[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6FIQLlA.png[/img][/center]
[indent][indent][center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/efbbd7939a85299e9730bdb9b198d7cb/tumblr_inline_pxibl8qrFm1twd62e_500.gif[/img] [img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/13b46ae8cd0f2a48845e66a4676c1769/tumblr_inline_q1tvg8L3I61twd62e_500.gif[/img] [img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/5858ec99ee0bf07115687e7c084856fd/tumblr_inline_q0ypi4WBxt1twd62e_500.gif[/img][/center][right][sub][Color=EEBC1D]Location[/color] — #79 Shady Pines Drive - Outside[/sub][/right][hr][/indent][/indent][hr][right][sub][Color=EEBC1D]Mentions[/color] — Elsie [@Moon Child][/sub][/right]

[indent]Noah's shift was called off. As much of a loss as it was, he understood why. Electricity made the gear turns after all.

What he didn't expect was Elijah asking him to help maintain his motorcycle. Despite Noah's initial resistance, he quickly crumbled before his brother's pouty face.

Outside their home, the CX500 sat on the middle of the driveway. Noah had stripped away the bulky factory fairings years ago, leaving the transverse V-twin engine exposed like a ribcage.

[Color=EEBC1D]“Don't just turn the wrench, Elijah. Feel the resistance,”[/color] Noah muttered. He was crouched low, his eyes tracking the line of the throttle cable. [Color=EEBC1D]“The CX is called the 'plastic maggot' by the older folks at Cliff's. They're durable, sturdy, and low maintenance. But if you’re sloppy with the valves, she'll cough, sputter, and refuse to work.”[/color]

Noah handed the feeler gauge to his brother. Elijah looked at the thin strip of metal like it was a surgical instrument.

[Color=EEBC1D]“It should have a slight drag, like pulling a straw through one of those Capri-Suns that you like,”[/color] Noah directed. [Color=EEBC1D]“Too loose, and you'll hammer the valve stems into rivets. Too tight, and the valves won't close, and you'll lose compression right when you need to twist the throttle.”[/color]

Elijah leaned in, his small face scrunched in total concentration. He tried to slide the gauge in, but his hand shook, and it clattered against the cooling fins. He looked up at Noah, eyes filled with worry and a desire for reassurance.

Noah bit his inner cheek. He saw himself at thirteen, trying to figure out how to stretch a gallon of milk while his mother was at the bottom of a bottle.

“Steady,” Noah muttered, softer this time. [Color=EEBC1D]"Wait for the engine to breathe. Try again. Safety isn't just about not falling off, Elijah. It’s about knowing the machine won't fail you when you’re leaning into a turn at sixty.”[/color]

Elijah tried again. This time, the gauge slid home with a faint snick.

“I got it,” Elijah whispered, a small, genuine grin breaking through. He jumped up and encased Noah into a small hug.

[Color=EEBC1D]“Good. You’re quick on the uptake... smart, smarter than me at your age,”[/color] Noah said, ruffling the kid's hair. [Color=EEBC1D]"If Pines Holler decides to roll over and die, and we have to get out fast, you and I are going to make sure this bucket of bolts remains working to get us and your sister out of here.”[/color]

[Color=EEBC1D]“Go clean up, I can do the rest.”[/color]

Noah wiped the sweat off his brow with his sleeve. The sun was particularly harsh today, Noah figured both of his siblings should stay inside to avoid the sun.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, an used Samsung A17 that he got off the pawn shop for cheap.

[center][quote][i][b]Good morning sunshineeeeee :sun: 

Stupid power is out again :rollin:

Wanna chase some waterfalls with me?[/b][/i][/quote][/center]

A small smile crept on his grease ridden face as he texted back.

[center][quote][i][b]Good Morning Elsie, uhh alright, I got some free time for the first time in awhile today.[/b][/i][/quote][/center]
He stepped into his house to clean up aswell.
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