Work Text:
The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon as Logan cleaned up the kitchen from breakfast. Andy was due at school soon, but they had fallen into the routine of having breakfast together every morning. Bounties and patrols sometimes kept Logan out later than he wanted to be, so dinner together wasn’t always guaranteed.
After the better part of a year in each other’s pockets for day in and day out, it was an adjustment for both of them to be in town and doing their own things. Breakfast together gave them some of what they had before, even if it was far removed from their time in the cavern.
With a deep sigh, he stared down at the plate of blackened pancakes before moving and binning the lot of them. He just didn’t understand what he was doing wrong. Maybe he should get Paya to come look at the stove? She was a builder, after all; she should be able to fix it up, so he’d stop burning everything he touched.
Would she want to see him again so soon, though? They had just gone out on a date last night, sat by the oasis and talked until long after dark. He didn’t want to say good night, but as the night moved into early morning, they walked back to her gate and, with one last kiss, he made his way home.
It had just been a few hours since then. He didn’t have any bounties to worry about today, though, so maybe she could use his help in return for looking at the stove? The day they had spent mining together as he completed his community service had been a lot of fun. She had taken him out to The Bend to gather up the various materials before they rode out to the Badlands and into the mine the moles ran. He had a new respect for her after that; he had no idea how she not only had the energy to gather everything but then carry it all around.
Andy’s shout broke him from his thoughts. “LOGAN! I think yer cookin’ killed me!”
“Yer shoutin’ makes me doubt that!” he yelled back. “And it wasn’ that bad!” He wandered out of the now clean kitchen to gather his things. He’d go see Paya and see if she could check his stove.
“Pancakes shouldn’t be black.”
“They weren’t black!”
Andy ran past and down the stairs to his school bag. “How are ya ever gonna convince Paya to marry ya if ya can’t even cook pancakes?”
Logan stumbled, almost dropping the belt with his holstered pistol. Marry him?
“I mean, a good husband knows how to cook, right? What da ya got to offer? Charcoal? Ain’t no one gonna want ta marry ya for charcoal.” Andy continued, seemingly oblivious to the stupor his words had caused.
Clearing his throat, Logan straightened and pulled himself together. “Andy.”
“Bye!” Andy was out the door, hot air blowing in the sand from the street as the door stayed open.
Deflating a little, Logan just shook his head. That kid would be the death of him.
Grabbing the rest of his gear, he made his way outside, the air already hot and dry. Meandering his way past Mi-an and Nia’s shop, through the tunnel, and towards Penguin Works and Paya, he tried to figure out what to say to her. Was Andy right? He didn’t have much to offer anyone, much less someone as beautiful and amazing as Paya was. He was a convicted criminal, had just finished his community service after his jail time. What on earth would she want with him?
She didn’t seem to mind his company yesterday, though; their conversation had flowed well, and they both laughed as they talked and had both complained when the end of the night drew close. Maybe she just liked his company? He sure liked hers. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Hadn’t for quite a long time, well before they officially got together.
If he was honest, ever since her bright green eyes met his that early morning of the water tower collapse, she had been on his mind. He had managed to hide it that day, but had made it a point to ask Grace for more information on her.
In the name of secrecy, of course.
When Grace had only positive things to say, though, he knew he needed to be careful around her. He didn’t know why back then, just knew that Paya was important. And after the debacle that was kidnapping Matilda, and she had fought him that first time, he had a hard time keeping her out of his head.
Her hair, the beautiful coral locks, had brushed up against him as they had traded blows, and it had almost undone him. It was soft and almost floated through the air as she spun. Pen interrupting was irritating, but probably actually saved him.
The murmur of voices brought his awareness to the crowd outside Paya’s gate. Slowing as he got closer to the tracks, he debated what to do. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one with the idea to spend some time with the beautiful builder. Arvio was standing there loudly practicing how to ask her on a date of his own. Catori was reading through slips of paper and wondering if she should upgrade one of the amusement rides. Qi was just standing there apart from everyone looking awkward. Owen was even there, just quietly standing with his hands in his pockets.
Logan moved to stand next to his old friend as Jasmine ran up, darting between everyone to deposit the mail and darting back away with a wave.
Owen was startled a little as he felt someone come to stand next to him. “Logan! Good morning!”
“Owen. Paya’s popular today I see.”
Owen laughed. “Every morning, my friend. Everyone has learned the best time to track her down is first thing in the morning. She’s never in the same place at the same time any other part of the day.”
“Ah. Well, I should just be on my way then and not add to her list.”
Owen slapped him on the back. “Come now, out of all of us here you’re the only one she’d actually want to see.”
Before he was able to ask what Owen meant, her door opened and she stepped out into the sun. He sucked in a breath. The sun hit her hair, making the pink glow against the dark teal underlayer, and her green eyes sparkled as she smiled at everyone.
Owen laughed next to him, but Logan didn’t hear what he said as their eyes met and her smile widened. She gave him the traditional finger up to wait as she moved to talk to Arvio.
“Oh, you do have it bad, don’t you.”
Logan spoke without thinking. “Can you teach me to cook?”
“What?” Owen asked, confused at the question seemingly out of nowhere.
“Sorry, sorry. Andy just, well he said somethin’ earlier that’s just got in my head. Don’t worry none. Forget I said anythin’, please.” Logan looked at Owen with pleading eyes.
“Logan, Owen!” Paya interrupted as she reached the two. She reached out and lightly touched Logan on the wrist, gently running her fingers to his hand. “What can I do for you two today?”
Owen jumped in before Logan could think of something to say. “Oh! I was just talking to Logan, wanted to check in, say hi.” Owen hit Logan on the shoulder as he started backing up. “Don’t mind me, I’ll just leave you two to it. Logan, stop by later, will you? Good, see you then! Bye you two!”
Logan blinked as he watched Owen, who was all the way to the tracks by this point, turn and make his way towards the Blue Moon. He wasn’t sure he understood what just happened. Looking at Paya though, he couldn’t help but smile. They were the only two there, the others having left earlier.
“Howdy, darlin'. Care for any of the fine delicacies our wilderness has to offer? Fruit? Berries? Ever take a bite out of a Boxing Jack? Well, offer's on the table...”
Paya grinned back and pulled the spear from her back. “Let's go, Yakboy.”
***Later that day***
Logan wandered over towards the Blue Moon in a daze. They had spent the day running all over the desert picking fights with boxing jacks and picking a few cactus fruits to go with the lunch that Paya had pulled from her bag.
It had been the most fun he has had in… well, since he can remember.
Forgetting about the conversation with Owen earlier that morning, he walked into the Blue Moon, planning to order some dinner for Andy and himself before heading back home. Owen, however, hadn’t forgotten and slid an arm over Logan’s shoulder as he walked to the bar.
“Logan! Glad you remembered. Come with me.” Owen, not really giving Logan a choice, led him over towards the kitchen. “Now, I know you told me to forget things, but I couldn’t. It’s my job as a chef to pass on my knowledge.”
“Now wait just a second, Owen…”
“Don’t worry, Logan. I’ve got a plan. I have five recipes here that I’ve written down for you with very clear instructions. Read through and see if they make sense. I’ll get your box.”
“Box? Owen, what…?” Logan sighed. Owen had already left the kitchen without giving him time to respond. Looking at the sheets of paper in his hand, he pondered the situation he found himself in.
He could suck it up and take the help that was freely being offered and be able to at least cook something decent for the woman he really wanted to marry. Or he could be stubborn and keep wasting food and have even less to offer her than he had now.
It really wasn’t a choice. She was so talented at everything she did. Following her around today showed him just how strong and talented she was with a weapon. He was pretty sure they culled most of the jack population of the outback. But she welded her weapons so effortlessly as she dodged the punches and struck down her targets. He hadn’t been able to watch her when they fought Duvos together, seeing her now was just….
He sighed; he didn’t have the words.
At one point, they had come up on a pack of penskies and she just melted. They all came running up to her like she was a frequent visitor, licking her cheeks and flapping around her. She pulled out a few tins of dog food to feed them and even had a ball she threw for them to chase. It was the most adorable thing he had ever witnessed.
Looking back at the recipes Owen left him with, Logan wondered if he was really doing this. He had vowed never to fall in love after what his ma had done to his pa but, well, that ship had long sailed.
And if he loved her, he might as well see if she was willing to put up with him for the rest of their lives. If that meant learning these few recipes, then so be it.
With a new resolve Logan read through what Owen had written for him. The man hadn't lied; the instructions were very detailed and clear.
It made the whole process sound easy if Logan was honest with himself, which just kind of made him angry. Why couldn't he get it right if it was this easy?
Odd, it had him turning the stove up and down all throughout the process. Checking each page, every recipe was the same, heat up then down, then up again. Was that really the trick? He just turned it on hot and let it go. You didn’t have a dial when cooking over a fire, after all, and that’s where he learned: over trail fires with his pa.
It was a good few minutes later when Owen finally came back in, only to find Logan had pulled out his pencil and started making notes on the recipe margins.
“Whatcha doing?” Owen asked as he put the crate of supplies down.
“Hmmm? Oh, I just wonderin’ about the different cuts of meat. You have steaks here for this one, but I wonder if rib meat wouldn't work a little better. Rib meat naturally has more fat; you could reduce the oil needed here just by usin’ that instead…” Logan trailed off. He’d caught the look Owen gave him.
Owen slapped his back and held back his laughter. “Rib’s more expensive, so why don’t you get the hang of things first before going and substituting different cuts and spices. Here, I got you everything you need to test these two,” he said. Owen pointed to the beef noodles and steamed meat pie. “Give me a few days and I’ll have enough stock for the other three.”
“Owen! Ya didn’t have to do all this! Just the recipes are enough!” Looking at Owen’s face, Logan knew he wasn’t going to win. “Fine. What do I owe ya?”
Owen waved him off. “I’m sure we can come up with something. Maybe you can keep me in stock for fish for a bit.”
Logan nodded and checked his watch. He had enough time for the noodle dish if he hurried back home. “Thanks Owen. I owe ya one,” he said as he distractedly gathered up all the stuff Owen was giving him and headed out the door.
Owen stood there a moment before smiling to himself, wondering if anyone had organized the pool as to when Logan and Paya were going to get hitched. He’d have to track down Unsuur. If anyone knew, it’d be him; he just always seemed to know everything going on in town.
Logan, meanwhile, rushed back home to start dinner. Andy was supposed to check in around 6pm to see if Logan was home and to find out what the plan for dinner would be if he was. Logan had about an hour before the comments and judgment from the boy would start.
He wasn’t sure what Andy’s earlier life was like, but it was clear the boy had a good, if hard, childhood. Logan and Haru had worked hard to make sure he was comfortable with them when they found him out in the desert, lost and alone. It had taken a little bit, but the hard work paid off, and slowly Andy started opening up to them a little. After a few weeks, he was bouncing off the walls of the cavern.
They had naturally fallen into the father/son roles with Haru acting more like an older brother. Logan wasn’t sure if he was doing right by the boy, but he loved him and was going to try his best. Andy was old enough to tell him if he needed something different, at least, and he had no doubt that at this point, Andy would tell him loudly.
Logan was finishing up the dish when he heard the front door open and the tell-tale sound of Andy clomping inside.
“LOGAN! CAN WE HAVE OWEN MAKE OMELETS FOR DINNER TONIGHT?” he yelled up the stairs.
“In the kitchen!” he yelled back, taking the recipe papers and hiding them above the one cabinet. He had followed the Beef Noodle recipe to the letter, and for the first time since he was a kid and had his pa’s help, he didn’t burn a meal.
He felt on top of the world.
“Yum!” Andy said from the doorway. “Who’d you steal dinner from?”
Leave it to Andy to bring him back to earth. “Whadda ya mean, who’d I steal it from? I didn’t steal nothing! I made it!”
Andy had a confused look in his eye as he looked at Logan. “Ya didn’ make this. It don’ smell burnt.”
“Yeah, well, I still made it.”
“Whatever,” Andy muttered as he got the bowls and utensils from the cabinet.
“I did!”
“I didn’ say ya didn’ that time!”
“Close enough.” Logan mumbled as he reached out and pulled the boy to him, ruffling his hair.
“Hey! Watch the hair!” Andy twisted to try and get free.
“Nope!” Logan continued to mess up Andy’s hair as the boy twisted in his arms to get free, both laughing.
A few minutes of wrestling later, Logan let Andy go and lightly shoved him towards the table. “Sit, let’s eat.”
A few quiet moments passed where it was just the sound of forks and bowls of good food before Andy spoke up quietly, “Logan? Did ya really cook this?”
Logan looked up hearing Andy’s tone, unsure where he was going with it. “I did. I, uh, I asked Owen for help.”
“It’s good,” Andy said, clearly thinking.
“Thank ya.”
They both ate their servings and went back for more. Logan was happy to see they still had some left over. If he were to make it for the three of them—him, Andy, and Paya— there would be enough.
Over the next week, Logan worked through four of the five recipes Owen had given him. It was when he was finishing up the last recipe, Braised BBQ Ribs, that Andy surprised him by coming home pulling a laughing Paya with him.
“LOGAN!” Andy shouted as he came inside.
Logan rolled his eyes. “Quit yer yellin’!” He paused as he heard two sets of feet climbing the stairs, and turned around to see the beautiful form of Paya following Andy and laughing at his antics.
He looked back at the meal he was cooking. He was just trying it out; he didn’t want to disappoint her if he screwed it up. He had messed up the steamed meat pie the other day and they had needed to go to the Blue Moon for dinner. What if he had messed this one up too?
Paya came up to him and gave him a light kiss, “Hope you don’t mind Andy dragging me in for dinner. I’ll understand if you didn’t make enough?”
Logan gave her a shy smile, looking down at the pan of ribs he was holding, “No, yer fine, there’s plenty. Jus, well, I, um…” he cleared his throat. “It’s a new recipe, so, um, don’ get yer hopes up.”
Paya laughed. Her green eyes lit up in such a way that Logan almost didn’t catch what she said.
“I’m sure it’s fine,” she said, resting her hand on his arm.
“PAYA! LOOK!” Andy interrupted, waving a paper around in front of her.
Logan sighed, putting the pan on the table. “Andy, enough yellin’.”
“Sorry, Logan. But Paya! Look! The Director helped me with my Super Shock Shield upgrades!”
Paya gave a quick smile to Logan before fawning all over Andy and his updated diagram while the three of them ate dinner. They cleared the plate and the vegetables Logan had also prepared. Andy didn’t even put in his token ‘vegetables are evil’ argument.
It took him a little bit to get over his nerves and stop watching. He wanted to make sure Paya actually liked the food and wasn’t just being nice. Once he did, it was a wonderfully relaxing evening. The three of them cleaned up together before sitting in the living room for another hour just chatting and laughing.
He didn’t think he had ever laughed as much as he did when he was with Paya.
She left when Andy went to get ready for bed, mostly because until she did, Andy refused to go to bed at all, not wanting to miss anything. Logan went to tuck him in and check to make sure he was actually going to bed and not working on the diagram again. He and Paya had come up with some new ideas for it, so Logan wouldn’t put it past him to try and sneak in working on it more.
“Andy?” he asked, knocking on the open door’s frame. “Can I come in?”
Andy was wrapped up in bed, holding one of his books. “Of course Logan. It’s yer house.”
“But it’s yer room. Same rules as the cavern. Yer space, yer rules. To an extent.”
Andy giggled in response. They had to add that last part when he tried to make a campfire in his corner of the cavern and it lit a bit of the curtain that separated it from the main room on fire. Logan tried to yell at him but when Haru pointed out that he had said it was Andy’s space, Andy’s rules, he should have expected something like that to happen.
Logan hadn’t been happy, but agreed in the end that Haru had a point and instead added the bit at the end.
Coming to sit on the bed and pulling the covers up to Andy’s shoulders, Logan smiled down at the boy he loved like a son. “Tonight was fun.”
Andy yawned. “It was. Wish every night could be like that.”
“Do ya?”
With a nod, Andy put his book back under his pillow and looked up at Logan. “Do you?”
Logan smiled. “I do.”
“Does that mean ya want ta marry Paya?”
“Well, um, can’ say I thought about it much before this week but yeah, I kinda do. How do ya feel about that? Would ya be ok with it if we did?”
“Ya kidding? That’d be awesome! Paya’s the best. She lets me help sometimes when The Director is busy and we ain’t got school. How are ya gonna ask? It’s gotta be good. Someone like Paya ain’t gonna agree if it’s not good. Ya know what? Jasmine and I are gonna work it all out. We’ll have ya a plan to make it perfect!”
With a laugh, Logan ruffled Andy’s hair affectionately. Andy for once allowed it with a smile and yawn.
“Get yerself some sleep, ya can work it out in the mornin’.” He impulsively leaned down and dropped a quick kiss to the boy’s forehead before turning off the small bedside lamp and making his way out to his own room.
After getting ready for bed, Logan found himself full of energy, so he sat at his desk and pulled out his notebook and pencil. He figured he’d use the energy to start working on what he would say when he asked Paya to marry him. He wasn’t trusting the kids to come up with a conceivable plan. Knowing Andy, he’d be expected to build a rocket to take Paya to the moon to propose or something equally crazy.
It took several starts before he was able to get into the moment. He knew they hadn’t been together for long, and it was maybe a bit fast. At the same time, when he knew something, he didn’t see the need to wait.
I really reckon yer alright
No, no, that’s all wrong.
Ever since I met you, I felt all good. It’s been like a dream.
That’s a good start….
I really enjoyed myself. I never thought I’d fall in love like Pa did. I was always scared I’d be left alone. Seein’ him like that broke my heart.
Wait, this wasn’t about his pa. This was about Paya. Paya and him.
But since meeti’ ya, I felt like I ain’t felt before, real weird. Ain’t no one made me laugh like you. Ain’t no one made me smile like you. Yer something special, ain’t no normal folk like you.
Ok, making progress.
Andy always said he liked how I was real mean. But inside I ain’t that guy, I got feelin’s.
Ugh, no, too soft for a proposal to a woman like Paya.
But I always felt like I had somethin’ missin’. I know now, that somethin’ was you.
Alright! Now that was better.
I love you, will you marry me?
Logan stared down at the last sentence. Was he really going to do this? Let’s see, he had taken her on a few dates, learned to cook, had the kids come up with a proposal plan for him to enact… Everything was all together; now all he had to do was actually ask.
It was with a smile that he finally laid down to get some sleep, excited for the days to come and seeing what the kids came up with.
****
The sun was just about to start setting as Logan and Paya rode though the desert on the back of Rambo. They were laughing and flying through the sandy dunes when, on the horizon, a spot of green appeared. An oasis.
Leading the goat in that direction, they came upon the small watering hole, finding that candles were set up and lit all throughout the grass. At the edge of the water was a red and white checkered blanket, set out with two plates, glasses, and a basket of homemade food.
“I cooked it myself,” Logan found himself saying as Paya sat on the blanket, pouring a glass of wine with a smile.
The sun had dipped below the horizon, lighting up the sky behind the trees with bright oranges and pinks as he pulled Paya close.
“I… Darlin’, I wanted to, well, ya see…” He cleared his throat, trying to remember what he had written down to say.
Andy started giggling and Logan shot a glare over his shoulder. Jasmine, looking so much like her ma in that moment, was pinching her nose and shaking her head. Looking back towards Paya, Vivi suddenly distracted him. Wait, she wasn’t supposed to be there...
“We taught you better than this boy,” Vivi told him.
Suddenly, Grace was there. “Do we have to do everything for you?”
He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned. “Haru?”
Haru smiled down at Logan. “Brother, you go to all this effort and forget one of the most important things?”
Logan shook his head, looking back at Paya, who was smiling patiently at him, left hand outstretched, palm down, fingers splayed.
With a gasp, Logan sat bolt upright in bed, breathing hard. “Fuck!” he whispered. “I need to get a ring!” Flopping back on the bed he made a mental note to go visit Mi-an in the morning, already picturing the design he wanted. He didn’t need Andy’s help with this part.
The next morning, when Andy didn’t find Logan in the kitchen with breakfast, he poked his head in the bedroom door. Logan was sound asleep, a soft smile on his face. Andy grinned and spun, leaving quietly for once. He had a Jasmine to find and a plan to make!