gumnut-logic: Scott has sixteen grey hairs in his fringe and about twice that on either side.Virgil

gumnut-logic: Scott has sixteen grey hairs in his fringe and about twice that on either side.Virgil knew this because he had counted them three times now.He let his head drop back over the back of the sofa and sighed.Scott had fallen asleep beside him an hour ago, too damned stubborn to go to bed. Virgil had suspected this would happen, so had stayed up beside him while sending the rest of his brothers to bed.Grandma had squeezed his shoulder as she left. He knew she was concerned, but he valued her trust in him.Virgil knew how to look after his older brother.Even if it required a butt numbing wait.The movie had been an old one they had seen many times before. Virgil had planned it that way in yet another attempt to get his brother to fall asleep.And he had. Just not in his bed.Scott slumped over, obviously fighting his own body’s needs, until his head dropped against Virgil’s shoulder. Virgil held ever so still. Scott sleeping anywhere other than his rooms was rare and the few times he did manage to collapse at their father’s desk amongst all the Tracy Industries holograms, he had been alone in the room…only to wake immediately once Virgil or one of their other brothers went looking.Scott’s sleep was fragile and precious, and Virgil was willing to do anything to protect it.So when his brother started snoring softly into Virgil’s flannel shirt, he kept as still and quiet as possible.Eventually, Virgil got daring and gently manoeuvred Scott millimetre by millimetre until his head was resting on a cushion in his lap. For a moment there, he thought he had blown it, but his brother snuffled and curled up against him and dropped into a deeper sleep.And so started his vigil.Virgil didn’t mind. He had his tablet and a backlog of both engineering and art periodicals to wade through, but his attention kept being drawn back to his brother.The plaster on Scott’s forehead was ever so white against tanned skin. It highlighted the grey in his tousled mess of hair.Virgil found himself counting and listing an event to blame for each of them.He ran out of hairs before he ran out of events.He didn’t dare brush his fingers through Scott’s hair. Didn’t trust his brother’s sleep was robust enough. So Virgil settled for cupping his head gently with one hand, barely touching him, but meeting his own need to connect nonetheless.Scott was so young.Commander, president, leader…awake he exuded so much energy and determination. The man was never still, always moving, possessing a vitality that kept this family alive.But here, asleep, face slack, all Virgil could see was that big brother from so long ago, before everything happened, before life changed and hurt them so many times over. Before burdens bowed his big brother down under so much weight.Back when they sat and did their homework together, Mom throwing out answers to questions while she tackled their younger brothers into the bath. Back when Virgil would sit out in the fields and draw, Scott hanging out with him despite the fact he couldn’t sit still. Eventually admitting that he just wanted to spend time with him.Virgil had a sketchbook somewhere full of his brothers, and amongst those drawings were ones done out in those fields. His happy, smiling and smirking big brother.Before the burdens.Virgil couldn’t help himself. He touched one of the grey hairs, brushing it between his fingers.Scott murmured in his sleep and frowned.He snatched his hand away and his brother settled again.Today had been another near miss, but Scott was safe, only a few scratches and bruises to show for it.Virgil, of course, had more nightmare material, but then that library was so vast already, it would be shoved in with the rest and barely noticed.But sitting here, looking down at his sleeping brother, he couldn’t help but try to think of ways to remove some of those burdens from Scott’s shoulders.They all took on their fair share. Virgil and John in particular took everything they could to help Scott. But still there were nights where Virgil had to drag the man away from his desk.And he always protested. Why was everyone more important than Scott Tracy?Virgil rested a hand on his brother’s arm.Why did he need to give so much? Even now, the idiot refused to go to bed despite his exhaustion.So stubborn.Scott breathed ever so softly against red flannel.Well, he was asleep now and Virgil had nothing better to do. His butt was already numb, but it was just part of the deal of being a brother to this…Great man.Another sigh.The things he would do for the idiots he loved.-o-o-o- I always love it when this one crosses my dash. It’s such a gentle moment between them and it perfectly captures the dynamic they have. That line: “it was just part of the deal of being a being a brother to this… Great man.” always floors me. Thankyou. -- source link

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