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]

"That's the thing. She says I don't have to learn it from her," he says. "Because you're the one I want to have teach me." He doesn't take York's hand because the twins are watching, but the thought it tempting.

"I told her no jobs and nothing you or my brothers would disapprove of. Just enough that, next time something happens, I'll be ready. . . .at least, more ready than I have been before."

[depthlesslock]

York can't help but smile at that. 'I'd love to.' He's also tempted to take Sigma's hand, but as engrossed in their pictures as the twins are, he can see their bright eyes looking at them every now and then.

'Yeah, that sounds good. It's best not to have to rely on someone to get you out of danger, knowing how to defend yourself is definitely important.'

[ambitious_muse]

"So next time you're feeling philanthropic, you only have to help me learn something and you could be feeding my family for a week," Sigma teases.

Eta frowns at them. "Why aren't you drawing?" she asks.

"Sorry, E. I got distracted," Sigma says. "What color should my next mug be?"

[depthlesslock]

'That sounds like pretty good motivation to me.' Helping Sigma protect himself and helping the family at the same time? Damn good deal. He'll have to thank Lou at some point.

He grins at Eta's scolding and quickly gets back to drawing again.

[ambitious_muse]

"Pink," Iota says.

"Pink, huh? All right," Sigma says. He's very tempted to make a "# 1 mom" mug for this one, but he doubts Delta would appreciate the joke right now.

"I'm all done," Eta says. "Don' wanna draw anymore."

She has drawn six figures on her page: her and Iota in blue and yellow, a green and orange duo that probably represents Delta and Maine, and red and tan for Sigma and York. She has even scribbled in York's scar.

"Why don't we play secret agents with York, then?" Sigma asks. "Did you know he's the one who taught me?"

[depthlesslock]

The latest helmet isn't too bad. Better than the previous ones at least. And he drew Delta a triangle delta symbol out of ones and zeroes. The numbers are just random since he doesn't know binary, but it looks pretty cool.

He looks over at Eta's drawing, grinning at the five-year-old drawn figures in various colors. Then he spots the lines and white eye drawn carefully onto the tan figure's face and swears his heart stops. They don't care. They're five years old and they don't care that he's half blind. She just drew it on like "okay, so he looks like this". Is it too early to hug them?

'Secret what?' Only half of what Sigma says makes it through.

[ambitious_muse]

York is fixated on Eta's drawing. Leaning over, Sigma slips his arm around his waist. He had forgotten that the twins didn't know about York's scar. Bless them for not saying anything.

"Secret agents," he says. "The don't-touch-the-string game? I got some string to play with and they love it."

[depthlesslock]

York leans into Sigma, the touch helping ground him a little. Eta's way too young to understand what she managed to do with just a picture. What she and her brother did by not asking.

He hears Sigma this time. 'Oh, that one! Yes, that sounds like a great idea.'

[ambitious_muse]

Iota nods with excitement. He jumps from his chair and tugs at his twin. "C'mon, E," he says.

Sigma presses a quick kiss to York's shoulder before standing. "I'll go get the string."

[depthlesslock]

As the twins run from the room, York takes the opportunity to grab Sigma's hand and bury his face in his shoulder for a single moment.

'Get something sticky but easy to remove from walls as well,' he says when he pulls back.

[ambitious_muse]

Sigma breathes in the familiar smell of York's hair. "I think we have some tacky wall stuff. Delta uses it to put up the twins' pictures. Will that work? I do have tape if it won't." He knows he's not supposed to use tape, though with the number of holes Omega puts in these walls, it might not make a difference.

[depthlesslock]

'Yeah, that would work great. Also scissors, or something to cut the string with.' He loves making these, stringing the twine from wall to wall. It's different evey time.

[ambitious_muse]

"I just used the furniture last time," Sigma says. "I can't wait to learn from the master."

[depthlesslock]

His grin grows. 'Watch and learn. And you should try getting through it as well.'

[ambitious_muse]

"Don't mind if I do," he says. Especially since York will be watching.

[depthlesslock]

He steals a quick kiss after double checking that the twins aren't in the room. 'Sounds good,' he says in his ear before pulling back, grinning.

[ambitious_muse]

Sigma is about to kiss him back when Iota wanders in. "You coming?" he asks, big eyes wide.

"York is," Sigma says. "I have to grab a few things from the office. Be right back, okay?" Iota nods and waits for them to move.

[depthlesslock]

York steps back qiuckly at the young voice and hopes Iota didn't see too much.

'Yep, I'm here,' he says, squeezing Sigma's hand out of sight of the littley and then letting go to head into the living room.

[ambitious_muse]

Sighing, Sigma hurries upstairs to find everything.

[depthlesslock]

While they waited, York explained the concept the to twins who seemed to grow more excited with each second.

[ambitious_muse]

Sigma comes back to three very excited faces. "All right," he says. "Show us how it's done, York."

[depthlesslock]

York grins and takes the string, scissors and sticky stuff. 'Okay, so you want to start by taping one end to the wall here,' he does so 'and then unraveling the string until you reach the other wall. Tape the second end and then cut it off and do it again.'

[ambitious_muse]

"All right. Would you like to do that, Iota?" Sigma asks. He helps his brother unwind enough yarn to follow orders.

[depthlesslock]

The four of them slowly turn the living room into a web of string.

[ambitious_muse]

"So who's first?" Sigma asks. "Should we let York try since he's the teacher?"