Title: Mutual
Author: Brendan/brencon
Pairings/Characters: Logan/Veronica, ensemble, VD, Logan/Lilly
Word Count: 1,980
Rating: PG-13, so far.
Summary: What if Logan and Veronica got together before everything went to hell?
Spoilers: Set pre-series, but will include some season one stuff soon
Warnings: Minor cussing
Disclaimer: Veronica Mars belongs to Rob Thomas and the nice people at the CW
Authors Note: Thanks to Nikita for being the best beta around, italics represent Veronica's thoughts and/or voiceovers. And thanks to all 14 reviewers. You guys rock!

As Lynn returned from the kitchen, Duncan was towering over Logan, pummelling him with every ounce of his strength.

"Aaron! Come quickly! Aaron," Lynn roared, wringing her hands in worry. She turned her attention back to the quarrelling boys.

Duncan was throwing punch after punch at Logan's face and upper body. Logan's arms were raised up in front of his face, attempting to block each attack. Duncan's fists were a blur, pounding on any piece of Logan that they could find.

Veronica had backed herself into a corner, between the drinks cabinet and the stereo system. She sat down, arms wrapped around her knees, shaking in fear.

"Duncan, stop it! DK!" Logan shouted, fighting to get to his feet, to gain a vantage point. As he moved his feet, he caught Duncan above the ankle and watched him fall to the floor.

Logan stood up and ran to Veronica, taking her into his arms. He wrapped them around her tightly, protectively. He began whispering calm words to stop her from crying. But his eyes never left the form on the floor, who was now sobbing too.

Aaron finally came running into the room, almost out of breath. He was holding the newspaper from earlier on under one arm, a glass of brandy in his other hand.

"What's all the commotion?" He questioned, joining Lynn's side. He noticed Duncan on the floor and Veronica encased in his son's arms. "What happened in here?"

"Duncan just caught Logan and Veronica kissing… apparently they've been… well, I don't actually know what they've been doing."

Veronica took one final deep breath and stepped out of Logan's embrace. She moved in the direction of her boyfriend

I'm guessing it's 'ex-boyfriend' now.

"Duncan?" Veronica said quietly, kneeling before him. "Duncan, are you okay?"

For a few moments, all Duncan did was dab at his face with his T-shirt and push himself up to a sitting position. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but nothing came out. He snapped his mouth shut and jumped to his feet.

He backed away from the shocked, tiny blonde before him, pushing past his elders and racing to the front door. The remaining four in the living room heard the door bang against the wall, probably leaving a hole in it, and tires squeal as Duncan Kane's silver SUV raced down the driveway.

That was expected.

Logan had crossed the room and was now standing beside Veronica. Again he took her in his arms.

"You okay?" he asked, brushing her hair from her eyes.

Am I okay? You're the one that's going to be black and blue in the morning, if not later tonight.

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine. What about you?"

"It's not the first time, nor will it be the last time, that I've gotten into a fight. I'll be fine."

"Guess our secret's out." Veronica mused, looking deep in those brown eyes she'd already grown to love.

"Guess so."

Aaron cleared his throat, causing the couple to look in the direction of Logan's parents.

"Uh, son, do you two have something you need to tell us?"

Logan smiled, taking Veronica's hand in his for what must've been the millionth time that day.

"Yeah, we do. Me and Ronnie, we're dating." he said, smiling down at her.

"Oh Logan, I'm glad you came to your senses. As much as I like Lilly, I knew that you and Veronica were meant to be!" Lynn chirped, smiling in favour of her son and his new girlfriend. Aaron's smile faltered, but only for a couple of seconds, at Lynn's comment.

"Yeah, well, after being cheated on for the twentieth time, I thought it was time for me to go after what I wanted."

"And what you wanted was your best friend's girlfriend?"

"Yes." Logan smiled sheepishly.

"From Duncan's reaction to this news, I take it you haven't gone public yet?"

"Yeah, it's kinda a new thing, me and Ronnie. We wanted to be sure it was what we wanted before breaking the news to everyone."

A knock on the door was heard, followed by a worried "Hello?"

"Oh, Keith, come on in."

Keith closed the front door and entered the living room. The first thing he saw was his daughter's hand knotted with Logan's.

"Everything okay here?" He asked, seeing his daughters tear-soaked face and Logan's darkening cheek.

"Nothing to worry about, Mr. Mars." Logan said, gently squeezing Veronica's hand.

"Dad, we have some news."

"Does this news have anything to do with the fact that you and Logan are holding hands?"

"As a matter of fact it does. Dad, Logan and I are dating."

Keith's eyes widened in shock, but he quickly replaced it with a happy face.

"Are you happy?" he asked his daughter, his eyes prying into her own.

"Yeah… I am."

"Well that's all I needed to hear." He rubbed his hands and laughed. "Are you ready to go?"

"I just need to go upstairs and get my stuff." Veronica replied, herself and Logan already heading in the direction of his bedroom. "Be back in a few, Dad."

"I'll be here."

Veronica and Logan climbed the stairs at a steady pace, not wanting to rush any more than they needed to.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Veronica asked. They had reached his room and she was lifting up her jacket and bag.

"Honestly Ronnie, it's just a few bruises, I'll be fine."

"Really?"

"Trust me."

Logan placed both hands on the side of her face and rested his forehead against hers. He quickly kissed her and pulled back.

"So, I'm picking you up for school tomorrow." he told her confidently.

"In Big Bird?" Veronica snickered.

Logan released her face from his hands and crossed his chest protectively with his arm.

"Fine, I was going to buy Chinese food for lunch tomorrow, but maybe I shouldn't now."

"No! Wait, I'm sorry, I think you misheard me, I said 'in the Xterra', so you can still buy Chinese food for lunch."

"Hmm. Nope, I heard Big Bird."

Veronica flipped her hair and tilted her head to the side, giving Logan the puppy dog eyes that she used on her father constantly to get a later curfew.

"How can I resist the cuteness that is you?"

"It's impossible."

"That it is."

"So, call me when you get home." Logan instructed, twirling Veronica around.

"Why?"

"After spending most of the day with you, I don't think I'll be able to sleep without hearing your voice."

"Aww," Veronica said, clutching at her heart, "you're such a girl!

Once the door to Logan's room was shut, Keith asked the question he was dying to know the answer to.

"What happened before I got here?"

"Duncan." Aaron answered, tossing his paper onto the sofa.

"Duncan Kane?"

"Yes. He came over to play video games with Logan, which was when we caught Logan and Veronica kissing."

"Is that why Logan's going to have a pretty sore face come morning?"

"Right again. When he saw the two of them kissing, he was frozen to the spot in shock, then he suddenly switched, becoming a different person entirely. His eyes went dark, filled with rage. He began punching anything that belonged to Logan. Logan only got away when he tripped Duncan up."

"Duncan instantly became a different person… it was bizarre." Lynn finished, sighing. She walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured herself a vodka tonic. She took a sip and sighed again, louder.

"I was terrified that he wouldn't stop, that he couldn't stop himself." Lynn threw a look to her husband before continuing. "When he'd calmed down enough, Veronica tried to talk to him, to explain, I think. Duncan simply got to his feet and ran away. And throughout the whole ordeal, he didn't say a word. Not one."

"Okay Dad, I'm here."

Veronica was a few feet ahead of Logan as she walked down the stairs, her backpack slung onto one shoulder. As she reached the ground floor, she walked towards Logan's parents and smiled.

"Thanks for letting me hang here this evening and for dinner."

"It was our pleasure, Veronica. You're always welcome here, honey, you know that." Lynn said, hugging her son's girlfriend.

"Logan, I'd like you to come over for dinner some evening this week." Keith asked, taking his daughter's bag from her.

"No problem sir, I'm free whenever."

Keith looked at the clock on the wall and smiled.

"Looks like it's time to hitting the road. Goodbye Aaron, Lynn." Keith said, shaking Aaron's hand. He turned his attention to Logan. "See you soon." he smiled.

"Thanks again." Veronica said to everyone, but her eyes were solely on Logan. Logan mouthed 'call me'.

"Bye, Keith."

Keith threw his arm over his daughter and whispered in her ear. Veronica laughed loudly as Keith closed the front door.

"Honey, are you sure you're okay? Duncan was striking you with all his strength." Lynn asked, both hands clasped around her glass.

"Actually, I think I'll go have a shower. Loosen the tension. Then I'll hit the hay… it's been a long day." Logan replied, already climbing the stairs.

"Good night then, son. See you in the morning." Aaron said, sitting on the couch and turning the overly large TV on.

"Night." Logan mumbled, taking the stairs too steps at a time.

Once they were on the road, Keith turned down the police scanner.

"Veronica, are you sure you want to date Logan?" Keith asked. He knew that Logan was less than responsible. He'd caught him intoxicated enough times to know this.

"I'm sure. Logan's a good guy, dad, you know that."

At least I hope you do. And when Logan comes over for dinner this week, please don't mention that you have licence to carry a concealed weapon or mention any of your more violent arrests.

"I know, honey, I just want you to be safe."

"With Logan, I know I'll be as safe as if I was with you."

Keith smiled as her pulled into their driveway.

"How's mom tonight? She was really sick this morning."

"I don't know, sweetie, I haven't been home all day."

They got of the car, Veronica carrying her backpack by the handle as Keith went to unlock the front door.

Opening the door, he called out to his wife. When he got no reply, he told Veronica that she must be in bed already.

Veronica walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of Skist, kissed her father goodnight and went to her bedroom.

She was sitting on her bed, looking over the section of Romeo and Juliet that had been covered in English that afternoon when her cell phone rang.

The caller ID showed an unknown number, but she still answered, remember Logan's request from earlier on.

"Hello?"

"Ronnie, by my calculations, you've been home for 5 minutes already, and still no call. I'm hurt."

"I thought it would be best to call you before I went to bed, so I could remember the sound of your voice." Veronica mocked, stifling a giggle.

"Har dee har har, Veronica. So very funny. My sides are splitting from the comic genius that is you." Logan quipped, smiling at the banter they were sharing.

"How are you feeling now?" Veronica asked, opening the bottle and taking a sip.

"Still good. You?"

"Nervous about tomorrow, what with telling Lilly and the rest of the student body."

"Well don't be. We'll get through it together in one piece."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I'm Logan Echolls. It's what I am, over confident and snarky."

"You forgot 'inner softy' in your description."

"Am I ever going to live that down?"

"No."

"Goodnight Veronica."

"Goodnight Logan."

Veronica ended the call and threw the phone on her bedside table, before falling backwards on the bed, smiling contentedly.