When Logan came in, he was bloody, stained holes in his clothing where bullets had gone in and come out again.
Scott unclenched his jaw enough to speak. "Not again."
"I'm sorry," Logan said, brushing past Scott on his way to the kitchen.
Scott followed. "You're not."
"I said I was, didn't I?" Logan took a bottle of whisky from the cabinet and poured himself a shot.
"You've said that before." Scott hated this conversation, hated that they were having it yet again, hated the way Logan didn't even challenge Scott's authority, but just sidestepped it. Hated the way Logan made him feel so tense, so jumpy.
"Meant it then too." Logan drank the shot and poured himself another. He gave Scott that half-smile that was calculated to infuriate.
It always worked. "Of course you did." Scott felt the anger twisting in his gut and tried to calm down.
"I told you I tried." Logan pushed aside the whisky and took out a cigar.
Scott wanted to knock it out of Logan's mouth. "You always try. That isn't the problem. The problem is what you actually do."
Logan lit the cigar, taking his time. "Why does it bother you so much?"
"You know very well." It was about respect, Scott thought as he stared at Logan's fingers around the cigar. Respect and responsibility.
"If I did, would I keep asking?" Logan looked Scott in the eye and Scott could tell that this was just a game to Logan.
"You would, yes." Scott wished he knew how to stop playing.
Logan stepped closer to Scott. "You worry too much, you know."
The smell of the cigar was nauseating. "Did I say that was why?"
"I don't see why you have to be so cryptic." Logan tilted his head back and blew smoke into the air. "I said I was sorry. Now I'm going to bed."
Now that Logan had almost certainly precipitated yet another volatile situation, he was going to bed. "Leaving me to clean up your mess, then? Again?"
Logan stepped closer yet. "Look, just come with me next time." His voice was low and rough. He put one heavy hand on Scott's shoulder.
Scott swallowed. This wasn't part of the game. "Why would you think I..." he said and stopped when Logan threw his weight onto Scott, pushing him back until the kitchen counter cut a line of pain into his back. Logan still held the cigar and the smoke got in Scott's eyes.
Scott had just enough time to panic before Logan kissed him, sharp, pressing. Scott had just enough time to realise his own stupidity before he put one hand on the back of Logan's neck and kissed him back.
Then Logan stepped away. "Yes?"
It was ten seconds before Scott could answer. "All right."
Logan grinned, picked up the whisky, and left the room.
FINIS
I read the Percy/Oliver story first and liked it but this one is just painfully good. More, more.