Its All Ghost

From my Primo Fic "Violence & Gentleness" (AO3 Link)

Primo of course found his brother wandering around the back shed, knocking on the flimsy walls and softly tiptoeing on the rickety floorboards. Primo came up behind him and gripped his shoulder, perhaps a little too firmly.

“I was just—I forgot something!” Terzo flashed a winning grin, tugging at his ear.

“Forgot to bother me today,” Primo replied cooly. Two intrusions in two days was a personal record for Terzo. He must have really missed him. Was it getting worse here for the youngest? Secondo had just risen in the ranks and now Terzo…Terzo seemed to be hanging around waiting to grow up. Too old for the other kids and too young to have a role, but plenty eager to get on the nerves of everyone around him.

“I…I'm…I'm sorry,” Terzo muttered. “I'm…” And he trailed off.

“A man's entitled to his secrets, is he not?” Primo asked the boy. It was difficult to stay annoyed with him while Primo looked into his hungry green eyes. Primo smiled, returning his hand on Terzo’s shoulder.

Terzo’s face fell into a thoughtful frown. “I guess…”

“Even you, Terzo,” Primo added. “Keep exploring. Just…not here. You're barking up the wrong tree.” He winked. “And if you keep wandering around the garden I might have a mind to hand you a shovel and have you help out. Sun’s nice and hot today.”

Terzo shook his head. “I'm sorry, I won't bother you again.”

“Of course not.” But he would. Primo knew he would.