Gaslight (Part One)

Chapter Two

Amorette glanced up at her brother with a curious look on her face. "Hey, Nilo?"

He raised an eyebrow in reply, pulling the drawstring bag closed.

She hummed quietly. "Why do you have a bruise," she gently touched the purple skin just above his elbow, "right there?"

He looked away, pulling the bag over his shoulders. "I tripped and fell against my bed." A dismissive smile formed on his lips, and he grabbed her hand. "No big deal. I survived."

Amorette rolled her eyes, but only hummed in half-hearted acceptance.

He looked down at her with a hint of guilt in his expression, then leaned down on a knee. Her eyes trailed to meet his, and he squeezed her hand. "The truth is I got into a pretty bad...argument."

She tilted her head. "With who?"

He shook his head, managing a weak smile. "Feather, if I told you, you'd mix yourself up in my drama, and nobody needs that."

She shrugged. "You're probably right. But if you need anybody to back you up, I gotcha."

He snorted softly. "Thanks, lil sis. I'll take that offer into con-con...uh..."

"Consideration." She supplied politely, a teasing smile on her lips.

He shook his head, hiding a smile. "You're smarter than me, I get it." He sighed lightheartedly, standing up. "Let's just go home, 'kay?"

"'Kay." She agreed, letting go of his hand. "Race ya?"

He shook his head softly. "I can't afford to lose ya, sis. Stay next to me, alright?"

She pouted, but nodded in quiet affirmation. "Okay. When we get home, I'm making breakfast."

He raised an eyebrow, gently pulling her out of oncoming sidewalk traffic. "Didn't you already eat?"

She shrugged nonchalantly. "You look hungry."

He shook his head, an affectionate smile on his lips. "I'm growing. I always look hungry. If this is just so you can take control of the kitchen, I won't let you. That's my job."

She shook her head in return, smiling innocently. "I just think it'd be fun. Good...good bonding, like Ash says."

At the mention of their older sister, Nilo's smile dropped. He tried to hide it by plastering a new one on, but Feather could tell, and he knew it. "It still won't work on me, Feather. I'm not Ash." Moving the drawstring bag to his side, he scooped up his younger sister, shifting to let her lock her arms around his neck in a piggy-back ride.

She hummed quietly to herself in contemplation, but dropped the subject. "Why'd you pick me up?"

He shrugged. "You were getting too close to the road."

She ruffled his hair from behind, eyes narrowing. "No I was not."

The brunet snorted softly. "Yeah you were."

"Nuh uh." 

"Yeah huh." He responded, running a hand through his mousy hair to get it to lay flat again. "Besides, we're almost home, anyway."

Feather hummed noncommittally. "Nilo, do you think Ash is gonna get the job she's interviewing for?"

Nilo turned down the corner, sighing softly. "I think Ash can do anything she wants to."

Feather laid her head on his shoulder, trying to see his face. "That's not what I asked."

He sighed, trailing up to the gate in front of their complex. "Feather, I don't know and I don't really care. I'm trying to..." He sighed, shaking his head as he scanned his fingerprint. "Forget it. She'll get the job, I just know it."