Onereyofstarlight asks: ✎ treats for writers - writing (and daydreaming) prompts ✎ - #5 #5 #5! (this is me, telling Scott I appreciate him)
5: write how one of your favourite characters gets the appreciation they deserve. how do they react?
It was a well-deserved break. Rescues had been thick and fast and then there was the annual TI board meeting followed by the Christmas party. Scott hadn't had any time to relax for what felt like forever, not even in passing.
Grandma had put her foot down and mandated he have an extra two days in New York. No work, no rescues, no stress. She'd gone as far as to tell his PA that once the meeting was over he was banned from work, and they had agreed wholeheartedly.
Today Scott had spent the morning pottering about the Winter Village at Bryant Park, buying a few knickknacks for extra gifts and enjoying a spin on the ice. He'd just settled down to a hot chocolate with all the trimmings and his favourite iced apple Danish, prepared to partake in his second-favourite pastime – people watching.
He'd finished his snack and was just contemplating moving when there was a small hand on his arm. Turning, Scott looked into the face of a small child, about three years old. Holding onto the other hand was a child of around ten, looking both awed and not a little nervous.
Scott greeted them with a warm smile. The toddler held his arms up and Scott didn't hesitate to pick the boy up and sit him on his lap. The child snuggled into him, and Scott's smile grew warmer, memories of Gordon and Alan surfacing.
'I'm sorry sir, my brother wanted to say hello.'
'That's ok. What's your names?'
'I'm George and he's Jeffy.'
His heart stilled a moment before the child on his lap took a slightly fluffy candy cane out of his pocket and offered it to him.
Scott took it and looked at Jeffy. The boy touched his fingertips to his chin and pulled his hand away, a gesture Scott knew well.
'He's saying thank you.'
Leaning slightly back to have his hands free, Scott repeated the gesture, pulling his hand away in a slightly larger arc.
'You're most welcome.'
Jeffy's eyes lit up and he replied by putting his index finger of his right hand to his ear, then making two fists and shaking them, then putting the back of his hand to his mouth and opening it like a beak and then pointing at Scott.
'Thunder bird!'
Scott grinned and shook his fist up and down.
'Yes, that's right.'
Jeffy repeated all he had said.
'Thank you, thunderbird.'
Jeffy wiggled off of Scott's lap, took his brother by the hand and led him away, leaving Scott staring at the candy cane in his hand.
He watched them make their way through the tables to where a couple sat. As they reached it the two children turned and waved, and Scott waved back, touched beyond all belief at the simple gesture.