Log: Ice Cream

[baruthumos]

Who: Omega Ai, Theta Ai
What: Eating ice cream and talking
Where: Ice cream shop
When: Saturday afternoon
Warnings: None



It's rare Omega doesn't have to give up chocolate ice cream to someone who likes it better. But they have about fifty gallons in the case, they can spare Omega a scoop or two. "I'm getting brownie bits. What do you want, T-man."

Comments

[baruthumos]

"No," Omega agrees. "Nobody would."

Except Delta, that once. But Omega forgave him. He probably deserved it anyways.

[trustandfireworks]

Relief flows through him, and also brings his attention to the fact that his ice cream is melting. He licks at the drips, catching them on the cone as he tries to figure out how to phrase the question he's been wanting to ask the whole time.

'Why did you bring him up?'

[baruthumos]

"Hm? Oh. Delta asked me to talk to you," Omega says, concentrating on his own ice cream. "You're not going to be a kid much longer, soda can."

Oh. He's going to have to talk to him about sex soon. That's going to be. An event.

[trustandfireworks]

'About Church?' Maybe it was an even bigger deal than he'd thought. 'What does that have to do with me growing up?'

He finishes his ice cream and licks the last bit off his finger, wiping it clean on his jeans.

[baruthumos]

"Napkin, T," Omega reminds him. "Seemed like a good time to remind you that you need to be careful. That someone can seem nice to you and still not be a good person. I'm not saying Church would hurt you, but." He shrugs. "Handy example."

[trustandfireworks]

'Okay.' He grabs the napkin and wipes his fingers on that instead. 'Is Delta going to be okay?'

[baruthumos]

Omega picks up his own napkin to wipe his hands. That is not a question he wants to answer. How much has Theta picked up? "What makes you think you even have to worry about that?"

[trustandfireworks]

Theta looks up at him, frowning slightly at his answer. Everything about all this is so confusing, people reacting to things in weird ways and all.

'I... well I know he was upset about it, but if he was upset enough to get him to ask you to talk to me, then he must be more upset and there's more going on than I thought.

[baruthumos]

Understatement of the fucking century. "Don't worry, kiddo," Omega says. "Everything's going to work out. I'll make sure of it, okay? You just worry about school and maybe the twins."

Because kids need stability. They need to know everything is going to be okay. "How was your ice cream?"

[trustandfireworks]

Something's going on. Omega said he'd sort everything out, but then there must be something to be sorted out, right? But what? Why is he keeping it secret? 'What's wrong?'

'It was really nice,' he says.

[baruthumos]

"Nothing's wrong," Omega lies. "We just have to get used to the new normal. Like when a new school year starts."

[trustandfireworks]

'But you said you'd sort it out. Sort what out?' The more he's thinking about this, the more it seems something's up.

[baruthumos]

"That's where the metaphor falls apart kiddo," Omega says, thinking quickly. "Because you get a schedule that tells you where to go and when. We have to write our own schedule, and since we both have new jobs, Sigma's moved out, you and the twins have different schools, Beta takes you guys sometimes, and Maine floats around, well." Omega ticks each one off on his fingers as he speaks, and holds up his hands when he's done. "That's a lot of new stuff to juggle. It's all good stuff, but we want it to all fit together so me studying doesn't mean Delta comes home to the house looking like a tornado hit."

That's all true. But it's not the whole truth.

[trustandfireworks]

'Oh. Yeah, I guess that makes sense. A lot's been changing lately.' Some of it's good, some of it's less good. Less is changing for him, at least directly. Beta's joined the family and he's going into middle school, but other than that, it's mostly things happening to his older brothers which affect him because they're family. That's probably why Delta and Meg seem more stressed lately, no wonder they're worrying about him.

He rubs one of his aids as he often does when he's thinking, then shifts over in the booth so he's closer to his brother.

[baruthumos]

Omega recognizes the gesture and puts his arm around his little brother. "Whatcha thinking, Theta?"

[trustandfireworks]

He curls closer, reassured by the gesture. 'Just... I know a lot's been going on for you guys, and not all of it good.' He keeps fiddling with his aid. 'I want to help, but I don't know how. Or if I can.'

Sometimes it seems okay. But then Omega gets hurt or Delta's implants stop working and everything goes crazy and he gets reminded of how young he is and how little he can really do. Sometimes he envies the twins still believing everything's perfect unless it's bath time.

[baruthumos]

Omega squeezes him. "You're not going to like it," he says. "But what's really helpful for us is you staying out of trouble. For us to know that you are okay. And that doesn't mean not to tell us if something happens. But if you really want to help us, and not just look like you are, that's how."

He probably should think of something to at least feed Theta's ego before they have this conversation again.

[trustandfireworks]

He nods. That sounds like he could manage it. 'Okay. I'll do my best.' Starting with not complaining about going back to school.

[baruthumos]

"And when you get the list of things you need for school, bring it to me. We'll go get it, you and me, okay? No twins, no Gamma." School supplies and ice cream. Sounds like a plan.

[trustandfireworks]

'Okay,' he agrees, feeling better now. He loves his siblings, but Gamma's no fun on a shopping trip and having the twins means having to always watch out for them.

[baruthumos]

"So do you know what you're taking yet?" Omega feels like he hasn't made enough time for Theta this summer. That despite being home more than any other summer of Theta's life, he's let his little one down.

[trustandfireworks]

'Most of it's compulsory,' he says. 'Everyone has to do stuff like mathematics, science and English, but I want to try and do more physics stuff 'cause it's cool.'

[baruthumos]

"Physics is pretty cool," Omega agrees. Not so necessary for medicine, but for demolitions and recovery? He uses it a lot. "When do you have to pick a forgien language?"

[trustandfireworks]

'Yeah, I really like it.' It's probably his favorite subject. 'Um... Next year, I think?'

[baruthumos]

"So you have plenty of time," Omega says. "Physics is useful. Actually useful. Some of the other classes you have to take, not so much."