Elemental brothers oneshot story

A walk in the park

The sky was clear, the kind of deep gentle blue that made you feel like the world had decided to take it easy for a while.

The afternoon air was warm but not too warm, scented faintly with the smell of freshly cut grass from somewhere nearby.

Taufan thought it was the perfect day to go outside, though honestly, he would have said that about any day that gave him an excuse to take his little brother out for a walk.

Thorn was only eight months old, but he was already the most expressive baby Taufan had ever met.

Right now, he was tucked snugly in his brother's arms, facing the world with bright, curious eyes. His tiny legs kicked in excitement every few steps, like each new sight was too much for his little body to contain.

"Alright, captain" Taufan said, glancing down at him.

"Where to go first? The ducks? The swings? Or straight to the snack cart so I can get us some ice cream?"

Thorn squealed at the word ice cream, though it was doubtful he understood it, Taufan took it as an enthusiastic vote anyway.

They followed the winding path into the park, sunlight dappling over them through the canopy of trees. A group of pigeons pecked at crumbs on the walkway ahead, and the moment Thorn spotted them, his hands flailed in pure delight.

"Birds, huh? You like birds?" Taufan shifted him to one arm so he could point.

"Those are pigeons, not the fanciest of birds, but hey, they got style if you squint"

The pigeons however, were not prepared for the intensity of Thorn's joy, his squeal startled them into a fluttering cloud of gray and white feathers. Thorn gasped as if witnessing magic, his mouth forming a perfect O.

Taufan grinned.

"What? You didn't even touch them, and they ran away, you got a reputation already, little guy"

They wandered toward the duck pond next, the water sparkled in the sunlight, and ducks drifted lazily across the surface.

Taufan crouched at the edge, holding Thorn so he could lean forward safely, Thorn's tiny hands reached out as if he could scoop the ducks right out of the water.

"Easy, buddy" Taufan murmured.

"They are just saying hi from over there, no swimming today"

A mother duck quacked, and Thorn squealed again, bouncing lightly in Taufan's arms as Taufan chuckled.

"You two would get along, both loud, and both want the whole world to hear your opinion"

They kept moving, and everywhere they went, Thorn found something new to be amazed by, flower beds bursting with color, the crunch of gravel underfoot, the distant sound of a flute from a busker on a bench.

Every new detail earned a little squeak or babble, and Taufan couldn't help smiling with each one.

At one point, they passed a man blowing enormous soap bubbles that shimmered in rainbow colors.

Thorn's eyes went so wide that Taufan thought they might never return to normal size. The baby let out a string of babbles and reached out toward the drifting spheres.

"You like those, huh?" Taufan said, stepping closer so Thorn could watch them float by.

"If I had a bubble wand, I would make the biggest bubble you have ever seen"

A particularly large bubble floated right toward them, and Taufan leaned so it brushed Thorn's fingers. The bubble popped instantly, leaving a faint wetness on Thorn's skin.