[ Valentine's is what happens when he walks down the street and starts seeing chocolate boxes and heart-shaped everything in store windows. It's when the kids start giggling in the halls and sneaking into each other's rooms and counting up money from their part-time jobs for gifts and dates.
He's never celebrated a Valentine's once in his goddamn life. (That he can remember.) He likes it even less than Christmas and Halloween.
But Karen's been looking forward to it. He doesn't have to ask; she's pretty obviously the holiday type, and they've been together for a few months now, so. Yeah. He's gonna take her out. Even if he's never done it before, he does understand how it works. Sure, it's not for him. Doesn't mean he doesn't want to do it for her. Y'know, he'll have a good time, anyway, 'cause he'll be with her, and that's enough.
Besides, it's not like they gotta book reservations or fight the crowd. Not that kind of place. Instead, he buys her a small something, puts in the effort of sticking a little pink ribbon on it, and slips it into a paper bag. He tells her he'll be at home after she comes off her shift—'cause he's decided not to work late tonight—and whenever she's ready, they can go.
He hasn't told her where they're going, but he thinks she'll like it. Maybe it'll set things right. He doesn't know. Nothing's wrong that he can pinpoint. Just...a feeling. Sometimes he's talking to her and she's looking elsewhere. Sometimes he realizes his mind's wandered while she's telling him somethin', and he feels bad, but he just. Got a lot going on right now. But he's put aside tonight as theirs.
While she finishes up, in the bathroom or by the bed, Logan sits on the couch. The watch she gave him is on his wrist, and he's got the stuffed toy between his hands, squishing it idly. At some point, when she was turned around or not looking, he's slipped an artificial rose—the only type he could find—into the crook of its furry arm, waiting for her to notice. ]
[ truth be told - karen wasn't always a holiday person. she remembered a time where the brunt of the energy was her mother, doing her best with what they had. karen's love for the holidays came later, when she was brought into the effort to put them on, when she started to see the proof in the pudding of what effort, time, attention, and love, could bring to someone who was content to stay low. she saw how holidays didn't have to be huge, expenses events, but were about intention. about being present. and when her mother died, when she was no longer present, and when those holidays fell to the wayside unless she stepped in, it settled something for her.
that followed her to new york, when she didn't have the familiarity of home. when she was creating new routines, new habits. she wanted holidays to be her thing, like they had been her mother's, and upon her arrival here it felt more important to have something somewhat normal. something to use to center herself, something that no matter everything else, she could use to brighten. and holidays, holidays with logan, have just been... good. nice. happy. and even if logan had made it obvious that it wasn't something he was ever interested in, she always made an effort for her. entertained her, for the day, evening, a few hours. it made her feel warm, it made her feel loved, and she had tried her best to feed that back.
the only hitch has been that ever since christmas, karen's felt a kind of tightness in the space. the warmth was more complicated. but that, she's decided, is just life. it's complicated, it isn't perfect, but it's still theirs and she tells herself it'll just take a little more time. that this feeling in her chest will abate with time.
karen isn't subtle about her excitement about valentines. she decides to be quite clear about it, about wanting to do something, and so when logan says that they've got plans, karen's mood lightens. for days, she's buoyant, lighter, happy, and it feels almost like it used to.
she's very nearly done - putting together the small amount of makeup she's been able to find or scavenge over the months, the earrings he gave her for christmas hanging from her ears and his dogtags around her neck. she's wearing the dress from the resort, still the nicest thing she owns, but it looks more put-together. like she's had time and reasons to make it a little nicer, a little more her's, than just something she came across. ]
Almost done! [ she tells him from where she's leaning over the sink in the bathroom, messing with her hair despite the fact she really doesn't need to, but she knows he's been sitting out there waiting for her. patient, always patient, but her own excitement is making her want to move faster. she steps out of the bathroom, smiling at him in apology because she knows he's been ready for... well, not hours, but long enough and she smiles at him. ]
Okay. Ready. [ and then a small pause, as her eyes move to the stuffed animal in his hands. her eyes twinkle a little as she closes the distance and comes to a stop a foot or so in front of him, her brow arching curiously, but her smile widens. ]
[ Patience comes easy when Karen's presence soothes his brain. Listening to her shuffle between the bathroom and the closet, the scent of her makeup or whatever perfume she might've spritzed on, it surrounds him with a pleasant white noise. He's gotten used to this. Being with her. Having somebody with him more often than not. Keeping her in mind when he does things like leave or work late or goes to grab food for the night.
When he meets her, he brings two cups of coffee by default. When he wanders the rundown market stalls or scavenges the Fringes, he finds little bits and bobs he'd never pay attention to for himself, but occasionally snags for her: books he's noticed she enjoys, a dumb VHS he thinks she might want to watch together. It's different, but it isn't bad. Far from it.
(But he wonders how much is him playing at house. It's not something he normally does. It's not something he's good at.)
A small smile greets her. She's excited, he can tell, a light that he instinctively clings to. He holds the plush wolverine out with its rose, as if it's the one giving it to her. ]
Too old-fashioned? [ The quiet chuckle that accompanies his remark suggests he's pretty sure it is, and that he's also pretty sure it's the kinda old-fashioned charm that'll work on her, seeing as she's, you know. Still dating his ass despite all that he is. ] Couldn't find some real flowers.
[ He waits for her to take the rose. When she does, he rises to his feet and leans in to kiss her, hand drifting up to rest against her hip. ]
C'mon. We'll take your car. Rain's gonna come down any minute now.
[ He can smell it in the air. And with the time she spent on her hair and makeup, he doesn't want her getting soaked on the ride there. ]
[ it's the same for karen - the how normal it's become to have him in the room. to have his presence, sometimes on the couch, sometimes on the bed, watching tv or reading or just simply listening to her bustle around. it's a presence that has worked its way into her life, small things she's noticed as time has gone on - how much easier she sleeps, how much calmer she feels in the morning, how her day starts off with a kiss through the driver's side window of her car and how easy it is to keep the smile the rest of her shift.
it's the co-existing. the feeling that someone cares about when she wakes up, when she makes it home. karen finds it easy to fit someone else in her life, finds it easy to open herself up to someone and shift herself around to accommodate, but this just feels... this feels right. good. she feels like things are whole. and even if they're off-kilter ever so slightly, even when something doesn't quite feel in place, this is still good. this is still better than a quiet room. she's still happy, and logan makes her happy, and right now that's more than enough.
he holds out the plush with the rose, and she reaches for it, taking the fake flower and lifting it to her face. she smiles around the flower, smelling even when she knows it's not real, and her eyes sparkle a bit at couldn't find some real flowers. her heart skips a beat, her stomach fluttering at how charming this all is. how easily she falls for it. and as logan pushes to his feet, karen's eyes look up at him briefly through her lashes. ]
It's a good thing I like old-fashioned. Plus- these last longer. [ she thinks about saying which i'm pretty sure is better for you, but it's right about then that he leans in for a kiss, and karen decides that's a better option. she leans, out of habit, into the hand at her waist, her free hand settling on his chest. ]
We might need to grab some gas. [ which brings a different kind of warmth to her chest - domestic, easy. she grins, leans in and steals a second kiss from him before she steps away to grab her coat - not his, not this time, though she considers it. instead, grabs for something he'd found for her out in the fringes somewhere, something he picked up because he knew she needed something better for the rain, and she's basically lived in it for the last couple of weeks. she pulls it on, grabs her purse, and with the flower still in one hand, she turns back to him - holding out her hand for him as she stands in front of the door.
a pretty universal come on. ] Do I get to know where we're going before we get there? Or should I grab a blindfold, too? [ she grins, proud of her joke. ]
[ Gas, he can do. He's taken her truck now and again, usually when he needs the extra room in the back and she's at work all day. It's started to become natural—how their individual pieces tumble together. She takes his jacket; he eats her leftovers that've sat too long in the fridge.
And yeah, he's been here before. At the mansion. In shared bunkers and hideouts. The jet. But it's different when it's her. When it's one person, when it's...domestic.
On days like today, he can almost believe it'll work. That he can make her happy and keep her happy. That she isn't looking for anything more than exactly what he is.
Her fingers entwine with his. Logan follows her out the door, keys jingling in his other hand. He smiles back—more taken by the shine on her eyes than the joke. ]
Let's call it an old favourite.
[ He spent the week giving it some thought, where he oughta take her. Should he have picked someplace new, surprising? Maybe. But Logan's more sentimental than he'll let on, and hell, they haven't been back to that place since they first went. Now seemed like a good time to revisit old memories. Good memories. The truth is, that was one of the nicest times he'd had in a while. Until Karen, he can't even remember the last time he went on a date. World was just so fucked for so damn long.
First, he takes a detour to the nearest gas station. As he steps out to pump, the sky begins to open up in earnest, fat droplets splashing in yesterday's puddles. He's damp by the time he climbs back in. Windshield wipers squawk a little in protest as he flicks them on, and he adds them to the list of shit to fix this weekend. It's routine, but it's nice. He lets her pick one of the mishmash of ever-changing radio stations on the drive. Eventually, she'll recognize the restaurant they pull up to: the one he took her to on their first date. They must be doing decent 'cause it's gotten a couple of upgrades, brick exterior freshly cleaned and a new sign in the window.
He glances at Karen as he switches off the engine, gauging her reaction. Sure, she'll be fine wherever they go. He knows she hasn't got any unspoken expectations—she isn't that kinda girl—but it doesn't mean he hasn't...you know, tried to make it special or thoughtful or. Whatever. He wants her to like it, okay? ]
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backdated valentine's things.
Date: 2026-04-02 07:52 pm (UTC)He's never celebrated a Valentine's once in his goddamn life. (That he can remember.) He likes it even less than Christmas and Halloween.
But Karen's been looking forward to it. He doesn't have to ask; she's pretty obviously the holiday type, and they've been together for a few months now, so. Yeah. He's gonna take her out. Even if he's never done it before, he does understand how it works. Sure, it's not for him. Doesn't mean he doesn't want to do it for her. Y'know, he'll have a good time, anyway, 'cause he'll be with her, and that's enough.
Besides, it's not like they gotta book reservations or fight the crowd. Not that kind of place. Instead, he buys her a small something, puts in the effort of sticking a little pink ribbon on it, and slips it into a paper bag. He tells her he'll be at home after she comes off her shift—'cause he's decided not to work late tonight—and whenever she's ready, they can go.
He hasn't told her where they're going, but he thinks she'll like it. Maybe it'll set things right. He doesn't know. Nothing's wrong that he can pinpoint. Just...a feeling. Sometimes he's talking to her and she's looking elsewhere. Sometimes he realizes his mind's wandered while she's telling him somethin', and he feels bad, but he just. Got a lot going on right now. But he's put aside tonight as theirs.
While she finishes up, in the bathroom or by the bed, Logan sits on the couch. The watch she gave him is on his wrist, and he's got the stuffed toy between his hands, squishing it idly. At some point, when she was turned around or not looking, he's slipped an artificial rose—the only type he could find—into the crook of its furry arm, waiting for her to notice. ]
i'm going to die
Date: 2026-04-13 01:46 am (UTC)that followed her to new york, when she didn't have the familiarity of home. when she was creating new routines, new habits. she wanted holidays to be her thing, like they had been her mother's, and upon her arrival here it felt more important to have something somewhat normal. something to use to center herself, something that no matter everything else, she could use to brighten. and holidays, holidays with logan, have just been... good. nice. happy. and even if logan had made it obvious that it wasn't something he was ever interested in, she always made an effort for her. entertained her, for the day, evening, a few hours. it made her feel warm, it made her feel loved, and she had tried her best to feed that back.
the only hitch has been that ever since christmas, karen's felt a kind of tightness in the space. the warmth was more complicated. but that, she's decided, is just life. it's complicated, it isn't perfect, but it's still theirs and she tells herself it'll just take a little more time. that this feeling in her chest will abate with time.
karen isn't subtle about her excitement about valentines. she decides to be quite clear about it, about wanting to do something, and so when logan says that they've got plans, karen's mood lightens. for days, she's buoyant, lighter, happy, and it feels almost like it used to.
she's very nearly done - putting together the small amount of makeup she's been able to find or scavenge over the months, the earrings he gave her for christmas hanging from her ears and his dogtags around her neck. she's wearing the dress from the resort, still the nicest thing she owns, but it looks more put-together. like she's had time and reasons to make it a little nicer, a little more her's, than just something she came across. ]
Almost done! [ she tells him from where she's leaning over the sink in the bathroom, messing with her hair despite the fact she really doesn't need to, but she knows he's been sitting out there waiting for her. patient, always patient, but her own excitement is making her want to move faster. she steps out of the bathroom, smiling at him in apology because she knows he's been ready for... well, not hours, but long enough and she smiles at him. ]
Okay. Ready. [ and then a small pause, as her eyes move to the stuffed animal in his hands. her eyes twinkle a little as she closes the distance and comes to a stop a foot or so in front of him, her brow arching curiously, but her smile widens. ]
What's this?
;-;
Date: 2026-04-13 08:45 pm (UTC)When he meets her, he brings two cups of coffee by default. When he wanders the rundown market stalls or scavenges the Fringes, he finds little bits and bobs he'd never pay attention to for himself, but occasionally snags for her: books he's noticed she enjoys, a dumb VHS he thinks she might want to watch together. It's different, but it isn't bad. Far from it.
(But he wonders how much is him playing at house. It's not something he normally does. It's not something he's good at.)
A small smile greets her. She's excited, he can tell, a light that he instinctively clings to. He holds the plush wolverine out with its rose, as if it's the one giving it to her. ]
Too old-fashioned? [ The quiet chuckle that accompanies his remark suggests he's pretty sure it is, and that he's also pretty sure it's the kinda old-fashioned charm that'll work on her, seeing as she's, you know. Still dating his ass despite all that he is. ] Couldn't find some real flowers.
[ He waits for her to take the rose. When she does, he rises to his feet and leans in to kiss her, hand drifting up to rest against her hip. ]
C'mon. We'll take your car. Rain's gonna come down any minute now.
[ He can smell it in the air. And with the time she spent on her hair and makeup, he doesn't want her getting soaked on the ride there. ]
:c
Date: 2026-04-21 05:17 pm (UTC)it's the co-existing. the feeling that someone cares about when she wakes up, when she makes it home. karen finds it easy to fit someone else in her life, finds it easy to open herself up to someone and shift herself around to accommodate, but this just feels... this feels right. good. she feels like things are whole. and even if they're off-kilter ever so slightly, even when something doesn't quite feel in place, this is still good. this is still better than a quiet room. she's still happy, and logan makes her happy, and right now that's more than enough.
he holds out the plush with the rose, and she reaches for it, taking the fake flower and lifting it to her face. she smiles around the flower, smelling even when she knows it's not real, and her eyes sparkle a bit at couldn't find some real flowers. her heart skips a beat, her stomach fluttering at how charming this all is. how easily she falls for it. and as logan pushes to his feet, karen's eyes look up at him briefly through her lashes. ]
It's a good thing I like old-fashioned. Plus- these last longer. [ she thinks about saying which i'm pretty sure is better for you, but it's right about then that he leans in for a kiss, and karen decides that's a better option. she leans, out of habit, into the hand at her waist, her free hand settling on his chest. ]
We might need to grab some gas. [ which brings a different kind of warmth to her chest - domestic, easy. she grins, leans in and steals a second kiss from him before she steps away to grab her coat - not his, not this time, though she considers it. instead, grabs for something he'd found for her out in the fringes somewhere, something he picked up because he knew she needed something better for the rain, and she's basically lived in it for the last couple of weeks. she pulls it on, grabs her purse, and with the flower still in one hand, she turns back to him - holding out her hand for him as she stands in front of the door.
a pretty universal come on. ] Do I get to know where we're going before we get there? Or should I grab a blindfold, too? [ she grins, proud of her joke. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-04-23 02:37 pm (UTC)And yeah, he's been here before. At the mansion. In shared bunkers and hideouts. The jet. But it's different when it's her. When it's one person, when it's...domestic.
On days like today, he can almost believe it'll work. That he can make her happy and keep her happy. That she isn't looking for anything more than exactly what he is.
Her fingers entwine with his. Logan follows her out the door, keys jingling in his other hand. He smiles back—more taken by the shine on her eyes than the joke. ]
Let's call it an old favourite.
[ He spent the week giving it some thought, where he oughta take her. Should he have picked someplace new, surprising? Maybe. But Logan's more sentimental than he'll let on, and hell, they haven't been back to that place since they first went. Now seemed like a good time to revisit old memories. Good memories. The truth is, that was one of the nicest times he'd had in a while. Until Karen, he can't even remember the last time he went on a date. World was just so fucked for so damn long.
First, he takes a detour to the nearest gas station. As he steps out to pump, the sky begins to open up in earnest, fat droplets splashing in yesterday's puddles. He's damp by the time he climbs back in. Windshield wipers squawk a little in protest as he flicks them on, and he adds them to the list of shit to fix this weekend. It's routine, but it's nice. He lets her pick one of the mishmash of ever-changing radio stations on the drive. Eventually, she'll recognize the restaurant they pull up to: the one he took her to on their first date. They must be doing decent 'cause it's gotten a couple of upgrades, brick exterior freshly cleaned and a new sign in the window.
He glances at Karen as he switches off the engine, gauging her reaction. Sure, she'll be fine wherever they go. He knows she hasn't got any unspoken expectations—she isn't that kinda girl—but it doesn't mean he hasn't...you know, tried to make it special or thoughtful or. Whatever. He wants her to like it, okay? ]