The sensation of feathers was still abundant around his neck as Nicholas finally began to stir what felt like several short hours later. It was a moment or two later before he realized that was due to the kwami still nestled up to his chest, snoring quietly and, for the most part, contentedly as well.
"G'morning, Lorr," he said with a yawn. He extended his arms for a stretch, blinking away mountains of sleep, and glanced around at his empty, yet perfectly organized bedroom-
-and realized it wasn't as empty as he'd thought.
Two wide hazel eyes peered down at him and a curious and playful grin spread across the boy's face as he situated himself at the end of the bed, staring at boy and kwami with the most hope a six-year-old could possibly give.
"GAH! NINO!" Nicholas shrieked, leaping back to the head of his bed and instantly throwing his hands over a startled and confused Lorr, ignoring the squawks of indignant protest. "WHAT are you DOING in here?"
"My room," Nino pointed out reasonably. "Yous said we go to park." He never took his eyes off of the struggling semi-hidden kwami. "Why hiding bird?" he inquired, tilting his head sweetly.
Nicholas panicked. "Bird? What bird? I don't have a bird! I have...a toy! Yes! This is just a stuffed animal! Like the ones you have all over your bed!"
You are such a horrible liar, Nicholas Lahiffe.
"Nu-uh!" Nino argued, scooting closer now and trying to pull Nicholas's hands apart to get to Lorr. "Not stuffed a-animal! Bird! Pet bird! Pet shop! Feathers! You allergic to feathers! Turtle no feathers! Turtle better pet!" He giggled and Nicholas only scooted further away from his brother, mind whirling too fast to try and process what his sibling found so funny.
"Okay, yes," he said sharply, thinking on his feet. "This is my bird. And he's hurt, see?" At the same time, he focused all of his thoughts as hard as he could to get through to the kwami. Pretend to be mortally injured!
He slowly opened his hands and Lorr promptly fell into a limp position, head flopping to the side and tongue lolling dramatically from his beak, chest heaving as though he had been stabbed right through the heart. He gave a tiny cough for good measure.
Nino raised an eyebrow at the bird, looking far too cute and innocent as he did so. Then, before Nicholas could move to stop him, he lunged forward to snatch the kwami from the older brother's grasp and hold Lorr close to his chest.
"Nino, no!" Nicholas yelled, leaping up and scrambling after his sibling. "Give him back! He's mine! Be careful with him!"
"You scaringhim!" Nino cried, dancing back out of Nicholas's reach. Lorr squeaked fearfully, struggling to break free from the boy's interlocked grip. "He scared! It okay, little birdie," he went on gently, cradling the kwami in his arms. "You get better. We help you."
"Nino," Nicholas pleaded through clenched teeth. "Please give him back. He's not a toy. He doesn't like being held like that! He's not a baby!" He straightened, using the edge of the bed to steady himself, his free hand going to hold his sides, still aching from the painful beating he had received. Thankfully, it seemed Lorr had absorbed most of the damage, but the dull pain was still there under the surface.
Nino's hawk-like vision immediately honed in on this weakness and his eyes grew even rounder and Nicholas, seeing this, winced and took a small step backward under the slightly upset glare. There may have been a difficulty with the child's pinpointing his exact location, but it didn't matter. The look was clear enough. "Nino..." he began slowly, holding out his hand. "Please, give him back to me. He needs to stay close to me so I can keep him safe."
And out of reach of little nosey siblings who don't understand what kind of power he contains.
Master! Lorr chirped. Please help me free! While I appreciate the young one's concern for animal life, I find it quite difficult to breathe in this position!
Sorry, Lorr! I don't know what's gotten into him! He's usually not this impulsive! "Nino," Nicholas repeated sternly. "Give him to me now or we won't go to the park."
Nino froze. "B-but you p-promised!" he spluttered. "Said w-we go!"
"Well, then give me the bird," Nicholas said unflinchingly. On the outside, he gave no indication that the words were at all affecting him. On the inside, he felt horrible, sick even, seeing the tears welling in the child's eyes. I'm sorry, Akhi. Please don't make me have to live that threat out because I think it will hurt me more than it will you.
With a quiet sniffle, the boy obeyed, cautiously shuffling forward and releasing Lorr into Nicholas's hands. Staying perfectly in role, Lorr went limp in his hands, allowing him to lay him on one of Nino's blankets. Nino crept over to peer around his brother's legs, hovering close and curious. Nicholas wished he knew how to keep Lorr out of sight and out of mind. He wasn't sure how long he would be able to pull off the lie. Lorr wasn't a normal bird. He wasn't a bird at all and Nino was too smart to buy that deception for long.
"Thank you."
"C-can we g-go to p-park?" Nino whispered, still eyeing Lorr.
What do you think, buddy? Can you still breathe? Nicholas's eyes shot from the kwami to Nino and back again.
Take him to the park, Master. He is just an eager child. He meant no harm.
"Okay," Nicholas sighed. "Go get your coat and go ahead downstairs. I'll get my shoes and be there in a second."
Nino beamed and scurried off to obey and Nicholas waited until he out the door and down the hall before he allowed himself a moment to breathe. He fell back against his mattress and Lorr flew up to hover at his shoulders. "I'm sorry, man," Nicholas muttered. "I didn't know what else to do. He caught me off guard."
There is no need to apologize, Nicholas. I find the tiny master to be quite precious, if not a little too loving. But, then again, no one has died from being loved too much. Yet.
Thanks for that, Lorr. You always know how to make me feel reassured.
Happy to help!
For the kwami of wisdom, you really don't grasp the concept of sarcasm, do you?
The last time my miraculous was activated and I was summoned into your world was during the quests of Southern America in 1492. So, near the 16th century, long before teenage humans were as snide and depressing as your kind has become. Sarcasm was nonexistent and not held by my previous holder.
And who was your previous holder then? Xena?
No, but a young Amazonian warrior. Wonderful girl. I believe she went on to play an important role in the American history books. However, I would be interested in learning more about what happened to her after my miraculous was deactivated.
You and me both, Nicholas grunted, grabbing his coat off the hook and stuffing his little bit of pocket money into his jeans. Nino would no doubt beg for ice cream so he wanted to make sure he had enough to buy at least one cone. Maybe she would have been able to connect with you better.
I do not believe that, Master. I think you do very nicely yourself.
I nearly let you get strangled by a preschooler, dude. That doesn't sound very nice to me at all.
But you didn't. And the fault is just as much mine as it is yours. Do not fear. Small humans often have short memories. I doubt he will remember me by morning.
If you say so. Grabbing his hat and letting the kwami settle onto his head, Nicholas started for the door. I don't know if you've noticed this yet, but Nino isn't like other kids. I have a feeling getting him to forget what he's seen will be a little harder than you're expecting.
We will cross that bridge if it becomes necessary. For now, perhaps you should focus on spending time with him. You're his role model. Go be a good one.
Nicholas smiled slightly at this and made his way down the stairs. His mother glanced up briefly from the kitchen as he slung his arm around his little brother and waved goodbye.
"Be good, you two!" Layla called after them. "Be home before dark, and Nicholas, don't let your brother have too many sweets! You know he'll be sick!" She tried to sound commanding, but the whisk of cake batter kind of killed the effect.
Nicholas saluted and Nino glanced up at him solemnly. He winked and received a hopeful grin in response.
"Where first?" Nino inquired once they were out of earshot. "Carousel? Bridge? River? Icecream?"
Nicholas laughed as the overeager child ran on ahead of him. "Slow down, Akhi!" he protested. "We'll do everything but we have to do it walking! I'm not as young as you!"
Lorr chirped in laughter.
Oh, shut it, you. You're, what? Three thousand years old? Give me a break!
Actually, I am much older than that, but I will allow your remark.
Nicholas rolled his eyes even though Lorr couldn't see, picking up his pace and running after his sibling.
Fortunately, the river wasn't very far away. Neither was the park and Nicholas decided it would probably be best to start there and knock out the carousel and playground before moving on to anything sugar-based. Andre would be at the riverfront. He always was this time of the week. Nicholas didn't need to look at his phone and follow any silly little clues to know this. What the kids who chased after his ice cream did not understand was the thing called a pattern. It had been relatively easy to decipher. Andre always went to the same places every week. He just shifted locations and times depending on A) the time of the year and B) where he had been last. Take the last known place, add three blocks over and four blocks down and you can easily tell where he is going to be next using a map and a bit of common sense.
And pythagorean theorem, Lorr added, but Nicholas didn't bother to dignify that. Nino was already getting too far ahead and he didn't want to let the boy out of his sight.
"Nino! Hey! Wait for me!"
"Too slowwww!" Nino sang, already skipping around the bend as his brother desperately ran to catch up.
If he gets hit by a moving buggy, I claim no fault, Lorr commented.
Some help you are, Nicholas sighed, veering around the bend and scooping Nino up onto his shoulders. Nino giggled, grabbing onto the sides of Nicholas's cap to steady himself, pushing the hat further against his brother's head and sending Lorr into a fit of screeching silent insults at his holder.
How...dare...you! the bird shrieked, jostled by every step and movement. He fluffed his wings furiously but Nicholas only laughed.
I'm sorry, what? I can't hear you over the sound of my triumphant victory.
You are...the worst! Ab...so...lute...ly the...worst! Never have I...been treated in such...a ruthless...manner! I...am...a...god...and...I do...not...deserve...this kind of...disrespect!
You may be a god, but you're the one who chose to stick your beak into my life, Nicholas fired back boldly. My life, my rules, buddy. If you want to be a little Loki, go ahead, but even Loki was knocked down a few pegs by Thor.
Did you...just...compare yourself to a character from...Greek mythology? Perhaps...there...is...still hope for...you...after all. ..
No, I compared myself to a Marvel superhero.
Forget...what...I just...said. We...are...doomed. And for the... guild's...sake...please tell your brother...to stop...hitting me...on the head!
Fine. But I thought you were enjoying yourself.
"Hey, Nino," Nicholas interrupted his sibling's frantic attempt to fix his hat for the tenth time, drawing his attention to something beyond. They had reached the far edge of the park and the carousel was in plain view. "You ready to go ride on the horse?"
"Horse!" Nino repeated, hat and kwami already forgotten as he attempted to scramble down from Nicholas's shoulders and the older boy had to move hastily to permit the action. "Black and white! Black and white! Cow horse!" He pointed to a very specific horse that, for some reason, had managed to catch his eye.
"Cow horse, huh?" Nicholas laughed, shaking his head and reaching down to take his brother's hand, leading him to the ticket stand. A man was already there and he smiled upon their arrival, taking in Nino's hopeful rabbit-like hops and Nicholas's already exhausted expression.
"Well, hello," he spoke gently, rubbing his goatee as Nino all but leaped over the edge of the counter and Nicholas had to lunge forward to grab him and drag him back. "And what a couple of wonderful young men we have here! I suppose you're here to try out the carousel?"
"Horse! Horse!" Nino repeated loudly and Nicholas truly began to wonder if the boy knew how to say anything else.
The elderly man chuckled, pulling off a ticket and handing it to the child. "There you are, little one. Go and have a good time. That ticket is for you."
Nino beamed as Nicholas fished through his pocket for his wallet.
The man, seeing what he was searching for, held up a hand and shook his head. "It's no charge. Today, the ride is free. You have a special brother there, young man. It's best you don't forget that."
Nicholas blinked, startled. "Uh...yes, sir. I won't." He glanced down at Nino who was hopping from foot to foot excitedly. "Are you sure that I can't-"
But the man just shook his head. "Go have a good time. This one is a gift. From me to you."
"Um...well...merci, sir. That is...very generous of you and-"
"Come on, come on!" Nino sighed, growing impatient with the exchange of cordialities, snatched Nicholas's arm and dragged him after him, ignoring Nicholas's red-faced protests and the gentle laughter he received from the elder.
Nino wasted no time scouting about, searching for the horse he wanted. He already knew where the black and white horse was. It was the same one he picked every time they came. They waited a couple of minutes until there were enough people to begin the ride and Nicholas chuckled, shaking his head as he sunk onto a nearby bench to watch. The music was lulling, however, and he found himself passively searching for something else to preoccupy his time with. He could hear Nino laughing excitedly as the ride circled, but his attention was suddenly drawn to a shadowy figure who materialized beside his bench, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Nicholas?"
He jumped back with a yelp, nearly falling off the end of the bench. His gaze shot upwards to see the anxious smile and mop of blond as the new arrival folded his arms and shuffled from one foot to another.
"Milo?" he answered, wincing as his tone came out as a question.
The blond smiled and adjusted his lenses, seeming unperturbed by the boy's response. "You remembered," he commented, sounding surprised.
"I...yeah...I did." Nicholas didn't know what to say. "Uh...what are you doing here?" I thought you were going to explore the sights and lights of Paris. This is hardly the most glamorous portion of the city.
Milo shrugged, shivering at a particularly cold blast of wind and burrowing further into his huge red coat. "My dad is on his way back to the Americas for a meeting," he answered. "So I'm here until the end of the week. Figured I might as well take in some of the local sights as well as the tourist attractions. I didn't expect to see you here though. What brings you to this little part of nowhere?"
"My brother," Nicholas replied, nodding to the carousel. Nino caught them staring as he went around and he waved excitedly. Milo and Nicholas waved back.
"He looks like he is having a good time," Milo remarked and Nicholas noted the way he fiddled with his hands in his pockets ."How old is he?"
"He's six," Nicholas answered. "Almost seven." And about as intelligent as a sixteen-year-old with a Nobel prize.
"Ah," Milo slowly sat down on the opposite end of the bench and pulled his hood further over his eyes. "My sister is thirteen and could give anyone a run for their money. I remember this age though." He nodded to Nino as the kid circled back around again. "It's a good age. Right at the point of believing in the impossible. Trusting in it, even. I remember believing anything was possible if I wanted it hard enough."
"You have no idea," Nicholas laughed. "I wish I had Nino's view of the world. He always believes the very best of everyone and everything."
"He sounds like a great brother to have," Milo agreed, waving once more and receiving a beam of excitement from the child.
"He is," Nicholas agreed, smiling at his sibling proudly. "The best." He twisted back to face Milo. "So, now what are you going to do while your dad is out of town? School's closed for the weekend so there's nowhere for you to give your lectures."
"Oh, bummer. That's okay," Milo shrugged. He held up a digital camera and pretended to take a series of pictures; of the trees, the fencing, and then of Nicholas who barely had time to register that he was supposed to smile before the click. "I think I'd make a very nice tourist, don't you?"
Nicholas laughed outright at that and the blond let the camera drop back on its lanyard, smiling sheepishly back. Nicholas was forced to wonder how much social interaction with other kids his age the boy had actually had. He was almost more uncomfortable than Nicholas and that was saying a lot.
"You'll make a wonderful tourist," Nicholas agreed, glancing back toward the ride once more as the music slowly began to die away and the first of the hurried patters of three-sizes-too-big shoes came trampling toward them. He braced himself for the energetic blur of toddler, scooping Nino up and dangling him upside down by his feet.
Milo laughed at Nino's squeals of excitement and stepped back to avoid being whacked as Nicholas proceeded to flip his brother right-side-up and stand him back on the grass.
Immediately, the curious eyes shot from Nicholas over to the second boy and the joy that lit up Nino's face wasn't one that Nicholas anticipated he would be able to tone down anytime soon. "You Nickie's f-friend?" Nino questioned, hurrying over to cling to the bottom corner of Milo's coat. "You coat soft," the boy mumbled.
Behind him, Nicholas groaned loudly and clapped a hand to his forehead in exasperation. Well, there goes any chance I have of slowly working my way up to asking him that. Thanks, Nino. Now he'll never want to be friends with me.
Milo blinked down at the small human, opening his mouth to say something but hesitating at the hopeful pools of chocolate peering up at him. "Yes," he finally blurted out, glancing up and giving Nicholas an unsure, yet hopefully confident smile. "I am his friend."
Warmth bloomed through Nicholas's chest as he turned to face the taller boy once again. "You...you are? I...I mean, you want to be? I...I... don't know how to say...I should probably shut up now but I can't...help..."
Milo chuckled. "You don't have to. I want to be your friend, Nicholas. I mean, if that's okay with you. I don't want to mess with all of your mighty I'm a loner now and forever a loner I will be swag. I don't want to tag along behind if you don't want me to be there. I just...you could just say the word and I'll disappear right now and great because now I'm the one rambling."
Nino giggled and Nicholas couldn't help the embarrassed grin that followed. "Well...um...thank you for...for ah, you know..." He didn't finish, distracting himself with an impatiently nudging Nino who had already grown bored with the uncomfortable exchange and was dancing back and forth to some internal song.
"Of course," Milo replied, nodding cordially. "That is the way I was raised. Friends are an important factor to have and I believe we are both in need of one of those. Perhaps we can help each other in the long run."
For someone who claims to just want a friend, Lorr observed, he makes this sound much more like a business proposition.
Nicholas ignored him. "Perhaps we can," he agreed, grabbing Nino and swinging him back over his shoulders. "Listen, if it's a good picture you're looking for, the Eiffle will be open for about another hour. It was some of the best sunset pictures in the world."
"Huh," Milo vocalized. "Yeah, I'd heard that. I might have to try it. Things always do seem so much clearer from higher up, don't they?"
"Uh...I don't actually know," Nicholas confessed, wincing as Nino shifted his weight impatiently. "I'm not really that fond of heights. A family trait, I guess."
"I see," Milo folded his arms thoughtfully. "So...what do you do when you aren't trying to be Mr. Independant Loner? Clearly not things up in the air. No theme parks and skyscrapers, I take it?"
"I like things more down-to-earth," Nicholas replied, cracking a smile at his own joke.
Milo raised an eyebrow.
"Uh...down-to-earth? As opposed to up-in-the-air?" He lamely tried to explain. "Sorry. I'm not much along the lines of a jokester."
"Eh, definitely not your superpower," Milo agreed.
Nicholas tensed. "S-superpower?" he faltered, nearly dropping Nino in his haste to grab for his ball cap anxiously. "I-I don't know what you mean by that. I...I don't have superpowers!"
Oh, yeah, that was convincing all right. A-rated actor material, right there. Let me just go and get the contracts and we'll sign away our souls and my miraculous at the same time.
Lorr, not helping!
Milo looked at him strangely. "Uh...yeah, obviously not. Superpowers aren't real or I would have found a million ways to dodge my overbearing lifestyle a long time ago. It was just an expression. Is that...not an expression the French use? I didn't, like, just insult your mother, did I?"
It was just a turn-of-phrase, Nicholas realized, feeling his chest relax a little as the realization dawned on him. "N-no," he replied carefully. "Sorry, I...I just...haven't heard anyone ever...use that phrase in that way before and it...uh... ice cream!" He cut himself off. "Nino and I were on our way to find Andre the ice cream man! Have you heard of him? He's got some of the best ice cream in the world and you should come with us...if you have time and are not too busy...and please shut me up now before I make even a bigger idiot out of myself."
Have I mentioned lately how much the opposite of grandiloquent you are? Because I think it bears reminding.
I figured that one out for myself, thanks.
Milo blinked. "Uh... ice cream? Yeah, I...sure." He shrugged. "I have nothing going on right now. But I'm buying."
"I have money," Nicholas protested. Granted, maybe not enough for all three of them but he could always wait or ask for his next month's allowance early.
"And you invited me," the blond fired back. "So, the least I can do is pay."
"Oh, but..."
"Friend pay!" Nino interrupted, swinging his arms tiredly. "Want ice cream!"
"Listen to him, Nicholas," Milo laughed, already starting past them and digging through his coat for something, money probably. "Trust me, with both me and him around, you won't win this argument."
Nicholas looked from the older boy up to Nino and back again. His wallet suddenly felt heavy in his pocket and he sighed loudly. "If you're sure..."
"Totally," the millionaire cut him off. "I'm good for it, trust me. You just get me to this Mr. Andre guy and I've got this in the bag."
"Oh..uh...Milo? Andre is that way."
The blond paused and glanced back at his shoulder. Nicholas was pointing in the opposite direction. "Oh..."
Nino repeated his demand for ice cream and the three of them were off for the Reine, Nicholas taking the lead and Milo hurrying after him. He didn't seem to mind trailing behind a little, which was good, because Nicholas's mind had already moved on to the hundreds of flavors of ice cream that Andre might pick for them that day. Every time, it was different. There was also something about being able to find one's soulmate through the flavors, but he highly doubted it. The girl of his dreams had yet to waltz through the front door and sweep him off his feet.
I don't think that's how the story goes, Lorr commented at this and Nicholas quickly threw away that notion, unsure why the kwami's comment had embarrassed him so much.
Oh, what do you know about fairytales anyway, Mr. I-Spent-The-Last-Five-Centuries-In-A-Box?
I heard the fairytales. In the 16th century. When they were first written. Also, there is this lovely well of knowledge known as the internet that has been very forthcoming with information. Did you know that a cow has three stomachs andconstantlythrows up his own food, called regurgitation, and then eats it again?
How is that at all relevant to my point? Nicholas sighed, earning a confused look from Milo.
Nothing at all! Lorr laughed. I just thought it was really interesting!
Something tells me I am going to have to teach you about internet safety if you plan to continue surfing through my phone while I sleep.
Internet safety? Why would I need protection from an inanimate object?
You just have to be careful what you believe, Nicholas explained. Not everything that is on the internet is true. People lie. People lie a lot. Especially online.
That's a very grim way of looking at things, Master. You don't give your own race much grace. That is not typical for humanity. You're so pessimistic compared to everyone around you. Why is that?
Welcome to the 21st century, buddy.
Lorr mumbled something else Nicholas couldn't catch, something about "dodging my question" and "we'll come back to this later" but before he could probe into what the hippogriff was planning, Nino let out an excited squeal and Nicholas tried not to leap out of his skin as he jerked his head up to see what all the excitement was about.
"I hear..." Milo paused. "Uh...I hear singing. Tell me I am not the only one hearing that the river is singing."
"Andre!" Nino cheered as the three boys rounded the bend and the river, bathed in shimmering orange light, came into view. The bridge arching above the massive bed of water was a magnificent sight to see, even to Nicholas who had grown accustomed to it over the past years. However, that didn't keep the smile from his face when Milo all but gasped out his entire air source and threw up his camera to take pictures.
Nicholas chuckled, stepping out of the lense and pointing to the wheeled stand set out at the very top of the arch, in perfect view of the cascading waves below. "Whoa," Milo breathed, running to the railing to catch a picture of a boat going under them. "Nicholas, Nino, have you guys seen this?"
"Yeah!" Nino laughed as Nicholas carefully set him down on the boardwalk. "Big boat!"
"Very big," Milo agreed, making his way back over to the brothers as they approached the overly-joyous vendor.
"Ah, hello, my friends!" Andre laughed, spotting them approaching from a good distance away. "It has been a while! Good to see you both safe and well!" Nino giggled and waved as Andre's eyes fell on Milo who was shyly hanging to the back, finding with the lense of his camera. "Oh, and who is this? A new member to the traditional duo! Something bold and exciting, I see!"
"Hello, Andre," Nicholas responded calmly, gesturing to Milo that it was safe to step closer. "This is Milo. He's...my friend." Wow, that sounded weird out loud. Even rattling through his brain as he tested the word out didn't sound right.
"Greetings. I've heard that you have some of the best ice cream in the world, sir," Milo said, stepping toward to heartily shake the man's hand. "I look forward to tasting it."
"Oh, ho" Andre exclaimed. "Well, aren't you a polite one! Yes, the perfect match for a banana and cherry combination I have been waiting to try!"
Nino started giggling uncontrollably.
"Uh, what?" Milo inquired, wrinkling his nose in confusion.
"Andre likes to match people up to an ice cream flavor that matches their personality," Nicholas explained as Andre ducked behind the counter to get to work. "Apparently, you're a banana and cherry kind of guy."
"Th...anks? I...think?"
Nino only giggled harder. "Strawberry! Chocolate!" he exclaimed, waving his hands above his excitedly. "N-nickie...c-chocolate ras-b-berry."
"Precisely! Everyone has a special flavor that reveals who they really are," Andre agreed, reemerging once again, holding two cones and handing them to Milo and Nino before momentarily disappearing from view. "But today," he added, "I think there's a little something different to add into the mix of my favorite customer. An aura of mystery and intrigue, along with a new discovery of a once unreachable vault." He handed the next cone to Nicholas who stared at it in confusion.
"Is this...pineapple?"
Without warning, Nino leaned in and swiped a lick right from the top.
"Hey!" Nicholas yelled, yanking his cone away and almost losing his entire scoop onto his brother's face. "Eat your own ice cream, you hog!"
"Apple!" Nino sang happily, dancing cheekily out of Nicholas's reach.
"Correct! Golden delicious to be precise! A little unusual on the outside, the skin is usually beaten and bruised and is often overlooked by the harvesters, but on the inside, it is sweeter than honey and just as appealing," Andre confirmed with a beaming grin.
Nino executed a hasty retreat, ducking behind Milo for safety, yellow ice cream smeared all across his nose and his not-at-all-apologetic smile. Nicholas scowled at him with as much disapproval as he could muster before turning back to face Andre. "Uh, thanks, this is cool and all, but I think I prefer my raspberry chocolate chunk. This feels...a little under sugared if you know what I mean."
"Sprinkles!" Nino butted in. "More sprinkles!"
"Quiet you," Nicholas ordered, pointing an accusing finger at the smiling child. "You ate my ice cream. You don't get a vote now."
Milo was silently watching the entire scene, a small smile creeping across his lips as Nino blew a raspberry at his brother and Nicholas was two hops and half an ice cream from removing one of his shoes and chucking it at the six-year-old.
Andre smiled. "Your French is astounding today, Nicholas," he commented, leaning over the end of his stand to smile at the three boys. "It sounds like your practicing has finally paid off!"
Oh no, Lorr commented.
Oh boy. That's not good. Lie, brain! Say something! Say something quickly! "Oh!" Nicholas stammered, dropping his defensive position and spinning guiltily to face the man. "I...uh...I actually-"
"I've been helping him," Milo quickly intercepted, sliding in out of nowhere and slinging an arm around Nicholas's shoulders. "Yeah, and I have got to say, I'm such a great teacher. I'm impressed with how well he's done. I don't know how he ever got along without me." He flashed Nicholas an I-Got-Your-Back grin and the boy nervously returned it. At the same time, Milo went fishing through his pocket for his money, pulling out a big wad of cash and handing some to the man. "Keep the change," he told him. "You've earned it. Your ice cream is the best in the world. Trust me on that."
Andre blinked, watching as Milo carefully steered Nicholas away from the bridge, Nino skipping along behind, and the three found a seat near the shore where they could all fit and talk about things unrelated to magical personality icecream or schoolwork or anything other than deciding (and disagreeing) on the best places to visit in the city, as well as what it was like where they were from. They came from very different lifestyles, which was easy to tell right off the bat. A small, quiet village in Morocco compared to the bustling cities of Hawaii. But that didn't stop them from discovering that they both had a love for music and Milo showed him a new app on his phone for remixing songs (oddly enough, Nino seemed just as, if not more, excited by this than Nicholas). Nicholas, in turn, told him of a couple of places, not too far away, where the sun would set just right at a perfect angle for a picture.
Milo responded that he didn't need a perfect sunset to make the picture amazing and he proceeded to prove it, setting his camera on a timer and dragging the two boys out to stand beside him, a perfect backdrop of the arched bridge behind them, the two older boys frozen in time giving an awkward high-five with Nino sitting contentedly on Milo's shoulders, reaching for Nicholas's hat while Nicholas leaned back to avoid that fate.
Milo laughed at the outcome and when Nicholas asked to see it, he promised to give him a copy just as soon as he got it developed.
It was another hour before it truly began to get dark and Nicholas decided that he and Nino would need to be getting home soon before their parents began to worry about them. Milo said the same and the two finally made up their minds to part ways back at the park where they had first met to begin with.
After hasty farewells, Nicholas and Nino started off down the path once more and Milo hurried in the other direction, shouting something about seeing Nicholas at school on Monday, but his words were too fast to catch entirely.
Nicholas had felt so light-hearted and so joyful that he'd almost run the entire way home, dragging Nino along behind him, ignoring the child's confused yelps and giggles as he slung him up over his shoulders one final time and skidded around the bend to their apartment.
But if he had been paying more attention to his surroundings, he might have noticed the floating figure watching him from the safety of a nearby tree and might have seen the unblinking green eyes following his every step.