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[rexthebuilder]

I can't come to the phone right now because I'm either kicking EVO butt or hanging out with friends. Leave a message after the beep, and I'll get back to you pronto!

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[rexthebuilder]

Rex closes his eyes and becomes boneless. "I dunno, the fact you landed a babe like Magne is pretty scary."

A teasing affirmation.

[pineapplesalmon]

César's next laugh is less winded, moving one arm to lay it across Rex's back. "The Salazar charm works wonders."

[rexthebuilder]

Rex starts laughing. "No way! You're too old."

[pineapplesalmon]

"Then how were you born when I was nearly seventeen?" César shoots back, firing off a volley over a decade in the making.

[rexthebuilder]

"I—" DEAD. STOP.

[rexthebuilder]

His smile flips upside down with confusion.

[rexthebuilder]

Realization strikes and his eyes widen, his mouth in a little 'o'.

[rexthebuilder]

A full body reaction to that. "Oh, ew!"

[pineapplesalmon]

César shakes with silent laughter. He didn't see that reaction, but he sure felt that.

[rexthebuilder]

"I've reconsidered my position on fratricide. You should come lay on the couch so I can smother you with a pillow."

[pineapplesalmon]

"Ha, ha. No."

[rexthebuilder]

"Jerk." A pause, then very hesitantly, not sure if César's going to tell him a terrible answer. "How come we're so far apart anyways?"

[pineapplesalmon]

César raises his free hand in a very loose fist that bursts open and wiggles his fingers down back to the ground. "Peeww! ¡Sorpresa!"

[rexthebuilder]

Rex attempts to smother himself against César's chest instead, words muffled. "Please tell me that wasn't—"

[pineapplesalmon]

"It's confetti." César's enjoying himself a bit too much, and wow, Rex, what a dirty brain you have.

[rexthebuilder]

"Oh THANK GOD."

[pineapplesalmon]

"Papí's vas deferens spontaneously rejoined, and Mama realized she was pregnant about when I started university in Geneva. That's why we settled down to start with."

[rexthebuilder]

"... Huh." Rex absorbs that. "You just said that in the least gross way possible. Thanks, I think? So I wasn't planned but wanted."

[pineapplesalmon]

"You're welcome. And you were very wanted." César's voice is full of love. "There was some risk with you being a geriatric pregnancy and all, but Geneva has world class healthcare. Our parents hadn't started new jobs yet, so it was kind of just perfect timing. Both took a couple years off to spend time with you. And I got to spend quite a bit of time with you, too."

[rexthebuilder]

"That... sounds really nice. Wish I could remember that." Once again, amnesia sucks; Rex sighs softly.

[pineapplesalmon]

"People rarely remember their baby or toddler years. You were the same way." César reassures him, free hand smoothing down his hair.

[rexthebuilder]

Rex won't admit his relief that the amnesia couldn't have taken that away from him in the first place. "Oh. Right. Baby. ... weren't you like, annoyed that you were helping with me? Or that I woke everyone up crying at night?"

César's told him about their parents before, but he's never been this open and relaxed about it. ... huh. It's probably because they know their parents are alive now, isn't it? He did say he had been grieving—

oh. It's easier to talk about when your family isn't dead, isn't it?

[pineapplesalmon]

"Quite the opposite. 1. I offered to help. Literal babysitting, and when you were older, occasional adventures. Wanted to help our parents. Wanted to spend time with you. Wanted to see if I wanted kids."

[rexthebuilder]

Rex decides he wants to breathe easier and shifts so his cheek instead of his face is against his brother's chest. It's an awkward position and a little uncomfortable, but his nanites don't let him get too sore. There's a soft smile on his face. Brother's don't usually lay on each other like this, but... if César helped with him, he probably likes that. Kids like to crawl all over their adults without any understanding of personal space.

"And? Do you?"

[pineapplesalmon]

A warm laugh. "I do. Magne's pretty sure she does, too. At least two, I think. I didn't realize how important siblings were until I met you."