Fireflies in Moonlight [boyxboy]

Chapter XIII

~Tuesday 13th April 1694~           -Rammone-

"Are you going to be calmer now, silly boy?" Sandro teased, drying Nairn's curls as best he could with the towel. Nairn only giggled, elated by his uncle's joking. He barely complied as Sandro dressed him, wanting to get back to playing with his siblings. It wasn't his fault that he spilt the juice, Rennyn had done it. No one ever believed Sandro when he blamed Rennyn or Isai, even though they were always picking on him. Mommy said he was an easy target and that he would have to learn to live with it if he didn't change. Daddy was nicer, daddy always stuck up for Nairn. Even when mommy told him he was spoiling the child.

"No," Nairn's laughter only grew louder as Sandro lifted him up into the air, dangling him upside down by his feet. Nairn laughed harder than he ever had before, adoring the time he got to spend with his uncle. The children didn't often get one on one time alone with any of the adults in the house, so Nairn took it upon himself to act out to get their attention. It was always Sandro or daddy who would give him what he wanted. Although, Esma did sometimes too. Mommy never did. She was always focused on Isai and Rennyn.

"I guess if you're going to be so silly, we'll have to hang you out of the window until you can be a good boy," Nairn's laughter only grew, punctuated by high-pitched shrieks as Sandro shook him ever so slightly. Mommy always got angry when Sandro held Nairn upside down. Esma did too. They said that it would make him dizzy and only lead to worse injuries. It made Nairn's head feel funny but Sandro always waited until the boy was better before he let him loose.

"I'll be good! Not the window!" Nairn squealed out through fits of laughter, his head feeling fuzzy when Sandro finally turned him the right way up. Nairn held onto his uncle, catching his breath and watching the colours swim around the man's head. Mommy said it was bad that Sandro did that, Nairn thought mommy was just boring.

"OK, silly boy, if you're going to be calm, then we can go back. You have to promise me though, I don't want any more spillages," Sandro held up his little finger, grinning at Nairn as the child immediately hooked his own pinky around it.

"I promise, uncle Sandi," Nairn made too many promises to his aunt and uncle to be more careful. He couldn't help it, he just wanted to run around all the time. Pavel helped. He held onto Nairn's hand and it was like the little boy became sleepier. He didn't want to run around anymore after that, he just wanted to sit with Pavel. He missed Pavel.

"Can I go play hide and seek with Pavel and Nym?" Nairn asked, sitting compliantly on Sandro's lap whilst the man continued to dry his hair with the towel. He played with the buttons on Sandro's shirt, liking the smooth texture against his fingers.

"Don't you want to finish your painting for daddy?" Nairn gasped, grinning once again, having forgotten entirely about his painting. He had been working on it so hard when Rennyn had to go and spill that juice. It wasn't Nairn's fault. He didn't cry though. Nairn was five years-old now, he was a big boy, and he didn't cry anymore. Not unless Pavel was away from him for too long, then his head would start to hurt and he would cry until mommy made it better.

"Yeah. Do you think-" Nairn was cut off by a scream from nearby. It was Rennyn, he could tell what his sister sounded like. But it wasn't a good scream. Not like when Pavel would chase Nairn and he would get so excited he would giggle and shriek when the boy caught him. No. Rennyn's scream was different.

"Be a good boy for me, Nairn, stay here and finish drying your hair," Sandro lifted Nairn from his lap, settling the boy on the floor and walking toward the door, flashing him a pained smile, "I'll be back in a minute, OK? Just stay here, you're a big boy now, you'll be OK for a minute," with that, Sandro left the bathroom. Nairn forgot all about his sister's scream, too busy trying his best to be a big boy like Sandro had said. He rubbed the towel over his hair over and over until his curls were sticking out at odd angles and his face felt tingly.