BRANCE + RINNEY

Vance Hopper and his little brother Finney.

a finney + vance as brothers one-shot bc i wanted to write about them.
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Vance held the babbling two-year old to his chest, cradling him softly as the two adults screamed back and forth to each other. Closing the door of the bedroom him and his brother were in, Vance looked down at the toddler in his arms. Finney smiled at him, the four pearly white teeth resting in his mouth glowing slightly from the light's reflection above. Vance smiled too, pressing his head against the younger boy's.

"Don't grow up on me Finney. I can't afford to lose you too."

The toddler babbled some more, pressing a wet kiss to the older boy's cheek with a toothy grin.

"L-love V-vancey."

Vance ruffled the boy's hair, pressing his lips to the toddler's head gently.

"Love you too Finney."
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Vance pressed his lips together, holding the cigarette between them tightly. The lighter held in his hand flicked on, illuminating the dark outside environment with gentle orange and yellow shadows. He took a slow inhale of the cigarette, chest heaving slightly as smoke filled his lungs and squeezed them in an air-tight hug.

Finn stumbled out of the house, eyes teary and red as he tightly grasped his, worn-out, small grey blanket in his right hand. Vance turned towards him at the sound of his familiar footsteps, eyes squinting ever so slightly when he saw that the boy was crying. Finn slowly stepped towards him and sat on his side, rubbing at his eyes which had begun to sting horribly.

"What're you crying for?" Vance looked at his younger brother, taking one last inhale of his cigarette before he put it out on the wooden porch. Finn sniffled, turning to look at the boy next to him. "Y-you weren't inside a-and- didn't want m-mom a-and dad- y-you-" Finn's words were choppy and hiccuped out but, somehow, Vance was able to understand what he was getting at. "Finn. You never have to worry about me leaving. Not like them anyways." Finn didn't respond to the boy's words, too tired and scared to be able to form a good enough response. Vance slung an arm around him, ruffling his hair ever so slightly.

"Let's get you back into bed space boy." Finn smiled at the nickname, eyes illuminated as he gave a quick look to the sky above. Vance stood up from his spot on the porch, allowing his brother to gaze at the sky for another moment before he pulled himself up as well.

The two boys walked towards Finn's bedroom, both sleep-deprived for different reasons. The grey blanket that the younger boy had in his hand dragged along the floor silently, the fabric of it grazing over several splinters peaking out of the wooden boards below.

Vance opened the boy's door, leading him inside towards the small twin-size mattress in the corner. "Come on, lay down now Finn." The younger boy did as told, allowing himself to be tucked in afterwards. He held his grey blanket close to his face, the scent of burnt out cigarettes and cheap perfume clouding his senses for a brief moment.

Vance pushed the boy's hair back and placed a quick kiss to his forehead. "Alright. Seriously, go to sleep. If you need me, you know where I am." Finn nodded at the words, already succumbing to the sleep eating away at his body. Vance smiled at him, staying in his spot until the boy's eyes closed fully.