Page 15 of Aries (PAHL #1)

Aries

“Are you almost ready for breakfast?” Vin called from the stove.

“Just a minute!” Aries called back. “I only have five pieces left.” He was almost done with his puzzle, finally. He hated to leave for his away game, which they won, but it had been a harder puzzle than he thought. And Aries might have already peeked at the other puzzle that Vin had gotten him. Bats! A Goth castle. And even a graveyard.

“I’m plating the food,” Vin told him.

Aries carefully slid the last pieces into place before sitting back to admire his work.

With Vin’s help, Aries was starting to understand that his littleness might look different to what Aries had seen in the clubs but worked for the two of them. It had only been a few days, a little over a week, but he and Vin had fallen into a dynamic that they were comfortable with.

Vin made all the big decisions. Had them on schedule, meals, exercise and practice, but always giving Aries quiet time that he needed and had never had before. When his Daddy sat Aries down with a task, Aries’s mind stopped spinning, and he could just be.

Aries had never known what this stillness felt like. Not before Vin.

“Little one?”

Aries jumped up to his feet. He scurried across the room to climb up on the stool in his cute jammie set that Vin had ordered from an online store that catered to littles like him. Vin even wore a shirt that said Daddy on it that Aries had found at the same store.

He grinned at the bunny pancakes on his plastic plate.

Aries might not be into diapers or bottles, at least not yet, but he loved his fun clothes and little accessories. “Bunnies!” He clapped his hands.

Vin set his plastic cup with the spiral straw sticking out beside Aries’s elbow.

“Try not to get syrup all over you,” Vin requested.

“Bath?” Aries suggested. Bath time with Daddy was awesome. Aries got bubbles and toys and just like when he was given a task before a game, he went all floaty when Vin took care of him.

“Yes, you can have a bath after breakfast but remember you didn’t like me having to scrape the syrup out of your hair.”

Yeah, that had sucked. “K!” He kicked his feet as he picked up his plastic fork.

He was just about to take a bite when someone knocked on his door.

“I get it!” Aries raced toward the front door and whoever was visiting him. He loved visitors!

“Aries! No!” Vin yelled.

Aries already had the front door halfway open. He glanced over his shoulder to see Vin’s panicked face.

“Hello, brother!”

Aries turned slowly back to his guest when it hit him. He was in his little gear. There were toy cars on the floor of his living room. He was pretty sure that his paci was still hanging from the clip on his shirt.

Vin was behind him, rubbing his back.

Gem grinned at him from the hall. His gaze traveled up and down Aries, but the smile only grew. “Can I come in?”

Aries shook his head frantically.

Gem’s smile fell.

“It’s okay,” Vin whispered.

No, no it wasn’t. Aries slammed the door in Gem’s face.

“Hey!” Gem shouted from the hall. He started to knock on the door.

“Baby.” Vin turned Aries to face him. “It’s okay. Gem’s going to understand.”

“I’m little!” Aries reminded his Daddy.

“I know, baby. I also think that Gem figured that out. You can’t just leave him outside.”

“Can too.” Aries crossed his arms over his chest.

Gem banged on the door harder. “Come on! Let me in!”

“Do you want to change first?” Vin asked.

“You said I could stay in my play clothes!” Aries had been looking forward to a low-key day before their game tonight.

“That’s before your brother showed up,” Vin said.

“I don’t want to change!” Aries stomped his foot. He was so cute! Vin said so!

“Then can we let your brother in so we can talk this out?” Vin asked.

“No,” Aries replied.

“Baby.” Vin hugged him close. “He’s your brother. He loves you. I won’t let him tease you.”

“But this is special between us,” Aries whined. He didn’t want to share his little time with anyone other than Vin. Gem would understand. Aries’s wasn’t afraid of what his brother would say. He just liked being Vin’s little one.

“I thought you missed your brother.”

He did! Dang it! “I do.”

“Why don't you finish eating? I’ll let Gem in and talk to him.”

Was that better? It was for Aries because that meant that Vin had to deal with the grown-up stuff and Aries could eat his bunny cakes. “Okay.”

He ran across the room and back to his stool so he didn’t have to worry about anything else. Aries shoved a big bite into his mouth before he looked over to see Vin open the door and slip out into the hall.

Huh, what were they talking about? Him obviously. But how would Gem react to finding out something that Aries himself didn’t fully understand? He just knew that being with Vin and allowing himself to be cared for was giving him a sense of peace that Aries had never known before. He couldn’t explain it to himself so how was he supposed to explain it to his brother?

Aries also didn’t want to give up his little time.

He was scraping the last of his food from his plate when someone sat beside him. Aries didn’t even lift his head. He knew by scent and body type that it wasn’t Vin joining him.

“Hey,” Gem said quietly.

“Hey.” Aries didn’t look up from his empty plate.

“I’m sorry I surprised you. I thought it would be a good surprise.”

Dang it! It was. Aries peered at his brother from the corner of his eye. “It is.”

“But I caught you unaware and that’s never fun.”

Aries squirmed.

Gem leaned against his shoulder against Aries’s. “We don’t have to talk about it, but can I just say that I think you look adorable.”

That caught his attention. Aries narrowed his eyes. “Really?”

Gem nodded seriously.

Aries rolled his shoulders before he beamed. “Did you see my jammies?” He pointed at his shirt.

“I did.”

“I am the cutest ever!” Aries bragged.

Gem laughed. He looked over to where Vin was picking up the toys Aries had dragged out earlier. Aries didn’t have much yet. Toys didn’t have a huge draw for him but sometimes it was fun to make zoom zoom noises as he ran toys around Vin and over Vin and against Vin’s hot tattoos. “And now you have more than just a boyfriend?”

Aries ducked his head but nodded. It was pretty obvious what Vin was to Aries since Vin was wearing a shirt that claimed his Daddy in big ol words. Aries’s had been proud to find that shirt when Vin had filling up an online cart for Aries. Aries wasn’t the only one in the relationship.

“You seemed really happy when you opened the door. I didn’t mean to take that from you.”

“I’m still happy,” Aries whispered. “Just embarrassed.”

“Why?” Gem poked his shoulder. “We both know there could never be a more adorable little then you.”

That was true. When Aries had finally embraced his little self and stopped worrying about doing things wrong he’s really enjoyed it.

“And you know my secret,” Gem reminded him. “You’ve been nothing but supportive to me. You’ll never get any judgment from me.”

That perked him up. “Ha! We’re all kinky! That’s funny. I wonder if Mama knows.”

Gem groaned. “Don’t use the words kinky and Mama in the same sentence.”

That was funny. And Aries hadn’t even hugged his brother. He launched himself off the stool and into Gem’s arms. The stool under Gem tilted and Aries found himself on the kitchen floor. Luckily, he landed on top of his brother so no harm, no foul! Aries couldn’t have planned that any better.

“You little brat!” Gem yelled. He hugged Aries tight though, so he wasn’t really mad.

Aries sat up on Gem’s chest and patted his cheeks. Hard. “I missed you, my grumpy brother!”

“I missed you too you, little menace,” Gem said, grinning wide.

“We are so going to kick your ass tonight! And if I score two goals, Vin’s buying me ice cream after the game,” Aries shared. It was polite to warn Gem.

Tucking his hands under his head, like he was in the most comfortable place in the world instead of sprawled on Aries’s hard kitchen floor with Aries sitting on his chest, Gem snorted. “You aren’t scoring.”

Aries held up two fingers. “Twice.”

“Taking the goalie out before we even get to the arena doesn’t count,” Vin said as he passed them.

“I was just hugging my brother.” Aries batted his eyelashes at Vin. He was completely innocent. The stool failed them. It happened a lot with furniture when Aries was around his brothers.

Vin lifted Aries from his perch on top of Gem. He offered Gem his hand after setting Aries back on his feet.

“Thanks, man,” Gem said once he stood next to Aries.

“Hungry?” Vin questioned.

Gem shrugged. “I could eat.”

They were shifters. They could all always eat. “I’m still hungry too!” He was only a little hungry, but if Vin was going to cook for anyone, it should be him.

“I’ll make more pancakes,” Vin agreed.

“Yes!” Aries danced in place. Vin was the best.

* * * * *

Vin

Aries wiggled beside him on the bench.

“What’s the matter?” he asked, leaning closer.

“I only scored one goal,” Aries whined.

They were up one to zero and winning with six minutes left in the final period. “We’re winning.”

Lifting his head, Aries scowled. “But ice cream!”

“Ice cream?” Shawn poked his head around Aries.

Aries turned toward him. “If I score two goals on Gem.”

“I want ice cream,” Shawn demanded.

Aries nodded. “We totally have to score. And I want two scoops this time.”

Vin always delivered on his promises. “I didn’t agree to that.”

“But—” Aries poked out his bottom lip.

Vin rolled his eyes.

Robbs nudged him. “It’s almost our turn.”

“Thanks.” Vin straightened but Robbs tilted his mouth to Vin’s ear.

“I kind of want ice cream now too,” Robbs said.

“Christ! Fine, but everyone get your head back in the game,” Vin ordered.

Aries clapped but he was also the first one on the ice when it was their turn.

They were all having to work hard to get even one goal ahead of Orlando and they couldn’t get too cocky and give up a tying goal either. The next three minutes were frantic and amazing moments of hockey. Gem saved a goal from being tipped in by their captain. Zany was all over the place, covering his own net, totally in the zone. Two goals or not, Vin would be buying the team ice cream. He should buy stock as much money as he’d been spending on it since Aries came into his life.

His line was back on the ice as the clock ran down. Less than a minute now.

Aries broke away from his defenseman who didn’t seem prepared and darted down the ice. He was too fast for the rest of them to catch up. On a breakaway, Aries headed right for his brother.

Vin caught his breath when Aries wound up and sent the puck flying over Gem’s left shoulder. The goalie just a second too slow to make the save.

Aries threw his arms up in the air as the crowd in the arena went wild.

Vin skated forward while the rest of the team congratulated Aries. Once his teammates had skated away to prepare for the faceoff, Vin bumped the front of his helmet against Aries’s.

“Ice cream, Daddy,” Aries told him.

Vin grinned. “Two scoops.”

“Woo-hoo!” Aries threw his arms up again.

Vin’s heart was trying to beat out of his chest. It was the first time that Aries had ever called Vin the honorific Daddy. He couldn’t wait to hear it again and again.

Before Vin could totally lose his shit on ice and start crying or something embarrassing like that, Aries turned and flashed two fingers at his brother.

Gem skated out of his crease and threw his blocker at Aries.

Aries cackled all the way back to the bench.