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[img]https://i.imgur.com/rKLlkvt.png[/img][/center]

[color=a0410d][i]Ohh, shit.[/i][/color]

He had been about to respond to Katie when hell burst from the mouth of the RV. Valeria was running as fast as her little legs would carry her, skipping steps on her flight to freedom; AJ, it seemed, was just skipping steps. He flopped to the ground impotently, writhing in pain and frustration. Val was tearing by them.

[color=ff4500]“[i]Stop. Her.[/i]”[/color]

Aleks turned to Chris, biting on his lip to hide a smile. He stuffed his mischievous look with a roll to hide a laugh, chewing over the appropriate response carefully.

[color=a0410d]"It looks like Val is a dom,"[/color] he finally deadpanned, even though inside his mind was racing. How was he supposed to stop her? His leg could be used in a variety of ways, from tripping her legs out from under her to simply blocking her path to a turning side kick to the face. All were acceptable applications of force after seeing what she'd done to poor AJ and his trust fund. But if she was still coming along for the trip - and Aleks had to assume she was, otherwise AJ in his pettiness would allow her to run - than she wouldn't forgive him if she was missing teeth. He and Val had no problems with each other.

So she got to keep her teeth. Instead, Aleks would do all he could to ensure his first three godchildren didn't grow up looking like coneheads. So he spun out of Val's way slightly as she went on her tear and then walked calmly over to AJ, roll stuffed back in his mouth. He crouched down beside his best friend and looked down on him with guileless eyes - gentle, but still with a spark of schadenfreude. Peak Aleks eyes.

[color=a0410d]"Mmmph mmrrrph mmm,"[/color] he said through his mouthful of breakfast. [Translation: [color=a0410d]"Just stay down, [i]bratan[/i]."[/color]] [color=a0410d]"Mmm. Mmmrr mmm mmphmmph mrr mmm mmmph."[/color] [Translation: [color=a0410d]"Here. You have gravel on your cheek."[/color]]

He reached down and gently dusted AJ's scraped cheek free of any debris trying to cling to it. His other hand patted his curls.