Chapter 14
The day wasn’t unfolding according to Logan’s plan. Logan just wanted some free time to prepare his date. He and Tony had been navigating the waters of their relationship for a full year, a trip marked by shared joys, occasional problems, and the constant scrutiny of the press, all made worse by the shadow of Tony's ex-boyfriend. Hardship had turned out to be a driving force for strengthening their relationship and making it unbreakable. It was time to take things further. Their love was as beautiful as it could be.
“The dishwasher is down, Boos,” came a voice from the kitchen.
But of course, the dishwater broke down. After a decade of punctual weekly deliveries, the grocery driver decided to be fashionably late, and now, as if following some cosmic script, the appliances chose this moment to stage their rebellion. There was a silver lining among the chaos. It gave Logan the perfect excuse to call Tony for assistance.
The genius enjoyed getting his hands dirty, fixing anything from the engine of a car to Miss Florence’s antique toaster. He was rather skilled at it. Logan could wait a day or two for the right opportunity. Perfection, after all, demanded a bit of patience.
Logan smiled as he called Tony, thinking about the prospect of the genius tackling the temperamental dishwasher. Tony arrived a few minutes later full of confidence, his sleeves rolled up and tools in hand.
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing at all! We wouldn’t want you to be stuck with a mountain of dishes to wash by hand,” Tony joked, a cheeky smile on his lips while quickly opening the broken machine. “It will be fixed in no time.”
The radio was playing the vintage chords of old rock tunes, and Tony found himself humming along with enthusiasm. When one of his favourite songs came on, the man couldn’t resist singing out loud. Tony actually had a really good voice, in tune, a warm and comforting timbre, that could be heard all the way from the main dining room. None of the customers felt the need to stop his spontaneous performance. Instead, they found themselves smiling, appreciating the unexpected live entertainment. Still, not one of those matched the pure joy and love radiating from Logan’s.
True to his promise, Tony promptly fixed the dishwater. Grateful as always, Logan rewarded Tony with a shared meal. Although dining in the establishment was a routine for Tony, this time was different. Instead of their usual spot at the counter, they retreated to the sanctuary of the kitchen. Here, they found a bit more of intimacy than the main dining room would offer them.
Logan's issue was not resolved, a kind of riddle in which he had the ring and the will, but not the elusive way to execute his plans perfectly. In his mind, perfection was the only possible way, and the imminent proposal hovered over him like a storm cloud.
As Tony was about to head out, a faint discomfort tinged the air, making him ask what they had planned for the evening. “Am I still coming tonight?” Tony inquired, his voice tinged with concern.
Logan hesitated for a moment before responding, "Erm... Yeah, of course."
"Your enthusiasm is really endearing." Tony said this half-jokingly, half-seriously.
“I’m sorry, I’ve got a lot on my mind. Everything seems to be going wrong today,” Logan admitted, sounding apologetic.
Tony gave the other man a cheek kiss and turned away, having understood. It had become a routine for them. Logan had high hopes since he knew Tony would be stopping by his flat later that night. He imagined a plan to win Tony’s heart and hand with a wonderful meal, and then a leisurely walk to their tree that had seen their very first date.
Logan’s mind painted scenes of a magical evening - Tony gazing at the night sky, his eyes filled with awe at the beauty above. He could even make out the cheesy dialogue that only added to the romantic atmosphere.
“The stars are so pretty.” Tony would murmur softly, completely taken by the scenery.
Logan, seizing the moment, would respond with a grin, "Not nearly as pretty as you, my love."
The air would shimmer with an undeniable attraction, a buildup of emotions that would evidently lead to the most romantic kiss yet, setting the stage for Logan's next move. With a hopefully grateful descent on one knee, Logan, his heart pounding, would open the ring box, presenting it to Tony with a silent question. Tony would be surprised, but once the shock wore off, he would leap into Logan's arms with a loud yes.
A little bit corny, without a doubt, but perfect nonetheless.
Logan spent the remainder of the day content, his small scenario running in his head in an endless loop. Anybody who would enter the place knew immediately that something was up. The café owner was happier and generally more sociable since Tony entered his life. Whistling while meticulously cleaning the already spotless counter, Logan was giving away the secret that had taken root in his heart and mind. Nobody was fooled.
"Hey Laura!" Logan greeted his daughter like he always did. "How was school today?"
"Alright. Dad, can I go to Peter's tonight? Harley will be there. We have to work on our science project for the fair."
Logan, ever the responsible parent, inquired, "Did May agree with that?"
The answer, of course, was affirmative. May Parker, Jodie Keener, and Logan Howlett had quickly recognized the unbreakable bond among their children. Those children would always do everything together. They had three little geniuses in science on their hands. The trio embraced every scientific endeavour with a common passion for learning, armed with curiosity and excitement. The parents had two requests, a promise not to turn any part of the house into a makeshift workshop, or worse, cause any explosions.
And if Laura was at Peter’s that night, all the better. Not only did the kids get to concentrate on their science project, but it also gave Logan and Tony some much-needed alone time. A quiet evening without interruption provided the perfect opportunity for Logan to finally propose. Laura would be able to share the joy a little later.
“I’m going upstairs! I need to pack a bag!”
“Need some help?” Logan asked despite having complete faith in his daughter’s packing skills. If anything, his daughter had a tendency to pack a little too much, just in case she needed other things at some point in the evening.
Laura, already halfway out the door, answered, her singsong tone full of eagerness, “No, thank you, Dad!”
Logan chuckled, proud of the independent spirit she was developing. Excitement was building inside him as he thought about the happiness that would soon be shared within the new build family. Logan, Tony and Laura, together.
The cafe hummed with a bustling energy, unusually packed, almost to capacity. Everyone wanted to talk to him about anything from the weather to the town's future. Maybe it was busy like any other day, but Logan just wanted to get over it, getting impatient. He was expecting the evening team any minute now. Logan used to spend all of his time in the cafe before Tony came into his life. Despite placing a high level of trust in his capable staff, Logan remained meticulous about the finer details.
Laura enjoyed spending time at the cafe. When the father was a man of few words, the daughter enjoyed conversing with the residents of the town. Logan, always protective of his daughter, watched over her like a hawk. He had no faith in anyone regarding his daughter’s safety.
Laura stopped by to visit him before she left. She had her phone with her, and Harley would walk with her part of the way. After a kiss on Logan’s cheek, she promised to call as soon as she reached Peter’s house. Logan was able to view the house from the porch of his cafe and watch her walk all the way there, which helped. Little town or not, one could never be too careful.
True to her word, Laura called him once she safely arrived at her destination. With that worry put to rest, Logan handed over the key to the night team minutes later. He only had to dash upstairs before Tony came to get the place ready for the big night.
As Logan opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of Tony, standing in the middle of the living room. An assortment of candles bathed the space in a warm glow, and pleasant music filled the air, creating a romantic atmosphere. Tony had clearly put thought and effort into the evening, dressed in dark pants and a white shirt, with his hair and beard freshly trimmed and styled that left Logan momentarily speechless.
Tony, with a hint of nervousness, broke the silence, "I hope it's alright. Laura helped a lot."
Closing the distance with a couple of swift strides, Logan enveloped Tony in a tight embrace, their lips meeting in a kiss, suddenly almost desperate. Tony returned the kiss with equal fervour, and for a suspended moment, they simply remained there, savouring each other’s embrace and the warmth of their bodies pressed impossibly close.
“I assume that you like the surprise,” Tony laughed as they had to separate a little for air.
Logan replied, his voice low and full of emotion and wanting, "A lot."
“Wait a second.”
Tony left the warm embrace of Logan and hurried to his jacket, which he had placed on the sofa's armrest. The scene that met his eyes when he turned to face Logan again took him by surprise. Logan, one knee planted on the floor, held a velvet box in his hand. Tony smiled broadly.
Logan had no idea that Tony had a similar item nestled in his hands. They were just staring at each other, getting a bit emotional by the situation.
Tony gently coaxed Logan back to his feet. The man was taller than him, and even taller than Steve. Tony loved that. Simultaneously, they opened their respective boxes that held the promise of something significant between them. They were both overwhelmed by emotions, each movement expressing the shared feelings and unspoken bond that united them together.
Both rings had a similar appearance and were perfect in every way. Since they both worked with their hands, they chose a simple titanium ring in black with a single coloured line in the middle. In a beautiful coincidence, they had both chosen a golden line. The fact that they were thinking so alike never stopped to amaze them. The concept of soulmate had been so foreign for Tony. Each day spent together proved that they were definitely meant to be together.
"I suppose it's a yes, then," Logan stated.
"Well you didn't ask any question."
Logan's laughter resonated softly in the room. Tony, of course, had not asked anything either, but Logan knew he would.
"Tony, would you marry me?" Logan finally asked.
Logan had planned a whole speech throughout the day, but when the moment arrived, he thought it would be best to keep things brief and simple. The amount of emotions that were pushed to the surface overwhelmed him a little.
“Yes!” Tony exclaimed eagerly. And then, almost immediately, he added, “Would you marry me, Logan?”
"Yes! I think I wanted that from the very first day you walked into my cafe."
"When I was puffy from crying." Tony burst out laughing, finally able to laugh about that part of his past. Steve was just a distant memory now.
In the comforting embrace of each other, sharing the same breath, Tony delicately slid the ring onto Logan's finger, a perfect fit. Tears welled up in his eyes, and yet he had a wide smile on his lips. Laura had been a huge help in determining the correct ring size. Logan wasn’t so lucky, as his ring was a little too large. It didn't make a difference. They would have it resized soon enough.
"I would have married you in a heartbeat then, and each moment together made me want to be with you even more."
Tony was unable to hold back his tears this time. He had never been happier in his life and had never expected to be. This time, it would last forever.