At first, Hop is just excited that his big bro will be home for a while. They’ll get to have movie nights, days out, sleepovers with his best friend/rival/newest champion. He can’t wait for the three of them to spend time together!
So he invites victor to sleep over with them that weekend. But when they hang out, Hop sees the way Leon looks at his friend, sees how he can’t quite meet anyone’s eyes anymore. He’s not stupid. He can tell Lee is heartbroken at losing his place as champion.
He won’t tolerate anyone making his brother miserable, even his best friend. So he fakes a bellyache, going so far as to make himself puke when Victor doesn’t take his sudden illness as the hint that it is to go home early. And it has the added benefit of keeping his big brother close, always so attentive and kind.
He tries to be extra loud, groaning and letting out embarrassing little whines after each contraction of his stomach and throat. As gross as the hot, thick liquid is, he pulls away from the toilet bowl as the last of his stomach contents force their way up and down his shirtfront.
“Lee.” he rasps, just loud enough to be heard through the bathroom door.
It slams open and Leon takes in the sight of his baby brother on the bathroom floor. Hop imagines he looks small and frail with vomit all over his hands and down his front, eyes red and streaming tears of exertion.
“Lee, water? And a towel?” He sounds pathetic, and that’s exactly what he wants. He knows Leon won’t leave him like this, no matter what he asks of him.
Leon is back with a bottle of water in an instant. He’s pulling the smaller boy into his lap, stripping him off for the bath while Hop lets himself be positioned, like a doll being dressed. He fakes being drowsy and clings to Leon, getting him filthy in the process.
“Hey, careful bud, you’re getting puke in my hair.” He’s so tender when he says it that it takes a minute for Hop to form a response.
“Come in with me.” Hop says, tugging his brother close again. “Like you used to when I was little. Please?”
The man sighs deep and Hop knows he’s got his big brother wrapped right around his finger.
