FD: One Shots and Extras

9. Just Teasing

Two years. Two years and he still had no answer. Hansel didn't want to ask his sister, she already had her suspicions but he wasn't being left with much of a choice. He needed an excuse, a discreet way to ask.

Hansel knocked on his sister's door.

"Come in!"

Gretel was laying in bed rubbing her temples.

He ran over. "Are you okay?"

"It's just another headache." She huffed. "I'm glad you came. I could use a distraction." She smiled.

Hansel squinted. It wasn't the headaches that bothered him, it was the frequency. Sometimes he felt his sister was hiding something from him that led to her hours of isolation.

Ultimately today he was just grateful he was allowed in. He sat the foot of her bed. "Are you sure you don't want rest?" He questioned. "Is there anything i can do?"

Gretel sighed. "How many times have I been in bed this week?" She frowned. "I am tired, tired of rest. So indulge me, whats on your mind?"

Hansel looked away for a moment carefully choosing his words. "I heard some rumors the other day about some old Rhioninian laws." he started.

Gretel smirked. "What's this really about?"

Was she on to him already?! "Nothing! What are you talking about? I just- was curious about Rhionine's history and the king before Eudes. How he reigned, laws, legends stuff like that. They were talking about how awful the king was, and called him a warlock type savage. I don't know much so i couldn't refute it in my head."

She chuckled. "Someone just casually brought this up?"

Hansel struggled not to huff. "Why would I lie? Andreni anhilated the Rhioninians. It'd make sense that foreigners would have their questions about it in the marketplace. Especially when we used to have so much merchandise regarding your over the top galas and parties."

Gretel raised her finger. "One. They were not over the top. They were perfect. Two. You can't lie to me Hansel. I know you. You're nosy and do sneak on conversations but you hate going to the marketplace unless its to do something stupid."

Hansel's face heated up. "I do not do stupid things at the market place!" Gretel raised a brow and gestured at a chain around his neck that he'd "borrowed" just last week. Hansel frowned and looked away. ... It was a pretty chain but ridiculously pricey nonetheless. He'd rather give that money to people who actually needed it. "Old habits, but continue."

"And three. This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain rhioninian visitor we had last night, would it?"

Busted!

"Visitor, you mean Violet?" He scrunched his nose. "I was asking about the king before Eudes. What would I ever want to know about that flea bag?" Gretel gave him a look but he refused to admit it. "If you're implying that I might like her I think you're forgetting what happened the last time you left us alone together. She nearly swept the floor with me. She's an animal. I'm telling you, you need to stop with your pointless theories."

"Oh I remember." Gretel smiled. "I also remember how red your ears got when she complimented your hair. I also happen to see you still have it tied back."

Ugh! "Maybe I got tired of having it in my eyes all the time? It's just a coincidence!" Why was she hell bent on having him admit it? He pulled down his tie letting the hair fall back in its usual place, covering his eyes. "Happy now?"

"And what you said in your sleep after she left?"

Hansel's eyes widened. He grew stiff. "Were you watching me sleep? You're such a creep."

"I wasn't. You were too loud." Oh Violet. How I love you. How I long to rejoice in your dog breath." She mocked

"You little gremlin!" Hansel grabbed an extra pillow and raised it over his sister's head.

She quickly raised her hands over her head. "Headache! Headache!"

Hansel frowned and took a deep breath before he slowly suspended his attack. "Mhmm. Headache. Sure. I'll get back at you."

"Why don't you check the archives?"

"Because I don't care about Violet!" He snapped.

Gretel suppressed another grin. "I meant for Rhioninian history."

Hansel pressed his lips together, feeling the familiar heat of embarrassment set in. "Go alone?" And let Violet see him? "I don't really know what I'm looking for."

"You're looking for dates." She smirked. "Birth records."

Hansel's body tensed. "Forget it. You don't know anything." He turned around.

"Don't go. I love teasing you! You should check the criminal records and legends instead."

He hated that he actually appreciated her response. "I'm still getting back at you!"

"For what?" She laughed. "You're digging yourself a deeper hole Hansel."

He scrunched his nose and headed to his room. Two years and he was no closer to finding out Violet's age, instead his sister loved mercilessly taunting him. Even if he were to go to the library on his own he was sure Violet would have already burned or ripped out the pages he was seeking. He knew how secretive she was.

An evil grin spread across his face as he looked at a lipstick Diana had left behind across the hall.

Gretel would fall asleep soon. She always did. Hansel rounded up some colored powder, charcoal, brushes, and the lipstick. He wondered how she'd feel if he outed all her embarrassing secrets and wrote them on her face? Sadly she was right, it would dig him into a deeper hole. Instead he decided to draw what she looked like.

________

Hansel woke up to his sister's loud shriek. "HANSEL! WHAT DID YOU DO?"

He grinned and laid his head on his hands. What a beautiful sound to wake up to. He heard Gretel stomp to his room. He laughed again at his art work. Gretel truly did look like a gremlin. "Don't blame me." He snickered. "You're a deep sleeper."

"And you're an idiot." She huffed.

"I'm a happy idiot. Someone has to win this teasing war." He winked.

She glared at him and pulled out a dog whistle from her pocket.

Hansel's eyes widened. She wouldn't dare. Well- Violet wouldn't believe her right? "Want to show off your new look?"

"No. I want to win."

Now he glared at her. She glared more intensly at him. "You're bluffing. You're too kind for that."

She lowered the whistle, malice gone from her eyes. "So you admit there's something to bluff about?"

He rolled his eyes and laid back in bed. Why did Gretel always have the perfect comebacks?