A/N: This is my Jagan response to the Challenge on Infinite Earths. It's a 30-day challenge where you take your favorite ship (or character(s)!) and place them in various "what if" scenarios and alternate universes. Feel free create artwork, graphics, stories, playlist or anything in between while exploring how different environments could potentially create a new experience for characters.
I am sucker for happy endings so expect them to be mostly fluff and, well, happy endings~
Disclaimer: Big Time Rush, it's characters and themes, do not belong to me. I am not making money off this fic, but if I did it'll be spent on plane and concert tickets to see the band. :)
Day 1: Hogwarts
This particular Saturday starts up with a horrified scream from the dungeons.
Elsewhere, a dark-haired Ravenclaw snuggles deeper into the covers though the smile on his lips isn't something that he'd get the chance to savor for long. An insistent tap tap tap comes from the window, waking up the other dormers. Outside is a fierce-looking owl with curving gray feathers, its golden eyes trained on the sleeping teen.
"Logan! Oi, Logan!"
Stirring awake at the call, Logan rolls over to voice a question that gets stifled around a yawn. Then he sees the owl outside his window. An energizing shock runs its course through his body and he jumps out of bed to let the messenger in. The animal is as haughty as he remembers, perching on the window sill and sticking out its leg for him to take the small scroll attached to it with a slim green ribbon. Once freed of its duties, the owl does a prim turnaround and flies off.
"That is one prissy owl," comes a bemused comment from the other boys.
You should meet its owner, Logan thinks, smirk tugging at his lips. He unrolls the parchment, eager to know if it's another fashion tip copied (and annotated) from Witch Weekly or his moving photograph of the week but there are only two words that take up the space: Library. Now.
The normally flowing longhand is jittered – a clear sign of anxiety – and Logan's suddenly fearful of what might have happened.
Fifteen minutes later and Logan is scouting the empty library's Astronomy shelves; it doesn't take him long to spot the lone figure idling by the dusty tomes. The hood throws him off for a bit, but the quiet humming he hears as he comes nearer cements his conclusion.
"Hey," Logan announces his presence in a soft tone.
The other guy whips around, as soon as his hazel eyes find Logan a look of relief washes over him. He rushes forward, enveloping the Ravenclaw in a tight hug.
Warmth floods Logan's cheeks as he returns the embrace. He looks up, ready to solve whatever problem James would present, though he already has an inkling. "Is this about Quidditch later on?"
The first match of the quidditch season was due at noon; Gryffindor versus the defending champions, Slytherin. It would be James' first match as the team captain and Logan knows how much it means to him.
"Well, yes and no," James answers evasively, his face coloring red as he looks away.
Logan eyes the athlete meaningfully, willing his best friend to spill it out through sheer force of will.
A frustrated noise leaves the pouted lips and James steps back, gripping Logan's shoulders to look him in the eye. "Don't laugh, okay?"
"Hey, what are friends for – WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!"
"Shhhhh!" James cups both his hands over Logan's mouth, eyes wide in fear of being heard by the vulture of a librarian that they had. He's in no position to be seen by anyone, darn it!
Big brown eyes were glued to the glaringly – and Logan never thought he'd ever use the word in relation to his best friend – hideous neon green glow of James' nonetheless perfectly styled hair. He pushed James' hands off of him and hissed, "What did you do?"
Panic settles over the handsome face as James rushes his story. "It's Lucy's fault! She and jerkface Kendall were psyching me out about the match yesterday like I don't already know the legacy I'm supposed to uphold here. I tried to take your advice of not letting them get to me – got my lucky comb and mirror to style the stress away but. they. went. and. insulted. my. hair. My hair, Logan! And that's when it got personal. I told them – I told them I'd kick their sorry asses at today's game and I'd look damn good while doing so." Here, James stops and huffs, looking mighty pleased at his declaration.
Logan, meanwhile, finds it a little hard to put two and two together. "So… how did that make your hair green?"
The reminder takes James back to present time and he continues. "Well, I woke up this morning with the best idea ever on how to stick it to that sneaky little seeker. I" James points at his face "will wear her style a gazillion times better than she could ever dream of."
"Her what?"
"Streaks, Logan, streaks."
Uncertain eyes stare at the neon abomination of a hair color on his best friend and Logan feels the beginning of a migraine.
"Jett even agreed that it would be a good look on me–"
"What does Jett know?" Logan massages his temple in frustration. "He's the one that grew out a seven-foot beard when we were supposed to be changing eyebrow colors!"
James' expression grows thoughtful, remembering the incident from a week back. "Oh yeah…" Then he shakes his head as to clear off the thought. "But, see, Logan, this is why I need you!" His whispers are urgent, pleading eyes focused on the exasperated face before him.
"I'll see what I can do," Logan acquiesces, blushing a bit because James' wording is not lost on him.
"Yay!" James is giddy with excitement and he pulls Logan close for another hug. Leaning back, he fixed Logan with the most serious stare he could manage. "We got four hours to re-pretty me."
Logan manages to right the transfiguration spell just in time. Their shouts of triumph are loud in the empty classroom and without conscious effort or planning, James is suddenly in the middle of a kiss with his equally shocked best friend. Jumping apart, they stare at the other for a long and tense second.
"Um, thanks," James squeaks out, a full on blush on him.
"Any time," Logan replies in the same self-conscious voice, looking up through his lashes at James and his back-to-normal hair.
The silence is starting to stretch again when James blurts out. "I don't think I can stomach lunch right now." Logan raises a brow at this and James hurries his next line. "But I can join you? Or you can sit with me and the team? Or, psh, let's just forget about the Great Hall! Carlos showed me this trick with kitchen and some painting, and we can totally get our own lunch from–"
"Hey," Logan cut in gently, charmed by James' flustered attempts of asking him to lunch. "It's okay… You should be with your team, o great captain."
"Then sit with me." James grabs Logan's hand, flashes his trademark winning smile. "The food is seriously better at the Slytherin table, ask anyone."
The handholding is nothing new but the underlying current in the familiar touch is suddenly brought to the surface. They hold their breaths for half a second, eyes searching the other's face for a stop sign. When they find none, their smiles turn megawatt and their fingers secure their grip.
With the team all set, James disperses their huddle and prepares to set out to the field… but before that…
Green robes billow as James peeks out to find Logan loitering nearby – just as James had made him promise at lunch. James walks over, Firebolt in hand, decked out in his Chasers uniform.
"If you keep me here any longer, I won't be able to get a good seat to watch you win," Logan says. He's dressed down to his casuals, still in Ravenclaw colors, but there's a green flaglet stuffed in his back pocket and the sight of it makes James' grin widen.
"I'll just say it then," James nods to himself. He stands right in front of Logan, reaching out to hold the shorter teen's hands. "Can I – No, may I – Wait…"
Logan chuckles, squeezing James' hands minutely to calm his nerves. "Go on."
Those brown eyes were shining up at him, filled with mirth that tugged the corners of Logan's mouth in the most adorable smile. James decided to just lay it out. "Will you give me a good luck kiss?"
For a second, Logan thinks he heard it wrong but the look in James' eyes are so certain and hopeful that the butterflies in his stomach whirlwind into a force that leads him to rise on tiptoes and deliver the requested kiss.
It was brief, more like a peck or a press but it was better than anything James has ever experienced and the fact that it has Logan grinning at him like that was enough reason to enjoy it.
"Now go out there and win this thing."