Chapter 11 – Day 37

Theme: Superhero
Pairings: Takashi Haruhi (Suggested by: all together (anon))
Words: 793
Rating: K

Haruhi stared in awe at the television screen. Flashes of bright colours and sounds made the show interesting to her. She sat at the edge of the footstool. Her mother was braiding her hair, to keep it out of the way when she went playing with her friend later. The show finished with a bang and Haruhi cheered to herself before hopping up and turning the television set off. "When is he going to be here?" she asked looking back over at her mother. The woman looked at the clock and smiled.

"A few minutes, why don't you set up some treats for the two of you to eat?" Haruhi's mother said, taking her hand and steering her to the kitchen. Haruhi nodded and found some cookies in the cookie jar. She put them on a plate as well as got two glasses of milk before taking it over to the table and placing them down. The door bell rang and she ran to the door. Ryouji opened the door before Haruhi could reach it and greeted the boy.

"Right on time, Morinozuka-kun!" he said with a big smile letting the teenager into their house, "We are really glad that you could babysit for us tonight!" he shut the door behind Takashi and adjusted his tie.

"No problem," Takashi said with a nod, Haruhi grabbed Takashi's hand and smiled up at him.

"Taka-kun, come have some cookies with me!" she said and started to tug him to the kitchen.

"Haruhi," Ryouji laughed, "Give the boy some time to take off his shoes first!"

"Our cell phone numbers are on the fridge, there is some left overs if either of you get hungry, and she's allowed to stay up till nine now since she turned eight. If she doesn't want to go to bed, just watch a Superhero movie with her. Those usually conk her out after her bed time," Kotoko instructed as she put on a jacket over her dress and lifted her hair out from underneath it. She kissed Haruhi on the cheek, "Be good for Morinozuka-kun," she said and then patted Haruhi's head. Ryouji kissed her on the head before telling Takashi the time they would be home before ushering his wife out the door.

Before the door even shut Haruhi was dragging Takashi over to the kitchen where the cookies and milk waited for them. She tugged the chair out for him before sitting in her own chair. "Me and my mum made them today," she said looking up at him with a smile, he gave a half smile and sat down in the chair she had pulled out for him. She was use to his silent persona, although she was a little put off by it when she first met him. First time he babysat her, she made it clear to him that she was going to go to sleep, and went and holed up in her room. She was scolded for not being nice to him later.

They ate the cookies in silence and Takashi made sure she drank all of her milk before allowing her away from the table. They did puzzles, played scrabble and Takashi helped her with her homework. Nine came fast, so fast that Haruhi refused to go to sleep, no matter how many times Takashi had to carry her back up stairs and place her in bed. Once or twice he would stay by her bedside until she closed her eyes, but then she would tiptoe after him.

After the seventeenth time, Takashi gave up and put in Captain America. He placed Haruhi on the couch and draped a blanket over her, then sat down on the other end and turned the lamp off. Haruhi watched as the movie played on. Halfway through it, she positioned herself so her head was on Takashi's lap. She looked up at him.

"You're like a superhero, big and strong. Kind too, which makes a superhero a superhero. If you were mean you'd be a villain," she said looking up at him with a smile, "Stay the good guy, kay?"

Takashi stared down at her for a few seconds before smiling and gave her an agreeing hum. She grinned and turned back to the television. He'd stay the good guy, and protect her whenever she needed it. She was the first child since he started babysitting that he actually wanted to continue babysitting her. Of course he didn't really care about her the first few times, because she kept avoiding him, but after that they became quick friends.

He heard her breathing slow down, so he quietly lifted her up and brought her upstairs. He laid her down in her bed and tucked her in. "Goodnight, Haruhi."

Next Theme: Pocky
13th theme: Stars

R&R! Review if you want me to use your suggestion of the next pairings. In addition, I will only use the most numbered pairing for the previous chapter.

This one was slightly AU as per the request. Although it was requested that they both be itty bitties, I thought it would be cuter if Haruhi was young and Takashi was older. Not so lovey dovey as the other ones, more of a friendship builder.