A/N: Updates, updates, updates! Yay maternity leave and up all night nursing!
Pussies and Puppies
Setsu cocked an eyebrow at her phone. Her brother immediately stood, looming over her shoulder. She glanced at him, perturbed. His eye flicked to the mirror and back, a silent indication he'd been studying her intently as she was fussed over by her mom's designer friend, Earl Mandy.
"He did it," she said, answering Cain's unspoken question.
Now it was his turn to raise an eyebrow in question. She hummed, leaning back against him and raising her phone so he could see the screen clearly as the designer's assistant pinned the bottom layer of her dress. "He listened."
The article's headline filled the top half of the screen; a photo of the idiot singing into a studio mic with artfully mussed hair the bottom half.
FUWA SHO SURPRISES WORLD WITH INTERNATIONAL DEBUT
Cain rubbed her shoulders. She nuzzled up into him.
"It's a clickbait title. He hasn't actually debuted; he's just recording in New York." Her grin was predatory as she looked down at her phone, her hand gently stroking her brother's cheek. "I'll still win, don't worry nii-san."
Mr. Mandy clapped twice in rapid succession. The door opened to a parade of junior assistants bearing trays full of accessories— followed by their mom with a broad-shouldered blonde man.
"Mom," Setsu moaned. "Really? I agreed to this fitting because you said nii-san could choose my dress. No more stylists."
"Oh dearest, you look stunning! It's simply perfect for Quincey!"
Setsu's eyes grew hard and cold. "You said this dress was for the BHI. We've already been over it; I am not—"
Julie waved her hand, a mischievous smile on her face. "It is for the BHI. Darlings, meet Lord Quinceton Balthuman. Quincey, my children."
The blonde man bowed gracefully. A slight scar through his left eyebrow was the only mar on his otherworldly Nordic beauty. Cain scowled, wrapping his arms around Setsu. Setsu was torn between gaping like a fish at her mother's audacity and laughing aloud at His Lordship. She decided for a middle ground.
"Lord," she drawled, licking her lips. She would put the little lordling in his place. Cain growled at her, sensing her intentions. She squeezed his hand surreptitiously before sliding out from his embrace. Her gaze flickered over to her mother as she slowly crossed the distance to their side of the room. Every step was accentuated by the deep curves of the corseted, lacy dress as it swished around her ankles. She raked her eyes slowly up Balthuman's body. Each measurement taken, weighed, found wanting when compared to her brother.
She met his eyes. Or would have, if they'd been looking at her face. Setsu stopped, her hand on her hip, waiting. His throat clenched with a tight swallow as his eyes finally rose to the proper level. She blinked at him slowly, purposefully, her eyes cold.
"P-p-pleasure," He stammered, bowing again. "Miss Heel."
Setsu's mouth turned up at the edges. She'd seen His Little Lordship's eyes widen and cheeks blanch as he rose from his bow. Cain's presence loomed large behind her. Quincey swallowed again, his knees shaking slightly. He muttered something under his breath about a feral tora. Setsu frowned. Was he comparing her brother to a bull? She opened her mouth to challenge him, but Quincey spoke first.
"I'd like to invite you -- and your brother," he added quickly, his eyes fixated on the space above her shoulder. The words started to flow quickly, a waterfall of explanation. "To dinner. Seafood, and I believe chef's souffles, and chocolate pudding, unless another dish would be to your liking. Plenty of alcohol as well. That is, if you choose-- if you make that-- if it is part of your lifestyle. Not that you look like you drink. Quite the contrary. I do like a drink, stiff ones are quite useful in times like-- ahem. Your charming mother has informed me you recently returned from filming in Japan; my friend is a director there and I would be delighted to introduce you. The ah, 'Demon of the Silver Screen' I believe is his nickname. It seems an appropriate acquaintance. I mean-- goodness." He cocked his head, an unexpectedly boyish smile playing across his lips as he addressed Cain directly. "Do you happen to have personal experience with breaking jaws?"
Setsu stared at him.
Cain's voice came low and threatening over her shoulder. "And if I do…?"
Quincey's grin was shaky. "N-nothing. Just a curiosity of mine. You remind me of my man and it's something I've always wondered about that Tora refuses to elaborate on."
"Tora?" That word again.
"My man. His name. He's quite the… well, like your brother. He has a presence." Quincey took a step backwards, his eyes still drawn over her shoulder to Cain. "Do join us tonight for dinner. My father is anxious to meet yours as well." He turned and bent over their mother's hand, kissing the back gently. "Always the deepest pleasure, madame." His Lordship turned, reaching out for Setsu's hand-- then seemed to reconsider, stealing a glance above her. He smiled and bowed his head at the pair, then left.
Setsu rolled her eyes at her mother, turning to examine the trays the assistants patiently held.
"Oh, come dearest, he's charming. And he most definitely would not touch a hair on your head for the duration of the engagement; he's apparently far too aware of the way Cain would break his jaw for any indecency." She crossed the room and patted Cain's shoulder. "I do wish you would relax, dear one. Those frown lines mar your features so."
Cain grunted, turning from his mother to plop into a chair. He was sulking. Her brother would need some sister therapy before dinner tonight if she was to keep him from murdering someone.
Or breaking any jaws. Setsu held a blood-red ruby necklace up, examining her reflection.
Meeting Tora could be quite interesting.
~*~
When Setsu mentioned "sister therapy" to him as they left the fitting rooms at R. Mandy's, this had not been the scene his mind leaped to. Something involving less slobber and more tangled bedsheets.
Cain looked up at the bright, cheerful blue sign for the Battersea Dogs Cats Home. He looked at his sister. She was quite literally the human embodiment of a cocker spaniel, bouncing on her toes, her hands clasped in front of her chin, her eyes wide and shining with her blonde tresses perfectly framing her face as she wiggled beseechingly in front of him.
He wanted to say no. He wanted to turn and leave, to drag her back to their hotel room, fill the tub with ludicrous amounts of bubble bath, rip that devilishly tight leather bodysuit off her and drag her with him into the sudsy delight of an hour-long couples' soak.
Damn it, why did she have to be this cute.
"Why," he said, trying to keep the growl out of his voice.
"Nii-san," she whined, still magnificently evoking a spaniel. "Haven't you seen their billboards? These dogs are even better at puppy dog eyes than you are. You need practice to keep up."
Cain huffed at her. Using those sweet pink lips to utter total nonsense. It wasn't fair. He walked over to ruffle her hair. She beamed up at him and almost skipped as she turned around before quickly settling down into her usual steady, swaying gait. He loved the way she walked. If just seeing some dogs and cats would make her skip and shine like that, he wondered what would happen if he brought one home. Or two. Maybe even some cats. She would lay back on the sofa, a fluffy white cat perched on her bare stomach as she carefully painted her nails.
No-- wait. No cats. Cuddling Setsu was his job. He couldn't bring competition into the house. Bad enough that mom and dad were here stealing her time.
And now this Quincemeat. Cain scowled, thunderclouds marring his features. Setsu pouted slightly, sensing his changing mood and dragging him faster past the waiting lines into the interior of the shelter. He stood silently brooding while she got them a booth. The volunteer sized up Cain and suggested several larger breeds, but Setsu waved each away, forcing the teen to fetch her the smallest ball of blonde fluff he'd ever seen. A tiny black nose peeked out from the fuzz of fur, sniffing anxiously at Setsu when the worker placed the pup in her lap. She cooed, holding the puppy aloft before plopping it in his hands.
The entire dog fit in one of his palms. He sat there, staring at it. The small dog stared back then barked a teeny yip of a bark and sat down on his palm, panting and wiggling its butt as it watched him. He smirked. It looked just like Setsu.
She placed her hand on his leg, her eyes watching his face as he looked at the tiny ball of fur. "Mom… isn't really serious, is she?" Her voice was quiet and calm. He felt his back stiffen and forced himself to concentrate on not squishing the ever-more ecstatic creature riding on his palm.
"Quinceton Balthuman," she said, her fingers trailing off his leg, leaving too much space between them. He wanted to reach for her and pull her hand back. The puppy stuck its tongue out, panting at him. "He probably isn't even real. Some actor they've paid." Cain shrugged, stroking the puppy's head with one finger. He gently sat the puppy on his lap; his hands were for one purpose only and, however cute, the puppy was interfering.
Cain reached out and wrapped his arms around Setsu, pulling her against his side. She shifted to sit comfortably in his embrace and pulled out her phone, pressing the center button for voice commands. "Google-sensei, search Quinceton Balthuman." Her phone made a tinkling sound before confirming: "Here's what I found online."
Results filled the glowing screen; news articles, tabloids, press releases, even a Wikipedia page. Quinceton Balthuman was not only real, he was notoriously single, filthy rich— and embroiled in scandal. Setsu chewed on her lip ring as she scrolled rapidly through a news article on the suspected criminal dealings of the Balthuman family. None proven.
Cain gently rubbed her earlobe between his fingers, enjoying the feel of her perfectly soft flesh as much as he enjoyed soothing her anxiety with his touch. She nestled into him, reaching around to snag the puppy and cuddle him tight against her chest.
"What are they thinking…" she murmured into fluffy fur. Cain frowned. The puppy needed to go. He had fluffy bedhead more than suited for her to nuzzle.
Cain plucked the puppy out of her hands and plopped it on the floor. He nudged a tiny tennis ball over to it with his foot. She giggled, watching the puppy tumble over its own paws as it chased the ball.
"Just be you," he said gruffly.
He felt her sigh. She craned her neck to look up at him. "Kuon," she said softly, her voice unsure. He blinked, looking down in surprise. Breaking character suddenly was… completely out of character for her.
"What is your mom thinking?" She worried at her lip. His Kyoko was asking. Kuon let Cain slough off him, drawing her into a fierce hug.
"Honestly," he said, a defeated laugh escaping him. "I'm not quite sure. My mom once told me she was dying in order to get me to call." Kyoko's eyes widened in disbelief, her grip tightening on his hand. He chuckled, burying his face in her shoulder. "She loves too much; too grandly. I think sometimes she isn't able to get it all out of herself and it bursts. When we were together, it would run over as she cooked. She'd get so excited to be making food for a family dinner, so wrapped up in the ideal of motherhood and love expression through cuisine that she'd lose track of the actual mechanics of cooking and burn the entire meal."
Kyoko stifled a giggle. "I remember your dad talking about her unique flavors. I had a feeling it meant something more than simply exotic spice choices."
"Unless charcoal counts as exotic," he finished for her. The couple laughed, then stilled.
"How far will she take this, Kuon?" Her voice was calm. She trusted him, and she wanted to trust the ones that loved him.
"Remember what she said at our hotel?"
Kyoko shook her head, uncertain what he meant.
"The Balthuman deal is a ruse— a fake engagement. Her character fully supports her childrens' relationship, even though it goes against the morals of nearly every modern culture." He kissed her cheek. "That was mom's way of giving us a boundary to her role. As far as tonight goes…" He let his voice trail off, turning her chin upwards to claim her lips with a slow, sensual kiss. "Let's follow her lead. We'll be the dangerously-in-love siblings through and through and see just how long it takes these British blue bloods to kick us out."
Setsu rejoined him at that, licking her lips in anticipation. She twined her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He could feel her warm breath, her lips ghosting over his as she replied. "I like the way you think, nii-san."
God, he loved his baby sister.
~*~
A/N: Quinceton is a character from Lilydusk's Midnight Poppy Land Webtoon. It's fantastic!! I couldn't resist bringing some of the characters in for a cameo, though I have modified the Balthumans slightly to make the British bluebloods. Go and check it out!
Loved the adjectives for last chapter's title XD Thanks for playing along!! Your reviews always make me smile, especially the ones I get through the night when I'm waking up with Bebe :-)
Persie loves you!!
