Chapter Text
After months of tracking the infamous bandit of Sandrock, Logan, the rising star builder Max comes face to face with the infamous outlaw and his gang.
After defeating his second-in-command, Haru, Max rushes to face the leader one-on-one.
The young lad of merely 20 sees the taller and beefier white-haired man next to his blue-haired comrade.
The builder and gang leader's eyes meet once more. Dark brown meets light blue. Fiery passion burns in both, but something more hidden lingers between them, something neither dared name. It wasn't the first time their eyes had met, and the fire between them was intense, something that scared the almost fearless Max but excited Logan.
Logan breaks the silence, "Builder... we finally come face to face... Heard you're also a Civil Corps member now, so you've come for my head. Well, I ain't gonna make it easy for ya." The well-built muscular man raises himself from his chair.
Max's defeated opponent Haru chimes in, "Logan, this Builder's a tough one, I think"
The rogue dismisses his friend's concerns, "It's okay. Stay outta this one, Haru.."
"...Fine," Haru states.
Logan jumps down to meet the young builder and gestures at him with his daggers already in hand, "Draw!"
Max pulls out his chromium greatsword. Inwardly, Logan chuckles, That sword is almost as big as him and looks downright adorable on him. But at the same time, the white-haired man knows not to underestimate him. Max was able to beat his explosive-loving friend. Logan had been studying his movements. The jet black haired warrior knows how to fight. He is a special one. Now he has to see if Grace was right about him.
The fight lasts for about three minutes. Both fighters appear to be evenly matched, with at times it seems like the raven haired youth was winning. Logan is shocked, impressed, and smitten by how much he is being pushed back, realizing he needs to take this duel more seriously or he might actually get hurt. Grace was right, he thought, We need this guy on our side.
As their blades once more clash, Logan and Max are stopped by two daggers. Max sees a familiar face and thinks to himself, Grace!?
"I think that's enough," his bartender friend states.
"Yeah I have seen enough," the white-haired rogue states and sheathes his daggers.
"Grace! You're cooking for Logan now!?" the builder declares.
Grace smiles and answers, "I guess you could say I have been cooking for Logan all along. At least here they appreciate my cooking. Relax, Max. We're the good guys and we mean you no harm. Logan and I have been working together behind the scenes in order to save Sandrock, and we need your help."
Grace, Logan, and Haru then explain to the promising builder of Sandrock what really went down with the bombing of the Church, the attack on the water tower, and the kidnapping of Minister Matilda. They also reveal the possible missing water conspiracy that leads back to Duvos. Max had always known something was off with the Church of Light in Sandrock. While he was never a fan of his chapter back in Highwind, he sensed something was especially off about the one in Sandrock. He trusted Grace, and as crazy as it sounded, his heart trusted Logan.
Logan's gang asks him if he would help them. Max, without missing a beat, replies, "Heck yes!"
They all replied back, but the builder blocked out all of their responses except Logan's cheerful words, "Oh yeah! The posse’s growin’!"
Max felt a funny feeling in his gut. He reckoned he could get used to Logan's cheerful demeanor.
Grace then begins to explain the plan to get into the Church's secret vault and how the builder could make an anti-lock for them. After a good but brief explanation, Grace tells Max how to leave through Andy's old room.
The builder decides he wants to ask his agent friend more questions. Who could Tiger be? What had she told Andy in town? And more. When he finishes, he steels himself to tell Logan what he thinks of him.
Max's intuitions, no... his heart was proven correct in the end. Logan was a good man. He did everything for the people he loved. Max couldn't help what was burning inside of him. He didn't care if he made himself look like a fool. He was an optimist. He believed that what he felt for Logan was deeper than what it should be for any stranger, especially one that everyone in town but himself thought was a ne'er-do-well. Max was no coward. He boldly put himself forward and proudly declared to his target, "I fell in love with you at first sight."
Logan shakes momentarily but quickly recomposes himself, "Huh...? But we've only just... Let's... save anything like that for after the mission."
The small raven haired man gives him a cute smile before giving a slight nod. Logan could swear he also saw a blush. He turns in Haru's direction and sprints toward him. All the while, the white-haired man watches Max with steely blue eyes filled with burning lust.
Logan is taken aback. This guy is bold. He never expected those words from him. It only makes him want this young man even more. To be perfectly honest, if they hadn't met under these circumstances, Logan would've made this young builder regret his words right then and there. Grace and Haru in the audience be damned.
The builder ticked all his boxes. Max was tanned and small, but Logan could tell there was muscle underneath that seemingly skinny appearance. His brash, bold, heroic naivete was beyond arousing; it was intoxicating. He was a gift from the Light, teasing him into mortal sin and distracting him from his mission.
The tall white-haired man thought to himself that he would make sure the builder would be unable to walk for months and mark his skin all over to let everyone in Sandrock know Max was his.
Nevertheless, the mission came first. Getting justice for his father was a must. But once he had cleared his objectives, with the help of this new cute ally, Max would be in for the night of his life.
And maybe many more after.
Logan once more looked at the foolishly brave, innocent, naive builder hungrily. You are in for a nice reward, Max.