Chapter Text
Hop had a strange way of growing up; that's what Leon had always told Sonia. His mother had expected Hop to have an older brother to help him go through all of the trials and tribulations of going from boy to slightly older boy.
The first sign of oddity was during one of Leon's few visits, when he talked about a girl.
A garishly dressed man walked into a small home. No, that's not the opening to a joke, but the best and only way to illustrate Leon's entrance. He didn't bother knocking, just walked right in, and was automatically greeted with a warm smile from Mum and a running hug from little Hop. He had just turned 9, and unlike most little boys, he did not have a favorite superhero; he just had his big brother. The house smelled like soup, with onions and chicken.
"Lee!" Hop cheered, vaulting over the back of the couch and into Leon's body like a Yamper with motive. Leon had to plant his feet too stay put. His head was buried in the waist area of his shirt, much to Leon's amazement. Since when was he so big?
"Hey little bro! How have you been holding down the fort?" Leon ruffled a hand through his hair.
"I watched your match last night! It was so cool!" Hop looked up at Leon, still holding him in a vice grip. Leon shifted slightly, his gaze lingering towards his mother.
"Yeah! Tough match, but you know the ultimate champ always comes out on top!" Leon was still caught in Hop's death hug. He had always been an affectionate little boy, it's just that Leon didn't expect him to still be.
"Yeah Lee, and you did so awfully late. You and that poor boy were fighting it out way past bedtime for your brother here," Mum stopped stirring the pot. "Took me an hour to calm that one down." She lazily gestured towards Hop, who let go of Leon. She went back to stirring the pot.
The family spent the rest of the night congratulating Leon over his victories. It was a warm painting. Chicken stew was served, and a thick haze of merriment was lain upon the family.
"So-" Grandpa started, mouth half full of potatoes. Leon turned his head to his grandfather, who had finished his potatoes. "Hop, made a little friend."
Hop beamed, bits of bread on his face, and nodded vigorously. "Yeah! We play with the Wooloo!"
Leon raised an eyebrow, he didn't notice any new kids in the area. "That's great, little dude, what's his name?" Leon asked, spearing a scalloped potato with his fork; accidentally tearing the thinly sliced starch. Hop frowned and shook his head.
"Her name, she's a girl, honey. Tell him about her Hop." Mum laughed, one hand covering her mouth as she flicked her fork towards Hop. The nine year old smiled again, his face changing like night and day.
"Well, we play all day out in the field, and make sure to stay out of the tall grass, and we play hide and seek, and trade cards!" Hop spewed out at mach speed. Leon, unable to keep up, stopped him with the wave of his hand.
"Slow down bro, what's her name?" Leon asked. He laughed as he did. Even if it was tiring, Hop's everlasting joy was entertaining, and dare he say heartwarming.
"Gloria!" Hop shouted, his mum laughed and shook her head.
"She's quite a little firecracker, do you want to tell big brother Lee what happened when she slept over last night?" Mum asked, gracefully holding a laugh behind her lips.
Hop rolled his eyes. "Mum! She said she was sorry. She's just smart!" Hop vehemently defended his friend, his mouth filled with potatoes, broccoli and cheese from the potatoes au gratin the family was eating along with the chicken stew.
"Gloria had the bright idea to hide in one of grandpa's golf bags, that girl is so small that she took some of the kids ones and stuck them ontop of her. It took us 2 hours to find her, and we only found her because she was giggling." Mum explained, Leon raised an eyebrow. He swallowed his last bite of potatoes.
"What's so bad about that, they're just kids," Leon inquired. Mum pointed to the gold bag across the room, it was relatively normal, save for the foot imprint stretched into the side.
"She used her boots to hold the kid sized clubs. We have to buy a new one for grandpa." Mum laughed she also finished her potatoes.
They finished dinner; the whole family, and started to retire to bed. Hop and Leon were in the bathroom brushing their teeth. The story about Gloria still hung in his head.
"So, do you like Gloria?" Leon said out of the blue. Hop frowned and shook his head, he spat out his toothpaste before setting down his toothbrush.
"Just because Gloria is a girl doesn't mean I like her!" He raised his arms defensively. Leon's toothbrush hung out of the side of his mouth.
"Well, sleepovers? I can envision it already, the two of you getting married in Wyndon!" Leon teased, ruffling Hop's hair with his hand. He went back to brushing, Mr. Rose had said that he needed to keep a "champion smile."
"Ew! No Lee! What about you and Sonia?" Hop laughed Leon shook his head.
"In your words 'ew!' We can call it even for now, how about that Hopscotch?" Leon asked as he took the toothbrush out of his mouth.
"Haha! Okay!" Hop giggled before running out of the room.
"Kiddo, you better come back. That was barely brushing your teeth!" Leon went after him.