as the last to enter, jamie closes it, the newly arrived pair stepping out of their shoes by the door. he beats amy to a question, though not the one andy anticipates, mentally prepared for a work question. "so this is the thing that actually splits you up? mum should've had amy fuck that kid ages ago, before you even got started."
andy pauses mid-step, feeling his fingers curl into his palm, then relax on the exhale, flattening them against his trousers. the years that kept jamie taller also managed to keep him bigger, wider, faster. his feet catch back up to the rest of his body as they wander into the living room, amy immediately setting the box on the table. "i haven't got time for this," he repeats, the effort futile as the lid comes off and board comes out. "we haven't got any beer," he turns to his brother, one hand smoothing over his hair alongside another exhale, watching as he heads for the kitchen. five things you can see -- his argyle socks, the sofa, amy on the floor, amy putting tiny coloured feet onto all of the game pieces. he's always the brown haired boy with the yellow jumper, amy is always the only girl, and jamie is always the blond with in the red top. his foot it always yellow as well, jamie's red, amy's green.
"we're taking a break after this album anyway," he says finally. they're taking a break and although he's prepared to be 'at home', he can't imagine doing nothing, even if parenting itself is a full-time job. doing it on his own has been complicated, even with bailey's help, but he feels confident that post-secretary things will go smoothly. he hears the opening and shutting of the cabinets as jamie searches for and discovers something, the opening of the refrigerator as he seeks a drink, and the successful thud of glass against the worktops. amy nods pleasantly, her smile vague and distant, but says nothing as she continues to unpack: three walls of thin cardboard are attached to a plastic tower and fitted into slots on the board.
he stoops to pick up the fear mask, running his thumb over it, then tosses it back down onto the table. jamie returns with glasses, hands large enough to carry everything in one go, and each is set before them. "sit down, andy," he instructs, pointing to a spot across from him, and andy responds automatically. he is his brother's keeper. "youngest first. what're you doing then?"
amy's arm extends to hand him the dice, and as they fall into his palm, his fingers curl inward once more. he shakes his hand, opening it on the release. five. he moves, but remains sceptical of the inquiry. this feels more like an amy question than a jamie one, and his eyes narrow. "i'm sort of trying to revive green fund? it's an old part of one of the things the family used to do, but it ... died. spinner?"
it comes to him from across the table, more thin cardboard, with a tiny arrow in the centre, and she speaks for the first time. "you're doing that and you and harlowe's label? aren't you worried that's--"
"no. that's all her, and this is all me. she didn't seem very keen on my ideas, so," he shrugs. "we're allowed to do things separately and my family not really being supportive is what you lot--ow!" he rubs at his shin beneath the table, looking towards his brother in bewilderment. "what the fuck'd you do that for?"
"you know better than to speak to people however you'd like. we've the same parents, you know." to her credit, amy looks to him sympathetically, and towards jamie with disappointment, though their brother shrugs it away as he raises his glass to his lips. "what'd you land on?" he leans over to observe the spinner, sitting back down with a laugh. "frozen with fear from the start. sounds fucking accurate. go on - mask on, mate."
"ironically, this is like the one from last night, where everyone had to pretend they don't think you and ian are being cu--"
he can sense the movement coming before he actually sees it and though he scrambles, he can't get enough momentum to get off of the ground quickly enough. jamie's arm wraps around him as he tries to tuck his chin against his chest before his brother's elbow secures itself beneath his chin. the other arm appears on his shoulder, palm flat on the back of his head. "apologise."
she stands, knee knocking against the table in her hurry to them, fingers trying to wedge themselves between skin. "jamie, let him go. this isn't funny, and it isn't why i brought you."
andy's head shake is barely perceptible, but understandable enough for the grip to tighten. his hands continue their attempts to push at his arms, but he doesn't want to panic. panic makes it worse. "he knows what he's got to do." he leans in closer to andy's ear, though his voice still carries. "it's like being kids again, isn't it? you think it's funny to be a twat and eventually i've got to step in. tell amy that she's got your blessing."
he doesn't shake his head this time, but he also doesn't tap his hand against his brother's arm in defeat. time seems to stretch into infinity and the last thing he hears is redemption. "we'll try again when you wake up."