Work Text:
Constance had been sat at her desk fiddling mindlessly with a lump of Blu Tack, when she heard her phone vibrate from her desk. It had been a long, boring day – she had nothing to do, no one to see. She wasn’t particularly feeling very motivated to do any baking or singing or doodling or reading or anything that usually brought her some ounce of joy.
So when she put on her glasses and peered at the unexpected text from Mischa, she found herself grinning.
BADDEGG: YOOOO CONNIE
BADDEGG: MY LIL COUSIN IS VISITING
BADEGG: WANTS TO MEET YOUR LIL BRO
BADEGG: WE COMING OVER
Cupcake<3: oh okay!! I’ll let him know :D
BADEGG: OMW
Cupcake<3: wait I thought you said you weren’t allowed to see your cousin anymore after the whole stunt on his birthday?
BADEGG: HE IS DOWN FOR WEEKEND AND I SAID I HAVE FRIEND WHO HAS BROTHER A LITTLE YOUNGER THAN HIM AND HE SAID HE WANTED FRIEND SO I SNUCK HIM OUT OF HOUSE
BADEGG: IT WILL BE FINE ANYWAY PARENTS ARE OUT FOR FEW HOURS
Cupcake<3: cant believe they left him with you unsupervised lmaooo
Cupcake<3: i’ll let my family know you guys are coming over :)
Cupcake<3: just come in through the back of the cafe and let yourself upstairs, dont bother with the main entrance or anything
BADEGG: I COME YOUR HOUSE A LOT I KNOW
Cupcake<3: just saying!!
Constance smiled fondly at her baby brother as he excitedly showed off all of his toys to his new friend in classic, oblivious, five-year-old fashion.
Mischa’s cousin was around ten years old, and was hesitant at first – he seemed worried and shy and had clung to Mischa’s trouser-leg for dear life as he hid his face in his side. Mischa had knelt down and whispered something to him with a teasing grin, ruffling his hair, and that was all it took for the kid to glare at him, swat his hand away and (as if to prove a point) stubbornly march over to the toddler sat ogling at him from the centre of the carpet.
Mischa came and slumped on his usual spot on the couch, slouching low as he tossed an arm over his eyes. Constance laughed.
“Bad day?” she asked. He grunted, and she rolled her eyes at his dramatics and sat down next to him, watching contentedly as Mischa’s cousin introduced himself as Mickey, and her little brother clapped and immediately tugged his arm to sit on the floor with him.
Constance had honestly expected Mickey to be a little younger, since Mischa had set this up as some sort of playdate. But, to the boy’s credit, Mickey smiled and laughed and played happily with Jacob, indulging in whatever game or story or fantasy her brother was babbling about.
Constance glanced to Mischa beside her, the little quirk to his lip as he watched them betraying his amusement at their games.
“He doesn’t have lot of friends at his home,” he said quietly. Constance’s smile fell, eyes landing back on the kid. “He is shy and awkward a lot and finds it hard to play with other kids his age. That is why he likes befriending little ones instead. And older, like me.”
Constance smiled sadly. “Well, he’s always welcome to come around play with Jacob. The little gremlin just loves the attention,” she laughed quietly.
Mischa huffed out a laugh, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees as he grinned at the boys.
“Hey, you want new game?” he asked. Mickey and Jacob both looked up at him, mid airplane flight, arms suspended in air. Constance saw the devilish smile on her friend’s face just a little bit too late.
“It is called, first to find Connie’s diary.”
“Mischa!” she gasped, hitting his arm. He laughed and jerked out of the way, but the boys had already scuttled off, cackling as they ran down the hall toward her room. Constance shot him one last glare before bounding off after them
“Jacob! Mitts off my doorhandle!”