Premise : Eddie's working at a mall. It doesn't have much of a food court, but he's eating out in the open bc his store has a small backroom and the manager is in a meeting back there. He's eating mei fun, which the mall definitely doesn't have. Steve recognizes him while he's busy eating, completely looking down and focused on those rice noodles and shrimp…"You always bring your own takeout to the mall?" A vaguely familiar voice interrupted Eddie's focus.
He'd barely swallowed the noodles as he answered flatly, "Yeah, the atmosphere is ten times better than home."
That earned him a chuckle.
Only after the body attached to the voice pulls back the opposite chair and sits does Eddie look up. He knows his eyes are normally already pretty big, so he's sure they each grow to the size of the moon when he realizes who's across from him.
"Steve?" He muttered, questioning moreso if his brain was playing a cruel prank on him than anything. After all, he'd been having dreams lately about them meeting up after all these years. Only Gareth knew how bad the yearning for someone he couldn't even find on Facebook was.
"Eddie," he received in return. The way Steve said his name, that teasing little smirk on his face, sent a shiver down the man's spine. Suddenly he really wasn't sure if this was real life or not. He was contemplating stabbing his hand with his plastic fork when Steve spoke again,
"So what've you been up to man? Haven't seen you since-"
"Since you graduated and moved for college," Eddie finished softly. There was no need to be harsh about it. They'd really just been school friends, never hung out without being surrounded by desks. And then Steve graduated before Eddie, being the more head-down kind of guy who wanted out fast as per his dad's wishes, and went to Indianapolis for college.
That was 16 years ago. Lots happen in that amount of time. Even Eddie had moved states a few times by then, only ending up in Indie himself when a big break-up and Jeff needing a roommate brought him here. There was no telling what Steve got up to.
Steve. He'd been thinking about him a lot again lately, thanks to that initial dream a month ago. When it was evident that thoughts about him weren't going away anytime soon, Eddie relented and tried to check his social media. The man was a ghost, he'd found. Nothing new in almost 10 years. Like he'd fallen off the face of the earth. The only information visible was where he'd gone to college - information which gave Eddie hope he'd see him again one day just to put an end to this torture. Hope that he tried to argue with, lots of people move away from even the big cities where they went to college after all. Hope that kept him people watching with misguided optimism from his post at work.
But here he was. More filled out than when they were practically kids. Hair a little shorter and more tamed, but still worthy of the attention it had always garnered him. Some scruffy facial hair that worked so well. Eddie could melt just looking at him.
"Since I went graduated and went to college, yea."
Steve repeating his words just as softly broke the trance Eddie didn't realize he'd fallen in. They stared at each other for a moment, those puppy dog eyes drowning Eddie. He was sure Steve was trying to find the right thing to say next, but was interrupted by Eddie's warning alarm going off.
"Fuck," Eddie whispered as he quickly shut the damned thing off. Standing and gathering his lunch, he looked across the table to Steve. "Uh, I gotta get back to work but…" He trailed off hoping something smart would follow.
Thankfully Steve was smart. He held out a torn piece of paper that he had apparently hastily written on.
"Text me when you get a minute," was the last thing Eddie heard as he took the paper, nodded, and walked off.
Once he was sure he was no longer in Steve's line of vision, he did indeed pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
Louise loves her family, she really does. That’s why she still comes back for weekly dinner even though she now has her own place and is pretty decent at cooking her own meals. The warmth and companionship was unmatched…most days.
This day in particular there seemed to be something in the air. She'd walked into the restaurant after helping a few clients figure out their failing businesses, as she did every Friday. It was late afternoon and she tied an apron around her waist while Teddy chatted. There was a small rush, which had become more of the norm lately thanks to better marketing. Bob and Zeke were cooking up a storm, Linda and Tina already manning the front.
“Take five T, momma's got this,” were Louise's first words as she patted her sister's shoulder. It would've been more appropriate to say auntie, considering sweet sister Tina was heavily pregnant with the first grandbaby Belcher, but when was Louise appropriate?
And nevertheless Tina looked grateful. She'd definitely been on her feet far too long.
“Great, I'm gonna..go upstairs for a…bit,” the older woman said between breaths.
Louise got filled in on Tina's tables, and the shift went relatively normal for the rest of the night. After the rush had calmed, Bob and Linda took a little booth break. Gene popped in and went directly to the dishes. Linda eventually got up to take stock. Louise went over post ideas with her dad, he liked to make sure nothing was too flashy and they bounced puns off each other. It was a comforting routine that lulled Louise into a false sense of security.
The night ended with Louise and Zeke cleaning and locking up. They made their usual small talk, mostly about how Tina was fairing and how the nursery was coming along. By the time they got upstairs they could hear the rest of the family’s idle chatter and smell Linda's meatloaf. Now, Louise couldn't make out what was being said but she did clock how the words stopped flowing the moment they got to the landing.
Tina was the first to react, standing up and meeting her husband halfway for a kiss. While the mushy stuff went down, Louise sidestepped to see what help was needed in the kitchen. Her dad was just pulling a dish of something green and lumpy out of the oven. Without being asked, the youngest Belcher grabbed the jar of cheese sauce from the counter and poured it generously over the broccoli. Only way to stomach the stuff, she thought with a scrunch of her nose.
There was a comfortable silence between father and daughter that Louise relished as they put the finishing touches on everything. Fresh chives over the mashed potatoes, a tray of butter for the corn on the cob..they'd outdone themselves once again. Louise went to place the shakers and paper towels on the fold out table in the living room, and took notice of how everyone was staring at her when she did. Quiet once again. She leered at them. They were obviously up to something, but what? Like a tiger, she watched the herd for a sign of weakness.
When no one broke, she huffed and put a fist on her hip. “Dinner's ready, Gene come help me set up while the elderly rest.”
Their mom’s eyes got just a little wide as she shared a glance with Tina as she took a gulp of wine. Satisfied that she hasn't been imagining things, Louise followed Gene back to the kitchen.
Unfortunately there was no chance for interrogation as the middle sibling kept babbling on about their latest gig and who they saw there and with who. The word-brook was too fast for Louise to keep up with and without realizing it they'd already set the table.
The family sat down and began to dish out their plates. Despite earlier weirdness, dinner went down as usual. Linda was loud, Gene was louder. Everyone was jovial, even Louise who had by now forgotten about the previous queer moments. Everything was great. Picturesque in Louise's mind. That's when Linda was checking everyone's plates for seconds and asked her youngest,
“Another bushel of broccoli, hun?”
Louise paused mid-last bite of meatloaf. The table went still. “Huh?”
All eyes were bouncing between the two until Linda squeaked out, “Broccoli, hun. Did you want more broccoli?”
Hazel eyes narrowed suspiciously before Louise shook her head. “Nooo thanks, had enough of that for the year.”
And she's almost certain she heard a collective breath get released from the peanut gallery. But Linda's already moved on to making sure Tina and Tiny have had their fill, so there's only room for more speculation. Most of the conversation from that moment is on everyone's going-on’s. Usually when Louise is addressed it's to ask about her bookkeeping gig or how Phoebe 2 -a green bottle blue tarantula- is doing, but then Tina asked,
“Do any berry picking last weekend?” while staring directly at her dear sister. There was a twinkle in her eye that Louise just knew she was not imagining. Especially because it was coupled with a grin.
And that's when everything montaged through Louise's mind. Everyone looking at her like she'd grown an extra limb, Gene’s rambling about some event he dj’ed at, the broccoli slip-up…Louise stood up so quickly that her chair fell.
“I don't know what you're talking about and I was not with Logan Bush at Drag-on Knights, we just both happened to be there and got sat together and anyone saying otherwise is De. Lu. Sion. Al.”
There was a beat of a crazed Louise daring anyone to contradict her. When it seemed like no one would, she started to fix her chair and sit down. During the sitting motion, her oh so wonderful mother chirped up,
“Oh honey, we think it's cute that you like Logan. Besides, he cleaned up nice.”
And with that, Louise slipped and slammed her chin on the table.
Bob jumped up with probably the fastest reflexes anyone's seen out of him in years.
“Lin you can't just- Louise let's go check you out in the bathroom light,” he coaxed. Busy trying not to scream in agony, more over the betrayal of her family than the pain of a possibly split lip, Louise didn't notice the disapproving head shake the Belcher patriarch sent the rest of the family.
In the safety of the somewhat private bathroom, Bob looked at his youngest child. She was in her 30’s and far from a baby now, but she'd always be that scrappy kid to him. Especially now that she was leaning against the sink, arms crossed and face pink with embarrassment. At the moment she was facing him…or at least the wall next to him.
“You know they didn't mean anything by it. We're just..not used to the idea of you being around people like..that,” he fumbled.
Louise scoffed incredulously. “I'm around people all the time. I have friends, I go out!”
Bushy, graying brows shot up in a you know what I mean kind of way. Feeling her face get warmer, and a little wet, Louise huffed.
“Yea yea, I get it. Can't keep secrets unless I want to be mercilessly teased when I get found out.”
A warm smile formed under that old mustache. Bob went to give his daughter a comforting hug when he paled a bit.
“Lou-Louise you uh. You've got-”
It didn't take much thinking for Louise to spin around and put a wet rag to her bleeding lip before the sight caused her dad to pass out.
🍔🍔🍔
Back at her apartment, Louise put her tupperware of leftovers in the fridge and went to say hello to her favorite arachnid. While she was cooing over Phoebe 2 and ranting about her crazy night and family, the patio door opened.
“How'd dinner g-ooh what happened to your face, Bunny?” Shocked at hearing concern in her.. in Logan's voice, Louise looked up. As if something unspoken between them started to push out, he backpedaled. “You lose a fight on the way back?”
It was enough to make Louise give a good natured snort. “Yea, and you should see the other guy.”
Logan chuckled back, hands finding his back pockets as he examined the woman's face from across the room. A short staring contest ensued before Louise flopped on her loveseat with a groan.
“Gene dj’ed that night and now the whole family knows we..” she paused and gave a wild wave of her hand between them, “hang out.”
This time Logan snorted. He made sure the patio door was closed before taking the opposite end of the loveseat.
“They know we hang out? What's wrong with that?” A long arm was placed on the back of the couch, the hand at the end dangerously close to Louise’s face. Touching her cheek would be sooo easy, and her puffy, injured lip was begging to be gently caressed. For his safety, he held off and looked into her hazel eyes. Very miffed hazel eyes.
“It's wrong because now they know that I have emotions and feelings like some sick human!” She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
He couldn't help but smirk. “So not just because it's me?”
Catching the gleam in his green eyes, Louise let out an ugh. “That's secondary, of course.”
Smirk turned into grin. This time, he didn't resist the urge to reach out. Logan ran the back of his trimmed nails down Louise’s cheek and brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. He watched the corner of her mouth turn up in a warning snarl.
“You're very biteable right now,” she growled.
He leaned forward, green never leaving hazel. “And you're very cute right now,” he teased just before teeth latched onto his finger. Not so gently that he wouldn't learn a lesson, but enough to not break skin.
Once satisfied, Louise backed off and grabbed the tv remote.
“You're coming to dinner next week by the way,” she said before putting all her bodyweight on him and turning on a Hawk and Chick marathon. Logan just chuckled again, draping one arm over Louise and combing through strands of a pigtail with the other as they settled in for the movie.
[ch0 | NOW ON A03] [how low can you go in lim-beau?]
(special shoutout to my 6,660 word count this chapter, lesgo baebiii)
[ ✨ Princess 🛹
🔪📇🗓️ ]
Louise could feel her eye twitch as the emojis glared back at her. Without a chance to show the entire message, the phone was flung full speed across the room. At this moment she didn't care if it broke or not.
Did he text just to gloat? her mind screamed. Grabbing her pillow and placing it over her face, her vocal cords followed suit. Whatever, I never wanted him here anyway. Good riddance!
Mentally and emotionally exhausted, she got back up and snatched some clothes from her dresser. The apartment was quiet as Louise stomped her way to the bathroom. Grumbling to herself about how her shower would be music-less because she didn’t want to pick up the phone and see if it was still alive, Louise twisted the dial for water and got set up. Steam started to cover the room as she stepped in and closed the curtain. Suds were worked into her scalp as her brain recalled the last time she felt this betrayed.
Heavy metal melodies blared as Louise stared at Kuchi Kopi in her arms. Her brain started to put the reality puzzle together and eventually she reached over to grab her phone from the nightstand. Sitting up, she turned her alarm off and stretched her muscles. Thankfully she was still small and young enough to survive a night on such a broken-in piece of furniture. On their way down, her hands fell to her face and dragged the skin as she groaned. Had she really broken up with Rudy just because he was going to Europe? Yes, yes she had because how could he drop that on her out of nowhere and obviously in public to lessen the chance of her going off?
I should’ve thrown something, she mused. Soft footsteps broke her thoughts and Louise looked up. When she caught sight of that strong and scruffy jawline, she scrunched up her nose.
“Don’t you have a nice apartment to stay at?”
Logan not only stopped, but took a step back. “Wow, guess I’ll just take this coffee downstairs to Linda.”
He grinned as Louise’s look of disdain dropped to distress. Still, he waited with his brows arched, sipping his own coffee while holding out the extra mug. His benevolence was obviously limited, and the realization that she would not be waited on further caused Louise to huff as she got to her feet and marched over. Reflex told her to snatch the mug from Logan’s hand, but logic reminded her that there was a sweet elixir in there and she did not want to risk losing a single drop or worse.
The aroma of roasted bean was the most welcome thing in the world to Louise right now. She could cry just from that. Of course, the young woman thought like this every morning as she took her first sip of the day so really it wasn’t that alarming. What was alarming was that the sip today was almost exactly like she had made it herself, just a tad sweeter than usual. She looked up at Logan, eyes suspicious through the steam.
“Thought you’d need the pick-me-up,” he told her with a shrug.
“But how did you know my exact ratio?”
This time he scoffed. “I’m observant, Louise. Learned to pay attention so I wouldn’t be labeled a self-absorbed dick my entire life. I’ve seen you make your coffee a billion times," he paused with a smirk before adding, "Plus sometimes you sing a song about it under your breath thinking no one can hear you.”
The beet-red shade the younger one turned was enough to make Logan throw his head back and give a barking laugh. It was worth the slug he got from Louise in turn. It later replayed in her mind as she got ready for work, and followed her down to the restaurant.
When a bell chimes at an opening door it ruins your ability to slip into a building unnoticed, something that Louise often considered the nonsentient bane of her existence. As much as she would’ve loved to have just quietly walked in and gone right to the basement to pretend to take inventory or clean, the girl found herself flinching at the shrill yet concerned voice of her loving mother. There was no chance to dodge the warm trap of an embrace.
“Ooohh my baby! Your father told me about Rudy. Awwh, hun why’d you walk out on that poor boy like that?” Linda cooed, gently rocking her youngest to and fro and patting the top of her head.
“Mom, com’on” was all Louise could muster at the moment, face practically smooshed in the crook of her mom’s neck. At the same time she could hear Bob’s monotone from the other side of the wall,
“Lin, come on. Give her some space.”
Knowing it was the best but not happy to fight her natural instinct, Linda released Louise with a quiet aw of disapproval. In turn, Louise understood where her mom was coming from and gave her a gentle pat on the arm.
“Be better if we don't talk about it. Don’t wanna clog up the restaurant with my problems, do we?”
There was no way she thought the matriarch’s eyes could get any bigger or more watery, but Louise was sure they did. She could also tell that Linda was still fighting with herself to find the right thing to say in such a delicate situation. The corner of the woman’s apron was pulled up and being twisted in frantic fingers. Louise braced herself.
“Well, whenever you’re ready hun, just don’t keep it bottled up,” Linda finally settled on before going back behind the counter.
The younger of the two gave a quiet affirmative before following to grab her own apron. The empty restaurant wouldn't really need her for another hour or so, so Louise did make her way to the basement to check on the lettuce. Once completely alone, save for the ancient meat grinder and all the produce and supplies, she pulled out her phone. Sure she could say it was merely to pick her podcast of the day, but the girl’d be lying if she denied the not-so-subtle anxiety she felt as she unlocked the screen and readied herself for any notifications.
And there it was blaring at her face in its regular size;
[Rudy : Hey Louise, your dad said you g…]
Steeling herself with a deep breath, Louise opened the text.
[ Rudy : Hey Louise, your dad said you got home okay. I was relieved about that. So I know you got upset and ran out before I finished talking and it seemed like you wouldn’t mind if I fell off the face of the Earth but I was hoping you’d want to come to Europe with me? ]
The temperature of Louise’s blood could suddenly not make up its mind. First it ran cold, how could she make such a mistake? Of course Rudy wouldn’t just want to leave her behind while he had a life-changing journey. But then it boiled, how could Rudy think she’d be able to leave her family and the restaurant for a full year? Everything would fall apart without her! It’s like he didn’t even know her!!!
A growl rumbled from her as Louise winded up to hurl her phone at the concrete wall, misplacing her anger on the easiest target. Thankfully her brain caught up and forced her to take another breath. Instead she picked her podcast, pocketed her phone, and hurried to the walk-in and to start counting that lettuce.
Eventually Louise went upstairs to help her parents and Logan with the lunch rush. It went the same as usual, and the young woman found solace in the routine. Bob and Linda went to run errands before the dinner rush, leaving the kids to run the restaurant. Things stayed quiet for a while as they cleaned up and made small talk about the burger of the day.
“Gotta say, I wasn’t sure the Slaw Kimchi to Me Burger was gonna do too good in this area,” Logan mused.
A scoff came from Louise as she swiped her rag over a particularly stubborn stain on the last table, “There’s adventurous people on the Wharf. Not that kimchi is really that scary, just better and spicy sauerkraut.”
She’s sure Logan is about to make some rich people remark, but she doesn’t hear it. At that moment she happened to look out the windows and caught sight of a familiar car. The hair on the back of her neck shot up and her stomach twisted. She clenched the rag in her fist as she spun and dashed to the kitchen. The sudden intrusion catches Logan off guard, and he gives her a shocked look. Wide eyes stare back at him before Louise pulled herself together just enough to push out,
“Actually I might’ve had too much kimchi. Those microbes are really fighting right now so I’ll just be in the bathroom for, gosh I don’t know, however long this is gonna take.”
And then she’d barely heard the “good luck” Logan shouted as she slammed the door to the employee bathroom just as the bell chimed up front. Keeping her ear to the door, Louise flipped the exhaust fan on for cover. She focused on listening for her chance to bolt. There was absolutely no way she could face Rudy right now. He didn’t deserve a resolution just yet.
From her vantage point, Louise had to really strain to make out actual words and really she could only just barely pick up that her rival was being very amicable with the young man who he knew had caused her such grief. Classic, just standing there acting like Rudy committed no crimes. Enemy of my enemy I guess, she ruminated, rolling her eyes.
Freedom came what felt like an eternity later. In reality it was maybe ten minutes. From what she could tell, Rudy didn’t stay to eat or even order any food. She wasn’t sure if Logan bought her “gotta blow up the toilet” schtick, but either way she’d stayed in the bathroom long enough to convince everyone that she was not coming out and she'd won the waiting game. Sensing safety after another bell chime, Louise emerged. One could probably compare her to a deer surveying a clearing after a gunshot. That one was definitely Logan and he was lucky that all he got for the comment was the bird and the silent treatment until Bob and Linda got back for dinner.
The next few days went similarly. Louise worked, Rudy would stop by to try to see her, she would masterfully dodge him and hide until he went away, never getting the message. The message that Louise could have told him if she would just face him. The message that Louise could face him with if she would admit it to herself.
It was a full week of dodging her regular-sized not-so-beau and Louise may have started to lose it. Every jingle of the bell had her jumping, ready to bolt at the drop of a dime. Everyone pretended not to notice the newfound twitch of her right eye - and that had just been while she was working. Not even being off the clock and upstairs was a safe haven for Louise’s psyche. She rarely came out of her room, just barely coaxed out for dinner. If her replies were more than two syllables then they were dripping in snappy sarcasm. It had gotten to the point where she was given a wide berth. That is until Tina had come home for the weekend.
Though she’d been briefed early on by their mom, Tina was still Tina and therefore headstrong in trying to break down walls. Especially when those walls were making life difficult for every single other person. Louise was on a forced day off, having been diagnosed as too unable to put on her customer service visage. Not that being shut up in the house was doing her any favors. Tina found her youngest sibling pacing madly around the small living room and offered to take her out for lunch.
“A change of scenery,” she added when Louise just stared, frozen as if contemplating every possible scenario that may happen outside of her 'sanctuary'.
“Change of… so I’m guessing you don’t mean Pesto’s?” Louise dug, still cautious.
“I was thinking Pie in the Sky, see if you could beat your record.”
There were two wolves inside Louise at that moment, and damned if the one hungry for pie didn’t beat the one that wanted to hole up in the Belcher apartment for forever. For the first time in days, her voice was soft, “Sounds good.”
The table between the sisters was laden with pie. Tina was certain every flavor on the menu was in front of them already, and if it wasn’t yet then it would be soon. Which was fine. The dent in her college-student wallet was going to be an acceptable price to pay to get her family back to normal.
She bided her time with small talk until Louise was three slices in, then it was time for plan “Get Louise to Talk About Her Feelings and Stop Being Grouchy”, which she thought was the perfect length for a plan name.
“So, Rudy's going off to Europe with no regard for how you feel,” she opened, placing everything on not-Louise. Of course she'd already gotten the run down that Rudy has been by every day since trying to talk to his beloved. And of course, right on cue is the scowl on Louise’s face. Her fork freezes for a moment. Then she finishes the bite she was about to take before setting it down and sliding the plate away as if the pie was poisoned.
“I should've known this was a trap. A delicious trap that you knew I couldn't resist. Diabolical, I'd be proud if I wasn't so flabbergasted.”
In response Tina merely leaned forward, interlocking her fingers and resting them under her mouth, thick brows arching up. Louise huffed back. Her dark eyes narrowed at her older sister.
“Mom told you everything.” There were no secrets in the Belcher family, even the ones that have deserted the nest. Tina stayed silent, waiting. The stalemate didn't last long, Louise didn't have the patience for it anymore. She dropped her eyes down to the pies.
“I can't leave Mom and Dad for a year, they're too old to run the place alone.”
Tina shot back instantly but softly, “They have Logan, plus me and Gene on the weekends.”
“They have to pay Logan,” Louise reminded her. Sure business had picked up some, but having a body they didn't have to pay as much was still keeping them afloat right now.
“You know I would come back more often, and Zeke would help out for your wages.”
Zeke and Tina had been getting more serious the past year, and Zeke had opted to do odd jobs around town in lieu of going to any kind of college. Teddy had even semi-taken him under his wing, that boy was truly a jack of all trades. And so head over heels for Tina that he was always ready to jump at the drop of a hat to help her or the other Belchers.
Louise poked at the slice of pecan pie in front of her. She'd never had a problem making people do her work for her, so Tina knew the red on her face wasn't embarrassment over her ego. There was more prodding to do.
“You know, someone once told me that feelings are scary,” Tina started. Louise took a bite of pie, opting to look out the window at the moving scenery. At the whole city below her looking so small in the glow of the setting sun. “And he's right. Feelings are terrifying, and they can change which makes them even scarier.”
Louise swallowed her sticky, sweet pie before pointing the tines of her fork at her older sister.
“My feelings are as stable as where a horse lives, T.” She spoke with bravado when she tacked on, “The only thing scary about them is how passionate I am.”
Instead of a mic drop, Louise let her fork fall to the table.
“And passion means running from someone you've been with for five years instead of letting him know how you feel…about a trip to Europe?”
The youngest Belcher scrunched up her face and fell back in her seat. Waving a hand over the table she mumbled, “I'm not in the mood for pie anymore, let's get this boxed and go home.”
When the girls got back to Ocean Avenue, that familiar car is there once again. Tina turns her head to look at her sister, who looks ready to hurl - a look Tina knows all too well. She watches as Louise takes a deep breath before opening the car door…and bolting for the apartment. Feelings are scary, and Louise would be damned if she was gonna deal with them right now.
Instead she ran right to the bathroom, slammed the door and ran the cold water. Ice stung her hands and then pierced her face as she splashed. The collar of her shirt was soaked by the time she stopped, gripping the edge of the sink and staring at her pink reflection. She practically growled in frustration with herself. Why is this so hard?!
“Just admit it, admit that you're too chicken shit to tell your best-friend-turned-boyfriend that you don't want-” and then she trailed off into another loud snarl. Her fingers unhooked from the sink and dug into her scalp, displacing her beanie. With a groan she drug her hands down over her face before looking at the mirror again. Nothing would be accomplished here. Recognizing this, Louise fixed her appearance before going to her room for a fresh shirt - one with a lower cut than most - and her fake id. Not wanting any type of confrontation, she slipped out through the fire escape and made her way to that new bar a couple blocks away, The Dizzy Fish.
There was just enough of a crowd at almost twilight that no one gave Louise a second look. Well, almost no one. She could definitely feel eyes on her. But right now her focus was on finding an open space at the bar and confidently ordering a rum and Coke. It seemed like a thing any bar would have, and she hoped it was strong enough to drown out her thoughts for a moment. When she slid her id onto the counter, the very young woman kept her face neutral as if she had done this many a time and was over it. In return, the bartender looked from the card to her and back before pushing the card back,
“Starting a tab?” he asked. Louise gave a curt nod and watched as he turned around and got to work. It wasn’t long before a cold glass was placed before her. She thanked him and weaved her way through the crowd to a booth towards the back.
The drink was…well Louise was used to bottom shelf vodka mixed with whatever high schoolers could get their hands on, from that one party of Chloe Barbash’s that she was dragged to by Jessica in hopes of getting in with “the cool crowd”.
That was a dark phase, Louise thought with a grimace. She’s still thankful that her friend eventually decided that her lot in life wasn’t so bad after she spent that night hurling her insides and the next morning unable to open her eyes without wanting to take them out. “If this is what it takes, I ca- I just can’t. Masochists, that’s what they are,” Jessica had rambled later.
This drink was better than that, but Louise wouldn’t say it was anything to write home about. It burned though, and that’s what she was looking for. Well that and…
“This seat taken?” a somewhat deep voice asked.
Right on time, Louise thought while glancing from her drink in appraisal. He was an okay height, taller than her if she’d stand but not by much; broad shouldered, with light hair and blue eyes. College age and back home to mooch off Mommy and Daddy for the weekend, if she had to guess. A drink in each hand.
With a grin she leaned comfortably back in her seat and flourished to the spot opposite her.
“It's not, but it'll be hard to take it with you.”
That, of course, earned her a chuckle. And then the mystery guy slid into the booth and placed the more colorful drink in front of her. Louise cocked a brow at him in effort to play coy. In turn he mirrored her earlier flourish,
“Thought you might want something that tasted good after you finished something so manly.”
Louise was sure her grin took on cheshire qualities as she chugged her rum and Coke, slammed her glass down, and leaned forward to grab the darker alcohol.
“I assure you that I can handle manly,” she purred, swapping the full glasses to the correct placement.
She watched as he took the colorful drink with a smirk, lifted it up in a “cheers” motion, and took a sip. Then she was sure this might've been his first taste of a fruitier drink with the way he paused to take it in and then drank half of it after looking around. No way he’d let his bros know he liked a girlie drink, she's sure.
“Name's Brad, by the way,” he stated, somehow managing to be smug after committing a cardinal guy sin.
“Sidney,” is the name Louise offered in return. It was the one on her id, after all. Shouldn't muddy things too much. Besides, she considered her real name to be on a need-to-know basis, and Brad here didn't need to know anything about her.
Which seemed fine to him with how he proceeded to either drone on and on about himself or make stupid jokes that Louise forced herself to laugh at. They had a few more drinks before Brad decided he'd talked enough and leaned across the booth. One of his hands found hers and tapped as he spoke, and wow did it take some effort for Louise to not flinch or roll her eyes.
“Why don't we go some place more private? My parents are on a trip this weekend.”
She was absolutely positive he thought he was being enticing. And unfortunately Louise didn't pick this revealing top out just to get free drinks from horny patrons at a bar, she only wished her catch had been wittier. Just as the girl swallowed a groan and nodded, priming her body to slide out of the booth, a VERY familiar voice cut in,
“Isn't it past your bedtime, Four Ears?”
Not bothering to hide her annoyance this time, Louise looked at the end of the booth with a groan.
“Logaaan, what a pleasant surprise, we-” she emphasized with a wave across the table, “were just leaving. Brad, you said something about your parents being gone?”
Well now poor Brad was blinking, trying to figure out what was going on. Slowly he stood up. He almost matched Logan in height…just shy a few inches.
“Huh? Oh yeah. Sorry man, but Sid’s coming home with me tonight,” he declared smugly, clasping Logan's shoulder as if he won an undeclared contest.
The taller man just cocked a brow at Louise and smirked before slowly removing Brad’s hand.
“Yeeeeeah, no she’s not. Sid here’s on curfew, being 18 and all,” he sighed dramatically. Without another word, he stretched a hand out to help Louise from the booth. Louise merely glared in return, suddenly feeling very glued to her seat.
To Brad’s credit, he was fast enough to do some math,
“If she’s 18 then she’s old enough to make her own choices.”
“How many drinks did you buy her?” Logan asked simply.
“Wha-?”
Logan waved an arm over the tableful of empty glasses.
“I’m sure you didn’t drink all these yourself, and surely an upstanding guy such as yourself wouldn’t let a lady buy her own drinks,” he led. When the only response was Brad’s dumbstruck face, Logan carried on, “You’re right, doesn’t matter how many. If word gets out to my boss about this…gosh, let’s just say there’s a bigger fisch that’ll make you dizzy.”
Seeing her potential one-night-stand go pale, Louise slammed her hands on the table and sidled out the booth. Her legs were only a little like jelly, but she refused to give Logan any satisfaction and did her best to stabilize on her own. Somewhat regrettably, she looked back at Brad.
“Don’t be afraid to look me up next break,” she half-heartedly insisted while being whisked away, one of Logan’s hands on the back of her arm. How chivalrous, she inwardly groaned.
Once they were outside, Louise broke out of line a few steps…well, stumbled was more the word. She noticed the way Logan took a step toward her, his arms going up like he was ready to keep her face from kissing the concrete and his eyes wide with sudden concern. In a flash she straightened up again and gave her most killer glare yet.
“Okay Spike, I’m no longer in danger from the big bad lucky-baby-ducky, so you go back in’n enjoy your night. I’ll make sure I get home in one piece,” she asserted.
“Lucky-baby-du…” Logan muttered, assuming his boss’s kid was possibly too drunk to know what she was saying. To the girl’s dismay, she watched him shake his head. “You’re wasted and Linda would kill me if I didn’t make sure you got home safely, and you know she'd sense that. Really you’re lucky she has no idea that you’re gone as it is.”
Naturally, Louise hadn't even thought about the consequences her actions would bring - that was going to be a problem for Future Louise. Thinking about it now caused Louise to give a dramatic groan. There was no way she's gonna be able to slip back in, and definitely no way to hide that she'd been drinking.
“Heyyy, Logan, do me a solid and just let me crash at your place tonight, buddy?”
The man in question grimaced.
“Definitely not. You're not coming to my place and ralphing on all my stuff.”
Leaving no more room for debate, Logan grabbed the girl's arm again and started to lead her home. They were walking in silence for a few buildings before it started to feel uncomfortable. Neither of them were really ones for staying quiet.
"Can't believe you bluffed the big Fisch into this," Louise grumbled.
"That wasn't a bluff, Louise. We all know your landlord is fond of your family. Word could easily get around if something uncouth happened to you."
There was a shorter pause before Logan poked again, "He was quite the rebound by the way." He glanced down in time to see Louise scrunch her nose.
“Unlucky hand. He sat down first,” she grumbled in response. Her feet scuffed the ground as she tried to kick some of the sidewalk debris. It was actually probably a good thing Logan was still holding onto her. That was evident when she stumbled and was quickly steadied.
He chuckled, clearly reveling in her misery. “Far be it from me to tell someone how to handle their shortcomings, but I don't think -”
“Shortcomings?!” Louise interrupted with a shriek, halting in her tracks. She huffed, “I am absolutely perfect.”
“Uh huh, and that's why you snuck into a bar and waited for a guy to sit down and booze you up so you could go home with him, after your very recent ex spent all week trying to reconcile a misunderstanding?”
Louise huffed more, even puffed some.
“I didn't sneak in, there's no bouncer. ‘sides, I have a fake id that works perfectly.”
This time she snuck a glance up at Logan, whose brows raised significantly as he clucked. They started walking again.
“I'm impressed with your dedication to being a delinquent, but maybe go with some friends next time,” he suggested. After a moment he added, “And not somewhere your only non-related coworker goes to. I'd rather have plausible deniability to your crimes when I see your parents.”
“Easy there, almost sounded like you cared,” Louise remarked. The throaty chuckle that came from Logan in return caused her insides to warm. That wasn't something she felt like dealing with right now, she was just not drunk enough to know these were also scary feelings. Besides unlike Braaad, Logan was someone she had to deal with on a regular basis. To distract herself, Louise pulled out her phone. Her feet became glued to the ground, instant regret building in her stomach.
[ Rudy : Sorry, I know you clearly want your space but I wanted to let you know that I was boarding my flight. I hope we can talk when you're ready. ]
It was like she could feel the tears Rudy’d held while typing. When something wet plopped on her lit up screen, she realized that those were her tears. The pit in her stomach seethed, the meager and mostly liquid contents bubbling up.
And then Logan jumped back just in time to avoid any backsplash as Louise threw up her feelings all over the sidewalk.
“Whoa see, this is why I didn't want you in my-” Logan started to exclaim, pausing when he noticed the state of the younger one's emotions. “Oh, um. Hey champ, it’s alright why don’t we..”
He was at a loss. His training from college benders did not prepare him for a heart broken girl that he knew and wasn’t interested in crying and throwing up. Frantically he looked around to see where they were, all the while praying that no one was around to wonder what he did to make this child so upset and sick.
Someone, somewhere, was looking out for him. He was sure of that when he realized they were by the empty corner lot with the stairs that kids like to hang out on after school. That meant that they were also near that late night drugstore, and that there was somewhere for Louise to sit and not go in a very lit store with her face all gross.
“Okay so why don’t you sit down here and not move while I go get some wipes to clean you up?” he suggested, guiding Louise to the stairs while rubbing circles on her upper back. She thought she felt movement around her left pocket, but her head was too full of anguish to think about that just now.
Numbly she sat, breathing heavy and wondering if there was possibly anything else her stomach could push up from the depths. This would definitely keep her away from alcohol for a while, even if it were only one ingredient in the nausea soup.
Louise wasn’t sure how long she’d sat staring at the pavement before Logan’s black sneakers came into view. A look up showed that he was holding a somewhat full bag. She watched as he slowed his pace to dig through said bag, pull out a small pack of baby wipes, and held them in front of her. Ready to not feel horrifically gross, Louise took the package and opened them. As she cleaned up, she could see Logan settling next to her in her peripheral. He was still digging in the bag, and she saw him set out two bottles of water.
“One for each of us,” he explained in case her brain was too fuzzy.
When Louise was adequately cleaned up and just holding balled up wipes, Logan finished emptying the bag and held it out to her for the trash. And then he handed her an ice cream drumstick. She blinked a few times as she took it, not sure what to make of the action. Logan must’ve noticed the confusion, because he offered,
“It’ll help you feel better,” before he unwrapped his own treat. They ate in silence, too busy making sure they finished before anything melted in the summer air to consider how heavy the quiet was. Once Louise no longer had the waffle cone to fidget with though, her brain went back on the offensive.
She couldn’t help but fall on Logan’s arm and let out a shaky sigh.
“What’s wrong with me?” she bemoaned, staring in the direction of the ground but more in a dissociative way.
Holding no punches, Logan responded with, “Well you still haven’t thanked me for the wipes and ice cream, for one.”
That earned him a snort and a punch to his thigh.
“You haven’t! But really, there’s nothing wrong with you per se. You just,” he paused, trying to pull the right words for this currently fragile girl. “You’re young and you’re not great with change. And you take a lot of comfort in the people around you, it makes it difficult to handle big shifts.”
There was a decent moment of Louise pondering this before she deadpanned, “Wow, that sounded deep…ly dumb.”
Logan rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to defend himself when Louise mumbled, "And what Tina said too." She sighed and looked at Logan with her big, pathetic, watery red eyes.
"Help me up?"
The blonde simply stood and grabbed the bag of trash. Louise waited some seconds, one hand outstretched. When she was left hanging, she huffed, "Well?"
"Stiiiill waiting for that 'thank you'," he chided, arms crossed.
Hoping she wouldn't spontaneously combust or throw up again, Louise swallowed her pride and batted her eyes. "Thank you."
She watched Logan's brows raise just a little.
"Foooor?" He coaxed, obviously sadistically enjoying her pain. She gritted her teeth.
"For getting me ice cream n' water."
Oh how she wanted to smack the smirk off his face. He reached out, put his hand around hers, and pulled. He also definitely forgot how small Louise was and miscalculated, causing the small girl to go flying from the concrete to his torso. The impact pushed an "oof " out of Logan, while Louise gave a startled shriek. Not wanting to dwell on his expensive cologne filling her sinuses, the young woman hastily shoved Logan's chest. However, she couldn't find a witty remark with the smell of wood and spice swirling her senses and simply stomped towards home.
After Logan decided he'd never process what happened, he shrugged and caught up easily. They walked through idle chatter with Logan on his phone as Louise calmed her steps. It wasn't long before they were at the Belcher door and Logan was watching Louise pull her keys from her left pocket. Then he watched astonishment strike her face as she frantically felt around her person. When she began scanning the ground around them, he finally pulled a fold-up Kuchi Kopi wallet out of one of his own pockets and mostly held back his smarmy grin.
"You dropped this at the steps, was wondering when you'd notice."
Pausing and turning her attention to glare daggers, Louise snatched her wallet out of the man's hand. There were no words as she unlocked the door and came face to face with a stern looking Bob.
"Hey old man, what're you doin' up?" Louise asked sheepishly.
Her dad sighed in return, not able to hold the facade for long. Sure he'd been more than a little upset that his youngest had snuck out and gone to a bar, but he knew what she'd been dealing with and was just glad that she was safe. However,
"Logan texted me," he started, shooting the blonde an apologetic look for knowing he just put a target on the man's back. "You'd better get up to bed, you'll want some sleep before you see your mom in the morning."
Too stunned that she wasn't getting a lecture right away, Louise opted to simply turn and stick her tongue out at Logan before passing her dad and going up the stairs. She didn't even take into account that Bob didn't follow her up right away. Nothing matters to Louise until she gets into the bathroom to pee and change into pajamas. When her wallet falls off the sink and lands open, and she slowly picks it up and notices one blaring discrepancy. She goes to sleep thinking about how Logan definitely didn't just find her wallet on the ground, but damn that was a sneaky way to confiscate her fake id.
In the morning she'd check her bank account and see no purchases from last night…right before Linda came in to have a long, emotional, and vaguely threatening talk.
Stepping out of the shower, 22 year old Louise sighed. It was annoying how much her family cared about her sometimes. Any other 18 year old would've been given some kind of huge punishment for the stunt she pulled back then, might've never seen the light of day again. Instead, her parents just forced her to talk to them and cry in front of them over a boy she no longer loved romantically…then cut her fake id in front of her.
With a fond yet sad smile, the young woman got ready for her shift. She caught Gene up on the end of last night, making sure to rave about how great it was that Logan wasn't working with them anymore and getting his stupid, rich guy stink on everything. Even with the change in routine, it wasn't too bad. Sure there was something missing, tugging at her heart, but she decided that was just the phone that definitely broke on impact that morning. Louise would absolutely deny that she was alert to every door chime, a hopeful light in her eyes extinguished each time a customer or even Teddy walked in.
Or, she would have denied it if anyone had dared to say it to her face. Instead the rest of the Belcher family glanced or whispered to each other when just out enough of Louise's vicinity to not catch her ire. She dragged more and more each day, not even pulling herself out of bed for most of her Wednesday off.
The collective breath the family was holding was let out just a bit on Friday when, after coming down and seeing the "Cherry Up, Bud" burger of the day and glowering at her beloved dad, Louise was snapped into furious action. She zipped back upstairs, snagged her beaten phone off her end table, dug some tools out from a drawer, and slammed herself into the far booth. For hours she ignored the restaurant around her and did all she could to fix the screen and the disappeared pixels, but in the end she placed the pieces in a to-go box in front of Teddy and asked him to fix it with uncharacteristic politeness before getting to restaurant work. There was talk up front on if she'd been pod-peopled while she added cherry glaze to burgers in the back, sneaking in incensed tastes between orders.
Any talk about Louise Belcher getting swapped for an alien or changeling was put to rest on Saturday afternoon. She had the late-afternoon/dinner shift that day and was finishing up her pre-work second coffee when she glanced out toward the wharf. Right there in her line of sight, on the hallowed ground that is the end of Ocean Avenue, was one very familiar and aggravating car.
Oh hell no, she thought. Teeth gritted, Louise took a deep breath before flying down the stairs and into the restaurant.
She beelined for Logan standing in front of a booth, and socked him square in the jaw.
Lazy summer sun beat down on Louise as she sprawled out in her patio lounger. The woman was breezing through a crossword puzzle when a hefty weight landed on her legs. She let out an emphasized oomph and looked over her puzzle book to see a mop of blonde.
“Yes, Logan?” she inquired, eyebrows arched.
The older man looked up at her with desperately sad eyes, real puppy-like. “I can't find my glasses”
Reflexively Louise glanced up at the top of her pseudo-roommate’s head. Predictably she saw the storm gray frames buried in blonde locks. She looked back at her crossword before speaking up,
“Sound that a hound made, five letters, -ed at the end.”
She didn't have to look up again to know that Logan's eyes got somehow even larger when he realized she wasn't going to help him right away. But he knew the drill, if it wasn't an emergency then Louise wasn't getting up until her puzzle was solved. Not on a day this nice. Besides, he was really good at dog related puzzles for a guy who gets jealous every time Louise squishes a puppy’s face to hers. Probably a “know your enemy” kind of thing, she mused.
So of course it was only seconds when Logan slipped out a “Bayed.”
He watched Louise jot the answer down and scrutinize her work. After a satisfied nod she put the book down and simply reached out towards his head. There was a sly grin on her face as she placed the glasses on his nose.
“We should get you a chain for these, you're blind as a bat without them, gramps,” she teased. Feeling especially mischievous, she threw in a nose boop while Logan was adjusting his glasses. He grabbed her hand and made eye contact before sticking out his tongue, dragging it as far up her arm as he could reach.
Head threw back in a cackle as Louise yanked her arm back to wipe the spit trail off. The cackle turned into a yelp as he was shoved not too delicately to the ground.
When he righted himself into a sitting position, the first thing he said was, “Bats actually have pretty decent vision, they're just better with the dark and they don’t see much color. Or any, depending on the species.”
The pride he had seeing Louise just sit there staring at him like a fish was impalpable. It was like he could see the gears in her mind try to take in-
“How do you even know that?!” she finally shouted.
Logan scoffed, “I have interests, Louise. Now if you don't mind, I have work to finish.”
And with that he got off the ground and booped Louise's nose before scampering to the living room loveseat and picking up a controller.
🍔🍔🍔
Hours later the sun is going down and Logan is heating up leftover Chinese takeout for him and Louise. His pal was hanging upside down off the loveseat, blood rushing to her head as she flipped through streaming services. Being out of her view, he allowed himself a soft smile that she’d never know about. Trying to bring up their relationship was a delicate thing, and he was more than willing to keep skirting around naming it if it kept Louise from running.
The sudden call of the microwave broke Logan from his contemplation. He turned to open it before too many beeps went off and carefully pulled out both plastic containers. The man grabbed a couple of forks out the drawer and made his way to the loveseat. He placed Louise’s stuff on the stained coffee table she’d hauled from a sidewalk and leaned back with his own food as he said,
“Mongolian beef for the creature, and a General Tso for the lovely gentleman.”
Bracing himself, he watched as Louise reached for his shirt to begin to pull herself upright. Typical action. She scoot-spun herself back to facing the tv, making sure to jab an elbow into Logan’s ribs, and grabbed her beef and rice.
There was a comfortable silence while the two scarfed half their dinner down while watching whatever obscure horror movie Louise had landed on. Idle chatter started back up as their stomachs began to fill, mostly ragging on the movie. Then ragging on the next movie when it started.
Suddenly it was dark outside, with only the city lights and the nearly full moon lighting up the area. It was Louise’s turn to get up for food, dropping the used containers in the sink and giving them a very quick rinse before rummaging in the fridge for dessert. A whoop of triumph reached Logan’s ears, letting him know that she’d found something good. Which you’d think wouldn’t be a surprise in her own apartment, but the two did wine shopping often and that sometimes ended with them finding random food in the fridge or pantry.
“What is it?” he called out, not quite breaking gaze from the tv. What he got in quick response was,
“Wouldn’t you like to know, weather boy?”
He rolled his eyes and scoffed, daring to crane his neck around the corner. Which earned him a warning to not peak. Intrigued, the blonde dutifully faced the tv again - just in time to see someone get bifurcated with glass walls.
“Okay your eyes better be closed, Bush,” Louise called out from just behind the loveseat. Well if his interest wasn’t piqued before… Logan closed his eyes and even made a show of putting a hand over them. Well, not just as a show of faith, it also protected him if Louise was about to throw or smash anything in his face.
“Hold out your other hand.”
Okay he was a little worried now, but the need to know what was happening was stronger and he followed the command. His reward? The sound of an aerosol can and something cold and kind of wet on his skin.
Sure of what was on him but still playing the game, Logan stayed still. It was another beat, where he was certain Louise went from giddy to annoyed, before the woman gave another order,
“Well? Open your eyes, dummy.”
And of course he did, first checking to see that she indeed was chewing on the side of her cheek and then looking down to see the already melting whipped cream in the palm of his hand. He blinked and looked back up.
“Diiiid you find anything else?”
Louise threw a hand to her chest and gasped.
“Lola whatever do you mean? This is the finest delicacy known to man! Pure sugar and dairy. In a can so you can spray it at people,” she attested.
Logan quirked a brow.
“Nothing to eat it with?”
“Creatures eat it right from the can,” she responded while taking her place on the loveseat.
Ah so she did hear me earlier, Logan thought. Shrugging, he put his hand up to his face and licked the cream off in mostly one go. Which pushed some off to the side and he had to take another swipe. Cleaning his hand took his focus for just a moment, but when he finished and looked to Louise to ask for more…
She was just staring at him. Or was staring at him and was now zoned out. A cocky smirk grew on his face as he flicked her forehead.
“See something you like?” he taunted. All that snapped the bombshell out of her reverie. A couple of blinks and she was glaring daggers. But uncharacteristically quiet. With a chuckle Logan leaned over close to Louise, close enough to see some of her smaller freckles, and slowly pulled the can away. The look on her face was incredulous and he relished in it as he opened his mouth wide and sprayed whipped cream at the back of his throat.
Louise snatched the can back and aimed it at Logan’s face. There was little time to react, just enough to slam his eyes shut, before whipped cream landed on his cheek. He opened his eyes again and licked where he could before laughing.
“Thanks, dork, saves me the trou-” he started before the gap between them was closed by Louise this time. Louise who darted her tongue out and cleaned the flecks of cream up while maintaining eye contact. Despite the cold treat that was just on him, Logan’s face was burning up. He turned his attention to the tv and took note of the grayscale vision they gave for a dog’s pov.
“Ya know, dogs actually see in tones of blues and yellows,” he piped up before daring to glance back at Louise. Her head was tilted as who knew what thoughts ran through her mind.
After what seemed like an eternity she asked, “Any other myths you’re going to correct today?”
It was Logan’s turn to think, but the synapses were firing. He snatched the can again, shook it and aimed at the low cut of Louise’s shirt.
“Better test my knowledge on the female orgasam,” he rumbled.
Louise would deny that anyone in a three mile radius heard her shriek his name as he licked whipped cream from her chest and eased off her pants, but the memory would be seared in Logan’s mind for decades to come.
[ch0 | NOW ON A03] [hey here's a playlist btw] [something fished this way comes]
After congratulating the three newlyweds, and unsuccessfully getting Tina to move a certain blonde to another table last minute, Louise slipped back to the bar. Mickey didn’t seem surprised to see her again so soon. He did look a little wary, however.
Louise raised a brow as she slid into a barstool. “You seein’ a ghost hanging off my back or something, Mickey?”
The question seemed to be enough to bring the ex-con back to his senses. She thought she saw his eyes shift away ever so briefly.
“N-no, I haven’t seen any ghosts since that time at the Wharf in the funhouse,” he answered. Louise’s brow went up higher somehow. Left arm on the counter, she leaned forward in an interested way.
“Prrretty sure those were projected images on sheets, Mick.”
At the suggestion, Mickey’s eyes got puppy-big and he nodded. “Oh thank goodness, that is such a weight off of my back. I really thought that Mr. Fischo…” Seemingly remembering he was in a crowded area, Mickey stopped himself from saying anything incriminating about his boss. Instead he cleared his throat and changed the subject. “Anywhoo what, uh, brings you back here Baby Burger?”
Sliding her glass forward, Louise gave him a pointed look. She caught the hesitation in Mickey’s entire form. Indignation coursed through her. Is he not going to give me another drink? Is he cutting me off this early when I still have the entire night of dealing with Logan?!
“Gee Louise, I don’t think-”
And then Gene’s voice cut through the wedding lo-fi he’d been playing, “Alright party people, it’s o-fish-ially time to sit down and get your chow on! Oh and don’t worry, if you rsvp'd for the chicken like a sane person then you won’t be eating the fish.”
Louise would swear she watched a lightbulb go off in Mickey’s head as he met her eyes.
“Whelp Louise, really wish I could get you something, but looks like it’s time for this bartender to tend to some tendies,” he said as he sprayed a clear soda into her glass and slid a full jar of cherries her way. And then she watched, incredulously, as he turned away and pretended he couldn’t hear as she sputtered about needing a drink.
Coming to terms with cruel reality, Louise snatched her glass with one hand and the cherry jar with the other and walked back to her table. The entire way was spent grumbling about how they weren’t even serving chicken tenders and how dare Mickey try to cut her off at her own sister’s wedding.
Upon reaching the table and seeing the only two empty seats, one for her and one for Gene, a thought crackled through Louise’s mind. One spot was between Bob and Logan. She liked sitting next to her father, it made it easier to whisper inside jokes. But she was willing to sacrifice that for the more coveted spot between Linda and Alex. She could ask him to trade, maybe even bribe him. Unfortunately she knew that spot was more coveted by Gene than herself. Those were their two favorite people; they still loved sharing food with their mom from her plate, and Louise isn’t sure of the last time they’d sat around Alex without being next to him. Besides, it would look suspicious if she asked to be closer to her mother’s boisterous energy and Alex’s food spray.
Holding back a groan, Louise settled down next to her dad and decided maybe it would be fun to watch Logan be in the spit zone.
“Louise you didn’t steal the cherries, did you?” Bob asked immediately as his youngest sat down. He looked a little concerned when Louise protectively scooped her jar closer to her.
“Of course not! Mickey gave them to me as a bribe for his life,” she answered, plucking out a syrupy cherry and popping it into her mouth. The chewing that followed was more to cover up her disgruntled gnashing than to make a show of her loot.
Thankfully servers came and set everyone’s plates in front of them, relieving Louise of any further conversation. That is, until Logan leaned over a tad and whispered to her,
“Looks like we’re the only ones to get the salmon, great minds huh?”
Rolling her eyes with a scoff, Louise pointedly ignored him and turned to Bob. Her tone was a little on the accusatory side.
“What’s the deal old man, I thought we agreed to both get the fish?”
The old man in question shrugged, a bite of chicken already in his mouth. He chewed and answered at the same time, “Thorry Louithe, I justh-” he paused to swallow, “Your mom made the chicken sound so much better. And it might be, it’s actually really juicy. I might have to ask the chef how they cooked this.”
Louise caught the way Bob was starting to tear up over the marvel of the chicken and huffed a little before poking at her salmon. There’d be no further shaming of her dad, he wouldn’t even hear her at this point. Besides, she was a big girl now and she didn’t need to copy every little thing that her beloved father did. She knew they were on the same team even if they did different things. Even if he did switch dinners on her without letting her know. Not that she thinks she would’ve changed dinners with him. The best chicken could not compare to a good, fatty slab of salmon to her, and she wouldn’t take that risk. She turned back to Logan, who had apparently not moved back out of her bubble and was instead eyeing her with that stupid mischievous gleam he’d get.
“I’ll admit, sometimes you have enough brain cells to choose the superior option like me.” And with that she started to lift a shred of fish to her mouth. The words tumbled through her brain before a blare went off. Like me?! She couldn’t let a possible double entendre be left hanging. Especially not when she risked a glance and saw that dumb smirk like his shriveled brain caught onto something. (It didn’t, he just thought that his stupid comment actually hitting a nerve was funny.)
The next words crashed out of her, “Like I do.”
There, totally saved it. (She did not, this actually caught Logan’s attention and caused that brain hamster to run on its wheel.)
Pleased with herself, Louise went on to eat her dinner and drink her cherry-loaded soda with ease. The whole table bantered together. Linda went on about the twist on the groom situation and how she was totally not caught off guard because she thought those three had been acting weird lately. Bob and Louise shared a look before nodding along like they believed her. Louise had even been nice enough to not give away that he’d kept that secret knowledge from his own wife. Friends and family stopped by to congratulate the parents almost as much as they went to the main table. Gene and Alex went back to manning the dj station. Gayle rolled Grandpa Al over, and then left him between Louise and Logan when she thought a waiter winked at her.
It’d been a few years since Grandma Gloria passed and Linda convinced her own dad to move to the Elegant Doily where she could keep him company. He still had one kind of good ear, but the right had finally gone out completely - something that Louise thought he was perfectly fine with considering how he constantly declined offers for an implant.
Seeing that she was on the hearing side, Louise waved sheepishly, “Hi Grandpa.”
Unfortunately she had never been great at small talk with her much older family. Not that it mattered to any of them. Al could barely hear, Gloria had always preferred to talk at her, and graciously Big Bob was just as awkward as she was. Still she liked to try, just a little something to let the generation know that she remembered they were still breathing.
More fortunately a not so light snore caught everyone’s attention. Linda let out a little “aww” at the sight of her very elderly father taking a little wheelchair nap. The small talk crisis was averted.
“Bored him to sleep in less than five seconds, that’s gotta be a record Four Ears,” Logan quietly quipped.
Louise opened her mouth to retort, but at that moment something was laid over her right hand. She looked to see a liver spotted hand covering hers, and moved her eyes to catch Al staring back.
“Who’s the chump?” he hoarsely asked, gesturing over to Logan. Catching the scandalized look on the blonde’s face caused a very loud “HA!” to escape Louise’s throat.
Placing her free hand on top of the hand on hers, Louise assured her grandpa that the chump was some rando that worked at the restaurant. The gleam in her eyes faltered when she looked up to catch Logan staring at her with his usual cocky grin. He's not supposed to be grinning while she insults him! Thinking fast and not childishly at all, Louise stuck her tongue out at the blonde. He looked ready to say something when Gene’s voice broke through the chatter of the room.
“Everyone get your cameras and tears ready, cus it's time for the bride and her father to take center stage. And here to accompany their dance is a very special group of guests. Gentlemen…”
Louise perked up at the announcement as the lights began to dim. This was her main gift to her dear sister, and she didn't want to miss the look on Tina's face when she realized what was happening.
You're not the only one who can keep a secret T, the young woman thought fiendishly.
While Bob and Tina (and Linda to get the best filming zone) made their way to the dancefloor, guests started whispering as four pretty familiar pretty men walked out from behind a curtain. Louise cringed a bit, forgetting how earsplitting the screams of excited grown women could be. It was so worth it when her big fish of a sister locked eyes with her. She'd never seen those deep brown eyes sparkle so much. It was a miracle that her legs still worked enough to be able to dance to the graciously slow song that was chosen.
Catching the interaction, Logan leaned over a bit and asked, “How'd you get Boyz 4 Now to play at your sister's wedding, lie and say it was a Make-A-Wish thing?”
There was no moment wasted as Louise rolled her eyes.
“First of all, they're Men4Eva now,” pause for dramatic flourish, “and secondly I don't have to use such underhanded tactics when I'm friends with BB.”
To punctuate, she turned and waved at the stage. Logan watched as the shortest guy on stage sent a subtle wave and wink back, his face perking up just a notch above his performance smile.
Louise was pleased when Logan looked back at her, mouth dropped open. She leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed under her chest.
“I can tell you're impressed, it's okay to say so.”
It felt like ages before the gears in Logan's brain cranked enough to shut his mouth and then open it again to speak. Unfortunately for him, his voice may have cracked a little.
“H- hOW are you friends with a famous boy band?”
Louise shrugged before leaning forward once more. She rested near her chin on her fist and grinned slyly. Between them, Grandpa Al snored.
“Well you slap a guy enough and you tend to leave an impression.”
For reasons unknown, Logan felt a fire light in his stomach. Not that Louise had much time to revel in the confused look on his face before Tammy exuberantly pulled him out of his chair and into the crowd.
The music was picking up now, with the band getting revved up by the energy. Bob was being guided back to his seat by Zeke, the older man holding his back as he crouched a little. He was only a little pink in the eyes. It was a welcome distraction, not that Louise would admit she needed to be distracted from anything.
“You did good out there old man,” she congratulated as Bob eased himself to his seat.
“Not as easy as it used to be. I may be out of shape,” he answered a little windedly.
Louise gave a p’shaw. “You?! Noooooo.” The cheshire grin she gave him was not interrupted as she nodded to groom #1. “Zeke.”
It wasn't too curt. Just enough to let him know she wasn't happy with how the day had gone. The brunette chuckled nervously as he nodded back.
“Sorry Lou, my hands were tied on every aspect,” he said, throwing his hands in the air to emphasize. “I thought you shoulda been in on everything, but T-bird-”
“Likes to make everything into a big story, I know,” Louise sighed. A fond smile found her face as she shook her head. “I'll at least forgive the whole we're also marrying Jimmy Jr fiasco.”
Zeke grinned and tousled her hair just a little. It earned him a swat that he took in stride. The rough and tumble guy had certainly grown on the entire Belcher family over the years, and Louise found it hard to hold a grudge against him. He was definitely older brother material.
As she watched him leave to find his spouses, Louise found her eyes wandering across the crowd. Not that she was looking for anyone in particular. She just liked to people-watch. Her dad joined her and they made a game similar to their burn unit. Another great distraction from nothing.
Louise wasn't too big in believing that people change. Just because she matured substantially over the years doesn't mean that everyone could do it. Although maybe it was on her for thinking that Tammy Larson would grow out of being the selfish and conniving guy-lover that she had been in 8th grade. The fact that Tina still hung out with her should have meant more, as Louise was very aware that her sister had gotten better about being a doormat.
And yet there Tammy was, throwing herself at the best man in the middle of her friend's wedding reception. Tacky as ever.
But Louise took the high road in the game with her dad and didn't even bring it up. But the falter caught Bob's attention and he cleared his throat.
“Louise, could you bring me a water please?” he asked while lifting a half full glass. The girl's cocked brow caused him to notice his mistake so he added, “a-and some wine.”
Louise was slow to take the wet glass from her father's (not really that) feeble hand. There was an unspoken conversation going on between them that she'd rather not be having. He was concerned over something so obviously not concerning. But she'd play along and go fetch drinks to keep her distracted.
The path to the bar graciously bypassed the dance floor. Louise still had to watch out as unruly children dashed about, but she was not forced to go anywhere near or even look at the dancing mass. As fluidly as she could manage with a few abrupt stops to not knock over the kids, Louise made it back to her new favorite place. Placing the drinks on the bar, she leaned over and called out a sweetly menacing,
“Oh Mickey.”
She watched as the older man, whose back had been turned while he cleaned a glass, shuddered before spinning round. His overly cheerful expression was a ruse as he replied, “Well welcome back, Baby Burger!”
The nervous chuckle that followed could not be disguised. “What can I do ya for? More soda, cherries?”
Louise shook her head and tapped the half empty water next to her. “More water and two wines, please, my good man. For the Burger Patriarch.”
She figured if she put the full request in the name of the father of the bride then Mickey wouldn't have as much room to deny her. It was a crime that she couldn't get more alcohol directly, but it wasn't like underhanded tactics were beneath her.
And much to her pleasure, Mickey did indeed nod along and start to pour. He went on about how beautiful the father-daughter dance was and how he was so happy to be a part of the big day of one of his friend's children. Since she still liked him, despite his crimes against her tonight, Louise engaged in the conversation. It was honestly nice that so many people from her childhood were still in the Belchers’ lives, forged by burgery bonds.
The drink pouring didn't take nearly as long as the talking, but with her back to the room Louise wasn't complaining. And then a roar from the crowd caught her attention and she couldn't fight turning around.
The commotion stemmed from, of course, the dance floor. It wasn't quite the middle, the way Tina would've written in one of her erotic fictions, but the crowd still had to part some for Louise to see what was so amazing.
It was, in fact, Jimmy Jr and cousin Leslie engaged in a dance battle. Louise finally took note that M4E’s set was done and Gene had busted out their own jams. She had to admit that J-Ju had gained more skill over the years, probably from actually having someone like Leslie to bounce techniques off of. The two were pretty impressive together, and the sight of his spouses watching with pride wasn't lost on Louise either. No one would get her to admit that she was smiling over the way Tina and Zeke’s eyes shone watching their partner.
That totally-not-there smile faltered when her eyes moved to the front lines where Tammy was still hanging onto Logan's arm as she practically frothed at the mouth. Not paying enough attention to see that Tammy's eyes were locked on Leslie or that Logan’s neck was craned to look at his table of origin, Louise scoffed and turned back to the drinks before her. There was no time for Mickey to react as she knocked back not one, but both glasses of wine. Then she asked for two refills. Conflicted but understanding his life would be on the line, Mickey obliged hurriedly.
Louise didn't want to leave her dear dad dehydrated any longer, but now that she looked at the glasses she realized that three might be annoying to carry through the throngs of bodies.
She was pouty as she asked, “Hey Mick, do you have a tray?”
His smile was more soft and genuine than earlier as he pulled a black tray from under the bar. Louise thanked him before putting her waitress skills to use. With most of the reception gathering to watch the dance off, it was a pretty easy trip back to the table….
Is what Louise would've thought until a small tyke darted out from nowhere and clipped her leg real good. Seriously, how was that kid so solid? It was like a deer hitting you on a bicycle, they didn't even flinch - just kept going.
Louise, on the other hand, had spun. The heels she wore betrayed her, slipping and letting her ankle bend as the tray she was carrying flew up. The impact she was bracing for didn't come though, and neither did the crash and clatter and splatter from the drinks.
The feeling of an arm under her back was the first thing she noticed before cracking one eye open. Blonde hair above her was the next. Her eyes went wide.
“Of course you'd catch me and perfectly get all the drinks back on the tray, you beautiful garbage angel,” Louise scoffed as Boo Boo gave a patented smolder.
The grin she started to give him in return faltered when weight was put back on her feet. BB caught on quick, as a dancer he could spot an ankle injury from 11.3019 miles away, and smoothly repositioned to support Louise.
They would think the stunt went completely under the radar, with everyone totally engrossed in Jimmy Jr and Leslie. They'd be very wrong though. Not only did Mickey and Bob manage to see pieces, but Logan saw the whole thing.
He'd broken from Tammy's grasp the moment he saw the kid bump into Louise. Weaved through the crowd with the intent to at least be able to help her back up, knowing there was no way he'd make it to her before she landed. The squeak from his shoes skidding was drowned out by applause behind him when he saw someone with big blonde hair reach out and save the day. He should've been relieved, and he was! But the look he could sorta make out from under those bangs put something hot in the pit of his stomach. After the briefest moment of hesitation, Logan marched up to them.
“Good catch man. Lemme help you back to the table,” he said, extending a hand.
Boo Boo looked from Louise to Logan, gauging the other man, before handing him the tray and thanking him. Logan was given little time to process that he'd meant to take Louise, because why would that have been the goal when she was perfectly situated with her arm over the shoulder of some guy only slightly taller than her. It's not like Logan was imagining picking her up princess style and carrying her back to the table.
She was being escorted to her seat already, and Logan shook his head clear before following.
By the time Logan got to the Belcher table, Louise was already sitting down. Boo Boo was gently scooting another chair up for her leg as Logan set down the drink tray. He was mentioning something about a grade 1 sprain. Bob thanked the shorter man for his help, and for coming to Tina's wedding.
The performer waved his hand and was nonchalant in his reply, “Oh it's no problem, I'd do anything for Lou-bug.”
There was no missing the way Louise’s face turned pink. Reflexively she reached up to pull her hat down, forgetting it was at home, and ended up just covering her face with her hands. Logan didn't miss Boo Boo’s chuckle at this either, or the hand he put on her shoulder.
“Well anyway, we have to get to our concert. Be sure to keep that foot elevated for a few days at least, talk to you later Lou-bug,” Boo Boo said before placing a quick peck on her forehead. It was met with a gentle swat, pushing his face away. He smiled genuinely, Logan hated him for some reason. “Nice to see you again Mr. B. And thanks again uhh..”
Arms crossed, Logan leaned back and was curt in saying his name. He bit back on saying anything else, but best man and employee who gets to spend a lot time with the Belchers were at the tip of his tongue. Catching the way Louise still had a hand lingering on the guy, Logan couldn't choke back the
“See you around, Biebo,” that he'd also been fighting with.
And since he was so busy pointedly staring the celebrity down at that time, he didn't see the way Louise’s brows quirked. Boo Boo, on the other hand, simply looked confused.
“It's Boo Boo? Lifelong pop sensation who- oh sorry I really gotta go. Bye Logan!” He started walking away while still speaking, having to catch up with the rest of the men(4eva).
The interaction wasn't lost on either Louise, nor even Bob. Not that Bob was going to say anything, he liked minding his business and had a wine to drink. Louise, however, was never one to leave well enough alone. Getting into people's business was her business. Especially when that people was Logan, and she could get under his skin.
That was the plan, until a “chump” was snored out by Grandpa Al who hadn't been moved this whole time. Louise didn't need to say anything after that. She simply grinned, staring into Logan's astounded green eyes before lifting a wine glass to her lips. A small cough from her dad caught her attention. Glass tilted for a drink, she moved her head to look at him.
“You probably need some ice for that,” he stated, starting to scoot his chair back to stand. His intent was definitely to give the two some space, with Al not really counting as an intruder of any private talks. However, Belcher plans kept getting thwarted left and right today it seemed, because Logan put up a hand.
“Don't sweat it Bob, I'm already up. You keep resting that back of yours buddy,” he insisted. As he passed to head back to the bar, he couldn't help but to throw on a teasing, “Sit tight, Lou-bug.”
He didn't look back to see the puzzled expression on the woman's face. Just focused on not breaking stride or getting knocked over by more freight train kids, because wouldn't it be embarrassing to twist his ankle while on the way to get ice for someone who just twisted their ankle due to a hit and run?
Mickey didn't look too surprised to see him. In fact, he already had a bag of ice at the ready. There was a look on his face under the sympathy that Logan couldn't quite place.
“Saw what happened to poor Louise. Good thing that Boo Boo guy was there at the right time, ey?” he remarked.
It was a harmless thing to say, and yet it felt a little bitey. With some effort, Logan only grimaced a little when he nodded in return.
“Yea, sure.” He couldn't even think of a quip. Get a hold of yourself, Bush.
Mickey pressed on, “Yup could've reeeeaally hurt herself if he wasn't close enough to catch her and the drinks. Now THAT was some spiffy work.”
Logan swore his stomach was on fire. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
“Hey Mick, do you think you could pour me some vodka?”
That got the other man to pause. It was a beat before he asked, “Anything in it?”
When Logan shook his head, Mickey shrugged and did what he was asked. Aaaaand that glass lasted about five seconds before Logan slammed it back on the counter. Mickey wasn’t sure he was surprised at this point.
Big Bob, on the other hand, gave a low whistle. The other men looked over to the eldest Belcher, neither sure when he got there.
“Now that’s the slam of a troubled man. Not usual at a wedding, but that I’m sure that’s none of my business,” he commented before turning his attention to Mickey. “Could I get a rum and coke, buddy?”
[ch0 | NOW ON A03] [so long and not so good night]
Logan could feel their eyes on him, one pair confused and the other sympathetic. Mickey was the first to break the awkward air, while making that rum and coke.
“Should probably get that ice to Louise, yea?”
Blindly reaching for the cold bag, Logan groaned and slowly righted himself.
Big Bob, on the other hand, perked up with all the worry of a Pop Pop,
“Why would Louise need a bag of ice? What happened to my granddaughter?”
Noticing the smoldering glare turning suspiciously on himself, Logan shrunk away from the bar with his hands up in defense.
“Some kid pulled a hit and run on her and she twisted an ankle, I swear!”
He held Big Bob's gaze, which was definitely a feat considering he was certain he was getting sized up for a coffin. It was only the grace of Mickey that saved him, he's sure.
“Oh yea, that was quite a fall she started to take before her little singing friend caught her. Saw the whole thing, almost,” he rambled.
At yet another mention of how that guy had heroically saved the day, Logan bit back his 473th groan and pulled the bag to him. He wasn't quite ready to hear about the feat again and headed back to the table.
As he neared his goal, Logan could hear Louise guffawing at something. Most likely something that Bob had said.
“You have got to get your eyes checked, old man!”
Logan made it in time to see his burger boss give something some thought before shrugging. If there's one thing about Bob, he knew better than to argue with Louise when she was wound up. And boy had she gotten wound up over something.
Not that Logan had time to think about that. Once he came into view, Louise let out a loud, “Finally!” with her hands in the air to thank whoever.
“I thought I was gonna hav’ta get up myself,” she chided.
“Yea well you know how Mickey is,” Logan replied, flesh burning since he knew he was throwing a friend under the bus. Trying to assuage his guilt, he grabbed one of the cloth napkins and wrapped it around the bag before placing it gingerly on Louise’s ankle. He forced himself not to look up at her when he heard her wince. Acknowledging her weakness would get him kicked with her good foot.
Instead he simply made sure the pack wasn't going to slide off, then moved to take his seat. Continuing to try his best not to look at Louise, he slid his complimentary water glass near him and played with the condensation. After tracing his fourth water trail with intense focus, he heard Bob clear his throat. Two pairs of eyes looked up to see him slowly getting out of his seat.
“I’m uh, I should take Al over to Tina and the boys,” he announced. Louise was the one to speak up.
“Dad, the man is asleep.”
“He’s just resting his eyes,” Bob started just as Al let out a timely snore, “That-that’s just him gearing up to congratulate his oldest grandkid.” As he unlocked Al’s wheelchair, he locked eyes with Logan and very subtly tilted his head to Louise. The older man was obviously trying to give him instruction, surely asking his off the clock employee to keep an eye on his injured daughter. Seeing Logan nod in confirmation, Bob pushed his father-in-law over to the big table where Tina sat chatting with several friends of the family.
Logan didn’t miss as Louise muttered traitor under her breath.
He let out a huff of his own, “I could just leave you here if my presence bothers you that much.”
With the way her mouth gaped, he’d think Louise was taken aback. Or just off guard. Either way, he raised a brow and started to scoot his seat backwards. Before he could get far enough to stand, a hand reached over the crisp tablecloth.
Put on pause, Logan looked down at Louise’s hand and then back up at her face. He noted the twitch at the right corner of her mouth as she probably also processed what she was doing. A second that felt like eons passed before she forced herself to retract and speak up,
“Bring me something strong?”
Not sure what he was expecting to feel this kind of disappointment, Logan slumped.
“Louise, I’m pretty sure Mickey has both of us on the water for the rest of the night list. Also I’m not sure I can handle going back there without a few more hard drinks in me first.”
It was Louise’s turn to quirk a brow, but she gave her head a minor shake and stared into Logan’s eyes. Hers glimmered with a challenge,
“Poor widdle Wogan can’t get drinks at a party.” She smirked as he scoffed in return.
“I haven’t had to sneak booze at a party since I was 17,” he said. Louise rolled her eyes.
“Lose your touch in the last fifty years?” she retorted.
“You know I’m not sixt- Look Louise, I don’t think you need any more alcohol anyway,” Logan changed course. In response, Louise pouted and gestured to her ankle.
“But Logan, I’m injured. I need the booze to forget how much it hurts.”
“Ibuprofen would work better, and I’m sure your boyfriend wouldn’t approve of mixing the two while you’re on the mend.” Not that he emphasised Boo Boo’s status out of anything other than the need to convince Louise of his reasoning. And not that it worked since after an extra second, Louise hit him back with -
“I’ll take pills tomorrow, when I’ll need them to deal with the hangover I’m gonna have so I can watch you pick up my slack at the restaurant.”
The restaurant, Logan paled at the thought.
“About tomorrow…” he started, only to get cut off.
“Don’t worry about tomorrow. I will be my usual benevolent self regardless of pain level,” Louise ensured with a grin.
Logan stood up with a gulp,
“Right, I’ll go find us some drinks.”
Unable to do much of anything else, Louise fully relaxed in her seat as she watched Logan weave through the crowd. Now she was all alone with her thoughts. Her thoughts that were, admittedly, already more than a little buzzed from those drinks earlier. But she wanted those thoughts - and her throbbing ankle - dulled.
Ugh, stupid Dad asking what was up with me and Logan. Why would anything be up? This is just a night that we’re forced to spend time in close proximity without a wall between us to keep me from strangling him, she ruminated. Her arms crossed, self-manicured nails trailed anxiously along her skin.
Lost in her mind’s theater replaying Boo Boo bringing her back to the table, Louise was jolted back to reality when a tray was placed in front of her. Her stunned expression was quickly replaced with a glare when she heard Logan laugh.
“Sorry, forgot how easy you startle,” he chuckled as he sat down. Grinning wide, he gestured at the assortment he acquired. “Turns out it’s easy to flirt and get a tray of drinks.”
Something stirred in Louise’s stomach. She ignored that and picked up a glass of something colorful as she quipped, “From Mickey?”
“Hardy-har-har. No, some waitress from the catering group,” Logan answered with a non-committal wave of his hand.
“Seems a little unprofessional,” Louise mused. Her tone must’ve been sharper than she intended, judging from her companion’s look that she saw while tossing that colorful liquid back.
“It worked in our favor,” Logan retorted. His better judgement was still around to tell him not to egg on how jealous the woman before him had just sounded. She’s got a boyfriend she never told me about - not that it matters. She doesn’t have a reason to be jealous. And neither do I! Why should either of us be jealous? I’m just imagining things, I’m too sober that’s all.
He reached over for a glass as Louise swallowed. The lack of comeback didn’t go unnoticed and Logan risked a prolonged look. His prize was watching Louise chug the rest of her first drink before surveying the rest of the selection. He poised, ready to annoy, and the moment Louise reached for her next choice Logan put his grubby little mitts around the glass first. Irked but not dissuaded, Louise moved to pick another drink. Logan pursued. The torment carried on until they’d touched every glass and Louise finally let out a snarl and glared at Logan, who looked back with mischievous eyes. No longer watching the playing field, she didn’t see her hand’s trajectory. When she was met with something soft and fleshy, they both looked back down to see they were holding the same glass. Or rather, Logan was holding the glass and Louise was holding his hand.
The pink on Louise’s cheeks was most definitely from the alcohol coursing through her blood and nothing more. The pink on Logan’s face and ears was clearly from adrenaline as he slipped his hand away and opened his mouth,
“All you had to do was ask.”
He dangled his hand in front of Louise’s face daintily. Blurry visions of murder danced in her head before she remembered Linda’s threat carried on through not ruining tonight either. The woman settled for just swatting the hand before grabbing a drink. She hoped it was as strong as the last because damn would she need it to survive the night.
The burn that hit the back of her throat promised a lack of feeling soon. If she could finish it, that is. The scrunch of her face did not go unnoticed, judging by the chuckle across from her.
“What’s the matter Bun-bun, can’t handle a little liquor?” Logan ribbed.
Forcing her face to straighten up for maximum effect, Louise slid the glass over. Her hand gestured, albeit with a wobble, between it and the annoying man before her. The annoying, smug man held her gaze as he wrapped his fingers around the glass and brought it to his lips.
The curve of his lips dropped down as he inhaled and the scent of so many spirits that he couldn’t place them all punched his sinuses. Not one to back down from a challenge though, especially one from his arch nemesis, Logan held his breath and gulped.
His sputter at the attempt of the second gulp brought a glow to Louise’s face. Elbows on the table, she leaned forward with her chin on her fists. It was her turn to chuckle and mock him,
“Awwwh, poor Raspberry can’t handle a widdle wiquor?” She even added in a little lash batting.
After coughing the death out of his chest, Logan recovered enough to smirk,
“How original.”
Sitting more upright and giving a little swagger, Louise grinned wide and swept the glass back to her,
“Yes’siam.”
This time the drink tasted a little sweeter. Absolutely because of her high from such a great tease, and not because she was thinking about how there was a chance Logan’s lips were on the same spot hers are now.
After a while her beloved Pesto twins came by, hearing from Bob the tragedy that befell her. Their company was welcome by both parties, Logan having wormed his way into their hearts like he did everyone in Louise’s life. Much to her chagrin. She thought she heard them congratulate Logan on something, but the subject changed so quickly that she figured it was trivial. Maybe he told them about the waitress he flirted with. Did he get her number?
Her brow was furrowed, trying to remember, as a very fast paced song started to blare, one that must've been popular judging by the way Andy and Ollie gasped at each other. She watched their blurry shapes bounce as they shouted their goodbyes and danced away.
What felt like hours but was only minutes, according to Logan's Goodwin watch, the two drank and merrily judged the other reception goers. Any tension was washed away by sweet, burning liquid. Their rivalry still held tight as they tried to one up each other's increasingly slurring insults. The alcohol kept Louise from yanking her hand back the next time Logan enthusiastically tapped it to point to a Pesto elder stiffly dancing to the house music Gene had playing. Her eyes dazedly drifted to where the radiator Logan called a hand was burning on top of hers, yet she could not seem to pull away. Not just that, she didn't want to. In fact, she envisioned herself leaning towards more as her eyes got heavy enough to shut without permission.
🍔🍔🍔
Warmth surrounded Louise as she grasped the dress shirt under her and buried her face. A buzzed inhale had her head swimming in all the alcohol she drank earlier. A second breath unveiled a mix of lavender, sage and bergamot. Through the fog she thought it smelled familiar. Her brain jogged through memories until it found the right one; Louise sniffing tester strips of whatever Tina handed her, recoiling at half of them for being too strong while hemming and hawing over others that are more subtle and pleasant. She must've smelled everything in the men's section 27 times, trying to find the perfect scent for the person she got for Secret Santa this year. Of course she'd get the one person who could get everything he wanted from Mommy and Daddy if he whined enough. But she figured a thing of cologne was just impersonable but thoughtful enough that she could get away with calling it good. Besides, if she was gonna be in close quarters with him so often then he might as well not smell nauseating.
Coming off memory lane, Louise squinted up at Logan’s annoyingly nice jawline.
“How’re you s’ill walkin?”
“I’m old, remember? All that liquor filters right through me,” he answered, looking ahead to carefully get both of them safely up the stairs.
In truth, he started chugging water the moment Louise’s head plunked on their hands. He knew only him or Gene would be able to carry the extra incapacitated woman up the apartment stairs, but only he had carpooled with the family. Besides, I can't get shown up twice in one night, someone else thought in his head.
The answer was seemingly good enough for Louise’s muddled brain though, as she merely nodded before clinging tighter to his shirt. Glazed eyes watched the grime on the walls move as Logan made it to the landing and headed to her room. The unfortunate habit of closing her door whether anyone was home or not bit her in the ass a little, as Logan jostled her a tad in order to get to the knob.
At least it wasn't locked, he thought while shouldering into the room. Looking in the moderate darkness, he was also glad that Louise had gone back to having a standard floor bed. Loft would've been a nightmare.
Gingerly as he could, Logan laid Louise at the edge of the unmade bed and reached over for her blanket. He stiffened when one of Louise's hands found his bicep, and glanced to watch her shape pull itself to sit up.
“Y’wearin th’stuff I bought. Nev’r smellet on ya,” she practically whispered, as if speaking about it normally would make the lavender go away.
In the dark they studied each other for a moment before Logan cleared his throat,
“I, yeah I use it for special occasions.”
Another heavy silence until Louise nodded slowly. The glow from Kuchi Kopi put a halo around her, leaving her face shrouded. Something between knowing Logan wouldn’t be able to see her face too well and finding out that he might actually value something she got him emboldened her a bit. Or the alcohol rewired her brain entirely - which is what she would tell herself later. No matter what the trigger, Louise leaned closer to her rival and studied the way her nightlight reflected in his green eyes. Her mouth opened then closed when the words got stuck, then opened again.
“S’not m’boyfren,” she forced out meekly, doing her best to read his expressions.
Expressions that were stuck on a loading screen for eons before green irises were engulfed by black. She thought she saw him lick his lips before responding,
“That’s co-, um, why..why are you telling me? He’s not my type.”
Louise snorted and rolled her eyes even though she knew he wouldn’t see. Her hands hesitantly cupped his cheeks. She spoke her next words very carefully,
“I am telling you becau-”
And then Logan saw Louise’s hands rapidly move to her face. He scrambled to lean over and grab her wastebasket, just barely stable himself as he moved it in time to hear the retching. Her arms wrapped around the basket like a lifeline as she doubled over it. Feeling the extra support, Logan moved his hands to hold back some hair that had loosened over the night. They stayed like that for a while, until Louise felt completely emptied out. Once she straightened up, Logan took the basket back and placed it strategically on the ground where she'd be able to lean and puke if she needed to again.
Sitting back down and rubbing tentative circles on the woman's back, Logan snickered,
“Probably a good thing you slept through the cake. Wouldn’t’ve been as good coming back up.”
Falling against him with a groan was Louise's response. She used his scent to clear herself of the acrid vomit, siphoned his heat in an effort to rejuvenate, kept herself anchored by the solid body under her. The often volatile woman was certain she'd never felt so peaceful in years.
And Logan? He felt like he was testing the limits with a wild animal who would soon recover and remember he was the enemy. Chancing a good look at her face, Logan felt that pull in the pit of his stomach again. It was so rare that he's seen Louise so vulnerable. Without a thought about how gross it was, he reached over and wiped a stray line of puke off with his sleeve. He was sure he didn't want this to end.
Unfortunately they both needed to be well rested in the morning, and with a sigh he started to shift away.
“Stay?” Louise requested, a little hoarse from the throwing up. She'd grabbed at his clean arm again.
Logan’s smile was just a little regretful, if Louise had been well enough to look into his eyes. Those stupid, beautiful, sad green eyes.
“I think you should get some rest. You're working with Gene in the morning.”
Even in a daze Louise knew the work schedule by heart. She frowned. “No, you. I'm workin’ with’ou ‘morrow. S’monday.”
Her frown deepened as Logan shook his head. “I'm uh, I'm starting a new job with my cousin tomorrow.”
The spinning in Louise’s head came to a grinding halt. Everything else was suddenly forgotten as she bolted upright while screeching, “WHAT?!”
The two of them winced for separate reasons; Louise for the ax she felt split her head open from the sudden action, Logan from both the ear piercing frequency of the shout and immediately knowing that he fucked up. Louise put one hand on her head and the other on the pillow behind her. Logan's were quickly in front of him in a frantic wave.
“I-I tried to tell you but-” He was cut off with a faceful of pillow.
“Traitor! Were you just having fun playing pauper with my family?” wham “Bob's Burgers just a little game for you?” whAM “ Did you just go back to Cynthia every night and laugh about the peasants working hard to scrape by?!” WHAM!
Logan took every hit of the pillow with merely his arms up to protect his face. He knew Louise had to get this out of her system before she'd listen to a word he had to say. When there was a break in the onslaught, he braved to peak out and saw that she was facing the door - refusing to look at him. The shimmer from tears reflected from the Kuchi Kopi nightlight. Her chest was heaving with the effort to not break down sobbing. His own heart stuttered as he reached out for her.
“Loui-” “Get. OUT.”
He faltered before trying once more, cautiously, to embrace the young woman. But he was met with the hardest slap to the face he'd ever received. If the circumstances were different, he'd have complimented her on it. As it was he merely dropped his arms to the side and pushed off the mattress.
Without another word between them he crossed the threshold of the door and closed it to give Louise the privacy he knew she'd be wanting. Watching through the diminishing crack, he saw that she refused to even glance his way. Pinpricks of hot tears threatened him as he looked down the hall. He had planned on staying on the couch tonight as just waking up extra early, but he didn't think Louise would want to see him still around in the morning.
Besides that, Bob and Linda were standing outside of their own door. Actually Linda was heading for Louise's door, expression worried. Bob looked at him with sympathy, and a bit of pity. They'd all been on Louise's bad side before, but not even when they ruined her first Kuchi Kopi was it this bad.
Linda pressed the side of her head against the door, knuckles between her teeth as she sucked in a breath. Not that she needed to be that close. Even with the mom-sized gap between him and the door, Logan could hear the muffled sobs. Linda turned back and put a hand on Logan’s shoulder, and it took more strength than he thought he had to not crumple. Instead he placed his bigger hand over hers and mustered a small smile. She cracked one back and nodded.
He let Linda walk ahead of him while he tried not to look directly at the man who taught him so much over the last five years. They both knew Louise wasn't going to take this news well, but no one could have foreseen this. Neither man did more than give a weak wave goodbye as Logan got to the stairs.
Logan played it cool only until he got to his car. Chuckling at how he couldn't even make it home, he pulled out his phone and opened his texts. Four Ears🐰 was top on the list, her message from last night reminding him not to be late or she'd mangle his right leg and his “🦿✅❔” response the last correspondence.
In the silence of his inactive car, Logan began to type through the tears.
🍔🍔🍔
A familiar, nonintrusive yet still annoying jingle woke Louise up the following morning. It was turned off without her looking, something that was so habitual from knowing that she had to get right out of bed if she didn’t want to loiter. With a heavy sigh, she sat up and swung her legs over the bed. They knocked against her wastebasket, which had a brand new bag in it. Sparing a glance at her nightstand, she saw that Linda had snuck in and left her a glass of water. Mentally thanking her. Louise took a few slow sips before chugging like her life depended on it. Which it might, between the full night of drinking and all the fluids she just expelled. Refreshed as she could be, the woman stretched her upper body before getting up with the intent to start her morning routine.
She grabbed her phone to pick out the morning music. At first she did a double-take on the time. Monday’s alarm was supposed to go off hours ago, how did it get reset? The detective sidequest didn’t last long though, as her eyes drifted down to the sole notification below the clock.
[ch0 | NOW ON A03] [hey here's a playlist btw] [shut up and danse macabre with me]
The entrance dance had gone well enough. A small amount from Tina's “heinie liney” fantasy had made its way in, and Louise definitely had to protest with the idea that it looked better with the shortest member of her party and the tallest on the grooms’ side. Their butts were not level enough to touch, and instead Logan’s ass kept bumping into the middle of her back. She was sure they'd see her gritted teeth when they watched the playback that Linda would insist on viewing this Christmas.
When the music shifted into something more calm and Gene announced the hour of open bar, Louise beelined. No eye contact with Logan or anyone else until her hands tapped the bar’s countertop and she stared at ex-convict and the family’s long-time friend, Mickey.
“Gimme your strongest, Mick,” she said, sure that her tone held the appropriate amount of desperation - which would be none, and she’d be wrong about that. Mickey raised his brows but shrugged and began to make his signature concoction.
He couldn’t help making small talk though, it’s just who he was. “Work up a sweat out there already?” he asked as he placed the glass on the bar. Louise squinted at him in a way that could be construed as menacing. Mickey construed it as such, at least, and gave a weak smile before nudging the glass toward the young woman. It broke her concentration and even her death glare. Maybe even her brain.
Louise looked back up at Mickey, eyes now wide. She pointed at the thick and cloudy monstrosity in front of her with pretzel sticks poking out. “Mickey, what is this?”
“That? Well you asked for my strongest Mick. So that’s my strongest ‘Slipping You A Mickey’. Beer, wine, milk, pretzel sticks and protein powder, with extra protein powder for extra strength!”
The way he beamed made it difficult for Louise to be harsh. She inhaled and exhaled before giving him a smile.
“Thanks Mickey, I’ll take this one to Logan in a sec - so sure he’d appreciate the extra protein. In the meantime, do you think you could mix me up an Old Fashioned and drop in some extra cherries?”
“Oh yea, sure thing Baby Burger! Comin’ right up!” Even as he said this, Louise decided to watch him closely this time. Even if he’d gotten his liquor license (had he?), she wasn’t sure Mickey had passed any bartending classes. She didn’t see anything odd go into this glass though, and was at ease when Mickey turned around with the fresh drink that included an entire layer of maraschino cherries. For this, Louise slipped a $20 bill under a garnish jar as she verbally thanked the bartender before turning around with both glasses. It was the first time she was aware of the crowd that had grown around them.
Pushing her way through, Louise was careful not to spill either drink on her way back to the table she shared with her family…and Logan.
Although she noticed the table was a little lacking on the family side. The frantic way she looked around for anyone else was extremely noticeable. Logan fought back a chuckle.
“Linda and Gene are at the bar, Bob’s talking to the guests of honor,” he said neutrally as he could. Catching the glasses Louise set down, notably the one she set in front of him. “What is that?”
“That’s your free drink,” Louise answered matter-of-factly as she sat down. Then she dared to look at the blonde through her mascaraed lashes and added, “Got it just for you.”
And it’s not like Logan could turn down a “goodwilled” gift from his nemesis. And it’s not like Logan could turn down anything from someone who looked at him like that. Swallowing any odd feelings, that were definitely just from anticipation of what this drink was made of, Logan put a hand around the glass. Returning Louise’s gaze, he lifted the drink.
“Well, thank you then,” were his famous last words before the edge of the glass touched his lips. The way Louise’s face lit up in real time as the life drained from Logan’s could be considered demonic. As if she had used the moment to drain his soul through the alcohol-protein-milk monstrosity.
It spoke volumes that she managed not to cackle at the sight of her main tormentor doing his very best not to vomit or otherwise cause a scene. Not that she could stay entirely saintly, however.
“Don’t forget the free snack, Logan,” Louise insisted, reaching over the table to pull out one of the pretzel sticks and waving it in front of the man’s discolored face. She reveled in how long it seemed to take him to regain his composure. At least, until her mother’s voice chided from behind her.
“Louise Lilith Belcher.”
Said Belcher flinched. Bush let out a single “ha” before covering his mouth again. Louise scrunched her face at him before turning in her chair to smile sweetly at her dear mother.
“Yes?”
“Mickey told me what drink you brought for poor Logan. Didn’t I tell you to be on your best behavior?” Linda asked as she continued to stand over her youngest. Even with a glass of wine in hand at the ripe age of ‘mom to adults’, a stern Linda Belcher was sobering. Louise thought quickly to fix the situation and avoid the punishment of extra shifts this week.
“Mother, dear sweet Mother, Mickey must’ve heard me wrong. I brought Logan this very nice drink while I got this one for myself,” she sweetly corrected, smiling wide as she reached for both glasses. “Silly Logan just mistook which one was his and drank the wrong one.”
Linda continued her intimidating staredown as she took her seat. She didn’t look away from Louise once and instead made a motion. Drink, she silently insisted. Louise wanted to bolt from the table, but stubbornness held her captive as she lifted the abomination to her lips and closed her eyes. She hardly had time to think about if it was the same spot Logan’s lips had touched earlier as she slammed the remaining 9 ounces of sludge.
Tears were halfway down her face when she opened her eyes to see her audience had grown by one impressed Gene and Alex, and a concerned Bob.
Wiping her arm across her lower face, Louise returned her mom’s look with a smile that was more sickly than sweet.
“See? My drink, for me.”
Though she raised a brow, Linda let the transgression slide and sipped her wine. There was still a warning look though. The silent threat that no other shenanigans if she wanted to live to see the sun rise. Louise let her smile drop as she gave the most microscopic of nods in acknowledgement. Though she was starting to think it would’ve been better to get extra shifts as she heard Gene whisper, “That’s going to be awful coming back up.”
Her Old Fashioned had been slid back in front of her at some point, and she looked up to see Logan speed-walking towards the bar.
~x~x~x~
It was not on Logan’s bingo card to see just how long Louise could inhale a thick liquid for. Not that he actually knew how long it took her to down 9 ounces of something, because he brain stopped working when she didn’t take a break after a few gulps. It was impressive on multiple levels, but he tried to tell himself that it was just because he knew how horrible that drink was and that there was no way he’d be able to handle even a second sip of that.
He slid into an open space at the bar and was surprised to be automatically greeted by Mickey.
“Back for another strong Mick?” the eccentric carnie exclaimed. Logan held back a grimace for the other man's sake. Instead he gestured at the Belcher table.
“Louise decided she actually really wanted both drinks,” he started as he glanced at the various bottles on the shelves. “I did get to try it though, very good. You should market that one.”
He stalled while processing what straightforward drink he could ask for that could get that image out of his head. The calculations finally halted, and he pointed at a champagne flute.
“Could you put a little absinthe in that and then fill the rest with champagne for me please?”
Mickey turned to look before nodding enthusiastically. “Yea I don’t see why I can’t, I’ve got those things right here!”
In the few seconds it took the bartender to pour the alcohol, Logan stared at a speck on the bar. The whole bar was patterned in specks, so honing in on that specific one really gave his brain something to do. Just when he thought that maybe his speck would move, the champagne flute was in front of him.
“Here ya are, one death in the afternoon! Kinda macabre for a wedding, but hey who am I to judge? Don’t let Louise take that one too. She should be on lighter drinks after what she’s had, I’d suggest water but I wouldn’t want to be the one to actually tell her…” Mickey rambled on for a bit. Logan politely nodded along, sending out ‘mhms’ where appropriate. Honestly it was better than going back to the table right away, and no one would doubt if he said Mickey held him up. They all knew he could give Teddy a run for his money on idle chatter.
In fact, Logan sat and nodded again and even took a sip of his drink. Hearing a loud and sarcastic laugh from across the room, a very prominent loud and sarcastic laugh, Logan chugged the drink and asked Mickey for another. The older man took the glass back with a nod, but Logan thought there was a look in his eyes this time. His voice dropped a bit.
“Be careful with this one, yea? Absinthe doesn’t mess around ya know.”
Unsure on if he was being cautious of telling an adult patron how to live, or if Mickey somehow recognized that Logan was battling a specific black haired demon, Logan grabbed the flute with a wry grin. Before leaving, he dug in his pocket and slid a $20 bill across the bar.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Mick, thanks.”
En route back to the Belcher table, Logan was blindsided by someone grabbing his free arm. He looked to see Tammy pull him a few steps off his path. Obviously she was trying to play it cool; but for the five years he’s had the displeasure of knowing her, Tammy has never had a passable pokerface. So Logan quirked a brow.
“What’s up Timtam?” He couldn’t help but grin at the way her face scrunched then recomposed. What could he say, he loves annoying people.
“I need you to dance with me later. Hopefully just one song, but-”
He had to interrupt, “Who’s not giving you the time of day now?”
Another ‘mmph’, this time coupled with the crossing of her arms. “Zeke’s cousin Leslie.”
Leslie was a cool guy, Logan didn’t think he would get so jealous of watching Tammy dance with someone else that he’d feel strongly enough to intervene. He was just about to tell her this when he got shoulder checked. Well, someone’s shoulder bumped into his arm at least. And judging by where on his arm he was hit…Logan moved his head just enough to watch Louise walk up to the head table. Maybe it was the alcohol hitting, but a gear clicked a few notches in Logan’s mind. He nodded.
“Yeah, sure I’ll help you out Tammy. Pick you up after dinner,” he informed her with a friendly shoulder pat. The woman barely got the first syllable of gratitude out before Logan continued his journey back to his chair.
He’s proud to say that he didn’t look back at Louise until he sat down.
