bakerstreet | ( picture prompt meme )

[His lips curl up into a smirk at her reaction. She's impressed, isn't she? It couldn't possible be that she's stunned that he actually managed to talk to a girl in the first place.]

I would say less looking and more actually doing something about it, but yeah.

[He bites down on his food and averts his eyes for a moment, his face falling ever so slightly. But only just slightly, because he knows her reaction to this is going to be absolutely golden.]

There might be a couple of problems, though. Big ones.

[Maybe Natsumi deserves a bigger hint than that. Something more on-the-nose.]

You remember that kidnapping scare a couple months back.

[It's said as a simple statement of fact. Of course she remembers it. The day he came home with a torn suit and his nicest watch stolen. The absolute panic that caused their parents to station Peko to sleep in his room instead of guarding outside of it. The dirty little secret that he completely falsified the entire incident as a means to get that to happen. Like you do.]

[...no. No she's not. Sorry Fuyuhiko, she's surprised that someone as emotionally stunted as you are would even try to look for a girl, much less do anything about it. She has honestly been expecting him to never even get married, except "to the job" with how little he does outside of it! But her brows furrow a little.]

...yeah. I remember it. Of course I do.

[She was one of those people panicking? Less in the way of fear and asking him if he was alright, and more asking him for the deets so she could go fuck up whoever attacked him real good.]

[Well, if he was planning on telling her that he faked it before (he wasn't), then that look on her face settles it. He's definitely not telling her now. Or at least, he'll wait until she's distracted to bring it up. He's a little worried she'll snap at him otherwise, and he's already ruined this day enough times as is.]

Then I think you have all the knowledge you need to solve this mystery.

[That is, if she remembers anything besides the panicking. Honestly, just the fact that Peko wasn't fussing over him as she usually would should have been a huge giveaway, but fortunately no one ever took the time to consider it.]

[Oh she'd definitely snap at him. She was pissed? She was so mad. Like with anyone who tries and picks a fight with or attacks her brother, she wanted to kill whoever that was. But...she remembers a little bit more than the panicking. Because while others may not have noticed it or considered it, the fact that Peko hadn't been fussing over him had really only served to make her angrier. She never called her out on it, because it's Peko, but that just struck her as wrong.

But if he's saying that that's all she needs to figure this out......there's a long pause before she says anything.]

No way. You're fucking shitting me right now.

[Him and Peko? Is that what she's supposed to be taking away from this? Sure, she knew Peko definitely had a thing for him, but with the way he'd always acted...at least where other members of the family could see, it looked like he had the same sort of feelings towards his hitman that he did towards her. Didn't hate them, but they weren't good enough.

...Ow. Kind of hurts to know that Peko clearly is. Then again, not surprising. She is talented like him, after all. This just means that he shows her affection privately, right? She puts that away to dwell on later, turning more to face him with her excitement instead.]

Tell me everything. Did you ask her out? Are you guys actually dating? Or are you trying to figure out how? Have you kissed her yet?

[And then a pause.]

Dammit, this means I can't threaten your girlfriend.

Hey, that just means you can trust her to treat me right.

[Which she should. Peko is a damn good girl and they should both know that by now. Even though it's taken her some time to adjust to their newfound relationship, he feels like they've found a comfortable resting place that works for both of them and keeps his family's eyes off of their back.]

And to answer your questions...

[Because dear god, she has a lot of them. Slow down, Natsumi, he can only talk so fast.]

She actually asked me out; yes, we're really dating, but it took a while; and of course we've kissed. Who do you take me for?

[They've kissed more than a few times, actually, but that's not really information he wants to be handing out to his little sister so easily. He'd be fine with elaborating on those other two questions, however.]

Oh, and don't go thinking this is some sort of competition for my attention now.

[Because honestly, with how often she demands some of his free time, he wouldn't put it past her. He knows Natsumi likes Peko just fine, so that helps a lot, but still. He doesn't want this change in the status quo to birth any sort of unnecessary drama.]

You two have always been the most important people in my life, and that's not going to change any time soon. I couldn't pick between the two of you if there was a gun held to my head.

[The excitement on her face falls a little - just a little! - with that last comment. If they're dating, no way he wouldn't be able to choose. He'd choose Peko, of course. She doesn't comment on it, but she knows that's just a fact. Instead she snorts, more of an amused sound than anything.]

Please. I would never compete with Peko-chan. I mean she actually deserves your attention, unlike most of the other women on the planet you could've chosen. She has my blessings one hundred percent.

[Okay, as much as she doesn't want to get gushy for his sake, she can't help herself. She smiles, setting her food down and moving to get her chocolates, because she's definitely had enough real people food. Time to move onto her fuel of choice.]

Yeah I know she'll treat you right, but that ruins the fun of it. But I'm happy for you guys. You deserve each other, y'know? And you're makin' her really happy I bet. Which I mean, you better. May not have to threaten her, but you take care of Peko-chan, got it? I'll kick your ass otherwise!

[The girls may not be friends, but that doesn't mean they aren't family. Sure, she...kind of views and uses Peko more as a tool than her brother does, but she looks out of her and cares about her too. Fuyuhiko definitely won't get away with it if he breaks her heart!]

And you better make sure she knows you care. Don't go breaking her heart by makin' her think her boyfriend doesn't care about her as much as she cares about him.

[No matter how much she doubts it, he was telling the truth. He may love Peko, but that doesn't change the fact that Natsumi is his little sister. Even if she sees Peko as family, he's never been able to look at her that way... otherwise they wouldn't be dating. The way he cares about them are completely different and hard to compare. All he knows is he would gladly give up his life to protect both of them if need be.]

Trust me, she knows. Or at least she should. I'm trying hard to prove it to her every day.

[It's a good thing Peko confessed to him instead of the other way around. That way he knew damn well she had started to outgrow her old mindset and he didn't have to wait around until he was sure she was ready. Even so, it's still a bit of a work in progress.]

And wouldn't even think of hurting her. I...

[He swallows, before picking up one of the chocolates and rolling it between his fingers. This isn't easy to say, but they're words he needs to get out into the open.]

...I really love her, Natsumi. So... you can't tell Mom and Dad about this, okay? This stays between us.

[He shouldn't have to explain why. Peko is supposed to be his bodyguard and nothing more. He doubts their folks would be too happy with this sudden turn of events. But as soon as he becomes head of the family (or as soon as he doesn't and they don't care about what he does anymore), he's going to forget their rules and make his own future. It's not like he hasn't been doing that for years anyways.]

I'm trusting you.

[As he finishes his statement, she's quiet, not replying immediately. She's...honestly really happy for them. Even if they do have to put up with this secrecy until Fuyuhiko can do what he wants. Which is why she reaches out, putting a hand on his knee for that extra added reassurance.]

You can trust me. I wouldn't dream of ruinin' this for you guys. I promise.

[And that's a cross your heart, hope to die kind of promise right there. Once that's out she sits back up and removes her hand, popping a chocolate into her mouth.]

If this was a different topic, I think I'd be offended that you'd even consider me running to them.

[He takes a second to eat his chocolate as well, less because he's actually hungry and more because it was starting to melt in his hand.]

Yeah, well. We've had to be really careful so far, so.

[So he's sorry he didn't let her know sooner. It wasn't that he didn't want to or thought she'd give them away, it's just that he never found the right opportunity. He really only gave her a warning so she would understand that this is a complete secret.]

There's really only one other person who knows, but that was Peko's doing, not mine.

[And it was really due to circumstance more than anything else. They were practically obligated to tell him after all he'd done.]

[Mentioning that Peko is the one who told someone else first is a good move, because she immediately pouts at that. Wow!!! Someone knew before his little sister?! What the fuck! But...since it's Peko's doing, she doesn't flip him shit for it.

...that doesn't get that huffy look off her face though.]

Yeah, I can imagine you have. Like I said, if it were a different topic. I get it on this one. I'd be careful too if I were in your position.

[Another few pieces of chocolate are devoured, Natsumi thinking the situation over. Man. Him and Peko. She's not really surprised, but at the same time she kind of is? It's weird.]

Have you talked to her about the whole kids thing yet? I mean I'm guessin' not since you asked me about it earlier but. I'm sure she knows you'll need an heir...you guys'd make really cute kids, damn.

[Fuyuhiko very nearly chokes on a chocolate bonbon. Fuck, that was the last thing he was ready for her to say. Instinctively, he wraps a hand around the nearest object (a chopstick), and chucks it in her general direction.]

Ugh...! N-Natsumi!

[He lets out a couple of pitiful coughs before finally swallowing the the damn thing and clearing his throat so he can speak. Even then, he's a stammering mess.]

You... you can't just go sayin' shit like that! I just... fuck, I can't believe you...

[If she knows he didn't ask her, then why does she have to keep going on about it? Besides, they haven't even... they're in high school, dammit. It's too soon to be thinking about this shit. ...Even if he is the one who brought up the topic in the first place.]

[She dodges that chopstick like a champ, laughing at his reaction. Priceless! Look at his dumb face and listen to his dumb stuttering!]

What? It's true! I can picture them now! Cute li'l shits with silver hair and gold eyes and those dumb rosy cheeks we're stuck with. Ugh, maybe they'll get lucky and freckle like you. I'm still so fucking jealous that I didn't get that shit.

[Why does he get to look so much cuter? It's not fair!]

You have to have two you know. If you have an only child I'll kick your ass and spoil the shit out of 'em more than you'll ever believe.

[Is she talking about this just to rile him up and embarrass him more? Hell yes she is.]

[He mumbles something inaudible before before burying his face, red all the way up to the tips of his ears, in both hands. God, it's times like this when he can't stand Natsumi. He tries to open up to her for once in his damn life, and this is what he gets for it. He should have known.

After a moment, he splays his fingers out and glares daggers at her through the space in between them.]

You repeat a word of this to her, you're dead meat. Got it?

[If he's reacting like this, he doubts Peko would take it much better. They're still getting used to this, they don't gotta listen to all of Natsumi's bullshit... Still, he doesn't totally hate the idea. His reaction should easily give that away.]

[Aw come on, don't be like that. She's only teasing! Evidenced by the way her smile gets just a little bit crueler as she narrows her eyes.]

We're girls, oniichan. We're prone to gossip. Peko-chan and I talk about everything together you know. School, girls, boys, you...it's bound to come up.

[She won't talk to Peko until Peko feels comfortable enough to bring it up to her, but hey. He doesn't have to know that.]

I bet she'll totally want to talk about it. I mean we already talked about how she feels about you before. [No, she just guessed based on how the swordswoman acted around him.] So don't be too embarrassed.

[Yeah, it should be plainly obvious that she's teasing, but anything involving Peko is serious business to him, so forgive him if he's a little gullible here. Or maybe that just works more to Natsumi's benefit here.]

D-did she really...?

[She can't just run around flaunting around that information like it's nothing! She could have seriously gotten in trouble. And if she ha gotten in trouble, his parents would have separated them without a single thought, and then...

Ugh. He doesn't even want to think about it. But he can't stop himself from wondering.]

When the hell was this?

Oh, you know, a while ago.

[She feels bad, stringing him along like this. Really, she does. But it's just in her nature. What kind of little sister would she be if she didn't tease him? Especially if he's going to sit there and actually believe her.]

We were just havin' one of our usual gossip sessions, askin' about why I don't have a boyfriend yet, and I decided to ask her the same thing. I mean obviously I know why, it was just fun teasin' her. And then wouldn't you know it? She started gettin' all flustered and weird and I pressed further and we had a whole talk about you!

[So at least, if she's telling the truth, Peko wasn't flaunting it or anything...? Natsumi will set the record straight eventually. At least before they head home. She doesn't want poor Peko catching shit just because she's making stuff up to fuck with her brother, after all.]

[He's not angry so much as he is worried. Sure, okay, it's just Natsumi, but even so, it took him this long to even find the right moment to tell her the truth about their relationship, and to think she had an inkling this whole time... It's just...

Just...

Wait a fucking minute. The color drains from his face and he fixes her with a dirty look.]

...You lying bitch.

[Of course Peko never told her. The two of them had been talking about telling Natsumi just the other day. Surely Peko would have mentioned it if his sister already knew about existing feelings. Because, you know. That would have been pretty fucking topical and crucially important to the subject at hand. So that can only mean Natsumi is lying through her teeth.]

You really had me fucking going there for a second, you know that? You're the worst, I swear...

[And there's another bout of laughter.]

Oh my god you're still so easy!

[Excuse her while she clutches her stomach with one arm, trying to hide her laughter behind her free hand but failing miserably. It's just too funny when she's able to pull this shit and he realizes it on his own, rather than having to have her spell it out that she was fucking with him. Those are probably her favorite moments.]

Yeah, it was pretty easy to tell I had you hooked! I mean, sure, I kinda guessed she had feelin's for you so I'm not surprised, but holy shit oniichan. No way she'd actually tell me!

Well, yeah. I see that now.

[After watching her laugh like a goddamn hyena at the very idea of it. But he's a little surprised that she never picked up on his feelings for Peko. She always seemed to pay so much attention to him, and no matter how hard Fuyuhiko had tried to hide his affections, there were always moments where he could feel it slipping through the cracks. Had she really never caught on? He's actually a little proud of himself; it makes him feel oddly successful.]

Whatever. You've had your laughs.

[Now it's his turn.]

So what about you, then?

[It's said with an expectant glint in his eye. Is there anybody in the reserve course she's got her sights set on? Or anyone outside of it, for that matter? She's always seemed to be a little more romantically inclined than he was (but then again, it isn't hard to be), so it's definitely not impossible.]

[Now it's her turn to choke a little, having just put a chocolate in her mouth as he asked. After a little bit of coughing, she has to roll her eyes a little at the question. But she's smiling all the same.]

Don't worry, there's no one you gotta keep your eye on, oniichan.

[Another chocolate.]

I'm not the heir, so I don't really gotta worry about findin' someone or anythin', and I'm just not interested either. Right now, I've got more important things to focus on.

[Getting into the Main Course, meeting her brothers expectations, how can she do any of that if she's ogling some guy who probably doesn't even meet her standards anyway? And she...she still has like. Zero friends....]

And besides, it's hard to find a guy that isn't one: a meat head, two: only interested in sex, or three: scared of me.

[...well, okay. There is Hajime. But she's pretty sure even though he's not one of the above, he'd be too scared of her brother to date her. And who can blame him?]

[He only barely restrains a roll of his eyes.]

Uh-huh. Sure.

[It's not that he doesn't believe her. He understands that struggle just as much as she does, honestly, but she's taking what he considers to be some major leaps in her answer. Especially when his initial question was so intentionally vague. He gave her all this room to answer however she liked, so what is she taking the typical route for?

Oh well. She's just given him a better opportunity to get back at her. He'd be remiss not to take it.]

Could always go for a girl, then.

[He says it like the simple and clear-cut solution it is, because he really couldn't give less of a shit about Natsumi's love life anyway (or so he tells himself). He's only talking about this to watch her stumble through an answer (and to let her know he loves and supports her no matter what, just like she does him).]

H-haaaah?

[She's definite caught off guard by that. There are a few moments where she stumbles, the start of words and answers that never quite make it all the way to the end before she just...shuts up and takes a deep breath. Calm down Natsumi. This is definitely nothing to get worked up over.]

L-like girls are any better! Again, you've got that whole "scared of me" problem, except worse, because all girls know just how fuckin' mean and awful other girls are. And then there's that: girls are mean and awful. Pretty sure if they don't hate me for bein' prettier than they are, they hate me for bein' richer.

[If it was Peko, maybe, but she had already sworn herself off from Peko the minute she caught on that she liked Fuyuhiko. Let them have that happiness. That's more important, and Peko's the kind of girl he deserves.]

Look, I'm just not interested, okay? Like I said, there are way more important things I've gotta work on! If I'm busy screwing around with all this datin' and romance shit, I'm gonna fall behind on what actually matters to me. Relationships take work and I just don't give enough of a shit to put that work into 'em.

[Yeah, okay, cake time. She drags that over to her, cleaning a chopstick off and using it to haphazardly cut herself out a slice. Not even caring about using her hands, it's a small enough slice not to make too big of a mess.]

Hell, it's too much work just to maintain friendships. The only friend I've got is Hinata and that's because he won't leave me alone. It's really annoyin'!

[No it's not.]

[As soon as she goes for the cake, his hands dart out to grab some, too. He finds himself pretty busy cutting out a slice practically twice the size of hers, and so he's not really paying much mind to that last bit until he hears the name "Hinata" thrown in there.

Well, this is certainly convenient. He definitely doesn't mind it.]

So you guys are friends, then.

[He had thought as much, but all Peko ever told him is that she had seen the two of them talking often during frequent check-ins at Natsumi's classroom and that Hinata supposedly sees her as a friend. But that's all secondhand information and, well, Peko isn't exactly the greatest translator when it comes to social dialogue. So there had been room for doubt.]

Huh. Well. If it makes my life easier...

[The two people who know about him and Peko get along fine and dandy. He will consider this victory, although he's not entirely sure what for. Everything just... feels a bit more secure this way. Like his secrets can be easily contained.]

I guess so. As much as you can call "an annoyin' guy who cares way too much about my well bein' for his own good and I just put up with it" bein' friends.

[No, she likes it, really. It's kind of nice having someone actually care about her, even if she doesn't acknowledge it.]

I mean he's not so bad, just really weird. Normal and borin' as fuckin' hell, the kind of guy you'd totally think would piss himself meeting a member of our clan, but he's totally fine with talkin' to me and shit. Fuck, he even tries reprimandin' me when I get into fights with that Sato bitch. Can you believe that? Ballsy as fuck.

[IT'S WEIRD. She watches him take his slice of cake, finishing hers off and going for another small piece. If she had a fork and a plate you'd better believe she'd be going at it like him. But she has Dignity, thank you!!]

What exactly is makin' your life easier, huh?

[Look. No one's around to see. He doesn't give a shit if Natsumi judges him. As long as he doesn't get cake all over his clothes, he'll be fine.]

I mean...

[He decides to swallow the bite of cake he has in his mouth before finishing that statement. He can at least takes pride in his table manners (or "table" manners, in this case).]

If you guys both know, it'll be easier to rant to you guys and shit since we kinda got no one else to go to. Less running around. Saves us time.

[Of course he's telling her Hinata is Mystery Person Number Two in the most nonchalant way possible. To Fuyuhiko, Hinata is little more than some guy who happens to go to school with him.

...Well. Okay. If he's friends with Peko and Natsumi, then that changes shit. But he doesn't want to linger on that thought too much right now. Yukizome already bothers him enough about making friends in the first place; knowing he'll have to learn how to get along with this guy now is filling him with a very similar sort of anxiety.]

( picture prompt meme )

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