tsarinatorment asked:

Kisses #33: kissing it better with Virgil & Alan

Late night, tired and cranky Nutty writing.

Thank you to tsarinatorment and janetm74 for your wonderful support ::hugs you both so much. Extra thanks to Tsari for the ask :D

I hope you enjoy.

-o-o-o-

Virgil had always been the one to poke and prod him.

Dad was caring, but often distant or not there at all. And then not at all became apparently permanent with all the distress that accompanied that.

Scott was…Scott. Alan admired Scott so much. Alan wanted to be John, but Scott always had the answers to the mundane, always stood up for their family, always did what needed to be done. Alan loved Scott with everything he had and knew his big brother would do anything for him. He had a proud hand on Alan's shoulder, a kind word, a gentle hug when it was needed.

Scott was his big brother and he was amazing.

Virgil nagged Alan if he didn't eat enough vegetables.

John was what Alan wanted to be. Tall, smart and knowing so much. Alan could talk to John for hours whether it was under the stars or curled up under the quilt in either of their rooms while gawking at John's tablet and all the amazing space stuff on it. John was an astronaut. John had been to space in a real rocket. John was so cool.

The day John came back from his first mission, Alan hugged him knowing that his brother's body had been up amongst the stars.

Virgil was determined to keep Alan clean. That damned licked finger should be registered as a hazardous and possibly infectious agent.

Gordon was his best friend. His bro knew all the tricks and all the secrets. He knew where Scott kept his chocolate stash and how to steal just the right amount so their big brother thought he had forgotten he had eaten it. Together they had cracked open one of John's beers and discovered just how revolting alcohol was. That first impression lasted long enough to get Gordon an Olympic gold medal. Alan got to hold it in his hands. A real gold medal. He was so proud of his brother.

Gordon was mischief and achievement wrapped in laughter. His best friend who just knew what to do.

Virgil told Alan to get down from there before he gave Scott a heart attack.

Virgil was always the one to poke and prod him. He would peer at his face, tell him to present his teeth, and send him back to his room to comb his hair.

It wasn't Alan's fault that everyone seemed want to mess with it. He got the feeling that everyone over the age of twenty had the urge to pinch his cute little cheek. Fortunately, telepathy must be a thing because no one dared lest Alan bite their fingers off.

So they settled for mussing his hair instead.

Sometimes being the youngest sucked.

Of course, Virgil fixed his bike, helped him with his homework and was generally an all-round great brother.

But he was always touching, always querying, always poking and prodding.

It was so annoying.

But then came the day Alan narrowly missed being hit by a car and careened his bike into a fence. He ended up with a skinned everything and a blatant worship for mandatory bike helmets.

Virgil had been with him. They had been on their way to the library to access some local history documents for Alan's school project. Dad hadn't been available so Virgil offered to come with him.

Probably to make sure he did his homework.

He didn't. The project ended up scattered across Fourth Street and Alan crying in Virgil's arms.

Scott was called and he arrived in their Dad's truck. The bikes were thrown in the back and Virgil bundled Alan into the front seat beside him, not once letting go.

Their eldest brother was a whirlwind of worry, but he had to drive and was reduced to glances as Virgil stuck plasters on Alan's elbows and knees.

Virgil always was the one to poke and prod.

And yes, his hair was messed both by Virgil checking for injury and by each brother he encountered them the rest of the day, most of which was spent in bed with the holoprojector streaming his favourites.

Virgil sat with him despite Alan knowing his engineer brother despised what was on the 'projector. Apparently, it was going to rot Alan's brain.

Alan thought they made great music and Virgil was boring with all his classical stuff.

But today Virgil sat with him.

All afternoon.

Through dinner.

And into the evening.

He didn't seem to want to leave. His other brothers came and went, Scott hovering as if he had rockets; Gordon offering him chocolate, probably from Scott's stash; John lending him his tablet. But Virgil sat quietly in the chair beside the bed Alan didn't really need to be in, but was going to take advantage of anyway, and hardly said a thing.

Eventually it grew dark and Virgil helped Alan into his pyjamas. It hurt. There were bruises and scrapes everywhere. Then, before he could escape, Virgil grabbed him and pulled him into a hug just a little too tight.

"Virg, ow."

His arms loosened a little, but Virgil did not let go and to Alan's surprise his big brother kissed his hair.

"Virgil?"

An exhale, warm against his skin. "You scared me today, Allie. That car…" The arms grew tighter again.

"I'm okay, Virg."

"I know." But he still didn't let go. Virgil held him in his lap, not unlike when he had picked him off the sidewalk. "I love you, Allie."

Alan's eyes widened and he blinked. "Love you, too, Virg."

His brother didn't say anything further and they just sat together like that until Scott found them.

His eldest brother separated them slowly, with worried questions for both of them. Alan was gently nudged into bed because it was late and both of his brothers said good night, Scott walking out of the room with his arm around Virgil's shoulders.

Alan didn't fall asleep immediately. There had been something in Virgil's voice. Fear and worry.

Virgil poked and prodded because he cared. Alan knew that. But that kiss to his hair, those strong arms around him…

It wasn't the first time, but it was the time that Alan really understood just how much his brother loved him.

Virgil was his big brother. He was going to be an engineer. He could play the piano and draw real well. He had the darkest hair of all of them and he was gentle and kind.

And if Alan had to tolerate a little poking and prodding to keep his brother happy, he could live with that.

-o-o-o-

FIN.