This was an incredibly stupid idea and he had no one to blame but himself.

With classes just now letting out, Scott Erlea was finally getting around to holiday shopping and this was these absolute worst time to do so, as he had to fight his way through the crowds, eventually giving in and grabbing his little self-proclaimed side kick before someone could trample the poor child! Paul, ever the eager to please and simply happy with being within the presence of his oldest brother, made a 'weeee' noise as Scott threw the four year old onto his shoulders. Once he was securely fastened (and by that, he meant that he was pulling at his blonde strands and threatening to make him bald before he was in his twenties), Scott returned to the grueling task of bull rushing his way through the crowded shopping center, never once letting Paul see the frustration on his face or the scowl he wore.

"Faster, Scotty, faster!" Paul shouted from on top his mount, seeing the rush of people but not understanding the reason nor sensing the rising tension and aggrivation that rose from them. He felt their energy and in turn it made him energetic and almost rambunctious, much to Scott's dismay, but his happy laughter was the only thing keeping him sane right now. "Hey, Scotty?"

"Yes?" Scott had a feeling that a game of twenty questions was in the making, and while it could have been extremely annoying for both himself and the other frantic last minute buyers, he was willing to engage. Maybe it's keep him from punching the pushy woman next to him? "What you need?"

"Nothing... but why you shopping?" Paul asked, tightening his grip when another shopper threatened to push both of them down and he gave a half-hearted ‘sorry’ before moving on, and Scott gave an annoyed sneer before pushing his way through to another store, maybe one with less people crowding the door. Meanwhile, Paul kept on talking, looking around at all the people and enjoying the height- everything looked so different up here! “I thought you already got our gifts?”

“I did.” Scott said, then yelped when he felt a woman’s heel to his foot. He tried to bite back his curse, but he let some of that venom seep into his voice as he talked to his baby brother. “Got yours and mom’s and dad’s. Just doing some last minute shopping…”

Again with the questions, but he was four years old and understood so little, and there was so much for him to learn! How could Scott stay angry at that? “Is it for Isha? What you gonna get him? You think he’ll like it?”

It was a painful subject to bring up, and off all the times Scott wanted someone or something to get in the way and distract him from the question, it seemed that everyone sensed this and were willing to give him the space he needed. He didn’t want to talk about it, but Paul had grown so attached to Isha in such a short amount of time… maybe he’d understand better than he could. “Yes and no. He told me not to get him a gift because he’d be going somewhere… and it’d be awhile before he returned. The one I’m getting the gift for is someone that… uh… I’d rather you not tell the others about.”

“Is it for a giiiiiiiiiiiiiiirl?” Paul asked, tightening his grip and leaning forward to where he was looking at his brother’s face, and he was damn lucky that, as uncoordinated as Scott was, that he managed to keep both himself and Paul balanced, though that look he gave him almost made him want to push the little brat over. “It’s okay. I won’t laugh. Girls are cool, if you like one.”

It was hard not to blush, though as hard as he tried, he was certain he’d fail. Regardless, he had to find something in this madhouse, and he wasn’t going to get that done trying to be beta about it. He pushed his way into the closest store, causing Paul to giggle as he let out the strangest battle cry he’d ever give in his life. “Yes, I like girls. Girls are nice. They’re just scary… sometimes. But… I gotta get a gift for this one! Something Penelope would like… now hold on!”

((Word Count: 735))