darker_london | The Dragon Master (Quinn, Eamon, Maree, Bob)

Shopping with the parents was usually a passive exercise, considering Maree and Bob liked to spoil their boys, and when Quinn or Eamon insisted that they didn't need something, they were told to hush. It was best to simply 'hush' from the beginning. That didn't mean that Eamon and Quinn didn't go follow them around, just to make sure their parents didn't decide they needed a pool or a pony or something.

It was also the perfect opportunity to talk. Bob and Maree were distracted by exploits of a consumerish nature, and the boys could have a conversation without them ever noticing. Which was why Quinn had no qualms about elbowing Eamon in the ribs when his parents got enough ahead of them not to notice that either.

"Ow! You just elbowed me in my scar!" Eamon gave Quinn a strange look as he massaged his side. "What in the hell was that for?"

Quinn ignored the thing about the scar, because he didn't want to focus on the fact that Eamon had taken a bullet for him when he was busy trying to get the situation out of Eamon. "What did you do?!" he hissed, his voice low not out of necessity, but because it felt like a situation where hissing was warranted.

Eamon raised one eyebrow and a moment later he smiled and shook his head. He had no need to ask Quinn what he was on about. He knew. "I swear to Christ, you and Adrina are like two little high school girls when you're working as a team. It's incredibly endearing. I told her I loved her." Eamon didn't elaborate on why that was such a big deal, because it was Adrina's story to tell if she wanted.

Quinn blinked and then he gave Eamon a funny look. "And you do right? Because if you lie to her, as the best friend I have a sacred responsibility to threaten your well-being. Even if you are built like a brick wall."

"Eh, I'd let you. If I didn't, you'd end up hurt and then your boyfriend would have the responsibility to break me in half and he might be smaller than me, but he's kind of scary when his eyes go all twinkly and small..."

Quinn nodded, because it was true, but he didn't dwell. "You didn't answer my question."

"I know. Q, of course I love Adrina. Who wouldn't love Adrina!? I'm kind of surprised I didn't have to claw my way on top of a pile of guys just to be able to do it first."

"Heeheehee climb on top of guys!"

"Oh- Q, will you pay attention!" Eamon hissed, though he was smiling. "You know what I meant, you dirty boy."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy your unfortunate turn of phrase anyway. And I know what you mean. She's awesome, and people should love her. Just...be careful with her, okay?"

Eamon nodded. "I will, Q. I'm figuring it out. Slowly, but I'll get there. I just hope...argh, I hope I'm enough for her."

Quinn swiveled his eyes around to meet his brother's and he was silent for a moment, contemplating. "Eamon?"

"Hmm?"

"Why would you think you're not enough for her?"

"Oh..." Eamon blew out a breath and then he glanced forward to make sure their parents were still going nuts filling pantries that didn't necessarily need filling. They were. "I don't know. I feel inadequate sometimes. She can do all these things. She speaks Russian and she loves poetry and she sings and plays piano...well I can play piano, but not like she can. And next week she'll decide she wants to learn to...breathe fire or something, so she'll find a course and learn and end up mastering the technique in three weeks and then I'll be dating Adrina the Singer slash Dragon Master or something and all I do is hack and that seems kind of lame in comparison."

"Eamon...you accidentally hacked your way into the government mainframe while on break at work..."

"Yeah." Eamon shrugged, as if that was somehow no big deal. "And I got fired for it. Awesome, go team!" Eamon made an extremely sarcastic 'oh yeah!' gesture and then he gave Quinn a Look.

"Ah, the sarcasm is helpful," Quinn joked, poking Eamon in the ribs, this time gently. "You're being too critical of yourself. Just be there for her. Since when are you self-conscious?"

"Since I started dating the Dragon Master!" Eamon hissed, just as Bob sidled up to them.

"What about dragons?" Bob asked, patting Quinn on the shoulder.

"Nothing, Dad. I'm telling Eamon about Lord of the Rings, since he is an uncultured boor when it comes to decent fantasy writing." Quinn gave Eamon a cheerful grin, and Eamon just shook his head, amused.

"Sure, sure." Bob pointed to where his wife was standing. "Mum wants to know if you have enough room in your freezer for twenty kilos of ground beef."

"WHA...Mum! No!" Quinn frantically waved his arms at his mother to signal, 'cease and desist' and she cheerfully waved hello back at him. "Oh, for fuck's-" Quinn sighed and he darted over to her to try to keep her from spending their entire savings on food for his freezer.

Eamon glanced at Bob and then he smiled nervously. "Heh...wizards and...ahem. So, how are you?"

Bob just smiled at his son and he clapped him on the back. "I know girls can be confusing, Son. It doesn't get easier, but it's worth it."

"How do you do that!>" Eamon asked, his eyes narrowed.

"I just know the look. Come on, it looks like your mother's about to throw down..." Bob scuttled off to save Quinn from Maree's wrath and Eamon snorted and followed.

His family was insane. And that was probably the best thing ever.