Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: Written for the wonderful neko_youkai04, and inspired greatly by AFV.

Nothing Sweeter

"Wait," Modo commanded, and Rimfire did as told, holding the piece of candy he'd been given mere inches away from his mouth.

"What, Uncle Modo?" the young one asked, eyebrows raising.

"Before you eat the candy," Modo went on, trying very hard to keep a straight face, "I have some questions for you."

"Okay," Rimfire said, oblivious to the snorts and stifled laughter coming from his uncle's friends.

"Did you eat all your breakfast?"

Rimfire nodded.

"Did you eat all your lunch?"

Another nod.

"What about your dinner?"

"Uh huh!" Rimfire was practically beaming now, obviously proud he'd been doing something right. Assuming Modo was through with his interrogation, he started to bring the candy toward his mouth again.

"Wait, wait," Modo stalled him again. This time, when Rimfire stopped himself, he let out the smallest of sighs, and it took everything the older mouse had not to smirk. "Did you ask your mom if she wants a piece?"

Rimfire looked down for a moment, then looked over his shoulder to his mother, whom was busying herself with housework, then looked back to his uncle. He shook his head.

"Mommy doesn't like this candy," he said, and wasn't sure if it was true or not, but he'd never seen her eat it, so he assumed she didn't like it.

"Oh, she doesn't?"

Rimfire shook his head.

"Well, then did you ask your sister?"

The thought of sharing with Primer momentarily terrified the young Martian, but then he remembered: "she already had some!"

Modo was losing face, the grin starting to spread across his lips as he watched his nephew start bringing the candy toward his mouth again, though this time he kept eye contact, just to see if he was allowed to eat it finally.

"Wait!"

"Oh, bro, he's killin' me," Vinnie muttered and Throttle elbowed him to keep him quiet, though the tan mouse was laughing just as hard.

"Shh! I wanna see where this goes."

"I wanna eat it, Uncle Modo," Rimfire said pleadingly, but he was smiling, too. He didn't understand entirely what was going on, but he knew everyone else was having a good time, so he couldn't help but enjoy himself, too – even if all of the fun was at his expense.

"Before you eat it," Modo went on, and now he was struggling not to laugh at the boy's desperation, "I have one more question for you."

"What?"

"Who's your best buddy?"

By the time Modo gave the kid the okay, Vinnie was doubled over and Throttle was leaning awkwardly against him, shaking his head.

"Man, you're cruel," he said after he caught his breath and hauled himself, and Vinnie, up off the floor.

"Hey," Modo defended himself with a grin, "if the kid wants the good things in life, he's gotta earn 'em."

"So you teach him that lesson by depraving him of candy?" Throttle went on, starting to chuckle again.

Modo crossed his arms over his chest, the grin widening just a fraction as he replied ever so smoothly, "it worked on Vinnie, didn't it?"