Chapter Text
He snapped.
That’s it, that’s all, and it was a stupid, stupid mistake, especially to do it in front of Remus-
His little know-it-all comment just made the rage worse, even through the chill of realizing what he said. Looking at him act like he knows everything when Logan is supposed to be the teacher! He’s the smart one and Remus keeps acting like he knows any of it! Why did he have to be right in his judgement too! Why couldn’t he be wrong and get this ache out of his chest!
Thomas ignoring him hurt. It felt wrong and unjust and he hated it but- Remus is the bigger issue, now. He keeps following him, cornering him when he can and just reminding him about his mistake with his constant prodding. He keeps staring at his face, making him reach to check if something’s on it before laughing and poking at his glasses or his nose. He knows the goal is to make him feel self-conscious, worry about what Remus might see, and yet it still works occasionally, usually when he feels more fire in his chest.
There’s a lot of fire in his chest today, he feels like each breath is carrying embers on its way out, though it’s improbable-
He checked the mirror, even, staring into orange eyes and breathing hard, making sure no flames slipped out despite feeling them burn his tongue. Nothing, nothing at all, no fire or burns or embers. It makes him feel insane, just a bit. Maybe it’s Remus causing the sensation, something slipped into the rare drinks he makes himself, or an imagined dart in his back injecting poison in his system. Just imagining it makes him glance at the mirror, checking the growing fire isn’t visible.
“Well, aren’t you all glowy today! Do you think if I cracked your bones, they’d light up? Like Glow sticks! Including the little shards of candy!”
Speak of the devil- Remus isn’t the devil, though he’d probably enjoy the comparison, also why is a religious saying coming to mind? While Thomas isn’t religious, he usually isn’t- and he shall arrive.
“Glow sticks contain glass, not candy. They also contain highly toxic chemicals that are likely to cause intestinal damage, if I remember correctly.”
A look of confusion on Remus’s face, before his grin widens. Logan doesn’t know what he said wrong? All his facts were correct, if he remembers right. He feels strangely unsure about it all- He doesn’t know why, he knows those facts. There was no reason to create doubt by including that ending- The mustached side opens his mouth and he prepares for the worst.
“What’s your favorite animal?”
What?
“Magpies?”
Huh, he didn’t know that about himself. Since when did he- No, his favorite animal is the unicorn, though he wouldn’t share that with Remus. Maybe a cat or an owl, for their intelligence- No, his favorite animal is a magpie. He’s pretty sure on that.
“Why?”
“You’re being strangely curious today.”
“C’monnnn, tell me! Tell me, or I’ll put spiders in your nose! Or tentacles in your-”
Best to cut him off now, before he gets graphic.
“Remus- Fine, fine. They are… highly intelligent birds, known to use tools. They are even able to recognize human faces. They are also highly protective birds, known to hold grudges and protect their nests fiercely. The black and white color of their feathers can also create a dazzling display when flying, making it harder for predators to catch them”
Remus is just watching, an incomprehensible look in his eyes as Logan begins to gesture.
“Furthermore, while often looked down upon for their aggressive natures, they are very family oriented birds-”
“Australian or European?”
Remus’s smile concerns him, and yet he can’t help the urge to answer, even as something in his head says he needs to be silent.
“Australian magpies. They are not actually truly related to Eurasian magpies, as Eurasian magpies are corvids, like crows, meanwhile the Australian magpie is closely related to the butcherbird. They’re actually only aggressive during breeding season, because they have so much to protect then-”
He pauses, as a hand is shoved into his face. Not trying to cover his mouth, not blinding him, just out like someone trying to poorly request a handshake. It’s deeply confusing.
“Hi! Hello to you, am I your first hello?”
He doesn’t get what kind of fake-out this is meant to be. What kind of prank is a hello?
Despite it all, he reaches out and takes his hand, lowering it away from his face and shaking it, still feeling his face scrunched up.
“I… Hello, Remus.”
“Oh! Oh ho! You!”
And Remus breaks down laughing, doubling over outside of the hand still in Logan’s grasp. He looks up, sees Logan’s confusion, and only laughs harder.
“Are you… done?”
He can feel his eye twitch with annoyance when Remus finally gets up again, finally pulls his hand back, and stares at him with that grin.
“Oh, honey! You’ve got a big storm coming!”
“Is that a reference?-”
And Remus is gone, falling back and through the floor like it doesn’t exist, likely crawling to his room- He doesn’t know why he took that for so long, even if Remus let him talk for ages. He doesn’t even care for magpies that much, so why would he talk on them for so long? That laughing, too. Irritating.
When he turns back to his bed after several calming breaths, he freezes, before striding over-
A little black and white plush of a bird, set between the toy versions of the others. For some reason, he feels like tearing up as flames fill his eyes.
Maybe Remus… isn’t too horrible. Or maybe there's razors in the plush.
He pulls the unicorn out and sets the magpie alongside it on his bed.