Chapter 7
Could this be cheating on Steve? From a technical perspective, yes. Although his relationship with the artist may not have been genuine in the end, they had not yet officially broken up. Tony genuinely wanted to meet Logan for that coffee, and if he were honest with himself, he was looking for more than a drink. The notion had been incredibly exhilarating at first, but Tony's overthinking tendencies got the best of him, as they often did. While lying in bed and gazing at the ceiling, the genius struggled to reassure himself that this wouldn’t exactly be betraying Steve. It was impossible to break something that never existed in the first place. But he understood that sooner rather than later, he had to have the dreaded discussion with Steve.
Tony had eventually fallen asleep at some point throughout the night, leaving behind all care and worry for the folks who were still up. Since he had established himself in this new environment, his daily routines had taken a much healthier turn. A significant improvement. After all, he didn't want to look exhausted on his first date with Logan. All things considered, the first impressions were long done. The café owner had seen Tony not at his absolute worst, but certainly not far from it. On the other hand, it would still be better to look well put together. The genius would need to put all the chances on his side.
Tony’s wardrobe has been very modest since living here. He had nothing with him when he left New York. When he made the decision to stay in this area longer, he bought some clothes, but they were very different from the tailored suits he usually wore. But wearing that kind of attire here would have made him stick out like a sore thumb. Tony preferred to blend in with the crowd, being neither more nor less than anyone else. In his eyes, being the owner of a large firm did not make him any special.
At least, the media didn’t appear to care about his disappearance yet. Back in New York, he couldn’t step out the tower without someone wanting to take his picture, or ask him questions they had no business to ask. Tony hoped they would never find out where he was.
He had arranged three different outfits on his bed, all of them were similar if for the colour. Tony had not felt that nervous when he went out with Steve. The sensation felt foreign. After all, he was Tony Stark. He was the personification of self-assurance. It wouldn’t matter what he was wearing. The genius simply put on what appeared to be the better coordinated outfit. He took a big breath to calm his nerves and left for breakfast with Miss Florence. Hopefully, she would not ask too many questions.
Living in a small town meant that nothing could be kept hidden for long. Everyone in town enjoyed gossiping about everyone else. The entire town was rooting for the local café owner who was going on his first date in what seemed like an eternity. Tony wasn't sure whether he should have been upset or thrilled by the attention.
The breakfast food was delicious as always. Miss Florence was even chattier than ever. She began telling him stories of Laura’s mother and how Logan had done everything for his daughter ever since she was gone. Tony believed that such information should only be revealed by the individual who was personally involved. Despite this, he found himself captivated by the stories she was telling. He wondered about the circumstances surrounding the woman’s absence, unsure whether it was due to her passing or her choice to leave.
For once, Tony could relax since he didn't have to clear up all of the misconceptions and preconceived beliefs that people had about him, many of which were heavily influenced by the media. In this haven, he had the freedom to be himself. Having experienced firsthand how hard it was to have people pry into his own life, the media never listening to his answers or respecting his privacy, Tony was not about to do to another individual. Do not do to others what you don’t want to be done to you.
As Tony readied himself to depart from the house, a genuine smile illuminated Miss Florence’s face, openly on the cheeky side. She waved him off warmly, sending him off with a heartfelt ‘good luck’ said in the most cheerful voice he had ever heard coming from her. She knew as well. Everybody knew. Tony smiled to himself in disbelief almost. Everyone was really supportive, which was unlike anything he had ever experienced.
He waved back at her, already knowing she would try to get all the details once he would be back home later on. Tony wasn’t the kind of guy to kiss and tell. Did he secretly wish for a kiss? Perhaps, perhaps not. He had no intention of forcing the situation but he would not say no either. Those thoughts were still fresh in his mind when he walked into the cafe. When his gaze met Logan's, he realised he was blushing. His stomach fluttered with butterflies. The man requested five more minutes with Tony, which the genius readily granted. It would give him time to gather his thoughts and compose himself.
Tony must have been still lost in his thoughts because he didn’t notice the man approaching. Logan placed a cup of coffee in front of him, one for the road. The genius then shifted his gaze from the offering to the man himself and offered a shy smile to the towering figure, rising from his seat. Clearly, staying indoors wasn't in their plans. Without words, they left the café together.
“I thought I would show you one of the most beautiful places in town. Since you're still getting your bearings around here," Logan said at last.
“Lead the way.” Tony replied, ready to follow.
As they strolled past the town's buildings, Logan gave Tony an explanation about the remarkable landmarks. He easily talked about historical moments about the area but also amusing tales about its residents. He had an uncanny ability to make things interesting and even funny. Tony had no idea how far they had walked or how long it had taken them. What truly mattered was that moment together, hoping it could last forever.
The town wasn’t all that big, so they found themselves passing the last building relatively quickly. One of those wooden covered bridges he had only seen in movies was in front of them. The river was languidly running underneath, cooling the atmosphere. There was a clear path for people who wanted to wander around. Willow trees had always been a favourite of Tony, finding them quite charming and kind of romantic. In this idyllic setting, his sentiment was more than validated. The willow's draping leaves delicately brushed the water's surface, while a gentle breeze infused the scene with a touch of enchantment. The green leaves were turning to silver. The water was shimmering in the sun. The entire view was simply magic.
Tony was genuinely impressed, to put it mildly. Throughout his entire life, no one had gone to such lengths to captivate him. He used to be the one who made the impressive and opulent gestures. It was to be expected of him. He was Tony Stark, a wealthy playboy and philanthropist. The role never bothered him much. Until this moment, that is. The notion had never really crossed his mind before, but as he lived through it now, realisation dawned upon him. This was something he wished for. He hoped to go on more dates like that and eventually organise some on his own. Tony was hoping for a relationship where both of them would be equal.
Tony should have recognized that Steve wasn't genuinely interested in him. Of course, the artist had given him flowers or chocolate boxes, but now to think about it, the gifts always appeared when Steve needed something from him. A bouquet of roses would secure a few thousand dollars for Steve’s next art exhibition. Looking back, Tony realised how blind he had been, how naive. Bitterness washed through him, but he pushed it aside. Tony was different, unique. Logan was an entirely different individual compared to Steve.
“Do you like it?” asked Logan, breaking the tense atmosphere.
“A lot! It’s beautiful!”
"Many young couples frequent this spot, particularly during the evenings. A lover’s lane of some kind.” Logan shared with a hint of fondness in his voice.
Tony could easily envision such a scenario between them, causing a subtle blush to colour his cheeks. Logan was kind of old fashioned like that. The man took his hand in his gently and guided him down the trail. They continued walking, the silence between them carrying a serene quality. Their hands remained entwined. Tony's thoughts were strangely focused on one thing. Under the willow trees, he was almost shamelessly yearning for a kiss.
All of the sudden, they deviated from the path. Logan parted the thin curtain of branches and leaves of the biggest willow tree, and took them beneath its shelter. The tree before them stood tall and expansive, creating a vast, cool and almost secret area. It smelt like summer, the earthiness of the ground and a hint of smoothing mouldy. It took Tony's eyes a moment to adjust, as the sunlight struggled to penetrate the dense canopy. The temperature dropped noticeably, sending a shiver through Tony's frame.
They walked around the tree to find a blanket spread on the floor. A little basket was waiting for them. The level of consideration Logan had put into this outing was evident. Seating themselves, the two men leaned against the sturdy tree trunk. Tony gulped the remainder of his coffee to give himself a countenance or something to do. By this time, the drink was completely cold.
"Care for a refill?" Logan inquired.
“Yes please!”
The basket brimmed with treats, a thermos of coffee and an assortment of muffins, including the unmistakable blueberry ones. Given the early hour, a full meal wasn’t on the agenda. They settled into an easy conversation about things that didn’t matter all that much, but they were pleased to learn more about the other person. Discussions wandered from their favourite films, music genres to books they could read a thousand times and not get tired of it.
Although their tastes weren't exactly the same, they didn’t need them to be. Logan and Tony were both open-minded and willing to give the other’s choices a chance. Instead, they would go on to debate their preferences while laughing over the silly arguments they conjured. Things between them were simple. Tony didn't have to act like someone he wasn't.
Gradually, Logan had inched closer to Tony, their sides pressing warmly against each other, the connection spanning from their feet to their shoulders. Tony found himself idly toying with Logan's fingers, not really realising what he was doing. The cafe owner wasn’t complaining, entirely content with the subtle display of affection. The genius was in better spirits than he had been in weeks. Slightly tilting his head, Tony’s gaze lingered on Logan, capturing every little detail. Beautiful blue eyes and a brilliant smile greeted him back. They didn't have anything else to say. They just looked at each other, with a googly smile on their face like children.
The unspoken question was evident in Logan's expression. Logan had asked Tony for permission, which was gladly granted. Logan moved gently towards the smaller man, giving Tony plenty of time to back away if that wasn't what he wanted. The desire was mutual. The genius was so determined that he moved forward and met Logan halfway.
Their lips touched gently, fitting together seamlessly as if fate itself had arranged the union. It was just meant to be. Tony had never been more certain of anything in his life, causing him to forget everything he had ever known, everything that had happened in the past.