Big, Little and Tiny Sef <3

Burnt eggs

Youssef's POV:

Yusuf seemed happy last night. I think he really loves Jace. He's a good kid, he cares about Yusuf and that's all that matters really. I checked on them at about eleven o'clock and Yusuf seemed very calm. I love him, he's so sweet. I woke them up at about ten o'clock since Yusuf's therapy session was at twelve. Jace had breakfast and thanked me for letting him stay.

"Don't even, you're always welcome." I shook my head.

Jace's mum pulled up outside and started asking about Jace's grades. I gave the usual response, he's amazing, a pleasure to have in class. All that spiel. He is a good kid, for me. His grades are consistent, around the 75% mark, sometimes 80% if he really likes the topic.

"Do I have to go to that therapy?" Yusuf wondered, his eyes fixed on the floor.

"Yes, it's going to help you. Please try."

He nodded a few times before going back upstairs. I thought it would be best to leave him alone until we had to leave for his appointment. Nathan had made me some scrambled eggs and seemed extremely proud of himself, so I ate them all despite the few burnt bits.

"Is it good?"

"It's wonderful, make sure you keep moving all the eggs around or else the little bits at the edge will uh...start to burn. It gives it a nice flavour though."

"Don't lie, just be honest."

"I would prefer eggs that aren't burnt, but I've eaten worse than burnt eggs." I shrugged, beckoning him over so I could comfort him slightly.
"They are really nice, and only a few bits are burnt. It's better than last time, huh?"

He nodded and let me kiss his head.

"Thank you for making my breakfast. I love you, my dear."

He just laughed a little before kissing my head. The next hour was spent downstairs with a coffee mug in hand. Yusuf had dressed himself and decided to sit next to me after a few seconds.

"Is therapy scary?"

"No, you'll just have to talk about things."

"My momma."

"Yes, or your dad. It's up to you really, you can talk about whatever you think you need to."

"Like...yknow?" He whispered.

I was a little tired of him saying yknow, I think it'd help him to actually talk about his coping mechanism without being ashamed to say the damn word.

"It's not a dirty word, age regression. It's normal, hm? Loads of people do it."

"You know a lot of twelve year olds that feel the need to suck their thumb every time something slightly bad happens?"

"I can't say I do, but I know you, and that's all that matters. You're mine and I don't care about anyone else. You're far too mature for your age anyways, age regression is a good thing if anything."

"Very mature to cling to my physics teacher and have him feed me a baba." He scoffed.

"Don't pick on yourself." Nathan interjected as he walked in and sat down next to Yusuf.

"It's true though."

"I think it's lovely, you're all nice and cute for once." I jeered slightly, making sure to hug him afterwards so he knew I meant it all with love.

"I'm cute anyways." He shrugged, gently biting my hand.

"Don't bite me, you weirdo."

"But now you have my teeth in you. You forever have a piece of me wherever you go." Yusuf spoke in such a dramatic manner I couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm going buy a lipstick that stains and kiss your face until you're all pink, you'll have a piece of me everywhere you go kiddo."

"Ew, no."

"So behave." I smiled as I tapped his nose.

After about twenty minutes, we got him into the car and drove to his therapy appointment. He was quiet again, I suspected he was just nervous about the session.

"Do you come in with me?" His little voice chirped up from the back of the car.

"If you think it would be better, I can come in with you. Normally people would go for about an hour and then I'll meet you in the waiting room afterwards."

I saw him nodding in the mirror before looking down at his hands again.

"Is everything okay?" Nathan asked him after a few seconds.

"Yeah."

Nathan left it at that and squeezed my hand gently. I think to say not to worry.

When we pulled up outside the building, Yusuf was practically frozen. Eventually we coaxed him in but only because Nathan promised that we would get him a treat afterwards.

"Bribery isn't a solid parenting strategy."

"My sisters bribed me to do everything. Anyways, I thought we were just his very big brother, and brother in law."

I hit his arm and he just laughed. Yusuf was still mute, and clinging to my hand. Once his therapist called him in, he shook my hand away and walked in.