this shows up often but one of my fav dynamics is leo “takes care of everything but forgets to take care of himself” knut and i would always love to read more of it!!
Enjoy some Hamptons Cubs featuring the Dumais kids, with Super Cool Uncle Leo turning into Ultimate Dad Mode Leo, and then finally into (forcefully) Relaxed Sunshine! Because everyone needs to take a load off now and again. :)
Credits to @lumosinlove
“Okay, Marc, Louis, Adele! Can you come help Katie with the beach stuff, please?”
Finn looked up through the bedroom doorway at the sound of Leo’s voice. He tied the string of his shorts and ran his fingers through his hair before walking curiously towards the kitchen. It sounded like Leo needed help.
It was still a trip to see Leo and Logan in his family’s Hampton’s house, even after three years together. The walls, once filled just with photographs of Finn’s childhood here, held some new memories, too: one of Kasey, Alex, and Natalie on the back deck; one of Leo, Logan, and Haley with cocktails in their hands; one of Finn and Leo building a sand castle, Logan asleep on the towel beside them. Finn smiled at the last one as he made his way down the hall.
“Louis and Marc, may you please take the boogie boards to the back and hose them down? Girls, can you go put the chairs and the umbrellas in the garage?”
Finn shook his head fondly at Leo, who was unloading grocery bags in the kitchen with Logan. He had sunglasses around his neck on a lanyard and his cap was a bit askew. He and Logan both looked tan from their day out. They’d gone to a different beach in the car today so the Dumais kids could catch bigger waves on their boogie boards, and so Leo could go to the farmer’s market and the butcher’s that he loved to pick things up for their dinner. It was a hustle, loading and unloading all of the gear into the Celeste’s minivan that she’d lent them, but Leo was nothing if not a natural delegator, and he had those kids doing their own tasks faster than Logan and Finn could even think. Finn gave Louis and Marc a fist bump each as they passed through to go wash off the boogie boards before he went to stand across the counter from his boyfriends.
“You need any help, lovers?”
“No, thank you,” Leo said. He didn’t even look around, too busy unloading some vegetables. Logan looked back to Finn and rolled his eyes with a fond smile.
Finn grinned back. “You sure?”
“Yes, honey, don’t you worry. I’ve got the kids cleaning up and then I’ll start on dinner.”
“You know, soleil,” Logan said, slipping Leo’s sunglasses over his head and placing them on the counter. He pressed a hand to Leo’s hip and nuzzled his cheek with his nose. “I think you can compete with Celeste for best mom voice.”
Leo scoffed. “Y’all should have heard my mama when I was little. I learned from the best, that’s for sure.”
“Yikes,” Finn teased. “Those Dumais kids don’t know what’s coming for them.”
Leo let out an exasperated sigh. “Honey, I’m not that bad. They made the mess, they can help clean it up.”
Logan kissed Leo’s cheek in bursts. “Ouais, but I seem to remember someone building sand castles and going boogie boarding with the kids. Maybe they should go help clean the mess.” At Leo’s raised eyebrows, Logan drew him in with a laugh, his arms around Leo’s neck and lips pressing more kisses to his face. “Non, désolé, mon soleil, désolé, I’m joking.”
“Mm,” Leo said, accepting Logan’s soft kiss and pulling his lip with his teeth. He was smiling, though, when they broke apart. “You’re lucky you’re handsome.”
Logan’s grin was the pleased kind that Finn associated with him being content. It came out more often now, especially since they were on summer break, but Finn knew he’d never get tired of seeing it, not in a million lifetimes.
“Hey,” he said. “C’mere, ten.”
Logan complied, coming to stand across the counter from Finn. “Quoi?”
Finn shook his head. “Nothing. Just like seeing you smile.” He took Logan’s hand and kissed his fingers, then tilted his head to look at Leo’s lean back. “Sunshine.”
“Yes, sweetheart, just a moment. Want to get this chicken out and marinating.”
“Just quickly, baby, please?”
“Okay.” When he turned around, the small crease in between his eyebrows faded, replaced with his dimples appearing on his cheeks as he smiled. “Hi, sorry, I’m distracted. You both look handsome.”
“You, too, baby.” Finn reached for his hand, too, and kissed his way up his forearm. He bit at the sun-kissed skin. “Fuck, you’re both so tan. Drives me crazy.”
Logan stroked his nose. “And you are burnt.”
Finn let out a frustrated groan against Leo’s skin. “I don’t know how this always happens. I reapplied sunscreen and everything, I promise!”
Leo leaned his long torso over the counter and kissed Finn’s forehead. “Our own little tomato. Speaking of which…” He turned around to take up a paper bag, a cutting board, and a knife. “Gotta chop these for the fattoush. Oh, and the meat! Meat first, okay…”
Logan sighed and pressed his lips to Leo’s shoulder. “You’ll call us if you need help, please, d’accord?”
“Yes, I promise.” Leo set down his knife to cup Logan’s face and kiss him. “I promise, I swear. I think I’m okay for now, though, just a lot of chopping.”
“D’accord.” Logan kissed him once more and then settled back on his heels. “We’ll make sure everyone gets showered and clothes get washed.”
“Yes, please do. Make sure Katie washes her hair, she was laying in the sand a lot while the others made her into a mermaid.”
“D’accord,” Logan laughed. He walked around and rested a hand on Finn’s lower back. “Help us get stuff put away, then we make drinks and set the table?”
Finn kissed him. “You got it, babe.” He patted Logan’s butt. “Let’s get this party started.”
***
“Dinner and dessert were really good, Leo, thank you,” Adele said as she folded her napkin and set it on her empty plate.
Leo smiled around his last bite of cobbler. “You’re welcome, hun, glad you liked it.”
Finn stretched and rested his arm around Leo’s shoulders, kissing the side of his head. “It was great, sunshine.”
He looked around the patio table. Across from him, against the backdrop of the beach, sat Katie and Logan, Katie trying to teach him to make an origami swan out of some of the spare napkins they’d set out. Marc was on her other side with his cheek resting on his palm. He had droopy eyes and his head lolled a little on Louis’ shoulder before jerking awake.
Finn nudged his foot under the table and smiled. “You tired?”
Marc shook his head quickly. “Non, no I’m not, I swear.”
Logan looked at him with a teasing grin. “I think it’s bedtime.”
“No! I swear, I’m awake! I also don’t have a bedtime anymore, Tremzy.”
Louis scoffed beside him. “You go to sleep at nine, don’t lie.”
Marc nudged him back, and there was a brief scuffle before Adele cleared her throat loudly at them. “Boys, come on.”
They rolled their eyes but complied, giving each other one last nudge before settling down. Finn could feel Leo’s light laugh reverberate against his own body. “How about we clean the kitchen, ouais? Then we can go to bed, gotta get up early to go hike to that beach y’all wanted to go to.”
Leo made to get up, but Logan reached across and patted his hand. “Non, soleil, you cooked. The kids and I will clean up, you and Finn stay here.”
Louis narrowed his eyes. “Are we going to have to wash dishes after you again? Because mom used to make me do it when you left them still dirty.”
Finn and Leo laughed loudly at Logan’s flushed face. He narrowed his eyes and said something in French to Louis, which just made him grin wider. He shrugged and began to clear the table with his siblings.
As Logan passed, he bent down to whisper in Finn’s ear. “Keep him distracted, ouais? He did so much today.”
Finn kissed him lightly. “You got it, ten.”
“You’re not as quiet as you think you are.”
Logan just smiled at Leo and kissed him, too. “Je t’aime.” Then he was walking through the door and talking in loud French with the Dumais children.
Leo let out a sigh and rested his head on Finn’s shoulder. “Today was a good day.”
Finn kissed his curls, golden from all the time they’d spent at the beach. “You’re good with them.”
“They’re good kids. I like hanging out with them.”
Finn smiled. “I’m glad.” He lowered his mouth to talk lowly in Leo’s ear. “But Le, you’ve gotta let yourself rest.”
A sigh. “Finn…”
“No, Le, I’m not- I’m not criticizing you.” Finn wrapped him up tighter. “You’ve just spent a lot of time organizing and doing things for other people on this trip, and Lo and I don’t want you to burn yourself out, baby. That’s all.”
Leo sighed again. “I know. I know, I’m sorry.”
“Nope, no, none of that.” Finn nudged Leo’s forehead with his nose until he looked him in the eye. They were a tired blue, and Finn brushed his hair out of the way to see them a bit more clearly. “Don’t apologize, Le, baby, it’s okay. Just rest with me for a bit, alright?”
Leo nodded and leaned into Finn’s hands. “I’m-”
“-not sorry.” Finn kissed him softly and grinned. “Lean on me, sweetheart.” When Leo did, the both of them looking out at the beach, Finn let out a content sigh. “I love you.”
Leo kissed his shoulder and closed his eyes. “I love you, too.”
Finn settled back in his chair to admire the dying sun. The evening breeze was cool on the coast, even with a bit of light still lingering. Finn loved the way it brushed gently across his burnt cheeks and cooled the skin. He breathed in deeply. He’d always loved the smell of the beach: the salt, the sand, the lingering scent of seaweed. The waves splashed gently against the shore, reflecting the orange and pink colors of the sky. The sunset had glowed against Logan at dinner, making him look ethereal almost, like a figment out of Finn’s dream. It did the same to Leo now, his blond eyelashes, brushing against the highs of his cheeks, shining with a faint golden tinge. Finn kissed just below them on the slightly purple skin. “You’re beautiful.”
Leo smiled and opened his eyes. At a stronger gust of wind, he shivered and cuddled closer to Finn. “Brr.”
Finn laughed and squeezed him tighter. “Cold baby?”
“A little,” Leo whispered. He pulled the hood of his sweatshirt over his head and peeked out at Finn. “You’re warm.”
“Mm.” Finn kissed his nose. “Not as warm as our space heater.”
That made Leo let out a satisfied noise. He slouched down a bit to rest his head on Finn’s upper chest. “I wonder how he’s doing in there.”
“Hopefully not forcing Louis to wash dishes twice.”
Leo laughed. “I wouldn’t put it past him.”
They settled into a comfortable silence for a few minutes to watch the sunset. Finn remembered the first time he took Logan here and they’d done a similar thing, albeit physically farther apart. They’d spent the whole day at the beach and came back from their evening run to Ramsey making steak tips at the grill. Logan had been so happy and calm, calmer than he had been in a long time. Finn had known something was bothering him, even if he hadn’t known exactly what it was. He suspected it had something to do with the want that had been making its way through both of their bodies and hearts, made even worse by the way that, at the Hampton’s house, it had been so easy to imagine a life together: a vacation with Finn’s family, spending the entire day just enjoying one another’s company, having the exact same routine and not getting tired or wanting to separate for even a second. Finn counted himself lucky that he knew what that was like now. That he got it, doubled. Because every run he took with Logan he also took with Leo; every night after brushing his teeth there were two toothbrushes in the cup with his own; and every time he went to bed there were two pairs of arms to hold him, two sets of eyes to fall into. It gave a whole new meaning to this house, even. He got to introduce it to more people that loved it, that loved the time they spent there. For every childhood memory he had, in every room, he now had multiple new ones that were even more lovely.
Finn held one of those memories in his arms now, all sweet and gorgeous in the golden hour. He ran a palm up and down Leo’s forearm. “Feeling better, baby?”
Leo nodded. “Yeah. Thank you.” He played with the strings of his sweatshirt. “I don’t think I knew how much I needed a break.”
Finn breathed in to reply, but was interrupted by a voice coming from the doorway. “Leo?”
Leo sat himself up to turn and look at the kids, who were standing all together with Logan behind them. He smiled then looked at Katie, who’d spoken. “Hi, hun. What’s up?”
She didn’t reply right away, just walked up to give him a hug. “Thank you for hanging out with us today.”
“And for dinner,” Louis added.
“It was delicious.”
“You should give maman the recipe for the meat.”
Leo barked out a laugh. “I’ll text it to her, Marc.” He gave Katie a last gentle squeeze. “You going to bed?”
She nodded with a yawn as she removed her arms from around Leo’s neck. “Ouais. Gotta be up for the hike tomorrow, like you said.”
“I did say that, didn’t I?” He turned his body fully to smile at the others. Logan was looking at him fondly, an arm flung over Louis’ shoulder. Leo tilted his head in that way he did when he was calm and content. “Night, kids.”
They said their goodnights to Finn and Leo, then each gave Logan a fistbump as they went to ascend the stairs to their rooms. Logan watched them fondly for a second before walking over. He looked a little tired, but happy, as he leaned over to kiss their foreheads. “Ça va?”
“All good, baby,” Finn said softly. “Just keeping Leo relaxed and warm.”
“Mm.” Logan brushed a hand through Leo’s hair. “Cold, soleil?”
“A little chilly, yeah.”
“Allez, ici.”
When Logan started to pull Leo’s chair out, Leo stabilized himself with a surprised laugh. “What-”
“D’accord.” Logan, with enough space in between Leo’s chair and the table, came to straddle Leo’s lap and wrap him in a hug. Finn placed a hand on his back, as warm as ever, admiring the way Logan pressed kisses all over Leo’s face. With a last one to his nose, Logan cupped his cheeks in his palms and touched their foreheads. “Better?”
Leo’s eyes were fond. “Much.” He wrapped his arms completely around Logan’s waist and settled his face in his neck. He looked like a cute little turtle, all hunched in his sweatshirt and his curls fanning out of his hood. “Mm, you’re toasty.”
Logan sent Finn a smile. “Good.” He leaned back to squish Leo’s cheeks. “Feeling relaxed, mon coeur?” Leo nodded. “Ouais,” he said with a yawn. “I needed a break.”
Finn kissed his shoulder. “Let’s go shower and go to bed, baby.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Gotta get up nice and early for the hike tomorrow.”
Leo’s face went red and he rolled his eyes. “God, I sound like my mama.”
“We’ll make sure to tell her,” Finn teased, laughing at Leo’s tisking sound.
Logan placed a smiling kiss on each of their cheeks. “Bed?”
“Oo-ways,” Finn said. He stood and offered a hand to each of them. “C’mon, shower and snug, doctor’s orders.”
Leo snorted. “What doctor?”
“Doctor Heartthrob O’Hara,” Finn answered, giving Leo’s hand a playful tug. He patted Logan’s butt. “Let’s go, time to get naked and wet.”
“Sh,” Logan shushed, but he was smiling. “The kids.”
“Are fine, promise. They probably didn’t hear.”
Logan pinched his side playfully. “Allez, I’m not explaining to Dumo and Celeste that we traumatized their kids. Let’s go.”
Finn brought Leo’s hand up to his mouth kiss it as they followed Logan to the downstairs main bedroom. “All relaxed, sunshine?”
“So relaxed.” Leo wrapped his arms around Finn’s waist from behind. “And ready to snug. And get naked and wet.”
Finn bit his lip around a grin. “Doctor’s orders. Gotta follow ‘em.”
“Ouais,” Logan said as they got to the bathroom door. He pulled his shirt over his head. Finn and Leo weren’t shy about staring at his muscles, and Logan looked between them proudly. “Clothes off, allez.”
“Yup, I’m so relaxed.” Leo stepped back and pulled his shirt over his head, too. Finn followed the long lines of his torso before looking back up and into his mischievous expression. Leo looked at him expectantly. “Well?”
Finn nodded. “Oh boy.” He clumsily reached behind himself to pull his shirt off. When his head was out of the fabric, he got a nice view of Leo and Logan stripping down to their underwear. He sucked in a breath. “Oh boy, you’re beautiful. Got me some tan Greek gods or some shit, holy smokes.”
Leo came up to take his hands. The purple skin was still there, a little puffy, but his eyes were as playful as ever, as well as his smile. “I love you.”
“Love you more.” Finn kissed him, then laced their fingers and turned around. Logan was watching them with a fond smile, and Finn laced their fingers, too. “Shower time?”
Logan shook his head fondly. “I think you mean ‘wet and naked’ time.”
“Potato, po-tah-to. I just can’t wait to feel up your abs.”
Logan rolled his eyes but squeezed his hand and let them into the ensuite. “Allez. We have to shower and go to bed. Gotta be up early for the hike.”
“That’s so not funny anymore.”
Logan just turned on the showerhead and took up their exfoliating cloth. He looked at Finn first with his gorgeous eyes, then at Leo. “Allez, soleil,” he said. His smile and Leo’s skin warmed Finn through. “Let me wash your back.”