"Give it back, Hank."
Eric watched from the couch as his 'little' brother Hank flinched from where he was 'sneaking' out of the house early to get to school, and scrambled up from where he'd been trying to cram his feet into his shoes.
"I don't know whAT," Hank blushed as his voice cracked loudly, and cleared his throat. "I don't know what you mean."
Eric raised an eyebrow as the giant ten year old moved his hand to cover up his backpack.
"You don't, huh?" Eric asked sarcastically as he flicked on a light and looked Hank up and down. "You have no idea what I could be talking about."
Hank sighed and trudged over to sit on the couch too; the kid's eyes visibly widened as he sat and took in how little difference in size there was between the two of them.
"So the jacket IS magic." Hank breathed.
Eric snorted at how surprised his 'little' brother sounded.
"Jeeze you're dumb. I know you're only ten, but you grew SIX INCHES in a DAY." Eric drew a line from the top of Hank's head over to his nose and smirked. "That isn't a thing that happens, dummy. Or how about how much you made the floor creak when you were 'sneaking' past my room? Four helpings at dinner didn't hurt, but I bet you gained like thirty pounds."
Hank shrugged and hugged his backpack against his chest.
Eric sighed and gave his brother a half-hug.
"Look, you wanna be the world's biggest ten year old, fine. But maybe give the jacket back now before you start growing a beard."
Hank looked startled at the idea, and frantically wiped around his cheeks. Nodding a bit, he fumbled with his backpack zipper and tossed the jacket to his older brother.
"I kinda FIG-" Hank cursed, blushed, and tried again. "I figured something might have been going on, but I mean..."
"You liked it?" Eric suggested drily.
Hank nodded, still blushing.
"Well..." Eric signed. "I mean, you DO look pretty good, and not too old to be ten. Whatever weird voodoo shit the jacket does, I don't think you'll have to worry if we stop now. Though based on those cracks, you can probably kiss your soprano spot in choir goodbye."
Hank just nodded again, though he did look a bit more cheerful from the (teasing) compliments.
"Just one last question," Eric added as he gave Hank one last squeeze and folded up the jacket. "If you wanted to sneak out so bad, why didn't you just steal my shoes instead?"
"Those WERE your shoes." Hank muttered, flexing his toes. "I borrowed some of your clothes, but your shoes were too small."
"Oh." Eric offered. "Well... damn. Okay. Um, I guess being the class clown will be easier now?"
Hank shot him a dirty look, but a few seconds later both of the brothers were giggling helplessly on the couch.