She Doesn't Bite

== Revised text ==
Date/Timing: 19 January 2019, after the Voslings have gone to bed
Setting: Griet & Pietr's home; Koffiefontein, FS, South Africa
.
thumb|220x220px|- still there! (12/2/19) -
.::When do I get to meet this new brother of yours?::
Pietr grins. ::::Right now.:::: He beckons to someone off camera.
Frowns.
Beckons more forcefully.
Rolls his eyes, lunges—
Griet snorts.
—tows the red-haired kid—Chuck?—into view, shoves him into the chair—
Chuck squirms aggressively.
—holds him firmly in place.
Griet swallows a giggle.
Chuck makes another break—
Pietr wraps both arms around his neck, presses him down, hisses in his ear.
—sulks, arms crossed.
Pietr kisses his temple.
Chuck swats half-heartedly at him.
"Hello, Chuck," she greets, biting off a snicker.
""Uh."" Eyes on the tabletop. ""Hi.""
"I don't bite, you know."
""'a course not,"" grumbles Chuck.
A laugh breaks out.
Chuck scowls.
"I'm sorry." She snorks. "Pietr described you /perfectly."
Chuck twists around, brows lowered.
Pietr smiles sweetly, pats his head.
Chuck sighs, turns back to the screen.
"You're good for him. He's always wanted a younger brother to tease."
""He does a lot of that.""
"He's been a thorn in your side, then?"
""N-no, not really."" Rubs his neck. ""I mean, he can be an a—a jerk, but he's a pretty good guy the rest 'a the time.""
A louder laugh bursts free. "That sounds /exactly like him!"
Chuck relaxes, shrugs. ""He's pretty easy to read, if you know how.""
"You seem to have the knack, at least." Grins. "He's too much trouble for most people."
""They're missin' out,"" Chuck sniffs.
"They /definitely are." Leans in conspiratorially. "What do ye say? Should we keep him our little secret?"
Chuck scoffs. ""When /Striker—our Jaeger—launches, we'll be famous."" Puffs up. ""Greatest pilots /ever.""
"The two of you going to save us all from monsters?"
""Yea, we will. Absolutely.""
"You're confident, aren't you?"
Chuck shrugs. ""I know how good we are. I grew up with Jaeger pilots and we're better than them already."" Leans back. ""We'll only get better.""
"You'll keep Pietr safe for me?"
""'a course. That's what copilots do.""
"Good. We want him back to stay and you to visit and meet the rest of the family."
Chuck ponders a beat. ""Are there /really a hundred of ye?""
Griet laughs. "Just in town! There are a few dozen more around the country."
Chuck shakes his head. ""/Jesus.""
"You don't approve?"
""Ah, no—I just—We—What do you /do with all of 'em?""
She shrugs. "Family stuff?"
Chuck chokes. 
"What's so funny?"
""He said /exactly the same thing.""
Griet grins around a laugh. "What did you expect? We're two of a kind!"
Chuck gives in to his.
"Someday you'll meet someone who'll match you perfectly, too."
Chuck blushes violently.
"Or maybe you already have?"
Chuck, improbably, turns redder.
Griet smiles indulgently. "Has Pietr told you how we met?"
Chuck shakes his head. ""Good story?""
"It's entertaining, at least." She giggles. "Embarrassing, too. For him."
Chuck grins.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:Griet
Category:Griet's POV
Category:Griet (ficlet)
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Chuck H
Category:Chuck H (ficlet)
Category:Conversations via video
Category:Vos family (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images