"Sounds like an interesting book," he said by way of conversation. Books weren't his thing. Studying wasn't his thing. He could only be thankful Tory hadn't asked him to help with homework yet.

"The most controversial book we ever read was To Kill a Mockingbird, not quite up to par with pedophilia." And he hadn't read it anyway. He wasn't really sure what it was about. But he was reasonably sure that pedophilia hadn't been in it. He would have heard about that.

Dom smirked crookedly, one of his grins that almost made his lazy eye harmonious with his face, enough at least that people overlooked it. "Makes me wonder about your teachers though."

Dom swallowed his bite as Tory asked why he'd been griping, he could have laughed at the boy. Most people didn't take such mindless griping seriously. Didn't everyone complain about their job from time to time? Not that Tory had ever had a job, or at least he didn't act like he had. It was kind of endearing how his complete and utter innocence shone through at times. Made him want to ruffle the kid's hair again, like he was a five-year-old.

"Same old," Dom answered around a bite of cereal. He swallowed. "Never go into customer service. Customers suck. Managers suck even more."

"Especially," Dom added under his breath, "When they're younger than you are." And he was about 80% sure said manager had a crush on him. But she had tits, and was annoying besides.

Finishing up his cereal he dumped his bowl in the sink. He was still wearing his uniform. It would need washed soon. Sigh. If he was lucky he could catch a quick nap before dinner. Wouldn't do to nod off again, he was working alternating shifts and the lack of sleep was getting to him. But he really needed the hours.

"Hey, bro," he glanced back over his shoulder. "Do me a favor and wash this up? I need a shower and could do with a change of his clothes. Frigging dress pants, I am never dressing up again after this shindig is through."

Never mind that no place else seemed to be hiring. Not people without college degrees anyway.

He ruffled Tory's hair again on his way out of the room, it had a soft texture, pretty hair--like a girl. He didn't wait for a reply. Tory would probably wash the bowl anyway, the kid was way too nice. Didn't have even half of the bite Dom had when he was that age.

That was probably a good thing though, though. More than a few people had commented he'd never amount to anything when he'd been in school. And well, maybe they were right. He was still living with his parents and working a shitty job. Most days he was okay with that, today he was just tired.

"Thanks, you're a good kid, Tor."

He tried not to think about how each of Tory's smiles cheered him up a little as he left the room. It wasn't that it was bad that his brother could make him feel happy (you take happiness where you can get it, yeah?), it was just that it wasn't the sort of happy your brother was supposed to make you feel. Or someone who was a lawsuit waiting to happen.

"Jesus," he resisted the urge to beat his head on his bedroom door. Barely. "Even if he weren't my brother he's too young. Definitely too innocent." He threw his apron on the bed and started stripping.

"I am way too old for this butterfly shit."