With much luck, Sheryl was allowed to stay and work at the minning site. The manager agreed only so long he didn't have to be blamed for any injuries to the little one - and Sheryl agreed. He was responsible for Tyki, nobody else. Ben walked with Sheryl back to the others. "Ya know, you're pretty lucky. Not many people are accepted on the spot to work 'ere." he looked at Sheryl who was just looking ahead. He could tell that the boy was uncomfortable leaving the little one behind. "'Ey, what's your name anyway? Why are you kids all alone?" Sheryl didn't respond to the man. He didn't feel it was any of his business - and it wasn't. Without getting a response, they arrived back and Tyki got up and ran to his older brother. "So so so so so?" he asked, hopeful. Sheryl smiled at him. "We can stay. I get to work here. Why are you so hyper?" He never really had seen Tyki all energetic. The little one just smiled. " 'Cause we have a home now, brother!" The older boy blinked. "Home? Tyki, we're not staying here long. We're not home..."

"It is for now!"

"Not for long."

"So!"

"Oh, fine. Call it home."

"I will!" Tyki let go of him and turned to go to the other men who had been sitting on the ground, drinking out of mugs. Sheryl raised an eyebrow in curiosity, and walked over to see what they were drinking. "What is that?" he asked one of the men. "Eh? Coffee. Want some?" the man asked. "Coffee?" he glanced over at Tyki, who was wandering around their new 'home'. Sheryl glared back at the man. "You gave my five year old brother coffee?" The man nodded. "Yeah, why? He was tired and thirsty."

"He's going to be awake all night now."

"Nah, I doubt that."

"What would you know?"

"Well for one thing - kid - I'm older than ya. Don't you get lippy with me."

"I'm not a kid."

"Seeing that you're smaller than me, you're a kid."

Sheryl began to get angry with this man. He was no child, and certainly did not like being called a 'kid'. "Whatev-" he was cut off by the sudden attack of Tyki. "T-Tyki!" The child had enough force to knock him down onto the ground. "Irmao!" Tyki giggled. "Play with me! Like at home, like mama!" Sheryl looked up at the child, frowning a little. "I-I don't think we should right now, Tyki. It's almost time to go to bed. It's late."

"Please?"

"What did you want to play?"

"I dunno." The child climbed onto Sheryl and nuzzled his cheek. The older brother frowned, confused by the actions of his little brother. "What has gotten into you...?" he muttered. Tyki ignored him and began to calm down as Sheryl began to stroke his hair softly. "You're so strange, you know that little brother? But you're unique." The three men watched the kids for a moment, one of them just rolling their eyes and then other just shaking his head, laughing to himself. Ben - however - watched them with arms crossed. He watched Sheryl and Tyki, curious about them, curious about their relationship. He could see in Sheryl that they were close - but how close? For now he would ignore it.

The night went on and everyone went to bed. Tyki slept next to Sheryl on the ground. They snuggled close to each other to keep warm (it was cold, even when covered with a blanket). The sound of thunder grew close, and as it did the little one began to stir in his sleep. The loud sound of thunder coming closer and closer frightened him and he opened his eyes, frowning. "Irmao, wake up. It's getting scary." he said quietly, shaking his older brother. Sheryl groaned as he was woken up, rubbing his eyes a bit to see a little better. "What?"

"The big boom noises are coming!"

"That's just thunder. It's going to rain is all."

"Rain? I don't like that..."

"Because of the water?"

"Mnn.." Tyki huddled close to Sheryl, shaking slightly. The poor child was afraid of thunder, too? Or was the thought of rain scaring him? "It'll be okay Tyki...just close your eyes and try to sleep." Tyki held onto Sheryl's clothes tightly. "I-irmao I'm scared."

"Don't be."

"Aren't you?" The little child looked up at his brother as he still clung to him, wondering if his older brother feared the loud noises and the rain. Sheryl smiled at him and shook his head. "No, of course no- " A loud crackling sound cut the boy off and he jumped as the thunder boomed. Tyki blinked in confusion and clung to his brother now as if for dear life. "I-Irmao?" The child started to worry. But in response all he got was small laughter coming from his older brother. "Th-that scared me. I didn't expect it!" he giggled a bit. "I'm not afraid of it, but it's not something I like. Just ignore it Tyki." He pulled the blankets over their heads and kept each other close. "We'll be safe under the blanket."
"Safe from the booms?"

"Yes, safe from the booms."
They finally both fell asleep. The storm carried on for a few hours, but the two boys slept through it, feeling safe under the covers with each other.
The next morning, Tyki had gotten up to notice that his brother was gone. He thought nothing of it, assuming that Sheryl went to go work. The boy was so tired he musnt't have heard the siren go off calling them in - but he did notice that Ben stayed behind. "Why are you here still?" Tyki asked tiredly. The older man looked at him and grinned. "Ah, can't work. Gotta watch ya. You're not allowed to be alone." he said. Tyki frowned but didn't mind. "Oh, okay. They're working?"

"Yep. Hey, hungry?"

"Yes."

"Here," he tossed Tyki a piece of bread. "It's not much but it's what we can provide for now."

Tyki didn't complain. He took little nibbles from it and sat on the ground. "Thank you mister."

Ben smiled at him. "You can just call me Ben, y'know? No need to be all formal."

"Irmao says it's rude to call someone by their first name unless you know them."

"That's kinda true, but I don't care. Neither does Antonio or Lucas. Just call us by our names, kid."

Tyki blinked but shrugged. "Okay." he took a few more smaller bites of the bread. "We're gonna be here for a while. Irmao says so. He doesn't like it here too much, but I kinda do."
"Why's that?"

" 'Cause I like how we share things. It's like a giant family. I dunno you or the other two, but I like it when it's not just me and irmao."

"What is with him, anyway?"

"Huh?" Tyki looked up from his food to the older man, slightly confused. "What do you mean?"

Ben stared at him for a brief moment, trying to think of a way to have him understand. "Your brother - he's weird is all I'm saying. Somethin' about him gives off this weird feeling. You don't get weirded out by him?"

"No, he's my brother. I love him and he loves me. Why is that weird?"

"Not to you, but people who see you two together. I dunno kid, I'd just say watch out. He looks like he could snap any time."

"Snap?"

Ben stopped what he was saying, remembering he was talking to a six-year-old. "Ah, nothin'. Just forget it kid."

"My name isn't 'kid' I'm Tyki. Please call me that." the little boy finished his breakfast. Ben smiled a bit and nodded. "Alright Tyki. Sorry. Hey, want to kill some time?"

"How?"

"We can go fishin' if you'd like. I got a pole I made. We can get some better food too."

Tyki smiled and stood up. "Yeah!"
"Alright, lets get ready to go then." Ben stood up as well and grabbed what they would need. The two walked to the small lake nearby to wait for the three to return.