It was a long week, but game night with Bex and his brothers at the end was worth it. Your friend had invited you to join them a few times before and you really needed it this week. When you arrived, you were greeted by Aletaa, who ushered you into the living room through the kitchen, where Bex was shooing Crash and Flash out of his way. The twins loved getting on his nerves in the kitchen, but always stopped when he threatened to withhold the treats he was making.
Madeline, Thrash, and Jammer were already in the living room and Thello appeared shortly after with Boots in his arms. He gave you an excited wave when he saw you and you couldn’t help but smile brightly in return. After Bex, Thello was the one you were closest with, which was no surprise to anyone. Thello was the kindest and most friendly of the brothers and had been so happy to meet you for the first time that you got along immediately.
“Hey, where are the snacks? We can’t start until we have them.”
Madeline called out in a dramatic, tired tone that she knew would bug Bex.
“You can’t rush perfection, Mads.”
He yelled back from the kitchen. You figured he might need help, so you turned back and joined him, grabbing a bowl of popcorn and a tray of brownies.
“Oh, you didn’t have to help, Y/N. I can always get my brothers to.”
“I like helping, Bex. Just let me.”
Once the bowls and plates were settled on the coffee table, you all took your seats around the card table Thrash had set up. You all played a few rounds of Uno, but had to stop when Madeline and Crash nearly started throwing punches over a questionable draw four card. Thrash was the mediator of the conflict, but Flash came to Crash’s defense saying their brother was biased. Jammer had to end the whole argument and pulled out Life instead. With all the fights that came with playing most other games, Life had become a regular choice for the comparative peace of the board game.
“I want the red car!”
“You had the red car last time Crash, it’s my turn with it.”
“No, I had the blue car. Now I want the red car.”
Bex and Jammer sighed as the arguments immediately started. Madeline, the eternal little sister, started grabbing at the cars at random and throwing them to people. One hit Nash in the face, but his cry of alarm was drowned out by Crash and Thello discussing the schedule of the red car.
“Can I have the red car this time?”
Thrash was close enough to hear your quiet request, so he nudged Madeline, who snagged the red car while Crash was yelling something and passed it around to you.
Jammer stood up after a moment and clapped his hands together, bringing quiet in seconds.
“Everyone has a car now, right?”
Crash looked down and realized the purple car was now sitting in front of him. He frowned, looked around, and narrowed his eyes at you when he saw it.
“Not a word, Crash. If everyone has their car, we can get started.”
Everyone nodded and Thello took his turn to start the game. With so many people playing, it took forever to get to each turn. After you reached the marriage space, you leaned back in your seat while Thrash spun for his spaces.
Bex was on your other side and was about to get up for more popcorn when your head dropped onto his shoulder. He glanced over and saw your eyes closed and your breathing evening out. Thrash finished his turn and Madeline spun next. When Flash saw she’d gotten a ten when he’d been cursed with two’s and three’s the entire game, he nearly shouted. Bex immediately shut him down with hissed “Flash!” followed by raising a finger to his lips and looking at you again.
Crash covered his twin’s mouth and nodded in understanding. Madeline finished her turn and the game continued on. While Aletaa was taking her turn, Bex carefully stood up and moved you to the couch. He grabbed the green plaid blanket you loved from the back of the couch and draped it over you. On instinct, you curled into it. When Bex tried to back away though, your hand caught his. He just couldn’t bring himself to pull away, so he sat down on the carpet next to you.
The others didn’t notice his continued absence until it was his turn again.
Jammer looked over and clamped his mouth closed at the sight of his little brother sitting cross legged on the carpet next to the couch with one hand held tightly in yours. Your eyes were still closed and Bex was just quietly watching to be sure you didn’t get woken up. The only sound from either of you was your quiet breathing and the intermittent crunching as Bex ate.
“Bex, do you want us to take both your cars off the board?”
Bex didn’t seem to hear Thello, so Aletaa nodded for him and grabbed the red and the green cars. The game continued on from there. Madeline had to hold herself back from cheering when she won, helped by Thrash’s hand on her shoulder. Bex eventually slipped his hand from yours. He tucked your hand up by your head and patted Boots on the head, who had curled up on the back of the couch above you.
When Life had been packed up and put away, Flash suggested Cards Against Humanity. No one had an argument against it, so they dealt the cards and started. Bex hovered nearby, shushing the group when it got too loud. After nearly another hour, everyone decided to call it a night. Aletaa and Madeline bid the boys goodnight and left. Thello gathered Boots in his arms again and went upstairs following Crash and Flash. Thrash and Nash went downstairs to their rooms and Bex gently shook your shoulder to wake you up.
“A little bit, yeah. We didn’t want to wake you.”
“He didn’t, but we all did our best to be quiet.”
Jammer walked past, nudging Bex on his way to his room. He easily could have kept his mouth shut, but what fun would that be? Bex sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair.
“Yeah, I didn’t. We had to stop some yelling, and Thrash had to keep reminding Madeline not to start any fights, but it was fine.”
“I’m sorry. I really wanted to be here with you guys, I’ve just had such a long week…”
He rested a hand on your shoulder and shook his head.
“Y/N, it’s fine. We all get it. It’s hard for us to stay up sometimes too.”
Bex stood up, helped you to your feet, and looked around.
“Do you want to drive home or crash here for the night?”
You didn’t have work in the morning and you were so tired it probably wasn’t wise to drive.
“I think I’ll just lay back down and sleep here.”
“You can always take my bed and I’ll take the couch.”
You narrowed your eyes at him when he offered.
“No. It’s your bed and this couch is awesome.”
“Alright.” He held up his hands in surrender. “Do you want something more comfortable to sleep in though?”
You looked down at your jeans and flannel.
“If you’ve got something.”
“Shorts and a t-shirt.”
You drifted back to sleep ten minutes later in a pair of gray shorts and a white shirt borrowed from Bex. You slept better that night than most, but you figured it had more to do with Bex’s clothes and the comfort they brought than anything else.
