Danielle didn't often talk to her siblings. Not from lack of want, or anything similar, just lack of focus. She would almost call them, before being distracted by her pets or something on TV.
But this time, she refused to be distracted.
She really, really wanted this phone call.
Because she hadn't talked to this person since Christmas- that was way too long.
Danielle realized quickly that she was going to psyche herself out if she wasn't careful. She grabbed her phone, quickly calling the number.
He answered just before the dial tone would've kicked in.
"Danielle!" A male voice greeted in full joy. "How've you been? Has it really been a month?"
"Can't believe it either." Danielle laughed. She relaxed on her couch, relieved at the sound of his voice. Erika hopped on, so Danielle held the phone up. "Hold on, Lix, Erika wants to say hi."
Her brother squealed loudly. Thankfully Danielle had pulled the phone away. She hit speaker as the squealing stopped.
"Hi Erika!" Her brother greeted. The dog barked, tail wagging as she recognized the voice. "Did you miss me?" The dog barked again. He laughed in response. "No offense, but I love that dog more than I love you."
Danielle laughed. "Good. She's perfect. So Felix, how is uni treating my kid brother?"
"Well my friends that I had at Christmas are still my friends despite all the cards you sent out. The classes haven't killed me but they've given it their best." Felix replied. Danielle leaned back on the couch, Erika snuggling against her stomach. She let out an 'oomph' at the weight. She scratched Erika's back all the same. "There's this gorgeous bloke two floors down. My type and breed."
"You care about breeding?" Danielle asked in confusion. Her brother hadn't cared much for the class of a person, not unless they were assholes.
"Care about being bred." Felix corrected.
Danielle made a noise of compliant. She'd walked into that, she realized belatedly. "Eww. I hate you."
"Don't worry, sis. One day, when you're older, you'll understand." Felix teased.
"Shut up and die." Danielle argued. Felix chuckled at her expense. "You know I worry. I'm allowed to have concern for my brother."
"You're such a den mother." Felix teased.
"I'm not." Danielle whined. Erika barked. If one didn't know better they'd say she was laughing at her owner. "Jeez I hate you."
"Then why do you rent out your home to other people?" Felix countered, smug.
"Because I'm a landlady. That's what we do. And it's not my flat, it's the flats above my flat." Danielle argued.
"Right. Of course. Silly me." Felix teased. Danielle rolled her eyes (grateful that Felix couldn't see her fond grin). "So how are the people living in your den?"
"I'm gonna kill you one of these days." Danielle mused. She brushed on Erika's back again. "You hear that, Erika? I'm gonna kill Uncle Lixxy someday."
"You wish."
"Every night before I go to bed." Danielle replied.
"But seriously. How are they? Your flats?"
"Good...good. Well as good as they can be, you know. I need someone in 223b." Danielle admitted, blowing out a long sigh. "Maybe in C too if she has another session of hate sex on her floor."
"Ohhh, what I wouldn't give for hate sex right now." Felix spoke dramatically.
"As much as it pains me to say, I know your sex history." Danielle countered. "There isn't any. You haven't had any kind of sex to miss."
"Which is why hate sex is important right now." Felix argued. "So I need it. Yesterday."
"You're disgusting." Danielle mocked. "I'm awed-truly awed- at the debauchery in my bloodline."
Then there was a loud heavy thud from somewhere above Danielle's head. She looked up- silly really, like she'd be able to see what fell.
"She's not." Danielle's jaw dropped. "Not- seriously?"
"What? Ellie, what's up?"
"223c. She's having hate sex!" Danielle complainer. Erika whined, jumping off the couch to run away. "And now Erika's left me. Life is hell."
It got worse, cause now her brother was laughing. "Really!? After we were just talking about it?!"
"I know! It's awfu-"
There was another heavy thud.
Danielle knew instantly she'd been wrong.
"It's not coming from upstairs." She realized, eyes going wide. "It's from next door."
"Next door?"
"I've got new neighbors. They're...weird." There was another loud thud. Louder than the others had been. "Oh that was big. Boy- I hope he's not dead. Bye-bye Lixxy!"
"Wait, Ellie, dead?!"
==NKMHLY==
She walked out her flats. She nearly bumped into a homeless man as she made her way across. How sad would it have been if she'd tripped walking just a few yards? Danielle would certainly never let herself live it down.
With a put upon sigh, Danielle let herself inside 221. She walked up the stairs to Sherlock and John's flat. The door was wide open. Then again, she'd never seen it closed.
She found Sherlock sitting in his chair, texting. He seemed without injury. Nor in the rest of the flat either. "Sherlock? Are you alright? What's wrong?"
"Hello Danielle." Sherlock mused, not looking up from his phone. "What brings you by? John's not come round with the shopping, so there's not any tea."
"Were you in a fight?" Danielle asked.
Sherlock paused in his texting. He looked up at Danielle. "Hmm?" His body tending in his chair. His fingers didn't move around the phone any longer though Danielle doubted he was doing much texting anyway.
"A fight. You. With someone else." Danielle clarified. She looked around the living room. "Cause your flat looks...same as always."
"You're wearing your pajamas." Sherlock pointed out. His eyes were wide, Danielle realized, and they had been since he looked up from his phone.
Danielle's cheeks colored. "I thought you were in trouble."
The only thing only Sherlock that moved was his head.
"It's just- you were- whatever." Danielle threw her arms up. "I won't bother you next time I think you're dead!"
She stormed out of the flat, not caring that she slammed the door of 221 loud enough to startle Mrs Hudson. Danielle would apologize later- probably after she killed Sherlock then promptly die of humiliation.
That would work.
She had the mind to step around the homeless man from before, only her gone. Danielle hoped it wasn't because she'd kicked him.
==NKMHLY==
She made her way to her flat. She grabbed her phone, calling Felix.
"So I'm going to die later. Don't worry I'm committing homicide first."
"...I'm honestly not sure if you're joking."
"I'm not. The bloke deserves it." Danielle argued. "Honestly. I go over there- trying to be all nice and friendly and shit- and he has the nerve to criticize me? He's dead. I'll be on the news for it, no doubt."
"Do I need to be an alibi?" He offered seriously.
"No. The cops hate him. They'll give me a medal." Danielle argued. She bit her lip right after. "Except Mrs Hudson will cry...and John will need a new flatmate, or move away...Bit not good, that."
"Who's the tosser we're sorta-not-really-murdering because of feelings?" Felix asked, cautious.
"Sherlock Holmes, new neighbor." Danielle answered. She went over to her bedroom. Nightwing was sitting on the couch, cool as you please. Danielle glared at her cat.
"The neighbor that was getting murdered so you ran after him?"
"Relax. It's not a new thing with us. First night in, he was riding in that murder cabbie from the news." Danielle rolled her eyes. She started to get dressed, pointedly ignoring her cat. "But he's a giant cock."
By all that was holy, she could see Felix leering. "Did you say he's got a big-?"
"Disowned." Danielle interrupted. "I mean it. You're not allowed to make those jokes. I make those kinds of jokes, as is my God given right as the eldest. We had an agreement. Lilly Kelly would cock it up, and Paul would sooner die. Well his girlfriend- Nathalie, such a delight- could do it, but only if it's in front of Paul for maximum embarrassment."
Only Felix wasn't laughing.
"Lix?" Danielle prompted. "Hey Lix. Did you go off to save a dying neighbor too?...Lix?"
"...have you...have you seen from Paul recently?"
"At Christmas. It's when I met his girlfriend. She's very pretty." Lix made a humming noise. "What's wrong?"
"What- What was he up to?"
"Felix. Has Paul seen you recently?" Danielle asked, serious.
Her brother paused. "No."
"Has he called?" Danielle followed up.
"...nah."
Danielle bit her lower lip to keep from saying/doing something stupid. She was so close to asking if Paul had called ever. She could already figure out the answer. "Fe-"
"He hasn't called since I left that bloody house." Felix answered. Danielle's heart shattered a little in her chest. "You know what, Ellie? I gotta go."
"Felix wait-"
"Thanks for calling but...homework, yeah?"
"Felix-!" But he had already hung up. Danielle only felt worse. "Oh shite. Oh shite!"
==NKMHLY==
Danielle was sat on the couch in Sherlock and John's flat. She'd walked in not long ago, nervously fidgeting on the seat. The only sign that Sherlock had moved was the fact that he now had a book in his hands instead of his phone.
She didn't even start a conversation with Sherlock, who was engrossed on his phone. Neither had said a word. It was weird.
That's the awkward silence John stormed into.
He walked straight into the living room, only pausing in his steps at the realization that Danielle was on the couch. Then again it wasn't an odd sight, she was often crashing in whenever she fancied. John saw no point in telling her to stay out.
He stared at Sherlock, wondering if his flatmate had even noticed the arrival. Or if he'd even moved from that spot.
"You took your time." Sherlock remarked.
John huffed. "Yeah, I didn't get the shopping."
Sherlock did look up at that. "What? Why not?"
"Because I had a row, in the shop, with a chip-and-PIN machine."
Danielle snorted. Sherlock glanced at her briefly, if only to see the faint smile before it faded back into that troubled frown (with the forehead crease).
"You...you had a row with a machine?" Sherlock repeated.
"Sort of. It sat there and I shouted abuse." John corrected. Sherlock was doing his best to his his grin. He was failing. "Have you got cash?"
Sherlock was jealous of Danielle in that moment, who could grin as much as she wanted at John's back. "Take my card." He suggested, indicating with a nod that his wallet was in the kitchen.
John walked over to it. Danielle watched him pause in his steps, to turn back on Sherlock.
"You could always go yourself, you know. You've been sitting there all morning. You've not even moved since I left." John remarked. "And what happened about that case you were offered- the Jaria Diamond?"
Danielle sat up on the couch. "Huh. That sounds cool."
"Not interested." Sherlock stated.
"Ah. Alright." Danielle sank back on the couch.
She heard Sherlock slam his book shut. She jumped back in surprise. He was trying to look cool and contained, like he hadn't just done that.
"I sent them a message." Sherlock stated, more firm than before. He put his book down on a side table, looking as innocent as thd cat that ate the goldfish.
Danielle heard John muttering in the kitchen, no doubt something about his flatmate. He left out the side door without another word. "See you later, John!" She waved at his retreating form.
"Huh? Right yes. Later." John continued on his way out.
When Danielle settled back against the couch, it was to notice Sherlock staring curiously at her. "What?"
"Nothing." Sherlock replied. He started to grin. "Just wondering how often you leave the house in your nightclothes."
Danielle glowered at him, starting to smile herself.
==NKMHLY==
When John came back, Danielle was playing a game on her mobile. She had to water her carrots, okay?-
She heard John stumble as he opened the door. She shut up to her feet, walking to help. "Here John, can I-"
"Don't worry about me. I can manage." John assured her, giving a pointed look Sherlock's direction.
Danielle worried her lips. She started to unpack the bags, moving to put them away before realizing she had no idea where it all went. "Hey John, where should I put this?"
"No, no Danielle it's alright. I can- I can do it."
"Yeah...I have no idea why I'm doing this." She admitted, cheeks flushed.
John gave her a small smile- Danielle would guess it was some kind of teasing smile, or friendly. He turned to the living room, frowning. "Is that my computer?" He walked over to his laptop.
Danielle was left holding a thing of lettuce. She winced, deciding to just unpack the rest and put away the cold stuff. At least until John came back. Yeah.
She opened the fridge. To her surprise, there weren't any body parts or science experiments tucked around. She was certain she'd scream if she saw it.
"Of course." Sherlock replied plainly.
"What?!" John yelped.
"Mine was in the bedroom." Sherlock excused.
Danielle smiled at their antics.
"What, and you couldn't be bothered to get up?" John asked. Sherlock said nothing. "It's password protected!"
"In a manner of speaking. Took me less than a minute to guess yours. Not exactly Fort Knox." Sherlock remarked.
Danielle rolled her eyes, stuffing the milk away.
"Right, thank you." Danielle heard the laptop clap shut. "Oh. Danielle you didn't have-"
"Nah, finish your fight with him. I thought you were really close to getting him." Danielle teased. John walked over. "It's no trouble- I finished most of it already...would you believe it was by accident?"
John winced, scratching the back of his head. "Yes. I think I would."
"Well good. Cause I did." Danielle picked up the now empty grocery bags.
John watched as she took them to a rubbish bin. "When did you get here?"
"When did you come back for his card?" Danielle countered.
"You didn't leave?" John asked, surprised she had been here for that long.
"You came back?" Danielle countered once more. She put on her favorite teasing grin. It was the one everybody got was her being sarcastic but also just a bit serious.
The curve of John's lip smiled up. He walked over to his seat.
Danielle could see Sherlock watching from the desk chair. She smiled at him, waving a hand like an idiot. He looked away. She made her way back to the couch, plopping down so she could finish playing her game. The tomatoes were almost full grown, you see.
Besides...if she handled this, then that means she could ignore her siblings and their problems. At least for a little bit.
"Oh." John blew out a sigh. "Need to get a job."
"Oh, dull." Sherlock rolled his eyes.
"Ew." Danielle scrunched up her nose in disgust.
John lowered his voice. Danielle could only half hear it as he spoke, which she suspected was probably the point of him whispering. "Listen, um ... if you'd be able to lend me some-Sherlock, are you listening?"
"I need to go to the bank." Sherlock stated suddenly. He got up to his feet, running to the door to grab his coat.
Danielle followed, stuffing her phone in her pocket. She heard John join in as well.
==NKMHLY==
AN: Whoop-whoop I love writing family drama.
Thanks to Bronnie929, LiraRosaliaPeverell, CoraPearson, JDV15, and Tsukiko722 for favoriting
Thanks to TheLadyO, assiryah, Nightocean, CoraPearson, JDV15, and Queenofdoom4 for following