"Your turn." Wilbur announced with a smirk to his brother.
Techno frowned at the board in front of him, the red and black pieces scattered about seemingly in a haphazard fashion. Which it mostly was really. He'd only just started learning how to play. Wilbur loved playing against Techno for this reason and so far the five year old did not carry the same enthusiasm for the game.
It was with a huff that Techno picked up his charcoal colored piece and plopped it down one square ahead of its former placement. It being the only piece he had that Wilbur didn't have one of his nearby ready to snatch it up.
Just as Techno placed his piece down there was a whine from the living room once more, but Wilbur only huffed at the sound. It was Tommy, he knew. And Wil also knew that he was fine. Just fussing as usual. Techno looked towards the doorway at the noise as he had every time so far, but, just as with each other time, Wilbur shook his head and motioned for his brother to just leave the younger be.
The pair were currently situated in the kitchen at the table for their game, mostly because when the fighting broke out it was easier to hear and break up for whichever parent was home. Today that was their mother. She was usually pretty lenient with their fighting, allowing them time to try to sort themselves out. However, she had to agree with her husband when it came to board games. Public spaces until they could learn to lose to each other without combat being involved.
It also helped her out as she could leave Tommy in his pen for his own playtime while she handled certain housework or work-from-home tasks. She kept these tasks short usually, preferring her home time with them spent actually with her boys. However, some things just came up short notice.
As it were she was currently on a work related phone call, meaning Tommy was left in his playpen for his brothers to keep an eye on. The tiny child was sat and watching through the gaps in the mesh pen walls at his brothers. They were just barely in his line of sight, but he could hear them chattering. It was usually enough to keep him satisfied with not being left alone. However, today just wasn't so easy for them.
For the past few minutes, Wilbur wasn't quite sure how many, Tommy had been making his 'fussy' noises and babbling out at them. He'd initially gotten up and checked on his brother a few times, just to be sure nothing was wrong. But, after what felt like a dozen times of checking only to have the baby stop all noise and stare at him with a giggle Wil had had enough. Tommy could sit and play with his toys while he and Techno played a game or two.
When Tommy let out a longer whine than before Wilbur only rolled his eyes and glanced over at the pen. The child was mostly obscured by the meshing of his pen, but Wil could still see he was sitting up and just fine. Heck, by the look of it he was trying to stand up again using said wall. He'd started doing that lately. Perhaps Tommy was just getting mad at failing again. Didn't matter. It was Wilbur's turn.
Looking back to the game board in front of him Wilbur smirked. Taking his red piece from the far end of the board he began to hop over Techno's pieces, with a small 'mine' being said with each jump. By the time Wil was done Techno was scowling up at him.
"You have one piece left." Wilbur bragged as he picked up all the pieces he'd just claimed.
"I give up." Techno huffed as he flopped back in his seat.
He couldn't even call Wilbur out for cheats as he wasn't aware of what was a cheat in this game yet.
Yet.
"You sure? I mean, you never know-" Wil started to say with a smug tone before Techno slid of out his chair with enough force to make it scratch backwards on the wood floor.
"I'm going to the bathroom." Techno announced, not even entertaining the idea of continuing.
Wilbur laughed aloud at this point, only adding to Techno's bad mood as he stormed down the hall with his feet stomping. Tommy made a noise out to him, but at this point Techno didn't even toss his baby brother a look. Tommy watched him go with a whine and a garbled protest fumbling off his tongue.
While Techno was away Wilbur began setting up the board once more when he heard Tommy make a more frustrated whimpering noise. With a huff he turned from the table and made his way into the living room. When he reached the pen he looked at the small child within it expectantly.
"What is it, Tommy? If you want out then too bad. Mum's busy." He stated, doubting his baby brother could even understand him.
Tommy, using all the strength he had in his tiny body, pulled himself up until he was just almost on his feet, looking up at Wilbur. Opening his mouth he made a few urgent vowel sounds before pointing at the floor ahead of him, just a bit past where Wilbur had come to stand.
Looking in that direction, which was more towards the sofa than the kitchen door, Wilbur saw toys from the pen tossed about. Looking back in with Tommy Wil noted that he in fact didn't have any toys with him.
Wilbur looked at Tommy with a frown while the tiny child stared at him and waited.
"Well, what do you want me to do? Clean them up for you?" Wilbur asked as he crossed his arms at his brother, similar to how his mother would stand when scolding him or Techno for making a mess, "If you wanted your toys to play with then you shouldn't have tossed them out."
Despite his words Wilbur leaned down and picked up the closest toy to him, a simple stuffed yellow dog or something. He really couldn't tell. Tommy gave a smile at seeing Wil pick it up and wiggled with delight as he reached up to his brother for it. Wil brought the toy close to the pen opening, but stopped just shy of Tommy's fingers.
With a sound of confused frustration Tommy reached, and reached and reached but no matter what he couldn't get hold of the toy. Wilbur was watching with a wide smile on his face, bringing the toy just close enough so that Tommy's fingers could brush over it but not grab it.
"You want it back, Tommy? You want this toy?" He asked mockingly as he raised it up just a bit higher.
Tommy tried to pull himself onto his feet fully with the pen for support, but his legs just wouldn't take his weight, leaving him half heaved onto the mesh wall with his hand held up as high as he could get it. He let out a distressed whine now on the continued denial of his toy.
By the time Techno was walking into the room Wilbur had gained a second toy and was playing 'keep away' with Tommy with them. Tommy himself was red in the face and babbling his anger to their elder brother who only seemed to find it amusing. Wilbur had turned at the sound of the other's feet and was quick in dropping Tommy's toys back to the ground and heading back towards the kitchen.
"I've set it all up again. You can go first this time if you want." Wilbur was saying with a chipper and smug tone, "You can even have two moves, I wont mind."
Techno furrowed his brow as his brother walked past him, ignoring the disgruntled noise of anger from Tommy. Not having caught full sight of what Wilbur had been up to, and hearing that Tommy was still rather bothered, Techno turned away from the kitchen door. Besides, he wasn't in a rush to play another round with Wil anyway.
Coming up to the pen Techno leaned forwards so that his and Tommy's faces were closer together through the meshing. Tommy's face was beet red and his eyes were teary and filled with anger as he looked up to Techno this time. Techno tilted his head as he stared back.
"What's wrong Tommy?" He asked genuinely.
"Just leave him be, Techno. He's being a fuss pants." Wilbur called from the kitchen.
Tommy blew an angry raspberry at the sound of Wilbur's voice as his furious gaze landed on the kitchen door. Techno placed a hand on the pen wall to regain the child attention as his own brow furrowed.
"What's wrong?" He asked again the moment his brother's eyes were back on him.
Tommy hesitated, a fist coming up to rub away the tears that threatened to fall. He pointed sharply at the floor outside the pen and Techno's eyes were quick to follow. Seeing the toys at his feet and then the small trail of them a bit further out Techno understood.
Without another word Techno crouched down and started to fill his arms with the stuffed things and plastic bite toys. Wilbur protested from the kitchen one more time, but Techno didn't even listen enough to hear what was said. Once his arms were full Techno made his way to the pen and, careful of Tommy, dropped them inside.
Tommy plopped down onto his butt as he picked up the returned items with a happy smile on his face. He looked at the pile and then to Techno babbling out a few happy sounds with a squeal at the end. Techno couldn't help the smile that came across his face as he nodded to the other.
"You're welcome." He stated simply before he turned and finally made his way back to Wilbur.
Wil was standing in the kitchen doorway with a frown on his face as he waited. Once Techno was closer he let out an annoyed sigh.
"He's just going to throw them out of the pen again. Its pointless." Wil stated bluntly.
"Its not pointless. Tommy wanted them and now he has them." Techno stated in much the same tone.
"If he wanted them then he shouldn't have tossed them out." Wil insisted.
Techno only shrugged at this as he moved back into his seat. Wilbur remained in place for a moment before he huffed again and finally headed back to his own chair.
The two had barely started on the next round when Tommy's shouts came from the other room once more. Techno turned in his chair while Wilbur let out an annoyed groan. From where he sat Techno could see a few of Tommy's toys once more scattered on the floor. This time tossed towards the doorway instead of the sofa like earlier. Wilbur turned only enough to offer a flat unamused stare as his younger brother. Techno, however, was slipping out of his seat without a word.
"Tech, just let him alone. He's just doing it to be a brat." Wilbur protested even as his other brother ignored him.
Picking up the toys as he got closer Techno showered them into the pen once more, pausing so he could watch Tommy smile back at him. He knew Tommy was going to keep doing it, but he didn't mind. Especially when he could hear how much it bothered Wilbur.
Tommy bounced in place and clapped his hands at his elder brother, pleased at least one of them was paying him attention. He reached his hands upwards with grabbing fingers at his brother, a bright smile resting easily on his face.
"Dak" Tommy called out with glee.
Techno waved back at him and started back towards the kitchen even as Tommy called out again. Wilbur huffed impatiently as he watched. When Tommy met his eyes the small child only beamed with pride back at him.
Tommy was fully pleased with himself.