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Creak. “Are they awake?” A harsh whisper broke the tranquillity of the bedroom as Bam was roused from sleep but kept his eyes closed. Aguero behind him grumbled and snuggled closer, tightening his grip around Bam’s waist.
“Should we wake them?” the reply was too low for Bam to catch, but Deng Deng must have said something back because Louie whined. “But if we don’t wake them up now, then Uncle Aguero’s gonna take forever to get his hair done, and we’ll be late.”
“Hear that?” Bam whispered to his partner. “We’re going to be late.”
“To where?” Aguero grumbled back. “The funfair is Wednesday, visiting your parents is Tuesday, dodging mine is Friday and Christmas is still two weeks away. I refuse to move.” Trust Aguero to maximize the rare occurrence of a two-week holiday that applied to everyone in their home. What would you call a Bridezilla but for holiday plans? Bam had no idea, but Aguero most likely fit the bill regardless.
“And me?”
“You’re a hostage. Now shush, if we go really quiet-”
Aguero was cut off by the depression of the bed and a sudden sharp exhale as the full force of an overly bright seven-year-old shattered their warm cocoon.
“Louie!”
The accused giggled as Bam rolled away, groaning and Aguero sat up, hair sticking up blue eyes threatening murder. “But if I didn’t, we would be late.” Louie protested as he dodged Aguero’s reaching arms. “Good morning!”
“Good morning,” another voice echoed softly.
“Hi there bud,” Bam said as he swung his feet to the ground and opened his arms to accept Deng Deng’s hug. “Mind telling me what it is we should be getting ready for before Louie ends up in trouble?”
“It’s December 8th today,” Louie chimed in beating Deng Deng to respond. “And it’s snowing already. So we have to go to the lake today to see the fish!”
“Anything special about December 8th?” Aguero queried as he finally managed to trap Louie in his arms before dropping the boy on his feet, following suit soon after. The boy quickly moved out of Aguero’s range.
“It’s a secret!” Louie announced triumphantly. “So we have to tame our manes and brush our furs! We have to get there early!” He widened his dark blue eyes before turning to Bam. A frontal assault today, I see. “Please, please. It won’t take too long!”
Bam heard Aguero distinctly mutter something about stupid cartoons teaching kids weird stuff, but Louie’s crescendoing pleas drowned that out.
“Please?” Deng Deng echoed, pressing into the warmth of Bam’s chest eyes peeking out at him.
Well, he couldn’t say no now. “Please Aguero?”
Icy blue eyes swept across the trio of pleading profiles before a long-suffering sigh escaped. The ensuing victory cry from Louie caused visible regret to flash on Aguero’s face as the dark-haired kid grabbed his brother’s arm and ran out of the room before Aguero had a moment to rethink his choice. Bam absently
“I wonder who they take after,” the blue-haired man grumbled as he got to his feet.
“Yeah me too,” Bam replied fondly as he leaned over to drop a peck on Aguero’s cheek. “I’ll go get breakfast ready.”
Aguero returned the gesture walking in the direction of the bathroom as Bam headed for the kitchen.
~~
“Louie’s superstitious and sensitive,” Deng Deng said, swinging his feet to and fro in an unsteady rhythm. Aguero didn’t say anything, giving him the time to get everything in his head out in the open. “He gets really hurt and acts out if you forget something like birthdays or holidays.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“It’s best that you do.” Deng Deng replied, eyes locked on his prospective brother playing kickball with Baam a few feet away. “He gets hurts easy.”
~~
“Gloves?” The two boys raised their hands for inspection in reply. “Scarfs?” Louie tugged at the one wrapped snugly around his neck. “Winter boots?” Deng Deng raised his left foot.
Aguero nodded in satisfaction as Bam walked into the hallway.
“Everyone ready?”
“Yeah yeah!” Louie replied almost dancing in place. “Let’s go. Let’s go!”
He was out the door first, Deng Deng hot on his heels as they entered the car. Aguero locked the front door as Bam slid into the driver’s seat.
Aguero entered the passenger’s seat and turned on the radio as Bam drove out of their driveway. “Carols, carols and more carols,” Aguero said, decidedly unimpressed as he twisted the dial around.
“Yes, more of the fun stuff!” Louie cheered, willfully ignoring Aguero’s grumbles. After another two twists, he suddenly yelled excitedly “Leave this one! That’s Deng Deng’s favourite carol.”
Aguero obliged, turning up the volume as Louie started to sing along. Bam didn’t recognize it nor could he make out any of the lyrics because words were being fired at miles per second but the beat was catchy enough to have him drumming it out against the steering wheel.
They pulled up into the park’s parking lot not long after the song ended. Outside of the windows, they could see only the uppermost layer of pale white blanketing the grounds of the local soccer pitch. The visible walking paths weren’t crowded enough for Bam to feel iffy about the outing.
Louie hopped vigorously into the snow from the car, sending snow to Aguero’s window. Deng Deng quickly followed, a small smile plastered on his face. He walked forward a bit further from the car before he fell into snow back first and began to sweep his limbs up and down. He paused for a moment, sat up and spun around searching before his eyes stopped on a figure still waiting by the car as the adults got out.
“Louie, Louie!” Deng Deng wove his arm to grab the other boy’s attention. “Louie! Come make a snow angel!”
Louie’s face brightened at the invitation and pulled Uncle Bam and Uncle Aguero’s hands. “Coming!”
~~
“Deng Deng’s not like the other kids,” Louie said, eyes locked on the fidget spinner in his hand though both Bam and Aguero could tell that his attention had already wandered.
“That doesn’t mean that he’s weird or creepy or avoids us,” Louie hurried to add on, raising his face to expose his alarm. “He just gets very quiet sometimes, and he’s very sensitive. He reminds me of… the best friend from the novels Big Sis Mera likes to read; the type to drop everything and come running if I so much as sniffle.”
“He sounds like a good friend,” Bam replied. Aguero’s thought flickered back to the black-and-white-haired boy who had sat beside him, eyes carefully watching his friend at play.
“He’s the absolute best,” Louie grinned but the next second the smile faltered. “That’s why I don’t want to go anywhere he can’t follow.”
~~
“My hair is wet,” Aguero complained as he pushed the door to the indoor sports centre open. He held it open as the rest of their group shuffled into the warmth.
“But it still looks really nice,” Deng Deng said.
Oh, sweet boy, that’s not the point. “Thank you,” Aguero sighed as he patted his head.
“Louie! Deng Deng!”
Louie waved and greeted as he stepped forward. “Hi, Addie.” A blond pigtailed girl in a violet coat stopped inches away from him.
“Hello Mr. Bam and Mr. Aguero,” Addie greeted before she reached into her pocket. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement. “It’s a good thing that I bumped into you and Deng Deng here,” she said as she pulled up a clear transparent bag with dark squares inside. “I’m going down with my moms to see my Nana and Pop for Christmas, so my present will have to wait.”
“Present?” Louie echoed. “You got me a present?”
“What? Don’t be silly. I meant that your present for me will have to wait since I won’t be here on Christmas day.”
“I didn’t get you a gift.”
“What?” Addie squawked before puffing out her cheeks. “Well get me one then. Anyway, I came here to give you these. Deng Deng, come here.”
“Me?” the boy replied, pointing to himself as he obeyed and walked closer. “What do you-”
Addie shoved something into Deng Deng’s mouth. “That’s for you, because if I just gave you the bag, you wouldn’t eat it, just give it all to Louie. It’s delicious right? I made them with Mama, she’s a really good baker. I have to go now, Mama’s calling.” Addie ducked her head at the adults in farewell before waving and running off.
“Do you want a brownie?” Louie offered, giving Bam the bag. “Free hot chocolate is this way, the café. Then we can go to the lake.”
Bam accepted the bag. “I’ll just hold on to it for you. Let’s go get you guys your hot chocolate.”
“With marshmallows, cinnamon, and nutmeg,” Louie added, reverently clasping his hands together dramatically. “Come on, let’s hurry.”
~~
“Are you sure?” Aguero’s mug halted its ascent and the warm wafts of tomato soup moistened his upper lip. Cool blue eyes dragged their vision from the living room’s wallpaper to focus on Bam.
“Are you getting cold feet?” Aguero asked with a raised eyebrow as he set his mug down on the countertop and walked over to stand in front of him.
“No,” Bam replied firmly. “This is something I want, but I just want to make sure it’s something that we both want.”
It was something that he was willing to try. Wasn’t that enough? Whatever misgivings he had would either disappear or flourish. All he could give it was time.
All he had to offer was his time.
~~
“Yummy!” Louie gasped after his first gulp.
“Be careful with that,” Aguero reprimanded as he used a napkin to wipe away a stray clump of whipped cream. “Don’t burn your tongue. We’re not in a rush today.”
He took a leisure sip from his own cup of black coffee, keeping a careful watch on Louie and Deng Deng as they nursed their tall glasses. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Bam watching with an overly honey-sweet look in his gold pupils.
“I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen you so relaxed,” Bam answered his silent query. “I like it.”
Almost seven years together and Aguero’s cheeks still had an influx of heat whenever Bam said he liked something he did. When did I become such a fucking sap? He lamented, keeping his outward expression unchanged. No matter how knowing Bam looked, Aguero would vehemently deny that his cheeks were ever pink.
“Done!” Louie cheered, gaining Aguero’s attention.
“Wipe your mouth, Louie,” Aguero instructed. The boy took a paper napkin from the table and complied.
“I’m finished too,” Deng Deng said, wiping his mouth.
Three pairs of expectant eyes turned to Aguero holding his cup. “I’m not done with my coffee yet. Like I said before, we’re not in a hurry.”
Call him petty, but Louie’s affronted whine gave him fleeting satisfaction and a contented smile.
“Okay, okay, fine. You guys can go ahead with Bam. I can catch up.”
“No, we’ll wait,” the boys said in almost perfect unison. “It has to be all of us together,” Louie added, dropping his head to the table with a defeated pout on his lips.
“Well you’re in luck,” Aguero said as he drained the dregs of his cup. “Let’s go.”
Bam reached out to hold his hand and Aguero wrapped their fingers together. “Lead the way, Louie,” Bam called after thanking the waiter.
“Yeah!” Louie threw his hand out eastward with renewed energy. “To the lake!”
~~
“Do they make you happy, sweetie?”
“More than I can put into words, Mum.”
“Your father and I can’t wait to meet them. Come over soon.”
“We will. Talk to you later, love you.”
“Love you too.”
~~
“We’re here!” Louie announced as the wet sound of ice being crushed paused.
The party of four were standing some feet away from a small lake whose surface was frozen over. The location was partly obscured by thick foliage on either side. It wasn’t something you would find if you didn’t go looking for it.
“Come. I want to show you the fish!” Louie excitedly yanked Aguero’s hand forward, inadvertently pulling Bam forward as well. Deng Deng had already fallen to his knees at the edge, peering at the surface.
“Louie! Snowy’s still here…or someone who looks like him,” Deng Deng said, leaning forward to tap on the ice.
Bam reached out to pull him back. “I was being careful,” Deng Deng protested but didn’t resist Bam’s hold.
“I know,” Bam replied simply.
“Isn’t it super cool?” Louie asked, his voice wistful. “Even if the seasons change, they can still stay in their home without trouble. I used to think that the whole lake would freeze but then I saw on TV that it was just the top layer.”
It was something Aguero was familiar with, and Bam by proxy, because he was an aquatic life fanatic, but there was something fascinating watching Louie as he rambled on about facts.
“I used to be jealous of them,” Louie said, moving over to stand by Aguero. “They never had to look for another place to go because no one ever threw trash in here and even the snow couldn’t chase them away.” He beamed at them. “I’m not that jealous anymore, but it’s still so cool to see.”
“If you like fish so much, how about I take us to an aquarium?” Aguero asked, unable to stave off the mushy smile he knew he had on his face. It was okay, it was only Bam and the kids that saw him like this, anyway.
“Really? Oh, can we? Can we?” Louie cheered.
“Let’s think about it on the way back to the car,” Bam interjected. “We still need to pack for next week.”
“Hear that, Deng Deng?” Louie vibrated as he held Aguero’s hand. “An aquarium!”
The other two started to go back but Deng Deng lingered a bit, eyes glancing between the lake and Bam.
“Something the matter?” Bam asked lightly as he reached for the boy’s hand.
“Can we come back next year?” Deng Deng asked.
“I don’t see why not.” Bam smiled at the faint look of surprise. “We can make it a family tradition.”
“Family...tradition…” Deng Deng repeated like the phrase was something precious and delicate. Like he was scared that if he uttered it too loudly, it would lose its value.
“Yeah, we’ll all come back next year. Would you like that?”
Deng Deng squeezed Bam’s hand and clutched at his scarf as he beamed. “Yeah, I would like that a lot.