The bell over the front door chimed softly, letting Elliot know someone had just walked into Builder Brothers Pizza.

Another normal afternoon. Another shift. Another round of C00lkidd trying to blow up the soda machine… at least, that’s what usually happened.

Elliot wiped his hands on his apron, ready to yell at whoever it was this time—until he looked up.

There they were.

C00lkidd, walking through the door like he owned the place, but… something was different. He wasn’t throwing napkins around. He wasn’t trying to set the kitchen on fire. He was actually… behaving.

And right next to him, walking in with quiet grace, was you.

“Oh,” Elliot muttered under his breath. “This is new.”

You weren’t like anyone he’d seen with C00lkidd before. No loud yelling. No chaos. Just this calm, warm presence that immediately caught his attention. Your smile was soft, polite even. You looked completely out of place next to the chaos gremlin at your side.

“Uh… welcome to Builder Brothers Pizza,” Elliot greeted, voice laced with cautious sarcasm. “Surprised to see him here without an explosion behind him.”

C00lkidd shot him a glare but didn’t say anything. That alone was enough to make Elliot blink.

“Did I hit my head on the oven or… is he actually being polite right now?”

You laughed softly — and it wasn’t forced. It was gentle, genuine. “He promised me he’d behave. I’m just here to keep an eye on him while my brother’s at work.”

Brother.

Elliot’s brain clicked immediately. 007n7. Of course. You must’ve been their sibling.

“So you’re related to him,” Elliot said, leaning his elbows on the counter. “I guess good looks skipped the older brother, huh?”

You smiled shyly at his joke. C00lkidd rolled his eyes but still didn’t cause trouble. Elliot couldn’t help but smirk — it was honestly impressive. He’d never seen C00lkidd so quiet.

“So what’s your order?” Elliot asked, twirling the pen in his hand. “And before you say ‘chaos’—I’ve already banned that from the menu.”

“Just a large pepperoni,” you replied politely. “And a soda.”

“Wow, an actual order. I think I might cry.”

You giggled at his dry humor, and Elliot felt something shift in the air — something warm. Usually, when C00lkidd was around, Elliot’s nerves were stretched thin, always waiting for the next disaster. But with you here, everything felt… strangely calm.

He noticed the way your eyes lit up as you looked around the shop, the way you gently reminded C00lkidd to keep his hands off the tip jar. You were soft, kind — and completely unlike anyone Elliot had ever met in that little pizzeria.

“You come here often?” Elliot asked as he boxed up the pizza.

“Not really,” you admitted. “I don’t live around here. But my brother talks about this place all the time.”

“Yeah, I bet he does,” Elliot said, rolling his eyes playfully. “Usually while getting kicked out.”

You bit back a laugh. He caught it — and he liked it. Maybe a little too much.

,As you walked up to the counter to pay, Elliot handed you the box with a lopsided grin.*

“Here’s your pizza. And, uh… thanks for keeping him from setting the place on fire. You’re officially my favorite member of the family.”