With big thanks to Gumnut-Logic for the prompt and TsarinaTorment for the read-through.
Scott has a love/hate relationship with toothpaste.
He hates it because it is mint and he doesn't like mint.
He loves it because it is a necessary part of his pristine smile.
He hates it because it is a typical part of Gordon's pranking repertoire.
He loves it because it is red and blue and white, his favourite colour combo.
At this moment in time he is torn as to whether he loves it or hates it.
It is currently everywhere but where it should be.
There is a huge daub on the mirror in the bathroom.
There is a smear on the sink.
There is a large dollop on the floor, where someone has stood in it.
There are footprints clear on the carpet.
Scott follows them.
They lead firstly to Virgil's room via a smear on the doorknob.
Inside, on Virgil's new canvas, there is what could only be described as a splat that has been smeared around. There is a blue-red hand print in the middle that tells him who the culprit is (although the footprints were quite obvious).
Virgil is going to murder his brother tonight.
He follows the trail of handprints into his and John's room. There is a smatter of paste on his own bed, and some on John's, but what catches his eye is his prized model of a North American X-15. There is a handprint that says a certain little brother has touched it. Scott shudders – that will need delicate cleaning – and then he catches his breath.
If he thought his model and Virgil's canvas was bad enough…nothing compares to the toothpaste dripping off John's telescope.
There really was only one more place to look, but when he reaches Gordon and Alan's room it is not only empty of toothpaste, it is also empty of a guilty party. Scott frowns, wondering where else his wayward brother could be.
There is a sound. Oh no…it's coming from their Father's room…their strictly off-limits Father's room.
He slowly opens the door to see a rumpled bed and tell-tale paste marks, but no brother and more importantly, no father. Scott steps in. The en-suite door is closed, and he quietly makes his way over.
Suddenly there is giggling, and Scott opens the door…to something he didn't think he would ever see again.
His father, standing at the sink, with Alan standing on the toilet. Both with toothpaste smeared over their lower faces. And his dad was letting Alan shave him? They both regarded Scott, who held his hands up and backed out, eyes wide.
Jeff looked at his baby boy, setting him on the floor. 'Time to go get Scott, Sprout, what do you think?' Alan grinned at his dad, grabbed the toothpaste and set off after his brother, yelling a war-cry as he did so.
Scott turned and ran.