For ak47stylegirl, who spun the fluff generator and got: Scott booping Alan's nose with his finger. Fluff with a touch of angst.
It was a game he had played since he was just a little older than two.
In the depths of his memories, he could see his Mom. She was dressed in a light sundress in cream and yellows, with an embroidered shawl around her shoulders. On her lap, quietly gurgling away, was his latest brother.
Virgil. He couldn't get over the brown eyes that captured his heart even if he couldn't pronounce his name properly.
'Virgie. Virgie!' he cooed, trying to catch his brother's flailing fists. Scott leaned too close and was caught unprepared as Virgil's tiny fist connected with his nose. It didn't hurt, but it did surprise him, and he fell back onto his bottom as his Mom laughed. Scott grinned.
"Virgil's just booped you, Scotty!'
'Booped?'
'Yeah, Scotty. Booped. It's when you do this,' and Lucy proceeded to poke his nose and say 'Boop!'
Scott dissolved in giggles. And did it to his Mom. She laughed, so Scott did it to Virgil, and he gurgled. And Scott rushed over to the corner to boop Johnny too. He wasn't too impressed.
.
As Scott looked down at the newest member of the family he couldn't help but feel a surge of love. Alan may only be a few hours old, but he grasped Scott's finger as tightly as his other brothers had, and Scott once again lost his heart.
Even knowing that Alan wouldn't have any understanding Scott couldn't help himself. The minute Alan's teeny fingers let his finger go Scott took that finger and booped his baby brother's nose. The tired laugh of his mother buoyed him.
It was something he looked forward to every day. Every day he came home from school he would rush in to boop his brother on the nose. As Alan grew he began to gurgle as Virgil had once, and Gordon after him. And then Alan began to giggle. And laugh.
Until one day the snow came.
.
Eleven-year-old Scott huddled around a two-year-old Alan. Their mom was huddled there too, opposite Scott so that Alan was in the middle. But Alan was facing his brother, so he didn't see the face of their mother, the tears falling. The blood.
Scott knew he needed to keep Alan warm. He needed to keep Alan awake as much as possible and amused. He booped Alan's nose and his baby brother laughed in the midst of snow and death. And if Scott cried, the tears were silent and didn't disturb the smile on his face as he booped Alan's nose again.
It wouldn't last, Scott knew that, and he relished the sound of his brother's happiness even as his heart broke.
The next time Scott awoke the first thing he asked for was for Alan. He needed to know his brother was alright, that he had not let his Mom down. His Dad had hugged him tightly, his own tears falling, but Grandma had brought Alan in, and they had clung to each other.
When they broke apart it was Alan who booped Scott on the nose.
'Boop, Scotty.' He tried to smile back, but the result was watery.
'Thanks, Alan.'
'Scotty sad.' And Scott hugged him tight.
.
Scott groaned. Another early morning. Another day to get everyone to school, to do school, to come home from school. To get meals ready, homework to be done, housework…the list was never ending. Yet Scott couldn't get out of bed. He was so tired.
Suddenly there was a high-pitched squeal and a weight jumped on his chest. Alan, giggling his head off. He reached out and poked his brother's nose.
'Boop!'
Scott laughed and hugged his brother tight. The six-year-old never failed to life his spirits. It gave him the needed impetus to get up and get on.
And when Scott got everyone home from school he carried on as he had before, chasing his youngest brother around the house to the amusement of the other three, until he caught Alan around the waist, causing him to scream for help.
Scott put his brother on the floor and booped his nose as Gordon screamed and jumped on him, followed by Virgil. John set aside his book and rolled his eyes at the pile of Tracy's on the floor. He leant forward and poked Scott's nose.
'Boop!'