My Sister's Keeper (Shizuo x Reader x Izaya 4)

“No give her back! I want Onee-chan. NEE-CHAN, NEE-CHAN!”

   “Are you okay?”

   Shizuo stood up, shoulders rolled over casually as he peered at you from behind his shades.

   You stopped staring outside the restaurant windows and sighed, “Yeah…”

   He arched an eyebrow.

   You chuckled, “No, I am not fine”

   “Guess you’re gonna tell me, huh?”

   “You came to me” You retorted and gestured at the vacant seat in front of you.

   “Hey, Simon, can I get my usual?’ He yelled as he sat down. Shizuo pulled off his shades and placed them in his breast pocket.

   He had a fine jaw and a strong nose, but you always preferred androgynous features similar to Izaya’s.

   “What’s your story?” Shizuo asked, leaning on his elbows.

   You tilted your head.

   “What?” He grunted.

   You burst out laughing, “I’m sorry. It’s just that you seemed to not like me and now here you are eating with me like we’re on a date”

   He looked away.

   “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that… but if it’s okay with you, I’d like to share my problem now”

   You took his silence as the green light and began telling him about your current issue.

   “I have a brother, a baby brother and I really, really love him, but for reasons I will not state we got separated for years and now that I’m back he’s angry with me”

   “Why is he angry?”

   “He… In the fifteen past years that we were apart we almost never talked and now that I’m back he’s pouring out all his rage on me and demanded that I explain myself for everything that happened up ‘til now but I can’t because I just can’t for reasons I cannot expand on and then, he got even more angry and we got into a fight and he left the house before I could calm him down and he hasn’t returned since then and now here I am pouring my heart out to a complete stranger!” You took a big gulp of breath after that.

   Shizuo rubbed his chin in deep thought.

   “…Hm… you look really familiar…”

   “Were you even paying attention?” Your cheeks were red and puffing out.

   “Yeah, but…” He shrugged, “The way I see it, you just need to talk to him”

   Simon came with the orders.

   “Really? You don’t think I should give him space?”

   “Space? You were separated for fifteen years and you’re gonna give him space? Even I’m not that stupid”

   “You know, you’re a pretty straightforward guy. I like you”

   He almost snapped the chopsticks in half, “…Shit”

   “Wow. I’m guessing you’re no ladies’ man, are ya?” You chuckled and asked Simon for another pair.

   “Now that I’m done with my own obvious-solution problems, share some of your personal trivia, Shizuo”

   He spat out the maki he just put in his mouth and began to choke.

   Out of reflex you muttered “Oh, my Lord!” in English.

   “Does everything surprise you?” You gently pushed his glass closer to him.

   “I… you… urgh! …called me ‘Shizuo’” He struggled between coughs.

   “Yes, that’s your name, isn’t it? Oh, wait… force of habit. Back in America people called each other by their first names most of the time”

   He nodded, gulping down the water.

   You reached for your chopsticks “So, do you have a brother? Sister?”

***

You tiptoed into the dining room where five-year-old Izaya was doing his homework. His backpack lay on the table next to his Cantonese workbook and mathematics textbook.

   You snuck up behind him, raised your hands with fingers curled.

   “I can feel your breathing” He said with a giggle.

   “Aw!” You pretended to moan before attacking his sides with tickles, “You’re being unfair”

   “You’re being a bad sport” He stuck out his tongue.

   You pinched his nose before nipping on his cute, just-the-right-amount-of-fat arms.

   “What ‘cha up to, baby brother?”

   “Our teacher asked us to write about what we want to be in the future”

   “Oh? How’s it going so far?”

   “I’m doing great, I think. Do you mind checking it for me, Nee-chan?”

   “Do I mind? Are you kidding?” You exclaimed, feeling your heart squeeze at how those big eyes looked up at you. You pulled a seat and gently took the piece of paper from him, “Let me see”

   “‘What I Want to Be: My Sister’s H…” Your could feel your eyes bulge out, “…Husband’?”

   You glanced down at Izaya who had his hands on his knees, waiting patiently for you.

   You put down the paper.

   “Was it that bad?”

   “No, no, but Izaya when they ask you about what you want to be when you’re older you’re supposed to write something like doctor o-or you know, teacher, or policeman…”

   He tilted his head, “But the teacher said we could be anything we wanted to be”

   “Y-yes, but—“And I wanna be Onee-chan’s husband!” He proclaimed wide-grinned as he flung himself at you, almost knocking you off the chair.

   “Now, Izaya, why would you want to marry me?”

   “Why? Shouldn’t it be obvious? Mom said that when I marry, it should be to a very special girl who I really, really like. You’re a special girl, Onee-chan, and I don’t just like you—I love you!” He declared proudly.

   You chuckled at his innocence.

   “But I like strong men, you know”

   He bit his lower lip, threatening to cry, but quickly swallowed the whimper back down his throat as he said, “Then I’ll become the strongest man ever so I can stay by your side forever!”

   “Of course you will”

   You laughed before brushing his bangs to the side and then giving him a soft kiss on the forehead, “I’ll prepare dinner, you just wait and finish your homework, all right?”

***

“You didn’t have to board the train with me, you know”

   Shizuo had escorted you to the station and the streets of Shinjuku. You were well aware of your major flaw and so happily accepted the offer the moment he finished talking.

   “I don’t mind, besides, it’s twice as dangerous for you to be walking all alone at night. You give off this vibe”

   “What kind of vibe?”

   He shrugged, “I dunno. Something like, a scent that attracts dogs and rats”

   “That wasn’t offensive at all” You teased.

   He bowed his head, trying to hide his red cheeks.

   “I was just joking, loosen up, you virgin!” What was supposed to be a playful smack on the shoulder swung too fast, too strong and you gasped.  

   “Ow!” You exclaimed, holding your aching hand to your chest.

   “Are you okay?” He stopped walking when you did.

   “What are you made of? OW—DON’T TOUCH ME!” You shouted in surprise when he accidentally squeezed your wrist.

   He jumped back, “S-sorry”

   “…My fault. Let’s just keep walking”

   Shizuo quietly nodded, silently trailing a few inches behind you.

   However, he began to notice something.

   “Don’t tell me…” His teeth gritted tightly when you reached the apartment building.

   “You live here?” He asked.

   “Temporarily. With my brother—” You noticed how his shoulders went tense, “Something wrong?”

   “Just some bad memories and a face I really hope I don’t see now”

   You brushed it off, “All right then”

   “Hey, want to come upstairs? I brought lots of apple pies with me and I’m the only one with a sweet tooth in my family so there’s no way I can finish them all before they go bad”

   “I-I don’t know, I think I should just go home now” He rubbed the nape of his neck, looking away.

   “Now, Shizuo, the least you could do is accept my offer, after all you did sprain my wrist”

   He rolled his eyes.

   “Come on, my sisters already left and I doubt my baby bro is home yet. It sounds silly coming from me but I’m not used to being alone anymore. Just last night I was having hotpot with my three favorite people” You looked down, softly kicking the tiled floor, “I don’t think I’m ready to eat dinner alone again.”

   Shizuo sighed in defeat.

   “Fine.”

   “Yay! It’s settled then” Without thinking, you grabbed him by the arm with your good hand and tugged him inside one of the elevators.

“No way, you’re related to a celebrity?” You held the glass of milk tightly. Shizuo loosened up when you served the sweets and of course, fresh milk.

   He nodded, “I won’t say who, but yes, I am”

   “Wow…” You pushed a lock of hair behind your ear, “What’s that like?”

   He shrugged. He shrugged a lot.

   “I don’t know what you want to hear”

   “For starters,” you gently lifted your bandaged arm onto the table “do you get stalked by paparazzi?”

   He tried not to bend the silverware between his fingers as he forced out a chuckle, “People don’t usually see the connection unless they dig into our family history… or when a flea decides to meddle” He grunted the last phrase in a low tone before resuming normally, “I’m all right with it, I don’t want anyone finding out about his relationship with me. It could ruin his career”

   “Aw, that’s so sweet, but how can you possibly ruin his career?”

   He put down the fork, “Guys like me… I’m bad luck. I’m a magnet for all sorts of trouble and people who do nothing but cause trouble. I’m surprised we’re talking like this: like you’re not afraid of me at all”

   You stared at the pie, laughing inwardly at how a big man could have such a cute love for sugary things, “Shizu… um, Heiwajima-kun, I’ve been here for two days but I can’t say I haven’t heard about your rep. But I met you before the rumors reached my ears…

   “I’m bad with directions but I know that with people you can never be too sure” You poured milk into his glass.

   You smiled at him, “So don’t sell yourself short”

   He stared at, unsure of what to say. Temperature rising, he got up and almost sent his seat flying to the wall.

   “Heiwajima-kun?”

   “Thanks for the meal but i-it’s getting late and I don’t want your neighbors getting the wrong idea”

   You snickered, “Quite the gentleman, aren’t you? But okay, I’ve kept you here long enough. I’ll show you to the door”

   You led him into the living room, but time seemed to have stopped.

   Shizuo felt his blood pressure rise.

   You couldn’t hide your relief.

   “Izaya...”