Caroline

A warm summer breeze ruffled the curtains. Outside the open window crickets chirped, somewhere in the distance an owl hooted, and a crescent moon hung high in the sky. Inside, a battle raged.

Daeron, Aerion, and Egg were in Daeron’s room, eyes glued to the television as they watched their chosen Mario Kart characters race around the track. Daeron as Dry Bones was in a tenuous first place with Aerion’s Bowser close behind. Egg as Toad was not doing nearly so well, trucking along near the back and frequently running off the road.

This was at least partially due to the fact that Egg had only the basic controller and not the steering wheel attachment. They only owned two of those and of course his brothers had claimed them first. Egg didn’t mind though, not really. He was happy just to be included. He wished Aemon were here and not away at that nerdy summer camp. He would’ve enjoyed this as much as Egg.

It had been one of those rare days when the brothers had actually gotten along. Daeron had still been drinking, but not as heavily as usual, and the drinks seemed to have put him in a happy mood as opposed to his usual maudlin one. Aerion had not exactly been kind, but he had not been cruel either, which was the best Egg could hope for. Daeron had even helped Egg build his new Star Wars Lego set, and Aerion hadn’t promptly smashed it despite being in the same room. He had made a snide comment about how Legos were “baby stuff” which Egg found ironic as he knew for a fact that Aerion had a Lego dragon figurine hidden in his closet.

Egg loved days like this, but they also tended to make him a bit sad. He wished he had these versions of his brothers all the time. He loved Daeron, and he wanted so badly to love Aerion too. He just wished Daeron would choose him over the drinking, that Aerion would choose him at all for any reason other than to be a target for cruelty.

Daeron let out a whoop that drew Egg’s attention back to the game. “Final lap and I’m still in first!!” Daeron crowed. Aerion only grunted in response, face set in a scowl of concentration, determined to catch up.

“Lucky Mario Kart doesn’t penalize drunk drivers,” Egg quipped. “They’d have gotten you at the starting line.”

“Sorry did you say something Egg? I can barely hear you from all the way back in 9th place” Daeron shot back, tossing a grin over his shoulder to his little brother.

The three continued to fight their way around the track with Aerion steadily gaining. The finish line was in sight. “If anything happens to me now, I swear I’ll go mental.” Daeron said.

At that exact moment Aerion threw the red shell he’d been holding on to for half the lap. “Go mental, bitch!”

Daeron let out a howl of shock and rage as on screen the red shell collided with Dry Bones, spinning him out as Aerion’s Bowser blew by, crossing the finish line first.

Aerion sprung to his feet, beaming with genuine delight in a way Egg had almost never seen from him. “The dragon never loses!” Aerion cried, beating his chest with a closed fist.

“Oh, he’s about to!” Daeron growled, rising. Using his size advantage he managed to get Aerion into a tight headlock, forcing him to bend at the waist. Daeron brought his fist to the top of Aerion’s head, rubbing his knuckles hard on Aerion’s scalp. “How does the dragon feel about noogies, huh?”

Aerion let out an indignant cry, flailing and trying to free himself from Daeron’s grasp. He looked so ridiculous, Egg couldn’t help laughing until tears were rolling down his cheeks.

Egg watched, cheering Daeron on, as the two reeled about the room in their struggle, knocking into furniture. Daeron’s lava lamp fell from the dresser with a crash, and his record display stand teetered dangerously.

Suddenly the door swung open violently. All three boys froze, Daeron still holding Aerion in a headlock, his knuckles still poised over Aerion’s scalp. Maekar stood in the doorway, wearing a bathrobe and a scowl. “Do you have any idea what time it is? It is two’o’clock in the fucking morning! Your sisters are sleeping and I have work in a few hours and… Daeron let go of your brother before he bites you!” Aerion was, indeed, at that very moment, angling himself to be able to take a chunk out of Daeron’s thigh. Daeron released his hold on his brother, shoving him away gently. Aerion straightened looking at Daeron reproachfully while smoothing his silvery hair. “Go. The fuck. To sleep.” Maekar turned and left, swinging the door shut behind him.

The three boys remained frozen for a moment looking at each other. Then all three dissolved into a fit of stifled giggles, laughing until their stomachs ached. When they finally regained their composure, Daeron turned to Aerion, “Rematch?” Aerion grinned and nodded. Daeron turned to Egg, “Do you think you can stay awake for another round?”