Work Text:
Chosen plopped down on the couch with a sigh of relief and joy.
Alan was at work, Vic was with friends... and Dark with Sec were quiet. And that's only because they left two hours ago and told him to cover for them if dad came back earlier.
A beautiful night to catch up on his series in peace.
Chosen stretched and placed his hands behind his head. He grabbed the TV remote control, ready to turn on his TV series, when suddenly someone turned the key in the door.
He pushed himself up on the couch and looked over the backrest. It's probably Dark and Sec or dad, so he doesn't have to...
Vic walked through the door and looked at him.
...worry.
…
This is his end.
Vic could read them all like an open book. No lie will pass.
If he finds out that he let the youngest two go out at night to who knows where, that will be the end of him. Might as well look for some nice place on the other side of the Outernet.
Why did he come back earlier? He was supposed to spend the night with the rest of his friends at Primal's house. He didn't sign up to cover for two idiots from their oldest brother.
”Hey Vic.” Chosen greeted. ”Weren't you supposed to have a sleepover with your friends tonight?”
”I was. But Ballista and Hazard brought alcohol. Primal and Shady knew it. So let them deal with these two idiots alone.” Vic said and grimaced. But then he narrowed his eyes at Chosen. ”Why is it so quiet here?”
Chosen tensed a little.
”Dad is still at work. And Dark with Sec fell asleep some time ago.” Chosen shrugged, trying to look as casual as he could.
”Yeah, no.” Vic crossed his arms. ”Maybe I could believe that Second is sleeping. But not Dark. He is a night demon who would sooner admit to watching cartoons with Sec than go to bed before 3 a.m.”
”So maybe they watch cartoons in their room?” Chosen offered, although it sounded more uncertain than he would have liked.
”You wouldn't watch any of your favorite series or shows in the living room if you knew someone was home.” Vic tilted his head.
Was it some magic of the oldest child that he knew all their habits?
” And. Their shoes are not strewn about in the corridors. Where did they go?” Vic looked at him seriously.
Chosen hid a little more behind the backrest of the couch.
”I don't know what you mean.” He said more quietly and looked away.
”Chosen. It's almost midnight.” Vic grabbed the bridge of his nose. ”What if someone kidnap they?”
”Then the kidnappers will pay us to take them away.” Chosen shrugged.
Chosen heard a long and loud sigh of hopelessness that belonged to his brother.
”You're an idiot.” Vic muttered.
”No bigger than Dark and Sec.” Chosen said with hidden smirk.
Vic sighed and put his hands on his hips.
”If you don't say where they went, you will go to the 'naughty box'.” He said and pointed to the old cardboard box in the corner of the living room that their dad's cat, Cursor, was currently sitting in. A white cat with brown eyes that was always watching everything. Probably knowing more than Vic. And Chosen is convinced that if Cursor could talk, their dad would know everything.
Chosen looked there and returned his gaze to eldest brother.
”I don't have 10 years .” Chosen said.
”Yeah, right.” Vic sighed with his eyes closed. Then he looked at Chosen again. And... oh no... He knew that gaze. ”So I need to use something more effective.”
Vic took a step towards him. Chosen widered his eyes in understanding. He got up from the couch and started to back away.
He'll take revenge on these two for getting him into this mess. He hides Sec's favorite crayons. He will hide Dark's tarantula, Vira (But in a safe place).
”Can we discuss this some more?” Chosen asked hurriedly as if his life depended on it.
Vic smirked.
”Too late.”
Dark walked down the sidewalk, holding the hand of his overjoyed and youngest brother. Sec had a plastic bucket filled with water wrapped by his other hand. The eel was swimming inside, and Dark wasn't sure why, but the eel seemed to enjoy it.
They both found the eel yesterday while they were at the lake. They weren't sure what eel was doing there, but Sec fell in love with the creature and immediately wanted to adopt it.
And Dark, being a good older brother and partner in crime, agreed.
”So... How you named your new eel?” Dark asked.
Sec made a thoughtful sound.
”Eel look like a girl... Hm... Maybe Ligli?” Sec said and looked at Dark with smile.
”Ligli?” Dark asked sursprised. What kind of name is that?
”Mhm!” He nodded happily. ”I combined the word light and Lily. Because she's a girl and when the sun shines on her, she sparkles so nicely.”
Dark nodded slowly, pretending to understand.
However, there was still an issue. How are they going to tell Alan about the eel?
”How do you want to tell Dad about your new friend?” Dark asked. ”By the way. Couldn't you have asked him first if you could bring... Ligli... home?”
”I could.” He said with an innocent smile. ”But then there would be less chance that he would agree. And so, if Ligli is already home, there will be a greater chance that he will say yes.”
Dark chuckled.
”You manipulative little demon.” Dark said and shook his head. Suddenly he ruffled Sec's hair. ”I'm so proud of you.”
Sec launghed and his smile widered.
When they finally reached the house and stood in front of the door, Dark reached for the door handle when he suddenly heard a noise from inside.
Both brothers froze and looked at each other in horror.
”Was it...” Sec asked hesitantly.
”Yes.” Dark said in a deadly serious voice and nodded.
They quietly opened the door and slowly went inside. The sound they heard outside became louder.
They hid behind the wall and leaned out. There was a good view of the living room from where they were.
”Cho will kill us.” Sec whispered.
”If Vic doesn't do it first.” Dark whispered back.
They looked at each other and shuddered. After a while, they looked back at what was happening in the living room.
Vic and Cho were sitting on the floor their backs to Dark and Sec. Vic had his arm wrapped tightly around Chosen so he couldn't escape and he tickled Cho's sides with his other hand. That loud sound they heard was Cho laughter.
”Good thing I've already written my will.” Sec looked at Dark ”You won't get my figures.”
He was about to respond to this betrayal when another voice interrupted him.
”Well, well, well... Who do we have here?” Vic's voice sounded almost ominous. ”Dark Lord and Second Coming.”
They both froze and looked slowly at the living room.
Vic was looking straight at them, still holding Chosen, but he wasn't tickling him anymore. Now he looked more terrifying than when he sat in the swivel chair in their room with Cursor on his lap like a stereotypical villain.
Does Vic have some sort of radar that tells him when they're coming home? Because there's no way he could have heard them.
”Where were you two?” Vic asked.
Sec, being a traitor and wanting to save his own life, ran away screaming down the stairs.
”Aaaaah! I don't want to be tickled!” Second screamed and after a while he disappeared upstairs.
Dark, being the logical and thinking one, knew it was better to explain himself. But that won't make him escape Vic's wrath. Only maybe this will shorten his suffering. However, it was not profitable in this case.
So, using the most advantageous option, he followed Sec's trail and was already thinking about how to barricade the door of their room.
Vic chuckled maliciously and got up from the floor. For a moment he looked at Cho, who was sprawled on the floor, defeated.
”Want to help me teach our little brothers a lesson?” Vic tilted his head. ”In return, I won't tell dad that you let them go out in the middle of the night unattended.”
Chosen seemed to think for a moment, still trying to even out his breathing.
After a while he nodded with smirk.
”Oh. I'm going to take revenge.” Chosen said and got up.