Work Text:
Most people, upon first introduction to the two of them, would no doubt have an obvious guess which one had the greater tendency to fixate on things. And, for the most part, they would probably be right. Anyone who had spent a period of time in Logan's company that exceeded perhaps twenty minutes could no doubt easily discern his temperament. Indeed, avians were already rather frequently stereotyped as being finicky and fastidious, and in many aspects Logan adhered to that image to what Remus insisted was an almost comical degree. And Logan could admit that he was...particular about a great many things, from the correct shades of blue and black for his wardrobe, to the maximum amount of time that it was appropriate to maintain a hug in public, the proper spacing of teeth on his preening comb, or the correct brand of jam. However, as blase as Remus could be about a great many things, and as prone as he was to changing trajectory on a whim, there were certain areas of their life in which Remus became intensely focused on the minutae...
Which was to say, the minute their son Emile was feeling even the slightest bit under the weather, Remus turned into an absolute, hovering fusspot.
"His temperature is 102.8, Logan, are you sure that's not a fever?"
"I'm positive," Logan said. "You know that both of us run significantly higher than is average for humans-"
"Yeah, I know, but he feels even warmer than usual," Remus insisted. "I can check it again..."
"I feel okay, Dad," Emile insisted.
Which was a statement almost certainly intended to be relative to Remus's obvious—and excessive—concern, because while their son certainly didn't look as if he were as ill as Remus seemed to believe, it was plain to see that he was uncomfortable. Despite Emile's protests, his shoulders and wings both drooped slightly. There was a noticeable lack of his usual excitement and energy, and while it wasn't uncommon to see him hugging on to one of his plushies, he was holding on to Snoopy alarmingly tight.
"No you don't," Remus said. "You horked up your waffles all over the car before we even got out of the driveway-"
"And I'm sure reminding him of that is helping to settle his stomach," Logan said.
Remus cut off quickly.
"Yeah, shit, sorry, just...you know you don't have to pretend that you're fine, right?" Remus insisted quickly. "If something's wrong, never just pretend that you're fine-"
"And he's not," Logan agreed, "but it is probably just a stomach bug. We'll keep him home today. More than likely he'll be fine by tomorrow."
And Logan could see that he had, maybe, nearly gotten Remus to calm down when Emile let out a faint noise...one that did almost sound somewhat pained. The moment that he did, Remus was right there at his side.
"Are you sure you're okay, little Em'n'Em?" Remus asked.
"Yeah, I-" Emile hesitated before continuing sheepishly. "Do I have to stay home today?"
"Aw, was there a reason you needed to go today?"
Though Emile didn't answer, and as his face took on a definite flush, Remus was soon reaching for the thermometer again-
"I'm only going to check one more time-"
"Remus," Logan stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
"What?"
"I think he may just be embarrassed."
Remus's panic subsided with a blink.
"Oh, yeah," Remus said, relaxing with a laugh. "That's a thing other people do, isn't it? What's got you flustered, buster?"
Emile hid his face behind the plushie in his lap as if he wanted to disappear, but under Remus's concerned gaze eventually he gave in.
"It's just...Janus was supposed to get back from his family's trip today."
Remus reached out to ruffle his hair.
"That sucks, little dude, but I'm sure you'll still get to see him tomorrow."
"Yeah, but I wanted to be the first one to see him when he got back..."
"Aw, you got the start of a crush there, pill-bug?" Remus asked.
Logan let out a huff.
"Don't be absurd, Remus, he's only nine. That's far too young to have a crush."
"No it's not," Remus insisted. "It's too young for a lot of things, but not for a little puppy-crush on one of his school friends. I mean, I had my first kiss when I was eleven."
Though he would have denied it to anyone who accused him, Logan let out a squawk.
"Eleven? You don't mean on the lips, right? That is so unsanitary... What if he has mononucleosis?"
"I mean, you already said that it's not a fever, and he hasn't said anything about his throat bothering him, so it's definitely not mono-"
"Why do you just know that off-hand?"
"And besides, he didn't say he'd had his first kiss," Remus said.
Realizing he had been caught out at the start of a potential fretting spiral, Logan did his best to pull rein on his outrage and settle his ruffled feathers. He shook off his wings and took a slow breath.
"No, you're right, he didn't."
"And I'm sure when he does get to that first kiss," Remus said, "it'll be totally appropriate. Our Em's a little gentleman, after all. But that's maybe something we can yap about when he's feeling a little better?"
It was difficult, but Logan let out a sigh.
"Yes," Logan said. "Of course."
"Now..." Remus said. "Since you're definitely staying home, can I get you anything? Maybe some toast, just to have something easy in your stomach?"
Emile wrinkled his nose, but nodded, settling back down onto his bed, Snoopy lying at his side.
"Bring him some more water as well," Logan suggested. "It's important to keep well hydrated when you're ill."
Once Remus had left the room, Logan set about building his son a proper nest of pillows and blankets to make him comfortable.
"I really don't have a crush," Emile said quickly. Though it was followed with a small-voiced "I mean...I don't think."
Pausing, Logan turned to address his son.
"I believe you," Logan said. "And of course, you would never be in trouble for having a crush if you did. It's...perfectly fine for you to have...feelings."
Though there was still a little part of him that was agonized to say it—Emile hadn't even started growing his flight feathers yet!
"Okay," Emile managed, though it still sounded a little...lifeless.
"You should try to rest," Logan said, "perhaps take a nap after you eat. But...if you're feeling up to it later, we could give Janus's parents a call after school gets out and see if you can welcome him back that way?"
Crush or not, sick or not, the idea seemed to perk him up just a little.
"Okay. Thanks Papa."
"Of course, downling," Logan said, giving him a kiss on the top of his head.
"Now, you settle in. I'm going to go downstairs and make sure your Dad doesn't set the toaster on fire."