[2er RPG] The Shepherd [ENG]

Marcus and Laura got along pretty well. They talked about genetics and crime-solving. It went together pretty easily. And Marcus promised her a sample from him and Dylan and his brother - which he did not call by name - so she could look for the weird eyes and whatnot. But she should tell him all about the similarities. On the one hand, he just wanted to know. On the other hand, he wanted to know, if Francis was born a killer and if he, Marcus, and Dylan shared the same anomaly. The so called evil gene wasn't yet discovered and may never be, but Francis and Marcus shared no visible features. So what if the part they shared in their genetics was the key to that? And what if Marcus had passed it on to his son?
"I think, I should help one of my boys", Marcus said.
"Which one?", Laura asked.
"I don't know yet. Could be fun to get my boyfriend before the kids do. I think, I do that. Save him by getting him."
"Sounds like a plan. Would you bring that kid with the burning hair with you? She should drink something for a change."
"Good call."
Marcus got up and went over to the kids. He ran around with them and then got Logan on the wrist, pulling him towarda his own chest an kissing him. Everyone around them went "Eww!" And he smiled.
"Gottcha", Marcus said then he turned to the kids and sent them towards their parents so they would drink something.

Logan saw Marcus joining in and eventually he got caught on his wrist and pulled into a kiss. Another 'Eew' from the kids was the result. Marcus sent them off an Logan looked at him smiling.
"That's embarrassing Dad!", Dylan complained, Logan nodded.
"He's right...", he agreed with somewhat red cheeks. Dylan rolled his eyes smiling and went on ahead to drink something as well. The Ex-soldier looked at his boyfriend.
"I'm sorry. Did you get along with them?", he asked Marcus apologizing. He shouldn't have left him alone like this. But the child in him always wants to play and children somehow felt that. "I guess it's eating time soon, I'll stay with you now."

"I'm a dad. I'm supposed to be awkward", Marcus replied to his boys.
His eyes followed Dylan inside, where he grouped up with the other kids again. Marcus was a dad...
"Uh... yeah. I mean, they swarmed me and asked, if I could check their backyward because of this strange sound at night and of course they are super fine with us being a couple and what not. They are all... what's it called... helicopter parents. Except Laura."
Maruc pointed her out.
"She's pretty cool. Only parent, geneticist, bio engineer, total nerd. I think we are friends now."
He took Logans hand and didn't care about the looks they got. How scandalous!
"I tkae you by it. If you run away again, I'm not only going to ignore you tonight, I'm also gonna sleep with my clothes on."

Logan looked at Marcus somewhat confused. "Strange noise?", he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Just don't let them join you a Home Guard unit or whatever. You sound like you don't like the most of them." But at least Marcus found one friend, which he hadn't if Logan had stayed with him, probably.
Marcus grabbed Logans hand and the ex-soldier grinned a little bit. "You know, in our current situation I prefer you dressed anyway. Less tempting." He pointed at Marcus neck which he had to be extra careful about and even cuddling was somewhat scary. Logan didn't want to have him bleed out or anything, the one time was more than enough. "So, if I just leave I'll have a peaceful night....hmmm...", he pretended considering it.

Logan sighed.
"I am not a porcelain puppet! The stitches come out soon, so you're not ripping me to pieces just like that."
He hated to be treated carefully. He was a human being with a scratch on his neck, that's all!
"Next time you get shot at, I'm gonna wrap your butt in bubblewrap and chain you to the bed! And I don't mean that in a sexy way."
He sounded angry, but he wasn't, not really. The next moment, he kissed Logan on the cheek.
"And now care for your hurt boyfriend and get me something to drink", he demanded, slapping Logan on the well formed butt, "and be a gentleman. Bring the lady something, too. Maybe I introduce you to her then."
Laura showed up behind Logan. Marcus let him go and put his arm around her shoulders.
"Laura, this is my worse half Logan. Logan, this is Laura."

"Still.", Logan answered and looked at Marcus. "You lost almost 2 liters of your blood and ruined my favorite jacket doing that, you owe me actually..." The ex-soldier leaned over a bit to get that kiss, then he let go of Marcus hand again.
"I'm not the one who is constantly getting hurt.", he grinned and waved his hand around. "So now you chase me around again, I thought I should stay with you, but I guess Laura already replaced me." He looked at Marcus new friend and shook her hand.
"Nice to meet you and actually, I'm his best part. If you'll excuse me, I have to get you two something to drink." Logan smiled and walked away to get the three of them something to drink.
After a few minutes he came back with some punch Joselyn has forced on him. He had no idea what was in there but he gave it to the others anyway. It smelled sugary as hell.

"Well, technically you're more like a third, right?", asked Laura laughing.
She took the cup and bravely took a big swing of it. Her face wrinkled.
"This... is disgusting", she said.
But the kids seemed to like it. Marcus smelled the liquid and took a careful sip. It was really sweet but not that bad. So clearly he was on the sweet side, while Laura prefered spicey.
"It's drinkable", Marcus said, "but that's about all. We need to keep the kids from drinking it, though. They're never gonna sleep if they're high on this stuff."
Marcus looked around and found a spot to sit. He crossed his legs and let his gaze wander around the room. He analyzed each and everyone he could see. And just like that, he was in his head creating files for everyone.
"Is he always like this?", Laura asked, fascinated by the focus, Marcus kept up for this.

"I think you're right.", Logan nodded and after making sure Laura and Marcus didn't die after drinking whatever that was he brought, he too took a sip. "I think it's actually pretty good...", he smiled and watched Laura looking at Marcus. Marcus did his thing again and Logan sighed. "Yes. He's checking if anyone could be a serial killer or idiot... anyone who could be a threat comes on a black list and there is no white one.", he joked, although there was some truth in it. "Although, maybe there will be a white one, I think he likes you. Which is rather rare, it took me forever to make him actually talk to me about anything other then work."
The smell of smoke slowly filled the air, the grill was starting to get hot and finally they could have some food in a few minutes. Logan was starving.

"You do know, that I can still hear you?", Marcus said without stopping his scan, "I'm physically not possible to stop listening."
His scan only lastet about a minute and Marcus came back to reality.
"That's what makes me so good at my job."
Laura was fascinated.
"Noone's on the black list. Just the pink one for annoying people", he joked and leaned over to steal a kiss from Logan.

The BBQ wasn't that bad. Marcus found a way to get around the annoying people most of the time, had an eye in Dylan, used Logan as his mental crutch and tried to space out from time to time to not get overwhelmed. In the end, Marcus found a new friend in Laura and - with Logan - became the hero of the neighborhood. Only because they were cops of some sort.
In the evening, he was done. They came hime and Marcus wanted nothing more than something for his headache and some sleep. Maybe a bath to relax...
"Can I watch a movie?", Dylan asked.
"Sure. But after that it's bedtime", Marcus replied and Dylan jumped onto the couch.
Marcus grabbed Logans hand and pulled him into the kitchen for a moment.
"Thank you", he said and leaned into.Logans arms, "I don't think, I would've lasted for the whole thing without you."

The BBQ went fine. Logan ate and drank a little bit and stayed at Marcus side the rest of the day. If asked strange or annoying questions Logan answered charmingly, while Marcus could take a step back. Dylan also seemed to have fun with the other kids and it sure was good for him.

At home Marcus pulled Logan into the kitchen and he put his arms around his boyfriend. "You don't have to thank me. You did fine and you found a friend too. The neighbors seem to like us as well, so I think we can call this a complete success." After cuddling for a short time, Logan turned around and grabbed a glass to fill it with water and give it to Marcus. He sure wanted to take something after all this chaos.
"You can take a shower first, if you like.", Logan smiled. He would watch a movie with Dylan meanwhile.

"Oh no, I'm taking a bath. A long one. Like 'maybe he drowned in there' long."
Marcus threw in a pill and took the glas out of Logans hand to swallow the damn thing.
"Feel free to join me."
With a charming smile he left the kitchen and joined his son on the couch. Apparently they were watching Wreck it Ralph tonight. Again. Dylan snuggled in with his Dad in one corner of the couch and focused on the movie. It wasn't that long but when the credits started rolling, Dylan was already asleep. That never happened before, notsince he lived with his dad.
Marcus carefully got up and grabbed the boy. He didn't care about the no heavy lifting rule. He brought Dylan upstairs, put him into bed and left a note next to him reading: checked everything, all clear.
Afterwards, Marcus went to the bathroom for his bath. While the water was filling the tub, he undressed and checked his neck. Everything fine.
"Ha! So much for the porcelain puppet", he said to noone in particular and hopped into the tub.

"Mh, so I actually convinced you that baths are actually nice.", Logan smiled a winning smile. Not long ago he had to force Marcus to relax, now he did that voluntarily. So much has changed... to the better.
Logan watched TV with them a little. Afterwards Marcus just carried Dylan into his room. "Hey...", Logan whispered, but didn't say anything else. Marcus was right, 2 days left and the stitches got out and he didn't want to wake Dylan. So he turned off the TV meanwhile and then went upstairs too. After preparing their bed for later he could hear Marcus filling the tub, so he joined him in the bathroom. Leaned against the door he just closed behind him he looked at Marcus shaking his head.
"I could have carried him...", he mumbled. "It's just two more days, then you can jump around as much as you like."

"But I don't wanna jump around. I just wanted to bring my son to bed."
He sat down and couldn't resist a sigh of relief. He leaned back - neck over the water line of course - and closed his eyes.
"You just wanna stand there and watch or you come over here and join me?", he asked, "Maybe you get me to break another rule today?"
He slided a bit deeper and put his legs up on the side of the bathtub. It was way more relaxing than he ever anticipated. Logan was right about this and he knew it.

"I know... I'm sorry.", Logan sighed and took of his clothes, but instead of joining Marcus in the bathtub he just sat down next to it. Marcus looked way too relaxed and he didn't want to bother him. Also, he didn't mind not sitting in the water. He looked at his boyfriend and put his hand on his cheek. "I know you hate how I worry about you all the time, but I don't want you to get hurt any more." Logan rested his head on side of the bathtub and peered up to his boyfriend.
"I love you so much. I never loved someone as much as I love you and I never was scared about the life of someone I love. I actually never was scared about that in any meaningful way. I'm just not used to it, I'm sorry."

Marcus leaned into his boyfriends hand.
"I don't hate you. I hate the situation. I hate being stuck in a position where I can't do anything. But you... I could never hate you."
He leaned forward and kissed Logan on the forehead.
"And now get your sexy ass in here, stupid! There is way too much room in this thing."

They stayed in the tub till the water got cold. And even then, Marcus wanted to stay. But Logan convinced him, that the bed was more comfortable. And back in their bedroom, Logan was right again.
"So now that we've done a BBQ, we never have to do that again, right?"

Logan joined Marcus in the bathtub smiling and held him until the water got cold. After a quick cleaning up and teeth brushing, Logan finally got Marcus into the bed. The day was exhausting, running around, talking, drinking, eating. It felt so good to finally lie down on a comfy mattress. Logan sighed relieved and looked at Marcus. "Well... Dylan had a lot of fun with so many friends from his school. I guess on his birthday it's actually our turn to invite all sorts of people and you didn't want to be the odd couple. So we should show our faces every now and then." He pulled Marcus closer and kissed him on his cheek. "But for now we are good for a while, I guess..."

Marcus rolled over a bit so he could lay halfway on Logan.
"Remind me to never host a BBQ. On Dylans Birthday, a handfull of kids can come over and we go watch a movie or somthing. No parents allowed."
He put his head down on Logans shoilder and closed his eyes. He still had a headache but that was normal after he'd been in a crowd. Pills couldn't do much about that.

The next two days were long and boring. Marcus couldnt wait for his appointment at the hospital to get rid of the stitiches. Dylan wanted to see it and after some long minutes of thinking about it, Marcus decided to take him. He wasn't allower to drive afterwards because of the stuff they used to numb the skin around the stitches, so this whole thing evolved into a family trip instead of him just taking a cab. Dylan noted that his dad could easily play a zombie in the apocalypse with his neck.
"Am I ever going to be a survivor in this scenario?", Marcus asked, head held to one side so the doctor could work on his neck.
"No. I'm gonna be a survivor and you two are my pet zombies. I would get a nice looking chain for you, you could eat your way through annoying people and you would be my shield going through hordes of other zombies. And because you're my dads, you would never eat me."
Marcus raised his eyebrows.
"Well, at least you're prepared for a zombie apocalypse. Where do you get these ideas from?"
"My babysitter watched all the zombie movies. She thought I was sleeping but I sat on the stairs and watched with her. She never caught me."
"Logan? Remind me to check the stairs from time to time when we watch a crewpy movie, will ya?"
Dylan grinned his bigfest smile, which now had a small hole in it, since he list one of his teeth this morning. He loved it.

After the appointment, they went to have some icecream. Everything felt so normal, it was almost scary. But it was too normal to be scary.

Logan started stroking over Marcus back and chuckled a little bit. "How about I host a party and you have to be on a 'business trip' away somewhere. Marcus fell asleep rather fast and Logan held him for a while before he fell asleep too.

Finally they went to get Marcus stitches out. "Thanks for us being dead in this scenario...", Logan sighed smiling after Dylan told them how a zombie apocalypse would turn out. But he couldn't be mad, being called a Dad from Dylan made him grin broadly.
"I think it's to late to watch the stairs...", Logan sighed.

After the appointment they went to get some ice cream. Logan got what everyone wanted and got back to the table, placing the ice cream in front of Marcus and Dylan. "Now that you have your strength and privileges as a human being back, what do you want to do?", Logan asked smiling. Even Dylan allowed him to run around and carry stuff again.

"My human privileges? That's a bit harsh. I would say, I got my dignity back."
Marcus sipped at his milk shake. He liked those better than regular ice cream.
"I don't know what I wanna do. I don't have any particular plans. I mean, I wrote all my reports. I emptied almost all the boxes left from.our move into the house - there are just two left. The house is clean - as usual. There's just... nothing to do. At least for me. I don't know about you guys. You", he pointed at Dylan, "got homework to do. But that's about it. Any objections or ideas?"

Logan was happy for Marcus having his last scheduled hospital visit done. "How about we do some family stuff on the weekend?" Logan asked and Dylan looked at him with an raised eyebrow, but still a little bit excited.
"Like what?", he asked and Logan shrugged.
"Well, I don't know. How about we go hiking, maybe camping? A nature thing, just us three. Away from all the 'every-day-life' stress. What do you think?", he proposed. He always liked being alone in nature from time to time. He wanted to make a trip anyway and with the two of them joining him it would be even more fun. If they wanted to come.