42. My Brother, big softie

Ilari comes outside and hear his brother and Venla laughing. It feels like a sting to his side. He walks to them and friendly slaps Iiro's shoulder. 
- Hi bro, Iiro says when he sits next to them. - Had a good time in woods? Ilari nods.
- What's so funny? He wants to know. 
- We have been compairing hospital food experiences. Iiro smirks. 
- God I hated thursdays! Venla exclaimes and Ilari sees she's tipsy. 
- Me too! Iiro agrees. -That slimy goo they call peasoup… 
- Yuck! Venla puts two fingers to her mouth to imitate throwing up. 
- Riiiight, Ilari says slowly. He doesn't have any say on this subject. 
– and about how hard it was to wean off from serious painkillers, Venla recalls.
 - That was a tough one, Iiro agrees and empties the bottle. 
- Iiro told how much you helped him during hospital times and even before that. Venla smiles warmly to Ilari. – I didn't know you're so warmhearted and caring. Ilari shifts, feels uneasy. 
- It was nothing, he mumbles 
- That's just the way he is! Iiro grins and half hugs his brother. - Big old softy who just hides under grumpy surface! 
- Ok. Stop, Ilari feels himself really awkard. 
- That's great thing on a man, Venla smiles so warmly that it melts his defensives away. - A small effort from you but it must have meant a world to Iiro. Iiro nods.


- Don't disappear. I need to take a leak, Iiro says, stands up and gently kicks Ilari. - Showoff. 
- What did he mean with that? Venla looks surprised. 
- He’s usually the one hanging without shirt on, Ilari explains. Venla’s eyes wander a moment on his almost naked body and then she fixes them to the distance. 
– Iiro told me quite a lot about you two, Venla muses and Ilari gets tense. He wanted to talk to Venla, be near her, but wasn't prepared to talk about his own history. – You have gone trough a lot. 
- I don’t want to talk about it. Ilari says firmly. - Past is past.
- Oookay. Sorry. I didn't know it was this touchy. 
- It's not. I just don't care to talk about it.
- Sure, Venla backs down. Ilari sure is touchy about this. – Anyway, It looks like you've got a big heart, Venla tries another way. 
– I'll leave that others to decide. Ilari is still on guard. 
– Are you in a bad mood? Venla asks as her brows knit together.
- No. Howcome? 
– You look and sound grumpy. Annoyed.
 – I keep hearing that, Ilari replies. -Sorry. I'm just made this way. Cannot help it.
 - Syde, sauna! Jesse shouts from inside.
 - Yeah, coming! He stands up. -It's getting so chilly here I'm freezing my balls off. Venla chuckles as Ilari stands up.
 - You're right. I'm probably deepfrosted too. I hardly feel my fingers anymore. 
– Come to sauna with us. Warm up, Ilari suggests.
- I'll think about it.
 -Anyway, I’d like talk to you later on. 
– If you need place for Lucky, he's welcome. Just ask, Venla sighs and looks away. This isn't going like Ilari imagined it. 
– No. It's Something else. 
-Syde! Jesse bellows. 
- Yeah Yeah! On My way!

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