Log: Tending the Twins

[ambitious_muse]

Who: Sigma Ai, Agent York (Native), any Ai siblings who are at home
What: Babysitting the little siblings during Delta's appointment
Where: Ai household
When: Friday morning (8 May)
Warnings: none

Before he picks up the twins from school, Sigma finds everything he should need. Paper, pencils, crayons, and even a few stickers, so they can decorate the room with "Get Well Delta" cards. Dishes, cups, and favorite juices. A rogue ball of string in case York wants to help the twins play the "secret agent" game that he proposed on their second date.

It's a lot for one morning of babysitting, but Sigma really wants this to go well. Delta needs it, and more importantly, he hasn't seen York since before finals. It's time to sit back, have fun, and pretend that nothing is wrong.

Thankfully, the twins are pretty docile by the time they get home. Both of them have been cranky in Delta's absence. Now, they just seem resigned. Sigma hopes York will help him cheer them up.

Comments

[ambitious_muse]

Sigma rushes to engage the airlock at the sound of the doorbell. The twins are eating lunch--Sigma scarfed down his sandwich in excitement, but Eta takes her time and Iota picks at his sandwich. That's okay. He can leave them for a minute while he greets his boyfriend.

[depthlesslock]

The first door lets him in and York steps though, taps one foot and shrugs out of the green coat while the air filter cycles, then is let through to the house. He smiles widely at the sight of Sigma and takes his helmet off as the door seals behind him.

'Hey,' he says.

[ambitious_muse]

"Hey," he says. "Looking good." He nods at the green coat before giving York a hug in greeting.

[depthlesslock]

'Yeah, this isn't the full outfit yet. It's gonna be weird wearing a different color.' Just the coat looked weird whenever he caught sight of himself.

He returns the embrace warmly, smiling.

[ambitious_muse]

"We're eating lunch now. Are you hungry?"

[depthlesslock]

'Not hugely, but I'll happily join you,' he says. 'I'm sure I can find some room.'

[ambitious_muse]

Sigma slips out of his arms, snags his hand, and leads him toward the kitchen. Never mind that York probably knows where it is by now. He wants the contact.

"How was your weekend?" he asks, not sure if he should bring up mercenary business around the twins.

[depthlesslock]

'Eventful,' he replies, which is certainly true. 'Got everything done.'

He's perfectly happy holding Sigma's hand as they head into the kitchen where the twins are eating at the table.

[ambitious_muse]

"Oh good. So I don't have to lose you again for awhile?"

He turns York loose at the table and continues to the fridge. "What would you like? The three of us had pb and j, but there's also turkey or ham. We have orange juice to drink, too, if you'd like."

[depthlesslock]

'Nope. I rarely take jobs out of the city.' Usually only if a group of them get hired for one job.

He sits down and smiles at the twins who are watching him warily, but with what he hopes is curiosity. 'I never say no to peanut butter and jelly,' he says. 'Thanks.'

[ambitious_muse]

"Grape or strawberry?" It's an important question, one that has had the twins in tears before when answered poorly.

"Eta, Iota, this is my friend York. You met him at the park, remember?"

Two sets of wide eyes look the mercenary over.

[depthlesslock]

'Strawberry, please.' He's not too fussy, but he does prefer strawberry when it's available.

'Hello,' he says, waving and smiling at the twins. They're deffinitely Ais. Iota's golden eyes especially are very noticeable.

[ambitious_muse]

Iota smiles but sticks his sandwich in his mouth instead of talking. Eta waves back with a shy grin.

Sigma shakes his head. If he didn't know better, he would think the two of them are trying to lower York's guard.

"I thought the four of us could decorate the room for Delta when he gets back," he says. "What do you think?"

[depthlesslock]

Aren't they adorable. York folds his arms on the table and rests his chin on his arms so he's a bit more at their level, smiling at them.

'Sounds like a good plan to me,' he agrees.

[ambitious_muse]

After setting down York's food, Sigma ruffles Eta's hair. "No need to be so shy, E," he teases. "York is Maine's friend. You know Maine."

"Maine makes yummy pancakes," Iota whispers at his sandwich.

Eta immediately warms up to York. "He's Delta's boyfriend," she announces. As if he didn't know.

[depthlesslock]

'Maine makes very yummy pancakes,' York agrees. They're the best thing to wak up to in the mornings. Other than coffee.

'Is he?' he asks, feigning surprise for them. 'Well, Maine's very lucky to have someone like Delta.'

[ambitious_muse]

"Delta's sick," Eta adds.

"Maine taked care of him." Iota's voice is still quiet, but he'll actually make eye contact with York again.

"Yeah, he's been very good at taking care of Delta," Sigma says, smiling. "So now we're going to do something nice for them both. We all get to draw."

He even pulled out the glitter crayons.

[depthlesslock]

'Delta will get better,' he says, tucking into his sandwhich. 'He has people who care about him to help.'

Neither of them have said anything about his eye which is nice, but surprising given they're... what? Five or six?

[ambitious_muse]

"Iota, just four more bites," Sigma says. "Eta, let's go wash your hands while these two finish their lunch." Iota nods and takes a miniscule bite of his sandwich.

A minute or so later, Sigma is back with paper and several boxes of crayons. Iota proclaims himself done, so they vanish back into the kitchen together, leaving York with Eta.

[depthlesslock]

It's a good sandwich. Of course he's biased because Sigma made it, but it's still a good sandwich.

He watches the family antics while eating and grins at Eta when the two of them are left at the table.

[ambitious_muse]

Eta gets a piece of paper and opens the crayons. "Are you gonna draw too?" she asks. She picks out six colors--blue, green, gold, orange, red, and tan--and starts to draw.

[depthlesslock]

Sandwich finished, York sets his plate aside and tkaes one of the sheets of paper and a few crayons. 'Absolutely, I am,' he agrees.

[ambitious_muse]

"Don't peek," Eta says. She gives York a very stern look.

"Eta and Iota are quite the artists," Sigma says, coming back in with Iota. "But don't look until they're done. Right, Io?"

[depthlesslock]

York nods seriously. 'I won't peek,' he promises, selecting a green crayon to doodle with.

He looks up when Sigma comes back in, smiling at him and his younger brother.

[ambitious_muse]

Sigma scoots a chair closer to York and sits. "What should I draw?" He asks Iota.

"Dunno." His brother grabs a silver crayon and starts drawing.