Picture Perfect
“Admiring yourself there, Kev?” Joe grinned, falling on the couch beside his brother, who was frowning at the picture of himself in People. “Don’t spend too much time on that; your head will get big.” He ruffled his curls.
Kevin ducked out of the way of his hand, glaring half-heartedly at him. “Don’t worry; I’m not.” He sighed, tossing the magazine onto the coffee table and running his hands over his face wearily.
Joe frowned. “You okay, man?”
“Yeah.” Kevin sighed again. “I just wish they’d taken a better picture. That one’s really horrible.”
Joe gaped at him, then scrambled to find the page his brother was posed on. He stared at it, then up at his brother. “Are you not wearing your contacts?” His finger tapped insistently against the glossy paper. “There is nothing horrible about this picture.”
“Thanks for saying that, Joe.” Kevin forced a smile. “But, I hate everything about it. My hair looks weird, and one eye is shut more than the other, and ugh. I look like I have a double chin.”
Joe growled, frustrated, and leaned over the back of the couch to call out through the doorway. “Nick! Come here; we need your opinion on something.”
It only took a couple seconds for their younger brother’s steps to come thumping down the stairs, and then he was walking into the room. “Yeah?”
Joe brandished the magazine in his direction. “How, my dear, do you think Kevin looks in this picture?”
“Beautiful.” Nick didn’t even have to think about it, and seemed confused that they considered it a matter of opinion at all. In his mind, it was fact. “You always do.”
Kevin’s face flushed. “Okay, guys, I get it,” he murmured, standing.
“I don’t think you do.” Joe grabbed the end of his shirt so he couldn’t walk away. “We don’t lie, Kevin, not to you. That picture of you is beautiful.”
Kevin looked down at the hand on his shirt and then met Joe's eyes, something akin to uncertainty hiding in his own. "I just...something about it seems off. I don't like it."
“So, let’s figure it out.” Nick’s voice was soft as he came around the couch to sit down on it, tugging Kevin down to sit between him and Joe, and laid the magazine across his lap. “Okay, let’s see. Tell us all the things you don’t like about the picture.”
Kevin hung his head. “It’ll take too long.”
“We have a while.” Joe said quietly, stroking the curls at his brother’s temple. “Just tell us what’s wrong with it, or what you think is wrong with it - really.”
Kevin took a deep breath, then listed the things he had said before, about his hair, his eyes, his neck. He went on to mention the way his cheeks were too round, his ears were too pointed, his mouth was too small.
Eventually, Joe pressed his fingers over Kevin’s mouth, silencing him. “Okay. We get it. Now tell us what you like about the picture.”
Kevin chewed thoughtfully at his lip, not meeting his brothers’ eyes. “I can’t think of anything.” He admitted softly. “I just - I feel like everyone thinks they made the wrong choice. I mean, I’ve never thought I was ugly, but - why were the fans so surprised it was me?”
Joe and Nick looked at each other, silently conveying their thoughts. “Can we tell you what we like and don’t like about the picture?” Nick asked, smiling.
Kevin sighed, trying not to feel like they intentionally ignored his question. “Fine.”
“Well, let’s see.” Joe tilted his head thoughtfully as he studied the picture. “What do I like about it?” He tugged gently at the curl spiraling over his brother’s left eye, smiling, satisfied, when it bounced back to place. “I definitely like your hair.”
“Yeah, and,” Nick placed his fingertips on his jaw, turning his face so their eyes met. “Those eyes of yours are gorgeous.”
“And, your neck,” Joe groaned, leaning in to softly place a kiss behind his ear. Kevin’s breath hitched. “It’s so elegant and perfect.”
“Your cheeks are definitely not too round.” Nick disagreed gently with what he had earlier said. He cupped his face in one hand and brushed his lips across his brother’s cheekbone. Kevin’s eyes fluttered shut. “They’re defined; they’re lovely; they make the whole shape of your face.”
“Do I need to tell you, Kevin,” Joe’s breath was warm against his ear, “all the ways I’m infatuated with the shape of your ears?” His tongue flicked out and curved around the shell. Kevin moaned softly.
Nick pressed himself against Kevin and kissed him lightly, smiling when his brother’s fingers knotted in his curls, pulling their mouths harder together. “I take it,” Nick breathed against his lips, “that I don’t need to tell you there’s nothing not perfect about your mouth?”
Joe was pushed up against Kevin’s other side, his face buried against his neck. “Do you get it yet, Kev?”
Kevin felt a little dazed by all the love his brothers were pouring over him. “Get what?” he breathed.
Nick sighed contently, his head leaning on his shoulder. “You always look perfect.”