Chapter 8: Back Again. Pity or More?
Several Months had passed and Logan still had bags under his eyes. The lack of sleep he endured was for his brother and sister. The orphans had comfortably settled in with Liz and Patty. The eldest boy was reclusive and reluctant to let anyone get close to him. Patty had tried playing cards with him, but he was always so exhausted, even she was able to mop the floor with him. He hadn't given as much as a smile to his new friends and his worried family. He was collapsing in on himself and nothing was working to sturdy his morale. He had gotten everyone gifts for no reason whatsoever. Patty got an origami set, while Ethan got a notebook. He got Liz a semi-new jacket and Rose received a fake Lily and hat that resembled the future Liz's hat. It actually was one in the same. After every gift, his hands were empty as if the world was telling him how he felt. One night while he was struggling with his thoughts Liz sat next to him,
"You didn't have to get us gifts. I would have been fine with my old jacket."
His eyes hadn't moved from the spot they had been locked on,
"No you wouldn't. Your old one had a big tear in it. Your tough but the cold is enough to break a person."
"Whatever. I don't need your help. You needed my help. It isn't like your parents wanted to take care of you."
Logan gritted his teeth and shook as his body flooded with anguish. He took deep sobbing breaths and his tears were forced from his eyes. The badass girl finally understood why they were out on their own and turned flush from what she had just said. They never told the pair of young women why they had no parents. She knew her words had cut him deep. So deep in fact, that she even felt his pain. She put an arm over his shoulder and repeated two words,
"I'm sorry."
He turned into her and cried as hard and as softly as he could. His eyes finally shut that night as Liz caressed his face. She smiled at how sweet he looked while he drifted into slumber. It was at that time she thought he was handsome and cute. Of course he wasn't her type. He needed to be what she refused to acknowledge she needed. A protector. He awoke to his family and patty and Liz staring at him. He had finally had a night's rest and asked,
"Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Patty spoke,
"We haven't seen you sleep at all."
"Yeah sorry. I didn't mean to alarm anyone."
Liz punched the top of his head then crossed her arms,
"Stop saying sorry. You don't need to apologize for doing something everyone else does. Damn Logan, you need to realize that you are the same as everyone else."
She walked away mumbling to herself and Ethan and Patty giggled at Logan's tired, surprised face. He rubbed his eyes and got out of his make-shift bed. Rose was wearing her plastic Lily in her hair. Patty kept on calling Rose, 'Lily' due to the fake flower in her hair. She gave up her protests about the name and let everyone call her it. Logan shuffled around the small worn down house, and did what he usually did. The day became night, just as it always did and Logan was brought along with Liz for groceries, even against her protests. They couldn't be out alone, since law enforcement was looking for the girls. Logan sulked behind Liz as they made their way to the store. The streets were quiet even though the city was usually bustling. Liz moved across the street and in a flash, the headlights from a bus flicked on. Everything slowed down as Logan moved. Liz was petrified as Logan pressed his hand into her stomach to push her. She flew onto the side walk from the force. Logan was in the direct path of the renegade automobile. He couldn't move out of the way in time. Liz shut her eyes so she wouldn't see what was going to happen. A loud tearing of metal rang through the streets. Liz finally lifted her eyelids to see Logan hunched over on one knee. The bus had split in half around him. Scythe blades wrapped his body and protected him from being killed. He was breathing heavily as the blades disappeared. Liz shouted out,
"You idiot. You could have died. Who asked you to save me? If I was going to die that's my problem, not yours!"
Logan's eyes finally changed from the sullen gaze and formed into furrowed furious eyes. He left the wreckage and backed Liz into the building. He slammed his palm into the wall behind her, causing it to crack. His voice was of concern and anger,
"Don't you dare tell me not to save you. Damn it; if I let you die then how do you think that would make me feel? How do you think Patty would feel? Would you just let someone protect you, for once? Just let me redeem myself by saving you….Damn it all."
He rested his forehead on her shoulder and felt his eyes burn with tears. He hated himself for being vulnerable, especially in front of someone so unbroken, so strong, so not-him. All the guilt he felt for his parent's death came out as a need to protect everyone besides himself. The simple selfless acts he committed left him with nothing but helped him cope with all of his heartache. He was holding it even now. The girl was astonished by his words and how they made her heart beat faster. She let a tear flow from her eye and wrapped her arms around his body and said,
"Logan. Let it all out. Please…I'm here."
He took a deep breath and let out a deep set wail of misery. Liz let him cry on her shoulder and brushed his hair as the loudness of his voice died down until he was shuddering in her arms. They walked on leaving the scene. An empty bus that was never filled with people, only a device to control it. It wasn't much but Logan gripped Liz's hand for the rest of the way. She gave him glances and felt her heart jump. She did want a protector. Even after she even denied that she needed one, she still craved a simple person to rely on anytime she needed them. Patty was once the only one she could trust, but now the boy that made her heart flutter, was ready to be another. Logan spoke up while Liz was deep in thought,
"Thank you Liz. I'm glad you are here. I shouldn't have yelled."
"Don't worry about it. You made me realize how selfish I've been. You are a great friend. I shouldn't have been so mean about it, I should have thanked you. I should even reward you."
Logan stopped dead in his tracks and Liz stopped and looked at him. He tightened his grip on her hand then pulled her close. His voice whispered out,
"Let me protect you. I want a purpose in life. I want you to be that purpose. I want to give you this…"
He leaned in to her and locked his lips onto hers. She gave in but they weren't locked together. He broke away and said,
"Let's go on a date, just you and me. Please I really know this could be great."
"Sure. I'd love to."
Logan's lips curled into the first smile Liz had ever seen from him. Her heart melted as he kept the smile all the way home. They opened the door to see Patty and Ethan making out on the old couch they had in the living room. They tore away from each other, but it was too late, they were caught. Logan laughed and said,
"How long has this been going on?"
Ethan coughed and quickly responded,
"A couple of months actually. We just really hit it off. We were trying to keep it a secret, so you guys didn't worry and…. And… Logan; are you smiling?"
"Yep. I actually asked Liz on a date not too long ago."
"I know you wouldn't have that shit eating grin on if you got rejected. So congrats."
They were happy. For the first time since then, they were happy.
Maka leaned back and wondered what Logan was really feeling. Liz left and Maka knew she wasn't over him. She couldn't get a grip on what she was feeling. Question after question ran through her mind but no answers. She got up and went back to her apartment until she heard Logan come home. When the door clicked shut she made her way to him. With a knock on the door, he answered it. She pushed him back and pinned him to a wall. He tried to speak but she wouldn't let him. On the tips of her toes, she kissed his lips.