#too fluffy

In many ways, it wasn't a big problem. Sure, Leader's bedside manners were terrible, but they were efficient. Often more than a sentiment approach. They were a little oblivious to emotions around them, but they knew how to offer grounding. They were good at knowing when not to push or when to offer comfort, even if the comfort was an awkward pat or praises that never felt too sincere.

Still, they had a chemistry somewhat, and it felt wrong to leave Leader alone when they had taken a hard defeat.

Because Leader made sure all of them were fine before wandering off to somewhere, even though 'fine' was being tended and ordered to rest for a whole month. A little overkill if asked to the team, but that was what the numbers told Leader how long it would take for the team to get back to their feet.

If only Leader would take their own advice...

Sighing, Youngest tiptoed towards the office. They were chosen for this task because Leader had been extra understanding of them, probably because they didn't have much experience under their belt. They had a better chance at getting Leader to the cuddle pile they did after every mission, and Leader avoided like plague.

"I see no reason to attempt stealth when I'm facing the door."

Unfair. Leader was the only one Youngest was unable to sneak around. But they could humour Youngest and calling them out like that was just rude.

"I'm not doing such thing," Youngest denied. "What are you doing?"

"Filling our leave forms."

"When you are on leave?"

Leader looked at Youngest as if Youngest said the lost absurd thing in the world. They sighed when Youngest didn't continue. "Someone should do it."

"You'll do it later. You, too, need some break."

"I don't require maintenance."

"I— that's not what I asked. You look like you haven't slept in days. Are you okay?”

“I have not sustained any damage.”

“I meant like…emotionally.”

Leader looked at Youngest, startled. For the first time, they raised their head from the papers before them, eyes tired and sunken.

"I don't do emotions," Leader muttered.

Youngest pouted.

"Just tell me what you came for, Youngest."

"Don't you think being apart from the team reduces our efficency?" Youngest tried their last card. "It's your responsibility to make sure we are well bonded. And you're failing by being so distant."

"Do you require my presence to communicate efficiently?" Leader asked, a little... surprised? It was hard to tell what they felt. Youngest always struggled.

"It's not that—" Youngest stopped themselves before they began explaining. Leader wouldn't understand. "Just come."

Without a second thought, they dragged Leader to the living room, trapping them into the pile while ignoring Leader's comments about how this was improper or how they acted defective.

Hailey opens the door to her smirking brother-in-law.

“I wasn’t aware that stuffed animal repair called for a plastic surgeon.” he says, stepping inside and pulling off his coat. “And I know for a fact that your husband knows how to sew.”

“I wouldn’t have asked you to make the drive out if this was just about Mr. Paddington.” Hailey says, rolling her eyes. “But we thought Emmy might benefit from a more sympathetic listening ear.”

Will’s smirk fades as his eyebrow comes up in confusion.

“One familiar with how frustrating an annoying little brother can be.” Hailey continues.

“His words.” she adds when Will chuckles. “Not mine.”

“Where’s my patient?” he asks. “And my scrub nurse?”

Hailey points to the kitchen table where a teddy bear, one arm torn off along with half it’s side is lying.

“Emmy is playing in her room.” she offers.

He heads off down the hall. A tap on the door is returned with an annoyed ‘what’ and he shakes his head.

She may be in need of her uncle but his niece is her father’s daughter.

“Hey Punkin.” he calls back. “Gonna come say hi to your poor old uncle?”

The door opens to a sullen looking six year old though she does manage a small smile when she sees him.

“Hi, Uncle Will.”

“Hey.” he greets. “I’ve been summoned to surgery, wondering if you might like to scrub in.”

“Mr. Paddington is a stuffed animal.” she grumbles.

And Will didn’t know that something like an eye roll could be genetic until his little brother became a dad but it definitely is.

“So is that a no?” he presses, making a funny face that makes her giggle and shake her head.

By the time they get back to the kitchen, Hailey has set out a sewing kit and disappeared somewhere upstairs.

Will sits down, Emmy crawling up onto his lap and taking up her position as the keeper of the scissors.

Will works in silence, knowing that Emmy will talk when she’s ready, yet another trait she’s inherited from her father.

“Carter wouldn’t give him back.” she says quietly after several minutes. “He’s always stealing my stuff.”

“Little brothers are twerps like that.” Will agrees.

“Dad is super cool.” Emmy protests.

“Sure.” Will agrees. “Now that I don’t regularly catch him with my GI Joe in his mouth.”

Emmy frowns up at him, clipping a loose thread when he nods to it.

“Look.” he sighs. “Carter is two. And two year olds do a lot of annoying stuff. You aren’t the only one he’s driving up the wall right now but he’s just trying to understand this new world the only way that he knows how. And that will get better with time.”

Emmy huffs a little and Will chuckles.

“Sadly, little brother disease is forever.” he continues. “And according to my mom, it’s because they look up to us. They wanna be like us, do the things that we’re doing. But it doesn’t mean it isn’t a little frustrating sometimes.”

“Do they ever stop?” she asks, clipping another loose thread.

“They get better.” he tells her. “I won’t lie, there are still times when your dad makes me a little insane and I’m sure if you asked he’d tell you I do the same. But he’s also my best friend. “

He ties off his last stitch, watching her clip the last thread and then putting everything back into the kit and handing her the bear.

“It’s worth it?” she asks quietly.

Will hears the door slide open, well aware that he has an audience as he answers his niece’s question.