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If you both make me play hide and seek like when we were kids I'll cheat, see if I don't.

[It might be a little frustrating, how despite his growing relience on Jupiter in politics, and his willingness to talk to him as an adult and equal when it comes to matters of state, he never really lets up on acting like Jupiter and Ariel are children still, the rest of the time.]

[ Tell me about it. That, of course, gets Jupiter's 'teenage rebellion' to flare up a little. ]

I'm not gonna make you play hide and seek! Stop thinking of me as a kid.

When you stop being a kid.

What part of me is!?

More like what part isn't. About all that's grown on you is height and muscles and hair.

And what about you? You're like a big kid yourself, unable to share your toys with anyone else.

[That makes Tris go oddly still a moment, a strange expression on his face, something wrong with it, sort of twisted and angry and mad in a way he doesn't let Jupiter or Ariel see ever, doesn't let anyone see. Too intense and just, off.]

You have no idea what you're talking about.

[ Catching that, Jupiter pauses. Then reaches up, to touch Tris's face gently, a reaction his "usual" self wouldn't typically go for. ]

Don't you?

[He doesn't pull away at all, somewhere between coldly furious and terrified and just. Not okay. Not okay at all. But mostly he just stares Jupiter down, looking annoyed.]

If I shelter you and Ariel it's for your own good. People aren't toys. I won't hear you make such a jest again.

... I'm glad to hear it. But now I have to know, what happened to you?

What are you even talking about?

[What could have happened to him, what are you dreaming up, he's been a prince for 20 years, every movement accounted for, guarded, even if he's not the most popular among the nobility he's never been successfully opposed.]

[And that's all anyone needs to know. That's the "history of Tristan" that's all that exists for the this world, that's all Tris wants to exist.]

Something must have. I've known you long enough at this point. Even if it's unaccounted for, there's something.

[He forces himself to calm down, Jupiter is too perceptive, and it's worrying. Instead he places a hand on the blond's cheek, as if testing his temperature.]

Are you sure you're not the one who's sick?

[ For one reason or another, that makes Jupiter flush and fluster! Not a reaction that one would expect from the original him. ]

I'm sure! Seriously, you can stop parenting me anytime soon, I can take care of myself!

[It's cute. No, it's attractive, it's very very attractive and Tris wants to tug Jupiter into his lap and see what faces he makes when kissed---no that's a bad train of thought. And yet before he catches himself his thumb is caressing Jupiter's cheek under his eye. Nothing inappropriate, a fond little gesture.]

Shouldn't you enjoy being babied? I don't intend to stop taking care of you.

Save that for Ariel.

[He tugs a strand of Jupiter's hair.]

You're both my brothers.

Don't give me that.

Why not? It's true.

It's not the same at all.

Are you not happy with this?

I don't need this to be happy.

Then what is it you need? Since you are so worldly.

[Mocking him again, like a big brother.]

All I need is you.

[ Sincere anyway ]

You're sounding like a lovesick puppy now, what am I, your girlfriend?

Then again you are at that age, I should probably let you get out to meet more people your own age.