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LOCKED TO istheindustry

Summer was coming to Johto, and quite frankly, Logan was glad it was nearly here. He had been spending his time up north with Reaver, travelling to Mahogany Town, a remote little town that housed one of the Gym Badges they were in the process of collecting. Logan hadn't expected it to be so cold, even in spring. Finally it was beginning to feel like that awkward transition phase between spring and summer, and the heat was a welcome change.

They had arrived in Mahogany last night and had spent the better part of the day travelling to the Lake of Rage. Both of them had seen it on the map, but Logan hadn't expressed any desire to visit it until they had stopped in Mahogany. Yes, he understood that the badge challenge was important (he was the one who had been so determined to start collecting the badges anyway), but the badge wasn't going anywhere. Neither was the lake, but that didn't change the fact that he wanted to see it for himself.

Logan had always loved the water. The royal family had a small place in Millfields that they visited during the summers when the Hero Queen simply couldn't stand the heat anymore. Logan had loved exploring Bower Lake as a child, and it was something that never really left him even after all this time. He had only been to Bower Lake a couple of times since he took the throne, and had only brought his sister with him once. They had both been a bit too old to frolic in the ocean like children - at least, that was what they said until night fell and they were certain they wouldn't be spotted by any of the nobles that lived in the area. He remembered that evening fondly; but there were very few things about his sister he didn't remember fondly.

He brushed that thought aside, not interested in dwelling on the past. It never ended well. He was here in Johto now; he had to look out for himself - and only himself - though it was still something he was in the process of learning how to do. He was getting used to not having control over people, but taking care of himself was still something Logan hadn't really adapted to.

That said, he did look quite a lot healthier than he had in Albion. The darkness was still present around his eyes - and likely would always be, he was tainted, after all - but he had put on a bit of weight and the constant travel was doing some good for him physically. Of course, it didn't help that he was travelling with Reaver who would run on ahead if he was allowed. Logan still had difficulties keeping up with the ever-energetic industrialist, but he hadn't reached his breaking point yet.

The travelling today had been relatively light and easy; there were trainers to fight and plenty of grass to wade through, so speeding to their destination was out of the question. He was thankful for that. It did put them a bit behind schedule though; they would have to spend the night up at the Lake of Rage and return to Mahogany in the morning, but Logan really couldn't say he minded that any. If the lake was anything like Bower Lake, then he doubted he'd want to leave so soon anyway.

Speaking of the lake, it finally came into view amid the trees and Logan stopped short, staring. It was huge, possibly even larger than Bower Lake. The water looked clean and clear from where he was standing (though admittedly, it was still a bit hard to judge and it could just be wistful thinking on his part) and the shores were completely clear, no people anywhere in sight. Apparently this wasn't a very popular tourist destination for whatever reason. Logan found himself releasing a breath he didn't realize he was holding, glancing side-long at Reaver for some sort of confirmation that the industrialist was as pleased with this as he was.

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That was perfectly fine. It was good to know that Reaver did know him well enough to know that he would keep quiet. Of course, Reaver never would have said anything in the first place if he didn't trust Logan. Still, the confirmation was nice in some way.

So was that pleased sound. Logan found that it was oddly soothing in a way, to touch Reaver like this. Repetitive actions had always helped him calm down, and this was hardly any exception. He wasn't exactly tired and he didn't want to sleep (and have nightmares), but this was very comfortable.

"I love you." The words are quiet, so quiet he's not even aware he's spoken aloud.

Reaver's hand paused a bit in Logan's hair at that; he had seen it coming eventually - he had no doubt that Logan still wholeheartedly believed that, after all - but that didn't mean it was anything he was exactly prepared for. He continued toying with Logan's hair soon enough, however; he didn't respond for the time being, simply because he wasn't certain that anything should be said - he wasn't about to encourage such things, but discouraging them wasn't anything he was inclined to do, either. He was aware that the sudden hesitation may have implied enough, in terms of having actually heard it, but for now he was content to just...keep doing as he had been until forced to do otherwise, really.

How awkward, Logan...

...He said that out loud, didn't he? He really needed to get better about keeping things to himself.

Logan tensed under Reaver's touch and for a moment, his own faltered against Reaver's back. Reaver wasn't acknowledging it though, which meant that he could just pretend he hadn't realized he'd said anything out loud and they could just ignore it, right? That was the best course of action, wasn't it?

He tried to calm himself down and relax, but that wasn't happening. Logan's grip tightened on Reaver's shirt immediately - as though Reaver would actually want to stop cuddling? - though he did return to stroking Reaver's back hesitantly.

Everything was perfectly fine. He hadn't said that, and Reaver certainly hadn't heard it.

Reaver could feel the tension flooding through Logan's body; after a while passed and it didn't seem to be letting up any, he tightened his grip momentarily against Logan's body, and his voice was light when he spoke to him again.

"How many times must I tell you to relax before it finally sinks in, hm? Everything's fine, my dear."

You try relaxing after saying something so ridiculous.

Thankfully he didn't voice that thought, instead leaning into Reaver's touch. There wasn't any easy way to get himself to relax - especially not after such a stupid remark - but he was trying at least.

"Easy for you to say," He finally mumbled. It seemed like Reaver was always relaxed.

Not always; a bit more so in Johto perhaps, but it was also decidedly more difficult to sling bullets around when he wasn't.

"I prefer to enjoy life; you know that well enough by now, I'd think." And with that said, he turned his head a bit to kiss Logan lightly - not on the mouth, as that would involve entirely too much repositioning and he was fully aware that Logan may try to stop him if he attempted that, but rather along the slight sweep of his cheekbone, a few times, his fingers kneading into Logan's back a bit as he did so.

His grip tightened on Reaver's shirt at that; that wasn't fair. Reaver knew how much he cared and Reaver knew that he would attempt this relationship again in a heartbeat, regardless of how impulsive and undoubtedly stupid that would be. It was easy enough for Reaver to say that he simply did what he wanted because that was how he lived, but it wasn't fair when it effected other people like this.

Still, Logan said nothing. For all he knew, Reaver might not mean anything by it. No, that was wrong - Reaver didn't mean anything by it. He wasn't teasing or prompting Logan to ask about their relationship, this was simply something Reaver was doing because he wanted to, for whatever arbitrary reason he'd come up with. He was reading too deeply into this.

After a moment Logan had to release his grip on Reaver's shirt, simply because his hand was aching from how tightly he'd been hanging on. He was frustrated, not just at Reaver for doing this and confusing him horribly, but at his own inability to just let it go. Just because he desired something didn't mean Reaver did too. He knew that. Why couldn't he just move on, like Reaver clearly had?

"...Of course." He finally responded, though the remark was soft, distant. "Go to sleep, Reaver."

Unfortunately, this was one of the circumstances in which Logan knew him entirely too well; in the end, this meant nothing to him outside of being something that he'd decided to do. Because he felt like it, because he could, because Logan was there and he was relaxed and content and physical affection was probably the best way he knew how to actually display that - the reason was inconsequential, and that much was likely obvious in how quickly he settled at Logan's words. He didn't seem bothered by them; to the contrary, he tightened his hold on Logan again briefly, before relaxing again.

"If you insist, Logan."

There were times when he really wished he didn't know Reaver as well as he did. Now was one of them. If there had been even the tiniest bit of doubt in his mind, he could have confidently asked to retry their relationship and--

But who was he kidding? He did know Reaver well enough to know that the man usually didn't put this much thought into simple actions. If he wanted something, Reaver would be blunt about it. Logan wasn't sure if he liked that about Reaver or not. Either way, at least he would always know where he stood with Reaver. There wouldn't be any guessing there.

"And I do. Goodnight."

Eventually the tension left him, but the disappointment didn't. Normally he wasn't aware of just how much of a spoiled brat he was, but when his thoughts started circling to how unfair it was that Reaver didn't care about him as much as he cared about Reaver, Logan decided it was time to attempt to go back to sleep, at least to shut his brain off for awhile. Complaining about this - even if it was just to himself - wouldn't solve anything. There was no guarantee that Reaver would ever want to rekindle their relationship, much less actually care about him.

That was the most painful thought of all. Reaver would never love him, would he? It didn't matter what he said or did, he would never be as important to Reaver as Reaver was to him. His grip tightened on Reaver's shirt momentarily before he forced himself to let go, to try to relax. There wasn't any sense worrying about it now. They weren't even together and there was no guarantee that they would ever get together again.

He fell asleep eventually; nightmares involving shadows woke him before he'd been asleep for an hour.

For once, Logan wouldn't wake up to find Reaver already awake before him. It tended to take him quite some time to fall asleep, but eventually sleep did find him; Logan hadn't been mistaken in assuming that he needed the sleep, as little as any observations to that effect may have pleased him, and he managed to slip into a state of unconsciousness that was both reasonably deep and thankfully dreamless.

Despite that, however, he seemed aware that Logan was having some sort of disturbance over there, whether he realized it on a conscious level or not. The feeling of someone awakening next to him got something of a frustrated noise out of Reaver, and he moved to pull Logan closer to him again; he shifted a bit afterwards, as though unsure of whether he should be taking this as a cause for alarm and a reason to wake up or not.

"Logan...?" The name was slurred as hell, but it was an attempt, at least.

Logan had no idea what Reaver had seen - or hadn't seen - when it came to the destruction of Oakvale. The dream was obviously based on what Reaver had said - shadows coming to receive their "payment", though the dream had been vague as to what the "payment" was for - though it took place in Bowerstone and the people that were killed were the ones Logan knew. He shuddered, only to find himself pulled closer against Reaver.

He calmed down almost immediately. It was remarkable how easily he could relax with someone here beside him when he woke from a horrible nightmare like that. Reaver didn't sound like he was fully awake and Logan did feel a bit bad for waking him.

"Go back to sleep. It's nothing." He reached up to stroke Reaver's back again, a little upset when he realized his hands were still shaking. "I'm fine." You're here.

"Well...I know that," Reaver muttered, not even bothering to cover how petulant it may have sounded; he shivered a bit at Logan's touch, however, the reaction more pleased than anything. "Dreams again, I'm assuming...?"

He rolled his eyes at that. Reaver certainly did sound like a child sometimes... "Yes. I'll be fine. You should go back to sleep."

That only served to get another indignant noise out of him, but after a moment he seemed to relax; he was awake enough to play with Logan's hair a bit, though eventually even that motion stilled entirely in favor of passing out again. Hopefully he would remain that way for another few hours; having someone else there tended to...help with that, at least somewhat. The relief Logan had experienced upon waking up with someone else present was something else Reaver tended to feel as well; that was why he insisted on having someone with him at all times in the first place, and even if his sleeping patterns hadn't been normal for a rather long time, having others immediately present did ensure that he at least slept some.

Logan didn't go back to sleep. He didn't want to dream again. He was perfectly content to lie with Reaver though, letting his mind wander over the things that had happened since he found himself here in Johto. Those memories and experiences were all very important to him; he had actually managed to live a somewhat normal life here in Johto. This place wasn't home, but it certainly did offer him peace of mind that he couldn't get in Albion.

He didn't stop trailing his fingers up and down Reaver's spine, the motion was more of an unconscious one than anything else by that point, and it was rather soothing. Repetitive things often were for him. Eventually he grew bored of staring at the ceiling and contemplating how his life here in Johto had turned out, and he shifted a bit, debating about getting up.

Most of the time he woke up alone; Reaver either didn't sleep at all or slept very little, either way he was usually awake by the time Logan's nightmares woke him. He could leave Reaver and head out to the lake - it was light enough to see, at least - but he hesitated. If Reaver woke up from a nightmare with no one around... Well, Logan didn't like waking up alone. He imagined it was similar for Reaver.

So after a moment he settled back down, letting his eyes slide shut but not drifting off. He did have plenty of other things to think about, after all.

Reaver had never been the sort to wake up screaming or bolt upright in fear, following the dreams about Oakvale; perhaps it was because such dreams were never directly violent. If he had fought, if he had thought to fight all those years ago (if he had been less pathetic), then maybe things would be different in that regard; as it stood, however, the dreams were almost paralyzing, the fear they brought with them gripping him firmly and rendering him unable to do anything but watch and listen and know, and when he woke up it often took him a few minutes to shake off the remnants of the terror and get to a point where his body wasn't going to resist any movement that he attempted.

The dreams finally wake him as first light begins to turn into proper dawn; he startles and it's obvious in the subtle but clear jolt that suddenly overtakes his body. Once that's passed, however, he's quick to close his eyes again, to focus on breathing - his hand shifts a bit against Logan's body, pressing against that spot between his shoulderblades and verifying that yes, he's still here and he's still alive and there's absolutely nothing to be concerned about.

He keeps his eyes closed, though his breathing has gone ragged, no longer the even rise and fall that usually indicates sleep; just...give him a moment, Logan.

Logan made a small noise of acknowledgement at the touch, but he didn't open his eyes. He got the distinct feeling that Reaver wouldn't want to be seen like this, in a moment of weakness. It doesn't matter that Reaver has seen Logan in all sorts of horrible moments, Reaver was above that. He wasn't affected by things like that.

The thoughts weren't vicious though, just Logan figuring for how Reaver would reply to all this. He didn't draw attention to it at first, though he could feel Reaver's heartbeat and hear his irregular breathing. Logan moved to continue stroking Reaver's back, still keeping his eyes closed. It was probably obvious that he was awake, but he didn't particularly care about that.

"It was just a dream." He finally commented softly. "We're safe here."

It was fairly obvious that Logan was awake, yes, but for the time being Reaver couldn't exactly bring himself to care; he tightened his grip on him rather sharply at the feeling of Logan's touch against his back, and it took him perhaps longer than he would have liked to release it a little.

The words helped, however, as did having to focus on answering with some of his own; he could hear himself laugh a bit at Logan's assertion, but it wasn't...amused laughter, it was closer to involuntarily-relieved laughter. We're-still-alive laughter. Something along those lines. "Yes, we certainly are, aren't we?"

He had never seen Reaver act like this. He had never thought Reaver could act like this. Logan cuddled closer, trying to find something at least somewhat comforting to say. He had never been very good at this sort of thing, mostly due to inexperience, but he did understand that Reaver would want something else to focus on, even if it was a failure of an attempt to help him calm down.

"We are. Even if something were to come here, it wouldn't have any sort of special abilities and it would be forced into a human shape. It's as you said with the Crawler, there is literally nothing it could do if it was brought here. There's nothing to worry about. You have people here that will fight by your side, if it should ever come to that."

Well, he couldn't say that for certain since he didn't know everyone Reaver had interacted with, but at the very least, Reaver had one very dedicated friend who would stand by his side. Even if it was shadowy creatures they would be up against.

Well, it...certainly was a bit of a failure, yes, but it was giving him something else to think about, so in that regard Logan's attempt was doing its job; his heart rate wasn't slowing down any, but at the very least his breathing was beginning to even itself out, and he no longer seemed to be putting in any sort of effort to accidentally destroy Logan's ribs.

"Yes, I'm aware," he said, though the words were still a bit distant; whether he had people or not was arguable, but at the very least he...presumably had Logan, whom he had no doubt would...

...

...try. Or something.

Another long moment passed before he seemed able to let go of Logan entirely, propping himself up a bit; it was morning already, apparently. "I assume you haven't changed plans - you still want to stay in the area?"

Hey, hey, he took out trolls with hammers. Don't underestimate his might!!!

"Ah, yes, of course." That certainly was an abrupt subject change. Logan moved to put a bit of space in between them then, deciding that it was apparently time to get up. He wouldn't have minded lying around for a bit longer, but there was a lake to explore.

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