11:12pm

While I was reading a book called "Stars (Logicality)" I thought of this idea. On the topic of said book, it's really good and I think you should check it out!

That was an awkward and cringe-y sentence, anyway it was written by Creatively-Anxious  so...yeah...make sure to...read that

I'm so f ucking awkward

Trigger warning: mentions of suicide

AU
—

Roman leaned on his steering wheel, peering closely at his son, Logan, who ventured across the school grounds to get into the building. It was obvious he didn't want to be seen, as he ducked his head low and strayed away from nearing students. Usually after Roman dropped him off he drove out the parking lot as soon as he possibly could - not because he wanted to be away from his son, but because the traffic was a nightmare, but today Roman ignored that issue and focused on the more bigger one.

Logan had bullies.

He didn't tell his dad, no, but yesterday he came home with a bruise on his eye. He lied - quite well, Roman would admit - and said he crashed into a heavy door, but Roman didn't believe it for a second. Logan was smart and aware, he wouldn't just fall into a door unless someone pushed him, he wasn't a clumsy person at all.

And besides, Roman had used the same exact excuse to his parents after he got into a fight when he was Logan's age.

Roman was snapped from his focus when a knock sounded on his window. Briskly turning his head he stared at the three girls who all looked extremely nervous but excited at the same time.

He smiled charmingly, pushing a button to pull down his window.

"Hey, sir" the girl in the middle spoke up quickly, "sorry if this is weird but are you Roman Sanders..?" She timidly questioned, coiling a thick chunk of hair around her shaking fingers. Roman did have quite the name for himself in the plentiful amounts of acting he did, yet he didn't think any student here knew Logan was his son...he didn't even think anyone knew he had a son.

Logan didn't mind either way, but Roman always wanted to keep him hidden so he could have a normal childhood - now that he was a teen, however, and could look after himself (mostly) Roman felt the need to show off his son any way he could.

"Why yes, yes I am" Roman replied bewitchingly, pushing open his car door to stand up and take a picture with the three like they had politely requested. After signing a few things, and sharing long warm hugs, Roman quickly realised that these three seemed popular enough and there was a possibility they knew about his son.

"Before you go!" Roman called to them, taking the few strides over to them. They stared up at him expectantly, happy to help their hero in anyway they could.

"Do you, by chance, know a student named Logan Sanders?"

"Oh!" The blonde haired girl squeaked, nodding her head. "Yes! He's like, the smartest boy in this school!" She gushed, nudging her friends arm with a risen eyebrow. Quickly, the two realised who she was talking about, shamelessly going into detail about how some students looked up to him for his obvious high IQ levels. Roman was beaming in pride for his son, but then their demeanour changed, and each one of the girls silenced as they stared at each other with contemplating gazes.

"What? What is it?" Roman pushed, panic crawling up his spine.

"Well..." the brunette pushed some hair behind her ear, "yesterday he got into a fight after back talking to one of his bullies..." she sighed solemnly, "I don't think I've ever seen him cry before" she added softly, looking genuinely concerned for the boy she had never spoken a word to. Roman clenched his fists, eyes darting towards the tall school building, alight with the passionate anger that flamed through his body.

"Wait, he cried?" The black haired girl questioned quickly, turning to her friend on the right. She nodded, eyebrows drawn together in confusion. "I mean, I would cry if someone said that to me"

"Said what?" Roman quickly asked, praying it wouldn't be about what he thinks it's about.

"Well..." she paused, scrunching the fabric of her shirt between her fingers. She was hesitant, so her friend carried on for her. "The kid who punched him said it was his fault his mother took her life..." she explained quietly, disheartened to be repeating it but also curious as to why Roman had an interest in this student.

Then, it clicked.

"Is Logan your son?"

Roman nodded, the three girls gasping quietly. "You have to go to him!" Blonde-y exclaimed, throwing her arm towards the school. "He should be by his locker!" She added, desperation clearly swimming in her dark brown eyes. A lump formed in his throat from the worry that rose exponentially, waiting in silence for them to explain.

"The bullies want to finish what they started..." the black haired girl ushered, watching the famous actor nod and break out into a sprint, dodging by students who were confused as to why an adult seemed to be in such a hurry. Most even recognised him for who he was, and theorised with their friends as to why Roman Sanders would be here, of all places.

As he had gone to this school as a kid, Roman knew the ins and outs, and made it to the hallway of lockers he knew Logan would be in. He instantly spotted his son, clutching books to his chest while a boy from a grade higher pinned him to the metal, muttering something to him he couldn't here from such a distance.

"Oh my gosh, look!"

"Is that...? No way!"

Roman ignored the sudden attention that landed on him and manoeuvred through the hallway, stepping into the large gap the students formed around the soon-to-be fight, watching from a distance as Logan glowered at the boy with no fear visible, but Roman noticed how the arm that wasn't holding his books tightly clutched the end of his shirt, and from that alone Roman knew he was terrified.

Who wouldn't be!? He wasn't the strongest, and if these three boys really wanted to do harm they would, they could even land Logan in hospital if they truly wanted to! What had Logan done to deserve this!? Whatever it was, he didn't care, no one hits his son and gets away with it.

His face fell blank, the only readable emotion being the flame sparked in his eyes from the pure hatred he felt towards the boys.

"Let him go" Roman demanded in a low voice, catching Logan's attention. The boy's facade seemed to crumble for a few seconds upon seeing his dad, wanting to reach out for him and be saved from the beating he was sure to receive. The boy who was in Logan's face smirked, standing up straight to see who dared to try and stop him.

But, he hesitated when his eyes traveled up the six foot tall body of the adult that stood behind him.

"What do you want? Think you can be the strong hero you are in your shitty movies?" He sneered, his friends snorting quietly to themselves as they scanned Roman up and down as if he didn't have a built body, and he was just another piece of weak meat. Arrogance blinded them, they thought they were the best, but Roman didn't want to go to prison for punching a child, so instead he carried on using words.

"I want you to let go of my son" Roman answered in a scarily calm voice - he had been through all the teasing and coaxing when he was a teen, and knew not to give in, no matter what they use to taunt you with. The bully scoffed, glancing at Logan who was averting his eyes from the bully to his dad, wanting to be safe in his arms.

He wasn't usually so scared, but he was only fifteen, and didn't put murder past these three boys who obviously had no care for any other human life bar their own.

"This is your son?" He laughed heartily, shaking his head. Turning to Logan, the boy forced himself not to shrink back, he didn't want anyone to know he was close to crying at this point. "How can you have a dad like that and turn out such a pathetic weakling?" Sudden rage crashed through any rational thoughts Roman had in his mind and reached forward, clamping his hand on the bullies wrist in an iron grip, eyes boring into his own.

"Let go before I pummel you" Roman seethed, seeing a spark of fear flash through the boys eyes for a split second. Yanking his arm away, Roman stood up straight again, glancing at Logan who held himself up with the locker, sending his dad an appreciative smile. Roman gently took his sons books from his hands, opening his locker and placing them neatly inside. Logan trusted his dad with almost everything, so his locker code would be one of them.

Logan stared in confusion, but before his dad could explain a teacher walked down the hallway in a flurry, demanding students moved out of her way to see what was happening. Roman stared at her for a few seconds, his mouth parting in slight shock.

"She's still alive..." he whispered in utter astonishment, Logan unable to hide the snort that flew past his lips.

"What is the meaning of..." she paused when she finally pushed through the crowd, taking in Roman for a few seconds, going as pale as a sheet! It was almost like she had seen a ghost. Or seen a student she always dismissed, told him he would be nothing, brought him down every day of school just because he wanted to be an actor.

Roman remembered, and smirked at her the way he always wished he could. The smirk that tells her she was wrong - that he became the man he always aspired to be.

"Greetings, you" Roman cooed teasingly, watching her nostrils flare. Students who still watched on laughed to themselves. Everyone hated this teacher, so any type of embarrassment sent towards her was always a much loved scene. "Remember me?" He laughed with all the smugness he possibly could. Logan knew of the harassment his dad got from this teacher, and felt good his father could shove it all in her face.

"The boy you said wouldn't make it? Well" he rose his arm and turned towards the large crowd behind him, grinning widely when all the students cheered. This felt good. All of the pain he went through to get here today - this was the biggest reason he did it, and now couldn't be more glad that this old hag was still alive!

"I think I have" Roman shot at her, she unable to speak as he face reddened with a blush that was mixed with fury and humiliation. Turning back to his son, Roman gestured for him to head down the hallway with him, the two walking confidently through the parted space the students made for both of them. Now they new Logan was Roman's son, he was going to be treated differently, and maybe not always in the best way, but Logan didn't care - he couldn't love Roman more than he did right now.

Roman told the receptionist a lie to take his son home - it was a Friday, and Roman didn't see the harm. Besides, he was going to have a long talk with the principle on Monday, and if he can't get those bullies expelled, then he was moving his son to a new, and better school. A place where he couldn't be hurt over petty reasons.

Once the son and Dad reached home, Logan rushed into his dad, his head coming up to his shoulder as he hugged the man tightly, glasses painfully pressed into his face but he didn't care. Roman smirked, hugging his son back just as tight, picking him up to twirl him around.

"Father!" Logan yelled, hiding his laughter after he was placed down. "Thank you" Logan spoke sincerely, fixing the bag posited on his back. Roman hugged Logan briefly once more, ruffling the neat-styled hair atop his head.

"Anything for you, son"

—

I don't know why I got this idea from said book I mentioned at the start as it is nothing like the book but hey shut up

11:14am