Thrills, danger, excitement. Fun, adventure and risk-taking. Logan Elias Huntzberger liked to consider himself an expert in all these areas of life and took immense pride -much to the chagrin of his parents and authority figures everywhere- in that fact. But now, staring seven storeys up at the platform Stan and his cohorts had erected for the Life and Death Brigade's latest stunt, he suddenly wasn't so sure. Because, at the end of the day, what was the point in any of those things if he didn't have someone to share them with?
"Logan, mate, you've got that look on your face again. It's too bloody early to be scheming schemes, especially without any caffeine or sufficient alcohol in ones system," drawled Finn, leaning against a nearby tree, charming smirk in place.
"Too early for you, maybe," Logan remarked, not really paying attention to his friend, mind occupied elsewhere. "But for me, six forty two am is a great time for scheming." He turned to his friend, eyes lighting up as an idea struck him.
Hands deep in his pockets, the Huntzberger heir feigned innocent nonchalance as he broached carefully, "Finn, what would you say if I told you I was going to get Rory Gilmore to go up there with me?"
The Aussie paused for a moment, head cocked, wariness flooding his expression. Then he admitted, "I suppose I'd say why."
"'Why?' To perpetuate my eternal sense of amusement, of course," Logan replied with his customary smirk.
"No," Finn said, rather firmly.
"No? What do you mean 'no?'" asked Logan, pushing off from the tree he'd been leaning against and coming to stand in front of Finn, looking his best friend square in the face.
The brunette scrubbed a hand over his face, as if that would sober him up and lend his argument more credibility. "Listen," he began, "that girl you brought over? She's..."
"Different from my usual sort?" the blonde finished for him with a raised brow. "Yeah, you could say that."
The Aussie put his hands up in supplication. "Your words, not mine. But you've hit the nail on its pointy head, my friend. You don't bring girls to LDB events. Ever. So there must be something about her that's got you all worked up."
Logan snapped, "I'm not worked up," a little hastily.
Finn gave him a look as if to say, 'Right, sure, I totally believed that performance.'
The Huntzberger let out a lengthy sigh, eyes fixed on the leaf litter at his feet instead of his friend so that he had the courage to murmur, "She makes me smile."
The Morgan heir was flabbergasted, to say the least. "What?"
Logan rolled his eyes at Finn's dramatics, knowing that he was having fun torturing him. "I said she makes me smile. Like, the genuine kind. And she's really smart, Finn. Smarter than anyone else I've ever met," he acknowledged, running a hand nervously through his hair. He wasn't very good at confessing feelings, especially feelings he wasn't sure how to deal with. "And beautiful and witty and interesting and when I'm around her, it's not about money or politics or the grand dynastic plan my father's got in the works for me. It's just about being myself, and I don't do that for many people in my life, as you're well aware. I'm not good at being vulnerable, and I haven't known her very long and I'm kinda freaking out."
Finn's demeanor morphed into one of sympathy and understanding as he took Logan by the shoulders and gave him a reassuring squueze. "I know it's hard, mate," the Aussie said with a shaking smile. "I know you've always had this weight on you. You tried to hide it with the partying and the drinking, hooking up with girls as if it were going out of style, and you've had pretty much everyone fooled. But this girl...if she makes you feel like that, then I'm happy for you. Really, I am," he added as Logan threw him a disbelieving look.
Finn wasn't done. "But I also want you to be careful."
"And why's that?" the blonde asked with a frown, tugging out of his friends grip, arms now crossed defiantly over his chest.
"When something's real, more so is the pain when you lose it," Finn said, face serious as it seldom was.
Logan quirked a brow. "Where did you read that?"
"A fortune cookie. But I like to think it's a piece of tasty advice nonetheless," he quipped.
"Fine, duly noted. Will you help me with my plan or not?"
Finn shrugged his shoulders, the eternal sign of indifference. "Sure, if only because I'm curious to see what she'll do."
"Such a grand show of loyalty there, Finn. I'm bowled over," Logan snorted derisively.
"Any time, Huntzberger. Any time."
After Logan had explained his plan, Finn let out a bark of laughter. "Take pictures? That's what you want me to do? Not write an ode waxing poetic about your finest qualities, not help you pick out flowers or puppies or whatever girls want guys to buy them? You just want me to stand in the trees like a creep in some eighties horror flick and break protocol? Geez, Huntz, I thought you wanted to get this girl."
"I never said anything about 'getting her,' Morgan. If you're so vehemently against this, I can get Colin to help me," Logan riled, knowing full well Finn Morgan could never refuse a challenge, or one-upping Colin.
"That wet beach towel?" mocked Finn. "Please, as if he's any help when it comes to the fairer sex. He can't charm his way out of a crisp packet, let alone talk to a pretty lass. Of course I'll do it. But you owe me. Big time."
"The biggest," Logan agreed.
Standing in the nearby trees, the camera Logan had given him resting in his jacket, Finn couldn't help but grin as he heard the girl defend herself against Logan's needling. And he was implementing some high quality cajoling as well; he was most impressed. But then he saw Logan's face change, saw him grow serious. And then something in her eyes changed, and the two of them were making their way to the ladder, laughing as Logan tried not to get skirt in his mouth or shoe in his face.
Then, Finn saw something completely unexpected, and he'd seen some pretty unexpected things in his time. Right as they were about to jump, Logan grabbed her hand. Logan Elias Huntzberger, who never got scared, who met any challenge with a raised glass and infectious smile, grabbed this girl's hand as their feet left the safety of the ground.
In that moment, Finn knew this was the start of something. After this, Logan wouldn't ever let her go. He wouldn't be surprised if the boy dropped to his knees and confessed his undying love by the end of the week.
Yes, this was the start of something.
"Mission complete, o Captain of mine," Finn gleefully reported as he handed the camera to Logan. His friend was still picking leaves put of his hair as he said gratefully, "Thanks, Finn, I really do owe you one."
Finn's face was open and honest as he shrugged, "No you don't, mate." A grin soon took hold. "But promise me one thing," the Aussie pleaded as the two walked to Rory's door, the bottle of champagne in Logan's hand clanking against the gorilla mask he'd set out for her.
"And what's that?" Logan ventured as he knealt down, splaying out the items on the mat, staring up at his best friend quizzically.
"When you marry her, I'm gonna be the best man at your wedding, and I get to tell the story of how I masterminded the entire affair."
The Huntzberger heir rolled his eyes, hard, brushing off his jeans as he rose to his feet. "Don't be crazy, Finn, it's unbecoming for a millionaire," chastised Logan, but he couldn't help but smile internally at his friend's blatant confidence: he wished he shared it.
"The only crazy biscuit in this barrel, my friend, is you," Finn pointed a finger at his chest, eyes laughing. "Now, are you going to knock, or shall I?"
Logan knocked, the pair backing away before Rory got to the door, and it truly was the start of something.
Author's Note: Hello, readers! This is just a little one-shot I've had lying about in my drafts that I finally decided to polish up and post. I can totally imagine something like this happening in canon, and I just love writing for Finn. Please, feel free to leave a review and share your thoughts!
Thank you so much for reading!
All my love, Temperance Cain.
