Secrets Make You Sick

Ariel continued to watch the chess game. "So what's that piece called?" she asked, pointing at the horse.

----

Aislin leisurely made her way home and knocked on the door.

"A knight," Thatch muttered, tapping his remaining horse with a finger. "Can move two spaces and one, or one space and two. Like so." He demonstrated, taking one of his brother's bishops. Glancing up at the knock, Thatch called out. "It's open!"

Aislin opened the door, "We're home." she declared, hauling the basket to the table. "Oh, hi Alex."

He waved, then smiled at Door as she entered.

"Alex!" Door grinned, giving him a swift hug. "Hi. How are you?"

"Check," Tremor almost-laughed as Thatch glanced up to smile at Aislin.

He hugged her tightly. "Fine, how are you?"

Aislin smiled at Thatch, ruffling her hair as she passed. "How many times you lost?" she asked, getting food out of the basket.

Door sighed, so many possible answers to his question forming on her lips.
"...Fine," she said at last, smiling. "Just fine."

"I've stopped counting," Thatch grumbled, smoothing his hair down and frowning at the game board. "I'm bound to get him one of these times, though."

"I'm sure you will." Aislin said with a decisive nod. She passed the grub around "Maybe you should have some brain food?"

Ariel watched Door for a moment, before turning to Tremor. "So when did you guys learn how to play chess?"

Alex nodded, 'That's good to hear. Sorry I haven't been around much lately." he frowned.

"Sounds great," Thatch nodded, accepting whatever luvvly food Aislin had acquired.

"Around six or seven," he answered Ariel. "Used it to pass the time when Mum and Dad weren't home."

Door smiled lightly. "No problems, really. You've got your things to do."

[[Be creative. XD]]

Ariel nodded "That's pretty neat." she said.

Aislin went to fetch them some forks. "I try, I try."

Alex nodded. "I should be free the next couple of weeks, though." he said hopefully.

Door smiled up at him, grateful for the temporary distraction. "That's good," she said.

Thatch rummaged through the basket, pulling out a pile of warmish flatbreads and various toppings. "Bravo, Aislin," he said thickly through a mouthful of food. "Really."

Aislin bowed, and passed out silverware to the more civilized folk.

"You hungry, Alex?" Ariel asked, folding her bread. "There's moer than enough."

He shook his head. "I already ate; thank you, though."


She nodded. Alex glanced at Door. "Anyway, I was thinking maybe we could go for a walk or something...sometime...soon."

Glancing at Alex, Door nodded. "Okay."

"Go after you eat," Thatch suggested, grinning. "Get to know one another. Goddesses know you haven't seen enough of each other in the past few days."

{{Ah, how I missed this Thatch Angst. <3}}

[[Thatch is the Team Dad. Without a doubt...and Alex acts like the Team Mom, I swear. XD]]

Alex smiled, "There you have it. The man of the house's blessing." he laughed.

Aislin made a face as if to say "Yeah, right."

{{{OMG Tamaki and Kyouya! XDDD}}}

Door laughed. "Okay, okay. I can take a hint. I could use a walk, too."

Tremor eyed her, raising a brow as if to mention that she'd been on a walk already.

[[Oh, dear God.]]

The twins wisely stayed quiet, munching on their eats.

Alex grinned. "Eat something first," he said, pulling out a chair for her.

Door made a 'trying-to-be-annoyed' face at him, but sat nonetheless and waited for her brothers to pass around the foodstuffs.

Aislin and Ariel were quick eaters. In a matter of moments, they were finished, but waited patiently for their companions.

"What all'd I miss while I was out?" Aislin asked convesationally.

"Tremor schooling me several more times, Alex watching, Ariel trying to teach me sign language," Thatch laughed, finishing off his second flatbread smeared with jam.

Aislin laughed out loud at that last one. "What'd she teach you?"

Thatch grimaced. "Please and thankyou, and then I gave up."

Door munched, then swallowed. "I wish i'd been here to see that," she laughed.

Ariel nodded. "It was pretty pathetic." she agreed.

"Ouch," Thatch whined. "Way to gang up on me, ladies."

Door laughed, finishing her meal. "What do you expect?"

Aislin ruffled his hair from her place at his side.

"Tough love." she informed him, smiling.

Smoothing his hair down again, he frowned up at her. "Mutual, I assure you," he muttered half-crossly-but-not-really. "You guys are gonna drive me insane."

Door grinned. "You're too far gone for that, brother dear."

"Don't you have a walk to take?"

Aislin grinned, and in a rare moment of PDA, pecked his cheek and took the plates to the kitchen.

"You'll live." she informed him as she disappearded.