meriwethersays

Title: Standing Idly By
Author: Meriwether
Series: Hiding
Ship: none
Rating: PG to PG-13 for thematic
Timeline: Set pre-show.
Summary: Duncan...does nothing.


He’s been friends with Logan since they met, way back in kindergarten, and he’s not sure how he never noticed. Logan’s always had a reputation for getting into lots of fights, ever since he was in second grade and showed up to swim lessons with a huge black eye and bruises like fingers on his arm. Duncan didn’t know when, exactly, Logan got into all these fights, or why anyone would jump the son of Aaron and Lynne Echolls, but he dismissed it as nothing. For all he knew, Logan went outside to play at night, or stayed after school, or – well, or something, because he sure was hurt a lot.

But in his freshman year, he goes over to Logan’s house to hang out and Logan’s mom answers the door. “Logan can’t come out now, Duncan,” she says, sticking her hip out a little and taking a sip of her martini. He thinks it’s so cool that she drinks during the day. “He and his father are having a talk.”
“Um, Mrs. Echolls, he said this afternoon was good…”
She shakes her head. “He’ll be out in a little while. I suppose you could wait in his room, but the maid is cleaning, so go straight there.”

“OK,” Duncan agrees, and walks up towards Logan’s room. On his way, he hears a slapping noise coming from Mr. Echolls’ office, over and over. He’s not sure what it is at first, but as he’s passing the office, Logan opens the door and walks out, face pale and mouth tight, straightening his shirt. Mr. Echolls follows him, wrapping a belt around his hand, and Duncan wonders for a minute why Mr. Echolls needs two belts.
“Oh, hello, Duncan. Come over to see my rascal son?” Mr. Echolls asks, and Duncan nods.
“Yes sir. If he’s free.”
Mr. Echolls nods. “Certainly. Have fun, you two. Let me know if you want to use the big-screen downstairs for your videogames.”

Once they reach Logan’s room, Duncan says, “Man, you have the coolest dad ever.”
Logan winces and readjusts his shirt. “Yeah. Best ever.” His voice is bitter.
Duncan slaps his back, laughing and Logan gasps and curses. “You okay, man?” He doesn’t want to put the pieces together, doesn’t want to think that the extra belt might have something to do with why Logan can’t bear for anyone to touch his back right now. “Logan…did your dad…”
Logan spins around and shoves him. “It’s nothing, man. I was making out with your sister and she got a little…aggressive with her nails, that’s all. Drop it.”

So Duncan does, happy to not discuss his sister’s sexual proclivities and even happier not to think what Logan might try to be covering. It’s only two years later, when Veronica says, “He beats Logan, you know,” that Duncan is forced to admit to himself, yes, he does know. He’s known since freshman year – before that, even. Since Logan came to swim lessons with those bruises and blamed a fifth-grade bully.

But it’s not Duncan’s way to interfere, and if Logan didn’t want everyone to know…it was Logan’s decision to make. That’s what Duncan tells himself when he goes to bed, anyway.