It wasn't long before the sound of an alarm clock woke the sleeping beauties. Of in Dave's room, his alarm clock began to blast music, timed to tune into the radio at exactly 7:30. The owner of the clock shifted and looked out the door to direction of the distant, yet loud, music.
"Go shut it off," Bro groaned, not moving. His arm was still tightly holding Dave. He lamented the time just as Dave did, though not for the same reason. In an hour, after the younger would have left for school, Bro would have to get ready for work. He didn't mind his job, it was just the interrupted sleep that he didn't like.
Dave slid out from under Bro's heavy arm, dragging himself to his feet, to his room. Flicking the 'off' button, he removed the wet cloth and examined his injured wrist. The swelling was gone now, but it was still had a bruise, was stiff, and reddened overall. Peering in the room to his older brother, he asked, "Can I stay home from school today?"
"For what reason?" His guardian asked while stretching and getting comfortable again.
"My wrist still hurts…" Dave explained, not moving from his spot behind the doorway.
"Okay, fine, whatever," Bro brought his arm up over his amber eyes, blocking out the morning rays. Dave nodded, dumping the soaking wet cloth in the kitchen sink. Upon returning to Bro's bed, he slinked in slowly and huddled against his brother once more. "Whoa little bro, don't get too comfy. I gotta go in a little bit."
"Call in sick." Dave hugged Bro's bare chest, finding a comfy position. Bro paused, considering the suggestion. He decided to take the suggestion if only as an excuse to stay home and sleep more.
"All right," He rolled onto his side so he was facing Dave and pulled him into a big bear hug. This was a huge surprise to Dave, but not one he didn't welcome. But he did question it.
"Uh, Bro…?" asking while keeping awkwardly still. He didn't even get a grunt in response. Bro was already, possibly feigning being, asleep. Dave merely lay there, not knowing what to do. Fatigue got the best of him, however, and he snuggled into it.
By the time lunch had rolled around, the two Striders decided it was time to eat. "Go make something," Bro grumbled, not moving much at all. His younger brother stirred, sleepily opening his eyes. His irises were so very red…it was notable, and strange, and insanely cool.
"You're the guardian; why don't you?" He countered which garnered him a shove. "Okay fine! Geez," The hostility caught him off guard, but he remained calm, simply putting on his shades and leaving the room. By the time Bro had changed and dragged himself to the futon in the living space, the omelettes were nearly finished.
The living space had a center table, a large, expensive television on the wall opposite the futon, and a large window facing out to the rest of the city. At the stovetop, Dave looked to his Bro, then out the window. "They're done," He grumbled, taking out plates and forks and cups of apple juice.
"Bring it over," Bro flicked on the TV and put one foot on the coffee table. Slinking over with both plates of food, Dave made a second trip to bring over the refreshments. Noticing how well he handled the dishes, Bro noted, "Your wrist doesn't seem like it's hurting."
"It's much better," Dave sat on the other side of the futon, partaking in the movie that Bro had put on and enjoying breakfast.
"Yeah, sure," Bro said as he snerked at something funny or possibly not funny but funny in an ironic sense. After the dirty plates and cups were put away, Dave sat even further on the side of the futon that Bro wasn't taking up with either legs or arms. "So why did you want me to stay home?"
Dave's gaze lowered ever so. "Can't a dude want to hang with his bro…?" He asked in rhetoric and with more of an edge than he intended.
"Whoa now, it was just a curious question." Bro remained placid and relaxed. "But I am going to take the bar shift in exchange; I'm telling you now."
"Whatever," Dave shrugged, speaking with a much carefree tone. He began to think, though, thoughts motivated by what Bro had said. He wondered how Bro managed to support both Striders with one job. Bro often took more than one shift on some days, other times working those few hours later than what was scheduled.
"Whatcha thinking about, little man…?" Bro finally asked after the lengthy silence. Dave looked back up from wherever he was staring, then glanced to his older brother who was staring back at him.
"Nothing much," He blew off the question, averting his attention to something else, like the window.
"Were you thinking about me?" The older of the two asked so cheekily as if to flatter his ego.
Dave half-laughed, "Why would you ask that?"
"Well, I was thinking about you," He sniffed as if it was nothing, "and I wanted to know if you were returning the sentiment."
This time Dave didn't half-laugh or even quarter-laugh, he was suddenly stirred by what Bro had said. "What do you even mean by that…" He felt like he was thrown back, and he didn't know why.
"What do you mean what do I mean? I was thinking about you." Bro shook his head, looking back to the idiot box.
"But what about me where you thinking about," asked rather exasperatedly, Dave looking back to Bro.
"Stuff," It was Bro's turn to shrug, "such as how you're doing in school, what your social life is like, all that. I was wondering if you were okay."
Is that concern? Bro was wondering if Dave was happy, more or less. This was rather…touching. Dave wasn't accustomed to concern from Bro – he didn't doubt it, really. Rather, he just didn't…think of it, it was never a pressing issue to consider. "Well…yeah, I'm okay."
Bro caught the detachment in Dave's voice. "Really now…" He faced Dave once more. "Tell me about it." His hand, gloved with a fingerless leather glove, heartily slapped Dave on the back.
"School is easy but it's so boring. I guess I don't put a lot of effort into it, but I score high enough on tests to pass." Moving his head about, he cracked his neck. "And about my social life…I go out and stuff, haven't you noticed?"
"I'm either working or sleeping, haven't YOU noticed?" This was said in good humor, not harshly or in a manner to chastise.
"Yeah, I notice…a lot…so what?" He was becoming defensive without realizing why. Pulling up his knees, he rested his chin on crossed arms.
Raising an eyebrow, Bro's jovial tone vanished. It was replaced by something akin to seriousness mixed with concern. And, now, it was his turn to ask, "What do you mean by that?"
"You ARE always working or sleeping. I just, you know, would like to hang sometimes." Dave sneered ever so, watching the images move across the screen, sounds and voices falling short of catching his attention.
"We're hanging now, aren't we?" Bro asked, trying to lighten to mood.
"First time in weeks," He was slipping into a saddened mood, rather than a light one, thanks to talking about how little he actually interacted with his bro.
"Hey now, don't think like that. It's not good for a little man such as you." Reaching forward, Bro pulled Dave close. "I'd like to stay home more, but I have to work hard to keep this place running. Remember how happy you were when we looked at this place? Well, that's why I rented it."
This struck something in Dave. See, the aviators he constantly wore were almost like a defense. By hiding his eyes, they acted as a sort of barrier, detached Dave from whatever was happening. But now…what Bro was telling him was getting past his defenses.
"Sure, it's steep when it comes to bills, but you liked it so much." Bro flicked a stray lock of hair from Dave's face.
"I never knew," Dave's breathing was slightly deeper now, and not even this minimal change would be overlooked by Bro. So, to combat this show of stress, Bro laid back and pulled Dave back with him. He reclined, bringing Dave onto his chest.
"I am your guardian, after all. You are my concern." Bro poked Dave's nose. Honestly, he was trying to be affectionate. Alas, Dave didn't react how Bro had hoped. Dave started sniffling, sliding one hand under his sunglasses to fight with tears. "Dave? What's wrong?"
"I didn't…know you cared so much." Dave gritted his teeth, struggling to not cry. Bro grabbed him under his arms and pulling him up closer. Removing their shades, Bro blinked a few times and waited for Dave to look at him. Intently, Bro's orange eyes stayed relaxed and serious.
Face to face, Bro told him, "Don't cry, because now you know."
They were sleeping again now, in the middle of a sunny afternoon. Between now and when Dave had a small emotional break; no one would know whether he cried or laugh or simply smiled and went down to nap. Despite how he responded to Bro's reassurance, he was resting now, and Bro too, his cheek against Bro's, torso protected by his older sibling's arms.
When Bro awoke and moved, Dave did too. They bumped heads, hair messy and out of place. Dave dazedly looked around before finally stopping his focus on his brother's face. He received an equally sleepy smile from his older brother. They looked upon one another briefly before Dave leaned forward, kissing Bro. What was even more shocking was Bro only kissed him back.
