Trooper Station, Monday, January 4, 2021

[grenadesandohana]

Steve, sling and all, was back in the office and as part of the New Year's Resolution the Troopers didn't know they'd made, had everyone out and running in the cold bright and early that morning.

And now, Steve felt, he was being punished for caring about their heart health. The phone was ringing constantly--misdials from a number where people could scream and hang up--but the Troopers had all come down with a case of sudden deafness.

The phone rang again. Steve shot a baleful look at Ralph, who was ignoring him. "Troo--" he began just as the shrieking started.

So far 2021 was off to a stellar start.

Comments

[knife_bender]

Diego couldn't hang out in his own damn apartment anymore, apparently, so work it was.

"Hey if a tiny kid wearing knee socks comes in here, do not let him know which desk is mine." He was finally getting his food stash built up so he wouldn't have to keep stealing from Danny.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve blinked slowly. "Knee socks?"

[knife_bender]

"Knee socks," Diego repeated. "Trust me, you'll know him when you see him."

[grenadesandohana]

Well, knee socks.

"Why would he want your desk?"

[knife_bender]

"Well he already stole my Poptarts, I don't want him getting at the other stuff!" Diego...he was not handling this brother thing well.

[grenadesandohana]

"Stuff like snacks or stuff like weapons?" Steve asked.

[knife_bender]

"Snacks." He had Oreos in there!

[grenadesandohana]

"Good snacks?"

Steve.

[knife_bender]

"They're my snacks," Diego said. "Steal from Danny like everyone else does."

And by everyone else he meant him.

[grenadesandohana]

"I'm not going to steal Danny's snacks," Steve said. "He'll bitch about it for a hundred million years."

[knife_bender]

“I mean, he’ll probably think it was me,” Diego said. “You’d get away with it.”

[grenadesandohana]

"Why would he blame you?" Steve asked, grinning. "He loves to blame me for stuff."

[knife_bender]

“I think he caught on it was me when I broke into his desk on Saturday and the snacks had a little bow around them like a Christmas gift.” Danny probably hadn’t outright yelled at him yet because he was just happy Diego was eating.

Such a mom friend.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve didn't know how silly the smile on his face as he heard that was. "He's such a mother hen."

[knife_bender]

Ugh, Steve, he didn't need to see your dopey looks about Danny.

"The kid is my brother, by the way," he said. "So, you know, annoy him all you want. Just no snacks."

[grenadesandohana]

Steve and Five meeting would end in bloodshed, probably. "Oh, siblings," Steve said, nodding understandingly. "Your snacks are safe with me, man. I'll make sure Calvin doesn't take 'em, either."

[knife_bender]

"Thanks, man," Diego said, clapping a hand on Steve's good shoulder. "I knew you'd understand."

[grenadesandohana]

Something occurred to Steve. "Did you wear knee socks as a kid, too, or is this a weird little sibling thing?"

[knife_bender]

"Weird little sibling thing," Diego lied. Yeah as if he was gonna let Steve know about that. He'd never hear the end of it.

[grenadesandohana]

"My sister Mary has different colored hair every time I see her, so I get it," Steve said.

Steve did not remotely get it.

[knife_bender]

Oh, Steve. You were in for a world of annoyance if Five ever showed up here.

"It's sort of like that, yeah." No, no it was not. "Just...keep an eye out."