,” Leo said. He looked up to Finn. “He also put three shots of espresso in his lattes.”

Finn scrunched his nose. “Ew. That is not perfectly balanced.”

Logan kissed Leo’s forehead firmly. “Sounds like he wasn’t good for you, anyways.”

Leo gazed at them both adoringly. “But you both are perfect for me.”

Both of their gazes softened. Finn leaned in to place his lips gently on Leo’s temple, then Logan’s. “I love you.” He shifted to go lie down. “Now, I believe it’s bed time. C’mon, I’ll read to you.”

“Ouais,” Logan said with a last kiss to Leo’s lips. He brushed their noses together. “Je t’aime.”

“Love you,” Leo whispered. He crawled into Finn’s open arms and Logan curled up on his chest, their legs tangled. “And I’ll- I can tell you more stuff about him, if you want.”

Finn put an arm around them. “Only if you want to.” He shrugged. “Don’t want to stroke my ego too much, you know?”

Leo laughed. “He wasn’t that bad.”

Finn grinned mischievously. “Right, but I’m perfect for you. Can’t really beat that.”

“No,” Leo sighed happily. “No you can’t.”

Logan grunted against his chest. “Allez, soleil, rouge.”

Finn reached down to smack his butt lightly. “I’m going, Tremblay, gotta appreciate our Leo thoroughly first.”

Logan peeked out through one eye with a smirk. “Oui?”

Finn kissed his hand and touched Logan’s forehead. “Focus, baby.” He settled back and opened the book. “Alright, where were we, Le? Chapter six?”

Leo nodded and leaned his head against Finn’s shoulder. Jack Archer seemed so far away in that moment, even though he was probably also visiting his parents just about fifteen minutes away. But he didn’t crowd Leo’s mind like he used to- not with Logan’s weight on him and Finn’s gentle voice in his ear. Leo closed his eyes, basking in the warm Louisiana air and the smell of his childhood bedroom, now mixing with Finn and Logan’s scents. This, he thought, was worth the waiting. 

MORE headcanons, because I once again need a study break. Probably won't be posting for a few more days- I want to get some of these prompts written out and edited before I start posting them for you guys, and I am also SWAMPED with homework! Keep the prompts coming if you have them, though, please! I promise I will get to them in the near future. :)

Logan really is super fucking strong. His bench, squat, and deadlift maxes go CRAZY, and he is a pull-up king. He doesn't have a powerlifter/bodybuilder body, though, because of all the hockey he plays, so he's not a TOTAL hunk. But his muscles show AND go. Finn has obviously been obsessed with them for years (he's a big fan of biting them). Leo could sit with a cup of iced coffee and a pastry and watch Logan work out for HOURS- he gets really hot and bothered watching Logan lift.

Finn is a big lotion-er. He didn't really have a proper skin routine or anything like that until he met Leo, but he ALWAYS lotioned his body after a shower from the time he was little because he has really dry skin. It's a family thing. And because he's so pale, he burns easily (there is no part of him that tans, he is a ghost or a lobster), so his parents always emphasized sun damage prevention and after-sun skin care for him and Alex.

Leo loves handmade sweaters. Everywhere they travel to, he always goes and looks for a local artisan who makes sweaters and buys himself one. Finn and Logan find it so cute, especially if they're in a country where the native language isn't English, because Leo always tries to talk to the shop owners in their native language, even if he stumbles his way through a conversation sometimes. His side of the closet is filled with big, colorful, wooly sweaters, and Logan LOVES to steal them because they swamp his body. It's like Leo's giving him a hug (bonus if Leo is actually hugging him while he's wearing one of them).

They went to relationship counseling a few different times. They did it when they were still long-distance after they'd gotten married and it was really hard to communicate sometimes and they got kind of depressed being newly-married AND living apart, and then they went again after they all retired and were figuring out their purpose. Leo, more than Finn and Logan, needed time to figure out his own identity, because he'd entered a long-term career and permanent relationship so young. Finn and Logan especially struggled with the idea of Leo doing all his charity work and traveling, the idea of him being away freaked them out to the point where it resulted in a few arguments. Obviously, they figured it out, and they worked everything out, but it was hard for a few months.

Leo's body softens a bit in retirement. He still lifts and stuff (he retains most of his strength), but he doesn't have to follow as strict of a diet. He gets kind of a sleeper-build almost, a little squishy on top but still REALLY strong underneath, and his muscles POP when he flexes. Finn and Logan are absolutely obsessed with him. Finn takes every opportunity to bite his tummy, and Logan loves Leo's thighs and back. He's still really flexible (mobility is important for him), which also has its benefits. He ages beautifully because of it, too, and his body is capable of physical things until a very old age.

Logan has one of those hand squeezer things to build up finger muscles. He does it to distract himself, mostly, but Finn and Leo have a hard time tearing their eyes away. Their Lolo has very nice hands.

Finn LOVES suits. Absolutely loves them. He also loves finding up-and-coming designers or recently graduated fashion students and just tells them to do whatever they'd like. He ends up with a pretty spectacular wardrobe. So do Leo and Logan.

They all went to South America and hiked volcanoes together in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. Coolest views EVER! Logan and Leo especially have a love for trekking. They start to go on a lot of camping trips when they have vacation time. Finn is weirdly obsessed with the dry meals that you rehydrate with just water. Leo is just a bit appalled.

They once ran into Johnathan Bailey in New York City after a matinee Broadway show. Finn was SO starstruck and stuttered so hard that Leo and Logan were DYING of silent laughter. Finn choked when Johnathan winked at him and LeLo make fun of him for it for the rest of their lives.

They make a huge effort to never, EVER stop dating each other. They might have been married for 20, 30, 40 years, they might have kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, and they are still just as obsessed and dedicated to one another as they were at the beginning. Even when they go through rough patches, they never miss their weekly dates, even if it is just going for coffee or taking a walk all together. They always say 'I love you' when they say goodbye, hang up the phone, go to sleep, wake up, and after every argument (that aren't really arguments at the end of the day- mostly they're tired or don't know how to say what they want to say). They make sure to schedule nights away with just the three of them, even if it's just at a hotel on the other side of the city for one night because they left their kids at Remus and Sirius' house. They never stop surprising one another and they never stop putting each other first, even if it sometimes is really hard. It's how they stay so incredibly in love for their entire lives.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE all your prompts! Please keep sending them, and I will do my best to get to them when I can. I feel honored to be the voice you trust with your thoughts and ideas. :)

This was something I wrote ages ago, so I figured I'd post it. It also happens to have some of my favorite dialogue of the boys that I've ever written.

TW for discussion of nefarious activities. Nobody actually participates in them, but there is a healthy discussion about them, which should ALWAYS be happening in relationships where nefarious activities are participated in, regardless of how long the people have been together.

All credits to @lumosinlove

The world was full of people that loved Logan Tremblay. Finn and Leo included. Finn and Leo especially, in Finn’s expert opinion. But that did not mean other people didn’t, particularly fans.

Like the ones by the glass that were being shown on the jumbotron. 

A group of what looked like young adults were standing there with signs, saying things like Hey, hot (head) Tremblay, can I get a puck?; #71, nice lettuce! Can I have your haircare routine?; and Finn’s personal favorite: Remember me? Harvard Halloween party 2016?

Maybe, Finn thought, squinting at the screen, a few too many people loved Logan Tremblay.

The boy holding the final sign had wavy red hair and blue eyes, and looked strong underneath his Rangers jersey. It confused Finn slightly- Logan had never mentioned picking up boys in college before, and Finn was one-hundred percent sure it had never happened. Mostly.

Logan would’ve told him. Right?

He nudged Leo, who was sat beside him in the players box. The Lions had gotten knocked out in the previous round, and Finn had taken some personal days off from school so they could both come and support Logan as he and the Rangers made (another) run for the Cup. Alex had retired at the end of last season when they had made it to the Stanley Cups Finals and won, going out on a high. It had been a tough and physical 7-game series, with both him and Logan walking away with cuts all over their hands and cheeks, but a silver trophy nonetheless. 

Honestly, it was almost annoying how often they made it deep into the playoffs. Finn, two years into his retirement and in his first year of teaching, still couldn’t help but feel a bit jealous.

Leo turned to him, ginger ale can raised to his mouth. He swallowed. “What is it, sweetheart?”

Finn nudged his chin. “Look at the folks on the jumbotron.” 

Leo did, squinted to read, then grinned a little amusedly. “You jealous?”

Finn scoffed. “No.” He paused. “A little. I don’t know, I’m mostly confused.” He took Leo’s hand, stroking his wedding band and engagement ring. “He just- he never mentioned hooking up with any boys in college. In the year we were apart.”

Leo’s brow furrowed. “Okay. But does it matter?”

Finn shook his head hard. “No. God, of course not, not in that way. It’s just-” He sucked through his teeth. “He was so afraid of not being- straight. He couldn’t even break those walls down for me then, and…” He rolled his eyes. “This is stupid.”

Leo reach up to brush his cheek. “No, it’s not stupid. Tell me.”

Finn played with Leo’s fingers, looking down. “He couldn’t break those walls down for me, even though he loved me. I just don’t understand how he could-” He paused, breath hitching, then moved his eyes upward. Leo was staring at him in his careful way, listening. He was so good at listening. “I just don’t understand how he could break those walls down for somebody else, for another guy, if he couldn’t do it for me.”

“Oh sweetheart,” Leo whispered. “Maybe…” Leo paused, obviously considering his next words carefully. Finn nudged him. “Maybe he did it with them because he didn’t have to break down walls for them. If it was just one time.” He put his pointer finger under Finn’s chin to kiss him. “He loved you so much. Loves you so much. So do I. Sometimes those feelings are so overwhelming- those walls he had for you might not have been about sex, sweetheart.” Leo took a deep breath. “I think- I think they were beyond that. Logan’s love transcends sex, Fish, and I think that was the problem at the time.” He shrugged. “Plus, that person kind of looks like you, yeah? Might’ve just reminded him of you.”

Finn looked down at the guy, who was no longer on the jumbotron but still close to the ice. He saw the lean set of his waist, his broad back. His red hair, his blue eyes. He looked at Leo. “Kind of looks like you, too. The eyes. His build.”

Leo smiled. “Well- Logan was just looking for both of us, then.”

Finn kissed him. “I love you, Le.”

“Love you, too, honey. Lo, too.”

They both turned back to the ice, where the Rangers and Bruins were still doing their warm-ups. Logan had skated over to the group of people, tilting his head in a way that Finn knew meant he was confused. He was reading the sign and then briefly talked to the guy. The guy replied to him, looking both sheepish and excited, then they were both laughing. Logan reached down for a puck, sharpie in hand, signed it and tossed it over the boards. They exchanged a few more words, and Logan tapped his fist to the glass with a smile before skating away.

“Well,” Leo said. “They obviously recognize each other. And they seemed friendly. That’s a good thing, I think.”

Finn hummed in agreement, but he was still confused. Leo, sensing his lingering hesitation, cupped his jaw, gentle but firm, and turned to kiss him. When he pulled away, he looked resolute, his eyes loving and determined. 

“Us three, sweetheart,” he whispered. “Forever.”

Finn smiled, relaxing. Leo smiled back. He looked so gorgeous when he smiled that Finn had to kiss him again. “Yeah, baby. Forever and ever.” 

He watched the game mostly tucked under Leo’s arm, even when they were standing. Logan played hard, he always did, but the playoffs made him even more determined. He stick-handled deftly, checked hard but clean. His game was efficient and well thought out, and he seemed to have eyes in the back of his head with the way that he kept finding his guys. Finn loved watching him, always had. He loved watching Logan even more with Leo at his side, a warm weight around him. Leo knew how special Logan was, watched him so lovingly. Leo was special. Finn was so lucky.

They pulled out a win in overtime, with an incredible wrist shot from the dot by Zibanejad. Logan had scored two goals in regulation, both assisted by Luke. They weren’t like how Finn and Logan had been when they’d played together, but they were as close as anyone could get, Finn thought. He was glad Logan had someone in his corner like that in New York.

After the game, he and Leo said goodbye to Logan’s family, Thomas, who came with Noelle, and Adelaida, Logan’s sister Sydney’s girlfriend, before heading down to wait outside the locker room. Finn knew he was gripping Leo’s hand and forearm hard, but Leo just turned and placed a kiss on his forehead. They were standing there against the wall for Finn didn’t know how long, his head on Leo’s shoulder with his eyes half-closed. He was suddenly tired, and Leo was soft and warm. Logan would be, too.

Beside them, the locker room door opened and someone took a surprised inhale. “Oh,” Logan said. “Soleil. Rouge.” He stepped in front of them, his smile soft. He glanced at their hands, then at their faces. “Bonjour, mes amours.”

“Hi, honey,” Leo said, reaching with his free arm to pull Logan towards them and into a kiss. “Good game. You played so well.”

“Hm,” Logan said into another kiss. “Merci, mon coeur.” He turned his face up to Finn and smiled. “Finn.”

God, Finn loved the way Logan said his name. “Hi, baby,” he said, smiling and kissing him. “You looked so good out there.” He leaned down to bite at Logan’s jaw. “So good.”

Logan hummed happily, his head against Leo’s chest, eyes pointed down. He was looking at Finn and Leo’s intertwined hands. Finn knew he was still squeezing tightly. “Quoi? Ça va?” He looked up. Busted. “What’s wrong?”

Leo looked at Finn, and then at Logan, whose eyes were flitting between their faces. Eventually, he nodded and bit his lip, placing a hard kiss on each of their foreheads. “Is there a room, Lo? Or do we wanna go home, talk?”

At that, Finn looked up at him. “Home.”

Logan was still worried, but understood. Leo shouldered Logan’s bag with a kiss to his head, and with his now free arms Logan hugged Finn around the waist briefly. Finn wrapped his arms around Logan’s neck, tucking his face into Logan’s hair. He smelled clean, like the showers. Finn could breath in his scent, Leo’s scent, for eternity. After a few seconds, he felt Leo’s hand on his back and pulled away. “Okay,” he said, grabbing Logan’s hand. “Let’s go home.”

Leo drove them to Logan’s apartment, Logan following behind in his Jeep that he’d taken earlier to the arena. Finn played with Leo’s fingers, which were resting on his thigh and rubbing softly. He looked over to Leo’s side profile: his cut jaw, his curls, his careful eyes watching the road. Finn took a deep breath. When his voice came out, it was soft. “Do you think he’ll get mad at me?”

Leo looked at him briefly from the road. “No, sweetheart. No, I don’t think he will get mad.” He brought Finn’s hand to his mouth and kissed over his wedding band and his engagement ring. He had Logan’s on his hand, today, Leo’s around his neck on a chain. “He isn’t going anywhere, Finn. He loves you too much.”

Finn squeezed his hand. “He loves you, too, Le, baby.” He kissed Leo’s knuckles in return. “I love you.”

Leo just smiled. “Love you.”

They pulled up at the same time as Logan, Leo once again grabbing Logan’s bags from the car. Logan grabbed for Finn’s hand, but Finn just wrapped his arms around Logan’s waist and kissed him hard. He smiled, and felt Logan smile back. “Love you, Tremblay.”

Logan giggled in the way he only did for the two of them. “Je t’aime, rouge.”

Finn turned around, then bent down. He looked over his shoulder. “Jump.”

“Quoi?” Logan’s brow was furrowed. 

“Jump,” Finn said again. “I’m being a nice husband. You just played an NHL playoff game. It’s prince-treatment tonight.”

Leo laughed. “Oh, God, that’s going to go to his head now.”

Logan just smiled, all teeth. “Oh man”, he said, mocking Finn’s accent. Finn just stuck his tongue out as Logan jumped onto his back, arms around his neck. “I’m a lucky prince.” He pointed ahead of them. “Onward, mon rouge.”

Finn just fake dropped him, catching him under his thighs as Logan made an ah! sound. Finn blindly smacked at his legs. “I’m not a horse, ten.”

Leo rolled his eyes with a grin. “Let’s go, His Royal Highness and his trusty steed.”

Logan was warm along Finn’s back all the way up to the apartment, pressing kisses along the base of his neck. Leo opened the door for them and patted Logan’s butt as they walked through, earning himself a cheeky grin. Logan wiggled to get down, but Finn gripped his thighs harder, carrying him over to the couch. Realizing what was going to happen, Logan tried again. “Rouge-”

But Finn ignored him, sitting down backwards on the couch, squashing Logan a bit underneath him with a satisfied sigh. “Ah,” he said. “My favorite couch cushion.”

Logan just pinched his side and bit his neck. “Rouge.”

“Ow,” Finn said. “Didn’t know couch cushions bite.”

“Ouais, this one does.” 

Finn let Logan have a little room to scoot upwards and fully sit, then flopped down, his back to Logan’s chest. He laced their hands on his stomach, slumped down a little to accommodate for the height difference. Leo settled down alongside them. 

“Wow,” he said, eyebrows raised in amusement. “Look at you, Tremblay. Finally of service, and not being serviced.”  

Logan rolled his eyes, but reach his hand out. “Ici, soleil.”

Leo complied, snuggling up along their sides, one arm along the back of the couch and the other on Finn’s side. He threw his left leg over Finn’s, settling down. “I take back what I just said.”

Logan just smiled and kissed him contentedly. Finn settled his head back on Logan’s left shoulder and slouched down further so he could lean and watch the both of them. Gorgeous. Both of them were so gorgeous.

Leo pulled away first, giving Logan one last peck before turning his eyes to Finn’s. He somehow always knew what they were thinking, everything on their faces written out plainly for him. Logan, upon seeing Leo’s gaze, turned to look down, too. He furrowed his brow. “Rouge?” He lifted Finn more firmly to his chest. “Want to tell me what’s wrong?”

Finn could feel himself panicking a little, breathing heavy. Leo just squeezed his thigh, nudging his chin in a go on gesture. Finn took a deep breath, looking down at his and Logan’s hands laced across his stomach. He played with Logan’s rings briefly, collecting his thoughts.

“When you were warming up,” he started. “I saw- there was this guy. With his friends, and they had signs. And you went to talk to him, and the guy…” He took a shaky breath in, pressing harder back into Logan’s solid chest. Logan held him tighter. “His sign said something about- Harvard? And sex? Or- insinuating sex… with you.” He could feel Logan’s sudden intake of breath and turned his head to look into his eyes. “Not that that’s bad. God, Lo, I’m not gonna judge you for that. I know we-” His eyes were wettening. “We both had… other people when we weren’t at Harvard together. Hell, even when we were. I just-” He stopped, a heavy weight settling in his chest.

“Rouge,” Logan whispered, nudging his cheek with his nose. “Dites-moi. Tell me.”

Finn whimpered slightly, feeling Leo’s hand come up to stroke his neck. He was so grateful for their touch, for their strength, in moments like this. “I didn’t know you had slept with another man,” he said. “And I… oh God, this is awful.”

He had really started crying then, and Logan made a panicked sound. He started grabbing for Finn to turn him around, but Finn was so stiff that Leo had to stand up and help him. Together, they moved Finn so he was straddling Logan’s lap, facing his husbands, Logan and Leo’s hands on his hips, steadying him. Logan leaned up to kiss his cheeks wet cheeks.

“Rouge,” Logan whispered, a little frantically. “Rouge, what’s wrong? Mon coeur, mon coeur…”

“Sorry,” Finn got out. Leo shushed him, hand going to the back of his neck and squeezing. “Sorry, sorry, it’s not you. It’s just, what I’m about to say makes me feel really guilty, I’m sorry-”

“Rouge,” Logan said again, nose against Finn’s jaw. “Donne le moi. It’s okay. Give it to me.” 

“Okay, okay,” Finn started, sitting up and away. He wiped his cheeks and looked at his husbands, their eyes patient if not a bit concerned. “What I was going to say is-” He cleared is through. “Is that I- it surprised me to see that, to see the man with the sign because…” Finn took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “Because you broke down your walls to have sex with him, and not for me.”

Logan made a noise low in his throat, and looked to Leo. “Quoi?”

Leo brushed Finn’s hair back from his forehead like he sometimes did. “Finn, honey, it’s okay.” He turned to Logan. “It’s okay, it makes sense.” Back to Finn. “Go on, sweetheart.”

“Yeah,” Finn said, swallowing. “Yeah, okay. Lo,” he said, looking into Logan’s eyes. “I was surprised because… because, back then, you were so afraid of being not straight…” He had expected Logan to wince, or look away, but he just nodded, stroking a finger down Finn’s cheek. Finn, boldened, continued on. “And I thought that, if you couldn’t let your walls down to have me, who you… who you loved- how could you let your walls down for him? And it’s not-” He closed his eyes again, guilt creeping in. “It’s not that I’m trying to make it about me in that sense, it’s your body- I just don’t understand I guess. Leo said-” He stopped again, gripping at the hand that Leo offered him. “Leo said that it might’ve been different, because what we had- what we have- that goes beyond sex. It goes beyond everything.” He looked at Logan. “You’re everything.” Looked at Leo. “You’re both everything.” Back to Logan. “I- I’m obviously okay with it, I’m not here to judge. But I just- I think I’m hurt. Not by what you did, but just- a surprised hurt. A reliving-my-sad-days hurt.” He laughed a little self-deprecatingly. “You did a number on me Tremblay.”

Logan whined. “Finn-”

“No, no, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that,” Finn said. “It’s not important- we figured that out years ago.” He grabbed Leo’s hand, the one with his rings, and held it up alongside his own, flashing his own rings. “Now I’m yours forever, huh? And you get two, Tremblay. You lucky duck.”

Logan couldn’t help but laugh, a little tearily, staring at their hands then Finn’s face. “Ouais. The luckiest.” His smile faded a little. “But, Finn- I know I wasn’t okay back then.”

Finn shook his head. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

Logan gripped his hip harder with one hand, then reached for Leo and Finn’s hands with the other. “Non, non, that’s not what I was going to say.” He played with their rings. “Mais, ouais, not exactly what I was going to say.”

Finn and Leo straightened up, Leo leaning over to kiss the side of Logan’s head. Logan looked to him, and smiled. “Mon soleil.”

“Toujours.”

Logan smiled wider, then looked at Finn. “I never slept with any men. That I knew of.”

Finn jerked back a bit, confused. “What? But the guy-”

Logan shook his head. “Merde, that came out wrong.” He laughed a little. “That was Sam. He was a freshman when I was a senior, played on the women’s rugby team. He still went by Sam back then, so it clicked when he reintroduced himself today, but- he hadn’t come out yet.”

Leo’s eyes widened, then he grinned broadly. “Oh. Oh. Oh, that’s so sweet.”

Finn was still confused. “What? I’m still confused.”

Logan laughed. “He’s trans, Fish.”

Finn’s mouth opened, then he choked out a laugh. “Oh. Oh my God, that makes so much sense.” He pushed his hips down into Logan. “You slept with him- before he came out as a man. So he didn’t- he didn’t know he was a man, then?”

Logan shrugged. “Might’ve known, I’m not sure. It was one time.” His smiled softened. “His partner plays hockey. They were there, too. Had the sign about my hair.” That made Leo laugh, his nose scrunching, and Logan reached his hand out to pinch it lightly. “Tres mignon, mon soleil.” He brought his hand down. “He just wanted to say thanks, I guess. Said it meant a lot to see other… ‘not straight’ players out there.” Logan grinned slyly as he finished his sentence. 

Finn just smiled. “Hey, you said it.”

Logan just kissed him. “I’m not with you because you’re a man, mon rouge,” he said. His eyes had turned soft, firm, and a little desperate. “I’m with you because you’re Finn, because…” His breath hitched, and he brought his temple to rest against Finn’s. “Because you’re mine. Because we are supposed to be together.” He leaned back to look at Leo, brushing a hand to his cheek. “All of us. You’re both mine.” He huffed a breath. “I don’t- I don’t know if I would have knowingly been with another man besides you, mon rouge, but… but I don’t think that’s what matters.” He took both of their hands with their wedding rings and pressed his mouth to them. His breath warmed the metal, and Finn felt like he was going to burst from the love floating around the room. “What matters is that I love you. Vous êtes tous ma vie, mes amours. Vous êtes tous tout.” He looked at each of them in turn, kissed them both lightly. “My life. My everything. And sex with you both, it’s…” He grinned a little sheepishly, his cheeks reddening. “C'est tellement bon. The best. The best because you’re my everything.” 

Leo was a bit teary as he pulled Logan in to kiss him again, then Finn. His lips were soft against Finn’s own, all warmth and sunshine just like the rest of him. “Oh, sweethearts, you are everything.” He sniffled, then grinned a little mischievously. “You know, when I first told my mom we were dating, when I told her it was gonna be a lot- she said that I could’ve said that I was going to marry a sea turtle and she would’ve thrown us a party.” 

That got them all to laugh, Logan’s chest shaking under where Finn’s hands were resting on his pecs. 

“Non, soleil,” Logan said, smile so wide his eyes scrunched. “No sea turtles.” He looked at Finn. “But not bad, eh?”

“I don’t know,” Leo said. “Sometimes you both are more trouble than you’re worth, I think.”

Finn scoffed, reaching his arms out to shove him lightly. “Yeah, right.” He stuck his nose up, crossing his arms. “No more foot rubs for you then, peanut.”

Logan pinched his side, and Leo leaned forward to kiss at his neck. “Alright, baby,” Leo said, exasperated. “You know I love you and all your trouble.”

Finn turned his head, squinting his eyes for a moment before conceding and kissing him. “Uh huh, that’s what I thought.”

“Oh, rouge,” Logan sighed. “You’re just the most trouble.”

Leo snorted. “You’re one to talk, His Royal Highness Prince Tremblay.”

“Non,” Logan retorted, leaning in to kiss Leo deeply, a bit heatedly, if Finn had to say. “Being trouble and demanding are two different things.”

Leo laughed, the sound reverberating across the living room. He settled back into the couch, leaning heavily against their sides. Finn slumped forward and dropped his head into the crook of Logan’s neck. “I’m sorry I freaked you out, Lo, baby,” he said softly.

Logan scratched his back. “Non, it’s okay. It’s good.” He kissed Finn’s head. “Feels good we make a difference, non?”

Finn sat up slightly, turning to look at his two boys. Maybe Logan was right- it didn’t matter that they were all boys. Not in the context of their relationship just existing between them. Finn would love them any way he could have them, he was sure of it. But to the world, to others like them, it did matter. It mattered enough that someone was brave enough to talk to Logan at the game, that kids showed up to the LGBTQ+ hockey camps Leo ran in the summer. It mattered to Finn’s students, when they walked into his classroom and saw a Pride flag, when they saw the wedding pictures on his desk of three men, committed to each other for life because they were in love. So deeply, deeply in love. 

That’s all that mattered, Finn thought. The devotion was important. The commitment, too. But more than anything, the thing that made the difference was the love. All of the beautiful, fulfilling love.“Ouais,” he said in an attempt to mimic Logan’s accent. His husbands smiled down at him, all gorgeous and lovely and his. “Feels good to be in love."

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."

PLS I LOVE LEOS CURLS

Give me finnlo seeing Leo’s hair without product for the first time and it’s just all big and messy beautiful golden curls

give me leo with a ten step hair care routine

Give me finnlo having the whole process memorized

Give me leo getting so frustrated by rain cause his curls get all cute and frizzy

on a side note I really love your writing and how kind and consistent but also communicative you are with us! we appreciate you so deeply!

I also have curly hair, so I REALLY understand the frustration. Sometimes all you can do is throw it in a bun, I'm afraid.

Also, you're so sweet! I care about you all, too, and communication is important to me! It makes me so happy that you feel you're being heard. :)

Thank you for all the prompts! Making my way through them!

All credits to @lumosinlove <3

“Okay, checklist,” Leo said, pushing his wet hair back from his face. He counted off on his fingers. “Chicken thighs. Zucchini. Got all the stuff for the sauce here at home, so there’s nothing to worry about there. Summer squash. Those nice sweet onions, those are good. Oh, shallots, too, actually, I’ll add those to the sauce, now that I think about it.”

Finn absentmindedly carded his fingers through Leo’s hair to help him rinse off his conditioner as he continued to babble. “That nice bread from the bakery, baby?” he suggested. 

“Oo, yes, good one, Finn.” Leo reached for their exfoliatoing pad and the soap bar. “But I’ll have to go after going to the grocery store. The bakery is in the other direction, and I want to get the chicken thighs marinating and in the fridge as soon as possible.”

“Soleil,” Logan said, reaching up to wash Leo’s back. “Are you sure you don’t want me to run to the bakery, mon coeur?”

Leo shook his head. “No, thanks, it’s okay. I’ll need your help here. Besides, they take a new batch out around one, so I’ll go to pick it up then, fresh, before we head to Finn’s parent’s place at three.”

Finn smiled. “You’ve got a whole schedule, don’t you?”

“I’ve gotta. I told your mom I’d make this dinner for her so she and your aunt could relax.”

“Yes, but are you relaxed, baby?”

“No, but that’s okay. I like to cook!”

“Okay.” Finn kissed his cheek. “Want me to help you with your hair?”

“No, thanks, honey. I’ll rewet it and do it before we leave. I’m gonna go, gotta arrive when the supermarket opens. I love you.” And with a kiss to each of their cheeks, he was out of the shower and rushing to put his clothes on.

Finn followed his body with his eyes until he couldn’t see him anymore before turning to look at Logan. He was finishing washing himself, also staring at where Leo had walked off to. Logan noticed him watching and smiled softly. “Bien?”

“Oo-ways,” Finn said, wrapping his arms around Logan’s waist and kissing him briefly. “You think he’ll be okay?”

Logan nodded. “Ouais, just stressed.” He looked again towards the open bathroom door. “I think his hair is going to bother him later.”

“Mm.” Finn stepped back to open the shower door and grab their towels. “He doesn’t like it when it gets all crazy.”

“I think it’s cute.”

“Me, too.” He handed Logan his towel with a grin. “You remember the first time we saw it unstyled?”

“Ouais,” Logan laughed. “He was so embarrassed.”

“Adorable, I think.”

Logan hummed in agreement and Finn bit his lip fondly at the memory. It was just after Logan had moved in and they had an away game. Leo normally didn’t wash his hair on the road so he didn’t have to bring his products with him, but after a particularly sweaty game and a dip in the hotel pool, he was wincing every time he looked in the mirror. It was safe to say his curls had dried into a gorgeous, golden mess. He’d been sheepish, but all Logan and Finn had wanted to do was tug each and every freshly-washed spiral. Since then, he had gotten less ashamed of just letting his hair go, but for fancy events, he still liked to have it shiny and defined and soft. Finn, for one, couldn’t say he hated it. 

“Fish,” Logan said as he was flipping through their drawers for a pair of boxers, snapping Finn out of the memory. “I make breakfast for when Le gets back, you iron our shirts?”

Ironing his boyfriends’ shirts while one of them made breakfast shirtless, awaiting the other’s arrival. If only college Finn could see him now. He grinned broadly. “Sounds good, baby.”

***

“Okay. Okay, okay, cool, chicken is marinated, zucchini and squash are roasted, we’ll just have to heat those up under the broiler at your mom’s so it gets crispy. Her oven has two rows, yes?”

“Yes, sunshine.”

“Good, good. Because I’ll need to cook the chicken through, then set it to broil to get the skin crispy, and that’s when I’ll put the veggies in, too. Salad dressing is prepared, fresh veggies are prepped and in boxes, yes, Lo?”

“Ouais, mon amour.”

“Good, good. Oh! And the pie’s in the carrier, yes, sweetheart?”

“Yeah, baby, I put it in the fridge.”

“Awesome, we’ll have to remember the container of homemade whipped cream, remind me, please.” Leo turned away from the counter and clapped his hands. “Awesome.” He walked around to kiss their lips in bursts. “Thank you, thank you for helping, I love you.”

“Ouais, mon coeur,” Logan said, brushing his fingers over Leo’s hands that were cupping his face. “Love you, too.” 

“How about a nap, baby?” Finn suggested. “We went to the gym super early, and you didn’t sleep well last night. We’ve got time.”

But Leo shook his head. “No, I’ve gotta go to the bakery and be back in time to do my hair.”

Finn sighed. “Baby, a half hour? Please? We’ll sleep with you, I’ll rub your back.”

Leo considered. “What time is it?”

“Just before noon, sunshine. You’ll still have time to go to the bakery.” At Leo’s skeptical look, Finn put on his best puppy eyes and pout. “Please?”

Leo looked at him and took a deep breath. “Fine.”

“Le.”

“Sorry, sorry, honey.” He reached for Finn’s hand to draw him closer and pressed their foreheads together. “I’m sorry, Finn.”

Finn just kissed his cheek and took his hands. “Don’t be, baby, just come rest with us.”

He and Logan ushered Leo into their bedroom and under the covers. Logan crawled up Leo’s body to hover over him. “You want to be in the middle, soleil?”

Leo shook his head. “No, thanks. Too hot.”

“D’accord.” Logan pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. He reached across Leo’s chest for his phone on the night stand. “I’ll set a timer. Thirty minutes, ouais?”

Finn kissed his shoulder. “Yup. Thirty minutes, then we’ll go to the bakery.”

“No, no, it’s okay I can go-”

“Sunshine,” Finn laughed. “We’ve got nothing else to do, and we like going to the bakery with you. You’re all picky about the bread you choose, it’s cute.”

He heard Leo let out a breath. “Okay.” A pause. “I like going to the bakery with you, too.”

“Mm,” Logan hummed. He shifted in Finn’s arms to tuck Leo under his chin. Their legs were all tangled under the sheets. “Sleep, mon chou. We’ll see you in a half hour.”

***

Finn woke up feeling as though he’d slept a century. Logan was warm against his chest., and he’d rolled over to tuck his nose under Finn’s neck. Finn stretched his toes and arched his back. Logan, perhaps sensing his movements, let out a deep breath and blinked up slowly. “Salut.”

“Hi.” Finn arched his back and breathed out when it cracked. “Good nap?”

“Mm.”

“Good.” He lifted shook the blankets away too look at his watch, then jerked. “Shit. Shit, shit, shit.”

“Quoi?”

“Shit, it’s almost two. Fuck.” He frantically looked beside him to wake Leo up, then realized that side of the bed was empty and cold. It was quiet, save for the spatter of rain that had apparently started up when they were sleeping. “Le’s not here.”

Logan, who’d sat up and away, stood to go poke his head out the door. “Soleil?” he called. When there was no answer, he walked to peek into the other rooms of their New York apartment. “Soleil?”

Finn flapped around for his phone, finding it buried under the blankets near his feet. In their group chat, there was a text from Leo from about forty-five minutes previous. Overslept. Ran to bakery, hopefully the good stuff isn’t gone.

Don’t worry if it isn't, sunshine, Finn wrote. We’ll figure something out.

He blinked the sleep out of his eyes before swinging to stand up and following Logan out the bedroom door. “Leo went to the bakery. He overslept.”

Logan bit his lip with a furrowed brow. “Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“He’s gonna arrive and be…”

“Yeah.” Finn opened his arms. “C’mere, ten.”

Logan sighed and pressed himself to Finn closely. “He doesn’t have to work so hard.”

“I know, baby, but he likes to cook. He was so happy in the kitchen this morning.” Finn carded Logan’s hair back to look him in the eye. “Le just wants it to be good.”

“Ouais. Je sais,” Logan whispered, resting his head back on Finn’s shoulder.

“Hm.” Finn kissed his forehead. “We can help him, though. All we have to do is load the cooler and change.”

“His hair.”

Finn winced. “Oh, yeah, shit, that’s gonna make him-”

But he was interrupted by keys scratching at the door and a soaked-through Leo tumbling through. He was clutching his waterproof backpack that Logan got him for Christmas closely. His rain jacket kept his torso dry, but water seemed to have dripped down his neck to his shirt neckline, and his pants and shoes were dripping onto the floor. The curls on his head were frizzy and fluffy, a little static. He was looking at them with wide eyes. “It just started pouring, but I’ve got the bread. And I bought some of those nice dips they have to go with it.” He kicked off his shoes and slid along their wooden floor to the counter. “Okay, we have to pack the cooler, and change, and-” Leo froze, hand going up to half-cover his mouth.

“Le?” Finn asked.

“Shit,” Leo said, softer, then more loudly, “Shit, shit, shit, my hair.” Before Logan or Finn could stop him, he was slipping once again towards the bathroom, catching himself on the doorframe to stumble in front of the mirror. He tugged at his curls roughly. “Oh my God, look, they’re a disaster! Oh fuck.”

“Leo,” Logan said carefully. “It’s okay, they’ll be fine, mon soleil.”

“No, because then tomorrow they’ll be tangled and they’ll just be worse until I wash them again. But I can’t wash them for a few days because it isn’t good for curly hair, and-” Leo let out a frustrated noise. “I can’t go to your mother’s looking like this, Finn, I just can’t do it.”

“Whoa,” Finn said. He walked into the bathroom and turned Leo by the shoulders to look more squarely at him and Logan. “First off, you always look good, so we don’t want to hear that sort of talk about the love of our lives, okay?” Leo looked like he wanted to retort, but instead bit the inside of his cheek. Finn brought his hands up to cup Leo’s neck. “And second, we know your curl routine baby, we’ve helped you do it a thousand times.”

“Ouais,” Logan said. He was taking a spray bottle and Leo’s products out from under the sink. “Sit, soleil, on the toilet. We’ll do your hair.”

Leo dutifully let Finn settle him down on the toilet seat, a furrow between his brows. Finn reached out to smooth it with his thumb. “Relax, Le, baby. We got you.”

Together, Finn and Logan started the routine they’d observed hundreds of times. Finn lifted Leo’s curls into sections as Logan wet them with a spray bottle. The thick strands became slippery when they added leave-in conditioner and curl cream, running through Finn’s fingers like gold silk. 

“Ça va, soleil?” Logan asked, reaching for Leo’s styling brush.

“Ouais,” Leo replied softly. “Feels good.”

Finn smiled at Logan over Leo’s head. “Good.”

Finn helped to hold Leo’s hair in sections as Logan ran the brush gently through, curling it like Leo had taught him. Then, they began winding each individual curl around their fingers in little spirals. They talked with each other as they worked, and Leo, at first silent and tense, began to relax his shoulders and smile. The first laugh that broke through made Finn warm. By Logan’s soft look at Leo’s face, he felt the same way. 

When they were finished, Logan stood in front of Leo with two containers and a questioning, but fond, look. “Mousse, gel, or both soleil?”

Leo tilted his head back and forth. “Both, please, to hold up against the rain. But light on the gel, please, or else it’ll be really weighed down.”

“D’accord.” Logan kissed his forehead and moved behind his body again. He scooped some gel into his hands then held them out to Finn. “Some water, please, rouge?”

“You got it.” Finn sprayed Logan’s hands, then watched as he rubbed them together and gently scrunched the gel into Leo’s locks. After a minute, Finn picked up the other bottle. “Mousse now?”

“Ouais, then we’ll scrunch it a bit.”

Leo let out a happy sound as Finn’s hands worked through his hair. “You’re both so cute for knowing my hair routine.”

“Of course we do, sunshine,” Finn said, tongue stuck through his teeth as he focused. Logan’s hands joined him in gently scrunching. “Gotta make sure our prince is perfect looking at all times.” They finished, and he leaned around to press wet kisses on Leo’s cheek. “Right?”

He could feel Leo smiling under his lips. “If you say so.”

“I do say so.” He kissed Leo’s jaw once more before straightening. “Now, what do we have to do to help get you ready?”

“Gotta pack the cooler. And diffuse my hair, because I don’t wanna go out with it wet.”

“I’ll go pack the cooler,” Logan said. He kissed Finn’s cheek, then Leo’s mouth while wiping his hands on a towel. “You’ll diffuse, rouge?”

“On it, babe.” Finn knelt to open the cabinet below the sink and pulled out Leo’s hair dryer and diffuser attachment, as well as his hair oil. He took the microfiber towel Logan had placed on the top of the toilet in his hand and straightened. “Ready, baby?”

“Uh-huh. You remember how to do it? Hover, then-”

“Then gently cup and dry it in sections, a little closer to the scalp. Don’t worry, babe, I got you. You just sit and look pretty, you’re very good at that.”

Leo shook his head fondly, and Finn smiled as he turned on the hair dryer. He squeezed out the initial wetness gently with the towel, then began to hover on medium heat, just like Leo had taught him. Leo was humming quietly to himself like he sometimes did when he was distracted. Finn didn’t think he realized he was doing it; it only happened when Leo was especially happy, so Finn just bit his lip to keep from laughing and making Leo sheepish. It had been a few minutes, so he switched the dryer to a high speed and brought it closer to Leo’s scalp.

“Let me know if I burn you, sunshine, okay?”

“Okay,” Leo said happily, then went back to humming. Finn shook his head fondly and cupped a curl cluster in his hands.

He loved this part. It was almost magical, watching as Leo’s curls turned from soaking wet and heavy to soft and fluffy, the blonde even brighter now after having spent so much time in the sun over the summer. The crunchiness of the mousse faded slightly as the hair dried, leaving behind smooth, defined ringlets. Finn wasn’t kidding when he said Leo was a prince.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, apart from Leo’s soft humming, Logan appeared in the doorway in khakis and a button-down T-shirt. His quad muscles were visible through the fabric, and Finn almost laughed at how abruptly Leo’s humming stopped when he caught sight of them. Logan noticed, too, and smiled delightedly as he came to stand between Leo’s legs and cup his jaw. “Almost done?”

“Yup,” Finn said. “Just finishing the last section. Grab the oil for me, Lo, baby? We can scrunch out the crunch.”

Leo snorted. “I can’t believe you.”

“I like the saying! It’s fun.” He shut off the hair dryer with a satisfied nod. “Alrighty, butter, just another minute.”

He and Logan squeeze some oil on their hands and set about scrunching out Leo’s curls. Finn could feel the crust from the gel and mousse fade away under his fingers, replaced by the soft curls he loved to caress, to lean his cheek on, to tug playfully. He did just that, gripping one ringlet between his pointer finger and thumb and pulling it gently, making Leo laugh.

“Okay,” Leo said, standing up and turning to face them. He bent down to give them each a kiss. “Thank you. I was really stressed.”

Finn snorted. “Yeah, you were, baby. Feel better?”

Leo nodded, running a hand through Finn’s hair. “Loads, thank you, sweetheart.” He caught a glimpse of himself in the bathroom mirror and a huge smile broke over his face. “Oh. Would you look at that.”

Even though they were both looking directly at him, Logan and Finn turned to face the mirror, too. Leo was smiling at himself in the reflection, reaching a hand up to touch the curls that were towards the front of his head. Finn liked the way he was looking at himself, like he finally saw how good he looked. Logan and Finn had seen him deflated as he critically examined himself before- the acne on his chin and jaw, the fat he gained when he bulked the last summer, the way his brow furrowed after said bulk when he didn’t fit into his game-day suit anymore. Finn felt the sudden urge to make Leo feel how truly beautiful he was, how much they both absolutely adored every part of him.

“Gorgeous,” Finn whispered, wrapping his arms around Leo’s waist and resting his chin on his shoulder. The three of them in the mirror, standing close together, made his heart stutter. He caught Leo’s eye. “Absolutely gorgeous.”

Leo’s smile turned sheepish. “Who?”

“Both of you.” He leaned across Leo’s body to smack at Logan’s thighs gently. “Seriosuly, who gave quads a right to look this good?”

Leo and Logan burst out laughing, Logan kissing the top of his head before pulling away to look up at Leo. “He’s right. You’re out of a fairytale.”

Leo grinned down at him. “Thanks, honey.” He kissed Logan briefly, then looked at himself in the mirror once more. “Okay. Wow, my hair looks really good, thank you.” He patted each of their hips before walking away. “Time to get dressed. Gotta get the car loaded.”

“Hey, wait,” Finn said, grabbing Leo’s hand and pulling him back to their bodies in one quick movement. Leo stumbled, but his smile was pleased. Finn placed firm kiss on his mouth. “We love you. We love you and your crazy, beautiful curls, okay? Even when they’re messy.” 

“I know.” Leo’s eyes were twinkly and bright. “I love you, too.” He pressed his lips to Finn’s, then to Logan’s, hard and happy. The soft moment settled over them before Leo clapped his hands. “Okay. Okay, you both look stunning, my curls are fantastic, and I’ve got a dinner to cook. Let’s go.”

Logan and Finn hung back for a moment. Finn felt Logan come up behind him and place his hands on his waist. “We did good, rouge.”

“So good.” He leaned back to kissed Logan’s cheek. “C’mon. We got a Disney prince waiting for us.” He licked his lips. “How mad do you think he’ll be if I mess those lovely curls of his up later?”

Logan laughed. “I don’t think he’ll be too mad.” He tapped Finn’s hip. “Allez, let’s go. Soleil’s waiting.”

Finn just smiled, smitten, and tugged Logan out of the bathroom.

the cubs having a lazing morning in?? i love your work btw xx

Thank you for the kind words, friend! They made my day!

Domestic fluff is actually my FAVORITE thing to write! I think that, simply because of the structure of longer works, we don't always get to see it in multi-chapter stories, so it's cool to be able to explore that in one-shots. The SW universe has so many wonderful characters and I love that we have the opportunity to imagine them in our own heads beyond the given canon. Such is the magic of reading. :)

Have a nice snuggly morning featuring America's Top Chef, Koala Backpack Gold Medal Olympian, and Chatterbox That Comes Up With A Million Nicknames!

All credits to @lumosinlove !!

Leo awoke to soft light filtering through their curtains and the gentle feeling of blunt nails scratching lightly up and down his back. His body was warm, even with the sheet pooled down by his hips. He blinked hard and took a deep inhale, rousing himself from a vague dream, to find Logan already staring back at him. Leo smiled and made a noise in the back of his throat, stretching with his arms above his head and his hands pushing at the headboard. Logan switched to all palm, massaging Leo’s lower back gently. “Bon matin, soleil.”

Leo peeked out at him with a grin. “Mornin’.”

Logan leaned in to kiss his forehead. “How’d you sleep?”

Leo nodded. “Okay. Thank you for rubbing my back.”

“Mm,” Logan said. “Anytime.”

“Fish?” Leo asked.

“Here, butter,” Finn whispered, morning voice raspy. His arms were wrapped around Logan’s torso and he gently reached over to caress Leo’s ribs. “Hi, sweetheart.”

“Hi.” Leo’s voice was soft and gentle. “Hi, Fish.”

Finn laughed, and Leo looked up in time to see him peek over Logan’s body, propped up on an elbow. He bent over to kiss at Logan’s neck and Leo smiled at them. Logan’s cheek was squished into the pillow, his grin wide. He shrugged his shoulder against Finn’s jaw as Finn worked his way down his neck; Finn pulled away with a smacking kiss and hooked his chin over Logan’s shoulder to look at Leo with soft eyes. “Howdy, butter baby.”

Leo closed his eyes again with a sigh, content and warm enough to just fall back asleep. But he let out a wheeze when, all of a sudden, he felt an arm wrap around his waist and pull. When he opened his eyes he was tucked against Logan’s chest, Finn now pushed up and away and laughing. Leo laughed, too, and reached up to nudge gently at Logan’s shoulder, forcing him onto his back and flopping down on top of him. He turned his head sideways to gaze out at Finn. 

“Hey there, gorgeous,” Finn chuckled. He ran a hand through Leo’s hair. “Grumpy caught you?”

“Non,” Logan said defiantly. He had his arms secured around Leo’s shoulders. “Non, he’s not caught.”

Leo kissed his cheek. “Then what am I?”

“Snuggling.” Logan let out a content sound, a sigh mixed with a soft groan that had Finn and Leo smiling at each other. “You’re snuggling me.”

“I’m squishing you.”

“Non, you’re not. You’re like a weighted blanket.”

Finn snorted. “Oh, really, Tremblay? You like a weighted blanket, huh?”

“Mm, ouais.” He opened a sleepy eye at them. “Quoi?”

Leo pushed his face into Logan’s neck. “Nothing. I’m just not usually the weighted blanket. I like it.” He winked at Finn. “Someone else normally holds that position.”

Logan smacked at his hip lightly but didn’t say anything. Finn was on his side, looking at them lovingly and running a hand up and down Leo’s ribs. “What are we doing today?”

Leo took his hand. “I’ve got some of that homemade protein pancake dry mix left. I can make us breakfast.” He kissed Finn’s fingers. “Then the gym for training?”

Logan groaned. “We are on vacation. No morning gym.”

Finn smiled down at him. “Then when do we go to the gym, sweetheart?”

“Afternoon,” Logan grumbled. “Vacation. Lazy morning.”

“Sounds perfect,” Finn said. He laid back down on his pillow. “I love you.”

Leo just leaned in for a kiss. “Love you.” He pressed a kiss to Logan’s mouth, too. Logan reached up to trace his cheeks, green eyes soft. Leo kissed his nose, too. “Breakfast.”

“Non, stay.”

“Lo, I gotta make breakfast.”

“Stay.” Logan made a protesting noise when Leo went to stand up. He made grabby hands at him. “Peanut, come back.”

“Oh my God,” Finn said with an impressive eyeroll. “Come here, you big baby.” He rolled Logan onto him with a smacking forehead kiss. He looked to Leo. “We’ll come help you in five minutes, Le. Let grumpy get this out of his system.”

“I’m not grumpy.”

“Yes you are, honey,” Leo giggled. He pressed a kiss to Logan’s back and Finn’s nose then turned towards their closet. “But I love you very much. I’ll get dressed and go make breakfast.”

“Don’t get dressed.”

Leo hung his head back, flushing. “Lo…”

“Shirt off, please,” Finn requested.

Leo leaned out of the closet. “That’s how I burn myself with oil, honey.” He smiled at their matching groans. He flipped through his shirts on a clothes hanger and smiled, pulling one of Finn’s tank tops over his head. He walked out. “Okay?”

They both stared unabashedly at his arms and shoulders. Finn nodded. “Acceptable.”

Leo winked at them before heading to the kitchen and opening the cupboard, searching for the plastic tub with his homemade protein pancake dry-mix. From there it was easy: add the wet ingredientes, fry some eggs and turkey bacon, chop some fruit. He put on some low music, an old John Denver album that Finn liked, and hummed to himself as he set the kettle to boil. They’d all taken to black tea in the morning recently, what with the lack of an intense schedule, which Leo liked better. He enjoyed the act of putting the bags in the mug, pouring the water. Logan still liked his with a lot of honey, and Finn liked his plain, but with the tea bag in. Leo preferred a mix, with no milk and minimal honey and with no tea bag. He felt that that described their relationship perfectly: in the essence they belonged together, they were a unit- tea was tea, after all. But they brought something different and new to compliment one another, three distinct parts that made an inseparable whole. 

Leo smiled as two arms came to wrap around his waist. “Hi, sweetheart.”

Logan just grunted into his back, planting his feet to take more of Leo’s weight. “Up.”

Leo snorted and looked over his shoulder to meet Logan’s green eyes. “You actually are a baby now.”

“Non, I’m not.” He sighed dejectedly. “You left me in bed.”

“To make you breakfast, sweetheart.”

Logan scowled. “Piggyback.”

“Lo, honey, I don’t want your feet to get burned or-”

“Leo.”

Leo sighed and raised his eyebrows. “Fine. Okay, okay, Lord.” He bent down and held his arms out behind him. “You’re sure good at getting what you want, huh?”

Logan smiled against his ear as he jumped onto Leo’s back, arms wrapping around his shoulders, legs around his hips. “It’s a special skill.”

Leo hummed and tilted his neck for the kisses that Logan was placing on his skin. Logan rested his chin on Leo’s shoulder contentedly, watching as Leo flipped their pancakes. Every now and then he would reach over his shoulder with fruit, sometimes a little bit of bacon. Logan thanked him with a kiss to his cheek every time. When Leo turned to grab some plates, he found Finn sat at the counter, watching them.

“Hi lovers,” Finn said with a smile. “You need help, nutter butter baby?”

Leo reached for his hand to kiss the back of it. “Can you get the butter, syrup, silverware, stuff like that, please?”

“Sure thing, baby.” Finn wrapped his knuckles on the counter and walked around to the other side, placing a kiss on Leo’s cheek before going to the utensil drawer. “Lo, what have you done?”

“I’m keeping Leo warm.”

Finn raised his eyebrows at him. 

Logan laughed lowly. “I’ll clean up.” He kissed Leo’s cheek wetly. “Don’t worry, peanut, I got you.” 

“Thank you, sweetheart.” Leo squeezed Logan’s thighs. “You wanna sit down?”

“Non.”

Finn pinched Logan’s hip. “We gotta eat, Tremz.”

“I’ll eat here.”

Leo laughed. “Logan.”

Logan grumbled. “Fine, fine, d’accord.” He sighed heavily.

Finn scoffed. “You poor baby. Poor baby boy.”

“Oui, I am.”

Leo just walked around the counter and set him down in a chair, soothing his disappointment with a kiss. Logan kept him there, hands in his hair and mouth on fire, until Leo pulled away and looked at him knowingly. Logan just sighed again. “At least I tried.”

“Poor baby boy,” Leo echoed. He went back to his pancakes, Finn kneading at his hips. “Can you get me the plates, please, honey? I’ll dish it up and then we’ll eat.” He jerked his head to their mugs. “Tea should be cool enough to drink now, too.”

“Thank you, baby,” Finn said with a final squeeze to Leo’s waist. “You always cook so well.”

Leo smiled and grabbed a spatula to serve their eggs, bacon, and pancakes. Finn spooned the fruit into bowls and grabbed their mugs to place in front of their seats. 

Leo admired their handiwork with a warm feeling in his chest. He loved hockey, he really, truly did; but he and Finn were forced to miss Logan during the season, and meals were often rushed, even if they were together. Leo liked to take his time with his food, with his cooking, with his boys. He stepped up behind Finn to wrap him in a hug, tucking his face into his neck. Finn reached back to scratch his scalp and Leo sighed into it, looking at Logan over Finn’s shoulder. 

“You okay, baby?” Finn asked.

Leo nodded. “Can we snuggle after this?”

Logan grinned at him where his fork was poised over his eggs. “Ouais.”

“Lazy morning,” Finn whispered, leaning his head back into Leo. “We can do whatever you want, sunshine.”

“I want to snuggle.”

Finn turned in his arms. “You okay, sweetheart?”

Leo furrowed his brow. “Yeah, why?”

“You don’t usually ask to snuggle.” He patted Leo’s butt lovingly. “That’s usually a Logan thing. Or a me thing.” When he saw Leo’s blush, he made a sound and kissed his cheek. “It’s not a bad thing, Le. It’s a very good thing, actually, we love you telling us what you want.”

“Ouais,” Logan agreed. “I’m always okay to snuggle.”

Finn snorted and looked over his shoulder. “We know that, Tremblay.”

Leo nudged his nose into Finn’s cheek. “I’m just happy that we’re together.”

“Yeah?” Finn said giddily. “Me, too.” He carded his fingers through Leo’s hair. “I’m a very lucky man. You’re sexy as fuck.” Leo laughed and Finn turned once again in his arms to face Logan. Leo stroked his hands over his stomach. “And you’re sexy as fuck.”

Logan was grinning so hard his eyes crinkled. “Vous deux aussi.”

“Oui baguette.” Finn brought Leo’s hands to his mouth to kiss them. “Let’s eat, sweet things.”

They sat on either side of Logan, conversation gentle and happy. Logan had an ankle intertwined around one of each of theirs, and he looked content and handsome in the kitchen light. Finn was relaxed, spending half the time chatting instead of eating, as per usual, and was the last one to finish. Logan was playing with the fingers of his left hand, which was not helping the slow eating issue, but Leo thought it was worth it to see the way Finn’s long, delicate fingers clutched at Logan’s thicker, veiny ones. Finn saw him looking and waved said fingers at him, making him laugh around his sip of tea. Logan pinched his nose and kissed him playfully before standing up to bring their plates to the sink. Finn went to help him, and Leo got a nice view of both of their back muscles working through their T-shirts as they cleaned together. Finn refilled his tea with a kiss to his forehead and a “you just sit there and look pretty, sunshine”, Logan smacking his butt to get him to focus back on the task in front of them. Finn rolled his eyes but complied, giving Logan’s own behind a hard pat in return. 

“You know,” Leo said suddenly, interrupting their quiet bickering. “This was one of the things I dreamed about the most. When I thought of having a partner. Or, partners.”

“Pourquoi, soleil?” Logan’s eyes were gentle, loving.

Leo shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess- for me, it’s about companionship. You can go through the motions in any sort of relationship.” Leo waved his hand vaguely. “The dates, the kissing, even the sex- it can all… happen, you know?” He rested his cheek on his palm and met their soft gazes. “But this- this feeling. How calm I feel with you, how happy I am- I think that’s what makes it different. It’s companionship, it’s a life.” He stretched out his arms. “And that’s what I wanted, when I was younger.”

Finn smiled widely at him. “Well… I don’t know how to top that.”

Leo shook his head fondly. “You don’t have to. You’re the reason why I have this life.”

“Oh, baby.” Finn walked around the counter to kiss Leo’s smile gently. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted.” He turned to Logan. “You, too. C’mere, Lo.”

But Logan didn’t move, too busy flitting his eyes over both of their faces. He looked a little shocked, a little frozen, like he didn’t know what to do with himself. Leo furrowed his brow. “Lo? You okay?”

Logan didn’t say anything as he walked around the counter and bullied himself in between them. Finn laughed as he forced his way into Leo’s lap, making the high chair wobble dangerously, and burrowed himself into Leo’s neck. “Soleil, you can’t just say things like that.”

Finn was still laughing, hands gently resting on Logan’s waist. “And why can’t he?”

“Because it- he can’t just…” Logan huffed. “He just can’t.”

“You know what I think?” Finn’s grin was mischievous and Leo shook his head exasperatedly at him.

“Quoi?”

“I think you’re flustered,” Finn said in Logan’s ear. “I think peanut went and flustered you, and you can’t handle it, and so you’re a grumpy boy. A grumpy baby boy.”

“I already told you, I’m not-”

“You so are.”

“Non, rouge, je ne suis pas-”

Leo sighed, taking matters into his own hands and interrupting Logan with a hard kiss. His body jerked, surprised, but after a moment he melted into it with a soft noise, shoulders relaxing under Leo’s hands. Leo grinned against Logan’s mouth before pulling away. “Snuggle?”

Finn pressed a kiss to Logan’s neck. “I have an idea. On the couch.”

He took both of their hands and led them to their living room, where he flopped down on their sofa lengthwise, back nestled against a pillow in the corner, legs spread in front of him. He patted at the space in between them and looked up at Leo. “Sit, gorgeous.”

Leo sat with his back to Finn’s chest and opened his arms for Logan to lie on top of him on his stomach. He sighed heavily, letting his weight go on Finn and burying his nose in Logan’s hair. “I love sitting like this,” he whispered.

He felt Finn grin into his own hair. “I know you do, sweetheart. You’ve loved it since the day we did this in the airport on our way to play Lo for the first time in New York.”

Logan lifted his head up. As if he couldn’t help himself, he reached up to play with Leo’s curls. “Quoi?” 

Leo pushed Logan’s hair back from his forehead. “When we were in the airport, I sat with my back to Finn’s chest and fell right asleep.” He turned to look at Finn, whose eyes were soft and crinkled with his smile. “So we started sitting like this a lot, like he does with you.” Logan was smiling, too, when Leo faced him again, hand cupping his jaw. “We watch you play like this on the TV.”

“You do?” Logan asked. His lips were parted softly and he sighed. “That makes me happy.”

“Yeah?” Finn’s voice was a bit tight.

Logan nodded. “Ouais. Makes me happy to think you’re there. Gives me something to think about when you’re not.”

“Oh.” The word escaped Finn abruptly, as if he didn’t mean for it to. Leo laced their fingers where they were resting across Logan’s lower back. “Oh, baby…”

Logan smiled at them so softly it stole Leo’s breath. “Non, rouge, ne pleure pas, mon amour.”

“Sorry,” Finn got out. He pressed soft kisses into Leo’s neck. “You’re just so beautiful, it makes me, like- emotional.” He let out a laugh. “That’s so cheesy.”

Logan laughed, too. “Non, it’s good. Vous êtes tous les deux les plus beaux.”

“What?”

“He said we’re the most beautiful,” Leo whispered. He leaned back to kiss Finn’s jaw. “How’s that for topping me, huh?”

“No, not topping you,” Finn said. He ran a thumb over Logan’s bottom lip. “Just as good. Jesus, you both render me speechless.”

Leo snorted. “That’s not true.”

“Well, almost speechless. Closer than anyone else has ever got, at least.”

That got a full body laugh out of Logan, shaking against Leo’s body. “One day I’ll get you to be quiet.”

“Oh?” Leo could imagine Finn’s smile. “That sounds fun.”

Logan rolled his eyes, but was blushing. “Non, not that.” He sighed and rested his head against Leo’s chest again. “When I ask you to marry me.”

Now Leo could actually feel Finn’s smile, pressed against the skin below his ear. “Oh yeah? Who says you’ll get down on one knee first, Tremblay?”

“Yeah,” Leo agreed. “Might beat you to it.”

Logan just kissed Leo’s chest. “I just have a feeling.” He wiggled a little bit, settling right down. “Then we have sleepy mornings forever.”

“Ouais,” Leo whispered. “Sounds perfect.”

“Forever isn’t long enough,” Finn said. “Not nearly long enough.” He pulled them both snug against him. “I love you. Forever and even after that.”

“Je t’aime.”

Leo let out a breath and turned his face into Finn’s, a hand in Logan’s hair. “I love you.” He kissed Finn’s jaw with a grin. “Forever and a little bit more.”

“A lot more, sunshine, catch up.”

Leo snorted, then his snort grew into a laugh, and soon they were all laughing hard. It wasn’t even that funny, but they were laughing like it was the best joke they’d ever heard. Finn and Leo set Logan, who wasn’t a very loud laugher, off every time they looked at him. He crawled up Leo’s body to kiss him hard, then Finn, before sitting back on his heels. His smile was bright, as wide as Leo had ever seen it, and he was so gorgeous that Finn and Leo couldn’t look away. He scrunched his nose around his grin and stroked up and down Leo’s abs. 

“I’m gonna love you forever,” Logan finally said with a content sigh. “Forever and a lot more.” He then flopped down dramatically on Leo with an oof and resumed his position as human koala extraordinaire. “Lots of lazy mornings.”

“Yeah,” Leo whispered. Finn kissed his cheek. “Lots and lots of lazy mornings. As many as you want, sweethearts.”

“C’est bien,” Logan said. He was falling asleep. “C’est bien.” Between one breath and the next, he was unconscious.

Finn squeezed them both tighter. “Sleep, butter. I’ll wake you up when it’s lunchtime.”

“Okay,” Leo said. He felt floaty and warm. “Love you.”

“Love you,” Finn replied softly. “Love you, love you, love you.”

since you loved the first hogwarts au prompt, can i ask for more???? take your time ofc !!🤍

This is a little drabble I've had sitting in my drafts for a while now! It's in the same realm as the last Hogwarts one I did. If it's not what you're looking for, or if you have a different/more specific vision for a prompt, please please please write me another ask! I want to do your ideas justice. :)

Enjoy some long-distance Cubs in the mountains of beautiful Eryri!

TW: alluded to nefarious activities, but nothing explicit!

All credits to @lumosinlove :)

P.S.: I am making assumptions on the kinds of spells and magic stuff they have. It's been AGES since I read HP, because She Who Must Not Be Named is a TERF and we #donotlikeher, so I just took some liberty on the few times magic is explicitly referenced.

Logan took a satisfied breath in, feeling as his bare chest brushed Finn’s above him. The light shining through their bedroom window was as warm as the afterglow. He sighed, nudging his nose into Finn’s hair to breath in his scent. He smelled like a mix of himself, sweat- and Leo’s cologne, Logan realized. He must have sprayed some on himself before his apprenticeship that morning.

“Fuck,” Finn said with a laugh. He let go of Logan's wrists and wrapped him up. “Fuck, how is it always so good?”

Logan brought their mouths together sloppily again with a hum. “Je t'aime.”

Finn kissed him harder, turning them on their sides and relaxing into the mattress. They made out lazily, just feeling each other's skin, until Finn pulled back to press a kiss to his temple. 

“I love you.” He tucked his face into Logan’s neck. “Cleaning charm or shower?”

Logan snorted. “Leo would want us to shower.”

Finn smiled into his skin. “Mm, yeah. He looks so good in the shower.”

“Ouais, so tall. Like a god.”

“Ugh, he's so sexy.” Finn rolled over to squish Logan into the mattress. “You're both so sexy. What am I supposed to do?”

Logan laughed. “You poor thing,” he mocked in Finn’s accent.

Finn huffed, giving Logan one more hard kiss before standing. He held out his hand. “Shower? Then we call Leo.”

Logan took it and followed Finn to the bathroom. Their Muggle flat in Derby was a bit old, and the pipes didn't always heat the water up fully, but Logan loved it more than he could say. Today, luckily, the water was nice and warm, and Logan reveled in getting to run his hand through Finn's thick, shampooed waves. He had been growing it out since October, and Leo and Logan couldn't get enough of it. Logan had watched as Leo stepped off the Hogwarts Express at Christmas with wide eyes, hands immediately carding through Finn's hair.

What's this, O'Hara?

Finn had smirked. What, you don't like it?

Leo had tugged at the strands, forcing Finn to look up and make a noise that was not appropriate for a train station. What do you think? Then he'd kissed Finn, then Logan, so hard that it made them dizzy. 

Safe to say, sitting through dinner with Leo's parents that evening had been a monumental task.

“What’re you thinking about, baby?”

Logan shook out of his reverie. “You. Your hair. Leo.” Logan sighed, closing his eyes and imagining blond curls. “His hair.”

“He does have nice hair.”

“So do you.”

“So do you.” Finn threaded his fingers to scratch at Logan's scalp. “All dark and thick.” He kissed Logan's forehead. “It's getting curlier, now that it's longer.”

Logan hummed, leaning into Finn's body. “Wonder what Leo's hair looks like.”

Finn snorted. “You know what it looks like. We called him the other day.”

Logan grunted. “It's different in person.”

Finn sighed. “I know, baby. I know.” He leaned back. “Let’s finish here, then call him, yeah? He's probably almost done with his homework for the evening.”

Logan washed Finn's body reverently, taking time to massage his shoulders and upper back where he got sore. He was rewarded with soft kisses to his forehead, his collarbone, his cheek. Logan missed being at Hogwarts, missed being with his friends every day, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't also love this domestic bliss he lived in now. He loved not having to sneak into Finn or Leo's bed, he loved being able to bathe together like this. Most of all, he loved coming home to a place that was theirs, that they made together, that encompassed the bed, and the bathing, and everything else. He saw himself in the Quidditch magazines lying around the house, Finn in the books piled everywhere- even Leo, though he didn’t live there yet, with the perfectly knitted blanket from his farm in Wales that had a permanent residence on the couch. 

Logan sighed, staring at that blanket while Finn made them both dinner (egg sandwiches, the way Leo taught them), sat at a stool by the counter with his evening tea. He stretched his legs, sore from practice, and turned to Finn. “Fish?”

Finn hummed, handing him a plate with his sandwich. “Yeah?”

“I miss him.”

Finn looked up at that, sandwich halfway to his mouth. “Le?”

“Ouais.” Logan sighed again, picking up his own sandwich. “It just doesn't feel like home.”

Finn furrowed his eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

Logan shrugged as he swallowed. “Je ne sais pas. It just- it is ours, and I love living here with you, and it is home. Home is with you.” Logan pursed his lips. “But it's also with Leo.”

Finn nodded in understanding. “I know. I know, baby, it doesn't- it's like it's home, but not a complete one.”

“Exactly,” Logan said. “It's not complete without both of you.”

Finn finished off his dinner, then came to wrap Logan in a hug. “Only a few more days until he comes home for Easter, then he graduates in May. Then he's all ours forever, okay, baby?”

“Mais, he is all ours. You're mine, too.”

Finn smiled into his hair. “Yes, we are all yours, you greedy thing.” He kissed Logan's head. “C'mon. I need a dose of sunshine.”

Leo picked up his two-way mirror on the first vibration they sent through. He looked tired, a little stressed, but his smile was wide when he saw them. “Hi, fy nghariadau. You okay?”

“Hi, love,” Finn said. He touched his thumb to the edge of the mirror. “We're alright. Just wanted to see your pretty face once more before you come home.” 

Leo scrunched his nose at them. “You're sweet.”

“Non, you are.” Logan groaned, flopping onto Finn's chest. “Soleil, ici. Come back.”

That made Leo blush, his crystal blue eyes standing out against his red cheeks. “I'm trying, honey,” he said. “I've got to do one last thing for Potions, and- 

“I hope this is an actual assignment and not some extra experiment that's going to get you blown up,” Finn interrupted with a raised eyebrow. “Because I prefer your whole body, not pieces of it.”

If possible, Leo turned even redder. “It is assigned, I'll have you know.”

“Get it done faster,” Logan said. “I miss you.”

“We.”

“Ouais, that's what I meant.”

Finn rolled his eyes fondly, but turned back to the mirror. “We are suffering from a sunshine deficiency.”

Leo, who was now distracted by something, presumably a book, just quirked an eyebrow. “A vitamin D deficiency? But it's spring now, go outside.”

Logan scoffed. “Non, soleil. Toi.”

Finn put a hand over Logan's head. “You, sunshine. We have a you deficiency.”

“Soleil, come back,” Logan whined again, frustrated. He patted the couch cushions hard. “Allez.”

Leo sighed, looking up from his book. He looked mildly irritated at having been interrupted, but he softened immediately upon seeing their faces. He spoke to Logan. “Oh, cariad, don’t look at me with those eyes.”

Finn laughed. He tapped Logan on the hip a few times. “Don't make him feel guilty for studying.”

“But it keeps him away from us.”

Leo scoffed and waved a piece of parchment at them. “Not everyone can just get by on muscles and Quidditch skills for their career, Lo.” 

“Ouais, you could.”

“Yeah, Le, I already told you. Best Keeper Ravenclaw has seen.”

Leo pointed his finger at him. “And I told you that you're biased.” He straightened his posture. “Now, I've got to write six more inches of this Arithmancy essay. I love you, I love your voices, now be my soundtrack so I can concentrate.” He turned his devastating eyes at them. Logan felt his heart kick. “Tell me about your day.”

***

Beddgelert, March 2016

Leo sighed, savoring the last bite of his mother's lamb cawl, heating him up from the inside as the last dregs of the Eryri winter faded away. They didn't have anymore snow, but the chill was still there. His Raynaud's flared up frequently in the drafty halls of Hogwarts. He was grateful to be in his kitchen at home; it was warm from the oven and his mother's cooking. 

“Diolch, mam,” he said, turning to look at his mother. It felt like a relief to speak his native language. “It was really good.”

She kissed his forehead and poured herself some more wine. She gave him a wink. “Of course, honey. I'll have to make it again when those boys of yours arrive.”

His father laughed. “Might need to make a double batch. Logan always eats us out of house and home.”

Leo smiled. “Don't tell him that, he'll get embarrassed.” He rested his chin on his hand. “Are you sure you're okay with them staying here for a few days? I know it'll be a lot, what with the family Easter party on Sunday.”

Eloise shook her head. “They’re welcome, as long as they help.” She came over to give him a hug and pressed a kiss to his curls. “Besides, I missed my boy. And I did have you first.”

Leo laughed, giving her a kiss on the cheek before beginning to clear the table. He had missed her and his dad, too, and the mountains and the farm. He had missed the way his parents spoke Welsh, the lilt of their vowels and their familiar accents. They hadn’t forced him to come home; he had actually suggested it. He wanted to spend a few days in Beddgelert before going to Finn and Logan’s (and his, he guessed) apartment in Derby. They were due to arrive the following evening after Logan’s practice and Finn’s last day of his apprenticeship before his own Easter break. They were excited to come celebrate with Leo’s extended family- Finn said he had bought a special ‘Easter shirt’ at the charity shop the other day.

I want to look proper spiffy for your family, sunshine, he had said. Gotta make a good first impression.

Leo smiled to himself at the memory, handing the last plate to be dried to his dad. Together, they wiped down the counters and stove. Leo couldn't wait for the kitchen to be filled with the smell of bara brith and Welsh cakes and more lamb and roasted vegetables over the next few days. He loved the Hogwarts meals, but he did miss being able to cook his own food. He perused the cabinets, looking for a packet of digestives, his favorite biscuits, when there was a whooshing sound of someone coming through the fireplace.

“Mam!” he called. “Did you invite Effie over?”

Effie Potter and Eloise had become fast friends when they had been invited to the Potter’s annual New Years Eve party. James and Monty had helped them set up the Floo in the Knut's fireplace, and Effie and Eloise now often had a post-dinner tea (or drink, depending on the mood). There was another whooshing sound, and Leo furrowed his brow. 

“Hello?” he said, creeping slowly into the living room. The sight in front of him stopped him in his tracks. He let out a joyful laugh.

“Salut.”

“Hi, sunshine.”

Leo leaned against the doorway, smiling. “Hi.”

Logan, who was bouncing on his toes, couldn't seem to hold back anymore. He dropped his bag and ran forward right into Leo's arms. Leo wrapped him up close, slouching down to tuck his face into Logan's hair. “Hi, cariad. Hi.”

He opened an arm for Finn to tuck in against them. Finn reached a palm to cup Leo's cheek and kiss him. “Surprise, baby.”

Leo grinned against Finn's mouth. “The best surprise.” He pulled back, tightening his arm around Finn's waist. “I thought you wouldn't be here until tomorrow.”

“Logan’s last practice was actually today, as well as my last day before break.” Finn winced. “Sorry we lied.”

Leo kissed his temple. “You get away with it this time.” He tilted his head to look down at Logan. “How's my needy snugglebug?”

Logan rested his chin on Leo's collarbone and glared up. “Non, I'm not.”

Leo grinned. “You mean you don't want kisses?”

Logan grunted. “That's not what I said. Allez.” 

He dragged Leo down to meet his mouth, and Leo let himself sink into Logan's warm body. He lingered until he physically needed to breath, breaking away with a slight gasp. Logan placed sloppy kisses under his jaw before tucking his face back into Leo's neck with a happy sigh.

Finn looked at him, amused. “Not needy, my arse.”

Logan just grunted in reply, but he didn’t deny it.

“There they are!” Eloise came striding in with Wyatt in tow. “It worked!”

“What?” Leo asked as she pulled both Finn and Logan into hugs. 

“The surprise,” Wyatt said matter-of-factly. He shook both Finn and Logan's hands. “How are we, boys, you alright?”

Finn wrapped an arm around Logan's shoulders. “Yeah, we're good. Excited to be here.”

Eloise clapped her hands excitedly. “Okay, bed's upstairs, all made up. You hungry? I've got some leftover lamb cawl.”

Logan shook his head. “Non, merci, we ate. For lunch tomorrow?”

Eloise nodded excitedly. “With some fresh bread from the bakery down the street.” She shooed them away with wink. “Off you pop, I'm sure you've got lots of catching up to do.”

Leo blushed. “Mam.” He let Logan, then Finn up the stairs, following with a hand resting on Finn's lower back. “Nos da.”

“Sleep tight, loves!”

Their footsteps sounded all the way down the hallway to Leo's room. Upon closing the door, Logan pulled Leo in and wrapped his arms around Leo's neck. He was grinning eagerly. “Will there be much sleeping?”

Leo smiled, ducking down to wrap Logan fully in his arms. Logan played with his scalp, and Leo relaxed into it, letting out a yawn.

Finn laughed at him over Logan's shoulder, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I think there might be. You look tired, baby.”

Leo straightened. “No, I'm okay. I'm totally fine, we can-”

Logan pressed three fingers to his mouth. “Non. You were stressed with work and traveled all day on the train. You're tired, mon soleil.” He pressed his thumbs to Leo's cheeks, just below his lashes. “I can see it in your eyes.”

Leo sighed, tipping forward to press their foreheads together. “I'm sorry,” he whispered. “I'm exhausted. Tomorrow, I promise.”

Finn came up to press along Logan's back, a hand on Leo's ribs. “Sex isn't an obligation, love. It's a nice bonus, but only if you want it.”

Leo considered that for a moment. “I do want it. I want you.” He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. “But right now I want to shower and I want you to hold me.”

Finn brushed a few curls away from his face. “Can do, sunshine. We already showered, so you go ahead. We'll warm the bed up for you.”

Leo nodded, kissing each of their cheeks before pulling a pair of boxers and a towel from his closet, leaving them to get ready for bed. 

The shower was warm against his skin. His hair felt greasy under his fingers, so he decided to wash it. He was just putting in some conditioner when there was a knock at the door.

“Le?” came Finn's voice. “Can we come in and brush our teeth and wash our faces?”

Leo smiled. He'd gotten them into Muggle skincare since they'd started dating, particularly Logan, to their collective surprise. He really loved a good moisturizer.

“Yeah,” he replied. “I'm almost done.”

He heard the popping of toothpaste caps and the cleanser bottle that Logan liked as he washed his body and rinsed out the conditioner. When he stepped out and grabbed a towel, he came face to face with Logan, who looked up at him through his lashes. Leo smiled. “What?”

Logan just kissed his chest. “Si beau.” He held up a few containers. “I bought you the face creams that you like.”

Leo just leaned down and kissed him. 

After drying off and settling his boyfriends into bed, Leo went about applying lotion to his arms and legs. His skin got dry and cracked when it was cold, and he could already feel the chilly night air working its way into his bones.

“Allez,” Logan said. “Leo.”

“Just a moment, cariad. I've got to do my other leg.”

Logan huffed and slumped down against his pillow, arms crossed in frustration. Finn caught Leo's eye and winked. “Getting all nice and moisturized for us, baby?”

Leo rolled his eyes, but went to kneel on the end of the bed. “You wish. My skin gets dry when I'm cold.”

Finn patted the space next to him. “C'mere.”

Leo obliged, crawling up the mattress to lay in between them. Logan immediately settled himself on Leo's chest, his nose taking up its permanent resident just underneath Leo's chin. Finn wrapped an arm around Leo's torso and threw his leg over both of them.

“It feels good,” Finn said. “To be in bed all together again.” He nuzzled Leo's shoulder. “Love the weight of you.”

“I don’t sleep well,” Leo whispered. “Not without you.”

Logan made a discontent noise. “I don't like that.”

“I know,” Leo said, rubbing a hand up and down Logan's back. “But do you know what I do when I can't sleep?”

“What?” Finn asked, intrigued.

Leo turned his head to nudge their noses together. “I read the letters you send me, and I look at the pictures.” He kissed Finn lightly, then the top of Logan's head. “We have mirror calls almost four times a week, and yet you two still send me letters every couple of days.”

“We want you to know what's going through our heads,” Logan mumbled.

Leo pulled him tighter to his chest. “I love it more than anything.”

Finn scoffed, pinching his hip. “You don't love it more than us.”

Leo laughed. “That's true.” He closed his eyes. “I love you more than anything that ever has and ever will be.” He yawned, settling into the weight of their bodies and the heat their skin. “Nos da.”

“Good night, loves.”

“Bonne nuit. Je t’aime.”

I had this idea for headcanons about the Cubs as drivers/passenger princess combos and JUST LISTEN, LISTEN-

Finn driving, Logan as Passenger Princess: This combination doesn't happen often, because Leo's legs are SO LONG that he usually needs to either drive or sit in the front seat, but WHEN IT DOES (usually when Leo is tired and lies down in the back to nap), HOLY MOLY. Finn is a chatterbox all the time, and Logan FEEDS off of his energy. They're debating sports and plays and stuff. Finn talks with his hands and so he's constantly tapping on Logan's thigh to emphasize his point. He also does NOT LIKE the music Logan plays (I feel like this is one thing they have VERY different tastes for that kinda clash), so he's always chirping Logan about that. Logan gets kind of protective over his snacks, but shares with Finn anyway (cue: AGGRESSIVE SIDE EYE). Finn always thanks him with a smile and at every red light he leans over and kisses Logan's cheek to remind him that, though they may be debating and discussing stuff in the car, it really isn't that serious and he just loves Logan so so so much. He feels so lucky that, after everything, he gets to share these domestic moments with him.

Logan driving, Finn as Passenger Princess: Pretty much the same: debating, discussing, but this time Logan is demanding snacks. He's a BIG skin-to-skin guy, so he loves when he drives in the summer and his boys are in SHORTS and he can place his hand on Finn's (or Leo's) bare thigh. Finn still talks with his hands, but this time he's playing with Logan's fingers. Logan doesn't hate Finn's music as much as Finn hates Logan's, so it's a bit calmer on that front. In this situation and the one above, directions are CHAOTIC. Both of them are kinda bad at it.

Leo driving, Finn as Passenger Princess: Finn is HORRIBLE at giving directions and focusing, and Leo NEEDS to know the next step he needs to take on the route when he completes the previous, and needs ample notification time before the upcoming step. Finn gets SO distracted and could be looking at the directions and be like: "Uh, okay, so it says here- oh! You got a text from Reg, it says-" "Sweetheart, directions." "Right, right, sorry, sunshine." *To apologize, Finn begins pressing kisses to the back of Leo's hand and gets distracted again.* "Finn." "Right! Sorry." Leo is also a big palm-on-thigh guy, and lets Finn just fiddle with his fingers the whole time. He's Finn's very own fidget toy. When Leo has to back up, he rests his hand on Finn's headrest to look behind him and Finn SWOONS. His sunshine has nice biceps. Finn is weirdly obsessed with the Les Mis soundtrack and absolutely BELTS it out. Logan groans but finds it so endearing, and Leo sings along happily under his breath.

Leo driving, Logan as Passenger Princess: This combination mostly happens at night, because Finn CANNOT stay awake at the wheel, and Logan is half sleepy, but insomniac sunshine can drive just fine. Logan always chooses one of Leo's soft, acoustic playlists to listen to because they relax him. It's quiet, with Finn conked out in the back seat, and LeLo just sit in each other's silence mostly, or quietly murmur to one another. Leo has to prompt Logan for directions every now and then, but that's mostly because Logan is too busy watching how the streetlights reflect off of his skin and listening to his soft voice sing along to the music. Leo's hand is on Logan's thigh the whole time, and sometimes up scratching at his hair. Logan takes it and kisses it or even leans across the console to kiss his cheek. He ALSO SWOONS when Leo backs the car up and is known for taking a nice bite of Leo's bicep every now and then.

FinnorLogan driving and Leo as a Passenger Princess: Leo Knut is the PERFECT Passenger Princess. Directions? Three steps ahead with exact mileage and periodic check-ins with ample notification time. Snacks? Has the exact ones that FinnLo like and his own, which he brings slightly extra of because his boyfriends ALWAYS ask for some because what's his is theirs. Definitely brings an extra designated 'Driver Water Bottle' with a small nozzle so Finn/Logan can drink without spilling on themselves, and then ANOTHER extra water bottle because whoever isn't driving DEFINITELY forgot theirs (he then has his own small-nozzled Nalgene with a straw inside and a Lions Pride sticker on the outside, and it is HIS). Music? Has a nice rotation of songs that each of them likes. He plays a Finn-song, a Lo-song, and a Le-song, then starts the process over again so everyone stays relatively happy. Conversation? He is whatever they need him to be. He's avidly engaged with Finn and lets him tap on his thigh all he needs, and then he's quietly chatting with Logan, covering the Logan's hand on his thigh with his own because Logan loves the feeling of warm skin against his. AC? This man has it DOWN. Always has his own seat-heater on and his personal AC set to approximately 72 degrees; Finn's is set to approximately 68, with the seat heater on low in the winter; and Logan's is a FREEZING 62, even in the winter, and he NEVER has a seat heater on. Leo knows his Weighted Blanket Boy is HOTHOTHOT (in many ways). Overall, 100000000000/10 Passenger Princess, the best in the biz. FinnLo love him so much. <3

Oo so active I love!! Can you do a Finnlo fight with old scars/trauma resurfacing? And Leo heals all, I love when he gets one on one with each and helps them understand each other better.

Oof, I do love a good FinnLo working through trauma sort of situation, it has to be said. And Leo hates seeing them hurt, poor sunshine baby. :(

HOWEVER, I do think it's kind of beautiful that, no matter how long you know someone, there is always more to learn about each other, something that I see FinnLo kind of struggling to recognize sometimes. So, have some (yikes) FinnLo ANGST with a perceptive and intelligent sunshine coming to help ease the pain.

Character credits to @lumosinlove !!

“Salut, maman.”

“How are you, sweetheart?” his mother asked in French.

“Bien.” Logan switched the phone to his other hand as he put the dried utensils away. “Le just made a nice dinner. Are you on your way to the airport?”

On the other side of the line, Iva let out a sigh. “Actually, Lobear, I have some bad news. Your father got caught up in a work thing- one of the administrators in the hospital committed fraud and now he’s having to deal with the fallout. It’s a mess, sweetheart, we’re not going to make it.”

“Quoi?” Logan sat down heavily at one of the counter stools. “What do you mean? Maman, can’t you come?”

“Logan, I can’t just leave your father and go to France right now. He’s stressed out and working long hours, and-”

“But I-” Logan took a breath and rested his forehead in his hand. “Sorry, I was just excited for a family vacation. The girls are all coming next week.”

“Logan.” His mother’s voice was stern, but still sad. “I know, sweetheart, I know. I’m so sorry. The girls are upset as well.” She let out a sigh. “We’ll try and visit you and the boys at some point this summer before you have to go back to New York, but it’s looking really bad. There’s a lot of frustrated doctors and patients.”

Logan nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. “Ouais. Ouais, I understand.” He hung his head back and tried to fight against the tears forming in his eyes. “I love you. Tell dad I say hi.”

“I love you, too, Logan. Sleep tight, my love.”

The line went dead, and Logan slouched forward to rest his head in his hands. He took a shaky breath and let out a soft sound. Time with his boys in Nice was invaluable, but it had been ages since the Tremblay family had been all together and not surrounded by hockey, just each other. And Leo and Finn had been so excited to come on a family vacation. Logan felt his chest ache for them.

“Hey, sweetheart.” Leo came through the doorway. “Finn’s making a fire out on the- whoa.” He stopped abruptly and came up to rest a hand on Logan’s back. “Lo, what’s wrong?”

Logan quickly wiped away the tears that had fallen on his cheeks. “Everything’s fine, soleil,” he whispered in French. He was too tired for English.

“No, it’s not.” Leo guided Logan into his chest and they wrapped their arms around each other. “Can you tell me what happened?”

“There’s an emergency at my dad’s work- one of the administrators committed fraud, and he’s having to deal with the legal stuff. It’s a complete mess. Maman just called to say they can’t make it.”

“Oh, mon coeur.” Leo squeezed him tightly. “Oh, Logan, I’m so sorry.”

“I know.” Logan felt his voice shaking. “It’s just, I was so excited to finally have a family-”

“Lovers, I’ve got the fire started!” Finn’s voice came from down the hallway. “What do you want to drink, we’ve got-” He stopped in the doorway. “What’s going on, what’s happening?” When Logan groaned and more tears slipped out, Finn’s face dropped and he rushed over. “Hey, baby, what-?”

“I just wanted them to be here with you-”

“Sh, I know, honey, it’s alright.”

“Non, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I just miss my parents, and-”

“Lo, English, I can’t understand.”

Logan looked up at him from his place in Leo’s chest. “I was.”

Finn shook his head, eyes pained. “No, Lo, you weren’t. I don’t like this, you need to tell me.” 

Logan bit his lip and tilted his head back, slightly frustrated. It hurt, sometimes, having to translate the things he was feeling into words that Finn could understand. And Logan was tired, so tired, because they had gotten up early, and had gone for a long run, and then spent the whole day wandering around, and his head hurt. It hurt so badly, trying to switch between languages, and translating, and communicating. He let out a sigh that must have come across harsh, because Finn took a step back, cheeks red. “Hey, whoa. Lo, what the hell?”

Leo looked frantically between them. “Finn.”

“No, I don’t like not knowing what he’s saying! Logan, c’mon-”

“Finn, I don’t think you should push-”

“Allez,” Logan said softly, breathing in and out through his mouth, which just seemed to make Finn panic more. He rubbed his hands over his face and stood, heading towards the patio door. “Allez, I need some space.”

“Logan. English, please, I need to understand, I can’t understand you.” 

“Finn.” Leo’s voice was soft. “Finn, he just needs a minute. Just give him a minute.”

The last thing Logan heard was Finn’s frustrated huff, and then he closed the patio door behind him.

***

French was tricky for Finn, Leo had figured out. He tried his best, spending time watching movies and TV shows with French audio and English captions, and did some grammar exercises when he could, but his lack of progress and fluency was clearly frustrating him. Most of the time, unless the two of them were alone just together, Leo and Logan spoke English in Finn’s presence. It didn’t really bother Leo much, to switch between the two languages, but it clearly sometimes bothered Logan- when he was overstimulated, when he was tired, when he was feeling things he needed to just let out, and he couldn’t do that as automatically in English. He’d gotten better, but there were times when Leo could physically see him flinching and wincing, the act of translating taking a toll on his body and mind. And Finn, Leo had come to realize, didn’t quite understand how difficult it was.

They watched Logan’s back disappear through the patio door and into the dying French sunlight, Leo still gripping Finn’s hand gently from when he’d stopped him from following Logan outside. Finn was breathing heavily, face and neck red from frustration and worry- and maybe a little anger, Leo thought. He drew those freckled fingers to his lips and kissed them gently. He gave Finn a tug. “C’mere, sweetheart. Let’s go for a walk.”

But Finn was still staring out the door. “No, Le, he’s just sitting out there, and I don’t understand-”

“Finn.” Leo tugged harder, forcing Finn to look at him. “I know you’re upset, but you need to let him be, okay? His dad had a legal emergency at work, so his parents can't come, and he's exhausted. Let’s go for a walk and talk.”

Finn looked a little taken aback at Leo’s firm tone of voice, but nodded. The fight had just evaporated from his body. “Okay. I’m sorry, Le, okay.”

“Hey.” Leo kissed him softly, then kissed the purple underneath his strained brown eyes. “I love you. And Logan does, too.” He laced their fingers together and squeezed. “Let’s go, I know just the place.”

They didn’t go far, just to the beach near Logan’s house, but it was far enough where they could both get some air. Leo pulled Finn back against his chest and laced their hands across Finn’s stomach. The sunset was just turning orange, casting a glow over the world and the water. Leo kissed the back of Finn’s head. “You look beautiful in the sunset.”

There was a hitching breath, a soft whimper, and then Finn started to cry, silent, shaking sobs wracking through his body. Leo leaned around and kissed each tear, waiting.

Finn pressed into his touch. “He just- in college he would just walk away from me. I would try to talk to him about- about us, and he would use French to- to get out of talking, and I can’t do it anymore, Le, I just can’t.”

“Sh, I know. I know, sweetheart, I’m so sorry.” Leo felt like his heart was breaking. “I’m so sorry, let it out, baby.”

“Leo, I don’t know what I did wrong.”

That made Leo suck in a breath. “Nothing. Finn, you did nothing wrong. You’re just- you’re having trouble communicating.”

Finn let out a sad sound and shook his head. His eyes were squeezed shut tightly, as if he was in pain. “No.”

“Oh, honey.” Leo wrapped him up tightly. “Honey, you are. It happens, even for you two.” He licked his lips nervously. “Can I- can I say something?” 

“Yeah.”

“And when I say this, I need you to know that this is not to hurt you, and that I love you so much, okay?”

A brief pause. “Okay.”

Leo took a preparatory breath. “I think- I think you need to let Logan speak in French. Sometimes.” Finn flinched, but let Leo continue. “When he gets emotional, or frustrated, it’s sometimes hard for him to translate. And I know it doesn’t seem fair, but you need to let him feel for a minute for himself, then let him explain it to you.”

“Yeah.” Finn rested his head back against Leo’s shoulder. “But he can’t- he can’t use it as an excuse not to talk to me. I need him to, like, say he needs space, I can’t-” His breath hitched again. “I just feel so lost, and I hate not being able to help him.”

“Sh, sh, honey, I know.” Leo kissed where his hair fanned out over his ears. “But sometimes you don’t need to help him, at least not right away. Sometimes you need to just listen, and let him come to you when he’s ready.” He brushed Finn’s hair back from his face. His eyes were still closed, but not as tightly anymore. “And he will. You know he will. He’ll always talk to you, he’ll always tell you how he feels. And I know it’s unfair that I can understand him first, I know, baby, and I know it makes you feel frustrated. But he loves you so much, Finn. And he’ll talk to you once he can express how he feels in a way you can understand.”

Finn was silent for a long time. After a few minutes of gazing at the sunset, he tilted his head and pressed a kiss to Leo’s jaw. “In college, when Logan brought me here, we swam one night right out there.” He pointed to a spot in the distance, and Leo braced for the story he knew so well. “And I told him I wanted him. And he just- he spoke French at me and…” A new wave of tears fell from his eyes and his voice broke. His heart was fast under Leo’s palm, breathing quick and uneven. “God, that hurt so badly. That hurt more than anything else I’ve ever felt in my life.”

“Finn.” Leo felt himself start to tear up, too, and pressed his nose into Finn’s cheek. It wasn’t like Finn to panic so harshly. “Finn, baby, breathe. I need you to breathe with me, baby, you’re scaring me.”

“Sorry,” Finn gasped. “Sorry, sorry, Leo-”

“I’ve got you,” Leo whispered, pressing their foreheads together. “I’ve always got you.” 

They breathed together for a few minutes. Finn’s body was hot against Leo’s own, as if he was feverish, and Leo had half a mind to take him into that ocean and wash away the memories. Instead, when Finn’s pulse slowed, he pressed a soft kiss to his lips and pulled back to look at him. “Feel better?” At Finn’s nod, Leo kissed him again. “Good. Let’s go back to the house, sweetheart. I’ll talk to Lo.”

Finn’s eyes turned anxious. “Do you think he’s mad at me?”

“No.” Leo shook his head. “No, I think… I think he loves you more than he can say, and he doesn’t want to hurt you.” 

Finn deflated. “I know. I know, I’m sorry.” He looked up at Leo through his lashes. “I love you. I love you both so much. I’m just- I don’t know why I get frustrated.”

Leo bit his lip. “Maybe it’s just one of those things you don’t quite understand about each other yet. That you’re still learning.” He brushed their noses together. “I think that’s kind of beautiful, that you’re still learning each other.”

Finn smiled slightly. “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right, it is.” He kissed Leo’s cheek. “Thank you, peanut.”

“Always, sweetheart.” Leo patted his hip. “C’mon, up you get. Go take a shower, and I’ll go talk to Lo.”

They both felt lighter, clearly, as they stood, but Leo didn’t miss the way Finn looked longingly at the water once more. 

***

Fifteen minutes later, Leo let his head thump lightly against the wall beside the bathroom door. He could hear the shower running and Finn talking to himself, which was a good sign, but his heart was still pounding in his chest. They hadn’t seen Logan when they walked through the house- Leo assumed he was still on the patio. He pressed a hand over his chest, took a deep breath, and walked through the living room to the back door. 

Through the glass, he could see Logan hunched over, adding another log to the dying fire. He looked serious, muscles tense, and when he heard Leo slide the door open he jerked a bit. His eyes were red when they met Leo’s. “Salut.”

“Salut.” Leo closed the door softly behind him and went to sit in the chair on the opposite side of the fire pit. “Ça va?” When Logan just shook his head, Leo let out a sigh. “I just took Finn to the beach,” he whispered in French. “We talked for a while, he’s in the shower now.”

Logan looked up at him. “D’accord, is he-” He stopped, squinting at Leo briefly across the flames, before he sucked in a breath. “Were you crying?”

Leo felt a nervous feeling work its way up his throat. “Ouais.”

Logan’s face looked like heartbreak. “And Finn, was he-?”

“Ouais.”

Logan groaned, falling forward to rest his face in his hands with a shaky breath. “I don’t want to make him cry. Oh God, I made him cry-”

“Sweetheart, look at me.” Leo stood and went to kneel between Logan’s legs, the warm fire at his back, and cupped his face in his hands. “Look at me, Lo.” When Logan did, Leo wiped away the wetness on his cheeks. “Finn was just scared, and frustrated. He doesn’t like not being able to understand you.”

“Je sais.” Logan’s voice was broken and sad. “Je sais, Leo, I’m so sorry-”

“Sh, sh, I’ve got you.” Leo pressed a firm kiss to his forehead, then rested their temples together. “I know you’re trying, I know it, Lo, but he sometimes doesn’t. He just wants to fix anything that’s hurting you right away. But he also has to let you feel, and I told him that. And once you figure it out, then you can translate and tell him, but he needs to let you do it yourself.” Leo pulled back to look him in the eye. “But you can’t just walk away, Lo. You have to tell him, in English, that you need a minute, and then take it.”

Logan closed his eyes like the words hurt him. “It- it’s a bad habit. With him.”

“He told me.” Leo thought for a moment, then lowered his voice. “He told me about the sea again. The story about you two in the water at night, while we were at the beach.”

“Merde.” Logan let out a pained sound. “Mon rouge…” He sniffed and held Leo’s wrists. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry you always have to deal with- with us, us not communicating.”

“Non,” Leo whispered firmly, thumbs rubbing Logan’s jaw. “Hey, no, don’t say that. I want to help you, Lo, because I love you, not because I feel like I have to.” He sighed. “But you have to talk to him about it, okay? He doesn’t want to hurt you, and you don’t want to hurt him. And you don’t hurt each other, really, you just- you need to take a pause for a moment, that’s all.”

But Logan’s expression was disbelieving. “I made him cry. I made you cry.”

“Non, Logan.” Leo pressed their bodies together harder. “You didn’t, your actions did. The situation did. How much we love you made us cry, but never you, sweetheart. You’re all we could ever want.”

“I love you,” Logan said softly, kissing Leo so gently it felt like bathing in sunlight. “I love you so much.”

“I love you.” Leo stood, holding out his hands to pull Logan into standing up. “D’accord, Finn’s probably out of the shower now. Let’s go see him.”

Leo could tell Logan was nervous by the way he gripped his hand tightly as they made their way through the house. It was getting dark now, their bodies casting long shadows on the walls. There wasn’t a sound of water running through the pipes, so Leo figured Finn was in their bedroom. He tugged Logan along slowly and stopped in front of the door, turning to face him and kiss him briefly. “Good?”

“Ouais.” Logan pressed his forehead into Leo’s chest, hugging him, before cautiously turning the knob.

The room was bathed in just the warm light of a lamp. The window was open, letting in a cool breeze coming off the ocean, ruffling the white curtains. Finn was sitting up against the pillows on the bed, now in boxers and a sweatshirt, glasses perched on his nose as he read from a paperback. He looked up as Logan entered, Leo standing in the doorway. His eyes, though warm, were red-rimmed, and his cheeks were flushed. “Hi,” he whispered, voice cracking through what sounded to Leo like tears.

Logan let out a soft sound. “Mon rouge.”

Then he was crossing the room in two strides to straddle Finn’s hips on the mattress, wrapping his strong arms tightly around Finn’s shoulders. A soft sob escaped Finn’s body as he held Logan just as tightly, fingers gripping the muscles of Logan’s back. “Lo, I’m so sorry, I-”

“Non, non, Finn.” Logan pulled back to cup Finn’s face and kiss the skin, catching the falling tears with his lips. “Non, mon rouge, désolé. Mon amour, ma vie, mon tout, je suis tellement désolé. Don’t cry, I don’t want you to cry.” He kissed Finn on the mouth and then looked him in the eye. “I should not have walked away.”

“I should have let you have space, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, baby, about your family, I-” Finn cut himself off, kissing Logan hard once more. “I love you.”

“Ouais.” Logan began kissing his cheeks again, then moved down to his neck. “Ouais, je t’aime, ma vie, mon cœur, ma lumière, je t’aime.”

Finn let his head fall back with a soft smile. “Now this French I find sexy.”

“Finn.” Logan lifted his face from Finn’s neck and ran his hands through Finn’s hair. His eyes were serious and yearning, but he was so gentle it made Leo’s heart ache. “I’m being serious, I don’t want you to feel like that. I’m so sorry I keep making you feel like that, I’m going to try. I’m going to communicate better, I’m going to try.” 

“Then I’ll try, too.” Finn rested their foreheads together. “I don’t like not being able to fix things. But you need time, sometimes, and I know I won’t always understand right away.”

“But I’ll tell you.”

Finn smiled and kissed Logan’s cheek. “But you’ll tell me.” He sat up straighter, then looked to where Leo was standing. He smiled and held out an arm. “Now, where’s our sunshine?”

Leo tilted his head to rest against the doorframe and gazed at them softly. “Hi.”

“C’mere, baby, c’mere.” He pulled Leo against him when he walked over to the bed, scooching a bit so he didn’t fall off. Finn pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Thank you, baby. It’s not your job, and it’s not why we love you, but thank you for catching us.”

“Ouais.” Logan moved off of Finn’s lap to sit in Leo’s and draped his arms around his shoulders. His green eyes were wet, but Leo saw his smile right up until he closed his eyes and kissed him. “Merci, mon coeur.”

Leo nudged their noses together. “I told you. I do it because I love you, not because I have to.” He looked at Finn. “And you catch me, too. You caught me right in your arms when we met, even if you didn’t know it, and you’ve caught me every time I’ve fallen since.” 

Finn’s smile widened. “I like catching you, baby. You look so pretty in my arms.” He kissed Leo’s blushing cheek. “Je t’aime, peanut.”

Leo laughed. “I love you.” He turned to Logan, who was watching them both with soft eyes. “Je t’aime aussi.”

“Oui. Toujours, mes amours.” He settled his hips further into Leo’s and nicked Finn’s cheek with his thumb. “That wasn’t that bad, Harz.”

Finn waggled his eyebrows. “Been learning. Though, I gotta say, most of my French is not very appropriate, so I will need some help with that.”

Logan laughed. “Ouais, we can help you.” He tilted forward and rested his cheek right where Leo and Finn’s shoulders were touching, his eyes turned to look at Leo. “I’m sleepy.”

“Mm.” Leo tilted his head to rest on top of Logan’s. “Shower? Then we can go to bed.”

“Can I be in the middle?”

Leo and Logan both straightened to look at Finn, who was biting his nail with slightly nervous brown eyes. Logan smiled widely. He took Finn’s hand and kissed it. “Ouais, mon amour.”

“Kay.” He ran a hand through Logan’s hair. “Can we snug?”

Leo scoffed. “Like that’s even a question.” He kissed Finn’s neck then took Logan by the hips to lift him off the bed to stand. “We’ll be ten minutes, honey, promise.”

“Hurry back.”

They left Finn to his book and went to the bathroom. Leo was grabbing some towels from the closet while Logan let the water heat up when a thought made him laugh. “You know,” he said. “I think it really would be funny to teach Finn French.”

“Huh?” Logan asked, stripping his clothes. “Quoi?”

Leo shrugged, hanging up the towels and reaching behind himself to pull his T-shirt off. “I’m just saying, his accent would be horrible.” He wrapped his hands around Logan’s waist as they stepped into the shower, guiding him beneath the hot spray. “And he would probably only use it to say dirty things to us, anyways, even if he knew more.”

Logan tilted his head back to face the water and laughed. “Ouais, he would.” He looked back at Leo over his shoulder. “But I wouldn’t complain.”

Leo smiled. “No. Neither would I.”

Suddenly, the bathroom door opened. Leo wiped his hand on the shower glass to clear it, then grinned even wider when he saw Finn staring at them, hips resting against the sink. “Sweetheart?”

Finn played with his own fingers. “Didn’t want to be far from you. Can I stay?”

“Of course, baby.”

“Cool.” Finn boosted himself up to sit on the side of the sink, letting his legs swing. “You know, I like this show. Might have to shower stalk you more often.” 

Logan blew him a kiss. “Whatever you want, mon coeur.”

Finn nodded. He whistled lowly when Leo and Logan both turned away from him to grab their exfoliator and soap. “Damn, this is a nice show. And it’s free, even better.”

Leo rolled his eyes fondly and shared a look with Logan. “He’s back.”

Logan bit his lip. “Ouais. He’s back.”

“Can you, like, make out or something, please? As an experiment.”

Leo furrowed his eyebrows. “An experiment for what?”

“To see how long I can sit still here for.”

Leo and Logan shook their heads, but leaned in for a kiss that started out brief, but Logan’s tongue ran over Leo’s lips and then Leo was melting underneath the warm water.

“Yup, that’s what I’m talking about.” They looked over to see him resting back against his hands, a delighted smile on his face. He waved his fingers. “Don’t stop on my account.”

Leo just winked at him and drew Logan’s body closer again. “I guess we gotta give it to him.”

“Ouais,” Logan said, looking up through his dark eyelashes. “Whatever he wants. Forever.”

Leo nodded. “Forever. Now, c’mere, Tremblay, and give me a kiss.”

And with Logan’s smile against his own and Finn’s happy noises, Leo felt himself soften… or maybe it just felt like the beginning of sinking into forever.

I LOVE SLIDE AND I LOVE LEO AND LEO WOTH A GUITAR???? YOURE GENIUS!!! IF YOU EVER TURN THIS INTO A FIC IM FIRST IN LINE

Get in line then, it seems! This is in response to some headcannons I wrote a while ago (you can find them linked on my Masterlist), which I LOVE doing, they're so fun! So enjoy Leo being a guitar legend and some SW/Vaincre gang in a band! They're super rock n' roll. 🤘

Oh, and have some FinnLo in the audience being OBSESSED that their sunshine is a musician! :)

Credits to @lumosinlove

“Le, did you get the extra cables for tonight?”

“Yup,” Leo said to Cassie, typing quickly on his computer. His political philosophy paper wasn’t going to write itself. “In my backpack.”

“Cool, great. And the extra amp, how are we getting that there?”

“Amanda’s girlfriend is bringing it in her car.”

“‘Kay, cool. Cool, cool, cool.”

Leo grinned, swiveling in his chair and looking at Cassie with raised eyebrows. “You’re stressed.”

“Well, obviously,” she hissed. “This is our biggest gig yet.”

“And you’re sure it has nothing to do with a certain person being there?”

She rolled her eyes, but was blushing. “Percy Marshall has free will. He can come if he wants. I didn’t even invite him, Finn did.”

Leo winced. “Yeah, sorry. He likes to meddle.”

“Yes, he does.” She tapped her pen against her notebook repeatedly. “Also, it doesn’t matter if Percy is there or not. I sing because I like it. And I’m good.”

“So good.”

“Right?”

“Are you asking me, or telling me?”

Cassie groaned, thumping her head on the table. Her blonde waves fell in a curtain around her head. “I don’t know.”

“Well, figure it out. And study for your Calc exam, you don’t want to have to take it again next year.”

“Why the hell does a journalism major have to take math anyways?!”

“Your voice is going high,” Leo pointed out, turning back to his essay.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m stressed.” 

“Still, I’d prefer not to lose my hearing at twenty-one. Go, do math, please.”

Cassie kicked his foot gently under the table, but she was smiling.

***

“How we feeling?”

Leo and Amanda looked up from where they were tuning their guitars to find Layla’s smiling face. She was fiddling with her drumsticks.

“Good,” Leo said. “Almost done. Has Cole tuned his bass yet?”

She rolled her eyes. “No. He’s still drinking his pre-gig tea. And Thomas came backstage to talk, so they’re distracting each other.”

Amanda snorted. “Well, then we might be down a bassist tonight.”

“I’ll go find him,” Layla laughed, then she was walking away, her long twists swishing behind her.

Leo plucked his final string, watching the light on his electric tuner turn green. “‘Kay,” he said. “I’m all set.”

“Me, too.” Amanda unclipped her strap and set her guitar in its stand. “I’m gonna go say goodbye to Aadhya, I’ll be right back!”

Leo made kissing sounds as she jogged to the little back room where their stuff was, laughing when she flipped him off. He hummed to himself as he plucked out a few chords. Even after performing with the band for almost two years, he still got nervous he would forget something on stage. A quick review was necessary. He was just running through their opening number when his eyes were covered by two hands.

“Guess who?”

Leo smiled. “Hi, sweetheart.”

“Hi,” Finn said happily, uncovering his hands and bouncing in front of Leo, Logan following. “How are you?”

“Good,” Leo said, slipping his guitar strap over his head and setting the instrument in its stand.

Logan reached out and thumbed the bottom of Leo’s tank top. “Feel ready?”

Leo smiled. “Yeah. Little nervous.”

“You’ll be so good,” Finn said. He draped his arms loosely around Leo’s shoulders. “There are so many people out there waiting to see you.”

Logan laughed. “Rouge, I don’t think that’s helping.”

“But they’re his fans!” Finn scratched absentmindedly at the back of Leo’s scalp. “We’re your biggest fans, though.”

“I don’t know,” Leo teased with a smile. “My mama might have you beat on that one.”

“I’ll fight her for the honor.”

Leo rolled his eyes playfully. “No you will not,” he chastised gently. “But you will give me a good luck kiss.”

He didn’t even have time before Finn’s smile was kissing his own in happy bursts. “I love you, I love you, good luck, peanut butter sunshine baby.”

Logan was there, too, pressed against their sides. He cupped Leo’s waist with his hand gently and tilted his head up for a kiss of his own. “You’ll be amazing, soleil.” He ran his hand appreciatively up Leo’s arm. “You look very sexy.”

“Yes, very,” Finn agreed. “We’re lucky boys, that’s for sure.”

“Okay,” Leo laughed. “We go on soon, so I need to go.” He kissed them each quickly and squeezed their hands. “I love you.”

“Je t’aime.”

“Love you!”

Leo blew them a kiss as he walked into the backstage room. Thomas was on his way out and held his fist out for Leo to bump. “Kick ass, man.”

Leo slapped his back. “Thanks, Talky.” He closed the door behind Thomas and smiled at his bandmates. “Feeling good?”

Cole nodded. “Feeling good.”

“Good.” Leo went over and sat by Cassie on the couch, throwing an arm over her shoulders. “How are you?”

She sighed, resting her head on Leo’s shoulder. “I’m okay. All warmed up.”

“You’ll be amazing.”

“Mm.” She shifted closer, then looked up at him. “Would your boyfriends be jealous if they saw us right now?”

Leo laughed. “Oh, definitely. Finn’s ears would be bright red, and Logan would be staring at you so hard.” He rested their temples together. “But I won’t tell them.”

“Thanks.” She looked around the room at everyone else watching her carefully. “I’ll be fine, guys, really.”

Layla nodded. “We know. You get on stage and you’re fine, just- I don’t know, I think we’re all a little nervous.”

“Right?” Amanda laughed nervously. “I mean, fuck, this place is huge!”

Cole was staring off into space with wide eyes. “I’m absolutely shitting myself.”

They all looked at each other for a moment, silent, then burst out into laughter. Cassie’s body shook against Leo’s shoulder, and Layla was doubled up over her knees across from him. Amanda and Cole were falling over each other on the other couch. Leo felt the anxiety of the moment slip away a little and he bit his lip around a smile. 

“Oh, fuck me, we’re crazy,” Amanda laughed.

Leo felt a buzz in his back pocket, and unwound his arm from Cassie’s shoulders to take out his phone while the others continued laughing around him. His lock screen lit up with a notification. He took a minute to smile at the photo. It was of himself, Logan, and Finn around a campfire from the fall, bundled up in sweatshirts and sweatpants. Logan was sitting sideways on Leo’s lap in a camp chair and Finn had both his arms draped over Leo’s shoulders from behind, pressing their cheeks together and smiling. Leo ran his thumb over it fondly before unlocking his phone and opening up his texts. 

Finn had sent him a photo of the stage, and then a photo of Logan flipping him off, a cup held to his mouth. Here’s where we are, sunshine, the text read. Love you x A GAZILLION ur so sexy and talented and hot and pretty and we love you mwah mwah MWAH <33333333333

Leo snorted out loud, shaking his head fondly. <3 you both, you can come backstage after.

Cassie not-so-subtley peeked over his shoulder. “Oo-oo, Leo’s got some admirers!”

He blushed and nudged her. “Shut up.”

“Seriously,” Cole said. “You three are always just like…” He widened his eyes and smiled goofily, fluttering his eyelashes.

“No we are not.”

“Yeah-huh,” Amanda said.

“Fine.” Leo sighed, dropping his head back. He feigned exasperation, but really his stomach was fluttering. “Yes, we’re sickeningly in love, all right?”

Layla snorted. “Yes, you are.” She clapped her hands. “And it’s five-to, so we gotta go.”

They all grabbed their water and walked back to get their instruments. Leo peeked around the wooden panels on the side of the stage that blocked them from the view of the audience as he adjusted his guitar strap.

“You find them?” asked Cole from behind him. 

“I’m looking,” Leo said. His eyes scanned the crowd, looking for a shock of red hair or the slope of Logan’s broad back. 

“There,” Cole said. “With our other friends.”

Leo followed Cole’s finger to where it was pointing and smiled. Sure enough, there were Finn and Logan, talking with Hannah, a friend of Finn’s from his freshman year, and Sirius, who had bonded with Logan the year before because they were both from Quebec. Finn had a drink in one hand and another secure around Logan’s waist, pulling him flush to his own body. Logan was quiet, as he usually was, and was listening to Finn so closely and intently his nose was almost brushing Finn’s cheek. Finn took notice and kissed him quickly before going back to whatever he had been talking about. 

“You see ‘em?” Cole asked.

Leo nodded. “Yeah. I do.”

Cole snorted and slapped his back. “C’mon, lover boy, it’s show time.”

Leo grinned quietly to himself as the lights went up and they followed Cassie out onto the stage.

***

Leo strummed the last chord of their song, With You, letting his sound ring before silencing his guitar with his palm. There was a brief silence, then the crowd was applauding and cheering. Cassie, smiling broadly as always, thanked them with a nod and a laugh as she set her microphone in its stand.

“I’m glad you liked that one,” she said, fiddling with the mic chord. “We do, too.” She flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder and turned to Leo. Good? she mouthed. 

Leo nodded, running the cable connecting his guitar to the amp through his hands to stretch it out.

“Okay,” he heard Cassie say. “I’m going to take a step back for a minute. We’re gonna play a cover for you, one of our favorites, and Mr. Leo Knut here is gonna sing lead for us.” She scrunched her nose teasingly at him. “He’s very good.”

Leo rolled his eyes playfully as they switched spots, Amanda going to pick up her acoustic guitar. Cassie stopped him with a hand on his bicep. “Good?”

Leo nodded with a smile. “Yeah.” 

She smiled. “You’ll be great.”

He smiled back, nudging their arms. “Thanks, Cass.” He stepped up to the mic, raising just a bit. “Hey, y’all, how ya doin’?” He winced inwardly- his accent always came out stronger when he was onstage, but people didn’t seem to mind. There was some applause and cheers, and a loud whoop! that Leo would bet all his money on came from Finn. He grinned, squinting against the lights shining on the stage. He fiddled with the neck of his guitar. “Good. Hey, look, we’re gonna do a little cover for you. This song is one of my favorites.” 

He flashed his eyes around the crowd until they landed on his boyfriends, the both of them smiling up at him. Logan was slumped back against Finn’s chest, Finn’s arms tight around his waist. Finn winked at him and Leo felt this face warm.

Leo realized he had spaced out for a few seconds and cleared his throat. “Um, so,” he said, strumming once on his instrument. “Yeah, I like this one a lot. Reminds me of some people very dear to me.” He turned to look behind him. “Ready?”

His bandmates nodded, and then they were off.

Leo opened it with the guitar riff, now familiar under his fingers after so many run-throughs. He bobbed his head to the beat and took a deep breath just as Cole and Amanda joined him.

Could you whisper in my ear

The things you wanna feel?

I’d give you anything

To feel it comin’

Do you wake up on your own

And wonder where you are?

You live with all your faults

Leo smiled, eyes flashing to the neck of his guitar as he plucked out the shortened transition riff, feeling the sound of Cassie’s tambourine and Layla’s soft cymbal shake through his chest. He glanced out at the crowd and moved closer to the mic.

I wanna wake up where you are

I won’t say anything at all

So why don’t you slide?

Leo rocked his body faster, grinning at the rhythm of his and Amanda’s strumming. 

Yeah, I’m gonna let it slide

The crowd was lively now. Lots of people were swaying and singing along, a few even dancing with their friends or partners. It energized Leo, touched something so deep in his bones he felt like his body was thrumming. He bounced a little as he strummed, closing his eyes as he started the next verse, Cassie’s harmonies mixing with his own voice. 

Don’t you love the life you killed?

The priest is on the phone

Your father hit the wall

Your ma’ disowned you

Don’t supposed I’ll ever know

What it means to be a man

It’s something I can’t change

I’ll live around it

I wanna wake up where you are.

I won’t say anything at all.

So why don’t you slide?

Oo, slide

Leo loved this part of the song. The way the strumming picked up, the way it made him feel light and giddy as he sang it. He caught Cassie’s eye and smiled. She was slapping the tambourine on her hands and tapping her toe, her long, golden hair shaking with the movement of her body. Amanda and her were back to back now and laughing; on his other side, Leo could see Cole shaking his head and smiling goofily at Layla in the back. 

And I’ll do anything you ever dreamed to be complete

Little pieces of the nothing that fall.

He turned towards the crowd again. He had to find them, quickly, had to catch their eye to sing the next bit, like he always did. 

They were already looking back at him when he caught their gazes. Finn was swaying Logan gently and singing along to the lyrics. It reminded Leo of all the times he’d seen lovers at music festivals, hands on each other’s hips, casually touching in a way that said, I’m here. I’m here with you, and I love you.

Leo blushed and looked out at them through his lashes with a grin, holding their gaze as he continued.

Oh, May

Put your arms around me

What you feel is what you are

And what you are is beautiful

Oh, May

Do you wanna get married?

Or run away?

They broke off into a brief instrumental interlude, and Leo broke his gaze to look at his guitar neck, shifting his fingers accordingly. Sometimes, looking at them was too much. Sometimes, he didn’t know what to do when they smiled at him like they had just then, so full of adoration and joy. 

The instrumental part was finishing up again and Leo was catching their eyes once more.

And I’ll do anything you ever dreamed to be complete

Little pieces of the nothing that fall

Oh, May

Put your arms around me

What you feel is what you are

And what you are is beautiful

Oh, May

Do you wanna get married?

Or run away?

Leo scrunched his nose at Logan and Finn in a smile, their expressions mimicking his.

I wanna wake up where you are

And I won’t say anything

There was the sound of Layla’s drum fill, and then they were all bouncing. Leo angled his head to Cassie and bopped along with her.

And I’ll do anything you ever dreamed to be complete

Little piece of the nothin’ that fall

And I’ll do anythin’ you ever dreamed to be complete

Little pieces of the nothing that fall

Leo felt his chest heaving as he looked at the other people around the room. They were looking at him, trying to catch his eye, and smiling. But he really didn’t care much about them at that moment, if he was being honest with himself. He moved closer to the mic as the instruments crescendoed and grinned, locking eyes with Finn and Logan’s happy faces one final time.

Yeah, slide between the sheets of all them beds you never knew

Why don’t you slide into my room?

Just slide into my room

Oh, we’ll run away, run away, run away

Leo tore his eyes away only to look at his guitar as he played the closing rift through, his fingers shaking slightly with the adrenaline. He took a deep breath as they all let their instruments ring out a bit. As always, there was silence, then applause. Cassie was beside him in a moment, grabbing his arm and shaking it excitedly.

“You kicked ass!”

Leo rolled his eyes playfully and bumped their foreheads together. “So did you. That one’s always fun.”

She flashed her eyes to the crowd, grin widening, then looked back at Leo. “Your lovers are staring.”

Leo blushed but turned to look. And sure enough, in the crowded room, dark and dusty and probably smelling of sweat and beer, two sets of twinkling eyes were looking at him, smiles so wide almost all their teeth were showing. Logan raised his fingers in a wave and Finn blew him a kiss. Love you.

Leo bit his lip around a smile and let out a quiet, giddy laugh. Love you. 

Then he gave Cassie one more pat on the shoulder and went back to his place to finish the set.

***

Leo wiped the sweat off his face with the bottom of his tank top, bristling a bit as some of the saltiness got in his eyes. They all set their instruments in their stands backstage to be put away in a few minutes and hurried to the dressing room. There was a window that Cole immediately threw open, and then Layla was handing them all water bottles from a cooler.

“Drink up,” she said. “Before you go to the bar, please.”

“Thanks,” Leo panted. He cracked it open and downed half in one go, then fell against the couch and placed the cool plastic on his forehead. The condensation was a little uncomfortable, but he was too hot to care. The others were chatting around him, and there was the sound of the door opening and closing as people came and went, fussing with cables and amps. Aadhya slapped his leg in a job well done and he stuck his thumb up. 

“Gimme a minute,” he said. “I’ll help.”

“Nope,” she said. “Percy, Thomas, and I have got it. You all just sit for a minute, okay? You’re dehydrated.”

Leo didn’t really have it in himself to protest. “‘Kay. Thanks.”

She nodded and went back to putting away Amanda’s guitars. 

Leo closed his eyes once more and let out a deep breath through his mouth. Performing was a joy and an adrenaline boost, but the period after was stressful sometimes. Their bodies and brains were exhausted; a few moments of relaxation and quiet was necessary.

Suddenly, he felt two palms rub the outside of his thighs and a soft voice. “Soleil.”

Leo opened his eyes slowly to meet Logan’s loving green ones. He smiled up at him. “Salut.”

“Salut, chérie.” The French was warm and comforting, like Leo was being wrapped in a blanket. Logan bent to kiss his mouth softly. “You did so well.”

“Merci,” Leo said. He set the water bottle beside him then wrapped his hands around the backs of Logan’s thighs. “Hey, c’mere.” When Logan was seated on his lap, knees digging into the soft cushions around them, Leo leaned up to kiss him a little harder. “Thank you for coming.” 

“Oui, of course we did. Finn’s helping put stuff away.” Logan picked up the water bottle and pressed it back to Leo’s forehead. “Es-tu chaud, mon coeur?”

Leo nodded. “Ouais, a little.” He winced as Logan kissed his temple. “Sorry, I’m all sweaty.”

Logan grinned and pressed another soft kiss to his mouth. “Non, I like you sweaty.” 

Leo smiled against his mouth and stole another kiss. “I love you. I’m so happy you both are here.”

Logan set the water bottle aside and tenderly cupped Leo’s face in his hands. “We love you so much, peanut.”

They smiled at each other for a moment before a freckled face appeared above Logan’s shoulder. “‘Sup, lovers?” Finn asked, kissing Logan’s cheek then leaning down to peck Leo on the lips. “How are you, baby?”

“Tired,” Leo sighed. “Hot.”

“Yeah you are.” Finn put Leo's guitar case down, flopped beside him on the couch, and threw one arm around his shoulders, his other hand resting on Leo’s thigh. “Hey, I have an idea.”

Leo rested his head on Finn’s shoulder. “Hm?”

“How about we run away and get married?”

Leo tisked and raised his head. Finn’s grin was mischievous, and Leo just rolled his eyes fondly. “Shut up.”

“No, no, let’s go. Right now.” He bent to whisper in Leo’s ear. “And if you’re lucky, we’ll both slide into your room.”

“That’s it,” Leo said, sitting up and moving to stand. “I’m getting new boyfriends.”

“Non,” Logan demanded firmly. He let his weight go heavier on Leo’s lap and laced a hand through his hair possessively. “Non, you’re not.” 

“Kidding.” Leo placated Logan with a kiss then fell back into the cushions, slumped down and leaning into Finn’s side. “But I don’t just sing those lyrics to you for no reason, you know.”

“We know, sunshine.” Finn nosed at Leo’s hair and kissed his temple. 

“It’s because I love you very much.”

“And we love you, baby.” Finn reached out to play with Logan’s fingers. “But- we are getting married, right? Maybe not the ‘running away’ thing, because my parents and brother would kill me, but… marriage?”

Leo turned to brush their noses together and nodded. “If that’s what you want, then I want it. Lo?”

“Of course I do,” Logan answered. He brought their left hands to his mouth and kissed their ring fingers. He then peeked out through his lashes and winked. “And I’d also like to slide into your bed.”

“Oh my God, this isn’t funny anymore!” Leo exclaimed, bouncing his legs up and down to jostle Logan. He laughed and looked up at him. “I am trying to be romantic, stop being weird about it.”

Logan pressed their smiles together in a slow kiss. “It’s very romantic, mon soleil,” he whispered. “We love it.”

“Yeah, we do, baby. You’re so sweet.” Finn kissed his cheek and bit his jaw. “Sweet enough to eat.”

“Oh-kay, lovebirds!” Cassie sing-songed. Leo looked around Logan’s body to find her standing across the room with Layla, the both of them waggling their eyebrows exaggeratedly. Percy was behind her with her purse, his face flushed nervously. Cassie jerked her head. “C’mon, time to celebrate. We can leave our stuff here.”

“Damn right,” Leo said. “I need a fuckin’ drink.”

“Mm, your accent always sounds stronger when you’re tired,” Finn murmured with a last kiss to his and Logan’s cheeks. He stood and held out his hands. “Let’s go, I’m buying.”

Logan and Leo took his hands and followed him out the door, the rest of Leo’s bandmates and a few of their friends behind them. Finn refused to stop holding their hands, even when passing through the narrow hallway, which made Cole let out a frustrated groan behind them. “Let’s move it! I would like a fruity drink!”

Layla rolled her eyes fondly. “You and your cocktails.”

“Hey, don’t mock me, babe, you always steal them anyways.”

Leo smiled and held Finn’s hand tightly until they got to the bar. Finn rapped his knuckles and put on his most charming smile. “A rum and coke, a dark n’ stormy, and a Jameson neat, please.”

A bartender with a thick braid running down her back smiled at Leo. “You guys were good.”

“Thanks,” he said sheepishly.

“Aw, don’t get so shy, butter baby,” Finn teased. He pinched Leo’s cheeks. “You deserve all the praise.”

Leo looked between him and Logan and leaned in. “Maybe you can slide in my bed and give me some tonight.”

Finn’s eyes darkened. Logan just looked a little dazed. “Promise?”

“Promise.” He kissed each of their stunned mouths quickly and grabbed his drink, smiling. “Now, c’mon, let’s go find a dark corner and make out.”

And with their laughter following him, Leo turned towards the crowd and let himself internalize the moment. The hands on his hips were warm and gentle and he smiled at the stage where he had just been. Maybe, he thought, it wouldn’t be so bad running away and getting married. 

Not until he graduated though.

“Love you,” Finn whispered, resting his temple on the back of Leo’s neck.

Leo turned to kiss him, then drew Logan to his chest to kiss him, too. “I love you,” he whispered back. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”