Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Two years. Two years since he met her. Logan sighed, rolling back over in his bed. Desperate to escape his reality, he longed to sleep. Clear his mind, forget her. Her smile. Her laugh. Her scent. Slowly, he closed his eyes and buried his face in his pillow.

CRASH.

Fuck. 

“Wha’ ya breakin' now?” Logan boomed.

No response.

With a heavy sigh, he rolled out of bed.  Feet hitting the ground heavily. Searching the room, he found yesterday's pants strewn across a chair. Picking them up, he gave them a quick sniff. “Clean enough'' he muttered. Pulling his pants over his legs, they felt tighter than they were before.  Since teaming up with Elsie, she has worked hard on monster prevention. Her feed stations and speaker system were great for Sandrock, and reduced monster attacks had aided in increased tourism. But no longer being on the run, less combat, and a new cook at the Blue Moon had meant Logan had put on weight. Grunting, he forced the button through the buttonhole and pulled up the zipper.

CRASH.

“Again, boy?” he yelled as he made his way out of his room towards the sound while pulling a shirt over his head. Once he reached the kitchen, he saw the source of the noise. Andy, covered in flour, cocoa, and…sandberry jam? Strewed across the floor were shards of glass and flour. Andy was perched on the bench, avoiding the fragments.

“But Paaa, I’m trynna make a surprise! For Lilly and Unsuur!”

His chest tightened, and his stomach dropped. Right. That was today. Their first anniversary. The image of Lilly walking down the aisle, draped in soft satin and chiffon, her dark hair curling down her back. He could never forget it, an image he had dreamt of many times since then. They had worked closely together during the Duvos war. They spent late nights out exploring nights around the campfire and sharing combat stories. Days he never expected to end. But the entire time, her heart had belonged to another. 

“You’re coming, right? Don’t tell me you still loooooove her.” Andy rolled his eyes. “Plenty more sandfish in the…sand.”

Logan chuckles and begins to sweep up the broken glass and flour from the floor. “Thanks, kid”.

“Not again”, Qi muttered as he reread the letter. Since Sandrock had become greener, people always arrived for ruin diving and archaeological digs. As the resident researcher, leading these groups always fell on him. Between these groups and the constant demands from the Builders for more mundane diagrams, he had had little time to spend on his mobile suit. Stuffing the letter into a desk drawer, he descended the stairs just as Lilly burst in.

“You’ll be there tonight, right?” she asked, jumping into him and wrapping her arms around his back. Her soft chest was pressed against his, and Qi could feel his cheeks getting warmer.

“I don’t believe my attendance is necessary. Besides, another group is coming through, and I have plenty to prepare. Sorry”, Qi gently pulled her arms off of him.

“Well, if you don’t come, then I don’t believe my upgrading the mobile suit is necessary.” she smiled cheekily. Of course, she was holding the mobile suit hostage. He did need to find a new builder to help with his work. This one used the mobile suit too often to gain what she wanted from him. It should be a simple transaction: money in exchange for the upgrades.  

“Fine. I’ll be there, but only for a short while,” Qi sighed, looking away, closing his eyes, and pushing his glasses back up his nose with one finger. “But this is the last time you can use the mobile suit like this.”

Lilly squealed and jumped to embrace him again just as Qi put his hand out to stop her. “If that is all, I must get back to work.” 

Logan looked at the reflection back in the mirror. Who are you? . The years since his father's passing have flown by, fine creases forming in the corners of his eyes and the sides of his mouth.  Lines formed in time, from the stress and laughter, a reminder of times gone. The stranger's cheeks were rounder than he remembered, another story told through the reflection. He touched his hand to his cheek, and the stranger followed.  

“Ya ready?” Andy burst into Logan's room, not knocking. Logan spun around to face the boy, pulling his hand away from his face.

“What did I tell you ‘bout knocking?” Logan sighed, walking towards the door.

“Yeah, yeah, gimme a hand, will ya?” Andy demanded, pointing to a large box sitting in the living room. “It’s a surprise for Lilly and Unsuur! Jasmine and I made it - well, I did most of the work!”  he stated proudly.

Logan chuckled as he descended the stairs and picked up the box. “Course ya did, kid. Now get the door, will ya?”.

As the pair approached the Blue Moon, Andy told Logan about his latest invention with Director Qi. The closer they got to the Saloon, the quieter Andy's voice felt, and the louder Logan's heartbeat became. G onna need one of Grace’s drinks tonight . Maybe ten. The years on the run, the monsters he fought, Duvos, none of them had been more challenging than getting over her. He wasn’t a homewrecker; he would never go for a married woman, but he still thought of her soft skin, how she would wink at him, how her lips felt that night in the Eufaula. Logan shook his head. He can’t think about that. S he’s my friend. So is Unsuur. They don’t have much in common, but he had gotten to know the guy better while assisting the Civil Corps. The guy really loved Lilly and treated her like a precious jewel. 

Logan sighed as they got to the steps of the Blue Moon. Andy kicked the door open, frightening Linden, the daughter of Dan-Bi and  Rian. The young family was sitting at a table near the door. Linden began to cry and clung to Rian.

“Andy, keep it down, please,” Dan-Bi requested as Rian worked to soothe the toddler.

“Sooorrryyyyy” Andy said slyly as he ran to a table where Jasmine sat. “Heya Jas!”

Logan adjusted his grip on the box and slid over to Dan-Bi. “Hey uh, sorry about that kid. He’s been a bit of a handful lately; don’t know what's come over him”.

“Look, I know you’re doing your best, Logan, but that kid needs discipline!” Logan pursed his lips. They had had this conversation before, and he didn’t want to get into it tonight. Andy was a handful and often didn’t think about the repercussions of his actions. He was a smart kid; even the Director had said he saw potential in him, but Logan didn’t believe in grounding or taking away privileges. Not after everything Andy had been through. 

Logan nodded, agreeing with her would get him out of this situation quicker. “Yeah, I might need some advice on that, honestly. But f’ now,” Logan nodded to the box, “better get this over to the kids.”

He smiled at Rian before walking over to where Andy and Jasmine sat: a table in the far corner near the stage. “Want this here?” He held the box over the table in between them.

“Yeah!” Jasmine spoke up as Logan placed the box down. “This is going to be so cool. We worked so hard on this!”

“What do you mean we ?” Andy retorted as he opened the top of the box.

“Well, I baked them! All you did was put the sprinkles on!” Jasmine poked her tongue out at Andy. 

“Hey now, kids, no fightin’.” Logan peered into the box. Inside sat 12 cupcakes; at least, he thought they were cupcakes. Coated crudely in blue icing, the children spelled “Lilly♥Unsuur.” with pink icing. It was a sweet gesture from them, but he could feel his heart ache a little. “I’m..gonna go say hi to Owen. You two behave,” he told the children before turning towards the bar. The couple might not arrive for a while. Unsuur's patrol didn’t finish until 6:30, and it was only a little after 6pm when he left home. This is gonna be a long night.

Logan sat heavily on a bar stool, glancing towards Owen. Owens' eyes met his as he gave Logan a slight nod before turning to grab a bottle from the shelf behind him. “How ya holding up?” he enquired, pouring the whiskey into a glass and sliding it towards Logan. Owen knew. He had been caught in her spell, but only briefly. Logan grunted before downing the drink swiftly, sliding the glass back, silently asking for another. 

Qi looked up at the clock, “shit shit shit” he exclaimed, rushing up the stairs to his room. Late again. The invitation had asked everyone to be at the Blue Moon by 6:30. It was now 6:25. The Blue Moon is a 2-minute and 33-second walk from the research center. It would take him 1 minute and 18 seconds to fix his hair and 2 minutes to brush his teeth. Qi opted to skip the hair and hurriedly brushed his teeth before running down the stairs. Just before reaching the last step, he suddenly hit the floor face-first. Groaning, Qi slowly pushed himself up with his hands. In the fall, his glasses were thrown across the room. He fumbled around on his hands and knees, finding the glasses over by his cabinet. They had become slightly bent, but there was no time to look for another pair. It’ll do. Sliding them back on his face, he looked towards the clock: 6:29. Shit, that fall down the stairs had taken an extra 30 seconds off his schedule. Quickly standing, he rushed out the door towards the Blue Moon.

Throwing back his third drink for the night, Logan stood up from the bar. With a silent nod towards Owen, he began to head back to the table where Andy and Jasmine sat, scribbling on some paper. The place had livened up since he had arrived, and the couple would arrive shortly. Logan sat near the back wall and leaned back, placing his hands behind his head. Since returning to town, life had slowly become a little more empty. He was proud of the work Elsie was doing out in the Eufaula. Still, with him being needed less out there, Andy going to school and spending his Saturdays with Director Qi, Lilly getting married, and Haru still off in Atara, there wasn’t much for him to do. There are few threats, few challenges, few dreams. His thoughts were interrupted by the Director stumbling through the doors. He was always a dishevelled-looking man, but boy, this was something. The researcher's shirt was untucked, his tie hanging haphazardly around his neck, and his glasses were bent. Secretly, Logan had hoped a rocket rooster had made its way into town- it would be the perfect excuse to skip this party.

“Qi!” Andy shouts across the room.

“Director,” Qi corrects him, sitting across from Logan. “Evening Logan”.

“Yeah, evenin’,” Logan mutters.

“I don’t understand the need for such events. Is a wedding not enough to show one's affection to another? This is really taking valuable time,” Qi stated to no one in particular.

Not wanting to get into details of the upcoming night's events, Logan sought a new conversation topic. “What happened to you?” He questioned as he pointed towards the man's crooked glasses and messy hair.

“I had an unfortunate incident with a set of stairs, never the matter, too much else to think about than the state of my physical appearance.”

“Yea’? Like what?”

Qi sighs and waves towards Grace, who turns on her heel and heads behind the bar. Qi returns to face Logan. “Well, Atara University is sending yet ANOTHER research group. I wish they would consult me before making such decisions. I have much more important things to do than take these groups out into the ruins. The frequency of monster attacks has greatly diminished since Elsie began working with you. I’m not sure why I have to take them out. Atara University could be sending these groups elsewhere, like Portia”.

Grace strolls over to the table with the men and children with a tray of drinks. She places another whiskey before Logan and iced tea in front of Qi. “Evening boys. Heard you two talking about Atara University?”

“Ah yes, your alma mater. I must ask you to contact the archaeology department and ask them to stop sending groups out here - it takes valuable time from more important research,” Qi demands. 

Grace squints towards the director, placing her hands on her hips with the tray tucked up against her side. “Well, I’ll have you know I will be doing no such thing. In fact, I specifically suggested this group come to Sandrock. The assistant professor is a close friend of mine from my time there. If you have an issue, take it up with the department yourself”. 

She turns and stomps away. Logan lets out a small chuckle. “Y’know, you really-”  Before he could finish, the doors opened again. The sound of a soft giggle took him out of his thoughts, and he gazed towards the door. Lilly walked through first, the soft curls of her brunette hair pulled up, wearing a pale yellow sundress. Peach, that color looks good on her. She spun and took Unsuur’s hand as he followed her lead into the room. They are really a cute couple; no one could doubt that. The way she looked at him with the sparkle in her eyes, Peach, it made Logan feel sick. Logan leaned forward and took his drink. It was only a few hours, and he could make up some excuse to leave. Maybe Andy’s homework? No, shouldn’t drag the kid into this. Bad sandacuda? Ugh, I don't really want people thinking about that.  

Lilly looks over towards their table, gives a soft smile, and waves. Unsuur let her hand go to pull a chair out for her. Lilly tucked her skirt up against her thighs and sat down. Unsuur then took his seat next to her and retook her hand.

“Are we gettin’ dinner soon? I’m staaarvin.” Andy groans and leans back in his chair, closing his eyes. “Unless….” He opens an eye and peers towards the box sitting on the table. 

“Hey now, don’t you touch those.” Logan slides the box a little further away from the boy. “‘m sure dinner won’t be far now”. As if on cue, the kitchen door swings open. Owen, Grace, and Larry enter the dining area, carrying plates piled with food. No yellow soup and lemons - thank Peach.

Jasmine places her pencil down and jumps up from her seat. “Director!” She picks up her drawing and hands it to Qi, “I think this might help Linlin with all Andy's noise. Let me know if you can make a diagram! I could ask Lilly to”. Trudy’s call from across the room interrupts  Jasmine. “Oh, I should go sit with Mom now. See ya!”

“Oh…thanks.” Qi looked down at the drawing in front of him — a picture of some earmuffs, fluffy with the faces of floppy on them. The diagram showed multiple layers of noise protection - not entirely infeasible like the children's previous requests. Folding the paper up neatly, he placed it into his pocket.

Owen comes over and places a few plates of food on the table before the group. “You know, Director, you really need to think more about what you say. Grace was so close to adding extra chili to your food. If you ever need lessons on improving your charisma, you know where to find me”.

“But Owe-” Andy's laughter cut Qi off, food falling out of the young boy’s mouth. 

“Hey now, chew with your mouth open,”  Logan scolded, “and be nice to the Director! He’s doin’ so much for you, ya know. I couldn’ teach you any of this science stuff.”

“Finee.”

The noise in the Blue Moon begins to increase, a sign people have finished their dinner. Lilly rises from her seat, picks up her glass and a fork, and heads up onstage. Unsuur follows behind, letting Lilly take center stage as he stands to her side, a small step behind her. He was never really a front-stage man, but the spotlight suited her. Under the lights, her skin glowed, her dress hugging the outline of her body. Logan never really had a look when she came in. After all, it would be inappropriate. But here on the stage, her breasts seemed fuller, soft cleavage rising above the bodice of her dress. Oh, Peach.

Lilly taps her fork on her glass. “Excuse me, everyone!” the room quietens down. “I’ve never been any good at speeches, and Unsuur just wanted this to be full of puns, but here goes. We want to thank you all for coming to celebrate our anniversary.  Ever since arriving in Sandrock, I have been blessed with so much love, and I knew from the moment I saw him that Unsuur was my soulmate. Over the years, we have built our lives together, and frankly, it rocks. ” Andy groans at the bad jokes, prompting a quick glare from Lilly. “There is so much love in this small town, and seeing how it’s grown, we are so honored to be part of it.” Unsuur takes Lilly’s hand.

“Wilson’s going to be an uncle!” Unsuur blurts out. Guests begin looking around at each other.

“Who in light’s name is Wilson?” Cooper yells across the room. “I ain’t never heard of nobody by that name, why I know everyone in this town and ain’t no one here who goes by Wilson.”

“My best friend,” Unsuur states proudly.

“What my husband is trying to say.” Lilly places a hand on the top of her belly. “We are having a baby.”

Logan felt his skin go cold. That night's dinner felt heavy in his stomach as the room began spinning. Logan always wanted a child of his own. Yeah, he had Andy and loved him like a son, but he had always dreamt of getting married and caring for his pregnant wife. Rubbing her feet, giving her belly gentle kisses, reading stories to the unborn child. There was a time he imagined that with Lilly.  

“Well, I suppose that is the socially accepted natural progression of their relationship,” Qi remarks to nobody in particular.

“Yeah, I guess it is,” Logan mutters, finishing his drink.

The couple is quickly the center of attention, everyone trying to ask questions, 

“When are you due?” 

“What's its name?” 

“What are you having?” 

“How much Yakmel milk can I put ya down for? Ten crates? Fifteen? Oooh- boy. I remember when little Elsie…”

Jasmine comes running back to the table. “Did ya hear that? A new baby! Oh, this is so exciting! Should we give them the cupcakes now?” She looks towards Andy. 

“Lills!” The young boy yells across the room, prompting a shushing sound from Dan-Bi. Lilly excuses herself from the group and heads towards their table. Even in the softer light of the room, her breasts clearly did not want to stay in her dress. The shadows on her body showed a slight roundness to her belly, her hips wider and thicker than when Logan met her. Fuck. Logan coughed, an attempt at distracting himself from his thoughts.

Andy pulls a cupcake out of the box. “Look what Jas and I made for you!” he tells her proudly.

“Aww, you guys! That's so sweet of you!” she exclaims, reaching into the box and pulling one out. “Since when did you know how to bake?”. She brings the cupcake to her lips and takes a small bite. Her plump, soft pink lips pressed against the icing. Logan felt his cheeks getting warmer as he looked away.

Andy shrugged. “I ‘unno, I just learnt!”

“Well, I think you’ve both done a fantastic job.” she smiles towards the kids before looking toward Logan. “Thank you for coming, Logan.” She places the cupcake onto a napkin and bends over to hug Logan. He politely looks upwards, avoiding eye contact with her cleavage as she wraps her arms around his shoulders. Warm. He placed his arms around her momentarily before they both pulled away. Lilly turned to Qi, “You too, Director, though you’re looking a bit…” She combed his hair with her fingers and straightened his glasses. “adorable,” she smiled. The whole table noticed the change in the color of his cheeks as Qi turned away to clear his throat.

“Yes, well, I best be heading off. New team arrives tomorrow. Thank you for inviting me, and congratulations to the two of you. Well, three”. Qi stands before turning to Logan. “I think you should check around the Gecko Station Ruins. The Scorpsters will be migrating this time of year, and it would be inefficient to lose a student to an injury”. 

Perfect. Logan yawns. “Well, if that's the case, I best be headin’ off. Congratulations Lill.” Despite the dull ache in his chest, Logan was truly happy for his friends.

A smile spreads across Lilly’s face, her eyes glittering in the light. Well damn. That's true happiness right there.

Elena places her bags down on the train platform. The train ride from Atara had been long, and she couldn’t get a minute of sleep due to all the yammering from the students. While not her first dig, this was her first as the professor's assistant and her first time in Sandrock. Grace had warned her about the heat, but she never took it seriously. Pulling her cardigan off, she looks down at herself, sweat marks under the arms of her blouse. Great . She adjusts her glasses, peering around the platform.

“Elena!” Grace calls from further along.

“Grace!” Elena runs towards her friend. Although they had exchanged letters recently, they hadn’t seen each other in almost six months. She wraps her arms around Grace. “Sorry if I smell, but I have missed you so much!”

Grace laughs, reciprocating the embrace. “Oh, that's nothing! Wait until you get near the farm - no one will smell you then!”

Elena lets go and looks towards her professor and the four students standing on the platform. “I suppose we better get to our rooms. I think we could all do with some dinner and a sleep at this stage!”. 

Grace nods and turns to the group. “Welcome to Sandrock! Sorry our resident researcher isn’t here to greet you. He’s been swamped lately. I’m Grace, I work at the Blue Moon Saloon”. She extends her hand towards the professor first.

“Nice to meet you, Grace. I’m Grayson, but please refer to me as Professor. I’ve heard from Elena that you’re a former Atara U graduate. I don’t believe we ever met?” he reaches out and shakes Grace’s hand. “These four are Layla, Turner, Blair, and Atlas. Our top archeology students”. The students give shy waves.

“Nice to meet you all! Well, we have some rooms set up. If you’d like to follow me, I’ll introduce you to the owner, Owen”. Grace picks up one of Elena’s bags and heads towards the saloon. Elena picks up the other. Pausing momentarily, Elena examines the rest of the group, each having only one backpack. It's a good thing I left the third bag at home. The group descends the stairs and follows Grace along the ground toward the bright blue stage. Elena pauses for a moment to take in the sights. In her letters, Grace had described the place as dry. She had told of the water crisis and the successful greenification project. The view of such bright green life against the colors of the sand and how life could flourish in such a place is a true testament to the strength and unification of the community. A sense of peace washed over her, a welcome relief from Atara’s turmoil.

Grace and the group had disappeared from sight, presumably into the building with the large sign stating “Blue Moon Saloon.” Elena carefully descends the stairs, the bag's weight causing her balance to falter. Throwing the bag down at the bottom of the stairs, she takes a moment to enjoy the breeze. From a nearby tunnel, a man was running towards her. As he drew closer, she was able to make him out. He wore impeccably clean sneakers, contrasting heavily with his untucked and marked shirt. His dark hair needed a comb, and slightly twisted glasses framed his dark eyes. 

“Professor!” He exclaims as he gets closer to the station. “Pleased to make your acquaintance. I’m Director Qi. I was fascinated by your paper on-”

“Uhhh,” she cut him short. “S-sorry. I’m the professor's assistant. Elena”. She holds out her hand.

Qi ignores her hand. “Ah, very well”. He pauses for a moment, taking a look around. “Uh, where can I find the professor?”

Okay, nice to meet you too.

“Uh, in the saloon”. As soon as Qi had his answer, he turned away and headed towards the saloon.

Wow. Okay. Busy or just rude? Elena’s parents were researchers and seldom had time for her when she was growing up. But even they had more manners than this Director. With a heavy sigh, Elena picks up her bag and takes a few steps towards the saloon before putting her bag back down. What did I even pack in this? Why is it so heavy? She groans to herself. Barely an hour and my friend has disappeared, I’ve sweat through a shirt, had a rude encounter with a local, and this heat - how can people stand it?? Elena sighed, removed her glasses, and cleaned them on her shirt. I should probably find the others. I need a shower and a long sleep.

“Hey, excuse me. Need a hand?” 

Elena jumped

This man was in stark contrast to the man she had just met. Stubble adorned his jawline while his soft white hair was pulled back, revealing his gentle blue eyes; the man held a distinct rugged charm. While not muscular, an understated strength was intertwined with an element of softness. 

“Don’  mean to scare you there, darlin’”. His soft cheeks rose as he smiled, causing creases around his eyes. “The name’s Logan,” he said, holding his hand out to her. Elena looked down at his hand. Larger than hers and strong. As she slid her hand into his and felt his skin's warmth, the desert heat was suddenly nothing. His fingers wrapped around hers, his rough fingertips tickling her palm.

“Elena.” She smiles and looks up at him. As their eyes met, her heart skipped a beat. Something about the combination of softness with strength invoked her curiosity. Who is Logan? A sudden gust of wind pulled her back into reality, reminding her of the sweat under her arms. She quickly pulled her hand away. “Oh, uh yeah, a hand would be great!”. 

Logan nods and picks up her bag. Despite some roundness to him, he still makes it look like an effortless task. His muscles clench under the weight of the bag, shadows emphasizing definition. “You part of that archeological group Qi was tellin’ me about?”

“Yeah! I’m the assistant professor. Professor Grayson and I came with four students to check out some of the ruins around here! I won’t bore you with the details, though, don’t worry.” She smiles. “Oh! We are staying at the Blue Moon. I kind of got left behind when admiring the scenery”. 

Logan lets out a laugh. “Yeah, pretty amazin’ how the townsfolk turn’ this place around. When I was a boy, there was a lot less life”. As the pair begin walking towards the saloon, Elena takes the opportunity to make mental notes of her surroundings. Storage crates in the open may indicate a strong sense of security. Predominant usage of wood with some metals. Brightly colored painted buildings, predominantly blue and red. This might be a reflection of the blue of the sky and the red of the surrounding sand and rock landscape. No usage of green outside of the fauna. 

“Interesting,” Elena whispers to herself with a smile. A questioning hum reminds her she is not alone. “Oh, nothing!” she laughs. “So, Logan, what do you do here?”

“Well, I’m a monster hunter like my pa. With a lot of the work done around here, there are few ‘situations’ in Sandrock, presumin’ ya don’t go out at night or in wild weather. If ya ever need help, just yell out. I’ll find ya”. He pulls open the door to the Blue Moon, letting Elena walk in first before following and placing her bag down.

Owen pokes his head around the kitchen door at the sound of the door. “Logan!” he exclaims, walking towards the pair while drying a glass. “And you brought a friend?”. He chuckles, placing the glass and towel down on the counter. “Oh! Wait, Grace did tell me you were coming. We had expected you with the rest of the group, but when you didn’t show, they decided to get started without you.” he nods towards the dining room where the professor and students sat with Qi, reading over menus. 

Elena let out a little laugh. “Oh, that’s okay! I was admiring your adorable town and got a little distracted. I’m Elena, the assistant professor.” she smiles at Owen. “Oh, uh, sorry to be rude, but I could really do with a shower..”.

“Of course, it must have been a long ride from Atara,” Owen turned to Logan. “Hey, I gotta supervise Grace in the kitchen. Mind showing our new friend up to room 3?” Owen winked at Logan and offered the key to Elena. Elena put her hand out as Owen dropped the key into her palm. 

“Alright,” Logan sighed. Elena sensed his apprehension but wasn’t about to protest. It’d been a long day, and that bag was heavy. Logan picked her bag back up and began walking towards the stairs. “This way”, he smiled back at her before ascending the stairs. Elena stayed a few steps behind, attempting to not look at his ass as he walked up the steps. Why do his pants have to be so tight? As he moved up the stairs, she could see his cheeks clench. Boy, it sure is getting hot in here. Elena's cheeks turned crimson as she looked away, fanning her face with her hand. 

Logan stopped outside a door. “Well, this is you”. He placed the bag down.

“Oh, t-thanks,” Elena smiled at him. “It’s been nice meeting you, and thank you so much for your help.”

“Anytime, darlin’.” he nodded and smiled. “I’ll leave ya to it. Welcome to Sandrock”.

Elena watched him leave before unlocking the door and pulling her bag in. Her heart raced as she shut the door behind her, leaning back against the door, allowing her body to collapse beneath her. Peach, do I need a cold shower or what.

Chapter Text

It was barely sunrise when Logan woke, a time he hadn’t seen since his bandit days. As he rummaged around in his chest for his clothes, he knocked over some empty glass bottles. Quickly picking the bottles up, he waited momentarily, listening for any noise from Andy’s room. Silence.  Logan sighed as he held one of the bottles up. What if Andy found these? Images of the young boy flashed in his mind, and his heart sank. He had sworn to protect Andy. Protect him from monsters, from Duvos, but never thought he could become what Andy needs protection from in trying to do so.

For the past few years, every ounce of him had been for others. His Pa. Sandrock. Andy. The pressure to look out for everyone else slowly became too much. At first, it was just a drink in the hideout with Haru once Andy was asleep. Just to relax, he had told himself. This pressure eased after the war, and he received punishment for his crimes. But then there was fatherhood. Haru leaving. Elsie constantly trying to tell him how to do his job. Lilly, who was by his side through the war, marrying another. When the two women worked together to drive monsters away, they had the best intentions but merely took away one of the last things Logan had just for himself. With this free time and new stressors, the alcohol slowly called his name. 

“If you don’t like it, quit.” His father’s words rang in his mind. Logan sighed heavily. It was only a couple, and he didn’t have a problem. He hid the bottles under a blanket before changing and heading out the door.

While quietly leading Rambo down an alley next to Dan-Bi and Rian’s, the saloon doors closing caught his attention. One of the research group members, a softly-rounded woman with strawberry blonde hair tied neatly into two braids, turned to jog towards the train station. Ella? El...Elena? At this hour? Well, if they are already up, I best get goin’.

Bouncing down the stairs, Elena caught the smells coming from the kitchen. While unfamiliar, they arose a sense of curiosity in her. Whatever new flavors she could explore in this town, she would. Elena headed into the Blue Moon’s dining room with a happy hum. 

“Morning!” she chirped, sliding into a booth to sit across from one of the research students, Atlas, as she placed her satchel neatly under the table. Atlas was a petite woman, her short, dark hair falling delicately against her prominent cheekbones. 

Atlas turned to her with a grin. “Hey….” Her voice whispers, “Did you see the owner? Wouldn’t mind studying that specimen a little closer.” Elena nodded slightly in agreement as she stood up the menu before her.

“The dishes here sure look good,” Professor Grayson stated matter-of-factly from the following table. The timing of the professor's comment made the women chuckle. Sitting across from the professor was another student, Turner. Turner’s shoulder-length, vibrant red hair framed his slender face. Stubble adorned his face, mirroring the fiery tones of his hair.

“No Blair or Layla?” Elena questioned the others.

“Layla was still getting ready when I came down,” Atlas mentioned, “the two of us are sharing a room, and I got first dibs on the shower.”

“Blair and the Director had to collect some gear from the research center,”  Turner notified the group. “Blair just wanted a rice omelet. The Director already ate.”

Owen strolled over, chuckling. “Well, he sure didn’t eat here, and he’s a worse cook than Grace!” he joked with a wink towards Elena. Oh no. The drop in her expression prompted Owen to assure her.   “Oh, Grace isn’t on this morning. Larry is our cook today”.  Elena breathed a sigh of relief. 

Grace had cooked for Elena during their undergrad. Once. After that, they only ever went out to eat. Elena herself could cook, but only simple dishes. Her absentee parents didn’t have the time to teach her much more complicated dishes, and many of her meals were made for her by her Barnarockian nanny. The curious young Elena had questioned her nanny about the regional dishes, only to be told she should focus on her studies, not what other people ate.

“So, what are you having today?” Owen asked before taking the group's orders and returning to the kitchen. 

“Okay! What's today's agenda?” Turner questioned, looking around at the rest of the group.

Elena removed a book and pen from her bag and flipped through the pages.

“Okay, so in half an hour, we are heading to the Gecko Station ruins to meet the local monster hu…” Wait. That guy from yesterday?  

“Meet who?” Layla asked, strolling over to the table. Her emerald hair was perfectly straight, and her makeup accentuated her gentle features. 

“Oh, uh, the local monster hunter,” Elena responded. She’d been on digs before and on scouting expeditions. But never had they required a monster hunter. The idea of the danger both excited and scared her. She’d spent much of her childhood trapped within the confines of Atara and her parent's overbearing protection, her understanding of monsters coming from books and lectures. Elena could feel her heart rate increasing and started twirling the pen in her fingers. She felt caught between the desire to explore and the prospect of danger. 

“Oooooh.” Layla slides in next to Elena. “I wonder what he’s like!” Layla places her elbows on the table and rests her chin on her intertwined fingers. “I bet he’s strong. And handsome. Oooh, this town has so many muscular and hot guys! I wonder if any of them are single?”

“We should probably focus on our research. We have five days to look for a site that may help us understand how people adapted to the seabed rising,” Elena pointed to the schedule in her book.

The professor nods. “I’m sure there will be time for rest, but we must remember our objectives and ensure we keep  a good image for the university.”

Logan dragged the corpse of another Scorpster back to the outpost. A small building near the Gecko Station, the outpost had served as his pa, Howlett’s, workplace. True to the Director's word, the local Scorpster population had begun their migration. While Logan only found three, he had found an egg shallowly buried in the sand. With the weather cooling down as summer nears its end, Scorpsters were migrating from the deep Eufaula Desert in preparation for the breeding season. Well, I suppose Els’s plan isn’t helpin’, he thinks, looking out towards tall posts with speakers set on top. Elsie and Lilly had installed them to play predator sounds, with the idea that the Scorpsters wouldn’t risk occupying an area with high predators. It had worked for a few months. With a sigh, Logan removes his hat and opens the door to the outpost. A cozy space, the perfect place to get away from the town. Sitting on a bed in the corner, he places the hat next to him before removing his cape. Removing a small notebook from a drawer near the bed, he scribbles down some notes on the morning hunt.

Migration signs. Scorpsters moving back in. Some evidence of nest activity. No sign of Boxing Jacks. A small group of around four Penskys to the northeast.

The note-taking is interrupted by a knock at the door. Tossing the notebook and pen down on the bed before answering the door. The research group accompanied the director. The group wore sand-colored clothing, boots, hats, and overfilled satchels. They were prepared for the day ahead of them - except they appeared unarmed. 

“Ah, Logan, you’re here. I’ve come to introduce you to Professor Grayson and his group. Today I will show them to the Gecko Station, where they will survey the area. Tomorrow we will head to the Shipwreck Ruins.”

“Now hold on a minute. The Scorpster activity in the area is increasin’, can’t have ya goin’ gettin’ y’selves in any danger, Fang has enough without you lot causin’ problems. I can escort ya to the Gecko Station, but t’morrow I’ll have to join ya. Lilly and the Civil Corps ain’t been out to the Shipwreck in some time, never know what's up there.” Logan looks past Qi. “Names Logan. Nice to meet ya” he nods, eyes scanning over the group. For a brief moment, he and Elena make eye contact. Elena was the one to break it, quickly looking towards the green-haired beauty of the group and whispering, palm held over her mouth. The whispering only served to make his heart jump. Calm down, Logan, why would they be talking about you? You barely met. “I-I should grab ma gear,” he declares, returning to collect his belongings from the bed.

The walk to the Gecko Station is relatively quiet. The work clearing the monsters that morning had paid off, the only sounds being a soft breeze hitting the former train station and the whispers of the girls trailing at the back of the group. The sound made Logan's skin crawl. After returning to Sandrock, people stared and whispered as he passed in the street. Speaking to them only gave Logan a friendly face and “I knew you were on our side!” comments. It made it difficult to trust the townsfolk. How could they go from treating him as a wanted man and number one enemy to having smiley faces but still giving sideways glances? 

With an increasing heart rate, Logan stopped and turned to the three girls. “You lot better keep up, y’ don’ know what dangers out there.” He gave them a stern look before continuing the journey.

Layla rolled her eyes toward Elena and Atlas, quietly whispering, “Think he knows we were checking out his ass?” Elena blushes as Atlas giggles.

The day’s events had proved relatively unremarkable. After arriving at the station, Logan returned to the outpost. The group spent the next few hours in the lower levels meticulously scouting, note-taking, and mapping the area. The sun had set when they returned to the Blue Moon Saloon.

“Elena, wanna go over and collate together in our room?” Atlas asked. Elena knew that's not what would happen. Layla and Atlas, while intelligent and focused on their studies, often got into late-night discussions on boys or whatever Gungnam character Layla was currently obsessed with.

“Sorry, I should get some transcription done.” Elena held up a small old-world device—the size of her palm. She had found the device while working on her Master's thesis. While not an uncommon device (in ruins across the free cities, ruin divers had found many others), it had proved invaluable for her studies.

“Elena, need a hand?” Blair asks. An older student, standing just a little taller than Elena, Turner possessed dark hair with scattered greys. Typically clean-shaven, he was sporting some stubble around his jaw and above his thin lips. Likely, he hadn't shaved since Atara. 

“Uh, no. I got it, thanks,” Elena states, receiving a frown from the Professor. Ignoring it, she wishes everyone a good night and heads to her room. She wasn’t great at sharing the workload, likely due to her need for control and independence. Elena had friends, of course. She had Grace and was friendly with Layla and Atlas but preferred doing things independently. The day had been hot, the heat trapped in the ruins causing the group to all sweat profusely. Okay, shower time. This sand is itchy, and I have so much to get done before tomorrow, so I’ll make it quick. Turning on the water, Elena played through the discoveries of the day. It’s common knowledge the Eufaula Desert was once the ocean floor. The group's current research aimed to analyze the unearthed ruins. Where did they come from? Who used to walk these corridors? 

The shower provided little relief. The small wood-framed windows of Elena’s room didn’t open very far. She sighed and sat at the desk with her notebook and old-world recording device. For the next hour, Elena transcribed the group's voices, making small notes of questions she had. The ruins held little new knowledge for the group, relatively similar to an old station the professor had previously explored. Hopefully, the shipwreck proves to be of more use, I guess.

The air in the room was stagnant, making it difficult for Elena to think. She stood, pacing the room for a minute before removing her slippers, tiptoeing down the saloon stairs, and stepping out into the night. With a sigh of relief at the cool breeze, she began a light jog up the street, heading towards the town hall. The moonlight illuminated the buildings, the town still. It was a contrast to the sound and lights of the city and the even busier life on the university campus. Slowing her run down, Elena admired the town again. The bright blues and reds of the day were now deep sapphire and ruby colors. The gentle trickling of the Peach statue in the oasis provided a sense of calm. Sitting on a nearby bench, she pulled a pen out of her pocket, spinning and twirling it while gazing at the stars. As a child, she loved getting outside the city limits and seeing more of the world. The sense of freedom and serenity it provided was a welcome relief from the stress of academics and her parent's expectations. Feeling the coarse yet soft sand beneath her feet, she looked down. The sand tickled a little. She smiled a little. It was almost poetic how the sand felt like a reflection of the monster hunter's hand she had shaken the day before. Gentle, rough, warm. 

Quiet sounds of boots crunching against the sand prompted her to look back towards the stairs to her left. Nothing. Blood running cold, she scanned the area for her best way of escape. I could run back to the saloon, but what if they were faster than me? They could just be a nice townsperson? I didn’t come prepared. Maybe if I stay still, they won’t notice me. The footstep's tone changed as the boots descended the stairs sloppily. Holding her breath, Elena looked back towards the source of the sound. Logan was carefully descending the stairs, his right hand against the wall and his left holding a flask.  As he reached the bottom, he looked up and made eye contact with Elena.

“O-oh u-uh I didn’ think anyone’d be down here.” he stumbled over his words before throwing himself down on the bench next to her.  “Just needed some air, y’ know?”.

Elena politely nodded, her heart rate not slowing down. Now, he was closer; the weariness across his face was more visible. His eyelids appeared heavy, deep shadows under his eyes, and the lines on his face more prominent in the moonlight.”Long day?” She questions.

“Somethin’ like that.” he looked at her and gave a slight, forced smile. “What about you? Saw you up and runnin' before the crack of dawn?”

Elena blushes and laughs. “Oh! Yeah, I was. Sometimes, I just need to outrun my thoughts. Plus, I was a little excited to get into the ruins. It’s one way I get some energy out.”

“Yeah? Find anythin’ interestin’ to ya?” He offers the flask to her. Elena shakes her head and holds up her hand in decline.

“Honestly, not really. I’m more interested in the Scopster activity”. Logan looks at her and blinks at this confession, eyebrows furrowing. “I know that look. Well,” she begins to fidget with her pen, eyes focused on her finger's delicate movements. “I'm actually into anthropology. It's an old-world field about studying cultures. Archaeology has helped me learn more about how people lived. But what about how we live? Monsters are prevalent in our world, and I’d argue an important part.” she paused momentarily to look towards Logan. “I know, it's weird, but...I have questions!”

“So, you wanna know ‘bout our way of livin’?” he raised an eyebrow quizzically before he placed the lid back on the flask and put it back into his pocket.

“How you live, your rituals.”

Logan nodded, eyes staring towards the ground, lost in his thoughts.

“Wait, darlin’, where are your shoes? It’s dangerous out here, and you never know what’s crawling around, especially at night.”

“It’s relaxing.” Elena looked down and curled her toes in the sand. “Plus, how good of a monster hunter could you be if I got attacked sitting right next to you?” she teased.

“I mean, I’ll protect ya, be a shame to lose such a clever mind. Qi wouldn’t be too happy either. But, relaxin’?”

“Yeah, the sand is warm. Every time I’m on a dig or expedition, I like to feel the environment. The ground, the air. So many stories have been told right below our feet. Forgotten stories, unspoken secrets, lost knowledge. Aren’t you curious? Don’t you have questions?”

“Course I do. When I was young, my Pa would tell me stories of the desert. Mind you, mostly his stories.” Logan chuckled at the memory of one such story. “One story he would tell me was about a night he was out huntin’. There had been rumors of a giant sandworm, so Pa took all his gear. Course he left me at home. Anyway, he was out there, crawlin’ around all quiet like, nearin’ the monster's nest. Holdin’ up his shotgun lookin’ down the barrel.” Logan mimicked the action, staring straight ahead with a serious expression. “He’s lookin’ around, then he sees it. The sandworm.” Logan's eyes grew wide. “This thing was huge, at least 4 or 5 centimeters.”

Elena started laughing. “Wait, what? Why was it rumored to be giant?” she laughed. The area suddenly became illuminated by a light flicked on at a nearby home. As if on instinct, Logan threw his hand over her mouth, which stifled her laughter. At the sudden touch, she turned her eyes towards him. He was looking back at her. Eyes that appeared weary now ignited with emotion. The feeling of his rough fingers against her lips and his thumb on her cheek, Elena's chest felt aflutter and her breathing heavy. Elena slowly lifted her finger and gently placed it against his lips, feeling his heavy breaths against her finger. Sliding his fingers down, he stroked her bottom lip. She shuddered under his touch, a feeling of warmth growing in her lower belly. 

His gaze shifted away from her for a moment. “Uh, the light’s off now,” he whispered, carefully wrapping his fingers around hers and lowering her hand. Elena's free hand furiously twirled the pen in her free hand as the burning in her cheeks grew.

“I..uh, should get going, early start tomorrow,”  she whispered, pulling her hand away. “Thanks for sitting with me, Logan.”

He couldn’t get a word out, as she was suddenly off, running back down the street towards the saloon.

Logan let out a small groan as he watched her disappear into the dark. You should have walked her back. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled his flask out. Yeah. Early start. Removing the cap and pouring the contents into the sand between his feet, his mind searched for answers to questions he didn’t know. 

His eyes flick from the puddle to his shoes. Really? Relaxin’? Logan quickly checked his surroundings before lending down to untie his shoes. I guess it’s worth a shot.

Chapter Text

Knock knock. 

“Elena, are you awake?”. 

KNOCK KNOCK.

Elena stirred in her bed and slowly opened her eyes. The light streaming through the window was not a good sign. Peach. Fumbling around for her glasses on the nightstand, Elena slipped them on and blinked as her eyes adjusted.

The bedroom door flew open as an annoyed Grace stomped in. “Elena! You’re late!”. She threw the covers off Elena, which caused the exposed woman to shiver and groan in protest. It had been a long night; after returning late, she had spent another few hours analyzing the day’s notes. It had been a long task, with her mind wandering back to the rugged, light-haired monster hunter. The sensation of his fingers against her cheek, the warmth of his breath on her finger, how his hair tried to free itself at the nape of his neck, the white strands resting across his cape. Not precisely things she could put into the notes; Professor Grayson likely wouldn’t appreciate it.

“What time is it?” Elena asked sleepily. She turned towards her friend. Grace stared down at her, hands on hips. The waitress's golden hair almost glowed in the light. “You’d be a lot prettier if you didn’t scowl at me like that, you know.”

“And you’d be a lot closer to a great discovery if you didn’t sleep in, you know. What if one of the students finds something big?” she teased. 

The comment hit Elena like a wall of bricks. Grace sure knew how to make it sting. As much as she cared for the students and their pursuit of knowledge as well as the advancement of her field, Elena felt desperate to uncover something big. Maybe she felt that she needed to prove herself to her parents, maybe to silence a lingering feeling of inadequacy. Whatever it was, there was this nagging need to be the first to uncover something unknown. 

“Okay, that was a low blow.” Elena sat up quickly, causing her head to spin.

“What did you always tell me? ‘If you’re not keeping up, you’re falling behind’? Anyway, you better hurry, Grayson didn’t look too pleased when they left. I’ve asked Logan to escort you. He’ll be home shortly, he just had to drop Andy off at school.” Elena snatched the clothes she had laid out on a nearby chair and wriggled out of her pajama bottoms. 

“Andy?” Elena quickly pulled her shorts on and began unbuttoning her pajama shirt. 

“Yeah, Logan’s kid I guess you could say. You met Logan yesterday right?”  Grace looked toward her friend, entirely unphased by Elena's exposed chest. Not the first time Elena had changed in front of her. Even so, Elena quickly threw her bra straps over her shoulders and did up the clasps.

“Oh, uh, yeah.” He’s a father? She does up a couple of top buttons on her blouse and ties the lower half together. Wait, he’s married? Oh light, what was I doing out in the dark with a married stranger? Nice one Elena. So much for keeping the university's reputation intact.  

“Logan's place is just up the ramp behind the saloon. Just follow the goat sounds.” Grace picked up Elena’s satchel and began packing things off the desk. 

A few minutes later, Elena runs down the stairs and out of the Saloon. Ramp…ramp. She scanned the area, but no ramp was in sight. I mean, I should know the way. Fuck it. Throwing her satchel across her body and tightening the strap, Elena began to run up the street. It wasn’t so hot today, but even so, the breeze felt soothing. A run always helped her regain focus, and with only three more days in Sandrock, she really needed to focus.

Logan closed the front door. Grace had stopped by to let him know the assistant professor would need to be escorted to the shipwreck soon. But Andy always came first, and that kid had once again overslept. Thankfully, Grace had brought over some milk chestnuts as a bribe.

“Andy!” Logan called, ascending the stairs. “Time to get up, kid”. 

Slowly opening the door, the child was sprawled out on his bed in a starfish pose, blanket slipping to the ground. Logan's heart warmed with the rise and fall of Andy’s chest. Dang. I’m lucky. Placing the blanket back over Andy, Logan lowered his voice. “Good morning, kid. Time to get up”.

Andy stirred. “Hmm…? Five more minutes…” Logan held up the Blue Moon bag. At the sweet scent, Andy twitched his nose. “Well, I suppose…” 

As Andy ate his breakfast, Logan redied the child’s clothes. Pants, shirt, shoes should be by the door, aaand socks. Last clean pair, gotta remember that. He laid the clothes on Haru’s old bed and made Andy’s bed. It wasn’t perfect; there were some crinkles, and the folds weren’t like that at the saloon, but he tried. Looking around the room, he thought about the past few years and how he got there. He’d always dreamt of being a father, passing down the lessons he had learned from his own Pa, creating shared memories as fond as his childhood memories, and sharing the love. 

Logan wasn’t prepared for parenthood; he didn’t even have a permanent abode at the time, but he and Haru took the kid in. At first, he was fiercely independent, but as time went on Andy’s behavior began to change. He began becoming determined to impress Logan. First, it was cute - showing off how fast he could run, or a magic trick Haru had taught him. But then it became more dangerous - wanting to take on monsters alone, and one time sneaking out in the night. Behaviors that reminded Logan of his own attempts to impress his father. They both had lost their parents, but Andy was just a kid. The behaviors were only a futile attempt to conceal his fear that he was alone. He needed the security of a parental figure. But being on the run was tough; not a place for a kid. There was relief and heartache when the town took in Andy, but the need to reunite and provide the child with a secure, loving home only fueled Logan. 

Once Andy dressed, the two began walking up towards the school.

“You know, I don’t need ya to walk with me! If any bad guys come, I can fight them! Pow pow pow.” Andy ran ahead and punched his fits at an imaginary villain. 

Logan smiled. “I know ya can, kid. But this ain’t for ya. Sometimes I just wanna feel like we are out there runnin’ around as a gang, y’ know? Like old times!” It wasn’t completely a lie. The joy, laughter, and love shared by the three was a fond memory, contrasting with their circumstances.

Andy spun around and stopped at the mention of the gang. “Yeah…” He kicked the ground in front of him.

“Everythin’ okay?” Logan asked, kneeling in front of him.

“I dunno…I mean…” He tried to act tough, pressing his lips together and looking past Logan, but the tears forming in his eyes told another story. “I just sometimes miss the adventures, y’know?”

Logan opens his arms, an invitation that Andy accepts. “Me too kid. We’ll get back out there soon yeah?”

“Promise?”

“Of course.”

Returning home after dropping Andy at school, Logan sunk onto his bed. Maybe we could go back to the old base for a weekend. It would probably be strange to invite Lilly, plus shes pregnant. Would it be too sad without Haru? Wonder if Haru would come out for a weekend. Andy’s birthday is coming up. Alright. I’ll get some washing done, write to Haru, and Elena won’t be far away. A bottle rolled out as he picked up a shirt from his bedroom floor. Unlike the ones found the day before, this one was full. The thought of the sweet burn made his mouth salivate and heart race. One sip? He questioned himself as he picked up the bottle and stared at it. Now what kind of escort would you be drunk? 

Logan's mind was filled with thoughts of the shoeless archaeologist from the previous night. Despite the potential danger she could have faced, she spoke calmly, at least initially. He gazed at his palm, cheeks flushing as he thought of his hand over her mouth. Elena's breaths felt warm and heavy.  Thank you, Trudes. But the night ended abruptly, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that their conversation was incomplete. A small part of him had wanted to go after her, to make sure she got back safe, but a bigger part held him back. 

Logan's hand trembled as he removed the bottle cap. Bringing the opened bottle to his nose he deeply inhaled, the scent of the alcohol sending a shiver down his spine. Alright. I’ll keep it just in case. Logan replaced the cap and concealed the bottle high in his closet, a hidden sanctuary for memories he’d wish to forget. Collecting the remaining bottles, they clanged together as he placed them all into a box. I don’t have a problem. Staring at the empty bottles collected together, his mind began planting seeds of doubt. A couple of bottles? Sure. But this was closer to something you’d see at the Blue Moon. Logan had barely gotten some reputation back with the townsfolk, and he’d never hear the end of it if they knew. Especially Dan-Bi. Determined to avoid scrutiny,  he placed half of the bottles outside the door for recycling, the rest will have to wait.

With the last of the washing finished and the house now sparkling, there was still no sign of Elena. Logan slumped down in an armchair, his body feeling heavy. She should have been here by now. There was no denying the feeling of disappointment.

Reaching the town hall, Elena stopped. Taking in her surroundings, she sought to orient herself. Okay, so yesterday we went down the train tracks, which are…

“Perusing the views of Sandrock?” Elena turned towards the voice. “How about some souvenirs to take home for your friends and family?” A dark-haired man asked in a strong accent.

Elena furrowed her brow “Uh..yes and no. Sorry, I’m actually late. Could you point me to the shipwreck?”

“Ah!” The man walked down some steps towards her. Not much taller than Elena and likely in his early twenties, his hazel eyes fixated on her. “The shipwreck? Hmm…let’s see…If the train tracks are there…” He lazily waved as his voice trailed off, lost in his thoughts.

“Oh, it’s okay! I think I’ll find it. Thanks!” The general direction of the tracks was all Elena needed. With a quick wave, she shot off down the road. 

The sand under her feet soon turned to rail tracks, then to metal, as her feet hit the bridge heavily. Ah, I can see it. Not too far now. Elena's legs began to burn as she pushed herself as fast as she could. Glasses slipped down her nose from the sweat forming on her skin, and she slid them back up. The soles of her feet shook, and her breath was heavy. Chest tightening and vision spinning, she soon found herself at the bottom of a ladder leading to a hole in the side of the shipwreck. With heavy breaths, Elena leaned forward and placed her palms on her bare thighs. Her legs quivered beneath her, struggling to keep her upright. Okay Elena, controlled breathing. In. Out. As much as she loved to run, the lack of sleep and food made it difficult. 

“P-Pro..fe…ssor?” she puffed, “S-so...rry..I’m…late.”

The only response was the rustling of nearby foliage, followed by clipping sounds. The unexpected noise surprised Elena, whose trembling arms tightened her satchel around her and scanned the area. A scorpster darted forward; Elena clung onto the ladder, using every last bit of energy she could muster to pull her body up. She shook with exhaustion as she pulled herself through the gap in the ship's hull. That was close. Moving through the ship, Elena called for the group. Eventually, the fatigue won, and she collapsed in relief against a damaged storage cupboard. Stretching her legs out in front of her, she wiped her glasses on her shirt before returning them to her face. Looking down, Elena traced a noticeable scar on her left knee with her fingertips. Doubt washed over her, skin feeling cold. Maybe I shouldn’t have come alone. What if it happened again? She threw her head back against the cabinet in frustration, filled with the inner turmoil of independence, danger, and the attractive married stranger. 

“PEACH!”

A sharp pain radiated from her skull, fading into a hot throbbing pain. The pain was too great to be from hitting the cabinet. As she threw her hands over her head, tears began forming in her eyes. Get it together; you’re late enough. A few deep breaths later, she looked around to find out what had hit her. A book had fallen loose from its tomb, landing a few feet away. Books were a great source of knowledge before the Day of Calamity. It was common for people to use books for record-keeping or entertainment, much like today. Unfortunately, many books from the Old World were lost to time during the Age of Darkness, destroyed by moisture, monsters, or for warmth.

Moving to her hands and knees, she crawled over to the book. ‘Logbook 7’. Seven…there’s more? The possibility that this was a book from the Age of Darkness or even the Old World? The excitement washed over her, sending a chill down her spine. Ruin divers had scavenged much of Sandrock’s ruins over the past 100 years, and not everyone wanted to expand their understanding of the past. Many ruin divers took relic fragments, spending hours meticulously piecing them together. Only to sell, gift, or hide away among museum storage. 

Elena removed her satchel and pulled out a piece of beige fabric. She smoothed the fabric out on the cold metal flooring of the ship before gently picking up the book and placing it on the fabric. This thing has seen enough combat. Pulling out her old-world recording device, she started recording:

“ Date: Summer 24 Peach Year 100.  Location: Shipwreck ruins, Eufaula Desert, West of Sandrock. This is Assistant Professor Elena from Atara University’s Archaeology department. Day two in Sandrock, Day one in the shipwreck. I have located a book titled ‘Logbook 7’. The front cover is burgundy, with embossed gold text. The cover is worn, condition..” she pauses, examining the book cover closely. “Condition 7”. Placing the recorder down, she carefully opens the book's cover.

      Hunter Notes - Chrono Warden

      Appearance:   The Chrono Warden walks on its hind legs. Formed in a laboratory from the hybridization of a panther and mechanics over 500 years ago, the Chrono Warden once lived as our companions.

Chrono Warden?? Panther?? Elena screamed, her voice echoing through the metal walls. She barely noticed the approaching sound of shoes hitting the metal surface.

“Elena??? Is that you? Are you okay??” Turner shouted frantically.

“T-Turner!” Elena jumped up as Turner and Qi entered the room. “I... I...Book!” Breathe. In. Out. “I found a book.”

“Excellent work. Though books are found often, I don’t believe they require this level of noise,” Qi remarked disapprovingly, shaking his head.

Elena stared at the man. “What? N-no. This…There are notes on the Chrono Warden!” 

The men stared at each other, panic washing over Qi. “I..I don't believe I am familiar”. Qi turns to the ground, staring off in shock. 

“Alright, Dr Elena, enlighten me.” Turner knelt next to the book, looking up at Elena with curiosity. Although she was still pursuing her doctorate, being called ‘Dr’ made her skin tingle. 

“Okay, so..” Elena spent the next hour sharing everything she knew about Chrono Wardens with Turner. Little was known about the creatures, save for two small mentions in books from the old world. The vague mentions made it incredibly difficult to pinpoint any possible habitats, evolutionary descendants or remains. A mystery in the scientific community, many had presumed the creatures were a myth. But in front of Elena was the possibility it was more than a story.

The group spent the rest of the day scouring the ruins. A few objects of significance to the group's research were found, namely some captain’s logs and relics from the Age of Darkness. No other monster-related logbooks showed up, much to Elena's disappointment. Elena excused herself to her room early, not wanting another late night. The possibility of more logbooks being out there adrenalized her. As much as she wanted to learn about the origin of the shipwreck and the experiences of those on board, she had found something she could lay claim to. Something for herself. As she poured over the book, questioning. When was it from? There was no date. Who wrote it? Where are the other six? An internal whirlwind of questions began spinning in her head. What if there is more? What if we don’t find them? Why am I sitting here? I should be back at the ruins. Elena looked up from her desk. The world had fallen silent, but the noise in her head only grew.

Run.

Slipping off her slippers and snatching up a notebook and pen, Elena tiptoed downstairs before jogging up the street. If there are monster records, were there monster hunters? What role did they serve in their society? Revered? Outcasts? The book uses the word “monster.” What was the meaning of the word at the time? The sand under her feet was cool, reflecting the upcoming seasonal change. Would I be able to get research approval on this?  Funding? Would my parents even fund this? Slowing down, she returned to the bench she had sat on last night. Her skin shivered as she remembered the events. I wonder what Logan knows? He mentioned his father was a monster hunter. What experiences did he have? What is he doing out late at night when he has a wife and kid at home? Flipping to a clean page, Elena began noting down her thoughts. How has the understanding and perception of monsters changed in the past 300 years? Changes in trapping, surveying, and destruction techniques?   Elena stared at the full moon and twirled her pen in deep contemplation when she felt a subtle weight on the bench beside her. With a small gulp and heart racing, she turned to her left only to meet the eyes of a round ginger cat.

“Meow?”

As her heart settled, she smiled faintly and gave the cat a little head scratch, and the cat curled up next to her in response—just a cat. Turning back to her notebook, she continued to write. What are the stages of becoming a monster hunter? Requirements? Why was I disappointed it wasn’t him? The last one didn’t need research or analysis- she already knew the answer. With a heavy sigh, she went back to twirling her pen.

“Disappointed it wasn’t who?” a voice drawled softly into her ear. Elena jumped, the pen slipping from her fingers and falling to the ground. The man's breath, a subtle tickle against her ear, sent a shiver down her spine. Slamming the notebook closed, her racing heart felt like it had jumped into her throat.

“Sorry, didn’t mean t’ scare you there, darlin’”. Logan apologized as he slipped around and settled on the other side of the purring cat.

“Don’t you know better than to scare a woman? Alone? At night?” Elena squeaked, her voice trembling as she shot him a piercing glance.

“I called out to you.” Logan looked down at the cat. “Mustn’t have heard me over this guy.”  He gave the cat a few affectionate pats, the purring getting louder. 

Elena’s heart rate continued to race as she bent to pick up her pen. A small part of her had hoped to continue the previous night's conversation, pure academic interest, of course, but a bigger part just wanted to breathe the cool night air.

His gaze shifted away from the cat and traveled up and down her body.“Everythin’ okay? You look...” he gulped.

Please. I’ve had a day, and I feel terrible. My head hurts, you’ve frightened me, and I’ve got so much work to do.

“...c-cute,” he stuttered, his gaze shifting to his feet.

Elena was taken aback by the comment, causing her to feel flustered. Her breath hitched as she tried to regain her composure. No. Married. Think of the goal. Think of the research. Think of the monsters. After sitting in silence for what felt like an eternity, a curiosity crossed her mind. “Hey, do you take notes when you hunt?”

“Sure do. Why do ya ask?”

“Well, actually.” Elena turned to look at Logan, her face lighting up. “I found a book today! It’s not just any book; it appears to be a monster logbook, likely from the Age of Darkness! It mentions this monster, Chrono Warden. We always thought it was a myth, but this could be evidence that it’s not! And that’s not even the best part!” She grabbed his arm, and her eyes widened. “It’s book seven! Seven!! That means there must be six other books out there! What if there are more? How big does the book series span? I have so many questions!”

Logan chuckled and placed his hand on hers, stroking her soft skin as he gazed at her. “Well, that sounds mighty excitin’!” Elena darted her eyes around, thoughts spinning in her head.

“Right! And I found it! I could pivot my studies and do an independent project. Analyze the documentation and compare it to modern samples. Understand the rites, the rituals, how 

have these things changed?” Elena squeezed his arm a little, the passion coursing through her, consuming her thoughts, unaware of Logan’s fingers curling under her palm. “Oh! What-what if I conduct participant observation? I could understand the perspectives better, plus wouldn’t it be exciting to go monster hunting?” She turned back to him, awaiting his response.

“Oh uh, monster huntin’?”

“Yeah, participant observation. I would collect data by monster hunting. Of course, I’d have to find a person or group willing to work with me, sort a proposal, get it signed off, and sort funding and…” her voice goes soft. Elena finally noticed their fingers had become intertwined, and the way his eyes softened as he watched her speak. Married. Pull your hand away. Why would he grab my hand like that if he’s married? Her heart began to  thump in her chest as her body moved closer to his. 

“Well…If there is anythin’ I can help you with,” Logan whispered breathlessly. A dull throbbing sensation in her panties led her to pull back from him. Her sudden movement scared the cat, causing him to run.

“Oh uh,” she pressed her knees together and began flicking her pen Fuck, yes but no. Her cheeks felt hot; looking at him might cause her to do something she would regret. Well, something he would regret. Research. Goals. He could be research. “Would...you teach me to hunt?” This is a bad idea. She adjusted her glasses with her free hand.

“Well, I don’t see any reason why not”. Shit. A different sensation had replaced the excitement, but this wasn’t a feeling she should have. Quickly thanking him with a promise to be in touch, she excused herself with an excuse of sleep. 

There was no way she would be able to sleep.

Chapter Text

Two days, one hour, thirteen minutes, and fifty-four seconds. That's how long the research group had been in Sandrock, and Qi had disliked most of that time. As predicted, the group had not found anything of use. At the fear that this would result in an increase in their expedition's duration, Qi offered to help. After all, if there was any information on Olympia out there, he had to be the first to know.

Professor Grayson had requested Qi accompany Turner on the second floor. The group had only been at the wreck for a few hours, yet Qi could feel frustration increasing. The Assistant Professor hadn’t even shown up; it was absolutely unbelievable! But then, what else could you expect from the Archaeology department at Atara University? Qi did not hold the social sciences in very high regard. Of course, his work involved relics, and archaeology was necessary for discovering new relics, but Qi was interested in how those relics could aid in new technology. 

Turner had not let there be a moment of silence between them. Used to the gentle hum of machines, boiling water for tea, and rustling of paper. But this, this was not just constant but incredibly unproductive.

“...and that's when my Dad turned around and said-”

Oh Peach, won’t you be quiet!

Before Qi could verbalize his thoughts, loud banging, and crashing sounds came from below. Qi’s arm hair prickled, and a shiver ran down his spine. Had he not warned Logan about the Tripion migration?

“Director…What was that?” Turner was on his feet, wide eyes staring towards Qi. Truthfully, Qi couldn’t be certain. The impact sounds on the shipwreck's metal were too heavy to be a Tripion but too light to be a Boxing Jack. Whatever it was, Qi wouldn’t be able to fight it on a good day, and today, the frustration of his companion and the fear of what might be lurking below, well, his heart rate is most certainly elevated. 

A sudden scream sent Turner bolting down the stairs. Qi shakily followed behind, the thumping of their footsteps on the stairs barely audible over his heart rate. 

“Elena??? Is that you? Are you okay??” Turner shouted frantically as the pair entered a room. Elena was sitting on the floor, a book on some cloth in front of her. After scanning the room for any sign of danger to be met with none, Qi worked to slow his racing heart and mind.

“T-Turner! I... I...Book! ... I found a book.”

“Excellent work. Though books are found often, I don’t believe they require this level of noise,” Qi remarked disapprovingly, shaking his head. Really. All that noise and screaming. This is an incredibly inefficient use of time.

Elena was staring at him, eyebrows furrowed and mouth in a slight grimace.  “What? N-no. This…There are notes on the Chrono Warden!” 

The men stared at each other, panic washing over Qi. Chrono Warden? Qi’s mind flicked through like an encyclopedia. 

Searching... “Chrono Warden”

…

0 results.

“I..I don't believe I am familiar”. Qi turned to the ground, staring off in shock. Monster knowledge came as a result of his work in Sandrock, of course, and was not a primary interest of Qi’s. Living organisms tended to be of little interest; in fact, Qi preferred the company of robots. But, to have never even heard of a Chrono Warden?

Elena was telling Turner about the Chrono Warden. Palms becoming sweaty, Qi tried to appear busy, rummaging through a nearby cabinet, taking mental notes of what Elena was telling Turner. Late, then she finds a book. I should have said no to this group.

The next day, Qi found himself back at the ruins. This time, though, he was back in the room where Elena had found a book, digging through an old crate. The book was some kind of monster hunter journal, “logbook 7”, and the Atara University group had presumed there were more. Of course, there was also the possibility that the “7” was a “1”, but only a minute possibility. But, this was something that Professor Grayson should be aware of, and based on previous experiments, people don’t like being told what they already know, so Qi kept quiet.

After confirming the contents of the crate were of no scientific importance, Qi replaced the lid and took a seat. Thankfully, he had brought some Sandrice tea with him. The sweet yet earthy scent awakened his senses before he chugged back half the bottle, allowing the caffeine to awaken him more. 

“Happen to have any more of that?” an angelic enquired. Layla, the jade-haired student, appeared next to him. “It’s a lot hotter today than I thought!” she huffed, unbuttoning her jacket.

Does she need to do this- Qi’s thoughts were interrupted when he caught a glimpse of something. Carefully inspecting Layla as she removed her jacket, his heart skipped a beat, and his eyes widened.

“I-is that?!?”

“MSX-002 Delta Gungam?” Layla squealed, throwing her hands over her mouth. “A-are you?”

“A fan?” Working to regain his composure, Qi looked away and adjusted his glasses. “That depends on your definition, I suppose.”

“Ah, you’re right.” Layla ushered Qi to move along. Of course, he slid along to make room, even offering her one of his Sand Teas from his bag. Layla carefully sat beside him on the crate, taking gentle sips of the tea. At any other time, Qi might have noticed the proximity of an attractive woman, how her body was so close to his he could feel her warmth, or just how much skin was exposed by the hem of her shorts moving up her thighs as she sat. But not today. There weren’t many people Qi had been able to talk about Gungam with, and it had been a while since Mint had visited. “Unfortunately, I haven’t managed to get my hands on a copy of the War in the Locket arc and, of course, the lost episodes.”

The world melted away as they spoke of Gungam. Of lost episodes, theories, and practical applications of fictional ideas. Qi barely noticed the time passing, his mind consumed with thoughts of his mobile suit. Mobile suit! I wonder what Layla would think??

“You two!” Elena's voice belted from across the room. “There isn’t a lot of daylight left. Can you please get back to work? And Director!” Elena scowled at Qi, “I would have expected you to know better than to waste time.” 

Qi’s cheeks ran hot, and his knuckles grew white from clenching the now-empty Sand Tea bottle. WASTE time? Who does she think she is? He was soon aware of increased blood pressure and a sudden ache in his jaw from clenching it too tightly. Qi knew he had to return to his Research Centre. Immediately.